Part of the process of learning a new opening is understanding when "standard" moves - typical piece placement and development, for example - should be played. In the Dutch Stonewall, as in other variations of the defense, it's often good to place a knight on e4 and get in the ...e5 pawn break when it is possible.
In this second-round tournament game, 9...Ne4 was not necessarily bad, but developing the bishop after 9...b6 or getting the other knight out to d7 both look less committal and more promising. The next move, 10...e5 is a blunder both tactically and to some extent strategically, being premature. Tactically the problem is that the otherwise strong recapture with the c-pawn after an exchange on d5 would result in losing a piece. I saw this one move too late, so was forced into losing one pawn, then gave up another one. I gained some compensation back in piece activity and could in fact have equalized, but missed some chances and my opponent played well to consolidate his advantage.
This game was primarily another building block in my understanding of the Dutch Stonewall structures, but also a reminder that it's very possible to fight back from relatively small deficits, especially at the Class level.
In this second-round tournament game, 9...Ne4 was not necessarily bad, but developing the bishop after 9...b6 or getting the other knight out to d7 both look less committal and more promising. The next move, 10...e5 is a blunder both tactically and to some extent strategically, being premature. Tactically the problem is that the otherwise strong recapture with the c-pawn after an exchange on d5 would result in losing a piece. I saw this one move too late, so was forced into losing one pawn, then gave up another one. I gained some compensation back in piece activity and could in fact have equalized, but missed some chances and my opponent played well to consolidate his advantage.
This game was primarily another building block in my understanding of the Dutch Stonewall structures, but also a reminder that it's very possible to fight back from relatively small deficits, especially at the Class level.
Well, ...Ne4 looks very okay (and probably a simple transposition in standard lines), but ...e5? is to blame, for sure ;-)
ReplyDeleteSo beware of tactical mistakes and bad calculations, first and foremost :-)
One thing I've noticed is that it's easier for me to get into trouble tactically when playing a "standard move" that my brain assumes is fine, but it still needs thorough checking.
DeleteI would have been tempted (given the opponent's rating) to "switch gears" and try 12. ... c5. I know Komodo considers that worse (-1.27 or more) but you have a 3:2 queenside majority, gain a tempo and get the White Queen off the a1-h8 diagonal, and have a good blockading square on d6 for the d5 Pawn. The c8-Bishop can develop to a6, and, if White is not paying close attention to the whole board, may be able to gain the Exchange as compensation. Whte still has to untangle his pieces without having any immediate threats. (I'm likely to "roll the dice" in this kind of situation.)
ReplyDeleteVery good observation regarding "standard moves"!