1.f4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Bb5+ c6 5.Ba4 e6 -
I rarely face the Bird so I grab some central squares, setup a fortress, and get my "bad" bishop outside my pawn structure where I can trade it off.
While my defense is logical, slightly lower-rated players have managed a draw against me with these lines. Maybe I'll use 1...e5 when I'm itching for a tactical fight or need a win.
6. h3 Bxf3 7. gxf3? Nh5 8. Rg1 Qh4+ 9. Ke2 Ng3+ 10. Kd3 Qxh3?!
My opponent makes a mistake by creating a hole on their kingside and I exploit it straight away to win a pawn and create a passed pawn. Also, his king is exposed.
I noticed if his c5-pawn moved I would win his bishop, but I didn't see any great ways to exploit this happenstance.
I saw 10...Nd7! (threatening ...Nc5+, fork) but my poor calculation skills followed the line 10...Nd7 11.Qe1 Nf5 12.Qxh4 Nxh4 13.Ke2. A simple re-ordering would have solved the problem: 10...Nd7! 11.Qe1 Nc5+ 12.Kc3 Nxa4+ 13.Kb3 Nc5+ 14.Kc3 Nf5 15.Qxh4 Nxh4 +-. Besides that, there was the crushing 11...Ne5+! 12.Kc3 Qe7! 13.a3 Qc5+ 14.Kb3 Qc4#.
11.Qe1 Nf5 12.Rh1 Qxf3 - I had calculated this line (and a few others) even before taking the pawn. My edge is significant.
13.Kc3 Qe4?! 14.d4 - I played 13...Qe4?! quickly and overlooked the saving move.
14...b5 15.Bb3 16.dxc5 Bxc5 17.Rh5 Bb4# - If 16.Kd2 I would have 'only' won a piece.
I play mostly online chess. I'm trying to improve my OTB vision before a big tournament.
The Game: