Example game

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stormcrown

Here's an example I alluded to in my "rut" posting in the General forum.  In this game, black is in control by move 6.  The whole game I am cramped and defending.  This is very normal for me and I am becoming peevish Frown

 


p_i2391

I just say a little important thing, CONTINUE STUDYING AND PLAYING AND STAY CALMED, many of the movements that give pieces are produced by mental confusion, focusing in the game and play calmed are a good strategy.

And if you lose, just remember, YOU ARE LEARNING.


likesforests

I've only rarely faced the Dutch, but I think this is a fascinating position. Your opponent is clearly attempting to dominate the light square via his e6-pawn, his f5-pawn, his f6-knight, and his b7-bishop.

 

The dark-squared bishops are just itching to pin the c3 & f6 knight since those play a crucial role in the fight for the light squares.

 

5.Bg5!?, pinning and planning to trade off his knight, is interesting. 5...h6 6.Bxf6 or 5...Be7 6.Bxf6 leave you in reasonable shape, but 5...Bb4 may be difficult.

 

5.e3!?, planning Bd3 and e4 is also interesting. Again, 5...Bb4 is a problem (and notice your dark-squared bishop is now locked in).

 

So how about 5.a3!? You've deprived your opponent's bishop of his optimal square. Depending on your opponent's move, you can proceed with your e3 or Bg5 plan. One bad thing about 5.a3!? is that it's not a developing move and maybe your opponent can prove it's a waste of time--but that's a tall order. If you get a good position out of the opening, or even manage to play b4!? (a queenside expansion) at any time, that point is moot.

 
5.g3/6.Bg2, contesting his fianchetto is also promising... I think Bg2 is a farily standard plan when confronting the Dutch.

 

 


likesforests

In this position, I don't see what 11.b3 accomplishes. I think better is 11.cxd5, opening the c-file which will make your rook very happy since he's ready to attack the backwards c7-pawn and of course your bishops will always be happier on an open board.

 


likesforests

With 14.Bc4, you "succeed in trading off my better bishop", but why?? I thought you were targetting his c7-pawn. If so, then 14.Qc2 seems logical.

 

 


likesforests

Your position is fine because you control the open c-file. Your opponent may have a better minor piece, but he also has more pawn islands to defend.

 


likesforests

You played 20.Rc3 here. 20.Rc7! Rooks love to be on the 7th and 8th ranks. It puts more pressure on your opponent, and you can double your rooks on the c-file just as quickly.

 

> "I know I am probably lost now, so I try something to distract him."

 

Are we watching the same game?? Your position ain't lost.

 


likesforests

You play 22.Rfc1?, which hangs your h3-pawn and puts your king in a dangerous position. 22.Kh2 was much better. I think this mistake was caused in part by your negative mindset that your position's indefensible. But why do you feel that way? You said you can see most 3-move tactics. After 22.Kh2, your king is safe enough you can proceed with an attack.


likesforests

Well, I guess by now you realize now 25.f3?? wasn't so good. Wink


Lousy

very good analysis by likeforest!

 

Your major mistake is 22.Rfc1?? if you have played 22.Kh2 there is still play going on here


JG27Pyth

    Stormcrown... I read your "in a rut post," and have looked at your example games... and I've been EXACTLY where you are, rather recently, and I can tell you the problem... you are constantly playing passive chess ...  This is a very easy and very bad habit to get into. Passive chess beats lower rated players because they basically beat themselves and then you pounce. But passive chess gets buried by stronger players. Here, your opponent just plays mildly aggressively and in response you make non-moves. Eventually you lose. It's a crippling mind-set. Get out of this mind-set which is falsely rewarded because it does beat weaker players, stop waiting for your opponent to make a mistake, or to play as passively as you... players at the next level make far fewer obvious mistakes and they tend to make them only when they're PRESSURED.

    Take move  20. Rc3... what the heck is that!? You say you are trying to distract him... well hell man distract him, that move might as well be a pass... his seventh rank was there to be invaded, his N pinned against the Queen... what was wrong with Rc7!?  It's not a hard move to find but you didn't find Rc7 because you weren't looking for it. You weren't looking for attacking moves... you were in a defensive mindset... you were trying to play "safe" ... against any kind of good player when you're playing defense you're losing! You've got to look for the counterpunches... and they were there. 

    There are half a dozen moves here that are just pushing pieces around without the slightest oomph or threat...... Recognize this style of play doesn't even suit your psychology... You HATE the way you are playing chess... some of your positions aren't nearly as bad as you think they are but you are just suffering psychologically from the passivity of your game -- I can tell you're dying to be the aggressor and you don't know what's wrong, and what's wrong is you are waiting to be handed the initiative... good players aren't going to hand that to you, you got to take it from them; you've got to seize the initiative... get bold... Lose some games with speculative sacrifices, why the hell not? Gambit.  Play for the initiative in the opening and then play to never let it go.  If you study master games you'll see that is exactly how many many masters play. Try it, get aggressive, get complicated, be a bully, push the other guy around. As soon as you feel yourself getting pushed around... PUSH BACK.  Don't defend unless you are forced to it. Look for the counterattack first, and if you can't find one, look harder!

     The better your opponent is the more you will be tempted to play conservatively, this is exactly wrong. The better your opponent the more you must get up in his face. The more you must treat the initiative as as valuable as a piece. 

    Jeremy Silman reccommends that as you evaluate every move you ask yourself, "what wonderful thing will this move do for my position?"  ... It's great advice IMO... but for guys like you and me who are struggling to climb out of the B player zone of mediocrity... I truly believe the way up is more aggressive... after every move ask yourself, "have I scoured this position for active, attacking, pressuring, moves... what horrible thing have I done, or threaten to do, to my opponents' position?" You've got to realize that conservative chess is a mental habit and you need to break it to make progress. 

    Give yourself permission to be tactical first, attacking first, positional second.

    Finally, conservative chess, passive chess, playing by "principles" and general positional rules has often just been my excuse for under-calculated chess.  Work on your powers of calculation.  If you can clearly calculate that a sharp, anti-positional line leads to an advantage in 5 moves you might just play it... if it just leads into a murk of I dunno but my Knight will be out of position and my pawns get screwed up ... you'll make the "safe" move.  

    I'm not preaching to you from above you man, I'm right on your level and all this advice is directed at myself as well... but I've been following my own advice for a little while and I've been having much success with it, (*in OTB) I'm improving  greatly and I know for a fact I'm enjoying chess A LOT more, and that counts for something.  

     I'll tell you I came to this wisdom by studying master games, and listening to what expert level players had to say about master games. 

    Puzzles for calculation, master games for inspiration and for what powerful chess looks like.  


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