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Main
Date: 11 Apr 2006 18:58:24
From: Ron
Subject: An IQP Game
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I played the following game out the other night to a draw. Somewhere in
the middlegame, I lost the initiative and ended up being lucky to eek
out a draw.
[Event "FICS rated standard game"]
[White "Me"]
[Black "Black"]
[TimeControl "1800+30"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. cxd4 d5 6. exd5 Nf6 7. Bb5+
Nbd7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. O-O Nb6 10. Re1 Bg4 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Nfxd5 13.
Bg5 Qd6 14. Rad1 Rac8 15. a3 e6 16. Ne4 Qb8 17. Bh4 a6 18. Bg3 Qa7 19.
Be2 Nd7 20. Nd6 Rc6 21. Bc4 N7f6 22. Bd3 Rd8 23. Nc4 Rdc8 24. Ne5 R6c7
25. Qe2 Nh5 26. Bh2 Nhf4 27. Bxf4 Nxf4 28. Qf3 Nxd3 29. Rxd3 b5 30. Qf4
Rc2 31. Rf3 Bxe5 32. Qxe5 Rd8 33. Qf6 Qc7 34. h4 Rd5 35. g3 Qd7 36. b4
Rc4 37. Kg2 Rcxd4 38. Rc1 Rc4 39. Rxc4 bxc4 40. Qf4 Rd4 41. Qb8+ Kg7 42.
Qe5+ Kg8 43. Qb8+ Kg7 44. Qe5+
{Game drawn by mutual agreement} 1/2-1/2
Move 6 is my first major decision in the game. I decide to go in for an
IQP because it's a major part of my repetiore.
7.Bb5+?! strikes me as a minor inaccuracy, now. The bishop really isn't
doing anything there, and, rather than having the Nd7 get in his way,
that knight actually ends up serving a lot of useful purposes. On c6,
this N would put more pressure on d4, but I'd have more d4-d5 thrust
ideas. In the game the N ends up serving a lot of useful purposes on b6
and f6.
On move 17, I like my position a lot. I have the bishop pair, and all of
my pieces except for my QR are more active than their black counterparts.
On about move 25, however, I lose the thread. What am I doing here?
Black seems to have stifled all the typical IQP play: I can't push the
pawn, I can't go after f7, I have use my h-pawn to weaken his kingside,
and I can't find a way to get my KR into the attack.
Black siezes his opportunity. Now I'm playing defense.
32. ... Rxb2? d5!
35. g3 is providing an escape hatch for my king, since the black Q
guards h2. It also contains a nice little threat ...
35. ... Qd7! stops my threatened Rxe6. (This was not possible before
because of 35.Rxe6 Rc1+ with mate.
37. ... Rdxd4 doesn't help black after 38.h5!
My original idea with Rc1xc4 was just to create a target for me to
attack. Only on Qf4 did I see that I had the draw.
So luckily my pieces were so active that I was able to salvage a draw,
but I'm mostly concerned about moves, say, 17-25. I had a lot of piece
activity but couldn't convert it into anything. I'd love any advice
anyone could give me on how to play that middlegame for a win.
Thanks!
-Ron
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Date: 11 Apr 2006 18:31:48
From: Ken Lovering
Subject: Re: An IQP Game
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Ron,
This is something I have a lot of experience with, as I play nothing but the
Smith Morra. Of course, it's been all blitz games, and, I'm only 1450 blitz,
so my opponents are not strong enough to refute the gambit.
However, I have done a lot of studying with my coach :) You know his name,
and the fianchetto is not the way to go against the Smith Morra when your
opponent is prepared for it.
"Ron" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I played the following game out the other night to a draw. Somewhere in
> the middlegame, I lost the initiative and ended up being lucky to eek
> out a draw.
>
> [Event "FICS rated standard game"]
> [White "Me"]
> [Black "Black"]
> [TimeControl "1800+30"]
> [Result "1/2-1/2"]
>
> 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. cxd4 d5 6. exd5??
White should not have played this! He should have played 6.Bc4!
Now if you play 6....Nf6, White plays 7.e5 Ng4 8.cxd4 d5 (8....d6 is
answered with 9.Ng5 0-0 10.e6 and White has a strong advantage)
If you play 6....d6, White plays 7.Qb3 and you're forced to play 7....e6
blocking your light squared Bishop and White has the initiative, as
7....Nh6 is answered with 8.Bxh6 Bxh6 9.Bxf7+
There's another way to try and play the fianchetto setup, but it fails also:
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cd 3.c3 dc 4.Nxc3 d6 4.Bc4 g6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Qb3 and Crafty19.19
is loving White's position.
