A Humble Lesson

Submitted by whistleblower on Thu, 04/24/2008 at 6:44pm.

I learnt a very humble lesson today. With all my experience and knowledge of chess I made a blunder which cost me a game. The game was finished within 7 moves and I became greedy.

Please make a note of the game below. My opponent was playing white whilst I played black.

As you will see, I didn't develop any pieces, I was trapped and I didn't play tactically. This is a wise lesson for many learners:

a. Don't play passively.

b. Develop your pieces quickly.

c. Don't expect a lower scored opponent not to know what they are doing. For example, play the board not the person.

I hope this game and the lessons learnt help, if not all, most chess players and most of all enjoy and learn from your mistakes. If you cannot, you will never improve.

» posted in whistleblower's Blog

112 reads | 2 comments

Comments:

by whistleblower - 2 months ago
Seoul International

Member Since: Nov 2007
Member Points: 263

I am sure it is pleasurable to win via Legal's Mate when you play an opponent. It is just now and then that I lose and think, why did I that? How did the game end up like that?

Funny story though Dozy.

by Dozy - 2 months ago
Blue Mountains Australia

Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 623

I've fallen for so many opening traps in my time, Whistleblower, that I can sympathise with you completely. Even so, I had a funny experience with this one a couple of years ago in the U1600 section of the NSW Open.

My opponent played Philidor's Defence as you've done here and I offered the queen, thinking only to win a pawn. He took the queen and I continued to complete Legal's Mate, as you experienced above.

What made it funny was that the guy couldn't believe it was mate and sat there for five minutes trying to find an escape square for his king. It wasn't till I folded the score sheet and put it in my pocket that he realised that the game was over.

Now you've seen it for yourself I know you'll have lots of pleasure inflicting it on the unwary in years to come.

Thanks for sharing.

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