One of the strategies that I’ve learnt in the last year of beginner chess, is knowing what to do when materially ahead. Sometimes in the opening, or in the midgame, I’ll be fortunate enough to be up a piece of material, usually a knight or bishop. In this situation, rather than trying to create opportunities for a clever checkmate, it may be simpler, and safer, to try to liquidate the board – that is, make or force “balanced” material trades to push the game towards an endgame where you retain that piece advantage. This game is an example where I was able to put this into practice.
As there are fewer and fewer pieces left on the board, the absolute difference in material becomes proportionately more significant. Being up a piece in the endgame, even when the opponent has a pawn majority, is often winning.
I hope you enjoyed this video, and thanks for watching!
Game on chess.com: https://www.chess.com/game/live/34730463873
[Event "Live Chess"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2021.12.31"] [Round "?"] [White "JF_THE_J"] [Black "vitualis"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D00"] [WhiteElo "1053"] [BlackElo "1158"] [TimeControl "1800"] [EndTime "15:36:24 PST"] [Termination "vitualis won by checkmate"] 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. Nf3 Bf5 4. e3 e6 5. c3 Nh5 6. Bg5 f6 7. Bh4 g5 8. Nxg5 fxg5 9. Qxh5+ Bg6 10. Qxg5 Qxg5 11. Bxg5 Nd7 12. h4 h6 13. h5 Bxb1 14. Rxb1 hxg5 15. b4 Nf6 16. f3 Rxh5 17. Rxh5 Nxh5 18. g4 Nf6 19. Bd3 O-O-O 20. a4 Bd6 21. b5 e5 22. dxe5 Bxe5 23. Rb3 Nd7 24. Bf5 Kb8 25. e4 Nc5 26. Ra3 dxe4 27. Bxe4 Nxe4 28. fxe4 Rd3 29. Ra2 Rxc3 30. Rd2 b6 31. Rd8+ Kb7 32. Kd2 Rc4 33. a5 Rd4+ 34. Rxd4 Bxd4 35. Kd3 Bc5 36. Kc4 a6 37. bxa6+ Kxa6 38. axb6 cxb6 39. e5 Kb7 40. Kd5 Kc7 41. e6 Kd8 42. Kc6 Ke7 43. Kd5 Bd6 44. Kc6 Kxe6 45. Kxb6 Ke5 46. Kc6 Ba3 47. Kb5 Kf4 48. Ka4 Bf8 49. Kb3 Kxg4 50. Kc2 Kh3 51. Kd3 g4 52. Ke3 Kh2 53. Kf2 g3+ 54. Kf3 g2 55. Ke3 g1=Q+ 56. Kf4 Qd4+ 57. Kf5 Bh6 58. Kg6 Qg4+ 59. Kf6 Bc1 60. Ke5 Kg3 61. Kd5 Qf4 62. Ke6 Kf3 63. Kd5 Ke3 64. Ke6 Ke4 65. Kd7 Qe5 66. Kc6 Kd4 67. Kd7 Kd5 68. Kc8 Qg7 69. Kd8 Kd6 70. Kc8 Qc7# 0-1
Adventures of a Chess Noob 
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