Return of the Junction

on 07 Dec 18

9703 views | 1 edit | Last edit on 07 Dec 18

Hello all,

Magnus Carlsen’s back, and so, apparently, am I. What is it that I usually do here? Claim I’m the only chess blog on the internet that does something? Apparently, I’m the only chess blogger that routinely loses a train of thought, since I wrote “I’m working on a bigger project for next week” in an introduction three months ago, and have since completely forgotten what that could have been.

I do have a new thing I’m working on now, though, and that brings me to my next point: In my absence, I’ve tried to re-evaluate my attitude towards chess. For some time, I’ve been a little discouraged, I think, partially because of the below rating graph.

At the same time, though, I think it’s a self-perpetuating cycle, at least for me. When I don’t brush up much, and I play the vast majority of games online,

I’m less likely to see any sort of results rating-wise, though I do think I understand the game better. And I do think I allowed myself to attach too much importance to the numbers: to the ratings, and reader numbers of this blog, and external stuff, and forgot that

It’s not an obligation. It’s supposed to be fun. In any case, that’s why I’m taking the time to write something semi-introspective, and, at times, semi-humorous here, instead of diving right in; I think it’s a message that we can all learn from, even if it’s difficult to always apply it. Chess is a game; that’s not a reason not to take it seriously, but it is an indication as to where our focus should be placed.

So what else do I usually do here in the introduction? Introduce the post’s topic? Here it is: the first part of a two-part story.

That story. I think I’ve rebalanced myself chesswise– I think I’m markedly better (over the board, at least) for my absence, and I began trying to prove it last weekend. But I also think I’m a better blogger– this is a sort-of warmup post, hopefully, reviewing a tournament I’ve played. Basic stuff, before I work up to the bigger and better.
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If you’re not interested in my ramblings, then I’m not sure why you read this blog, but I’m nevertheless happy to have you. Let’s (finally) get down to business.

Niilo Man Nissinen(1481)–Orion LE(1712) MCC U1800

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 {After getting dunked on a few times with some weird form of Bb3 Ng5, I figured– why not just go back to the normal things instead of interpolating a6 b5 first.} 5. d3 b5 6. Bb3 Be7 {Now, I can at least castle in response to any nonsense.} 7. Be3 d6 8. h3 {a4 is a little more active, but this prepares d4 by preventing Bg4.} 0-0 9. 0-0 Na5 {The b3 bishop has an annoying range– I’ll eliminate it before he can open up space for it with c2 or a2.} 10. Nc3 Nxb3 11. axb3 c5 {This, though, isn’t ideal– I overlooked the pin.} 12. Nxb5 Bxh3 {The only way not to lose material, interpolating the capture of a pawn and unpinning the rook.} 13. Nxd6 {He responds in kind, forcing the exchanges to continue.} Bxg2 14. Nb7 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 {Necessary, to avoid the Black bishop hoovering up the White queenside.} Qb6 {Black isn’t material down, since I took the f3 knight, but it’s not an ideal situation. My pawn structure is poor, and White’s knight and bishop are almost ideally positioned.} 16. Na5 Nd7 17. Kh2 {White now sets about attempting to turn his open kingside from a weakness into a strength, bringing heavy pieces to point at my king.} Rad8 {I’m thinking– maybe Rd6-Rg/h6 is a nice rook lift.} 18. Nc4 Qc6 19. Qg3 f5 {It’s my only recourse– if I can’t open up the board and free my pieces, my bad pawn structure will doom me.} 20. Rg1 {Not wanting to take, White throws in a few threats before responding directly.} g6 21. Na5 Qe6 22. exf5 {Ultimately, this capitulation is the deciding move– White can’t afford to expose his king to this much attack. Something like Qh3 concedes a little space, but maintains relative king safety.} Rxf5 23. Kg2 {Rg2-Kg1-Kf1 was the best defense– this only exposes the king, with f2 unprotected, to another vector of attack.} Rdf8 {e4! was best, blasting open the center right away, but this is the same idea– bringing all pieces to bear against the White king.} 24. Kf1 Rf3 {White is losing at least a piece.} 25. Qh2 Rh3 26. Qg2 Rxe3 27. Nc6 Bh4 28. Rxa6 Rg3 29. Qxg3 Bxg3 30. Rxg3 Qf7 31. f3 Qf4 32. Ne7+ Kf7 33. Nxg6 Qxg3 {0-1.}

The second game was similar –I was still finding my over-the-board groove, still working on my focus and concentration– but this time, I was punished for my mistakes, rather than gifted an opportunity to strike back.

