As you mentioned here, the time and energy needed to play OTB makes the experience dramatically different - you're invested in such a different way than in online chess, and each game requires patience and resilience that can really only be developed by playing a lot OTB. I'm in a similar situation in regards to kids and work, and I convinced my wife to let me play on Tuesday nights in San Francisco. I showed up to the first game last Tuesday, was playing almost 400 points down, blundered a tactic, and had to totally readjust to the situation on the board. You wrote that you got lucky, and you probably did a little, but a lot of luck is just resilience rebranded - if you keep fighting hard and keep your wits about you, good things tend to happen.
I saw Qb3+ but then missed the loose pawn on b7 coming with check. I think I would have played Nxe4 regardless but with a queen trade though. I'd try to assert that three pawns and the weak king would make up for the piece.
Nxe4 was the move that came to mind but I missed the follow up Qb3 (bad work on my part, I saw Qb3 as a move I did want to play at some point in this position).
Great article, I was checking your profile recently on USCF and saw this tournament result and was beaming happy that you did so well. Keep it up!!
As you mentioned here, the time and energy needed to play OTB makes the experience dramatically different - you're invested in such a different way than in online chess, and each game requires patience and resilience that can really only be developed by playing a lot OTB. I'm in a similar situation in regards to kids and work, and I convinced my wife to let me play on Tuesday nights in San Francisco. I showed up to the first game last Tuesday, was playing almost 400 points down, blundered a tactic, and had to totally readjust to the situation on the board. You wrote that you got lucky, and you probably did a little, but a lot of luck is just resilience rebranded - if you keep fighting hard and keep your wits about you, good things tend to happen.
I saw Qb3+ but then missed the loose pawn on b7 coming with check. I think I would have played Nxe4 regardless but with a queen trade though. I'd try to assert that three pawns and the weak king would make up for the piece.
Nxe4 was the move that came to mind but I missed the follow up Qb3 (bad work on my part, I saw Qb3 as a move I did want to play at some point in this position).
Great article, I was checking your profile recently on USCF and saw this tournament result and was beaming happy that you did so well. Keep it up!!
That’s really kind Nick. Appreciate it!!
I doubt I would play Nxe4 there. Not quite a clear enough path to checkmate or getting the piece back.
I didn’t either, just hard when my first instinct was to take the pawn.