Last Tuesday night was the last round of my club's weekend tournament (10 Rating Points Tonight!!! #10). I was tied for first place in my section and was really looking forward to playing the Class C player who I was tied with (Windy Gatlin). But, he didn't show up until after the round was paired and the first few moves were made. So, I was instead paired against the person in third place and half a point behind me (Copeland Blackwell).
Now, I should note that guy rated Copeland is ratted about 1194, was the person who I played in the last round of the prevouse club tournament. I was again half a point ahead of him and he managed to beat me taking the tournament and a bunch of my rating points. Here was that game and I had the black pieces:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. Nxe5 Bxf2+ 7. Rxf2 Nxe5 8. d4 Nc4 9. Bb3 b5 10. e5 Nd5 11. Qf3 O-O 12. Bxc4 bxc4 13. Qxd5 Rb8 14. Qxc4 Qe7 15. Qxc7 Qh4 16. Qxb8 Qxd4 17. Qd6 Qe4 18. Nc3 1-0
In the current tournament, I won the first round against Michael Hopkins (976) and the second round against Lee More (1218). I then had, what I believe was a strong draw against Derek Zhang (1627) and then lost my favorite game of the year against Mike Eberhardinger (1796). So, overall I have been doing well mainly due the draw and just playing well against the other players.
So, then I find round five. Having lost our last game, my history against Copeland prior to this match was 2 - 2 so this was to be our tie breaker. I started out very strong and Copeland made a mistake. I had, what might have been an amazing attack but I wasn't able to find a mating sequence so I decided to just play my four pawn advantage along with a more developed position. And then I started falling apart. I gave back my advantage and position and he had a winning position. And then, blunders began to strike him. He dropped a bishop for a pawn which resulting in a position that I thought was completely drawn. Then he made a bad King move, and I think I was in a winning position but then he dropped a rook which gave me an easy position to finish up in.
So, I moved from a clearly winning possiiotn, to a drawn position to a win. And won the tournament. So, what does one learn from this type of game? Well, I read a book a while ago, in fact I might have even made a blog post on it. It is called the "Art Of Learning" and it covers the concept of battling back from a losing possition. The idea of trying to reset your mind os you don't just let the emmotion of moving from a winning position to losing one and then just giving up. By staying in it and battling back, I was able to put Copeland into a possition where he could make a mistake. Where he could give me an opportunity. And in the end that is what happened.
I played well initially, then gave up everything but was lucky to have Copeland make a blunder or two. I guess that is the ture difference between 1200 and 1500, the number of blunders one makes in a game.
So, here is the game. I had the White pieces.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nc6 4. d4 Nxe4 5. dxe5 Bc5 6. Bxf7+ Kxf7 7. Qd5+ Ke8 8. Qxe4 Qe7 9. Nc3 d6 10. Nd5 Qd7 11. exd6+ Kf8 12. dxc7 Ne7 13. Nxe7 Bxe7 14. Bf4 Qb5 15. O-O-O Bf5 16. Rd5 Qxb2+ 17. Kxb2 Bxe4 18. Rd2 h6 19. Re1 Bf5 20. Nh4 Bxh4 21. Bd6+ Kf7 22. Rd5 Bf6+ 23. c3 Be6 24. Rb5 b6 25. a4 Bd7 26. Rb4 Rhe8 27. Rbe4 Bxa4 28. Rxe8 Bxe8 29. Kb3 b5 30. c4 a5 31. cxb5 Bxb5 32. Bc5 Bd7 33. Rd1 Be6+ 34. Ka4 Bf5 35. Re1 Bd7+ 36. Ka3 a4 37. Rd1 Be6 38. g4 Bxg4 39. Rb1 Be5 40. Re1 Bxc7 41. Re7+ Kf6 42. Rxc7 Ra6 43. Bd4+ Kg6 44. Rxg7+ Kf5 45. Be3 Bd1 46. Rd7 Bf3 47. Rf7+ Kg4 48. h3+ Kh4 49. Rxf3 Rf6 50. Rxf6 Kxh3 51. Rg6 Kh4 52. f4 Kh3 53. f5 1-0
Tonight begins the North Carolina Class Championship. I'm going to be luckly enough to play in this event so hopefully I can do well against other people who are in my class. I don't often get to play in my class as there aren't that many people that I know of who are in my group so I think this will be good for me.
