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Self Analysis

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Post by kramnikstudent October 7th 2016, 6:35 am

Hello All,

This forum seems to be having a few active members but the positive part is that the active ones are serious contributors.
I also intend to be an active user and would like to document my progress made by taking this course over the course of the next few years.
It is difficult to commit that I will be giving regular updates but unless something drastic doesn't happen in life, I intend to post on a regular basis (15 days or monthly)
I will be starting the course from 10th October 2016.

Hence to begin with I am starting with my current assessment of my game. This will help me to track and evaluate my progress over the period of the course

I play 15 minute games on chess24. I always analyze the game with an engine at the end of the game irrespective of the result. Based on my analysis the following is what I have found the following areas of concern in my play:

The Bad

1) Evaluating the Position incorrectly: Whenever I am playing the game -
a) If I feel that my position is bad and there are not many good moves in the position engine analysis shows that the game was dead equal
b) Whenever I feel I played well usually the analysis reveals that my position was +3 or maybe more which means I was winning anyway
Thus I do not evaluate the positions properly.

2) Missing Tactics: Can somewhat accurately calculate a sacrificial line for myself and my opponent when there is a probable attack on the king like say Bh7/Ne6/Ng6. But say we have a position which looks quiet and myself or my opponent makes a mistake (say presenting an opportunity to gain an piece in 3-4 moves) I rarely seem to be aware of such an opportunity.

3) Over/Under Estimation of the Position: When under attack I tend to over estimate my defensive chances and when attacking under estimate my opponents defensive resources

4) Passive Play: Playing extremely passively or defensive chess after winning material when the position demands active play,  thus creating counter chances for my opponent

5) Fear of Doubled Pawns: Off late I have vaguely learnt that a doubled pawn structure is not always a disadvantage, however I have developed a pre conceived notion that doubled pawns are always bad. Once I incur a Doubled Pawn structure my plan psychologically tends to deteriorate.

6) Bad Time Management: Playing faster than necessary and making automatic moves based on general ideas.
Getting into positions which I do not grasp properly. Sometimes ending the games with half the time to spare.

Many of the errors detailed above can also be found in the games of Masters as well however in my case I found that the engine evaluation graph fluctuates a lot changing from a Win to a Loss or a Draw.
The aim is to remove the fluctuation and at least keep the winning advantage

The Good

1) Occasional Quality Games: There have been a few games where the engine approved all of my moves. The moves I played were sometimes in the top 5 choices of the engine. At least I can draw solace from the fact that the game was conducted without any major fluctuation in evaluation. I might have chosen a longer route to win rather than an efficient one but no big blunders where made

2) Defensive Skills: When under attack I manage to defend reasonably well. Many times my opponents get frustrated and over stretch themselves losing the game

3) Endgame Instinct: Even though I haven't learnt the endgame properly I tend to make good moves in the ending. Also have observed that I evaluate endgames better as compared to middle games.

4) Kibitzing: When kibitzing the games of top rated players on online chess sites , I usually tend to guess their moves accurately , spot tactics better . However when I play my own games I am unable to see them probably because I am right in the middle of the fight and am emotionally connected to the result of the game.
Thus on the positive side there does seem to be scope for improvement in my game if I make some adjustments.

5) Motivation: Even though I am working and in my mid 30's I am motivated to improve my game a lot. I might end of gaining nothing but internal satisfaction out of this journey Smile

kramnikstudent
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Post by fiveredapples October 12th 2016, 4:44 am

Hi Kramnik,

I think one major problem is your games are way, way too short. I mentioned this is my comment to your other post. If you want to play one- or two-hour games online sometime, let me know. I can join chess24.

I think we're all bad at evaluating and miss tactics. I used to fear doubled pawns too, but now less so. Sometimes they make up part of a nice fortress. Time management shouldn't be a concern at this point in your studies. Increase the time limit!!! Like a typical low-intermediate player, I basically play blunder-chess. I swear, every chess engine tells me the same thing: you suck at positional chess. It's amazing, really. I will be losing almost the whole time even to beginning players. What saves me is tactics. I have no opening or endgame knowledge. I'm strictly a 'survive the opening and win in the middlegame' player. I joined ICS this month to remedy my crap play. I have good defensive skills too, but I think it's mostly because I'm forced into them.

I've always loathed studying chess. It's always been extremely boring to me. Only within the last two months has my attitude (slightly) changed. I am working on reading my first 'opening book' -- but I'm taking it slow. I too need to get an opening for White and two for Black, as I recommended in my other response to you. Anyway, good luck with your plan. I will expect those updates.

fiveredapples
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Post by kramnikstudent October 12th 2016, 5:36 am

Hi Fiveredapples, yes I agree with you that the time controls I choose are on the faster side. I am ready to play longer chess during the weekends.
You or any of the ICS forum members can join chess24 and we can play longer games during the weekends (Sat or Sun)
I stay awake late and hence unless I am working during the weekends time zone should not be an issue.
Looking forward to play you there. 30-60 minute time controls should be fine I guess.
My ID is kramnikstudent on chess24

kramnikstudent
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Post by fiveredapples October 12th 2016, 7:48 am

Hi Kramnik,

Well, I joined chess24: fiveredapples. I did their puzzles and they cut me off at 5 because I wasn't a premium member. I also couldn't use their analysis feature without being a premium member. I know I'm stumping for them hard, but lichess.org gives you unlimited puzzles and use of an engine (stockfish) for analysis for free.

anyway, it says you're in India, so I don't know how the time zone will work. I know that when I'm up super late (like 2 to 3 AM), I start getting a lot of players from India on Chess.com. By the way, you're higher rated than me. I think I'm 1750 on Chess.com. I might have peaked at 1800 once, so hopefully I'm not too far below you to make our games unhelpful. I'll try to brush up on my openings.

fiveredapples
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Post by kramnikstudent October 12th 2016, 8:02 am

We will play unrated games, the goal is to play the game with a partner and analyze after the game. Don't worry about the rating gain loss. I used to be 2100 on chess24 but managed to lose all the games I played over the last week. I was 2000 approx. on chess.com and currently at 1850 approx. as I seem to be on some king of a losing streak.

Time zone should also not be a problem I guess. I am unable to search for you on chess24 and hence could not add you. You can send an add request on chess.com. I play anonymous on lichess but shall try creating an account there


Last edited by kramnikstudent on October 12th 2016, 8:37 am; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : Correction)

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Post by kramnikstudent October 12th 2016, 8:21 am

Update: I have joined lichess with username kramnikstudent.

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Post by kramnikstudent October 13th 2016, 8:50 am

I played for close to 3 hours on lichess.com since yesterday and managed to reach 2017. The analytics feature is absolutely wonderful, probably the best feature I have seen on a website. It might be a bit too early to comment but it seems that the opposition is not as strong on lichess as on chess.com or on chess24

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Post by fiveredapples October 13th 2016, 5:10 pm

Yes, I think lichess.org players are lower quality compared to chess.com players, as I'm 100 points higher (1850?) at lichess. The analysis option is great, right? And free puzzles with three levels of your choosing all day long. I'll look for you on those sites. I also have the same name (fiveredapples) on all three sites: chess24, lichess, chess.com.

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