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Gus's avatar

Dr. Vasquez you make perfect sense...i agree on the skill idea. What i have also found in my chess journey and studies, is the enormous psychological component. When i am stressed/feeling down or ill/foggy brain etc. studying and chess performance diminish. When i am happy, clear minded, no stress (not sure if this is possible these days) i always seem to do better.

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Steve wootton's avatar

Nice onev nick I've been doing similar but I do include alternate days of blitz as most of my otb games does come to about 10 mins for each side.noel studer as been great and chess steps too at moment level 4 mix which are harder as u don't know theme but makes it more like a proper game

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kiwiPete's avatar

Good stuff Nick, keep it up.

I will say that 30 minutes minimum per day on tactics does not sound easy to keep up. I'd probably lower that but have a weekly or monthly minutes target.

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Ev Clark's avatar

Is it Nc7? If 1. Nc7 Nxf2 2. Nxd5 looks pretty good, and if 1. Nc7 Qf7 2. Ne6 comes with a nice fork.

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Nick Vasquez, MD's avatar

It’s g3, preventing the queen from coming to h4 and threatening the rook

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Anthony Beckman's avatar

I was eyeing Nxd5 too. I also thought f3, but now I see e3. Thanks for the puzzle.

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Ev Clark's avatar

And if 1. Nc7 exd4 2. Nxd5 wins the exchange, I think.

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Julian's avatar

Great post! Matches my experience almost exactly. If you don't mind, what do you use as the time control for rapid and classical?

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Nick Vasquez, MD's avatar

Thanks! I was playing 15+10 for rapid. Classical can be 30+20 or longer. 45+45 is the most common one I play

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Jim winter's avatar

f3?

Regards,

Jim

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Nick Vasquez, MD's avatar

g3 to keep the queen off h4. Tough one

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