Looking for Better Moves at the Kobe Winter Rapid

Blunders rarely travel alone

-Anatoly Karpov

Welcome, everybody and Merry Christmas to you all. 

Christmas came early here in Japan, technically it always does, owing to the rotation of the earth, but this year it was caused by the "Kobe Chess Club Rapid Tournament 2025 Winter" (awkward wording, it sounds more natural in Japanese), a one-day, five-round nationally rated rapid tournament, with a time control of 20 mins | 10 secs bonus, that served as an early present for us chess aficionados living in the Kobe area. 

For me the tournament would serve as a warm-up for the coming Japan Chess Championship qualification tourneys. My goal was simple: to attack, aggressively and accurately...well, I was at least half way successful in this attempt. 

But before we get to all that, how about a few pics, to prove that any of this happened.

Exchange Hunting

In the first round I was paired with Iizuka-San, a local player who I had recently played at the Nagoya Open earlier this year. In that encounter I got the better of him, so I was relatively confident of my chances, and it would turn out that my assessment was correct.

To my consternation, later while I was back at home, reviewing my game with a glass of CC whiskey in hand, Stockfish would reveal the horrible truth, despite my hubris, I had actually played a terrible game full of missed-wins and mistakes.

Lets see if you can do better, than poor old, Sheldon.

Black's last move was a mistake, and White can win an exchange with the correct forcing moves, can you see how?

Queen Bees

In the second round, I played Mizumoto-San. Interestingly, we played the same line two years ago in the Kobe Chess Championship, a memorable victory for me as it guaranteed my qualification to the Japan Chess Championship. Things didn't turnout nearly as well for me this time around. 

Early on I was down a pawn but held the initiative, when White made an ill-advised queen move, if only I had seen Black's best reply. 

I assume my dear readers can do better. 

White's queen looks dangerous but she lacks squares, once more the king is lollygagging out in the open, how to punish such impudence?

Opening Steps

In the third round, I had the unenviable position of playing the tournament's highest rated player. I had never played Yamamichi-San before, but recognized him from the Nagoya Open, where he placed first in the under-1900 division. 

He steamrolled me, it was accurate move after accurate move, leading to a crushing position. My only complaint was that I did not play the opening correctly, most likely it would not have made much difference, but the move I played certainly didn't help matters. 

Maybe you can do better? 

White's last move was overambitious, simple question: where do we put the bishop?

The Miss of the Year

In the fourth round I met with Yoshiki-San and Tragic Comedy...

It is one thing to make a mistake and lose, another thing to blunder, but their is no pain like missing an empty net. Unfortunately it is my fate to teach what not to do through example. 

You can do better than me, I know it. 

I played Qb7 with the idea of either going after the  a-pawn or pressuring the rook on c8, but Black's reply was a blunder and instead of taking a closer look I played instantly, what did I miss?

Last Gasp

In the final round I was paired with Yoshizawa-San, a player I have faced many times. In truth I can only recall losing one over-the-board encounter to him, but it was at the Japan Open and ranks as one of the most painful defeats, hence, I take distinct pleasure in getting a little revenge every time we play. 

In this game, we at last have a situation where I did actually play the strongest move, albeit after blundering away a completely winning position. 

I have just allowed by rooks to be forked, now what?! Is there a way to make the best of a terrible situation?

The Winners

Postmortem 

And that was it, that was the Kobe Chess Club Rapid Tournament 2025 Winter...

Overall, I'm grateful I had the chance to come out and play a well organized, casual rapid tournament so close to home. Yes, some of my misses were quite painful, but "The Burned Hand Teaches Best", so I have decided to take it as another learning opportunity. 

As always thanks for reading, and feel free to share these games, misses and blunders with your friends down at the bar or family at the Christmas table.

Cheers, SheldonOfOsaka

P.S.

I'm still selling Merch over on Etsy, check out my number one selling Tal T-shirt.