Here is the post game computer analysis: game

going for the center

I wouldn't play d5.

normally i also play d5. @jkarp, in my (large GM) databases Nf6 is the most popular answer (say this is 100). Then comes d5 (50; so Nf6 is twice as popular) and only then e6, f5, g6, d6 , c5 (all between < 10 - 3 very roughly measured) And only behind these the even more exotic ones .... which doesn't mean that they are all bad (they are still played by some Masters  ) @geniusacamel, which doesn't mean it would be a bad move. And i still think at our minor level we shoudn't go too quickly for the more uncommon moves. But in the end it 's question, what play do i like and with what play do i have experience. Well, depending on white's move , there are several ways to get a specific opening position. d5 followed by e6 is normally spoken not really different from e6 followed by d5 f.e.

Now, why do you suppose geniusacamel 'wouldn't play 1...d5?' Personal preference, or some other reason more contextual to this game? From an objective point of view, 1...d5 is unobjectionable, but it is a line I very rarely play (played) myself. Instead, 1...Nf5 leads to counter-attacking Defences such as the King's Indian, Nimzovitch-Indian, the Modern Benoni, to name just three.

This is a matter of personal taste and style - no 'correct' move.

It is part of the book.

a very small book you have ... i think this is quite common (in my Db mentioned after c4 and Nf3, even "natural", since black leaves this possibility open. White has some nice open lanes now and still doesn't make clear which way he will go  

The game has transposed into a standard French Defence. The more usual route is 1.e4 of course.

I believe it's d5.

Transposes, as archduke_piccolo says.

in terms of popularity this is the second choice after d5 (100:1 !!), which is by far the most popular answer ! But again it still can lead to the same opening position  

And now the game has transposed into a Sicilian Defence! White is very unlikely to play 3.dxc5, but might well play 3.Nf3 and after 3...cxd4 4.Nxd4 we'd have a Sicilian for sure. But...

1. This transposes into a Sicilian Defense. 2. The guideline to trade as much as possible against a stronger player is wrong; it is counterproductive. If you force your stronger opponent into a symmetrical position, your opponent will have the advantage in all imbalances because they're all equal and your opponent can use all of them better, whereas an unbalanced position allows for winning chances for both players. Many a player have lost to a stronger player because of playing for a draw. Don't let that happen to you: webcast.chessclub.com

It is not a Sicilian Defence! It would become a Sicilian Defence if White were to continue with say, Nf3 allowing black to play c5xd4. As played it becomes a Benoni.

I would personally not play c5 in this position, simply due to the white's response of d5. In the Sicilian Defense, black has already played c5, so when white plays d4 - black is to reply with cxd4. Otherwise, if black would not take, this would lead to white playing d5, leaving black with a difficult position and loss of any hopes of initiative.

I'm very late to this party but the idea for Black is to either get into a Sicilian or Benoni as already mentioned, since it is d-pawn player I would assume White to play d5 & a Benoni formation is on deck.

sometimes a transposition (reorder of the moves) doesn't work, when the opponent doens't cooperate :lol This move hadn't been possible after d5, of course. It's the second choice (behind the more popular Nf3). And a second move with a pawn (not being an advance variation) in the opening is no good practice. You change very quickly your plan and your result is what you could have achieved with one move; so a bit a waste of time. Besides that either your DQB or LSB will be blocked now (without keep on moving your pawns), or you should play fianchetto at the K-side. I have always difficulties with a d5 pawn so early in the game.Now i know again why i play d5 myself :lol

The capture is the more usual, and in my view 3...Nf6 is not so bad an alternative. I don't know that the move played is so terrible, at that, setting up a kind of Czech Benoni defence.

This is a matter of taste and personal style. Just remember that the "exchange when possible" guideline is wrong. See my previous comment. This is not an inaccuracy. Instead, it transposes into the playable Czech Benoni Defense. I am not insulting your coach. I am disagreeing with your coach. Gameknot rules say You may not insult other players. If insult and disagree are synonymous, then Gameknot would be saying You may not disagree with other players. That is absurd.

Personally, I would struggle with this position. This leaves white's pawn deep in black's territory with tremendous potential for white square weaknesses. Overall, survivable.. but difficult against a high rated player.

