12Qd2 has some theory too in paticular two Shirov v Bareev games. Think the last one shows white has good pressure for pawn.
First of all, nice game, 26 moves is pretty respectable, you played book moves through 13 so you know your French theory. I'm no great player but I think taking the "poisoned pawn" with the queen rarely if ever works.
Now you may say, "well computers are better than humans now, and it said to do it". The problem with that logic is you're not a computer and from that move on you have to make the decisions.
From that move on you were backpedaling, and not castling and getting your king stuck in the center is not wise, no matter what the computer says.
Anyway, I think you should put your computer away for a year and start
playing more by feel and instinct and trust yourself a little more. Just my opinion, good luck.
I don't think there's anything wrong with using a computer to analyze your game afterwards to discover other possible lines. Good game and congrats for getting that far.
Thank you all for your comments.
I agree zankfrappa, after that pawn grab I was very much on the defensive and I did indeed get caught in the middle of the board.
I wasn't trying to use the computer to justify the pawn grab I was merely saying that OTB I thought it was the best move. I asked the computer what it thought and it said it was okay becasue of X,Y and Z. If my reasons for it being ok and the computers match up then great, if not then it means the next time I'm in that kind of position I know that he pawn grab is okay and I have computer analysis to back it up. Thats why I use the computer.
I usually fall on the "computers frequently make moves that no human would so there usefulness is limited" side of the fence on the issue, so I tend to take a big part in directing the analysis myself.
In this game alone there were several occasions where the computer wanted to give the pawn back to get another sort of positional advantage, an idea I hadn't considered. It means that from now on I can take that idea into consideration in these kind of pawn-grab situation and with a further analysis I can have examples to draw on. Thats how I use computers.
If you get a chance read the blog of "Spassky" here at Chess.com. I
think he is a great teacher.
I agree, and I do =)
bump
Ah, I thought there were 19 of us there. Oh well, yes my game was also short however I jumped into a defeated mate at move 16. Keti played white and play went;
1). e4, Nf6
2. e5, Nd5
3. d4, e6
4. Nf3, Bb4+
5. c3, Ba5
6. Bd3, d6
7. 0-0, dxe5
8. Nxe5, Nd7
9. Qh5, Nxe5
10. Qxe5, Qf6
11. Qe4, c6
12. Nd2, Nxc3!
13. bxc3, Bxc3!! < this was my last good move, I had intended to play ...Qxd4 next however upon Keti's return to the table I rushed and continued:
14. Rb1, Bxd4!?! , having now lost a move and down a piece, it was over so I did the following (falling on my sword.)
15. Nc4, 0-0
16. Qxh7#
For info, my planned continuation after 13..., Qxd4 was 14.Qf3, Bxd2 15. Bxd2, 0-0......... That would have let me open up her queen side and I could move across and attack from a defensive position at my kings side of the board, and whilst being down in material I think I may have had a chance with this plan. Alas, I was cut short by my inability to say pass and compose myself.
How do you read this game?
I'll show that better here....
You treat your computer like it was God...
I don't trust computers much, personally.
After 12. ..Qxb2 you handed the initiative on a platter to a GM noted for her attacking powress. This is not a good way to win a game.
f6 was too early; you broke open the f-file and while you did manage to plant a rook on it, this meant that the white queen could slam a sledgehammer into an already crumbling sandcastle. Yes, it's true her own king isn't that safe either, but you have no chance to exploit it and the psychological disadvantage of battling a GM guarantees good chances that you won't.
I wondered a little about Qxc3, and after Re4 you play Qd3, hoping to create counterplay along the diagonal, but it would be all too easy to grind you down into nothing but adding more and more pressure into your position, or simplifying into a winning endgame. Furthermore, your only advantage, the weakness of your opponent's king has disappeared and due to the disappearance of the f-pawn even back-rank exploits would crash and burn.
The turning point was when you grabbed the pawn and allowed her to bend your position and finally break it with a loud snapping sound.
