Lessons From Prague 4

IN round four with black I played an 'automatic' developing move that allowed my opponent to immediately gain a substantial advantage.

White has just played 8.Nd2

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

Reasonable is 8...Nxd2, while Stockfish15.1 and Komodo14.1 recommend 8...Bh3!?

Instead I played 8...e6? (technically this is not a developing move in that it does not develop a piece, but it opens a diagonal for Black's light-square bishop and it is normal to refer to such a move as developing).

After 9.Nxe4 dxe4 (9...Bxe4?! 10.Bxe4 dxe4 loses a pawn to 11.Qxd7+ Kxd7 12,0-0-0+ and 13.Rd4) 10.Qxd7+ Kxd7 11.0-0-0+ White was ahead in development and had a target at e4.

LESSON: there are genuinely forced moves in chess, and they usually should be played quickly, but playing an 'automatic' move quickly brings to mind the humorous title of  international master Willy Hendriks' popular improvement book, Move First, Think Later. Playing like that is a good way to come up with blunders.