Thinking system exercises

Warning: this is a protocol thread and if you find any flaws feel very free to go over them, as an amateur I know I'm far from perfect but am trying to get the basics of thought process down.  I have taken random positions a friend sent me.  The idea is that if I know if a certain player played then I'd either over or underestimate their moves based on rating, so this method maximizes objectivity. 

I'm looking at this game from the black side:

Assessment: all material remains on the board.  White has c4 and d4 pawns controlling central squares whereas black is built more solid, with c and d pawns controlling the same squares as white's pawns, and the bishop retains the option to capture the knight or retreat to c7 via a5 and c7 if the situation arises. 

The next thing that crosses my mind is the tension between d4 and e5. 

Black’s knights are solidly placed, but the c8 bishop remains blocked. 

However, figuring out where to place it is usually problematic anyway, still, the knight limits the bishop's mobility.  The position looks like a slight advantage for white because of his central control and more active pieces, but only slight enough where I believe it is a draw with best play. 

There are no checks, so what about captures? 

1…exd4 2.Nxd4 activates white’s knight and bishop, do not want that.
 
1…Bxc3 gives up the bishop pair, but white has a little extra space and exchanges typically favor the side with less space, which is black and the central lightsquare control is lessened for him. 

The issue in the center remains unresolved with the pawn tension, and I don't foresee the position getting closed where knights will outshine bishops.  Still, if I have nothing better I can always fall back on 1…Bxc3

Looking deeper: 1…Bxc3 2.Qxc3 and the queen no longer covers e4 2…e4 3.Ng5 isn’t the best

 2.bxc3 with a semi-open file for the rook and extra pawn support for d4.  I definitely will try finding something better, giving up the bishop pair isn’t good when white always has the option to open the position while having more active pieces on the table. 

What is the least active piece that can do something?  1…Re8 supports e5, I like this, and after 2.dxe5,Nxe5 3.Nxe5,Rxe5 4.Bf4 activates white's bishop and I don't want that. 

1…Re8 2.dxe5,dxe5 with the pawn supported, open d-file, and black remains flexible. This is the move.

White has queenside space and the bishop pair, maybe even planning b5 with giving black an isolated c-pawn to attack (1.b5 2.bxc6,bxc6) or open the c-file completely via 1.b5,cxb5.  In any event it’s black to play and white's darksquared bishop remains at home.  The b4 push also prevents Nc5.  The least active piece with a reasonable move is the Nd7 as moving would clear a line for the bishop.  If I see nothing better I can try Nb6. 

1…Nb6 2.c5,Nd5 is a mistake for white, and expecting it to hand black free superior piece placement is hope chess. 

1…c5 prevents the b5 plan as after 1…c5 2.b5 white isn’t bopping at the c6 pawn as in other lines. 

The threat 1…e4 is weak because of 2.Ng5 when the knight captures the pawn.  1…c5 and the black knight is tied to the defense of the c-pawn, meaning the rooks remain disconnected and bishop inactive for some time.  1…Nb6 pushes clock

White looks like he played 1.Nd2, blocking the d-file opening the line for his bishop.  However, this looks like a mistake as it’s a move back. 

The most obvious candidate is 1…Nxe3 2.Qxe3 negating white’s bishop pair and removing the threat against the Nb6.  White also plans either Ne4 or Nb3, activating his knight to a more useful post. 

1…f5 shuts down e4 while also giving black the option of f4 in the future, weakening g3 by exchanging pawns or blocking the diagonal with e4.  1…Bf5 completes development, but 2.Be4,Bxe4 3.Nxe4 establishes the knight on a superior square.  Wait, 3.Nxe4,Nxe3 look good for black because 4.Qxe3,Nxc4 wins a pawn, and 4.fxe3 creates doubled isolated pawns. 

1…Bf5 is my undisputed favorite so far, and since I see nothing better will play this on the grounds of development and central control.  The d-file will play a very important role later (pushes clock).

Time for a new assessment:

It looks like black achieved equality.  The white kingside is a bit loose and is the first thing in my mind, though pieces aren’t in place to exploit potential weaknesses yet.  Black has central space whereas white has queenside space with c5 or b5 pushes still on the table.  Black hasn’t completed development yet.  There’s an open line to  the black king but the c6 pawn and knight control the checking square nicely, and enough exchanges can happen where it’s an asset that helps lead the black king closer to the center in an endgame instead of a liability that white can use for checks to improve his position and gain initiative.  The piece contact may not be there now but give it time.  Black has no checks or captures so it’s time to look at threats first and see how well white meets them. 

1…f4, sacrificing a pawn to open up the white king, looks like a viable choice.

1…f4 2.gxf4,exf4 3.Qxf4,Qxe2 looks slightly better for black due to white’s isolated pawns, but the unconnected rooks on black’s part may make this unclear instead.

