Dear

This year I decided to join a leage where all players are much stronger than
I am. The reason I do this, is to be able to learn something. I am
forgetting about the short term disadvantage of losing some elo points, my
aim is a long term profit.

Time control is 2 hours for the first 40 moves, and then 1 hour for all
remaining moves.

I already did some analysis on these games, but I wanted to hear from you
where my weak points are, and what suggestions you could make.

Some weak points I already identified: weak at tactics, no opening
knowledge, and trouble keeping concentrated after about 3 hours, and
apparently no active knowledge of the rules of chess, as you will see in the
first game .

Opp1 (1925) - Me (1511) [C26], 27.09.2003

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nge2 0-0 6.0-0 d6 7.h3 Be6 8.f4 Qd7
9.f5 Bc4 10.d3 Ba6 11.Bg5 Rfe8 12.Kh2 b6 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Nd5 Bg5
15.h4 Bd8 16.f6 Bc8 17.Ng1 Qg4 18.Bf3 Qd7 19.Bg2 Qg4 20.Qd2 Nd4 21.Bh3 Qg6
22.Bxc8 Rxc8 23.fxg7 Qxg7 24.c3 Ne6 25.Ne2 Kh8 26.Rf2 c6 27.Ne3
Qh6 28.Rh1 Bg5 29.Rf3 Rg8 30.Kg2 Nf4+? 31.Kf2 Nxe2 32.Qxe2 Bxe3+ 33.Qxe3
Qxe3+ 34.Kxe3 Rg7 35.d4 Re8 36.dxe5 Rxe5 37.c4 f5 38.Rxf5 Rxf5
39.exf5 Rxg3+ 40.Kf4 Rg2 41.Rd1 Rxb2 42.Rxd6 Rxa2 43.Kg5 Rg2+ 44.Kf6 Rg8
45.Rxc6 Rf8+ 46.Ke6 Kg8 47.Rc7 Re8+ 48.Kf6 Rf8+ 49.Kg5 Rf7 50.Rc6
Kg7 51.f6+ Kg8 52.Kf5 Rf8 53.Rc7 Rf7 54.Rc8+ Rf8 55.Rc6 Ra8 56.Rc7 a5
57.Rg7+ Kh8 58.Rb7 a4 59.Rxb6 a3 60.Rb1 Kg8 61.c5 a2 62.Ra1 Ra5 63.Ke6
Ra6+ 64.Ke7 Ra7+ 65.Kd6 Kf7 66.c6 Ra6 67.Kd7 Kxf6? 68.c7 Ra7 69.Kd8 1-0

I knew my opponent plays the Vienna. However, since I have a busy job and
had only one week time, I decided not to try to master this opening at the
level of my opponent. Instead, I did some tactical quizzes. They say I am
completely lost in the opening. I seem to make a comeback arount move 28
(-0.50). At move 30, my opponent plays hxg5. Shock. Look at the elo
difference, you just don't expect something like that. I notified my
opponent he made an illegal move, and forgot about the fact he should play
h5, which Fritz8 evaluates as +2.25
(http://users.skynet.be/fa096445/tw/f...7/DSC00771.jpg) . For the
rest of the game, I was very pleased to be able to make it last so long. It
seems I still had a draw at move 67 with Ra3.


Opp2 (1642) - Me (1511) [D40], 04.10.2003

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.e3 Nf6 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 Be7 8.0-0 0-0
9.Qe2 cxd4 10.Rd1 e5 11.exd4 Nxd4 12.Nxd4 exd4 13.Qe5 Ng4 14.Qxd4
Qxd4 15.Rxd4 Bc5 16.Rd2 a6 17.Ne4 Ba7 18.Re2 Re8?? 19.Bxf7+! 1-0

It seems I had an advantage in the middle game, but the last moves were
downhill, and the last one was a complete blunder.


