Crossing the 1200 mark
I think I might be a bit underrated on Lichess. This most recent game, despite some moments I felt like I didn’t know what I was doing, seemed too easy. He never capitalized on times where I felt I made a poor move or risked too much. I still have a terrible habit of trying risky tactics when up, which upon analysis, gives my opponent a chance to equalize.
Advantage Chart
Time Chart
As you can see, I blundered on move 6 and 7, not seeing that I had more attackers on g5. I remedied that on move 10, but he missed many chances to fix it. The computer also didn’t like my little tactic on move 16. I was hoping for 17.Nxa7 Qa5+ and depending on how he responded, either simply recapture with a more active (though maybe misplaced) queen, or better. The computer also did not like move 19…Ra7. So here’s a question: does 19…Bxb5 leave my rook open to a double attack?
Posted on April 19th, 2014
Testing out a new PGN viewer...with analysis!
Here’s my most recent 30|0 game. And here’s a link to the game on lichess.com, where you can see the more detailed computer analysis.
1.c3
Immediately gives up the initiative in controlling the center. I have never encountered this opening, so I’m just going to try and control the center.
1…d5
Perhaps e5 would have been better, but I think I can get them both on the 5th rank anyways. He does have an opening to check with his queen, but I can gain some tempo by developing with Bd7. I doubt he will try that.
2.g3
If his goal is to fianchetto his bishop, he probably should have started with his knight, since I can control the f3 square soon. He might be setting up f4 and attacking the center from the flank. Either way, he is giving up a ton a central space and I should take advantage of it.
2…e5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.b4?
If I squint this seems like the pawn structure of fool’s mate, although it’s all backwards. Can I punish the a4-d1 diagonal? His dark square bishop is pretty weak too since he has to develop his pawns to get it out. The d2 pawn will become a target if he does so. Plan is to continue development and gain control of the center.
4…e4!
Both his bishops are pretty hemmed in. I gain central space and the knight on f6 is able to protect both bishops. Seems like a good dynamic opportunity. I can still develop quicker than him.
5.Qa4 Qd7?!
I thought he would try this sooner or later. My response was probably geared towards his skill level. A queen trade and a chance to develop more would accentuate his poor bishops, my central control, and generally simplify my better position. Perhaps better was Bd7, but I have a habit of weakening the b2 pawn with these moves. Still, I have blocked my bishop. (5…Bd7 6.Qc2 a5 7.b5 Bxb5 8.d3 exd3 9.exd3 Nbd7 10.a4 Ba6 -/+)
6.Qxd7 Nbxd7 7.Bb2? c5?
I challenge the b4 pawn and set up an opportunity to develop my knight centrally and open a lane for my bishop. With my e5 pawn, I don’t see him challenging my knight on c5 very well (en passant anyone!) Still, I should have gone with Nb3 to allow my bishop to develop and then c3 to set up a kingside pointing pawn chain.
8.d4? c4??
Mistake. 8...cxd4 would have won a pawn after 9.cxd4 Bxb4+ 10.Bc3 Be7. This is also a bad habit. When I go up a pawn or so, I have a tendency to exchange and simplify, but often giving my opponent a free tempo. If 10…Bxc3, 11.Nxc3 centralizes his knight and partly makes up for the lost pawn.
9.e3 Ng4 10.h4 Bd6 11.Bh3 Ndf6 12.Na3 a6
This hems in his knight. I am sticking to my plan of controlling the center. It has been closed up quite well (partly do to a mistake by me).
13.f3?? Nxe3??
Oh Lasker, your voice haunts me. A free pawn is tempting, but 13…Bxg3+ 14.Kd2 Nf2 puts me up the exchange
14.Bxc8 Raxc8 15.Rc3 a5?
I had plans to fork the king and rook. Worst case I grab a pawn. If he took the bait, I would trade a bishop for his knight on a3, then Nc2. Better would have been 15…exf3 16.Kf2 Nf5 17.Kxf3 Ne4 18.g4 Ne7
16.Bc1? axb4 17.Rb1 bxa3 18.Bxe3 Rcb8 19.h5 exf3 20.Rb6?! Ne4 21.Nxf3 Bxg3+??
My blunder. See his blunder to know why this so bad.
22. Ke2??
(Much) better was 22.Rxg3 Nxg3 (btw, this is all I saw, so I never imagined he’d do this) 23.Bf4!!
22…Bc7 23.Ke1? Bxb6 24.Ne5? O-O?
I knew this wasn’t the best move, but I had a large advantage, and I wanted to secure my king. I couldn’t justify f6 with my king still out there. It is pretty easy from here. I gave up tactically and tried not to make huge blunders
25.Rf3 Nxc3 26.Nd7 Nxa2 27.Nxb8 Rxb8 28.Bf4 Re8+ 29.Be5 f6 30.Rxa3 fxe5 31.Ra6 Bxd4 32.Rxa2 e4 33.Rh2 e3 34.h6 e2 35.hxg7 Bxg7 36.Rxe2 Rxe2+ 37.Kxe2 c3 38.Kd1 d4 39.Kc1 Bf6 40.Kc2 h5 41.Kb3 h4 42.Kc4 h3 43.Kd3 h2 44.Ke2 h1=Q 45.Kf2 c2 46.Kg3 c1=Q 47.Kg4 Qg5# 0-1
This game was pretty straightforward. I blundered a big one, but luckily his next move was blunder. Amateurs: missing tactics, on both sides. As you can see from the chart, I had the advantage the entire game (though it came close a few times). I also feel like I put more time in to thinking in the beginning, setting up an easy game. I still don’t think amateurs should spend time learning book openings, but his lack of opening principles cost him dearly.
Advantage chart
Time chart
Posted on April 17th, 2014
Obligatory Welcome
I feel like it's time to document my journey away from patzer-y towards mastery. I have a dream, among other ambitious lifelong goals, to become a chess master. For the United States Chess Federation, that's a rating of 2200. According to their website, less than 1% of rated players reach that level. Therefore, if I am to be serious in making something of this hobby, I feel that it is necessary to not only lay out my plans, but to document my attempt. If no one reads this blog, it will be an internal reflection. If it gains a following, then hopefully it serves as a useful guidepost.
My goals are to interject fun commentary, puzzles, and learning modules which will hopefully augment my game through the process of creating this content. For now, here's a straightforward puzzle from a game I just played. Click the next arrow to see the answer.
Posted on April 17th, 2014