1.d4
d5
2.e3
Nf6
3.c4
dxc4
4.Bxc4
e6
5.Nc3
last book move
5...Bb4
6.a3
Bxc3+
The classic choice to make - do you take the knight or not? Typically the knight is not taken because it is better to keep the two bishops. Two bishops are much stronger than only one, particularly the more the board opens up.
7.bxc3
0-0
8.Ne2
Nc6
9.Ng3
e5
10.0-0
e4
Extending this pawn too far? The e4 pawn will be very difficult, if not impossible, to hold onto all the way out there by itself. Furthermore, by moving e5 and then e4, black has not developed any other pieces for two moves in a row. Perhaps black should get the white squared bishop into the game with Be6?
11.d5
Na5
12.Qd4
This moves swings the game to black's favor. Moving the bishop to a2 is better because it keeps the bishop pair for white and strands the knight on a5, which will require at least two moves to get out of that spot (black will have to move a pawn first to clear a spot). Furthermore, keeping that bishop on a long diagonal to the black king can maintain a significant threat and annoyance throughout the game. [-0.41 Deep Junior 8.ZX: 12.Ba2
b6
13.f3
exf3
14.gxf3
c6
15.c4
Bh3
16.Rf2
cxd5
17.cxd5
Nb7
0.45/15 ]
12...Nxc4
13.Qxc4
Qxd5
14.Qxd5
Nxd5
15.Nxe4
Bf5
16.Ng3
Bg4
17.c4
Nc3
18.f3
Be6
19.Bb2
Bxc4?
[0.64 Deep Junior 8.ZX: 19...Na4
20.Be5
Rac8
21.Rfc1
f6
22.Bc3
Rfd8
23.Bb4
c5
24.Ba5
Rd3
25.Kf2
b6
26.Be1
-0.75/14 ]
20.Rf2?
The rook could have been moved into an attacking position with the move Rfc1 where white will win at least a pawn to equalize the material. [-1.21 Deep Junior 8.ZX: 20.Rfc1
Ne2+
21.Nxe2
Bxe2
22.Rxc7
b5
23.Bd4
Rfc8
24.Rac1
Bc4
25.Rxc8+
Rxc8
26.Bxa7
f5
27.Bd4
Kf7
0.64/16 ]
20...Nd5
Nd5 vs. Na4 deserves a bit of an explanation too. Nd5 is a natural move - centralizing the knight vs. putting it 'on the rim'. So what's bad? Probably you are forcing white to make an ok move (e4 protecting the pawn), and kicking the knight out if it's fine square. So ... we learn that a centralized piece is little good if it can't be maintained there (and therein lies the value of an outpost!). On the other hand look at the variation commencing with ... Na4 maintains the initiative for black (count how many moves he makes, strengthening his position while also kicking white's pieces around). The final position of that position is interesting - black is a pawn ahead (the -1.00 part of the evaluation) AND his pieces are working better together (the -0.21 part). [-0.29 Deep Junior 8.ZX: 20...Na4
21.Be5
Rac8
22.e4
f6
23.Bf4
Rfd8
24.Nf5
Kf7
25.Rd2
-1.21/14 ]
21.e4
Nf4
22.Rc1
Nd3
A perfect example of showing that just because you have a fork, it doesn't mean you have to take it! Black lost two pieces here for one of white's and there aren't many pieces left. Black also helped white's king work its way toward the action where it will do the most good in the end game. If you play through the 'b5' variation you will see how black could have solidified his position while STILL maintaining the fork threat! [1.26 Deep Junior 8.ZX: 22...b5
23.Rd2
Rfd8
24.Rcd1
Rxd2
25.Rxd2
Nd3
26.Bc3
c5
27.Nf5
-1.60/14 ]
23.Rxc4
Nxf2
24.Kxf2
Rfd8
25.Bc3
Rd3?
Giving away the pawn on c7. Most beginners do not put a large enough value on pawns; keeping them or taking them. You will win many games by having an extra pawn at the end of the game to turn into a QUEEN! That is the power of pawns when the other pieces start to fall off. You will see the value of just one extra pawn at the end of this game. [3.29 Deep Junior 8.ZX: 25...c6
26.Nh5
f6
27.e5
fxe5
28.Rg4
g6
29.Nf6+
Kg7
30.Bxe5
Kf7
31.Rb4
b5
32.Nxh7
Rd2+
33.Kg3
Rad8
1.50/16 ]
26.Bb4?
Giving up a free pawn to move piece that is protected and giving the black rook more room to move along the third rank. [0.98 Deep Junior 8.ZX: 26.Rxc7
Rad8
27.Nf5
R3d7
28.Rxd7
Rxd7
29.Bxg7
Rd2+
30.Kg3
b5
31.Bc3
Rd3
32.Ne7+
Kf8
33.Nd5
h5
3.29/14 ]
26...Rc8
While this is one way to protect the pawn, it is not the best. The problem, as black will soon see, is that the rook has moved to a square that can come under attack very soon. A beginner must first learn not to move a piece to a square where it can be taken. The next step is to see a little further and try not to move to a square where the piece is unprotected and will soon be attacked.
27.Nf5
A nice fork setup - do you see it?
27...Re8
28.Rxc7
Rb8
29.Ne7+
Black has multiple problems here. Moving to h8 continues the threat of a back row mate, but the alternative Kf7 will lead to a 'discovered check' by the b4 bishop. This again demonstrates the power of a bishop on a nice long diagonal.
