These last few games , post game analysis have often revealed very unsound openings in my game. Its also that I like gambit openings . Could you gives tell me what I could study to improve? Any feedback about my games is appreciated.
I found Richard Reti Masters of the chessboard very helpful. It's a collection of annotated games with some opening how to thrown in.
You can find it on the web, but it's in descriptive notation.
You can find it on the web, but it's in descriptive notation.
Can you give an example of one game that you think you lost in the opening?
@tpr this game for instance, moving the queen early on was a blunder according to the engine.
I make lots of mistakes like that, many of which while unsound , the opponents fail to take advantage of.
You won the game anyway, so the opening did not hinder you.
Indeed, it is usually wise to postpone development of your queen until your other pieces are in play. A queen is strong and valuable, so she is also vulnerable. Just bring out your knights first, then find good use for your bishops, castle, only then bring out your queen.
6 Ne4 is wrong too. In the opening generally do not play the same piece twice. You have other pieces that are not yet in play.
Your 10 a4 is the right plan, but you could first take Nxe6: eliminate his only piece in play, spoil his pawn structure, gain the bishop's pair.
You see, you do not need to know any concrete variations, you can just apply general principles and do well. Besides the opening did not play any role in this game.
Indeed, it is usually wise to postpone development of your queen until your other pieces are in play. A queen is strong and valuable, so she is also vulnerable. Just bring out your knights first, then find good use for your bishops, castle, only then bring out your queen.
6 Ne4 is wrong too. In the opening generally do not play the same piece twice. You have other pieces that are not yet in play.
Your 10 a4 is the right plan, but you could first take Nxe6: eliminate his only piece in play, spoil his pawn structure, gain the bishop's pair.
You see, you do not need to know any concrete variations, you can just apply general principles and do well. Besides the opening did not play any role in this game.
@widp #4
Great game to watch, entertaining and beautiful finish. Nice!
Your Qf3 was fine imho. Chess engines tend to count material, and don't shy away from making all kind of ugly and artificial looking moves just to keep material. In human versus human games it is better to play for piece play and initiative.
Use the chess engine to check for tactical mistakes and the like, but don't rely 100% on chess engines for opening preparation.
It is imho better to watch some chess videos or read chess books and articles, and talk to and analyse with stronger chess players, to grasp opening ideas.
Great game to watch, entertaining and beautiful finish. Nice!
Your Qf3 was fine imho. Chess engines tend to count material, and don't shy away from making all kind of ugly and artificial looking moves just to keep material. In human versus human games it is better to play for piece play and initiative.
Use the chess engine to check for tactical mistakes and the like, but don't rely 100% on chess engines for opening preparation.
It is imho better to watch some chess videos or read chess books and articles, and talk to and analyse with stronger chess players, to grasp opening ideas.
@tpr
> Your 10 a4 is the right plan, but you could first take Nxe6: eliminate his only piece in play, spoil his pawn structure, gain the bishop's pair.
My idea was that the knight there would be very strong, as it is at an advanced rank and couldn't be threatened by his pawns.
@achja
Thanks for the advice about using chess engines, I've been thinking about the right way to use engines to analyse my games. Currently I spend time looking at centipawn jumps/ Places I thought I or the opponent blundered etc.. I watch videos on youtube and trying to find something that'll help me overcome my fear of the opening such as traps that could be set .
> Your 10 a4 is the right plan, but you could first take Nxe6: eliminate his only piece in play, spoil his pawn structure, gain the bishop's pair.
My idea was that the knight there would be very strong, as it is at an advanced rank and couldn't be threatened by his pawns.
@achja
Thanks for the advice about using chess engines, I've been thinking about the right way to use engines to analyse my games. Currently I spend time looking at centipawn jumps/ Places I thought I or the opponent blundered etc.. I watch videos on youtube and trying to find something that'll help me overcome my fear of the opening such as traps that could be set .
#7 After 10 a4, black could save his bishop with 10...Bc8 and later trade off your strong knight with 11...Nd7. So you should have taken 10 Nxe6 trading your temporary advantage of the strong knight for the permanent advantages of the bishop's pair and the spoiled black pawn structure.
#6 I diagree that 4 Qf3 is fine. On f3 the queen occupies the natural square for Ng1. Moreover the queen is not safe at f3. E.g. black could have played 6...Bd5. Also black was so kind to trade 7...Qxf3, while 7...Nf6 would still underscore that your queen stands poorly at f3. Any knight move with either knight would have been preferable over 4 Qf3.
#6 I diagree that 4 Qf3 is fine. On f3 the queen occupies the natural square for Ng1. Moreover the queen is not safe at f3. E.g. black could have played 6...Bd5. Also black was so kind to trade 7...Qxf3, while 7...Nf6 would still underscore that your queen stands poorly at f3. Any knight move with either knight would have been preferable over 4 Qf3.
If black tries to hold on to his extra pawn in the Queen's Gambit Accepted, you should
1. Develop normally.
2. Play in the center.
3. Prevent him from gaining a secure foothold on the pawn.
Stockfish responds to 3...e6 with 4. Nc3 (threatening d5) Nf6 5. Nf3 (intending 6. Ng5 to kick out the bishop) 5...h6 6. e4 (taking over the center and threatening d5 again) 6...c6 7. a4 (preventing 7...b5, although 7. Be2 b5 8. Qc2 (to keep e4 protected in the event of ...b4) with an eventual a4 is fine as well, as is the aggressive 7. Ne5) 7...g6 8. Be2 Bg7 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Be3 O-O 11. Nd2! (finally winning the pawn back without having made any positional concessions).
I say "Stockfish responds...." but what I really mean (in this case) is that most strong humans would come up with similar plans if likely execute them with less precision (since they won't have spent much time preparing for the rare 3...Be6), allowing black more chances at counterplay or equality.
1. Develop normally.
2. Play in the center.
3. Prevent him from gaining a secure foothold on the pawn.
Stockfish responds to 3...e6 with 4. Nc3 (threatening d5) Nf6 5. Nf3 (intending 6. Ng5 to kick out the bishop) 5...h6 6. e4 (taking over the center and threatening d5 again) 6...c6 7. a4 (preventing 7...b5, although 7. Be2 b5 8. Qc2 (to keep e4 protected in the event of ...b4) with an eventual a4 is fine as well, as is the aggressive 7. Ne5) 7...g6 8. Be2 Bg7 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Be3 O-O 11. Nd2! (finally winning the pawn back without having made any positional concessions).
I say "Stockfish responds...." but what I really mean (in this case) is that most strong humans would come up with similar plans if likely execute them with less precision (since they won't have spent much time preparing for the rare 3...Be6), allowing black more chances at counterplay or equality.
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