Thanks for the thorough explanation! Really appreciate it!
Calculating pawn breaks
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Sep 1, 2019
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#3
I'm right in the middle of watching a movie, so im gonna keep it simple here...
iamgroot044 wrote:
Hello, I'm having a hard time coming up with game plans and navigating middle games.
Playing Black here.
My two thoughts were
1) white playing Kg5 is dangerous, and I can meet it with h6. But it weakens the pawn structure and I have by knight on f6, so I didn't think it was a necessary move.
2) I wanted to go for a central pawn break by playing b6, followed by c5. I did that and after a flurry of exchanges, I came out losing. Is this just a calculation problem? I feel like there are so many variations that its hard to calculate whether this is a good or bad plan (in this case, it was terrible).
3) I also thought dxc4, but it gets taken back by queen and I lose a central pawn. But the engine liked the move.
So clearly, I'm terrible at evaluating and calculating. What should someone at my level by thinking here? Should I just play safe developing moves like Re8, here?
Nh5!!!
Obviously. It is the best chance to trade down the best white piece. Normally London players waste one tempo in opening with h3! to save that best bishop.
And always, always keep the pawn on d5. ( dxc4 is playable but you are just playing with less mobility unnecessariliy). Then plan is simple, if white push queen side, push e5 etc.
Which move is better?
I am pretty sure
Nh5
dxc4 or something sound move will still end as draw in perfect play. But Nh5 give you more mobility, so in case of time trouble, Nh5 more gaurantee for draw.
The goal of chess is to put pressure to opponent to make mistake!! Or try more mobility/ easy of play yourself as much as possible to avoid mistakes.
Hello, I'm having a hard time coming up with game plans and navigating middle games.
Playing Black here.
My two thoughts were
1) white playing Kg5 is dangerous, and I can meet it with h6. But it weakens the pawn structure and I have by knight on f6, so I didn't think it was a necessary move.
2) I wanted to go for a central pawn break by playing b6, followed by c5. I did that and after a flurry of exchanges, I came out losing. Is this just a calculation problem? I feel like there are so many variations that its hard to calculate whether this is a good or bad plan (in this case, it was terrible).
3) I also thought dxc4, but it gets taken back by queen and I lose a central pawn. But the engine liked the move.
So clearly, I'm terrible at evaluating and calculating. What should someone at my level by thinking here? Should I just play safe developing moves like Re8, here?