|
This game shows a reasonably tight contest. The initiative is rests with white for a majority of the game. However black isn't without his opportunities. A timely pawn snatch results in white having a better game, but accurate play is required to ensure the advantage prevails.
The real purpose of this annotation, is really to learn for myself (as I've only been playing a few years, and annotating helps me uncover possibilities that I'd missed). Possibly this could be helpful to other intermediate level players too.
|
|
|
1. e4
|
Currently I'm waivering towards a preferance for d4 as a first move, which seems to inject an element of dynamism into the center. Anyway here I play e4 aiming for probably the Ruy (a line I am beginning not to like). |
 
|
| |
|
|
1... e5
|
Double Kings pawn |
|
| |
|
|
2. Nf3 Nf6
|
Petrovs defense. A line I'm not particularly familiar playing but havent experienced much difficulty combatting in my past games. Without knowledge of the variations, I'd assess that this line is fairly easy for white to maintain the first move advantage well into the middlegame. |
|
| |
|
|
3. Nxe5
|
next few moves are standard. To provide a brief explanation, white first move advantage denies black from an immediate recapture owing to the threat of Qe2. Once black recaptures the pawn via his knight, white stakes a claim for the center. And black does likewise. From here its a race to castle, with white aiming to pressurise blacks advanced knight whilst simultaneously developing pieces into active positions. Black is likewise aiming to develop and castle as quickly as possible. |
|
| |
|
|
3... d6
|
Some play Qe7 here, although I've never come across Qe7 from a stronger opponent - possibly oweing to obstruction of the kings bishops development. d6 is a fine move here in any case |
|
| |
|
|
4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5
|
last two moves contest the center (and consolidating blacks advanced knight) |
|
| |
|
|
6. Bd3 Bd6
|
both developing to active squares for kingside castling |
|
| |
|
|
7. O-O O-O 8. Re1
|
Looking at the GM database, c4 is the usual continuation. And possibly slightly stronger. As it retains the option of a later Re1. (Its usually better to hide your intentions - here Re1 announces itself quite predictably). |
1 comment
|
| |
|
|
8... Re8
|
Reenforcing e4. When the E file opens, the option to trade rooks is available which benefits black slightly. |
|
| |
|
|
9. c4
|
undermining the d pawn |
|
| |
|
|
9... c6
|
reinforcing d5 |
|
| |
|
|
10. Nc3
|
aiming to crack the kingside open |
1 comment
|
| |
|
|
10... Nxc3 11. bxc3
|
Very nice doubled pawns. Which will inevitably lead to an isolated center pawn for black |
|
| |
|
|
11... Bg4
|
a strong pin.. which contrains both knight and queen and threatens to bust up whites king pawn barrier. |
|
| |
|
|
12. Rxe8+
|
I remove the pesky Rook to avoid any prospect of a future Rxe1, Qxe1, Bxe3
|
|
| |
|
|
12... Qxe8 13. Bd2
|
Creating the threat of a cheap pawn trick with Bxh7, Kxh7, Ng5 , Kg7, Qxg4 winning a pawn with good prospects |
|
| |
|
|
13... Qd8
|
Qd7 is better here defending g4 and the weak b pawn. |
|
| |
|
|
14. cxd5
|
to isolate blacks central pawn |
|
| |
|
|
14... cxd5 15. Bg5
|
I reply in kind with a bad move of my own, rather then play the logical a3. The intention of this move was to provoke a pawn weakening.
I was hoping black overlooked the exchange Bxf3, Bxd8, Bxd1, Rxd1, f6. Which leaves black with a much better game oweing to whites poorly placed bishop |
|
| |
|
|
15... Qc7
|
Instead black opts to form a battery threatening to capture the h pawn with check. Whilst doubling against the c pawn |
|
| |
|
