Some reactions to your tournament videos and prep. 1) You're correct. Your openings are not a problem. In every game I've seen, you may experience some uncertainty but I've never really seen you lose the game to some trick in the opening. You play soundly and suss out most of what's coming at you without any trouble. 2) Instincts are important. For that reason, I think your aggressiveness is just a style choice you need to balance with better analysis when you're giving up material for tempo. In the 80s, my tournament prep was almost exclusively Ruy Lopez exchange variation and Traxler against king pawn openings; the latter of which is ALL about giving up material for tempo. But I had all the prep behind those openings... if you're going to do it on the fly, you've got to be analyzing deeper than your opponents. If it's emotional or impatience, it's harming you. If it's well-reasoned, it's your strength. Don't let bad results dictate a fundamental change in your play. The only thing I might recommend is less rapid/bughouse/chess problems as you approach a tournament, if you're engaged in that stuff. Those are specific and less disciplined expressions of chess intelligence and can influence your play on Game Day. 3) Maybe work a little on time management? Maybe you're getting stubborn looking for something that's not there instead of playing solidly in those instances? A number of times you've remarked on time consumption so I'm keying on those comments. 4) I hear variations of the word, "fear" a lot in your videos. If I were a returning player after being idle for so long (I last competed in 1990, I think), I would lack confidence, too. You're kind of my hero for getting back in there and I wonder if you're just in your head too much? 5) Everything I've seen tells me you're on track... just need some confidence; both in your technical prep and in your mental prep. You'll get there; the initial lumps are to be expected. Gratz on 100k subscribers!
Nelson it is good for you to share this with us, you are a far braver man than I. I feel as if you try to rush too much when you are ahead, perhaps if you try to make smaller moves and choke out your opponent you would find more serendipity.
Bro, I'm backing you 100% and hope you come out positive or at least even at the end of this tournament. That kid getting a !! move is sort of like a dagger twisted in the back but you'll get some revenge! BTW - taking the time out to give us immediate updates is incredibly gracious of you. I think it may hurt you a bit since you need to rest and let your mind decompress. On the other hand, you are reviewing your game which is like prepping for the next one. Great job no matter what and, again, congrats on those 100K subs - we're gonna make it 1M before you know it!
Hey Nelson! Just analysed your game and found a few mistakes that cost you the game: 1. Move 14- taking on f5 2.Move 17- taking with the pawn instead of the knight 3.Move 21- not taking the free pawn on b2 4. Move 23- rook d8 is not good at all 5. Move 27- playing Qd6 instead of f6 6. Move 44- playing Ke5 instead of Ke7 Except that you played really well. No offence by these mistakes i just want you to win cause you're my favorite youtuber and I wanted to help Thanks
Hey Nelson, at 5:26, there’s a tactical problem with Nc5. Every line you mentioned was accurate, but you missed Bxc5! first, which wins a piece for white after dxc5 g5 N-any f6. Computer is a scumbag and tries to say you can sac the knight for two pawns and it’s somehow fine, but to a human it’s lost. Good recaps btw, keep up the good work! We’re all supporting you!🙂
No need to apologise for not analyzing beforehand. It's actually good to see your thought process in working through things as a high rated player with the engine! (It's what I do, but at a lower level.)
brave youngman to push the kingside pawn forward to attack. wonderful ideas from you for the defence. and again the tactic occurs of sacrificing the queen like in your first game. thanks for the analyses.
In an earlier video, you said you didn't think it was the openings that were letting you down. Do you still feel that way? It's a lot easier to play a good middle game if your opening gets you into a good position, but I feel like you've been on the back foot in most of these games -- especially the Pirc games.
Keep a positive attitude and don't feel disheartened. It was a tricky position in the middlegame that brought you to a rough endgame. Everyone has tough games. Just keep your focus and energy on the next games. Good luck! We're all cheering for you! 😊
These videos are really good Nelson. Thank you for sharing them with us. I am a low rated player on chess.com and like to play the Pirc. It provides me some sharp games when it works. However, when it doesn’t, it’s punishing. I am still learning the lines myself. I would like to watch your videos of the Pirc, but not sure how to find them.
Do you think they keep preventing you from playing the king's indian because you mentioned before the tournament that you plan to play that opening every match?
In over the board, tournament chess, when you reach a certain amount of moves, like 40, you get more time to play the game. So say they start with 90 minutes. After they make 40 moves they get another 30 minutes.
Some reactions to your tournament videos and prep.
1) You're correct. Your openings are not a problem. In every game I've seen, you may experience some uncertainty but I've never really seen you lose the game to some trick in the opening. You play soundly and suss out most of what's coming at you without any trouble.
2) Instincts are important. For that reason, I think your aggressiveness is just a style choice you need to balance with better analysis when you're giving up material for tempo. In the 80s, my tournament prep was almost exclusively Ruy Lopez exchange variation and Traxler against king pawn openings; the latter of which is ALL about giving up material for tempo. But I had all the prep behind those openings... if you're going to do it on the fly, you've got to be analyzing deeper than your opponents.
