nuriyev/chess-commentary · Datasets at Hugging Face

fen stringlengths 23 72	move stringlengths 0 699	commentary stringlengths 33 3k
rnb1k2r/1p2b1pp/p5n1/3p4/2q5/2NNB3/PPPKQ1PP/R6R b - -	Kd2	game over, surely the only move was bg5 here? alternative variation: 17. bg5 [was white's bes try but he's still losing.] bg4 18. qd2 rf8 [with a good game for black.]
r2qk3/p1bnBp2/4p3/1B2P3/Q2P4/8/5P1r/RN2K1R1 b Qq -	Bxe7	if taken by the queen, follows rg8+, and the queen is lost.
5knr/7p/1r1bPp2/p1pP1N2/BnP5/6P1/1P6/2BR1K1R w - -	Bd6	analysis prefers h5 here, i was tempted to exchange with nxd6 but i liked that the black king was trapped.
r4r1k/p6p/1p1qp1p1/1Pp5/2PbQ3/P2NnP2/R3B1PP/4K2R w - -	Ne3	the knight returns to this menacing outpost, forking g2 and c4. my knight and bishop are unassailable right now, and white would dearly love to be rid of them.
r4rk1/pp4pp/2p2b2/1B2np2/5B2/8/PPP2PPP/2KR3R w - -	c6	as for me i liked his queen side castle, kind simplifies my plan into doing a queen side pawn push
1r1r2k1/1bq2pb1/pnn1p1p1/4P3/1Pp1B1Q1/2P2NP1/1B1N1P2/R3R1K1 b - -	c3, Bf8, h5, Bg7, hxg6, hxg6, b4	! on one hand, this move is easy to understand. white wants to keep the queenside closed, because that is where black’s pieces are massed. but on the other hand, mike is giving away a pawn. in reality he had committed himself to sacrificing the e5-pawn as soon as he played 22. c3. mike’s comment on this move at the chess party was totally characteristic of him. why did he play this move? “i’m winning the endgame!” he said. on the one hand, this is totally nuts. black has lots of chances after this to equalize or even stand better. on the other hand, it’s so mike. remember the mike splane question: “how am i going to win this game?” he asks it in almost every game, whether his position is better or worse. here, how he is going to win the game is very simple. he’s going to win black’s two weak queenside pawns, at c4 and a6, and then he’s going to run his connected passers to paydirt. the deeper lesson here is that the “objective evaluation” or “computer evaluation” doesn’t always matter in a contest between humans. if you have a plan and your opponent doesn’t, you’re winning. also it doesn’t hurt to have a ghost named george helping you!
rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/2p5/3p4/2PP4/8/PP2PPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq -	c6	entriamo nel slava, generalmente considerata una solida apertura per il nero. il bianco spesso sviluppa con più facilità e spera di creare punti deboli sul lato di donna, ma il nero è in grado di espandersi con a6, dxc4, b5, c5 (come si vede nel gioco). carlsen tentò di giocare la slava alle in olimpiadi di quest'anno, ma prima di allora, non aveva giocato l'apertura dal 2014. a questo punto è facile pensare che il team del russo avesse preparato questa apertura per prendere in contropiede magnus. cosa però che non si è realizzata.
r6k/3bqBp1/7p/p3pP1P/3pP3/6R1/1pPQ4/2K3R1 w - -	axb2+	by this time i am feeling pretty good at the sacrifice of a rook. i have an opening attacking the king that i feel i can sustain.
rnb2k1r/ppp2p2/1q3N2/8/4BQ2/2NP3p/PPP1P1p1/R1B4K w - -	g2+	white must play 20. bxg2 and after 20. ..., hxg2+, 21. kxg2, try to work up his own attack on the black king. ( although after 21. ..., bh3+, 22. kf3, qg1 there are some tactics for both sides. it looks too hard to follow in a blitz game for me. )
r4rk1/p5pp/1p1p2q1/3Np1b1/2PpPnP1/B7/P1B4P/R2Q1RK1 w - -	fxg4, Nf4	white takes my lb at g4 and this now means my knight is under attack at h5 so i move my knight away from the pawn's grasp to f4.
r2r2k1/1p2q2p/p1p1b1p1/2b1pp2/P1P5/2NBPP2/4Q1PP/2RR2K1 w - -	Bc5	played anyways. the bishop cannot be kicked from c5 and the weakness on e3 will not be going anywhere without creating further weaknesses.
rnq1r1k1/pp1b1p1p/3R2p1/8/4P3/2Q1BP2/PP4PP/2K2B1R w - -	Nd6, Bf8, Qc3, Bxd6, Rxd6, Qc8	18. ...... qc8 - i see old matey's shadow descend on g7. white's dsb could go to h6 next move trapping henry on g8 with the wicked witch dealing the death blow next move after that. so glenda pins her and at the same time makes frere leblanc a free man.
3rr1k1/pp4pb/2p4p/7q/4pPn1/P1P1R1P1/2P2BBP/R5QK b - -	Qg1	again, white could have played bg1 here, (unless i'm missing something). this is playable though uncomfortable for white as all of his pieces are tied to defense.
rnb1kbnr/pp2pppp/2p5/1N1p4/1qPP4/8/PP1BPPPP/R2QKBNR b KQkq -	Nb5	forces the taking of either the b, or c pawn. in this situation taking the b2 pawn is the best decision. however the fork on c7 will still occur.
rnb1k2r/ppp2ppp/4pq2/3p4/1b6/1PN1P3/P1PPNPPP/R2QKB1R b KQkq -	Nge2	...to defend it with the other knight. i find this move weak since both the bishop and queen will be stuck since the knight is blocking them.
4r1k1/p1b2ppp/1pbr1q2/2p1p3/2PpP3/3P1N1P/PPQN1PP1/3RR1K1 w - -	Rd6	the second part of black's plan is set in motion. the rook is now ready to spring into action as soon as the queen gets out of the way; the two key squares of d7 and d8 are also freed up for the bishops' convenience.
r2r2k1/pp2qppp/1npb1n2/4pb2/1P6/PQN1PN2/1B1PBPPP/R4RK1 w - -	Rfd8	i choice this rook for the d column, keeping the chance of play a5, if i need active my queenside.
r1b2r2/pp1q1Pbk/3p1np1/2p1n1B1/2BQPP2/2N5/PPP3PP/R4RK1 w - c6	f4, c5	a brute force attack, and a little counter attack. the queen has to move! and she will be unable to cover the bishop on c4, so f7 will ultimately fall :) (together with the bishop an c4!) i think this move would have been possible even sooner. but somehow i did not see it...
r1bqk2r/p5pp/2p5/n1b1pp2/6n1/3B2N1/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq -	Bc5	attacking the f2 square twice forcing him to castle however...
r1bqk2r/1pp2ppp/p1np1n2/2b1p3/2B1P3/2NP1N2/PPP2PPP/R1BQ1RK1 w kq -	d6, d3, a6	6. ....... a6 - preparing a b5 possibility. i do get in this pawn break but it leaves my c6 pawn backward and weak.
1rb2rk1/1q1nbppp/p2pp2P/2p3P1/4PP2/2N1BQ2/PPP5/2KR1B1R w - -	h6, Qb7	!!!blunder!!! the only reason my attack will succeed is this move. he only move was g6 to keep himself from my fullscale invasion.
r1b1k1nr/pp2ppbp/2np2p1/8/1q2P3/1NN1B3/PPPQ1PPP/R3KB1R w KQkq -	Qb4	this was an error.. i think qd8 was much safer.. he was then forced to exchange queens on my next move.. not 9.a3!? bxc3!, if 10.bxc3 qxe4 and if 10. qxc3 qxc3 11.bxc3 and black would be in a good shape because of white's doubled pawns on the c-file.. or if 10. axb4 bxd2 11. bxd2 nf6 12. bc3 e5! and black would equalize with a strong center and good attacking chances..
6K1/4R3/5qk1/8/6b1/4R3/8/8 b - -	Re1e3	after r1e5, bf3 threatens bd5 and the bishop is invincible since the rooks have to defend each other. after r1e4, bd1 threatens bb3 and once again, the bishop is invincible since one rook defends against qg7# while the other rook defends against qxe7, black will win a rook if white takes the bishop. the text move doesn't allow the bishop check maneuver since it threatens rg3 if the bishop moves.
