John Bartholomew

In this continuation of the "Climbing the Rating Ladder" series I take on players of various ratings levels while pointing out typical mistakes and spots for improvement along the way (possibly my own!? :)). Here I commentate a 10+5 game against a player rated 1333 on Chess.com. In a Panov Attack in the Caro-Kann featuring the "good marriage" of the White queenside knight and … [Read more...] about The Narrow Window for Compensation | Climbing the Rating Ladder vs. 1333

The higher you climb in chess, the more razor-thin the margins. In this 15+15 Catalan game against a 2215, I emerge from the opening with a slight pull due to Black's isolated queen's pawn (IQP), but I spend a significant amount of time in the middlegame searching for a way to maintain favorable tension. We reach a key moment when the pawn structure transforms and a pair of … [Read more...] about One Mistake | Standard Chess #302

In this continuation of the "Climbing the Rating Ladder" series I take on players of various ratings levels while pointing out typical mistakes and spots for improvement along the way (possibly my own!? :)). Here I commentate a 10+5 game against a player rated 1357 on Chess.com. Alekhine's Defense (1.e4 Nf6) was a recent viewer request, and it can lead to quirky play: Black … [Read more...] about Enticing Pawns Forward with Alekhine’s Defense | Climbing the Rating Ladder vs. 1357

I'm in for a challenge this game at a slightly faster time control (15+5) against a player rated 2508! White reacts to my Kan Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6) with an offbeat line I feel I've faced recently, 5.a3 Qc7 6.g3. Since White has created a "hook" on the kingside and the central situation is stable, I decide to launch my h-pawn with ...h5-h4. Following an … [Read more...] about Shoving my h-pawn in the Sicilian vs. 2500 | Standard Chess #301

In this continuation of the "Climbing the Rating Ladder" series I take on players of various ratings levels while pointing out typical mistakes and spots for improvement along the way (possibly my own!? :)). Here I commentate a 10+5 game against a player rated 1553 on Chess.com. Opting for GM Daniel Naroditsky's favorite King's Indian Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 … [Read more...] about A KID for Danya! | Climbing the Rating Ladder vs. 1553