Benidorm Lessons: Black's Most Sensitive Square

THE following position was reached early in my round-four game.

I have just captured on e6

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Play continued 8...dxe6?! 9.Qxd8+ Nxd8?! 10.Nc3, after which Black has no good way to protect his queenside. 

The game finished quickly: 10...f6 11.Nb5 g5? 12.Be3 Kd7? 13.0-0-0+ 1-0.

Slightly better, according to Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1, is 10...Nc6, but 11.Nb5 Rb8 12.Be3 is deeply unpleasant for Black.

Another obvious try is 10...a6, but 11.Na4 is very strong, eg 11...Nc6 12.Nb6 Rb8 13.0-0-0, although Black is not immediately losing material

LESSON: beginners' books often point out how weak the square f7 is in the opening, but with queens off the board Black's weakest square is often c7, which needs careful watching.