Its a fairly boring position, which stockfish evaluates as +0.0 to a depth of 23 moves. My first thought was aim to play ne3 & nd5, forcing a transformation of the position, but I can't seem to make it work. There isnt much else that seems to have realistic prospect of doing more good than harm. Bh3 is fine, but just doesn't do much.
Carlsen would surely come up with something to make it unbalanced and give black the opportunity to error, but I'm not seeing anything terribly logical.
That's why I want to work on it.
I love how Petrosian, Andersson (or Carlsen now) could slowly crush their opponents from what some people would consider a "dead draw" and though most people would find it useless, I'm very interested in learning to do so.
Plus, -1900 players seems to have difficulties to handle a drawish position, often try to "force it" and endgame is rarely something they worked hard on. So, I think it may be a good way to win a full point over these given players fed with opening theory.
Well you need to create some sort of imbalance, some sort of problem for the other side to react too. That is what Carlsen does. But its very tricky to do much here because e4 may need to be defended depending - his light square bishop is better than your dark square bishop. There is just no room to reposition your f-knight right now, and if you play bc1, which stockfish likes best, the rooks will likely be traded.
Probably better off studying Carlsen, as he does this sort of thing all the time and you can find games with a lot of analysis.
I wouldnt consider equalizing as an Hypermodern Opening or Strategy. Anyways, I have some attention span problems, could you please highlight the critical position you need help with? Thanks.
Well, as soon as move 9.c3 and 15.Rd1.
In a general way, I would like to know how people would deal with such equal position to try to get imbalances or even a small positional advantage in the endgame.
Basically I'm trying to improve my understanding of "how slowly get small advantages in equal positions" just like Petrosian seems to master it, for instance.
PS: sometimes, even in hypermodern openings (I'm thinking about the KID exchange) you have to deal with drawish positions imposed by your opponent and you have to try to slowly get an edge. :/
Thanks Merovwig, as a cult and nice guy (hopefully America's new President) I am glad to discuss about chess with you.
Firstly, I think your approach with the knight on c4 may be a little innacuracy. A normal plan, specially in blitz (lol) would be to push your pawn up to a5, trying to put pressure on the queenside. But the problem is that if you ever play a5 he could maybe answer with b5. I like the pawn structure on the queenside that results after a4. You get some space on the queenside and maybe will sometimes threaten to play a5, the best part is that there is no b4 hole thanks to the well placed c3 pawn.
The more I think it the more I think you had better chances if you had played something like Bg5 and Rad1 with rapid development as Nc4 and a4 seemed not to be forcing enough and it let Black get a comfortable position.
I think another idea was to try and go for a kingside attack with some quick f4 planning to capture with gxf4.
The other cirtical position I know see is the position after the rooks exchanged, 21.Qxd1. I think it is drawish as hell and I really dont see any other idea than keeping your queen on the d file and somehow trying to win space with the moves b4 and f4. That would improve your position with out doubts. Qd2 was a good move, I thought of that move with the idea of b4 but your opponent played a very nice move Qe6.
I think the main problem you got in this game was the fact that the position was too closed. You may want to analyze the game and find some improvements on your opening or middle game plan, I think the best chance in that position was a kingside attack or kingside action with Rae1 and f4.
After 11...e5 Black has created a pawn ram (white pawn e4, black pawn e5)which blockades the center. The indicated plan of attack is a flank attack. Flank attacks are best thwarted by counterattacks in the center. The open d-file is equally controlled by both colors.
Note that by a circuitous route the game took the path of a flank attack by White on the Kingside
a couple things at a quick glance:
6. Nbd2 is inaccurate here. in this position White can already play e4 and after dxe4, Ng5 you will get the pawn back with a favorable position. this is a common tactic in kings indian setups with fianchettoed bishops.
14. Be3 seems like the wrong plan as the h6 pawn is easily defended by kh7 and not a realistic target. The bishop has no activity along that diagonal and even weakens the pawn on e4. I would activate the bishop on g2 first since it is essentially dead on the g2 square. something like nd2, f3 and then bf1 and bc4. the knight on c4 will go to e3 and hopefully d5. the bishop on c1 is better off fianchettoed afterwards.
a couple things at a quick glance:
6. Nbd2 is inaccurate here. in this position White can already play e4 and after dxe4, Ng5 you will get the pawn back with a favorable position. this is a common tactic in kings indian setups with fianchettoed bishops.
14. Be3 seems like the wrong plan as the h6 pawn is easily defended by kh7 and not a realistic target. The bishop has no activity along that diagonal and even weakens the pawn on e4. I would activate the bishop on g2 first since it is essentially dead on the g2 square. something like nd2, f3 and then bf1 and bc4. the knight on c4 will go to e3 and hopefully d5. the bishop on c1 is better off fianchettoed afterwards.
Thank you everyone for your answers.
I don't have time right now but I will read all your remarks carefully.
Quickly @Fireflasher: as shown on the diagram under move 6, instead of 6.e4 dxd4 7.Ng5, White had the nice 6. e4!? dxe47. dxe4 Qxd 18. Rxd1 Bxe4 9. Nc3 with vicious tricks on the way.
I know it is not what you asked but I question some of your annotations:-
(13... Ba6 14. Bf1 Qe6(14... Bxc4 15. Bxc4 Bishops pair, hurray! Though the pawn structure is symetrical and it looks damn equal. Meh... )
I don't agree. Black has a weak light square complex and is missing his light squared bishop, leaving white's bishop unopposed. White has a serious advantage imho.
15. Ng5 Qe7 16. Nxe5 Nxe517. Bxa6 the Bishops pair looks like a tiny "advantage", though I'm not sure removing the e5 pawn which blocked Black's Bishop long diagonal is a good thing. )
Well, white is a pawn up for the moment. But then comes 17... h6 18N-h3 N-f3+ 19K-f1 Nxe1 20 Kxg1, when black captures the e pawn with the exchange to the good. White should play 15 N-e3!
Greeting,
I have just played a casual game on chess.com and I would like to know what would have been your plan (besides choosing another opening...).
The difficulty is it was mostly about re-placing my pieces from a cramped (thx hypermodern openings) equal and symetrical position.
I underline that I don't mind playing for a tiny positional advantage and going for a 80 moves endgame if my opponent doesn't go for my mainline (as he doesn't in this game).
So, there is no crazy attack to look for but if you have a simple plan in mind regarding development, I'll take it.
I think I had a good move at 17th (17.Bh3) instead of a lame one and I'm not sure Be3/Qd2 was a sound idea.