[Event "OCL WinterTourney  (Open)"]
[Site "freechess.org"]
[Date "2003.01.28"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Khamsin"]
[Black "aarondesk"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "1765"]
[BlackElo "1727"]
[Annotator "Khamsin, Holzi"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2003.??.??"]

{H: Hi, I'm Holzi on FICS and I have had a look at your game. I've marked your
thoughts with "K" and my comments with "H". This is a quite interesting game,
in which there were several points at which you had to make important
strategic decisions. Tactics played a less important role, even if both sides
missed a few good opportunities.} 1. e4 c6 {K: The Caro-Kann. I only face this
rarely, and so I have nothing prepared for the main-lines. So I usually decide
on the exchange variation. H: Avoiding main-line theory is quite a sensible
idea, especially if one doesn't want to spend a lot of time on opening
preperation against an opening one doesn't face all that often. The downside
is that in less forcing lines black can often get away with things he wouldn't
usually be able to do. E.g. here black plays 5...e5, which certainly is a
dubious move if white is willing to play an endgame, but the position offers
white hardly anything in a middle game.} 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3
e5 $6 {K: This move isn't in any book that I can find, and it immediately felt
fishy to me. Looking it up on the web, I see that it's not unknown, but White
seems to get a fairly comfortable endgame almost immediately, with pressure on
the Black isolated d-pawn, which never has time to become an attacking tool. H:
I entirely agree, since white can force an isolated queen's pawn on black and
then immediately go into an endgame this move is rather questionable. I would
guess that black was already out of his book and just thought that this move
might be "active".} 6. dxe5 Nxe5 7. Qe2 {H: The moves you played in the game
(Qe2 & Bb5) look like a very simple way of getting a good game as white
against 5...e5. 7.Qe2 forces black to moves his queen to e7, which will enable
white to get into a very good endgame.} 7... Qe7 8. Bb5+ Nc6 9. Be3 {K:I unwitt
ingly followed a typical line until here, when I thought that I could get more
if I were to keep the queens on the board. I thought that his queen would
congest his position more than mine does for me, as my bishop has already
moved out and I will be able to castle more easily. H: This is one of those
cases were one has to choose between two quite tempting options. Either you
get an endgame, in which he has an isolated queen's pawn (but active pieces)
or you get a middle game, in which he will have to be slightly careful. If
both continuations are equally strong, then it's more or less a matter of
taste. However in this case I think that going for the endgame would have been
the better option. The problem is that in the middlegame his isolated queen's
pawn won't be much of a liability, so if black can untangle his kingside and
avoid being overrun, then he will be fine after 9.Be3. I believe black can
manage that, because white's pieces aren't quite active enough and he is
lacking central pawns that he could push forwards.} (9. Bg5 Qxe2+ 10. Nxe2 Be7
11. Bxe7 Ngxe7 {K: looks better, as it seems that White has a ready target on
d5. H: I entirely agree. This variation looks better than the game
continuation. Here I would clearly prefer to play white - in an endgame such
as this one the isolated queen's pawn is clearly disadvantageous for black. In
a middlegame it might offer dynamic possibilities, but here it simply doesn't
and is just a weakness. However black doesn't have any other weakness and his
pieces can move freely, so this position is not entirely lost for black, but
white has a definite advantage and good winning chances. First white will make
sure that the black d-pawn can't advance, this should be easy enough to do
(after all the pawn on c3 and the knight on e2 are already well placed for
this task). Then one will eventually put more and more pressure on d5 and
either win the pawn or force more concessions (e.g. if black has to place his
bishop on e6, it would be rather inactive). Black on the other hand will have
a hard time with finding counter play (clearly the white position has no real
weak point).}) 9... Nf6 {H: This seems to be a very good and natural move.} 10.
