7:33 Italian Game ! d3 instead of d4 would be the best line but kind of boring imo ! But d4 here is fun !! After exd4, if cxd4 (and not e5) then it's a gambit by white ! 7:37 here after Bd2, e4 is kind of free: Nxe4 Bxb4 Nxb4 but there is Bxf7+!! Kxf7 Qb3+ d5 Qxb4 (or they can throw in Ne5+) and they get their pawn back it's still about equal ! Bxd2+ is also fine ! 7:48 But here you have to play d5 ! I'm happy you saw that if e5 then d5 so e5 is not scary ! But you can play d5 right away, and the reason why you have to is because white is threatening to go d5 themselve ! Nxe4 is also possible for a center fork trick ! After castling d5 white just has the full center and they are not even down a pawn.. 9:05 But e5 is played so you are fine ! Now white should move the bishop, this is a bad trade for them here ! This pattern of e5 d5 counter attack is very common in e4 e5 openings, but wether white should move the bishop or accept the trade depends on the position. I think most of the time white should save the bishop and make black's knight move. Here it's especially bad because the trade opens the e file while you are castled and he is not ! 9:26 and here we see the problem on the e file for white ! White's h rook is now stuck there and that's why you are so much better ! Also after b5, his d2 knight is very stuck. 9:30 b5 the idea is to really restrict white. Here trading d4 for c4 just helps white to untangle ! 9:56 but ok they take back Nxd4 Qxd4 and you are still crushing ! 9:58 Now there are just many way to win this ! Rd8 just exploiting the pin on the knight was also great ! Bg4 provoking f3 was also an idea. But what you played was perfectly fine too !! And very well done in the end !! Very clean ! 13:07 GG !!
Thank you for another super insightful comment! I'm realizing that a big part of improving at this level is understanding when to push pawns in the center - playing d5 first in order to prevent them from playing d5 makes a lot of sense and is an idea I'll try to keep in mind for the future :)
Continue on your journey, you're so close! You can do it.
Thanks, I'm really grateful for the support 😄
Good luck with your tournament!
Thanks!! I'll be sure to give an update on how it goes 😄
❤
7:33 Italian Game !
d3 instead of d4 would be the best line but kind of boring imo !
But d4 here is fun !!
After exd4, if cxd4 (and not e5) then it's a gambit by white !
7:37 here after Bd2, e4 is kind of free:
Nxe4 Bxb4 Nxb4 but there is Bxf7+!! Kxf7 Qb3+ d5 Qxb4 (or they can throw in Ne5+) and they get their pawn back it's still about equal !
Bxd2+ is also fine !
7:48 But here you have to play d5 !
I'm happy you saw that if e5 then d5 so e5 is not scary !
But you can play d5 right away, and the reason why you have to is because white is threatening to go d5 themselve !
Nxe4 is also possible for a center fork trick !
After castling d5 white just has the full center and they are not even down a pawn..
9:05 But e5 is played so you are fine !
Now white should move the bishop, this is a bad trade for them here !
This pattern of e5 d5 counter attack is very common in e4 e5 openings, but wether white should move the bishop or accept the trade depends on the position.
I think most of the time white should save the bishop and make black's knight move.
Here it's especially bad because the trade opens the e file while you are castled and he is not !
9:26 and here we see the problem on the e file for white !
White's h rook is now stuck there and that's why you are so much better !
Also after b5, his d2 knight is very stuck.
9:30 b5 the idea is to really restrict white. Here trading d4 for c4 just helps white to untangle !
9:56 but ok they take back Nxd4 Qxd4 and you are still crushing !
9:58 Now there are just many way to win this !
Rd8 just exploiting the pin on the knight was also great !
Bg4 provoking f3 was also an idea.
But what you played was perfectly fine too !!
And very well done in the end !! Very clean !
13:07 GG !!
Thank you for another super insightful comment! I'm realizing that a big part of improving at this level is understanding when to push pawns in the center - playing d5 first in order to prevent them from playing d5 makes a lot of sense and is an idea I'll try to keep in mind for the future :)
Day 77
52,5/77
+49 -21 =7
+64% -27% =9%
Nice man🎉
Thanks! I appreciate the support :)