tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57726894266049739.post8922504301798043508..comments2024-03-06T11:42:14.387-08:00Comments on Chess Skills: A QID MiniatureJames Stripeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437334325501974461noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57726894266049739.post-72366745507269444972017-03-26T10:00:51.666-07:002017-03-26T10:00:51.666-07:00I would've played h4 on move 10 or 11. 11.h4 ...I would've played h4 on move 10 or 11. 11.h4 specifically looks pretty good. That move does lots of good things--gains space, creates a possible h5 idea later, but most importantly takes care of all his knight discoveries.<br /><br />This 12.Nxd5 line is interesting. I didn't understand at first why he couldn't respond 12...Bxd5 before ...Bxg5, so that you couldn't get this e4/f4 pawn duo. But if they do that, 13.Nxh7! works again. Finally, in the "perhaps White has compensation for a pawn" position you gave, White has a lot of extra space, all of Black's heavy pieces are passive, and d7 is basically falling. White absolutely has compensation for a pawn, and I think the only question is whether White is better (probably not, but maybe if he tries too hard to cling to d7).<br /><br />So on move 12, we basically had the choice to:<br />1) Let go of a pawn, but get a big center vs passive black pieces (rooks on a8/f8, queen on d8, weakness on d7)<br />or<br />2) Hold on to a pawn, but activate his rook.<br /><br />Regardless of what the computer says, I think 1) is a much better practical choice.<br /><br />Also, although you're already in big, big trouble (13.exd5 is probably losing), on move 15, Bf1 should essentially be your only candidate. That Ba6 is wayyyy too strong, and your only goal is to remove it so you can avoid getting mated in the center. Like I don't think the problem was that you underestimated ...Bf6, I think you didn't quite appreciate that after 12.Be4 you basically can't move anything and Black's pieces will just walk in to checkmate you. Like, this position should give you heart palpitations. <br /><br />Positions like the one after 12.Be4--hopelessly passive positions where we can't move anything--are a difference I've noticed again and again between players around 2000 and masters. A players and lower experts (myself definitely included when I was in this range) will often fall into these positions, while masters will generally make any concession (such as giving up material or groveling with Ke1-f1-g2) to avoid them. Could be worth taking another look at this moment.Todd Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09678958123728884949noreply@blogger.com