Have fun all....
Friday, September 11, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
My Exciting Game
Hey all,
Well Tuesday night saw another tough game for me. There was an odd man in the upper and lower section so I played up against an opponent almost three hundred rating points above me. That said, this is the same guy who blundered a queen to me a few weeks ago at a weekend tournament so as you might guess, he was watching very closely.
Over all, I think I played a decent game althougth I put myself in a bad situtation eairly where ended up sacing a knight for two pawns infront of his king. I then had a great initial attack where I thought I might have had a matting attack. It turns out that I should have just grabbed a rook and then tried to play from there. But I didn't. And that is my learning point that I'm working on, knowing when sac a piece.
Here is the game:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 h6 7. c3 Na5 8. Bc2 d6 9. d4 Bg4 10. Nbd2 Be7 11. h3 Bh5 12. g4 Nxg4 13. hxg4 Bxg4 14. Qe1 Qd7 15. Qe3 Bh3 16. Nh2 Bg5 17. Qe2 h5 18. Re1 Rh6 19. Kh1 Bf4 20. Rg1 Qe6 21. Ndf3 Rg6 22. Bxf4 exf4 23. Rxg6 Qxg6 24. Rg1 Qh6 25. a4 Rb8 26. axb5 axb5 27. Bd3 Nc4 28. b3 Na3 29. Qa2 f6 30. Qxa3 g5 31. Qa7 Rc8 32. Bxb5+ Kd8 33. Ba6 g4 34. Bxc8 Kxc8 35. Qa8+ Kd7 36. Nd2 f3 37. Ndxf3 gxf3 38. Nxf3 Bg4 39. e5 Qf4 40. e6+ Ke7 41. Nh4 Qxf2 42. Ng6+ Kxe6 43. Qe8+ Kf5 44. Ne7+ Kg5 45. Qg6+ Kf4 46. Qxf6+ Ke3 47. Nd5+ Ke2 48. Qxf2+ Kxf2 49. Rxg4 hxg4 50. Nf4 1-0
I once again tried to review the game using Chess Master but that doesn't work for me. I don't understand why it plays certain moves and when it gets to the end of each variation I don't understand why those positions are better or worse. I guess I need to keep working on that. However, as you look through this game you will see how I was able to bring a lot of pieces to bear in the attack. Later in the game, I then dropped a knight and a few pawns but I still had an attack. Time go low and then I blundered the end where I should have been able to manage a draw. This game did go about 10 or 15 more moves but my opponent and I were under 2 minutes each so we didn't get them written down.
I guess I just need to keep working but next weekend is the North Carolina Class Championship, and I get to play in that. I'm really looking forward to a full weekend of chess. I hope I do well.
Well Tuesday night saw another tough game for me. There was an odd man in the upper and lower section so I played up against an opponent almost three hundred rating points above me. That said, this is the same guy who blundered a queen to me a few weeks ago at a weekend tournament so as you might guess, he was watching very closely.
Over all, I think I played a decent game althougth I put myself in a bad situtation eairly where ended up sacing a knight for two pawns infront of his king. I then had a great initial attack where I thought I might have had a matting attack. It turns out that I should have just grabbed a rook and then tried to play from there. But I didn't. And that is my learning point that I'm working on, knowing when sac a piece.
