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1. e4
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Freeing the queen and dark-squared bishop. |
  1 comment
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1... c5
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1 ... c5 Currently the most popular response to 1 e4 - known as the sicilian defence. Immediately stakes a claim in the centre by attacking d4. |
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2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3
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Preparing for d4. |
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3... d5 4. Bd3 e6 5. O-O
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Castling the King into safety before proceeding with queenside development. |
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5... Nf6
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The pressure on the e4 pawn mounts. |
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6. e5 Nd7 7. Bb5 a6 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. d4 cxd4
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At this stage Black already has the upper-hand with a far superior pawn chain and a strong foothold in the centre. White's loss of control in the centre will limit the activity of the pieces in the later stages of middle-game. |
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10. cxd4 c5 11. b3 cxd4
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Leaves the e-file pawn unprotected. |
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12. Nxd4 Nxe5
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And white has no pawns in the centre; on reflection this is, probably, the end of the start of white's downfall. |
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13. Be3 Bd6 14. Nc3 O-O 15. Nce2 Ng4
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Attacking the h3 pawn. |
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16. Bf4
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By attempting to protect the h-file pawn I neglected to see the fork 16 ... e5. A fatal error which leaves me a minor piece down. g3 would have been a far better move, or Ng3. |
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16... e5
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Forking the bishop and knight. |
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17. Nc6 Qc7 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. Bxe5 Qxe5
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A pawn for a minor piece leaves white down in material and black is threatening 20 ... Qxh2 mate. |
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20. Ng3 h5 21. Re1 Qd6 22. Qd4 h4
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Attempting to force the knight away for 23 ... Qxh2 |
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23. Nf1 h3 24. g3 Bf5 25. Rac1 Be4
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Leaves the knight on g4 hanging. |
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26. Nd2 Bg2 27. Qxg4
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Material is even again, though black has a distinct positional advantage with the queen, bishop and h-pawn in threatening positions whilst the black king remains in safety. |
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27... Rfe8 28. Nf3 Re7 29. Nh4 Rae8
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Doubles the rook on the e-file. White will have to be extremely careful to survive. |
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30. Re3 Re7xe3 31. fxe3 Qb6
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Pins the pawn on e3. The white king already looking trapped by the bishop and queen. |
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32. Nf5
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Threatening 33 Qxg7 mate. |
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32... g6 33. Nd4
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A mistake; the pawn is unpinned but is undefended against the black rook. |
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33... Rxe3
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Both material and position in blacks favour now. |
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