[Event "2^ Torneo Sociale Open"]
[Site "Lentate Sul Seveso"]
[Date "2001.02.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "ChessPlus"]
[Black "Romano, Fabio"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[BlackElo "1786"]
[Annotator "ChessPlus, killerman"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2001.02.08"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 {This game is one of my very first OTB chess tourneys. I
studied a bit the Nf3 opening, and tried early to diverge from the Reti schema.
} 2... Nf6 3. Nc3 {This move has been quickly taken out of my repertoire, as I
here now usually play Bf4. Killerman: This move is actually OK it is your next
move that gives me cause for concern.} 3... g6 4. e3 $146 {Blocking my own B.
This move is now played after displacing the B to f4, usually. I agree that
this is not ideal} ({Killerman:} 4. Bf4 4... Bg7 5. e3 (5. Qd2 Ne4 6. Nxe4 dxe4
7. Ne5 Be6 8. e3 Nd7 9. Nc4 O-O 10. Be2 Bxc4 11. Bxc4 e5 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Bb3
13... a5 {Jussupow-Kasparov Belfort 1988}) 5... c6 (5... O-O 6. Be2 c5 7. dxc5
Qa5 8. Nd2 Qxc5 9. Nb3 Qb6 10. Nb5 Ne8 11. Qxd5 Bxb2 12. Rb1 Bg7 13. O-O {
Hansen-Djurhuus Reykjavik 1995}) 6. Be2 Qb6 7. a3 Bg4 8. b4 Nbd7 9. O-O Nh5 10.
Bg5 h6 11. Bh4 g5 12. h3 Be6 13. Nd2 Nf4 14. Bg3 Nxe2+ 15. Qxe2 f5 16. Nb3 Qd8
17. Na5 {Hodgson-Wolff New York 1990}) 4... Bg7 5. Bb5+ {Allowing White to
develop c6. I should have followed the rule that a check without a sense (plan)
is most of the times, useless. Killerman: Yes again I can only agree. Be2
immediately is more in keeping with the position. I cannot stress enough that
the quicker and more accurate you can develop the better your chances in the
game.} 5... c6 6. Be2 (6. Ba4 b5 7. Bb3) 6... O-O 7. O-O 7... Nfd7 $6 {
Killerman: This move looks wrong to me because it underdevelops. This is now a
great opportunity for White to improve his position by e4 freeing the bishop
now that the f6 knight has gone from coveringe4} 8. Na4 {This is a wrong idea;
exchanging the NN in c5 actually helps black, i.e. leaves a doubled Pin c5,
wich can easily become a target for my opponent. Killerman: Again correct in
your judgement. e4 is the move here} ({Killerman} 8. e4 8... Nb6 9. h3 (9. Re1
9... Bg4 $11) 9... dxe4 10. Nxe4 Bf5 11. Ng3 11... Be6 $11) 8... b5 9. Nc5 {
Going back to Nc3 would represent a lose of tempo, while Nc5 is a mistake;
it's really diffuclt to think something better for W. Killerman: Nc3 may
actually be better because of the eventual weakness of the c5pawn} 9... Nxc5
10. dxc5 e5 11. Rb1 $6 {To prepare b4. Killerman: Actually I don't think that
you need to prepare b4 can't you just play it now? I agree that getting the
rook off the diagonal may have to happen though.} 11... a5 12. a3 a4 13. b3
axb3 14. cxb3 {All of the previous moves to preserve and defend the P in c5,
but I really did not consider a strong continuation from Black.} 14... Bf5 15.
Ra1 (15. Bd3 $2 15... e4) 15... Na6 $6 {Killerman: d4 is a good option here} ({
Killerman} 15... d4 {intending d3} 16. exd4 exd4 17. Bd3 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 18...
Na6 $17) 16. a4 bxa4 17. Bxa6 (17. Rxa4 $143 17... Nxc5 18. Rxa8 Qxa8) 17...
Rxa6 18. Rxa4 Rxa4 19. bxa4 Qa5 20. Ba3 (20. Bb2 Qxc5 21. Bxe5 Bxe5 22. Nxe5 {
Would have left a bit more of initiative to White, I think.}) 20... Bg4 21. Qc2
Bxf3 22. gxf3 22... Ra8 {It appears there's no way to save the P in a4.
Killerman: No there is no way to save the pawn and the game now drifts to the
inevitable end} 23. Bb2 Qxa4 24. Qxa4 Rxa4 25. Ra1 Rxa1+ 26. Bxa1 {I have here
one pawn less than my opponent, but the analysis of the PP structure appears
to say that the game is lost: The pawn in c5 is isolated, and fixed by Pc6; I
have a doubled on f3 and the king is open to attacks. Unfortunately, my king
will not be able to quickly run to the center, as he would need to go via f1
and e2, to not be stopped by the black PP.} 26... e4 27. Bxg7 {Moves like
one, are to be considered wrong: I should not fall in exchange when the
situation is worse for me. Btw, just consider that it was my first game
against a pretty strong player, with as much as 1780 ELO points against no ELO.
This is not an excuse, but it was the motivation to try to come to the endgame
as quickly as possible: firstly, because I was worried to be mated early in
the game, and secondly, because often also the string players make several
mistakes in the endgame..} 27... Kxg7 28. Kg2 Kf6 29. f4 Ke6 30. f3 f5 31. fxe4
(31. Kg3 exf3 32. Kxf3 d4 33. exd4 Kd5 34. Ke3 Kc4 35. h3 h6 36. h4 36... h5 {
And White has to move the king away..}) 31... dxe4 {Killerman: As you rightly
point out at the start the problem really stems from the passive e3. I think
you need to ask yourself questions as you start off each game with the opening
few moves. Make sure that each move has a purpose and try to keep to the
maximum that you should not move a piece twice in the opening until all pieces
are developed. You will find that this helps. The bishop move to b5 was an
obvious error as was the knight manouvre so we can say that at least 3 moves
early on were a waste of tempo. If given the opportunity to counter in the
centre as you had with e4 where I pointed out then you must take it. I think
this was actually a game lost thatn a game won by your opponent. The good
thing is that you have noticed your errors so I am sure you can put these
points right.} 0-1

