Playing Against a Novice

When I had learned the game a few years ago, I had naturally suffered many a losses against better players. Each loss would nibble off a bit of my self-esteem, and as many as four losses in a row would leave me utterly disheartened and unwilling to play another game for the next few months.

There were times when I thought that my opponents had mastered some mysterious formulae that ensured that I would blunder my way to their advantage. I also imagined that those formulae bordered on the occult, and were available only to members of some mysterious society. Of course, now I know how ludicrous that sounds.

Playing against a novice today, I saw reflections from my past. I felt very sad when my opponent blundered away his pieces starting with an exchange of his Queen for my Bishop as early as on move 7. Time and time again I wanted to ask my opponent to take a move back and reconsider his options. But I played on.

I will not say I did a great job; I still have a long way to go on the path of improvement. But I'm willing to teach my opponent (or any novice) whatever I have understood thus far.

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Many thanks.
Prady.
More links at http://www.facebook.com/groups/195960723787552/

The Thirteenth Move

I was not happy with my thirteenth move in the first game. I had a choice between 13...f6 and 13...Nf6. I had played 13...Nf6 because it threatened the enemy Queen. But I felt terribly uncomfortable after playing it. Imagine my delight when my opponent allowed me to pull off a back-rank mate!

After the game my opponent claimed that he was distracted toward the end. He did not tell me what he was distracted by, but requested a rematch. I agreed with two conditions: a) that we play the same colors again, and b) that our first twelve moves, and his thirteenth move, remain the same. I wanted to try 13...f6 this time. It was agreed.

Even after the second game, I thought we both could have played much better. However, my opponent has left without any comments. He seemed to have a terrible headache.

Below are both games.

First game (13...Nf6):



Second game (13...f6):



Do let me know what you think.


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Many thanks.
Prady.
More links at http://www.facebook.com/groups/195960723787552/

Another Oversight, Another Loss.

In this game, 18...Bf8 would have saved me. Did I commit any other serious mistakes?



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Many thanks.
Prady.
More links at http://www.facebook.com/groups/195960723787552/

What If It Hadn't Been So...?

In this game, my opponent hanged his Queen at one point, and then resigned. Wonder how the game would have proigressed if it hadn't been so (it looks drawish, but I'm really not sure).



Many thanks.
Prady.

Scandinavian - First Attempt

This was my first attempt at center-counter gambit. Most of the material I read said that 3. ...Qa5 is the best choice, so that's what I played in this game.


Did I play well?


What could I have done better?





Feedback welcome.


Many thanks.


Prady.

Dave-Prady-01-Apr-2012-1

I strongly feel I could have played this much better, so I'm not proud of the victory. I'm just glad I didn't end up losing.





Many thanks.
Prady.

Prady-Dave-01-Apr-2012-1

Don't go by the result of the game. Please do let me know if you think I could have done much better at any point. 

Many thanks.

Prady