Me (1511) - Opp3 (1792) [B23], 11.10.2003

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 e6 4.Nf3 a6 5.g3 b5 6.Bg2 Rb8 7.0-0 g6 8.b3 Bg7 9.Bb2
Nd4 10.Rb1 Nxf3+ 11.Qxf3 Nf6 12.g4 h5 13.g5 Nh7 14.Nxb5 Bxb2
15.Nd6+ Ke7 16.Nxc8+ Rxc8 17.Rxb2 Qa5 18.Qd3 Rhd8 19.a4 Qb6 20.Qc4 a5 21.Qb5
Qd6 22.Rf2 Qc7 23.e5 Rb8 24.Qd3 Rb6 25.Qc3 Rdb8 26.Qxa5 c4
27.Qc3 Rb4 28.d3 Qb6 29.dxc4 Rxa4 30.c5 Ra1+ 31.Bf1 Qc6 32.Qd4 Ke8 33.b4 Qa4
34.Rd2 Nf8 35.b5 Qa8 36.b6 Qf3 37.Rf2 Qg4+ 38.Rg2 Qf3 39.Qd3
Qxf4 40.Qe2 Qd4+ 41.Rf2 Qxb2 42.Qf3 f5 43.exf6 Kf7 44.Qf4 Re8 45.Qc7 Qd4
46.c6 Qg4+ 47.Kh1 Qe4+ 48.Kg1 Qxc6 49.Qe5 Rb1 0-1

Terrible game, I am still shocked. I have an advantage of 2 pawns and
almost a piece, since the enemy knight is not doing anything. And still I
am not able to win this. Time control fear, dropping concentration, nerves,
no plan, not a clue about what to do, more nerves, and then the blunder. I
already know the enemy queen is the most dangerous piece. I always try to
exchange them, to prevent blunders like this. It seems I am not able to
operate my queen as good as my opponents do.
Nice remark: my opponent played 16. ...Bg7.
I decided before I joined this leage to never offer or accept draws (in
unclear or better positions).

My next opponent is a 1894, then it gets 'easier' with 1749, 1695, and then
again 1930, 1940, 1974, 1823 and 1645. Plan will have to be to keep the
morale high.

Kind regards

En/na e2e4 ha escrit:

Dear

This year I decided to join a leage where all players are much stronger than
I am. The reason I do this, is to be able to learn something. I am
forgetting about the short term disadvantage of losing some elo points, my
aim is a long term profit.

Perfect, this is the right way to improve.

Time control is 2 hours for the first 40 moves, and then 1 hour for all
remaining moves.

I already did some analysis on these games, but I wanted to hear from you
where my weak points are, and what suggestions you could make.

Perfect again,
I hope we will be able to read them later (and, if possible in PGN)

Some weak points I already identified: weak at tactics, no opening
knowledge, and trouble keeping concentrated after about 3 hours, and
apparently no active knowledge of the rules of chess, as you will see in the
first game .

(...) For the rest of the game, I was very pleased to be able
to make it last so long. It seems I still had a draw
at move 67 with Ra3.

Do not do that during the game, next time concentrate in the game to
fight with all your energies. You have time after the game to be happy
with your goals achieved, not during the game.

Terrible game, I am still shocked. I have an advantage of 2 pawns and
almost a piece, since the enemy knight is not doing anything. And still I
am not able to win this. Time control fear, dropping concentration, nerves,
no plan, not a clue about what to do, more nerves, and then the blunder. I
already know the enemy queen is the most dangerous piece. I always try to
exchange them, to prevent blunders like this. It seems I am not able to
operate my queen as good as my opponents do.

That happens sometimes, do not discourage you!

I decided before I joined this leage to never offer or accept draws (in
unclear or better positions).

Perfect again!! I like your approach to learn!

My next opponent is a 1894, then it gets 'easier' with 1749, 1695, and then
again 1930, 1940, 1974, 1823 and 1645. Plan will have to be to keep the
morale high.

