Chess Tournament RB #4 Lurker Thread

[Jkaen]

An idea for future if we are going to spoiler various comment on live games can we set up a tag code for each game ?

i.e. for tournament 4 Gustaran as White, me as Black it could be #RB4GUSJKA#

And if we use that tag each time we comment on the match then at the end of the game we can just search for that string by post to see all the various comments.

Thoughts?

[zakalwe]

At any rate - well done to reach an equal position, Jkaen. He's a tough nut to crack.

What's really missing is the ability for spectators to comment on games on the actual chess.com site, in a way that doesn't reveal the comments until after the game is over.

I guess we could always just use a subforum here with separate threads per game. Though actually we would need three threads per game - one for each player, and one for spectators. And it might annoy other users who aren't interested in chess if we keep bumping 30 separate threads on a daily basis.

[Rowain]

GG zak .

[zakalwe]

GG zak .

Yup, a fun one. Classic King's Indian Attack. This is one game I had in mind earlier when I talked about taking a wrong step just as you leave the database lines. There was a reason nobody had moved the bishop to c5 before on move 11, but it wasn't easy to see it.

http://www.chess.com/echess/game?id=82625948

[Gustaran]

Well just resigned the game to Gustaran.

The contuation I had in my head was after the exchange of the pieces and I had it that I could force my way on the right flank.

If I just park my king on f7 and do absolutely nothing you can't make any progress whatsoever on the kingside. Did you ever look at a line where you actually achieved something?
IM Silman calls that "using the dream position": You allow yourself as many free moves as you like in your head to bring your pieces to the ideal squares and then you see if you actually achieved something. Here the answer is "no".

Still believe I was right to play on. In my mind I had achieved the draw, which is a great great result, and if the results of these games in anyway mattered then I would have took the repetition. As it is however, what harm to see what would happen next out of interest?

Oh, I think it shows great spirit to play endgames out if you think you are better/equal and have a plan that might win you the game. The problem here is:

a) You can't make any progress on the kingside with your king at all, even (or especially) after exhanging your h-pawn.
b) My pawns on the queenside are fixed on light squares, so you can't pressure them with your bishop.
c) So the only available option was to march your king all the way around to the queenside, but once it gets there I will simply block it with my king on c6 (you might even lose your kingside pawns to my knight in the process).

So why play on? The only way this is going to end in a win is if someone blunders. So what you are basically saying is:
"Even though my opponent is rated 500 points above me and the position is totally drawn I think I can win because he is so bad he might blunder or lose to my plan".

Like I said, I don't think playing endgames out is wrong at all, but if you can have a draw against someone and decide to play on instead with the attitude "let's see what happens" you will simply throw points away. You must be 110% sure not to lose and for that you need a viable strategy and 100% concentration, both things you lacked in the later stages of this game.
In addition (without being super serious about it) this is still a tournament game, not a friendly takeback exhibition match, so I find it a bit odd that achieving things in your mind is your goal. I can't tell you how many winning positions I have blundered away and it would never occur to me to give myself a pat on the back because I "won in my mind".

[Rowain]

GG zak .

Yup, a fun one. Classic King's Indian Attack. This is one game I had in mind earlier when I talked about taking a wrong step just as you leave the database lines. There was a reason nobody had moved the bishop to c5 before on move 11, but it wasn't easy to see it.

The final nail was me being convinced that I can take back your rook with my f pawn (after Rxg5 Rxg5). Totally wishing your Rook on f1 away.

[Gustaran]

GG zak .

GZ, Zak and novice are now close to the 1800 mark. Why haven't you guys joined any chess events here before?

[Gustaran]

What's really missing is the ability for spectators to comment on games on the actual chess.com site, in a way that doesn't reveal the comments until after the game is over.

Isn't that what the chess.com website does?

These comments cannot be seen by the players until after the game is over - you may discuss the game in progress.

The only downside is that players can not comment on their own ongoing games

[Jkaen]

Well just resigned the game to Gustaran.

The contuation I had in my head was after the exchange of the pieces and I had it that I could force my way on the right flank.

If I just park my king on f7 and do absolutely nothing you can't make any progress whatsoever on the kingside. Did you ever look at a line where you actually achieved something?
IM Silman calls that "using the dream position": You allow yourself as many free moves as you like in your head to bring your pieces to the ideal squares and then you see if you actually achieved something. Here the answer is "no".

The line I took, which I admit I didn't review fully before switching again (my blunder) had the pieces exchanged.

Given that position you then had option of
a. moving king
b. pushing a pawn on my left forwad to get ate for no gain.

Hence I could then munch on the right

However I blundered the line.

As for throwing the game away, I had to repeat a move I had already doen twice then hit the claim draw button. That is pretty achieveable even for me.

I see these tourneys as a chance to gain experience against different opponents and styles, playing on gave me more experience.

Are you telling me I should have taken the draw because of the boost to my rating!

[Rowain]

The only downside is that players can not comment on their own ongoing games

I for example often visit my running games without logging on => I might see comments that I should not see.