Game 63
White
"Clear the way, her Majesty is coming"
After a long losing streak I finally managed to cinch a clean win. Being attentive to tempo moves was what allowed me to break down blacks` centre and gain the advantage.
Road to 1600 Rapid, trying to improve after every game.
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Game 64
White
"A lean, mean blunder machine"
I`m back to dropping pieces again apparently. I notice I`m starting to get demoralized with my chess play, I started playing tons of 15/10, and even though I don`t necessarily blunder horribly, it`s like trying to break through a granite wall. I just can`t play properly. CAPS has usually started hovering around 60-70, instead of the 85+ of my earlier games. It might be some kind of burnout.
Dudley-NE wrote:
Just found this thread, and it is extraordinarly interesting. Although you are on a bit of a losing streak, I definitely think you should get to 1600 soon. My suggestions would be to be very focused during the games that you play and try to anticipate what your opponents should or will play. I also think it is important to try and create middlegame plans in the opening and try to develop your pieces with a purpose. I also find myself playing too quickly so sometimes I just slow down and consider other options, and I like to analyse the position and calculate even when it is not my turn; using some of your opponent's time rather than your own is not a bad idea!
This is exactly what I should be doing, but somehow I`m becoming too impatient and I play stupid moves. If i try to be patient, my opponent gets to think about his move and can slam one out instantly when I play, then I get into time trouble. It seems like a catch 22
Start to train tactics! In chess you also need to work on specific skills!
Game 65
Black
"Like clockwork"
There is a first time for everything, and this game is the first one, - and likely to be the only one - where I basically won on time. We both played quite solid, but my opponent finally cracked under time pressure and made a fatal blunder. I don`t think this will happen again, because the vast majority of my opponents keep pumping out moves at blitz speed, doesn`t matter if they are winning or losing.
Aug 1, 2019
0
#146
Check out my blog! I do the Road to GM series, I am currently 1500 rapid. https://www.chess.com/blog/GMKENNYJI
DaddyReza wrote:
How do you lose on time in 15 min game lol
It rarely happens, 15/10 is some kind of weird format where you actually have time to think, but I keep encountering opponents who are hell bent on keeping the timer above 15 minutes. I don`t understand it, what is the point of playing longer time control games if you`re not going to use that time? I`ve had opponents writing "MOOOVE" and "??????" in the chat when spending more than 2 mins on a move in 15/10. I play in focus mode so I don`t see it until after the game, but it`s quite funny really.
Roastinator123 wrote:
Yes, even in one of my games, an opponent managed to get over 20 mins
Sometimes they even play amazingly good moves too.. I`m thinking if they can calculate good moves in less than 10 seconds, if they actually took the time to think they would be GM 
Game 66
White
"Sisillian"
I honestly think I somehow got worse lately. What should have been a simple tactical win turned into me straight up dropping the queen. Both times the trouble came as a result of me completely missing knight moves. This has become somewhat of a theme in many of my games..
Game 67
Black
"You shall not pass"
I played this game right after the previous disaster and set just one goal for myself: NO blunders. Honestly I just played defensive and prophylactic moves the whole game, besides the final tactic, which seemed to frustrate my opponent, who moved very quickly the whole game as per usual. In his eagerness to attack at any cost he just handed me the game. I can understand the mindset as this has happened to me more often than I care to admit. I have tried this conservative defensive strategy before, just to "troll" my opponent, but never considered it to be effective. I think I will try to employ more prophylaxis against these kind of jittery opponents who like to smash out moves, as I simply can`t beat them at their own game.
Game 68
White
"Wha-Tarrasch"
This was my first win against a 1700+. I got it because I remembered a similar tactical combo opportunity arising in a previous game, when I missed it. On that that fateful day I did swear I would never miss such an opportunity again.. and now I won a game because I realized the combination was there again.
This is a pattern which can arise quite frequently, especially in situations where an opponent is completely hell-bent on keeping a +1 pawn advantage even though it means keeping the king in the centre and falling behind in development.
This is a pattern which can arise quite frequently, especially in situations where an opponent is completely hell-bent on keeping a +1 pawn advantage even though it means keeping the king in the centre and falling behind in development.
Game 69
White
"Clean sweep"
I played a ton of 15/10 over the last few days as I have vacation, but most of them were bad quality and not particularily interesting. I broke 1560 earlier today, so I must have done something right. I choose to add this game as game 69, because it is the first game (I think) where I lost, but I didn`t just straight up blunder or make a super bad mistake. It was a game where I played solidly, but my opponent managed to accumulate pressure due to my inaccuracies, and opening a critical file for his rooks. My opponent played very solidly and very quickly, like nothing could surprise him. He just had the perfect move for every situation.. I think it is the toughest opponent I`ve faced by far. Just because I`ve lost in similar situations before, but my opponents usually had to think. This time my opponent had 13 mins left on the clock. in a 15/10.
I think as 1600 approaches closer, I really need to work on my positional and endgame skills, because this loss came as a result of accumulated positional concessions, and having no clue how to defend in a worse endgame.
I think as 1600 approaches closer, I really need to work on my positional and endgame skills, because this loss came as a result of accumulated positional concessions, and having no clue how to defend in a worse endgame.
Good game because you can pin point where you went wrong and analyze your positional mistakes . I think trading queens was bad, because he’ll have an easy time building pressure on b2 . Also allowing f4 closed the other side of the board , so you had no counter play when he won that pawn .
wajeya wrote:
Good game because you can pin point where you went wrong and analyze your positional mistakes . I think trading queens was bad, because he’ll have an easy time building pressure on b2 . Also allowing f4 closed the other side of the board , so you had no counter play when he won that pawn .