rn2kb1r/pB3ppp/8/8/8/8/PqP2PPP/RN1QK1NR w KQkq -	Qxb2	!! therefore, i capture his b2 pawn and will win his a1 rook. this is the most unusual position that i have seen, in all the years that i have been playing chess.
rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/8/3p4/3P4/2N4P/PPP1PPP1/R1BQKBNR b KQkq -	h3	this a non-developing move. as well as e4, i would say bf4 or nf3 were both better
r1b2rk1/pp1n1ppp/2p1p3/2bnP3/5P2/1PNR1N2/PBP1B1PP/2R4K w - -	Kh1, Ne3, Rc1, Nd5	black's knight is trying to harass white's position and vaguely threaten it. white has had enough and wants to free up his well-positioned bishop on b2.
r1bqk2r/pp1p1pbp/2n1pnp1/2p5/2B1P3/3P1Q1N/PPPN1PPP/R1B1K2R w KQkq -	Nd2, Nf6	black is free anytime he wants to play d5. traditional logic is that d5 expands the black center with a gain of tempo, but is it really? after d5, white moves the bishop (either to b3 or to b5), but didn't he want to anyway? by white making a move he wanted to make, the effect of the so called gain is negligible.
rnb2rk1/1p2b1pp/p2qp3/5p2/2BP1B2/2P2N2/PP2Q1PP/R4RK1 b - -	Qd6, Bf4	black defends the pawn on e6, so white attacks the defender. the white bishop on f4 is free for the taking, but then the pawn on e6 falls, followed by the bishop on e7, and white ends up a pawn ahead.
r1bqkb1r/ppp2ppp/2pn4/4N3/3P4/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQ1RK1 b kq -	Nxe5	white deviates.the main line is 7.dxe5 nf5 8.qxd8+ kxd8 9.nc3 where black has 9...ke8 9...h6 or 9...ne7!?.white has a slight edge because of black's king,but black's two bishops give him compensation.
r3k2r/ppp2ppp/2nq4/3B4/3pP3/5P1P/PPPQ1P2/R3K2R b KQkq -	Nxd5, Bxd5, Bd6, Bxd6, Qxd6, Qd2	prepare queenside castel and watch f4 and d4. f4 is an ugly hole.
rnbqkbnr/pp1ppppp/8/2p5/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKB1R b KQkq -	Nf3	this is one of the main lines of the sicilian defense.. the knight is in a good position as it controls the e5 square and supports the thrust of the d-pawn on d4.. now i could have played d4 at this point but i wanted to play it safe so i opted to play nf3 instead..
r1b1k2r/p1pnqppp/2p5/2b1P1B1/3pP3/3P1N2/PPP3PP/RN1Q1RK1 b kq -	Bg5	and so i decide to attack the queen. and ill get a pawn for that pawn. as i had atleast planned he would take 1 more material with his death
r2q1rk1/pp1b1pbp/3p1np1/2pPp1B1/n1P1P3/2N2N2/PPBQ1PPP/2KR3R b - -	Bc2	?! they're calling this an inaccuracy because black now gets a slight initiative with his next move. that, in return forces our next move to prevent the loss of a piece. what this means, which i agree with is that his na4 is the weak n since it's on our rim. whereas, our nc3 was better placed, and thus, the strong n. so, this exchange winds up hurting our position. after that, black penguin_ maintains his advantage after 13...b5 since fritz also agrees with this.
r1b1kb1r/p2nqp1p/2pp2p1/8/5P2/2N1B3/PPP3PP/R2QKB1R w KQkq -	Nc6, Nxc6, bxc6, e5, Nd7, exd6, exd6, Be3, Qe7	10....be7 is the correct move , maybe black wishes to not showing white where the black bishop will move , but he's must recole that it has aweak pawn on d6.
2r2r1k/pb3p1p/1pp5/2n2p2/7P/1PR1P1P1/P3NPB1/2R3K1 b - -	Bxc3, Rxc3, Rac8, Rbc1	i really have to wonder why not b4? two defenders, two attackers. tie goes to the defender.
r2q1rk1/3n1pbp/b1p1p1p1/p1p1P3/P1P5/1P3N1P/3NQPP1/R1B2RK1 b - -	dxc4	we are even with material but black still has a doubled pawn and less controlled space.
rn1q1rk1/ppp1bppp/1n1pp3/4P3/2PP4/2N1Bb2/PP2BPPP/R2Q1RK1 w - -	Nb6, Nc3, Be3, Bxf3	i'm unaware to how the line is supposed to be played out. capturing on f3 seems like it was too soon, perhaps nc6 would have been better. the bishop pair side by side seems to be more formidable than having the knight on f3
4n3/1p6/1Pp1k3/2K5/4P3/8/4r3/5R2 w - -	Rb2, Kc5, Re2, Rf1+, Ke6, b6, c6	naturally not 47... pxp? 48 kxp threatening my final pawn.
7k/pp1b2pp/2pn4/4p3/3PP1n1/PQNBb1PK/1P2Nr1P/8 w - -	Kh8	but after my king move white resigns as there is no defence to rxh2++ 0 -1 thank for looking.
r3k2r/5p1p/p1pbq1p1/3bP3/5B2/3B2P1/2PK3P/QR6 b kq -	Ke2, Bxb4, e5, Qe6, Qa1, Bd5, Rb1, Bd6, Kd2	white has succeeded in driving black's attack away, and his pawn structure looks reasonable. materially disadvantaged, he is putting up a warrior's battle.
r5k1/3n1ppp/p3pn2/Pp5q/8/BP2P1P1/4QP1K/R7 w - -	Qxe2, Qh5+	white played the only move that didn't lose material, and black finally plays the move he should have played 5 moves ago.
rnbqk2r/p1pp1ppp/1p2pn2/8/2PP4/P4N2/1P1QPPPP/R1B1KB1R b KQkq -	b6, a3, Bxd2+, Qxd2	good or bad? black will gain a tempo when he plays ne4, but this is all well known theory, and white still has a good center and chances on the q-side.
r1bqkb1r/2pp1ppp/p1n2n2/1p2p3/B3P3/3P1N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq b6	b5	it is probably better to attack white's center with 5...d5, but i wasn't sure i liked the line: 5...d5 6. exd5 qxd5 (...nxd5 will drop the e pawn after the trade on c6) 7. bxc6 bxc6 8. nc3 the text forces white's bishop onto a nice diagonal, but i will try to deal with that shortly.
5rk1/5p2/Q5p1/3P4/8/6R1/2q3PP/1r3R1K b - -	Rb1, Qxa6	32. qxa6 - glenda removes the final passer on the queenside. i am now up in material and at least i have a potential glenda 2 on the d column. but will that potential be realised? we shall see. note that that capture on a6 was only possible because glenda (known as glenda the defender), poor put upon lady, defends the rook on f1.
r1bqkb1r/3n1ppp/p1p1p3/1pNpN3/3P1P2/2P5/PP3PPP/R2QKB1R b KQkq -	Nc5	two knights front attack, but note that there is +1 for the black, 11. nc4xn d4xc5 12 bc4x..
r1bq1rk1/pppnn1bp/3p4/3PppN1/2P5/2N5/PPQ1BPPP/R1B2RK1 b - -	Ng5	the white knight eyes e6. it is a standard white tactic to play ne6 forcing the c1 bishop (who was born to sacrifice itself on h3) to take the knight. after exd6 the white pawn on d6 is probably lost, but it takes time for black to win it; and meanwhile white is attacking on the queenside.
rnb1nrk1/1p5p/p3p1p1/2pP1p2/2Pq4/2NBB2P/PPQ3P1/4RRK1 b - -	Be3	my bishop drops back, attacking his queen. just look at the position! black is a pawn up, but his only piece in play is his queen, which is vulnerable to attack. at the time i knew i had adequate compensation. fritz confirms this, and give white as over plus 2 now.
6nr/4bpkp/q2p2p1/8/4P3/5N2/3P1PPP/2RQ1RK1 b - -	Bc4, Bxc4, Rxc4, Qb1+, Qd1, Qxa2, Rc8+, Kg7, Qa6, Rc1	qc1 seems like a better idea. so long as the white rook remains on black's 8th rank the knight is pinned (against a rook swap), and white can pour more power onto the black side of the board.
rnbqkb1r/1p2pppp/p2p1n2/6B1/3NP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R2QKB1R b KQkq -	Bg5	and white adopts the old-fashioned approach which i've been playing myself recently. as others have commented, the english attack (featuring be3 and f3) is now the main line. once again i shall refer extensively to john nunn's book "the complete najdorf: 6 bg5".
