Please check this out

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Date: 21 Oct 2005 16:52:00
From: Richard
Subject: Please check this out

Hi everyone,

I have asked a few questions on this board in the past, but in general
my knowledge is basic. So, in order to keep my thoughts and learning a
bit more organized I set up a progress blog where I can post my
understanding of games I am learning from. please check out

http://richardschess.blogspot.com/

and make comments on what I have written. It's not great chess writing,
but maybe by "showing my work" so to speak will help other beginners
out, too.

Thanks,
Richard

Date: 25 Oct 2005 09:48:58
From: Richard
Subject: Re: Nimzowich - Ahues was: Please check this out

Thanks very much! This is exactly the type of help I'm looking for.

Thanks,
Richard

Date: 25 Oct 2005 09:15:28
From: Richard
Subject: Re: Please check this out

That's good advice. In fact, I pulled it off the shelf last night and
it is sitting next to me right now.

Thanks,
Richard
http://richardschess.blogspot.com

Date: 25 Oct 2005 00:02:06
From: Richard
Subject: Re: Please check this out

Evidently, the studying is paying off. I played a game tonight and
found a great improvement in my playing. I've added the game to the
blog if you would like to check it out.

Thanks,
Richard
richardschess.blogspot.com

Date: 25 Oct 2005 18:40:30
From: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?Claus-J=FCrgen_Heigl?=
Subject: Nimzowich - Ahues was: Please check this out

Richard wrote:
> Evidently, the studying is paying off. I played a game tonight and
> found a great improvement in my playing. I've added the game to the
> blog if you would like to check it out.

Yes indeed, this was a good game from your part if only against very
weak resistance. I noticed also your difficulties in understanding the
Nimzowich game. May I offer some thoughts.

Nimzovich vs Ahues
Berlin 1928

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 ...
(Richard)
English opening. This seems to be a strange way to start a chapter on
centralization. This opening seems to beat around the bush, so to speak,
when it comes to controlling the center.

(CJ)
Well, there is some difference between controlling the center and
occupying the center. Controlling a square means you restrict the
opponent from using (occupying) that square. To do this you need pieces
(and pawns) that attack that square. A piece that occupies a square does
not control it. It just blocks an opponents pawn directly in front of it.

Example: 1. e4. Here White does not control e4, White merely occupies
it. No white piece or pawn attacks (or protects) e4. White indeed
controls d5, because this square is attacked by the pawn at e4. Another
example: 1. d4. White occupies _and_ controls d4. The pawn at d4 doesn't
control d4 because it doesn't attack it (it attacks e5) but opened the
way for the queen to attack (and control) d4.

In the English opening White seeks to control d5 to restrict Black's
options in the center (the advance of the d-pawn). Black may occupy d5
with a pawn anyway but then risks his center pawn to be traded for a
wing pawn (the c pawn). Center pawns are regarded as more valuable as
wing pawns. This is also the basic consideration behind the Sicilian
Opening where Black neglects his development somewhat for the chance to
trade a wing pawn against a center pawn.

2. ... c6
(Richard)
Here the book moves stop, but c6 keeps to the spirit of things by
preparing for ... d5.
(CJ)
This was new in Nimzowichs time but today is a book move, although it
has a bad reputation. Black prepares the advance of the c pawn just like
in the Caro Kann. If Black plays d5 and White trades pawns, Black can
retake with the c pawn and in effect has conserved his center pawn.

3.e4
(CJ)
White continues his fight for d5.

3...d5
(CJ)
This is the principle move. If this doesn't work, then plan with c6 can
be regarded as a failure.

4.e5
(CJ)
In his fight for d5 Black neglected control of e5. White tries to
exploit this by advancing the e pawn and get rid of the Nf6 which
controls d5. Black now has two ways to react. He can either
counterattack with d4 like in the game, or evade the attack with Ne4.
Retreating to g8 cedes the center to White for nothing, White plays d4
and is excellent. On 4...Nfd7 White can also play d4 with a great
position in the center or might even sacrifice a pawn with 5. e6!? 6.
fxe6 7. d4 when Black obviously has a problem to develop his pieces.