Nf3 Bg4 {H: Black has a reasonably straightforward plan for finishing his
developement: first he will play Qe6, then move the darksquared bishop and
finally he will castle.} (10... Ng4 {
K: might have been stronger for Black here..} 11. Bd4 {H: In the variation
that you offer in order to explain, why 10...Ng4 might have been better you
suggest that white would continue with 11.Bd4, but I think that would actually
be a mistake, because black plays} 11... Qxe2+ 12. Kxe2 {H: Here the endgame
would be more pleasant for black, since he can secure the pair of bishops with}
12... a6 {and black should be fine. Nevertheless I don't think that 10...Ng4
is such a good move for black, because white doesn't have to move his bishop
to d4 at all. White can just play 11.Bf4 and he should once again get a
pleasant endgame.}) (10... a6 {H: This would be another idea for black that
one has to watch (even though the idea of castling queenside looks rather
dubious).} 11. Bd3 (11. Ba4 $5 Ng4 $11 (11... Qe4 12. Bc2 Qg4 $13)) 11... Bg4
12. O-O Ne5 (12... O-O-O {H: While white is probably better, this wild and
tactical variation offers chances for both sides in practical play.}) 13. Nbd2
Ne4 14. Nxe4 Nxd3 15. Neg5 Ne5 16. Rfe1 {
H: And here white is better due to his clear lead in developement, e.g.} 16...
h6 17. Bd4 f6 18. Bxe5 O-O-O 19. c4) 11. O-O Qe6 {
H: This seems to be by far the most logical continuation for black.} (11... a6
{
H: Attempts by black to solve his problems in a tactical way seem to fail, e.g.
} 12. Bd3 Ne4 13. Re1 Ne5 14. Bd4 Nxd3 15. Qxd3 Bf5 16. Nbd2 {
and blackk has massive problems.}) 12. Nbd2 {K: I was constantly searching for
a way to make use of my dark-squared bishop moving off of the line of the
queen, perhaps to win a pawn on e6. H: I must admit that the idea looks
tempting, but I can't see a way to make it work, the white pieces simply seem
to be not quite ideally placed for that, e.g. if there was already a rook on
e1 instead of the queen on e2 then this would be deadly for black, but as it
is white doesn't have any serious threats.} (12. Re1 Bd6 13. h3 Bh5 14. Nbd2
O-O {H: Here black has also more or less avoided all immediate problems.})
12... Bd6 13. Rfe1 O-O 14. Bg5 {K: And for some reason, I thought I had it
here. This raises one of my first questions. Was there a better way for me to
take advantage of Black's position at this point? Was I following the wrong
plan? Should I have been pushing on the d-pawn? H: Actually this move (by
itself) looks quite good, because it once more forces an exchange of queens
(at least if white wants to - but your plan was to keep on looking for an
advantage in the middlgame), but there isn't much white can do otherwise -
black's pieces are just too active and well placed, therefore there just
aren't any tactical opportunities at the moment. So basically I think, that
yes, you have been following the wrong plan, there isn't much in the black
position that suggests that one could outtactic him in the middlegame - except
for the previously slightly akward queen position, which white couldn't really
exploit - while the isolated d-pawn is something that is most easily exploited
in an endgame.} 14... Qf5 15. Bd3 (15. Qd3 {H: As I said when commenting on 14.
Bg5, you could have forced the exchange of queen's, because black needs to be
able to recapture on f6 with the queen (and hence can't move it away).
Nevertheless the endgame you could have reached earlier looked slightly more
promising too me than this one.}) 15... Qe6 (15... Qxg5 16. Nxg5 Bxe2 17. Rxe2
$11 {H: This variation seems to give black an even more reliable way of
equalising, because he will be able to get rid of his isolated d-pawn.} 17...
