Placing pressure to salvage a losing position

I've mentioned this previously, but one of the reasons why I think that my online rating is higher than my OTB rating equivalent (although some of you in the comments said maybe the discrepancy isn't that large!) is that I'm still developing my "System 2" thinking for chess. If you're unfamiliar with the concepts of System 1 and System 2 thinking, you can learn a bunch about the topic from Daniel Kahneman's book, Thinking Fast and Slow, which provides an overview of research on how people make judgments and decisions (I have a PhD in psychology, so I'm a big nerd about such things...). If you'd like to understand a bit more about this as it relates to chess, I encourage you to check out this videofrom the ChessDojo.

At a high level, System 1 thinking is fast, automatic, and intuitive, relying on patterns, experience, and mental shortcuts to make quick judgments. System 2 thinking is slower, more deliberate, and analytical, requiring conscious effort to evaluate information, weigh alternatives, and solve complex problems. In chess, various time formats likely rely on different systems with faster time controls leaning on System 1, while slower time controls make more use of System 2. Since most of my chess training over the years has been in blitz, I have developed a foundation and style that tends to lean much more heavily on my intuition, but that also means that I underperform in longer time formats where I need to critically evaluate positions. I think this game is a good example of this phenomenon for me. What you will see is that my moves were, for the most part, not bad as I was blitzing moves in the opening. However, the quality began to suffer as I was not able to calculate accurately when using my time, but then I was able to pick my speed back up to outplay my opponent with the help of some clock pressure.

M. B. vs. Mike (May 2026)

There's not much pregame context to go through this time around. I'm on 3/4, which is tied for 2nd in an U1800 tournament (with about 5 or 6 other people!). Looking at the standings, I knew that I would be playing someone rated at least 150 points higher than me, and I was excited about the challenge. Another interesting tidbit here is that the person in first place had to cancel and take a 0-point bye. Therefore, anyone in the tie for 2nd that wins this game would be in a tie for first going into the final round. Thankfully, I'm not too concerned with the standings, so I don't feel any added pressure.

Let's get into the game!

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 c5 3. e3 Qb6

If you look in the Lichess database, you'll see that I've only played this opening once a few months ago. Admittedly I got the idea for playing like this against the London from a reddit thread I was reading one time. I had checked it out briefly, but didn't really know too much. Generally I'm much more likely to go for a King's Indian setup, but for some reason, I don't tend to like the position I get. So I decided to switch it up on a whim.

It seemed like my opponent was unfamiliar with this line against the London, which I thought was a bit surprising given how early it was in the opening. So at this point I was already considering my opening a success since we were both in unfamiliar territory rather than being in their prep. My opponent thought for a good chunk of time (~10 minutes or so) before playing...

4. b3?!
I already knew the engine considered the position to be slightly better for Black here, but since I didn't actually study or have experience in this line, I had no idea how to punish it. Better is 4. Nc3 and Black can technically take the pawn if they want a quick draw.

Since I didn't know what I was doing, I decided to develop normally and figure it out later. Since I had already gained a bit of a clock advantage, I wanted to keep playing quickly. To facilitate that, I spent my opponent's time thinking about how I wanted to set up my pieces.

4... d6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. c3 Bf5 9. Bd3 Bxd3
I had thought that my opponent should have played Bd3 early, which would have given me more questions about where my bishop would want to go, but since they didn't, I was able to comfortably go Bf5. I was also happy to see Bd3 since it meant that they would be trading off their good bishop, leaving them with their awkward dark squared bishop whereas mine is looking very nice.

10. Qxd3 Nbd7 11. h3 cxd4 12. cxd4 Rac8

Challenge: Take a moment to evaluate the position. What's your assessment and what do you think are the plans for both sides?

During the game, I was thinking the following:

• Black is slightly better
• Black's plans and ideas are easier to find with ideas to
  • Support an e5 push with moves like Re8, Qa5, f-Knight to somewhere to open the bishop
  • Stack rooks on the c file
  • Generally play for the dark squares on the queenside
• White's plans could be:
  • Maneuver the b knight to c4
  • Try to get in e4-e5
  • Potentially could also play for e4 and d5
  • Contest the c-file

Based on this I was expecting 13. Nbd2, but instead they played...

13. Nc3

...which I thought was not possible. From afar, I thought this move would lose to e5 immediately but missed that the knight helps White control e4. Therefore, I played some moves that would help me prepare e5.

It's at this point that I started really using my clock time. At this point I still have 82 minutes (this is a 90 +30) and my opponent is down to 56.

13... Qa5 14. Rfc1 Rfe8 15. a3

My plan is almost ready. I just don't like that White can play Qb5 at some point, so I decide to prevent that with

15... a6?

A mistake. Turns out 15... e5 would have won material (see lines in the analysis board), but the position is a bit messy and White certainly has compensation in the resulting positions.

16. b4 Qh5!?

Deviating from my plan to play on the queenside. But I thought this move was logical since it still supported e5 and it prevented b5.

