I won my remaining game in the KG Thematic match in spite of several very poor moves on my part.
The opening seemed pretty much book. On move 9 my opponent played g5 attacking my Bishop (and loosening up his own Kingside). My proper response was likely to retreat my Bishop but I didn't like any of my choices, so I sacked it for two pawns and the initiative, but I had no real attack. After a few more moves I was worried that I had really goofed up. But I was able to force a trade that left me up the exchange and though with one less piece, I was up in material points, had the initiative and a safer King, so I was confident of a win once again. Shortly after, my opponent blundered away a Bishop, so I was really ahead in material. I was able to win his Knight and was really anticipating a resignation, but in a couple more moves I blundered away my Rook on move 35 - nothing short of chess-blindness (he had moved where I didn't expect and I moved as if he had moved where I expected). But my material advantage and preponderance of pawns, even without the Rook was telling and winning was just a matter of patience. The entire game was too poorly played by both sides to be instructive at any level.
I won my remaining game in the KG Thematic match in spite of several very poor moves on my part.
The opening seemed pretty much book. On move 9 my opponent played g5 attacking my Bishop (and loosening up his own Kingside). My proper response was likely to retreat my Bishop but I didn't like any of my choices, so I sacked it for two pawns and the initiative, but I had no real attack. After a few more moves I was worried that I had really goofed up. But I was able to force a trade that left me up the exchange and though with one less piece, I was up in material points, had the initiative and a safer King, so I was confident of a win once again.
Shortly after, my opponent blundered away a Bishop, so I was really ahead in material. I was able to win his Knight and was really anticipating a resignation, but in a couple more moves I blundered away my Rook on move 35 - nothing short of chess-blindness (he had moved where I didn't expect and I moved as if he had moved where I expected).
But my material advantage and preponderance of pawns, even without the Rook was telling and winning was just a matter of patience.
The entire game was too poorly played by both sides to be instructive at any level.