Since White didn't play 1.e4 but 1.e3, it's already called the Van 't Kruys Opening from White's first move on. I don't think this defence for Black has a particular name. @jkarp: The Nimzowitsch Defence is 1...Nc6 (not Nf6), but only if played against 1.e4, just a s theSicilian is only 1.e4 c5 and doesn't work against 1.d4 or other opening moves.

The thing about White's first move in this game is that it is likely to transpose into something more recognisable; the Van't Kruys hardly has an independent significance. The thing looks likely at this stage to become a 'King's Indian attack' from White's point of view, not that it signifies any real aggressive intent so far.

i like my bishops better

I like my knights.

This is not bad, but I think 2.Nf3, 2.d4 or 2.c4 are more common and better.

I go with jkarp here. The reason why you tend to move knights first is that it is easy to figure out where they should go early on (Nf3; Nc3). The bishops can wait a move or two. Now Black can play 2...e6, blocking the bishop's line to the f7-square, or, even better, 2...d5, hitting the bishop, forcing it to move a second time, and at the same time taking a large bite of the centre of the board.

At the early stages of the game it is rarely clear where the best squares are for the bishops. Knight it does not matter much because they are not hindered by pawn structures.

sometimes a c enter pawn should be moved first

@jkarp: this is no transposition, because the two knights defence is 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6. White didn't move his pawn up to e4 and Black didn't play ...e5.

I think black could develop independently of what white is doing since white is refuses to take the bull be the horns.

@jkarp: after 3...Ne5 he can defend his queen and bishop at the same time with 4.Qe2.

All the same, 3...Ne5 would be a reasonable move here, with the idea 4.Qe2 Nxc4 5.Qxc4 d5 and Black would have had a fine game. But much better would be something like this: 3...d5 4.Bb3 e6 and Black would have a big lead in development.

u mean Ne5 but then Qe2

I don't really like this; the knight is pinned now, for example. Better would be 3. ... d5, opening lines with a tempo on the bishop (the bishop is forced to move).

This move is safe enough provided Black is aware of the pin that has appeared on the h1-a8 diagonal. I much prefer 3...d5, though, and even 3...Ne5!? seems better.

what do you guys mean when say a pin

What is a pin: right now black can not the knight on c6 because in so doing he would lose a piece of great value I.e the rook

@goldmedal20: elyhim's explanation is right, a pinned piece cannot move because it's either an illegal move (would place you in check) or because behind the pinned piece is another piece that has greater value (e.g. if a white bishop is on g5, a black knight on f6 and a black queen on d8, the knight cannot move because white would be able to capture the queen).

Ne5 isnt best

Ne5 was better than b6.

@jkarp: 4...Ne5?? 5.Qxa8 and moreover his c4 bishop is also protected now.

@jkarp - White's move was actually quite clever, as it puts paid to any ideas of an exchange sac by ...Ne5; Qxa8 Nxc4 (not that Black would have got enough in the way of space or time for it); nor is ...Nb4; Qxa8 Nxc2ch on the cards as the a3-knight has c2 covered as well. I would probably play 4...Bb7, here, and think about following up with 5...Na5; or 5...e6 and then 6...Na5.

this is a blunder Qxa1 u got lucky

Agree with counto.

This mistake should have lost a rook. I can see what Black was trying for, but events have overtaken him (see my previous comment). Having said that, I do not believe that Black would have gained enough of a lead in mobility to justify (make good) the Exchange sacrifice (5.Qxa1 Nxc4, supposing the White Knight was not on a3).

It should be law that if you play ...b6 you should play Bb7 immediately afterward. When I teach students chess I tell them that they can win a nickel for every right now for the right reasons(can;t just be luck) and I take a nickel for every wrong move. So far black would owe me 10 cents.

He couldn't have won a free piece. The queen could have moved and defended the bishop at the same time.

This is messing from white. Knights shouldn't develop to the edge of the board - they've less impact there as they can go to fewer squares.

Besides, 5.Qxa8 wins the Rook for nothing.

White had no real option here: he had to take the rook, after which he would have had a winning game. This has all the hallmarks of a very inexperienced player. There will come a time - not too distant - in which he will be aware of pins, skewers, forks an what not without really thinking much about them. But to reach that level of 'peripheral awareness' he has from now on to make a conscious point of looking for them and the potential for them - from both sides' point of view.

15 cents now!

He forgot about your rook!

This still allows 6.Qxa8.

I would demand 50 cents. It is really bad to make a move even when you know it is wrong!! Kinda like what should happen if you forget about your undefended rook in the corner, lol

I can't stress enough this point that jkarp made right here! Don't assume your opponent will miss playing the best move -> always look for any checks, captures, and threats that he can respond with and choose your move with that in mind.

