How Not To Win A Game

Commentary by timepass

September 3, 2008

How not to win a game? This is an interesting game played by me at Chess.com. There are a series of dubious and very few good moves by both sides. I have tried to analyze my game here and have also included, what probably was white’s best response. I have also tried to include chess concepts, questioning some moves. Hope you benefit from my commentary. 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 the French is best met by white opting for the exchange variation 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bf4 Nc6 6.Bb5 leading to the position below One typically plays the 6...Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Be2 line here, but wanted to try something different so 6...Qe7+ (see diagram 1.2) intending Qb4+ and threatening the b2 pawn and the bishop. Bring the queen out early is not recommended...but black survives not because it was a good move, but for the fact that it was met with a weak defense. One probably recognizes that the queen is vulnerable, but what do you do about it? It pays to ask yourself “Are you playing a safe move or has your opponent played a safe move?” Diagram 1.1 What are white’s possible responses? 7.Be2, 7.Be3, 7.Qe2, 7.Ne5 and 7.Kf1 but what to play? Analyze each option to some depth and you come to the following conclusion: a) 7.Be2 looses tempo, advantage of a pin and lets black to plan its development [7...Qb4+ 8.Nc3 Qxb2 9.Bd2 Bf5] b) 7.Be3 also leads to a similar position but better than Be2 [7...Qb4+ 8.Nc3 Qxb2 9.Bd2 Ne4] c) 7.Qe2 leads to early exchange of queens and loosing the pin [7...Qxe2+ 8.Bxe2 Bf5] d) 7.Kf1!? though loses the right to castle, various lines of play from here will be interesting e) 7.Ne5!! an excellent move. Black's c6 knight is still pinned and the position for black is cramped. Diagram 1.2

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Commentary by timepass

September 3, 2008

Playing 7.Ne5!! results in a dominating position to white with black’s continuation 7...Qb4+ 8.Nc3 Qxb2 9.Bd2 (9.0–0 Qxc3 10.Nxc6 a6!

(10...bxc6 11.Bd2 Qxd4 12.Bxc6+ Kd8 13.Bxa8) 11.Re1+ Be6) 9...Ne4 10.Nxd5 (see diagram 1.3) Black needs to play a series of good moves just to stay behind. Analyze what the hasty 10...Qxd4 results in. The black king is vulnerable; the b5 bishop is temporarily immune due to the threat of knight fork on c7. White has a dominating position. Black is yet to develop its bishops and seek king safety. Diagram 1.3 The price of bring the queen out early. I will leave it to you to play the other variations listed above on your board and analyze the position. White played the weaker 7.Be3 and the game continued 7...Qb4+ 8.Nc3 Qxb2 9.Bd2 (see diagram 1.4) Better is 9...Ne4 10.Nxd5 Bd6 11.Rb1 Qxa2 12.Nb4 taking advantage of the pinned knight to threaten Nxa2 forcing 12...Bxb4 13.Bxb4 a5 leading to the position below (see diagram 1.5). The position is slightly advantageous for white with Ra1.

Diagram 1.4 9...Be7 a weak move by black, only if, responded to by white with 10.Rb1 Qa3 11.Ne5 O-O threatening to win a pawn and a knight for a knight. Diagram 1.5 White again played a desperate (cont from diagram 1.4) 10.Bxc6+ instead of a3!? or Rb1 attacking the queen. Invading the mind prevails to the presumed invasion on the board!

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Commentary by timepass

September 3, 2008

The game continues with 10...bxc6 11.Rb1 Qa3 12.0–0 0–0 13.Ne5 Qa6 14.Rb3 Bf5 (see

diagram 1.6)

Many of us hesitate to advance the pawns protecting the king. A similar hesitation here results in actually weakening the king safety rather than seeking chances of counter-play. 15.f3 a weak move intending g4 (also in turn giving time for black to consolidate); but why not play the stronger 15.g4 Be6 16.f4 seeking counter-play? The position, however, is already in favor of black.

Diagram 1.6 15...c5 16.Bg5 c4 again a weak move by black, stronger is cxd4 [16...cxd4 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Qxd4 c6 19.Rb7 Rae8 (not the immediate 17.Qxd4 Bxc2 18.Rb2 Qa3! 19.Rxc2 Bc5 20.Nb5)] (see diagram 1.7) In a game of weak moves, notice how the immediate capture of the d4 pawn by the queen can lose the queen itself. The game continues 17.Rb1 Rfb8 [17...Rad8 18.Qd2 Rfe8 19.g4 Be6] 18.Rxb8+ Rxb8 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 leading to the position below. (see

diagram 1.8) Diagram 1.7 20.Nd7?? the ultimate self-destruction, giving up a piece for nothing. Much better was 20.Nxd5 Qe6 21.Nxf6+ gxf6 22.Ng4 Bxg4 23.fxg4 and white still had a chance. Black finally gears up to finish the game with some good moves 20...Bxd7 21.Nxd5 Rb2! starting the final invasion 22.c3 Qxa2 triggering a series of mate threats and white collapses 23.Ne3 forced to protect g2.

Diagram 1.8

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Commentary by timepass

September 3, 2008

The game continued 23...Ba4 24.Qe1 Re2 25.Qc1 Bg5 (see diagram 1.9) though there is not much for white, previous exhibition of casual play by black would make 26.Qb1!? more interesting than 26.f4 that was played in the game [26.Qb1!? Bxe3+ 27.Kh1 Qxb1 28.Rxb1 black needs to keep an eye for back rank mate and play 28...Bf2! an excellent move that prevents a back rank mate and also tightens the grip]. 26...Bc6 27.Re1 Rxg2+ White resigned here. 0–1 (see diagram 1.9) 28.Kh1 Rxh2+ 29.Kg1 Qf2#. Diagram 1.9

I enjoyed when playing the game as I had always been in a good position in the mind of my opponent, but in reality, my moves could have easily been refuted by some good play by white. There were also several opportunities for white to bounce back. Lesson to learn, while it is acceptable to take risks in casual games, one should increase the level of play and not provide so many opportunities to your opponent to bounce back. I was probably lucky to win the game or should I say “White did not know how to win the game!” I hope you enjoyed reading the commentary and also had something to learn.

Your comments are welcome at “My 2 Cents” http://www.2centsfromguru.blogspot.com

I play online chess @ www.chess.com by the nickname “timepass”. If you wish to play me or become a member at chess.com please visit my blog and follow the link.

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