Annotated chess game

Actually a backward pawn has to be on a open file to be a backward pawn. Here, as the annotater states the problem with this move is the weak white squares - especially e4. This is known as a stonewall setup (usually played as black).

The Stonewall Attack (with c2-c3 to come) has its points. It's not very easy to break down (unless you know what you're doing), and it's quite a good starting point for a K-side attack. Even Botvinnik used to play this Stonewall setup with the Black pieces (i.e. with White having a tempo extra), and with success. But these days the thing is considered too rigid for viability at the top levels of Chess. I've played it a few times on GK myself (as Black)...

"A backward pawn has to be on an open file to be a backward pawn"? Where does this come from? Not only is it utterly false; it's nonsensical. An open file is one with NO pawns on it.

! and more importantly, placing the bishop where it effects the weak e4 square.

5.Nc3: is also bad - striking out at the centre with c4 is better. 6.h3: A waste of time, here Bd3 is probably better when Bxd3?! can be met with cxd3! covering the e4 weakness. After Bd3 Bd6 is probably best with the position being relatively equal (although I'd give black a slight edge here simply because of the weak white squares in white's position.

Also 5.c3 is thematic if White really wants a Stonewall setup. The f1-bishop can go to d3 or e2 as he chooses. The h3 move is also thematic here, broadly speaking, with g4 to follow with the beginnings of a pawn storm on the K-side...

I'm not to sure about this move, it seems after a3 in the game continuation black's bishop is in the middle of nowhere... Then again, by exchanging on c3, black increases his control over e4.

Maybe White could try 8. Nxe4 instead. 8...Bxd2+ obviously loses (9. Nxd2) so Black plays either ...dxe4 or ...Bxe4. Then, after 10. Bxb4 and ...Nxb4, White could get in Ne5. Black would have to be careful about kicking it away with ...f6, because of Qh5+. On the other hand White would then have to watch out for ...Nc2+, picking up the Ra1.

?! Ridding white of his bad bishop can hardly be good. white will not mind the doulbed pawns because after c4 he can play cxd5 getting rid of the doubled pawns. Instead 0-0 or Qd7, keeping the strong knight on e4 is best

I prefer 11.Bd3, getting rid, one way or another, of Black's well-posted bishop. If 11...Bxd3 White can consider retaking with the pawn instead of the queen, thus neutralizing the e4-weakness.

An interesting move (not quite a blunder). White closes off the queenside and can always rid of the doubled pawns later with c4. A plan for white could be to play c4, Bd3, and after ridding of the bishop and the doubled pawns white can then double on the b file with a nice game.

12.Bd3

A good idea by black, white is underdeveloped but I think he can follow the plan i listed above by simply taking here on d5 and after black takes back the position is relatively closed - giving white time to develop and take advantage of the fact he can use the b file.

? Ne5 was unnecessary and throws away the position for white - as the annotater states the Nc6 was doing nothing but perhaps more significant is that black can now play Qh4+ at some time - causing white some trouble. Bd3 is better.

I would prefer Qh4+ Ke2 then perhaps f6 to open the file. With the queen on h4 giving check black ensures that white cannot castle and this combined with the active queen and an open f file should give black an advantage.

I also prefer to "get in" 15...Qh4+. White really has to play 16.Kd2, as after 16.Ke2 Black can choose between 16...dxc4 and 16...Qg3 with attack.

The annotater is correct, earlier Bd3 would be a good move but now that black has the open f file and all sorts of nasty checks coming Bd3 isnt great. Then again, its hard to suggest an improvment for white - perhaps something crazy like Qd2 and 0-0-0!?

Castling is not possible with the B on f1, and Q-side castling scarcely comes into consideration in such an open Q-side.

  !

Looks to be the natural follow up but instead of 19.exd4 as played next move - i think that perhaps dxe4! is better as to avoid the queen swap (which would be good for white) and to pressure d4.

Not that white is complaining - the queen swap relieves some pressure.

In view of Farley's idea, maybe respond to Rad1 with ...Rd3. Assuming White exchanges, then he can take on g2 and the d-file has been (temporarily) closed

Seems to be good - saving the pawn but the pressure on the second rank after Rdd2 will mean black almost certainly wins a pawn back (although there is no real forced line) Here I like Rad1! challenging the d file and activiating white's rooks. After Rxd1 Rxd1 Rxg2 Rd7! c6 white will nab the b and c pawns and march down his pawns and win. Meanwhile black will find it hard to counter this as Rg3 is met with Kd4. Remember that an active rook in the endgame is usually worth a pawn (sometimes even two pawns). Reply: Ah, missed Rd3+ was only considering Rxd1... Thanks pikket.

True - but this cheap mate threat is easily met with Rad1 when white should have an advantage.

Actually, after 23. Rad1 ...Rd3+ (anyway) 24. Rxd3 (forced) ...exd3 25. Kxd3 ...Ra2, Black picks up the a-pawn and shouldn't be worse.