Dont assume plus Nxc4 or Qxa1

This point was made to you before - never assume your opponent will forget something. You've been quite lucky here so far what with hanging a rook and a piece; you won't be lucky against better players.

(??) White could have come out of this with a big edge. If the Knight moved to a3 to protect the bishop, why did he not recapture with it? True, 6.Nxc4 was nowhere near as good as 6.Qxa8, but it would have made sense, and kept the game level. Now Black could have won at least a minor piece.

I learned something from tihs game.

Alright who said you could not make money at chess. Like taking candy from a baby.

Nxa3 then after Qxa1 Nc2+ or if Bxa3 thaen move rook

counto's line looks best.

Id=counto is correct. Black ought to have played 6...Nxa3. If then 7.Qxa8 Nxc2ch 8.Kd1 Nxa1 9.Bb2 Nxb3 (Desperado! The Knight is a goner anyhow) 10.axb3 and Black would be ahead a bishop and two pawns - roughly the equivalent of a whole rook in front. White could have limited the damage a little with 7.Bxa3, but would remain a bishop behind after 7...Rb8, say.

Ok now I would accept this move given the dire state of the position for both sides. At lest you finally decided to defend the rook.

neither do u

White seems to be a little behind the times. He has a kind of a plan - more a hope - involving the f7-square. But without the light square bishop that stood at c4, he can not make this attack good. 7.Qxa8 was still the best, and 7.Nxc4 at least playable.

u got lucky dont assume! u did this in your other games ud get wooped by me and jkarp if u did this

Agreed with the forgoing. Never, ever, trust your opponent. Always assume that he is a sneaky chess fiend of diabolical cunning with an an unerring knack of playing only the best moves. Except he's not a grandmaster, so don't go frightening yourself with it! So if you see the possibility of his making a bad move, don't go pinning your hopes upon it, as when he makes a better move, you won't be in a position to deal with it. Question: what would you have done had White taken your rook at a8 at any time in the last 3 moves?

Good question! I would have resigned more than likely. I would give $1 for the first player who says they should resign.

Any move other than 8.Bxa3 would have been silly. Now, for the piece, White has a lead in development. But the problem he has is that his pieces are scattered, nor does he have any open lines for attack. Black has a big advantage here. White lead in mobility isn't anywhere near enough for the piece.

Not 'trying to take the knight' - merely chasing the knight off. A reasonable move, but I would have preferred 8...d6, or maybe 8...g6 in order to mobilize the bishops.

@Jkarp remember our last game where I chased your pieces around the board "with a purpose" of gaining time and space at your expense. It is the cunning of the master player to turn your own moves against you. Checking the advanced piece is often a good idea when 1#. you are about to start a major offensive, #2 when you can develop your remaining forces at his expense

u need to learn not to assume and your rating will go up

@cdeburca, I don't know what you're seeing, but 9.Ne4? Nxe4 doesn't provide White with any mating opportunities that I can see. It just needlessly exchanges a piece while behind.

Obviously cdburca was deceived by the optical illusion of the Bishop at a3!   But 9.Nh3 was probably best, as White can't really afford exchanges right now.

Again, 9. Ne4 is better, getting the knight in the centre of the board rather than at the edge. It can't be captured because of 9. ... NxN???? 10. QxP# ***Edit*** - ha! Yeah, I forgot the LSB is now a DSB. Ignore me...

Good move: cuts across White's King side castling option ... for the moment. But I would have preferred 9...Bb7 I think. The reason is this. White's Queen would be forced to move - a gain of time (tempo) for Black. But the kicker is that the Queen would be forced to play 10.Qg3 as any other move would lose material, for instance 10.e4 Bxe4, or 10.Qe2 Bxg2 forking Rook and Knight on the h-file. The Queen move to g3 doesn't help Black all that much (other than the loss of time White has to accept), but that's OK, it doesn't improve White's position either. This is the sort of occasion in which it is reasonable to 'hope' the opponent will make a mistake - when you know for certain that no response to the move you have just made will improve your opponent's position relative to yours.

This is a very good move for black! @Ion except 10.d3 shuts the bishop down.

no it wont not if he castles

I would not have played this here, owing to the weakness that now comes into existence on the light squares. I prefer the solid 10.d3, with the view to castling on the K-side, then pushing the e-pawn to the 4th rank.

dont plan stuff like this worry about castling or something other than that it just wastes time

What check are we talking about here? OK White might try 11.dxc5 bxc5 12.Bxc5 and after 12...Qa5ch defend by 13.b4. Now what? Black daren't play 13...Rxb4, not because of 14.Bxb4 (winning the exchange), but this horror: 14.Qa8ch! Qd8 (forced) 15.Qxd8ch Kxd8 16.Bxb4 winning a whole rook.

Not a good move since after 11.dxc5 bxc5 12. Bxc5 is good for white.