Yeah I think that was the most instructional loss I`ve played so far. I had a thought process behind every move until that queen exchange, which sort of happened on autopilot. It would have been far better to bring a rook over, defending, and at the same time adding more pressure to the backward pawn. Tempo and piece activity is everything in rook endgames, and that goes for rook and minor piece endgames too.
Giasira wrote:
Game 69
White
"Clean sweep"
I played a ton of 15/10 over the last few days as I have vacation, but most of them were bad quality and not particularily interesting. I broke 1560 earlier today, so I must have done something right. I choose to add this game as game 69, because it is the first game (I think) where I lost, but I didn`t just straight up blunder or make a super bad mistake. It was a game where I played solidly, but my opponent managed to accumulate pressure due to my inaccuracies, and opening a critical file for his rooks. My opponent played very solidly and very quickly, like nothing could surprise him. He just had the perfect move for every situation.. I think it is the toughest opponent I`ve faced by far. Just because I`ve lost in similar situations before, but my opponents usually had to think. This time my opponent had 13 mins left on the clock. in a 15/10.
I think as 1600 approaches closer, I really need to work on my positional and endgame skills, because this loss came as a result of accumulated positional concessions, and having no clue how to defend in a worse endgame.
I think as 1600 approaches closer, I really need to work on my positional and endgame skills, because this loss came as a result of accumulated positional concessions, and having no clue how to defend in a worse endgame.
Do you see which one is critical mistake?. At move 19. Bc1 is super passive, you say. But it is the only move to defend your pawn structures. And after Bxc4, black is already better. ( The strategy of the game changed immediately, from play for win ------》》》play for draw as the best chance)
Do you see which one is critical mistake?. At move 19. Bc1 is super passive, you say. But it is the only move to defend your pawn structures. And after Bxc4, black is already better. ( The strategy of the game changed immediately, from play for win ------》》》play for draw as the best chance)
Indeed, when looking at the position objectively, it becomes clear that I should have remained calm, defended my pawn with the bishop and looked to kick the knight away later. Only then should I have thought of my own attacking plans. As played, I just gave black an easy attacking plan. The rooks and the c-pawn were already well placed to pile up on my b-pawn.
Aug 3, 2019
0
#157
@Giasira You really have to analyze more carefully.
In game 65 I cannot see enough compensation for the pawn you lost/sacrificed. Only white's strange moves afterwards gave you compensation (like 12. h3 instead of a useful developing move as Nc3 or Bd2)
For example in your game 66 of course 11. Nxe7 is immediately winning.
But also later you had the chance to win with 21. Dxe5 Db6 22. fxg4 Tc8 23. Td7 De6 24. Dc7 f5 25. Txe7+ Dxe7 26. Dxc8+ Kf7 27. Dc4+ Kg7 28. exf5 (Sorry, Computer line, I just felt there must be something and 24. Qc7 is difficult to see...). Hope you found both in analysis, however, you did not mention it.
What I am missing in almost all of your analyses is any comment or variations for your opponent's moves. E.g. in game 69 black could have easily equalized playing 11 ... d5, which indicates that your previous play lost the advantage of the first move. You must try find the best moves in a position for yourself and your opponent, how can you calculate and judge the resulting positions otherwise?
Besides, to me it seems that the quality of your play varies a lot (not mentioning your opponents...). Sometimes the games look more or less clean, sometimes your opponents blunder and sometimes you do. These blunders are often very significant or even losing on the spot. First thing you should do is figure out why your blunders happen and then try eliminate that. This will be a really big step in reaching your goal.
Edit: Sorry for the yellow background. I have no idea how to remove that.
zeitnotakrobat wrote:
@Giasira You really have to analyze more carefully.
In game 65 I cannot see enough compensation for the pawn you lost/sacrificed. Only white's strange moves afterwards gave you compensation (like 12. h3 instead of a useful developing move as Nc3 or Bd2)
For example in your game 66 of course 11. Nxe7 is immediately winning.
But also later you had the chance to win with 21. Dxe5 Db6 22. fxg4 Tc8 23. Td7 De6 24. Dc7 f5 25. Txe7+ Dxe7 26. Dxc8+ Kf7 27. Dc4+ Kg7 28. exf5 (Sorry, Computer line, I just felt there must be something and 24. Qc7 is difficult to see...). Hope you found both in analysis, however, you did not mention it.
What I am missing in almost all of your analyses is any comment or variations for your opponent's moves. E.g. in game 69 black could have easily equalized playing 11 ... d5, which indicates that your previous play lost the advantage of the first move. You must try find the best moves in a position for yourself and your opponent, how can you calculate and judge the resulting positions otherwise?
Besides, to me it seems that the quality of your play varies a lot (not mentioning your opponents...). Sometimes the games look more or less clean, sometimes your opponents blunder and sometimes you do. These blunders are often very significant or even losing on the spot. First thing you should do is figure out why your blunders happen and then try eliminate that. This will be a really big step in reaching your goal.
Edit: Sorry for the yellow background. I have no idea how to remove that.
I have a bunch of bad chess habits, one of them is playing way too many games in one session. On 29.7 I had vacation and could spend the entire day playing chess, so that is what I did. That is why I sometimes just make horrible blunders due to inattention. I`m playing when I`m tired or frustrated, so I`m missing obvious threats. Today I went for many hours on a fishing trip in a boat surrounded by beautiful Norwegian nature, so chess just completely vanished from my mind. Then I played game 69 when home, and I felt much more concentrated and relaxed. You are right in that I should make a more thorough analysis, and include what I think my opponents plan might be. I will start playing fewer games and try to get quality over quantity.
https://www.chess.com/live/game/3919624581
OK, please tell me how my opponent is rated 1440. If he is, then why am I rated so low? 