I think Black should reserve e5 and play either Nf6 or d6; to satisfy development, Nf6 is probably best... after all White can't not defend it ... here e5 may not be truly playable as White gets a large edge due to the space advantage. Common ideas after Nf3 would be Nfd2 controlling c4 and perhaps a4 with the idea to occupy c4... Personally as White, I would play f4, allowing a position akin to a very favorable King's Gambit Declined

Nf3 looks very sound here;it brings you alreadyin trouble .... It is easy to protect. But ..... he wasn't after your pawn (though he will take it, when it pleases him  ) ....he thinks in space and control and now you are force to protect your pawn with a move that will block you. Though you'll have a nice white diagonal. But the DSB will be another story.

This is OK so far for Black...

This is the "positional" approach, I would have played f4

i would see this as forced ; but i don't like (myself) the position which you have created now. You have to caress your LSB now ! Bd6 would have been a bad one, locking up your central pawn !

The pawn move is definitely better, closing up the centre. It is true that the King's Bishop's scope will be limited, but that is the nature of these King's Indian-type defences. Once the centre opens up, the bishop often comes into its own. Black should now be planning a development that will lead towards one of: ...f5 and King side operations (my preference), or a general Q-side offensive with the pawns.

C++, this is how he talk. He always use of when he talks to me even though I use have all the time. It is just a very small issue. This is certainly not the place to call him out over such a minor issue.

Better than ...Bd6 (remember the three dots) since ...Bd6 turns the bishop into a pawn and thus you are essentially losing a piece for a pawn. By the way, it's "could have" not "could of" just in case you need to write a paper   geniusacamel, I just point it out. Nothing else.

Glad to hear this was a good move. I am experimenting with different openings, so I'll keep this all in mind. Anyway, yes I admit I'm not the best when it comes to words, but to me, potato patato, but it's not something that needs to be mentioned I think. I thank you geniusacamel  .

backing up the chain with a piece ...

The common move is Nc3. You're right.

Actually, castling is no rush in a closed position. But this is still a good move.

Black can not afford this ... well I was about to sat 'luxury', but that word doesn't really tell it as it is. Much better are developing moves such as ...Nf3, and then...Be7, or ...g6 and ...Bg7. Then castle. Black would then be in a position to think about the feasibility of the ...f5 break (it has to be admitted that White's light-square bishop has been placed against just such an eventuality). This pawn move could have waited upon White's playing Bg5.

you still have no pieces out. Develop two pawns and then your pieces is the device ..., first the N's and then the B's (very generally spoken). So yes Nf6 was the logical one here. The other N is a bit a problem here. It bthas to go to an unnatural field or it blocks your LSB. If a pawn (better a piece) then g6 to make Bg7 possible. Although e5 blockthis diagonal, but in your back rank it becomes crowded with pieces which can't find their place. So at least the B would be here out of the way for your other pieces.

jkarp, what I was expecting was the ...f5 and ...c4 breaks.

I think this is a big mistake. I think a good play myself is G6 instead to fienchetto

nothing wrong with that  

What is particularly painful about this position is black's behind in development. White now has N, B, and R mobilized. Black will be playing catch up.

White has focused on developing pieces and for that reason has a significant edge. White has also retained options, such as redeploying the Nd2 to c4 with a4 as a strong plan; Nd2 also presents the idea of f4 and with the Rook on f1 - a dangerous looking Kingside attack.

when you think that chess is about gaining space ..... then you would have evaluated this one otherwise ! When placing your N here , then only because you have a specific field in your mind. f.e.protecting f4 here (just an example), so your next moe would be Ng6. Otherwise a move like this is not preferable.

Better ...Nf6.

