Praxis

Lucky escapes

Simon Webb in his book Chess for Tigers identified the "secrets of swindling":
(1) Be objective. The first prerequisite to a swindle is to be objective enough to realize early on when you have a lost position and start playing for a swindle while your position still has resources. If you wait until your position worsens and becomes hopeless, it will be too late.

EJCC 2-2 Newton Abbot Juniors

Submitted by DrDave on

A match of mostly short games, where the outgraded Newton Abbot team must have been pleased to hold us off. There are some lessons about how to win a game here:

1. Recognise when you are playing in a risky way - and do so only if you have to.
2. Don't be afraid of ghosts!
3. If you like open games, then don't close the position.

You can download the games&notes in the PGN file.

(1)

{A shame to miss a win at the end, but you had the more promising position throughout, so don't regret the missed win, take some pride in the good game! }

Wales and West of England Junior Jamboree 2013

Submitted by DrDave on

Downloadable PGN games and PDF booklet are attached; the booklet has more and better comments

than the PGN file and this page.  Copies will soon be in the post for players.

{A well-organised king's-side attack in the Stonewall rather missed its mark when Black refused to castle. In the end the open lines were used by Black to attack you instead, but there was a little undermining tactic which would have helped you, and a pin that would have helped your opponent.}

EJCC 2-2 Seaton

Submitted by DrDave on

Another close match which could have gone either way.

Some homework study may be required!

{Some simple tactics decided this game. In fact, they are the tactics most often missed in junior games: discovered check, outnumbered, undermining.}

Exeter Juniors 3-1 Sidmouth Juniors

Submitted by DrDave on

A terrific performance, I've rarely been more proud of a team.

We were giving away nearly 100 grading points over 4 boards, but came out on top without a single loss.

As always, things could have turned out differently, and Sidmouth fought for every square on every board.

{After some vague opening play on both sides, Black dropped an exchange. After that, White gradually converted but Black had chances to draw (or do even better) with some little tactics.}

A French Encounter

Submitted by DrDave on 

[Event "ECC"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.02.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Body, Giles"]
[Black "Earnshaw, Terry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C02"]
[PlyCount "90"]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 {The Advance Variation, usually leading to a slow and
mysterious struggle on the wings.} 3... c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 (5... Bd7 {
is my preference.}) (5... Nge7 {and}) (5... Nh6 {are also played.}) 6. Be2 (6.
a3 {John Watson} 6... c4 (6... f6 {John Watson I have suggested this move as a

Move order

Submitted by DrDave on

Just a little practical example of something I often talk about: move order in analysis.

If you have a good idea, try it with a different order of moves: it might be even better!

For example:

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