They say that one of the best ways to improve your chess skill is to go over your games, especially those pesky losses. Fortunately, TCC’s DGT boards and software not only let us broadcast the games on the big screen, which everyone seems too enjoy, they let us capture the game scores.
Below you will find all 20 board 1-4 Junior Joust Summer Final games played on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. I lightly annotated all 20 games with the help of Stockfish 14. Hopefully, by reviewing these annotated games you can pick up some chess tips to improve your game. Surely, there are mistakes in my analysis. If you find something feel free to let me know.
I also looked for patterns. The theme I would like to stress today is development and castling early. Several games were lost because players neglected development or their King got caught in the center. Remember, the opening is a race and you should try hard to not waste time. Castle early and pay close attention to your Monarch’s safety. Focus on occupying or controlling the center.
Another theme is your before-moving safety check. Many pieces were hung so watch out, sit on your hands, and keep a close eye out for loose pieces and mates in one — both your King and theirs! Before you reach out and move your piece, consider how your opponent might reply. Do you have any hanging pieces? Does he have a mate in one? Do you have a mate in one? Several mate in ones were missed in these games so you might be surprised.
Good luck and I hope you enjoy the games as much as I did.
Chris Roberts
You can also view the games here.