Annotated chess game: Let's Play Chess

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ANNOTATED GAME

Let's Play Chess
pascalbercker (1652) vs. yttrio (1634)
Annotated by: yttrio (1533)
Chess opening: Sicilian (B22), 2.c3, Heidenfeld variation

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This game, though not full of wild and crazy tactics, was one of my best games on GameKnot. It was a relatively even game up until the end. It also was the first time (and currently the only time) I encountered the situation of bishops of opposite color in a GameKnot game. Most of the analysis is pretty straightforward, but it should be instructional.

1. e4

King pawn opening, very popular and solid.

1... c5

The Sicilian defence, an opening I enjoy playing as black.

2. c3

Alapin's variation. The pawn on c3 supports an eventual pawn on d4.

2... Nf6

This move develops the knight with the tempo of attacking the e4 pawn.

3. e5

Attacks the knight and removes the pawn from danger.

3... Nd5

Removes the knight from danger and moves to a central location.

4. d4

The pawn thrust that was supported by 2) c3.

4... cxd4

Trading of central pawns to open up the c-file.

5. cxd4

Completely opens the c-file. The battle for this file will come into play later on in the game.

5... e6

I was still going off the database at this point. The top two options for black were d6 and e6. I prefered e6 because d6 seemed to temporarily lock in my black bishop. I had plans of developing my white bishop to b7, so I didn't view e6 as locking in my white bishop.

6. Nf3

Standard developing move.

6... b5

This was the point where the game left the database. As I mentioned before, the plan is to develop the bishop to b7 and take control of the long diagonal. The move b6 was also a possibility, but b5 was a nice little trap. If white plays spontaneously 7) Bxb5, he loses the bishop to 7) ... Qa5 , forking the king and bishop. The only way to defend both threats is 8) Nc3, after which black wins a piece with 8) ... Nxc3. This trap is a good one to watch out for. Besides setting a trap, b5 also takes up more space on the queenside after being eventually backed up by a pawn on a6. This is an example of a good trap: one that improves your position while giving your opponent an opportunity to make a blunder. The only potential downside to this move is that it weakens the c5 square, and this will come to show later in the game.

7. a3

Of course, my opponent was too good to fall for the trap. Instead, he stops a possible bishop check at b4.

7... Bb7

Developing the bishop. The other option was to immediately play a6 (which is the intended pawn set-up) and to play Bb7 next move, but I figured it would be better to leave the trap still in the air, just in case.

8. Bd3

It's now clear that white is definitely not going to fall for the trap. Instead, he clears the way to castle kingside.

8... a6

If white castles, the trap no longer exists. This move supports the b6 pawn and moves into the structure I had planned.

9. O-O Nc6

Develops the knight and puts pressure on d4.

10. b4

Solidifies the pawn structure and provides an excellent knight outpost at c5. This move also limits the mobility of my black bishop, whose only developing move is on e7. A good, solid move.

10... Qb6

I was a bit torn between Qb6 and Nb6 at this point. Qb6 has the immediate threat of winning the d4 pawn, but Nd6 is a much more strategical move. Nd6 would prepare my knight to infiltrate at either c4 or a4 (probably c4), which would put it at a good outpost. Nd4 would also start to clear up the long diagonal for my white bishop. I ended up going with Qd6, which may have been a small mistake.

11. Be3

Defends the pawn on e4 while developing the bishop.

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