Comments and feedback are both welcomed and encouraged:)
I hope you enjoy this as much as I am enjoying creating it for all of you
On a side note, I have linked diagrams critical to the specified positions so we can all follow along
Net-Chess Game of the Week Posting with comments and annotations. Issue #1
White: Cliff (2636)
Black: Davidswhite (3000)
Game Number: g1105006514
Nimzo-Indian Defense, Rubenstein Variation
1. d4, Nf6;
2. c4, e6;
3. Nc3, Bb4 The Nimzo-Indian Defense, a very popular opening at all levels, created by Aaron Nimzovith in the 1920's, and still going strong today!
http://www.apronus.com/chess/stilldiagr ... rnbqk__r0/
4. a3 The Saemisch Variation, forcing the question to the Bishop immediately, but this will soon transpose into a well-known variation of the Rubenstein Variation for both sides; 4...Bc3;
5. bc3, c5 Probably the best, immediately hitting the d4 pawn and forcing White to make a choice...
6. Nf3, 0-0
7. e3, b6 Now we transpose into the Rubenstein Variation with the ...b6 variation…Again, very popular from both sides of the board. Both sides decide to develop and wait for the other to reveal their intentions.
8. Bd3, Bb7
http://www.apronus.com/chess/stilldiagr ... rn_q_rk_0/
9. 0-0, Be4 Black wants to exchange pieces to reach an endgame, where the doubled White pawns on the C file can be exploited easier...White in turn, does not want this exchange, so he prevents it.
10. Be2 As you can see, if 10. Be4 then 10...Ne4 and Black is already attacking the weak pawn on C3 and White is on the defensive...not a good idea if you are White!, 10...Nc6 Putting more pressure on the D pawn at the cost of leaving his White square Bishop unable to retreat and defend his Queen side.
11. Ng5!? N (Novel) Usually in this position White has tried two moves 1: 11. Nd2 (attacking the e4 Bishop or 11. Ne5 attacking the black Center and Q side...the move played also attacks the e4 Bishop and tries to hit the Kingside as well....it looks as good as either of the 2 moves previously played here! 11...Bf5 A good retreat.
http://www.apronus.com/chess/stilldiagr ... r__q_rk_0/
12. d5!? The most ambitious and definitely in Cliff's style !
The d pawn is used as a wedge to gain space in the center and attack the Queenside by its threatening the Knight. I also like the possibility of 12. Bf3!? to prevent either …Ne4 or ...Be4 again for some time. On the other hand if the Knight Retreats to h3, then a possible Bh3 by Black could cripple the White Kingside...already the position is double edged! 12...Ne7 the safest.13. d6 Cliff continues to use the D pawn as a battering ram into the Black Center which has plusses and minuses. The pawn IS causing a slight cramping in the Black position and this can give White time to plan a Kingside assault, BUT on d6, the pawn is far from home and Black can mount a counter attack to surround and win the pawn...so it is a dynamic situation we have on the board! 13...Nc6 The Knight returns to its natural and best location.
14. f3 Preparing e4 and driving the Bishop back as he increases the strength of his Canter. 14...h6; Black also pursues a similar strategy, driving the Knight away from his Kingside.
15. e4, Bg6;
16. Nh3 Now, as a result of White's clever move sequence of f3 and e4; the Knight now safely retreats to h3 without the worry of the Bishop capture! 16...e5! Black immediately stops any further attempts by White to push his E pawn and support that far advanced D pawn...and he begins encircling it.
http://www.apronus.com/chess/stilldiagr ... r__q_rk_0/
17. g4 Countering a blow in the Center with an attack on the flank, logical...but also double edged...pawns that are far advanced can be picked off easier than those closer to home. An alternative move was 17. Be3 to develop the last of his minor pieces and see what Black is going to do. 17...Qe8!; The Queen is prepared to come into the game via e6, attacking that far advanced d pawn and she is very well centralized once she lands on e6!
