Annotated chess game: Game Number 19 - 62nd GK Tournament Round 1

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ANNOTATED GAME

Game Number 19 - 62nd GK Tournament Round 1
freddz123 (1855) vs. fradec (1747)
Annotated by: freddz123 (1959)
Chess opening: English opening (A16)

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Welcome to the 19th of my matches! I know it has been quite some time since I last annotated one of my games (or at least since I last typed it up for gameknot), but I've been busy with coursework followed by revision at college. Enough with my excuses, lets get down to the penultimate game for me in the GK Tournament 1st Round. By this point I was fairly confident of progressing to the 2nd Round, having successfully defeated all of my opponents at least once. If I was asked, then I'd have to point at fradec as the more difficult of my opponents, but having already defeated him with Black I was confident of keeping the advantage with the White pieces and ensuring my progression to the next round.

1. c4

Start off with my standard English Opening. Karpov describes the English as best for when you wish to "avoid long theoretical variations and rely more on 'understanding'", which is why I have a strong preference for it when playing OTB games. I haven't been playing long enough to have a great repertoire of openings, so I chose the English as my game to ensure I could be competitive without having to spend alot of time studying many variations.

1... Nf6

This move is full of possibilities, but the one I think is most popular is 2.d4 which transposes into the Indian Defence.

2. Nc3

As a true advocate of the English lines, I instead stick with them. 2.Nc3 doubles my attack on the d5 square, beginning my normal strategy of central control from the wings with an eventual fianchetto on the cards.

2... e5

Probably considered the main line response.

3. g3

Normally I would go with 3.Nf3, forcing Black to look at the e5 Pawn. 3.g3 isn't a line that I play or am experience in at all, but since I'm using Gameknot as a place for me to practice my chess and experiment I felt it was a good idea to test the line. The idea was to begin my fianchetto earlier than normal, strengthening my centre. Having finished the game I think I'll probably stick with 3.Nf3 from now on :o)

3... Bb4

I like exchanging Knights for Bishops, so this move wasn't something that worried me. I guess it's all about personal preference, and I feel that my Bishops are much more useful during a game so am normally more than happy to exchange. I could force Black to decide whether or not he REALLY wants to exchange with 4.a3, but I prefer to continue with my normal development.

4. Nf3

Lots of choices. I could put the question to Black with 4.a3, or I could fianchetto my light-Bishop with 4.Bg2 or develop my Knight. I had expected Black to hesitate over the Bishop-Knight exchange so figured it didn't really matter which order I played Nf3 and Bg2, so sent my Knight out first. It adds a little pressure on the central e5-Pawn so I hoped to force Black to defend that in some way before being able to continue with his plans.

4... Bxc3

I'm sure I'm not the only person surprised by this move. It forces me to deal with the Bishop rather than immediately continue my development (or take the e5-Pawn which is currently only defended by the offending Bishop), gives me doubled Pawns on my Queen-side and thus slightly weakens my Pawn structure. But it seems a bit of a waste on behalf of Black, who now will inevitably lose his Bishop. I think I'd have advanced the central Pawn to e4 which forces White to waste a move by moving the Knight a second time and denies the e4 square to White.

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5. dxc3

OK, so I double up my Pawns. However, the d-file is looking nice and open for my Queen and Black must still make a move to keep the e5 Pawn safe.

5... d6 6. Bg2

Finally get my light-Bishop into the fianchetto. Looks fairly even right now.

6... O-O

I think a development move would have been better, perhaps Nc6.

7. Be3 Nc6 8. h3

I'm not sure where this got away from me, but I don't like the position I'm finding myself in. I think it's still fairly even, but I dislike weakening my King-side after Black successfully weakened my Queen-side earlier. Starting to believe that my best bet is to go on a major offensive, send my Pawns into attacking positions and keep my opponent on the back foot, reacting instead of being able to make a move by choice.

8... Bf5

I prefer 8...Be6 9.Qa4 Ne7 10.O-O Nf5 11.Bg5 h6.

9. Nd2 Qd7 10. g4

I begin to implement my new policy of attack. Black's Bishop can only move to one of two squares, either g6 or e6. No good is 10...Be4 11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Bxe4.

10... Bg6

Best of the two options I think. I feel that Be6 would've cramped Black's position, which is what White is obviously aiming at by the advance of the Pawns. Whereas Bg6 continues to block White's long castle.

11. b4 h6

Black gives his Bishop an escape route.

12. O-O

Still looks pretty even to me, I wouldn't have minded either colour at this point.

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12... Rfe8 13. Qa4 e4 14. Rfd1 a6 15. Qb3 Qc8 16. a4 Ne5 17. a5 Bh7 18. c5 d5 19. Nf1 c6 20. Bf4

Starting to slightly swing in White's favour. I probably should've written something about the previous 8 moves, but they all seem fairly obvious to me. This is an aggressive move, trying to force something to happen and gain a measurable advantage.

20... Ng6

Allows White to move his darkside-Bishop to the attacking d6 square. I think Black's best move was Nc4, a more attacking move and keeps the Bishop from occupying d6.

21. Bd6 Nh4

Black attempts to distract by further threatening my weakened defences.

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