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Lucky Tactical escape in OTB Tournament game

Lucky Tactical escape in OTB Tournament game

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Paul Leggett
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Hi all,

This was a tournament game I played earlier today in the final round of a weekend tournament, and it helped me win $262.50 with a tie for second in the section.

My opponent's last move was one of those "relaxed one move too soon" kind of moves. He thought he had survived the tactics and had arrived in a better ending, but an opened kingside creates opportunities.

If he had played on RHP, he would remember Greenpawn34 (and his Post It Note) and check all checks!

My 14. Nc2 was an overly-elaborate inaccuracy, and my 17. Nf5 "Benoni Jump" tactic was played because I thought I was losing after 16. ... Ng5, and I was trying to save the game.


Marinkatomb
wotagr8game

tbc

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Originally posted by Paul Leggett
Hi all,

This was a tournament game I played earlier today in the final round of a weekend tournament, and it helped me win $262.50 with a tie for second in the section.

My opponent's last move was one of those "relaxed one move too soon" kind of moves. He thought he had survived the tactics and had arrived in a better ending, but an opened kingsi ...[text shortened]... Nf5 Nxh3+ 18. Bxh3 gxf5 19. Bg5 fxe4 20. Bxc8 Qxc8 21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22. Nxe4 Qf5 23. Qg4+ 1-0[/pgn]
12..a6? What's that all about? One of the really annoying things about the KID is that black gets to secure his Knight on c5 by playing ..a5. Positionally, I really don't understand what ..a6 is supposed to do in this position? Prevent you from putting a knight on b5?? Surely playing c6 achieves the same thing along with a bunch of other useful stuff too...?

The whole idea of ..a6 and ..b5 just leaves a whopping hole on c6. Very strange play..


That's not to diminish the result, well done! Second place, V impressive!! 🙂

DF

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I don't even understand 8. ... Re8. Black seemed to be struggling for something to do after that, hence his strange queenside pawn thrusts. Give me Ne8 and f7-f5 every time with the King's Indian! Also, I think a knight on c5 is often strongly supported by a7-a5 (usually before the knight gets to c5) as it prevents or at least slows down White's obvious b2-b4.

greenpawn34

e4

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Hi Marin,

a6 does appear in the KID v the Bg2 system. The idea along with Rb8 and
an eventual b5 (possibly with c6 thrown in) is to remove Bg2 targets.
Not fond of it myself, (I like to set up the a8 Rook for Bishop g2 bait.),
but it is a move seen before on the top tables.

Hi Paul,

Well he got himself into a lovely muddle.



Here he is thinking Bg7 and White will be playing Ng5 and Qh5


Big hits on h7 and f7. It's OK I can play Qf5,


But wait!! He can chop rooks on e8, my Queen will be on e8 and I cannot play f5.

I know what I'll do....


....I'll play Qf5 first.


That stops the Ng5 and Qg5 ideas.

Of course anything you can do an RHP lad has done it before you. 😉

AaronRoss - dagabel RHP 2011 Game 8438737

DF

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Greenpawn's post reminds me that if your opponent castles and then moves their rook to e8, then this means the f7 square is undefended and so tactics based on Ng5 and Qh5 are more likely to work as f7 as well as h7 are attacked.

Often we look for f7 tactics at the start of the game, but then stop paying attention to that square once they've castled kingside as f7 is defended twice. It's worth trying to get in the habit of trying to remember that f7 is weak again if your opponent subsequently moves their rook away from f8!

Paul Leggett
Chess Librarian

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Originally posted by greenpawn34
Hi Marin,

a6 does appear in the KID v the Bg2 system. The idea along with Rb8 and
an eventual b5 (possibly with c6 thrown in) is to remove Bg2 targets.
Not fond of it myself, (I like to set up the a8 Rook for Bishop g2 bait.),
but it is a move seen before on the top tables.

Hi Paul,

Well he got himself into a lovely muddle.[center]
[fen]1r ...[text shortened]... 4P1bN/8/PPP1BPPP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 15"]
15. Bxg4 Nxg4 16. Qxg4+ Qxg4 17. Nxf6+ Kg7 18. Nxg4[/pgn]
You hit it on the head as far as what my intentions were- I was aiming for Qh5 and Ng5, with a side order of Kg2 and perhaps Rh1 if I could ever get away with it.

I had to aim for activity as my ending was rather poor- I think I could have drawn it, but a draw meant nothing to me in the standings.

When he played ...Qf5 my first thought was "oh %&^#, what did I miss this time?", and then realized after looking that he was the one who missed it.

I was also a little surprised that my 14. Nc2 was the first non-book move- previously white has played 14. Nb3, 14. Nde2, and 14. Be3.

I'm also sure that if I had played 14. Ng5 here at RHP, I'd be accused of using an engine! 😲

Paul Leggett
Chess Librarian

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Originally posted by Data Fly
I don't even understand 8. ... Re8. Black seemed to be struggling for something to do after that, hence his strange queenside pawn thrusts. Give me Ne8 and f7-f5 every time with the King's Indian! Also, I think a knight on c5 is often strongly supported by a7-a5 (usually before the knight gets to c5) as it prevents or at least slows down White's obvious b2-b4.
I was sorely tempted to play d5 immediately after he played ...Re8, but I held off for two reasons:

1) I like Maroczy Bind-type positions, and I play them reasonably well; and
2) He could always move his rook back to f8 and play ...f5, but my pawn move would be a one-way ticket. I just didn't want to commit until I had seen more.

I'm like you in that I much prefer ...a5 over ...a6, but I have to admit that I was not entirely happy about the state of my a-pawn in the end. Fortunately it did not matter.

64squaresofpain
The drunk knight

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Originally posted by Paul Leggett

I'm also sure that if I had played 14. Ng5 here at RHP, I'd be accused of using an engine! 😲
Did anyone check your shoes? 😛

In all seriousness, great game and congrats on your winnings 🙂

Paul Leggett
Chess Librarian

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Originally posted by 64squaresofpain
Did anyone check your shoes? 😛

In all seriousness, great game and congrats on your winnings 🙂
I live in Florida USA, which is one big huge retirement haven, so my friends and I have been joking that it's only a matter of time before they start cracking down or even banning "hearing aids"!

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