Author: Matt Thomas
Date: 21:07:02 02/28/04
I am hoping that I can get some feedback on my games. A computer can show you
blunders, but lacks creativity.
I decided to play some games at higher time controls.
These games are both Tournament 40mov/1hr + 20mov/30min.
I annotated them to provide insight on my game. Please feel free to critic them
fully - I know that my level of play isn't great, but I am trying to improve so
all comments are welcome, thank-you, Matt
I recommend ChessPad to review these PGN games.
==== The Games =====
[Event "Practice"]
[Site "home"]
[Date "2004.02.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Matt Thomas"]
[Black "Deep Sjeng 1.5 - Amateur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Opening "C42 Petrov: Three Knights Game"]
{Used Alekhine book} 1. e4 {Kings Pawn opening} 1... e5 {Old school reply} 2.
Nf3 {I attack the e5 pawn while developing my Knight.} 2... Nf6
{Black returns the favor.} 3. Nc3 {Protecting my e4 pawn.} 3... Bb4
{Black seeks to remove the Knight protecting the e4 pawn.} 4. Bc4
{I am unconcerned about the Knight since the e5 pawn is unprotected it would
lead to even piece trading.}
4... O-O {Black achieves King safety first.} 5. O-O {King safety.} 5... Re8
{Perhaps Black expects d4 and is preparing for an open file and a pawn after
6.d4 exd4 7.Nxd4 Bxc3 8.bxc3 Nxe4}
6. Re1 {Protecting the e4 pawn.} 6... Nc6
{Developing move with possible goal of d4.} 7. a3
{Put the question to the Bishop.} 7... Bc5
{Black is not ready to trade off the Bishop and wants to use it in conjunction
with Ng4 to attack the f2 pawn.}
8. b4 {I persuade the Bishop to move.} 8... Bf8
{That was a long trip - maybe a little far ?} 9. Bb2
{I have no serious strategy other than maybe capturing the e5 pawn or later
targeting the g7 pawn.}
9... Bd6 {Black now has 3 pieces protecting the e5 pawn.} 10. Nd5
{I seek to remove the Knight on f6 or maybe just to apply pressure.} 10... b6
{Preparing a wing attack.} 11. b5
{I seek to push the Knight from a useful post to weaken the e5 pawn for a
possible future capture.}
11... Nxd5
{Black seemingly removes some pressure, but this will lead to further
complications for Black. This was a bad move.}
12. Bxd5 {Nc6 is pinned and attacked.} 12... a6
{Black puts the question to the pawn : )} 13. bxc6
{Note that recapturing with 13...dxc6 will only make matters worse because of a
fork by 14.Bxc6 on both Rooks.}
13... Ra7 {Black sees the threat.} 14. d4
{I hope for 14...exd4 so that 15.Nxd4 dxc6 16.Nxc6 and another fork on the Queen
and Rook.}
14... exd4 {Yes!} 15. Nxd4 {I move forward with the plan.} 15... Be5
{Black sees the next threat and pins the Knight.} 16. Qf3
{I notice the weak f7 pawn and target it with the Queen.} 16... Rf8
{Another threat is seen.} 17. Qf5 {Threatening Qxe5.} 17... d6
{Threat parried and counter-threat applied to my Queen.} 18. Ne6
{Blocked and threating Nxd8 to force a sacrifice.} 18... fxe6 {Fork threat.} 19.
Bxe6+ {A check, threat and setup move.} 19... Kh8
{The only good move as I see it.} 20. Qg4
{Moving queen from danger, but still protecting the Bishop.} 20... Bxe6
{Threat removed.} 21. Qxe6 {Recapture.} 21... Bxb2 {Another piece is captured.}
22. Rad1
{I plan 23.e6. There is no worry of 23...dxe6 because of the Rook on d1 is on
target to the Black Queen.}
22... Bxa3 {There goes another piece, plus a little added protection to d6.} 23.
e5 {I know that I will still win the exchange so I push the pawn.} 23... Qh4
{24...Qxf2 is planned.} 24. exd6 {Will Black notice ?} 24... Qxf2+
{Check and there goes another piece.} 25. Kh1 {The King is safe here.} 25... Rf6
{An idle threat.} 26. Qe8+ {I know where the Rook will go.} 26... Rf8
{A forced move.} 27. d7 {A passed pawn!} 27... Qxc2 {But Black is too late.} 28.
d8=Q
{I really hope the temptation is too great and 28...Rxe8 because mate will
follow quickly.}
28... Rxe8 {Yes!} 29. Qxe8+ Bf8 30. Qxf8#
{Back rank mate. I wish I could say flawless victory, but I can't. This game
is only against the weak Deep Sjeng - Amatuer player. I still need work. My
sense of tactics is minimal and I still think I tend to overlook some better
moves. I play better with longer time controls. My previous games were of the
7 min variety. This game was played at Tournament Time 40mv/1hr + 20mv/30min.
