Standard game, Sept. 22, 2009

Nice to find a human opponent a little above me willing to play a slower time control, that's always what I'm looking for.

I think I did an okay job here despite the 22-move loss, but there were definitely some things to work on.

[Event "ICC"]

[Site "Internet Chess Club"]

[Date "2009.09.22"]

[White "barraq"]

[Black "KyleMayhugh"]

[Result "1-0"]

[WhiteElo "1501"]

[BlackElo "1366"]

[ECO "C41"]

[Opening "Philidor's defense"]

[TimeControl "1800+30"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6

I got my opening mixed up and was for some reason thinking that 2. ... Nc6 was wrong, when it's actually one of the most basic opening moves in the game.

3. Bc4 Nh6

My book response would have been Be7

4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bd7

6. Nc3 Nc6 7. O-O Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Qf6

And now my small opening mistakes have grown into a small problem: I'm way behind in development and he's got all kinds of well-placed, attacking pieces. His queen, knight and bishop are all in ideal squares for controlling the center, while my only two developed pieces are in more positions.

9. Qxf6 gxf6

I wanted the queen trade to get his queen off the attack and give myself time to regroup. I did know that it was dropping a pawn to Nd5, but I was okay with that.

10. Nd5 O-O-O

11. Nxf6 Bc6 12. Bxh6 Bxh6 13. Bxf7 Rhf8

Losing the second pawn really hurts. The only good news is that I've now got some better piece activity, with all four of my remaining pieces into the game and his two rooks still back on the back rank and behind pawns.

14. Be6+ Kb8 15. Ng4 Bg7

16. Bd5 Bd7

I need to avoid trades to not let him simplify.

17. Ne3 Bxb2

And here is the final mistake. I knew it'd put me into a sticky position after Rab1, but I just couldn't ignore the "loose" pawn. Better ideas were Be5, Rde8, Rf6. Maybe even something like Bb5, then try to trade the dark bishop for the knight on e3 and clearing out the f-file for an attack.

Game is completely lost from here.

18. Rab1 Bd4 19. Rxb7+ Kc8

Decided to let him play out the mate rather than resign.

20. Rfb1 Ba4

Crafty suggests Bb6 as a way to somewhat preserve the game here. I should have seen that.

21. Be6+ Bd7 22. Rb8#

1-0

New rating: 1366