Think about the oportunities ytou have had in the preceding games no
matter the ELO difference.

AT

PD: from Belgium?
.... Can we know your name and something more about you?

In article ,
"e2e4" wrote:

(1511) [D40], 04.10.2003

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.e3 Nf6 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 Be7 8.0-0 0-0
9.Qe2 cxd4 10.Rd1 e5 11.exd4 Nxd4 12.Nxd4 exd4 13.Qe5 Ng4 14.Qxd4
Qxd4 15.Rxd4 Bc5 16.Rd2 a6 17.Ne4 Ba7 18.Re2 Re8?? 19.Bxf7+! 1-0

It seems I had an advantage in the middle game, but the last moves were
downhill, and the last one was a complete blunder.

I don't see exactly why you think you had an advantage here. White's
pieces are generally more active that the white counterparts, and the
threat on f2 isn't very scary.


Me (1511) - Opp3 (1792) [B23], 11.10.2003

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 e6 4.Nf3 a6
5.g3 b5
6.Bg2 Rb8 7.0-0 g6 8.b3 Bg7 9.Bb2
Nd4 10.Rb1 Nxf3+ 11.Qxf3 Nf6 12.g4 h5 13.g5 Nh7 14.Nxb5 Bxb2
15.Nd6+ Ke7 16.Nxc8+ Rxc8 17.Rxb2 Qa5 18.Qd3 Rhd8 19.a4 Qb6

I wish I understood what these queenside lunges were trying to
accomplish. You don't seem to have much of a plan. It's not clear if the
exchange of bishops accomplished anything for you, other than misplace
your rook.

You're playing without any plan that I can see except to hope black
bails you our by consenting to a queen trade.

20.Qc4 a5 21.Qb5
Qd6 22.Rf2 Qc7 23.e5 Rb8 24.Qd3 Rb6 25.Qc3 Rdb8 26.Qxa5 c4
27.Qc3 Rb4 28.d3 Qb6 29.dxc4 Rxa4 30.c5 Ra1+ 31.Bf1

I think you need to take that "two pawns ahead and 'almost a piece'
ahead" and put it out of your head. Yes, the black knight is terrible.
But right now your bishop is no better. It's worse, in fact, because
it's a target. Those two pawns only become a real advantage in the
endgame, and right now the problem is that the black major pieces are
much more effective than your queens and rook. You're compeltely
reactive.

I think you need to revaluate this position if you think you had a big
advantage here.

Qc6 32.Qd4 Ke8 33.b4 Qa4
34.Rd2 Nf8 35.b5

It's good that you recognized your advantage--the passed b-pawn. The
problem is that your king is not save, your f1 bishop is doing nothing,
and your major pieces are ganging up on a well-protected pawn. The thing
you need to recognize is that your b-pawn isn't going anywhere. There's
enough material on the board to stop it. But if some of the pieces come
off, and your king gets a little safer--THEN you can advance the pawn.

Qa8 36.b6 Qf3 37.Rf2 Qg4+ 38.Rg2 Qf3 39.Qd3
Qxf4 40.Qe2 Qd4+ 41.Rf2 Qxb2 42.Qf3 f5 43.exf6 Kf7 44.Qf4 Re8 45.Qc7 Qd4
46.c6 Qg4+ 47.Kh1 Qe4+ 48.Kg1 Qxc6 49.Qe5 Rb1 0-1

Terrible game, I am still shocked.

And this is exactly why you lost. You thought this game was won, and
therefore neglected to develop a plan which would enable you to win it.
In reality, there's nothing shocking about this loss! Yes, you were a
pair of pawns up, but your opponent had compensation in the form of your
horribly passive pieces.

I always try to
exchange them, to prevent blunders like this. It seems I am not able to
operate my queen as good as my opponents do.

