(Game 4) My First Tournament Win

When I set off to play in my first live tournament, I tried to stay focused on why I was there.  I wanted to see how a Swiss tournament was run so I could run one for the students at the school where I teach.  I knew I wasn't really prepared for tournament play and was just going to do my best.  That being said, after losing all 3matches on day 1, I wanted to shake things up if I could.  

For game 1 of day 2, I was playing white.  Knowing that these kids are well trained in the e4 game, I opted to try a King's Indian attack.  Full disclosure: I don't know it well and was just trying to have some fun.  Computer analysis noted that I only managed 2 book moves, but I was able to set up to castle and get my queen side knight into play.

One of the older guys I met had told me that a good strategy with young kids is to dangle a tempting target that they can't help but take and use it to set them up for trouble.  I'm not quite there, but I managed to apply a fear variant of that principle.

After my opponent castled on the queen side I found my king's knight under  a pawn attack and and saw a potential fork of both his rooks.  But I noticed something else too.  

When I applied the fork, I actually saw the disappointment on his face immediately.  He thought for a moment and decided what rook to save.  I knew I'd get some valuable material, but I the most valuable thing I got, was his panicked reaction.  Having immediately seen the fork of his rooks, he became myopic on the threat and failed to notice that the fork also included his queen, which I ended up taking on move 13.

Amateurs as we both were, there were mistakes made on both sides as the game progressed, but I was able to keep the pressure on his king until I was able to sacrifice my bishop, opening up a back door checkmate.  

Looking at the game afterwards, I realized my sacrifice could have been in vain if he had taken my bishop with his rook instead of his knight.

Regardless, I was happy with the win and really enjoyed the play late in the game.  There were some definite takeaways and things to study, but I was happy knowing I wasn't going home 0-5.