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A game of lost opportunities I thought on completion of the game. I thought it was a good chance to beat a master but on reflection well after the game had finished geniusacamel's play reminded me of a young Tal not strictly sound; but what did it matter when he had piece activity and the king as a target. |
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1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 dxc4 4. e4
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Sacrificing a pawn for centre control and piece activity. |
  2 comments
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4... b5 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Be2 g6
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On reflection I would prefer 6.....e6 keeping the position Slav/Semi Slav rather than giving a hybrid Slav/Indian. |
1 comment
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7. O-O Bg7 8. Qc2
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Boris Spassky used to play the white position in a similar fashion in the 60's. The Silicon Monster gives the position as a small plus for black but in the hands of a creative attacker......... |
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8... O-O 9. b3 cxb3
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I looked at 9....b4 10.Na4 c3 but after 11.a3 a5 12.Nc5 blacks Q-side pawns are ripe for the plucking. |
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10. axb3 Bb7
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My first inaccuracy. Houdini2 gives 10.....Na6 as better |
2 comments
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11. d5
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A mouse error. White meant to play the far superior 11.e5 with a small plus.+0.37. 11.d5 is -1.21 according to Houdini2. |
2 comments
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11... a6
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Both 11.....cxd geniusacamel and 11....Nxe4 were superior. |
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12. e5
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Looking to open lines and crash through blacks defences |
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12... Nxd5
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Two pawns up Q-side majority a computer assessment of -0.83(after the game) for black. I began to fancy my chances of a Walk the walk victory. |
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13. Bb2 Nxc3
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Seeking simplification through material exchanges as I had a two pawn advantage. |
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14. Qxc3 c5
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Giving back a pawn to unleash my bishop on b7. 14....Qc7 was much better. |
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15. Qxc5 Nd7 16. Qe3
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The best move centralising the Q and eyeing blacks k-side.Houdini2 gives this a -0.39 16.Qb4 a -0.62 and 16.Qc1 a -0.62 |
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16... Rc8
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Contesting the c-file. Houdini2 gives the position as dead equal. It favoured 16.....Nb6 with -0-26 for black. |
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17. Rfd1 Qe8
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One of the main differences between 2100 player and a 1800 player is that the higher rated player defends far better. Given the initiative and a clear plan we 1800 players can do quite well but when it comes to defence we can do quite poorly. Here I start to drift I feel I should have played 17....e6 but didn't as I was worried about a future Nd6 |
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18. e6
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White begins to press and black panics. |
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18... Nf6
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18....Nc5 would have kept whites advantage to a minimum but worried about the coming attack black wanted pieces around the K-side.Houdini2 18.....Nc5 +0.07 18.....Nf6 +0.43 |
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19. Ng5
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Moving more pieces into the attack |
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19... fxe6
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Capitulation. 19......Nd5 still held out chances of putting up a stout defence. 20.Qh3 h5 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.exf Rxf7 24.Qf3 which the engine gives as +0.46 compared to the played +0.74 |
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20. Qxe6+ Kh8 21. Qh3
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Threatening mate |
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21... h6
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21......was a little better. |
1 comment
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