Fusilli: Position after 24...Qb6:
 click for larger view25.f5?
Error. The simple 25.Qxd3 keeps a comfortable game for White. Position after 30.Nxd2:
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30...Bxa4?
Black is still better after this move, but 30...fxg5 was quite stronger, leaving White without counterplay. So, after the game, visibly upset and kind of yelling at me, he tells me: "if I had played fxg5 then your position was helpless, do you realize that? That was my gift to you!" As it was actually my birthday, I almost replied "well, thank you for the birthday gift!" You know what? I may have actually said it. My general view of this is: your mistakes are your fault, not your opponent's. Because if you can write off your mistakes, then I can write off mine. For example, I could have played 25.Qxd3. Or, later, I could have played 39.Nxf7, with advantage for White. Overall it was an exciting game, I thought. |