Keres-Botvinnik, 0-1, 22,1941.

In the GM posted as this topic (and included in this site’s Games, Keres is demolished.  Are there some mavens who can explain keres’ critical mistake.   is it the early Q move?

I am assuming this is the game in question.  4. Qc2 is fine. The problem was that Botvinnik got a huge lead in development, and was able to convert that into a crushing attack after the risky 8. 0-0-0.  The difference is especially notable on move 13, where Botvinnik lines up his rook and bishop, which forces Keres to use tempi to find a safer square for his king. After 17.e4, it is very hard for white to recover as black now has more pieces developed on open files. Black's king is much safer, and white's is about to die. I personally doubt that Keres was playing full strength in this game. 

The lessons from this game are simple. King safety in the opening generally means away from open files and diagonals. This is so that enemy pieces will find it harder to reach the king. King safety is also very important. 

Moving the queen in the opening is dangerous because it will cost a few tempi to get what you want that piece to do, and then retreat it. In that same amount of tempi, your opponent can develop his army and develop an initiative. 

Try not to open the board when you are under-developed. 

Try to get your pieces working before you open the board up. 

Great answer,  thx for taking the time.  

You’re a follower of keres?

One of my favourite games between the same two players

8.0-0-0 is a developing move, yet too risky.

8.dxc5 is a non-developing move, yet the (almost) exclusive choice currently at high level games. Sharp position with a lot of theory, and a verdict of "equal". Here is a game I "played" recently (everything down to the last move has been played before):

That was some game.

#5 I wondered about 10. Be5 0-0 but even then it feels black has the chances. At first I thought 11. 0-0-0 but that crashes to 11. ... BxNc3 12. BxBc3 Nxf2 (opps)

Nah, nothing close to a game. The original lasted a wee bit longer:

I realise that c5 before h6 is an improvement over theory from the 1960's and Keres game (the second one I posted) but I would still be inclined to chop the knight on eight. Otherwise white seems to be very much on the wrong end of things.
What I see here is: 4. Qc2?! 4. e3!