Now 4...Ne4 5. cxd5 (5. Nxe4 dxe4 6. d4 exd3 7. Bxd3 Qa5+ 8. Bd2 Qxe5+
9. Ne2 sacrifices a pawn for development but is rather unclear) 5...Nxc3
6. bxc3 cxd5 7. d4 Bf5 doesn't look so bad for Black. True, White has
some space advantage and a strong looking center but also a backward
pawn in an half open file which could become vulnerable.

Therefore 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. e5 might have been stronger. Now 5...Ne4 6.
Nxe4 dxe4 7. Qa4+ loses a pawn for nothing. After 5...d4 6. exf6 dxc3 7.
bxc3 exf6 8. d4 White has practically a pawn more. What's left is
7...gxf6 8. d4 which is rather undesirable for Black, because Black has
a weakened kingside and less influence in the center than White.
(end CJ)

4...d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 gxf6
(Richard)
Now things again get strange to me as the pawns move through the center
to attack the knights. Both knights are taken and then the attacking
pawns are removed. Again, the center is completely open. Both Nimzovich
and Ahues take the pawns by capturing toward the center. For white this
works, but Nimzovich considers gxf6 a blunder for black. My
understanding of this is by capturing with the g-pawn, black breaks up
his kingside pawn structure. His queenside is already opened up, so the
advantage of castling will be diminished.
(CJ)
The problem may be the quality of center control. While White's c3
enables him to establish a center pawn at d4 without disadvantages Black
can't play e5 so easily. e5 is easier to attack for White than d4 is for
Black. If the black pawn center (with a pawn at e5) breaks apart the
black king will be very uncomfortable.
(Richard)
We begin to see Nimzoviches plan unfold. Because black allowed an
opening on his kingside, Nimzovich starts hammering away. At this point,
the black king has very limited movement possibilities. If Nimzovich can
get a knight on e5 and his queen or a bishop on f7, black will be mated.
The f7 pawn has become his target.
(CJ)
As long as Black keeps control of e5 and g5 an attack against f7 is not
so easy. The problem of Black is his lack of counterplay together with a
deficit in his pawn structure.

7.Nf3 ...
(Richard)
... and the knight starts toward e5.
(CJ)
I don't think this was the intention of Nimzowich right now. White takes
control of e5 to fight a black pawn advance in the center. If now 7...e5
White attacks with 8. d4 and the black center is under pressure.

7. ...c5
(CJ)
Ahues probably has come to the conclusion that e5 isn't feasible and in
his search for counterplay seeks to attack the white center in another
way. In turn Black is getting a little behind in development. Perhaps it
was better to develop first, but this doesn't solve the problem of
counterplay.

8.d4 Nc6 9.Be2 ...
(Richard)
Ahues doesn't seem to have a concrete plan at this point. There seems to
be a vague notion of developing on the queenside to take advantage of
white's open pawns structure there. Nimzovich, however, is to the point.
He positions a pawn at d4 to cover e5. He then sets his bishop to go
into battle at h5 before the queen. The only obstacle now is black's
pawn at f4 covering e5.
(CJ)
I think Black has the clear plan of attacking d4. This plan involves
getting the bishop to g7, opening the long diagonal and perhaps put some
rooks on the c and d files. Unfortunately the deficits of the black
position and bad execution let this plan fail.

9. ... f5 ??
(Richard)
I don't know what Ahues is thinking here. White's entire plan relies on
getting his knight to e5 and Ahues just gives it to him. It seems 9.
...e5 would be much better. Maybe this is what Nimzovich is thinking
when he uses this game as an example of neglecting centralization.
(CJ)
Ahues continues with his plan opening the long diagonal to attack on it
with his bishop. The big drawback is that there isn't a bishop at g7
yet, so White can force Black to leave e5 unguarded. Black should
continue with Bg7, 0-0, Qd6 and now is the earliest time he could think
at f5. In this way Black always keeps firm control of e5, and if White
advances his d pawn Black can occupy e5 with the knight. Of course
Nimzowich wasn't likely just to sit still and watching things unfold. A
natural plan for White would be to attack c5 to force Black to trade on
d4 so that White gets rid of the doubled pawn and has a mobile pawn
center. This could be done by attacking c5 on the diagonal and may be
Ra1-b1-b5.

