A Sample Analysis

Hi,

In my recent post, I informed you about chess lessons I give by analyzing your games in an extended fashion. Some people were interested, so that I now propose to give a fragment of a game of mine with some analysis. As I believe some interaction my improve your understanding of the game, I break it off very early, so as to give you the chance to think over it and propose a candidate move. I look forward to your reactions!

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MB - HR

1. f4

Bird's opening, quite a rare bird, but certainly not a bad one and with a surprising value. I have used it myself a lot in blitz and bullet, and occasionally in serious games. At the time this game was played, I was unfamiliar with it.

1...d5 2. b3 c5 3. Bb2 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. e3 e6 6. Bb5

I allowed him to play Bb5, and subsequently exchange at c6, which is one of White's principal ideas. Nowadays, I believe Grunfeld, King's-Indian or Sicilian setups are preferable. At that time, my idea was to allow him to exchange at c6, but in return to exchange myself at f3, so as not to allow a
knight on e5. In any case, 5...a6 was preferable.

6...Qb6

Of course, I wished to avoid doubled pawns. But c7 was the best square, for my opponent now has a nice trick up in his sleeve.

7. a4 a6 8. a5

Very nice! If 8...Qxb5 9.Nc3 Qb4 10.Ra4 and the queen ins encircled.

8...Qc7 9.Bxc6+ Qxc6

Thanks to his pawn at a5, my counterplay at the queenside (which
should consist of b5/c4) is nipped in the bud, for the b-pawn would be taken en passant. White thus has the initiative and I started to take defensive measures to control e5, a very important square here.

10. O-O f6 11. d3 Bd6 12. Nbd2 Ne7 13. Qe1 O-O

I considered this move to be a very brave one, for I
feared the coming attack. I'll break off my analysis here, to let the
interested reader make a guess about White's next move and plans.