Tag: Blitz

I’ve been carving regular time out of my day to do chess studies and they have started paying off. Despite all of the mistakes and blunders, I believe that my fundamentals are improving steadily as a result. Here’s a solid game I played recently on lichess.org that I felt was worth annotating.

[pgn]
[Event “Rated Blitz game”]
[Site “https://lichess.org/WxA0I30F”]
[Date “2019.02.05”]
[Round “-“]
[White “Wesley Surber”]
[Black “Internet Opponent”]
[Result “1-0”]
[UTCDate “2019.02.05”]
[UTCTime “04:02:41”]
[Opening “Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Caro Variation”]
[WhiteRatingDiff “+12”]
[ECO “C70”]
[BlackElo “1160”]
[WhiteElo “1113”]
[Variant “Standard”]
[TimeControl “300+0”]
[Termination “Normal”]
[BlackRatingDiff “-34”]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:05:00] [%eval 0.12]} e5 {[%clk 0:05:00] [%eval 0.37]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 0:04:58] [%eval 0.23]} Nc6 {[%clk 0:04:58] [%eval 0.15]} 3. Bb5 {[%clk 0:04:56] [%eval 0.14] The Spanish (Ruy Lopez) opening.} a6 {[%clk 0:04:57] [%eval 0.26]} 4. Ba4 {[%clk 0:04:55] [%eval 0.4]} b5 {[%clk 0:04:55] [%eval 0.36]} 5. Bb3 {[%clk 0:04:54] [%eval 0.27] The Morphy Defense. Creates a balanced position for both sides.} Bb7 {[%clk 0:04:54] [%eval 0.58]} 6. O-O {[%clk 0:04:53] [%eval 0.46]} f6 {[%clk 0:04:53] [%eval 0.9]} 7. Nc3 {[%clk 0:04:51] [%eval 1.43]} Nd4 $5 {[%clk 0:04:50] [%eval 2.18] The first inaccuracy of the game. Black misses Na5 to put pressure on the b3 Bishop.} 8. d3 $2 {[%clk 0:04:43] [%eval 0.52] I followed up with a mistake of my own. The better option was to take the Knight on d4.} Nxb3 {[%clk 0:04:46] [%eval 0.53] Losing my light square Bishop was a consequence of missing Nxd4.} 9. axb3 {[%clk 0:04:40] [%eval 0.57]} Bb4 {[%clk 0:04:43] [%eval 1.04]} 10. Bd2 {[%clk 0:04:37] [%eval 0.16] This move was simply a result of me not taking enough time to consider my position. The Knight was already defended by the b-Pawn. Stockfish preferred pushing d4.} Ne7 {[%clk 0:04:41] [%eval 0.44]} 11. Qe2 {[%clk 0:04:31] [%eval -0.37] The intent was to strengthen the e-File and connect my Rooks, but Nh4 was a better option.} c5 {[%clk 0:04:36] [%eval 0.42]} 12. Qe3 {[%clk 0:04:14] [%eval -0.44]} d6 {[%clk 0:04:31] [%eval -0.36]} {This was one of the few moments in the game where I was genuinely confused and unsure what to do. Nd5 to meet was a way for me to threaten d7, but not much else. Not the best of moves but it gave me some additional pressure on Black’s position.} 13. Nd5 $5 {[%clk 0:03:55] [%eval -1.49]} Bxd5 {[%clk 0:04:28] [%eval -1.06]} 14. exd5 {[%clk 0:03:54] [%eval -1.21]} Nxd5 {[%clk 0:04:27] [%eval 1.32]} 15. Qe4 {[%clk 0:03:45] [%eval 1.41]} Bxd2 {[%clk 0:04:25] [%eval 1.45]} 16. Nxd2 {[%clk 0:03:43] [%eval -1.43]} Ne7 $5 {[%clk 0:04:20] [%eval -0.57] The trade is complete and the Bishops are off the board. This works well for me because of the closed position on the board. The Knights are better in these situations and will come in very handy shortly.} 17. Rfe1 {[%clk 0:03:37] [%eval -1.43] Solidifying my position on the e-File.} Qc7 $4 {[%clk 0:04:13] [%eval 8.09] A major mistake that I MISSED!} 18. c4 $2 {[%clk 0:03:31] [%eval -1.42] A very bad move that missed capturing the a8 Rook.} Qc6 {[%clk 0:04:11] [%eval 0.67]} 19. Qg4 {[%clk 0:03:21] [%eval -0.83] Preparing an attack on e6.} Ng6 {[%clk 0:04:03] [%eval 0.6]} 20. Qe6+ {[%clk 0:03:19] [%eval -0.94] Unless black makes a serious counter move, it’s over.} Ne7 {[%clk 0:03:59] [%eval 1.16]} 21. cxb5 {[%clk 0:03:16] [%eval 0.18] Forcing the Queen away.} Qxb5 $2 {[%clk 0:03:56] [%eval 3.5] Black should have traded Queens, but missed the exchange and loses the game.} 22. Ne4 {[%clk 0:03:13] [%eval 3.32]} Qxd3 {[%clk 0:03:54] [%eval 10.25]} 23. Nxd6+ {[%clk 0:03:12] [%eval 9.97] Black’s only real move is Qxd6.} Kf8 {[%clk 0:03:52] [%eval #1]} 24. Qf7# {[%clk 0:03:11] Overall, I believe that this was a much more solid game than I’ve been playing. I hope that it’s a sign that my studies are paying off.} 1-0
[/pgn]

