I win my 5th game in a row at ICC

This week's G/60 at ICC was another win.  My fifth in a row.  I had the Black pieces and aimed for a Queen's Indian against my opponent's 1.d4 and we got out of book really quickly.

And to be completely honest, I should have LOST this game.  My opponent had a won game!  I made two really bad moves early in the middle game and allowed him to get pressure on my king.

But if there IS one thing I have learned about chess---NEVER resign!  EVER!  Unless you know it is absolutely a lost cause and/or you are playing Kasparov.  I fought on with the aim of pestering my opponent.  And it worked.  He first allowed me to equalize the game and then he blundered in the end game and lost.

I call it:  The Being a Pain In The Ass defense.  :)

All kidding aside, persistence, doggedness and making your opponent prove they can finish will often pay off.

The fact that I was losing for a good portion of the middle game definitely made this game instructive for me.  I need to reinstall my thought process in my brain!  I have gotten a little TOO into looking only for tactics and not threats and I have stopped scouring the board like I was a few games ago.

Here is the game:

Sometime later this week will be my 4 year anniversary "state of my chess" post.  And I REALLY am going to do a review of Peshka.

I hope everyone has a great week and for those to whom it applies I also wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!!