As is the custom in my games, I was winning, up a pawn after he decided not to retake. But then in the dreaded endgame, I played moves without fully considering what he'll do next, he gets in behind the pieces and attacks the pawns, then I go from bad to worse and play recklessly to swing it from a win to a loss.
[Date "2008.01.29"]
[White "Dean Madden, Spondon D"]
[Black "G.R. Cooper, Rolls Royce B"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d3 h6 4. g3 e6 5. Bg2 b6 6. O-O Bd6 7. Re1 Bb7 8. e5 Bc7 9. Nbd2 Nge7 10. c3 Ng6 11. Nc4 d5 12. exd6 Bxd6 13. Nxd6+ Qxd6 14. d4 Nce7 15. dxc5 Qc7 16. cxb6 Qxb6 17. Qd4 Qxd4 18. Nxd4 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 O-O 20. f4 Rfd8 21. Be3 Rd5 22. Rad1 Rb8 23. Nb3 Rxd1 24. Rxd1 a6 25. Rd7 Nf5 26. Ba7 Rb5 27. Rd8+ Kh7 28. Rd2 Nfe7 29. c4 Rb4 30. Rc2 Rb7 31. Bf2 e5 32. fxe5 Nxe5 33. Nd2 Rc7 34. Bd4 Nd3 35. Kf1 Nb4 36. Be5 Rd7 37. Rc1 Rxd2 38. Rc3 Nxa2 39. Re3 Rxh2 40. Bxg7 Nf5 41. Re2 Nxg3+ 0-1
I was quite pleased with the opening, and had the better middle game position, his pieces were stuck in his own half not doing much.
Before move 28 I was in the position above and this is about the time I start to run out of ideas. All I'm thinking of is getting my rook on the last ranks, ok I've done that, now what? So then I'm thinking, ok, need to push that passed c-pawn. So I brought my rook back from it's trip up north to sit behind the c-pawn. Better would have been to get that bishop away from the side of the board and put it on c5.
Move 34 above is when I start moving without thinking, I allow his knight to encroach on my territory, then he forks rook and pawn on b4.I should then have played simple defensive moves, but I was annoyed with myself for losing the pawn, so played recklessly and gave him a knight for free as well.
2 comments:
Hi Dean,
I think your blog is excellent. Thanks for posting your games.
In this game you bring up a tough nut in how to come to a good plan when in a positive position on the board.
In my own play, I'm trying to increase my use of the what I call Capablanca Method of visualizing what a board would look like in a sure win position and then try to get the pieces there.
In your diagram for before 28.d2, I think in that position if all that was on the board was pawns and the Kings, it probably would be a win for White. So, one thought is to try to exchange as many pieces off without disturbing the pawn structure too much.
In that light, maybe something like 28. Rb1, which offers to exchange R's but also protects the b-file and also allows possible threats to a couple of black pawns is worth considering.
Hi dean,
I think one of the most important things to remember is the axiom,"Do not hurry" especially in the endgame where you have to precise. You mentioned playing recklessly after losing your pawn. Try this technique. Before making your move, have you paused for one minute before making your move? I find that even a short pause before playing the next move (even if it is the most natural move) helps to clear the mind a bit and cuts down on mistakes.
I used to have problems in the endgame where I make mistakes also of a similar nature to yours but nowadays I find that controlling your breathing and avoiding making immediate moves really helps a lot.
Take care.
cheers
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