Hi all,

I am actually a decent chess player, but I need to get back to the player I was about 1 1/2 years ago, when I was playing daily, and reading a lot, and going through a lot of strategy.

Right now, I find myself in the middle of a tournament, and I think I can beat this guy to go into a 3rd and final game..

If you don't want to help me mid-match, I understand, But I just am looking for a better understanding of the game I am in, and want to discuss it because I think I am in a crucial spot right now.

This game is from a random tournament, and obv there is no money or anything involved, so I am not angling a bet or anything... I am just looking to see if anyone is willing to discuss the game with me to help me play a little better..

Cheers

http://www.chess.com/echess/analysis.html?id=41252378

At first glance I would play 0-0 with the idea of keeping the black king in the centre e.g. aiming to take on c5 and ply Nd6+.

Other candidate moves include Nd4 (with the main threat of Bb5+). I can't see any others. Nd6+ simply Bxd6. Other knight moves, Bxe3 is powerful because rook is gaurding b5.
I don't think Bxf7+ works, but I might be wrong.

King to d2 to c1 to get the rook to e1 looks a bit slow...

so personally I would go with 0-0.

Note that Qh4 stuff is on the cards for black...

There's no issue with helping you analyze the game once it's done, and that will help you play better.

However, helping you during the game is not ethical and is likely against the rules of your game.

alright, i mean i am just doing this as a free random tourney, but I understand..

let's discuss it post-game!

woops!

sorry ddnt realize

ignore my post then i guess

Alright the game has ended..

I decided to get a premium membership to chess.com to sharpen up..

jewbinson if you wanna discuss this game I will go over it..

I was black

So, some comments -

First, I hate hate hate that qf6 variation you played. Its different if you'e playing the italian game and want to hold the center (the benefits of which are unclear) but in the philidor defense it just takes away the best square from your knight and blocks in your bishop.

You showed good restraint not taking the kight on d4

6.c5 is just an enormous blunder. I've commented on this move before, it seriously weakens your position. First, you get a backwards d pawn that is vulnerable and will probably fall sooner rather than later. Second, d5 can no longer be guarded with a pawn, and you can bet a good opponent will take advantage of that mercilessly. The ensuing exchanges where you needlessly drop a pawn show how week this move is. I may be mistaken here but I think theory these days plays nc6, and if white captures you get the semi-open b file as compensation for the doubled pawns.

I think 17. nc5+ by your opponent could have caused you a lot of problems. I would want to check that first though

Okay, I'm going to see if I can analyse both sides...

4...Qf6 looks really bad. It breaks 2 opening principals, and the position is nothing special, so I don't see why Qf6 should be played here. If you played it because you're trying to castle queenside asap, well that's just not a good starting plan. Qf6 blocks Nf6, a natural developing move, and brings your queen out waaay too early, with very little reason to do so. You should develop with Nf6 and Be7 as usual. g6 as an opening plan looks playable if you really want to pressurise d4, but I'm not really sure on the theory here. Anyway, the main point has been stated, and you should NOT ply Qf6 for therse reasons. Imo.

5...Be6 is not a good move. Bd7 was better, preparing maybe Nc6. Plus, with Be6, he always has the option of simply taking the bishop with his knight as a resource- which can only be bad for you.

6.Bd3 looks okay, but I'm not really sure it's best move. Be2 looks a bit better.

6...c5. Well, you permanently weaken d6 and d5. Not a good move at all. Pawn moves liek this must be considered with great thought, as they cannot be taken back.

10. Rb1 looks suspect: white needs to lash out on black's undeveloped position with something like f4 or h4 or 0-0 or maybe even Bf3.

d5 is a terrible idea, opening the centre with your pieces undeveloped and your king still in the centre. Avoid doing this in future.

Also note that having played Na6 earlier now looks really bad because your knight looks well out of position. It is stuck because of Nc7+. Not good.

15...Nh6 is disasterous, but the game is already lost.

I'm not going to bother analysing any more.

Look, the point is that your king is in the centre. Let's have a look at your pieces.

Knight on g8: Not developed.
Rook On h8: stuck because of this.
Knight on a6: Out of the game. All it's doing is gaurding the c7 square, but this isn't that important given that your king is in the centre.
And your bishop, rook and queen are liable to tactics.

If your opponent played Nc7+, for example, you can't castle, and he can basially sacrifice as much as he needs until you're finially in checkmate. You can't really do anything to stop this.

Lessons:

DON'T keep your king in the centre. In general, you should have castled by the 5th move of a game.

DEVELOP your knights early. Then bishop(s). Then castle. Simple.

Try to contest the centre in the opening.

DON'T develop your queen early. Think about moving your queen in general AFTER you have developed your knights and bishops (and maybe even your rooks).

A KNIGHT ON THE RIM IS DIM.

Develop your knights towards the centre, not on the side of the board.

Play MORE SLOWLY. Don't rush to win. Be patient.