Playing chess moves in the wrong order

Last week, I wrote about chess blunders where you analyse a position correctly, but then inexplicably play your moves in the wrong order, using my game against Nepeina-Leconte as an example.

Whilst doing some research today in the Grünfeld Defence, I came across a World Champion experiencing the same problem.

Anatoly Karpov reached this position against Gary Kasparov in their 1990 match, and then delivered his moves in the wrong order. This is how he described it in his excellent "Beating the Grunfeld":

"32 Bd2??

An absurdity! I make the second move of the variation 32 Bf4 Bd6 33 Bd2 would give White somewhat the better chances..."

The game quickly finished in a draw: 32 ... Rxd5 33 Bf3 Rdd8 34 Bxa5 1/2

On the same wavelength as Anna Zatonskih

It seems it must be a day for talking about chess blunders, as this was also the subject of blunder day, the second post on WGM Anna Zatonskih's new blog.

Thanks to Chess News and Events for the link.

Not many top players seem to be blogging, we'll cover a few of the best over the coming weeks on Chess Tales.

Soul destroying chess blunders

Chess can be the most soul destroying sport; in what other game can you play beautifully for 4 hours, dominate your opponent, and then throw it all away in a split second of madness?

That's the way top level (or even club level) chess is, where a single blunder, no matter how good your previous moves have been, can lose you a game in an instant; all that mental effort you've expended over the course of the game just wasted.

Blunders in chess come from a variety of sources: mental fatigue, the pressures of a ticking chess clock (as happened to Nigel Short), impatience, or simple oversight.

Rarer is a combination played in the wrong order, but it happens. You calculate a winning combination, check a few other lines, then go to play your 'win'. Only you don't! In your haste you play the moves in the wrong order or simply forget to play the first move. This position from the Paris Championships back in 97 is a case in point:




















After a double edged middle-game, I'd gained the advantage with White against Maria Nepeina-Leconte, a Ukranian International Master. I thought for a while, saw a winning combination, checked my analysis, and went to play the line. I played my first move correctly, but then managed to mix up the variations in my head and hastily played the wrong second move:

1. Ng6! (Ne6!! is even better) fg 2. Qxh6??

I had calculated and intended to play Rf8+ which wins simply, but for some reason my hand moved the Queen.

2. ... Bf5 3. Rxf5?

White could still force a draw with 3. Rb3!, but now Black is winning.

3. ... gf 4. Qe6+ Kg7 5. Qd7+ Kh6 6. Qxf5 Re1??

Which allowed me to escape with a draw by perpetual!