Hello folks,
Some observations on this game.
First of all a bit of housekeeping. The name of the opening variation ( 1 e4 e6
2 b3) is the Reti- Spielmann line. This is named after prominent players
Richard Reti and Rudolf Spielmann who were mainly active between the two World
wars. Please note the spelling of Spielmann. In contrast Jonathan Speelman is a
contemporary English GM and not noted for any specific variation of the French
Defence.
The Reti-Spielmann line is a recognised gambit after 1 e4 e6 2 b3 d5 3 Bb2
dxe4. Confusingly there is also a line that goes 1 e4 e6 2 g3 d5 3 Bg2 which
goes by the same name! However, I'm going to comment on the 2 b3 one only.
Current fashion is to decline the gambit with 3...Nf6, although on the database
3...dxe4 is the most common move. The main line is 4 Nc3 Nf6 and then 5 Qe2.
White should regain the Pawn easily enough and can then castle Queenside before
determining where his Kingside pieces are going.
The strongest theoretical continuation after 3...Nf6 is then to play 4 e5
taking the space advantage that is usual in the French Defence. According to
the database 4 Qe2 has only been played once and White lost. Obviously after
4...dxe4 5 Nc3 we have a transposition to the 3...dxe4 line, but after 4...Nxe4
Black just seems to have a good extra Pawn at little cost. However, I know
there are players out there who like to play gambits and get free play for
their pieces so I am not going to criticise David's choice.
I'm not too happy about 8...Qg5+ which just pushes the White King to a ssfer
place and leaves the Black Queen exposed. 10 Nh3 seems a quicker way of
exploiting this. However, the whole Black sequence from move 8 onwards is
suspicious and blundering a piece on move 12 is ridiculous for an engine. After
that the engine helps White by opening Kingside lines for the attack and losing
in short order despite trading Queens.
Otherwise not much to say ... and while I've been writing this Chris Ross and
posted and said most of the same!
Regards,
Tyson
On 07 March 2021 at 03:43 David Rosenkoetter <davidrosenkoetter260@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Hi, everyone.
Here’s a game I played on Lichess and I’d appreciate some comment and
critique on it. I’ve been studying the Reti-Speelman variation of the
French lately and plan on using it a week from tomorrow in an OTB
tournament in Indianapolis.
white player: DavidRosenkoetter 1529 +5
black player: Blackmovesmatter 1522 −10
Rated classical
Clock: 30 + 5
Moves
1 e4, e6,
2 b3, d5,
3 Bb2, Nf6,
4 Qe2, Nxe4,
5 Nc3, Nxc3,
6 dxc3, Bc5,
7 O-O-O, O-O
8 g4, Qg5+
9 Kb1, Nc6,
10 h3, d4,
11 Bg2, dxc3,
12 Bxc3, b6,
13 Bxc6, Rb8,
14 h4, Qf4,
15 Nh3, Qh6,
16 Be4, Qxh4,
17 Bd2, f5,
18 Ng5, Qxf2,
19 Qxf2, Bxf2,
20 gxf5, exf5,
21 Bd5+, Kh8,
22 Rxh7++ 1-0