Orion LE(1712)–Alan David Smolansky(1576) MCC U1800

1-1 in an under-1800 section– it wasn’t terrible, but I wasn’t thrilled with my results, or how I’d played. In both games, I had been over-eager, missing tactics all over the place. Although, nominally, I was calculating, I was spending more time psyching myself up, or pondering the feel of the position, rather than calmly sorting through the tactics. From this point forward, I resolved to lock it down properly– I wouldn’t give up any stupid opportunities, and I’d capitalize when my opponent blundered. Of course, things don’t always go to plan.

Seth Austin Fenton(1438)–Orion LE(1712) MCC U1800

Orion LE(1712)–Nathaniel Dana Walcott(1532) MCC U1800

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. dxc5 Bxc5 {Nf6 is better, forcing Nf3 and so eliminating any possibility of Qg4.} 5. Qg4 Ne7 6. Nf3 {The “right” move was probably Qxg7– but I wasn’t interested in overcomplicating. I wanted to wait for the moment to attack, not be gambited against myself.} 0-0 {This isn’t _wrong_ necessarily, but castling into the brewing attack seems quite suspect to me even this early. Why the rush?} 7. b4 {Eliminating any possibility of Qb6, targeting f2.} Bb6 8. Bd3 Nbc6 {Ng6 was needed instead, to prevent the coming sacrifice.} 9. Bxh7+ {Textbook, pretty much.} Kxh7 10. Qh5+ Kg8 11. Ng5 Re8 12. Qxf7+ {Picking up an extra pawn.} Kh8 13. Qh5+ Kg8 14. Qh7+ {A mistake, unfortunately. This lets the king run, exposing me to counterattack. Ba3 is much stronger, since the threat of b5 is deadly.} Kf8 15. Qh8+ Ng8 16. Qh5 Qc7 17. Nh7+ {Bb2 was better, defending e5. Now, c2, b4, and e5 are all under attack, and I’m already down material.} Ke7 18. Bg5+ Kd7 19. Qf7+ {The checks aren’t really doing much, and the weaknesses remain.} Nce7 20. 0-0 Qxe5 {Qxc2 might have been the better capture– opening up the central files doesn’t really help Black, and it would hit the h7 knight– but it’s a complicated position for both sides.} 21. Na3 {This sidelines the knight a bit– better may have been Nd2, which also prepares c4.} Qf5 22. Qxg7 Bd4 {Much like the second game, I’m gifted a much more favorable position. The temptation to simplify is understandable, but Qg6, trading queens, is a much better way to do it. Bd4 merely untangles my queen and knight.} 23. Qxd4 {And with my queen centralized, while Black’s is sidelined, my attack is much stronger.} Qxh7 24. Bf4 {c4 immediately was certainly better, but this came from an (albeit unnecessary) instinct to secure the dark squares before proceeding.} Nc6 25. Qd2 Qe4 {Nf6, developing and strengthening the center, is a strong alternative. Ng8-f6 is a much bigger change than Qh7-e4.} 26. b5 Nce7 27. c4 b6 28. Rfe1 Qf5 29. Re5 Qf7 30. cxd5 Nxd5 31. Rc1 Qxf4 {A final blunder caps it, handing me the queen, and, therefore, the game.} 32. Rxd5+ exd5 33. Qxf4 Bb7 34. Rc7+ {From here, checkmate is forced– it’s only a matter of making sure I’m not back-rank mated. My favorite strategy, in these situations? Do it all with checks.} Ke6 35. Nc2 d4 36. Nxd4+ Kd5 37. Rd7+ Kc4 38. Qc1+ Kb4 39. a3+ Ka4 40. Qc4+ Ka5 41. Qb4#

Despite some ups and downs, though, an ultimately relatively successful 3/4, after which I went into my second tournament of the weekend with a positive outlook.

Discussion Thread: Thread 179495

Best,
Orion Lehoczky Escobar

Post-Script: I’m looking to step away a little from (playing games on) RHP, even though this blog may be active; about until the end of the year. Apologies if our game drags on a little; rest assured, it’s not a slight against you personally.

Return of the Junction

Hikaru Junction

Return of the Junction

Posted to Hikaru Junction

Hikaru Junction