A Lesson Taken From My Recent Loss Against Higher Rated Opponent

It's a Rapid 15|10 game. My opponent had rating much higher than me, but I was glad to play against higher rated opponents. After some nervous midgame, it had to go in an endgame in which I was ready.

As Stockfish also suggests, I actually had a chance to win.  But, as you see, I did blunder in my last move, not realizing his checkmate threat that couldn't be denied. I was worried about my remaining time that I lost accuracy in the last move.

Interesting to see the main remark Stockfish gives to this game :

"Giveaway — Looks like that game slipped through your fingers."

Well, no, this time, it was a pure blunder. I actually thought other option for my last move : Re3 which Stockfish also agrees as the best move, instead of Re2. But, I wanted to simplify the game and chose Re2 which caused an immediate loss. Ha..ha, Stockfish thinks it's a result of finger slip. 😀

Isn't 16.......Bd6 a blunder ?    What does he do if you grab a pawn with 17 Qxg7  threatening a knight and Rook ?

17 Qxg7 loses white's queen after Rg8, Qxf6, Rg2+, Kh1, Rd3+, Rxf6

Not a blunder, but probably not the best move.

If I did 17. Qxg7, then :

• 17...           Rg8
• 18. Qxf6   Rxg2+
• 19. Kh1     Rg6+ and I would have lost my queen without adequate compensation

You are right, but Rg6+ not Rd3+.

owch !     you guys are right.    tactics !!

Black did have a very good opening, as White moved the same piece twice -- moves 6 and 7 -- allowing Black to develop easily and have a bigger influence on the Center.

Is that to avoid losing the rook? 

(not trying to be obtuse, just want to make sure I understand completely!)

Let's make it clear. By the sequence you mentioned, after Kh1 then Rd3+. This Rd3+ was supposed to be black's response, right ? But, there was no legal Rd3+ move in that position, right ? So, I assumed it was a typo, I guess you meant Rg6+, and black won the queen completely.

When playing black, Sicilian is the most frequent opening I use since last month. But I only focus on 2 variations : Najdorf and Dragon. I am not really interested in the French variation (e6 in black's 2nd move), so I don't even get familiar with common lines in this variation which my opponent used here.

That's why I was actually annoyed by his Qc7 move, and didn't anticipate his Bb4 in the opening. Hence I did Be3 and Bd2. Of course, I didn't feel comfortable seeing the position afterwards.

Speaking about development, I had one recent game, against a 1900 opponent, in which I was impressed with my opponent development. The solid structure of pieces he build made me unable to execute my plan, i.e trading pieces from the start. I lost in the endgame too, but without any chance for even a draw, let alone win.

oh, gotcha - total typo, I meant Rf2+, but black would lose the rook that way anyway so Rg6+ makes much more sense

Never mind.

I am glad seeing there are people here who share thoughts about my game. So, thank you very much for sharing.

why you inggris lexibkm you my frind and you indonesia why you speak ingglis

i rilly like it

Because this is general forum in which readers come from all over the world.

Saya ingin dapat tinjauan/review dari mereka, khususnya yg berating tinggi. Begitu teman... 🙏

ho makasih lexbkm