Here is the game:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 h6 7. c3 Na5 8. Bc2 d6 9. d4 Bg4 10. Nbd2 Be7 11. h3 Bh5 12. g4 Nxg4 13. hxg4 Bxg4 14. Qe1 Qd7 15. Qe3 Bh3 16. Nh2 Bg5 17. Qe2 h5 18. Re1 Rh6 19. Kh1 Bf4 20. Rg1 Qe6 21. Ndf3 Rg6 22. Bxf4 exf4 23. Rxg6 Qxg6 24. Rg1 Qh6 25. a4 Rb8 26. axb5 axb5 27. Bd3 Nc4 28. b3 Na3 29. Qa2 f6 30. Qxa3 g5 31. Qa7 Rc8 32. Bxb5+ Kd8 33. Ba6 g4 34. Bxc8 Kxc8 35. Qa8+ Kd7 36. Nd2 f3 37. Ndxf3 gxf3 38. Nxf3 Bg4 39. e5 Qf4 40. e6+ Ke7 41. Nh4 Qxf2 42. Ng6+ Kxe6 43. Qe8+ Kf5 44. Ne7+ Kg5 45. Qg6+ Kf4 46. Qxf6+ Ke3 47. Nd5+ Ke2 48. Qxf2+ Kxf2 49. Rxg4 hxg4 50. Nf4 1-0
I once again tried to review the game using Chess Master but that doesn't work for me. I don't understand why it plays certain moves and when it gets to the end of each variation I don't understand why those positions are better or worse. I guess I need to keep working on that. However, as you look through this game you will see how I was able to bring a lot of pieces to bear in the attack. Later in the game, I then dropped a knight and a few pawns but I still had an attack. Time go low and then I blundered the end where I should have been able to manage a draw. This game did go about 10 or 15 more moves but my opponent and I were under 2 minutes each so we didn't get them written down.
I guess I just need to keep working but next weekend is the North Carolina Class Championship, and I get to play in that. I'm really looking forward to a full weekend of chess. I hope I do well.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
A Good Draw
Every player with White looks for a win. You start out with the advantage of the first move which gives you a chance to shape the game. On my Tuesday night tournament game, I was finally able to be paired against someone with a higher rating than me. And he was higher by 150 points. He is a solid Class B player.
I had the White pieces and played 1.e4 as anyone who is reading my blog would know but he decided to play c5, the Sicilian. I hate playing the Sicilian. I'm not really sure why I don't like it, it is just one of those things that get under my skin. However, as a few Master's have told me, you don't really have to know a lot about the Sicilian to play it. You just make natural developing moves until you are in the middle game. So, I followed this idea.
In the end, this game was now awe inspiring of a match, however it was one where I made no major mistakes. No major mistakes in a game that went 66 moves. In reviewing parts of the game, I did get into a position where Black was slightly better but I was able to hold out and play the last few moves of the endgame well enough to pull out a draw. It's amazing how someone can be excited about a draw but I am. Mainly because it was against a Class B player and I didn't make any major mistakes throughout a long game.
I think this is a great step in the right direction. Here are the moves of the entire game:
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Qd2 Ng4 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 Nc6 10. Bb5 Bd7 11. Nf3 O-O 12. h3 Nge5 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. f4 Bxb5 15. fxe5 Bc6 16. exd6 Qxd6 17. O-O-O Bxc3 18. Qxd6 Bxb2+ 19. Kxb2 exd6 20. Rxd6 Bxe4 21. Rd2 Rac8 22. Re1 Bf5 23. Re7 Rfd8 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Rxb7 Rd2 26. Rc7 Rxg2 27. Bf6 g5 28. h4 g4 29. h5 g3 30. Rc5 Rf2 31. Bh4 Rf3 32. Bxg3 Bxc2 33. Rc8+ Kg7 34. Be5+ f6 35. Bxf6+ Rxf6 36. Rxc2 Rb6+ 37. Kc1 Ra6 38. Rg2+ Kf7 39. Kb2 Ra5 40. Rh2 Kf6 41. Kb3 Kg5 42. Kb4 Rf5 43. Rg2+ Kxh5 44. Rg7 a5+ 45. Ka4 Rg5 46. Rh7 Kg6 47. Ra7 h5 48. Ra6+ Kf7 49. Ra7+ Ke6 50. Ra6+ Kd7 51. Rh6 Ke8 52. a3 Kf7 53. Ra6 Kg7 54. Ra7+ Kh6 55. Ra6+ Rg6 56. Rxa5 h4 57. Rc5 Rg5 58. Rc1 Rh5 59. Kb4 Kg5 60. a4 h3 61. a5 h2 62. Rh1 Kg4 63. a6 Kg3 64. a7 Rh8 65. Kb5 Kg2 66. Rxh2+
I should add, that I am willing to share all of my games with anyone who would like to see them. Just let me know and I can get them to you in a PGN format.
