b8 Knight Fetish

In round 2 I got paired against a 2066 rated opponent with the White pieces. I had basically no time to prepare, as Round 2 was scheduled right after Round 1 finished, so the pairings went online just before the round started. All I've managed to see, is that my opponent plays whatever he feels like playing. Sometimes g6, sometimes Nc6.

I was hoping to see Nc6, as Nizmowitsch players aren't very familiar with the Vienna, so after 2. Nc3, they often play something even more dubious, like d6, e6, Nf6, or g6. (if you are struggling against 1... Nc6, give 2. Nc3 a try)

Opening

The game started. I played 1. e4, per usual. He reached for the g-pawn, but at the last moment he changed his mind, and replied with 1... Nc6. I've seen one game, where he played 1... g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. d5!? So I was very happy he choose Nc6, as I'm not familiar with that variation at all.

I replied with 2. Nc3, and as I expected, he didn't go e5.

My plan is pretty simple. Castle queenside, go Nh3-Nf2-g4. His on the other hand, isn't that clear. e5 doesn't achieve much, b5 is easy to stop without the c5 follow-up. Also, the hole on g5 can be occupied either by my knight, or the bishop.

Knight dance

Now you'll see, why I decided to cover this game. I choose only games that have something worth sharing in my opinion. And this game definitely does!

That's why you don't play Nc6 in the Modern Defense. In the King's-Indian, the plan witn Ne7-f5 to launch a same side attack makes a lot of sense, but here Black definitely doesn't want to open up the kingside. And the unclear plans in the position led to my opponent not being able to figure out a reasonable place for the pieces on the queenside, to look for counterplay.

The engine evaluates the position at almost +3.

Inaccurate plan

White's two best plans are Kb2-Ka2 first, then h5. Or h5 right away. I decided to combine them both, leaving my king vulnerable on the b-file, and only then breaking further on the kingside, allowing my opponent to get c6. Amazing play!

White is still winning, but Black, if given a chance, will bite back. Kb2 followed by h5 was kinda idiotic. I'm not really sure what I was thinking at the board to justify this plan.

The start of my problems

And the worst part is... I played Qxg5 instantly. I didn't even thought of Qb6!

Black's next move is Nc5. you can try to find the best move for White in that position.

Where it all falls down

h7!! the only way to save the position for White. Instead I defended the bishop, forgeting about the c4 pawn.

Not only did I not convert the win, I even managed to lose this game! I lost to Nc6-Nb8-Nd7-Nb6-Nd7-Nc5-Na4 only for the knight to get instantly traded. Heartbreaking loss, as I was playing on Board 2, and there were 2 more titled players in the tournament I wanted to play.

Rest of tournament recap, I guess

The tournament ended. I scored 3/7, and lost 3 elo points. And this game was the beginning of my bad tournament run.

On Day 2, Round 3 I had the Black pieces against a higher-rated opponent again. I got surprised in the Panov Caro-Kann, but defended a slighty worse position with doubled pawns quite accurately, finally getting myself to equal N+B andgame. I managed to undouble my pawns. He traded his bishop for my knight, but we weren't heading for a draw.

The position was getting better and better for me. I missed one winning opportunity, but still had great winning chances. I played one move instantly, forgetting about my opponent's threat, and from a clearly better endgame, I instantly got into a lost position. I managed to save a draw, but this game didn't have to be this hard. And likely should've been a win for me. [1.5/3]

In Round 4 I got destroyed in 15 moves having the White pieces. Walked in my opponent's prep again, but it happens. [1.5/4]

Round 5 was quite boring. My opponent played the French Defense, but I was scared and scarred from the last game, so I went for an easy approach, the Exchange Variation with c4. My lower-rated opponent made 2 mistakes, which led to me getting an easy, winning endgame. But of course, I didn't win.

The worst part is, I blitzed out h7. To his credit, he found a nice trick, but cmon, this isn't blitz, I can't be making mistakes this bad. This marks the last round for Day 2 [2/5]

Day 3. In round 6 I had the Black pieces against a weaker opponent. He entered the Fantasy Caro, and I played a tricky Qb6 line. He wasn't familiar with the move. I punished him very accurately getting another winning position. But I misevaluated him giving up 2 rooks for my queen and a pawn. I thought I'm still winning, but I wasn't. Another throw, another draw. [2.5/6]

Round 7 was a disaster. I got paired against the lowest seed, and I got White. he played 1... e6. Honestly, I don't know why I was this scared to play the main line french, but I still went for a combative approach with 2. b3 intending on gambiting the e4 pawn after 2... d5 3. Bb2. But he played 3... Nf6 4. e5 Ng8.

I wanted to avoid the d4 e5 structures so much, I played with d3-g3, quickly getting a lost position. Luckily for me he wasn't able to punish my idiotic play. I got to trade the pieces and offered him a draw. [3/7]

Round 4 my opponent earned the win, and I should've lost Round 7. But getting only 2.5 out of 5 winning positions is insanely bad score. And this is a reoccuring trend with me in strong tournaments. I play theese 2100's like equals, often clearly outplaying them, just to not be able to convert the win.

Partly a skill issue, partly a mental block. I'll try to find a solution to this, and I hope to finally break 2000, and continue with my progress to the CM title.

Tournament results

Thank you for reading

I hope you enjoyed the post, and I hope you didn't, and will never relate to my tournament experience, as it isn't a great feeling.

Right now I have some free time on my hands finally, so I aim to finish the Accelerated London study, and finally start working on the London System.