@dboing I checked your study.
It is really cool.
I didn’t know people could do a study like that.
I will elaborate more so you can understand.
It will help you in your study.
In my post #3, I told the OP his moves 2.c3 & 9.Bxc6 are bad moves.
I told the OP he made hole at move 12.
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Lets start off at the beginning.
The move 2.c3 is bad because of multiple reasons:
1 - the C3 move only function is to defend the d4 pawn.
The problem is the enemy isn’t attacking the d4 pawn.
Our Queen is also defending the d4 pawn from the d1 square.
White has more important moves which need to be play vs. the c3 move.
White has no need to over protect the d4 pawn in this position
2 - the C3 move doesn’t develop a piece.
The move c3 helps black gain a lead in piece development.
They can develop pieces and get ahead of White.
This can cause White to be on the defensive vs. offensive.
3 - the C3 move doesn’t help White get King safety.
The move c3 doesn’t help White Castle in any way.
4 - the C3 moves reduces the activity of Whites own pieces.
Normally, The Knight on b1 has the power to jump to a3, c3, or d2.
The move c3 reduces the amount of squares our Knight can develop to which causes us to under develop.
5 - the C3 moves reduces our Chess Flexibility.
The C pawn on c2 still gives us the option of playing c2 to c4 (Queen Gambit type of position) or c2 to c3 (London position)
The C pawn on c2 leaves our opponent guessing and not knowing what we will play.
When white plays the move 2.c3, they reveal everything to the enemy.
The mystery in the position disappears.
The enemy knows at that point playing C2 to C4 is out of the question because it would be a wasted move.
Playing c2 to c3 to c4 takes 2 White moves, but it also gives Black 2 moves to do their plan or strategy.
Playing c2 to c4 takes only 1 White move which gives Black less moves to implement their plan or strategy against us.
6 - If you check Chess Opening Explorer, you will see the move c3 isn’t a top move on move 2
The majority of London players will play 2. Bf4 or 2.Nf3 above 2.c3
If the move 2.c3 was great move, the world would play it a lot.
It would be a top move in Opening Explorer, but it isn’t.
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The next move which is bad is 9. Bxc6.
The Light Square Bishop is the best minor piece for White in the London.
White places all there pawns on Dark Squares b2, c3, d4, e3, & f2
White creates a pyramid with his pawns all on Dark Squares.
As a result, The Light Squares in White Position are extremely weak.
White also creates a Square/Hole in their position.
The D3 Square is a weakness for White.
The way White plans to deal/fix the weakness is by putting their Light Square Bishop on the D3 Square as Body Guard.
The Light Square Bishop is the Guardian of the Light Squares for White.
It is the Super Star Minor Piece.
When White played his Light Square Bishop to b5 on move 7, it was a bad move.
Why? Because you want to keep your Super Star piece safe away from danger.
When White gave up his Light Square Bishop for Knight on c6 on move 9, it was a bad move.
Why? Because your Light Square Guardian is gone!
Who will defend your Light Squares after he leaves the board?
No one!
In addition, You should take a look at the Knight on c6.
What is Black Knight on c6 doing?
Can the Knight on c6 go to E5?
No, because the d4 pawn is defending
Can the Knight on c6 take the D4 pawn?
No, because the c3 & e3 pawns are defending
Can the Knight on c6 go to B5?
No, because the c3 pawn is defending
WHAT IS THE KNIGHT ON C6 DOING?
Absolutely nothing!
The Knight on c6 is 1 of Blacks worse pieces because Black put it on a square which makes it useless.
It is your job as a Chess player to make your pieces active.
White traded their super star Light Square Bishop for Blacks Knight which was completely useless.
You do see how bad that is?
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Now, let’s talk about move 12!
I said when White played 12. b4 it created a hole.
It created 2 holes actually!
The C4 Square & A3 Square because holes!
The D3 Square is a hole, but is an intentional hole which is made long before move 12.
I already explained how the London opening makes that hole on purpose with idea of putting Bishop their as Guardian.
White traded off his Guardian for no reason.
Now, Let’s talk about the dangers in the White position.
- The B5 Square is weak
- The C4 Square is hole
- The D3 Square is hole
- The A3 Square is hole
What does the above information tell you?
What it tells you is that white position is very vulnerable on the Queen side.
White has a lot of Weak Squares & Holes which white can no longer defend.
It is very difficult for White to defend all those areas.
What do you think Black should do in this position?
In the game, Black played in the center with the pawn push e5.
We sort of saw what happened afterwards.
You never want to attack your opponent where they are strong at
You want to attack your opponent where they are weak at
In this position, we know where white is weak at!
How do we attack white?
The move I would of played as black would of been 12...a5
Do you understand why?
White no longer has Light Square bishop, BUT BLACK STILL DOES!
Look at the b5, c4, & d3 squares!
What color are those squares?
Where do you think I plan to move my bishop?
The move a5 clears the way for my Black Light Square Bishop to snake his way into these vulnerable spots.
Every time white tries to trade off his Knight for Black Light Square Bishop.
Black will avoid the trade and move his bishop.
The Bishop will move around from b5 to c4 to d3 back and forth.
It will drive White player mad to see that bishop showing off his power!
In addition, the a5 pawn move also helps Black open up the A File.
The a3 Square is hole as we said.
Black could try to create a Battery with 2 rooks + Queen on the A File.
Image Rook on A3 + Queen on A7 + Rook on A8 + Light Square Bishop on c4!
All the above pressure coordinating on White poor A2 pawn.
How can White defend such a threat?
The OP talked about how he feels the “Rc1 move + Bishop on g3 attacking c7 pawn”
How can the Rook move to c1 if the enemy is bringing tons of pressure on white a2 pawn?
The player playing Black wasn’t good at reading the chess board.
The player playing Black chose to play on the wrong area.
When we look at the game does it look like white was under stress?
I think white was never under any pressure in this game.
It looks like White was playing peacefully.
Yeah