Since you play the Sicilian, you obviously love tactics, and the main line
of the Smith Morra gives Black the best chances of, well, it actually does,
refute the Smith Morra.
If you insist on playing an off-line in response to the Smith Morra, the
Alapin is the way to go, according to what I've been told by Sicilian
experts.
Of all the openings I've played against (with me as White) my best record is
against the Sicilian. All of my games are downloaded into Chessbase. Even
those games I lost (which are priily 3/0 blitz) I had a winning position
in a good number of them, in which I couldn't find the winning line,
because, well, I'm a weak player and it's blitz :)
The Smith Morra, however, has helped me a lot in improving my tactical
skills, and, it eliminates a mountain of theory :).
>Nf6 7. Bb5+ Nbd7 8. Nc3
I would have played 7.e5 pointing those two center pawns down the throat of
your fianchettoed Bishop. And, I'm out of book, and probably would have lost
it somewhere along the line, however, do you not feel cramped in this line
after 7.e5?
The line I'm talking about is: 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cd 3.c3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.cd d5
6.Bb5+ Nbd7 7.e5............If I was going to play that line, but I
wouldn't........I would have played 4.Bc4 with many more prospects, because,
after Bb5+, you could play Bd7 and then Bxd7 Qxd7 exd5 Nf6 and White has
little going for him and Black has isolated his center pawn and can snatch
the one on d5 and build a nice attack against the one on d4 thank you.
And.............if White plays e5 instead of exd5, it's Nc6,Nh6 Nf5 (if
White doesn't take it on h6, giving up his other Bishop)and Black has got
game.
I want to look at the rest of the game, but I have to get something to eat.
I saw your post much earlier, however, I was furious over a 60/0 game I
played against a guy rated 175 pts higher than me, that turned out a draw. I
had a won game in the middle game, however, I had ate up a lot of my clock
finding the best moves leading up to the crushing move and..........missed
the crushing move.........which.........was easier to find than the moves
leading up to it. Then, with a won endgame, little skill in the endgame, and
a clock with less than 7 minutes to my opponents 42
minutes.................draw.
Ken
>8....O-O 9. O-O Nb6 10. Re1 Bg4 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Nfxd5 13.
> Bg5 Qd6 14. Rad1 Rac8 15. a3 e6 16. Ne4 Qb8 17. Bh4 a6 18. Bg3 Qa7 19.
> Be2 Nd7 20. Nd6 Rc6 21. Bc4 N7f6 22. Bd3 Rd8 23. Nc4 Rdc8 24. Ne5 R6c7
> 25. Qe2 Nh5 26. Bh2 Nhf4 27. Bxf4 Nxf4 28. Qf3 Nxd3 29. Rxd3 b5 30. Qf4
> Rc2 31. Rf3 Bxe5 32. Qxe5 Rd8 33. Qf6 Qc7 34. h4 Rd5 35. g3 Qd7 36. b4
> Rc4 37. Kg2 Rcxd4 38. Rc1 Rc4 39. Rxc4 bxc4 40. Qf4 Rd4 41. Qb8+ Kg7 42.
> Qe5+ Kg8 43. Qb8+ Kg7 44. Qe5+
> {Game drawn by mutual agreement} 1/2-1/2
>
> Move 6 is my first major decision in the game. I decide to go in for an
> IQP because it's a major part of my repetiore.
>
> 7.Bb5+?! strikes me as a minor inaccuracy, now. The bishop really isn't
> doing anything there, and, rather than having the Nd7 get in his way,
> that knight actually ends up serving a lot of useful purposes. On c6,
> this N would put more pressure on d4, but I'd have more d4-d5 thrust
> ideas. In the game the N ends up serving a lot of useful purposes on b6
> and f6.
>
> On move 17, I like my position a lot. I have the bishop pair, and all of
> my pieces except for my QR are more active than their black counterparts.
>
> On about move 25, however, I lose the thread. What am I doing here?
> Black seems to have stifled all the typical IQP play: I can't push the
> pawn, I can't go after f7, I have use my h-pawn to weaken his kingside,
> and I can't find a way to get my KR into the attack.
>
> Black siezes his opportunity. Now I'm playing defense.
>
> 32. ... Rxb2? d5!