 Not a real sacrifice since material is even, and in fact white has a viable sacrifice:  A possibility is 4.Re1,Qxe1+ 5.Rxe1,Rxe1+ 6.Kh2 winning the exchange rooks for queen and white having an isolated h and f pawns.  Doesn’t look like the easiest endgame however, but it should be tough for white too.  With a white queen on the board black should keep the king safe to avoid perpetual or worse.

1…f4 2.gxf4,exf4 3.Qxe7+,Rxe7 I don’t like very much as the piece placement is awkward for black and no queen for an attack.  Looked good at first as it finally gives the bishop development. Still, if I have nothing better it’s still equal, just awkward.

1…f4 2.Qc3 or Qd3 as white obviously isn’t obligated to take on f4 1…f4 2.Qc3,fxg3 with isolated king pawns for both sides, symmetrical pawn distribution, opening of the position (which favors the more active side, which is white here), so a slight edge for white.  If I find nothing better this is my move with 1…f4 2.Qc3,fxg3 3.fxg3 as the primary variation. 

1…g5 seems slow and the queen is too busy defending e5 and g5 so the plan’s purpose is defeated.  Besides, the Qe3 stares down at the g5 pawn. 

1…h5 2.h4 and the pawn’s advance is stopped and h5 is potentially a target.  I can dismiss this and give it no further thought.

1…e4 blocking the bishop and staying in the middle game is worth consideration, white repositions the bishop to f1 and needs to move another pawn.  1…e4 2.f3 check counters first: this weakens white’s position: 2…Bd6 3.fxe4,fxe4 4.Bxe4,Bxh3 with two pawn islands to white’s three, including isolated pawns.  Here black should focus on developing the queen’s rook and creating a kingside passed pawn.  Wait, what about 4….Bf5?  No, white has a counter to the pin with 5.c5,Bxe4 6.cxb6,Bc2 offering an exchange of queens with bishop vs. knight in an open endgame.  Still not too bad for black.  White has plenty of quiet replies too so 1…e4 pushes clock.

White’s queen is on the long diagonal while supporting the queenside pawns for a potential advance.  Nothing on the d-file so far, black has space so should avoid exchanges, knight still out of play, and white threatens moving his queenside pawns up with both b5 and c5 in the air, none of which are pleasant for black. 

1…c5 2.b5 takes the sting out of white’s pawns whereas 1…c5 2.bxc5,Qxc5 activates the queen while giving white a couple of isolated pawns on the queenside.  Least active piece is the queen’s rook and 1…Rd8 and 1…Rc8 are worth looking at, though 1…Rc8 is clearly hope chess as it simply passively prevents 2.b5 yet wants white to fall for bxc6 with free activation for the black rook.  This is not the time to be playing wait and see.  1...Rd8 looks good and safe and will play it if I can't find a viable plan on the kingside.

1…g5 2.c5 and the knight must move 1…g5 2.b5,Rc8 activates the least active piece and if white captures won’t isolate the pawn 2…c5 is also good here. 

1…h5 2.c5,Nd5 3.Qe5 still preventing e3 from disrupting white’s pawn further because of Qxe3, but black has 3…h4 4.Nc4 and black attacks the kingside while white activates his pieces in the center with queen at e5 and the knight goes for an outpost on d6.  Is an unclear position and this line is my new primary variation.  In any event things get hazy after 4…hxg3 5.Qxg3 need to learn how to hold a picture over five moves deep in my head longer for a proper assessment. 


1…Kf7 2…Qf6 with the idea of centralizing the king in an endgame is worth looking at, but looks inferior to 1…c5 and 1…h5 as 1…c5 solves the queenside problems via prophylaxis while 1…h5 offers attacking potential that imbalances the position farther, cramping white while creating more pawn islands in his camp.  1…c5 looks like a slight edge for black due to extra mobility, space, and putting the breaks to white’s queenside plans whereas 1…h5 allows white to carry on his plan, but renders it less meaningful in light of an attack.

 1…h5 2.h4 stops it on white’s end, should have seen this simple and obvious move earlier.

 2…g5 looks dangerous, but 3.hxg5,Qxg5 activates the queen and allows h4.  4.c5,Nd4 5.Qd4,h4 with an attack on the white king 4.b5 is superior to 4.c5 as it doesn’t shoo the knight to a better square while chasing the white queen: 4…cxb5 5.cxb5,Rac8 6.Qb2/Qa1 otherwise deflection of the knight’s defending rook 6…Qg7 as the attack will lose steam and black’s king is more favorably positioned for an endgame.  With the white bishop hemmed in it’s as if black is playing up a piece, but white will take the time to free it.  Still, I greatly prefer black in this line

1…h5 2.h4,g5 is my primary variation and final move here, pushes clock.

Again, this is a very long post but thinking process is a very important thing to iron out in chess, and I did this without a list of principles or checks, captures, and threats reminder as that would defeat the purpose.  I don't just want knowledge, but a way to unify it into a practical tool, which is where thinking systems come into play.  Heissman's Improving Chess Thinker was an eye opener.

Edit: Replaced second position to be the actual second one and not last.