Lessons Learned - Part 1

In pawn races, always check if the kings can stop the pawns!

Here, i blunder a win. An easy pawn race. But the only thing i saw was 1. ...a2 2. c7 a1=Q 3. c8=Q Qe1+ and hopefully winning.

But no, it leads to a draw.

If i would just pay attention a little bit i would realize that my king CAN stop the pawn and the opponents king CANNOT! I even pushed to a3 instead of taking on b3 for that exact reason. But then i forgot about it.

Be careful about pawns pushing past! Pawns are never obliged to take or to wait, they can push and slip into your territory

Here, with 7 minutes on the clock, a piece up, I play b5??.

Of course this leads to many problems because of course he is not going to take b5 and neither is he going to wait. He obviously played c5 and suddenly two passed paws are marching down my face, supported by the sniper bishop.

Many moves are okay in this position, the best is even to sack your pawn with 1. ...f4! because your are getting it back simply after 2. gxf4 Nf5! when white has no option to protect h4. This also makes sense when you see that the knight has no really good options to move.

Never blitz out moves! Always ask myself these questions, it takes 10 seconds!

SHAME!!! I played too fast. I blitzed out that move. In my head: "I block the bishop and next turn i play f3 finally freeing up my bishop". Well... Moving a piece always does more than one thing. Just don't blitz out moves, I should double check every move and think:

• what does that move change in the position?
• what nasty stuff can my opponent respond to that?
• Am I hanging a piece or mate?

Obviously, I did play this move in 1 second, so no way that I answered these questions. So, take my time and be concentrated.
And indeed, this one mistake, this one lack of concentration, cleanly cost me the game.

More coming soon!