If it's emotional or impatience, it's harming you. If it's well-reasoned, it's your strength. Don't let bad results dictate a fundamental change in your play. The only thing I might recommend is less rapid/bughouse/chess problems as you approach a tournament, if you're engaged in that stuff. Those are specific and less disciplined expressions of chess intelligence and can influence your play on Game Day.
3) Maybe work a little on time management? Maybe you're getting stubborn looking for something that's not there instead of playing solidly in those instances? A number of times you've remarked on time consumption so I'm keying on those comments.
4) I hear variations of the word, "fear" a lot in your videos. If I were a returning player after being idle for so long (I last competed in 1990, I think), I would lack confidence, too. You're kind of my hero for getting back in there and I wonder if you're just in your head too much?
5) Everything I've seen tells me you're on track... just need some confidence; both in your technical prep and in your mental prep. You'll get there; the initial lumps are to be expected.
Gratz on 100k subscribers!
Nelson it is good for you to share this with us, you are a far braver man than I. I feel as if you try to rush too much when you are ahead, perhaps if you try to make smaller moves and choke out your opponent you would find more serendipity.
Bro, I'm backing you 100% and hope you come out positive or at least even at the end of this tournament. That kid getting a !! move is sort of like a dagger twisted in the back but you'll get some revenge! BTW - taking the time out to give us immediate updates is incredibly gracious of you. I think it may hurt you a bit since you need to rest and let your mind decompress. On the other hand, you are reviewing your game which is like prepping for the next one. Great job no matter what and, again, congrats on those 100K subs - we're gonna make it 1M before you know it!
Congrats on 100k subscribers!!!
Hey Nelson! Just analysed your game and found a few mistakes that cost you the game:
1. Move 14- taking on f5
2.Move 17- taking with the pawn instead of the knight
3.Move 21- not taking the free pawn on b2
4. Move 23- rook d8 is not good at all
5. Move 27- playing Qd6 instead of f6
6. Move 44- playing Ke5 instead of Ke7
Except that you played really well. No offence by these mistakes i just want you to win cause you're my favorite youtuber and I wanted to help
Thanks
Does anyone notice that what ever number of the round the recap is, the pieces add up to that number?
What do you mean?
@@mishway8874 the pieces’ values added up in the thumbnail
Of course.
good observation
Yeah, I noticed that. You might value the bishop pair as more than 6 though...
Hey Nelson, at 5:26, there’s a tactical problem with Nc5. Every line you mentioned was accurate, but you missed Bxc5! first, which wins a piece for white after dxc5 g5 N-any f6. Computer is a scumbag and tries to say you can sac the knight for two pawns and it’s somehow fine, but to a human it’s lost. Good recaps btw, keep up the good work! We’re all supporting you!🙂
Also, I LOVE your positive attitude toward these games. You're a great role model!
Thanks again for the recap. Good to see human reasoning in these situations.
Round 6
Bishop pair equals to 6 points
Nice thumbnail
No need to apologise for not analyzing beforehand. It's actually good to see your thought process in working through things as a high rated player with the engine! (It's what I do, but at a lower level.)
brave youngman to push the kingside pawn forward to attack. wonderful ideas from you for the defence. and again the tactic occurs of sacrificing the queen like in your first game. thanks for the analyses.
At 10:00, Qh4 should be very strong threatening Qxh3, Qxg4, and Bxb2. Bb5 also might be useful soon.
In an earlier video, you said you didn't think it was the openings that were letting you down. Do you still feel that way? It's a lot easier to play a good middle game if your opening gets you into a good position, but I feel like you've been on the back foot in most of these games -- especially the Pirc games.
Good question! I'm still deciding!
Is it safe to say that a loss that you analyze teaches you more than a win?
I wonder how you can be a National Master with 2100 rating? Please explain, you are the best :)
He was once over 2200 and it is given for life once you get there. Once an NM, always an NM.
Keep a positive attitude and don't feel disheartened. It was a tricky position in the middlegame that brought you to a rough endgame. Everyone has tough games. Just keep your focus and energy on the next games.
Good luck! We're all cheering for you! 😊
These videos are really good Nelson. Thank you for sharing them with us. I am a low rated player on chess.com and like to play the Pirc. It provides me some sharp games when it works. However, when it doesn’t, it’s punishing. I am still learning the lines myself. I would like to watch your videos of the Pirc, but not sure how to find them.
Isn't c6 a normal move in the Pirc defense?
Do you think they keep preventing you from playing the king's indian because you mentioned before the tournament that you plan to play that opening every match?
Possibly! 🤷♂️
My 2 favorite coaches, Nelson and RobRam play the Pirc, lets gooooo!
what do you mean when you say you have to make a specific amount of moves
In over the board, tournament chess, when you reach a certain amount of moves, like 40, you get more time to play the game. So say they start with 90 minutes. After they make 40 moves they get another 30 minutes.
Lets Go!
Hmm, the rook move was a wasted tempo, seems like.
You played very well, he just played a little better, but next time the roles might be reversed
Terrible thumbnail, it should have been a rook and a pawn.