Sunday, April 10, 2011

A Chess Game on Several Points of View

There are many points of view of a chess game. The main ones are those of the two chess players. The others are those of observers. And still have the analysis done by computers. The game that follows is shown in three points of views: mine, who played with the White; of my opponent, who served as teacher; and an analysis of a computer with a rating of approximately 2000.

[Event "Let's Play!"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2011.02.16"]
[White "AcBrasil"]
[Black "ChessTeacher"]
[ECO "E92"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1900"]
[BlackElo "2093"]
[TimeControl "1 in 7 days"]

1.d4 Nf6
ChessTeacher: On his first move, White places a PROTECTED pawn in the center. This is one advantage of 1.d4 over 1.e4. Black replies with a flexible move. He knows the knight is well placed at f6 but is not yet sure whether the d-pawn shall go to d5 or to d6.

2.c4 g6
ChessTeacher: Here at move 2, Black continues in Hypermodern Style, not yet committing to a center pawn thrust.

3.Nc3 Bg7
ChessTeacher: Now 3...d5 is OK for Black [the Gruenfeld Defense] but I like the traditional King's Indian. White is allowed to build a wide pawn center while Black goes for an effective place for every piece.

4.e4 d6
ChessTeacher: Black's pawn move to d6 influences e5 and allows mobility for the c8-bishop.

5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5
ChessTeacher: Finaly we have confrontation in the Center. White can lock the center with 7.d5 or keep the tension with 7.Be3. Possible is 7.dxe5 also. That is the beauty of chess: There is often more than one strong move to choose from.

7.Be3
Me: I prefer to keep the tension on center and develop my pieces.

7... Nc6
ChessTeacher: Very wise student! Black plays to influence d4.

8.d5
Me: I think d5 is better for White here, but the tension decreases. d5 also forces Black Knight to retreat.
Computer: Until there, the moves are on the book.

8... Ne7
Computer:
Avaliation of position: (1.05) White is better here at this computer analysis.

9.h3 Nh5
ChessTeacher: So has this turned into a Live Game? I was expecting you to castle; never saw 9.h3 before. So I'll look for influence over at f4. Of course Black also thinking about ...f5.
Me: I played h3 to prevent Bishop or Knight to occupied g4 and how you said before: "That is the beauty of chess: There is often more than one strong move to choose from." In this present case, how to know if my move was good or no?

10.Nh2
Computer: (0.2) Inaccuracy - Perhaps better was 10. Bd3
(Best move (0.68) 10. Bd3 f5 11. O-O Bd7 12. Qb3 b6 13. exf5 Bxf5 14. Bxf5
Inaccuracy (0.2) 10. Nh2 Nf4 11. O-O f5 12. Nf3 fxe4 13. Nxe4 Bf5)

10...Nf4
ChessTeacher: You have to wait till the end of the game. Then we do a post mortem on it. Right now the question distracts you from focusing fully on the position at hand. Black is willing to lose the knight at f4 for the e3-bishop because that will open a long diagonal for the black bishop at g7.

11.Bxf4
Computer:
(-0.24) Inaccuracy - Perhaps better was 11. O-O
(Best move (0.08) 11. O-O f5 12. Nf3 fxe4 13. Nxe4 Bd7 14. Nfg5 Nf5 5. Bxf4
Inaccuracy (-0.24) 11. Bxf4 exf4 12. O-O f5 13. Qc2 fxe4 14. Qxe4 Bf5 15. Qxf4)

11... exf4 12.Nf3
Me:
To block f4-pawn.

12...f5 13.exf5 Nxf5

ChessTeacher: Black intends to dominate the center. Simple.

14.O-O c5
ChessTeacher: The struggle for d4 continues.

15.dxc6 bxc6
ChessTeacher: I am not too happy with Black's pawn structure. Can you find a way to provoke weaknesses and pick up some material?

16.Qc2
Me: Trying to put my pieces in good places and defending other that are under attack!
ChessTeacher: Yes, and doing a fine job of it. Black is thinking of Knight to d4, and if knights are traded, bishop to f5. Now I have to keep looking for something stronger than this.

16...Qb6
ChessTeacher: Right - Queen to b6 puts more pressure on White on the diagonal leading to the King and on the file to b2.

17.Kh2
Computer:
(-1.41) Inaccuracy - Perhaps better was 17. Na4
(Best move (-0.76) 17. Na4 Qa5 18. Rfe1 Rb8 19. Bd3 Nd4 20. Nxd4 Bxd4 21. Re4 Be5
Inaccuracy (-1.41) 17. Kh2 Rb8 18. Rab1 Re8 19. Qd2 Bxc3 20. bxc3 Qxb1 21. Rxb1 Rxb1)

17...Rb8

ChessTeacher: The battery on the b-file teams up with the bishop on g7 to keep pressure on b2.

