Human vs. Computer II

Hmm What to say about this game?

Strange software. Don't know that one.

There are a few basic ideas to keep in mind when playing the opening of the game:

1. develop as many of your pieces as possible to good squares.

2. Control the center.

3. Keep your king safe, usually by castling early.

Your 2nd move 2.Be3 already violates 1. and 2. it doesn't develop the bishop to a GOOD square (it doesn't do much more from e3 than it did from c1, and it also blocks your own central e2 pawn, preventing it from advancing. That last consideration would also mean it blocks the f1 bishop from developing in that direction (f1-e2-d3-c4-b5).

In other words, not such a great move.

now, 3.f4, makes your king slightly less safe (works against opening principle #3), blocks the one bishop you've already deceloped. and doesn't develop another piece. so principle 1 doesn't like taht move too. You're not looking for perfect moves of course, but it's usually easy to find sensible ones which are better suited for the opening stage of the game.

5.g4 tries to attack before having many developed pieces to attack with.

Lucky you, black lets you off the hook with a series of strange moves.

but then with 13.Qxg4 e5 black is actually WINNING.

And final note:

21...d4 (or Qe8, or Qe7...many possibilities) just seem to win for black.

Black's move: 21.Nxd2 is really strange and losing. Nothing more to add:)