Well, have fun everyone.....
I had the White pieces and played 1.e4 as anyone who is reading my blog would know but he decided to play c5, the Sicilian. I hate playing the Sicilian. I'm not really sure why I don't like it, it is just one of those things that get under my skin. However, as a few Master's have told me, you don't really have to know a lot about the Sicilian to play it. You just make natural developing moves until you are in the middle game. So, I followed this idea.
In the end, this game was now awe inspiring of a match, however it was one where I made no major mistakes. No major mistakes in a game that went 66 moves. In reviewing parts of the game, I did get into a position where Black was slightly better but I was able to hold out and play the last few moves of the endgame well enough to pull out a draw. It's amazing how someone can be excited about a draw but I am. Mainly because it was against a Class B player and I didn't make any major mistakes throughout a long game.
I think this is a great step in the right direction. Here are the moves of the entire game:
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Qd2 Ng4 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 Nc6 10. Bb5 Bd7 11. Nf3 O-O 12. h3 Nge5 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. f4 Bxb5 15. fxe5 Bc6 16. exd6 Qxd6 17. O-O-O Bxc3 18. Qxd6 Bxb2+ 19. Kxb2 exd6 20. Rxd6 Bxe4 21. Rd2 Rac8 22. Re1 Bf5 23. Re7 Rfd8 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Rxb7 Rd2 26. Rc7 Rxg2 27. Bf6 g5 28. h4 g4 29. h5 g3 30. Rc5 Rf2 31. Bh4 Rf3 32. Bxg3 Bxc2 33. Rc8+ Kg7 34. Be5+ f6 35. Bxf6+ Rxf6 36. Rxc2 Rb6+ 37. Kc1 Ra6 38. Rg2+ Kf7 39. Kb2 Ra5 40. Rh2 Kf6 41. Kb3 Kg5 42. Kb4 Rf5 43. Rg2+ Kxh5 44. Rg7 a5+ 45. Ka4 Rg5 46. Rh7 Kg6 47. Ra7 h5 48. Ra6+ Kf7 49. Ra7+ Ke6 50. Ra6+ Kd7 51. Rh6 Ke8 52. a3 Kf7 53. Ra6 Kg7 54. Ra7+ Kh6 55. Ra6+ Rg6 56. Rxa5 h4 57. Rc5 Rg5 58. Rc1 Rh5 59. Kb4 Kg5 60. a4 h3 61. a5 h2 62. Rh1 Kg4 63. a6 Kg3 64. a7 Rh8 65. Kb5 Kg2 66. Rxh2+
I should add, that I am willing to share all of my games with anyone who would like to see them. Just let me know and I can get them to you in a PGN format.
Well, have fun everyone.....
Monday, August 24, 2009
Personal Game Database
In my last post, I listed a few goals for my game.
1) As White. I need to stick with 1. e4 and will try the Giuoco Paino.
2) As Black, KID and the Pirc will be were I'm looking. It is hard to fully blunder these games away in 10 moves because Black develops very slowly.
3) I'm going to look over all the games that I can find that were played by GM Sokolsky.
Since then, I have made progress on steps one and two. I played 1.e4 each time as White and as Black, each of my games began 1. e4 e5, so I haven't had a chance to play the KID. However, I haven't started on my third goal. I should also add that I have not lost a game since this however, I have only played two OTB games and both against weaker players. In one of these games I even dropped a rook but did so late enough in the game that I was up and had a winning end-game position.
So, this post is going to be about my third goal. I initially thought to download and look at games that have been played by a strong Grand Master and I selected GM Sokolsky because my favorite opening as White is 1. b4 (which you will notice is one that I'm not playing because it doesn't help with a chess players overall understanding of basic openings.) So, instead of looking at this, I have spent the time of putting of my games that I have played in a PGN file. These would be all of the games that I have played since the middle of 2008 when got back into chess. So, I entered this into a PGN file and downloaded a viewer that also allows me to annotate these games in one place.
