annotated chess game for advanced - page 3

11.Be2

Black has already ended the development. By "ending the development" we understand especially that the castle is done and both the bishops and the knights take part in the battle. It is the time to evaluate the resulting position and to elaborate a plan for the middlegame.
It is easy to notice that White is underdeveloped: he has no castle yet and the bishop on c1 is rather closed. How is it possible for White to get a worse position after only few moves? White had chosen a wrong plan: to capture the pawn on b7 before ending the development. Finally he understood his mistake, but he had already moved for three times with the same piece: Bf1-b5-c4-e2.
TIP: In the opening, do not capture pawns, unless they are central pawns. To win a central pawn means to get a qualitative advantage, not quantitative!
Good. White is underdeveloped. What is the suitable plan for Black? The answer is: as active as possible, trying to open the center as much as possible. The first target are the central pawns, and the attack has to be accelerated. White has less pieces developed than black, so it is hard for him to fight. Moreover, in the center stands the king himself. Considering all these, we can conclude that opening the center is the right plan for Black.
11.cxd4 12.cxd4
After 12.exd5, the continuation would have been the same.
12.e5!
Only this move gets the initiative! Any other move leads to an equal position. Black has to open the position before White ends his development.
TIP: When you have development advantage, open the position.
TIP: When the opponent's King stands in the center, open the position.
13.dxe5
An almost forced move! In similar cases, d4-d5, closing the center, would have been recommended. In this case, d4-d5 is a mistake because of some tactical reasons (13.d5 e4 with easy win). These tactical solutions appeared as a consequence of underdeveloping of white pieces.
13.Nxe5

This is an "ought to be won" position. Maybe is not evident at the first sight, but take a break and try to find a good move for White. The aim of this training is not to study long variants, but let's try some possible moves:
- 14.Rb1 Bf5 15.Ba3 Bxb1 16.Bxf8 Qa5+ 17.Bb4 Qxa2 -/+
- 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.Rb1 Bf5 -/+
- 14.0-0 Nxf3+ 15.Bxf3 Bxa1 -+
- 14.Bb2 Nxf3+ 15.Bxf3 Qa5+ 16.Kf1 Be6 -+
The only possibility (another forced move) is the one played in the game:
14.Nd4

chess game
page 3

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