I am 0-3 in my current tournament at the Waukesha chess club, but am determined to make a 2nd half come back. Yesterday I played 1.b4 for the first time in my life. I ended up losing a pawn, but my opponent handed me the game when he played Bb4.
There are several ways to win here. I chose Ng6 (not the best if Black finds Qf6), but he played Qd6, I then played the obvious Bxf7+, Black replied Kh7, I should have just played BxB QxB, Rb1 and then picked up the rook on e8. I played dxe Qc5,Bxb4 Qxb4, Rb1 Qxe4, Bxe8 Bc4, Qb2 Bd5. 
There are several ways to win here. I chose Ng6 (not the best if Black finds Qf6), but he played Qd6, I then played the obvious Bxf7+, Black replied Kh7, I should have just played BxB QxB, Rb1 and then picked up the rook on e8. I played dxe Qc5,Bxb4 Qxb4, Rb1 Qxe4, Bxe8 Bc4, Qb2 Bd5. If I had not played dxe earlier, Black would not have had mating threats. Here the best defence is f3, then after Qxf3 I can play Bxd7. Instead I chose f4, I am still winning but in bad time trouble didn't realize that in order to defend properly I had to approach the Black bishop with my King, instead I ended up getting mated on the q-side.
B4! against Mr. Coons. Good choice. I will look at your analysis this weekend when I get some time.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to improve dont play 1. B4 !
ReplyDeleteJon Burgess
Ivan
ReplyDeleteIn the first diagram BxB4 wins if QxB4 then Bxf7 and then if Kf8 then Ng6 mate !
Jon Burgess
What the hell is 1.b4?
ReplyDeleteForget getting to 2000 if you're going to play like that.
Hello Ivan,
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing wrong with 1.b4. Any opening is okay. It just depends on how you play it.
The important thing is not to let the losses psyche you out.
Best of luck to your remaining games!
I wanted to try something new.
ReplyDeleteI lost the game due to weak tactics/bad time management, the opening had nothing to do with it.
You've been telling yourself for over a year that your problem is poor tactics and poor time management. If you seriously think that is the problem, then fix it...
ReplyDeleteOn Tactics:
ReplyDeleteIvan,
I get the impression that after you studied Mikhail Tal on tactics you are feeling to overconfident at the board; but remember that Tal was the master of speculative sacrifices!
IMO the book "Imagination in Chess - How to Think Creatively and Avoid Foolish Mistakes." by Paata Gaprindashvili would be perfect for you. Check it out.
BRUZ
Hey BRUZ,
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the input. I will check out that book.
Will you be at the Chicago Open?
ivan, all along the way, i have managed to continue to visit all your blog updates, just stopp'n in to say 'hey' and wish you well. dk
ReplyDelete