It doesn't make a big difference. The top move the enginee suggests is only 0.36 better than the move you played. I also woulden't open up the h file.
Game Analysis Question - Should I have captured the knight ?
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Thank you !!!
Oct 28, 2023
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#5
I would have captured the Knight, but like @Che_ssdave mentioned, there isn't much difference here. In both cases, white is winning by a lot. In your line, white is up by 3 pawns of material. If you were more comfortable not opening the h-file, then you made the correct decision for that game.
For me, I am not worried about the opened h-file if it means I can capture a Knight with my h-pawn (hxg4). If I capture on g4, then they will probably recapture with their other Knight, but where it their attack?
Maybe they can try something like ...Qc7 and aim at h2 with help from their g4 Knight, but I'm safely holding because of the f3 Knight protecting the h2 square.
Both moves are fine though; when the position is as one-sided as this, then playing the objective best move according to the computer isn't necessarily best for human players. The goal should just be to simplify into a winning endgame (if you aren't going for some attack on their King or something).
One important thing that wasn't mentioned before: not taking the knight is okay only because the knight is trapped. If we change the position slightly (like put the h6 pawn to h5, giving the knight an escape square) than not taking the knight is a blunder.
In general "I was worried" is not a good enough reason to not take a piece. A piece is a ton of material, you should have a much stronger reason for throwing it away than an insubstantial worry.
I agree that "I was worried" is not the best way to think. As one famous streaming coach says" :Give me moves--not stories!" In any case. taking the knight doesn't give Black an open h-file. The file is still closed at his end, On the other hand, you have an extra piece with which to attack and mate his king
I am a beginner in chess and have taken a few online courses. I was wondering if someone can give me feedback on why this is the best move? I did not take the Knight since I was worried about leaving an open H file that could lead to a possible checkmate since I castled.