Annotated chess game: A tactic-ful game!!

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ANNOTATED GAME

A tactic-ful game!!
tag1153 (1412) vs. jstevens1 (1603)
Annotated by: jotheblackqueen (1200)
Chess opening: Reti opening (A09)

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1. Nf3	1. Nf3 - this is called the Reti Opening. Develops a piece and lends flexibility as to which pawn to push.



1... d5	1......... d5 - the most popular response to the Reti according to the GK database, controls e4 and c4.



2. c4 e6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 c6	4. ........ c6 - I maintain control of the squares e4 and c4, developing a piece in the meantime. White backs up his d pawn with e3 and then I take on c4, losing control of that square, but there is a possibility of a knight outpost on d5.
	2 comments archduke_piccolo (2332) on 11-Mar-08: The game has transposed in the meantime into a Queen's Gambit Declined; Slav, or Semi-Slav Defence. This can lead to some very exiting and complicated chess. dmaestro (1647) on 15-Mar-08: Black's position is much more complex and active than it might look. Given the rating difference, it might have been more prudent for white to exchange pawns.


5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3	8. Bd3 - moves bishop back to d3 to try and avoid it being trapped methinks.
	2 comments archduke_piccolo (2332) on 11-Mar-08: A standard continuation. 8.Be2 is also playable, but 8.Bb3 is not so well motivated, having little future on the a2-g8 diagonal. Black can play 8.(Bb3) b4 9.Ne2 Bb7 10.0-0 Bd6 with a fine game. We are now into the highly complicated Meran System... dmaestro (1647) on 15-Mar-08: White is playing solidly so far, but the complications have just begun.


8... Bb7 9. Bd2 a6 10. O-O c5	10........... c5 - hits out at the pawn on d4, this will work in black's favour very soon.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2332) on 11-Mar-08: At move 9 or 10, White could have essayed e3-e4... At this juncture, Black could have played 10...b4, though there doesn't seem to be anything against the text move.


11. b3	11. b3 - to try and halt a possible pawn roll.
	2 comments archduke_piccolo (2332) on 11-Mar-08: In similar positions, a2-a4 is the usual response. Here, however, the move order has left e4 unavailable to the c3-knight after 11.a4 b4, since a bishop already stands at b7... dmaestro (1647) on 15-Mar-08: white is begining to worry more about blacks pawn roll than counterplay, not a good sign for white


11... Be7 12. Re1 O-O	12. .......... 0-0 - I now complete my development.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2332) on 11-Mar-08: 11...Be7 was a pragmatic move, avoiding possible pawn-forks after e3-e4-e5.


13. e4	13. e4? - tries to establish a strong centre but this allows a tactical melee beginning with cxd4.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2332) on 11-Mar-08: Thematic - but there's the danger with thematic moves. Here it is the right move at the wrong time (it would have been better earlier, and maybe will be good later)... Maybe White had to try 13.Be2 or maybe 13.Bb1 by way of preparation. Already, though, one feels a sense of uneasiness about White's position. 13.dxc5 looks distinctly unhealthy, and Black has ...b4 in the wind, driving white back.


13... cxd4 14. Nxd4 Ne5 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Bc2 Bc5 17. Bf4 Qxd1 18. Raxd1	18. Raxd1 - white is down a piece for a pawn. I follow the maxim - if up on material exchange. I therefore exchanged queens.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2332) on 11-Mar-08: Probably White had to reconcile himself to the loss of and important pawn after 13...cxd4, as 14.Nxd4 Ne5! was going to cost a piece on account of the tangle on the d-file. The prospect isn't very attractive, though: 14.Ne2 (say) Nxe4 15.Bxe4 Bxe4 16.Nexd4 Bd5 etc. Black has the extra pawn, the bishop pair on an open board, a fine outpost for the bishop...


18... Ng6 19. Bd6 Bxd6 20. Rxd6	20. Rxd6 - more wood is cleared from the board and I maintain my 2 in material.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2332) on 11-Mar-08: White has an active game - even a good position - but Black's extra piece is decisive.


20... e5 21. Red1 Rac8	21. .......... Rac8 - skewering the knight and bishop - white now falls further behind on material.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2332) on 11-Mar-08: There might have been some chance for White in going for further simplification - not the usual recipe when material down (unless there is some prospect of exchanging pawns), but occasionally worth more than a passing glance. Here's a plausible line: 21.Nd5!? Nxd5 22.exd5 Rad8 23.Rxd8 Rxd8 24.Bxg6 hxg6 25.Rxe5 Rxd5 26.Rxd5 Bxd5. Now, this series of exchanges would not be especially unwelcome to Black, it is true. Indeed, she would still be winning. But the ending isn't elementary either...


22. Nxb5 axb5 23. Bb1 Bxe4 24. Bxe4 Nxe4 25. Rb6	25. Rb6 - tries to snatch a pawn back and hoping to gain two queenside passers but my knight has other ideas......



25... Nc3	25......... Nc3 - defends b pawn and attacks a pawn and rook. White could save the a pawn by playing Ra1 but he elects to throw in the sponge!
	1 comment timbentley (1584) on 12-Mar-08: 26. Ra1? (Rd2 is no better) Nxa2 27. Rxa2?? Rc1#