Annotated chess game: NB Open 2007

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ANNOTATED GAME

NB Open 2007
diemjay (?) vs. N.N. (1620)
Annotated by: diemjay (1739)
Chess opening: Reti opening (A04)

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1. Nf3	NB Open 2007.



1... c5 2. g3 d6 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. O-O e5 5. d3 Be7 6. e4	My favorite...the KIA. It isn't all that strong against Sicilians without black playing e6 but at least it is solid and avoids the 'book lines' most Sicilian players hope to reach.
	2 comments archduke_piccolo (2332) on 26-Jun-07: Unpretentious and solid. Nothing wrong with this line! marinvukusic (2161) on 05-Jul-07: I love it when people play stuff like this against me there is very little chance that I will lose, and very realistic chance to score a full point. But of course I agree with ionadowman that this is perfectly playable.


6... Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Bxf3 Nf6 9. Nc3 a6 10. Bg5 Nd7 11. Bxe7 Nxe7	I think he captured with the knight so he could get rid of the knight I am about to put on the d5 outpost. However, in doing so I am able to capture his knight with my e pawn. That pawn will be almost impossible to remove. Once he pushes his b and f pawns I'll have an outpost on c6 and more importantly on e6. It takes me a while to plop a piece on e6 but I do.



12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 O-O 14. c4	I liked this pawn formation. It is solid.
	2 comments archduke_piccolo (2332) on 26-Jun-07: But Black's K-side pawns are mobile, and have considerable attacking potential. White's bishop is considerably hampered by those centre pawns, as well. I marginally prefer Black here... diemjay (1739) on 26-Jun-07: I find that most of my games lately have centred around creating outposts with pawns. I guess I am just trying to explore the technique involved. Point well taken about the cramped white bishop though. It is strange that white would willingly block his 'indian bishop.' Food for thought.


14... f5 15. Bg2 Rf6 16. Qh5	I'm hoping to provoke some pawn weaknesses.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2332) on 26-Jun-07: The Q can't stay out here for long, but I like the move. Possibly 15...Rf6 was a bit clumsy, though the ideas of doubling rooks on the f-file, or maybe sliding the rook over to the h-file are good ones. What are the alternatives then? 15...Qf6, 15...Qg5 even 15...g5 were worth a look.


16... Nf8 17. Qg5 h6 18. Qd2 Ng6 19. b4	Black is still quite solid on the kingside so now I probe the Queenside a bit.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2332) on 26-Jun-07: I feel sure that Black ought to have played 18...g5 before bringing the knight to g6.


19... b6 20. a4 a5 21. bxa5 Rxa5 22. Rfb1	I liked this move and I don't think my opponent expected it.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2332) on 26-Jun-07: Hitting Black's weak pawn before he can hit White's. Black seems to be fighting a war on two fronts, with half his pieces committed to the K-wing. It is much easier here for White to switch from one flank to the other.


22... f4	22...f4? I was waiting for this pawn to move for a long time.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2332) on 26-Jun-07: (?) A mistake. Black ought not to have given e4 to White's bishop...


23. Be4	His position is starting to have lots of holes. It's time to bring the bishop to life and expolit those outposts!



23... Ra6 24. Kh2	I saw a 'neat tactical trap' so I played a poor move hoping he'd fall for it. I should really stop doing that so often! Now my king is less active and less able to aid in defence.
	2 comments archduke_piccolo (2332) on 26-Jun-07: Not such a "bad" move. You could call it a "waiting move" though White has other options, like 24.Rb5 or maybe 24.Bxg6 Rxg6 25.gxf4 (though I admit I don't much like this latter line, even though it does pick up a pawn...). diemjay (1739) on 26-Jun-07: Yeah, the exchange that wins the pawn is the 'trick' I had in mind. However, in order to do it I had to move my king off the g-file first. Otherwise the rook would have pinned the g-pawn on g3 and I wouldn't have been able to capture on f4.


24... fxg3+ 25. fxg3 Qf8 26. Kg2 Ne7 27. Rbf1 Nc8 28. Rxf6 Qxf6 29. Rf1	Gaining the file.



29... Qd8 30. Bf5	Now that I own the file I can reposition the bishop even deeper into his camp. Destination...e6.



30... Ne7 31. Be6+ Kh8 32. Rf7	Attacking the g pawn.



32... Rxa4 33. Qd1	The d1/h5 diagonal is calling my name.



33... Ra2+ 34. Kg1 g5	34..g5?? And that's one hole too many.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2332) on 26-Jun-07: (??) A mistake you often see made by inexperienced players when under close assault like this. He could instead have tried 34...Ng8 (35.Qg4 Qg5; 35.Rd7 Qg5) or maybe 34...Ra7. Black's outlook is already looking bleak, but now he's busted.


35. Qh5 Ra1+ 36. Kf2 Ra2+ 37. Ke3 Ng8 38. Qg6	Black resigned here. I'm happy with my play in this game. I suppose I should really pick up the white side of the Sicilian since the KIA isn't as effective against Sicilians without e6 by Black. All comments are welcome.
	2 comments archduke_piccolo (2332) on 26-Jun-07: Black emerged from the opening with a promising game, but seems to have allowed himself to get distracted by White's Q-side diversion. Thereupon White seized the initiative on the K-side and broke through (with a bit of help from his opponent)... diemjay (1739) on 26-Jun-07: Thanks for the insights/comments. I think they were spot on. In fact, before the f file sorted out and he pushed those kingside pawns I thought my position was getting rather lifeless. I couldn't have won without him!