Hmm, need comments on what to improve.

 Also, here are my notes on the game; (Was playing around 6 or 7 games stim at that moment, so figured I'd use the notes to keep my strategy on check)

 Move 17 for the queen.

Move 18 also for the queen. Protected by the pawn on F4

Queen to B3 is a nice followup if he runs with his own queen. Pin the knight and the bishop. As well as the rook, if he menages to get the trap.

Fork on Nxc6. Hope he doesn't see it.

Queenfork on Bd6. Qc6 forks the bishop and the rook,

If he runs his king to F7, push the pawn forward once. As in to e6.

If he runs farther, to F6, you have a bishop on D6, which you take down to E5. He eats with the knight, or he runs, which you can either take the darn rook or just check him a lot.

I'm still a starting player. Started playing chess for about 2 months ago. I was wondering if anyone could tell me anything I should try improving, and also, how I should menage to do so.

Thanks a lot in advance.

~Amanda     

Hi Metris, you got real lucky that black resigned when he did, He had mate in 2!

30...Qe3+ 31.Kf1 Qf2 Mate

Red

 Oh my god... How can people see such stuff? :P Well, I'm glad he didn't see the same thing =)

2. Nc3 naturally develops the knight in tempo and defends the pawn on e4.

3d4?.  This move defends a pawn while postponing development again.  You are playing a low-rated person, but a higher-rated opponent would have a better position than you as a result of more development.  

Study Opening Theory, A book for that is Winning Chess Openings by Bill Robertie.

7f4?.  Always move in tempo.  This move allows the Bishop to take the Knight on the G file, forcing a recapture by the Rook, preventing the normal Kingside Castle. (0-0)  A better move perhaps is Nf3.

 10Nb5.  Good job looking for the fork, but remember that your opponent could see it and Queenside Castle (0-0-0) to eliminate the threat.

 12Nc7??.  Blunder.  You are throwing away one of your two developed pieces.

 15Nxh7.  I personally would not have grabbed the material as it is only 1 point. Develop more pieces.

19Ng5.  Pointless move, as it is easily countered by moving the Queen.  Queenside Castle to develop the rook, and to pressure the center. 

 28exd7!!.  Threatens to queen the pawn. 

Black's resignation came as a surprise to me, as he has a forced support mate in 2. Using Qe3/forced Kf1/Qf2 Mate.

Look at tactics, opening theory and, quite simply, study the board before you make your move.  I suggest that you play opponents rated 1000 and above, as they will capitalize upon your mistakes, as otherwise you will continue making them.  Develop quicker, and don't attempt to fight pawn chains with pawn chains until after piece development.  Ask yourself if each move you make is better than your other choices.  Good game for a beginner. 

Hi Amanda,

you gotta keep playing until you can see all of the obviuos things that are going on, on the board, you should not be missing the fact that you are attacking pieces or that your opponent could have mated you. Once you get to that level you can start looking at tactics, openings etc.

if you want to challenge me to a friendly game anytime feel free.

E-L

Perhaps see Simple checkmates, or was it simple mates.  Author is A.J. Gilliam, I think.

Keep playing.  Go for the jugular!

Thanks a lot for the suggestions and the time you've taken to write them. I'll do my best at following your tips :)

~Amanda 

That I'll try the next time =) Thanks.

lulubell83 wrote: Hi amanda,    There's a lot of ways to improve. I have been playing in tournaments since 1999 and I got better by looking at tactic books. Also, I would also go over your losses with a stronger player, so she'll point out the mistakes.    It takes time to improve...   My TV show on the internet offers lots of tips to starting players:    www.geocities.com/chessdiva.show  

 I've seen episode 1, and I'll watch the rest as soon as I get more time. Thanks a lot =)

Esox-lucius wrote:

Hi Amanda,

you gotta keep playing until you can see all of the obviuos things that are going on, on the board, you should not be missing the fact that you are attacking pieces or that your opponent could have mated you. Once you get to that level you can start looking at tactics, openings etc.

if you want to challenge me to a friendly game anytime feel free.

E-L

Hmm, I am playing quite a few games a day online, so I guess I'll eventually get there. And a friendly game sounds like fun :) Thanks!

PawnFork wrote:

Perhaps see Simple checkmates, or was it simple mates.  Author is A.J. Gilliam, I think.

Keep playing.  Go for the jugular!

 I'll see if I menage to find it. Thanks a lot for the tip :)

~Amanda 

Hello Amanda,

The positives -- good start controlling the centre with pawns

You didn't launch any early attacks with the queen.  That's  a mistakes a lot of beginners make

You have ideas behind your moves... that's also a good start

Aggressive play -- it paid off for you, and flustered your opponent into a hasty resignation

The negatives -- 7.f4  --  this was a mistake for two reasons, which I think someone already brought up.  The first is that it doesn't develop a piece and second is that you've given up the option to castle kingside, even if your opponent didn't capture the knight, because black controls the castling square with his bishop.  Better would have been 7.Nf3, protecting that e5 pawn, developing a piece and making way to castle -- all in one move!

10.Nb5 -- As someone already brought up, good job spotting the fork, but I'd generally avoid doing this if your opponent has a simple counter to it.  You might catch the odd person napping, but most people are going to see it.  Generally, you want to avoid moving the same piece twice in the opening.  Better would have been to bring out the bishop to d2 and prepare for a castle to the queenside.

13.Nh3 -- Unless you have a really good reason, develop knights toward the centre of the board.  For one, knights have a reduced mobility on the edge of the board, so the closer to the centre you can bring them, the more squares they can control and the better they can work for your plans.  The second is that they often play a good role in staking a claim in the centre.

14.Ng5 -- Moving the same piece again.  It's not a good idea to begin attacking until all your pieces are in play, or at the very least, your king is castled and safe.  Moving the queen out would be better and follow up with a queenside castle.

16.Qe2 -- I like the idea that you're moving with a plan, that's a very good start -- but if you take a moment and look at the board, breaking the pawn chain is not your biggest concern right now.  King safety is.  And if you look to your opponent's queenside, it is very weak and it is probably where you should focus your attack. 

And the rest is pretty wild...

All in all, good game... just remember the principles of opening play, and try not to play 'hope' chess (making a move and hoping your opponent will make a worse one).  Work through tactical positions and if you see a good move... look for a better one!  Good luck!