another nice video. I didnt watch the whole game but I have a little comment. On move 8 instead of playing e5, have u thought of the possibility of exd5. Armis' queen cant take it because of Nc7+ forking the king and queen. So it just looks like black just dropped a pawn.

I haven't watched the video yet but d5 is kind of a pawn sacrifice. Black has the bishop pair so it makes sense to open up the game even at a cost of a pawn. In fact it's not that hard to win it back if I am not mistaken. If exd then a6 Nc3 Nf6 which looks fine, doesn't it? ;)
It's a common theme this d5 pawn sacrifice in grand prix lines. e4 c5 f4 d5 exd and now Nf6 for example.

Kingsblade: What chess client are you using to play on FICS?

Yep it does look as if 7.exd wins a pawn. Even if black plays 7....a6 white can move the N back to 8.c3 which defends the d pawn, if BxN removing the defender then 9.dxB and the Q covers the pawn. Well spotted.

Unlucky KB but you shouldn't have allowed Armis to get a pawn to d3. This spelled doom. I played a similar type of game with black where my opponent allowed the advnce of the d pawn. It ended rather badly for him. Here's the game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59JWE7d-tU8

It's not that simple
1. ...d5 2.exd 2. ...a6 3.Nc3 3. ...Nf6
The only reasonable move I could come up with for white seems 4.d4 then 5. ...c4
White can "win" a pawn only with 6. Qe2. Then 6. ...Nxd5 7.Qxc4 7. ...Be6 8. Nxd5 Bxd5 Qe2 Bxf3 followed by Bxd4+ or Qxd4+ looks already better for black
If 8.Qe2 then Nxc3 bxc3 and it looks like black has pretty good compensation for the pawn. Two bishops, counterplay down the c file and on white's weak lighsquares
So in the very end, yeah it does win a pawn but I would rather be black

Yeah the d pawn seemed annoying but it was rather weak too. I was worried a bit about that

Mmmm worth having a quick look with my silicon friend.

Yes Armis

8.exd5-a6 9.Nc3-Nf6 10.d4-Nxf6 11.dxc5-Nxc3 12.QxQ-KxQ 13.bxc3-Bxc3 14.Rb1 with an almost even game but no pawn win. White has a slight developmental advantage but doubled c pawns.

In chess things are never so simple.

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I was hoping Armis was going to give Kingsblade some more time in this game. Unfortunately, the extra time came too late. The game appeared to already be lost. But, it was an interesting game nonetheless. Pushing the e pawn early in the game instead of capturing was a pretty risky move, or at least it seemed that way to me. But, it led to a nice restriction of piece movement battle. I would be in favor of longer games, but I also realize that not everyone has the time to devote to every chess game they play.

Brucewallace2: I think after 10.d4 10. ...c5 is better than the line suggested. Even if white wins a pawn by Qe2 black still has an excllent game. Let me know what you think

Kingsblade: Yeah, this site is fun for sure! I asked what chess client you use as I didn't like your chess board. Well it's a matter of taste but figured I would help you out if you want to look it different. The one IMgooeyjim has is pretty nice. I have managed to make my look the same
And the song, that was one my favorites! I need to dig up some of those Ray Charles cds I got, now where were they...

Bullrock: You are right I should have given more time for Kingsblade. That's what I usually do but I forgot it this time. I'll definetaly do that next time

Allright now I REALLY have to watch the whole video :)

Oh man, I feel so stupid now :) I should have given you more time. By the time I realised it it was already too late.

I checked 4.Bb5. It's allright and in most cases just transposes.
After you played c3 I thought a6 first was better and only then d3 to leave your knight a bit more akward

11. h3 wasn't necessary ( how is this spelled :)? ) at all. It weakens your kingside too much and doesn't do a whole a lot for your position. Even if black could go Ng4 it doesn't do much there, does it? The simple 11.b3 or a wild modification 11.b4 would have been better, just developing your bishop

19. ...b6? Nd5 correctly exploited!

27. Rf1 I understand you were in time trouble but this rook had to stay on where it is to cover the entry points by the black rooks. Once black's rook is on the 7th white's in big trouble

Feel free to ask

Armis,

You already have a pawn on c5 after d4. c4 or cxd are a couple of suggestions deferring taking on d5 with the N. Nx appears strongest. If 10.....c4 11.Qe2-Nxd 12.Qxc4-Be6 13.Nxd-BxN 14.Qa4+-b5 15.Qa3 and black can play Qc7,Qd6 or just OO. Yes white is a pawn up but black has the two bishops in an openish position and has no real weaknesses. Black stands well and should have a good game but why even give up the pawn?

Oh and I dont think your d pawn was a weakness. On d3 it was worth a piece. It would have taken white ages to try to win it and it cramped his development and tactical choices, it cut his position in two. In the meantime black could mobilize over the whole board. I think I'll take a look.

I am confused :) Allright, let's do it from the start

e4 c5 Nc3 Nc6 f4 g6 Bb5 Nd4 Nf3 Nxb5 Nxb5 Bg7 0-0 d5 exd a6 Nc3 Nf6

so the move we were discussing here is d4 then I suggest c4 Qe2 Nxd5 Qxc4 Be6

now if Nxd5 Bxd5 then wherever the white gueen goes black can play Bxf3 followed by taking on d4 with material equality and what seems to me a slightly better position for black

if white decides to keep the extra pawn and moves his queen from the bishop's range with Qe2 then after Nxc3 bxc3 black has excellent compensation as mentioned in one of my previous posts

so even after your 14.Qa4+ black can still win the pawn back by taking on f3 and then on d4


is there something I am missing?

Armis and KB

After 9....d3, which is indeed a strong move KB allowed the d3 pawn to become a monster by playing 10.c4? he needed to leave his pawn on c3. On c4 it became an immediate target and, more importantly gives black access to the juicy d4 square. Instead of c4 (moving the pawn twice?) recommended is 10.Qa4 threatening a discovered check so 10...Bd7 threatening a6 winning a piece because of the pin. white then, remarkably, plays 11.e6!-fxe 12.Qc4 hitting the c pawn and then 12....a6 hitting the N 13,Na3 (forced)-Bc6 14.Qxc5. Material is even but the pawn on d3 still lives.

The great thing about the pawn on d3 is that it paralyses white. He cant move his own d pawn so the only potential for developing his bishop is on the c1-a3 diagonal, this means he has to play either b3 or b4 first. His N is misplaced. sure it can come to c4 now but black can actively stop this by trying to get in b5 at some point. The pawn on d3 also controls c2 and e2 constricting whites pieces. How can white get at that pawn?

Looking at various lines on my engine black can play tactically around the pawn without it ever being in danger even without whites weak c4?

Undoubtedly in the e5 line played by KB when black played d5 exd was the best strategic option.

I feel a video coming on!