1r4k1/p1q3pp/8/2p1bp2/2b2B2/2P5/PP1QN1PP/R5K1 b - -	Bf4	he challenges my bishop. my advantage is minimal now! i was planning on taking on e2 now, but then i saw he has qd5+ and all lines seem to be better for white.
r2qk2r/pp2bppp/2n1pn2/1B1p2B1/3P4/2N2Q2/PPP2PPP/R3K2R w KQkq -	Qxf3, Be7	well that wasn't too hard to see. he's a subtle player who doesn't leave gaps like that. i think for a while about whether that queenside gap on his side would serve me best on the b or c collumn. ultimately, this move helped undue me, so looking back i put a ? beside it on my score card. but i decided that a gap on the b collumn would leave an isolated pawn he would have to work to defend.
r1b2rk1/p1q2pbp/1pnppnp1/6N1/1PBP4/1QP4P/P2N1PPB/R3K2R w KQ -	e6	a partire da questa mossa, diventa complicatissimo valutare in ogni mossa successiva l'opportunit� di axe6, f7xe6, cxe6, axe6 (obbligata per la doppietta torre-donna), dxe6 , seguita da axe6. la domanda �: c'� sufficiente compensazione per il pezzo sacrificato? sembrerebbe di s�, ma chi � pi� bravo me lo dica...
rnbqk2r/4bppp/p2ppn2/1p6/3NP3/1BN1B3/PPP2PPP/R2Q1RK1 b kq -	Be3	just getting my pieces out. this move is extremely unpopular in both the world and gameknot databases. the favored move, 9. qf3 was quickly discarded by me in the game, for i worried about 9...e5, but that move would only saddle black with a backward d-pawn. still, this move is slightly passive and white has better. ?!
r1bqkb1r/pp1p1ppp/2n2n2/4p3/3NP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq e6	Nf6, Nc3, e5	one of the important considerations black has in the sicilian is when to play e5. i believe that based upon play to this point it is the top play here, but some love g3 to go to the dragon variation...
2rq1rk1/p4ppp/1pn5/2bNPp2/1PP5/P7/3Q1BPP/R3R1K1 b - b3	b4	on the other hand, 20.ne3 is the only move that i would've considered here. as i would not feel comfortable exchanging b's, which topalov will now be forced to do here.
1n2q1k1/rb3pbp/pN1p1np1/2pP4/2B5/5N1P/PP3PP1/R1BQ2K1 b - -	Bc4	now the d pawn is secured but i do not like the position at all for black controls the open file, the long black diagonal and the center (not directly but with his f knight, queen and c and d pawns). luckily for white his other pieces are blocked.
2kr3r/1pp1n1pp/p2bbp2/2p5/4PB2/2N5/PPPRNPPP/R5K1 w - -	Rd2, Ne7	12. ........ ne7 - white is preparing to double rooks on the d file so i now develop my queen knight and connect my rooks.
1n6/4Bk1p/1p3P2/2pP1p2/2P2K1P/1P3P2/8/8 b - -	Kf7, Be7, b6, Ke3, Nb8, Kf4	f5 cannot be defended, since 38...ng6 follows 39.h5+ and then pawn in f6 will crown.
r1bqk2r/pppp1pp1/2n4p/4p3/2B1P3/2NP1N2/PPP2KPP/R1BQ4 w kq -	h6	we are now out of the gameknot database. this is to cover g5 which is being pressed by my knight and my dsb
rn1qk2r/1b3pp1/p3pb1p/1p1p4/3N1PP1/2NBBQ2/PPP4P/R3K2R w KQkq -	Bb7	black has no way of shifting the white pieces from d4, so this move is pretty pointless. possibly better is nd7, discouraging any further pawn pushes on white's kingside (specifically the f pawn, or anything defended by the f pawn).
r5k1/1ppb2p1/p1nppr1p/8/8/N1PB1N1P/PP1Q2P1/R6K w - -	Nf3, Rf6	at first, i wasn't sure why this was played, but now it makes perfect sense. and, with that being said, i also would've moved here because joe intends to and will double up, on his next move.
6k1/pppn2p1/3p4/3P2q1/2P1R3/P1B5/1P3rBK/8 w - -	Re1, Qxg5, Rxe4, Rf2	how will white defend g2 now? i spotted this when proposing the r exchange. (thanks "my favourite tactic trainer, i owe you one!")
r1b1k1nr/ppp2ppp/2np1q2/2b1p1B1/4P3/3P1NP1/PPP1QP1P/RN2KB1R b KQkq -	Bg5	i move my db to g5 attacking the queen on f6. my db is protected by f3 knight.
8/6kp/1p1rp1p1/8/2Pbn3/PP1N4/2K3PP/5R2 b - -	a3	sì, in effetti a3 è l'unica mossa che segua un piano. ho valutato la possibilità di rompere le scatole al cavallo nero con la torre, ma temo che servirebbe solo a portarlo in c3 o c5, dove probabilmente intende andare, e a distrarre la mia torre dal compito di tenere il re nero fuori dai giochi. che cosa mi aspetto? cc3 o cc5 per ora non servono, e si possono fare dopo. e5? o una spinta dei pedoni g e h? tanto per alzare il fön su questa calma piatta.
r5k1/1q2r1p1/2n1ppP1/4P3/1b6/p2R4/5PPQ/3R2K1 b - -	f6, g6	declining the pawn was wise. neither i nor white saw the resulting force mate. white was still inconceivably (to me) eying the black queen.
r4r1k/p1qn2pp/2p2pn1/1p6/3PP2N/2P3PQ/P4P1P/R1B2RK1 b - -	Nd7, Nh4	clearing the path for the f-pawn if needed and getting rid of the pesky defender
r3r1k1/pp3ppp/1n6/4n3/2bq4/P3P1NP/3B1PPN/R3K2R w KQ -	Qd4, Qxd4	white seemed to find an escape, but black has a winning combo now. i have to admit, at this point i only thought i would win the bishop on d2.
r1b2rk1/ppp3p1/3p1q1p/3Pp3/2P1Bp2/P2Q2P1/1P2PP1P/3R1RK1 b - -	f4, Be4	truth be told i simply overreacted to to the possibility of bf5, but this was nothing to worry about. best was probably just to push b4 in order to get some counter-play on the queen-side which we will see later on.
2r1rbk1/6n1/1p1p1nq1/1NPPp2p/2P1Ppp1/5P2/3B2PP/2RQRNK1 b - -	g4, bxc5	27. bxc5 - as the f3 pawn is adequately defended i continue to give my pieces some air on the queenside with the possibility of winning either the d pawn or the b pawn depending which pawn takes on c5.
r1bqk1nr/pppp1ppp/1b6/1B2p3/3PP3/2P5/PP3PPP/RNBQ1RK1 b kq d3	Bc5, Nd4, Nxd4, Bxd4, c3, Bb6, d4	7. d4 - after a pair of knights has been exchanged i now challenge the centre with d4 and i am preparing to develop my queenside.
3Rr1kr/pq5p/1p3Qp1/4P3/P1p5/8/2P2PPP/5RK1 b - -	Re8, Qf6+, Kg8, Rd8	black resigns; he will lose a queen for a rook. notice his h8 rook, and how useless it is. by not castling, this is what happened. the game would likely end with rxd8 qxd8+ kg7 qf6+ kg8 rd1 with rd8+ winning.
2q1r1k1/p2bppbp/3p2p1/1p1N2Pn/4P2P/1PPQBP2/r2N4/1K1R3R b - -	c3	a good defensive try. white actually threatens to take the rook now. black must be careful not to let the rook get trapped.
r1b2rk1/2ppqpp1/p6p/1pb1p3/4P3/1B1P1N2/PPPQ1PPP/R3R1K1 b - -	Nxe7+, Qxe7, Rfe1	this was very stupid because of bb4 but there is always c3 then.
r1B1kb1Q/pp2q2p/6p1/5p2/8/5N2/P1PN1PPP/1R2R1K1 w - -	Qe7	this looks like a blunder but this is the best way to stave off mate. 23...kf7 loses to 24. rxb7+.
rnb1r1k1/1p1p1p1p/p2P2pQ/3p4/q4B2/P2B4/1PPK1PPP/R6R w - -	Qa4	fritz prefers qb6, but the position is getting very hard for black
R7/3n1pkp/p2P1qp1/4p3/Bp6/1P3P2/5BPP/5RK1 b - -	Bf2, Qf6, Ra8	black shouldn't fall for another pin =x d6 is eerily safe..
8/5Q2/8/1K6/8/8/1P3p2/6k1 w - -	f2	43. .... f2 - now then. interestingly enough, if it hadn't been for my passer on b2 the game would have been a draw due to the fact that i would have to either allow that pawn to crown or stalemate the bk. thankfully as i have that b pawn i can now sacrifice glenda for the f2 pawn and then crown the b2 pawn.
r5k1/4pp1p/3n2p1/q1pP4/5B2/5QPP/Pb3PK1/1R6 w - -	Bxb2	when the white rook takes the bishop, it will guard a2.
