How to fail win a won game. Volume 1.

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Bishop_g5

Ok, I just finished a game where I had the chance to win twice but in first case I couldn't find the right plan to assess the position and in second case even I found the starting variation I was afraid the king hunt forgetting that the king is an attacking piece also who has the power to capture and not only hide behind his castle. So I compromised with a draw.

There is much of a talk for opening theory, preferences, tactics and strategies were people usually forget the importance of technique, so I hope through my failures to help or inspire someone develop that part and become better. Don't ask me how to develop this! I am learning too and it's not easy. I guess through positional understanding around the castled King and patient thinking.

The game was a Marshall counter attack were my opponent decided to accept it in first and decline in second. I took advantage over his inaccurate play and slight mistakes to create an initiative but it was not enough for me, so I blow it away.



wrathss

I think it was a good game where both sides found good moves. Kudos to your opponent for being able to find defensive resources after 22..Bh4?, which was still very good for black. White played a series of almost only moves to not lose immediately.

I would not call this a blown game or a fail as while Qd2 and Rf2 is a brinkmate (on the brink of a mate (a shogi term), or threatening a forced checkmate on the next move that cannot be stopped. This is a very powerful threat as white must find checkmate or a draw immediately). White's counterplay did look like a perpetual to me at first.

First I considered that white could somehow take the bishop with check (which helps with the draw), then I thought maybe white could force the black king to the g-file which we have Rg3+ which white actually wins. Only with an engine check did I realize that the bishop is immune (because it is a brinkmate. White has no time to do anything that is not a check), and that the black king avoids a perpetual by going towards where I think "looks dangerous". Actually black has to find some "only moves" to actually win. A mate in 11 isn't trivial to say the least.

An example line: 32.. Rf2 33. Qb8+ Kf7 34. Qc7+ Ke6! (only move) 35. Qc8+ Ke5! (Kd6 also wins but quite a bit more complicated) 36. Qxc5+ Kf4!!

If the board is even very slightly different (lets say the white pawn is on h4 instead of h3), after Qb8+ Kf7 it is actually a draw. I think if it is different some other way maybe Qb8+ leads to checkmate! Would you be able to see that? So I think not seeing the mate is fair.

LogoCzar

Good game!

I think this is where you went wrong ;)



ksbalan04

Good game.