Originally posted by diskamylAfter a long hiatus from cc I decided I ought to keep my account active (else I no longer appear in the rankings list), so I recently started playing here again.
hi Mark Adkins, where have you been?
Before, I used databases extensively in the opening. Now I seldom use them at all. I found that using databases was ruining my game in several ways: first, it was ruining the fun, because playing chess by database is about as creative as painting by numbers; second, though it may have saved me from some problem positions, it wasn't as much help developing my understanding of positional principles (ironically, especially in the opening) as choosing my own moves and trying to figure out why this or that move was desirable; third, it sometimes led to highly complex positional games that I didn't understand and, after following a statistically promising database thread I might suddenly found myself floundering; fourth, it was leading me into games that might statistically be good but weren't my style or interest; fifth, I did not understand at the time just how vulnerable databases are to lacunae, both within the move sequences contained in databases, and in those extending beyond them. (That is to say, the databases are much more incomplete than I had understood, and are much less useful as a prognostication tool than I had believed; so ultimately, many of those win/loss percentages are meaningless or misleading.)
Edit: I have also radically altered my opening habits. Back to 1.d4 d5 and (for the time being) 1.e4 e5 -- in both cases as Black.
Originally posted by EladarOK, at least I see what you were going for now.
[b]Black spends a lot of time fiddling with peripheral queenside pawns, in order to entomb his bishop on b7 using his own pawns on d5 and a6.
a6 was in response to the knight on c3. I know it was late and I did it in the wrong order. I should have made the move a6 before the move Bd6. I'm trying to play the Colle Zukertort reversed. I've been told it is also called QGD.[/b]
I think White played some weak moves early on, including 4.e3 which blocks his own queen's bishop in. 4.Bg5 might have been much stronger. Also, 6.a3 seems like a waste of time. Obviously he is trying to prevent a pin that you might never attempt, instead of responding to the pin if and when you make it, and playing stronger moves in the meantime.
Under the circumstances, I think 6...Nbd7 would have been better if you wanted to do things this way. This prevents attacks with check along the diagonal leading to your king. It also supports ...c5 which I think you are shooting for because that pawn on c7 can quickly become a liability otherwise; White can open up the c-file with cxd5 and then concentrate a battery (Q + R) down the open file. If White plays Bb5 you can then play ...a6 with tempo (i.e., not wasting time because it forces the bishop to move). Of course, if White plays Qa4 you might consider ...a6 then to keep the White bishop out of b5. And finally, a knight on d7 (assuming it isn't pinned!) can cover the e5 square (where White may place his own knight).
It may be that ...a6 followed by Bd3 is just too slow. I don't know. Any comments by stronger players on this?
Edit: ANOTHER possibility is ...Bd3 without playing ...a6 first. If White plays Nb5, the bishop can go to e7.
Originally posted by EladarBy the way, QGD is an acronym for Queen's Gambit Declined, and is a generic term covering a wide variety of opening responses by Black (all of which involve avoidance of an early ...dxc4). I'm not sure what the opening you might be going for is called.
[b]Black spends a lot of time fiddling with peripheral queenside pawns, in order to entomb his bishop on b7 using his own pawns on d5 and a6.
a6 was in response to the knight on c3. I know it was late and I did it in the wrong order. I should have made the move a6 before the move Bd6. I'm trying to play the Colle Zukertort reversed. I've been told it is also called QGD.[/b]
Originally posted by Mark AdkinsI see. I think the only beneficial way of using databases is selecting games from them to build your own opening book. That should discard many of the disadvantages you have listed.
After a long hiatus from cc I decided I ought to keep my account active (else I no longer appear in the rankings list), so I recently started playing here again.
Before, I used databases extensively in the opening. Now I seldom use them at all. I found that using databases was ruining my game in several ways: first, it was ruining the fun, because ...[text shortened]... opening habits. Back to 1.d4 d5 and (for the time being) 1.e4 e5 -- in both cases as Black.
welcome back to the forums.
It may be that ...a6 followed by Bd3 is just too slow. I don't know. Any comments by stronger players on this?
Edit: ANOTHER possibility is ...Bd3 without playing ...a6 first. If White plays Nb5, the bishop can go to e7.
