[Event "FICS rated standard game"] [Site "FICS freechess.org"] [Date "2013.06.09"] [Round "?"] [White "thekingofham"] [Black "Aul"] [Result "1-0"] [BlackElo "2900"] [ECO "C01"] [Opening "French"] [Time "15:01:00"] [Variation "Exchange, 4.Bf4"] [WhiteElo "2400"] [TimeControl "1200+20"] [Termination "normal"] [PlyCount "125"] [WhiteType "human"] [BlackType "program"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 e6 9. O-O Nd7 10. Bf4 {I have no idea what the theory is, but I figure from experience since Black didn't play Bd6, it might be a good idea to play Bf4.} Ne7 11. Bd6 {trying to take advantage of the d6 hole.} Nf6 12. Be5 Ned5 13. a3 {to prevent Nb4.} Be7 14. Rfe1 O-O 15. b4 {I decided that it might be a good idea to start a queenside attack.} b5 16. Ne2 {trying to get the knight to the c5 square via nc1, nb3 and nc5 but it could've been too slow.} Rc8 17. Nc1 Bd6 18. Nb3 Nb6 19. Nfd2 {to prevent nc4.} Ng4 20. Nf3 Bxe5 21. Nxe5 Nxe5 {I didn't feel comfortable with 22. dxe5 Qxd3 23. cxd3 rfd8} 22. Rxe5 Nc4 23. Rc5 Nb2 24. Qe4 {to put pressure on the c6 pawn.} Na4 25. Na5 {I literally missed taking a free pawn.} (25. Rxc6 Rxc6 26. Qxc6) 25. .. Nxc5 26. dxc5 {I felt like sacrificing the rook, I thought maybe I could put some pressure on the backward c6 pawn and win that way.} Qd5 27. Qxd5 {Not really sure why I played this move but I think it felt too chancy letting hte queens stay on the board.} exd5 28. h3 {escape route for my king to prevent backrank mate.} Rfe8 29. Kf1 {to prevent Re2.} Re6 30. a4 {I wanted him to take the a4 pawn so he could get 2 isolated pawns maybe giving me a chance to draw the endgame.} a6 31. axb5 axb5 32. f3 {to prevent Re4.} Rce8 33. Nb3 {with the idea to play Nd4 to protect the d-pawn.} Re2 34. Nd4 Rd2 35. c3 Rd3 36. Nxc6 (36. Ra3 Ree3 37. Nxc6 Rxc3 38. Rxc3 Rxc3 39. Nd4 Rc4 {(Rc3-c4) +1.18/1 0}) 36. .. Rxc3 37. Nd4 Rc4 38. Nc6 d4 39. Rd1 Kf8 40. Rxd4 Rxd4 41. Nxd4 Rd8 42. Nxb5 Rd1+ 43. Ke2 Rb1 44. Nd6 Rxb4 45. c6 Ke7 46. c7 Rb2+ 47. Kf1 Rb1+ 48. Kf2 Rc1 49. c8=Q Rxc8 50. Nxc8+ Ke6 51. Nb6 Ke5 52. Nd7+ Ke6 53. Nc5+ Ke5 54. Ne4 f5 55. Ng3 f4 56. Ne4 h5 57. h4 Kf5 58. Ke2 g6 59. Kd3 Ke5 60. Kc4 Ke6 61. Kd4 Ke7 62. Ke5 g5 63. Nxg5 {Black resigns} 1-0
Originally posted by hamworld So other than missing taking a free pawn, are there any critical moves I could've played before and after the so-called sac?
[pgn][Event "FICS rated standard game"] [Site "FICS freechess.org"] [Date "2013.06.09"] [Round "?"] [White "thekingofham"] [Black "Aul"] [Result "1-0"] [BlackElo "2900"] [ECO "C01"] [Opening "French"] [Time "15:01:00"] [Variation "Ex 1. Kd4 Ke7 62. Ke5 g5 63. Nxg5 {Black resigns} 1-0[/pgn]
I just wonder what you were trying to gain from the sac? It seems to me that you gave up a piece with greater value and at the same time balanced the pawn structure giving black an open file that you now cant contest because you lack the power.
