Annotated chess game: Lets play chess

ANNOTATED GAME

Lets play chess
jamesxc (1437) vs. howler68 (1386)
Annotated by: jamesxc (1513)
Chess opening: Sicilian (B40), Marshall variation

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1. e4	I usually avoid e4 because it often leads to e5, which I think is often boring, but this time the response was the Sicilian Defense, which is one of the more interesting openings out there.
	1 comment nuntar (1702) on 25-Aug-08: You're crazy I'm nervous about 1.e4 in case my opponent plays the Sicilian, but I'm always happy to see 1...e5.


1... c5 2. Nf3	the traditional response



2... e6	a line that I haven't seen before. I'm sure that it has a name and a following, but from here on out, I'm out of book, which is probably exactly what Black wanted.
	2 comments archduke_piccolo (2340) on 09-May-07: Quite playable and well known to theory (not that it's well known to me!): 2...e6 leads to the Scheveningen and related systems (Paulsen, Taimanov), in which Black intends to develop his bishop at e7. far1ey (1200) on 12-Jul-07: Isnt there also the kan? Perhaps I am wrong but the kan usually is a e6 Nc6 a6 Qc7 setup


3. d4	White tries to follow the book moves anyway
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2340) on 09-May-07: This is still the "usual" response, bearing in mind that White can, just as in other lines, adopt instead a "Closed Sicilian" with 3.d3 or 3.Nc3. Not that the Closed Sicilian is likely to have Black trembling in his boots...


3... d5 4. exd5 exd5	Opens up the e-file, which at this point is probably not an ideal situation for either side, but since White has the tempo, black in is even more trouble.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2340) on 09-May-07: Now 3...d5 really is unusual! True, the move is desirable in order to free up Black's game, but it seems premature this early. However, it appears to have been something of a favorite with Frank Marshall. Play might continue 4.exd5 exd5 5.Be2 Nf6 6.0-0 Nc6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Nbd2 ... when it's hard to say if Black will be able to generate enough attack to offset that isolani at d5.


5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Bg5 c4	Locking down the queenside and hampering development by White's light-squared bishop.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2340) on 09-May-07: This lockdown is temporary, as with b2-b3 at some point later on, White can free it up again. e2 is not an undesirable square for the KB either. I find this kind of move difficult to assess - easy to play and difficult to justify. It often has a serious strategic downside, but here it does have this virtue: it obviates the emergence of an isolated pawn at d5. On the other hand, d5 will remain forever a weakness.


7. Qe2+	Developing with check and preparing 0-0-0, though it does lock down the White bishop for the forseeable future.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2340) on 09-May-07: (?!) Rather surprising decision! That c4-pawn might prove useful if Black manages to conjure up an attack against the Q-side castled king!


7... Be7 8. O-O-O O-O	Both sides have castled, white has better development and better center control while black has slightly more space and much more secure King position. I give white the slight edge right now, despite the hampered bishop.
	2 comments archduke_piccolo (2340) on 09-May-07: A reasonable assessment, though I'd call it "unclear". A GM might take a different view. With kings castled on opposite sides, we can expect to see fireworks, with both sides attacking. If it were Black to play here, the slingshot move ...a6, in order to throw forward the b-pawn (...b5, ...b4) would be one way to begin an attack... far1ey (1200) on 11-May-07: White is ahead in development true, but he needs two moves to get his bishop out and even then there is only the useless e2 square. In those two moves black can develop two pieces so it is rather even development wise. I like blacks position as 0-0-0?! castling into an attack looks bad. a b5!? pawn move sac would be worth looking at.


9. Re1 Bb4	Bb4! While it might not seem all that great off hand, it completely compromises White's king position. White has no way to prevent the trade and no way to take the back on c3 without compromising the attack or severely weakening the King.



10. a3 Bxc3 11. Bxf6	Bxf6? Almost certainly not the best move. It allows black to win the b2 pawn and develop his queen with tempo while pointing her straight at the even weaker king down the a1-h8 diagonal.



11... Bxb2+ 12. Kxb2 Qxf6 13. g4	g4?? White tries to weaken Black's king with a pawn rush, but neglects the bishop on c8.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2340) on 09-May-07: Rather a panicky reaction to the way events have gone recently. Maybe White ought to seek Black's views on queen exchanges, with 13.Qe7.


13... Bxg4 14. Bg2	White finally moves the bishop, but it is still doing no good doesn't appear that that will change in the near future.



14... Bxf3	Removing the defender of d4 so that the Queen can access the King.



15. Bxf3 Qxd4+ 16. Kb1 Nc6 17. Red1 Qb6+ 18. Kc1 Nd4	Nd4??? Black wins with the simple c3. White has nowhere to go and no way to prevent Qb2. However, black was to caught up in trying to trade pieces down because of his three pawn advantage to see that he had a mate. This is another reason why the "guidelines" in chess are often meant to be ignored. It is much more important to see the position than it is to memorize catchy little sayings about Knights on the Edge...
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2340) on 09-May-07: Too true. I'd probably reduce the question marks to one, as at least this mistake, though horrible and disappointing for Black, doesn't compromise his game. But the thing about "guidelines": they are intended to guide, not to enslave.


19. Qe3 Nxf3 20. Qxf3 Qa5	Now black threatens to push the pawn to c3 again.



21. Rhg1 c3	Black has mate in two now, but white must give him the time to do it, which he White has no intention of doing.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2340) on 09-May-07: (??) Quel horreur! 21...g3 would have clapped a stopper over White's shenannigans.


22. Rxg7+	Black still has a way out with Kh8. However, grabbing material is so intuitive, he can't resist the hanging rook.
	2 comments archduke_piccolo (2340) on 09-May-07: (!!) A "technical" sacrifice, but if you haven't seen it before, well done for spotting it! far1ey (1200) on 11-May-07: "However, grabbing material is so intuitive, he can't resist the hanging rook." Well usually when my opponent hangs a rook I look twice at the board...


22... Kxg7 23. Rg1+ Kh8	if Kh6, then Qf6, Kh5, Qg5 .



24. Qf6#	The moral of the story, as much fun as catchy phrases about chess are, the thing to remember is that they are only helpful hints, not rules that are set in stone. Make your moves in response to the position you are in, not the cliche advice of someone you've never met.