Today I Got Hit by a Mack Truck

chesspoet
| Feb 25, 2012 at 7:02 PM
| Posted in: # chesspoet
| 2424 reads
| 6 comments

Today I Got Hit by a Mack Truck
[D25 - QGA - Janowski-Larsen Variation]

I've been playing the Queens Gambit consistently for about a month now and it has created more winning positions. Unlike the Giuoco Piano that produces a more open board ripe for tactical play, the Queens Gambit lends itself toward more positional play. I feel like I am choking my opponent, forcing bad trades, and limiting my opponent's piece mobility. (I use "choking" a lot when writing about chess, because chess, after all, is the taking away of space.) My opponent's bishops and queens tend to have very congested roads for play, and a cleverly placed pawn or two can severely limit landing squares for my opponent's knights. At this level of play, I'm not sure if the opening is more successful overall or if my opponents are simply more comfortable with king's pawn opening. In any case, the opening itself makes me feel like I've arrived at another level or dimension of play.

In Logical Chess: Move by Move, Irving Chernev writes:

At some time in his life, almost every chess player makes a happy discovery—the Queen's Pawn Opening. The Queen's Pawn offers White a great many advantages, and all of them can be summed up in one word—pressure! White gets opportunities to control and exert pressure on the c-file, and in particular on the c5-square. So powerful can it be as to cause, by itself, the collapse of Black's game.

The past couple of days I've been going over some moves for the Queens Gambit Accepted. Today I had a chance to play it, but unfortunately my opponent did not respond well and completely lost control of the center. I played well, but the game ends quite tragically.

I've been very busy making chess boards... yes, I make chess boards now :) You can see them on Etsy.com at http://etsy.com/shop/chesspoet. I would love for you to buy one, they really are special boards. They are vinyl rollup boards that look like wood. I make them myself, so if you want your initials on the board, or if you'd like the board in pink or purple, just say the word and it will be at your doorstep in no-time!

Love,

chesspoet

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Comments

4 years ago
MichaelHansen2

Interesting game, you played well until that last move. Such is life in chess! Yevette, if you get time, please check out my blog at

www.lifetime-chess-student.com

Thanks, Michael
5 years ago
chesspoet

Thanks Guys. I must remember Bxf7+
5 years ago
chess2Knights

You played well up to the last move. James is right about the missed bishop sac. Your opening and middle game play was fine. I think a few too many pawn moves advancing too quickly in the endgame. Better to grab or contest the open files with your rooks and centralize your king. I estimate Charlie to be about 1600 rating so you played well. I think best play after avoiding the mate only leads to a draw but I am not sure of that.
5 years ago
NM ozzie_c_cobblepot

Good game.
5 years ago
arabianmate

lol! "A Mack Truck!" so perfectly described! Like an unexpected ending to a movie! gg
5 years ago
CM JamesColeman

Unlucky. Your 6.Qb3 was good, and did give you a clear advantage but better was 6.Bxf7+! with the idea of ...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ when you pick the Bishop on g4 up and remain two pawns up with an ongoing attack.

It pays to be very familiar with this theme as it occurs in many, many different openings, both e4 and d4.

I'd have a longer look at the game but it's 3.30 am here now :)