Just posted the game and a had very quick look.
There was nothing really wrong with the way you played that opening.
Good basic opening foundation Sound play, possibly a little tepid but I'm only posting the game so others can see it.
Why did you reject 5...Bxb4. (I'm seeing tricks for both sides.)
A slight mumble about 7....Bd3 (7...Be7) but the other lad looks like a good player.
Good game. Don't go running to the opening bookshop because you lost that one.
Sorry not read all of this thread so apologies if this has been covered but the times I've faced an early b4 (or similar) its usually all about the other side hitting the pawn you would be defending on e5 by a knight on c6 with b5 so cover that threat, develop naturally and you shouldn't be in too much trouble is what I have found although from memory I do have one game on here where I got my a@@ kicked against an early wing attack...
Originally posted by Data FlyI'm probably overlooking something, but why on move #78 did the bishop not take the knight? It appears white can promote the h pawn whether blacks king takes the bishop or not.
A friend of mine, who has a FIDE rating of around 2300, played this in a 4NCL game a few years ago:
[pgn]
1. b4 d5 2. Bb2 Qd6 3. a3 e5
[/pgn]
I was impressed with the position he got out of the opening and have used it in blitz games ever since. I haven't tried it in a serious game yet because I meet 1.b4 so rarely.
My mistake, I had the move order ...[text shortened]... 2. Bg6 Ne7 73. Bh5 Nf5 74. Bg4 Ne7
75. Bd1 Kf7 76. Bb3+ Kf6 77. Bc2 Nf5 78. Bb1 1/2-1/2
[/pgn]
Originally posted by lemon limeI can only imagine that the last knight move didn't actually happen and was just the electronic board picking up the pieces being shuffled around in a post mortem. Sometimes you see a spurious Ke4 or Ke5 at the end of a game which is just one of the kings being placed in the centre to show the result of the game to the other players who may not have seen it finish (white king on e4 = white win, black king on e5 = black win, both kings on e4/e5 = draw).
I'm probably overlooking something, but why on move #78 did the bishop not take the knight? It appears white can promote the h pawn whether blacks king takes the bishop or not.
Originally posted by Data FlyI don't know what you mean by an "electronic board". I assumed this was a recorded game between two players. The reason I'm puzzled by the game ending in a draw is because one of the players had a "FIDE rating of around 2300", and I assume his opponent was a strong player as well. If it was a blitz game then I can understand why a draw might be offered and accepted, because the players didn't have enough time left on their clocks to play it out or think it through.
I can only imagine that the last knight move didn't actually happen and was just the electronic board picking up the pieces being shuffled around in a post mortem. Sometimes you see a spurious Ke4 or Ke5 at the end of a game which is just one of the kings being placed in the centre to show the result of the game to the other players who may not have seen it ...[text shortened]... finish (white king on e4 = white win, black king on e5 = black win, both kings on e4/e5 = draw).
I like correspondence chess because it gives me time to think, even though I rarely use that time wisely. I'm no good at speed chess because at some point I forget it's supposed to go fast, and will find myself staring at the board for too long.
Electronic boards are often used at events where the games are shown in near real time on 'tinternet.
e.g.
http://digitalgametechnology.com/site/index.php/products/electronic-boards
Black's knight move is a very obvious blunder and I don't think Jonathan Rogers would have missed that he could have taken it, even if he had little time left. I'll email Matt (the player who was Black) and ask him.
Hi beauroberts
You came out of that opening OK. Bits out and castled.
It was perhaps his pressing style that put you off.
You did let him over run you a bit....call the tune.
a6 followed by h6 is an indication once out of the opening you
were not too sure what to do so you let him decide for you.
It's re-action chess. It's OK and can work if you play it soundly enough
but you must be ready to seize a chance to get into the game at
the right moment and fight for important squares.
You just never seemed to get going.
That and the feeling of being over-matched (possible lost in the
mind before 1.b4 was even played) is where the work is needed.
It will come with more play, experience.
But your posted request is not needed, infact you could tell others on
here how to play an opening.
It's a common misconception, you lose a game so it must be have been the opening.
Yes if you screw up the opening by faffing about before you are developed
or castled. But that was not the case here.
Figured you were a newbie to tournament play.
There is an error in the notation somewhere - else you reigned in a won position.
(I forgot to mention that last night - please tell me you never resigned in a won position.)
I think you have missed a move out, often happens when the position reaches the critical bit.
I would play e5 anytime again against 1. b4. It seems a logical move to me - gaining some center control while attacking the pawn. I played it in the following game. I think I had a solid opening, then gained the advantage, threw it away, before winning eventually anyway.
I left the b-pawn in peace for quite a while. When analysing the game with an engine however, they urge to take on b5 on almost every move.
Hi Fanakick.
Yes 1..e5 is good. It's what I do.
But there again your 1.b4 player wll be booked up better on this move than 1...d5.
The solid 1...d5, Bf5 (Bg4!?) Nf6 and the e6 plan.
Means you do get in a e6 move with a gain of time on the b4 pawn.
You get the same with 1...e5 but the e5 pawn also hangs and White
gets play on the e-pawn.
It's an opening plan leading to a clean middle game.
Black is equalising without effort.