>
> 35. g3 is providing an escape hatch for my king, since the black Q
> guards h2. It also contains a nice little threat ...
>
> 35. ... Qd7! stops my threatened Rxe6. (This was not possible before
> because of 35.Rxe6 Rc1+ with mate.
>
> 37. ... Rdxd4 doesn't help black after 38.h5!
>
> My original idea with Rc1xc4 was just to create a target for me to
> attack. Only on Qf4 did I see that I had the draw.
>
> So luckily my pieces were so active that I was able to salvage a draw,
> but I'm mostly concerned about moves, say, 17-25. I had a lot of piece
> activity but couldn't convert it into anything. I'd love any advice
> anyone could give me on how to play that middlegame for a win.
>
> Thanks!
>
> -Ron
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Date: 12 Apr 2006 18:39:34
From: Ron
Subject: Re: An IQP Game
|
In article <[email protected] >,
"Ken Lovering" <[email protected] > wrote:
> Ron,
>
> This is something I have a lot of experience with, as I play nothing but the
> Smith Morra. Of course, it's been all blitz games, and, I'm only 1450 blitz,
> so my opponents are not strong enough to refute the gambit.
> However, I have done a lot of studying with my coach :) You know his name,
> and the fianchetto is not the way to go against the Smith Morra when your
> opponent is prepared for it.
>
> "Ron" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I played the following game out the other night to a draw. Somewhere in
> > the middlegame, I lost the initiative and ended up being lucky to eek
> > out a draw.
> >
> > [Event "FICS rated standard game"]
> > [White "Me"]
> > [Black "Black"]
> > [TimeControl "1800+30"]
> > [Result "1/2-1/2"]
> >
> > 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. cxd4 d5 6. exd5??
>
> White should not have played this! He should have played 6.Bc4!
Um, 6.Bc4 dxc4 -+.
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Date: 12 Apr 2006 16:09:13
From: Ken Lovering
Subject: Re: An IQP Game
|
Right! My bad........it should be 5.Bc4, which after 5...Nf6 6.e5 Ng4 7.cd
White is Mighty.
And............5....dc 6.Nxc3 Nf6? allows 7.Bxf7 Kxf7 8.Ng5+ Ke8 9.Qxg4 Bxe5
10.0-0 and White's in great shape.
In the above line........6....Nc6 is even worse
and 6....e6?? 7.e5 Nh5 8.0-0 and White is even in better shape.
The f7 square is an excellent focal point for White when Black takes up the
fianchetto setup against the Smith Morra
Ken
"Ron" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> "Ken Lovering" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Ron,
> >
> > This is something I have a lot of experience with, as I play nothing but
the
> > Smith Morra. Of course, it's been all blitz games, and, I'm only 1450
blitz,
> > so my opponents are not strong enough to refute the gambit.
> > However, I have done a lot of studying with my coach :) You know his
name,
> > and the fianchetto is not the way to go against the Smith Morra when
your
> > opponent is prepared for it.
> >
> > "Ron" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > I played the following game out the other night to a draw. Somewhere
in
> > > the middlegame, I lost the initiative and ended up being lucky to eek
> > > out a draw.
> > >
> > > [Event "FICS rated standard game"]
> > > [White "Me"]
> > > [Black "Black"]
> > > [TimeControl "1800+30"]
> > > [Result "1/2-1/2"]
> > >
> > > 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. cxd4 d5 6. exd5??
> >
> > White should not have played this! He should have played 6.Bc4!
>
> Um, 6.Bc4 dxc4 -+.
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Date: 11 Apr 2006 19:14:51
From: Ken Lovering
Subject: Re: An IQP Game
|
Hello Ken...............Ron is White in this game........
Duh.............
"Ken Lovering" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Ron,
>
> This is something I have a lot of experience with, as I play nothing but
the
> Smith Morra. Of course, it's been all blitz games, and, I'm only 1450
blitz,
> so my opponents are not strong enough to refute the gambit.
> However, I have done a lot of studying with my coach :) You know his name,
> and the fianchetto is not the way to go against the Smith Morra when your
> opponent is prepared for it.
>
> "Ron" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I played the following game out the other night to a draw. Somewhere in
> > the middlegame, I lost the initiative and ended up being lucky to eek
> > out a draw.
> >
> > [Event "FICS rated standard game"]
> > [White "Me"]
> > [Black "Black"]
> > [TimeControl "1800+30"]
> > [Result "1/2-1/2"]
> >
> > 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. cxd4 d5 6. exd5??
