Haha, a “learning” day simply meant I didn’t play well ^o^
How should I put it? Even though I played badly, it was good my problems are exposed before my tournament coming in less than 2 weeks =) Objectively, I don’t think my holes would be fixed in time, but I see myself to play chess for the rest of my life — what is a little setback over casual play or even tournaments?
Based on my quick review supported by the LiveBook (online database) and Stockfish 9, despite the mistakes, I really felt both games have its learning value — especially the second game, I thought there was some interesting chess psychology at work! Even after the 2nd game ended, both of us were candid in sharing that my opponent (playing the Black pieces) certainly had something in the game. Because my opponent was in time trouble, I was able to trick him into volunteering into a bad position from a completely equal one — some quick lessons in my opinion:
1. Time management and time pressure is a part of the game — learn how exploit your time advantage, and how to cope with time pressure when you are the one down on clock.
2. Exchanges are never innocent
Diagram Position: White (me) Just played 22.Qe1-f2. It is objectively a rather equal, drawish position. But because my opponent was under time pressure, he played into White’s hand. 22…Qxf2?! is probably 1 of the only ways to lose for Black. Here, the correct way is to ignore White altogether — Black was not obliged to take the Queen at all! Waiting moves like 22…Rfd8 should be fine.
Why did this innocent move of 22.Qf2 work? Because we are taught to calculate based on the order of “checks, captures and direct threats”. Here, Black has no good checking move, the direct threat doesn’t make sense (e.g. 22…Qg5 no checkmate as the f2 Queen already defends g2, and the d6 pawn seems to fall to 23.Rxd6). Further by the convention that exchanges simplifies the position, 22…Qxf2 seems like a ‘natural instinct’ move to make (since Black has no time to look at other possible moves!) Nope, it simple helps White to grab the d-pawn with 23.Rxf2 followed by 24.Rfd2.
Chess psychology can be rather interesting, isn’t it? =)
3. Also ‘guilty’ are initial pawn moves in the opening phase
I really blamed my uncomfortable position in game 1 due to not finding the correct way to develop — even though my eventual downfall was caused by a series of inaccuracies, and missing tactical chances.
Diagram position: Here, Black’s (my) 8…a6 was really unnecessary — the light square Bishop has no prospects — just …b6 followed by …Bb7 would have made things SO SO much easier.
The full games replay can be found here:
http://view.chessbase.com/cbreader/2018/5/17/Game524518843.html
Feel free to share your thoughts, comments / criticisms, if any.
Thank you again for your time.
Yours sincerely
newbie_learner
forkandpin 