As a change of style from the Sicilian Najdorf and the French, I decided to try the Scandinadvian (1. e4 d5) for the first time.

 

My limited understanding of the opening was as follows ... by exchanging the White e pawn Black will have an open position with fairly easy piece development. Because Black's first moves get the Q out and allow for the light squared bishop to develop, Q-side castling is a possibility. If White castles K-side, Black can launch a pawn storm. Black can play Bf5, e6, c6, Nf6, Nbd7, 0-0-0, and the dark squared bishop can wait and see while keeping an eye on the vulnerable d6, and perhaps e5  squares.  The B on f5 is well placed and attacks the c pawn which often won't move as white will have played Nc3 to attack the Black Q after 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5). With the B on f5 along with pawns on e6 and c6 Black will have a solid grip on the light squares.

 

A disadvantage of the Scandinavian of course is that Black loses time recapturing the d pawn. But White has to exploit this ...

 

So here was the game: (with a little lighthearted analysis)

 

I am about to leave for a wedding but there's one thing I see right away:

The 7...h5 advance is not justified because:

1. The center is open

2. Your are still a ways from completing development.

 

Fortunately, White blandly played 8 Bf4 like a robot "always develop a new piece," and missed the tension relieving Ng4.

Doh, gotta go! 

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Eh Ng4 is no good either because of e5, but the first two points stand. In fact, e5 is the right move for you instead of h5.

8. Bf4 f6 9. Nb5 instead of 9. h3 and that "robotic" Bf4 wins a pawn. White just never had a plan in this game. Black had a plan and pursued it, and while there may have been better plans, this game illustrates the power of setting goals and fighting to achieve them over the board.

farrellr wrote: 8. Bf4 f6 9. Nb5 instead of 9. h3 and that "robotic" Bf4 wins a pawn. White just never had a plan in this game. Black had a plan and pursued it, and while there may have been better plans, this game illustrates the power of setting goals and fighting to achieve them over the board.

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 I play 9. ... e5 in response to Nb5. Where's the win of a pawn?

anaxagoras wrote:

I am about to leave for a wedding but there's one thing I see right away:

The 7...h5 advance is not justified because:

1. The center is open

2. Your are still a ways from completing development.

 

Fortunately, White blandly played 8 Bf4 like a robot "always develop a new piece," and missed the tension relieving Ng4.

Doh, gotta go! 

________________

Eh Ng4 is no good either because of e5, but the first two points stand. In fact, e5 is the right move for you instead of h5.

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 6 ... e5 is a different plan, but I'm not sure it's a better one. And it gives White a target after Re1, Ne4, b3, Bb2 etc

Also, fighting spirit. If I'm white in this game, I'm not resigning after e4. I'm playing Qg3 and looking for a breakthrough on the dark squares. In my profession we say "They're not dead until they're warm and dead," and in the same vein, you're not busted until your opponent's king is completely safe.

farrellr wrote: Also, fighting spirit. If I'm white in this game, I'm not resigning after e4. I'm playing Qg3 and looking for a breakthrough on the dark squares. In my profession we say "They're not dead until they're warm and dead," and in the same vein, you're not busted until your opponent's king is completely safe.

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 I agree. The resignation was a surprise to me and arguably a little premature. Black has no immediate win. But after Qg3, I'm inclined to exchange Queens, and another minor piece or two (after perhaps Bg4 and Nf5) to get into an endgame where my extra material should give me an easy win.

 

There's an old saying "No-one ever improved their score by resigning", but given that we're not in a tournament here, I understand why White wanted to move on to another game.

 

You're right, Nb5 doesn't win a pawn right away. 

After e5, Be3 and black needs to defend the a7 pawn, and the f6 pawn can become a target.

The game is pretty balanced at this point, and I don't think white errs by bringing out the bishop. 

At the end, better than Qg3 would be Qf4, with the same pressure but not easy way for black to take the queens off the board. 

10...Bxh3! seems like a good sac with a least a draw. White should have put the question to the BB before castling & to the BQ after it captured on move 2. PS: i don't consider the center open maybe semi-open or semi-closed.