But it's not enough, against strong players, to offer an exchange and
hope that your opponent will take it. You have to FORCE the exchange.
Either give him no choice or put him under so much pressure that he
feels the bad ending is preferable to the bad middlegme he's in.

"Ron" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"e2e4" wrote:

(1511) [D40], 04.10.2003

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.e3 Nf6 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 Be7 8.0-0
0-0
9.Qe2 cxd4 10.Rd1 e5 11.exd4 Nxd4 12.Nxd4 exd4 13.Qe5 Ng4 14.Qxd4
Qxd4 15.Rxd4 Bc5 16.Rd2 a6 17.Ne4 Ba7 18.Re2 Re8?? 19.Bxf7+! 1-0

It seems I had an advantage in the middle game, but the last moves were
downhill, and the last one was a complete blunder.

I don't see exactly why you think you had an advantage here. White's
pieces are generally more active that the white counterparts, and the
threat on f2 isn't very scary.


Me (1511) - Opp3 (1792) [B23], 11.10.2003

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 e6 4.Nf3 a6
5.g3 b5
6.Bg2 Rb8 7.0-0 g6 8.b3 Bg7 9.Bb2
Nd4 10.Rb1 Nxf3+ 11.Qxf3 Nf6 12.g4 h5 13.g5 Nh7 14.Nxb5 Bxb2
15.Nd6+ Ke7 16.Nxc8+ Rxc8 17.Rxb2 Qa5 18.Qd3 Rhd8 19.a4 Qb6

I wish I understood what these queenside lunges were trying to
accomplish. You don't seem to have much of a plan. It's not clear if the
exchange of bishops accomplished anything for you, other than misplace
your rook.

You're playing without any plan that I can see except to hope black
bails you our by consenting to a queen trade.

20.Qc4 a5 21.Qb5
Qd6 22.Rf2 Qc7 23.e5 Rb8 24.Qd3 Rb6 25.Qc3 Rdb8 26.Qxa5 c4
27.Qc3 Rb4 28.d3 Qb6 29.dxc4 Rxa4 30.c5 Ra1+ 31.Bf1

I think you need to take that "two pawns ahead and 'almost a piece'
ahead" and put it out of your head. Yes, the black knight is terrible.
But right now your bishop is no better. It's worse, in fact, because
it's a target. Those two pawns only become a real advantage in the
endgame, and right now the problem is that the black major pieces are
much more effective than your queens and rook. You're compeltely
reactive.

I think you need to revaluate this position if you think you had a big
advantage here.

Qc6 32.Qd4 Ke8 33.b4 Qa4
34.Rd2 Nf8 35.b5

It's good that you recognized your advantage--the passed b-pawn. The
problem is that your king is not save, your f1 bishop is doing nothing,
and your major pieces are ganging up on a well-protected pawn. The thing
you need to recognize is that your b-pawn isn't going anywhere. There's
enough material on the board to stop it. But if some of the pieces come
off, and your king gets a little safer--THEN you can advance the pawn.

Qa8 36.b6 Qf3 37.Rf2 Qg4+ 38.Rg2 Qf3 39.Qd3
Qxf4 40.Qe2 Qd4+ 41.Rf2 Qxb2 42.Qf3 f5 43.exf6 Kf7 44.Qf4 Re8 45.Qc7 Qd4
46.c6 Qg4+ 47.Kh1 Qe4+ 48.Kg1 Qxc6 49.Qe5 Rb1 0-1

Terrible game, I am still shocked.

And this is exactly why you lost. You thought this game was won, and
therefore neglected to develop a plan which would enable you to win it.
In reality, there's nothing shocking about this loss! Yes, you were a
pair of pawns up, but your opponent had compensation in the form of your
horribly passive pieces.

I always try to
exchange them, to prevent blunders like this. It seems I am not able to
operate my queen as good as my opponents do.

But it's not enough, against strong players, to offer an exchange and
hope that your opponent will take it. You have to FORCE the exchange.
Either give him no choice or put him under so much pressure that he
feels the bad ending is preferable to the bad middlegme he's in.

