Hey; over the last couple of days I've been losing most of my games, usually quite quickly and in passive positions. I've been wondering whether there is something wrong with my strategic thinking, so I've commented this strategic loss I just suffered as White. Would anyone analyse this for me please and give me an idea of what I'm doing wrong? Thanks.
Just request a computer analysis.
Edit:
I was joking ok?
Y the hate?
Edit:
I was joking ok?
Y the hate?
3 Move order is important, but with ratings below 2000-2200, there isn't much difference.
4 When black develops his LSB early, this weakens b7, so c4 is the suggested move to exploit the absence of the bishop. Also, the doubled pawns provide great center control and a half-open file. Notice that after this exchange you're left with a bad bishop.
8 b3 really weakens the dark squares on the queenside. After a capture on d4, you have to capture with the c-pawn and black can control the open file as he can control c1 with his bishop. Any other capture leaves c3 weak.
9 The knight is strong posted in the center, but notice that the queen can't easily transfer to the kingside. The recapture of the queen left your pieces awkwardly placed.
10 Soon you must break with e4, so the queen must remain in touch with that square. Qc2 is the best move, but something else must be used to protect the b-pawn.
11 If the queen were on e2 (to prevent Nh5), I would suggest taking with the pawn. d4 is a good square for the knight and the e4 break is still effective.
12 With the reduced material, I wouldn't consider attacking. If you were to attack, on the last move the pawn capture would definitely have been better as it kicks away the knight.
14 A rule of thumb is that you're supposed to play on the side where you have more space. You've drifted into a passive position and the plan should be to trade pieces and aim for the e4 break.
16 The push create weak pawn at b2. Pushing this pawn would make c3 almost losing weakness.
This is just about a minute of thinking (and 15 minutes of putting it into English), so everything may not be true. On move 4, with the knight already developed to f6, an attack on the weakened light squares on the queenside may be as effective as is normal.
edit: Due to the presence of post #2, I spent at least 20 minutes typing.
4 When black develops his LSB early, this weakens b7, so c4 is the suggested move to exploit the absence of the bishop. Also, the doubled pawns provide great center control and a half-open file. Notice that after this exchange you're left with a bad bishop.
8 b3 really weakens the dark squares on the queenside. After a capture on d4, you have to capture with the c-pawn and black can control the open file as he can control c1 with his bishop. Any other capture leaves c3 weak.
9 The knight is strong posted in the center, but notice that the queen can't easily transfer to the kingside. The recapture of the queen left your pieces awkwardly placed.
10 Soon you must break with e4, so the queen must remain in touch with that square. Qc2 is the best move, but something else must be used to protect the b-pawn.
11 If the queen were on e2 (to prevent Nh5), I would suggest taking with the pawn. d4 is a good square for the knight and the e4 break is still effective.
12 With the reduced material, I wouldn't consider attacking. If you were to attack, on the last move the pawn capture would definitely have been better as it kicks away the knight.
14 A rule of thumb is that you're supposed to play on the side where you have more space. You've drifted into a passive position and the plan should be to trade pieces and aim for the e4 break.
16 The push create weak pawn at b2. Pushing this pawn would make c3 almost losing weakness.
This is just about a minute of thinking (and 15 minutes of putting it into English), so everything may not be true. On move 4, with the knight already developed to f6, an attack on the weakened light squares on the queenside may be as effective as is normal.
edit: Due to the presence of post #2, I spent at least 20 minutes typing.
For me the most important point is that e3-e4 break was the way to go, not pushing on the queenside. It's Black who could have played on the queenside in this structure.
Thank you very much @jonesmh ! You've given me a lot of things to think about. I guess it's no surprise I've been getting bad positions lately if I've been unaware of the e4 break, which is apparently the core idea of this opening.
Playing Qe2 instead of g3 is no Risk at all. If black attacks a4 Exchange rooks, Play your Queen to f5 and you Always have a perpetual.
Look at a few master games with the e4-idea maybe.
Look at a few master games with the e4-idea maybe.
@royalblue04 I took a look at the variation and I see what you mean. Thanks for the advice, very perceptive!
Why was your king still in the middle after move 8 ?
@boilingFrog On Move 12 I said
"I have an issue that I usually can't make my mind up which side to castle on in London structures"
So I tend to develop the pieces first in order to allow the position to better to define itself.
"I have an issue that I usually can't make my mind up which side to castle on in London structures"
So I tend to develop the pieces first in order to allow the position to better to define itself.
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