NM tonydal
You're right! 18. Rc4 does prevent me from dropping any pieces. It's tough not to panic and just calmly look for a saving move.
Do you know why 6. 0-0!? is not a blunder? In the database, the most popular choice is 6. d3. I'm surprised that both the move I played is the most popular in the database, considering how passive it is, and that no one plays 6. 0-0 Nxe4!? to grab the pawn: is there a reason for that?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruy_Lopez#Morphy_Defence_3...a6:_alternatives_to_the_Closed_Defence
Scroll down to Morphy defence 3...a6 (open defense). It lists some of the variations there.
NM tonydal
You're right! 18. Rc4 does prevent me from dropping any pieces. It's tough not to panic and just calmly look for a saving move.
Do you know why 6. 0-0!? is not a blunder? In the database, the most popular choice is 6. d3. I'm surprised that both the move I played is the most popular in the database, considering how passive it is, and that no one plays 6. 0-0 Nxe4!? to grab the pawn: is there a reason for that?
If 6. 0-0 Nxe4 7. Re1 Nf6 8. d4 ... black has a couple options, all of which lose a pawn or white gets enough compensation in the center.
at 7...Nf6 could be replaced with Ng5. Then 8. d4 will win back the pawn.
at 7...Nc5 is also playable, which then you would follow up with 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. d4 and it will win back the pawn.
6. 0-0 is definitely playable, and if they take the pawn it is even better. White has more space than black and black has pins to worry about. Black must play semi carefully.
You could also play 7. d4 right away instead of Re1. Basically use the pins and tactics and you can regain that pawn pretty easily.
the rook sac was unsound.
Flibz
Thank you. I really appreciate the help. I guess I didn't realize that the Black King is a lot more vulnerable than it looks despite how well the e-pawn is defended. I will definitely be playing 6. 0-0 in the future if the position comes up again.
This is another trial run at my favorite opening: The Spanish Game! This time the computer chooses the Morphy (3. ... a6) and Modern Steinitz Defense (4. ... d6), which is surprisingly popular in the database, as it has a reputation of being passive and drawish.
Not a lot of tactical shots, but I did make the computer think for a minute each time with 7. Bg5 and 16. Nxe4, so maybe I was playing well. At the very least, I wonder why it took so long to move?
I thought I was being clever and putting the pressure on Black with 17. Rxe4?! but after 17. ... f5! I saw that I lose my dark Bishop if I retreat. So I decided to put more pressure on Black, and I got what I wanted: a game-saving draw to wash over my game-ending blunder =/
As always, game analysis, comments, and tactical insights are appreciated. And does anyone know why 6. 0-0 doesn't drop a pawn? After 6. 0-0 no one in the database played 6. ... Nxe4. If it doesn't, I'd much rather play that than the somewhat passive 6. d3