Analysis of a recent game, help going from opening to middle game - Chess Forums

Jan 15, 2014

0

#1

Hello everyone. I'm hoping to get some help with this game, and my chess playing in general.

I've been playing seriously about 4 months now, and I've improved a bit, but there are a few things that I can't seem to get a grasp on. I'll try to keep this as short as possible. I know I play too fast, I don't analyze my games enough (which I'm fixing starting now), and I know that I'm weak positionally, and tactically. I'm doing tactical problems and I intend to start annotating games and posting them here for help. I'm not a good chess player, but I want to improve, and hoping some of the good people here can assist me.

One of my main weaknesses is trying to complete an opening and getting into the middle game. I feel as if when I complete the opening (developed, controlling the center, castled, and rooks connected) that I'm not sure where to go next as far as opening the game up. Also when an opponent challenges my pieces with pawns during my opening I get flustered and end up dropping a minor piece or two.

Any help and comments would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Allen

Edit, not sure why this center justified. Sorry about that

notmtwain

Jan 15, 2014

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#2

Afer 5.. Na5, what was wrong with Bb3?

After 9.. b5, your bishop was not done. What's wrong with retreating it to b3?

After 12 Nxe5, your opponent blundered back. What would you have done after Nxe5 ?

18 Rxc8+ is a forced mate. (Threat is Qxd7+, king moves, Qe7++)

19 Rxc8+ still wins.

There were so many blunders in this game, including giving up the game ender a mate in one, that a basic focus on tactics problems would be helpful. You are a premium member. You can do unlimited problems.

And if you are so afraid of losing a bishop for a knight, you need to go back to the basics and read some basic books about chess and the relative value of the pieces. About six months after that start worrying about middlegame transitions.

aevans410

Jan 15, 2014

0

#3

I know what the relative value of the pieces are, and normally I'm not that worried about losing a bishop for a knight. I know point value is even at 3 a piece. I also know that when I trade pieces early, I'm usually down material when the middle game started.

After 9, I see that it would have been better bringing it back to b3 and trading then.

As far as the forced mate goes, I'm still working on my calculation skills, but I can't believe I missed that. Thanks.