One of the most satisfying checkmate I've given recently
So, I've been pretty lazy with updating my blogs.
With school starting on August, I have been relatively busy with school work, and could not play that much Chess unfortunately.
With limited time, I have to admit I have committed the sin of playing mostly blitz games... 5/0 blitz games...
While I cannot say that I have improved at all from August onwards (because you don't really improve playing only 5/0 blitz games), what I CAN say is that 5/0 time control have been excellent in testing out different opening repertoire and gain some mass experience playing it (superficial experience as it may since it's only blitz). Most significantly, I have been testing out my different Black defences against e4 and d4.
With White, I have remained faithful with 1.e4.
But with Black, I have ventured into the venerated Sicilian Najdorf against e4, and I have dived headfirst into a very interesting and exciting Triangle/Noteboom against d4.
I have to admit I know very little about the theory of these two opening beyond the starting position. But since it's only blitz, I have mainly freestyled my way throughout the game, and surprisingly, with good results.
With Sicilian, A LOT of people play the anti-Sicilian, as advertised, but even with very little experience or knowledge of theory from the Black side, the position seemed relatively straightforward and comfortable for me. And as advertised, the imbalanced nature of the position felt a lot more fun and exciting than a lot of Ruy Lopez positions.
Same with Triangle/Noteboom. A lot of new fresh position with different tactical and positional motifs was really a breath of fresh air for me.
That brings me to this game. Here, I was able to weave a mating position that I've seen a lot in checkmate puzzle books. But for me to actually be able to do it in a real game was something else.
It was unbelievable. There are all sorts of mating configurations out there, and I have had a fair share of them. But this one? the one where Rook cuts the king off on the edge, and 2 knights side by side give mate? This is the first, and it feels awesome.
Last but not least, I learned the value of switching repertoires from time to time. It really makes you look at Chess from a new fresh angle. It's a common advice you hear from teachers to go try out different openings once every year to make you stay out of "mental rut" Of course you should always have one opening that you remain loyal to it through the thick and thin, but variety IS spice of life.