Blaah...
I dropped my CTS rating from +1800 to ~1700. Yippii.
More importantly tho, I regained my confidence in blitz chess. I achieved 85% score against fairly strong opposition (1800-2200 players) in recent tournament and ended up finishing 2nd. Having pretty nice performance after three disaster-tournaments was really important.
Showing posts with label blitz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blitz. Show all posts
Friday, July 20, 2007
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Weeee...(part II)
Three days ago was my city's open championship tournament being held. As a reigning champ I felt obligated to participate. This year tournament was pretty poor in every ways (only 4 participants and average rating well under 1800).
Well I won the tournament pretty easily (with "mind-blowing" 2.5/3 score lol). My games are not worth of detailed analysis, but here is an interesting position from my second round game against 1500-rated player:
I was black here and its my move. White just played g6. I have 52 minutes time left, white has about 9 minutes. Now you might ask; what is that special in this position? You are right, there is nothing special here. After black plays Rb1 (or Ke7 or Ke8 or Rb6 or even Rh3+) its over. Of course I knew they all win. And I knew I cant play anything else, like a4 or Rb2 because after g7 white promotes.
Yet I played a4 (explanation: I was not paying attention coz I was kibitzing other game at the same time + total mental blackout). The thing is that immediately after I touched a-pawn I knew its over. Huge deja vu feeling went through me; just seconds earlier I was thinking that I can't play a4, and seconds later I forgot it totally and played it.
Okay, after g7 its whites win. But amazingly he didnt win, because I defended well (=well enough to force position where 1500-player in time trouble couldn't find a way to finish me off).
Other results from past weeks: won round-4 and round-5 games in 1h+30sec-tournament.
Won May's open blitz tournament with 9/9 score. So I think right now I am in good upswing. I hope that next downswing does not start before autumn.
Well I won the tournament pretty easily (with "mind-blowing" 2.5/3 score lol). My games are not worth of detailed analysis, but here is an interesting position from my second round game against 1500-rated player:
I was black here and its my move. White just played g6. I have 52 minutes time left, white has about 9 minutes. Now you might ask; what is that special in this position? You are right, there is nothing special here. After black plays Rb1 (or Ke7 or Ke8 or Rb6 or even Rh3+) its over. Of course I knew they all win. And I knew I cant play anything else, like a4 or Rb2 because after g7 white promotes.
Yet I played a4 (explanation: I was not paying attention coz I was kibitzing other game at the same time + total mental blackout). The thing is that immediately after I touched a-pawn I knew its over. Huge deja vu feeling went through me; just seconds earlier I was thinking that I can't play a4, and seconds later I forgot it totally and played it.
Okay, after g7 its whites win. But amazingly he didnt win, because I defended well (=well enough to force position where 1500-player in time trouble couldn't find a way to finish me off).
Other results from past weeks: won round-4 and round-5 games in 1h+30sec-tournament.
Won May's open blitz tournament with 9/9 score. So I think right now I am in good upswing. I hope that next downswing does not start before autumn.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Blitz going well, long going hell.
I haven't written for almost two months so I think its time to for update:
Good news: I played in team blitz championship of East-Finland region couple weeks ago (open for clubs from our region). 12 teams participated. I was "on the mood" and achieved my best blitz result ever - 20.5 points out of 22 games. My opponents ranged from 1660 rated to 2200 rated, average being 1870. Unfortunately the event was unrated, and even more unfortunately our team didn't win the tournament.
Not-so-good news: What comes to normal OTB games, I am in losing streak. About month ago I lost very important game against 1960-rated player. I had clearly better position but blew it - not a surprise. Also THIS happened to be rated game.
And yesterday I lost against 1600-player. Nothing more to say.
Good news: I played in team blitz championship of East-Finland region couple weeks ago (open for clubs from our region). 12 teams participated. I was "on the mood" and achieved my best blitz result ever - 20.5 points out of 22 games. My opponents ranged from 1660 rated to 2200 rated, average being 1870. Unfortunately the event was unrated, and even more unfortunately our team didn't win the tournament.
Not-so-good news: What comes to normal OTB games, I am in losing streak. About month ago I lost very important game against 1960-rated player. I had clearly better position but blew it - not a surprise. Also THIS happened to be rated game.
And yesterday I lost against 1600-player. Nothing more to say.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
4th draw in a row
Yesterday I drew again. Nothing new there, I have drawn now 4 games in a row and have poor 3/5 score in our club tournament. Yesterday I was paired 1600 rated opponent. I got worse position right out of the opening, did my best to mess things up and play for a win, but in the end I had to take a draw. So, 3/5 might sound decent but when the average rating of my opponents is about 1700, and I am rated 2000, the illusion is gone.
Some good news too: my long games suck, but blitz is going pretty well, although I am still far away from the best days. Week ago I won club blitz tournament with 20/22 (+19 =2 -1) score, 0.5 points ahead of #1 ranked player (FM).
Some good news too: my long games suck, but blitz is going pretty well, although I am still far away from the best days. Week ago I won club blitz tournament with 20/22 (+19 =2 -1) score, 0.5 points ahead of #1 ranked player (FM).
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