7r/1b2q1k1/p4pPp/Pp6/2pPp2R/6RP/1P2Q1P1/6K1 w - -	Rh8	black has the opportunity to regain some initiative by allowing white to play the anticipated 41.qh5 and then mustering a defense. better is 40....f5 (providing pawn supprt and creating a discovered attack against white's h4 r) 41.rf4 rf8 42.rf3 (taking advantage of the pinned e-pawn) qd7 (removes the pin foring white to move the f3 r) 43.rg3 qd6 44.qe3 rf6
8/p5k1/2P4p/6p1/6P1/5P1K/3Q4/6q1 b - -	Qg1+, Kh3	i prefered the white queen on g2 so that if black's queen came back to attack the c pawn, it coud do on c7 and being protected.
r2qkb1r/1p3ppb/2pppn1p/pPP5/3PP3/P1NQBNP1/5P1P/R3K2R b KQkq -	c5, a5, b5	his little rook trap is now gone, i push knowing that i'll end up with a nice little knight outpost and a possible king/rook fork if he's not paying attention...
r1bqkbnr/pp3ppp/2n5/2ppp3/8/1P2P1P1/PBPP1P1P/RN1QKBNR w KQkq d6	d5	this applies further pressure on the centre and opens the diagonal for my lsb. the disadvantage of this position is that it is tricky to get my dsb to a good diagonal, it is however supporting the c5 pawn should it be needed
3r1k2/3P4/p1B5/3R3p/P5p1/8/5PPK/1q6 w - -	Kh2, g4	uh, this was the big follow up to 37...qb1 ? i guess i still don't see the point of this line. except that it sets a trap for white if he should take the h pawn.
1rbbr3/1p4k1/p1p3pp/2P1ppn1/1P2P3/4N1P1/P2N1PBP/R2R2K1 b - -	Ng5, e4, c6, Ne3	my broad strategy now is to try to keep black as confined as i can, he has the advantage of the bishop pair but my knights are centralised and quite mobile, i also have the f file and i think i can make more use of it
2r2rk1/1p3pbp/6p1/p7/2BB1P2/1P6/b1PR2PP/2K4R b - -	Bd4	! blocking the dark-squared bishop's path to the b2 square, and allowing the king to get in there. note the contrast between the positional power of the white bishops after this move vs. after black's 14th.
r2q1rk1/4bppp/p1n2n2/1p2p3/4P1b1/2NBB3/PPPQN2P/2KR2R1 b - -	Rhg1	bringing the rook onto the open g file, this is the start of white's attack, now the bishop on e3 starts to have some options
r2qkbnr/pppn1ppp/3p4/4N3/2B1P1b1/2N5/PPPP1PPP/R1BQK2R b KQkq -	Nxe5	setting the trap. if he captures with his knight then i have a problem because his bishop is protected. leave a tempting sacrifice. will he accept?
4rrk1/2p2ppp/p7/1p6/3P2Pb/1BP4Q/PP1BK1P1/RN5q w - -	Rae8+	"as it is important for black to avoid exchanging queens he is now compelled to drive the king to c2 and presently also his rooks are on the wrong side of the board." capablanca.
8/2k1n3/4B3/B3K3/8/8/8/8 b - -	Be6, Ke8, Kf6, Kd8, Ke5, Kc7, Ba5+	black's king can't get closer to the center with kc6 because i play bd8 and then black's knight is forced away from the king.
r1bqkb1r/1p3ppp/p2p1n2/4p3/4P3/2N1BP2/PPPQ2PP/R3KB1R b KQkq -	f3	? i do not know why he played this, but this should cause problems. now he has opened his king, and it is no longer safe to castle kingside, without exposing it. on the other hand, castling queenside should also leave his king open, but he has no choice now. if he does not castle, his king will also remain exposed. therefore, i now feel that i have a big edge.
rnbqkb1r/pp3ppp/4pn2/2pP4/3P4/4PN2/PP3PPP/RNBQKB1R b KQkq -	cxd5	this move gives the f1 bishop alot of room to move, and takes a centre pawn for a side pawn.
r1bqr1k1/pp3ppp/2np4/8/4P3/B1PP1n2/P1PQB1PP/R4RK1 w - -	Nxf3+	black trades a piece, i presume in fear of 13. d4. maybe 12. ...d5 or something else would have been better.
1r2k2r/2p1qpp1/p1pb4/4p2p/3P2b1/2P2N1P/P1P2PP1/R1BQR1K1 w k -	Qe7	adding an extra defender to his e5. the only problem is that it leaves reuben vulnerable to a pin. for those that are wondering, i won't use analyze the board, as much. in fact, it temporarily stop soon, but this will be substituted for visualization which is how i also find the right moves. and, as you might have guessed, visualizing this outside (afk) is an equivalent to playing blindfolded chess. for those that are wondering, i learned how to do this from gm susan polgar, in her video, "my genius brain." it shows how she does this which is by picturing chess positions in her brain. in fact, she defeated an opponent who challenged her from visualization. the only difference is that she can picture hundreds of positions, whereas, the max i can do is 5 or 6. but, this is the main way, that i have surpassed a 1300 rating.
r1b1k1nr/ppp1qppp/2nb4/1B1pp3/8/1P2PN2/PBPP1PPP/RN1QK2R w KQkq -	Qe7	defending the e-pawn and looking at a3. i think 5...f6 might be better here.
3r2k1/p2r2pp/1b3p2/1P6/3p4/6BP/1P3PP1/R2R2K1 b - -	Nxe5, Nxe5, Bxe5, f6, Bg3	now material is level again at last. white has blockaded doubled pawns and black has a passed pawn, so black looks better, but the d-pawn will not be easy to advance now that it is isolated.
4k3/6p1/5p1p/B4P1b/5K2/8/2P5/8 w - -	Bxh5	just like that the game already feels over. i really felt over when he moved his bishop on f3. it was probably over sooner.
2kr1r2/7R/p1p1p1P1/q1p3b1/3P4/2N5/PPP2P2/R2QK3 w Q -	Rxh7, Bxg5	my last kingside pawn is captured by rook at h7 and i move my db out to g5.
r4r2/1p1bbpkN/nq2pnp1/1N1pB3/P2P4/3B1Q2/1PP2PPP/R4RK1 b - -	Nxh7	wins a second pawn, and crushes the opponent. you can see that when you play good positionally, the tactics just flow out of a position. when most players rated about b uscf play, so many games that last 4+ hours end up totally drawn, or a win for one side in the final stage of the endgame. these positions are usually closed or static. it proves the club players do not know how to plan very well or have a great positional understanding either. it is true: most modern club players are weak positionally, and the key to improvement is an increase in the understanding of chess. when one has a better positional understanding, the need to calculate so many variations goes down. a simple realization of a plan in the middlegame in static or closed positions can lead to a clear advantage in just a couple of moves, by the way. the better understanding you have of chess, the easier it is to find good plans. it is the truth. anyways, this game is not really much planning, since i won material by move 9, but it is still very important.
8/8/3k3p/p2p2pP/P2K2P1/8/8/8 w - -	g6, h5, g5, a3, a6, a4, a5	and white has to move his king, so he resigned. he actually thought that he would not be able to stop the d-pawn. he is able to: 45.kd3 kc5 46.kc3 d4+ 47.kd3 kd5 48.kd2 kc4 49.kc2 d3+ 50.kd2 kd4 51.kd1 ke3 52.kc1 d2+ 53.kd1, but then black creates two passed pawns on the kingside after 53...kf4, ...kg4xh4xg5, which will decide the game. an instructive game to show how one pawn can make the difference. i think white actually played a good game considering his rating, but one early tactical mistake cost him.
2n2b1r/2QR1ppp/k1p1q3/1N2P3/8/6P1/PPP2PBP/2K4R b - -	Nc8, Qc7+, Ka6, Rxd7	the knight will fall, but a rook planted on d7 (not to mention the bishop that used to be there) is more than enough compensation.

