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Knowing when to make trades

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BeginnersM1nd
BeginnersM1nd
May 21, 2017
0
#1
I just played a 30 minute match and for the first 2/3 of it not one piece was lost by either side. We were playing very defensively, trying to maintain all pieces.

I knew I should be trying to make some trades in order to open up the board for myself but I really didn't know where to start. How can I learn this skill of choosing wise trades?
BeginnersM1nd
BeginnersM1nd
May 21, 2017
0
#2
This is the game I played. Any advice would be most welcome. Im still very new.

[Site "Chess.com iPhone"]
[Date "05/21/2017 08:20PM"]
[White "lukebrown17 (1167)"]
[Black "BeginnersM1nd (1092)"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d3 Be7 5.Be3 a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bb3 Nf6 8.O-O Ng4 9.Re1 Nb4 10.a3 Nc6 11.Qd2 Bd7 12.Bd5 O-O 13.h3 Nxe3 14.Rxe3 h6 15.Nc3 Bg5 16.Nxg5 Qxg5 17.Qe2 Rab8 18.Rg3 Qh4 19.Nd1 Nd4 20.Qd2 c6 21.Ba2 Bg4 22.Rxg4 Qf6 23.c3 Ne6 24.Ne3 Nf4 25.Nf5 Rbd8 26.c4 h5 27.Rxg7 Kh8 28.Rg3 h4 29.Rg4 Qxf5 30.exf5 e4 31.Rxf4 Rde8 32.Rxh4 Kg8 33.Qg5# {lukebrown17 won by checkmate}
BeginnersM1nd
BeginnersM1nd
May 21, 2017
0
#3
Is there a better way to post a game than my text wall above?
daxypoo
daxypoo
May 21, 2017
0
#4
ask nicely and maybe someone on the browser can do it (i have same problem as i only use the iphone app)
Mike-960
Mike-960
Closed: Inactive
May 21, 2017
0
#5
BeginnersM1nd
BeginnersM1nd
May 21, 2017
0
#6
Thanks Mike.
Strangemover
Strangemover
Closed: Inactive
May 21, 2017
0
#7

Well this opening often produces slower games with manoeuvers. Most costly for you was losing your bishop for nothing 21.Bg4 is difficult to understand. 9.Nb4 was also a time wasting manoeuver as you had to retreat immediately 10.Nc6. 9.Na5 was better allowing you to exchange this knight for the bishop on b3 and not losing time. Then you could go c5 and maybe Bb7. As a general rule don't exchange unless it's forced (you lose material if you don't) or you gain something from doing so. eg. Na5 and Nxb3 would have allowed you to expand and develop on the queenside. Instead it was awkward for you with the bishop on d5.

jambyvedar
jambyvedar
May 21, 2017
0
#8

It does not matter what pieces get off, but what remains.  For example if a trade will left your opponent with a bad bishop against a strong knight, then do it. Trading a piece like a queen usually does not favor the side with pawn weaknesses. Trading favors the side with material advantage.