Blocking the protection of the d6 pawn in this pawn structure is not good. Remember that the base of the pawn chain is the weakest pawn.

funnily enough, if Black's idea was to play g6, Bg7, and 0-0 then it makes sense- whether Black can play f5 successfully is doubtful but Nf6, g6, Bg7, 0-0 & Nh5 is an extra move, and f5 would probably get blown up

ha, here the white N gives a demonstration of what i just descibed  

It won't be countered that easily : Wether you use you queen and it's blocked, or the DSB which will be blocked as well.

the black b N is glad to follow this example ! Yes, i can agree with you. Despite all things being said here above, this opening looks already an improvement, compared with what i saw before. The h pawn could have been replace by a piece development. And the d6 block could have been avoided; but yes it happens to all of us at our level   In general the situation is quite balanced. Only a slight advantage for white, my engine (Houdini on XP configuration) says += 0.5 (half a pawn). Another one - Stockfish 5 - is a bit more pessimistic +- for white (.88). They both suggested here Nf6, which looks like a confirmation, you should have played this before (when it still was a one ply movement; now you're losing time).

Chess is not about captures. Not the one who is left with the most pieces wins, but the one who has profited the most of his mobility and has been able to overrun the opponent, sometimes even though he has suffered from more captures ! It's always important to think in terms of space and mobility ! Nxb6 is a good possibility but is seen as less productive (+=) as the given move (+-)

This knight manoeuvre puts paid, by the look, to any future break-out by ...f5, or shenanigans based upon ...Bg4.

Here's a guideline for you to remember: when ahead in space, don't trade. When behind in space, seek trades.

Now I quite like Bc8-d7, Qd8-c7, g7-g6, maybe 0-0-0 and f7-f5.....

i guess so (not wanting to lose his white B;white is still the color you have some control of , despite the not developed bishop !) , or maybe he needs a defense of his landing place .... Try to think (also) within the plans of your opponent. He does not solely react on your ideas, especially when they are not really visible (elsewhere you admit you still have diffculties with thinking ahead). So it's possible he just follows his own plans .... of course taking into account your possibilities, whether you see them yourself or not ! But defending his B is quite probable here (when i make an unimportant move on the Q side, Nf4 is seen as a possible contination for black) , although Be7 is preferred ... Ng6 is also the engine move, so a good one here.

Weakening the King's field but after 10...Bh3 11.Re1, then what? White's play looks very python-like at this early stage.

Let's say he didn't move g3. Then you play Nf4. Yes he's going to lose the LSB but it's a closed position. Wouldn't white would benefit?

I agree; when behind in space, seek to trade.

TCP, I believe that C++ has just answered your question?

White could play a4 gaining space on the Queenside but White has a significant positional advantage, so nuance is not needed

Be7 would have been nice also, to control two juxtaposioned diagonals with your minor pieces (of course the dark diagonal was already under control of your Q) is always a strong positional advantage. I think restricting his K's possibilities is more important than chasing his R which is in fact a one move semi advantage. Often the R intends already to protect the e pawn .... Here it is an advantga ethat ypu played h6. It's more difficult for him to attack your Bh3, but i don't think that was your plan at that stage of the game  . Otherwise after Re1 - g4 and Ng5 this B move wasn't that secure ...

White could first play Bb5+ but retains that option

....as is keeping (getting) space and mobility ! But for us it's more easy to understand to focus on material. Well yes, could have been done earlier, but is now still a good move . Though both engines give you behind now (+-, about a pawn)

Bh3 also allows black to sort of gain some time in development as well.

well, in fact this is a recognition that your K-side is quite balanced now. Well done ! He needs an attack on the other flank to distract your pieces .... (my engines agree with him  ) And yes, time to castle .The f file can become important. So a R there is no show of luxury !

White has pretty much closed down all Black's potential counterplay on both wings. Look how deeply entrenched the f5 and c4 points are now!

I like 13. a4-s5, Nb6 retreats, Ne3 can return to c4, white has an advantage, maybe Kg1-h1 and Nf3-g1 is in the air,

when you want to prevent a5 .... play a5 yourself ! It also eyes at b4 , keeping your c5 more secure, which could be an interesting pawn to move ahead when circumstances are there .... (backline protection) Here my engines differ.One comes rather quickly with Nd7 as a good move, the other hesitates and only after deep thinking he is prepared to agree with that. That could mean.... you also have to think that deep ! I would have thought of a5 or maybe even more Rc8. His a5 is not probable at the moment (Qxa5!) and after B(Q?)d2 you can still do it. Btw did you have plans yourself at the K-side or did you underestimate his plans at the Q side ?