Ne5 18. Bc2 Rae8 19. Rae1 h6 20. Ngf3 Nc4 {H: Since the pawn b2 is threatened
white will eventually have to (a) take this knight or (b) play b3 weakening c3
and more or less requiring a later c3-c4. In both cases black won't have an
isolated queen's pawn any more. E.g.} 21. Rxe8 Rxe8 22. Rxe8+ Nxe8 23. Nxc4 (
23. b3 Nxd2 24. Nxd2 Nc7) 23... dxc4 $11) 16. Qxe6 fxe6 {
K: I missed that the bishop covered this pawn.} 17. h3 Bf5 {K: I'm not sure if
this is a mistake or not? On one hand, he gets rid of my 'good' bishop, and
gains more of a central grip; but on the other hand, the e-pawn could likely
have advanced from where it is and might have made a strong force marching
down the board, i.e.} (17... Bxf3 18. Nxf3 e5 {when White has the bishop pair,
but Black's central pawns look good. Was his choice correct? H: 17...Bxf3
would have been better. If white plays 18.Nxf3 then black does indeed have a
nice position after 18...e5. White could try 18.Rxe6 instead, but the position
is by far more complicated and unclear than in the game.}) (17... Bxf3 18. Rxe6
Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Ne5 20. Bc2 Rad8 21. Rd1 {H: This position is far from clear,
both sides have a weakened pawn structure now. White has the advantage of
having the pair of bishops, but he also has to be at least a bit careful about
his rook on e6.}) 18. Bxf5 exf5 {H: In this position the blakc d-pawn is
definitely a liability, but black has some counter play.} 19. Nb3 {K: I was fai
rly eager to plunk my knight into d4. H: That is obviously a good idea, but
perhaps you should have swapped bishop for knight first.} (19. Bxf6 {H: Immedia
tely swapping of the knight would not have given black the chance of playing
19...Ne4. But there is of course often a psychological barrier that keeps us
from swapping bishops for knights and e.g. black's bishop is clearly a plus of
his position, but the white bishop on g5 is not especially useful and perhaps
more importantly the blakc knight could have become very strong on e4.}) 19...
h6 (19... Ne4 {H: I think black should definitely have considered this move,
e4 is a really nice outpost for the knight and secondly white's darksquared
bishop might well turn out a liability just as in the game.}) 20. Be3 {
K: I think that this too, might have been a mistake. With hindsight, this
bishop fairly quickly proves to be a liability. H: I agree, it is difficult to
find good squares for this bishop and it would have made everything much
easier for you if you had swapped it off. Now black has some compensation for
his isolated pawn, while before there wasn't really any weakness in your
position. As in the game an advance of black's kingside pawns could give black
a slightly unpleasant space advantage.} ({K: I think I like} 20. Bxf6 Rxf6 21.
Rad1 Ne7 {K: better, perhaps with the idea of Nd4-e6 and Nf3-d4, with very
strong knights and nagging pressure on the d-pawn. H: That sounds like quite a
good plan, it might be even better to get rid of his darksquared bishop -
firstly the bishop might turn out to be stronger than your knight and secondly
and a reduction of the number of pieces should make it more difficult for him
to secure the d-pawn.} 22. Na5 b6 23. Nb7 Kf7 24. Nxd6+ Rxd6 25. Nd4 {
H: There is no question that white has a much better position than black in
this endgame}) 20... Ne4 21. Rad1 Ne7 {H: I'm not sure that this knight is
really well placed on e7. Your opponent should probably have protected the
d-pawn differently (e.g. indirectly by Rad8), the knight would be much better
placed if it remained on c6.} 22. Nfd4 f4 {K: I underestimated this move.} 23.