>
> White should not have played this! He should have played 6.Bc4!
>
> Now if you play 6....Nf6, White plays 7.e5 Ng4 8.cxd4 d5 (8....d6 is
> answered with 9.Ng5 0-0 10.e6 and White has a strong advantage)
>
> If you play 6....d6, White plays 7.Qb3 and you're forced to play 7....e6
> blocking your light squared Bishop and White has the initiative, as
> 7....Nh6 is answered with 8.Bxh6 Bxh6 9.Bxf7+
>
> There's another way to try and play the fianchetto setup, but it fails
also:
> 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cd 3.c3 dc 4.Nxc3 d6 4.Bc4 g6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Qb3 and Crafty19.19
> is loving White's position.
>
> Since you play the Sicilian, you obviously love tactics, and the main line
> of the Smith Morra gives Black the best chances of, well, it actually
does,
> refute the Smith Morra.
>
> If you insist on playing an off-line in response to the Smith Morra, the
> Alapin is the way to go, according to what I've been told by Sicilian
> experts.
>
> Of all the openings I've played against (with me as White) my best record
is
> against the Sicilian. All of my games are downloaded into Chessbase. Even
> those games I lost (which are priily 3/0 blitz) I had a winning
position
> in a good number of them, in which I couldn't find the winning line,
> because, well, I'm a weak player and it's blitz :)
>
> The Smith Morra, however, has helped me a lot in improving my tactical
> skills, and, it eliminates a mountain of theory :).
>
> >Nf6 7. Bb5+ Nbd7 8. Nc3
>
> I would have played 7.e5 pointing those two center pawns down the throat
of
> your fianchettoed Bishop. And, I'm out of book, and probably would have
lost
> it somewhere along the line, however, do you not feel cramped in this line
> after 7.e5?
>
> The line I'm talking about is: 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cd 3.c3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.cd d5
> 6.Bb5+ Nbd7 7.e5............If I was going to play that line, but I
> wouldn't........I would have played 4.Bc4 with many more prospects,
because,
> after Bb5+, you could play Bd7 and then Bxd7 Qxd7 exd5 Nf6 and White has
> little going for him and Black has isolated his center pawn and can snatch
> the one on d5 and build a nice attack against the one on d4 thank you.
> And.............if White plays e5 instead of exd5, it's Nc6,Nh6 Nf5 (if
> White doesn't take it on h6, giving up his other Bishop)and Black has got
> game.
>
> I want to look at the rest of the game, but I have to get something to
eat.
>
> I saw your post much earlier, however, I was furious over a 60/0 game I
> played against a guy rated 175 pts higher than me, that turned out a draw.
I
> had a won game in the middle game, however, I had ate up a lot of my clock
> finding the best moves leading up to the crushing move and..........missed
> the crushing move.........which.........was easier to find than the moves
> leading up to it. Then, with a won endgame, little skill in the endgame,
and
> a clock with less than 7 minutes to my opponents 42
> minutes.................draw.
>
> Ken
>
> >8....O-O 9. O-O Nb6 10. Re1 Bg4 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Nfxd5 13.
> > Bg5 Qd6 14. Rad1 Rac8 15. a3 e6 16. Ne4 Qb8 17. Bh4 a6 18. Bg3 Qa7 19.
> > Be2 Nd7 20. Nd6 Rc6 21. Bc4 N7f6 22. Bd3 Rd8 23. Nc4 Rdc8 24. Ne5 R6c7
> > 25. Qe2 Nh5 26. Bh2 Nhf4 27. Bxf4 Nxf4 28. Qf3 Nxd3 29. Rxd3 b5 30. Qf4
> > Rc2 31. Rf3 Bxe5 32. Qxe5 Rd8 33. Qf6 Qc7 34. h4 Rd5 35. g3 Qd7 36. b4
> > Rc4 37. Kg2 Rcxd4 38. Rc1 Rc4 39. Rxc4 bxc4 40. Qf4 Rd4 41. Qb8+ Kg7 42.
> > Qe5+ Kg8 43. Qb8+ Kg7 44. Qe5+
> > {Game drawn by mutual agreement} 1/2-1/2
> >
> > Move 6 is my first major decision in the game. I decide to go in for an
> > IQP because it's a major part of my repetiore.
> >
> > 7.Bb5+?! strikes me as a minor inaccuracy, now. The bishop really isn't
> > doing anything there, and, rather than having the Nd7 get in his way,
> > that knight actually ends up serving a lot of useful purposes. On c6,
> > this N would put more pressure on d4, but I'd have more d4-d5 thrust
> > ideas. In the game the N ends up serving a lot of useful purposes on b6
> > and f6.