17. Ne4

Not the most accurate move, but I need to react because white is threatening to trap my queen. My first thought in this position was to play 17... Qd5, but I wasn't sure where to go if they went back to c3 with the knight, and I didn't want a draw since I liked my position. I completely missed that after 18. Nc3 that I could go 18... Qc4. So I looked for alternatives and played...

17... Nd5??

Based on a miscalculation. My idea was that after 18. Ng3 Nxf4 19. Nxh5 Nxd3, I would be winning. I also saw 19. exf4 Qd5 where I thought I had a slight edge.

I also looked at the bishop retreating, but I did not consider moves where the bishop would come forward.

18. Bg5!

And my queen is trapped.

Now an important piece of the story that I alluded to early is the clock times. My moves were fairly good, but at some point I started thinking more. Between move 12 and move 17, I spent an average of 7 minutes per move, and I made some errors and one huge mistake. That being said, I have 45 minutes on the clock and my opponent is down to 20.

So, what did I do? I took a few minutes to calm myself down and regain my composure. I'm going down a queen, but I can get two pieces for it and damage their structure at the same time. My position will have less weaknesses, and I can place pressure on the clock. I spent a few more minutes figuring out how I wanted to trade and eventually settled on...

18... h6 19. Ng3 Qxf3 20. gxf3 hxg5

Okay, time to play fast and apply some pressure!

21. Ne4 f6

I knew f6 wasn't a good move. But I want to keep as many pieces on the board as possible at this point, so I have counterplay.

22. Rc2 Kh7 23. Rac1 Rb8 24. Kg2 b5 25. Nd2 f5 26. h4 Bf6 27. hxg5 Bxg5

White has opened the h-file to attack, but their king is also exposed. Additionally, it's now on a square where it can be checked by Nf4.

28. Rh1+ Kg7 29. Nb3 N7b6 30. Na5

I understood what White was thinking with this move, but I didn't like it. The knight seems stranded, and it somewhat like they're another piece down. Therefore, I decided to switch up my approach and start placing some pressure on the board as well.

30... Rec8

Challenging the file. I want to infiltrate on c3.

31. Rhc1 Rh8

Okay fine. I'll go after your king on the h-file then!

32. Rh1 Rhc8

You don't like that? Okay, let's repeat!

33. Rxc8 Rxc8 34. Qd2??

I didn't see it in the game, but it turns out Black has a way to equalize here after 34... Bxe3!!

34... Rc3?

I missed it, but I was still happy since I achieved my plan! Even though I'm down material, it really feels like I have much more play in the position. Furthermore, my opponent is very low on the clock. Almost playing on the increment at this point.

35. f4 Bf6 36. Qb2 e5 37. fxe5 dxe5 38. Rc1 exd4 39. exd4 Na4?

I won't discuss every instance of this, but we both missed this Nf4 idea several times over. The eval graph is a big zigzag here. Feel free to check out the lines in the study!

40. Qa1 Rd3 41. Rc8 Nac3 42. Qb2 Bxd4 43. Nc6 Bf6 44. Qc2??

Now what's important to notice here is that I've been slowly improving my position. My pieces are coordinating well and they're slowly inching closer and closer to White's exposed king. Even without tactics the position is equal or slightly better for me. For example, if 42. Rxc3, which is the top move of the engine, the evaluation is equal even though White has a queen and I don't.

It's clear that the pressure both on the board and the clock is causing my opponent to have trouble finding a plan to win the game!

44... Nf4+!

Finally at last! I found Nf4 and after a forced sequence, I'm up a piece and a pawn!

45. Kh2 Rh3+ 46. Kg1 Nce2+ 47. Qxe2 Nxe2+ 48. Kf1 Nf4

49. Rc7+ Kh6 50. Kg1 Rxa3 51. Ra7 Kg5 52. Rf7 Bc3 53. Re7 Ra4 54. Ra7 Bxb4 55. Nxb4 Rxb4 56. Rxa6 Kg4 57. Ra3 Rb2 58. Rg3+ Kh5 59. Rf3 Kg5 60. Rg3+ Kf6 61. Rf3 Nh5 62. Kg2 b4 63. Kg1 b3 64. Rc3 Rb1+ 65. Kh2 b2 66. Rc6+ Kg5 67. Rb6

Playing for the b-pawn.

67...Nf4 68. Rb3 Ne2 69. Rb4 Nc3 70. Rb3 Na4

A nice knight maneuver!

71. Rg3+ Kf6 72. Rb3 Ra1 73. Kg2 b1=Q 74. Rxb1 Rxb1 75. Kf3 Ke5 76. Ke3 Rb3+ 77. Ke2 Kf4 0-1

And a large sigh of relief! My heart was pounding for a few minutes after this one.

Takeaways!

For me, this was probably my first OTB game where I was able to use the clock as a weapon. Typically, my games end with both sides having a good amount of time left on the clock or with both players in time trouble. I think this game is a good example of what's possible in a position with a material deficit if your opponent isn't finding the right plans. I was able to strike at the right time and create counterplay that eventually gave me an overwhelming advantage in an endgame.

In the standings, there is a 4-way tie for first going into the last round. Wish me luck!