justintrotter

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This game features a particular move order in the Caro Khann Advanced which shows the lack of understanding of the purpose of the light-squared bishop.

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Rapid Time #16: An Achilles Heel

In this game there a one singular weakness I look to exploit from the very beginning of the game, sometimes to my dismay. Today’s focus is on the ability to keep plans and idea fluid throughout the game rather than zoning in a singular idea. Our game starts in a position I am extremely familiar with and very happy to get in any game. The first thing to notice here is that Bg4 accomplishes very…

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Super Blitz #24: Why We Book Up, The Englund Gambit Refutation

Super Blitz #24: Why We Book Up, The Englund Gambit Refutation

This game here is a perfect example of why knowing theory is important, even early on against lower rated opponents. The opening we play into is called the Englund Gambit and is incredibly dangerous if you don’t know how to respond. Our position starts below. Black’s next move is Qb4+ hitting the b2 pawn and the bishop on f4 while checking the King, all the threats can’t be answered. You can’t…

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Bullet Time #2: No One Knows How to Play This Line!

Bullet Time #2: No One Knows How to Play This Line!

Last time I posted a bullet game from my bullet account it was about 1250 from the initial 1000, we’ve made it to nearly 1600 after this last game which I wanted to show. It ended up being a perfect 0-0-0 against a 1715 in an Exchange Slav which I love. There is a very sharp line that happens in the opening that’s surprisingly popular and not many people seem to know what to do. Our analysis…

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Bullet Time #1: Perfection

Bullet Time #1: Perfection

I was never much of a bullet player but lately I wanted to start playing 2-0 for fun as a way to decompress from playing 10-0. It’s also nice to let the tactics and opening knowledge work their magic when they come with out calculation. I started from about 1000 recently and was working my way up to see how long it would take to reach my 1600-1700 range of my other time controls. I played a game…

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Correspondence 5: Don't Rely on the Books

Correspondence 5: Don’t Rely on the Books

I don’t play against the Grunfeld too often and I usually don’t enjoy it when I do. Black’s goal of a swift Queen side attack in conjunction with the g7 bishop is completely different than the standard QGD or QGA which I feel more comfortable in. I’m not quite sure of my opponents rating since they were the default 1500 rating but they seem to be in the 1700s classical and 1500s blitz. They…

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Super Blitz #23: Classic Exchange Caro

Super Blitz #23: Classic Exchange Caro

This is a 3 minute Caro game where White never really applied any pressure and gave me control over the C file which ultimately leads to their loss. I can’t stress enough how often the C file becomes a weapon in the exchange Caro. Below is a typical position you’d see albeit a little different of a move order. Generally I would hope to have played Rc8 and if the exchange of knights happens I can…

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Super Blitz #22: How a single knight move loses a game

Super Blitz #22: How a single knight move loses a game

This is a game vs a 1566 in the Traditional variation of the QGD which happens to be my favorite opening of all time. In this game there is one very important idea Black didn’t play to strengthen their structure which cost them the game. Black needs to play c6 in order to defend d5 in the center and then play the knight to d7. It’s Black move, the position is equal and Black only has one real…

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Super Blitz #21: C File Falls in the Caro

Super Blitz #21: C File Falls in the Caro

This was a 3minute blitz game in the Caro vs a 1500 opponent. I’ve talked about the idea of taking advantage of the c file in the Caro before and this game is another good example of how mounting pressure leads to failures. The opening is nothing spectacular, both sides play reasonably well and it leads to a balanced position til the 15th move. Another notable take away from this game besides the…

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Super Blitz #20: Panov Realizations

Super Blitz #20: Panov Realizations

While not a Panov game I came to the realization during analysis of how uncomfortable it is for me to play against. I spent a fair bit of time talking about c4 and the ways to prevent the discomfort, I’ve only found one line that’s enjoyable for me if White plays properly. If White doesn’t play the most accurate moves then the position is completely fine.As many Caro games do, this one came down…

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Super Blitz #19: Solid Exchange Slav, Knight's Journey

Super Blitz #19: Solid Exchange Slav, Knight’s Journey

I’m trying something new here and putting the entire game as a gif at the start, it allows the reader to jump into the game immediately and then understand the analysis of the position better as we move through the post. This game was played very well in the opening by my opponent who was 1521. Until move 15 I was in familiar territory that I’d been in multi times, the clock shows it as I used…

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Rapid Time #13: A soliloquy

Rapid Time #13: A soliloquy

Chess has always been a fall back for me. It’s easy to envelope myself in a world of the concrete analysis where there are good moves and there are bad. Winning is solely reliant on my ability unlike some other games which rely on luck or teammates. Chess is a fluid interest of mine, it takes the shape of who I am at the time. There are weeks or months where playing blitz without calculation is…

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Super blitz #18: Two Bishops Ain't All That

Super blitz #18: Two Bishops Ain’t All That

This game is a perfect example of 2 bishops vs a knight and bishop and where the strengths of each lie. My opponent traded off the major pieces in succession, rook, rook, Queen but didn’t consider how the minor piece endgame would be. They had two doubled isolated c pawns and a weak isolated a file pawn. Our game starts in one of my favorite variations of the Nimzo-Indian Defense.

1. d4 Nf6 2.…

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Super Blitz #17: A False Pin And Rationally Inaccurate Moves

Super Blitz #17: A False Pin And Rationally Inaccurate Moves

This game was a GQA where I had the dream position from the start. My opponent played moves which I had seen before and were logical but I knew to be slightly inaccurate.

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3

The first position above immediately removes us from the book. Nc6 blocks the standard c5 push Black tends to play in order to undermine the White’s central control. It also does allow Black to…

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Super Blitz#16: Practice Makes Perfect

Super Blitz#16: Practice Makes Perfect

It’s a good feeling when you’ve played an opening enough to have it memorized up to the 15th move. This was a Caro I played where I didn’t even have to think until the 16th move, my opponent played sound but simple moves that I had seen in some form and none were challenging. The game ended up being a perfect 0 inaccuracies, 0 mistakes, 0 blunders game.

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 Bf5…

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Super Blitz #15: Carlsbad Minority Attack!

Super Blitz #15: Carlsbad Minority Attack!

This is hands down one of my best 3-0 games that followed my opening prep. It was a Traditional GQD main line for and my opponent was eager to trade off some minor pieces from the start.

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Bg5

I’ve had this opening a million times but I never seemed to make it to the point where I can launch a minority attack against the Black Queen side which is the standard…

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super blitz #43: Fighting fire with fire

super blitz #43: Fighting fire with fire

Generally speaking I’m a conservative and solid player so going against the King’s Indian tends to be abrasive to my style. This game was a little different than usual. I had been reviewing games where Black moves the knight from f6 in preparation to play f5 and White replies with g4 immediately before f5.

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 Nbd7 8. Be3 Ne8

The…