How to spot unusual lines

Hey, 800 In rapid here. I wanted feedback on my last game & how can I spot unusual lines.

 

Here is an analysis of my last game:

(https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/44991004397)

 

On move 13, After Bishop to G7, I played Bishop to F4 to protect the Pawn. According to Engine, both of our moves are a mistake.

I looked at couple of variants I could play with different engines, & apparently Instead of Bishop to F4, there was the idea of knight to F6 with a check (Seen as inaccuracy by Chess.com engine) & the opponent should capture with bishop & I recapture the bishop with a Pawn. But if he plays Exf6, then I am completely winning by playing Exf6 (Pawn capture) that comes with a discovered check.

QE6 is the best move (According to chess.com) trading queens & it goes like Qxe6+, Fxe6, Fxg7 & Rg8 & now I have a pushed pawn on G7 that is protected by RG1.

 

How can I see this lines during a game & what could I have done better in the game?

Reality check: your not going to find that anytime soon.

Calculating lines normally begins at around 1400 and gradually increases in accuracy and effectiveness. Don’t even try to look past 2-3 moves at your level. It will end up confusing you totally and you will actually play worse. It will come with time as you progress which comes from pattern recognition, tactics practice, and a deeper understanding of chess theory and an overall understanding of the game.

Also, I recommend okay 15|10 or 30 minute games if you ever want a chance to calculate lines. 10 minute is not enough to deeply think and process every move.

One of the ways you’ll see a move like 14. Bf4 is by seeing other games where a move like that is played. So, for example, Bf4 reminded me of this move in Fischer-Reshevsky 1958 (full game here: https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1008376)

I’m not on a computer, so I can’t actually show the position right now. But the position starting from black’s move 9 leads to a tactic similar to your game: 10. Bxf7+!! Kxf7 11. Ne6! kind of has a similar idea, where the queens are lined up, and where the knight is pulling away the pawn that’s blocking white’s queen from capturing.

So, that’s one way of finding moves like that, is by looking at Master Games and then finding motifs that are similar, and then remembering them.

Jalex13 dont discourage him from trying to be better

At each level of chess there are maddening openings and middle games. Learn opening, middle game principles, and tactics and you'll do great. Whenever you see an odd opening look out for what your opponents next move is if you make a certain move. Good luck.

Clackeraca I’m not trying to discourage him: I’m being realistic. He is not going to find lines and be able to calculate properly at his level. He needs to be patient and understand that those things come with time.

In fact I think I’m encouraging him. I mentioned a couple areas that will contribute to being able to spot lines, thus giving him some direct areas for improvement.