After you play 32.f3 I think black just didnt realize the full potential of the position. He continued his plan to double the rooks on the e file without pondering what their purpose would be, open files are tools and since you have only one rook it only takes one to control a file... Imo at this point their are two things black can think about which should have been in the works even before this. First, get his king to defend c6, post his rooks on the open files and then push his kingside pawns. Second, play Rd8 and push his d pawn.
Originally posted by tomtom232 I just wonder what you were trying to gain from the sac? It seems to me that you gave up a piece with greater value and at the same time balanced the pawn structure giving black an open file that you now cant contest because you lack the power.
I guess I figured if I blockaded the c6 pawn, I'd have an easier time taking it and then eventually queen the advanced pawns.
Originally posted by hamworld I guess I figured if I blockaded the c6 pawn, I'd have an easier time taking it and then eventually queen the advanced pawns.
I wish I had more profound thoughts here...
I added an edit.
Well, you won but i think that was because you are a better player, not because of the sac.
Well, you won but i think that was because you are a better player, not because of the sac.
Yeah, you're right. Maybe instead of 15.b4 weakening the c4 square and letting black get a knight outpost there. I could've just played 15. c4 with similar ideas to the anti nimzo indian? perhaps 15. c4 Nb6 16.b4?!
Originally posted by hamworld Yeah, you're right. Maybe instead of 15.b4 weakening the c4 square and letting black get a knight outpost there. I could've just played 15. c4 with similar ideas to the anti nimzo indian? perhaps 15. c4 Nb6 16.b4?!
I am not good enough to decide which line is better but I would say after 15.c4 black may be better off playing 15...Nc7 to leave his b pawn with some mobility so he can play ...b5 or maybe ...b6-c5.
Looking at it 15.c4 does seems to pose more problems for black and makes me think plack should have played 14...b5 as he had no pressing need to castle.
Originally posted by hamworld So other than missing taking a free pawn, are there any critical moves I could've played before and after the so-called sac?
[pgn][Event "FICS rated standard game"] [Site "FICS freechess.org"] [Date "2013.06.09"] [Round "?"] [White "thekingofham"] [Black "Aul"] [Result "1-0"] [BlackElo "2900"] [ECO "C01"] [Opening "French"] [Time "15:01:00"] [Variation "Ex ...[text shortened]... 1. Kd4 Ke7 62. Ke5 g5 63. Nxg5 {Black resigns} 1-0[/pgn]
IMO in the Caro Kann white's most important piece is his King's bishop. Way to go just trade it off.😞
Originally posted by ChessPraxis IMO in the Caro Kann white's most important piece is his King's bishop. Way to go just trade it off.😞
Ouch. Actually, I looked a game where Karpov exchanged white bishops too. Only instead he played h4-h5 and castled queenside. Actually, that seems to be his go-to strategy. I wonder if it's because it could be a bad idea to castle kingside when you play h5?
Do you think if White is planning to castle kingside he should keep his light bishop?
Originally posted by hamworld Ouch. Actually, I looked a game where Karpov exchanged white bishops too. Only instead he played h4-h5 and castled queenside. Actually, that seems to be his go-to strategy. I wonder if it's because it could be a bad idea to castle kingside when you play h5?
Do you think if White is planning to castle kingside he should keep his light bishop?
Of course everyone has different ideas and can use their own ideas successfully. My coach often plays the CK and in his opinion one of the (often) problem pieces is black's Q Bishop. Often it is a troublesome piece for black to effectively develop. I used to play Bd3 in similar variations to exchange off the Bs. He clued me into his insights and convinced me that white's K Bishop often has potential to be the best piece on the board. Exchanging it seems to help black in many cases. (IMO)
I usually do well against the CK and some of my regular opponents have quit playing it against me all together. 🙂
Originally posted by ChessPraxis Of course everyone has different ideas and can use their own ideas successfully. My coach often plays the CK and in his opinion one of the (often) problem pieces is black's Q Bishop. Often it is a troublesome piece for black to effectively develop. I used to play Bd3 in similar variations to exchange off the Bs. He clued me into his insights and convince ...[text shortened]... ainst the CK and some of my regular opponents have quit playing it against me all together. 🙂
Hmm. If I play normally here, I can't see a major difference between Bc4 and Bd3.
I probably should just resort to attacking via 8.Ne5 Bh7 9.Bc4 to put black on the defensive(would prefer not to attack so early but that is probably the best use of the bishop) i.e http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1557371