Annotated chess game: Casual Game, https://itsyourturn.com

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ANNOTATED GAME

Casual Game, https://itsyourturn.com
Analysis of John Coffey vs. ML
Annotated by: john2001plus (1762)
Chess opening: Reti opening (A04)

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1. Nf3 Nc6 2. d4 d5	This could lead to the Chigorin Defense. According to Wikipedia, the opening violates classical principles because Black will be trading off his center pawn. I don't like this opening for Black because in Queen Pawn openings it is desirable for both sides to be able to move their C pawn, which Black sticks a knight in front of. White to play.



3. c4	According to Wikipedia, Black should play either 3... Bg4, which is the main line of the Chigorin Defense, or 3... e6. Here the move 3... dxc4 is not a problem because after 4. d5 Na5?? 5. Qa4+ c6 6. Bd2 White is winning. After 4... Nb8 White has a variety of good choices with 5. e4 being one of the best.



3... Nf6	I've been in this position countless times. I think that it is bad for Black because he allows White to trade off the Black center pawn and harass the knights. White to play.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 14-Mar-22: Any of 3...Bg4, 3...e6 or 3...dxc4 seem preferable. This knight move is justifiable only if Black is playing 'odds giving' style.


4. cxd5	Now 4... Qxd5 is not particularly great because it brings the Queen out too early and White then can play 5. Nc3 harassing the Queen followed by 6. d5 harassing the knight.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 14-Mar-22: After 4...Qxd5 5.Nc3 Qd6 6.e4 e5 7.d5 Nb8 Black does seem to get a more or less playable game. Not a position I'd like for Black, but I think not as difficult as the text.


4... Nxd5 5. e4	White gets a strong center while gaining a "tempo" forcing Black to move his knight. In essence, it is a free developing move for White.



5... Nb6 6. d5 Na5	I've seen this position a few times. White is winning. White to play.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 14-Mar-22: No move but 6...Nb8 ought to have come into consideration. From b8 the knight might have redeployed to d7. From a5, the knight has nowhere to go. Even 6..Nb4, bad though it would have been, would have been an improvement.


7. Bd2	The knight is lost.



7... Nac4 8. Bxc4 Nxc4 9. Qa4+	With a fork on the King and the Knight.



9... Bd7 10. Qxc4	Against a good player, Black should resign.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 14-Mar-22: Black might still obtain some value from this game: how to win winning games, and perhaps how to defend. No harm in continuing - even as an act of self-discipline.


10... b5 11. Qd4	With the Black Knights off the board, there is very little danger to the White Queen which is developed earlier than usual. This central square puts pressure on g6 and a7. Black is badly losing. His goal should be to castle, although in this position it is a bit tricky. I could see trying to harass the White Queen with e6 and c5 later.



11... Bg4	Opening principles say that you should not move a piece twice in the opening unless there is a good reason.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 14-Mar-22: Probably best was to bite the bullet and play 11...e6.


12. Ne5 Bh5	White to play.



13. Qc5	This threatens checkmate in 2 more moves. Maybe Black should play 13... Qd6 or 13... Qc8.



13... e6	Although I went on to win the game, in this position I missed a mate in three moves. What is the best continuation for White?
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 14-Mar-22: Slows White down by one move.


14. Qc6+ Ke7 15. Bg5+ f6 16. Qxe6#	Too bad I missed this. Black was forced to play f6 which took the defense off of the e6 pawn, but I did not see this in my calculation.