Summer Training Game #2: An Embarrassing Blunder
This was a rough game. I blundered early and it had an effect on the rest of the game. What are your thoughts on dealing with blunders and playing on? Also, when should one play on and when should one resign? I played on until checkmate here, but I really had no chance.
Anyway, here is the game, with annotations:
What were your ideas with Nxb5?
Summer Training Game #2: An Embarrassing Blunder
This was a rough game. I blundered early and it had an effect on the rest of the game. What are your thoughts on dealing with blunders and playing on? Also, when should one play on and when should one resign? I played on until checkmate here, but I really had no chance.
Anyway, here is the game, with annotations:
What were your ideas with Nxb5?
He would get his piece back, since the bishop pins the knight, and get 2 free pawns. But overlooked the queen fork.
Summer Training Game #3: Back in Black
I've decided to play more training games than I originally intended, but I've had more time on my hands lately, so I think it would we worthwhile to really play as many games as I reasonably can.
Today, I was challenged to play by a 1775 rated player who had read my posts. This was my first training game playing Black, and though I had to strain every single brain cell and fight hard, I ended up coming out on top. This game was a more positional game, and generally I feel like I'm more comfortable with positional chess than I am with tactical chess. I missed a simple tactic at the very beginning of the game, which I'm mad at myself for.
Anyway, here is the game! Once again, comments and extra analysis would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all for your time and attention!
It wasn't so much f4 (which wasn't good), it was not playing c4. White just didn't see that it was absolutely required to free the dark squared bishop. Better on 15, but still time on 16. By contrast, 16. rb1 - the rook is never going to do anything there. On 17, there is still time, just have to play ba6 first to chase the rook, but white plays bd2 with a disgusting looking position that stockfish says is equal, but only bc the fish has some tricks in mind to manage to play c4!
Nice game, but white did not play well positionally.
I would have to question 9..e5. Did you think about what would happen if white exchanges on e5 and plays e4? Maybe you figured you would have time to castle when your queen attacks the rook but there is some danger that your queen could get trapped and lost with some tactical play by white. Maybe there is a way for black to be okay in such positions but why run the risk? Just castle first and then play e5.
I would have to question 9..e5. Did you think about what would happen if white exchanges on e5 and plays e4? Maybe you figured you would have time to castle when your queen attacks the rook but there is some danger that your queen could get trapped and lost with some tactical play by white. Maybe there is a way for black to be okay in such positions but why run the risk? Just castle first and then play e5.
I agree. In his book “logical chess” I. Chernev constantly repeats: open lines favor the more developed player”. But you can also be developed and have a king in the center, which is bad if you are opening the e file...
Summer Training Game #3: Back in Black
I've decided to play more training games than I originally intended, but I've had more time on my hands lately, so I think it would we worthwhile to really play as many games as I reasonably can.
Today, I was challenged to play by a 1775 rated player who had read my posts. This was my first training game playing Black, and though I had to strain every single brain cell and fight hard, I ended up coming out on top. This game was a more positional game, and generally I feel like I'm more comfortable with positional chess than I am with tactical chess. I missed a simple tactic at the very beginning of the game, which I'm mad at myself for.
Anyway, here is the game! Once again, comments and extra analysis would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all for your time and attention!
Well played game, Evan. I love these good knight vs bad bishop games (and the other way around too!). I took your advice and made the first part of my Road to NM series. You can find the link here:
If you learned something from it, please feel free to subscribe and turn on notifications to stay up-to-date on the latest videos that come out. Lots of interesting stuff in the pipeline. Thanks again for the support. Here are the links to my channels for anyone who wants to up their game!:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpRYz_ElTJC-FUq4unehOfg/
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/giraffe_chess/
@Giraffe_Chess Yes, thank you for taking my suggestion! I've already subscribed and watched the latest vids. Keep it up, you've got a good channel going.
Is it only me that never analyze own games. I pour all training time in reading and solving then play.
@Giraffe_Chess Yes, thank you for taking my suggestion! I've already subscribed and watched the latest vids. Keep it up, you've got a good channel going.
Awesome, and you're welcome. More stuff dropping today!
Hello, everyone. Evan Lutz here. I've decided that every Wednesday and Sunday I'm going to play a rapid game and analyze it thoroughly, with the intention of seriously training and improving my play (I hope to have a rating about 300 points higher than my current one by the end of August). In addition to this, I've been doing tactics every day and I've started reading "The Amateur's Mind" by IM Jeremy Silman. I'm posting these games here in case any experienced, more highly rated players have any tips or pointers. I would greatly appreciate them.
Without further ado, here is Summer Training Game #1
The dark squared bishop belongs on e3, on f4 it prevents a kingside expansion with f4.
Hello, everyone. Evan Lutz here. I've decided that every Wednesday and Sunday I'm going to play a rapid game and analyze it thoroughly, with the intention of seriously training and improving my play (I hope to have a rating about 300 points higher than my current one by the end of August). In addition to this, I've been doing tactics every day and I've started reading "The Amateur's Mind" by IM Jeremy Silman. I'm posting these games here in case any experienced, more highly rated players have any tips or pointers. I would greatly appreciate them.
