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Welcome to another episode of the “chess noob Game Review” series where the focus will be on identifying in how a game, whether I win or lose, could have been improved. This gives me an opportunity to reflect more deeply about a game and hopefully, the lessons that I draw for myself will be helpful to my fellow beginner and beginner-intermediate chess players!

This was a complicated game with 83 moves with twists and turns! I had the Black pieces and White surprised me from the first move (1. f4) – Bird’s Opening! This is an uncommon opening, occurring in 0.2% of master games, and about 1% of lower-rated online games. It is objectively not very good (Stockfish 15.1 gives it an evaluation of [-0.4]) but it absolutely has the element of surprise. According to Eric Schiller’s book, “Unorthodox Chess Openings”, there are several gambits that can come out of this opening as well.

In the opening, I simply played using general opening principles, and this worked well, taking an early advantage to around [-2]. I managed to gain some space advantage, and won a bit of tempo chasing White’s bishop and then later, their queen.

However, the middle game was of a rather closed position. All the knights were off the board, and we each still had 8 pawns each! This made for a complicated positional game. I maintained my advantage for most of the middle game, but I can’t say it ever felt like I was winning. Both my opponent and I made mistakes on later Stockfish analysis, but the “best” moves were often obscure and difficult to understand.

Later in the middle game, we both trade off our bishops, so it became a dance of rooks and pawns. And despite me having an advantage of [-5] in the middlegame, we entered an endgame each with a rook and four pawns dead drawn [0.00]. Luckily for me, I ended up with an easier to play position and I was convinced that I had a forced win on move 68. My opponent must have thought so too and so it really was a self-fulfilling prophecy. I was astounded to discover on analysis that this was position was still drawn!

Can you see how White can still draw this game? (This is covered in the video and comments in the PGN.)

After we traded rooks and my pawn promoted to queen, it was near the end. I did have to work out how to move my queen to prevent White’s last pawn from promoting, but once I worked out the pattern, the game was over. GG!

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2022.12.23"]
[Round "-"]
[White "uberabazebu"]
[Black "vitualis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "A02"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Birds-Opening"]
[UTCDate "2022.12.23"]
[UTCTime "05:21:24"]
[WhiteElo "1309"]
[BlackElo "1360"]
[TimeControl "1800"]
[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]
[StartTime "05:21:24"]
[EndDate "2022.12.23"]
[EndTime "06:03:07"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/65511764953"]

