# Chess: Zombywoof v Glee

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-zombywoof-v-glee/615262>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [March 9, 2012, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-zombywoof-v-glee/615262 "2012-03-09T14:00:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 16\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-zombywoof-v-glee/615262/21 "2012-03-25T11:59:16Z")

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> [@zombywoof](#):
>
> Ack, right…I know a problem of mine is a tendency to rush moves without carefully looking at all their implications (silly as that sounds when playing correspondence style like this…)

Fight that impulse. **Fight it!**

> [@zombywoof](#):
>
> I think now might be the time for b3 with the intention of following up with Bb2…not sure what other options there are for shoring up d4’s defenses (Nc3/a3 then Nb5?)

The knight would be better on c2 - on b5 I just drive it away with a6.

Zombywoof Glee

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. e5 c5
4. c3 Nc6
5. Nf3 Qb6
6. Be2 Bd7
7. OO cxd4
8. cxd4 Nge7
9. b3 Nf5

[game](http://www.apronus.com/chess/wbeditor.php?m=e4_e6_d4_d5_e5_c5_c3_Nc6_Nf3_Qb6_Be2_Bd7_O-O_cxd4_cxd4_Nge7_b3_Nf5)

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**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-zombywoof-v-glee/615262/22 "2012-03-25T21:24:32Z")

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Zombywoof Glee

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. e5 c5
4. c3 Nc6
5. Nf3 Qb6
6. Be2 Bd7
7. OO cxd4
8. cxd4 Nge7
9. b3 Nf5
10. Bb2

[link](http://www.apronus.com/chess/wbeditor.php?m=e4_e6_d4_d5_e5_c5_c3_Nc6_Nf3_Qb6_Be2_Bd7_O-O_cxd4_cxd4_Nge7_b3_Nf5_Bb2)

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**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-zombywoof-v-glee/615262/23 "2012-03-25T21:39:39Z")

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Zombywoof Glee

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. e5 c5
4. c3 Nc6
5. Nf3 Qb6
6. Be2 Bd7
7. OO cxd4
8. cxd4 Nge7
9. b3 Nf5
10. Bb2 Be7

[game](http://www.apronus.com/chess/wbeditor.php?m=e4_e6_d4_d5_e5_c5_c3_Nc6_Nf3_Qb6_Be2_Bd7_O-O_cxd4_cxd4_Nge7_b3_Nf5_Bb2_Be7)

This is a classic French Advanced position. White has more space, but his central pawns are under threat.  
White’s next move is tricky, as Nc3 and Nbd2 both lose the d4 pawn. Even Na3 loses that pawn (although White gets some compensation as Black gives up his good bishop on e7…)  
Zombywoof - you’ll need to think about this move!

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**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-zombywoof-v-glee/615262/24 "2012-03-28T18:04:15Z")

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I’m using this position in another thread as an example of how players analyse, so will post a copy here for Zombywoof.

I decided to play 10. … Be7 as generally:

- it developed a piece
- it prepared castling
- it kept my co-ordination

My selection of White’s likely replies was:

(a) g4  
(b) Nc3  
© Nbd2  
(d) Na3  
(e) Qd3

and my specific analysis of each was:

1. g4 Nh4 12. Nxh4 Bxh4, when the d4 pawn is still under pressure and White’s king-side pawns might become weak

2. Nc3 Ncxd4 winning a pawn e.g. after 12. Na4 Nxf3+ 13. Bxf3 Bxa4 14. bxa4  
(or a piece after 12. Nxd5? Nxf3+ 13. Bxf3 exd5)

3. Nbd2 - same winning a pawn variations as with Nc3

4. Na3 Nfxd4 and now

5. Nxd4 Bxa3 13. Bxa3 Qxd4 (I’ve won a pawn and unless White exchanges Queens, I win another)

6. Nxd4 Bxa3 13. Nxc6 Bxb2 14. Rb1 bxc6 15. Rxb2 (I’m a strong central passed pawn ahead)

7. Qd3 Rc8 and if 12. Nbd2 (the point of Qd3) Nb4 13. Qb1 Nc2 and Black wins the exchange.

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**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-zombywoof-v-glee/615262/25 "2012-04-01T00:50:36Z")

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Thanks, will check back in soon.

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**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-zombywoof-v-glee/615262/26 "2012-04-04T23:10:28Z")

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I do see how Nc3 and Nbd2, and Na3 all ultimately weaken the defense of the d4 pawn.

I had been wondering if your last move was setting up the possibility of following up with 11…f6 to attack my e5 pawn, at which point if I captured 12. exf6 and you recaptured 12…Bxf6 my d4 pawn is attacked 4X, defended 3X and lost.