Bc1 g5 $2 {H: Black has a good strategic idea here, but at the moment this
move meets tactical problems.} (23... Rae8 24. Nb5 Bb8 25. f3 Nd6 26. N5d4 g5
27. Nc5 Nef5 28. Nd7 Rxe1+ 29. Rxe1 Rd8 30. Nxf5 Nxf5 31. Nxb8 Rxb8 32. Re5 Ng3
33. Bd2 Rd8 34. Re7 d4 35. cxd4 Rxd4 36. Be1 {
H: This is a very complicated variation, but I think black is fine.}) 24. f3 $2
{K: I was looking at things like} (24. Nb5 {which wins material almost
immediately, but for some reason I thought that it didn't work, and I thought
that I had found a simpler line (see move 26 by White)}) ({I also looked at} 
24. Ne6 Rf6 25. Rxe4 dxe4 26. Rxd6 {but I wasn't sure if I would end up losing
the knight. H: The knight seems quite safe, because you always have the option
of playing Rd8 and move like} 26... Nf5 {are answered by} 27. Rd5 {This variati
on also offers you a material advantage, but the poor position of the bishop
on c1 and the impressive black pawns make it looks much less appealing thatn
24.Nb5.}) 24... Nc5 25. Nxc5 Bxc5 26. Kh1 $2 {K: Aargh! Blindne ss; I didn't
even think that the knight would be pinned, and I intended Ne6, winning
material after 26. Ne6 Rfc8 27. Nxc5 Rxc5 28. Rxe7. <sigh> H: I also think
that it wasn't a good choice to move the king to h1, that might be a safe spot
in the middlegame, but in the endgame it makes more sense to have it closer to
the middle of the board unless there were some specific problems with placing
it on f1 (which there aren't).} (26. Kf1 $1) 26... Rfe8 27. Ne6 {K: Thinking
that the knight would be strong on e7 anyways. But from here, it begins to
slip away from me, and I'm not sure why. I would appreciate your thoughts.}
27... Bb6 28. b3 {K: I *have* to find a way to develop my bishop. At this
point, I would be ecstatic to trade it for the e7 knight.} 28... Kf7 29. Ba3
Nf5 {K: Of course, he's not going to allow that..} 30. Nc5 (30. Nd4 Nxd4 31.
cxd4 Rxe1+ 32. Rxe1 Bxd4 33. Rd1 $11 {I should have taken this road.}) 30...
Rxe1+ 31. Rxe1 Ne3 {K: Ouch...but even as good as this looks,} (31... Rc8 32.
Nxb7 Rxc3 33. Nd6+ Nxd6 34. Bxd6 {leaves Black's rook quite actively placed.})
32. Rc1 Bxc5 33. Bxc5 b6 34. Bd4 {H: This definitely looks like a good move to
me, this bishop is a very nice piece and while black has a good position it's
very difficult for him to achieve anything substantial.} 34... Rc8 35. Bxe3 $2
{K: Why didn't I do this if I was going to do it the move before, you ask? Or
why didn't I just play Re1 instead? Good question. H: Indeed. Since it's
probably white who should be looking for a draw at the moment, it seems unwise
to swap of the important bishop that was holding the white position together,
even if it eliminates the very strong knight on e3. Now the c-pawn is horribly
weak and black's new passed pawn on e3 could also become dangerous.} 35... fxe3
36. Kg1 {K: I should have lost the game here. But he made some imprecise moves
(as did I), and I managed to pull it out.} 36... Ke6 $2 (36... d4 37. c4 d3 {
and I would have probably resigned here.}) 37. Kf1 Kd6 $2 {H: Once more black
could have played d5-d4, his policy of centralising the king is often sensible,
but here it is really missing the point.} 38. Ke2 Re8 {H: Black slowly gets
himself into trouble. Passive defense is hardly ever a good idea in rook
endgames.} (38... d4 $1 39. Rd1 (39. c4 Ke5 40. Kd3 Rd8 {
and Black's king marches into g3, at least securing the draw, if not a win.})
39... Rxc3 40. Rxd4+ Kc5 {looks much more active for Black; H: Certainly more
active and sensible than the game, but it seems he simply didn't want to play
d5-d4 at all. This position should simply be a draw.}) 39. Rd1 Kc5 40. Rd3 b5
41. Rxe3 {K: After this, I've at least got a draw. H: Certainly a draw (black
just doesn't have anything active) and good chances of pressing for a win.}
41... Rd8 {K: avoiding the exchange of rooks, to keep drawing chances. A good
move. H: It was certainly his only drawing chance to keep the rooks on the
board, however he probably should have placed it somewhere else, where it
actually does something (e.g. h8 were it protects black's h-pawn).} 42. Kd3 $2
(42. Re6 {
H: This moves looks very strong, since black will immediately loose pawns now.}
