My first tournament – part 4: Finally playing reasonably

So I have survived two days of tournamenting (is that even a word?). I blundered my way through the first day, vowed to keep my blundering to a minimum on day two (which I managed). And I am feeling pretty good about day three. A bit tired, but ok.

Before the first game, I spoke to a friend at my club and discussed a sharp gambit line out of the semi-slav. As it turned out, I managed to get the same position we had prepared, so I was quite pleased in the opening.

After the queen check, my opponent offered a draw. I was rather surprised. First of all, since it was his move, but most of all since he had a better position. After Kg8, my attack is over, my queen is misplaced, my pieces are in a knot and there is a potential fork against my king and queen. I was happy to take a draw at this point.

Later the same day, it was time for round 7. Once again, I went for a Sicilian defense.

Objectively, I think I was still better at the end of the game, but I was upset at dropping the d-pawn and also a bit tired. I thought it would be better to finish early and get some rest rather than pushing and possibly blunder and lose. So I went for a draw. Magnus Carlsen says that a draw is a perfectly fine result for black. So who am I to disagree?

I pushed too hard in the first game, and got a draw in a losing position. In the second game, I had a better position, but opted out. All things considered, one point after such a day is fine by me.