Im wondering if anyone has been so close to winning but forget to take th last pawn and lose on time
Im wondering if anyone has been so close to winning but forget to take th last pawn and lose on time
Im wondering if anyone has been so close to winning but forget to take th last pawn and lose on time
No not yet...
I think I did something like that, I'll try to find it
Check out Magnus Carlsen v Alireza Firouzja from the Tech Mahindra Chess League, which I was lucky to watch live in person.
Magnus had a completely winning endgame and 2 minutes more on the clock. Eventually, he promotes his pawn to a queen and has other stuff too. But in doing so, he's consumed time and his flag falls. Firouzja meanwhile has a lone knight and wins because a checkmating position can still be constructed.
Watching the game, it all happened so quickly I didn't understand the finish. First I thought Magnus had won, then I thought it was a draw because of the lack of material. Then it became obvious from Magnus's disgusted expression and Firouzja's smile that he'd actually won. A knightmare!
I had an OTB blitz tournament, a side event from the main classical tournament. I am 1500 USCF Blitz and 1730 FIDE Blitz (not good at Blitz OTB). I was playing against a 2100-rated player. I played the stonewall and if they defend properly they will have advantage, but most do not know how to defend and in blitz you do not have the time to think in the opening and defend so I started attacking and the 2100 got crushed. Sadly, the time control was 5+0 and on lichess I only play 3+2 or 5+3, never +0. In the endgame, I had a rook and 2 bishops and he had 2 pawns. I only has 3 seconds though and I captured 1 and then 1 move away from capturing the last one, I grab the pawn and then I flag. I only needed 1 more second, if only I spent 1 less second in the opening I could have drawn, and if I had spent 10 seconds less I would win. So in blitz be carful
You can use the clutch pawn section in the rosen score to find out
https://rosen-score.vercel.app/
He could not actually have "literally" one pawn left, since he would also have a King.
@billcourtney said in #7:
He could not actually have "literally" one pawn left, since he would also have a King.
You cannot checkmate your opponent with a bare king however if your opponent times out and you have 1 pawn you win since you can technically promote and win.
Obviously you'd lose against your opponent if he has a 10+ piece advantage but the pawn is a nifty trick that spices up the game.
Besides, if you are playing standard chess the king will always be there.
I surely flagged people several times one move before capturing my last pawn. I'm sure I also lost unluckily on time at least once ...
It would be worse if opponent had only king and you accidentally resign
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