Zombywoof Glee

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. e5 c5
4. c3 Nc6
5. Nf3 Qb6
6. Be2 Bd7
7. OO cxd4
8. cxd4 Nge7
9. b3 Nf5
10. Bb2 Be7
11. g4

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**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-zombywoof-v-glee/615262/27 "2012-04-05T08:44:26Z")

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Zombywoof Glee

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. e5 c5
4. c3 Nc6
5. Nf3 Qb6
6. Be2 Bd7
7. OO cxd4
8. cxd4 Nge7
9. b3 Nf5
10. Bb2 Be7
11. g4 Nh4

[game](http://www.apronus.com/chess/wbeditor.php?m=e4_e6_d4_d5_e5_c5_c3_Nc6_Nf3_Qb6_Be2_Bd7_O-O_cxd4_cxd4_Nge7_b3_Nf5_Bb2_Be7_g4_Nh4)

If 12. Nxh4 Bxh4

> [@zombywoof](#):
>
> I do see how Nc3 and Nbd2, and Na3 all ultimately weaken the defense of the d4 pawn.
> 
> I had been wondering if your last move was setting up the possibility of following up with 11…f6 to attack my e5 pawn, at which point if I captured 12. exf6 and you recaptured 12…Bxf6 my d4 pawn is attacked 4X, defended 3X and lost.

It’s certainly a possibility.  
At the moment you’d be unwise to play exf6, for the reasons you gave. But you wouldn’t have to, isnce e5 is well defended…

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**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-zombywoof-v-glee/615262/28 "2012-05-08T21:46:35Z")

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Zombywoof Glee

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. e5 c5
4. c3 Nc6
5. Nf3 Qb6
6. Be2 Bd7
7. OO cxd4
8. cxd4 Nge7
9. b3 Nf5
10. Bb2 Be7
11. g4 Nh4
12. Nxh4 Bxh4

At this point my thinking is that (for lack of seeing anything to immediately attack or defend) I’d like to get my a-file Rook freed up (to maybe move to the c-file?). Playing Qd3 to follow up with Nd2 loses the d4 pawn as explained above; Na3 doesn’t accomplish much in itself (and goes against the general advice to keep your knights away from the board edge, no?), however I don’t see anything obviously wrong with it either…

1. Na3

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**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-zombywoof-v-glee/615262/29 "2012-05-09T05:11:46Z")

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Zombywoof Glee

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. e5 c5
4. c3 Nc6
5. Nf3 Qb6
6. Be2 Bd7
7. OO cxd4
8. cxd4 Nge7
9. b3 Nf5
10. Bb2 Be7
11. g4 Nh4
12. Nxh4 Bxh4
13. Na3 Be7

Welcome back!

Note that your bishop on b2 is now ‘overloaded’, i.e. it protects both d4 and a3 - so I threaten Bxa3 and then capturing on d4…

[game](http://www.apronus.com/chess/wbeditor.php?m=e4_e6_d4_d5_e5_c5_c3_Nc6_Nf3_Qb6_Be2_Bd7_O-O_cxd4_cxd4_Nge7_b3_Nf5_Bb2_Be7_g4_Nh4_Nxh4_Bxh4_Na3_Be7)

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**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-zombywoof-v-glee/615262/30 "2012-05-09T17:41:08Z")

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Zombywoof Glee

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. e5 c5
4. c3 Nc6
5. Nf3 Qb6
6. Be2 Bd7
7. OO cxd4
8. cxd4 Nge7
9. b3 Nf5
10. Bb2 Be7
11. g4 Nh4
12. Nxh4 Bxh4
13. Na3 Be7
14. Nc2

I see…my thinking here is to get the Knight out of harm’s way while further defending the d4 pawn.

[Game](http://www.apronus.com/chess/wbeditor.php?m=e4_e6_d4_d5_e5_c5_c3_Nc6_Nf3_Qb6_Be2_Bd7_O-O_cxd4_cxd4_Nge7_b3_Nf5_Bb2_Be7_g4_Nh4_Nxh4_Bxh4_Na3_Be7_Nc2)

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**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2012, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-zombywoof-v-glee/615262/31 "2012-05-11T14:04:17Z")

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Zombywoof Glee

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. e5 c5
4. c3 Nc6
5. Nf3 Qb6
6. Be2 Bd7
7. OO cxd4
8. cxd4 Nge7
9. b3 Nf5
10. Bb2 Be7
11. g4 Nh4
12. Nxh4 Bxh4
13. Na3 Be7
14. Nc2 OO

This last move is a classical decision, especially where there is a blocked centre (as here):

- which side do I castle?
- where do my rooks go?