Two things:
I think I would have been just fine with 12. 0-0 instead, then moving my knight. My only problem with that is that I'm opening myself up to the bh7 sac. But he had not attempted his e4 push, so any attempt to follow up the bh7 sac with Ng5 would have been fruitless. I think he was attempting to use the traditional e4 Colle attack.
Another possibility would have been c6 instead of a6. c6 would still protect b5 and would also protect my King from check.
Originally posted by EladarRan through this quickly.
When I was done with this game I was very pleased. I know I made some mistakes, but I think I also made some very good moves. At the time the game was played my opponent was ranked better than 150 points above me.
In your opinion, did I play well for my ranking (1425) or did my opponent just play really bad for his ranking? What moves were paticularl ...[text shortened]... e1f1 Ra8a6 31. g3 Ra6g6
32. Qf2h2 Be7h4 33. g4 Rf8xf3 34. g5 Qh5g4 35. Qh2g2 Rf3g3 0-1
[/pgn]
Typical under 1600 game. One guy delays castling, get's caught in
a two move trick that drops a few pawns.
White then waits for the game to win itself giving Black time to create
counter-play. First time White is called upon to defend himself
he fails. He thought 'Queens off' ends the attack forgetting that Black
too can play tricks. 33....Rxf3! 0-1
White possibly had this marked down as 1-0 and concentrated on
other games. Hope not sounding unkind by saying White lost it,
Black did not win it. Black had one chance and grabbed it.
In this game last mistake losses.
Interesting position here. Black to play.
Note both Queens undefended. 1...Nxf2 was worth a punt.
(2.Kxf2 Bxg3+ wins the Queen)
White could then ignore the Knight and play 2.e4! threatening e5
with a counter ploy agains undefended Black Queen. (2...c6!).
Castling
A conversation with Karpov before a simultaneous display.
"Anatoly, Do you have a game plan, what is your strategy?"
"First I'll quickly get rid of those that don't castle and then concentrate
on the rest."
Good advice given to any under 1600 player - castle often and castle early.
OK Reti says, 'Don't castle because you can, castle because you have too.'
This is 2000+ player advice. What is good advice for a strong player
is not nessecsarily good advice for an under 1600.
(that is GM Rowson talking - Chess for Zebras)
So forget all the if's and but's and very few exceptions. Get his Nibs
tucked out of the way and bring a Rook into the game ASAP.
I used that phrase about waiting for the game to win itself a
few hours when I did the latest Corner. (McQueen v Ruxton.)
Black nicks a pawn in an old chess trap but instead of sitting pretty
waiting for ending, he plays sharply and knocks over White whilst
he is still recovering from the shock of lossing of the e-pawn.
http://chessedinburgh.co.uk/chandlerarticle.php?ChandID=302
White possibly had this marked down as 1-0 and concentrated on
other games. Hope not sounding unkind by saying White lost it,
Black did not win it. Black had one chance and grabbed it.
Using that logic, anyone who wins because the other person makes a mistake didn't win. That pretty much means that nobody wins a game of chess, you only lose them. Ketchuplover told me the same thing a few weeks ago.
If both sides play a perfect game, wouldn't it result in a draw?
Originally posted by EladarCorrect - you can only win if your opponent blunders, makes a mistake.
[b]White possibly had this marked down as 1-0 and concentrated on
other games. Hope not sounding unkind by saying White lost it,
Black did not win it. Black had one chance and grabbed it.
Using that logic, anyone who wins because the other person makes a mistake didn't win. That pretty much means that nobody wins a game of chess, you only lose ...[text shortened]... ame thing a few weeks ago.
If both sides play a perfect game, wouldn't it result in a draw?[/b]
In some games at the top level the error can hardly be seen.
Some of Karpov's wins mystify me how he done it.
An error free game will end in a draw. Lssker said that.
In the game you posted, White was better for 80% of the game.
He did not wrap it up, you fought well with your back to wall, he blundered.
You won.
What you want to do is play a game where your oppoent make
one mistake. You spot it, gain the advantage and nurse it home.
Your game was a swindle, a good swindle but a swindle.
Someone else mentioned about try not get in the bad position in
the first place. Good advice. If only we could always heed it.
At least you know you have the staying power to fight when go behind.
