So, there is one my friend, extremly inteligent and pretty decent hobby chess player. I suppose his rating could be in the 1400-1500 range. He knew how to play chess way before me. We are good friends but we like intense intelectual rivalty. The problem is that I think I became way better than him in the last few years, he is happy with his level. But I have some kind of complex and lose quite often against him usually with some terrible blunder altough I am sure I am at least 200 or more points stronger than him. To make things worse, I play chess all the time while he played the game maybe 10 times in the whole last year. So my frustration is very intense after the loss. I score way better than him against our friends, but when comes to opponents like him, when I want prove to all costs that I am superior one I just start to play silly and "flip coin" type of chess I would never play against other opponents of that strentgth. I can not control my game whatever I do.
All other friends I was equal with 2 years ago I can beat even with piece odd now but there is something about this friend I can not understand. Once I was so frustrated that I put 50 euros and made a bet (And I hate and never do bets) and I naturally made a silly blunder in front of the whole audience.
Even been in similar situation / had a similar annoying opponent ?
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Originally posted by ivan2908This kind of thing happens all the time, I think it is caused when a perticular style just happens to be your weakness. For example a tactical player that is rated 1800 might have a very difficult time beating a 1600 rated player who plays positionally.
So, there is one my friend, extremly inteligent and pretty decent hobby chess player. I suppose his rating could be in the 1400-1500 range. He knew how to play chess way before me. We are good friends but we like intense intelectual rivalty. The problem is that I think I became way better than him in the last few years, he is happy with his level. But I hav ...[text shortened]... of the whole audience.
Even been in similar situation / had a similar annoying opponent ?
Originally posted by ivan2908Yes, I recently played an opponent on fritz at least 200 points lower than me. I played him once, and he beat me, but I was determined to show him, that I was not the type of beginner he would beat. So I challenged him again, and again, I lost. This happened over and over and over. Before I finally just stopped playing in my frustrated intense way, and I played more positionally, after calming down, I easily beat him. Try it 😉
So, there is one my friend, extremly inteligent and pretty decent hobby chess player. I suppose his rating could be in the 1400-1500 range. He knew how to play chess way before me. We are good friends but we like intense intelectual rivalty. The problem is that I think I became way better than him in the last few years, he is happy with his level. But I hav ...[text shortened]... of the whole audience.
Even been in similar situation / had a similar annoying opponent ?
Originally posted by range blastsI think it is much more psychological problem. I play WORSE against him than I play usually. My blunders are more transparent. I start with ridiculous kingside-ripping attacks, unsound sacrifices, "he won't see it" moves etc. And the worst thing is that I even do not notice that I am playing in that way until I hang a queen or lose to a two mover combination...
Yes, I recently played an opponent on fritz at least 200 points lower than me. I played him once, and he beat me, but I was determined to show him, that I was not the type of beginner he would beat. So I challenged him again, and again, I lost. This happened over and over and over. Before I finally just stopped playing in my frustrated intense way, and I played more positionally, after calming down, I easily beat him. Try it 😉
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Originally posted by ivan2908Just keep asking yourself "Whats wrong with this move" before you play it. Always try to disprove your moves in chess instead of the other way around and you'll find yourself having an easier time in general but especially against people you should beat.
I think it is much more psychological problem. I play WORSE against him than I play usually. My blunders are more transparent. I start with ridiculous kingside-ripping attacks, unsound sacrifices, "he won't see it" moves etc. And the worst thing is that I even do not notice that I am playing in that way until I hang a queen or lose to a two mover combination...
You seem to already know the problems you have while playing against this opponent. So why do you repeat them? You need to ask yourself that - if you know you are about to embark on a kingside attack in a position that doesn't call for it or you're about to play an 'i-hope-he-falls-for-it' move that doesn't improve your position then simply don't!
Blunders are unavoidable really but I'm sure with a bit of careful thought you can avoid that and your other troubles - do you have your emotions reigned in? There's no place for emotion until after the game.
I like to imagine I'm a cold calculating logical machine filled only with the desire to win - it really works for me 🙂
Originally posted by KnightStalker47I agree with KnightStalker, and I think it comes down also, to knowing certain lines better, or having played them more than your opponent. Having played you so much he does know your style of play, very well.
This kind of thing happens all the time, I think it is caused when a perticular style just happens to be your weakness. For example a tactical player that is rated 1800 might have a very difficult time beating a 1600 rated player who plays positionally.
yes i have also had this experience with a close friend, our ratings are similar now but that is only because i refused to play him anymore. its interesting that even top players can have this happen to them as well, for example, Bobby Fischer found his nemesis in Efm Geller who as far as i am aware had an excellent record against him.
Originally posted by TeraYou can go through the entire box sticking your thumbnail in each piece to get the ones you like, but if I catch you doing it I'm going to slap the piss out of you. Which is what happens a lot when I play chess, but with less chocolates and more slapping. Sort of.....come to think of it chess is nothing like a box of chocolates. 😠
Chess is like a box of chocolate.
Originally posted by ivan2908I don't dispute what anyone has said, but it could simple be that he has played you enough to know your game. thgibbs and I have played so many games that it took me a very long time to overcome my weakness. He knew that I had a bad problem of exchanging pieces inappropriately. If I got ahead I would try to simplify the position -- many times to a draw! 🙁 If I got behind I would try to reduce enemy forces -- many times to a lost ending. 🙁 It took me years to overcome this problem -- especially in my games with him.
So, there is one my friend, extremly inteligent and pretty decent hobby chess player. I suppose his rating could be in the 1400-1500 range. He knew how to play chess way before me. We are good friends but we like intense intelectual rivalty. The problem is that I think I became way better than him in the last few years, he is happy with his level. But I hav ...[text shortened]... of the whole audience.
Even been in similar situation / had a similar annoying opponent ?
1. So, discover your weakness and correct it. It may mean playing a differnet opening that he is not familiar with.
On the other hand, in my games with my friend I also was able to find weakness in his games. He had a problem with knight sacs on f7. I beat him a dozen games before he discoverd how to correct this problem.
2. Study your games with him and find his weakness.
Many times it's a lot harder to beat individuals than it is to beat random opponents. I've always had trouble winning against AussieG, ItsYouThatIAdore, TruthInPositions, khawarizmi, and several other players. It's not just that they are good players, it's that they seem to have found weakness in my approach to the game.
The same may be true with your friend -- he's just got your number!! 🙂
Originally posted by petrovitchThanks to all of you, I received some very valuable informations 🙂 I will try to find the catch ...
I don't dispute what anyone has said, but it could simple be that he has played you enough to know your game. thgibbs and I have played so many games that it took me a very long time to overcome my weakness. He knew that I had a bad problem of exchanging pieces inappropriately. If I got ahead I would try to simplify the position -- many times to a draw ...[text shortened]... h to the game.
The same may be true with your friend -- he's just got your number!! 🙂