10.d5 Na5 11.Ne5 ...
(Richard)
Since black no longer covers e5 with his pawn, Nimzovich uses the d4
pawn to chase off the black knight. Finally, Ne5 completes the first
phase of Nimzovich's plan. Black doesn't seem to see the threat.
(CJ)
Seeing that the last move of Black enables White to get control of e5,
Nimzowich switches plans and goes for direct attack against the king. On
e5 the knight attacks both d7 and f7. The immediate threat now is 12.
Qa4+ Bd7 13. Nxd7 Qxd7 14. Qxa5.

11. ... Bd7
(CJ)
Black saves his piece on the queenside and gets a beating on the
kingside instead. The centralized white knight at e5 can support action
on both wings.

The alternative for Black was 11...Bg7 12. Qa4+ Kf8 13. f4 which doesn't
lose any material but leaves Black in a very ugly position.

12.Bh5 Bg7
(Richard)
Bh5 completes phase 2. Now Black responds to the threat by giving his
king an escape. Unfortunately, it may be too late.

13.Nxf7 Qb6
(CJ)
Black hopes for a counter attack on the queenside.

14.Nxh8+ Kf8 15.Nf7 ...
(Richard)
The knight withdraws to prepare for the second round of attack.
(CJ)
White keeps his pieces for the attack because he has calculated that the
black attack can be defended. The safe way would be 15. 0-0 Bxh8 16. Qd3
when Black does have nothing for the exchange and White could continue
the attack on the e file.

15. ...Be8
(CJ)
After 15...Bxc3+ 16. Bd2 Bxd2+ 17. Qxd2 Be8 18. Ne5 Qf6 (18...Bxh5 19.
Nd7+) 19. 0-0 Qxe5 (still 19...Bxh5 is answered by 20. Nd7+) 20. Bxe8
Nxc4 21. Qc1 White remains a rook in front.

16.Ng5 Bxc3
(Richard)
Because there is no immediate threat to black, Ahues takes the
opportunity to take the initiative. He first attacks the knight, then
checks the king and attacks the rook with his bishop. Unfortunately,
Ahues still has no concrete plan. His moves are tactically good, but
don't lead to a specific goal. So, as soon as the initiative is lost,
Nimzovich will resume his attack.
(CJ)
This move is why Ahues continued playing. Nimzowich has to defend carefully.

17.Kf1 ...
(Richard)
Nimzovich ks this move as strong. I'm not sure exactly why. The
immediately recognizable move is Bd2 which leads to an exchange, but
retains white's ability to castle. It would also lead to the loss of the
bishop at h5, but this is traded in a few moves anyway. Since the rook
getting to e1 in a few moves becomes the strong point, I would think
retaining the castle would be important.
(CJ)
17. Bd2 would be what Ahues hoped for. The game would continue
17...Bxh5! 18. Ne6+ Kg8 19. Qxh5 Bxd2+ 20. Kxd2 (20. Ke2 Qb2 21. Rad1
Qe5+ 22. Kxd2 Nxc4+ 23. Kd3 Qxd5+ 24. Kc3 Qxe6 might be still won for
White but Black has serious counterchances) 20...Qb2+ 21. Kd3! (21. Ke3?
Nxc4+ 22. Kf3 Qc3+ 23. Kf4 Qe5+ 24. Kg5 Qf6+ ends in a perpetual)
21...Nxc4! 22. Qg5+ (after 22. Kxc4? Qc2+ 23. Kb5 Qd3+ 24. Kxc5 Rc8+
White gets mated) 22...Kh8 23. Qg7+ Qxg7 24. Nxg7 Ne5+ 25. Kc3 Kxg7.
White still has the exchange for a pawn, but this is far from where he
once was.