The following games were blitz games played on [lichess.org](http://www.lichess.org) in the past few weeks. I decided to annotate and share them because they show some of my continued progress (and regression) over the past few weeks. I continue to read, study, and play as much as possible, so I hope that these games reflect *some* improvement in my overall play style.

The first game is a very nice win with some cool tactical elements. There were moments where I felt like I just got lucky, but others where I felt like concrete principles were starting to sink in for me.

[pgn]
[Event “Rated Blitz game”]
[Site “https://lichess.org/sPR0hG0h”]
[Date “2019.01.24”]
[Round “-“]
[White “Internet Opponent”]
[Black “AmishHacker”]
[Result “0-1”]
[WhiteElo “1169”]
[BlackElo “1148”]
[TimeControl “300+0”]
[Termination “Normal”]
[UTCDate “2019.01.24”]
[UTCTime “04:11:51”]
[Variant “Standard”]
[ECO “C44”]
[Opening “King’s Knight Opening: Konstantinopolsky”]
[Annotator “https://lichess.org/@/AmishHacker”]

1. e4 { [%clk 0:05:00] } e5 { [%clk 0:05:00] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:04:58] } Nc6 { Whenever I focus heavily on my opening it ends up being a Kings Indian or Sicilian Defense of some semi-random variation. I have noticed that when I am feeling more anxious than usual, my openings (especially with Black) tend to be some variation of the Kings Knight with mixed results. } { [%clk 0:04:57] } 3. g3 { [%clk 0:04:53] } d5 { Trying to avoid a pawn buildup in the center and hoping to force White into an immediate exchange. } { [%clk 0:04:54] } 4. exd5 { He goes for it. } { [%clk 0:04:48] } 4… Qxd5 { [%clk 0:04:53] } 5. Bg2?! { Inaccuracy according to Stockfish. } { [%clk 0:04:46] } (5. Nc3 Qd6 6. Bg2 Bg4 7. h3 Bf5 8. g4 Bg6 9. d3 O-O-O) 5… Qd8? { Stockfish listed this move as a mistake and recommended Qe4+ as the viable alternative. } { [%clk 0:04:50] } (5… Qe4+ 6. Kf1 Nf6 7. Nc3 Qf5 8. h3 Bc5 9. g4 Qe6 10. Ng5) 6. O-O { [%clk 0:04:39] } Bg4?! { Stockfish listed this as an inaccuracy and it is certainly correct. In this position I was trying to put pressure on the f3 Knight and keep it pinned to the Queen for as long as possible. } { [%clk 0:04:48] } (6… Nf6) 7. b3 { White prepares to fianchetto his light squared Bishop. } { [%clk 0:04:29] } 7… Nf6? { Stockfish prefers Qd7 in this position to boost the g4 Bishop and open space for potential O-O-O. } { [%clk 0:04:47] } (7… Qd7) 8. Bb2 { White tries to gain counterplay by putting pressure on the d5 pawn. } { [%clk 0:04:27] } 8… Bd6 { Defending the pawn. } { [%clk 0:04:41] } 9. d3 { [%clk 0:04:25] } O-O { Castling to safety, for now. } { [%clk 0:04:40] } 10. Nbd2 { [%clk 0:04:24] } Qd7 { The move that Stockfish wanted me to play from earlier. Strengthening the g4 Bishop and preparing to break through White’s King defense. } { [%clk 0:04:25] } 11. Re1 { The fight is brewing in the center over the e5 pawn. White adds an additional attacker to the mix. } { [%clk 0:04:19] } 11… Rae8 { In keeping with the buildup against the e5 pawn, I moved my a8 Rook to provide additional defense. Unfortunately, I did not have a clear plan of action at this point. I was playing rather passively and “hoping” for something good to happen, which is a terrible way to play chess. } { [%clk 0:04:24] } 12. Ne4?! { Stockfish recorded this as an inaccuracy. My opponent should have gone Nc4, which would have put much more pressure on my King’s position. Now, I have a little bit of room to play. } { [%clk 0:04:03] } (12. Nc4 Nd4 13. a4 h6 14. Nxd6 Nxf3+ 15. Bxf3 cxd6 