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 5+5 game against a player rated 1844 on Chess.com. After some standard moves in a Hedgehog, White hesitates, burning valuable time with his light-square … [Read more...] about Developing a Plan in the Early Middlegame | Climbing the Rating Ladder vs. trhdude (1844)
John Bartholomew
Mouseslipping a Pawn Race | Using the Clock as a Weapon #14
An entertaining session featuring a quick, dangerous opponent in GregMiroshnichecnko, and a mouseslip in a pawn race! In this video, I play five blitz games (3+0) on Chess.com. My goals in this series are to 1) stay even or ahead of my opponents on the clock, and 2) trust my decision-making. Follow along as I try to avoid perfectionist tendencies and apply pressure with the … [Read more...] about Mouseslipping a Pawn Race | Using the Clock as a Weapon #14
Busting a Poor Sport & Rating Abuser | Standard Chess #282 (Sicilian Defense)
Compared to the Center Game (1.e4 e5 2.d4) or the Scandinavian (1.e4 d5), 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.Qxd4 fails to impress, because White loses time with his queen and trades a center pawn for a wing pawn. My opponent's moves appear disjointed - especially capturing on c6 and playing h2-h4 after castling - and I soon build a winning position. Afterwards, it becomes apparent my … [Read more...] about Busting a Poor Sport & Rating Abuser | Standard Chess #282 (Sicilian Defense)
My First Victory Against a Grandmaster (Age 16)
Analysis of a game I played at the North American Open on December 28, 2002, against GM Pavel Blatny (FIDE: 2479) when I was 16 years old. [Event "North American op"] [Site "Las Vegas"] [Date "2002.12.28"] [Round "4"] [White "GM Pavel Blatny"] [Black "FM John Bartholomew"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A01"] [WhiteElo "2479"] [BlackElo "2307"] [PlyCount "86"] [EventDate … [Read more...] about My First Victory Against a Grandmaster (Age 16)
Evaluating Bxf7+ | Climbing the Rating Ladder vs. mnight1 (1290)
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 15+0 game against a player rated 1290 on Chess.com. We play into a key line of the Hanham Philidor where White has the option of an early bishop … [Read more...] about Evaluating Bxf7+ | Climbing the Rating Ladder vs. mnight1 (1290)