rnb1k2r/1p2b1pp/p5n1/3p4/2q5/2NNB3/PPPKQ1PP/R6R b - -

Kd2

game over, surely the only move was bg5 here? alternative variation: 17. bg5 [was white's bes try but he's still losing.] bg4 18. qd2 rf8 [with a good game for black.]

r2qk3/p1bnBp2/4p3/1B2P3/Q2P4/8/5P1r/RN2K1R1 b Qq -

Bxe7

if taken by the queen, follows rg8+, and the queen is lost.

5knr/7p/1r1bPp2/p1pP1N2/BnP5/6P1/1P6/2BR1K1R w - -

Bd6

analysis prefers h5 here, i was tempted to exchange with nxd6 but i liked that the black king was trapped.

r4r1k/p6p/1p1qp1p1/1Pp5/2PbQ3/P2NnP2/R3B1PP/4K2R w - -

Ne3

the knight returns to this menacing outpost, forking g2 and c4. my knight and bishop are unassailable right now, and white would dearly love to be rid of them.

r4rk1/pp4pp/2p2b2/1B2np2/5B2/8/PPP2PPP/2KR3R w - -

c6

as for me i liked his queen side castle, kind simplifies my plan into doing a queen side pawn push

1r1r2k1/1bq2pb1/pnn1p1p1/4P3/1Pp1B1Q1/2P2NP1/1B1N1P2/R3R1K1 b - -

c3, Bf8, h5, Bg7, hxg6, hxg6, b4

! on one hand, this move is easy to understand. white wants to keep the queenside closed, because that is where black’s pieces are massed. but on the other hand, mike is giving away a pawn. in reality he had committed himself to sacrificing the e5-pawn as soon as he played 22. c3. mike’s comment on this move at the chess party was totally characteristic of him. why did he play this move? “i’m winning the endgame!” he said. on the one hand, this is totally nuts. black has lots of chances after this to equalize or even stand better. on the other hand, it’s so mike. remember the mike splane question: “how am i going to win this game?” he asks it in almost every game, whether his position is better or worse. here, how he is going to win the game is very simple. he’s going to win black’s two weak queenside pawns, at c4 and a6, and then he’s going to run his connected passers to paydirt. the deeper lesson here is that the “objective evaluation” or “computer evaluation” doesn’t always matter in a contest between humans. if you have a plan and your opponent doesn’t, you’re winning. also it doesn’t hurt to have a ghost named george helping you!

rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/2p5/3p4/2PP4/8/PP2PPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq -

c6

entriamo nel slava, generalmente considerata una solida apertura per il nero. il bianco spesso sviluppa con più facilità e spera di creare punti deboli sul lato di donna, ma il nero è in grado di espandersi con a6, dxc4, b5, c5 (come si vede nel gioco). carlsen tentò di giocare la slava alle in olimpiadi di quest'anno, ma prima di allora, non aveva giocato l'apertura dal 2014. a questo punto è facile pensare che il team del russo avesse preparato questa apertura per prendere in contropiede magnus. cosa però che non si è realizzata.

r6k/3bqBp1/7p/p3pP1P/3pP3/6R1/1pPQ4/2K3R1 w - -

axb2+

by this time i am feeling pretty good at the sacrifice of a rook. i have an opening attacking the king that i feel i can sustain.

rnb2k1r/ppp2p2/1q3N2/8/4BQ2/2NP3p/PPP1P1p1/R1B4K w - -

g2+

white must play 20. bxg2 and after 20. ..., hxg2+, 21. kxg2, try to work up his own attack on the black king. ( although after 21. ..., bh3+, 22. kf3, qg1 there are some tactics for both sides. it looks too hard to follow in a blitz game for me. )

r4rk1/p5pp/1p1p2q1/3Np1b1/2PpPnP1/B7/P1B4P/R2Q1RK1 w - -

fxg4, Nf4

white takes my lb at g4 and this now means my knight is under attack at h5 so i move my knight away from the pawn's grasp to f4.

r2r2k1/1p2q2p/p1p1b1p1/2b1pp2/P1P5/2NBPP2/4Q1PP/2RR2K1 w - -

Bc5

played anyways. the bishop cannot be kicked from c5 and the weakness on e3 will not be going anywhere without creating further weaknesses.

rnq1r1k1/pp1b1p1p/3R2p1/8/4P3/2Q1BP2/PP4PP/2K2B1R w - -

Nd6, Bf8, Qc3, Bxd6, Rxd6, Qc8

18. ...... qc8 - i see old matey's shadow descend on g7. white's dsb could go to h6 next move trapping henry on g8 with the wicked witch dealing the death blow next move after that. so glenda pins her and at the same time makes frere leblanc a free man.

3rr1k1/pp4pb/2p4p/7q/4pPn1/P1P1R1P1/2P2BBP/R5QK b - -

Qg1

again, white could have played bg1 here, (unless i'm missing something). this is playable though uncomfortable for white as all of his pieces are tied to defense.

rnb1kbnr/pp2pppp/2p5/1N1p4/1qPP4/8/PP1BPPPP/R2QKBNR b KQkq -

Nb5

forces the taking of either the b, or c pawn. in this situation taking the b2 pawn is the best decision. however the fork on c7 will still occur.

rnb1k2r/ppp2ppp/4pq2/3p4/1b6/1PN1P3/P1PPNPPP/R2QKB1R b KQkq -

Nge2

...to defend it with the other knight. i find this move weak since both the bishop and queen will be stuck since the knight is blocking them.

4r1k1/p1b2ppp/1pbr1q2/2p1p3/2PpP3/3P1N1P/PPQN1PP1/3RR1K1 w - -

Rd6

the second part of black's plan is set in motion. the rook is now ready to spring into action as soon as the queen gets out of the way; the two key squares of d7 and d8 are also freed up for the bishops' convenience.

r2r2k1/pp2qppp/1npb1n2/4pb2/1P6/PQN1PN2/1B1PBPPP/R4RK1 w - -

Rfd8

i choice this rook for the d column, keeping the chance of play a5, if i need active my queenside.

r1b2r2/pp1q1Pbk/3p1np1/2p1n1B1/2BQPP2/2N5/PPP3PP/R4RK1 w - c6

f4, c5

a brute force attack, and a little counter attack. the queen has to move! and she will be unable to cover the bishop on c4, so f7 will ultimately fall :) (together with the bishop an c4!) i think this move would have been possible even sooner. but somehow i did not see it...

r1bqk2r/p5pp/2p5/n1b1pp2/6n1/3B2N1/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq -

Bc5

attacking the f2 square twice forcing him to castle however...

r1bqk2r/1pp2ppp/p1np1n2/2b1p3/2B1P3/2NP1N2/PPP2PPP/R1BQ1RK1 w kq -

d6, d3, a6

6. ....... a6 - preparing a b5 possibility. i do get in this pawn break but it leaves my c6 pawn backward and weak.

1rb2rk1/1q1nbppp/p2pp2P/2p3P1/4PP2/2N1BQ2/PPP5/2KR1B1R w - -

h6, Qb7

!!!blunder!!! the only reason my attack will succeed is this move. he only move was g6 to keep himself from my fullscale invasion.

r1b1k1nr/pp2ppbp/2np2p1/8/1q2P3/1NN1B3/PPPQ1PPP/R3KB1R w KQkq -

Qb4

this was an error.. i think qd8 was much safer.. he was then forced to exchange queens on my next move.. not 9.a3!? bxc3!, if 10.bxc3 qxe4 and if 10. qxc3 qxc3 11.bxc3 and black would be in a good shape because of white's doubled pawns on the c-file.. or if 10. axb4 bxd2 11. bxd2 nf6 12. bc3 e5! and black would equalize with a strong center and good attacking chances..

