Help understanding why computer shows this position as a knight win

Hi everyone,

I need help understanding why Nc6 in the below game is a mistake, the computer classified it as Nc6 is a mistake "This permits the opponent to eventually win a knight".

The 3rd move black playes Nc6, I understand how white can win a knight if black didnt play Nb4 followed by Na5 at the end, so in this case the computer analysis would be inaccurate or am I missing how white can still win a knight even if black played Nb4.. can someone hellp me understand

Hello there,

After 4...Ndb4, there is no way for White to gain material with best play. However, the engine prefers the variation 4...Nb6 5.d5 Nxe5 6.c5 Nxd5 7.Qxd5 where you lose a knight for two pawns to the position 4...Ndb4 5.a3 Na6 6.b4 Nb8 7.Nf3 e6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Nc3 for positional reasons (you have no space and piece coordination). Due to that, it believes that you have to give up a knight against best play having played 3...Nc6.

Good luck.

Thank you for explaining it !

It means that if both players play the best move according to the engine, then happens what is written there. If you don't play the best moves, then position of your opponent will strengthen. How, you can use analysis to find out this. Or you can play against maximum computer from that position, and it will show you how to win a knight. Sometimes it writes that you lose a piece, but you can save that piece by making your position even worse. Also yes, that move Nc6 was a huge mistake, because that allows white to capture space. Better move would be d6 I believe, it's a common move in this opening

Hi

Hi

If computer says it's a mistake it generally is a mistake, but the comments by the game review such as "this allows you to win xxx" are just garbage generally, bad feature

Uh..

Agreed. A typical comment on my inaccuracies is 'you missed an opportunity to threaten a piece.' As if that was ever a purpose of chess.