Analysing My Own Games: Build it and It will Come

What makes us happy (in Chess)? Is it what we believe a dazzling sacrifice on the King? Where along the way did (for some) our Chess tastes change?

My first ever Chess book as Fred Reinfeld's "1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices" where I was introduced to the 20 most common tactical themes. I still revise from this book, and use it as the basis for teaching tactics to players.

Yet these tactics don't fall out of the sky. And some games simply have no such tactics?!

I believe I played such a game on the Black side of an Advanced Caro Kann. Little calculation was needed, but the right plan was hit upon.

I felt I read the course of the game very well, exploiting a positional error White made with 24. a4.

Two ideas I was very happy with were 32. ... a5 to activate the Bishop and the prophylactic 42. ... Rc6 shore up e6.

I much prefer playing a style where I offer little to my opponent, have little risk but accumulate small and tiny advantages.

Strength or Weakness: Black to Play

Here White has just played 24. a4. In my view, this is a weakness, as it is unrealistic that he can launch a Queenside attack.

First priority is to exchange White's Bishop, even though it is "bad". My plan was to exploit the c4 square.

24. ... Nxd4 25. Qxd4 Rc8 with occupation of c4 to follow.

Invading on light squares

28. ... Qe4 is crying out to he played, followed by Rc4 and invasion on light squares.

Pressure mounts on c3.

Activating the Bishop

I really want to get my Bishop to the g1-a7 diagonal where it can coordinate with the Rook to place pressure at e3.

If I play 32. ... Bd8 intending Bb6 then White played 33. a5.

Hence I found 32. ... a5! where White must give up the c5 square, allowing the Bishop to be activated.

Prophylaxis

White intend to play g6 and get his Rook active.

Should Black race in grabbing pawns at a5?

Instead, I found the prophylactic 42. ... Rc6! guarding e6 which holds Black's position together.

After this, both the fixed a5 and h4 pawn will fall.

My Game Annotations and Analysis