This gives me time to evaluate positions and develop a sense of strategy. This
is my fist game at this time control.}
1-0
[Event "Practice"]
[Site "home"]
[Date "2004.02.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Matt Thomas"]
[Black "Deep Sjeng 1.5 - Semi Pro"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Opening "B15 Caro-Kann: Tartakower Variation"]
{Used Alekhine book. Stepped up to my first game against the Deep Sjeng - Semi
Pro player.}
1. e4
{I use the strongest opening I know - mostly because I just feel like it. I do
like to try other openings for variety. I have been reading about Leonid Stein
and his games and am thinking of pursuing the King's Indian when I develop a
better sense of tactics and strategy.}
1... c6
{I don't really know what this opening response is called, but I do notice that
it will prop up 2...d5.}
2. d4 {Might as well have them both out there to seize the center.} 2... d5
{Attacking the unprotected e4 pawn.} 3. Nd2
{I could have advanced the pawn but decide to use the Knight for protection
instead. If a capture occurs then I will have a Knight in a useful center
position. I always consider the 4 central squares to be the most use, followed
by a ring of squares surrounding those 4 central squares. I have noticed the
strength in pieces placed in these locations. I seek to have my Knight placed
well.}
3... dxe4 4. Nxe4 {I expected this outcome.} 4... Nf6
{Black seeks to weaken my hold on the center.} 5. Nxf6+
{I decide this move can be more beneficial than trying to protect the Knight.
If I try to use the Bishop for protection then I lose the d4 pawn. I could have
moved 5.f2 but that weakens my future castle. There are only 2 Black pieces
that can capture my Knight and if either are used then it only benefits my
position.}
5... exf6 {Black recaptures and exposes his King.} 6. Nf3
{I decide against Qe2 because it blocks my Bishop and could result in a boring
Queen swap.}
6... Bg4
{Why do computers always make this move ? The Knight is protected by the Queen
so I don't have to worry about opening the drawbridge on the Castle.}
7. Be2
{I decide that this will make the pin a much lesser threat and will make room
for castling.}
7... Bb4+ {Just because it can.} 8. c3
{There are very few good squares for the Bishop now.} 8... O-O
{Black takes the lead on King safety but takes a back seat on common sense.} 9.
O-O
{As planned. I decide to leave the poor Bishop alone because I can not stand
stupid give-away moves.}
9... Bxc3
{Okay what was this ? Did black decide to commit Bishopside ? There was no
good reason for this move and I really did not expect it from the Semi-Pro
player.}
10. bxc3 {Okay, if Black insists.} 10... Re8 {Black gains the open file first.}
11. c4
{I have plans Queenside and decide not to pursue a power struggle on the open
file at this time.}
11... c5
{Black feels a little agressive. Maybe the future threat of a passed pawn ?}
12. d5
{I decide that having 2 stacked pawns will not be as beneficial as a chain.}
12... Rxe2 {Black commits Rookiside.} 13. Qxe2
{Why not. If Black keeps throwing pieces at me I might as well take them.}
13... Na6
{Black is feeling a little overwhelmed and places the Knight in the worse
possible square.}
14. a3 {I cap the Knights adventure.} 14... b5 {Not a good move.} 15. cxb5
{Another free piece is taken.} 15... Nc7 {Well that was worth it for the fork.}
16. h3 {The Bishop is questioned.} 16... Bxf3 {A trade it is then.} 17. Qxf3
{Not the best placement for the Queen, but at least the drawbridge is still up.}
17... Qxd5
{Black is feeling spicy and decides that swapping Queens makes sense.} 18. a4
{I am unconcerned about the Queen since it only benefits me if swapped. I
instead protect the b5 pawn.}
18... Qxf3 {Black decides to trade even when behind in pieces.} 19. gxf3
{There is no fear in opening the drawbridge now.} 19... c4
{Making a run for the border.} 20. Bb2 {Step into my parlor...} 20... Nd5
{Black has an agenda and pawn promotion it is. The next bunch of moves results
from me dancing with Black in an attempt to prevent the promotion without losing
any pieces.}
21. Rfd1 c3 22. Ba3 Nf4 23. Kh2 c2 24. Rd2 Rc8 25. Rc1 Nd3 {Oh really now!} 26.
Rxd3 {Okay there is little threat left from Black.} 26... h5 27. a5
{My plan is pawn promotion and the chance of success is good.} 27... Kh7 28. b6
axb6 29. axb6 Kg6 30. b7 Rb8 31. Rb3 {Have to protect my asset.} 31... Kf5 32.
Bd6
{I know that this was not the best move since I probably could have just taken
c2, but I was considering making the game interesting and not taking c2 - but
instead chasing the King and Rook around.}
32... Rd8 {I feel no threat becuase if I lose the Bishop I gain a Queen.} 33.
Rb5+ {I mull around the idea of cornering the King around the pawn cluster.}
33... Ke6 {Black thinks the Bishop can be taken.} 34. b8=Q
{Hmmm. I wonder about the shelf-life of this piece.} 34... Rxb8
{It was a big threat.} 35. Bxb8
{I decide to keep the Bishop in the game and use it for the recapture.} 35... f5
{Black must have sensed my idea to corral the King and makes an opening.} 36.
Rxc2 {I decide against letting the pawn live.} 36... h4
{Black seems to have little strategy.} 37. Re5+
{I moved here because I could and because I want to force the King into a
corner, crevice or whatever.}
37... Kf6 38. Rc6+
{The following moves are my feeble endgame attempts to corral the King.} 38...
Kg5 39. Re7 f4 40. Re5+ f5 41. Rcc5 g6 42. Rc6 Kh5 43. Re7
{I decide that the rook will work best at h7.} 43... Kg5 44. Rf7
{I move here to block the King from escaping the box.} 44... Kh5 45. Bxf4
{The King can not move, but the g pawn can.} 45... g5 46. Rh7#
{No way out, mate.} 1-0
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