Defending Against Mental Tactics

April 6, 2019 NHaselton Uncategorized

Hanging PawnsSat, April 6, 2019 3:16pmURL:
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Two training games in a 15+15 format. The first I won in 9 moves thanks to my opponent’s premature resignation and the second was crazy…

I faced a higher rated opponent in a very weird opening. He played 1.Nc3, and I got a better position. I managed to win a pawn and should have consolidated with a queen retreat to d6. Instead of that, I dropped the queen back to g5 which was very weakening.

The queen was needed next to my weak e6 pawn, and had I retreated back, none of the tactical possibilities which occurred later on in the game would have been possible.

Material up but with a dangerous position, I allowed my opponent to infiltrate my weak kingside and start an attack. He offered a knight sacrifice which is when I saw what he was planning to do. My pices and my king were strangely clustered in the center which allowed him to play a marvelous tactic. Watch the video to see me struggle defending against it…

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