New Season, New Foes

It's that time of year again, and the Portsmouth District League has begun. Last night, I played in a match against Portsmouth University on Board 2- we won the match 3.5 - 2.5, so a good start for us. Before commenting on the game, please do note this is a Division 3 game in the league. (I sometimes play in the second division as well.)

My opponent was rated 179 five years ago, I can only assume that he has just returned to the chess world as otherwise I would have had roughly 0% chance of defeating him! The time controls in Division 3 are pretty fast, but are considered standard-play, just, 30 moves in an hour and then +15 minutes to finish.

Simply regarding the opening: 6...Bb4 is considered Black's safest method of equalising, and indeed scores considerably better than the alternatives - 6...Bb4 scores 47%, 6...Be7 scores 42%, and 6...Nc6 scores 39%.

This means that, unfortunately, 7.a3 doesn't give white the better game. Black scores 56% (!) after 7...Bxc3. Play continues 8.bxc3 0-0 9.Bd3 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Qc7! and White must spend time guarding the bishop, and is generally a tempo or two short of setting up his desired central position.

However, White doesn't have to play 7.a3, and the difference will explain why 6...Bb4 is considered better than 6...Be7. After 6...Be7, White's best try for an advantage is with 7.cxd5 - indeed this scores an extremely good 63% for White, play will usually continue 7...Nxd5 8.Bd3 Nc6 9.0-0 0-0 etc. But if White plays the same in the 6...Bb4 variation - 7.exd5 Nxd5, suddenly Black is attacking c3 twice and White must expend a tempo doing something about it - this is the crucial difference.

Wow. I have to admit, I don't have a huge amount of experience in the 2. c4 lines. I have several strategical issues with my chess, the one in this scenario being my unwillingness to let go of the two bishops after 7. a3, which prevented me from making the move. Thanks for the insight, I will be sure to play the Bb4 lines in the future!

Luckily, however, my Be7 on move 8 actually turned out to be quite helpfully posted, when I struck out at e3 on move 17!

Nytik while this started out as a 2. c4 Caro it transposed into a Panov. White normal move is c:d5 before developing the Bishop. The opening is a classic lesson on the IQP and while a Caro it also can arise through the QGD.

I would have played 5 c:d5 (instead of Nf3) which stops the Bb4 line mentioned above.

Thanks for the advice aansel, although I played black in this game, comments on either side's play are totally welcome! 

It is an interesting game. Your opponent did not know the correct way to play the opening and you clearly out played him for a better position.

Am not looking real closely ( or checking with any machines) but if I were White (and yes I know you were Black) I probably would have tried 21. Ng6 which may not be sound but is very interesting. After fg 22 Bg6 h6 23 Qg6 Kh8 24 Qh5+ Kg8.

Great game! worth reading and looking at.

19 Bxd5

You could have played Qxd5- you have a checkmate threat at g2.

Aansel- I think if 22... Qe7 instead, black is simply winning.

Sasha2- Ah yes, good point. Thanks.

SCS- Glad you enjoyed it.

You are correct --you would not have to take the second piece. I was just looking at the fact your King was unprotected.

That point you made about being prepared in the opening is so true. I always lose valuable minutes while my opponnent practically blitzes away his moves. Quite disconcerting.

Yeah, I found it to be a slight problem at the start of my chess career, but as time has gone on I've become more and more comfortable with the first few moves.