18.b3
Computer:
(-1.61) Inaccuracy - Perhaps better was 18. Rab1
(Best move (-1.29) 18. Rab1 Nd4 19. Nxd4 Bxd4 20. Kg1 Re8 21. Qd2 Bxc3 22. bxc3 Qxb1 23. Rxb1 Rxb1+ 24. Bd1 Ba6
Inaccuracy (-1.61) 18. b3 Nd4 19. Nxd4 Qxd4 20. Ne4 Bf5 21. f3 d5 22. cxd5 cxd5 23. Rad1)

18...Nd4

ChessTeacher: Yes, but the pawn advance to b3 weakens the position of the knight at c3. Black will see if he can take advantage of that little detail.

19.Nxd4
Computer:
(-3.63) Mistake - Your position is getting even worse - you are now losing. The best line was 19. Qd2
(Best move (-2.02) 19. Qd2 Nxe2 20. Na4 Qb4 21. Qxe2 Bxa1 22. Rxa1 Bd7 23. Rd1 c5 24. Rxd6 Rfe8
(Mistake (-3.63) 19. Nxd4 Qxd4 20. Rad1 Qxc3 21. Qxc3 Bxc3 22. Bf3 c5)

19...Bxd4

ChessTeacher: Black's real target is f2.
Computer: (-1.09) Mistake - Your opponent made a mistake! Better was 19... Qxd4
(Best move (-2.46) 19... Qxd4 20. Rac1 f3 21. Bxf3 Be5+ 22. Kg1 Qf4 23. Rfe1 Qh2+ 24. Kf1 Bxh3 25. Qd1 Bd7
Mistake (-1.09) 19... Bxd4 20. Rad1 f3 21. Bxf3 Be5+ 22. Kh1 Bxh3 23. Nd5 Qb7)

20.Bf3 Bf5
ChessTeacher: You have gotten back control over the position. After the game is over we'll look at how each side can play more strongly.

21.Qd2 Be5 22.Rad1 Rbe8
ChessTeacher: Black rook at e8 influences the only Open File on the board. Nothing threatened at the moment --- getting ready!

23.Kg1 a5 24.Na4 Qc7
ChessTeacher: With the two bishops and well placed rooks and queen, Black is going to command as much space as he can before launching an attack.

25.Nb2 Qg7
ChessTeacher: Here at 25 Black moves to gain tempo on the knight while getting ready to push g-pawn.

26.Nd3 Bc3 27.Qc1 g5 28.Bxc6 Re7
ChessTeacher: Black's move 27...g5 was impulsive, seeking only an 'attack' and NOT LOOKING at what was hanging. The game is now strategically in White's favor, not just because he has won a pawn, but because he has won the battle for d5.

29.Ne1 Bb2
Me: Are you sure about the draw? It's a beautiful game and we didn't arrive at the endgame phase.
ChessTeacher: Of course you are correct; it is not a draw. Offering a draw is the last refuge of a loser! However, being a pawn down, Black will play for the draw by threefold repetition.
Computer: (1.81) Mistake - Your opponent made a mistake! Better was 29... Rc8
(Best move (0.64) 29... Rc8 30. Bf3 Qf6 31. Bd5+ Kh8 32. Nf3 h6 33. Qa3 Re2
Mistake (1.81) 29... Bb2 30. Qd2 a4 31. Nf3 axb3 32. axb3 Bc3 33. Qxd6 Re6)

30.Qd2 g4
ChessTeacher: Here at move 30 Black realizes that ...Bc3 does not work. So we play to mix things up on the Kingside.

31.hxg4 Bxg4 32.Bf3
Computer:
Inaccuracy - You slipped from a better position to an equal one. You should have played 32. Nf3
(Best move (1.37) 32. Nf3 Bh3 33. Qd5+ Kh8 34. Qg5 Bf6 35. Qxg7+ Rxg7 36. Ne1 Be5 37. Kh1 Bg4 38. Nf3 Rc8
Inaccuracy (0.68) 32. Bf3 Rxe1 33. Bd5+ Re6 34. Bxe6+ Bxe6 35. Qxd6 Re8 36. Rfe1 f3)

32...Be5

ChessTeacher: Here at move 32 Black is trying to defend everything, but has the feeling that White has another Tactic coming soon...
I hate using a bishop as a 'Tall Pawn' -- part of a pawn chain at e5 -- but now I can think about ...Ra7 if White takes at a5.
Computer: (2.54) Blunder - Lucky you! Your opponent blundered! The best move was 32... Rxe1
(Best move (-0.12) 32... Rxe1 33. Bd5+ Re6 34. f3 Bc3 35. Bxe6+ Bxe6 36. Qxd6 Qf6 37. c5 Be5 Blunder (2.54) 32... Be5 33. Bxg4 Qxg4 34. Nf3 Re6 35. Nxe5 dxe5 36. Qxa5 Rg6 37. Qd5+)

33.Bxg4 Qxg4
ChessTeacher: For the moment White can't go to a5 because rook at d1 would hang.

34.f3 Qh4 35.Qf2 Qh6
ChessTeacher: Black is behind in material and so plays desperately for attack on white King with Queen and Rooks.

