So I've actually been semi-successful in establishing a chess club in my little podunk town. Today we had a meeting where seven players showed up, and I had two games I felt were very interesting. These were both long games, played without a clock. I have a tournament next weekend (where I'm seeded 19th out of 21 players in my section, among those who have registered so far, so I'll definitely be getting some good strong opposition, at least by my Class D standards).

I'd love thoughts on these two games as I work on getting my game tuned over the next week. I have already gone over them at the club with both my opponent, and a ~2100 rated kibbitzer. I've also done a once-through with Houdini. Specifically because of this, I'm choosing not to post them with any annotations, because I want fresh opinions, rather than jut thoughts on whether Houdini is right or not about X. Any thoughts will be much appreciated!

http://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game...r.php?id=83338

http://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game...r.php?id=83339

Argh. The log-out monster just ate a long post.

Some of the quicker thoughts:

1) I know it's a legit opening and all, but as white, all the Bc5 variants just make me lick my chops. "I get to play d4 with tempo *and* there's one less defender on the kingside? Shut up and take my money!"

2) Your opponent in game 1 spent moves 9-12 doing everything he could to open up the middle of the board and thus maximize the influence of your bishops. I wonder if he would have played f4, too, if it wasn't pinned. Mighty generous of him. You rolled him pretty nicely after he handed you that sort of positional advantage.

3) That final set of exchanges in game one was hella complicated. Good for you if you calclulated it all out in advance. If not, well, you earned it with a superior position to begin with. White's pieces were just buried. I kept wanting to find a good spot to exchange sac for white, but it was hopeless as long as his knight was buried.

4) In the second game, I'm not a fan of 16. Bd3. You've accepted a very weak e3 pawn in exchange for opening some lines and getting some piece activity. I applaud the choice, but now offering exchanges should be the furthest thing from your mind. It sucks that his bishop controls a really nice diagonal and some key squares, but you'll just have to work around it. After those exchanges, black should have a pretty pleasant game I'd imagine, just controlling e4 and leaning on e3 until either it breaks or something else breaks trying to hold it. It was very kind of him to immediately relieve you of the burden of protecting that pawn, and handing you a mobile central majority in the process. You rolled him up pretty nicely from there. These are the kinds of games I'd lose a lot when I was class e-ish. I'd trade down into an "even" endgame and be mystified when my opponent got there four moves ahead of me.

24. Rxe5 winning a pawn in the second game

also, the exchange french with c4 might as well be a d4 opening, and you know how kyle feels about d4...

About the same as I feel about the French. If they're going to play that garbage, but as well make it miserable for everyone.

Agree with Kyle's point 2) - I knew someone who used to play these set ups as Black before they became fashionable and this was exactly the kind of position he used to get a lot.

I did wonder about 17.... Nf4 rather than Nxg3 - not sure whether its better but might keep some more options open for later.

In game 2 - 10....c5 looks just wrong in my eyes - surely the whole point is to play Nbc6 and put pressure on White's centre without allowing passed pawns?

The endgame play by White looks pretty convincing though - there may have been quicker ways to finish it but that's never a concern, you were always promoting first.

Qg6 in game 1 is just bad tactically. He blundered twice with Rxd4 and Qxe1 (instead of Nf1 each time). Your plan was good, but Red8 first with threats of discovery (Bxe4 Rxe4 Qxf2 Qxf2 Bxf2 Kxf2 Rxd3) would have left him no good options. Speaking of Re, not sure what that guy was ever doing there. That was the only move I looked at in that game that was an instant WTF because the queen needs to move and the R never wants to be there in the middlegame, so Qe7-Rfd8 instead of guarding that way.

Agree about Re1 - it almost always wants to be back on f1 to protect f2.

On the 30th move for White can he try Qg5+ instead of Nf1 (or Rxd4)?