Takchess Chess Improvement

A Novice chessplayer works to get better at chess using an improvement program based upon the methods of Michael de la Maza and the teachings of Dan Heisman

Thursday, December 07, 2006

QBD Is there anything interesting for me to do ?

I have been playing the Tarrasch or some version of the Tarrasch. I am finding myself after about 8 in positions like this. Although it feels like I am playing solid defense after whites 9 Ne5 it feels as though I am waiting for my inevitable death (stop snickering J'adoube.)Any ideas of counterplay or strengthening my defense?


[White "Triste"]
[Black "Takchess"]
[Result "1-0"]

{D40: Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch with 5 e3} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3.
Nc3 c5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Bd3 b6 8. O-O O-O 9. Ne5 Nxe5 10.
dxe5 Nd7 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. f4 Bb7 13. Nb5 a6 14. Nd6 Rab8 15. Rf3 dxc4 16.
Bxh7+ Kh8 17. Rh3 g6 18. Bxg6+ Kg7 19. Bc2 Rg8 20. Rh7+ Kf8 21. Rxf7+ Qxf7 22.
Nxf7 Bxg2 23. Qd6+ Kxf7 24. Qxd7+ Kf8 25. Qd6+ Kf7 26. Qc7+ Kf8 27. Qxb8+ Kf7
28. Qxg8+ Kxg8 29. Kxg2 1-0

Paste game into this viewer

posted by takchess @ 3:06 AM  

5 Comments:

  • At 5:52 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Tarrasch is all about freedom for piece movement but you played it in a passive, cramped way.

    QN is better on c6 for many reasons. Nbd7 blocks the QB, which led you to play another pawn move (b6) to free the bishop. Another reason is to pressure d4. So look at 6...Nc6. This is more active, less cramping. If white now plays 7.Bd3, then you gain a tempo with dxc4. This gain of tempo is very important. After 8.Bxc5 then take cxd5 and white cannot avoid an isolated pawn on d4. In Tarrasch either side may get the IQP. Note that if the QN is on d7 then white would be able to take Qxd4 with huge lead in development and no pawn weaknesses.

    After white gets IQP, black is basically equal. As a general rule in tarrasch, if white does not play book line (kingside fianchetto), black is equal. That is why GM's play the mainline against Tarrasch 100% of the time since Rubinstein in 1910. Players at club level usu. don't fianchetto so Tarrasch is very effective at that level.

    Another thing, if white captures cxd5 always recapture exd5 opening diagonal for QB. Leave pawns on a7 and b7 unless you have a good reason. b-pawn needs to recapture after White's Ne5xc6 in some lines.

    Tarrasch is an aggressive, fighting defense. Kasparov played it in the early 1980s.

    Now about the game, Nxe5 is a big mistake, giving white tempi and an attack for free. Instead, Bb7 is basically forced to stop Nc6. (Another reason not to move the b-pawn-- weakens c6!) In Tarrasch, first 3 moves are pawn moves so you gotta get pieces out after that.

    13...a6 and 14...Rb8 are very reactionary passive losses of time. dxc4 on either of these moves is better(gain tempo on bishop, open the long diagonal a8 to h1)

    15...dxc4 is too late, 16.Bxh7+ is crushing for white. after that move black is lost.

    you played slow/passive, and it took only one shot for white to open lines and then white's lead in development gave him a mating attk. same thing you do when your opponents waste time against Kings gambit. only difference, in 1.d4 it happens on move 20 instead of move 7. instructive game, you can learn a ton from it. GL

     

  • At 5:54 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    After 8.Bxc5 then take cxd5

    should say 8.Bxc4 and cxd4

     

  • At 8:06 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I wasn't snickering! I was. . .um. . .clearing my throat! [grin]

    Patrick is right. The Knight belongs on c6, not d7. I play the Tarrasch all the time and it is quite effective, but you must be aggressive. The whole point of the Tarrasch is to free up lines and pieces for activity.

    He's given you most of the theory, but I will warn you that just because White may have the IQP, don't underestimate it's power. The bodies of thousands of chess players are scattered on the road traveled by this solo pawn. Even Alekhine lost to it!

     

  • At 8:31 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I agree with Patrick that you should have opened the center with moves like dxc4, but I disagree Nxe5 is a mistake. This knight cannot be tolerated. You should have followed up with 13...f6, attacking the pawn-chain frontally.

    This idea is essential when you face the Torre-attack, without the chance to open the center. For example have a look at: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1082655

     

  • At 8:53 AM, Blogger takchess said…

    Patrick and J'adoube great indepth comments that will take some study.
    Thanks. I am very happy I can play this more aggresively.

     

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