16. c4 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 b6 18. Kg2 Rc8) 12… Nxe4 { Offering the Knight trade. } { [%clk 0:04:19] } 13. Rxe4 { [%clk 0:03:57] } f5 { This is a main reason that capturing with the Rook as opposed to the d3 pawn was not a good idea. White faces a threat that is getting harder and harder to stop. } { [%clk 0:04:14] } 14. Re1 { [%clk 0:03:47] } e4? { A mistake on my part. I was trying to push my pawn forward to increase pressure on the e-file when I should have been doing so on the f-file. The best move in this postiion was f4. Yes, White would have tried to trade Rooks on e4 and open the position, but Black would have emerged with a slightly better position. } { [%clk 0:04:09] } (14… f4 15. Re4 fxg3 16. hxg3 Bc5 17. b4 Bxb4 18. c3 Bd6 19. Qb3+ Kh8 20. Re3 Bc5 21. d4) 15. dxe4 { [%clk 0:03:45] } fxe4 { [%clk 0:04:08] } 16. Bxg7?? { A curious move. White seems to ignore all of his previous development for this brazen attack on my castled position. Black now has excellent control of the board. } { [%clk 0:03:32] } (16. Qd5+ Be6 17. Qxe4 Bxb3 18. Qh4 Rxe1+ 19. Nxe1 Be6 20. Nd3 Qf7 21. a3 Bf5 22. Nf4 Ne7) 16… Bxf3? { I noticed Kxg7 immediately after I made this move. It is not that I was ignoring the move or thought it was bad, I just felt that capturing the Knight and putting a little pressure on the Queen would be a better option before continuing. } { [%clk 0:03:58] } (16… Kxg7 17. Qd5 exf3 18. Rxe8 Qxe8 19. Bf1 Qe5 20. Rd1 Bf5 21. Qxe5+ Nxe5 22. Rd2 Bg6 23. Bb5) 17. Qb1?? { White misses two opportunities here. One is to capture the Bishop on f3 and the other is to play Qd5+. Instead, he abandons both pieces. } { [%clk 0:03:19] } (17. Bxf3 Rxf3) 17… Qxg7 { Variation of the move I should have made earlier. } { [%clk 0:03:54] } 18. c3 { [%clk 0:03:05] } Bxg2 { [%clk 0:03:45] } 19. Kxg2 { [%clk 0:03:03] } Qxc3 { Definitely not the best move out there, but it got the job done. White has opportunities for counterplay, but these never manifest. } { [%clk 0:03:27] } 20. Rxe4?! { Checkmate is now unavoidable. Best move was Qd1. } { [%clk 0:02:59] } (20. Qd1 Nd4) 20… Qf3+ { The final assault begins. } { [%clk 0:03:22] } 21. Kg1 { [%clk 0:02:52] } Qxf2+ { [%clk 0:03:21] } 22. Kh1 { [%clk 0:02:49] } Bxg3?! { Not good! There was a #5 forced sequence that I broke with this little inaccuracy. } { [%clk 0:03:07] } (22… Qf3+ 23. Kg1 Bc5+ 24. Re3 Bxe3#) 23. Rg4+?! { White does nothing to help his position at this point. } { [%clk 0:02:35] } (23. Qg1 Qf3+) 23… Kh8 { The only option. } { [%clk 0:03:03] } 24. Qb2+?! { [%clk 0:02:27] } (24. Rxg3 Re2) 24… Be5?! { Another lost checkmate sequence, but my intention was to do whatever I could to get my Queen to h2. } { [%clk 0:02:56] } (24… Qxb2 25. Rxg3 Re2 26. Rg2 Rxg2 27. h3 Rh2+ 28. Kg1 Qf2#) 25. Rag1?! { White missed a big chance to win the game by trading Queens. Instead, he opted to reinforce the attack on my Kingside with an additional Rook. This will cost him his Queen. } { [%clk 0:02:15] } (25. Qxf2 Rxf2 26. Kg1 Rxh2 27. Rf1 Rxa2 28. Rg2 Rg8 29. Rxg8+ Kxg8 30. Rf3 Rb2 31. Kf1 Nd4) 25… Qxb2 { A devastating blow for White. The game is lost. } { [%clk 0:02:53] } 26. Rg8+ { [%clk 0:02:12] } Rxg8 { [%clk 0:02:50] } 27. Rxg8+ { [%clk 0:02:12] } Rxg8 { 0-1 White resigns. } { [%clk 0:02:49] } 0-1
[/pgn]

This next game is a devastating loss. It is no good for a chess player to only share his/her winning games. As [Chess Coach](http://www.chess-coach.net) likes to say: *losing is learning*. Well, this is a *painful* loss, so check it out:

