Interesting game

[william]

Hi all

I have got some free time on hands and contribute a game played recently which illustrates from midgame on to end some nice manoevering and a familiar ( though not winning this time ) theme of 2 kings picking on two men

Nice game for student

Black - Docherty

11-15;24-20;8-11;28-24;9-14;22-18;x;25-9;5-14;26-22;10-15;29-25;4-8;31-26;15-18;x;x;24-19;1-5;19-15;7-10;23-19;5-9;20-16;3-7;26-23;9-13;30-26;13-17;32-28;6-9;x;7-10;19-15;10-19;6-1;9-13;1-5;2-7;5-9;8-11;9-6;11-20;23-16;12-19;6-2;7-10;2-6;19-24;28-19;10-15;19-10;17-22;x;x;
10-7;29-25;7-3;25-30;3-8;30-26;8-11;18-22;6-9;14-18;11-15;26-31;9-13;x;13-17;24-19;15-24;20-27;17-26;26-31 Drawn

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Too much fun ! I am getting a bit older and age commands me to prevent all unneeded complications. In position on diagram without much thinking (I hate to think) I would trade 21-17 (instead 19-15) leaving white with very comfortable position and promising ending. After this trade red should play very carefully and accurately to secure a draw. Indeed, this would prevent all these beauties happened in your wonderful game, but do we really need them ?


White to move.

It would be also a true to say that this trade may work well for white one move before and white can play 21-17 instead 24-19.

[william]

Hi Alex

Thanks for reply; I agree with your move , however disagree with comment 'keeping uncomplicated'.

In practice I encourage myself (and opponent !!)to get ''complicated''.

I believe that in creating tension during practice games enhances imagination and visualisation which are well needed during "serious " match or ty.play.

A boxer during training will show us fancy high speed hits on the punch bag ;' reverse punches' ; etc.etc. However during a match he never gets near that sort of level of speed or acrobatics ... but !! he knows himself that if allowed ;if he is capable of reproducing in combat half of what he can do in training then it will be enough.

It is only my point of view and has been since my early training sessions with John McGill in the 80's , that practice sessions should be used to stretch the imagination and visualisation to its limits, even if it means choosing a weaker line of play (as I did in this game 9-14 at 5th) when defending ; or the unobvious maybe even neutral move when attacking.

Finally I believe that if the student plays a practice game and gets a pp draw ( if it was across the board then he gets credit ) then it has been a pretty pointless act.

Bye for now

WILLIAM DOCHERTY

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Hi, William !

Thanks for sharing your interesting personal views with us. Yes, for practice it would probably make sense to experiment with some moves. In order to improve / refresh my calculations and visualization skills, I like to solve problems. Usually I read them from book by diagram, without board. Sometimes, when I drive the car I observe problem initially in the book and then try to solve it blindfold w/o book and board.

However ... if someone plays PP in practice game without using a book or other sources - it is not useless, but it is a great training and refresh memory ... unless you know everything about all openings I don't like to play questionable moves in real games as well as in practice game.

When I saw and -played your game, my first impression and reaction was - would I play this move in the World Championship Match 20** against William Docherty ? And I always ask the same question during any game against any opponent. This is sort of discipline. If you can make questionable move in practice game, this may also come to your mind during serious game and have influence on your play and disorient you.

And if you read my statement, you can see - I didn't say "complications", I said - "unneeded complications". On long run this works well for me. Don't fool with yourself !

Alex