New Year's Resolution: Get Out of Phases 1 & 2
Hey Impressive Chessers! I'm back and ready to keep you impressive in 2025!
Today, I want to share a position that could’ve easily arisen from a 3|0 game I played on chess.com. Even in blitz, where the time is always ticking, certain critical moments deserve deeper consideration; and this is certainly one of those positions.
After a tactical skirmish...to put it nicely, in reality, both sides blundered back and forth😅... White should've played Qc5-d4. It’s Black’s move, and this is where things get intriguing.
Here’s the position (see diagram):
What would you play, as Black, after White's move 18. Qd4? Take a moment to pause and write down your answer before reading on. We’ll see if your move and logic align with mine! Read on or click below to go to your desired destination.
YT Video Explaining the Answer
A chess player in Phase 1 makes mistakes by completely missing what their opponent is threatening. So a typical Phase 1 mistake would be as follows:
A chess player in Phase 2 is usually scarred from the mistakes they made in Phase 1. Now they look out too much for opponent's threats. They make moves that stop their opponent's threats but don't further their position much. So a typical Phase 2 mistake would be as follows:
Conclusion
I think one of the reasons why chess is such an intriguing game for many, is the fact that it is a hard game! Embrace the fact that chess is hard, if it wasn't hard then everyone would be good and it would be very hard to improve. If you lose a game because you tried to break out of Phases 1 or 2, try to not get discouraged. I know it sounds cliche but every mistake offers an opportunity to learn and grow. The only actual mistakes are to give up or resign to the mediocrity of playing in Phases 1 or 2. The next time you find yourself in a critical position, take a deep breath, consider your options, and strive for moves that not only solve immediate problems but also create long-term advantages.
Here’s to an impressive 2025 on the chessboard!
NM Craig C.
