Finally a Classical OTB Win vs 1. d4

On Wednesday, I think I had what is my first win against 1. d4 in a slow classical OTB game. 1. d4 has been a thorn in my side, mainly because every time I faced it, my opponents played some kind of non-opening such as a psuedo-Catalan (d4, Nf3, g3, Bg2 - but no c4), or the London. Given I spend most of my time studying 1. e4 (because I want to improve at chess, not play the same opening every game!), this has been frustrating.

However, after my loss in round 4 of the Weekly Wednesday U1600 at Marshall, I spent some time reviewing my preparation against these slow d4 openings. Despite popular belief - Yes, there is Theory in these lines. It's not as developed or sharp, but Black can play "solid" for equality and then go for the draw or a win if white slips up.

The Game

Bonus: Find the Fastest Mate from the Final Position

Comparison: Losing vs 1. d4

By way of comparison, here's my loss from the previous round. My principal mistake was not playing Qb2 - I simply did. Not. Calculate. It was the best move and likely cost me the game! Calculating critical candidate moves is key before dismissing them!