> >
> > On move 17, I like my position a lot. I have the bishop pair, and all of
> > my pieces except for my QR are more active than their black
counterparts.
> >
> > On about move 25, however, I lose the thread. What am I doing here?
> > Black seems to have stifled all the typical IQP play: I can't push the
> > pawn, I can't go after f7, I have use my h-pawn to weaken his kingside,
> > and I can't find a way to get my KR into the attack.
> >
> > Black siezes his opportunity. Now I'm playing defense.
> >
> > 32. ... Rxb2? d5!
> >
> > 35. g3 is providing an escape hatch for my king, since the black Q
> > guards h2. It also contains a nice little threat ...
> >
> > 35. ... Qd7! stops my threatened Rxe6. (This was not possible before
> > because of 35.Rxe6 Rc1+ with mate.
> >
> > 37. ... Rdxd4 doesn't help black after 38.h5!
> >
> > My original idea with Rc1xc4 was just to create a target for me to
> > attack. Only on Qf4 did I see that I had the draw.
> >
> > So luckily my pieces were so active that I was able to salvage a draw,
> > but I'm mostly concerned about moves, say, 17-25. I had a lot of piece
> > activity but couldn't convert it into anything. I'd love any advice
> > anyone could give me on how to play that middlegame for a win.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > -Ron
>
>
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Date: 12 Apr 2006 00:43:08
From: Earine
Subject: Re: An IQP Game
|
Ron wrote:
>
> [Event "FICS rated standard game"]
> [White "Me"]
> [Black "Black"]
> [TimeControl "1800+30"]
> [Result "1/2-1/2"]
>
> 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. cxd4 d5 6. exd5 Nf6 7. Bb5+
> Nbd7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. O-O Nb6 10. Re1 Bg4 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Nfxd5 13.
> Bg5 Qd6 14. Rad1 Rac8 15. a3 e6 16. Ne4 Qb8 17. Bh4 a6 18. Bg3 Qa7 19.
> Be2 Nd7 20. Nd6 Rc6 21. Bc4 N7f6 22. Bd3 Rd8 23. Nc4 Rdc8 24. Ne5 R6c7
> 25. Qe2 Nh5 26. Bh2 Nhf4 27. Bxf4 Nxf4 28. Qf3 Nxd3 29. Rxd3 b5 30. Qf4
> Rc2 31. Rf3 Bxe5 32. Qxe5 Rd8 33. Qf6 Qc7 34. h4 Rd5 35. g3 Qd7 36. b4
> Rc4 37. Kg2 Rcxd4 38. Rc1 Rc4 39. Rxc4 bxc4 40. Qf4 Rd4 41. Qb8+ Kg7 42.
> Qe5+ Kg8 43. Qb8+ Kg7 44. Qe5+
> {Game drawn by mutual agreement} 1/2-1/2
>
[snip]
> So luckily my pieces were so active that I was able to salvage a draw,
> but I'm mostly concerned about moves, say, 17-25. I had a lot of piece
> activity but couldn't convert it into anything. I'd love any advice
> anyone could give me on how to play that middlegame for a win.
>
I'm not an expert of IQP positions, but some thoughts anyway.
In my opinion White's advantage on move 17 is very little. Black also
has good things in his position: IQP is firmly blockaded, there's a
knight on d5 and another ready to jump in if necessary, there are no
weaknesses and he has already one rook on the open c-file. With
exchanges the white IQP becomes weak as in the game.
So I don't think there's way to play for a win for White, but you should
try to improve your position.
It's not easy to find a clear plan on move 20 (at least for me it
isn't). Perhaps White should try to fight for the c-file, for example:
20. Nd6 Rc6 21. Qd3 N7f6 22. Rc1 etc.
But in general I'd suggest that for the moment the position requires
manouvering, not attacking. I cannot see a target.
- Earine
--
There are no answers in chess, only choices.
|
| |
Date: 11 Apr 2006 23:27:49
From: James
Subject: Re: An IQP Game
|
Just a fast analysis...
Looks like the key move was 24. Na5! instead of Ne5. Black has to move
the rook to b6, and after 25. b4, the rook is trapped on this square.
