Improve Your Chess: Fast at Critical Junctures

Improve Your Chess: Fast at Critical Junctures

Opening: B24: Opening: Sicilian Defense, Closed Variation

Player(s):
Black equalizes in the opening and then White gives Black some tactical chances. Having missed them, Black insists on a superficial plan and ends up losing a piece. Instead of playing slowly and carefully, White gives Black completely unnecessary counterplay. Then Black erroneously sacrifices a further exchange but, instead of taking the rook, White plays quickly and seems to assume a mate that wasn't there. Then an endgame is entered where White has some advantage but Black again blunders a piece through a removal of the guard. White, however, tries a more difficult removal of the guard which does not work. Both sides end up promoting into a queen and two pawns vs queen and pawn endgame. Black errs in getting out of checks, but White misses the win. Finally White agrees to a drawn king and pawn endgame which Black, finally, does get the draw.