How to draw (or even win) lost positions
In my online games folder I have a file called “lost to win”
In it I’ve been saving games which I overturned from being lost to winning
As an experienced player (over 20 years of career) I’ve developed a few startegies I use to overturn tables on my opponents (especially online, but applies to OTB as well)
Let’s take a look at certain principles that will enable you saving a lot more games.
I list them from the easiest to apply to the hardest. The further we go the more experience and the more skill & knowleadge it will require
Mindset first
Before everything else we need to have a correct ATTITUDE. Without it applying methods will be pretty much futile. You will get a toolkit, but you also have to BELIEVE that you can use it and get a result you want. Posiitiv attitude, having a hope and drive to save a game is CRUCIAL. Here a few beliefs you need to incorporate to be able to save "unsavable" games:
- "It is not over until it's over." You can write off any result until the game is over. Interestingly enough this belief is also very usufull when it comes to converting advantage. It keeps you sharp regardless of what side of the struggle you're at
- "Chess is a game of mistakes and the player that makes a mistake last loses"
- "Humans are humans, not computers. When put under pressure they make mistakes"
- "I know how to make it harder for opponent"
- "My opponent may think it's over but I am going to surprise him"
After reading this article and seeing examples you it will be obvious for you that these beliefs are true.
1. First principle: be attentive, patient and persistent
As simple as that.
There is an abundance of tactical possibilities you can exploit to save your game.
You have to be looking for all sorts of possibilities. Never exchange pieces unless you get tangible benefits or you are absolutely forced to. Keep pushing to extend the fight and always look for:
- knight forks
- perpetual checks
- attacking possibilities
- tactical traps
- stalemates
First example I will give is a game from Junior Polish Championship in 2013 where my opponent saved a lost game finding a stalemate. I know my opponent personally a little bit and I can tell you one of his good traits is being calm and patient. He found his chance and got me!
I am up +4 according to computer. If I only noticed the stalemate trap then I would first give a check and then take on c4.
Little excercise for you. Black to move and save the game
2nd strategy: Introduce chaos and ambiguity
This one applies to positions where we are getting outplayed positionally and oponent has a clear path forward and we are left with seemingly no counterchances. Muddying waters is one of the best proactive strategies to swindle your opponent in such case.
When everything is predictable and opponent knows exactly how to realize an advantage the chance of surviving is low. When there is a chaos on the board and more or less precise calculation is required chances of making a mistake are higher. This method requires more skill, at least a decent calculation skills and evaluating if there is actually no real counterplay on the first place.
In the next game we can see Korchnoi, playing with white, got pretty solid advantage by the virtue of space advantage and more active pieces. In 28th move black should have played 28....a5!
There is an article by GM Daniel Naroditsky on "Desperado Defence". This method of somewhat crazy attack launched to turn around the game obviously is also great to muddy the water. It's worth taking a look at his analysis and studying the approach he took:
3rd strategy: positional sacrifices: piece sacrifice, exchange sacrifice, queen sacrifice
You sacrifice material usually to
1) get a blockade
2) restrict activity of opponents pieces
3) combine above with king attack
First let's start with Spassky 1965 games against Yuri Awerbach and a legendary knight sacrifice on c6. Pay attention to the block of black pawns in the centre which are preventing white's pieces from taking active squares in the centre. At the end of the game it was Spassky who was fighting for the win!
The next 2 games come from online. In the first I sacrificed an exchanged and in the second I blundered a queen, but still managed to beat my opponent thanks to blockade and control over dark squares.
That's all for today, stay tuned for more articles!
