[Event "FICS unrated blitz game"]
[Site "FICS, Fremont, California USA"]
[Date "2004.10.23"]
[Round "-"]
[White "ConditionZero"]
[Black "smellevator"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "845"]
[Time "17:09:40"]
[Annotator "ConditionZero, doggoneit"]
[ECO "C55"]
[Mode "ICS"]


	   1.	e4          	e5          
	   2.	Nf3         	Nc6         
	   3.	Nc3         	Nf6         

    { after 2. Nf3 Nf6 other options for immediate space and easy deployment 
    are 3. Bc4, and 3. Bb5. 3. Bc4, "Giuoco Piano" should be the next opening 
    you explore. 3. Bb5, the Ruy Lopez, is tricky to play but rewarding.}

	   4.	Bc4         	d6          
	   5.	d3          	h6          
	   6.	Be3         	Bg4         
	   7.	Qd2         	Nb4         
	   8.	Nd5?        	

    {8. d4 is better here.  The text move results in two sets of doubled pawns 
    for white, with little to show for it.  It also blocks in white's light-squared
    bishop.}

	   8.	...        	Nfxd5       
	   9.	exd5        	Bxf3        
	  10.	gxf3        	c5          
	  11.	Bb5+?        	

    {notice white's bishop protects the a2 pawn before this move, then
    doesn't protect it afterwards.  White's about to castle
    queenside, weakening the a2 pawn.  Better to keep the bishop in place  
    and play 11. c3 to scare off the knight, before moving the bishop.  }

	  11.	...        	Ke7         
	  12.	O-O-O       	

    {Again, I like castling queen side, but I'd move his knight first by 12. 
    c3.  He has nowhere to go but 12 ... Na6, where his knight really doesn't 
    threaten anything, and incidentally prevents his next move, a7.   Then you 
    can do 13. O-O-O}

	  12.	...        	a6?         

    {black should have taken 12... Nxa2+ first.  The text move leaves him no 
    escape route. . . }

	  13.	Bc4         	b5          
	  14.	Bb3         	Qa5??       

    {loses the knight.  Better is 14... a5}

	  15.	a3          	Na2+        
	  16.	Bxa2        	Qxd2+       
	  17.	Bxd2        	a5          
	  18.	b4??        	

    {You're ahead by a bishop, plus his bishop and other rook are trapped in 
    the corner behind his king.  Don't Panic!!  A few things to keep in mind 
    here: you have half-open files on e and g.  You should try to control these
    with your rooks.  Also, your bishop is blocked by the pawn on d5 (actually 
    it has been the entire game) so think of ways to get it out into the open.
    
    As for the pawn rush, just wait for his pawns to arrive, and lock up your 
    pawns.  Patience is a virtue!!!  For instance : 18. Rhg1 b4 19. a4, and 
    you've got an easy game.
    
    or try 18. Rde1, followed by 19. f4.
    
    or 18. f4 immediately.
    
    or 18. c4.
    
    Notice that this is a situation where you thought you could recapture with 
    the a-pawn safely, but it turned out that you couldn't, because your a-pawn
    is pinned by his rook.}

	  18.	...        	axb4        

    {At this point it should be obvious that you can't re-capture with your 
    a-pawn, or you will lose your bishop.  So don't re-capture with the 
    a-pawn!!!  protect your bishop first with 19. Kb2.  This would also allow 
    your rooks access to the a-file.
    
    Notice that your opponent still only has one active piece (he can't move 
    his bishop or other rook without moving his king first!!), to your four.  
    You should still not be panicking despite your lost b-pawn.
    }

	  19.	axb4??      	

    {
    The first thing beginning chess players have to learn (I'm still learning 
    this!!!) is how to avoid oversight.  If you make a move like this, and 
    you're looking back over the game, think, "did I see this, and make the 
    decision to do it anyway, or did I not see the rook threatening my 
    Bishop??"   If the answer is the second one, think of why you didn't see 
    the rook, and what you can do to make sure you see it next time.  }

	  19.	...        	Rxa2        
	  20.	Bc3?        	

    {better is 20 bxc5
    don't worry about the check at Ra1.  You can trade rooks with him and still
    be okay.  }

	  20.	...        	Ra3         
	  21.	Bb2?        	

    {what about 21. Kd2 to protect your bishop, also allowing your rooks 
    control of the home row}

	  21.	...        	Ra2         
	  22.	Bc3?        	

    {better is bxc5}

	  22.	...        	g5??        

    {loses an extra pawn to
    23. bxc5, dxc5 24 Bxe5
    
    better is 22. . . . cxb4}

	  23.	h4??        	

    {shouldn't be launching an attack on the queenside, with the kingside still
    in question.  Settle things first with bxc5.  }

	  23.	...        	Bg7?        

    {better is cxb4}

	  24.	hxg5        	hxg5        
	  25.	Rxh8        	Bxh8        
	  26.	Rh1?        	

    {bxc5 is still white's best move}

	  26.	...        	Bf6         
	  27.	Rh7?        	

    {bxc5 is still white's best move}

	  27.	...        	Ra3?        

    {cxb4 is still black's best move}

	  28.	Bb2         	Ra4         
	  29.	c3??        	

    {no reason not to take 29 bxc5.   The text move just feeds four pawns to 
    black's hungry rook.}

	  29.	...        	cxb4        
	  30.	cxb4        	Rxb4        
	  31.	Bc3         	Rb3         
	  32.	Ba5         	Rxd3        
	  33.	f4          	
	  33.	...        	gxf4        
	  34.	Kc2         	Rxd5        
	  35.	Rh3         	Rc5+        
	  36.	Kd2         	

    {Game drawn by mutual agreement
    
    (rwg) I can't believe this was drawn, black is winning by four pawns.  This
    should be a loss for white!!!}


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