How to combat this style of play?

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Amazing_Player

Here's a game I just finished playing. It features my opponent storming pawns down onto my kingside and although I managed to win the game purely because of my opponent's poor play and blunders I still find it a very difficult style to face.

Amazing_Player
paulgottlieb wrote:

Step 1: DON'T PANIC!! It's very uncomfortable whaen your opponent starts throwing his entire kingside at you, but remain calm. It's tempting to imagine that your opponent knows what he's doing and has a deep attacking plan, but unless he's highly rated, he is probably just sticking his chin out for you to land the fatal counterpunch. 

Step 2: Stay alert, because your chances will come. You played the opening pretty well and White was very overextended. I think you missed a better chance if you had played 12...Nh5 instead if 12...Ne8. We're used to avoiding the Knight on the rim, but in this case, there are weak Kingside squares for you to invade. 12...Nh5 in conjunction with a later Ne5 and possible e6 should open up White's kingside. In the meantime, your g7 Bishop is radiating force down the long diagonal. There might even be a Rb2 in your future. I like your game, although there;s plenty of fighting to come.

Step 3: Grab your opportunities. You missed a nice shot on move 15. 15...Nxe3 was much better that 15...Bxc3 (16.Bxe3? Bxc3+ 17.Bd2 Bxa1 18.Qxa1 Bf5). You were right that 23...Ng7 was a mistake and gave White a great chance, but 23...Kg8 would have kept you comfortably ahead.


You're right about move 15. I missed a good opportunity to pick up the exchange. I suppose my mind was on the lines of "what can I do with my knight?" seeings as it was attacked twice and defended once so instead I saw a line which picked up a pawn as opposed to taking the exchange!

So my idea of vacating my king far away from the h file (though I never properly achieved it) was wrong and it was better to just stay on g8?

I've learned to allow the kingside pawns advancing and to recapture with my f pawns instead of h pawns to not allow open h files against my king. My opponent played annoyingly though, cramping my position as much as he could and the result was that both sides had poor development and white had over extended his pawns.

paulsen1946

These players are what are called woodpushers!!!No plan or opening theory involved but totally to frustrate the opponent at every move.They can win if they get to you in your frustation,but good development on your behalf will eventually open weaknesses in their so called POSITION???!!!!!

Loomis

You should aim to take control of and open the center. With better development and your opponent's king stuck in the center you will be the one with the successful attack, not your opponent.

 

5. ... d6. You could play 5. ... d5 here

6. ... Nbd7 this move really hampered your pieces. I would prefer 6. ... e5.

 

I would be wary of this line "winning the exchange" 15. ... Nxe3 16. Bxe3 Bxc3+ 17. Bd2 Bxa1 18. Qxa1 because of the dark squared weakness that you leave around your king.

birdbirdbird

at 12. g5  Ne8, i might try instead Nh5 it stops his h pawn advance and that knight can easily jump into his territory for an attack when needed.

birdbirdbird

sorry, just realized someone mentioned that already. i'll simply second Pauls good advice.

SonOfHam

re: comment to move 9- "I'd be snagging the b pawn with my rook if cxb. cxb,axb,Nxb,Rb8."  It seems he could protect his knight and b pawn with a4, right?

Yes, white made two horrible blunders consecutively in moves 24 and 25.  Those two moves single-handedly lost him the game, whence he continued to inadequately defend against your attack.  That looked like a rather easy win.

Indeed, had he not botched moves 24 and 25 you may have been in trouble.

To defend against his king-side attack, you may have considered:

23.  ... Kg8  24. ... Ng7 25. ... Nh5

Loomis

Here's an example game I played today. Admittedly, the opponent executes the kingside pawnrush strategy very poorly, but it wouldn't have worked against a strong center anyhow.