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I think these GameKnot Tactical Exercises have improved my gameplay. This is one of the best and most positional blitzes I have played online here. Still, it was not perfectly played, merely well played. I need more practice. |
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1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6
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Fighting the Pirc Defense against a 1900+ player. This can get deep very quickly. |
 
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4. Be2
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A quiet yet flexible move. I decided the Austrian Attack was too flashy. Be2 allows me to transpose to a few different variations. |
3 comments
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4... Bg7 5. f3
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Redundancy or overprotection? |
3 comments
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5... O-O 6. Be3 Nbd7 7. Nh3
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I am able to do this without fear as the c8-Bishop is temporarily blocked. |
1 comment
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7... c5 8. d5
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Choosing to keep the center closed while grabbing space. |
1 comment
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8... a6
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Preparing the Pawn Storm. |
1 comment
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9. a4
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This pawn will be very important in the upcoming conflict. |
1 comment
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9... b6 10. Nf2 Qc7
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Supports a push on the c-file. Also prepares for checking tactics along the a6-f1 and a7-g1 diagonals once my King castles short. Castling long would be lunacy. |
1 comment
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11. O-O Bb7
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Both Black Bishops are fianchettoed. If my pawns are weakened I will be prone to sniper attacks from both long diagonals. Furthermore, the Rooks are connected. Black's strategic ideas are made clear. He wants to continue advancing Queenside, possibly trade Rooks grabbing the a-file and either pin or skewer the c3-Knight or force it off the edge of the board using the dark-squared Bishop. On the other hand, I want to remove the active dark-squared Bishop, hold the center and forge through the middle as Black's flank attacks run out of fuel. I usually have good results with ascending pawn chain formations so I think I can last a while here. |
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12. Qd2 Rac8 13. b3
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Creating a temporary skewering liability to stave off a c4 push. I probably should have played Bh6 first but I was not making deep analyses in this very short game. |
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13... Rfe8
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Yep. I should have played Bh6 first. |
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14. Bh6 Bh8
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The Bishop still lives. |
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15. Rab1
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Protecting the Rook. |
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15... e6
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Black begins to contest my center. |
1 comment
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16. Bc4
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The next series of moves were made instinctively as the clock dipped under a the minute mark. |
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16... Ne5 17. Ng4
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Ng4?: 18... Nfxg4 19.fxg4 Nxg4 and I go down in material. |
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17... Nxc4
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Black missed it too. |
2 comments
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18. Nxf6+ Bxf6 19. bxc4 exd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. cxd5 c4 22. Be3 Rcb8 23. c3
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Success! I held the center after the first major onslaught. |
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23... b5 24. axb5 axb5 25. Bd4 Bxd4+ 26. Qxd4 Qc5 27. Qxc5
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I realize now I could have gained a tempo with Rd1 instead. |
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27... dxc5 28. Rfd1 b4 29. cxb4 cxb4
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Thinking has now resumed. This is disturbing. I now need to get the King into the fray to hold off these passed pawns. Sigh. I wish I had that extra tempo now. |
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