It took me a while to get this database up and running, and I had to contact a few of my opinions for their copy of the game because my annotation was a bit weak, but I have it now complete. So, right now, instead of going over GM games, I think it is more vital for me to go over the games that I actually do. Then, I think I will look for some games. But again, I'm not sure if just picking a GM and going over their games is the best solution. So, right now I'm going to think of what I can do to find the right games to review in the time that I have.
Well, that is what I have for now. I should add, that I'm going to try and find a way to post my entire PGN database of my games so anyone who wants to see them can review the them.
Have fun all, and good luck in your games.
1) As White. I need to stick with 1. e4 and will try the Giuoco Paino.
2) As Black, KID and the Pirc will be were I'm looking. It is hard to fully blunder these games away in 10 moves because Black develops very slowly.
3) I'm going to look over all the games that I can find that were played by GM Sokolsky.
Since then, I have made progress on steps one and two. I played 1.e4 each time as White and as Black, each of my games began 1. e4 e5, so I haven't had a chance to play the KID. However, I haven't started on my third goal. I should also add that I have not lost a game since this however, I have only played two OTB games and both against weaker players. In one of these games I even dropped a rook but did so late enough in the game that I was up and had a winning end-game position.
So, this post is going to be about my third goal. I initially thought to download and look at games that have been played by a strong Grand Master and I selected GM Sokolsky because my favorite opening as White is 1. b4 (which you will notice is one that I'm not playing because it doesn't help with a chess players overall understanding of basic openings.) So, instead of looking at this, I have spent the time of putting of my games that I have played in a PGN file. These would be all of the games that I have played since the middle of 2008 when got back into chess. So, I entered this into a PGN file and downloaded a viewer that also allows me to annotate these games in one place.
It took me a while to get this database up and running, and I had to contact a few of my opinions for their copy of the game because my annotation was a bit weak, but I have it now complete. So, right now, instead of going over GM games, I think it is more vital for me to go over the games that I actually do. Then, I think I will look for some games. But again, I'm not sure if just picking a GM and going over their games is the best solution. So, right now I'm going to think of what I can do to find the right games to review in the time that I have.
Well, that is what I have for now. I should add, that I'm going to try and find a way to post my entire PGN database of my games so anyone who wants to see them can review the them.
Have fun all, and good luck in your games.
Friday, August 7, 2009
A Tough Spot
Okay, I think I have reached that tough spot in my game that many C players reach and then get depressed.
I feel like I'm stronger than I play and I get frustrated that I don't do well. So, what do I mean? Well out of the last four games that I played, three of them were effectively over in the first 10 moves while the fourth I only won because my opponent made a huge blunder.
I have read those books and even commented on how spending time working on the middle and end game had a great impact on my game. But now, I don't know about that. I'm thinking about picking a the Pirc and the KID and trying to play those two against White. They are pretty similar systems for what I can tell so I should be able to leverage the ideas from both openings why playing each other. And for White, I might go back to 1. b4. It is hard to really lose that game in the first few moves because the nature of the opening but then it isn't the most stable opening out there.
After thinking that I started looking around again and find that everyone still says stick it out with 1. e4 and see what happens. But it is 1.e4 that I keep blundering. Maybe that is just what needs to happen. I need to play it more so I learn how to do well with it. I shouldn't just give up because I lose a few games.
I think that is it. I'm just freaking out because I play in a tournament and win three of the four games that I play and my rating still goes down. Maybe my stress point is my rating and I need to just forget about that.
Okay, so what is my goal. Here is its:
As White. I need to stick with 1. e4 and will try the Giuoco Paino.
As Black, KID and the Pirc will be were I'm looking. It is hard to fully blunder these games away in 10 moves because Black develops very slowly.
And I'm going to look over all the games that I can find that were played by GM Sokolsky.
This is a tough time for my chess playing. I just need to get through it and I will be good.
I feel like I'm stronger than I play and I get frustrated that I don't do well. So, what do I mean? Well out of the last four games that I played, three of them were effectively over in the first 10 moves while the fourth I only won because my opponent made a huge blunder.
