Avie beats Joetheplumber

This is a game played by myself and Avie where he plays white and I play black. We agreed to post the game in the forums when we were done so here it is. I added a few notes but im not very good at endings so we woud both appriciate any feedback.

Thanks.

good game overall, but white missed a few chances to mate with 33-36. Ra8#.

Also, as a general rule, a rook should be placed behind a passed pawn, not in front of it where the rook gets in the way.

Keep up the good work!

Thanks for putting the game up.

6. ... Bb4 looks like a threat but it is fairly obvious that white will block with c3. I suppose it takes awau the natural developing square for the knight on b1. When the bishop retreats I would play Be7 (threatening BxN) rather than Ba5.  

8. ... Qf6 - it's not clear what this move achieves at all. Whilst the black queen is enjoying herself several of black's pieces remain horribly undeveloped. The bishop on c8 cannot move at all for example. The rook on a8 is trapped in the corner. 8. ... d5 would have been much better (closing the centre and allowing the bishop to get out).

11. ... e5 is a really dangerous move to play when the king is still in the centre. It leaves the pawn on d5 hanging for the bishop on g2 to take any time.

12. ... g6. This is horrible of course. Further opening of the position before the king is safe. As you point out, 12. ... Qxe5 is possible or 12. ... Nxe5.

13. ... gxf6 finally strips away any defence the king could have. Why not play 13. ... Qxf6 and leave the pawns nicely on h7 and g7 where they can at least form some sort of protective barrier for the king?

16. ... O-O-O - finally a good move by black. At this point black is still in the game. After 22. ... Rhd8 I agree that black is doing ok. The rooks are doubled along the d-file, the king is safe. However, inaccuracies have meant that black is two pawns down and could lose the endgame if the pieces get swapped off.

28. Re7 is a good move. It invades the seventh rank with a rook and things look bad for black now.

31. ... Rc2 seems to ignore the danger of black getting both rooks on the seventh rank. Perhaps black could play 31. Rcd3 planning to meet 32. Ree7 with 32. ... R3d7.

45. Rxb3 - White has utilised his dominant rooks to eat up any dangerous pawns that try to make a run for the finish line. The game is now totally lost for black with white's kingside pawns ready to steam roll ahead.

Both players played ok - white's moves were just consistently more purposeful and white used his pieces in better harmony.

White may have won, but it took him much longer than he needed.  Both players misted Ra8# 33, 34, 35, and 36.  Rather embarassing I think.  But other than that it was an exciting game, good work.

Thanks for your help. I think we both found it to be both ehlpful and valuable.

from move 6-8 you could have played Nxd4, overloading the enemy queen.