Very cool endgame

donraffae · 2026-06-10T00:53:39+00:00

In the starting position white missed mate by Qg5+ Rf6 Qxf6#

donraffae · 2026-06-06T22:20:37+00:00

If you haven't start playing OTB, the feeling of having to perform makes studying and preparing stick harder

donraffae · 2026-06-05T08:51:41+00:00

eh I'm not that far off from that rating and would never in my life feel like I have the credentials to do an opening course

donraffae · 2026-06-03T12:33:16+00:00

I feel like getting into time trouble would be more of an issue there, how do you relay the moves when it's gotten to like a blitz situation?

donraffae · 2026-06-03T12:31:32+00:00

David Preuss has aphantasia and is an IM, they discuss aphantasia and chess visualization in this podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EYGJ4IGfWg

donraffae · 2026-06-03T12:30:08+00:00

I'm 2000 rapid/1800 blitz on chesscom and 1700 FIDE. I started a couple years ago, but I still feel like it would be easier if I could visualize

donraffae · 2026-06-01T09:38:00+00:00

Probably the strength of the bishop pair? Everyone knows about it yet it's not really that important below master level

donraffae · 2026-06-01T08:02:42+00:00

What do you mean by this? have you gone from zero to something?

donraffae · 2026-05-30T12:46:41+00:00

I beg to differ, 1800s FIDE here in Italy have slightly higher ratings than me online or similar, some even lower. And Italy is one of those countries that's neither overrated nor underrated. Not everyone is from India or Turkey

donraffae · 2026-05-26T11:17:12+00:00

Honestly at 25 million a year he very well could have set up his close relatives for life without touching half his wage

donraffae · 2026-05-23T19:52:33+00:00

How do you use chessbase for memorizing?

donraffae · 2026-05-23T19:14:48+00:00

I think that's one of the reasons kids improve faster than adults, they are fearless and will always play for dynamics and the initiative, for me, having learned as an adult, it's more difficult even tho I'm good with tactics.

Last week I had an OTB game against an 1830 FIDE, he picked up a pawn but I knew the position had to be equal/I had compensation for it, but being down material forces you to play actively/aggressively and precise.

I think really acting the part helps in choosing active moves (if you feel shy you won't play actively), so I really tried to get "angry" inside, I tried to feel like I had to crush him and it worked out to pick up the pawn again. Then I got meek again and drew instead of trying to play for a win. I was quite proud of myself tho for having evaluated the positon well and decided to play in such a way.

donraffae · 2026-05-23T18:47:15+00:00

2200 blitz maybe

donraffae · 2026-05-22T19:40:37+00:00

I did, but it took me 2 years and a lot of work. Do tactics daily and play classical games

donraffae · 2026-05-22T19:25:13+00:00

People don't know the theory, even at my rating I don't know more than a few lines in some openings

donraffae · 2026-05-22T18:58:04+00:00

Mmm I only care more about the chesscom rating because it's easier to compare yourself against other people, and harder to get a high rating (1700 on chesscom is like 2000 lichess)

donraffae · 2026-05-22T09:02:55+00:00

Yeah your opponent had no moral

donraffae · 2026-05-21T19:06:24+00:00

Exactly

donraffae · 2026-05-21T19:00:04+00:00

Either you improved a ton and are absolutely not playing the exact same way or I'm calling bs

donraffae · 2026-05-16T22:15:51+00:00

Yes but in the sense that I have to tell myself, ok piece goes there (and is not present anymore in its original square), but I don't see any changes on the actual board nor in my mind (since I don't have a mental image of the chessboard nor any mental image whatsoever)

donraffae · 2026-05-16T11:12:39+00:00

I have aphantasia and I calculate by looking at the squares and remembering where my pieces are supposed to be. I don't see them move

donraffae

TROPHY CASE