29...Kh8
[‹29...Kf8
30.Nc6+
Ke8
31.Nxb8
]
30.Nd5
f5
31.Bc3
Rg8
After black's last move white should immediately notice a particular mating tactic opportunity termed the 'smothered mate'. Do you see how white could win the game with his knight if he had the time to get to the correct square?
32.exf5!?
This move demonstrates considerable moxie on the part of Savage. There are better moves, especially since the rook on d3 is trapped, but this was easily the most intriguing move of the event. Most young players wouldn't even consider such a move yet Savage clearly had nasty intentions in mind for black. [2.88 Deep Junior 8.ZX: 32.Ke2
fxe4
33.fxe4
Rxc3
34.Nxc3
g5
35.Rxb7
Rg7
36.Rb8+
Rg8
37.Rxg8+
Kxg8
38.e5
Kf7
39.Ne4
g4
40.Kd3
5.91/16 ; 32.Ne7
Rgd8
33.Nxf5
b5
]
32...Rxd5
33.f6
Rg5
[6.10 Deep Junior 8.ZX: >=33...Ra8
34.f7
(34.fxg7+
Kg8
35.Rxb7
; 34.Rxg7
Rc5
35.Bd4
Rd5
36.Ba1
Rd1
37.Be5
Rd5
38.f4
Rad8
39.Rxb7
Rd2+
40.Kf3
R8d3+
41.Ke4
Kg8
42.Rg7+
Kf8
43.Rxh7
Ke8
44.g4
Rd8
45.f7+
Ke7
46.g5
Re2+
47.Kf5
Rd5
48.g6
Rdxe5+
49.fxe5
Rf2+
50.Ke4
Ke6
51.h4
) 34...a5
35.f8Q+
Rxf8
36.Bxg7+
Kg8
37.Bxf8
Kxf8
38.Rxb7
h5
39.Ra7
h4
40.Ke3
2.88/16 ]
34.f7
[‹34.fxg7+
R5xg7
35.Rxb7
a5
36.Ra7
h6
37.Rxa5
Rc8
38.Bxg7+
Kxg7
]
34...Rf8
35.Re7??
Here is where Savage unfortunately went astray - in fact, it takes away his win. Much better would've been to attack the rook with the bishop. Presumably his idea was to make the move Re8 in an attempt to queen the pawn. [-0.81 Deep Junior 8.ZX: 35.Bb4
Rg8
36.fxg8Q+
Kxg8
37.Rxb7
a6
38.g4
Rb5
39.Ra7
Rb6
40.Bc3
Rg6
41.Ke3
6.39/13 ]
35...Rf5
36.Rxb7
R5xf7
37.Rb5
h6
38.Rh5
Kh7
Finally able to remove the pin on g7!
39.h4
Rf5
40.Rxf5
Rxf5
41.g4
Rf4
42.Kg3
Ra4
43.Bb4
g5
44.Be7
gxh4+
gxh4 is a nice try by black, giving white the opportunity to go wrong faster. This rook vs bishop+ pawn ending is actually instructive because black should win - how many of you could? You should try it!
45.Bxh4?
Giving up the a-pawn and making black's job significantly easier! [-2.66 Deep Junior 8.ZX: >=45.Kxh4
Kg6
46.Bd6
h5
47.f4
hxg4
48.Kxg4
a5
49.Be5
Rc4
50.Ba1
a4
-1.48/18 ]
45...Rxa3
46.g5
[-3.91 Deep Junior 8.ZX: 46.Be7
Ra2
47.Kf4
Kg6
48.Bd8
a5
49.Ke4
a4
50.f4
Rb2
51.f5+
Kf7
52.Ke5
Re2+
53.Kd6
-2.96/18 ]
46...hxg5
47.Bxg5
a5
48.Kg4
Kg6
49.Bd8
Ra4+
50.f4
Ra2
51.f5+
Kf7
A great example of a total blockade of the f-pawn. With the dark squared bishop there is nothing white can do to get the pawn past.
52.Bb6
Rg2+?
From here, black's objective is clear - advance and promote the a-pawn. Black's technique in this regard is, shall we say, interesting. But in the end he gets the job done. [Deep Junior 8.ZX: 52...a4
-4.86/17 ]
53.Kf4
a4
54.Bd4
a3
55.Kf3
Rg5
56.Kf4
Rh5
57.Kg4
Rh6
[-7.65 Deep Junior 8.ZX: 57...Rh1
58.Kf3
a2
59.Ke2
a1Q
60.Bg7
Qb2+
61.Kd3
Qb5+
62.Kd4
Qb4+
63.Ke3
Qa3+
64.Kd4
Rh4+
65.Kd5
Qd3+
-#18/18 ]
58.Kg5
[-18.24 Deep Junior 8.ZX: 58.Bc3
Rc6
59.Be5
a2
60.Bb2
Rc1
61.Kg5
Rc2
62.Ba1
-7.65/18 ]
58...Ra6
59.f6
a2
60.Kf5
[-#10 Deep Junior 8.ZX: 60.Ba1
Ra5+
-11.03/18 ]
60...a1Q
61.Bxa1
Rxa1
62.Ke4
Kxf6
63.Kd4
Ra5
64.Kc4
Ke6
65.Kb4
Rh5
66.Kc4
Kd6
67.Kd4
Rh4+
68.Ke3
Kd5
0-1