misterfever  I would be happy to review a game.  Your comments on my previous game were very helpful. Just message me the link.

Jim

As always, comments are welcome.

Opening multiple tabs may allow you to read this more clearly so you can ealily switch from the game toggling through the moves and this to read about each move.   The actual game link is:  http://www.chess.com/echess/game.html?id=30786109

26. c3 Be5 …  My idea with c3 was to advance the pawns, drive the B back some and it keeps the pawns protecting themselves on black squares that limit MO’s bishop movement.    Be5 is logical no surprise.

27. Rd1 b5 … My comment during the game was I don’t see what I was thinking.  Not sure why.  The rook supports d4 and my B can take the c-pawn if she advances and my a-pawn prevents the supporting pawn to move up to help her.

28. d4 cxd4 ….  I played d4, we traded

29. cxd4 Bd6  … complete the trade, MO moves the Bishop back to a central location.  Note that a few moves ago I was trying to push that bishop out of the center.

30. b3 bxa4 … I move the pawn up to prepare for the next trades.  MO starts the trade

31. bxa4 Rb4 … I finish trading pawns.   Rb4 attacks two pawns with the a-pawn hanging.

32. Ra3?!  … Here I protected a hanging pawn. The computer suggested I give away the pawn to get my rook behind MO’s pawns and combine that with a pawn push on the king side.  I did not see that.  I need to look at that line (below) more to understand it.

( 32. Rc3 Rxa4 33. g3 Rd8 34. Rc6 a5 35. Ra6 Bb8 36. g4 Rc8 37. Re6 Rc2 38. Re7+ Kf8 39. Rf7+ Ke8 40. Rxf6 Rxh2+ 41. Kg1 ) ( 32. Ra3 Rfb8 33. g4 Rb2 34. Rh3 R8b4 35. a5 Rb5 36. Ra1 R5b4 37. Rd1 )

32... Rfb8  … MO stacked the rooks,  a logical move.


My game notes for these moves as I wrote them in the game notes window:

28.  This could turn out good or bad... there are many ways this could play out.
27.  Not sure what I was thinking... I don't see it now.  I likely overlooked something. 
26.  May be able to win a B if MO plays correctly.  Otherwise is stays pretty even.

Hey Jim, I'll look through this game and give my opinions sometime this weekend - maybe you cen return the favor on a game I'm working on analyzing myself!

I really like what you're doing with your games - I have been trying to work things out in detail like this too, but you're way ahead of me in terms of follow-through.

The actual game is here if that is easier:  http://www.chess.com/echess/game.html?id=30786109

18. Qxe5 Bf6   My move was planned a couple moves before… I won a pawn.   MO’s Bf6 was sort of a surprise and a good move.  Putting a defender in the center of the battle.

19. Qh5?      The chess.com analysis said: “MISTAKE - That was a mistake. Much better was 19. Rxf6.”    The computer is correct.  I did not see it.  Rxf6 would have opened up the position for me by taking out that defender  and I had another rook to replace the one I was trading on the open f-file.  My thinking was counting points and not seeing situations on the board.

19.Black move   The chess.com analysis said of MO’s move: “MISTAKE - Your opponent made a mistake! Better was 19... Bxb2”  I did not see that during the game either.

20. Raf1 g6   I lined up the rooks as planned earlier.  MO is pushing the queen out.  My game note for move 21 was I did not see any way out beside trading queens and that was a big win for MO because it effectively killed my attack on the king.

21. Qh3 Qxh3 Made the trade.

22. Rxh3 Kg7  I completed the trade.  MO moved the king to protect the Bishop.   No surprises here.

23. Rhf3 Bd4+   I stacked the rooks on the f-file again.   MO checked me to centralize the bishop and move it out of the line my rooks are attacking.

24. Kh1 f6   I moved my king.  MO is advancing the pawns. 

25.   Rb1 Rab8  I moved the rook to support my pawns because it was clear MO could get by with out help.   MO moved the rook to support the pawn advance.

If anyone has any suggestions for different lines or improvements please post a comment. 

My game notes: 

16.  I am going to bring the other rook in and leave the pawn for later.
15.  It seems like the KS is weak.  I am going in. 

Actual moves:

14. Bxf4 O-O       I was not expecting the trade, but it was not bad for me… it opened a critical file for me.  Should MO have castled king-side? 

15. Qh5 Ne5     Here I am moving forces in for the attack.  MO also brought forces to the battle

16. Bxe5 dxe5     This trade was to trade off forces and open the f- file again for the rooks.

17. Rf3 Kh8       My objective it to stack the rooks.  MO is breaking the pin on the f7 pawn

18. Qxe5 Bf6     I took the pawn.    MO attacked the queen.

This group of moves 11 & 12 are pretty standard developmet.    I would  be very interested in other's ideas on strategy from this point.  My game notes:

13. This seems a strategy moment: how to enter the middle game?  It seems f4 would be a good attack with R, Q, B and B to support the KS attack.  What to do with the my Q?  I am going to go with f4 and sort out lessons learned later.
12. developed the bishop.  What to do in the middle game?  Where is MOs weak point?  I would like to keep that

11. Bxd5 Qd7

12. Bd2 Be7

13. f4 exf4

I am white this game.

