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1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6
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Philidor’s Defense. |
 
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3. Bc4
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Steinitz Variation. |
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3... h6
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Almost off book. Queen covers g5, so I wouldn’t play h6 until white and moves the d pawn. Black doesn’t have much development, compared to white’s deployment of knight and bishop. |
1 comment
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4. d4
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Qe7 seems to favor black, but I’m partial to exd4. |
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4... exd4 5. Nxd4
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Nf6 maybe… |
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5... Bd7
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Definitely off book. |
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6. Bxf7+
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What white loses here is made up in pawns. |
1 comment
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6... Kxf7 7. Qh5+ g6 8. Qd5+ Kg7
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Ke7 was probably better. |
1 comment
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9. Bf4
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Seems like an error. Black should defend with c6 or better yet, Nc6.
11. Nxc6 Bxc6 12. Qd3 Kh7 |
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9... Nf6
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This practically forces white to play Qxb7. Black will protect the rook by dropping the knight. |
1 comment
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10. Qxb7 Nc6 11. Nxc6
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Black cannot afford even trades and should move the queen to e8. |
1 comment
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11... Bxc6 12. Qxc6
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Rb8, probably. |
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12... Be7 13. Nc3
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White will likely castle soon. Black should bring the rooks to more central files, Rf8 or Rb8 is still good. |
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13... Nh5
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Moving the knight to the edge of the board limits its power. |
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14. Be3 Nf6 15. O-O-O
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The queen side castle was definitely best, throwing the rook into a clear file. Black should still pull rooks in, Re8, Rf8, Rc8… |
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15... Qd7
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Again even trades are best avoided at material disadvantage. But white sees Qc4 as better. |
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16. Qc4 Rhf8 17. e5 Ng4 18. e6 Qc8
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I think Nxc3 blocks white backing that forward pawn with a rook. If white trades queens black makes up three points, otherwise white just takes that undefended knight.
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19. Qxg4 Rf6
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Pushing c6 beats positioning the rook where white’s bishop will pin it against the king. Black cannot interpose or do anything but trade rook for bishop. |
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20. Bd4 h5
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The counter threat is a delaying action, but does advance a pawn. Black c6 blocks Nd5, but Qf8 could be marginally better. |
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21. Bxf6+ Bxf6 22. Qe4
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Qe4 both backs the forward passed pawn and puts pressure on the rook. Rb8 might be black’s best bet. |
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(1898)