Hey guys this game demonstrates one of my biggest weaknesses... inability to formulate a plan! I went having a nice material advantage to being crushed.

Any insights as to how I should have been thinking during this game are greatly appreciated. I was playing Black.

[Event "Chessmaster: Grandmaster Edition Rated Game"]
[Site ""]
[Date "2009.7.3"]
[Round ""]
[White "Diana"]
[Black "jkfielder"]
[TimeControl "1500"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO " "]

1.d4 d5
2.c4 e6
3.Nc3 Nf6
4.Bg5 Nbd7
5.cxd5 exd5
6.Qb3 c6
7.e4 Be7
I didn't want to take because after 7... dxe4 8. Nxe4 I felt that the pin on my Knight on f6 would be extremely unpleasant. I was trying to keep it simple.

8.Nh3 O-O
9.Bd3 c5
I prefered this move over dxe4 for the same reasons previously mentioned. Also, I was hoping for the game continuation. (10... c4).

10.O-O c4
11.Bxc4 dxc4
12.Qxc4
At this point I felt that white probably had good compensation and I was regretting not taking on d4.

12...Nb6
13.Qd3 Be6
14.Rfd1 Bc4
15.Qf3 Qd7
At this point after connecting my rooks I had no idea what to do. Development was over and my game basically became about hoping that white would make a tactical error.

16.b3 Be6
I didn't want to park my bishop in front of my rook pawn because I was concerned it would hamper my ability to move my queen side pawns.

17.Qd3 Ne8
Trying to exchange bishops to trade down and also because I couldn't see anything else constructive to do.

18.Qg3 Nf6
Realized it was probably better to leave near the center .

19.Qd3 Rac8
Moving the rook to the semi-open file.

20.Rac1 Rfd8
Moving the rook on to the same file as the white queen.

21.Nf4 Bg4
22.f3 Bh5
From this point on I couldn't really see a way to make progress and white launched an attack and destroyed me.

23.e5 h6
24.exf6 hxg5
25.fxe7 Re8
26.Nxh5 Rxe7
27.d5 Rce8
28.Ne4 Qf5
29.Nef6+

1-0

What could I have done differently? CM9k has pointed out some of the tactical flaws in my moves but to be honest after everything was developed I couldn't see any way to make progress, I had no plan at all. There was nothing that stuck out like 'open the d file' or anything.

Any suggestions of what could have been a useful plan especially after move 15?

Thanks in advance guys.

[Event "Chessmaster: Grandmaster Edition Rated Game"]
[Site ""]
[Date "2009.7.3"]
[Round ""]
[White "Diana"]
[Black "jkfielder"]
[TimeControl "1500"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO " "]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Qb3 c6 7.e4 Be7 8.Nh3 O-O 9.Bd3 c5 10.O-O c4 11.Bxc4 dxc4 12.Qxc4 Nb6 13.Qd3
Be6 14.Rfd1 Bc4 15.Qf3 Qd7 16.b3 Be6 17.Qd3 Ne8 18.Qg3 Nf6 19.Qd3 Rac8 20.Rac1 Rfd8 21.Nf4 Bg4 22.f3 Bh5 23.e5 h6 24.exf6 hxg5
25.fxe7 Re8 26.Nxh5 Rxe7 27.d5 Rce8 28.Ne4 Qf5 29.Nef6+ 1-0

Heres pgn minus annotation for ease of use.

Once ahead in material, trade some pieces. Look for favorable trades. For example, 13...Bxh3 is nice as you either win the d-pawn pawn after 14.Qxh3 or weaken pawn structure after 14.gh3 which gives you attacking chances given the weak K protection. Also, when planning, pressure the central pawns quickly. You are up a piece which means you have an extra attacker. He can not defend everything when you have an extra attacker. Focus on weakest points in his position. Getting the rooks to the c-file quickly gives you control of the only open file and leads to you breaking through or getting to trade the rooks and queen which is good when you are ahead material. You already know the tactical errors since you went over them with the computer. The tactical errors are what hurt you the most, so continue to do tactics training with the computer. If you never miss a 2-move tactic, you will be surprised how many more games you win! Hope that helps.

