Lessons From Crete VIII: Overpressing

MOST players will find the following scenario all too familiar.

You are better, but your opponent keeps finding only-moves to hold the draw.

Nevertheless you keep pressing - after all, it is an ending and, barring a really stupid blunder, there are only two possible outcomes, ie either you win or you have to settle for a half-point.

So you keep pressing and pressing, and eventually your sense of danger deserts you - after all, only two results are 'possible' - and you make a completely stupid blunder.

This is what happened to my opponent in our round-eight game at the Amateur Chess Organization's 50+ 'world championships' at Fodele Beach, Crete.

Black to make his 39th move - how would you assess the position?

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Black has more space on the kingside, the better bishop (only the white c pawn can be targeted by a bishop), and the more-advanced king.

Dragon1 reckons Black has the upper hand, but Stockfish17 calls the position equal.

It may be the latter engine is correct, in as much White should probably draw with correct play, but the position is undoubtedly easier for Black to play.

Here is the game after a further 10 moves - how would you assess the position?

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The engines keep to their previous assessments, except Dragon1 has become even more enthusiastic about Black's chances, reckoning Black is up by the equivalent of more than a pawn.

A further 10 moves have passed, during which Black missed a win - how would you assess the position?

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Stockfish17 calls the position completely equal, but Dragon1 still favours Black, albeit only slightly (less than a half-pawn).

The game continued:

59...Ke4 60.Ke2 Bd6 61.Kd2 Bf4+ 62.Ke2 Kd5 63.Kf2 Bd6 64.Ke3 Bh2 65.Kf2

And now came the completely stupid blunder, 65...Ke4, which led to resignation after 66.g3.
LESSON: when only two results - a win for you or, at worst, a draw - seem possible, or your position is so overwhelming that a win is 'inevitable', ask yourself every move, "How can I lose this?" - and actually look for ways that a loss could somehow occur.