Tournament Analysis

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I realise that it's asking a lot, but if anyone is willing to look over these games and give me some general feedback on how I can improve, I would really appreciate it.  I'm currently rated (provisionally) around 1200 USCF.

 

The following five games were played at the Chicago Class Championships, in which I took part of a four-place tie for second in class E (and $450!), my first good result in a big tournament.  They are lightly annotated, and most of them I went over with my opponent after the game (especially draws and losses).

 

Thanks a lot!
aquiredtaste

First Game:
Consider 20.Re7+ Kc6 21.Qd4+ next time. Stretching out Black's defenses when he's badly hurt is always good.  28.Qe4? No, keep that bishop pinned against the King.  30.c3 is completely wasteful and actually offensive.  Your job at this point in the game is to finish him, not bleed him until dry.  Get your bishop and your knight out and check him into a corner!  As it is, he blunders from here into mate.

Game 2:
5...Bd6  6...Be6  7...Nd7!  d7 Night is stronger than c6.  Your actual 7 move logic is sorta fail.  Most players would take your knight and destroy your chance for good castle.  10. Always castle early!  Castling is a pre-emptive defensive manuever, not an "Oh crud!"  11. Learn to do well!  20...Ne4, trade Knights, don't give it away!  27...BLUNDER!  Trade Queens!  You have positional authority, so trading queens is to your advantage.  This is probably a game changer considering your opponent's time troubles!

Game 3:
Learn to take those Nc3 Nf3 knights with your bishop.  Especially when challenged by a pawn.  Retreat is a tempo loser and can lead to entrapment.  Opponents' doubled pawns are a considerable disadvantage.

Game 4:
2...a6 is stupid.  3.a4 is even dumber.  Nf3!  Attack and hold the center; don't respond to piddly anticipitory defensive measures by black!
14. Be more bold!  Simplify!  Trade Queens!  You'd have avoided the mess made in 16-23  25.QxN!  Then take the Bishop!  27.You are down too many pawns as realized on 36, where all your minor pieces are mutually supportive of each other, leaving your king to solo a Queen and nearly passed pawn!