PatzerNoster wrote on 09/06/11 at 17:12:07:
I'm sorry, I didn't want to let the thread die, just was on vacation so I couldn't respond.
@Dragonslayer: the "upset" was not meant in a patronizing way, rather that you beat a player with a higher rating who is on his way to become a GM quite soon in my opinion!
Anyway, concerning the real content of the game I'm not sure if 13.Bh6 is actually superior to 13.Bf4, after all the Bg7 is not such a great piece and white "loses" the right to castle (that might not be important in the position). On the other hand the black king will definitely stay in the centre, but that might also be the case with 13.Bf4, as castling kingside looks extremely risky.
After 18. ... Qh6? the game seems to be over, what did you plan after the superior 18. ... Kd7 or 18. ... Kc8 ?
My computer gives equality after both moves, but Kd7 to bring the a-rook to e8 seems more natural to me.
No offence taken. I didn't take it in a patronizing way. That's why I put the smiley after "upset". Before the game people were joking about me wasting a White on a sure loss (I lost to him with White in last year's tournament).
I was expecting the French, when he played 1...e5. After this I would consider it an almost even match, given that he apparently was unprepared and has only recently taken up 1...e5.
The computer prefers 13.Bf4 and gives Black a healthy advantage after 14...Qe7+. But as so often in gambit openings if you follow the computer's best move suggestion for a while it ends up with 0.00 after 18.Nf4. One certainly wouldn't expect the game to be over in 5 moves.
Yes, 18...Qh6? loses on the spot. I had also seen 18...Nxd4? 19.c3 winning, and had expected 18...Kc8. Then Black plays with a rook less. The computer is notoriously unrealiable in such situations. It justifies its 0.00 eval with the line 19.Ne6 Qh6 20.Qxh6 Nxh6 21.h3 Kd7 22.Bb5 a6 23.Bxc6+ Kxc6 24.hxg4 Nxg4+ 25.Kxf3 and White wins one of the Black pawns with an even game. I had seen nothing of this and saw no reason to go to e6 and allow the queen exchange. Of course, I saw that 19.Bd3 now allows ...Nxd4 and c3 can be answered by Ne2 since there is no fork on e6. So I simply planned 19.c3 followed by 20.Bd3. Black has no counterplay and must fear the endgame if White captures the pawn on g4 when f3 also falls. Another option is h2-h3 and f3 also falls. White will always have the better structure compensating the second pawn. This is standard fare in the KG, even if the momentary two-pawn deficit is a complete deterrent to most players.
Regarding 18...Kd7 my opponent has earlier chosen Kd8 over Kd7 fearing Bc4 in response, so psychologically it is difficult to readjust. Time was short and my plan was simply to recheck if Bc4 was any good and otherwise play 19.Bb5 with various threats (the primitive d4-d5, and the deeper Ne6+Qa5) and clearing the way for Qd3. Maybe Black can parry these threats, I don't know.
Regarding the dreaded 0.00 I am not concerned. Not because a draw would still be an upset but because, I am playinga real person and not Rybka/Fritz/Houdini. Also I dislike annotating by result and adlibbing computer analysis. Yes, the position was even, but the pressure is clearly on Black.