17. ...Bxa1 18.Ne6+ ...
Material is even, but Nimzovich gains the initiative again.

18. ...Kg8 19.Bxe8 Rxe8 20. Qh5 Ra8 21.Qxf5 ...
Nimzovich now clears the way for the next step in his plan -- bringing
the kingside rook into play.

21. ...Qb4 22.g3 Qxc4+
(CJ)
What could be wrong with snatching a pawn with check? Essentially this
gives White a tempo in activating his rook since Nimzowich wanted to
play Kg2 anyway. Better was 22...Bf6 to adress the threat of Ng5. After
23. Bg5 Qc3 24. Kg2 b6 25. d6 Qe5 Black can escape into a lost endgame.

23.Kg2 Qe2
(CJ)
Black plans to defend against Ng5 with Qh5. 23...Bf6 24. Ng5 Bxg5 25.
Qxg5+ Kf8 26. Re1 also loses quickly.

24.Bd2
(CJ)
Nimzowich apparently saw the black queen couldn't move if she was to
keep up the possibility of Qh5 but here he missed the kill! 24. Re1!
puts Black outright out of his misery. If 24...Qxe1 25. Ng5 and with the
threats Qf7+ and Qxh7+ Black loses the queen. 25...Qxf2+ 26. Qxf2 (and
not 26. Kxf2?? Rf8!).

24...Nc4
(CJ)
24...Qe5 25. Qxe5 Qxe5 26. Bxa5 avoids the immediate mate, but is of
course hopeless.

25.Re1 Qxd2
(Richard)
... and there it goes. From this point on, the game becomes a chase with
black's king while snatching material.

26.Ng5 Nd6 27.Qxh7 Kf8 28.Qxe7 Kg8 29.Qh7 Kf8 30.Qh6
(CJ)
The most direct way was 30. Qxe7+ Kg8 31. Qh7+ Kf8 32. Ne6+ Ke8 33. Nc7+
Kd8 34. Re7 with the threat Ne6+/Qg8+.

30...Kg8 31.Qg6 Bg7 32.Qh7 Kf8 33.Ne6 Ke8 34.Nxg7 Kd8 35.Ne6 Ke8 36.Re5
Resigns. 1-0
Finally, Ahues gives up the fight.

I hope this helps to understand the game better.

Claus-Juergen

Date: 24 Oct 2005 11:54:36
From: Richard
Subject: Re: Please check this out

I have a copy of HTRYC and like it quite a bit. I haven't read "The
Amateur's Mind" but have seen it mentioned quite a bit. I need to get a
hold of a copy. I'm sure the library has a copy I can pick up today. I
also have heard of a book by McDonald called "Planning." Are you
familiar with this?

Thanks,
Richard

Date: 25 Oct 2005 16:05:53
From: The Man Behind The Curtain
Subject: Re: Please check this out

Richard wrote:
> I have a copy of HTRYC and like it quite a bit. I haven't read "The
> Amateur's Mind" but have seen it mentioned quite a bit.

Well, you mentioned what you think your rating is, and it was pretty
low, though I forget what. If you have HTRYC, and you've really read
and digested it, your rating should be a lot higher--1800 at least. So
before you buy and read other, more complicated books, I'd advise you
spend more quality time just with that one book. There's a lot of
material in there to master.

John

--

Von Herzen, moge es wieder zu Herzen gehen. --Beethoven

Date: 24 Oct 2005 10:03:45
From: Richard
Subject: Re: Please check this out

Thanks for the comments Munir,

I'll have to get a copy of MCO. I had one years ago, but to be honest,
it went over my head. The problem I was having at the time was
understanding the variations. It seemed far-fetched that a line of play
would go beyond more than one or two moves. I would find myself
thinking, "But what happens if my opponent doesn't play that move? Then
what?" I understand much better now how to read chess books and
annotated games, so it's probably time to add something like MCO to my
library.

