What Should I Do When My Opponent's Clock Is Ticking?

In his book, Think Like A Grandmaster, Alexander Kotov posed a similar question to Mikhail Botvinnik.

Botvinnik's reply was very insightful.

"Basically I do divide my thinking into two parts. When my opponent's clock is going, I discuss general considerations in an internal dialogue with myself. When my own clock is going, I analyse concrete variations."

What Botvinnik means is that a chess player must learn to analyse not just on their own time but also to keenly and conscientiously analyse as it if was their turn to move.

But what is a concrete variation and what is a general consideration?

Analysing on general considerations means that when you analyse a certain chess position, you think of a myriad of ways in which both you and your opponent are likely to respond in a standard manner. This means looking at basic principles like defending an unguarded piece or square, connecting your rooks, taking control of the center, activating your pieces etc. Kotov explains that this involves breaking a position down to its elements and formulating both a short-term and long-term plan. A short term plan can be a simple one like improving your worst piece while a long-term plan may be like establishing a blockade or establishing a winning endgame scenario.

Analysing on concrete variations means that your opponent has made a move and you start your 'tree of analysis' based on the current position of the board and you analyse by calculating each possible move and possible opponent's reply in turn. The tree of analysis can spawn multiple branches, sub-branches and in each branch, due care and consideration and thought must be given to the possible response that resides in each branch. If any replies in the sub-branches appear to be bad, either the sub-branch is removed from the tree or analysed further to see if the sub-branch warrants any further investigation.

There is no doubt that this is very strenuous mental work and for the improving chess player like myself, it is very important to know not just to manage time but also know what to do on my opponent's time.

Kasparov wasn't far off when he quipped,"Chess is mental torture."

Tactical Puzzle

Here's a very neat little tactical shot.

Black has just played 21.... Qxh4.

White to play and get an advantage.

Answers as usual can be shown by highlighting between the brackets

[The famous Knight moves strikes again.
22. Nxg7+ Kf7
23. Qxe7+! Kxe7
24. Nxf5+ Kd7
25. Nxh4 and White is a minor piece up and winning.]

U-1400 Grade Matches - Final Round

My U-1400 Team Captain Greig emailed us about the final round U1400 Draw for the NSW Grade Matches. These are the final three rounds.

Club Standings after Round 7

Place Name Score
1 ST GEORGE DRAGONS 17.5
2 ST GEORGE SAINTS 16.5
3 ROOTY HILL 13.5
4 RYDE EASTWOOD 12.5

First name team at Home

Round 8
Mon July 14th - 2 v 3 ROOTY HILL v ST GEORGE SAINTS
Tues July 15th - 1 v 4 ST GEORGE DRAGONS v RYDE EASTWOOD

Round 9
Mon July 21st - 1 v 3 ROOTY HILL v ST GEORGE DRAGONS
Wed July 23rd - 2 v 4 RYDE EASTWOOD v ST GEORGE SAINTS

Round 10
Tues July 29th - 1 v 2 ST GEORGE SAINTS v ST GEORGE DRAGONS
Wed July 30th - 3 v 4 RYDE EASTWOOD v ROOTY HILL

I hope we put up a good fight this time round and am looking forward to it.

Death Comes As The End

I'm sure some of our fellow chess bloggers have been wondering why I've blogged so much in the last couple of days. Well, that's because my studies are finally out of the way and I can now comfortably work on my chess.

I was particularly upset yesterday as I had just learnt that a family friend had passed away in the afternoon. He had been ill and was suffering from cancer for a year now. My wife and I were intending to visit him this weekend as we learned that his condition had worsened and was warded at West Mead hospital. We were very shocked to learn that after taking his X-Ray at half-past twelve yesterday, he suddenly couldn't breathe and just collapsed and was gone. Just like that.

The news knocked me out of my stride. While I turned up last night to play our scheduled games against Parrammatta, I told the U1400 team captain Greig that I was in no mood to play but if he cannot find a replacement at such short notice to play, I would fill in. I didn't really feel like playing but I didn't want to let the team down either. Unfortunately, there was no able replacement so I ended up playing. After all our games finished, Greig informed me that our U1400 team's 3-1 win over Parrammatta was enough to secure the final 4th place for the next round. Our team had garnered 12.5 points to Parrammatta's 10.5.

During my game, I was very surprised to see Weng turning up at the chess club with his son. Weng is my brother-in-law's Steven friend (we went over to his place a few times for a nice Christmas meal) who is also another chess fan. He's currently taking his Masters and is thus not available to play for the club. When my game ended, I had a good long conversation with Weng. Weng's concern was his son's chess progress. I offered to help him by passing him some chess materials which hopefully can be of some use to him.

Vladimir turned up (!) as well and he and Shane had a good conversation and were in a jovial mood. When Steven finished his game, Vladimir proceeded to do a simul against Steven, Shane and me in 5 minute blitz chess. He wiped us off all the board with me being the first to fall. In our second round, again, I was the first to fall, Steven resigned a few moves later after me and Shane kept talking to Vladimir and made him forgot his clock was still running and Vladimir lost on time. It was hilarious. Many thanks to Vladimir for being so gracious in taking time to play against patzers like me and to Shane for helping to lighten up the atmosphere of the game. I really needed that as their good nature helped lessened the impact of the news of the death.

The U1600 Team Captain, Les informed me that I would need to fill in to play the North Sydney chess club next Tuesday on Board 4. That's it from me for now.

A Great Game

Tonight, I played a great game. As a result, I will show you the game in its entirety. I am Black.

1. f4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 3. e3 Bb7 4. d4 e6 5. Bd3 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. c4 d6 8. Nc3 O-O 9. e4 a6 10. Re1 Nbd7 11. h3 c5 12. d5 Nh5 13. g4 Nhf6 14. Kh2 (see 1st diagram)

I am very proud of the next move. I sank into a very long thought here. Guess what move did I play in the end? And this candidate move was not easy to see but easy to calculate.

The answer can be shown by highlighting between the brackets.

[14.... Re8!! (that's right I blocked my f6 Knight's only escape route to entice the e-pawn forward, I know what you're thinking... wth?!) ]

Now watch the drama unfold.....

15. e5 dxe5 (now all the moves are forced and I had calculated all of this beforehand)
16. fxe5 exd5
17. exf6 Rxe1
18. Qxe1 Qxf6

Here my opponent slipped up. He played

19. Ng5? Ne5
20. Qg3 (see 2nd diagram on right)

And now, it is my turn to slip up. I played

20... Re8

However, there is a stronger move.

20. .... Nxd3! And the Knight surprisingly cannot be taken by the White Queen. ie. White cannot play 21. Qxd3. Can you figure out why?

The answer can be shown by highlighting between the brackets.

[That's because this leads to a discovered attack 21. Qxd3 Qf2+ 22. Kh1 dxc4+ and the White Queen is lost]

21. Nxd5 Bxd5
22. cxd5 (see 3rd diagram on right)

and now the final nail in the coffin....

22... Nxd3
23. Qxd3?? hastens the end although other alternatives are just as bad as 23. Bd2 Re2+ wins the bishop with a crushing attack to boot.
23... Qf2+
24. Kh1 Re1+
25. Qf1 Rxf1#
0-1

A terrific finish. My opponent was gracious enough to allow me to go onto checkmate.

I checked my analysis with Fritz and barring the slip on move 20. The 14th move was the best way to equalise in that position.