I'm still <1500-rated for blitz, and at this level most of my games are decided by immediate tactical oversights (or occasionally by misplaying the endgame) and not by positional play. So it's gratifying to see that I actually am capable of winning games even when my opponent doesn't just drop pieces. The final evaluation was -10.0 even though I was just a pawn up material-wise. I did miss a few tactical opportunities myself -- in particular, I had the chance to win a knight on move 22 and should have seen it -- but overall I think I played well.
I'm interested in getting some stronger players' input on why the evaluation dropped from -1.7 all the way to -6.0 after 19. g4??. I didn't think it was a good move by any means but I wouldn't have expected it to be a game-losing blunder on its own.
Very nice technical play from you. I think g4 was a mistake, because he opened the h-file, he created a backwards pawn and your rook became very active. I actually think Nd4 was probably his worst blunder, because your Bishop-pair became very active (and ofcourse because it dropped a pawn). Also you had a massive lead in development in the whole game.
Btw: I don't think you should care about rating. Just do some tactics, train the endgame and enjoy the game. That's all you need in order to improve.
In addition to what ModernChessIsBoring said:
19. g4 is a blunder, because after 19...hxg4 it creates a protected passed pawn for you on f4 (either after 20. fxg4 as happened in the game or you take on f3 next), which is a huge disadvantage in any endgame.
Thanks, these comments are very helpful. I got another one via private message, pointing out that before 19. g4 Black has an obvious spatial and developmental advantage but it isn't totally clear how to convert it to a win, whereas with the h file opened up and the e and f pawns passed Black's plan pretty much makes itself. I buy that explanation, given that the Stockfish-recommended move as of the end of the game is for White to sac their bishop for the e pawn. (This makes sense given it was the only way that bishop was ever going to move.)
Another question: was trading queens when I did a mistake? It's not the computer move (I think Qe6 was suggested) and it does let White recapture with development, but I don't see how that's any better or worse than giving White a tempo on my queen by moving it.
I'm not sure whether it's a mistake, but I think the difference is that his queen on f3 is blocking that square for his knight, so he either has to move his queen as well to play Nf3 or play Ne2 instead which seems like a slight concession.
I would suggest you not to thrust the engine too much. You will rapidly improve in case you first analyse youself before turning the engine on.
In that case you helped him develope his Knight, but this isn't significant in any way. Qe6 blocks your c8 Bishop. And Be6 would be met with Nc3, gaining a tempo on your Queen and forcing it to move again. So i think Qxf3 was completely justified.
Yah it's the passed pawns.
game loser. No question.
But first, young jedi, thou must ask thineself why thou gotst thine king into such a position. Everything else is superfluous.
why you play 5.Bd5 ? . instead u can forward in develop whit moves like nf3 , qf3, etc
White just played this game very badly, and so many bad moves I'll name some off. Black played very well, and especially well for a 1300. Here are some white moves and why they are bad:
The first 4 moves weren't the most standard of moves, but nothing really wrong with the bishop opening other than it is uncommon, it's very much playable. White is perfectly fine on moves 1,2,3 and 4.
Move 5: Bxd5 Why!? This move makes no sense to me at all. Voluntarily giving a bishop away for a knight like this is just nonsense.
White offered the queen trade immediately after, and black accepted. Personally if I am black in this position I'm not thinking of trading queens. I have the bishop pair, but it's not really a blunder to trade queens. Blacks queen was worth a little more as black had the initiative at this point, but all is not lost for black after the queen trade it just lets white catch up a little with a knight development.
Move 8: C3? Why? I'm thinking the threat of a black knight to b4 or d4 or bishop to b4 was scaring white. IF I were so concerned about this I would sooner play a3 as a profeleactic move. The white knight had d4 covered for now.
Move 8: Kd2 That king doesn't look so great defending there. d3 can not be "Defended" good. I'd push d4 and hope to be able to hang on to an isolated d pawn and ltry to look for some equality after castling.
Over the next several moves white simply lacks development and is always in a bad position. It's difficult to recommend a good defense as there never really is a good way to defend or recover.
Move 19 g4?? accelerates the collapse of the position. It takes a cramped and difficult position and adds open lines which can only possibly favor the attacker.
Oh hey, just saw all these replies (the Regium thread has taken over my notifications, hah)
@ModernChessIsBoring That's a good idea (analyzing for myself before doing a computer analysis, not after). I'll try to pick up that habit.
@lurarose Yes, I recognized 5. Bxd5? and 8. c3? as mistakes (but not decisive ones) during the game. c3 I thought was maybe justifiable if the plan is to keep a pawn on d4, but White never did play d4 so....