18. g5 Continuing the plan to work the Kingside and exchange a pawn for the sake of getting his Knight back on G5 and prevent the move ...Qe6 at some point. Lets really LOOK at the position here for a few minutes critically: Everything LOOKS almost even but in fact Black has an edge which is easily expanded on...Look at the White pawns on c4 and c3..they are double AND isolated...a very bad combination, they will require constant protection and watching; The White King Bishop is locked in by his own pawns at c4 and e4...compare it to the Knight on F6...that Knight has all kinds of maneuvering room as does its brother on c6...This factor plays a huge part in the middle game portion of this match… I will summarize the key moments but for now, watch as Black exchanges the pawns OTHER then that c3 c4 combo that White has...and as well as White defends...the game is decided...Watch and see how.
http://www.apronus.com/chess/stilldiagr ... r___qrk_0/
18...hg5 exchanging a pawn...
19. Ng5 The plan; but objectively I liked 19. Bg5 with development better... 19...Nh5 eyeing F4...
20. f4?! I think i understand the reasoning behind the move, more exchanges... BUT that is precisely what White should not play! I like the move 20. Qd5!, at least keeping the e6 square safe and centralizing the Queen. The move played does exchange a few pawns, but the end result is that black is left standing very, very well! 20...Nf4
21. Bf4, ef4
22. Qd5, Qe5!
23. Qe5, Ne5
24. Rf4 Getting the pawn back, but... 24...Rae8 Now look at the position and how it has changed in the last 5 moves...the White Bishop is impotent, it must guard the e4 and c4 pawns...the rooks are disconnected and the Knight has no good attack squares....again Black is set to begin a slow and systematic destruction of this position. Again I will summarize this in phases...
http://www.apronus.com/chess/stilldiagr ... ____rrk_0/
25. Raf1 As good as it gets. 25...f6! Black begins Phase 1, rearranging his minor pieces and King in optimum positions so he can begin the mopping up of the White pawns...
26. Nf3, Nf7
27. Bd3 The d6 pawn was indefensible and White decides to arrange his forces as best he can without worrying on its fate., 27...Bh5 Black is in no rush and continues to arrange his forces...
28. Rh4, g6
29. Ne1 or 29. Rf4 with the exchange of Knight for Bishop. 29...Kg7
http://www.apronus.com/chess/stilldiagr ... ____rr__0/
30. R1f2, Rh8
31. Nf3, Re6
32. Nd2, Rd6 The time has come to harvest those pawns!
33. Bf1, Ne5! Centralization!!
34. Rh3, g5! David brings the Bishop to the best attacking square.
http://www.apronus.com/chess/stilldiagr ... _______r0/
35. Kh1, Rh6
36. Rg3, Bg6
37. Rfg2, Rh4! Now the final plan can be started by Black, White has done all he can and then some, but the game is not to be saved by any means!
38. Re3, Rg4
39. Rg4, Ng4
40. Re2, Ne5
41. Rg2, Bh5
42. Rf2, Nd3
43. Bd3, Rd3 Black has simplified down to a technically won endgame which he concludes nicely.
http://www.apronus.com/chess/stilldiagr ... ________0/
43. Bd3, Rd3 Black has simplified down to a technically won endgame which he concludes nicely.
44. Rg2, Rc3
45. Rg3, Rc1+! There is no need to exchange Rooks, it makes the job allot harder!
46. Rg1, Rc2
47. Rg2, Bf7
48. h4, Bc4 The beginning of the end...
http://www.apronus.com/chess/stilldiagr ... ________0/
49. Nc4, Rc4
50. hg5, Re4
51, gf6+, Kf6
WHITE RESIGNS
http://www.apronus.com/chess/stilldiagr ... ________0/
A hell of a good game!!
It really illustrates the difficulties of isolated pawns, particularly so when doubled. White defended as well as he could, but once the opening was thru, his weaknesses were not to be saved…and by systematic and very persistent means, Black took those weaknesses and converted it into a full point!
Congrats to BOTH players for a really instructive and entertaining game!!
Thanks!