I wish to let you know the story of …g5 occurring in considered one of my video games. It’s not a standard sight to see this transfer that early within the Sicilian, not to mention it being an excellent one (so early). On this story, the transfer was good, however the ending wasn’t (for me).
In 2015, I performed the Reykjavik Open for the second time in a row. I wasn’t taking part in very properly within the second half of the event, however a last-round win would nonetheless have made it an appropriate outcome. I used to be paired with black towards Ni Shiqun. Taking part in black for the second time in a row within the final two rounds of an open might be the worst of luck in relation to pairings. Issues weren’t going my method earlier both, so this could have been the primary warning signal.
Throughout my preparation, I observed that my younger opponent, a WGM born in 1997, performed some boring strains within the Scotch towards 1…e5 and the non-critical 3.c4 towards the Sicilian, after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6. Since I used to be decided “to play for a win” I made a decision to go for the Sicilian.
I had a number of concepts in thoughts towards 3.c4, and ultimately, I settled for the sharp line after 3…Nc6 4.Be2 g5!? The truth is, I used to be satisfied this was so good I even began considering I refuted the entire 3.c4 line!
If, for instance, white performs 4.Nc3 as a substitute of 4.Be2 then 4…Nge7 is superb, intending …Nd4 and …Nec6, and if white pushes 5.d4 now, then after exchanging twice on d4 and taking part in 7…Nc6, black has wonderful play on the darkish squares.
The final spherical was a morning recreation, so I couldn’t put together as deeply as I needed – lots of the strains have been checked to a degree the place the place was good for Black, though I sensed they wanted deeper evaluation. There was one issue, nevertheless, that I did not take note of and that issue was the character of the place.
I observed that my opponent was a superb calculator (as most younger gamers are), and my very own calculations weren’t to my standard commonplace throughout the event. And the positions arising after 4…g5 have been sharp and required calculation, irrespective of in whose favour they objectively have been.
By now you may most likely sense how the sport developed. Due to my good preparation I obtained a greater place as quickly as transfer 9, however the place required critical calculations and by transfer 16 I used to be misplaced! You may see the entire recreation on-line right here.
Now you can think about my remorse of not taking part in the boring Scotch… On the closing ceremony, I had an opportunity to talk with Artur Jussupow and I described to him my final spherical recreation, with my line of thought throughout the preparation and my choice to “play for a win” and selecting the Sicilian. Artur has seen every thing in chess, so he knew
what I used to be speaking about. He instructed me that at first, you should take your individual state into consideration. Consider exactly how you’re feeling, how your head is working, how assured you might be. Every little thing else ought to come from there – the opening selection, the technique for the sport.
The opponent’s preferences and the best way to use them come later, generally they’re even irrelevant – it’s all the time higher to play what makes you really feel comfy than making an attempt to benefit from an opponent’s shortcoming. My recreation with Ni Shiqun is a wonderful instance – I did benefit from her poor opening, however I however misplaced the sport as a result of she was extra comfy within the ensuing place though objectively it was a greater place for me!
Nonetheless, she performed properly. And I used to be not shocked that she made it to the quarterfinals on the Ladies’s World Championship that befell later that yr. And I’m grateful for the lesson she taught me. We all the time pay for the teachings we obtain and paying in score factors just isn’t the worst that may occur.