[pgn]
[Event “Rated Blitz game”]
[Site “https://lichess.org/44ajhEWH”]
[Date “2019.01.25”]
[Round “-“]
[White “AmishHacker”]
[Black “Internet Opponent”]
[Result “0-1”]
[WhiteElo “1147”]
[BlackElo “1089”]
[TimeControl “300+0”]
[Termination “Normal”]
[UTCDate “2019.01.25”]
[UTCTime “15:30:39”]
[Variant “Standard”]
[ECO “C65”]
[Opening “Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense”]
[Annotator “https://lichess.org/@/AmishHacker”]

1. e4 { [%clk 0:05:00] } e5 { [%clk 0:05:00] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:04:58] } Nc6 { [%clk 0:04:49] } 3. Bb5 { [%clk 0:04:56] } Nf6 { I do not recall playing many games < 1200 blitz that enter into the Berlin Defense. } { [%clk 0:04:45] } 4. d4 { [%clk 0:04:53] } exd4 { [%clk 0:04:41] } 5. Nxd4?! { An early mistake for me. I should have pushed the e4 pawn forward to attack the f6 Knight, but I was too focused on recapturing the immediate material that I failed to see the coming loss of more material on my side. } { [%clk 0:04:51] } (5. e5 Ne4 6. O-O a6 7. Bxc6 dxc6 8. Nxd4 Bc5 9. c3 O-O) 5... Nxe4 { Black is looking pretty good at this point. } { [%clk 0:04:38] } 6. O-O { Castling to safety. } { [%clk 0:04:47] } 6... a6? { A mistake. Black should have captured the Knight on d4, but instead opts to attack the Bishop with little in sight for return on the move investment. } { [%clk 0:04:33] } (6... Nxd4 7. Qxd4 Nc5 8. Re1+ Ne6 9. Nd2 c6 10. Bd3 d5 11. Bf5) 7. Ba4? { Stockfish preferred that I capture the c6 Knight. In hindsight, I agree. } { [%clk 0:04:42] } (7. Bxc6 dxc6) 7... Nxd4 { [%clk 0:04:26] } 8. Qxd4 { [%clk 0:04:37] } Qe7?? { Blunder. Best move was Nc5. } { [%clk 0:04:24] } (8... Nc5 9. Re1+ Ne6 10. Bb3 c6 11. Bh6 Qe7 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. Nd2 d6 14. Bf4 e5 15. Bxe5) 9. Re1 { Pinning the Knight and Queen to the e-file for the moment. } { [%clk 0:04:34] } 9... f5 { Black tries to defend the Knight, but it is not my ultimate goal, so the attack does nothing to improve the position. } { [%clk 0:04:17] } 10. Nc3 { Adding an additional threat to the e4 Knight. } { [%clk 0:04:27] } 10... c5? { Mistake. Best move was Qf6. } { [%clk 0:04:11] } (10... Qf6 11. Qxf6 gxf6 12. f3 b5 13. Bb3 Bb7 14. fxe4 O-O-O 15. exf5 Bd6 16. Bd2 Be5 17. a4) 11. Qd5 { [%clk 0:04:10] } Qd6?? { I would trade Queens if I were desperate, but that’s not the case in this instance. } { [%clk 0:03:51] } (11... Qf7) 12. Qxf5 { [%clk 0:04:06] } Be7 { [%clk 0:03:42] } 13. Qxe4 { Another free piece. This was reminiscent of a tactics puzzle. } { [%clk 0:04:02] } 13... O-O { Black seeks safety, but it doesn’t help the position. } { [%clk 0:03:36] } 14. Bb3+ { [%clk 0:03:46] } Kh8 { [%clk 0:03:32] } 15. Rd1? { A big mistake. The Rook should have stayed where it was. Very bad things are coming. } { [%clk 0:03:33] } (15. Qxe7 Qxe7 16. Rxe7 d6 17. Ne4 Bf5 18. Nxd6 Bg6 19. Nxb7 c4 20. Bxc4 Bxc2 21. Be3 Rae8) 15... Qf6 { #-3 is coming if I fail to see Be3 defending the f2 pawn. } { [%clk 0:03:24] } 16. Nd5?? { And yes, I failed to see the move. So, in a single move I went from dominating this game to losing #-2. Be3 was the saving move that doomed me. } { [%clk 0:03:10] } (16. Be3) 16... Qxf2+ { There is no escape. } { [%clk 0:03:18] } 17. Kh1 { [%clk 0:03:05] } Qf1+ { [%clk 0:03:15] } 18. Rxf1 { [%clk 0:03:03] } Rxf1# { A few choice words were yelled out in my house at the conclusion of this game, but I think it is a nice little tactical blitz game that demonstrates an important part of chess. The last person to make a mistake loses the game, no matter how good they are. } { [%clk 0:03:14] } 0-1 [/pgn]