Objective 1200 - Blundered another game

Hi guys!

I'm trying to improve and want to get to an 1200 rating in a near future, which do not seems impossible if I work smartly. As some of you suggest on a previous post, I'm now playing slower games, doing puzzles, and analyzing my games. I've already analyzed a few, but it is my first time posting one. I'd would appreciate comment, both on my game and on my analysis ; I am analyzing properly? I'm analyzing without engine first then I run the engine and look at it again.

@KieronHam : This comment isn't constructive and I see no reason for you to be that harsh with beginners. If you want to maintain that comment, please share some advices, otherwise, please do me a favor and stop commenting my post. 

That being said, I wish you a good day sir. 

For your rating you did not play a bad game. The game is very difficult to play for your level of play. I looked at some of your other recent games to get a better basis since you are trying to get to 1200 (also is that 1200 in daily, rapid, blitz? The difference can be big as far skill level you need to achieve it in rapid compared to daily), and this game was hard for me to put a finger on what you need to do. As far as your analysis goes for your game. Don't just focus on different calculations of moves. Focus on your thought process for the moves. That can help pin point where you went wrong much easier. From what I saw in this game, and the others of yours I looked at you need to focus on tactics more than anything (especially in the opening). You won't get much further until then. The next tier of play will make tactical blunders often, but they don't do it usually in the opening. If you have not already, you will need to choose an opening to play consistently so you learn it, and this will help with not getting in trouble in the opening. Here is an article on the principles of the opening of what you should be accomplishing there if you haven't read it yet: The Principles of the Opening | Chess for Beginners - Chess.com . This will help in any opening you choose or situation you find yourself in in the opening. Then you will need to learn the basics of strategy (pawn structure, king safety, Time (not just development), space, and material). This is how you will need to evaluate positions. 

I echo what Alpha says above plus two other points . The exchange of bishops early on that you offer improved your opponents position and weakened yours . Try to avoid exchanges that don't give you some sort of tactical or position advantage. You also needed toO prevent the pawn storm on your king side by maintaining centre control too .

@AlphaTeam ; Thank you very much for taking the time to reply and check my games! About my 1200 objective, I'd like to reach it both in Daily and Rapid (30min per side). Great tips about tactics and opening study. I did read the article you shared, but since it was long ago and that I'm doing something wrong about it, I'll give it another read!

@peterjward2000 ; Thanks to you too for your time! About that exchange of bishops, I was convinced that my position was better after the trade since it opens the e-file, remove protection in front of the King and doubles the pawn on the f file. Could you explain me exactly why this is bad so I can avoid this kind of situation in the future?

I would memorize the principles in the article, and when you are playing in the opening you should analyze each move see if it accomplishes one or more of the principles; if it does not accomplish at least one of them, then it is probably not a good move. Eventually you will do it naturally. I do agree that the bishop exchange is not good, but not I am not sure it creates a weakness in your position. It does allow your opponent to create more space on the king side, and exert more pressure on the center. That might be what peterjward2000 is getting at. Following the principles of the opening you should not have exchanged bishops, because you are moving  piece twice, and if your opponent decides to exchange then you just take back with the queen developing your queen at the same time.  

You mentioned during the game about how you could have or how you should have calculated better. Calculation is not as important as some players seem to think. Strong players often rely more on pattern recognition and general understanding of what's going on in the position than calculating many moves ahead. It's possible to go a whole game without really calculating at all by playing intuitively. If you are able to maintain control over the position and prevent your opponent from doing what they want to do then you can avoid getting into messy positions that even require calculating in the first place.

In this game your opponent went for an early pawn storm on the Kingside.  Usually the best way to counter play on the flanks is to go for a quick counter attack in the center. So you should have seriously considered playing Nb4 around move 10 with the idea to not only remove the dangerous Bishop on d3 but to also prepare the c7-c5 advance to open lines and create opportunities for your pieces in the center and/or Queenside. When your opponent starts to attack you there is usually no time for slow moves such as 12. Qd6. You want to strike back as soon as possible and distract your opponent from their attack with an attack of your own. 

Hi bro. I will try to tell you my analysis of the game, keep in mind these are just my thoughts and i haven't analyzed it with a computer but i will share things i feel could have been improved.  These are the things i would personally be thinking during the game, just trying to share my thought process too and not just the moves.

 8. Qe2 is a move which i think u can exploit. One of the ideas u should look for in this position is to somehow attack the white's established center pawns on d4 and f4... how? well what about c5? if u play c5 then u will force his pawn to do something, either capture or u can capture it yourself.  But the problem is that u have a knight on c6 so first u have to move it out of the way but that will waste a move....
Now do u see how u can exploit Qe2? u can move the knight to b4 and now u aren't just wasting a knight move but u are attacking his bishop which cannot escape since e2 square is covered... so u will exchange your knight for his bishop, castle and then play c5 (not c5 right away since Qb5+ will win the pawn i think).

9. a6 ...  u don't need to protect the b5 square, if a knight jumps there he isn't threatening anything right? this idea of Nb4 followed by c5 is still probably very good(u can now play c5 straight away after exchanging your knight for his bishop since u are now castled)
U can also look for b6... why? just so that you can get your light squared bishop out to b7

11. Nd7 is something i don't like since u can play Nh5 attacking the pawn on f4, i can understand it looks risky since the knight is undefended but this move forces the queen to defend the pawn and gives u the initiative back. However be careful since your knight has no safe moves so watch out for it potentially getting trapped. However it isn't happening here.

12 Qd6 i think is ok but i would still play Nb4 and follow up with c5 since u have to start a pawn storm basically

21 Rf7 , a fine move tbh but i think Nxg5  and Qh3+ looks good since it stops the perpetual check from the queen and u can take his bishop.. but Rf7 is cool too i think

24 Qxe5  why did Ng5 appear useless to you? the point of Ng5 is that now the squares in front of the king are opened up for your queen. You can play Qh3+ or Qf3+ and white can't defend against both. However to play Ng5 u have to first calculate and see if there is a way for the white queen to fork your undefended knight on g5 and your king... once u calculate it and decide that there is no way to fork them, you should go with this move

Your overall game was pretty good tbh, you played well for your rating.

Generally the pawn storm actually attacking a king is better.  Your pieces are on the opposite side of the board of your king, so you get Checkmated.

Not surprising.

Basically you lost the game because you didn't develop all your pieces. If your QB and QR are still sitting on their back rank original squares by move 27, doing nothing, then you're really a Queen down. You need to develop all your main pieces before you start attacking.

nah i think he lost because he missed Ng5 in the end. Don't need the QR and QB , knight and queen were enough

@AlphaTeam ; Thank for the explanations, that makes a lot of sense to me now! I'll try to be careful about that in my next games!

@Schism90 ; Your point of view regarding calculation is such a relief to hear! I'll try to be aware more about tactics than to try to calculate everything for now. Also, thank you for explaining that Nb4 move purpose! I understand better how it would have been helpful now.

@kartikeya_tiwari ; Wow, thank you so much for your time and advices. I did take the time to play my game again with your comments and it was very helpful. 

hi

AAlphateam was spot on in his assessment  what I meant . It's not a trade I would've made . Key parts of the opening principles stop the pawn storm . Claim the centre of your opponent gives you it unless there is some glaring trap or tactic . Develop your pieces and get your king safe . Do these and you should have an ok middle game .

@schism90 is spot on a lot for me is pattern recognition and exploitation of space . I'm still a Patzer by the way and blunder and miss mate in one and fall into traps etc. It's all part of the fun of learning and playing .