Below, we can see that a rather pleasant position for White around move 7 starts losing momentum after move 10. I have the (flawed) idea of setting up a Hedgehog-type position, but succeed instead in playing too passively and not seizing enough space to properly develop and maneuver my pieces. My opponent does a good job of playing natural moves that improve his position on the queenside, until I (too early) become desperate for a solution, which rapidly sends my game downhill. Moral of the story: seek to understand the position's requirements, especially for your pieces' activity, rather than trying to impose an arbitrary strategy onto the board.
28 August 2018
Annotated Game #193: How strategic errors can snowball
This final-round tournament game illustrates a curious phenomenon, namely how small strategic errors you make tend to "snowball" - gathering weight as time goes on, until your game is crushed by them. I believe this is because strategic errors reflect an incorrect mindset on the part of the player, and/or a fatally flawed understanding of the position. Relatively small errors early on are clues that you are thinking wrongly about the position. Later this often leads to incorrect plans and, consistent with that, more significant errors.
Below, we can see that a rather pleasant position for White around move 7 starts losing momentum after move 10. I have the (flawed) idea of setting up a Hedgehog-type position, but succeed instead in playing too passively and not seizing enough space to properly develop and maneuver my pieces. My opponent does a good job of playing natural moves that improve his position on the queenside, until I (too early) become desperate for a solution, which rapidly sends my game downhill. Moral of the story: seek to understand the position's requirements, especially for your pieces' activity, rather than trying to impose an arbitrary strategy onto the board.
Below, we can see that a rather pleasant position for White around move 7 starts losing momentum after move 10. I have the (flawed) idea of setting up a Hedgehog-type position, but succeed instead in playing too passively and not seizing enough space to properly develop and maneuver my pieces. My opponent does a good job of playing natural moves that improve his position on the queenside, until I (too early) become desperate for a solution, which rapidly sends my game downhill. Moral of the story: seek to understand the position's requirements, especially for your pieces' activity, rather than trying to impose an arbitrary strategy onto the board.
19 August 2018
Annotated Game #192: The problem of mental perspective
When you retrospectively analyze your games, it's amazing how certain fundamental issues with your play can seem to spring forth and fairly shout their existence, as you see them repeated over a series of games. At the time, you are often unaware of these holes or problems in your game, or at least the fact that they form a consistent pattern. Perhaps it is largely a problem of mental perspective; to take an example from the physical realm, in a similar way you can have an obvious blemish on your face, but can't see it yourself until you hold up a mirror and look at it from an outside perspective.
Identifying these consistent flaws in my game has led to some significant improvements over time, ranging from major changes (coming up with a standard thought process) to relatively minor but still measurable advances (Annotated Game #63: Third time's the charm). In the most recent analysis series, what has jumped out at me is the theme of unnecessarily complicated moves, which this game shares along with Annotated Game #191 and Annotated Game #189.
In the case of this game, which was a nail-biting tactics fest in a weird Caro-Kann sideline, I could have consolidated my advantage on move 16 or again on move 19, but find a more complicated way to win; at least I can't complain about the result. Looking back on it now, I was definitely under more psychological pressure than was warranted and a calmer approach would have been more effective. Something to remember for future such games that feature early direct pressure on the king.
Identifying these consistent flaws in my game has led to some significant improvements over time, ranging from major changes (coming up with a standard thought process) to relatively minor but still measurable advances (Annotated Game #63: Third time's the charm). In the most recent analysis series, what has jumped out at me is the theme of unnecessarily complicated moves, which this game shares along with Annotated Game #191 and Annotated Game #189.
In the case of this game, which was a nail-biting tactics fest in a weird Caro-Kann sideline, I could have consolidated my advantage on move 16 or again on move 19, but find a more complicated way to win; at least I can't complain about the result. Looking back on it now, I was definitely under more psychological pressure than was warranted and a calmer approach would have been more effective. Something to remember for future such games that feature early direct pressure on the king.
17 August 2018
Training quote of the day #13: Peter Heine Nielsen
At any rate, he [Carlsen] was focused and wanted to play his best chess without thinking about winning or losing. If you start to think about results you start to get nervous. When Magnus plays freely and does not care too much you see his best side.
-- GM Peter Heine Nielsen, "Inside Team Carlsen" interview
10 August 2018
Annotated Game #191: Having to be brilliant to win a won game
This tournament game is notable for my failure to win a won game in a more normal and less dramatic fashion. After spotting a tactical sequence that puts me a piece up, I make all the right moves, but my opponent refuses to give in. Sometimes this is annoying (when you're the one winning), but is also not a bad strategy at the club level, if there's no immediate knockout, as in this game.
Later on, I break the rule of not allowing my opponent counterplay (or even just the appearance of it), in part by making an unnecessarily complicated move (as in Annotated Game #189), and as a consequence he almost forces a drawing tactic. However, I earn a "!!" from Fritz when I find (in some desperation) the only winning move, a rook sacrifice. It's also worth highlighting the final decision to exchange queen for rook and force a won K+P endgame. This should be a rather basic choice for a player, but it's also a sign that you have confidence in your calculating ability and knowledge of endgames.
Furthermore, as a general rule, I think it's good for a player to trust themselves when they are sure they have found a forced win, and not triple-check things. This is a characteristic you often see in master games and can be misunderstood when engines give significantly higher valuations to other (also winning) continuations. Even if it takes longer, the chosen route may well be easier, which is probably why the player was able to calculate it first over other, more complicated alternatives.
Later on, I break the rule of not allowing my opponent counterplay (or even just the appearance of it), in part by making an unnecessarily complicated move (as in Annotated Game #189), and as a consequence he almost forces a drawing tactic. However, I earn a "!!" from Fritz when I find (in some desperation) the only winning move, a rook sacrifice. It's also worth highlighting the final decision to exchange queen for rook and force a won K+P endgame. This should be a rather basic choice for a player, but it's also a sign that you have confidence in your calculating ability and knowledge of endgames.
Furthermore, as a general rule, I think it's good for a player to trust themselves when they are sure they have found a forced win, and not triple-check things. This is a characteristic you often see in master games and can be misunderstood when engines give significantly higher valuations to other (also winning) continuations. Even if it takes longer, the chosen route may well be easier, which is probably why the player was able to calculate it first over other, more complicated alternatives.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)