I have read those books and even commented on how spending time working on the middle and end game had a great impact on my game. But now, I don't know about that. I'm thinking about picking a the Pirc and the KID and trying to play those two against White. They are pretty similar systems for what I can tell so I should be able to leverage the ideas from both openings why playing each other. And for White, I might go back to 1. b4. It is hard to really lose that game in the first few moves because the nature of the opening but then it isn't the most stable opening out there.
After thinking that I started looking around again and find that everyone still says stick it out with 1. e4 and see what happens. But it is 1.e4 that I keep blundering. Maybe that is just what needs to happen. I need to play it more so I learn how to do well with it. I shouldn't just give up because I lose a few games.
I think that is it. I'm just freaking out because I play in a tournament and win three of the four games that I play and my rating still goes down. Maybe my stress point is my rating and I need to just forget about that.
Okay, so what is my goal. Here is its:
As White. I need to stick with 1. e4 and will try the Giuoco Paino.
As Black, KID and the Pirc will be were I'm looking. It is hard to fully blunder these games away in 10 moves because Black develops very slowly.
And I'm going to look over all the games that I can find that were played by GM Sokolsky.
This is a tough time for my chess playing. I just need to get through it and I will be good.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Weekend Tournament
I played in the Reverse Angle 15 tournament this past Saturday. This is a one day chess event that draws between 40 and 60 players for a three round swiss tournament with a game 90 format. As far as I know, it is one of the strongest one day events in North Carolina.
In my first round my opponent had the white pieces and lead us into a King's Gambit. This was the first time that I have played the King's Gambit OTB in a rated event. It was a strong start to a game with Mike making a blunder on his tenth move (1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 Nb6 5. h4 g4 6. Bxf7+ Kxf7 7. Ng5+ Ke8 8. Qxg4 Nf6 9. Qxf4 Nd4 10. 0-0 Ne2+ and White resigns as he loses his queen.)
White could have made a few strong moves either the queen check, what I think is strongest or Rf1. What is really interesting here is that I ended up playing a King's Gambit online a little while before and even reviewed that game with some people that morning. The King's Gambit is an interesting game to play as it leads to some crazy attacks. Here is a link to the online game that I played earlier: http://gameknot.com/chess.pl?bd=12151132
I played very poorly in the next game and put myself in a losing position after about five moves. I know, how can someone get that close to losing in a just five moves. Well, here they are (and I was black) 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 f6 4. Bc4 Na5. Okay, it was four moves. The next two moves were 5. Bxg8 Rxg8 6. dxe5 fxe5 7. Qd5. Here I not only lose a piece, but I have no development and White is quickly bringing in attacking pieces. Moral of the story, on move 3, take the pawn. I knew that this was the correct move but wanted to try something flashy. Well, in a tournament, play solid. On one's spare time, try the something different to see what happens.
My last game was pretty interesting. It was a Grand Prix attack where I attacked before really getting my pieces together and my opponent just traded down all the material. It was a very tough end game where he made the last blunder and gave me a passed pawn. But, he didn't make this blunder until I made a few of my own. If anyone is interested in seeing this complex endgame, let me know and I will post the entire game.
In my first round my opponent had the white pieces and lead us into a King's Gambit. This was the first time that I have played the King's Gambit OTB in a rated event. It was a strong start to a game with Mike making a blunder on his tenth move (1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 Nb6 5. h4 g4 6. Bxf7+ Kxf7 7. Ng5+ Ke8 8. Qxg4 Nf6 9. Qxf4 Nd4 10. 0-0 Ne2+ and White resigns as he loses his queen.)
