lichess.org
Donate

How can I learn to break pawn barricades?

Agree 9...Qf6 was a mistake, ...f5 better, and it got worse after that - have not leaned how to post a PGN on this site or I would add an annotated game.
@bat_of_doom
Some people prefer open games, some prefer closed games, some have no preference. I agree that a beginner is in general better to start playing open games, because mistakes become clear sooner. However, with white you can steer towards an open game, while with black you cannot. See the game: white plays 1 d4 and 2 f4 and the game is closed. White even skilfully avoided the move order 1 f4 and 2 d4, which would have allowed an open game with 1...e5 From's Gambit. After 1 d4 e5 Englund Gambit has a bad reputation. So you have to learn to play closed games at least with black if white steers it that way.

"I think basic endgames come naturally, when one improves in tactics. Though I have never read theory or studied endgames, in particular, I feel I can handle them much easily than before due to the improvement in my tactical ability." Sorry, but this is a wrong statement. I am quite sure you cannot handle endgames at all. Every chess player should start at endgames. First mate K+Q vs. K, then K+R vs. K, then K+p vs. K, then K+R vs. K+p, K+R+p vs. K+R and so on.

9...Qf6 was a big mistake losing a pawn and the centre and should have been 9...f5. However, the earlier ...Nc6 was also a mistake, as the knight does not do anything there. It should have been ...Nbd7 for control of the central square e4 with Ndf6, or else ...c5 and only then ...Nc6 to exert pressure on the central square d4.

As for pawn structures, I quote Philidor: pawns are the soul of chess.

This topic has been archived and can no longer be replied to.