Without further ado, here is Summer Training Game #1
I found the games interesting so I decided to analyze them. I previously have done a series like this, you should keep it up! Here are some notes on your first game:
Summer Training Game #4: Understanding My Playing Style and Lack of Tactical Vision
My apologies for not posting recently. I have still been playing and analyzing, but haven't had as much time to post. Here is a game I played late last night, and this game taught me a lot about myself as a chess player.
As I said, this game taught me a lot about myself as a chess player. I tend to be more of a positional player. I usually play 1. d4 as White and 1... c6 as Black (against 1. e4). In this game, I was doing well until 12. c4, when I actually had to do some calculation, and I missed a simple move. I could've been a pawn up. Then I made two more simple tactical blunders. Of course, I still picked up the win, but only because my opponent blundered his Queen.
I noticed that when the game shifted from a positional game to a game that required more calculation, I became uncomfortable. Especially when I was put on the defensive with my opponent's 16. b4, I panicked and did not take the time to calmly look for the best move. Instead, I just assumed that my Knight was lost.
This game taught me two fundamental things: 1. I need to work on tactics more. 2. I need to take more time in critical positions and not assume that I'm losing when my opponent plays an apparently sharp move.
Keep working on tactical puzzles. When solving them pay no attention to the amount of time you spend. Your goal should be to find the winning line before making your first move--this will help you with your calculation and tactical vision and it's your best bet to gaining elo quickly online.
Some advice regarding calculation:
- Spend the majority of your time analyzing the current position and its motifs (weaknesses, hanging pieces, etc.); from this, you should be able to find a few strong candidate moves.
- Only start calculating lines once you have found these candidate moves. Try to calculate to the point where the position has become more "quiet" (i.e. no major piece captures to consider/forcing lines). Again, considering the first move in a tree of variations is far more important than being able to see deeply in a losing line.
- Once you have these resultant positions from each candidate move, try to evaluate which position is "best" in order to logically deduce which move you should be making. For example, following 16.b4:
16...d3:
16...Qc6:
These are just example continuations, but what can be said about each resultant position? After 16...d3 it seems black can hope for a draw at best by focusing on winning the a pawn. After 16...Qc6 there is material equality, but black probably stands better because of superior piece placement and the threat of b6, winning the c pawn. When analyzing your own games you have all the time in the world, so it's a good opportunity to explore lines/moves you would never have thought of in the game itself.
Summer Training Game #4: Understanding My Playing Style and Lack of Tactical Vision
My apologies for not posting recently. I have still been playing and analyzing, but haven't had as much time to post. Here is a game I played late last night, and this game taught me a lot about myself as a chess player.
As I said, this game taught me a lot about myself as a chess player. I tend to be more of a positional player. I usually play 1. d4 as White and 1... c6 as Black (against 1. e4). In this game, I was doing well until 12. c4, when I actually had to do some calculation, and I missed a simple move. I could've been a pawn up. Then I made two more simple tactical blunders. Of course, I still picked up the win, but only because my opponent blundered his Queen.
I noticed that when the game shifted from a positional game to a game that required more calculation, I became uncomfortable. Especially when I was put on the defensive with my opponent's 16. b4, I panicked and did not take the time to calmly look for the best move. Instead, I just assumed that my Knight was lost.
This game taught me two fundamental things: 1. I need to work on tactics more. 2. I need to take more time in critical positions and not assume that I'm losing when my opponent plays an apparently sharp move.
Cxd4 was actually the best move, instead of 14.... rc8, you had to go e3!! Followed by xd5. After this, you would have been close to winning.
nice thread, please keep posting new games and analysis 
Summer Training Game #5: A Slow Death
This game didn't go so well. I didn't make any major blunders such as hanging a piece, but I played inaccurately. Also, I noticed that I got into some time pressure as the game progressed. Any tips for time management? It's always been a struggle for me.
Summer Training Game #5: A Slow Death
This game didn't go so well. I didn't make any major blunders such as hanging a piece, but I played inaccurately. Also, I noticed that I got into some time pressure as the game progressed. Any tips for time management? It's always been a struggle for me.
Personally, I think you should look into the possible variations and responses white has against the caro-kann (if you plan on playing it a bunch, which you seem to do). A little opening theory can help save time for the middlegame, but it's still important to KNOW why you're playing those moves.
The caro is really solid, but requires lots of accurate play to win. You had the vastly superior middlegame, but had trouble keeping your edge... imo, you got impatient with that ...e3 move. I recommend going to the lessons...
lessons > mastery > strategy > Silman's lessons in strategy, or master your technique, or roots of positional understanding. Either of those three should help, if you can implement them in your games.
Summer Training Game #2: An Embarrassing Blunder
This was a rough game. I blundered early and it had an effect on the rest of the game. What are your thoughts on dealing with blunders and playing on? Also, when should one play on and when should one resign? I played on until checkmate here, but I really had no chance.
Anyway, here is the game, with annotations: