oday's game comes from Round 1 of the 2012 US Chess Championship that was played yesterday in St. Louis (May 8, 2012).  The official website for the event is at http://uschesschamps.com/, and is a very nicely made website.

 

   In the position on the right it is Black to move. 

 

   Answer below.

   The lessons that I take from this game are:

• We ALL make mistakes - even terrible blunders.  If a Grandmaster can make a mistake like this, don't be too hard on yourself when you make a mistake.
• You have to think critically on every move - there are no take backs in chess, and every move is important
  
• Be on the lookout for tactics on every move, the opening, endgame, etc
• Don't get so wrapped up in complex plans and theories, that you are missing the obvious
• Be careful in unusual openings, or unfamiliar territory, AKA "out of book"
  
• Visualize what the position will look like before you make a move
• Don't assume that your opponent made a good move, even if he is a strong player. 
  

 

   Here is the complete game:

 

[Event "2012 U.S. Championship"]
[Site "Saint Louis, MO, USA"]
[Date "2012.05.08"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Stripunsky, Alexander"]
[Black "Onischuk, Alex"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B11"]
[WhiteElo "2562"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[PlyCount "21"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]
[TimeControl "6000+645"]
[WhiteClock "1:12:50"]
[BlackClock "1:10:07"]

1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 e6 6. g3 Nd7 7. Qe2 d4 8. Nb1
h5 9. h4 g5 10. hxg5 Qxg5 11. d3 0-1

   Answer:

 

    White just played 11. d3?? and immediately resigned.  White thought they were doing a discovered attack on the black Queen on g5, but the bishop is undefended and can just be taken with 11...Qxd1+ 

 

   Normally I would never even give a position this simple as a "tactics problem", but it was so shocking to me that I had to share it.

 

 

   Happy Tactics!

 

   Your Friend,