My first win against the Chess.com computer (my little chess partner) on hard.  Normally I'm more into analyzing losses rather than showing off wins. But my losses to the computer all were blunders which I saw directly after he made his move (usually a couple of ply's). I gave myself a time limit comparable to that of a rapid game. The computer played with his normal settings on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any comments or recommendations? 

Well played, sure, but black's play was pretty weak as well, not to mention the devastating 18. ... O-O? and 19. ... gxh4??

 

I too love playing against the french defense, I think black simply ends up in too cramped a position.

 

I don't think 12. Nxf3 would be better, after 12. ... g3 13. Nd2 h5 black gets a good diagonal for his dark squared bishop and queen, even though it could be difficult to make much use of.

I decided to give myself a challenge and try a game with black. It was a queen's gambit declined game, and because I know every bit of theory of the opening the computer messed up early. I made a small blunder and got a weak position that only allowed a draw. Then I saw a mate, he saw it to late and had to give up a pawn. I think the endgame was won for me, but because I'm horrible in endgames, I gave up my advantage and I drawed. Here's the game:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The game is interesting and analyzing it would help me improve my game. Unlike most of my games this one isn't very complex. Can someone give me any help to improve my endgame? I need it bad.

 Next I'm going to study some endgame theory and secure some more wins as black. What should I do/study next to improve my game?

 Can anyone guess my rating based on these two games? Thnx.
 

 In first posted game: 

11.f3?  (11.Qe2!  if 11....Qd5 12.Bc4   if  11...f5?  12.exf6 Bxf6  13.Qxe4-black lose pawn and also on 11...f5? black pawn on e6 would be weak.

17.Rxf1!? (it is not bad move but also you could play 17.exf6 Bxf6 18.Qe4!  - black pawn on e6 is alone and weak, white has much better position,initiative...black King is not on safe... and white threat Qg6+    18...Rg8  19.Be3 )

dalmatinac wrote:

 In first posted game: 

11.f3?  (11.Qe2!  if 11....Qd5 12.Bc4   if  11...f5?  12.exf6 Bxf6  13.Qxe4-black lose pawn and also on 11...f5? black pawn on e6 would be weak.

17.Rxf1!? (it is not bad move but also you could play 17.exf6 Bxf6 18.Qe4!  - black pawn on e6 is alone and weak, white has much better position,initiative...black King is not on safe... and white threat Qg6+    18...Rg8  19.Be3 )

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Thanx :). Both are definitely better moves than the ones I played. I overlooked both of them.

in the first game i kind of like black better if 18...f5.  this looks ugly for black, but it probably holds against the d5 push...

in fact 17...d5 would be even better...