Looking for tips for improvement

Hey guys! This is a game that I played recently that I think represent a normal game for me, even though it was longer than usual.

This is also the first time I annotate a game so bear with me incase if the annotation is lacking and, if that is the case, tell me about it so I can do it better next time.

/Markus

14. Re1 might have been better. After move 24, you were getting close to trapping his knight perhaps with something like 25. Bc2, 26. g3 Nh5 27. Bd1 Nhf6 (Ngf6 28. Ne4 Nxe4 29. Bxh5 Rf8 [Ng5 30. h4] with threats on f7) 28. f4 and g4 is under fire, I don't know if it will work though. Your approach let his knights wreak havoc. He let your knight do some fancy maneuvering. Endgame mistake ended the game. All in all, keep up the good work!

black is probably just winning after 34. nxf5 nxf5 35.bxf5 rd2 where black can win back the b and just be an exhange up in completely wining postion

36. b3 loses a pawn to rxa2, if c pawn becomes passer it is extremely dangerous

You're right, he would be. I didn't see that.

However, are there anything about my larger patterns that can be improved? I'm looking for e.g. tweaks on the kind of plans that I make (like look further, och less situationally) or comments on my general strategy (perhaps of the sort "when going for a strategy like X you want to do Y)

Hello 11markus11

For what it's worth, here's my opinion..

First of all, nice game. I think that one pattern I could see here is, perhaps you're looking for the simple moves, with very specific, short term goals (for example, I pin the knight, I dominate the knight, I want to trade knights). This is pretty common in live chess games.

What could really improve your game, is trying to evaluate the position just a little more deeply, and then look for the best move (that you can find). Work on strategic play rather than tactical shots. I will give a couple of examples that may give you a few ideas:

9. Be2 is a fine move. But did you consider, keeping the tension on b5? Perhaps playing 9.Bf4. I just wanted to bring this concept of keeping tension in a game.

14. Bd3. Protecting the pawn, understandable. But it's quite a passive move, shifting an active piece from offense to defense. In this case, you could simply counterattack by Re1 or even Nd5. Counterattacking, another fine concept.

The simple 25. Re4 wins a piece. It's ok, you missed it. Maybe if you examined the position a little more, you would have found it. Sometimes quiet-looking moves are the best.

Like you said, 29. Rb5 is a mistake. It may have happened due to 2 reasons – One, it “looks” like a good move, aligning the rook with the 2 knights. Two, you did not consider your opponent's reaction. Thinking about your opponent's moves as well is a very important tool.

53... Rxe4. Here your opponent did not consider the bad looking g6. After 54. Nxg6 54... Re8 he appears to save his rook. What he did isn't all that bad either – just pointing this out.

59. Rc6 “looking for trading knights at e6”. You were pursuing this one goal, and perhaps missed the best move in the position. What about 59. Rc7 ? You threaten to take on a7 (which is devastating for black since you will have 2 connected passed pawns), while black has no immediate threats. If he plays 59... Ra8, congratulations, your rook is in a near optimal square, while his is dead passive. You have improved your position – and that is the purpose.

69. Ne6. From a strategical view, I think you want to keep the knights on the board for now, and capture on a6 immediately. But 70. Nxg5+ forces his rook to exactly where he wants to be, almost as if you're helping your opponent. Capture only when it benefits you more.

After 80. a8=Q You should be winning, though it's very hard if black plays the best moves. But I still get the sense that you could work on your end games a little. Checking the black king gives you nothing, and brings his king closer to the action. 81. Qh1 appears to be the easiest win, because if 81... Rxb4 82. Qxh3+ and you should be able to pick off the rook with checks. Being a strong end game player is hugely important in the long run.

Generally, if you want to improve, don't be afraid to try and calculate variations one move deeper, and carefully evaluate your foe's, as well as your own position.

Wow, well that was quite long! I hope you find this helpful!

Thanks shoopi, that was exactly what I was looking for.