Crushing the Dutch Stonewall

First, my apologies for not updating my blog for more than month. There is no excuse for that except laziness.
When I start playing seriously chess a few years ago, my main defense vs 1.d4 was Dutch Stonewall. I had solid result with it especially against g3 variation. My problems emerges when white doesn't play g3 move. After some time I switch to another opening.
This game is from round 2 of T34 on ICC.
When I saw that morgado play Dutch stonewall, I looked at some books trying to prepare.
He played rare line (delaying castling), and when I saw that his queen can't move I found excellent 10.cxd5.
To look at the game visit:
http://miroslavrakovic.users.sbb.co.yu/MyGames/games/Game005.html
It's much easier to write about wins than loses, but I will post my loss to Klampin from round 1 within a week.

As, usual feel free to comment the game.

Miroslav

Neglecting development (Cravane - Fege 0:1, FICS 90 30)

I played a 90 30 tournament on FICS, scoring 5.5 out of 7, mostly against players with rating way below my FICS rating. I won 5 games, drew in last round and forfeit 1 game because I was ill.
My FICS rating is over-rated, because I play rarely and because of FICS RD factor.

In this game my opponent played a Exchange variation of the French. He tried to gain a pawn in the opening, while neglecting development. Of course, neglecting development is not good idea.
Here is the game:

http://miroslavrakovic.users.sbb.co.yu/MyGames/games/Game004.html

Feel free to comment it.

Miro

Miroslavr-Ehab, B01, ICC 60 0

This game is played in second round of June 2007 STTorney on ICC.
Before the game I looked at Ehab's history on ICC and I noticed that he play Scandinavian 3...Qd6 variation.
I spent 15 minutes to prepare for the game. I found interesting variation (www.ChessPublishing.com) starting with 6.h3.
Here is link of analyzed game:
http://miroslavrakovic.users.sbb.co.yu/MyGames/games/Game003.html

Feel free to comment the game and the variation.

Miro

MiroslavR - aksuw, round 5 of T33

Hello,

I analyzed my game against aksuw from round 5 of T33. I put special attention to the endgame.
I put a few training questions (marked with ***).
To see the game visit http://miroslavrakovic.users.sbb.co.yu/MyGames/games/Game002.html

Feel free to put comments and questions.

Miro

My Study Plan

In last 12 months I didn't study chess. I played 10 OTB games and many games on ICC in last 12 months and I noticed that my play wasn't good. So, I decide to start with my chess study again.
My current FIDE rating after 20 rated games is 2031.

I looked at the Internet to see what I should study.
I found very interested study plan on http://www.convekta.com/softscho/l1/lesson_3.html
WGM Mikhailova created a study plan based on Convekta's products.
Here is excerpt from her study plan:

Training and trials, 'base line' before the initial ELO rating (2200) is achieved.

The very initial stage we call conditionally our 'base line'. The aim at this stage is to acquire a playing skill of approximately 2200 ELO. At this stage a chess player must have a successfully tested opening repertoire which includes 2 openings as White and 2 openings with the black pieces. The chess player must master tactics (60-70 per cent of a success rate solving problems of an intermediate difficulty), acquire a firm knowledge of the basics of chess strategy, ie. How a position's evaluation is developed and what are its components, familiarize with about 15-25 common plans from the chess classic examples, know typical chess endings: evaluation, plan of play and standard tactical methods for approximately 250 endgame positions. It is necessary to acquire the skills of working with a computer and with chess software.

The training process is organized in accordance with school workload and physical condition of the pupils, each one has an individual schedule.

A series of competitions and training games is designed to facilitate better assimilation of what has been learnt.

After read this I created study plan for myself. (Unit (U) = 45 minutes)

Day 1
Opening study 2 Units
Tactics 1U

Day 2
Endgame study 3U

Day 3
Strategy 2U
Tactics 1U

Day 4
Opening study 2U
Tactics 1U

Day5
Going thru master games 2U
Solving endings 1U

Day 6
Tactics 1U
Strategy 1U
Analyze of my games 1U

I will study openings from several different sources: ChessBase openings DVD's and books.

For a endgame study I will use Endgame Manual by IM Dvoretsky, and to practice endgames I will use Convekta's program Chess Endgame Training (more than 2500 position to solve).

For a Strategy I will use another excellent Convekta's program Strategy 2.0.

For a tactical study I will use another Convekta's program CT-Art 3.0.

Study without playing wouldn't lead me anywhere, so I will play at least 2 long standard games per week. After game is finished I will analyze it.

Feel free to comment my study plan.


Miro

Championship of Nis 2006 Round 4

Prior to this round I had 2 out of 3. My opponent in this game was Radoja (2235 FIDE). I found only a few games of my opponent. I noticed that he plays Advanced variation against French, so I decided to prepare interesting variation against Advanced variation.
To see analyze of the game, please visit:
http://miroslavrakovic.users.sbb.co.yu/MyGames/games/Game001.html

This is my best game from Championship of Nis 2006. My opening preparation was good (thanks to subscription to www.chesspublishing.com).

Miroslav

Championship of Nis 2006

I will start with my latest OTB tournament. Championship of Nis was held from August, 25 to September, 2. Tempo of the play was 120 minutes per player for the whole game, 9 rounds. There was 46 players, 25 of them with FIDE rating. With rating of 2045 I was the lowest rated FIDE player in the tournament.
Here is list of FIDE rated players.

No Name Rtg Title
1. Tosic, Miroslav 2442 gm
2. Miljkovic, Miroslav 2399 im
3. Maksimovic, Branimir 2385 im
4. Perunovic, Miodrag 2376 im
5. Raicevic, Ivica 2307 im
6. Zafirovski, Mite 2271 fm
7. Ristic, Nebojsa 2263
8. Kajganovic, Miodrag 2250 fm
9. Pavlovic, Dragoljub 2246
10. Radoja, Djordje 2235
11. Markovic, Marko 2227
12. Ilic, Slobodan 2225
13. Mitrovic A, Darko 2207
14. Zivkovic, Branimir 2190
15. Grkovic, Vladan 2170
16. Zivkovic, Nemanja 2127
17. Perunovic, Ljubivoje 2106
18. Jovanovic, Miroslav 2104
19. Ademovic, Bozidar 2101
20. Lukic, Igor 2087
21. Livaja B, Mario 2086
22. Stojkovic, Zoran 2078
23. Ostojic M, Nikola 2069
24. Rolj, Petar 2052
25. Rakovic, Miroslav 2045

Final standings, after round 9:
1. IM Miljkovic 7.5
2. IM Perunovic 6.5
3. GM Tosic 6.5

I scored 4/9. I didn't study chess in 2006, so I didn't have high expectation before the tournament.
I had 4 out of 7, but I lose last 2 game due to tiredness. My last round game was awful.
Average rating of my rated opponents was 2262 and I get +13 points for next FIDE rating list.
In my next post I will show you my best game from the tournament. My plan is to post my 6 interesting games from this tournament.

Miroslav