6K1/4R3/5qk1/8/6b1/4R3/8/8 b - -

Re1e3

after r1e5, bf3 threatens bd5 and the bishop is invincible since the rooks have to defend each other. after r1e4, bd1 threatens bb3 and once again, the bishop is invincible since one rook defends against qg7# while the other rook defends against qxe7, black will win a rook if white takes the bishop. the text move doesn't allow the bishop check maneuver since it threatens rg3 if the bishop moves.

rn2kb1r/pB3ppp/8/8/8/8/PqP2PPP/RN1QK1NR w KQkq -

Qxb2

!! therefore, i capture his b2 pawn and will win his a1 rook. this is the most unusual position that i have seen, in all the years that i have been playing chess.

rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/8/3p4/3P4/2N4P/PPP1PPP1/R1BQKBNR b KQkq -

h3

this a non-developing move. as well as e4, i would say bf4 or nf3 were both better

r1b2rk1/pp1n1ppp/2p1p3/2bnP3/5P2/1PNR1N2/PBP1B1PP/2R4K w - -

Kh1, Ne3, Rc1, Nd5

black's knight is trying to harass white's position and vaguely threaten it. white has had enough and wants to free up his well-positioned bishop on b2.

r1bqk2r/pp1p1pbp/2n1pnp1/2p5/2B1P3/3P1Q1N/PPPN1PPP/R1B1K2R w KQkq -

Nd2, Nf6

black is free anytime he wants to play d5. traditional logic is that d5 expands the black center with a gain of tempo, but is it really? after d5, white moves the bishop (either to b3 or to b5), but didn't he want to anyway? by white making a move he wanted to make, the effect of the so called gain is negligible.

rnb2rk1/1p2b1pp/p2qp3/5p2/2BP1B2/2P2N2/PP2Q1PP/R4RK1 b - -

Qd6, Bf4

black defends the pawn on e6, so white attacks the defender. the white bishop on f4 is free for the taking, but then the pawn on e6 falls, followed by the bishop on e7, and white ends up a pawn ahead.

r1bqkb1r/ppp2ppp/2pn4/4N3/3P4/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQ1RK1 b kq -

Nxe5

white deviates.the main line is 7.dxe5 nf5 8.qxd8+ kxd8 9.nc3 where black has 9...ke8 9...h6 or 9...ne7!?.white has a slight edge because of black's king,but black's two bishops give him compensation.

r3k2r/ppp2ppp/2nq4/3B4/3pP3/5P1P/PPPQ1P2/R3K2R b KQkq -

Nxd5, Bxd5, Bd6, Bxd6, Qxd6, Qd2

prepare queenside castel and watch f4 and d4. f4 is an ugly hole.

rnbqkbnr/pp1ppppp/8/2p5/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKB1R b KQkq -

Nf3

this is one of the main lines of the sicilian defense.. the knight is in a good position as it controls the e5 square and supports the thrust of the d-pawn on d4.. now i could have played d4 at this point but i wanted to play it safe so i opted to play nf3 instead..

r1b1k2r/p1pnqppp/2p5/2b1P1B1/3pP3/3P1N2/PPP3PP/RN1Q1RK1 b kq -

Bg5

and so i decide to attack the queen. and ill get a pawn for that pawn. as i had atleast planned he would take 1 more material with his death

r2q1rk1/pp1b1pbp/3p1np1/2pPp1B1/n1P1P3/2N2N2/PPBQ1PPP/2KR3R b - -

Bc2

?! they're calling this an inaccuracy because black now gets a slight initiative with his next move. that, in return forces our next move to prevent the loss of a piece. what this means, which i agree with is that his na4 is the weak n since it's on our rim. whereas, our nc3 was better placed, and thus, the strong n. so, this exchange winds up hurting our position. after that, black penguin_ maintains his advantage after 13...b5 since fritz also agrees with this.

r1b1kb1r/p2nqp1p/2pp2p1/8/5P2/2N1B3/PPP3PP/R2QKB1R w KQkq -

Nc6, Nxc6, bxc6, e5, Nd7, exd6, exd6, Be3, Qe7

10....be7 is the correct move , maybe black wishes to not showing white where the black bishop will move , but he's must recole that it has aweak pawn on d6.

2r2r1k/pb3p1p/1pp5/2n2p2/7P/1PR1P1P1/P3NPB1/2R3K1 b - -

Bxc3, Rxc3, Rac8, Rbc1

i really have to wonder why not b4? two defenders, two attackers. tie goes to the defender.

r2q1rk1/3n1pbp/b1p1p1p1/p1p1P3/P1P5/1P3N1P/3NQPP1/R1B2RK1 b - -

dxc4

we are even with material but black still has a doubled pawn and less controlled space.

rn1q1rk1/ppp1bppp/1n1pp3/4P3/2PP4/2N1Bb2/PP2BPPP/R2Q1RK1 w - -

Nb6, Nc3, Be3, Bxf3

i'm unaware to how the line is supposed to be played out. capturing on f3 seems like it was too soon, perhaps nc6 would have been better. the bishop pair side by side seems to be more formidable than having the knight on f3

4n3/1p6/1Pp1k3/2K5/4P3/8/4r3/5R2 w - -

Rb2, Kc5, Re2, Rf1+, Ke6, b6, c6

naturally not 47... pxp? 48 kxp threatening my final pawn.

7k/pp1b2pp/2pn4/4p3/3PP1n1/PQNBb1PK/1P2Nr1P/8 w - -

Kh8

but after my king move white resigns as there is no defence to rxh2++ 0 -1 thank for looking.

r3k2r/5p1p/p1pbq1p1/3bP3/5B2/3B2P1/2PK3P/QR6 b kq -

Ke2, Bxb4, e5, Qe6, Qa1, Bd5, Rb1, Bd6, Kd2

white has succeeded in driving black's attack away, and his pawn structure looks reasonable. materially disadvantaged, he is putting up a warrior's battle.

r5k1/3n1ppp/p3pn2/Pp5q/8/BP2P1P1/4QP1K/R7 w - -

Qxe2, Qh5+

white played the only move that didn't lose material, and black finally plays the move he should have played 5 moves ago.

rnbqk2r/p1pp1ppp/1p2pn2/8/2PP4/P4N2/1P1QPPPP/R1B1KB1R b KQkq -

b6, a3, Bxd2+, Qxd2

good or bad? black will gain a tempo when he plays ne4, but this is all well known theory, and white still has a good center and chances on the q-side.

r1bqkb1r/2pp1ppp/p1n2n2/1p2p3/B3P3/3P1N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq b6

b5

it is probably better to attack white's center with 5...d5, but i wasn't sure i liked the line: 5...d5 6. exd5 qxd5 (...nxd5 will drop the e pawn after the trade on c6) 7. bxc6 bxc6 8. nc3 the text forces white's bishop onto a nice diagonal, but i will try to deal with that shortly.

5rk1/5p2/Q5p1/3P4/8/6R1/2q3PP/1r3R1K b - -

Rb1, Qxa6

32. qxa6 - glenda removes the final passer on the queenside. i am now up in material and at least i have a potential glenda 2 on the d column. but will that potential be realised? we shall see. note that that capture on a6 was only possible because glenda (known as glenda the defender), poor put upon lady, defends the rook on f1.

r1bqkb1r/3n1ppp/p1p1p3/1pNpN3/3P1P2/2P5/PP3PPP/R2QKB1R b KQkq -

Nc5

two knights front attack, but note that there is +1 for the black, 11. nc4xn d4xc5 12 bc4x..

r1bq1rk1/pppnn1bp/3p4/3PppN1/2P5/2N5/PPQ1BPPP/R1B2RK1 b - -

Ng5

the white knight eyes e6. it is a standard white tactic to play ne6 forcing the c1 bishop (who was born to sacrifice itself on h3) to take the knight. after exd6 the white pawn on d6 is probably lost, but it takes time for black to win it; and meanwhile white is attacking on the queenside.

rnb1nrk1/1p5p/p3p1p1/2pP1p2/2Pq4/2NBB2P/PPQ3P1/4RRK1 b - -

Be3

my bishop drops back, attacking his queen. just look at the position! black is a pawn up, but his only piece in play is his queen, which is vulnerable to attack. at the time i knew i had adequate compensation. fritz confirms this, and give white as over plus 2 now.

6nr/4bpkp/q2p2p1/8/4P3/5N2/3P1PPP/2RQ1RK1 b - -

Bc4, Bxc4, Rxc4, Qb1+, Qd1, Qxa2, Rc8+, Kg7, Qa6, Rc1

qc1 seems like a better idea. so long as the white rook remains on black's 8th rank the knight is pinned (against a rook swap), and white can pour more power onto the black side of the board.

rnbqkb1r/1p2pppp/p2p1n2/6B1/3NP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R2QKB1R b KQkq -

Bg5

and white adopts the old-fashioned approach which i've been playing myself recently. as others have commented, the english attack (featuring be3 and f3) is now the main line. once again i shall refer extensively to john nunn's book "the complete najdorf: 6 bg5".

