In this video lecture I discuss one of my recent wins. It touches on several chess technical issues such as playing against weaker opponents, opposite side castling, mistakes, dogma’s/knowledge versus unique positions, trade downs and more.
Download PGN-file
The most helpful part of this video for me is the reminder that no position is so good that it cannot become losing. To look at a position objectively, even if the preceeding moves garnered a great advantage, will help avoid giving away advantages that were acquired by so much work. I also appreciate the idea that every chess position is unique and that “knowledge” is not always the best database for move selection.
How would you have replied to Be3 after you played …,g6-g5?
Hi Pablo,
The bishop retreat to e3 removes it from it’s defensive function along the long diagonal towards b2!
So, any black knight move, opening up a mating threat to b2 with the Queen on b6 and the Bishop on g7 would come into very strong consideration.
After 18…Nxe4 White has Qb4 blocking the way to b2, so I would probably prefer:
18…Nd5
19.Bd4 Nc3+
20.Ka1 Nxd1
21.Bxg7 Qc4! (again threatening mate, on a2)
22.b3 Qxc2
23.Qxc2 Rxc2
24.Rxd1 Kxg7 winning
Also:
18…Nxg4
19.Bd4 Bxd4
20.Qxd4 Ne5 is good enough but 18…Nd5 is more convincing.
Greetings,
Waldemar
Many thanks Waldemar. That’s the kind of things I miss in my games. Thanks for so deeply annotated answer.
Take care,
Pablo.