White could have made a few strong moves either the queen check, what I think is strongest or Rf1. What is really interesting here is that I ended up playing a King's Gambit online a little while before and even reviewed that game with some people that morning. The King's Gambit is an interesting game to play as it leads to some crazy attacks. Here is a link to the online game that I played earlier: http://gameknot.com/chess.pl?bd=12151132
I played very poorly in the next game and put myself in a losing position after about five moves. I know, how can someone get that close to losing in a just five moves. Well, here they are (and I was black) 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 f6 4. Bc4 Na5. Okay, it was four moves. The next two moves were 5. Bxg8 Rxg8 6. dxe5 fxe5 7. Qd5. Here I not only lose a piece, but I have no development and White is quickly bringing in attacking pieces. Moral of the story, on move 3, take the pawn. I knew that this was the correct move but wanted to try something flashy. Well, in a tournament, play solid. On one's spare time, try the something different to see what happens.
My last game was pretty interesting. It was a Grand Prix attack where I attacked before really getting my pieces together and my opponent just traded down all the material. It was a very tough end game where he made the last blunder and gave me a passed pawn. But, he didn't make this blunder until I made a few of my own. If anyone is interested in seeing this complex endgame, let me know and I will post the entire game.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Another Setback
Okay, it has been a long while since I have posted but some of that has to due with my new child. So, not only am I trying to improve my play, as a new father, well my time is even more spread out and my sleep reduced. However, those are just challenges to this process and challenges that others have to face as well.
Since my last post, I lost over 80 rating points due to some very bad play against some 1100 players. But, I'm still class C and this last tournament has served the purpose as to open my eyes as to what I'm doing.
Current, I'm trying to study my endgame play and to leverage this in my overall game. So far, my knowledge is steadily increasing in this but I think I still have a ways to go before I see the impact in my OTB game.
Secondly, I spent time going over the openings of the games I have played this year to try and understand what my opponents are playing against me. I have found that may people who I play (in my weekly club game) are starting with d4 and my best response has been the KID. So, I have decided to spend some time reviewing that in more detail. In this review, I am using YouTube and the MCO. So, I'm still basic in this understanding but I think I am making progress.
In addition to this, I have decided to move away from playing the Caro-Kann in response to 1. e4. My rational behind this is two fold. First, I haven't been playing it very well. I have a few wins and a few draws but none of the games were extremely good. And I had some very bad loses against players who really used their knights with deadly impact. Simply put, my lack of understanding the key concepts behind this opening as a Black player, put me at a huge disadvantage. And secondly, I'm playing either the Ruy Lopez or the Giuoco Piano as White so I have decided to play the Black side of this as well. This will help me to learn OTB how to both play the white and black side and thus save me some time in my studying as I can center my study time on just two openings.
As a side note, I have been the assistant TD at a few tournaments including one scheduled for this Saturday. As an assistant mainly charged with the doing the pairings, I also play in these events. So, this weekend I have a three game event cumming on and hopefully I will be able to preform well.
Good games to all
Since my last post, I lost over 80 rating points due to some very bad play against some 1100 players. But, I'm still class C and this last tournament has served the purpose as to open my eyes as to what I'm doing.
Current, I'm trying to study my endgame play and to leverage this in my overall game. So far, my knowledge is steadily increasing in this but I think I still have a ways to go before I see the impact in my OTB game.
Secondly, I spent time going over the openings of the games I have played this year to try and understand what my opponents are playing against me. I have found that may people who I play (in my weekly club game) are starting with d4 and my best response has been the KID. So, I have decided to spend some time reviewing that in more detail. In this review, I am using YouTube and the MCO. So, I'm still basic in this understanding but I think I am making progress.
In addition to this, I have decided to move away from playing the Caro-Kann in response to 1. e4. My rational behind this is two fold. First, I haven't been playing it very well. I have a few wins and a few draws but none of the games were extremely good. And I had some very bad loses against players who really used their knights with deadly impact. Simply put, my lack of understanding the key concepts behind this opening as a Black player, put me at a huge disadvantage. And secondly, I'm playing either the Ruy Lopez or the Giuoco Piano as White so I have decided to play the Black side of this as well. This will help me to learn OTB how to both play the white and black side and thus save me some time in my studying as I can center my study time on just two openings.
As a side note, I have been the assistant TD at a few tournaments including one scheduled for this Saturday. As an assistant mainly charged with the doing the pairings, I also play in these events. So, this weekend I have a three game event cumming on and hopefully I will be able to preform well.
Good games to all
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