Learning From Your Mistakes

Presented here is an annotation to a game I played against a friend some time ago. The reader will note it's not very advanced chess but it serves as an example of common errors that befall weaker players. My personal pet weakness is not noticing when my opponent has hanging pieces - I partly attribute this to practicing against chess programs. If you're not used to your opponent hanging their pieces it can be easy to overlook such positions. Thankfully a tactical combination won the game here despite a few missed opportunities. Download the PGN here.

T.Lassila - N.N., Friendly Game (C45 - Scotch Game)

1. Nf3 Nc6
2. e4 e5
3. d4 d6

3...exd4 4. Nxd4 Qh4 and black comes to play with force.

4. d5 Na5??

4...Nce7 is the obvious choice. Now the knight is dead in water. For some reason I decided to exchange the bishops instead.

5. Bb5+? Bd7

5. b4 would win the knight with no compensation.

6. Nc3 Bxb5

White wastes a tempo here trying to lure the c-pawn out. The light-squared bishop would have come handy later on.

7. Nxb5 Qd7
8. Nc3 f5
9. Ng5 h6??

White threatens 10. Ne6!. The game move is a horrible blunder that decides the game.

10. Qh5+ Ke7?

Should be 10...Kd8.

11. Qf7+ Kd8
12. Qxf8+ Qe8
13. Qf7? hxg5

13. Nf7+ Kd7 14. Qxg7 Ne7 15. Qf6 Qg8 16. Qe6+ Ke8 17. Nxh8 wins an exhange and the game. I'm often too nervous when the queen is deep in enemy territory to make efficient use of the upper hand that I have.

14. Bxg5+ Ne7
15. Qe6 Qf8
16. exf5 Rh5
17. Bxe7+ Qxe7

Even after exchanging the queens, black has little play left.

18. g4 Rg5?
19. Rg1 Qxe6

19. Qg8+ Qe8 20. Qxe8 Kxe8 21. Rg1 gives little for white.

20. fxe6? c6

20. dxe6! Nc6 21. h4 and the rook is history.

21. dxc6 bxc6
22. O-O-O d5
23. Nxd5! cxd5

Now the rook comes to play and pins the black e-pawn.

24. Rxd5+ Ke7
25. Rxa5 Kxe6??
26. f4 1-0

Black resigns upon losing the rook: 26...exf4 27. Rxg5. Not that 25...Rg6 26. Re1 Rxe6 27. Rexe5 Rxe5 28. Rxe5+ Kf6 is much better for Black.