Lesser lights would have crumbled.
Try not to make a habit of it.
I've been playing chess for a little more than a year now. I don't have any coaching and I'm the best chess player that I know. In my situation I have no way of knowing how good my play actually was for my rating. Evidently I played pretty well (for my rating) after playing poorly by waiting too long to castle.
Thanks for the time and advice.
You are doing fine. Remember to go over your losses with a fine
tooth comb. You learn from your losses. I was worried that you may
consider this game a win and not take anything from it.
I swindle OTB perhaps more than anyone.
When I started out I ignored my swindles - why look at them - I won.
This did untold damage and I hit a 2200 ceiling.
You can swindle the bad guys, but the good guys simply crush you.
Try and join a club. This advances you very quickly.
Also don't be put of posting anymore games.
Most of the advice you get will be good. If any joker tries to put you
down the other lads will soon sort him out.
Here is a game recently played on here were I spot two shots and win,
In this game my opponet played weakly and allowed me to play two
wee combinations that won two pawns.
My 23rd. move straightening out his pawns may seem surprising but
it leaves the only file on the board the e-file.
I am two pawns up. He cannot swap Rooks so I will own the only open file.
The rest will be quite simple to understand. I cut off his king and
shepherd home the pawns.
His 35...Rh8 was as bad as resignation. He had to try 35...Re1.
(Active Rooks in endings and all that stuff).
Then I sacced a pawn to get the Rooks off - the outside passer wins.
Two mistakes by him. None by me. I win.
Originally posted by EladarRegarding the idea of ...c6, yes, but now your queen's bishop is more entombed by your own pawns than ever. It also weakens the b6 pawn. And your queen's bishop and rook are held hostage babysitting that weak a6 pawn. I don't say it's unmanageable but you might have better things to do.
[b]It may be that ...a6 followed by Bd3 is just too slow. I don't know. Any comments by stronger players on this?
Edit: ANOTHER possibility is ...Bd3 without playing ...a6 first. If White plays Nb5, the bishop can go to e7.
Two things:
I think I would have been just fine with 12. 0-0 instead, then moving my knight. My only problem with that i ...[text shortened]... e been c6 instead of a6. c6 would still protect b5 and would also protect my King from check.[/b]
Regarding 12...o-o, certainly that was the very latest chance to castle before getting hit. It may or may not be "safe" but how good is it for Black?
For example, after 12...o-o 13.Qc2 Nf6 14.Ne5 you can't immediately capture without the pawn recapture driving away the protecting knight on f6. (As for attacking the e5 pawn with the moving knight, f4 protects it.) After you move, 15.f4 solidifies White's center and gives White a chance to move his king and then bring his rooks to bear down the h-file after Bd2; the possibility of an advancing g-pawn might also be troublesome...
Regarding the idea of ...c6, yes, but now your queen's bishop is more entombed by your own pawns than ever. It also weakens the b6 pawn.
My thought was to advance the c6 pawn after castling. That would help to open the diagonal. In any case, c6 would be a Koltanowski idea and I'm shooting for the Zukertort.
And your queen's bishop and rook are held hostage babysitting that weak a6 pawn.
You'd have the same weakness if I followed your advice about not worrying about an advancement of the knight to 5 square and just retreat my bishop to e7.
For example, after 12...o-o 13.Qc2 Nf6 14.Ne5 you can't immediately capture without the pawn recapture driving away the protecting knight on f6.
I think a good thing to do is h7. h7 pretty much makes the battering ram created by Qc2 irrelevent. Follow that up with taking e5 knight follwed by dxe5 then Ne4.
Here you go:
I'm not sure what white's next move would be, but if nothing major changes the board I'm planning on taking the knight on e5 followed by dxe5 then Ne4.
Edit: Now that I look at it, I suppose h6 isn't really needed, I could just follow this line:
14.Ne5 Be5
15.dxe5 Ne4
Well, assuming this is the line:
12...o-o 13.Qc2 Nf6 14.Ne5 h6 15.f4 Bxe5 16.dxe5 Ne4 17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.b4 and I think Black may be in trouble, as White's bishop and queen will be lining up on the long diagonal and the pawn on e5 prevents Black from much defense.
I'll take a look at your edit shortly.