A Fixable Problem

For a while after I started playing again in 2011 I would jump at the chance to take a draw either from a stronger player in almost any position, or from an evenly matched player when I didn’t have a dominating position.

Lately I’ve gone to the opposite extreme.  I don’t want draws at all.  On the surface that’s not the end of the world since it’s a piece of advice that you see many players given by coaches in their quests to improve.

On the other hand, it can be very bad when someone goes to such great lengths to avoid draws as to play intentionally bad moves.

Take this position for instance.  I’m white and it’s my move.

The correct candidate moves are 30.Bxc6, or possibly even 30.Bd5.  However, I didn’t want to exchange pieces. I wanted to keep as many pieces on the board as I possibly could.

So I played 30.f3 and my position immediately goes from slightly worse (once the bishops come off I’ll have some light square issues) to strategically dead lost.

This is clearly a serious issue that I need to work to overcome.

Til Next Time,

Chris Wainscott

10 thoughts on “A Fixable Problem”

  1. How come we never hear from this Johan Verduyckt guy that you are supposed to be competing against?

    How is his training going and has his rating gone up or down?

    Does he even play?

  2. I’m just trying to join you guys as an 1800. I’m currently at 1772, so just 28 more points and I’m there.

    I’m not sure I can get there, but you never know!

    Just 1 lucky tournament is all it takes.

  3. 2000? 2200? One thing at a time. I just would like to get back over 1800.

    If I get lucky and accomplish that, then maybe I can dream of going over 1900!

    On the other hand, why settle for 2200? Why not shoot for 2400 or 2600?

    For now, I would just like to get to 1801.

  4. I’ll be back with a vengeance this weekend Johan. I’ve been working pretty hard with training, but I’ve also had a lot of journalism stuff get in the way. I am working on a feature article for Chess Life and have an article appearing in the new issue of American Chess Magazine as well as an interview with Onischuk I recently conducted for another upcoming article.

    So I haven’t had enough time to write much here since I’ve been busy with a lot of other stuff.

    I’ll write several pieces for this blog in the next few days though!

  5. Yeah, I think the journalism is more your thing. You had a nice interview with that young Master from Wisconsin, ALEXANDER VELIKANOV!

  6. @Chris

    Looking forward to your new posts. I must know what my opponent in this chess book challenge is doing so I prepare myself for the slaughtering that is coming my way. I must know what to blame it on. 🙂

  7. The journalism is enjoyable, and I’ve made a lot of friends through it. I also got a kick out of Mesgen Amanov introducing me to Yasser Seirawan as a “famous chess journalist” a few months ago in St. Louis.

    It’s been fun to get to interview people like Susan Polgar, Alex Onischuk, Awonder Liang, and others.

    Those things may slow down my progress, but they won’t stop it and at the end of the day, even if it takes me longer to achieve my goals I will achieve them.

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