- I'm calling time on thoughtless chess, and have placed this gently-annotated doozy to remind me that one moment of sloppiness wastes time (not to mention loses chess game).
WonkaEight Beginner Blog : 900-???
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Rating Update
8 games submitted (above average).
SR 994 2021-01-24
W8O 911 (-15)
W8C 939 (+2)
W8T 998 (-7)
- Ratings updated. Presumably the fact three quarters (or more) of my play is at daily pace, means such numbers (if they aren’t in a vacuum anyway) may not be a true reflection of skill... witness the pressure of the clock. It also means that some games are decided over six months (and counting), even if there be likely outcomes before then.
- The exercise of tracking them has been interesting, though participating in this channel leads me to suggest achieving the goal of improving these number/s means more… more practice, harder work with annotating, more drills. And why not? Getting results following effort isn’t in dispute. What is the issue is how hard chess is.
- I’ve coasted along okay with “hope chess”, but there are so many blunders with this casual approach that I need summon not only decent board vision but stamina too.
- Daily chess blues. Need to chunk, and this could be taken into practice of drills rather than chancing with that (all-important) competition.
Rating Update
7 games submitted (below average).
SR 931 2021-04-13
W8O 917 (+6)
W8C 959 (+20)
W8T 975 (-23)
Featured Opening
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 -65 62 / 1152
- Gone with the "comfort" of play within my band. The (above) included game against the 1100 was decided (with hindsight) on trivial issues, and I suppose the wins I've had have had similar blunders which weren't punished, but much to be said for expecting to grind out a win or two.
- I've always wondered what an appropriate win ratio should be for an improver? I've settled on around 0.35, though I suppose I ultimately got better improvement being duffed up more often!
- Improvement must come from better board vision, sitting on my hands, holding my impulses in check...
Program Update
4 games submitted (below average).
SR 931 2021-04-13
W8O 916
W8C 959
W8T 967
Featured Opening
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 -66 39 / 1140
- Only a handful of games, and indeed playing much less than is required (not to mention a dearth of background work).
- Rather than short-term rating fluctuations, which are far from conclusive, I'll monitor changes from when I started this blog back in April 2021.
- Not a huge change, but something positive there. I think the benefit of blogging is to hold myself accountable; particularly flagging my reliance on "hope chess".
- My goals (ratings aside) are to appreciate how better players only launch into tactical frenzies when their position warrants... not just because!
- Looking for and responding to threats may have given me chances.
- Theory is only useful to the extent it is understandable. It's too big a short cut to just plonk down a playable middle game when one has to play it.
Program Update
4 games submitted (below average).
SR 931 2021-04-13
W8O 915
W8C 946
W8T 982
Featured Opening
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 -24 20 / 1157
- Trickle of daily games. I'm at least trying to find some tricks rather than resigning, but had gotten some worse-than-usual positions out of the opening.
- I'm too complacent there, as I hadn't perceived my book as deficient (witness the high amount of daily chess).
- I'm playing fast and loose with opening principles, and should get back to getting my pieces out rather than launching a premature attack. I read that (perhaps) this isn't atypical at my stage of chess journey, but I ain't "too good" to ignore the basics.
- Happy Father's Day (at least for those that celebrate it today). As part of my gift, I have had a rare opportunity to look at a game I wasn't going to bother with... but for reasons that are outlined in the score was memorable. Fathers and friends make me think of happier times (in relation to dealing with covid-19).
Program Update
4 games submitted (below average).
SR 931 2021-04-13
W8O 938
W8C 956
W8T 979
Featured Opening
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 +6 100 / 1145
- A few solid games at my level, and one where I lost quickly against a stronger player.
- Still inclined to chance and "induce" a blunder from opponent. Will I ever play in a more solid manner? I could start with adhering to opening principles... but which ones?
- I do like an open board with plenty of space for quick tactics or simplification, but of course this cuts both ways.
- I could consciously start experimenting with more closed positions, which I feel could teach me patience and take me to the next level?
- I don't want to know my blunder count, as this could depress me again. But being too weak (a chess player) to present to chess club depresses me too. So I'll continue to use the engine sparingly.
- My rating is more or less the same as it was four years ago, so I do wonder whether I'll have enough of a jolt of better chess to leap ahead of my contemporaries? I would beat my 2017-self, but so would a whole lot more players. I also think having chess as a social outlet has been scuppered some by covid, and online will be my lot anyways.
- Pleasure to be had in the small things... keeping my database in order... that rare and precious win.
- A win where plans were committed to and upheld, though it took some opponent complicity and some sloppy tactical prowess to get there.
Program Update
10 games submitted (above average).
SR 931 2021-04-13
W8O 927
W8C 932
W8T 972
Featured Opening
1.e4 c5 +7 90 / 495 "competitive"
Program Update
8 games submitted (below average).
SR 931 2021-04-13
W8O 914
W8C 927
W8T 953
Featured Opening
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 -7 71 / 1153
- Out of form. As is usual, I blame a dearth of time. If I can find a few quiet minutes, I appreciate looking back at those losses (which over the board, or more accurately given times of lockdown from the screen) were puzzling.
- From what I can see, the losses are on account of the usual dodgy gambles and getting tangled up in "openings" that I need not explore.
- The time thing, along with a generally positive disposition, are absent in life circumstances where much is outside of my control. Maybe I should get back to treating chess with the sober reverence the subject commands.
- I certainly should get back on the horse and play much more if I am to improve.
Rating Update
8 games submitted (average).
SR 916 2021-01-03
W8O 926 (+5)
W8C 937 (-2)
W8T 1005 (+18)