AlphaZero's Dark-Square Domination

The idea behind an initial deployment of the queen's bishop to a6 in the Queen's Indian Defense is disrupt white's queenside in some way since the pressure on c4 must be addressed. AlphaZero, playing white against Stockfish 8 in this game, opts for a natural developing move to defend c4. This decision doesn't create any weaknesses, nor uncoordinate the white queenside minor pieces. Moreover AlphaZero follows up with a gambit which, to a certain extent, cuts the board in half. This gambit grants white access to the key square f5. This point is made good use of by the white queen, who pivots there to begin an early hunt of Stockfish 8's king. Is the idea of playing this Ba6-b7 finesse, to inconvenience the white queen in this case, really an inconvenience? AlphaZero attempts to make good use of the new white queen post. What quickly results is the creation of multiple dark-square weaknesses in black's camp, weaknesses AlphaZero eventually dominates.

PGN:
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. d4 e6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 c5 6. d5 exd5 7. cxd5 Bb7 8. Bg2 Nxd5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Rd1 Be7 11. Qf5 Nf6 12. e4 g6 13. Qf4 O-O 14. e5 Nh5 15. Qg4 Re8 16. Nc3 Qb8 17. Nd5 Bf8 18. Bf4 Qc8 19. h3 Ne7 20. Ne3 Bc6 21. Rd6 Ng7 22. Rf6 Qb7 23. Bh6 Nd5 24. Nxd5 Bxd5 25. Rd1 Ne6 26. Bxf8 Rxf8 27. Qh4 Bc6 28. Qh6 Rae8 29. Rd6 Bxf3 30. Bxf3 Qa6 31. h4 Qa5 32. Rd1 c4 33. Rd5 Qe1+ 34. Kg2 c3 35. bxc3 Qxc3 36. h5 Re7 37. Bd1 Qe1 38. Bb3 Rd8 39. Rf3 Qe4 40. Qd2 Qg4 41. Bd1 Qe4 42. h6 Nc7 43. Rd6 Ne6 44. Bb3 Qxe5 45. Rd5 Qh8 46. Qb4 Nc5 47. Rxc5 bxc5 48. Qh4 Rde8 49. Rf6 Rf8 50. Qf4 a5 51. g4 d5 52. Bxd5 Rd7 53. Bc4 a4 54. g5 a3 55. Qf3 Rc7 56. Qxa3 Qxf6 57. gxf6 Rfc8 58. Qd3 Rf8 59. Qd6 Rfc8 60. a4

Internet Chess Club (ICC)
Software: Blitzin

I'm a self-taught National Master in chess out of Pennsylvania, USA who was introduced to the game by my father in 1988 at the age of 8. The purpose of this channel is to share my knowledge of chess to help others improve their game. I enjoy continuing to improve my understanding of this great game, albeit slowly. Consider subscribing here on YouTube for frequent content, and/or connecting via any or all of the below social medias. Your support is greatly appreciated. Take care, bye. :D

★ LIVESTREAM   / chessnetwork  
★ TWITTER   / chessnetwork  
★ FACEBOOK   / chessnetwork  
★ PATREON   / chessnetwork  
★ DONATE https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr...