I had an edge out of the opening against the tournament leader, fought a fierce middlegame to reach a draw, then blundered under time pressure.

 

I'm curious where you feel I could have played better moves. Obviously I need to manage my time better. Do you think my sacrifice was sound... and if not, what better way was there to free my bishop and secure my kingside?

 

 

 

I kind of liked the exchange. Not sure, you really had to do it. Too bad you did not have time at the end.

 

Even if you had time, the black may still have some slight winning edge, since your Q and K are kind of stuck in the corner of the table (at least for a few moves). This should allow the black to get his pawns and K advance a little bit more.  

29.Qf5 was better. In the opening you might look at 4.d4 or 5.d4 to see if you prefer those positions. 4.d6 is also possible.

"I kind of liked the exchange. Not sure, you really had to do it."

Cool. Someone other than me and myself thinks it was a reasonable plan. :)

"Too bad you did not have time at the end."

Aye. I need about 4-6s to spot/play a mate-in-one, and 12s to avoid blunders.

 

"Even if you had time, the black may still have some slight winning edge, since your Q and K are kind of stuck in the corner"

Yes, it would have been interesting.

 

"In the opening you might look at 4.d4 or 5.d4"

Thanks... I'm familiar with 4.g3, 4.e3, and 4.d4... I prefer the 4.e3 lines.

 

"29.Qf5 was better."

Excellent find! Forcing the exchange of queens would have given me fewer things to worry about... maybe my game would have held together.

The exchange sacrifice is not sound, since it gives up material without compensation either in position or in initiative. All it does is relieve some pressure against the kingside. For freeing the bishop at that point I would try 18. a4 followed by Ba3. Instead of sacrificing the rook, 18. Rd4 is worth thinking about. Harass Black a little and carry aid to the kingside from the center. 18. Nd4 could bring back the knight towards the beleagered kingside as well, possibly to retreat him back to f3. This also threatens a queen-exchange  offer of 19. Qf5 that could relieve a lot of pressure. 18. Nd4 would also stop the menacing possibility of 18. ...Be6 that would threaten to tear open White's kingside like a sardine can.There are enough defensive resources left so that material equality can be kept. It is better to retain the chance of victory or draw in the long run while risking being beaten by some brilliant attack on the kingside in the short run rather than conceding to almost certain defeat in the long run. Make the opponent be brilliant.

And there's my alternative, a splash of reality, and some good advice. Thanks, Ricardo.

Wow! I don't have the experience to give you sound advice, but must say looking through your moves that you played a great game! I guess now you have to work on your relationship with the clock; after all that's most peoples enemy. Nice job!

Apart from the mate I really enjoyed that game and your position seemed great after the exchange sacrifice, apart from that I can't comment on the game as I am only rated in the 1600's.

My bishop was passive on b2 and sacrificing the exchange to activate it was much better than leaving it passive on b2. But I never should have put my bishop on that dead-end square b2. Either a4 or e4 would have opened lines, and I still could have played those moves in lieu of the sacrifice.

I was also concerned that the attack Be6, Bxh3, gxh3, Qxh3 was dangerous. That was a valid concern. I saw Nd4, but I also saw Bc5/Be5 followed by Bxd4 would remove that defender and then Black could proceed with his attack. I missed that after Bxd4 Rxd4! would activate my rook and protect some key squares.

 

I will be better prepared next time, Mr. 2029.

ok