Hi again!
I just read all the material you provided here, your thoughts, the game moves, variations and so on and so forth. I think you've done a great work:)
I particularly enjoyed your comments on the opening part, which I think, in comparison with other parts, I need more knowledge and general thoughts like the one you provided here. Thanks for that. I'd like to read and discuss this part of the game much.
And I guess you are so strong in this part of the game, because in our game, you got a good advantage out of the opening:) Maybe, like me, you had better work more on how you could win a winning position (just a suggestion, you're a titled player and I'm not:))
Today I am posting my first game to Rasberry Chess. I hope to make a habit of this because I learn so much by doing so. However, forums like this one take a couple of hours and I don’t have that much time lying around every day, so these will come out sparsely. Here is a great method to get the most of my and other’s games presented here on chess.com:
1. Play through the game once quickly – don’t stop to look at variations.
2. Decide if the game is worth your time. - Maybe you are just so good, that a game that would be educational to a 1400 would be of no use to you.
3. If it is worth your time, SET TIME APART to look at the game – Learning from these forums will take time, but this is how you will improve! If you don’t have 15-30 mins, then all you will be doing is looking at the game for visual pleasure and not be learning anything.
4. If you have the time, then start by going through just the main line getting a feeling for what moves you like and didn’t like – don’t go through the annotations or variation.
5. Next Play through each variation as you come to it, reading the analysis as provided - Do this slowly and try to guess my move, my opponent’s move, or the computer’s move.
6. Finally, go back through the game just as you did in step four –Compare your feelings to the computer analysis and my annotations!
This first game is very rich, surprisingly rich! Take note of the pawn structure decisions I make and learn from my mistakes. Also, study all the possible attacks I had, the crazy piece sacrifices and, of course, the queen sac! Enjoy!
What did I learn from that game and what can you?
1. Understand that every move has advantages and drawbacks and I need to evaluate the moves better. a4 had a drawback of weakening the b4 square, but that was a non-useful square for black; I could afford to give up that square to gain space and cramp up black’s activity.
2. Learn about the pawn structure I presented. The a3-b4 pawns against the a6-b5 pawns were instructive. That pawn structure requires attention!
3. Add the queen sac and the other piece sacs to my and your repertoires. Those attacks are crazy, but they come about every so often.
4. Never give in. Just a couple of tournaments ago, I basically resigned in a drawn position, I just gave up looking for a simple solution like Chris did here in the game. His time was low, but he had enough time to realize his king was not in that much danger, enough danger to play Qa7 to defend that way at least!
My favorite thing on chess.com is the comment section! I just love it. Use it, if you do I know my I am spending my time well. If you don’t, I have to guess my time is going to waste. SO, let me know what you think!
Chessicaly,
Jonathan Rasberry