Hi all! I'm trying to make the push to 1600+ elo on chess.com. I feel that I can put up a pretty good fight against the 1600+ players, but often fail to capitalise on my advantages and eventually squander my chances either due to time trouble, or the mental exhaustion that comes with playing better players! This is a game that typifies that issue. I feel that I had the initiative throughout the game but couldn't find a good break. Eventually I get what I am pretty sure is a winning endgame, but at that point I had used too much time and I fail to calculate properly. How could I have done better?
Squandered chances
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DangerAl
Jan 7, 2016
0
#1
Jan 8, 2016
0
#2
8 f3 with plan of Qd2, 0-0-0 has been around many years and is called the Yugoslov attack versus the Dragon Sicilian. White has plans of pushing on the "h" pawn, Bh6, and Kb1 for defense are typical.
8 f3 supports the Center as Black can strike in some lines with ....Nxf6 and .....d5
Black should retain his Black squared Bishop. It is powerful with 18...Bh8 then ....Nc4 is a threat
23 cxd is correct ( my opinion)
28 Rc1 is playable as White is at least equal in the Q+P ending
on your recommended 35 Kb3, Black must defend with 35....Kd7 36 Kb4, Kc6 37 Ka5, Kb7 and how does White make progress ?
yes, in the game, the sharp 36 a4 would be preferred !
43 Kf3 is a blunder. you have to waste a move, ie; 43 Kf2 or Ke2. Only then, when Black plays 43....Kf5 would you play your King to f3. This strategy is known as "opposition". As long as you maintain the opposition, this position is a Draw. "Opposition" is a much needed concept to understand King and Pawn endings.
Jan 10, 2016
0
#3
Thanks for your reply, HorsesGalore!
I guess my 17.Bh6 may have actually been a bad move on my part, because as you say black can play Bh8 and keep it on the long diagnol, while my bishop is put on a relatively passive square. He could also have played 17...Bb5, with 18.c4 Nxe4 19. Bxc4 Bxc4 and the diagnol is wide open for him.
As you point out, black could have defended in the king and pawn ending. Looks like the ending was actually equal and drawish, and I didn't have an advantage until black blundered with 35...a5.
@DangerAl
Your opponent let you off the hook in the opening phase of this game.
Secondly, What HorsesGalore said is half right and half wrong.
The part HorsesGalore got right:
In the Sicilian Dragon white can set up a position known as the Yugoslav Attack which is considered one of the most critical lines of the Sicilian Dragon.
This part is right.
The part HorsesGalore got wrong:
HorsesGalore was advicing you to play the Yugoslav Attack in this position.
This advice he is giving you is wrong because in the beginning of this game black was not playing the Sicilian Dragon.
Black was playing the Accelerated Dragon.
The Sicilian Dragon players sometimes get tired of dealing with the Yugoslav Attack players.
As you could imagine they have a chip on there shoulder about the Yugoslav Attack players.
Which is why I believe this line was created.
It is there way of getting revenge against unaware Yugoslav Attack players.
Which means if you follow up with f3 and Qd2 you are going to get gutted like a fish in this position.
Which is why this part is wrong.
At move 8 the best move for you would be Bb3.
The move 8.Bb3 defends your bishop and allows black the chance to tranpose into the Sicilian Dragon if and only if black wants too!
Remember the Yugoslav Attack is a good line vs the Sicilian Dragon!
However, this is not the Sicilian Dragon.
In your mind remeber this is the Accelerated Dragon.
You have to wait for black to play the key move!
Which turns the position into the Sicilian Dragon.
At move 8 black has about 8 different moves which they have played in this position.
Black has a decision to make.
He can tranpose into the Sicilian Dragon style
or
He can keep things in Accelerated Dragon style
The 8 different moves usually lead to either one of those paths.
I will not explain all 8.
I will explain only 2 moves.
One for each side.
I think they are the coolest moves.
OK if black wants to tranpose into a Sicilian Dragon than the main move and most popular move in this position is the move 8...d6
The pawn on d6 is the signature move of the Sicilian Dragon.
Remember this key move!
At move 9 you than can play the Yugoslav Attack with f3 + Qd2 + long castle 0-0-0
Another way of playing as white in this position is instead of f3 with Yugoslav fashion you could try h3.
When you play 9.h3 usually you will castle short 0-0.
It is more calmer approach.
You don't have to worry about getting into a battle royal!
I mean lets be honest the Yugoslav Attack vs the Sicilian Dragon is a slug fest.
Barbarian chess is all it is.
Both sides doing opposite side castling in order to throw pawns at each other in a caveman mentality.
It is a race to who check mates first very tactical and complicated.
Pure example of heathens chess at work!
Which is why some people play 9.h3.
They don't have time for all that noise!
So yeah that is if black plays 8...d6 the key move!
Now if black feels like playing more in the Accelerated Dragon spirit.
They got a move which I like.
I think it is super cool.
8...Ng4
The black knight jumped to g4 and the white queen can take it?
Oh my gosh is it a trap?
Oh no has white blundered into a tactic!
What happens if white takes the knight and black plays d5 with a discovered attack on the queen!
Oh my gosh what should white do?
Is black down a piece?
Is white up a piece?
Oh my lord what is going on here?
The best way to proceed is to take the knight!
It is all theory!
The game continues like below:
You see pretty cool move huh?
Now if you are wondering what happens after d5?
Well that loses for black lol.
You see it is a piece of cake!
In your game you played 8.Qe2 which sets up a tactical shot for black.
Yeah Hopefully that can help you for next time.
Also if your curious to know what I play against the Accelerated dragon.
I often play the Macrozy Bind.
Which happens at move 5.c4
Jan 10, 2016
0
#5
X_player_J_X says
"The part HorsesGalore got wrong:.....Which means if you follow up with f3 and Qd2 you are going to get gutted like a fish in this position."
Really ???? Let's see some analysis. some famous Grandmasters ( many levels above your 1800) have played 8 f3 as White. They were not gutted, ie; Paul Keres in 1964 and Bobby Fischer in 1958
However, I do agree in this opening 8 Bb3 is best.
Don't think too highly of yourself. your personality is bubbling out all over. Get a grip !
HorsesGalore wrote:
X_player_J_X says
"The part HorsesGalore got wrong:.....Which means if you follow up with f3 and Qd2 you are going to get gutted like a fish in this position."
Really ???? Let's see some analysis. some famous Grandmasters ( many levels above your 1800) have played 8 f3 as White. They were not gutted, ie; Paul Keres in 1964 and Bobby Fischer in 1958
However, I do agree in this opening 8 Bb3 is best.
Don't think too highly of yourself. your personality is bubbling out all over. Get a grip !
The analysis you wanted is below:
Black can play either continuation and claim an edge.
The position is =/+ in both.
The game examples you gave with Paul Keres and Bobby Fischer.
Are very nice games.
Bobby Fischer
Paul Keres
Against 8...Qb6 which is one of the main moves you can not play the Qd2 + long castle the way you are suggesting.
It is unplayable which is why Bobby Fischer and Paul Keres did not do it.
Against 8...d6 the position turns into the Sicilian Dragon.
Which makes Qd2 + long castle a very possible idea.
It is the Yugoslav Attack vs Sicilian Dragon.
It is very nice set up.
I play it myself as white.
Jan 12, 2016
0
#7
@X_PLAYER_J_X, thanks. I was not really familiar with the differences between scicilian dragon and accelerated dragon (I'm new to 1.e4). In fact I've always thought there was just one kind of dragon. I'll have to do some research. I've also looked at the maroczy bind, which sounds like an interesting system that I might try if I get a chance.