1r4k1/p1q3pp/8/2p1bp2/2b2B2/2P5/PP1QN1PP/R5K1 b - -

Bf4

he challenges my bishop. my advantage is minimal now! i was planning on taking on e2 now, but then i saw he has qd5+ and all lines seem to be better for white.

r2qk2r/pp2bppp/2n1pn2/1B1p2B1/3P4/2N2Q2/PPP2PPP/R3K2R w KQkq -

Qxf3, Be7

well that wasn't too hard to see. he's a subtle player who doesn't leave gaps like that. i think for a while about whether that queenside gap on his side would serve me best on the b or c collumn. ultimately, this move helped undue me, so looking back i put a ? beside it on my score card. but i decided that a gap on the b collumn would leave an isolated pawn he would have to work to defend.

r1b2rk1/p1q2pbp/1pnppnp1/6N1/1PBP4/1QP4P/P2N1PPB/R3K2R w KQ -

e6

a partire da questa mossa, diventa complicatissimo valutare in ogni mossa successiva l'opportunit� di axe6, f7xe6, cxe6, axe6 (obbligata per la doppietta torre-donna), dxe6 , seguita da axe6. la domanda �: c'� sufficiente compensazione per il pezzo sacrificato? sembrerebbe di s�, ma chi � pi� bravo me lo dica...

rnbqk2r/4bppp/p2ppn2/1p6/3NP3/1BN1B3/PPP2PPP/R2Q1RK1 b kq -

Be3

just getting my pieces out. this move is extremely unpopular in both the world and gameknot databases. the favored move, 9. qf3 was quickly discarded by me in the game, for i worried about 9...e5, but that move would only saddle black with a backward d-pawn. still, this move is slightly passive and white has better. ?!

r1bqkb1r/pp1p1ppp/2n2n2/4p3/3NP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq e6

Nf6, Nc3, e5

one of the important considerations black has in the sicilian is when to play e5. i believe that based upon play to this point it is the top play here, but some love g3 to go to the dragon variation...

2rq1rk1/p4ppp/1pn5/2bNPp2/1PP5/P7/3Q1BPP/R3R1K1 b - b3

b4

on the other hand, 20.ne3 is the only move that i would've considered here. as i would not feel comfortable exchanging b's, which topalov will now be forced to do here.

1n2q1k1/rb3pbp/pN1p1np1/2pP4/2B5/5N1P/PP3PP1/R1BQ2K1 b - -

Bc4

now the d pawn is secured but i do not like the position at all for black controls the open file, the long black diagonal and the center (not directly but with his f knight, queen and c and d pawns). luckily for white his other pieces are blocked.

2kr3r/1pp1n1pp/p2bbp2/2p5/4PB2/2N5/PPPRNPPP/R5K1 w - -

Rd2, Ne7

12. ........ ne7 - white is preparing to double rooks on the d file so i now develop my queen knight and connect my rooks.

1n6/4Bk1p/1p3P2/2pP1p2/2P2K1P/1P3P2/8/8 b - -

Kf7, Be7, b6, Ke3, Nb8, Kf4

f5 cannot be defended, since 38...ng6 follows 39.h5+ and then pawn in f6 will crown.

r1bqk2r/pppp1pp1/2n4p/4p3/2B1P3/2NP1N2/PPP2KPP/R1BQ4 w kq -

h6

we are now out of the gameknot database. this is to cover g5 which is being pressed by my knight and my dsb

rn1qk2r/1b3pp1/p3pb1p/1p1p4/3N1PP1/2NBBQ2/PPP4P/R3K2R w KQkq -

Bb7

black has no way of shifting the white pieces from d4, so this move is pretty pointless. possibly better is nd7, discouraging any further pawn pushes on white's kingside (specifically the f pawn, or anything defended by the f pawn).

r5k1/1ppb2p1/p1nppr1p/8/8/N1PB1N1P/PP1Q2P1/R6K w - -

Nf3, Rf6

at first, i wasn't sure why this was played, but now it makes perfect sense. and, with that being said, i also would've moved here because joe intends to and will double up, on his next move.

6k1/pppn2p1/3p4/3P2q1/2P1R3/P1B5/1P3rBK/8 w - -

Re1, Qxg5, Rxe4, Rf2

how will white defend g2 now? i spotted this when proposing the r exchange. (thanks "my favourite tactic trainer, i owe you one!")

r1b1k1nr/ppp2ppp/2np1q2/2b1p1B1/4P3/3P1NP1/PPP1QP1P/RN2KB1R b KQkq -

Bg5

i move my db to g5 attacking the queen on f6. my db is protected by f3 knight.

8/6kp/1p1rp1p1/8/2Pbn3/PP1N4/2K3PP/5R2 b - -

a3

sì, in effetti a3 è l'unica mossa che segua un piano. ho valutato la possibilità di rompere le scatole al cavallo nero con la torre, ma temo che servirebbe solo a portarlo in c3 o c5, dove probabilmente intende andare, e a distrarre la mia torre dal compito di tenere il re nero fuori dai giochi. che cosa mi aspetto? cc3 o cc5 per ora non servono, e si possono fare dopo. e5? o una spinta dei pedoni g e h? tanto per alzare il fön su questa calma piatta.

r5k1/1q2r1p1/2n1ppP1/4P3/1b6/p2R4/5PPQ/3R2K1 b - -

f6, g6

declining the pawn was wise. neither i nor white saw the resulting force mate. white was still inconceivably (to me) eying the black queen.

r4r1k/p1qn2pp/2p2pn1/1p6/3PP2N/2P3PQ/P4P1P/R1B2RK1 b - -

Nd7, Nh4

clearing the path for the f-pawn if needed and getting rid of the pesky defender

r3r1k1/pp3ppp/1n6/4n3/2bq4/P3P1NP/3B1PPN/R3K2R w KQ -

Qd4, Qxd4

white seemed to find an escape, but black has a winning combo now. i have to admit, at this point i only thought i would win the bishop on d2.

r1b2rk1/ppp3p1/3p1q1p/3Pp3/2P1Bp2/P2Q2P1/1P2PP1P/3R1RK1 b - -

f4, Be4

truth be told i simply overreacted to to the possibility of bf5, but this was nothing to worry about. best was probably just to push b4 in order to get some counter-play on the queen-side which we will see later on.

2r1rbk1/6n1/1p1p1nq1/1NPPp2p/2P1Ppp1/5P2/3B2PP/2RQRNK1 b - -

g4, bxc5

27. bxc5 - as the f3 pawn is adequately defended i continue to give my pieces some air on the queenside with the possibility of winning either the d pawn or the b pawn depending which pawn takes on c5.

r1bqk1nr/pppp1ppp/1b6/1B2p3/3PP3/2P5/PP3PPP/RNBQ1RK1 b kq d3

Bc5, Nd4, Nxd4, Bxd4, c3, Bb6, d4

7. d4 - after a pair of knights has been exchanged i now challenge the centre with d4 and i am preparing to develop my queenside.

3Rr1kr/pq5p/1p3Qp1/4P3/P1p5/8/2P2PPP/5RK1 b - -

Re8, Qf6+, Kg8, Rd8

black resigns; he will lose a queen for a rook. notice his h8 rook, and how useless it is. by not castling, this is what happened. the game would likely end with rxd8 qxd8+ kg7 qf6+ kg8 rd1 with rd8+ winning.

2q1r1k1/p2bppbp/3p2p1/1p1N2Pn/4P2P/1PPQBP2/r2N4/1K1R3R b - -

c3

a good defensive try. white actually threatens to take the rook now. black must be careful not to let the rook get trapped.

r1b2rk1/2ppqpp1/p6p/1pb1p3/4P3/1B1P1N2/PPPQ1PPP/R3R1K1 b - -

Nxe7+, Qxe7, Rfe1

this was very stupid because of bb4 but there is always c3 then.

r1B1kb1Q/pp2q2p/6p1/5p2/8/5N2/P1PN1PPP/1R2R1K1 w - -

Qe7

this looks like a blunder but this is the best way to stave off mate. 23...kf7 loses to 24. rxb7+.

rnb1r1k1/1p1p1p1p/p2P2pQ/3p4/q4B2/P2B4/1PPK1PPP/R6R w - -

Qa4

fritz prefers qb6, but the position is getting very hard for black

R7/3n1pkp/p2P1qp1/4p3/Bp6/1P3P2/5BPP/5RK1 b - -

Bf2, Qf6, Ra8

black shouldn't fall for another pin =x d6 is eerily safe..

