You've got to watch out for the loss of material. You were able to get away with it in that game but still, more often than not, that extra piece will be decisive. Besides that, it was good that you played aggressively, and did not let that oversight get the best of you.
Focusing on the king's fortress
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Yes, thanks. I realize that if I had played a player who was more tactical I probably would have been sunk.
Here is another game, same tournament. I am playing black this time, but same themes. In this game versus a 1620 rated player I also tried to ruthlessly attack the king. Can anyone find a mate pattern that I might have missed?
I have few comments about your second game. Whilst you are possibly right that white has the advantage in the endgame ensuing after exchanging the queens with 21. fxg4, white has even better move in 21. Qd1!+- (or 21. Qd3!+- with same ideas) which seems to win by force. Now both the Queen and the bishop are threatened and 21... Nxf3+ doesn't work anymore. Black could try 21... Qd7, but then 22. Rd5 and white wins the knight, which should obviously be enough for the victory.
I believe that in the game continuation black must try 23... Qg3. White could then play 24. Qd4, when the threat is devastating 25. Re8++. Black, however, then saves the game by 24... Qe1+ 25. Kh2 Qg3+= with a perpetual chek. Maybe this is the best continuation for both sides.
In the 18th move black should probably play 18... Qxe4 and maybe this possibility is why your opponent thought that 15. Rad1 is a blunder. After 18... Bxe5 white certainly has a great position because apart from the extra pawn he also has much more cover around his king.
In the opening it would be a good idea to try to undermine white's pawn centre before it becomes too strong. For example 5... c5! 6. 0-0 a6 and, if white allows it, black can continue b5+Bb7+Nbd7 obtaining good piece play. My general impression is that white had the better position for most of the game but his few tactical mistakes gave you changes for saving the game.
Hi, I have not played chess in may years. I am currently rated 1030 by the uscf, which is probably not accurate. This was a game against a 1360ish player in a recent tournament. Please make some suggestions. I played another similar game in the same tourney and will post it later in the post.