Thanks a lot for your help!

Sounds like my tactics need much more work. Thanks again.

Since I don't have a chess board in front of me (11 pm + my psp has no chessboard), here's a few thoughts that come to mind:

1) 4. Be7 and 5. 0-0 is an alternative. No pin, your king is safe, and your other knight can go to a more influential post on c6.

2) When you push your pawn to c4, you attack the bishop at the cost of giving White the c5 square and a safer d-pawn. Space does not mean everything.

3) Put your extra material to use.

Hey thanks for the advice!

I played Nbd7 just to try it. I've seen quite a few games where that move (or one similar) is played, esp. in closed positions like certain lines of the French or QGD. To be honest I don't really understand it so I will probably stick to breaking the pin with Be7 and the like.

The pawn to c4 move gained me 1 point in material after the game continuation although white got very nice central pawns and greater control as compensation. In hindsight it was probably a poor choice. The alternative of cxd4 is an interesting idea that I didn't think of in the game.

I couldn't see any good way to put my material to use otherwise I certainly would have!

Thanks for your help!

hey, i looked at your game last night and attempted an analysis of it...sure i found some useful insights...i dont want to sound harsh, but it's how i understand the game...please bear with my comments.

i play the black side of the queen's gambit declined too (im sure you know what your opening is called like) and i've read that if you play an opening, you must learn not just the variations, but the strategic ideas and finesses of the opening as well. to quote GM Kotov:
"The main task when studying an opening is to understand the strategic essence of certain basic positions which determine the scheme of variations."
so, when you play an opening, you must know that the subsequent plans you should formulate depend on what positions may arise from the opening, that is, you take into account the resulting pawn structure, the placement (centralization) of the pieces, etc...there are various prescribed methods on handling QGD positions in books...maybe you should try look for them.
for instance, you must know that after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5 your opponent cannot play 6.Nxd5? because that drops a piece to Nxd5 7. Bxd8 Bb4+...
also, in the QGD, once Black has lashed out the freeing lever ...c5 or...e5 he gets a freer game. yes, you should fight for the control of the centre! that's one of the basic tenets of chess: control the center. so, in the QGD you undermine White's pawn duo d4-c4.
and, odd as it may seem, you already were a piece up(!) for two central pawns and surely he would not have compensation for the sacrificed material if only you knew what to do with those menacing central duo: blockade them then destroy them! that's Nimzowitsch's formula in the "My System"...
Simplify when you have a material advantage, like what others here said...and Bxh3! not only wrecks his kingside position but enables you to create targets (weaknesses) in his position for future use.
i won't delve into the variations much because you simply had too many blunders and were indecisive..so maybe address those problems first. see my thread on "chess vision"...that may help to eliminate blunders and oversights..
and study, study, study..chess is such a wide subject... infinite perhaps...

I've been having a hard time finding a computer, so sorry about the wait.

Here's my take on the game. As you were Black, most of my comments will be directed to that side, although I have shaken my finger at some of ChessMaster's moves in the past (especially the lower difficulty).

1.d4 d5
2.c4 e6
3.Nc3 Nf6
4.Bg5 Nbd7
I've already pointed out that 4. ...Be7 and 5. ...0-0 is another option, but White can win a pawn by cxd5 exd5 Nxd5,since the knight on f6 is pinned and the knight on d7 blocks the queen.
5.cxd5 exd5
6.Qb3 c6
7.e4 Be7
Basically forced. Notice how your light-squared bishop has a hard time developing.
8.Nh3 O-O
Not much else to do. dxe4 gets a free pawn, but White's queen would aim at the kingside, which isn't looking very strong right now. Your queenside pieces are stuck together like glue.
9.Bd3 c5
A for effort and a B+ in execution. The d5 pawn is a sitting duck, but taking on d4 and then moving the d-knight should free up some of your pieces.
10.O-O
Interesting choice by White. The center will open up sooner or later, and his king may have come open on e1. However, this gives you the time you need to free up some pieces.
11. ...c4
Very good. Getting a bishop off the board is a good start.
11.Bxc4 dxc4
12.Qxc4 Nb6
Attacking the queen feels good, but doesn't solve White's central bind. At least you got your other bishop in the game.
13.Qd3 Be6
And you stick the bishop on a defensive square. Tsk tsk. Instead, you have the opportunity to go into a winning endgame with 13. ...Bxh3! Don't believe me?
13. ...Bxh3! 14. gxh3 Nxe5! and White is forced to trade down. Black gets a pawn back, White has no minor pieces, and White's pawn structure is ruined. The knight on b6 will gladly blockade the White pawn with Nd5.
14.Rfd1 Bc4
Playing actively and putting pressure on White's center. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to attack it, and White would have a better game if his rooks were on d1 and e1.
15.Qf3 Qd7
Connecting the rooks. Bb4 is also an option.