This is harsh critizism but very true.

Regards.

En/na Ron ha escrit:
In article ,
"e2e4" wrote:

(1511) [D40], 04.10.2003

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.e3 Nf6 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 Be7 8.0-0 0-0
9.Qe2 cxd4 10.Rd1 e5 11.exd4 Nxd4 12.Nxd4 exd4 13.Qe5 Ng4 14.Qxd4
Qxd4 15.Rxd4 Bc5 16.Rd2 a6 17.Ne4 Ba7 18.Re2 Re8?? 19.Bxf7+! 1-0

It seems I had an advantage in the middle game, but the last moves were
downhill, and the last one was a complete blunder.


I don't see exactly why you think you had an advantage here. White's
pieces are generally more active that the white counterparts, and the
threat on f2 isn't very scary.

I suppose Mr e2e4 thought he had good oportunities like 16...Be6!? for
example 17.Bxe6 fxe6 18.Ne4 Bb6 and f2 has some problems.

AT

En/na Ron ha escrit:

Me (1511) - Opp3 (1792) [B23], 11.10.2003

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 e6 4.Nf3 a6 5.g3 b5
6.Bg2 Rb8 7.0-0 g6 8.b3 Bg7 9.Bb2
Nd4 10.Rb1 Nxf3+ 11.Qxf3 Nf6 12.g4 h5 13.g5 Nh7 14.Nxb5 Bxb2
15.Nd6+ Ke7 16.Nxc8+ Rxc8 17.Rxb2 Qa5 18.Qd3 Rhd8 19.a4 Qb6

I wish I understood what these queenside lunges were trying to
accomplish. You don't seem to have much of a plan. It's not clear if the
exchange of bishops accomplished anything for you, other than misplace
your rook.

You're playing without any plan that I can see except to hope black
bails you our by consenting to a queen trade.

20.Qc4 a5 21.Qb5
Qd6 22.Rf2 Qc7 23.e5 Rb8 24.Qd3 Rb6 25.Qc3 Rdb8 26.Qxa5 c4
27.Qc3 Rb4 28.d3 Qb6 29.dxc4 Rxa4 30.c5 Ra1+ 31.Bf1
I think you need to take that "two pawns ahead and 'almost a piece'
ahead" and put it out of your head. Yes, the black knight is terrible.
But right now your bishop is no better. It's worse, in fact, because
it's a target. Those two pawns only become a real advantage in the
endgame, and right now the problem is that the black major pieces are
much more effective than your queens and rook. You're compeltely
reactive.

I think you need to revaluate this position if you think you had a big
advantage here.

Qc6 32.Qd4 Ke8 33.b4 Qa4
34.Rd2 Nf8 35.b5
It's good that you recognized your advantage--the passed b-pawn. The
problem is that your king is not save, your f1 bishop is doing nothing,
and your major pieces are ganging up on a well-protected pawn. The thing
you need to recognize is that your b-pawn isn't going anywhere. There's
enough material on the board to stop it. But if some of the pieces come
off, and your king gets a little safer--THEN you can advance the pawn.


Qa8 36.b6 Qf3 37.Rf2 Qg4+ 38.Rg2 Qf3 39.Qd3
Qxf4 40.Qe2 Qd4+ 41.Rf2 Qxb2 42.Qf3 f5 43.exf6 Kf7 44.Qf4 Re8 45.Qc7 Qd4
46.c6 Qg4+ 47.Kh1 Qe4+ 48.Kg1 Qxc6 49.Qe5 Rb1 0-1

Terrible game, I am still shocked.

And this is exactly why you lost. You thought this game was won, and
therefore neglected to develop a plan which would enable you to win it.
In reality, there's nothing shocking about this loss! Yes, you were a
pair of pawns up, but your opponent had compensation in the form of your
horribly passive pieces.