) 42... Rd6 $1 {H: a very sensible move keeping the white rook out of e6, now
black can at least defend all of his pawns.} 43. Re5 b4 $2 {K: His last chance
to obtain some activity for himself evaporates. He should have played Ra6
instead, forcing my rook back to a2. After this, it's an easy conversion. H:
Yes, worse he really does invite you to play the winning move 44.c4, which
either wins another pawn or allows you to swap off the rooks. Ra6 isn't the
only non-losing move he could have made, but it would indeed seem rather
obvious due to the threat to a2.} 44. c4 Kc6 {H: This is a rather pointless
move by black, white is winning, but something like 44...Ra6 might have been a
better try for black.} 45. Rxd5 Rxd5+ {H: It's probably not really fair to
call this a mistake, but the pawn ending is winning for white (as you nicely
demonstrate), so keeping the rooks on the board might have been a better
"swindling" attempt, but white is also clearly winning in that case.} 46. cxd5+
Kxd5 47. g3 h5 48. Ke3 Ke5 49. f4+ gxf4+ 50. gxf4+ Kf5 51. Kf3 {
K: This posiiton is won for White.} 51... a6 52. Ke3 a5 53. Kf3 Kg6 54. Ke4 Kf6
55. f5 Ke7 56. Ke5 Kf7 57. f6 h4 58. Kf5 Kf8 59. Kg4 Kf7 60. Kxh4 Kxf6 61. Kg4
Kg6 62. h4 Kh6 63. Kf5 Kg7 64. Ke5 {K: I won this game, but I consider it as a
loss because he had a fairly simple win in the endgame. My questions are thus:
How could I have better taken advantage of his opening? (Was it even fishy?)
Where, exactly, did I go wrong in the middlegame? (A deficiency in thinking?)
Thank you for your help. H: Black's fifth move is weak, but to exploit it
white has to go for an endgame, which might not be everyone's taste,
especially if one is playing 1.e4. That endgame with the isolated pawn on d5
would have offered white good winning chances, while the middlegame (with
queens on the board) you went for instead seems to be entirely okay for black
even if the d-pawn remains a *potential* weakness. After that (as you pointed
out) you missed a few tactical opportunities and hence allowed black to carry
out his strategy, which eventually gave him a very good position. The typical
strategies in positions with an isolated queen's pawn is for the side owning
it to look for attacking chances in the middlegame, while the other side
usually wants to swap pieces and reach an endgame. In this case you could have
achieved this right away, so 9.Bg5 would have seemed like a good choice. Later
you faced some strategic decisions, which are often difficult to make
(swapping a bishop for a knight etc.), it is important to constantly reasses
the value of each piece, for example the black pawn chain on the kingsside
drastically reduced the value of your bishop, while on the other hand his
knight obtained several nice outposts. But a bit later your bishop was quite a
decent piece again on d4 (stabilising the white position) and swapping it off
also resulted in immediate tactical problems. In the end you played the rook
endgame much better than your opponent, who didn't look for active play at all
and hence you eventually outplayed him. In addition to the many strategic
decisions one had to make, both sides also missed quite a few tactical
opportunities (as you noticed yourself), so you should always remember to
watch out for them. Of course there are positions, where one should look
especially hard to see whether there is a tactical solution. For example you
quite correctly looked for such opportunities on move 24 (even if you
miscalculated), on the other hand you might have spent too much time looking
for them earlier in the game, because the black position was essentially
pretty sound, but of course with the black queen in an unusual position one
should always check quite carefully. Basically it comes down to spotting
certain hints that indicate tactical opportunities, e.g. before on 24 the
black minor pieces were in the line of fire of the white rooks and rather
akwardly depending on each other, but then one has to calculate and check
whether there is actually something there. I hope my review of this game helps
you, if you have any further questions, you can always email me or ask me
online.} 1-0

