Friday, May 18, 2007

Bayati-Pearson, May 17, 2007

Background, explanation and thoughts in the post directly below--I'll add that after reviewing the game it's not move 31 that really loses, though it's not best, but move 33 and after (better Kb8). I made an oversight and lost my bearings, basically, and started to play the role of someone who knows he's going to lose.

As I said below, this is not really a chess problem, but a deficit of mental toughness and focus. It will be an exciting challenge for me to work on improvement in this aspect of the chess struggle.

[Event "Reno CC Ch. Qualifier"]
[Site "Reno, NV"]
[Date "2007.05.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Bayati, A."]
[Black "Pearson, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1953"]
[BlackElo "1608"]
[ECO "A07"]
[Annotator "R. Pearson"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. d4 b6 7. Nbd2 Bb7 8. Re1 Be7 9. b3 O-O 10. Bb2 Qc7 11. Rc1 Rac8 12. Qc2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Bd6 14. Qb1 Qb8 15. e4 dxe4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Rxe4 Ne7 18. Ree1 Ng6 19. Qd3 Rfd8 20. Qe3 Rd7 21. Bf1 Rdc7 22. Ng5 Bd5 23. Ba6 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 25. Qxc1 Qc7 26. Qxc7 Bxc7 27. Bd3 h6 28. Ne4 Ne7 29. Nc3 Bc6 30. Kf1 Nd5 31. Ke2 Kf8 32. Nxd5 Bxd5 33. Ba3+ Ke8 34. Bb5+ Kd8 35. Bf8 g6 36. Bxh6 Be4 37. Bg5+ Kc8 38. Be8 e5 39. dxe5 Bxe5 40. Bxf7 Bb1 41. a4 Ba2 42. Kd2 a6 43. Kc2 b5 44. axb5 1-0

4 comments:

transformation said...

very lovely. i, for mine, have found these middlegames which simplify into three or four minor piece middle-endgame transitions to be VERY difficult to win against folks substantially outranking me in elo.

it seems that however much i 'see' that they seem to have superior understanding (i almost say knowledge, but the wrong word here!) of pawn to minor piece structure. and really shines in these situations. it is bedeviling, but is our final exam.

Fischer of course was a great player, but he was supreme in those sort of positions.

do you know the famous candidates match game between Fischer and Taimonov, where the prior trades down and marched his king up to b6 or c6, and sacrifices his last piece, if i recall correctly, to promotion?

late in his career he had man famous instances of B vs. N or N vs. B and pawns, with razor sharp, efficient economy and mastery.

Unknown said...

Hi Robert, sorry you lost that game and failed to qualify as a result.

I do have some advice: Study Barden vs. Phillips, London 1958.

Studying this particular ending would have helped.

Robert Pearson said...

Thanks for the comments guys--however, I don't think any additional study or great historical examples would have made a difference in this instance...ONE accurate move would have ensured a draw, as far as I can see, and if I'd really had the right attitude I'd have played for a win because, contrary to what I say in the post, of course he's the one with a weak pawn.

If I'd had the position against a GM I probably shouldn't care, but grind it out and make HIM ask for the draw, but the competitive situation did come into my mind, with not good results.

Unknown said...

"I made an oversight and lost my bearings, basically, and started to play the role of someone who knows he's going to lose."

wow, so it's not just me? that is something i would say. i find myself doing that a lot, and like you, it's something i need to work on...