But this isn't just an advice post, this is a practical post on how to win lost games, or even win dead even positions, using the mental attribute of perseverance and a little next level strategy. In the game presented below, I used both. To win the game, I had to unbalance the position by giving away material (not sacrificing, mind you, but by just losing material), obtaining an objectively lost position after ten moves. But I persevered and and applied next level strategy to win the game. Let me show you how it's done.
[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2016.09.04"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nameless Opponent"]
[Black "Me"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "1602"]
[BlackElo "1746"]
[Annotator "Durham,Todd"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
1. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 2. d4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} g6 {[%emt
0:00:02]} 3. c4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 4. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:01]}
d5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 5. cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 6. e4 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Nxc3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 7. bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:
01]} 8. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 9. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Qa5 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} 10. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:19] We now enter the realm of next level
strategy. The position is roughly equal, roughly, but that's no way to win a
game. To win a game, someone must pull out ahead. If you can't do it yourself,
help your opponent out!} b5 {[%emt 0:00:02] Note the deft way in which Black
succeeds in turning an otherwise okay position into total dross by dropping a
piece. Don't worry, I'm not done.} 11. Bd5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:16]
Of the many ways for Black to continue, this is only seventh best. various
ways of keeping at least a semblance of pressure on the center were better.
Consult your toaster for more in depth analytical work.} 12. Bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:
02]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 13. O-O {[%emt 0:00:05] Is White's advantage large
enough? NO!} b4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 14. cxb4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Qxb4 {[%emt 0:00:02]
This move, THIS, is the piece de resistance. Truly, a master work
of next level strategy. At this point, already in terrible straights, dead
lost with no apparent counter-play, I give up my queen. The next level
strategy thinking goes like this: White, having profited immensely from
Black's terrible play, will now start thinking about playing it safe, and will
start looking to play safge moves that require no calculation. Thus, he wills
stop consciously looking for the prime moves. But subconsciously, the thought
processes will still be working. So here, I sacrifice a queen. But ...} 15. e5
{[%emt 0:00:12] ... if he does not take the queen immediately, he will
probably realize what he's done AFTER making the move. Now is the time to
start playing better moves, and ONLY now. The bitter taste of "might have
been" has now replaced the sweet taste of success, souring his disposition and
leaving me something to savor. ... And no, I can't figure out how to work
_salt_ into that last bit, so we're stuck with only four of five taste
sensations.} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 16. Bxd4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Qa5 {[%emt 0:00:
04]} 17. Bc3 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Qc5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 18. Be4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Ba6
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 19. Rfc1 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Bh6 {[%emt 0:00:06] Obviously, when
down material, one should exchange pieces. This lulls the opponent into an
even deeper sense of security _on_the_surface_, while those bitter dregs now
eat through his subconscious confidence, like salt through the body of a car.
(Okay, so not a reference to the taste of salt, but it's the best I can do on
short notice.)} 20. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Qxc2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 21. Rxc2 {[%emt
0:00:02]} Bxd2 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 22. Rxd2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Rfc8 {[%emt 0:00:02]
Now comes the time for Black to start playing for mate. What? How's that?
Here's the thing. White has all the trumps, and will be gathering more. But he
does have a few problems. First, he HAS to win this game - this puts pressure
on his psyche. Second, he has back rank issues. Third, he has to face two
rooks. If a pair of rooks come off the board and he can play, say, pawn to g3,
he should cruise home on the two second increment alone. But if he doesn't do
those things, the corrosion of confidence and the building need to win can
cause a blowout.} 23. Rd7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 24. Bd5 {[%emt
0:00:04]} Bxd5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 25. Rxd5 {[%emt 0:00:02] The exchange of
bishops appears to help White in his goal to simplify to victory, but it opens
up another invasion point. White's desires and instincts work against him now,
while the desperation of Black for cheapos is invigorating, while the fact
that he actually lost the game on move TEN removes all responsibility, leaving
his conscience clear!} e6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 26. Rd7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Rc2 {[%emt
0:00:01]} 27. Ne1 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Re2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 28. Rxa7 {[%emt 0:00:
16]} Rbb2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 29. f3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Rxe5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 30. a4
{[%emt 0:00:04]} Ree2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 31. a5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:
03] Designed to distract White from the important parts of the board.} 32. a6 {
[%emt 0:00:01]} Ra2 $2 {[%emt 0:00:05] This can be viewed as a calculated risk,
or a horrible blunder. The risk is that Black is hoping White will want to
keep both rooks on in order to queen the a-pawn rather than trade off a pair
of rooks and win by prosaic methods. That's one way to pitch it. But in
reality, I believe it's a blunder, despite Komodo stating that this is the
best move. Black's goal isn't to merely play the best moves according to some
program's evals, but to win. If Black plays the best moves now, he should just
lose. THAT would be justice. But there ain't no justice, so Black wants to win.
To that end, offering White an exchange AT THIS POINT is incorrect, as it
would remove the trickiness of two rooks working in concert. ...h5 was better,
or even ...Kf6.} 33. Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:18] Fortunately for Black, White doesn't
exchange off a pair of rooks. Thus the next level strategy can continue to
work its magic.} h5 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 34. Ra8 {[%emt 0:00:20]} h4 {[%emt 0:00:
14] A critical move, as will become evident.} 35. h3 {[%emt 0:00:03] White
sense his king is running out of space. He also wants to move the b1 rook
without giving up an immediate mate. He doesn't care about losing the knight
if he can get a queen in the exchange.} Kf6 {[%emt 0:00:11] I have no choice
but to wait for White to make a critical error.} 36. a7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} g5 {
[%emt 0:00:08] Still waiting....} 37. Kf1 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Rf2+ {[%emt 0:00:01]
} 38. Kg1 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Rfe2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 39. Kf1 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Rf2+
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 40. Kg1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rfe2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 41. Rb7 $4 {
[%emt 0:00:18] And White makes that critical error! he should have forced the
draw, naturally.} Rxe1+ {[%emt 0:00:03]} 42. Kh2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Raa1 {[%emt
0:00:02] I'm all over this like a cheap suit.} 43. g4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Re2# {
[%emt 0:00:02] 43 ... Ra2 would be a mistake, as it would disturb the fine
material balance of the position after 44 Rb2.} 0-1
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