As far as the "I wonder what he's thinking..." phrases in my
annotations, they are there because they are true. I really don't
understand the move in those positions. My chess playing knowledge is
pretty basic. Moreover, I think because of my long-time goofing around
with learning to play, I have missed out on a lot of very basic
concepts. For example, I unnderstand the tactical concepts of pins and
forks, but I often am totally surprised when one is played against me
in a game, and I very seldom see the opportunity arise in my play. It's
not that they're not there, I just don't seem to see them.

The hope I have for the blog is to generate discussion about the
specific problems I am having in learning to play better. The "I wonder
what..." phrases are there because I'm hoping someone will come back
and say, "He's thinking this..."

Thanks!
Richard

Date: 24 Oct 2005 18:40:25
From: The Man Behind The Curtain
Subject: Re: Please check this out

Richard wrote:
> Thanks for the comments Munir,
>
> I'll have to get a copy of MCO. I had one years ago, but to be honest,
> it went over my head. The problem I was having at the time was
> understanding the variations. It seemed far-fetched that a line of play
> would go beyond more than one or two moves. I would find myself
> thinking, "But what happens if my opponent doesn't play that move? Then
> what?" I understand much better now how to read chess books and
> annotated games, so it's probably time to add something like MCO to my
> library.
>
> As far as the "I wonder what he's thinking..." phrases in my
> annotations, they are there because they are true. I really don't
> understand the move in those positions. My chess playing knowledge is
> pretty basic. Moreover, I think because of my long-time goofing around
> with learning to play, I have missed out on a lot of very basic
> concepts. For example, I unnderstand the tactical concepts of pins and
> forks, but I often am totally surprised when one is played against me
> in a game, and I very seldom see the opportunity arise in my play. It's
> not that they're not there, I just don't seem to see them.
>
> The hope I have for the blog is to generate discussion about the
> specific problems I am having in learning to play better. The "I wonder
> what..." phrases are there because I'm hoping someone will come back
> and say, "He's thinking this..."
>
> Thanks!
> Richard
>

Frankly, from the way you describe yourself, I'd say screw MCO and go
straight to something like The Amateur's Mind or How To Reassess Your
Chess, both by Jeremy Silman. I'm not shilling for Mr. Silman, but he
is very good at talking to early intermediate players, the type who
can't see pins coming or miss the fork, and getting them to see the
board more the way a master or IM sees it. There's a lot that's wrong
with his books, but also a lot that's right, and spending a couple
months reading HTRYC would probably do you good indeed.

For openings, MCO is probably way over your head. (No offense, it's way
over the heads of more people than are willing to admit it; some chess
players seem to think the thicker and denser the book they're holding
is, the better the chess player they are or will soon be.) I'd start
off with something as simple and user-friendly as Neil McDonald's
Concise Chess Openings. That should be enough for any hobby-club
player, at least for starters. You can always get that tome of MCO
later, it's not going anywhere.

John

--

Von Herzen, moge es wieder zu Herzen gehen. --Beethoven

Date: 21 Oct 2005 22:52:39
From: Munir
Subject: Re: Please check this out

Nice looking blog! I usually read the chess column in the NY Times each
weekend, so I can compare your style to that, if you like. Here's what
I notice:

a) The Times usually gives more background, sets up a stort of drama,
that makes you want to read the article before the moves are mentioned.

b) The Blog contains a lot of phrases like "I wonder what so-and-so is
thinking here..." whereas the weekly Times article would probably
objectively point out what's wrong or questionable about the position.

c) The Blog contains, in addition to discussing major moves, a number
of board snap-shots that show the game evolving. This is an improvement
over the Times, which usually just shows the final position.

In conclusion, nice formatting and style for the chess analysis.
Recommend more objective comments and less emotion/speculation, and
setting up a dramatic beginning and end to snare the reader.

-Munir

P.S. For what it's worth, after you've read a few comprehensive chess
books, the place to start getting serious is a book of chess openings.
Most games are set-up for victory or loss in the first ten to fifteen
moves, so building your own opening library (in your head) will quickly
improve your ranking. Also, a comprehensive opening book (like Modern
Chess Openings) will show you how every guideline of chess taught in
general books tends to get broken in the process of actual
give-and-take play. I can't recommend it highly enough. -M