Bad strategic move

[Henk]

In this game I played c3-c4 ?? After this move white is strangled for f4 is not possible. Also I think a3, Qc2 and perhaps c3 were a waste of time if you want to play f4.

[d] r1bq1rk1/p3npb1/1pn3pp/2p1p3/3pP3/P1PP1NP1/1PQN1PBP/R1B1R1K1 w - - 0 12


Fortunately my engine does not make the same mistake:

Code: Select all

Depth  Value   Time(seconds)   Nodes
 18    0.0000      25.18    12503342   b2-b4 Bc8-g4 
 17    0.0000      33.66    16640937   b2-b4 Bc8-g4 b4xc5 b6xc5 c3xd4 c5xd4 Nd2-c4 Ra8-b8 Nf3-h4 a7-a5 Ra1-b1 
 16    0.0128      14.15     6985923   b2-b4 d4xc3 Qc2xc3 Nc6-d4 b4xc5 Qd8-c7 Bc1-b2 
 15    0.0128       3.16     1525619   b2-b4 
 14    0.0128       2.20      991789   b2-b4 
 13    0.0128       5.33     2729399   b2-b4 d4xc3 Qc2xc3 Nc6-d4 b4xc5 Qd8-c7 Bc1-b2 b6xc5 Nf3xd4 e5xd4 Qc3-c2 
 12    0.0256       0.95      379284   Nf3-h4 Bc8-a6 
 11    0.0256       0.76      412157   Nf3-h4 Bc8-a6 
 10    0.0256       0.30      155660   Nf3-h4 Bc8-a6 Nd2-c4 Ba6-c8 b2-b4 c5xb4 
  9    0.0512       0.03       16721   Nf3-h4 Nc6-a5 b2-b4 c5xb4 a3xb4 
  8    0.0384       0.05       22790   Nf3-h4 Nc6-a5 
  7    0.0384       0.01        3227   Nf3-h4 Nc6-a5 
  6    0.0384       0.01        6112   Nf3-h4 Nc6-a5 b2-b4 c5xb4 
  5    0.0512       0.00        1546   Nf3-h4 
  4    0.0512       0.00        1207   Nf3-h4 
  3    0.0512       0.01        3953   Nf3-h4 Nc6-a5 Nd2-c4 
  2    0.0256       0.01        1875   Nd2-c4 Bc8-d7 
  1    0.0640       0.04         107   Nf3-h4 

[yurikvelo]

Code: Select all

D=26, 1 560 MN, Komodo 9.3
-0,04	12.b4 Be6 13.bxc5 bxc5 14.Rb1 Rc8 15.Nc4 dxc3
-0,31	12.cxd4 cxd4 13.b4 Be6 14.Bb2 Qd7 15.Rec1 g5
-0,33	12.Rb1 g5 13.c4 a5 14.h3 Be6 15.Nf1 Ng6
-0,53	12.Qb1 Be6 13.cxd4 Nxd4 14.b4 Nec6 15.b5 Nxf3+
-0,55	12.h4 Be6 13.Rb1 Qd7 14.c4 a5 15.Nf1 a4
-0,57	12.Nc4 Be6 13.cxd4 cxd4 14.b3 b5 15.Ncd2 Qd7
-0,57	12.Bf1 Be6 13.Rb1 Qd7 14.Bg2 Rad8 15.c4 a5
-0,58	12.Qb3 Be6 13.Qc2 Qd7 14.Rb1 Rad8 15.c4 a5
-0,58	12.c4 a5 13.Nf1 f6 14.Bd2 Be6 15.Rab1 h5
-0,58	12.Nh4 Be6 13.Nhf3 Qd7 14.Rb1 Rad8 15.c4 a5
-0,58	12.Nb3 Be6 13.Nbd2 Qd7 14.Rb1 Rad8 15.c4 a5

D=9, 0.27 MN
+0,12	12.b4 Rb8 13.bxc5 bxc5 14.Nc4 Be6 15.cxd4 Nxd4
-0,14	12.cxd4 cxd4 13.Nc4 b5 14.Ncd2 g5 15.b4 Be6
-0,14	12.Nc4 b5 13.Ncd2 g5 14.cxd4 cxd4 15.b4 Be6
-0,27	12.Rd1 Be6 13.a4 Na5 14.b3 dxc3 15.Qxc3 Nec6
-0,28	12.a4 Be6 13.Rd1 Na5 14.b3 dxc3 15.Qxc3 Nec6
-0,29	12.h4 Be6 13.b4 dxc3 14.Qxc3 Nd4 15.bxc5 Nec6
-0,29	12.h3 Be6 13.b4 cxb4 14.axb4 dxc3 15.Qxc3 Rc8
-0,34	12.Kh1 g5 13.b4 dxc3 14.Qxc3 g4 15.Nh4 Nd4
-0,35	12.Rb1 Be6 13.b4 cxb4 14.axb4 dxc3 15.Qxc3 a5
-0,41	12.c4 Qd6 13.Nf1 Be6 14.Bd2 g5 15.Rad1 g4
-0,42	12.Nf1 Be6 13.Bd2 a5 14.h4 Qc7 15.cxd4 cxd4

[whereagles]

Well, c4 changes the structure in a way that gives black some chances on the queen side, but I don't see it as decisive mistake. At least not vs. a human.

Although computers clearly favor black after c4, white can still carry on with a plan on either side of the board.