Bad moves must get the punishment

Chess Checks

A bad move which goes unpunished cannot be termed as a bad move! It is important to notice and understand when the opponent has either made a weak move, a bad move or simply a blunder and play accordingly. Mistakes can be in the form of miscalculation, positional blunders or at times overlooking moves.

In the game which follows, Black is strangely erratic and makes many mistakes. As a consequence he is saddled with a passive position and understandably ends on the losing side.

White: Alexander Morozevich (2590) – Black: Mikhail Ulibin (2575)
Russian Club Cup Maikop , 1998
French Defence

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5
The French Defence
3.Nc3
White has plenty of options here like 3.e5 (is known as the advance variation),  3.(exchange variation)
3. .. Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Nbd7 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.Nf3 h6 8.Bh4 c5 9.Bc4 If 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Be2 cxd4 11.Nxd4 Bc5 12.Nb3 Qxd1+ 13.Rxd1 Bb6 14.Bf3 Rb8 15.0–0 Bd7 And if  9.c3 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Be7 11.Bb5+ Bd7 12.Qb3 Bxb5 13.Qxb5+ Qd7 14.Qxd7+ Nxd7 15.Bxe7 Kxe7 16.0–0–0 Rhc8 17.Rhe1 were previously played games where the position is balanced
9...cxd4 10.0–0
If 10.Qxd4 Qxd4 11.Nxd4 a6 12.a4 Bd7 13.f3 Rc8 14.Bb3 Bc5 15.0–0–0 Rd8 was also played previously
10...Be7
If 10...Bc5 11.Qe2 0–0 12.Rad1 Qb6 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Nxd4 Qxb2 15.Rd3
11.Qe2 a6. Black can castle here or get his queen into play with 11. ..Qb6
12.Rad1 b5
A pawn advance on the Queen-side Perhaps this is a bit premature as Black could have tried to complete his development with 12...0–0 13.Nxd4 Qc7 14.Rfe1 b5 15.Bd3 (15.Bb3 Rd8 16.Bg3 Bd6 17.Bxd6 Rxd6) 15...Bd7  16.Nf5 Bd8 17.Bg3 Qa5 18.Nd6
13.Bb3

Diagram 1

13. ..Nd7. A blunder or an inaccurate move! Here on it is interesting to note how a bad move gets the punishment it deserves. Black could have continued with 13...Bb7 14.Nxd4 Qb6 15.Rd3 Rd8 16.Rfd1 0–0 17.Nf5 and even though White enjoys a good position Black can try to hold on
14.Qe4. White can even look at 14.Bxe6 fxe6  15.Nxd4
14. ..Rb8
If 14...Ra7 15.Qxd4
15.Bg3
Losing some of his advantage! Even now 15.Bxe6 is a better move!
15. ..Rb6. If 15...Bb7 16.Qxd4 Bxf3 17.gxf3 Rc8 18.Qxg7 Bf6 19.Qg4 h5 20.Qb4 h4 21.Bd6
16.Qxd4
16.Nxd4 appears better
16. ..Bf6. If 16...0–0 17.Qe3 Bf6 18.Ne5 Rb7 19.Rd6 (19.Nxf7 Rxf7 20.Qxe6 Qf8 21.Bd6 Nb6 22.Qe3 Be7 23.Bxf7+ Kxf7 24.Qf3+) 19...Rc7 20.Nc6
17.Qe3 Rc6. Another big mistake! If 17...0–0 18.Ne5 And if 17...Bxb2 18.Bd6 Qf6 19.Bb4 Rc6 20.Qa7
18.Nd4 Bxd4 19.Rxd4 Qb6
Another mistake in an already difficult position1 But Black cannot do any repair work even with 19...0–0 20.Rfd1 Re8 21.Qf3 Rb6 22.Qc3 as he just cannot shrug out of this cramped position
20.Rfd1 Nc5. Black could have castled here
21.Bd5 Bb7. A blunder and the game now gets over quickly
22.Bxc6+ Qxc6 23.Rd8+ Ke7 24.Bh4+
And Black resigned for if 24. ..g5  25.Bxg5
1–0

Diagram 2

White to play and win
1.f4+ Kxf4 2.Qxf7+ Kxe4
If 2...Kg5 3.Qe7+ Kh6 4.g5+ Kh5 5.Qxh7+ Kxg5 6.Rg3+
3.Qf3 checkmate.