9. d3 h6  ....d3 supports e4  and h6 is MO's limiting the bishop's scope.

10. O-O Nxd5   .... castling to protect king.  MO is starting the trade.  I did not anticipate that.

11. Bxd5  My thinking on this:  BxN is best.  concerned about Ne7 then when I move, Nd5.  I prefer not to trade B for N.  b7 is hanging, but that is a trap I don't think I can get the B out of alive.

Humor Enabled: Tree pruners will always go out on a limb for you. #pun

5. Nec3 Be6

pretty straightforward

6. Bc4 a6

--- link to master's games: http://www.chess.com/explorer/index.html?id=1439243&ply=10&black=0    there are no other moves.  First thought is why not pin the knight?  Anticipating a6 is likely why not.   Leaving it hanging behind the knight seems like poor practice: I have lost a lot of hanging pieces when they are uncovered.  It all worked out, and master's played it.  What about Be2?  Any insight?

---a6 prevents the pin and sets up an attack on the bishop.

7. a4 Bxd5

-I played a4 to prevent the B attack by the pawn. 

--My Opponent (MO) started a trade.  This trade was not one of the Master's game options.  http://www.chess.com/explorer/index.html?id=2912055&ply=13&black=0  Suggesting there was an error. 

8. Nxd5 Nf6    My thoughts: which way to retake?  nxb attacks the K.  NxB targets a royal fork and guards against Nb4  I went with Nxd5 because:

1) it keeps a knight in the center

2) no doubled pawns

--Readers: any other suggestions?

I am learning how to play the Sicilian Defense: Closed Variation, Chameleon Variation.  3. Ne2 was a totally new idea to me and I would have never thought of that as a move.  I found it in a master's game and decided to try to understand what was going on.  Obviously, there was something to learn.  This game was a continuation of that learning.

3.... e5 was unexpected.  Here is the link to moves made by masters in this position.  http://www.chess.com/explorer/index.html?id=1439244&ply=5&black=0  My feeling is black is simply challenging white's coming e4.  Because black choose another reply, In previous games e4 was played and the c and d pawns were exchanged leaving me with a N on d4 which I liked.

4. Nd5...  My feeling here was that MO had limited his abilty to chase a N from d5 so I took advantage.  I am actually remembering to ask myself "what did my opponent give up with that move?" more and more.   

4.  Black d6.  The pawns were guarded and the light B freed.

Humor Enabled: The harm caused by sibling rivalry is relative. #pun

I set the game challenge  Sicilian Defense: Closed Variation, Chameleon Variation 3.... e5 was the first player move in the game.  I played white this game.

Here are my notes move by move all in one place:

50. offered a draw.  I think I can hold.... don't see a way to break through and Q.
49.  I suspect Bb6 so I want to move forward and have MO move back. 
46. Outflanking MO is the only chance to make this a win.
43. I have to move the h-pawn b/c if I don't I will  be eaten when g is exchanged. 
41. the B can be behind d4 in 2 moves and the K or trade is the only defense.
40.  Here I need to force the K around the long way to attack the B & pawns.  My K needs time to get into position to support the pawn pawn push.
38. Rc6 forces a trade and a drawish position I think.  I am a pawn ahead so trading is good.  If Rb1+ I can move up to f3 where the rook cannot check me and the B will fall.
37.  Rc6 attacks 2 pieces directly and f6 indirectly.  What if  MO chases my K with the R?  I will  move to f3. when he cannot attack me i take the B.
35.  I did not expect Rb2.  i have to trade and that give MO an advantage.   That B to B face off has me locked up.
34. I have winning pawn structure if all the minor pieces could be traded.
33.  I missed the discovered attack on the a3 R.  MO has a mate threat on the  back row.
28.  This could turn out good or bad... there are many ways this could play out.
27.  Not sure what I was thinking... I don't see it now.  I likely overlooked something. 
26.  May be able to win a B if MO plays correctly.  Otherwise is stays pretty even.
21. that g6 really made the situation hard to enter.  Q trade it the only option I see.  The B is hanging.
16.  I am going to bring the other rook in and leave the pawn for later.
15.  It seems like the KS is weak.  I am going in. 
13. This seems a strategy moment: how to enter the middle game?  It seems f4 would be a good attack with R, Q, B and B to support the KS attack.  What to do with the my Q?  I am going to go with f4 and sort out lessons learned later.
12. developed the bishop.  What to do in the middle game?  Where is MOs weak point?  I would like to keep that
11.  BxN is best.  concerned about Ne7 then when I move, Nd5.  I prefer not to trade B for N.  b7 is hanging, but that is a trap I don't think I can get the B out of alive.
8. which way to retake?  nxb attacks the K.  NxB targets a royal fork and guards against Nb4
7. interesting... a4.   7. a6 prevents the pin and sets up an attack on the bishop.
6.  http://www.chess.com/explorer/index.html?id=1439244&ply=11&black=0

--- If you have a bad meal, don't go on a hunger strike. Find ways to improve the food.