36.Rd5 Bc3
ChessTeacher: Black missed the strong move 36...Rf5!. Now we struggle to keep knight out of f5.
Computer: (1.57) Mistake - Your opponent made a mistake! Better was 36... Rf5
(Best move (-0) 36... Rf5 37. Qb6 Rh5 38. Kf2 Qg6 39. Kg1 Qh6
Mistake (1.57) 36... Bc3 37. Nd3 Rfe8 38. Qb6 Re6 39. Rd1 Qf6 40. a3 Qg6 41. Nxf4 Re1+)

37.Nc2 Kh8
Computer: (2.14) Blunder - Lucky you! Your opponent blundered! The best move was 37... Rfe8
(Best move (-0.88) 37... Rfe8 38. Qb6 Qg6 39. Nd4 Re1 40. Nf5 Rxf1+ 41. Kxf1 Re1+ 42. Kf2 Qe8 43. Nh6+ Kg7 44. Qc7+ Kxh6 45. Qxd6+ Kg7 46. Qd7+ Qxd7 47. Rxd7+

Blunder (2.14) 37... Kh8 38. Rfd1 Re6 39. Nd4 Re5 40. Nb5 Rxd5 41. Rxd5 Be5)

38.Nd4 Qg6
39.Qh4
Me: Trying to defend my position, keeping hopes of attack.

39...Bxd4+ 40.Rxd4 Re2 41.g4 fxg3ep
ChessTeacher: At 41, Pawn takes Pawn en passant.

42.Rg4 Qf6 43.Qxf6+ Rxf6
ChessTeacher: The game how enters into a Four Rooks Endgame. It is very subtle. This is chess at its best! Three things are important: position, Position, and POSITION.

44.Rxg3 Rxa2
ChessTeacher: Now Black is looking at ways to win the pawn at b3.

45.Rg2 Ra3 46.Rb2 Kg7
ChessTeacher: Now the King becomes a fighting piece.

47.Kg2 Kg6 48.Rd1 Kg5 49.Kg3 h5
ChessTeacher: Now we are plotting to have a shot at f3 with check. Black hopes to win a pawn and the game that way. ???

50.Rd5+ Kg6 51.f4 a4 52.Rg5+ Kh6 53.Ra5
Computer:
(-1.05) Mistake - With that last move you went from roughly equal to having a worse position. Your best continuation was 53. Rb5
(Best move (0.12) 53. Rb5 Rg6+ 54. Kf3 h4 55. Ke4 axb3 56. R5xb3 Ra4 57. Rb4 Rxb4
Mistake (-1.05) 53. Ra5 Rxb3+ 54. Rxb3 axb3 55. Rb5 Rg6+ 56. Kh3 Rg4 57. Rxb3 Rxf4)


53...Rxb3+ 54.Rxb3 axb3 55.Rb5 h4+ 56.Kg4 h3

ChessTeacher: Very good! You have outplayed me. At move 55 checking with the h-pawn was weak. With a check by the rook at g6 Black could have made a draw. As it is Black has lost a pawn now and will struggle to make a draw - if possible!?
Computer: (1.65) Mistake - Your opponent made a mistake! Better was 56... Re6
(Best move (-0) 56... Re6 57. Rxb3 Re4 58. Rb6 Rxc4 59. Rxd6+ Kg7 60. Rd7+ Kg6 61. Rd3 Kf6 62. Kxh4
Mistake (1.65) 56... h3 57. Rxb3 h2 58. Rh3+ Kg7 59. Rxh2 Rf8 60. Rd2 Rc8)

57.Rxb3 Kg7
ChessTeacher: At move 55, Black had to play ...Rg6+ and head for the draw.

58.Rxh3 Rg6+ 59.Kf5 Rf6+ 60.Ke4 Rf7
ChessTeacher: Now I will give you a chance to display your Winning Technique.

61.Rg3+
Me: Let's try!

61...Kf6 62.Rg5 Ke6 63.Rd5 Rc7 64.Kd4 Rf7 65.f5+ Rxf5
Computer:
(77.08) Blunder - Lucky you! Your opponent blundered! The best move was 65... Ke7
(Best move (2.26) 65... Ke7 66. Ra5 Rf8 67. Ra7+ Kf6 68. Rd7 Kxf5 69. Rxd6 Rf7 70. c5 Rc7 71. c6 Rc8
Blunder (77.08) 65... Rxf5 66. Rxf5 Kxf5 67. Kd5 Kf6 68. Kxd6 Kf5 69. c5 Kf6)

66.Rxf5 Kxf5 67.Kd5

Me: I get the opposition! The game is over. Black hasn't nothing to do.

67...Kf6 68.Kxd6 Kf7
ChessTeacher: Yes. At move 68, if Black were a gentleman, he would resign.

69.Kd7 Kf6 70.c5 Kf5 71.c6 Ke4 72.c7
ChessTeacher: You did very well and took advantage of my mistake. Thank you.

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