A possible continuation is
24. Na5 Rc6 25. b4 Nh5 26. Be5 Bxe5 27. dxe5 Rc3 28. Re3 Rxa3 29. Bxg6
hxg6 30. Rxa4 Rxb4 31.g3
and white are only slightly better.
However, Na5 is possible only because of 23...Rd8c8, which is certainly
a mistake (b5 was much better). The position looks equal before the 23rd
move.
James
Ron wrote :
> I played the following game out the other night to a draw. Somewhere in
> the middlegame, I lost the initiative and ended up being lucky to eek
> out a draw.
>
> [Event "FICS rated standard game"]
> [White "Me"]
> [Black "Black"]
> [TimeControl "1800+30"]
> [Result "1/2-1/2"]
>
> 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. cxd4 d5 6. exd5 Nf6 7. Bb5+
> Nbd7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. O-O Nb6 10. Re1 Bg4 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Nfxd5 13.
> Bg5 Qd6 14. Rad1 Rac8 15. a3 e6 16. Ne4 Qb8 17. Bh4 a6 18. Bg3 Qa7 19.
> Be2 Nd7 20. Nd6 Rc6 21. Bc4 N7f6 22. Bd3 Rd8 23. Nc4 Rdc8 24. Ne5 R6c7
> 25. Qe2 Nh5 26. Bh2 Nhf4 27. Bxf4 Nxf4 28. Qf3 Nxd3 29. Rxd3 b5 30. Qf4
> Rc2 31. Rf3 Bxe5 32. Qxe5 Rd8 33. Qf6 Qc7 34. h4 Rd5 35. g3 Qd7 36. b4
> Rc4 37. Kg2 Rcxd4 38. Rc1 Rc4 39. Rxc4 bxc4 40. Qf4 Rd4 41. Qb8+ Kg7 42.
> Qe5+ Kg8 43. Qb8+ Kg7 44. Qe5+
> {Game drawn by mutual agreement} 1/2-1/2
>
> Move 6 is my first major decision in the game. I decide to go in for an
> IQP because it's a major part of my repetiore.
>
> 7.Bb5+?! strikes me as a minor inaccuracy, now. The bishop really isn't
> doing anything there, and, rather than having the Nd7 get in his way,
> that knight actually ends up serving a lot of useful purposes. On c6,
> this N would put more pressure on d4, but I'd have more d4-d5 thrust
> ideas. In the game the N ends up serving a lot of useful purposes on b6
> and f6.
>
> On move 17, I like my position a lot. I have the bishop pair, and all of
> my pieces except for my QR are more active than their black counterparts.
>
> On about move 25, however, I lose the thread. What am I doing here?
> Black seems to have stifled all the typical IQP play: I can't push the
> pawn, I can't go after f7, I have use my h-pawn to weaken his kingside,
> and I can't find a way to get my KR into the attack.
>
> Black siezes his opportunity. Now I'm playing defense.
>
> 32. ... Rxb2? d5!
>
> 35. g3 is providing an escape hatch for my king, since the black Q
> guards h2. It also contains a nice little threat ...
>
> 35. ... Qd7! stops my threatened Rxe6. (This was not possible before
> because of 35.Rxe6 Rc1+ with mate.
>
> 37. ... Rdxd4 doesn't help black after 38.h5!
>
> My original idea with Rc1xc4 was just to create a target for me to
> attack. Only on Qf4 did I see that I had the draw.
>
> So luckily my pieces were so active that I was able to salvage a draw,
> but I'm mostly concerned about moves, say, 17-25. I had a lot of piece
> activity but couldn't convert it into anything. I'd love any advice
> anyone could give me on how to play that middlegame for a win.
>
> Thanks!
>
> -Ron
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Date: 12 Apr 2006 18:36:18
From: Ron
Subject: Re: An IQP Game
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In article <[email protected] >,
James <[email protected] > wrote:
> Looks like the key move was 24. Na5! instead of Ne5. Black has to move
> the rook to b6, and after 25. b4, the rook is trapped on this square.
> A possible continuation is
> 24. Na5 Rc6 25. b4 Nh5 26. Be5 Bxe5 27. dxe5 Rc3 28. Re3 Rxa3 29. Bxg6
> hxg6 30. Rxa4 Rxb4 31.g3
> and white are only slightly better.
> However, Na5 is possible only because of 23...Rd8c8, which is certainly
> a mistake (b5 was much better). The position looks equal before the 23rd
> move.
Thanks. Na5 popped up when I ran the game through a computer but I
didn't get it. Now I do. Thanks.
-Ron
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