Opening (Reti) and Positional Chess

This game is actually a won game, but I felt I was pressured during the opening-middle part of the game. Only lack of understanding and mistakes by my opponent led to my later clear advantage. Also I've been experimenting with the Reti for a while now and wonder if I got it right. I also wish I could verify my positional grasp of the game.

A side question. During my free membership I used the chess mentor day and night and somehow ended up with 1750 rating where as my tactics trainer rating is stuck in the 1300s. Average that out and you get my current online chess rating.  I wonder if everyone has the same discrepancy in their strategic (chess mentor) and tactics rating?

My friend abuses me constantly for playing 1) Nf3 - for example says I make all my games as White boring etc but it can be fun.

I'm done posting. Thx for waiting.

If you play c4 without a target d5 pawn I think it is an English opening instead.  Once you played d4 yourself it is just a Kings Indian defence for black against your d4 system.  I do not like e3 along with g3 as you have a lot of light square weaknesses.  Also the idea of the reti as with other hypermodern systems is to let the other side occupy the centre then smash it apart.

I know what you mean. I usually prefer my opponent to commit his pawn first actually, but sometimes it just depends on my mood. I like to start with the Reti anyway because I read it was flexible and I find it flexible myself.

So it's not considered a Reti then?

I havent really studied openings for years but I seem to remember the reti being the one after black plays d5 and you play c4 in response.

What do you mean RR?  White picked up the material that as given to him and then preformed a checkmate.  I mean... the game was over in 27  moves, no time to be bored in any case heh.

If you're bored by move 10, chess isn't your game

Maybe blitz chess would be sufferable though.  I hear shogi is quite tactical, maybe go for some of that.

I'm not looking to entertain anyone here. I'm asking for feedbacks.

If I manage to bore my opponent in a game so well that he give up then that's a positive thing anyway. :)

4.d5 should at least be considered

Your move 5.e3 was passive, Nc3 or Bg2 is preferable.  You want to develop + d4 was not weak + it'd be nice to be able to play e4 in 1 move if possible.

7.Nbd2 was very passive, 7.Nc3 was definitely preferable.  Nbd2 blocks your bishop + doesn't hit d5 + doesn't have a prospective square to go to from d2.

9.d5 isn't bad but other moves deserve consideration.  White probably wants to resolve some of his problems (the the queenside minor pieces) before starting any action.

10.b3 is bad, black has simply 10...Nxf3 with ...Nxd5 discovered attack on your rook to win a pawn.  Note the move b3 doesn't strengthen d5.  d5 is healthy, your development is not.

11.Nh5 unless there's something fancy, it seems like black can again play Nxd5 to win a pawn because your rook is undefended on a1.

11...Bh3 other than missing the tactic this move looks positionally fine (to me anyway).

12...Ng4 you shouldn't feel pressured here, black has no threat on f2 (as we see in the game a rook for two pieces isn't so hot.  In any case the bishop on h3 is hanging and you correctly snatch it up.

14.Qxd3 Your notes are exactly right except there is no downside.  Black's long diagonal isn't useful, you're up material in a better position.

15.Qe2 Not bad,  you're looking at maybe Ng5 or even Nxe5?  (his knight is still pinned).  Notice also his bishop is trapped so 15.Ba3 would have won the bishop.  Your notes though aren't quite right, the queen was not weak on the d file in fact in case of c6 she helped pressure what would be the weak d6 pawn.

16.Ng5  Again good move but notes not right.  Nothing wrong with Nd4, but if black happens to take the knight then it's double good for white, it frees your bishop, pressures his e pawn, and you still have the pin+attack on the knight.

17.Bxg4   Good.

18.Ne6  great :)

Your queen play was safe and re-capturing on d5 was nice and safe but there were likely faster mates (or massive material gains)  You had pieces swarming around black's naked king, so in terms of best play there had to be tactics.  For example you can play Ng6 a move earlier and Kg8 fails to Ne5+ picking up the queen while Kh7 fails to Ng5 picking up the queen.

Although I am not the thread poster, kudos to Waffles for taking the time (and having the ability) to analyse this for him.  Guys like you make the site better for the rest of us.

Whoa whoa this is the most detailed explanation I've ever received for my game.
And Anthony you mean KIA? (you said KID)
Looks like my vice is really in opening and tactics.

Kudos to wafflemaster and AnthonyCG!