I find that going through games with a good chess program that can evaluate tactics, like Crafty or Fritz, can help hone your strategic and positional skills while avoiding falling into tactical traps that in a real game would cause you to rethink your position or even lose the game. Here is one game I constructed with the help of Crafty. I've included a .PGN file here and annotation for the moves. Please feel free to send me your comments and evaluations!

N.N. - A.A., Learning Example (D20 - Queen's Gambit Accepted)

1. d4 d5
2. c4 dxc4
3. Nf3 Nf6
4. e3 e6
5. Bxc4 Bd6

5...Bb4+ would take out either the queen side bishop or a knight. Instead Black opts to close the center from White's pieces.

6. Nc3 Nc6

6. Nc3 secures e4 so the pawn can advance and release the dark-squared bishop.

7. e4? Bb4!

Too early. Black has a counter to win the pawn.

8. O-O Bxc3

Trying to save the pawn would hinder White's development.

9. bxc3 Nxe4
10. Qc2 Nd6

Now the queen is well-placed to attack on the king side. White prepares to play this idea. 10...f5?! is too risky and 11. Nd2 or 11. Nf6 neutralizes the well-positioned knight.

11. Bd3! h6

The queen-bishop battery is complete. Black's only bishop is cornered and the hapless e-pawn is going nowhere soon.

12. Re1 O-O

Faced with 13. d5!, Black has to castle to the weakened king side.

13. Ne5 Nf5

13...Nxe5 14. Rxe5 would only serve to give the fourth rank to the White rook. 14. Nxc6?! bxc6 doubles Black's pawns but releases the blocked bishop.

14. Rb1 Nxe5

Now Black is forced to make the exchange as the b-pawn is under attack.

15. Rxe5 Nd6
16. Bh7+ Kh8

Luring the king into the corner...

17. Bd3 b6

The bishop is free at last. Unfortunately it won't be able to block White's king side attack.

18. Bf4 Bb7

Offering to exchange the bishop to the knight.

19. Rh5! Re8?

Important move in preparation to what follows. Black would do better to counter.

20. Bxh6!! gxh6

Offering the bishop gives wonderful play for White.

21. Qd2 Qf6

Black has no good moves due to mate threats by the queen. For example 21...Kg8 22. Qxg6 f5 23. Qh8+ Kf7 24. Rh7+ Kg6 25. Qg6#.

22. Rxh6+ Kg7
23. Rxf6 Kxf6
24. Qf4+ Ke7
25. Qh4+ Kd7
26. Bb5+?! Nxb5

The objective now is to lure the Black king out and push with the pawns. This is easier done without the black knight.

27. Rxb5 Rh8
28. Qf4 f5
29. g3 Rag8
30. c4 Bc6
31. d5! Bxb5

Giving up the exchange opens up the pawn formation and makes the king vulnerable to checks.

32. cxb5 exd5
33. Qxf5+ Kd6
34. Qf6+ Kc5
35. Qc6+ Kb4
36. Qxd5 Rd8
37. Qb3+ Kc5
38. a4 Rc8

The position is complete. Now it's time to secure the march of the f-pawn. If not 38...Rc8 then 39. Qd3+ and the rest of Black's pawns fall quickly.

39. Qc3+ Kd5
40. f4 Rhg8
41. Qe5+ Kc4
42. Qe4+ Kb3

Now the king has been chased into the corner and White is set to make the winning push.

43. f5 Rce8
44. Qf4 Re1+
45. Kf2 Rge8

Black's only hope is counter-attack.

46. f6 R1e2+
47. Kf3 Rxh2
48. f7 Rf8
49. g4 Rh3+
50. Kg2 Rc3

Threats of losing the rook to a double-attack by the queen force the rook off the vital h-file.

51. Qh6! 1-0

Black resigns as 51...Rc2+ and the White king walks over to support the f-pawn's march to the eight rank.