I have often recommended my students to play out positions from both sides as a chess exercise to improve their chess skills. Here is a perfect example to play out. This was an actual game between IM Ivanov and GM Zvjaginsev at the 2008 Moscow Open. White inexplicably offered a draw after 22.c4 and Black accepted.
Play this position out. You can do it with against a friend or against your computer. White is slightly better. First play as White and see if you can win then switch side to see if you can hold as Black.
IM Ivanov (2495) – GM Zvjaginsev (2677) [C54]
Moscow Open – Round 2, 03.02.2008
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 Bb6 6.Nbd2 0–0 7.0–0 d6 8.Bb3 Ne7 9.Re1 Ng6 10.Nf1 h6 11.Ng3 c6 12.h3 d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.d4 exd4 15.Nxd4 Bc7 16.Ndf5 Qf6 17.Bc2 Bxf5 18.Nxf5 Rfe8 19.Bd2 Bf4 20.Bxf4 Ngxf4 21.Qf3 h5 22.c4 ½–½
White is much better here IMHO.
Mat in 2
anos 1:12 and 1:41
………qxb2
if cxd5 ne2+ ++ black is OK..
capiz?
“First play as White and see if you can win then switch side to see if you can hold as Black.”
Quite curios exercize…. in such an early game stadium black (without a big misadvantage) shouldn’t just play on holding the game so I would never tell someone to try this.
Black should play for the win as he should always do as long as there are chances to do so. The game hasn’t been decided yet, neither for a win of one side or a draw…
Susan, in my opinion, you should just ask to play each side trying to get the best result possible.
Greetings
Jochen