I completely disagree, white position after 32...Qf3 is won for white.
White only made two tactical mistakes uin the two next moves (to lose f4
pawn and to lose his Rb2 rook). Pasive pieces are too specially the Nf8
and the by the moment Rb8.

If white did not make those mistakes and the game would have finished
1-0, maybe your opinion would be very different (an easy win, black
played badly, ...).

AT

"Antonio Torrecillas" schreef in bericht
...

I already did some analysis on these games, but I wanted to hear from
you
where my weak points are, and what suggestions you could make.

Perfect again,
I hope we will be able to read them later (and, if possible in PGN)

[Date "2003.10.11"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Me"]
[Black "Opp3"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "1511"]
[BlackElo "1792"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:0/0:3600"]

1. e4 {This move leads to more instructive games.}
c5 2. Nc3 {Closed Sicilian.} Nc6 3. f4 e6 4. Nf3 a6 5. g3 b5 {There is the
early a6-b5, typical in Sicilians, as I understand. I don't think I should
fear it.} 6. Bg2 Rb8 {Time to count development: three pieces against one.}
7.
O-O g6 {This is nice. It is always nice to have a point of attack with this
system. Fritz agrees.} 8. b3 {I will trade the dark bishop and black will
have a weak kingside with weak f6 and h6.} Bg7 9. Bb2 {This is ok after b4
Pa4.
} Nd4 {Huh? What is the point of this?} 10. Rb1 {I wanted to do something
with the knight at b5, so I have to protect my bishop. HF suggests plan
Pd1.}
Nxf3+ {Huh? Black is giving away half of it's development?} 11. Qxf3 {
Complete development! Now I can attack. Black cannot play Ne2 because of
Nxb5 Bxb2 Nd6+.} Nf6 {Deep thought. I didn't use much time to reach this
position, as opposed to my opponent. Now, is e5 better than g4? Black
cannot
castle after g4 because I can attack the knight with e5 and it has no escape
square. So the trick with Nxb5 stays. g4 is not in the top 8 list of
Fritz.
e5 is clearly better.} 12. g4 (12. e5 Ng8 13. Ne4 {Ah, now I see, attack on
c5.
} Bf8 14. f5 gxf5 (14... exf5 15. Rbe1 Be7 (15... fxe4 16. Qxf7#) 16. Nd6+
Kf8
{And so on})) 12... h5 {
Shock. This cannot be good. Such weakening of the kingside. (Fritz: +-)}
13.
g5 {Chase away the knight, and do the Nxb5-trick.} Nh7 14. Nxb5 Bxb2 15.
Nd6+
Ke7 16. Nxc8+ {Disadvantage is I swap off a good knight for a very bad and
undeveloped bishop, but removing the black bishop and therefore destroying
black's kingside and removing his right to castle is certainly worth it.}
Rxc8
{Black deliberately touches the bishop. I calmly state he's in check.} 17.
Rxb2 Qa5 {And now, I don't know why, I start fearing. I don't see a plan.
I
don't want to lose, but I really don't have a plan here. Help! Black
threatens capture on d2 and moving to a3. Anyway, I'm a pawn ahead, and the
