The opening was very closed. After castling I would immediately look for ways to open the position. Allowing 13... d5 is in my mind a positional mistake. Instead of playing c5 and allowing him to close the center you should keep the tension and bring your rooks to the center preparing for it to open up. The engine gives playing d5 yourself as the best move but you have the better position and there is no reason to force things before your pieces are optimally placed. "When in doubt, get a piece out," this doesn't just apply to the opening phase. When you don't know what the best plan is, it never hurts to improve your pieces as long as you are not blundering anything. It can be argued that allowing him to shut down the center is ultimately what stymies your initiative and allows counterplay on the kingside. Ultimately you were good up until 22. Ne5. You annotated that you couldn't find a plan here. Again, your rooks are inactive. I would recommend looking at some Morphy games. He is clear and instructive in utilizing every single piece to its greatest effect and 22. Rae1 and Rfe1 are top engine moves. His king is stuck in the center, pressure it with everything you have. Yes, the c and d files are closed, this should give you a hint as to where your rooks should be. Your annotation on move 24 should put into perspective what I have said. With the center closed and black allowed an initiative on the kingside your pieces are badly placed. Engine is still screaming to activate the rooks. 3 of the top 5 engine moves are to move a rook, any rook, anywhere. Move 30 your opponent blunders a piece and you are completely winning. 34. Na2 is a waste of a tempo but you are up a piece so it is minor. Engine wants Nd1 and looking at the position if the knight makes it to g4 it is a monster. 36. Rb8+, I understand wanting to trade when you are winning but you need to consider the consequences of the line you are going into. Your rook is very active on the 7th rank attacking the black king, his rook is doing nothing and completely worthless. The relative value is not the same. Position and activity are more important than piece value. 38... Ne7 is not even blacks best option because his is limiting his pieces activity by pinning himself. After 38. Qc7+ the position is totally equal because you are dropping the knight. I understand the board vision oversight, but this line is all the result of choosing to trade rooks. After the trade, you aren't going to checkmate him with just a queen. You need to reposition and bring the knight and bishop back into the game. The engine likes fxe4(opening the center and winning a pawn) and Nc1. It's ironic (as it often is in chess) that what wins black the game is crashing through the center with his pawns, which should have been your plan out of the opening. You traded off your attackers and blundered back the piece he gave you. In the end your position is very passive and you can't move.
Feedback on my Annotations Please. Tough Game!
The opening was very closed. After castling I would immediately look for ways to open the position. Allowing 13... d5 is in my mind a positional mistake. Instead of playing c5 and allowing him to close the center you should keep the tension and bring your rooks to the center preparing for it to open up. The engine gives playing d5 yourself as the best move but you have the better position and there is no reason to force things before your pieces are optimally placed. "When in doubt, get a piece out," this doesn't just apply to the opening phase. When you don't know what the best plan is, it never hurts to improve your pieces as long as you are not blundering anything. It can be argued that allowing him to shut down the center is ultimately what stymies your initiative and allows counterplay on the kingside. Ultimately you were good up until 22. Ne5. You annotated that you couldn't find a plan here. Again, your rooks are inactive. I would recommend looking at some Morphy games. He is clear and instructive in utilizing every single piece to its greatest effect and 22. Rae1 and Rfe1 are top engine moves. His king is stuck in the center, pressure it with everything you have. Yes, the c and d files are closed, this should give you a hint as to where your rooks should be. Your annotation on move 24 should put into perspective what I have said. With the center closed and black allowed an initiative on the kingside your pieces are badly placed. Engine is still screaming to activate the rooks. 3 of the top 5 engine moves are to move a rook, any rook, anywhere. Move 30 your opponent blunders a piece and you are completely winning. 34. Na2 is a waste of a tempo but you are up a piece so it is minor. Engine wants Nd1 and looking at the position if the knight makes it to g4 it is a monster. 36. Rb8+, I understand wanting to trade when you are winning but you need to consider the consequences of the line you are going into. Your rook is very active on the 7th rank attacking the black king, his rook is doing nothing and completely worthless. The relative value is not the same. Position and activity are more important than piece value. 38... Ne7 is not even blacks best option because his is limiting his pieces activity by pinning himself. After 38. Qc7+ the position is totally equal because you are dropping the knight. I understand the board vision oversight, but this line is all the result of choosing to trade rooks. After the trade, you aren't going to checkmate him with just a queen. You need to reposition and bring the knight and bishop back into the game. The engine likes fxe4(opening the center and winning a pawn) and Nc1. It's ironic (as it often is in chess) that what wins black the game is crashing through the center with his pawns, which should have been your plan out of the opening. You traded off your attackers and blundered back the piece he gave you. In the end your position is very passive and you can't move.
Excellent! I don't know how to quote individual lines, so I'll just c+p you're comments and comment back:
1. "The opening was very closed" I was thinking Knights might be valuable if I couldn't find good break points, and bishops can became limited. Just a thought.
2. "Allowing 13... d5 is in my mind a positional mistake." I really don't understand the finer points of positional play, so I would agree here. d5 locking the center and me not knowing what to do with it is a bad plan by me.
3. "...bring your rooks to the center preparing for it to open up." I always think "How can I make my pieces active, but for some reason I seize up during middle game, completely forget my Rooks aren't doing anything, and just start calculating every piece under tension and even sacs. Maybe that idea is too early, and make activity a priority?
4. ""When in doubt, get a piece out," this doesn't just apply to the opening phase. When you don't know what the best plan is, it never hurts to improve your pieces as long as you are not blundering anything." Love this advice, thank you. I apply it mainly in the opening, so this is definitely good to know.
5. "His king is stuck in the center, pressure it with everything you have." This is great! Activating the Rooks helps to improve position, allows/opens for potential tactics, and adds pressure on the uncastled King.
6. "Position and activity are more important than piece value." I've heard this a few times, but it never really sank in. Now looking at it, yes I can see how his Rook is essentially useless, so forcing him to give it up doesn't do much for me. I'm thinking too basic, going off principles "trade when up" instead of critically looking at the whole board and the potential plan.
7. "I understand the board vision oversight, but this line is all the result of choosing to trade rooks." I'm always working on vision, but I came to this realization only later when I analyzed the game. Good point.
What a great review! Thank you so much, I really appreciate it. These are some of the things I learned. Thank you again!
Castling king side was a mistake since your opponent had very advanced pawns. Setting up an easy attack for them.
Could you please share the moves and your annotations? Vanilla gift cards
Played a super tough game, not what I'm used to. I wanted to get some clarification on some of the positions I was confused about. Please go through the game and my annotations and provide feedback where you can. I would really appreciate it! I was White.