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Could my opponent equalize?

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Stranger85

I ended up winning this game but I'm not sure if it was only because my opponent made a key blunder on move 22.  All comments and suggestions are much appreciated, on any move, not just Qxa7 as opposed to my choice Nc6.  Thank you for the help

Qxe8

I'm pretty tired, but I will try to give some advice.

I don't see the point of Bb4. The exchange will just strenghten the white canter and open up the b-file, making queenside castling dangerous.

Then you queenside castled. I think it's a mistake. Your pieces are all very cramped, and in no position to start an attack which is the only reason why you would queenside castle. Meanwhile white's pieces have a lot of potential, and the rooks easily come in with one move on the big file.

I felt 16...Na5 was not needed. The threat of Bxb7 can be neutrilized with 16...Rdg8. Even though your position is more cramped than ever now, your rooks are at least positioned for a counter attack and your king can now run to d8. It's risky... As I said, I'm too tired to calculate what would happen.

21...Rd5 seems alright maybe. Only continuation I see is 22.Nc6 Kd7 and it looks like black can hold off the attack. You need not worry about material, you are an exchange and rook up.

Don1
i believe 14...Rfb1?, he plays 15 Qd3 anyway why not a move sooner, why lose the exchange & pawn, & he isn't really gaining a tempo. 16...Na5! seems necessary to me, the main threat was 17 Qb5 and that nips it in the bud big time, plus gets the B,R, & Q into play. 21...Rd5 also seems quite well played! 7...Bb4 does seem a bit over aggressive. 12 Qc2 seems better than Qe2, keeps the N out of e4 & guards the c3-pawn.
Stranger85
Qxe8 wrote:

I'm pretty tired, but I will try to give some advice.

I don't see the point of Bb4. The exchange will just strenghten the white canter and open up the b-file, making queenside castling dangerous.

Then you queenside castled. I think it's a mistake. Your pieces are all very cramped, and in no position to start an attack which is the only reason why you would queenside castle. Meanwhile white's pieces have a lot of potential, and the rooks easily come in with one move on the big file.

I felt 16...Na5 was not needed. The threat of Bxb7 can be neutrilized with 16...Rdg8. Even though your position is more cramped than ever now, your rooks are at least positioned for a counter attack and your king can now run to d8. It's risky... As I said, I'm too tired to calculate what would happen.

21...Rd5 seems alright maybe. Only continuation I see is 22.Nc6 Kd7 and it looks like black can hold off the attack. You need not worry about material, you are an exchange and rook up.


Bb4 was just a developing type of move, i was hoping it would allow my to post my knight eventually, In retrospect i think you are probably right about that, although it is nice to develop a piece into a pin

I thought the queenside castle was the way to go because things would have opened up more after the pawn storm on the king side started, but you could be right about that

I think Na5 was absolutley needed because Bxb7 is not the threat, the threats are Qb5 and Rxb1 which all put pressure on b7, the mating square

Qxe8
You are most likely right about that last part, sorry. I was almost asleep when I tried writing that. I think you got lucky he gave up the exchange, and it was good you took advantage of it. I still think kingside castling was better, and instead of Bb4 Be7. At least it is blocking the pin, maybe Bd6 too. The pin with Bb4 does nothing after O-O though, and your forced to retreat after a3. I can't say how you could get uncramped... not an opening expert. Maybe you could like but your light bishop on b7 or something.
ViperX883

I haven't checked all of the tactics, but I'm pretty sure 16. ... Na5 is not only not needed, but is incorrect. The correct move is 16. ... Nc3! The point is that White's rook can no longer come to the b1 square, so play might go

16. ... Nc3!  17. Qxc3 bxa6 18. Qc4 Kb7 19. Rb1+ Ka8 20. Qxa6 Rb8

where White's back rank weaknesses become a liabilty. Another option for White is

20. Bxc7 Rc8 21. Bg3 Qxa3

 

and Black's position looks precarious, but Black is able to consolidate his material advantage.  After 16. ... Na5, correct play for White is

17. Rxb1 Bc6 18. Qc3 bxa6 19. Qxa5 Bb7 20. Rc1 Rd7 21. Ne5 Rd5 22. Qc3 Rd6 23. Qb4 a5 24. Qxa5 Kb8

and at a minimum White equalizes with

25. Rxc7 Qxc7 26. Qxc7 Kxc7 27. Nxf7 Kd7 28. Nxd6

 


faceoff

Upon close inspection of the position I think your opponent needs to stop drinking heineken while he's playing. Tongue out

Stranger85

lol i agree that's probably a wise decision

Darren96
correct
Stranger85
Viper... after bxa6 why would he close off my kings escape on the first scenario with rb1...?  and in you're second scenario i dont think you should assume that bxa6, that move was a long ways from being possible i think instead of bxa6 i probably would have went Kb8, Rd5, or Kd7, like i said in my commentary at that point in the game i would have been happy to go back to even to get out of trouble