Inside the Master Mind: Beating a Grandmaster

Submitted by FM TigerLilov on Sun, 09/28/2008 at 7:31pm.

In this fourth article of the series “Inside the Master Mind: The Best Games of a Chess Coach”, I would like to present to you one of my best wins against chess players of high class – the so-called grandmasters. That game was played at one of the most prestigious open-tournaments in Bulgaria in 2008 – Memorial G. Tringov and my opponent was the famous Bulgarian GM and trainer Vladimir Dimitrov (ELO rating 2462). In that game I played with black and here is the place to note that when a given chess player has to play against such a strong opponent (or GM for short) the most important thing in the preparation for the game is the opening system that we choose. It should not be too complicated and at the same time it should give you a consistent development without superfluous problematic positions and variations from the very beginning. Thus, you can avoid the possibility of getting caught in a hard position still in the opening, in which you have to resolve specific problems creating difficulties for you and also giving your opponent the opportunity to use their experience and strength to outplay you. Another important thing while playing GMs is that when they play weaker adversaries, they do not like losing control over the events happening on the board, e.i. they strive for positions in which their plans can be applied smoothly and also in which they lead their opponent’s course of play. Therefore one more subtlety in the battle against grandmasters for you is to choose such an opening system or variation in which only the rational thinking and the general understanding which they have for the game will not be sufficient to be able to outplay you. Therefore, while choosing which system to play in my own game, I selected one interesting system against the English opening, in which black receives a very comfortable development with flexible pawn structure and mobile pieces, ensuring quite complex and variable play in the ensuing middlegame battle – something not in the style of my adversary. Let’s follow the actual game now:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After that victory I managed to take a top spot in the temporary standing of the tourney and eventually I had a  very good performance, as I managed to increase my FIDE ELO with a lot of points, reaching a rating over 2300!

» posted in Amazing Games
 

Comments:

by figrock - 7 months ago
United States
Member Since: Jul 2008
Member Points: 1438

Me likey..! Thank for the annotations. Smile

by langeormen - 12 months ago
helsinki Finland
Member Since: Jul 2008
Member Points: 62

aryavolkan take a look a the commentary on move 28...

by aryavolkan - 12 months ago
Adana Turkey
Member Since: Nov 2008
Member Points: 11

Oh how did you miss the mate in 5 moves mate? I can even see it with no ELO rating. Take a look at that, and if I miss something please let me know.

27... Rxf3 28. Rg1 Rxf2+ 29. Kh1 Bg2+ 30. Kh2 Bf3+ 31. Kh3 Qh5+ 32. Kg3 Qh2#

 

Edit: I also find it really astonishing, a GM can't do that easy calculation and resign before the mate. Rxf2+ is not the hardest move to see on the board.

by mbabazigerald - 14 months ago
Kigali city Rwanda
Member Since: Oct 2008
Member Points: 1

hey am young with 17 years only but i like chess

and thank u for this kind of information

and i would like to try it with you

by spikey11 - 14 months ago
California United States
Member Since: Sep 2008
Member Points: 142

Awesome!!! The sweet savor of victory-Let it echo to the top of the highest moutains, this is were true champions dwell.    Spikey11

by santiR - 14 months ago
outside Washington D.C. United States
Member Since: Apr 2008
Member Points: 1026

great one.

by nevin - 14 months ago
Tucson, Arizona United States
Member Since: Apr 2008
Member Points: 68

Great annotation too. Thanks for sharing.

by wombadom - 14 months ago
Chillicothe, Ohio United States
Member Since: Aug 2008
Member Points: 58

Just plain COOL! Congratulations. Did you even sleep that night :)

by johnny263 - 14 months ago
dallas United States
Member Since: Nov 2007
Member Points: 60

out of curiosity, on move 11 why didn't white take on f5?  my thinking was that it would free up white's bishop and black's only responses would be to retake with the g pawn (weakening his kingside position) or leave it be and white would get a free pawn.  is a free pawn not worth it?  i'm sure i'm missing something.

by the way, that must be an incredible feeling to win a game like that.

by wilsonho - 14 months ago
Singapore Singapore
Member Since: Jun 2008
Member Points: 148

Could it be then said that white's loss was due to 10 e4?? followed by your exploitation of that poor move?

 

This game illustrates how the continued maintenence of a positional advantage leads to material advantage thus a strong overall advantage resulting into victory. Thanks for the game!

by improving - 14 months ago
United States
Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 52

That truly was an amazing game.  Bravo!  I wish i had your vision.

Pardon a plebeian attempt at understanding, but I am slightly befuddled by your faster continuation in the notes on move 28... Qh4. I can't seem to find the mate on move thirty-one.  once 31.Kg4, you've continued 31...Rf2#, but the rook is already on f2. 

31...Rf4+ 32.Kg5  Qh4# seems to be the coup de grace. 

 

Any insight woould be appreciated. Thanks for the gem. Smile

by ramahi - 14 months ago
Amman - Jordan Jordan
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 19

I wonder why the white did not try to castle on the queen side instead of the king side which I think was much more better.

by LDSSDL - 14 months ago
Tinton Falls United States
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 180

What an awesome upset! Great game!

 

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