Feedback on My Game Analysis

Nov 13, 2015, 8:23 PM |

I previously self analysed the following game where I was Black and won by employing a minority attack.

http://www.chess.com/blog/blohmoremoney/analysing-my-own-games-minority-attack

I submitted the game to GM Bojkov to seek his views on where I could improve, and he highlighted at least 7 excellent suggestions from my game that I'd like to share.

Lesson 1: When a Knight is stronger than a Bishop

Here I decided to retain my Bishop by playing ... Bh5. However, Bxf3 would have been an improvement as I have a favourable Knight versus Bishop pawn structure.

Simply, White's Bishop has no targets, the position is semi closed and Black can continue with his minority attack with little fear of the light squared bishop combining with the White Queen.

White's bishop is impotent in defending the Queenside pawns from the minority attack.

Lesson 2: Would g4 have drawn for White? Be faster and strike

g4 would have been an improvement for White, but Black can exploit the unprotected nature of White's King and seize the 2nd rank.

Lesson 3: Defending against a Minority Attack

GM Bojkov made an excellent suggesting for White to defend against my Minority attack by advancing a4

I had seen this idea also in CBM 168 by GM Marin in his section on the middle game.

b2 is then guarded by Re2 and White obtains an outside passed pawn.

Lesson 4: Zugwang ideas

White indeed could have held by playing 35. Rf1. The key idea in defending is that he must not give a second weakness.

Black could have set practical difficulties by tying the Rook to c3 and advancing his g-pawn where White must be careful not to land in zugzwang.

Lesson 5: The Paradoxical Defensive Rook

Through knowledge of how difficult it is to convert f- and h-pawns, an improved line was found by GM Bojkov in the paradoxical Rook retreat.

This allows Black to keep a e-pawn, which is much easier to convert.

Lesson 6: Hold on to the e-pawn. Don't rush or give counterplay

In the game I rushed to capture with 41. ... Kxh4. Had I appreciated the importance of keeping the e-pawn (and not the h-pawn), this analysis shows how to position the Rook to defend the e-pawn and allow the f-pawn to advance.

Lesson 7: h- and f-pawns advanced to 3rd rank is a win

I have since learnt that if the f- or h-pawn can advance to the 3rd rank then Black can win, but if stuck on the 5th rank it's a draw. To be studied and investgated (complicated).

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