In your original post, you mentioned not having a plan, especially from move 15 onward. This position is a good starting point. A slow plan of 16. Qe6, Bb4 and Nxe4 looks good, but the White center will run you over by then. Therefore, playing for pressure of White's center by 15. ...Bb4 and 16. ...Re8. Note that after 16. ...Bxc3 17. bxc3 Na4, White's queenside is in ruins.
16.b3 Be6
Better is Bb5, although I understand why you don't want to trade. However, when up material or under attack, trading pieces will relieve your cramp and accentuate your advantage. I will point out that your knight on b6 has no shot of helping out unless you hop it over to d6.
17.Qd3 Ne8
Not ideal, but gets White's other bishop off the board.
18.Qg3 Nf6
On g3, White's queen is overloaded. By 18. ...Bxh3, Black will at least get more pieces off the board, and win material if White isn't careful.
19.Qd3 Rac8
Now is not the time for slow play! 19 ...Bb4 puts the pressure back on White and threatens the e4 pawn if White does not defend.
20.Rac1 Rfd8
Notice how you are giving time for White to consolidate and shore up his weaknesses. Improving your position isn't enough; you must create threats! Bb4, Bxh3, and h6 come to mind. Note how White's center prevents your knights from going to any useful squares.
21.Nf4 Bg4
You had a piece fork with 21. ...h6 22. Bh4 g5, although this would weaken your king position.
22.f3 Bh5
Now White is running you over because you sat around and did nothing from moves 17-20.
23.e5 h6
24.exf6 hxg5
25.fxe7 Re8
26.Nxh5 Rxe7
27.d5 Rce8
At least you don't give up without a fight.
28.Ne4 Qf5
Nxd5 gets a free pawn, defends f6, and gets that knight in action (finally!).
29.Nef6+ 1-0

Overall, probably not your best game. Your decision on move 4 (Nbd7) stuck with you for the rest of the game. Also, your decision to win a bishop for two pawns stuck with you, as you let White's pawn center become rock solid and your bishops became passive.

Thanks for replies guys.

mifs adaro, I do need to try to understand the openings I play a little better. Often as black I play the nimzo-indian against 1.d4 so I will admit that my understanding of the QGD is very limited except for the fact that its generally held as a very solid defense (incidentally another opening I'm interested in the caro-kahn lately).

granturismo4ad, thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed analysis. Probably what helped me the most in your analysis is highlighting how hesitant I was to trade pieces (despite being up material). There were several very strong variations you pointed out that would have left me with a marked advantage that I didn't pursue. In my mind I was thinking 'I have a slight material advantage, improve the position and exploit my extra material'. However as you pointed out this was unrealistic given that my knight on b6 was pretty much inactive for the entire game and I had difficult light squared bishop not to mention that it would have been better to simply trade down in the first place. Also drawing my attention to the fact that there were tactical opportunities throughout with Bxh3 and the overloaded queen.

Overall it sounds like my tactics need much more work which is why I've recently bought a tactical training program to work through. During the game I didn't even see that Bxh3 forces trades or wins material (a fairly poor oversight).

Thank you again for your help guys.

Not quite...see mifs adaro's response. I actually used to play this line with black and had a few players fall into that trap.