black knight is helpless. I wanted to play Bb7 with win of the a-pawn, but
that is not possible any more.} 18. Qd3 {Wanted e5 and Qd6. Didn't know
why.}
Rhd8 {
More fear. Rook on queens line. Yesterday's lesson showed that is bad for
me.
} 19. a4 Qb6 {Something is wrong, a pawn move could be disastrous.} 20. Qc4
{
Block that damned pawn! I know, a queen is a bad blockader.} a5 {
Bad for me, the pawn cannot be attacked by the bishop.} 21. Qb5 {
You never know. The black queen should protect the a-pawn.} Qd6 {
Hmm, or it can attack a pawn.} 22. Rf2 Qc7 23. e5 {Freeing the bishop.} Rb8
24.
Qd3 {Qc4 Rb4 is not good for me.} Rb6 25. Qc3 {Cheap trick.} Rdb8 {It
works!}
26. Qxa5 {Black's face changes colors. Therefore this pawn win is a pure
win.
No catches behind it.} c4 {I started noticing my rook on b2 is bad. Didn't
see bxc4 worked because the black queen is not protected.} 27. Qc3 Rb4 28.
d3 {
I started worrying, there was something wrong with this position, I feared
some sacrifice leading to big material loss. The rook on b2 is bad.} Qb6
29.
dxc4 Rxa4 {Didn't see that. But, I can exchange here. I will lose the
a-pawn
but hope to protect the c-pawns.} 30. c5 {Instead, I wanted to do the
exchange
with the possibility of Bf8-b5 protecting the a-pawn.} Ra1+ {
What now? I should do something about the b2-rook.} 31. Bf1 {Rf1 was
better.}
Qc6 32. Qd4 {Protecting the c-pawn and hindering penetration of the queen to
d5 or e4, and threatening Qd6 forcing an exchange.} Ke8 33. b4 {Giving the
some space. Wanted to do something with the rook, having a discovered
attack
on the rook on a1. Heisman would call that a tactical seed.} Qa4 34. Rd2 {
Time to attack? Threatening d7 and Rd1 offering exchange.} Nf8 {
The beast eventually gets a role.} 35. b5 {Wanted to do something special,
proving I can calculate. My opponent was very unpleased with the situation,
and this was some psychological attack.} Qa8 36. b6 Qf3 {
Shouldn't have allowed that.} 37. Rf2 Qg4+ 38. Rg2 {
Didn't want to move my king away from my bishop.} Qf3 39. Qd3 {Rf2 would be
a
draw by repetition. Started having serious heartbearts, stress, and
concentration drops, since I thought it was intolerable to keep playing in
such a bad position (+3.00).} Qxf4 {Huh? Shock. It just had to happen, I
had
to blunder away a good position. In the meantime a lot of spectators on my
board.} 40. Qe2 {Fear of time control, and protecting the e-pawn, only
thinking about this shocking loss of a pawn.} Qd4+ {Well, this is horrible.
I
became outraged (internally, I stayed calm at the outside).} 41. Rf2 {
Ok then, I'll attack f7.} Qxb2 42. Qf3 f5 43. exf6 {My opponent started to
think very long on each move now. Spectators didn't leave my board. Was
there something left in the position? I already won a game after blundering
a
queen, having a mate in two after that blunder.} Kf7 44. Qf4 Re8 45. Qc7 Qd4
46. c6 Qg4+ 47. Kh1 Qe4+ 48. Kg1 Qxc6 49. Qe5 Rb1 {Time to stop.} 0-1


