First of two teams games is over.
Team O wins as Black:
1. c4 Nf6 - I'm not a fan of opening Nf6 as black, or to be honest, the c4 opening, but I will refer judgement until I see pieces and position develop. As black I would counter with c5.
2. Nf3 g6 - both ok moves, and starting to see what black is trying to achieve
3. Nc3 Bg7 - black has conceded the middle, so I would be more aggressive and develop my pawns here, likely e4, with white more passive move I would do d5 as black
4. d4 O-O - no issues
5. e4 d6 - no real issues
6. Be2 e5 - as white I would press forward with e5, preventing black e5. I would likely do a pawn exchange early here, instead of clogging center of board.
7. Be3 Ng4 - no issues
8. Bg5 f6 - no issues, but white moves doesn't really do a lot to improve his position.
9. Bh4 Nc6 - no issues
10. d5 Ne7 - white firmly establishes center control, but has weaker coverage, and has limited bishop movement at h4. Black taking a more defensive approach than I would.
11. h3 Nh6 - no issues
12. g4 Nf7 - black being a little passive for my taste, but I think the move is ok, as it allows to shift flank
13. Qd2 c6 - white setting up a kingside flank attack? I would do Qb3.
14. b4 a5 - ok
15. b5 cxb5 - I don't like b5
16. Nxb5 Bd7 - ok
17. a4 Bxb5 - I'm ok with the bishop/knight exchange, but would likely play this differently, Rc8
18. cxb5 Qb6 -
19. O-O Rac8 - here's the black Rc8, same thought, different order. This might work better, as white has already done cxb5.
20. Rac1 Rxc1 - I really don't understand Rac1 for white, I would play Qb2. As black, my next move here would be Bh6, but the rook exchange is fine too.
21. Rxc1 Bh6 - lol, here's the Bh6 move... maybe this order is slightly more advantageous.
22. Qe1 Bxc1 - ok
23. Qxc1 g5 - ok
24. Bg3 Rc8 - I like blacks Rc8 here, and it's the move that looks to firm up the advantage for good.
25. Bc4 Qc5 - I don't like Bc4, as that allows black to put his Queen in play easily.
26. Nd2 Qb4 - ok
27. Qc2 Ng6 - both moves ok
28. f3 Nf4 - I don't care for f3, as I like the extra protection for white king. Great move by black.
29. Bxf4 gxf4 - as white I would deny this exchange, black plays it well, exposing the king.
30. Kg2 b6 - ok, kind of passive from black, who has the advantage.
31. h4 h6 - ok, same as above.
32. Qa2 Nd8 - I don't understand Qa2, as that takes the queen out of play.
33. Bb3 Rc3 - Bb3 takes the bishop out from the defense and further limits white queen, as well as allows the black rook to advance to c3. Proves to be one of the fatal moves.
34. Kh3 Qd4 - White has a chance to rectify some position issues by moving Bc4, but instead elects to move his king, allowing further development for black.
35. Kg2 Rc1 - Black turning up the pressure and forces the following white move.
36. Nf1 Qd3 - Qd3 further turns up pressure, and white needs to move the knight. I would move it the other way, but we are mainly just delaying at that point.
37. Nd2 Qe2+ - Nd2 allows black queen to roam behind, and not much to do than give up...
0-1
The second game is too close to call.
Great game, Team X.
Let the analysis begin.