I’ve decided I will be safe on the K-side (it helps that if White advances his K-side pawns, he weakens his own king’s defences.)  
My rooks will come to c8 and f8 (I plan to play f6 as White has defended d4 well…)

[Game](http://www.apronus.com/chess/wbeditor.php?m=e4_e6_d4_d5_e5_c5_c3_Nc6_Nf3_Qb6_Be2_Bd7_O-O_cxd4_cxd4_Nge7_b3_Nf5_Bb2_Be7_g4_Nh4_Nxh4_Bxh4_Na3_Be7_Nc2_O-O)

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**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-zombywoof-v-glee/615262/32 "2012-05-20T01:29:40Z")

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Zombywoof Glee

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. e5 c5
4. c3 Nc6
5. Nf3 Qb6
6. Be2 Bd7
7. OO cxd4
8. cxd4 Nge7
9. b3 Nf5
10. Bb2 Be7
11. g4 Nh4
12. Nxh4 Bxh4
13. Na3 Be7
14. Nc2 OO
15. Rc1

[Link](http://www.apronus.com/chess/wbeditor.php?m=e4_e6_d4_d5_e5_c5_c3_Nc6_Nf3_Qb6_Be2_Bd7_O-O_cxd4_cxd4_Nge7_b3_Nf5_Bb2_Be7_g4_Nh4_Nxh4_Bxh4_Na3_Be7_Nc2_O-O_Rc1)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2012, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-zombywoof-v-glee/615262/33 "2012-05-24T09:18:50Z")

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Zombywoof Glee

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. e5 c5
4. c3 Nc6
5. Nf3 Qb6
6. Be2 Bd7
7. OO cxd4
8. cxd4 Nge7
9. b3 Nf5
10. Bb2 Be7
11. g4 Nh4
12. Nxh4 Bxh4
13. Na3 Be7
14. Nc2 OO
15. Rc1 f6

[Link](http://www.apronus.com/chess/wbeditor.php?m=e4_e6_d4_d5_e5_c5_c3_Nc6_Nf3_Qb6_Be2_Bd7_O-O_cxd4_cxd4_Nge7_b3_Nf5_Bb2_Be7_g4_Nh4_Nxh4_Bxh4_Na3_Be7_Nc2_O-O_Rc1_f6)

Since Zombywoof has carefully defended d4, I switch to pressure on e5.  
I also hope to show that g4 was a weakening move (at the time it was a natural move to get rid of my annoying Knight on f5.)  
Pawns can’t move backwards, so any ‘bold’ advance is a potentional weakness…

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**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-zombywoof-v-glee/615262/34 "2012-05-30T22:52:36Z")

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Zombywoof Glee

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. e5 c5
4. c3 Nc6
5. Nf3 Qb6
6. Be2 Bd7
7. OO cxd4
8. cxd4 Nge7
9. b3 Nf5
10. Bb2 Be7
11. g4 Nh4
12. Nxh4 Bxh4
13. Na3 Be7
14. Nc2 OO
15. Rc1 f6

I’m not sure there’s anything I can do about the threat to e5 specifically…my thought here, for what it’s worth, is to get my Queen into a more active position, controlling more squares with more mobility.

1. Qd3

(if 16…fxe5 then 17. dxe5)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-zombywoof-v-glee/615262/35 "2012-05-31T15:37:11Z")

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Zombywoof Glee

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. e5 c5
4. c3 Nc6
5. Nf3 Qb6
6. Be2 Bd7
7. OO cxd4
8. cxd4 Nge7
9. b3 Nf5
10. Bb2 Be7
11. g4 Nh4
12. Nxh4 Bxh4
13. Na3 Be7
14. Nc2 OO
15. Rc1 f6
16. Qd3 fxe5
17. dxe5 Bg5

[game](http://www.apronus.com/chess/wbeditor.php?m=e4_e6_d4_d5_e5_c5_c3_Nc6_Nf3_Qb6_Be2_Bd7_O-O_cxd4_cxd4_Nge7_b3_Nf5_Bb2_Be7_g4_Nh4_Nxh4_Bxh4_Na3_Be7_Nc2_O-O_Rc1_f6_Qd3_fxe5_dxe5_Bg5)

> [@zombywoof](#):
>
> I’m not sure there’s anything I can do about the threat to e5 specifically…my thought here, for what it’s worth, is to get my Queen into a more active position, controlling more squares with more mobility.

A good summary!

I now feel Black has enough advantage to analyse some lines.

I first looked at 17. … Bc5 18. Qg3 Rf7 19. Kg2 Raf8 20. f4, but here White has broken the pin on f2 and supported e5 successfully.

So my move prepares to attack e5 whilst preventing f4 by White.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-zombywoof-v-glee/615262/36 "2012-06-02T19:22:26Z")

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Zombywoof Glee

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. e5 c5
4. c3 Nc6
5. Nf3 Qb6
6. Be2 Bd7
7. OO cxd4
8. cxd4 Nge7
9. b3 Nf5
10. Bb2 Be7
11. g4 Nh4
12. Nxh4 Bxh4
13. Na3 Be7
14. Nc2 OO
15. Rc1 f6
16. Qd3 fxe5
17. dxe5 Bg5
18. Rce1

[Game](http://www.apronus.com/chess/wbeditor.php?m=e4_e6_d4_d5_e5_c5_c3_Nc6_Nf3_Qb6_Be2_Bd7_O-O_cxd4_cxd4_Nge7_b3_Nf5_Bb2_Be7_g4_Nh4_Nxh4_Bxh4_Na3_Be7_Nc2_O-O_Rc1_f6_Qd3_fxe5_dxe5_Bg5_Rce1)

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-zombywoof-v-glee/615262.md?page=1)
