Standard Chess #36: IM Bartholomew vs. hood (Grunfeld Defense)

I play the 7.Nf3 line of the Grunfeld, and my opponent responds with a familiar yet perhaps inaccurate setup with ...Qc7, ...0-0, and ...Rb8. White's 13th move highlights the drawback of Black's strategy and Black suffers a space disadvantage for the entire game.

[@projectryan88]

Yes, thank you very much for all of the games. It's always a pleasure to watch you play. :)
On move 13.Nd4 is playable tactically. 13.Nd4 cxd4 14.cxd4 Qd6 15.dxe5 Qxe5 16.Qc2 Although black doesn't have to take it. So it's not forced or anything, just kinda cheeky. haha :P

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Thanks, projectryan88! :)

[@iqless7313]

Hey John, at 4:05 you say his position is cramped. What makes you say that, his mostly untouched pawns? Because from what I see, his pieces don't appear to be more cramped than yours. This is an important question for me because I wanna be able to judge cramped/open positions and exchange pieces (or not) based on that.
You're doing a great job! Cheers!

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Thanks, iqless! Good question.
Most cramped positions are a product of the pawn structure, and the position after 13.Nd2 is no exception. Black's only solid foothoold in the center is the c5-pawn, whereas I have c3/d5/e4. Moreover, his "active" knight on e5 will soon be kicked back with f2-f4, after which I'll gain another pawn influencing the center. Look to how much terrority the respective sides control with their pawns when trying to judge a cramped position.

[@eagleC911]

thanks for all your videos

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

You're welcome, Jonathan! Thank you for watching.

[@iqless7313]

Another question (as I'm watching) at about the 13th minute mark you consider Qb3 (and then possibly Qb2 in case of ...f6) so it looks like you're trying to keep the queen on the b-file. Could you elaborate why? Or maybe I should watch the whole game before I ask questions? :D

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

I considered 21.Qb3 because it connects my rooks, eyes the b5 square, and keeps his queen out of a4. The point about Qb2 (fortifying e5) is another nice benefit of this move.

[@gcgnatorcats6888]

Why not consider Rd1 @ 24:26? Threat of taking bishop on d4 than capturing knight on e5, if queen moves to light square loses knight, if queen moves back on diagonal than Rxd4 followed by Bxe5 wins a piece, if bishop moves than capture queen. any white intermezzo involving taking rook on f1 doesnt work.

[@gillywibble]

I think that the decision to take en passant on move 24 is worthy of further discussion. The computer wanted to play Bc6 and maintain the squeeze whereas the human element would open the position up because of the bishop pair. How does white win in a closed position with two bishops?

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

With time pressure approaching, I felt like the "time to strike" was nearing. Keeping the position closed has it's merits, and if it wasn't a sudden-death time control I may have considered 24.Bc6 more seriously.

[@malegupta8404]

reminds mei of nigel short game wherer he lay down his king your king hunt was fantastic and mating net loved it

[@Mregataco333]

I made the same mistake thinking the queen would be trapped only it was a couple moves earlier in the position

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Glad it wasn't just me :)

[@malegupta8404]

outstanding sir

[@penguinb4u]

thnx

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

My pleasure!