Quote:
Originally Posted by BobJoeJim
It's not necessarily a "tactical shot" that completely changes the tenor of the game (compared to your move), but my Stockfish evaluates 6. Bd2 around +4, and 6. Nc3 (second best move, and what you played) around +3. So there is something there. It also prefers 6. Qc7 7. Nc3 over 7. Bc3 though (both lead to crushing evals though).
I think the main takeaway is that your opponent played the opening really badly, and by move six you already had a multitude of options as to how to dominate the position.
Thank you for the analysis and explanation.
As for the main takeaway: Indeed. I had this game and then several runners in a row who just resigned after move 8-15 when I was up +1.5 to +2.5 already and it was obvious I was going to milk every second of the clock to find the win. As a result, I bounced over to ICC last night for that game against the 1175 and it gave me exactly what I needed: A sound opening, middle, and endgame.
I'm going to play there (ICC) a bit more tonight. I don't want to play games online that I win as easily as the game we're talking about because you and I both know that rated USCF games are simply not like that at all. ICC rarely serves up a cakewalk.
As we speak, I'm studying tactics on CT. I say studying and not "doing" because I'm not just completing the puzzles anymore. I'm studying the comments, the variations, the different analsyis boards people put up, the whole nine. I'm taking each and every problem this way. As a result, estimated FIDE is up to 1568.
At this point I've narrowed down my study material, my time controls, my opening repertoire, and the rated OTB games I want to play around the area. I am in a great spot right now and at this point am anticipating rapid progress overall this spring and summer.
Last edited by WarCrazy; 04-24-2015 at 07:50 PM.