Ok
@SOJB , here we go...
Game 2/4:
2. ...Nf6. The Petrow/Russian Defence. A nice active/counterattacking try to get white out of their comfort zone, since handling the positions after 2. ...Nc6 is way more common to the most of us.
3. Nxe5 d6. The absolute Petrow main line, played almost exclusively in the masters database as a response to 2. ...Nf6. Everything is fine.
4. ...Nc6? Wait... what? I'm not an expert in the Petrow, but isn't it the whole point of the first few opening moves, to let white grab our e5-pawn, then attack the white knight/force it back and regain the so very important central pawn with 4. ...Nxe4 ?
By ignoring the recapture on e4 you are left 1 whole pawn behind, with no compensation. One can even go further and say, that you are dwon 1,5 pawns, since the central pawns usually have a practically higher value than the pawns on the edge of the board.
Technically you are already lost on move 4 against a ~300 points higher rated opponent.
I could stop here, but let's see, what else can be learned from the game...
This is a critical moment. You just blundered a pawn for no compensation and therefore have to reassess the position.
Think about what changed because of your mistake? What could be your opponent's plan to punish your mistake even more?
Take yourselves 5-10 min. to think about that.
If you did that, you maybe came to the conclusion, that the big plus of your opponent's position is his strong centre and that he would love to keep that centre and stop you from challenging/destroying it. How could you challenge the centre? With the move 5. ...d5! How could your opponent keep his centre and stop you from challenging it, if you wouldn't find the move ...d5 ? With the move c4, reaching a weird sort of Stonewall or Maroczy bind position, where you never ever will be able to challence the centre with ...d5 again for the rest of the game!
5. ...h6. Yes, like in Game 1/4 you play your beloved ...h6-move instead.
White then returned the favour and missed the opportunity to "strategically" end the game by playing 6. c4!
You therefore still had the chance to play ...d5 but I see, this idea was not in your mind.
6. ...Bg4. 7. h3
Oh the irony - the opponent plays your beloved h-pawn move, but in contrast to you, he knows when to play it. You now have to either exchange the bishop or move it away from it's beautiful long diagonal and lose a valuable tempo.
7. ...Bxf3. Thinking for only 10 seconds on this decision is just way too short. Ironically again you choose the worse option.
Principle: When you are behind in material, you should keep pieces on the board. By (again - see Game 1/4) exchanging your currently most active piece, you do all the work for your opponent.
Ok, I'll stop here.
Conclusion:
- Blundering the game in less that 10 moves (this time on move 4)
- You have to know at least a few main lines AND some typical ideas on your chosen opening.
- Senseless trades, especially if material down => WATCH THOSE 2 VIDEOS of Igor Smirnov, please!
Cya later.
