Must win

Do you change your style of play if you must win a game in order to stay in a tournament? If so, what do you do differently?

The following game was a "must win" for me. Game 2230968 I was uncertain about what to do on move 31.

I noticed 31...Nf2, which I believe forces 32.Qxf2 Nd3 resulting in a K+Q+5P vs. K+Q+4P endgame--although I liked the fact that there seemed to be a few very nice pitfalls for my opponent in this line, I was concerned that if he played it correctly then this endgame would be tough to win.

I also noticed, and ultimately chose 31...Nd3, forcing 32.Qxd6 cxd6 and a K+2N+5P vs. K+R+4P endgame. This turned out to be good for me, because I believe my opponent's next move was a blunder, however, I am not sure if this was really sufficient material to ensure a win.

Was 31...Nd3 good? Would I have been better to keep the pieces on the board and play for a larger endgame advantage? I didn't see another obvious way to continue, but perhaps I just missed it. How much of an endgame advantage do you think is necessary in a "must win" situation?

I prefer 31...Qd3+ because White might have fallen for 32.Qg3??
which loses to 32....Nf2+ e.g.
33.Kh2 Neg4+
and
33.Kh4 Qd4+ 34.Kh5 g6+ and White loses his queen or gets mated.

Originally posted by leisurelysloth

Was 31...Nd3 good? Would I have been better to keep the pieces on the board and play for a larger endgame advantage? I didn't see another obvious way to continue, but perhaps I just missed it. How much of an endgame advantage do you think is necessary in a "must win" situation?

Originally posted by ChessJester
Yah, Qd3+

Originally posted by richjohnson
31. ...Qd3+
32. g3

Then what?

The real error came with 21 Bd2. Although it isn't immediately clear what course white should take instead .. Maybe exchanging Queens. I still wouldn't like to go in to an ending of rook versus two co-ordinated knights but with the extra pawn it would be far more preferable than the line taken

Originally posted by leisurelysloth
Do you change your style of play if you [b]must win a game in order to stay in a tournament? If so, what do you do differently?

The following game was a "must win" for me. Game 2230968 I was uncertain about what to do on move 31.

I noticed 31...Nf2, which I believe forces 32.Qxf2 Nd3 resulting in a K+Q+5P vs. K+Q+4P endgame--although ...[text shortened]... it. How much of an endgame advantage do you think is necessary in a "must win" situation?[/b]

Originally posted by chesskid001
If I must win, instead of my slow, leisurely style, I become aggressive, taking risks I would not normally take, opening up the game for tactical oppurtunities... I play contrary to my regular style.

The best example of a "must win" game has to be the last game of the 1987 World Championship match between Kasparov and Karpov.

Kasparov was a point down and so had to win the last game to draw the match and retain his title.

So, what did Garry do - Did he play the King's Gambit? The Blackmar Diemer? The Goring Gambit? Maybe the Grob?
No...
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1067242

If Karpov had drawn just this one game I believe that he would have been considered the greatest player of all time.

Originally posted by Fat Lady
The best example of a "must win" game has to be the last game of the 1987 World Championship match between Kasparov and Karpov.

Kasparov was a point down and so had to win the last game to draw the match and retain his title.