Earlier this week I posted [an entry](http://www.offmychess.com/approaching-900/) where I bragged about breaking my personal-best blitz winning streak on [Chess.com](http://www.chess.com). At the time, my ELO was up to 878 and I had not lost a game in four days. However, that streak came to a screeching halt after that post. In fact, my blitz ELO suffered a 60 point loss within 24 hours and I felt as though I was back to square one. However, fate was not so cruel and allowed me to maintain an 850-870 ELO throughout the week. The first game I would like to examine was played on Saturday and was quite the heartbreaker.
[pgn]
[Event “Live Chess”]
[Site “Chess.com”]
[Date “2014.10.18”]
[Round “?”]
[White “895”]
[Black “Wesley Surber”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “895”]
[BlackElo “879”]
[PlyCount “91”]
[EventDate “2014.??.??”]
[TimeControl “5”]
{This game was a real heartbreaker. A well-timed Queen trap cost me my
confidence and the game at a pivotal moment.} 1. g3 d5 2. Bg2 Bf5 {I am not
really worried about the Bishop since 3.Bxd5 is met with 3…Qxd5.} 3. d3 Nc6
4. e3 d4 5. e4 {White ignored the exchange and thus began a full-on pawn storm.
} Be6 6. f4 f5 7. c3 fxe4 8. Bxe4 {Looking back on this move, I wonder if I
should have let him come after the pawn on his own instead of launching
headfirst into a central-pawn attack.} Bd5 9. Bf3 {9.Bf3 protects the Bishop
from 9…Bxf3 because it is guarded by White’s Queen.} e6 10. Ne2 Bxf3 {
White’s Knight blocks the Bishop’s only defence, allowing an easy capture.} 11.
Rf1 Bg4 12. Qd2 Qd5 13. Na3 Qg2 14. Nc4 Qxh2 15. cxd4 Nxd4 16. Ng1 Qxg3+ {The
forced move on the King is acceptable, but much better was 16…Qh1 because I
would have still had an escape opportunity.} 17. Qf2 Nc2+ {Another blundered
opportunity to escape. I should have played 17…Qxd3.} (17… Qxd3 18. Qd2
Qxc4) 18. Kd2 Bb4+ 19. Kxc2 {At this point, my Queen is lost, so I needed to
take a piece. I should have played 19…Qxf2, but blundered horribly with 19.
Qxd3+??} Qxd3+ 20. Kxd3 Rd8+ 21. Kc2 Bf5+ 22. Kb3 c5 23. a3 Rd3+ 24. Ka2 {
Black’s King moves to safety and the game is his.} Bc3 25. bxc3 Rxc3 26. Nd6+
Ke7 27. Nxf5+ exf5 28. Qe2+ Kf6 29. Qe5+ Kg6 30. Qxc3 Nf6 31. Rf2 Ne4 32. Rg2+
Kf7 33. Qxg7+ Ke6 34. Qxh8 Kd5 35. Bb2 Nd2 36. Rd1 Kc4 37. Rg3 Ne4 38. Ne2 Nxg3
39. Qc3+ Kb5 40. Bc1 c4 41. Rd2 a5 42. Rc2 Kb6 43. Qxc4 Ka7 44. Rb2 b6 45. Qc7+
Ka6 46. Rxb6# 1-0
[/pgn]
On Monday of this week, my seminary studies begin again after a long hiatus. I am curious to see how having school work affects my chess studies and blogging responsibilities. Since I have so much to prepare for this week, I will leave this edition of *OMC Weekend Review* with the game above and wish all of you nothing but success on and off the board!