Appreciating chess more
Recently I’ve had the chance to discuss my games with some strong local players and I’m amazed how much I don’t understand about chess. I thought my opening understanding was decent and I was weak in my middlegame and endgame. However it turned out that I suck pretty much in the opening too. I was shown better moves in the first 10 moves and I feel like such a patzer missing all the stronger but simple moves.
I know most books recommend discussing your games with a stronger player but I’ve finally experience first hand the advantage of doing this.
I think the sessions spent discussing and analysing my games has been beneficial. There is a marked improvement in my understanding of the opening. Take for example my game vs Saprin. I remember all my past games I was crushed pretty quickly vs this player. I just played so meekly that I usually gave up my opening advantage fast as white. I met Saprin again in the Taylor’s Open and not surprisingly I lost again. However this time it was not because of my opening.
It was the first round and the air con was VERY cold. Compounding that, I did not yet have breakfast. In my favour was the fact that I am expected to lose against a player of Saprin’s strength so I could play simply as I like without fear. The pressure was probably on Saprin as he cannot afford to lose or even draw against this patzer. 
[Date "2008.06.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "GilaChess"]
[Black "Saprin Sabri"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B18"]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. Nf3 Nd7 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 Ngf6 9. Bf4 e6 10. O-O-O Qa5 11. Kb1 c5 12. d5 Nxd5 13. Bd2 Qc7 14. Rhe1 Be7 15. Nf5 c4 16. Qd4 O-O-O 17. Nxe7+ Nxe7 18. Qxa7 Nd5 19. Ba5 b6 20. Qa6+ Kb8 21. Qb5 Qc5 22. Qxc5 Nxc5 23. Bd2 1-0
Later moves not recorded because of time trouble. I just kept losing my pawns in the Rook and pawn endgame..
However, I like the fact that I could see moves like Nf5.
Of course I still suck in my middlegame. Fritz 11 gave me a +2 at some point but I think a patzer like me would need a +3 and above in order to finish of Saprin.
Oh well, back to concentrating on my middlegame and working on my tactics…
PS: Entering all the games from the National Closed also helped as I got to see many games played by strong local players.
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