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What I learned playing against world-class players

Nice! Even being able to draw with Magnus means you are good!

Nice! Even being able to draw with Magnus means you are good!

Really good examples that you presented and analyzed for the community.

I must say, I was very surprised how quickly your totally balanced endgame against Harikrishna was lost without any obvious mistakes. Suddenly, the tactics were on the Indian player's side.

The other two games were somewhat similar, in which you initially achieved very advantageous positions, but then your attack stalled. Finding 42.Qg3 and then 43.e5 against MC would have been sensational. And understanding that Shak's position was hopeless after 25.b3 is apparently very difficult, even at your level.

It's commendable that you avoided move repetitions and wanted to keep fighting – fantastic!

In such phases, it's incredibly difficult psychologically when the nominally stronger opponent – after defending for a long time – suddenly becomes dissatisfied with a draw and tries this and that. It's often observed that many players then collapse, make inexplicable mistakes, and lose an otherwise very well-played game in a truly foolish way. Congratulations on avoiding this scenario against these two world-class players through focused play.

Really good examples that you presented and analyzed for the community. I must say, I was very surprised how quickly your totally balanced endgame against Harikrishna was lost without any obvious mistakes. Suddenly, the tactics were on the Indian player's side. The other two games were somewhat similar, in which you initially achieved very advantageous positions, but then your attack stalled. Finding 42.Qg3 and then 43.e5 against MC would have been sensational. And understanding that Shak's position was hopeless after 25.b3 is apparently very difficult, even at your level. It's commendable that you avoided move repetitions and wanted to keep fighting – fantastic! In such phases, it's incredibly difficult psychologically when the nominally stronger opponent – after defending for a long time – suddenly becomes dissatisfied with a draw and tries this and that. It's often observed that many players then collapse, make inexplicable mistakes, and lose an otherwise very well-played game in a truly foolish way. Congratulations on avoiding this scenario against these two world-class players through focused play.

This was an impressive article. It's mind-boggling how complex tactics can just emerge out of nowhere in quite balanced positions, and how having a genuine advantage against a Super-GM often ends up devolving into a series of "forced move" sequences in order to convert--almost always involving an obscure or persistent or series of tactical themes, with inhuman sequences. I wonder if the 'intiution' vs 'combinative vision' topic Dvoretsky mentioned comes into play here?

This was an impressive article. It's mind-boggling how complex tactics can just emerge out of nowhere in quite balanced positions, and how having a genuine advantage against a Super-GM often ends up devolving into a series of "forced move" sequences in order to convert--almost always involving an obscure or persistent or series of tactical themes, with inhuman sequences. I wonder if the 'intiution' vs 'combinative vision' topic Dvoretsky mentioned comes into play here?

Do you have any idea on how to develop those skills you mentioned? @DrAgnevstein

Very good post.

Do you have any idea on how to develop those skills you mentioned? @DrAgnevstein Very good post.

Dang, DRAW! against MAGNUS !!

Dang, DRAW! against MAGNUS !!

Apparently, learned to copy their nicknames.

Apparently, learned to copy their nicknames.