16 October 2016
Annotated Game #163: Time for a draw
I was happy to get a draw in this third-round tournament game, after mishandling a rather tricky queenside situation in the English. Black here does well to get a supported queenside pawn advance first (12...b5) and then takes advantage of my failure to immediately exchange, gaining an advantage in space and piece coordination. Again my analysis reveals the importance of focusing on sequencing issues in calcuation (my move 14 should have been played on move 13) and there is also a similar overall theme between this game and Annotated Game #161; somewhat less desperately this time, I again rely on kingside counterplay and threats to gain a positive outcome, in this case a draw in a difficult position. My opponent's time situation was the largest determining factor, as playing out the complicated double rook and pawns endgame seemed to hold little attraction for either of us.
13 October 2016
Training quote of the day #9: Arkadij Naiditsch
From Peter Zhdanov's Yearbook of Chess Wisdom; see also Playing Styles Deconstructed.
When I asked GM Arkadij Naiditsch whether it would be better for me to try to develop my style by studying the games of attacking players or to eliminate my shortcomings by resorting to the masters of strategic play, he replied: "You are too weak to have a style. Study everything!"
06 October 2016
How Carlsen makes us feel better about chess III
From the Financial Times article "Inside the home (and mind) of world chess champion Magnus Carlsen":
Carlsen’s favourite object is the hammock in the centre of the terrace. “I come here and sit when I want to think how to beat opponents.” It also serves as a place for post-match reflection. “Even if I win a game, if I have made an avoidable mistake, or missed something in my calculations, I get very angry and sulk.” When that happens, he stretches out on the hammock and uses the mistake to motivate himself to be flawless next time.
Carlsen’s favourite object is the hammock in the centre of the terrace. “I come here and sit when I want to think how to beat opponents.” It also serves as a place for post-match reflection. “Even if I win a game, if I have made an avoidable mistake, or missed something in my calculations, I get very angry and sulk.” When that happens, he stretches out on the hammock and uses the mistake to motivate himself to be flawless next time.
02 October 2016
Annotated Game #162: A cure for over-optimism
The best cure for over-optimism is being punished for it and understanding why. So I hope this next game, from the second round of the tournament, is a milestone in that regard. In a main line Classical Caro-Kann, I achieve full equality out of the opening, with a dynamic position featuring elements of kingside vs. center vs. queenside play. Although the requirements of the position are fairly obvious - including challenging my opponent on the d-file - I focus instead on the queenside action (where my opponent's king is castled) to offset his kingside play. This isn't necessarily a bad strategy, but the very over-optimistic sacrifice on move 24 sinks my game. Admittedly my opponent has to find an "only move" on the defense afterwards, but it's not terribly hard to find. After that, the game is pretty much over.
This game in combination with the analysis of the previous round (Annotated Game #161) should be a good marker in terms of teaching me to better evaluate positions objectively, as well as spend the extra energy necessary for calculating critical sequences.
This game in combination with the analysis of the previous round (Annotated Game #161) should be a good marker in terms of teaching me to better evaluate positions objectively, as well as spend the extra energy necessary for calculating critical sequences.
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