Annotated chess game

If you want a bit of variety from 2...d5, I suggest the Owen Defence, 2...b6. Fond of the French as I am, I've sometimes played it by way of a change.

Hm. I'm not sure 3. ... d6 is the logical continuation to 2. ... a6. It's a weak enough move in itself - you need to contest the centre with d5 instead - but I've only once played against a6 in the French, when black continued with b5 and Bb7. For my part, I tried gaining space with f4 and got hammered down that diagonal.

I think ...c5 might have been better played on the 3rd move, possibly going in for some kind of Sicilian Defence.

I dunno; can they really advance and cause much damage? I'd be more worried about the pair of bishops pointing at your kingside.

Maybe now was the time to challenge White's central hold by 8...d5. But a move that White almost certainly have found annoying would have been 8...Nb4!

Wait, isn't Nb4 met by Qa4?

Black seems to have recovered some from the earlier moves. However d5 the thematic break is not possible here.

The situation has become very difficult. After White's 12th move, I might have been inclined as Black to strike out quickly on the Q-side to disrupt White's plans on the King's. As it was, 12.f5 was a more aggressive try than Rd1. After 12.Rd1 b5 13.f5 Nh8 (...Nh5!?) 14.Qg3 b4 and see what happens. At this the 13th move, White might have missed a trick: 13.f5! with a powerful attack.

I wonder if e5 would have been more successful.

How about 16...Nb4. I find these sorts of positions very difficult to defend, myself. White might have played 17.d5! here, with a right mess...

It seems to me so far that Black is hanging on all right.

Not sure if 23. Bc4 is the best. I'd prefer Nc4 myself, followed by hopping to the lovely d6 square with tempo. Black's a while away from kicking the knight out of position. If black opts to try 23. ... BxN, then white should be happy with the unopposed LSB.

So far Black has defended quite effectively, in my view. She has even conjured up some threats of her own.

Why not Rd4 Qc5. Seems to be an interesting pin of the white pieces. I would think that it would give you time to sort out the passive position.

I agree with zwarwiz: 28...Qc5 occupies the diagonal upon which all the major White pieces would have been standing, including the King.

ok thanks for info

Three fold repetition! is it an automatic draw or do you have to claim it does anyone know

You have to claim it. At that, you claim it in your own turn by saying that the move you are about to make will create a position that has already occurred twice during the game (it is immaterial when, so long as the following apply). Everything about the position has to be exactly the same: where the pieces stand, whose move it is, and all the possible moves have to be the same, too (which applies especially to the status of possible castling and en passant captures on the move). ++++++ On Gameknot, put in the claim on your own turn, then make the move.

Why keep trading down when you think your position is worse? Usually that amplifies the advantage of the opponent.

I think if you were intent on changing down, Jo, you might have been better advised to make sure you other pieces were actively placed, if you could. Though material is even, here, I agree that Black's situation is not a happy one. Getting your King into effective play is going to be bally difficult, whilst White's is free to roam at will.

Let us hope he exchanges, then...