8/5Q2/8/1K6/8/8/1P3p2/6k1 w - -

f2

43. .... f2 - now then. interestingly enough, if it hadn't been for my passer on b2 the game would have been a draw due to the fact that i would have to either allow that pawn to crown or stalemate the bk. thankfully as i have that b pawn i can now sacrifice glenda for the f2 pawn and then crown the b2 pawn.

r5k1/4pp1p/3n2p1/q1pP4/5B2/5QPP/Pb3PK1/1R6 w - -

Bxb2

when the white rook takes the bishop, it will guard a2.

7r/1b2q1k1/p4pPp/Pp6/2pPp2R/6RP/1P2Q1P1/6K1 w - -

Rh8

black has the opportunity to regain some initiative by allowing white to play the anticipated 41.qh5 and then mustering a defense. better is 40....f5 (providing pawn supprt and creating a discovered attack against white's h4 r) 41.rf4 rf8 42.rf3 (taking advantage of the pinned e-pawn) qd7 (removes the pin foring white to move the f3 r) 43.rg3 qd6 44.qe3 rf6

8/p5k1/2P4p/6p1/6P1/5P1K/3Q4/6q1 b - -

Qg1+, Kh3

i prefered the white queen on g2 so that if black's queen came back to attack the c pawn, it coud do on c7 and being protected.

r2qkb1r/1p3ppb/2pppn1p/pPP5/3PP3/P1NQBNP1/5P1P/R3K2R b KQkq -

c5, a5, b5

his little rook trap is now gone, i push knowing that i'll end up with a nice little knight outpost and a possible king/rook fork if he's not paying attention...

r1bqkbnr/pp3ppp/2n5/2ppp3/8/1P2P1P1/PBPP1P1P/RN1QKBNR w KQkq d6

d5

this applies further pressure on the centre and opens the diagonal for my lsb. the disadvantage of this position is that it is tricky to get my dsb to a good diagonal, it is however supporting the c5 pawn should it be needed

3r1k2/3P4/p1B5/3R3p/P5p1/8/5PPK/1q6 w - -

Kh2, g4

uh, this was the big follow up to 37...qb1 ? i guess i still don't see the point of this line. except that it sets a trap for white if he should take the h pawn.

1rbbr3/1p4k1/p1p3pp/2P1ppn1/1P2P3/4N1P1/P2N1PBP/R2R2K1 b - -

Ng5, e4, c6, Ne3

my broad strategy now is to try to keep black as confined as i can, he has the advantage of the bishop pair but my knights are centralised and quite mobile, i also have the f file and i think i can make more use of it

2r2rk1/1p3pbp/6p1/p7/2BB1P2/1P6/b1PR2PP/2K4R b - -

Bd4

! blocking the dark-squared bishop's path to the b2 square, and allowing the king to get in there. note the contrast between the positional power of the white bishops after this move vs. after black's 14th.

r2q1rk1/4bppp/p1n2n2/1p2p3/4P1b1/2NBB3/PPPQN2P/2KR2R1 b - -

Rhg1

bringing the rook onto the open g file, this is the start of white's attack, now the bishop on e3 starts to have some options

r2qkbnr/pppn1ppp/3p4/4N3/2B1P1b1/2N5/PPPP1PPP/R1BQK2R b KQkq -

Nxe5

setting the trap. if he captures with his knight then i have a problem because his bishop is protected. leave a tempting sacrifice. will he accept?

4rrk1/2p2ppp/p7/1p6/3P2Pb/1BP4Q/PP1BK1P1/RN5q w - -

Rae8+

"as it is important for black to avoid exchanging queens he is now compelled to drive the king to c2 and presently also his rooks are on the wrong side of the board." capablanca.

8/2k1n3/4B3/B3K3/8/8/8/8 b - -

Be6, Ke8, Kf6, Kd8, Ke5, Kc7, Ba5+

black's king can't get closer to the center with kc6 because i play bd8 and then black's knight is forced away from the king.

r1bqkb1r/1p3ppp/p2p1n2/4p3/4P3/2N1BP2/PPPQ2PP/R3KB1R b KQkq -

f3

? i do not know why he played this, but this should cause problems. now he has opened his king, and it is no longer safe to castle kingside, without exposing it. on the other hand, castling queenside should also leave his king open, but he has no choice now. if he does not castle, his king will also remain exposed. therefore, i now feel that i have a big edge.

rnbqkb1r/pp3ppp/4pn2/2pP4/3P4/4PN2/PP3PPP/RNBQKB1R b KQkq -

cxd5

this move gives the f1 bishop alot of room to move, and takes a centre pawn for a side pawn.

r1bqr1k1/pp3ppp/2np4/8/4P3/B1PP1n2/P1PQB1PP/R4RK1 w - -

Nxf3+

black trades a piece, i presume in fear of 13. d4. maybe 12. ...d5 or something else would have been better.

1r2k2r/2p1qpp1/p1pb4/4p2p/3P2b1/2P2N1P/P1P2PP1/R1BQR1K1 w k -

Qe7

adding an extra defender to his e5. the only problem is that it leaves reuben vulnerable to a pin. for those that are wondering, i won't use analyze the board, as much. in fact, it temporarily stop soon, but this will be substituted for visualization which is how i also find the right moves. and, as you might have guessed, visualizing this outside (afk) is an equivalent to playing blindfolded chess. for those that are wondering, i learned how to do this from gm susan polgar, in her video, "my genius brain." it shows how she does this which is by picturing chess positions in her brain. in fact, she defeated an opponent who challenged her from visualization. the only difference is that she can picture hundreds of positions, whereas, the max i can do is 5 or 6. but, this is the main way, that i have surpassed a 1300 rating.

r1b1k1nr/ppp1qppp/2nb4/1B1pp3/8/1P2PN2/PBPP1PPP/RN1QK2R w KQkq -

Qe7

defending the e-pawn and looking at a3. i think 5...f6 might be better here.

3r2k1/p2r2pp/1b3p2/1P6/3p4/6BP/1P3PP1/R2R2K1 b - -

Nxe5, Nxe5, Bxe5, f6, Bg3

now material is level again at last. white has blockaded doubled pawns and black has a passed pawn, so black looks better, but the d-pawn will not be easy to advance now that it is isolated.

4k3/6p1/5p1p/B4P1b/5K2/8/2P5/8 w - -

Bxh5

just like that the game already feels over. i really felt over when he moved his bishop on f3. it was probably over sooner.

2kr1r2/7R/p1p1p1P1/q1p3b1/3P4/2N5/PPP2P2/R2QK3 w Q -

Rxh7, Bxg5

my last kingside pawn is captured by rook at h7 and i move my db out to g5.

r4r2/1p1bbpkN/nq2pnp1/1N1pB3/P2P4/3B1Q2/1PP2PPP/R4RK1 b - -

Nxh7

wins a second pawn, and crushes the opponent. you can see that when you play good positionally, the tactics just flow out of a position. when most players rated about b uscf play, so many games that last 4+ hours end up totally drawn, or a win for one side in the final stage of the endgame. these positions are usually closed or static. it proves the club players do not know how to plan very well or have a great positional understanding either. it is true: most modern club players are weak positionally, and the key to improvement is an increase in the understanding of chess. when one has a better positional understanding, the need to calculate so many variations goes down. a simple realization of a plan in the middlegame in static or closed positions can lead to a clear advantage in just a couple of moves, by the way. the better understanding you have of chess, the easier it is to find good plans. it is the truth. anyways, this game is not really much planning, since i won material by move 9, but it is still very important.

8/8/3k3p/p2p2pP/P2K2P1/8/8/8 w - -

g6, h5, g5, a3, a6, a4, a5

and white has to move his king, so he resigned. he actually thought that he would not be able to stop the d-pawn. he is able to: 45.kd3 kc5 46.kc3 d4+ 47.kd3 kd5 48.kd2 kc4 49.kc2 d3+ 50.kd2 kd4 51.kd1 ke3 52.kc1 d2+ 53.kd1, but then black creates two passed pawns on the kingside after 53...kf4, ...kg4xh4xg5, which will decide the game. an instructive game to show how one pawn can make the difference. i think white actually played a good game considering his rating, but one early tactical mistake cost him.

2n2b1r/2QR1ppp/k1p1q3/1N2P3/8/6P1/PPP2PBP/2K4R b - -

Nc8, Qc7+, Ka6, Rxd7

the knight will fall, but a rook planted on d7 (not to mention the bishop that used to be there) is more than enough compensation.