The Two Bishops

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Cambhawk

This is probably one of the best games I played and I want to show how the Two Bishops can dominate the board. If there are any mistakes or different variations can you please post. Here is the game:

jerry2468

good game, I think the bishop belongs on c5 to restrict any counterplay as well as the win on f7

likesforests

Cambhawk> 4...d6 - I think this is a bit innacurate because it doesn't really attack the centre and it sort of "locks" the bishop on the g1-a7 diagonal. That was a big part of the game as you will see.

Even if it's a 'bit' inaccurate, ...d6 reinforces Black's center and releases his light-squared bishop. The g1-a7 diagonal is a good place for his dark-squared bishop, and if you push d4 it may find good play on the a5-e1 diagonal. Morphy, Teichmann, and Salov played this.

Cambhawk> 7...Qf6 - Blocking an doffering a queen trade. This allows me to trade and go for a winning endgame.

Your bishop pair gives you a slight advantage. You're far from a win.

Cambhawk> 10.b4!

If 10...Nxb4! (11.cxb4 Bd4), then 10.b4 is not looking so ! anymore.

Cambhawk> 18.Be7?! - A mini fork of f8 and d6 but is a bit risky because my bishop may get trapped

Yes, 18...d5 woulda been problematic. And there's the rub... while the bishop pair is often an advantage, at the amateur level it's usually not in and of it itself a decisive advantage. Your most aggressive attempts to convert left you open to tactical shots whereby your opponent could've gained an advantage himself (and possibly won).

Nice job pressuring Black, pushing a5 & d4,  and finishing him off. :)

Cambhawk

thx likeforests