1. f4 {[%c_arrow
f2f4;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;f4;persistent;false] Bird's Opening.
This is an uncommon opening, occurring in 0.2\% of master games and about 1\% of
lower-rated online games of blitz and rapid. Objectively, it's not very good
(Stockfish 15.1 NNUE @ depth 40 gives an evaluation of around [-0.4]) with White
weakening the dark square diagonal around the king, but White will have the
element of surprise.} 1... Nc6 2. Nf3 d5 3. d4 Bf5 4. c3 Nf6 5. Nbd2 e6 6. Ne5
{[%c_arrow
e2e3;keyPressed;none;from;e2;opacity;0.8;to;e3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e3;persistent;false] Arguably, this was an
inaccuracy (from [-0.41 to -0.9]). White should probably have completed
development before going on the attack.} 6... Nxe5 7. fxe5 Ne4 8. Nxe4 Bxe4 9.
Bf4 g5 10. Bg3 h5 11. e3 h4 12. Bf2 Bg7 $2 {[%c_arrow
f7f5;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;f5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false][%c_effect
g7;square;g7;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Stockfish calls this a mistake (from
[-2.1 to -0.4]. Taking space with f5 was considered the best move.} 13. Qe2 $2
{[%c_effect e2;square;e2;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Stockfish doesn't agree
that creating this light square diagonal battery is correct (from [-0.4 to
-2.2])} 13... a6 14. O-O-O c6 $6 {[%c_arrow
c7c5;keyPressed;none;from;c7;opacity;0.8;to;c5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false][%c_effect
c6;square;c6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] An inaccuracy - I could have
struck with c5} (14... c5 {[%c_arrow
d4c5;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;c5;persistent;false,g7e5;keyPressed;none;from;g7;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false,d4e5;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false] The reason why c5 is
better is that the pawn on d4 is the only defender of the pawn on e5. If it
captures the pawn on c5, then White loses control of the centre with the dark
square bishop capturing on e5.}) 15. Qg4 $2 {[%c_effect
g4;square;g4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake [-2.3] as the queen has no
realistic attack} 15... Bf5 $6 {[%c_arrow
d8a5;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;a5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a5;persistent;false][%c_effect
f5;square;f5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] I decided to immediately attack
Black's misplaced queen, but Stockfish thinks that this was unnecessary. 
Rather, it prefers Qa5 immediately pressuring the weak defences of White's king
after castling queen-side} 16. Qe2 Qa5 17. b4 $2 {[%c_effect
b4;square;b4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake [-3.3]. White was forced to
weaken their pawns with the Qa5, but this aggressive push was unnecessary by
Black.} 17... Qa3+ $6 {[%c_arrow
a5a4;keyPressed;none;from;a5;opacity;0.8;to;a4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a4;persistent;false][%c_effect
a3;square;a3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 18. Qb2 Qxb2+ 19. Kxb2 O-O 20.
Ra1 $2 {[%c_effect a1;square;a1;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake (from
[-1.4 to -4.3]) but arguably it is somewhat obscure} 20... b5 {[%c_arrow
f7f6;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false] This was a \"missed
win\" (from [-4.3 to -1.1]. The best move was f6 and attacking the dark square
diagonal.} 21. h3 $2 {[%c_arrow
a2a4;keyPressed;none;from;a2;opacity;0.8;to;a4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a4;persistent;false][%c_effect
h3;square;h3;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake [-3.47]} 21... a5 $2
{[%c_arrow
f5e4;keyPressed;none;from;f5;opacity;0.8;to;e4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e4;persistent;false][%c_effect
a5;square;a5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake [-1.73]} 22. a3 axb4 23.
cxb4 $2 {[%c_arrow
a3b4;keyPressed;none;from;a3;opacity;0.8;to;b4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b4;persistent;false][%c_effect
b4;square;b4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake [-4]. Apparently  capturing
with the a-pawn was better, but that is a rather inhuman move $1} 23... f6 24.
exf6 Bxf6 25. Be2 e5 $2 {[%c_arrow
f5e4;keyPressed;none;from;f5;opacity;0.8;to;e4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e4;persistent;false][%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake (from [-3.9 to -1.6].} 26.
Rac1 $6 {[%c_arrow
h1c1;keyPressed;none;from;h1;opacity;0.8;to;c1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false][%c_effect
c1;square;c1;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Stockfish recommended developing
the other knight to this file} 26... Rfc8 $4 {[%c_arrow
f6g7;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;g7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g7;persistent;false][%c_effect
c8;square;c8;type;Blunder;persistent;true] Apparently a blunder which pull the
game towards equality [-0.2]. Stockfish was unconcerned regarding the c-pawn and
considered it more important for the rook to control the open f-file.} 27. Rc5 $6
