Back to school part 2 (round 3)
I had white last night against Jenshiang Hong at the MCC. A somewhat boring game in which I made two tactical miscalculations. First, I entered a series of exchanges which I thought would win me a pawn, but instead just gave me doubled c pawns (half open on the b file) and a position where I had to defend.
The second was worse. I missed a very simple tactic that would have won my opponent's d pawn, making my own d pawn passed. I think that this would have given me a winning position. Instead we locked our pawns, traded everything off, and agreed to a draw. I'm disappointed with myself.
Things worked out just right such that I'm paired against the section leader next week (James P Williams, the only one with 3/3) and it looks like I'll have white. If I win then I will have at least a share of first place. Board two in the section features two other players with 2.5 points, so it would likely be a two way tie for first.
The last few weeks have hammered home that I need to spend a lot more time on tactics. I've been skating my on my opening and strategic knowledge, but tactical sharpness fades a lot faster than those other parts, and I need to do my homework this week.
Always easier said than done.
The second was worse. I missed a very simple tactic that would have won my opponent's d pawn, making my own d pawn passed. I think that this would have given me a winning position. Instead we locked our pawns, traded everything off, and agreed to a draw. I'm disappointed with myself.
Things worked out just right such that I'm paired against the section leader next week (James P Williams, the only one with 3/3) and it looks like I'll have white. If I win then I will have at least a share of first place. Board two in the section features two other players with 2.5 points, so it would likely be a two way tie for first.
The last few weeks have hammered home that I need to spend a lot more time on tactics. I've been skating my on my opening and strategic knowledge, but tactical sharpness fades a lot faster than those other parts, and I need to do my homework this week.
Always easier said than done.
posted by Zweiblumen @ 8:38 AM
1 Comments:
At 6:09 PM,
BlunderProne said…
Mr. J is a solid player. He doesn't like to study openings so he tends to stick to systems where his goal is to place pieces at certain locations regardless of what the opponent has in store ( King Indian attack is one he used to play). He fares well agaisnt basic tactics but you can get an edge if you know how to play for more complications. The trick is to keep him playing his rote opening moves while you develop for an opening tactic that gains an edge ( whether its a pawn or a positional advantage)
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