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The mysterious fading tactic

By Steve | December 4, 2007

Unfortunately I turned in a rather uninspired performance for the last round of the T35 tournament in the Team 45 45 League. What bothered me most was the way I just suddenly forgot about a tactic that I’d been watching carefully for several moves.

Here’s the position after White’s 6th move.


After 6.Bg2

For my next 6 moves, I paid close attention to the h1-a8 diagonal, with White’s bishop on g2, my pawn on b7, and my rook on a8. We get to this position after White’s 12th move:


After 12.cxb5

So what do play now? Of course. 12…b6? 13.Nxe5.

I realized my blunder literally as soon as I let the piece drop with my mouse.

BDK recently commented about a similar kind of tactical fade in one of his games, although he had the excuse of being in time trouble.

This is a very frustrating kind of blunder.

2 Responses to “The mysterious fading tactic”

  1. Rich Dailey Says:
    December 5th, 2007 at 11:12 am

    In 30 years of blundering thru chess, I continue to have these moments. It’s the thing that makes me un-good as a chess player. But I enjoy the game anyway.

  2. Blue Devil Knight Says:
    December 9th, 2007 at 11:04 pm

    Ah yes, the forgotten tactic. I do that a lot.

    I had a score of 4-0-0 out of five last year in the U1200 section of a big tournament. My final game I was up the exchange. For most of the game I was thinking, I’d like to put my rook on b8 so I can take that file, but her Bishop is on f4, so don’t do it! What do I do about 3/4 into the game? Just put my rook right where she can capture it. I went on to lose the game and take second in the division. My oh my was I mad at myself.

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