Reader's Games Analyzed

Hello everyone, John Woodbury has agreed to analyze some of our reader's games. Thanx John. Here is one of the games he did. If you would like to add your comments send them in. Or If you, too, would like to analyze games, or have your games analyzed by a volunteer, please email me. My address is: Webmaster Frank. This is a free service so be sure to tell your friends about it and about our great website. The players here are amateurs rated around 1500 and Mr. Woodbury was an Expert when he resided in the US. He now resides in China.

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[Event "Internet Game"]
[Site "Pogo.com"]
[Date "2007.04.08"]
[Round "-"]
[White "white"]
[Black "black"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 e6
2. Bc4

Here is the first slip, in this case by white. Knights before bishops old but true. Why is this not a good move? One it invites d5, and to Black’s + he found it, what went wrong then?

2. ... d5
3. exd5 exd5
4. Bb3

Worse is Bb5+ where the bishop is hanging or traded for the Queens bishop. Either way White has lost first move advantage. Black stands slightly better.

4. ...Nf6
5. Nf3 c5

At first shot this seems good, but better was Nc6 where a center battle starts after d4

6. Nc3 a6

With hopes of capturing the bishop? Development is lagging White stands better.

7. a4

Black needs aggressive action now to keep floating d4 comes to mind.

7. ...c4
8.Ba2 Bd6
9. O-O O-O
10. d3 Be6

The real disadvantage of the c4 comes out, white releases the bishop and slightly threatens to win the d pawn as well.

11. dxc4 dxc4
What else?

12. Ng5 Qc7

Better was 12. Bg5 where Black suffers a pin and finishes development. Black’s idea is good a direct King-side attack, but has not developed yet.

13. Nxe6 fxe6
14. Re1 Rd8

The move to destroy White’s king position fails. So now Black has given White a target.

15. Qe2 Bxh2+
16. Kf1 Bf4

The attack has ended.

17. Qxe6+ Kh8
18. Bxf4 Qxf4
19. Bxc4 Nc6

White is a pawn up and a heavy attack as well.

20. Rad1 Re8

One move attacks will not work here.

21. Qf7 Qh2
22. Rxe8+ Rxe8
23. Ne2 Qh1+
24. Ng1 Ne5
25. Qxe8+ Nxe8
26. Rd8 g6

Thanks to White’s miscarry Black has a slight freedom, Qh6 saves the game.

27. Rxe8+ Kg7
28. Rxe5 Qh2
29. Re7+ Kh6

Now White is far ahead and will win unless he blunders.

30. Rxb7 Qf4 31. Bd3 Qd2 32. Nf3 Qd1+ 33. Ne1 Qa1 34. b3 Qc3 35. Ra7 Kg5 36. Rxa6 h5 37. Re6 h4 38. Re3 Kh6 39. Rh3 g5 40. g3 Qc8 41. Rh2 Qg4 42. Be2 Qf5 43. gxh4 gxh4 44. Rxh4+ Kg5 45. Rh5+ Kf4 46. Rxf5+ Kxf5 47. Kg2 *