Tom's 100 games log

Hi all,

In this topic I will try to log my chess progress of 2014. I have found that in many other sports/activities, people keep logs of their progress. Not only does this help keep progress of all the things you do, it also helps you keep motivated, gives others the opportunity to help you/motivate you, and just writing stuff down helps you think about what you have done.

I think in chess this could also apply. At this moment, I do look at my games, both won and lost, and try to find out what I should have done better. But really having to type it out means that you should think about it a little bit better, 'cause others can read it (at least, this is the case with me). Also, once I have showed that I actually keep up with my log, others might start to follow the tread and help me out at times with some usefull tips.

My goal: to break the 1600 barrier this year (standard).  

I have already been above 1500 so I think this is a reasonable goal in the time provided (1 year).

In order to achieve this goal, I have set myself the goal of doing 15-30' of tactics trainer every day, and then hopefully closer to 30' than the 15' point. This might not sound like very much, but I have found that just doing something everyday makes a world of difference. And that sometimes it is more important to just do that little bit that can easily be maintained than a few weeks of 60' a day and burning out. And since I can always cram in 15' at least a day without it becomming a chore, I think this is a good goal.

Apart from that, I will analyze and post my upcoming 100 games (standard, not blitz or lightning, unless it was a very instructive game or something) here in this log. This will make me really look at my games. My analysis of the first 20 games will focus on the following points:

1. Opening: Have I developed my pieces properly --> make sure I chose simple development over other choices. To only deviate from this plan when there is something concrete to be gained. 
   Too often I deviate from just developing which gets me into trouble (see game 1 in the next post). Therefore, without really focussing on opening theory, I just want to develop my opening play by learning to always play the most logical choices which I play because I can attest to their function, not because I have seen it in some game.
2. Middle game: Do I have a plan? Too often do I see that I do not have a plan when reaching the middle game, leading to little play from my side not knowing what to do. A bad plan is better than no plan will be my goal here.
3. Endgame: I suck at endgames. Too often do I loose endgames where I am up a pawn or two just because I loose interest/focus and already think I have won. So this is where I can really improve my win percentage.
4. Tactics: Were there definite tactics that made a big difference (both by me and by my opponent)? If so, jot them down.

Well, a lot of words, now I need to get going on my goal. Hopefully I can improve some by using this strategy. After each 10 games, I will review my performance and change my plan accordingly.

Oh yeah, for the most common openings:

White: 1.e4
If black 1..e5 then some Ruy Lopez kind of stuff
If black 1..c5 then some c3 Sicilian kind of stuff

If white 1.e4 then 1..e5 
If white 1.d4 then 1..Nf6 for some KID kind of stuff

Hope you will enjoy this log and hopefully help me out along the way. 

Game 1/100
Tactics trainer: 1531 

Alright, so this was my first game. 

Opening: Went fairly well (theory wise) untill I played the very bad move Qf3, which essentially lost me the game. Lesson here is that I should have just developed my pieces when you get the chance, especially in a gambit. You will need to use all your pieces and then bringing out your queen is a very bad thing as it will certainly become a target..

Middle and endgames were non existant for me in this game..

Tactics wise: We came to the point where he had all his pieces aimed at my king side with me only having a few to defend. So I couldn't really do anything.

Big lesson: Develop!!

Also did my 30 minutes today :) 

I will look over it the first mistake is that you trades the rook the second is this postion has to played perfect to stand a chance you have no way to free the other rook the queen is no Bette and is going o be lost in the furtire you I will at it closey for you

Quickblast: Thank you. Indeed, taking the rook was actually the real mistake, together with bringing the knight out before the bishop eliminating all chances for development..

Did my 30 min of tactics again today.. Believe I actually lost points today. I find that at this moment I miss a lot of things, but even on the problems I do solve correctly I loose points, since I take too much time. 
However, I have decided that I dont mind the time and just try to solve a the problems as good as possible. When I see a simple tactic in a problem, I first look for maybe a better tactic/move. But this sometimes makes it so that I take too much time. I do believe however, that in a real game, I do have a few minutes to think about a critical tactic so I dont have to solve/move in 17 seconds, eventhough I might actually have seen the obvious answer right away.. Hopefully this way of doing tactic trainer will help me out more in the long run.. 

Game 2/100

Opening: Played a solid 2.c3 sicilian which gave me after the opening a nice advantage. I liked the fact that I could notice the change in pawn structure in a more french kind of structure with some bad pieces for black, without him having a c5 thrust to open up my center and the fact that I noticed that his DSB is his good bishop which I was willing to exchange for my knight on c3. 

Middle game: Well, there was a fast tactic which pretty much decided the game. I am unsure at this moment whether the choice to play Ng5 inmediately was the good choice in these kind of positions or that a retreat is more common.

Tactics: Sacrafice on h7 decided the game because black couldn't get his forces over to the other side to join the game. 

You man are way to passive is one i working on moving them around a bit and see if you could wiggle you way out

The first move is SOs line with b5 BB3 d6 Nc3 0-0 Nd5 Bg4 c3 Na5 D4 NxB3 axb3 its one line it give black some good space

I am going to print it out

Game 3/100

Middle game: Middle game was quite tricky where I missed a crucial tactick that gave him an edge for the rest of the game that I couldn't get out of. My pieces also got more and more disconnected.

Endgame: Difficult, especially under time trouble. But really liked how I held on even though he had constant pressure. I guess I had some nice resources by using his back rank issues and the fact that a queen trade would have gotten me out of trouble as then my king would be completely safe with the Bg6-pawnf7 combo and my rooks would have won me the game I guess..

Overall: Usefull game where I learned a lot from. First thing, always be weary of the bishop sacrifice on h7 or f7 for that matter. Second, always keep playing as your opponent might not find the killer moves. Third, sometimes you might fumble your way out of it by posing problems to your opponent..

Tactics: Against me the sac no h7 and later on f4 that really opened op my king. From my part, the constant treats on the queen and back rank in the endgame which led me to gain valuable time.

Tactics trainer: Have been doing my 30 minutes of tactics every day since I started this log. So that is coming along nicely. Don't really see a difference yet though, but that will come, I am sure of it.