When your opponent plays like a maniac, and you respond like a coward · Road to GM, Game 262

June 27, 2022 NHaselton Hanging Pawns

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I played a strong FM who plays weird, aggressive positions, and tries to complicate the game as much as he can, whenever he can. Against me, that is the perfect strategy.

I responded to his “dubious” moves with cowardly play, not trying to punish unprincipled play, but, instead, trying to get a position I like playing, a position I’m comfortable with. That is the definition of bad play. You know what the best moves should be, but you choose not to play them to keep the game in known, safe territory.

Needless to say that I got punished for my decisions. At some point, my slow responses almost justified his aggressive, weird play, and he equalized and started squeezing for an advantage. Being a great player, and having led me into a weird position, growing his advantage was a matter of time at that point.

Tomic S. (2043) – FM Sokač M. (2295)
London System
Vrsar Open 2022, Rd. 5

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