Thanks Bkildahl

Here are my thoughts:
I actually thought that 9. ...Qb6 was better than 9. ...b6. I wouldn't be surprised if I am wrong. However, I don't see any convenient way of defending the dark squares: b2 is hanging, the knight on d5 can hop into c3 if the b pawn is gone and the black dark squared bishop is also pointing that way. 10.Be3 after 9. ...Qb6 simply seems wrong to me, black can just take that bishop, have a pair of bishops, an unopposed dark squared bishop and take the b pawn. The only problem for black would be where to put his light squared bishop cause the queen blocks b7-b6 idea. I would like to figure out this one because I am confused which continuation was black's best

I like 10.Rb1 I think the reason why KIA attracts players is because white has no weaknessess and just tries to slowly improve his position and there is no need to know tons of theory because white can play this set up against almost anything and the themes are very similar. I wrote this before you mentioned the same in the video ( I was writting this at the same time as I watched it )

What do you think about 12. Ng5 after 11. ...f5? That was my reaction in the first place but I somehow doubt it's any good. I just thought white could make black overextend his pawns in the center and then try to organize an attack on those pawns

I like your sugesstion of 14. ...Ne7 just avoiding trades when possesing a space advantage.
You are right about 14. ...Nd4 looks really suspicous! My initial thought was that white can use the pin on the h1 a8 diagonal somehow but winning a pawn can't be bad either. I missevaluate positions very very often too, missing a piece hanging or not noticing a pawn defended

15. ...Bxe5?! is just bad. White now has a dark squared bishop and black doesn't, not to mention black's king is kind of airy! So if any attack on the dark sqaures takes place black might end up in big trouble.

After 18. ...Nc6 white has an excellent position, I really like the way you handled it I was going to suggest 19.Re6? but as you pointed out this just looses on the spot.

20. Qh5 Indeed looks more agressive, sacrifices on g5 are in the air and maby white may try to put his rook on the h file and play h4, what do you think? I know this is kind of slow and black has a check on d5 but it might as well work. Qf3 looked really nice but your explanations prove that the queen is exposed there. Up to this point I really liked the way you played the game, very simple and fluent ( I'm not sure that's the right word , sorry about my english ) I enjoy this kind of chess, slow build up of one's position and keeping up the tension.

Thanks for the analysis, very interesting and congratulations!!

cheers

Thanks for your insightful comments, armis!

I guess you're probably right about 9..Qb6, and I, too, would like to find out for sure. Maybe someone else will weigh in.

What did you think about the trade on d5 followed by Ne4? Should I have kept the tension?

You're probably right about 20.Qh5 as well. Lately, I've been putting a lot of effort into making my pieces as active as possible, and so in this situation, having the queen on f3 simply looked more attractive than having it on h5.

I appreciate your help.


Brett

Ne4 Is and interesting idea to try, although I am concerned about f5 and the knight ends up kicked around while black gets even more space. I guess it's a matter of taste, personally I prefer the a4 Nc4 idea because then the pieces work really nice together without interfering and blocking each other: the bishop's diagonal is open only the knight is in it's way, the knights are well placed, the rook can come to e1. I also like the fact that on c4 the knight protects b2 so the c1 bishop is free to go.

But you played really well. It seemed to me that black was kind of forcing things because of your rather unambitous looking opening and you were just playing natural moves

Thanks for the analysis. I enjoyed it.

hey BK, just wondering when you said that Qa8+ ...Kf7 would be a bad idea.

but what about Qd5+ trading off the queens and getting a passed d pawn? just an idea. but after ...QxQ and PxQ black can gain the free pawn back with check with Rxg4+.

just a thought though. great game btw!