I don't know the opening either, but you handled it very well. I liked the way you handled the knight and sacrificed you bishop for an attack. It certainly worked.

Good analysis and a good game! That sacrifice was a nice creative idea. I also don't know anything about this opening, but I sometimes play it also, trying to play like i was playing against the Sicilian.

if you want to find out about the continuations in this or any opening, go to http://www.chesslive.de its an excellent online database that you can search by move order and position. there are literally thousands of games to be found here. its an excellent resource. you should chesck it out.(note-you need java to load the page.)

doesn't Qe4+ (instead of castling) after ...Qd5 neutralise the attack with a better position for white?

Congrats on your first video fotomy

My thoughts:

I think your opening play is logical and good. Solid development like that is especially good when facing an opening you're unfamiliar with. That being said, I don't know a lot of the theory in this line.

...d5 is pretty aggressive. It looks good, but I'm a little worried about white's play along the h1-a8 diagonal.

I really like your plan with Be6. Getting rid of the g2 bishop is a good idea considering how open the position is.

I don't like ...b6. It makes the long diagonal very very weak. Whenever your opponent has a fianchetto you need to watch that diagonal. As you saw in the game

That being said though, your overall plan of Be6 and Qd7 is good. You just needed to play something like Rb8 instead of b6.

After Nxe5 you're in a lot of trouble, as you said. But,you have a tiny bit of compensation. ...c6 and ...Bd5 is a good way to put pressure on white.

d4 by white is a definite blunder. You really needed to take the rook, when if he plays de5, Bc5 gives you good counterplay (you'll be castling with pressure on the a8 bishop). Nc4 allows white to activate and build a huge center.

Sacrificing the bishop was a great practical try. Going for counterplay!

Anyways, way to hang in there and get the win! You worked hard for counterplay and you earned it.

Great analysis, please post more

well done, but i read on some forum, that moving of 3 corner pawns is not good before u castle and get line 8 (1) free for your rock. But as we see u find way to win. One more time well done.

I'm new to the site (Yesterday!) and am really enjoying the videos and commentary.

This is a fascinating Game and excellent commentary! I'm not sure that i will be able to do a live commentary and play a half decent game at the same time, but i mean to give it a try. Maybe I'll start with an analysis game.

I've just started looking at the English opening (mainly from the white side) as a way to reach less forcing lines and perhaps to sidestep some really theoretical stuff (The Grunfeld!) that black can play after d4. The variation here is a line in the Reversed Sicilian Dragon I think. Some white players delay the move d3 in this line, since in some sequences it can be an advantage to play d4 in one go saving a tempo. You have to watch out for the shot ...e4, by black though - see the note below.

On move six you play Nxc3. This is not very common and I think may lead to a slight advantage for white since the recapture bxc3 strengthens his centre and opens the b file against the sensitive b7 pawn. A more normal move here is Nb6 i.e. just retreating the knight.

White's 8th Move 8. a3? looks like a wasted tempo. Qa4 (a very common move in English and Catalan positions) would be much stronger I think, preventing e4, attacking the queenside and defending a2. White can then follow up with Rb1 putting unpleasant pressure on the b pawn as in the game. After 8.a3? though Black can play ...e4! forcing the knight back to g1 and getting a slight advantage I think.

9...b6 is a common error in this type of position opening up the diagonal for the powerful white bishop and usually Rb8 or Qc8 are better.

13. d4? is a blunder and you can just take the rook I think with a good position. I wonder if White realized that 13. 0-0! is a legal move?

I don't think the Bishop Sac 16...Bxd5 is sound particularly since instead of 18. 0-0? white could have played 18. Qd4! with a big advantage.

White's move 21. Bf4 looks OK to me, but 22. Rbd1 was wrong I think (22. Rb2!).

I think that after 24. h4 white would have been marginally better, but would have to be very careful to resist your attack.

Oops just notices that Joshsprecht has made some of the same points earlier... My apologies.