{[%c_arrow
h1f1;keyPressed;none;from;h1;opacity;0.8;to;f1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f1;persistent;false][%c_effect
c5;square;c5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Stockfish didn't believe in this
attack [-0.9] and preferred Rhf1 to take control of the f-file} 27... Bd7 28.
Bg4 $4 {[%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;Blunder;persistent;true] A blunder [-5] as
the resulting trades results in doubled g-pawns for White} 28... Bxg4 29. hxg4
Ra6 $6 {[%c_arrow
e5d4;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;d4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false][%c_effect
a6;square;a6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] An inaccuracy [-3.3]} 30. Rhc1 $6
{[%c_effect c1;square;c1;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] An inaccuracy [-4.8]}
30... Be7 $2 {[%c_arrow
e5d4;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;d4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false][%c_effect
e7;square;e7;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake [-2.7]. Opening up a file
was better.} 31. R5c3 Bf6 32. R3c2 Kf7 33. dxe5 Bxe5+ 34. Kb3 Ke6 $6 {[%c_arrow
e5f6;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false][%c_effect
e6;square;e6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] An inaccuracy [-2.3] - Bf6 is
apparently better, though not entirely clear to me why.} 35. Be1 Kd7 $6
{[%c_arrow
e6d6;keyPressed;none;from;e6;opacity;0.8;to;d6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false][%c_effect
d7;square;d7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] An inaccuracy [-1.3] in a rather
complicated position} 36. Bc3 $2 {[%c_effect
c3;square;c3;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake [-3.3]} 36... Bxc3 37. Rxc3
Rca8 38. Kb2 Rf8 39. R1c2 Rf6 $2 {[%c_arrow
f8e8;keyPressed;none;from;f8;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false][%c_effect
f6;square;f6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Complicated rook and pawn endgame.
This was a mistake [-0.63]} 40. Rd3 $2 {[%c_arrow
e3e4;keyPressed;none;from;e3;opacity;0.8;to;e4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e4;persistent;false][%c_effect
d3;square;d3;type;Mistake;persistent;true] [-2.4]} 40... Ra8 $2 {[%c_arrow
d7e7;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false][%c_effect
a8;square;a8;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Moving out of the pin was better
[-0.1]} 41. e4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 41...
Rd6 42. exd5 Rxd5 43. Rxd5+ cxd5 44. Rc5 {And despite me being ahead,
substantially so at times, we enter an endgame where we are equal [0.00]} 44...
Rf8 45. Rxd5+ Kc6 $1 {[%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 46.
Rxg5 Rf2+ $1 {[%c_effect f2;square;f2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 47. Kc3
Rxg2 48. Kd4 Rg3 49. Rg6+ Kd7 50. Kc5 h3 51. Kxb5 Rxa3 $1 {[%c_effect
a3;square;a3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 52. g5 h2 53. Rh6 Ra2 $1 {[%c_effect
a2;square;a2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 54. g6 Rg2 55. Rh7+ Ke6 56. g7
Kf7 $1 {[%c_effect f7;square;f7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 57. Ka5 Kg8 58.
Rh5 $2 {[%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This was a mistake
[-2.1] though I didn't capitalise on it} 58... Kxg7 $2 {[%c_effect
g7;square;g7;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g2g5;keyPressed;none;from;g2;opacity;0.8;to;g5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g5;persistent;false] This was a mistake as
I had a winning move [0.00]} ({This was a winning move that I didn't see...}
58... Rg5+ {[%c_arrow
g5h5;keyPressed;none;from;g5;opacity;0.8;to;h5;persistent;false,g5a5;keyPressed;none;from;g5;opacity;0.8;to;a5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a5;persistent;false,h5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h5;persistent;false]}
59. Rxg5 h1=Q) 59. b5 Kg6 60. Rh3 Ra2+ 61. Kb6 Kg5 62. Kc7 Rc2+ 63. Kb7 Kg4 64.
Rh8 Kf3 65. b6 Kg2 66. Rg8+ Kf1 67. Rf8+ Kg1 68. Rg8+ Rg2 69. Rxg2+ $4
{[%c_effect g2;square;g2;type;Blunder;persistent;true] Surprisingly, the game
was actually equal prior to this point, even though it appeared that Black was
losing $1 However, this capture cements White's loss [-10].} ({This is how White
could have maintained an equal position and drawn...} 69. Rc8 h1=Q 70. Rc1+ Kh2
71. Rxh1+ Kxh1 {And Black's rook must give continual checks to prevent White's
pawn promoting to queen, thus resulting in a draw}) 69... Kxg2 70. Ka7 h1=Q 71.
b7 Qa1+ 72. Kb8 $6 {[%c_effect b8;square;b8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]}
72... Qe5+ 73. Ka7 $2 {[%c_effect a7;square;a7;type;Mistake;persistent;true]}
73... Qc5+ 74. Ka8 Qa5+ 75. Kb8 Kf3 {Effectively, Black's queen can give checks
to force White's king to block promotion. With each tempo gained, Black's king
creeps forward eventually allowing for mate} 76. Kc8 Qc5+ 77. Kb8 Ke4 78. Ka8
Qa5+ 79. Kb8 Kd5 80. Kc8 Qc5+ 81. Kb8 Kc6 82. Ka8 Qa5+ 83. Kb8 Qc7+ {[%c_effect
c6;square;c6;type;Winner,b8;square;b8;type;ResignWhite]} 0-1