Semi-Slav

I've been trying to learn the ins and outs of the Semi-Slav and was hoping you could critique this game, especially my opening.. My opponent was not very good in this game, but I didn't play any more aggressive than I normally would. Also, I brought out my pawn and knights in reverse order, so this isn't by the textbook at all. Feel free to critique anything you see here!

8.Bxb5 looks good lol.

This is funny lol.  What does this game have to do with the semi slav?

Thanks for pointing that out, waller. I didn't even see that. I'm an idiot.

mattyf9, not my fault he didn't play his pieces the right way, and secondly, if you don't have anything constructive then butt out.

Then clearly this is not the semi slav lol.   You do know that the semi slav is an opening for black right??  You played the catalan in this game.   Why title it when it has nothing to do with the opening.  Clearly you're a little sensitive so I will say something constructive to make you feel better.  Any player below the 1000 rating should not worry about learning certain openings.  They should learn the opening principles, get all of their pieces out and castle.  Playing c4 at your strength is not recommended.  Work on tactical puzzles and endgame.  This will help you improve the most.

why the hell can't he play c4 i figure the more positions beginers see the better their understanding of they game they will have

I think most beginners should learn how to play e4 first and learn how to play those positions.  You're right he can play c4 if he wants to.  My point was more geared towards staying away from studying opening theory.  Its useless at his level, and not much use even at mine.

Its not a Catalan either, that would involve Black playing d5 a lot eariler then move 10.

I am alarmed that he missed 7. Bxb5 winning the queen and annotated this game without once mentioning the pawn sacrfice and his compensation.

Just because the move order is not exact does not mean its not a catalan.  Clearly white played a catalan set up with the light squared bishop fianchetto'ed.  black playing d5 late does not mean it isnt thats just stupid.

@mattyf9, I appreciate you clearing up my understanding of the semi-slav. I was under the impression the phrase referred to the formation of the white pieces. I will go take a look at catalan type openings for further review. 

I did miss the 8. Bxb5 in every review I did, and I'm not too pleased with myself for it. Missing it, both in game and on review, was a dumb move. My annotating needs some work, I'm well aware, it's something I'm just starting to do.

You're missing the point.  Don't go look at catalan openings.  Don't look at openings at all.  Get on tactics trainer and do puzzles.  Play long games, 45 minutes or more and analyze the games afterwards as best as you can.  Analyzing them with a stronger player would be even better.  Stop studying openings.  Stop studying openings.  Did I mention don't study openings.

what does the semislav have to do with the opening?

lol it doesn't.

A Catalan is (strictly speaking) 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 and positions that can be derived from it without either side making any mistakes.

The Catalan is not the idea of finachettoing the light squared bishop when Black has the option of capturing the c4 pawn.  Playing d6 and then d5 is not a Catalan for the simple reason that it loses a tempo which is not accounted for by White loseing a tempo.

Openings have zero relevence to this game. White missed 8. Bxb5, Black missed 7...Qxf3. Black's plan of launcing an attack with just the queen was awful, White apperently did not notice the pawn deficite and may be unfamiliar with the concept of compensation. There is no need to fill either one of the players' heads with the nonsense that they were playing a recognized named opening.

"There is no need to fill either one of the players' heads with the nonsense that they were playing a recognized named opening."

Yea no kidding.  I guess i need to repeat myself more than 8x because you decided to just restate my point anyway.