Delaying development is risky affair

Delaying development of pieces in a chess game is one of the crucial mistakes committed by beginners but many a times this can also be seen at the higher level of the game. 

Chess basics have always emphasized on centre-control and development of pieces as the top priority in the opening stages of a game but this aspect is ignored quite a few times.

In the game which ensues White plays too many pawn moves in the Opening stages and neglects development . Black on the other hand craftily posts his pieces on crucial squares and White’s un-castled King is dragged into a check-mating net.

White: Tigran  (2445) – Black: Levon  Aronian (2518)
Yerevan, 1999
Queen Pawn Opening
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 b5
Definitely one of the surprise move, a la Benko Gamit
4.a4 b4 5.Bg2
Not one of the usual Openings but has been played previously. If 5.Nbd2 d5 6.Bg2 c5 7.0–0 Nc6 8.c4 bxc3 9.bxc3 cxd4 10.cxd4 Bb4. 5...Be7. If 5...a5 6.c4 Bb7 7.0–0 c5
6.c4 bxc3 (en-passant) 7.bxc3. If 7.Nxc3 Bb7 8.Qb3 Qc8 9.0–0 0–0
7...Ba6. An interesting move! This move halts White’s castling intentions for a while now
8.Ne5. If 8.Nbd2 d5 9.Ba3
8..d5 9.c4. White can think about 9.Ba3 here
9. ..c6. More or less a forced option. If  9...c5 10.Nc3 cxd4 11.Qxd4 Qb6 12.Qxb6 axb6 13.Rb1 Bc5 14.Be3
10.c5
If 10.cxd5 cxd5. 10...Nfd7 11.f4
If 11.Nxd7 Nxd7 12.0–0 e5
11...Nxe5 12.fxe5 0–0. Black castles and most of his pieces have taken up positions. White’s queen side is still undeveloped.
Diagram 1
13.e4. Another pawn advance! Perhaps White could have castled now!. If 13.0–0 Nd7 14.Nd2 (14.Nc3 f6 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Rb1 Rb8 ) 14...f6 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Nf3 e5 appears better for Black
13...Nd7
If 13...f6 14.exf6 Bxf6 15.e5 Be7 16.Nc3 Qe8 17.Ne2 Qh5 18.Nf4 Qf5 19.Be3
14.Nc3 f6
With the White King still standing on the original square, Black decides to open up a crucial file on the King side.
15.exd5. If 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Qd2 (16.Be Nxc5) 16...e5 17.exd5 exd4 18.Ne4 (18.dxc6 Nxc5) 18...Re8 19.Kd1 Bc4 with advantage for Black
15...cxd5
If 15...exd5 16.e6 Nb8 17.Kf2 f5 18.Re1 f4 19.Kg1
16.Qg4. The Queen swings into action on the King side but it is difficult to find support from the other pieces to attack. If 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Bxd5+ Kh8 18.e6 Nxc5 19.dxc5 Bxc5
16...f5 17.Qf3
If 17.Qf4 Nb8 18.Nb5 Nc6 19.Qd2 Rb8 20.Rb1
17...Qc7 18.Bd2
If 18.Bf4 g5 19.Bd2
18...Kh8
Taking time off for the King’s safety
19.Rb1
If 19.Nb5 Bxb5 20.axb5 Nxe5 21.Qe2 Nc4 22.Bf4 Qd7 23.0–0
19...Bxc5. A nice tactical touch!
20.dxc5 Nxe5 21.Qe3 d4
Now suddenly black’s pieces appear menacing and it is tough for White to find a good defence
22.Qxd4 Rad8 23.Nd5
If 23.Qg1 Qd7 24.Bg5 Nd3+ 25.Kd2 Nf4+ 26.Bd5 Nxd5 27.Bxd8 Nb4+ 28.Kc1 Qd3 And if 23.Qe3 Nc4
23...exd5 24.Bf4
If 24.Kd1 Nd3. 24...Rfe8 25.Kd1
The un-castled King is now trying to find a hiding place. 25. ..Rb8 26.Kc2 Bd3+ 27.Qxd3 Qxc5+ 28.Kd2 Qf2+ and White resigned with impending check-mate.
Diagram 2
White to play and win
1.Rd8+ Rxd8
If 1...Kc7 2.Qxf4 Rxf4 3.Rxh8
2.Qxf4 and White wins.