Hey! I have been having a problem for some time now against higher rated opponents, especially in OTB tournaments. (I am a bit over 1200 USCF) I am starting to get more into positional play, and although it is working for me, my opponents keep giving me free pawns with no intent to win them back, and still crush me positionally. I figured that it was just a blunder until I started to see more pawns “hung” at higher levels. Is this a strategy or am I overthinking it? If so, should I take these hanging pawns? What should I do if one is offered, especially by people with ratings over USCF 1500? Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks, Lucy2007
Since your a 1200 I’d bet your opponents are blundering their pawns against you then just outplaying you afterwards
Depends on position as usual
Yep, can't talk about these things in the abstract (need to see examples).
Ever heard of something called a Gambit.....
r1b1qr2/p2nb1kp/1p2p2p/2ppP3/2P4P/P4NP1/1P1Q1PBN/R3R1K1 b - - 0 19
Here is one. I know my king is open, this was an OTB played late at night. c4 is one of these examples.... i dont see a tactic for him to win the pawn back. I have had similar in other places. Hope this helps!
Here is one. I know my king is open, this was an OTB played late at night. c4 is one of these examples.... i dont see a tactic for him to win the pawn back. I have had similar in other places. Hope this helps!
C4 is supposed to sack a pawn, it is seen in queens gambit lines and catalan. I would push to d5 in that position.
@Lucy2007 said in #6:
> r1b1qr2/p2nb1kp/1p2p2p/2ppP3/2P4P/P4NP1/1P1Q1PBN/R3R1K1 b - - 0 19
> Here is one. I know my king is open, this was an OTB played late at night. c4 is one of these examples.... i dont see a tactic for him to win the pawn back. I have had similar in other places. Hope this helps!
I'm certainly not the best player in the world (not even a good one...) but I think c4 in this game is a way to open the diagonal for white's bishop with a possibility to endanger your rook at one point.
> r1b1qr2/p2nb1kp/1p2p2p/2ppP3/2P4P/P4NP1/1P1Q1PBN/R3R1K1 b - - 0 19
> Here is one. I know my king is open, this was an OTB played late at night. c4 is one of these examples.... i dont see a tactic for him to win the pawn back. I have had similar in other places. Hope this helps!
I'm certainly not the best player in the world (not even a good one...) but I think c4 in this game is a way to open the diagonal for white's bishop with a possibility to endanger your rook at one point.
90% of the time this happens in closed positions. Probably more.
@Lucy2007 said in #6:
> r1b1qr2/p2nb1kp/1p2p2p/2ppP3/2P4P/P4NP1/1P1Q1PBN/R3R1K1 b - - 0 19
> Here is one. I know my king is open, this was an OTB played late at night. c4 is one of these examples.... i dont see a tactic for him to win the pawn back. I have had similar in other places. Hope this helps!
White is completely winning in that position if you accept the pawn. I won't bore you with long variations but essentially you reach a position where white has pressure on all sides of the board and your pieces are too passively placed to withstand the initiative. It's not a question of concrete tactics but activity. By taking the pawn you open lines for whites pieces to become more active and generate constant pressure.
> r1b1qr2/p2nb1kp/1p2p2p/2ppP3/2P4P/P4NP1/1P1Q1PBN/R3R1K1 b - - 0 19
> Here is one. I know my king is open, this was an OTB played late at night. c4 is one of these examples.... i dont see a tactic for him to win the pawn back. I have had similar in other places. Hope this helps!
White is completely winning in that position if you accept the pawn. I won't bore you with long variations but essentially you reach a position where white has pressure on all sides of the board and your pieces are too passively placed to withstand the initiative. It's not a question of concrete tactics but activity. By taking the pawn you open lines for whites pieces to become more active and generate constant pressure.
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