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Making Every Move Count

Submitted by spassky on Thu, 12/03/2009 at 9:15am.

One of the goals we aspire to in each game is to make every move count.  That is, we want to make moves that threaten something or at least contribute to some objective.   We try to avoid pointless moves that put our opponents under no pressure.  But rarely do we play a game where we create threats and move forward almost from the beginning of the game to the end.  This is just such a game.  From his first threat at move 3 to the very end, Black presses forward with threat after threat until he wins material leading to a won endgame.  Especially notice the remarkable sequence from moves 15 to 19, where Black plays 5 developing moves in a row, all with tempo.

The point of this game is that we should always try to make the best move possible.  Don't play moves that prevent non-existant threats, or make aimless developing moves just to make a move, or checks that are easily blocked and just waste time and misplace your pieces.  Take time on each move and ask yourself  "How does this move help me or threaten my opponent?"  If you can't come up with a good answer, maybe you should consider a different move.  Things may seem to move slowly in chess, but opportunities are sometimes fleeting, so you have to stay alert and try to make every move count.

» posted in Strategy
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Comments:

by spassky - 2 years ago
Gaithersburg, MD United States
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 422

To judass:

One reason I like the Two Knights Defense from both sides is that I have been playing it for 30+ years, so I know the positions and tactics really well (as in this game, I knew 4. Nc3 was a mistake as soon as he played it) and I get good results.  Everybody likes good results!  Another reason is that it usually results in an open position, that is, the pawns get traded instead of locked up, as they do in the French, for example.  I seem to play much better in open positions with lots of open lines, development, attacking the king, etc.  I like a little risk, sacrificing a pawn or two for development and attack (as in this game).  Some players like everything to be safe and calculated.  They can play 1.c4.

For more examples of me playing against the Two Knights, see my articles "The Exterminator Gets Terminated"  and  "Belle, Baczynskyj, and Bisguier".  I'll have to write an article where I play the Black side of the Two Knights.

Thanks for your comment (which I thought was accurate) and the question!

by judass - 2 years ago
Montreal Canada
Member Since: Aug 2009
Member Points: 196

It is possible to get out of the Fried liver attack with equality for black (or better, depending on how white plays), although this and the knight attack usually works great with beginners. However, I'm curious on why the author consider it its favorite opening from both sides. I've always had trouble with the italian game as black, so I'm interested !

by sonty - 2 years ago
New Delhi India
Member Since: Jul 2009
Member Points: 49

Two Knights Defense is a mediocre opening. White should have used Fried Liver Attack

by 1wa - 2 years ago
Inglewood, CA United States
Member Since: Oct 2008
Member Points: 165

Your point is well taken. Good comments too.

by spassky - 2 years ago
Gaithersburg, MD United States
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 422

To Peanutz:

Didn't you read the notes underneath the diagram?  I explained that if 5. Nxe4 d5 wins the piece back.  Gotta read the notes!

by peanutz - 2 years ago
Bahrain
Member Since: Sep 2008
Member Points: 14

when black played N*e4 why did not white take the knight.

Beats me!

by staggerlee - 2 years ago
United States
Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 891

Instructive game, thanks!

by spassky - 2 years ago
Gaithersburg, MD United States
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 422

To Mathijs:

Whoops!  How did I forget to mention that move?  That's probably the second most played move after 4. d4.  I guess it's because I don't play that move, but I do like to see it when I play Black.  Thanks for pointing that out.

by mathijs - 2 years ago
Utrecht Netherlands
Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 1023

"Correct is 4. d4, with 4.O-O and 4. d3 as alternates."

4.Ng5 is occasionaly ventured...

Nice attack, though.

by Rixo - 2 years ago
Paris France
Member Since: Aug 2008
Member Points: 65

The black sequence from move 14 is very nice. A real interesting and fun game. though not a fan of the queen/knight exchange at the end. Black were only 10 moves away from checkmate.

by monkey_bits - 2 years ago
Michigan United States
Member Since: May 2009
Member Points: 112

keeps the peice count even and prevents black from castling, id say

by winnersp - 2 years ago
Shenzhen China
Member Since: Aug 2009
Member Points: 989

I cant understand why white bishop sacrifice at the beginning for a pawn,thats unmature attack..

by hawkeye03 - 2 years ago
Kentucky United States
Member Since: Oct 2009
Member Points: 2640

Great game and commentary!  Thank you!

by chalaco - 2 years ago
Callao Peru
Member Since: Mar 2009
Member Points: 123

Bonita partida !!!

by sryiwannadraw - 2 years ago
Southern Coast United States
Member Since: Mar 2009
Member Points: 453

cool

by contrapunctus - 2 years ago
Melbourne Australia
Member Since: Nov 2009
Member Points: 328

I love your idea of exchanging the queen for the knight, check out this game, I am going to do a "Nakamura"  http://www.chess.com/echess/game.html?id=29710581

by philidor_position - 2 years ago
international International
Member Since: May 2009
Member Points: 2986

wow, that's what you call dynamic play, really excellent game.

by goyathlay - 2 years ago
New Hampshire United States
Member Since: Nov 2009
Member Points: 2

Hey Runner3434,

It looks like if he takes the e4 pawn on move 40, white's rook stays on the board.  In the game he is forced to trade it, leaving only a knight against a queen.

by Runner3434 - 2 years ago
London United Kingdom
Member Since: May 2009
Member Points: 743

Why not at move 40 take the pawn on e4 with the queen?

This would allow the pawn to queen, and win an additional piece?

by ericycsong - 2 years ago
Toronto Canada
Member Since: May 2009
Member Points: 540

nice!Laughing

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