(...) For the rest of the game, I was very pleased to be able
to make it last so long. It seems I still had a draw
at move 67 with Ra3.

Do not do that during the game, next time concentrate in the game to
fight with all your energies. You have time after the game to be happy
with your goals achieved, not during the game.

I fighted with all my energies, but every move I was amazed I wasn't
slaughtered. After all, there was more than 400 elo difference, and I
didn't prepare for this match at all, and this was my first game after the
summer break. My opponent was well prepared, and in good shape, he told me.
I expected to be a piece behind in 15 moves.

Kind regards

I don't see exactly why you think you had an advantage here. White's
pieces are generally more active that the white counterparts, and the
threat on f2 isn't very scary.

After white's 16.Rd2, the white bishop and rook on a1 are passive. I
thought that was an advantage. Apparently not, if I can believe Fritz.


Me (1511) - Opp3 (1792) [B23], 11.10.2003

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 e6 4.Nf3 a6
5.g3 b5
6.Bg2 Rb8 7.0-0 g6 8.b3 Bg7 9.Bb2
Nd4 10.Rb1 Nxf3+ 11.Qxf3 Nf6 12.g4 h5 13.g5 Nh7 14.Nxb5 Bxb2
15.Nd6+ Ke7 16.Nxc8+ Rxc8 17.Rxb2 Qa5 18.Qd3 Rhd8 19.a4 Qb6

I wish I understood what these queenside lunges were trying to
accomplish.

See other post.

You don't seem to have much of a plan.

Exactly! That is my problem. I should start working on that, but I don't
know how.

It's not clear if the
exchange of bishops accomplished anything for you, other than misplace

your rook.
True. Didn't know it was that bad.


20.Qc4 a5 21.Qb5
Qd6 22.Rf2 Qc7 23.e5 Rb8 24.Qd3 Rb6 25.Qc3 Rdb8 26.Qxa5 c4
27.Qc3 Rb4 28.d3 Qb6 29.dxc4 Rxa4 30.c5 Ra1+ 31.Bf1

I think you need to take that "two pawns ahead and 'almost a piece'
ahead" and put it out of your head. Yes, the black knight is terrible.
But right now your bishop is no better. It's worse, in fact, because
it's a target.

True

Those two pawns only become a real advantage in the
endgame, and right now the problem is that the black major pieces are
much more effective than your queens and rook. You're compeltely
reactive.

True

I think you need to revaluate this position if you think you had a big
advantage here.

Well, still I had a 3 advantage according to Fritz.


Qc6 32.Qd4 Ke8 33.b4 Qa4
34.Rd2 Nf8 35.b5

It's good that you recognized your advantage--the passed b-pawn. The
problem is that your king is not save, your f1 bishop is doing nothing,
and your major pieces are ganging up on a well-protected pawn. The thing
you need to recognize is that your b-pawn isn't going anywhere. There's
enough material on the board to stop it. But if some of the pieces come
off, and your king gets a little safer--THEN you can advance the pawn.

That is an useful tip. Problem is, how to make the king safer.


Qa8 36.b6 Qf3 37.Rf2 Qg4+ 38.Rg2 Qf3 39.Qd3
Qxf4 40.Qe2 Qd4+ 41.Rf2 Qxb2 42.Qf3 f5 43.exf6 Kf7 44.Qf4 Re8 45.Qc7 Qd4
46.c6 Qg4+ 47.Kh1 Qe4+ 48.Kg1 Qxc6 49.Qe5 Rb1 0-1

Terrible game, I am still shocked.

And this is exactly why you lost. You thought this game was won, and
therefore neglected to develop a plan which would enable you to win it.

I am a beginner at chess. I only play for two years. I am happy not to
lose pieces. I am a horrible blitzer. Having a plan would be nice, but not
losing pieces was a bigger concern. I will focus mainly on tactics till I
have 1700 elo's.

Kind regards

"Terry" schreef in bericht
...

This is harsh critizism but very true.

Do not worry, I can take harsh critizism, in fact, I like it.

Kind regards.

"Antonio Torrecillas" schreef in bericht
...
En/na Ron ha escrit:
In article ,
"e2e4" wrote:

(1511) [D40], 04.10.2003

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.e3 Nf6 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 Be7 8.0-0
0-0
9.Qe2 cxd4 10.Rd1 e5 11.exd4 Nxd4 12.Nxd4 exd4 13.Qe5 Ng4 14.Qxd4
Qxd4 15.Rxd4 Bc5 16.Rd2 a6 17.Ne4 Ba7 18.Re2 Re8?? 19.Bxf7+! 1-0

It seems I had an advantage in the middle game, but the last moves were
downhill, and the last one was a complete blunder.


I don't see exactly why you think you had an advantage here. White's
pieces are generally more active that the white counterparts, and the
threat on f2 isn't very scary.

I suppose Mr e2e4 thought he had good oportunities like 16...Be6!?

Yes, I considered that, and Fritz is fond of it.

Kind regards