Strong win

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Avatar of chesswiz625

Opponent resigned. The position shows the importance of activity, pins, and castling. 


 

Avatar of Scottrf

He could get a rook and bishop for the queen. Gave up a bit easily.

Avatar of TheGreatOogieBoogie

I like how you opened the center while he has a pawn dangling on c5.  Advanced pawns usually aren't good in open centers (in other words you have the ideal pawn formation on both wings in an open center)

Agree that ...c5 is bad or at best dubious, Nf6 as always is better, especially with the d6 pawn preventing e5.  He played a goofy Sicilianish position but where he exchanged the center pawn instead of the c-pawn.  It's not even a subtle difference as two center pawns with the idea of an eventual d5 break or active play with e5 like in the Najdorf compensate for the d5 hole. 

You missed 5.Bb5+,Bd7 6.Bxd7+,Qxd7 (6...Nxd7 and he can't play Nc6) 7.Nf5! which not only gives you a strong knight on f5 provoking weaknesses, but weakens him on the light squares.  A Be6 covers a weak d6 spot too.  7...g6 8.Ne3 and you watch the weak d5 square again and would coordinate with the other knight after Nc3.

6...h6? simply wastes time, better to develop.  Castling was a great reply on your part. 

8.Qe2! preparing to connect the rooks while maintaining the tension, I like this move very much.

8...Qc7 he's clearly in a Sicilian mindset without knowing why Qc7 is played.  Maybe he wants to overprotect e5?  Qc7 is good in a Sicilian usually because of the c-file control (which he doesn't have here) and watching the e5 square. 

Yes 10.e5 just loses a pawn.  Complete the opening tasks before embarking on attacks.  He has the e5 point well covered by his queen, pawn, and knight.  Dreaming and carelessness are the leading causes of losing, but this doesn't lose for you only throws away your clear advantage. 

What about 11...Nd4 obstructing the d-file with a threat against the queen?  Piece activity compensates weaknesses and here the pawn supports the knight.  12.Qe1,Bd6 13.Na3 to overprotect the Bc4. 

12.Bb5+! was the correct way to punish his careless exchange.

Nfd7?? simply loses a piece, what part about absolute pin didn't he understand?

14.Bxd7+,Qxd7 15.Rd1 exploits a nasty pin but you're much better even after the game continuation. 

There's no way he could win two rooks and a bishop against a queen, rook, and knight.  If black played on then your goal from here would be to simplify things.  Normally the side with the rook doesn't want to exchange... but you have a queen and knight so any simplifcation even RxB should help you.  Win some pawns by force if possible and create a strong passed pawn.