I need to look back at some of my games in TL, as I haven't spent time on them in any way,and so as a prelude to that, I thought I'd put out another "TL Openings' post to cover TL55, as a way to start the process for me.
Personally, my record was +2=3-2, that's 50%. Par for the course, although if you take out my default win and draw ( as you should ) , I have a not great 40%, and only 1 win out of 5 played games : GM material I am not !
Definitely room for improvement, although I would have to say generally not in the area of openings. Here, I tend to do well, mostly coming out into the middlegame with a good position. Its there, that I lose it !
In opening play, as White, I stayed with 1.e4, and in my two games faced:
The French, where, as usual, I avoided mainline French lines with the fun-filled Réti Gambit. Certainly, I reached an acceptable middlegame, but let things slip with a simple oversight losing a pawn. Following this with a less than active defence meant I played a pawn down for 20 moves, and eventually blundered a piece. I held ground for quite some time, but ultimately couldn't hold of the attack.
I
really
don't like the French.
The Sicilian ( sounds like a Gothic novel title ! ). This was a different prospect, as I think it was the first time I switched to a main line, rather my usual 2.b3 ( the so-called Czerniak Attack ).
Guided by Timothy Taylor ( in spirit, not in person :) , I played a Classical line with Be2, and again found myself well-placed in the middlegame, helped, I am sure, by an indecisive Black Qb6, followed by a creeping Qd8 retreat. I don't think he was ready or could calculate the positions after Qxb2, but no shame there !
In the end a forced combination led to a loss of a piece and an inevitable resignation : always satisfying to defeat the Sicilian.
As Black, I started with a loss in a Philidor. Again, I came out of the opening well, and then spent a long time until I made a major mistake. I even had a great chance to recover, but didn't see it, ending up a long piece down and resigning.
Twice I had games in the Old Indian/King's Indian, drawing both, which was a good feeling , as I don't consider myself a d4 player.
I'd say I was well-prepared in both of them, with a more than acceptable middlegame. In both, I gained the upper hand, but didn't see a plan to win, and with a lack of time my draw offers were accepted. Definitely could do better here.
How does my opening experience compare to Team League overall ?
07 April, 2013
T55 Report and Openings
31 March, 2013
Catching up with blogging, and an easy win
I've not been the most active blogger recently, far too much going on in the work world with major decisions imminent that will probably affect my future, as the company re-organises itself in the current economic climate both in the personnel and budget areas.
But back to chess, and my TL season (T56) is ended. No chances now of reaching the playoffs as wild card, but I think it unlikely.
Results though weren't so bad, considering.
Won 3, drawn 1, lost 2, giving me just above the expectation, so I will see a slight rise in my TL rating, heading back towards 1500. I mean to put the effort in to analyse and publish this seasons' games, since I think that is really the only way to improve.
I've done very little chess activity outside of the TL games and a few blitz, but I have enjoyed the writings of IM Colin Crouch a lot. He has a sensible view on chess improvement, and a fine attitude to life as well given the serious issues he is overcoming.
He pointed out an obvious win in this position.
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| Hebden-Williams, Hastings 2012, Black to play |
How many of us amateurs would choose the option of Nxg4+ and accept the draw ?
In fact an " easy" win is available with Nd3+. Go on work it through, its easy when you play it !
See you again soon on the plus side of a long, cold winter !
24 February, 2013
Solution to Problem : RB Wormald -1867
Here's the solution for the problem from last week...
Quite straightforward.
The Black King is practically in mate, and if the Queen was out of the way, f4 would deliver it.
So, the solution is to remove the Queen with Rxe2 ?
Well, no In practical terms, ie in a game, that will work, although mate will take longer.
To solve in two, its simply Be4. No matter what Black plays, a mate can be delivered.
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| Be4 wins ! |
19 February, 2013
Problem : RB Wormald -1867
A relatively straightforward Mate in 2, courtesy of Mr RB Wormald.
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| [3R1r2/7N/8/3pkPN1/3p2Kb/1pP2Ppp/4q3/1Br1Rb2 w - - 0 1] White to Play : Mate in 2 |
Mate in two [http://signalman90.blogspot.nl/2013/02/solution-to-problem-rb-wormald-1867.html]
14 February, 2013
DIY Blunders and Tactics 2
The New Year seems to have flown by, and good intentions, well, not quite fulfilled.
However, its never too late to catch up, so I took the opportunity of the overnight snowfall to look for some more ' home-grown' blunders and tactics...
Below, White has played what should be the losing move, in Qf2 - f1.
Luckily for him, Black didn't play the sharp move, and a draw was agreed in a few moves.
What should Black play ?
 |
| Black to play |
Solution [ Rxg3 wins ! not so simple if white doesn't reply hxg, but Black still gets there ]
12 February, 2013
Problem : Greenwood 1867
Here you go...a problem from 1867, courtesy of a Mr W. Greenwood.
The original problem stated mate in 4, but in 2013 , a mate in 3 is also there ( thanks to Houdini for confirming it :)
Enjoy !
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| White to play 2B5/5R1K/4p1p1/6kp/4P2R/6P1/8/8 w - - 0 1 |
Mate in 3 [ 1. Kg7 e5 2.Bf5 gxf 3. Rxf5# ]
