Calvin

Hi,

I am in no way an expert. I spent the last few days (a couple of hours a day) to understand two things about this game:


1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. d3 e6 6. Be3 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8.
Re1 Bd7 9. a4 Nd4 10. Nh4 Rc8 11. a5 Bc6 12. b3 Qc7 13. b4 Rfd8 14. bxc5
dxc5 15. Nf3 (15. f3 Nxe4 16. fxe4 Bxh4 17. Rf1 Bf6 18. Qg4 Nxc2) 15.. Bd6
16. Ng5 Bxh2+ 17. Kf1 Rb8 18. Bc1 Rbc8 19. Nf3 Nxf3 20. gxf3 e5 21. Bb2 h5
22. f4 exf4 23. Qf3 Ng4 24. Qh3 g6 25. e5 Re8 26. Ne2 Rcd8 27. d4 cxd4 28.
Bxd4 Bd5 29. Bb5 Re6 30. Rec1 Bc4 31. Rd1 Bxb5 32. Bxa7 Bxe2+ 33. Kxe2
Qxc2+ 34. Kf3 Rxd1 35. Rxd1 Qxd1+ 36. Kg2 Qg1+ 37. Kf3 Rxe5 38. Qg2 Qd1# {
Black mates} 0-1

Is the white doomed after move 18-20? Or is there a strategy that could bring him to the victory? And where is the fatal error?

I appreciate member comments

P.S. I know the game was badly played.

Just2Good

White's problems began with the patzer move 10. Nh4. Instead of this, White could have taken with either the bishop or the knight; e.g. 10. Bxd4 or 10. Nxd4 and either way he wins material and gets a clear edge. Before 10. Nh4, both white and black were playing like masters until move 9 when white played 9. a4, a move I cannot find in my database of 3 million games.

I would have analysed the whole game for you but it's not really worth the effort. It's too flawed and there were so many weak moves starting from move 10 that the game does not deserve to be studied, I'm sorry to be so blunt.
The move 9. a4 was apparently intended to prevent an ...a6 then ...b5 by black, but the move creates a permanent weakness at b4. White should read more on the openings, and then endeavour to learn tactics and strategy.

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"The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing."

~ Isaiah Berlin ~

Monopoly Man

On move 20, if white takes back with the queen he is fine here.