Greetings players and fellow patzers 🙂
I have snippets from two games I played in a tournament today,
each with mistakes and stories attached.
The first I will just use diagrams, but will share the second in its entirety as a PGN.
North Shields U1900 - Rnd 4
I played White vs a junior named Leonardo in a Caro-Kann, Panov attack, an old favourite of mine.
After 13 moves we got this position:
White seems better, Blacks development is a little cramped, particularly the light-squared Bishop.
Fast forward to move 22 and Black has just played Kg7:
Here, I was considering Nexg6 which is very strong, but I was missing the key idea
which is if Black recaptures with Knight, then White has Nxe6+ :
Instead, I chickened out and played Qe3 which led to a more even game.
But ultimately, my attacking momentum had gone.
Further ahead to move 35, I refuse a Queen trade and play Qb8??
I'm hoping for e3, which I either get some repetition or maybe even a mate starting with Qg8+,
but my opponent calmly plays Kh7 which is completely winning.
I was getting low on time and with only a minute on the clock I play Qd6,
but e3 came next and mate will be played soon.
However... after my move Qd3+
Inexperience struck - perhaps too excited, the junior played Qg2# , which is an illegal move!
I only had 42 seconds on the clock, so I pointed out the error, paused the clock and called the arbiter.
With the additional two minutes added to my time, I was thinking after f5 I was going to try Qf1,
but this would still fall to e2 and I'm completely bust.
Leonardo indeed tried playing f5, however, the arbiter (now watching) told him
that he must now make a Queen move, as it's following the touch-move rule.
The only legal moves, therefore, were Qe4 or Qf5, both hanging the Queen.
He played Qf5 and resigned after PxQ.
I've never felt so bad about a win 🙁 Sorry, Leonardo!
North Shields U1900 - Rnd 5
Originally I was going to withdraw after round 4, but with the game ending quite late
and as I was still reeling from how it finished, I figured it was too late to withdraw, so I decided to play.
I was somewhat pleasantly surprised to see I was paired vs Paul Bielby,
a legend on the circuit who is 90 years old - a veteran indeed!
I blundered a pawn, then "sacked a piece"... but there was a nice finish which I was pleased about.
Also, perhaps fortuitously, I was given White again.
And a very accurate statement from Paul to me, following the game:
"You played that opening rather terribly! Have you seen the Steinitz variation before?"
Fair point 😀
@64squaresofpain
Thanks for posting.
In the Caro-Kann game, second diagram, black’s g-pawn is under-defended. Why can’t you just take it off?
@moonbus
Hiya, yes I said in my notes that is what I was considering, Nexg6, and I spent around 20 mins on this move.
The problem I had was the lines I saw didn't lead to mate
and I was concerned being a piece down would lead to a weak endgame...
At the board, this wasn't a clear win for me:
Engine evaluates it at +8!....
I knew it was the right move, but I chickened out. 🙁
@64squaresofpain
Looks like a very good post, wish more players would give OTB games.
I have to go out, I'll look at it later.
@64squaresofpain saidQxRP+
@moonbus
Hiya, yes I said in my notes that is what I was considering, Nexg6, and I spent around 20 mins on this move.
The problem I had was the lines I saw didn't lead to mate
and I was concerned being a piece down would lead to a weak endgame...
At the board, this wasn't a clear win for me:
[fen]2rq1r1k/1b6/p3pnQp/3p4/3P4/1P5P/P4PP1/1BR1R1K1 w - - 1 4[/fen]
Engine evaluates it at +8!....
I knew it was the right move, but I chickened out. 🙁
gives you an outside connected passer, whereas he’s got a hobbled bishop, backward / blocked center pawns, an exposed king on open files and diagonals. I DREAM of playing such endgames! Send me a double-challenge from the diagrammed position, we’ll play it out, each of us as Black in one game, White in the other. We’ll annotate the results and post here. What do you say to that ?
“Chess is a struggle against one’s own errors.” Tartakower.
I have seen a couple turn into shouting matches and once fisticuffs.
In the second game Good to see you did not panic when you lost
the d-pawn (and because you won that game you can say it was a sacrifice)
If he had played 12...e4 then you would have been in a spot of bother and not
got anything like the counter play the ahem!? pawn sacrifice on move 8 gave you.
Here, as you pointed out 19 Qb7-Qd5 was a better move than 19 Ng4xe4
When hunting King’s first cover the flight squares then any checks (0-0+) are very serious.
And here (White to play)
A lot of players under 2000 would be very reluctant to play 23.Rxe4+ because
there is not a forced mate in three or four moves. Good play and judgment there.
After the exchange sac. Instead of 24...Ke6 how about the move 24...Qd5
Would you have taken the last round let us go home perpetual
26.Qd7+ Qe6 27.Qc5+ etc. You are a whole Rook down.
I think this is why Black did not play 24...Qd5, he was worried you would take it.
26.Rf5+ wins the WQ but Black can keep that e-pawn and when the Rooks get
into play there will be annoying chances around that pawn. Suspect a computer
will favour White but that means 10-15 no mistakes accurate moves from White.
Last round, Rook down, (a tad lucky escape) I do not think there was anything to
play for like a trophy or a bit of cash because you said you were ready to go home.
If Black had played 24...Qd5 in those circumstances I would have taken the perpetual.
.
@greenpawn34
Hiya - that move Qd5 I would have played Rf5+ and I thought I could win the e-pawn also,
meaning that I should have a winning Q v 2R ending. I presume he also saw that and so declined it.
You're right there were no prizes at stake, Paul was on 2.5/4 I was the float-up on 2/4.
It's funny that in game 4, I wussed out on playing the sack probably because I had plenty other options,
however in game 5 it seemed to be the ONLY good option I had, so just had to calculate it through and thankfully it was winning!
Hi, 64squaresofpain
That is my honest reasoning and what I would have done if it was a last
nothing to play for round. Take the draw (and see if I can get a pint out
of my opponent.)
On another occasion, yes go for it safe in the knowledge I can probably
pep check if (and when) I slip in an inaccurate move. The game will be easier
to play for the two Rooks player. At our level that counts for quite a lot.
Good opening post. Forgot to add I once could have insisted on a touch move,
my opponent played a terrible blunder. I shrugged it off and let him play another
move. About 10 moves later I resigned! I said 'never again' that was over 30 years ago.
Recently in an allegro match the same thing happened, I let an opponent take
a move back and I lost....Never Again and this time I mean it.