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BobbyFishmonger

absolutely loved this game. I lost and pushed a bit too hard. I thought I had a combination but my calculation was off. What do you think of this game? 

I inserted some of my calculation so you have  sense ofwhat I was thinking. Where did I go wrong? Should my main focus be on calculation training? Because I made some calculation errors. I played some weird moves, but I thought they were good. Went for the attack and seized the initiative because my opponent hadn't castled yet. All in all a funny game and hope you can help me out! cheers from holland.  

Sqod

You have some good tactics, you're looking ahead pretty far, and it looks like you know at least the first few moves of your openings. All good.

I was thinking the less ambitious 7...Be7 would have been better (then 8. Nxc6 dxc6 9. Qxd8+ Bxd8 10. e5 Nd7 might hold the position, although 11. e6 still has to be considered). My guess is that you made an opening error even before that 7th move since your position was weaker than it should have been at that point. That isolated, unadvanced "d" pawn looks like it's messing up your position. This is one of those Sicilian lines I don't know, so you'd have to look up the book moves for that.

What about 18...Ba6, which simultaneously threatens the queen and mate-in-one?

BobbyFishmonger

Thx for answering sqod! I think my opening just looks optically worse but I was quite happy the way the opening turned out. be7 might have been followed with nf5 and then I'd lose the bishop pair, but perhaps you're right. e5 is actually theory but not main line or anything and I don't rly know it, it's the second time I've played it. 18...ba6 was considered but after 19.qf3 re8 20.qe3! I thought I didn't really have anything going for me. 

Sqod

Yes, very tactical indeed.

18...Ba6 19. Qf3 Re8 20. Qe3 Bxd2+ 21. Rxd2 Qa1+ 22. Rd1 Qc3+ 23. Qxc3 Rxe2+ 24. Kf1 Rd2+ 25. Ke1 Re2+ is draw by perpetual check. (25. Kg1?? Rxd1+ 26. Qe1 Rxe1#).

18...Ba6 19. Qf3 Re8 20. Qe3 Qxe3 21. fxe3 Rxe3 22. Bxb5 Rxd2+ 23. Kf1 Re2+ with a similar situation.

Did I mention that this is why I don't like Sicilians? Smile

BobbyFishmonger

Naaaaiiiice Sqod, I actually followed that. 

Did I mention that's why I love sicilians xD