Annotated chess game: Let's play chess

ANNOTATED GAME

Let's play chess
silverhawk100 (1460) vs. mmoody95 (1893)
Annotated by: mmoody95 (1855)
Chess opening: Scandinavian defence (B01)

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1. e4 d5	I wanted to experiment with the Scandinavian to see what kind of positions I got.



2. exd5 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nxd5 4. Nxd5 Qxd5 5. h3 Bf5 6. d3 Nc6 7. c3 e6	I'm thinking now that 0-0-0 might have been stronger than e6.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 18-Jul-18: Right now, I prefer Black's game. It was not a bad idea to let castling wait upon the development of the King's bishop, in order to retain the option between castling either side. That would keep White guessing. Having said that, it is not likely that White will castle queen-side (weaker structure on that wing). Black's castling long will free his hand for an all-out offensive on the K-side.


8. Qf3 Rd8 9. Qxd5 Rxd5	Black is better developed, but my pieces aren't really very well coordinated.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 18-Jul-18: At least they are active.


10. d4 a6 11. Bc4 Rd7 12. Be3 Be7 13. Be2 Be4	This was perhaps unnecessary. It is not difficult to counter.



14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Nxf3 O-O 16. O-O Rfd8 17. Rad1 Bf6	e5 might have been stronger here.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 18-Jul-18: White has pretty much caught up in development. I suspect some of the exchanges helped. When one's development is the further along, it is usually in one's interest to keep pieces on, and avoid exchanges - at least to insist upon some 'sweetener' in the deal. The previous piece exchanges really favoured White - just a little - on the ground that they cut back Black's lead in mobilization. Having said that, though, Black does have slightly the better bishop, and maybe the rooks can effect something on the d-file. I still prefer Black, but there is very little in it.


18. Rdc1 h6 19. Rfe1 e5 20. dxe5 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 Bxe5 22. Kf1 b6	This was a dumb, dumb move. I knew that the Be5 was loose. Terrible thought process.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 18-Jul-18: This should not cost you material, though: 23.Bxb6 Bxc3 24.Bxc7 Bxb2 25.Bxd8 Bxc1 26.Rxc1 Rxd8 =. Material would remain level, with a rather arid game following.


23. Bxb6 Bf6 24. Be3 Rd7d5	Now I am a pawn down for nothing and have to figure out a way to stay in the game.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 18-Jul-18: Black is not lost yet. However, his tenure of the d-file can't last forever, after 25.Ke2.


25. a3 Rb5 26. Rcb1 c6 27. Kg1 Rdb8 28. Ba7 Rb8b7 29. Bd4 Bxd4 30. cxd4 Kf8	Not sure if this was best, but I wanted to take away the tempo for White.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 18-Jul-18: Fair enough. 30...Rxb2 would have been OK I think, but if White can save it, it will be at the expense of tying down his rooks. I reckon Black has very good drawing prospects.


31. Re2 Rb5b3 32. Rd2 Rxa3	I have managed to regain my lost pawn. The b2 pawn is pinned.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 18-Jul-18: White was careless. The rook had to go to e3 or e1 to keep the pawn. But then what? Black would have the more active rooks - enough to balance the pawn deficit.


33. Rc1 Rab3 34. Rxc6 Rb3xb2 35. Rcc2 Rxc2 36. Rxc2 Rb1+ 37. Kh2 Rd1 38. Ra2 Rxd4 39. Rxa6	We've reached an equal endgame here. I was so relieved to get level that I offered my opponent a draw. My draw offer was rejected.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 18-Jul-18: To maintain some life in the position. I might have tried 36.a5, with the idea of pushing it for all it was worth, and, if the pawn were attacked, play ...Ra7. Now, this position is pretty much a dead draw - material level and symmetrical; all the pawns on one side of the board.


39... Rd2 40. Ra8+ Ke7 41. Ra7+ Ke6 42. f3 Rd7 43. Rxd7 Kxd7 44. Kg3 Ke6 45. Kg4 g6 46. h4 f5+ 47. Kf4 Kf6 48. g4	This pawn endgame should be drawn also, but this position gave me the ability to gain a tempo with a check.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 18-Jul-18: It is a draw, here, but Black does have one try for the win...


48... g5+ 49. Kg3 f4+ 50. Kh3 Ke5	Now Black is better. White's K will eventually get forced away from the base pawn.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 20-Jul-18: In my view, White had to play 49.hxg5ch hxg4ch 50.Kg3 ... (50.Ke3 also draws after 50... fxg4 (no good is ...f4ch; Ke4) 51.fxg4 Ke5 52.Kf3 Kd4 53.Kf2 Ke4 54.Ke2 Kf4 55.Kf3 Kxg4 56.Kg2 - and we have the well known book K+P vs K draw. White would have the opposition; Black can not progress) 50.f4ch Kf2 51.Ke5 Ke2 52.Kd4 Kd2, and once again, the Opposition comes to White's rescue.


51. hxg5 hxg5 52. Kg2 Kd4	White resigned here.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 18-Jul-18: 49.Kg3 was a blunder that lost the game. Up until then, apart from the early stages, neither side could claim a substantial advantage.