You're asking for a concept, but looking at the games what I see is calculation or visualization mistakes, I don't get the impression you're missing a key concept.
In the first game moves 16 and 17 were defensive moves you made in anticipation of what your opponent was going to play, but then move 18 gives away the a pawn (the queen can capture it).
In the 2nd game moves 4 and 6 defend your pawn, but move 17 not only is checkmate in 1 move, but even if it weren't mate, you'd lose the bishop and knight after white checks you.
So sometimes you're seeing what your opponent can do, but other times you're blind to it, so you immediately lose. In both games you walked into checkmate.
In some ways it's unfortunate, because the solution is so tedious, but the lower the rating, the more improvement comes from developing good calculation habits. It's tedious because with a board full of pieces, there are a lot of things to be aware of. Lots of different pieces control lots of different squares. For example your opponent's move 17...c6. This is a pawn move to a light square... but the move attacks a dark square too. It attacks a5 by uncovering the queen. So visualizing whether a move is safe 1 or 2 moves in advance is tough, but it gets easier with practice.
Hello,
I am currently rated 1200 and want to get better at chess. I started to prepare a bit of Theory which increased my chances of not loosing in the opening. However, the situation becomes very dire shortly after.
I played a 10+0 Swiss Style Tournament today and I want to share two games that I lost.
1.) as white: 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nce7 4.f4 d6 5.Nf3 h6 6.fxe5 Ng6 7.b3 dxe5 8.Bb2 Nf6 9.h3 Bd6 10.Qe2 Nh5 11.Qf2 O-O 12.O-O-O Re8 13.d4 exd4 14.Nxd4 Nf6 15.Rde1 Ne5 16.Qe2 a6 17.a4 17.c6 a5 18.Nxc4 Qxc4 19.Be5 Na2 20.Be6 Nxe6 21.Bxb2+ Kxb2 22.Rxe6 Nb4 23.Qxa5 Re2 24.Rae8 Rhe1 25.Qc7 Qc3 26.Nxe4 Qf3 27.Qe5+ Kc1 28.Qa1#
Once my pieces are placed and ready for attacking, my strength rapidly declines. When I say "missing a key concept" I mean that I do not quite understand what I should base my strategy on. I only know a few theory moves, but the opening phase is very straight forward in my opinion. Black put up a solid defence but my pieces were positioned to commence an attack at the king. However, as seen in the game, I do not know how I can capitalise on such a space advantage. I started to manoeuvre my pieces across the board in hopes of finding a crack of some kind. It all went south after move 15. During the game, I remember being clueless as to what I should do next. What are my opponents weaknesses, how should I infiltrate, where should I build pressure and so on.
I do know that the problem is the understanding of the midgame. However, after watching a few Videos on midgame strategies (basically breaking down positions I never reach due to a different repertoire), I still don't know how to improve.
2.) as black: 1.e4 e6 2.f4 d5 3.d3 dxe4 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Nf6 7.Be2 O-O 8.dxe4 Nxe4 9.Nf3 Qxd1+ 10.Bxd1 Nxc3 11.O-O Rd8 12.Be2 12.Nxe2+ Kf2 13.Nxf4 Bxf4 14.Rd7 Rad1 15.c6 Rxd7 16.Bxd7 Rd1 17.Bc8 Rd8
Again, I had the upper hand going into the midgame (Blundering the Knight on move 13 was pure tunnel vision filled with greed). But again, this is where everything went south. The pawn on c6 was now under pressure by Bf4 and I tried desperately defending it with 15. Rd7. I do know that the move in general is not purely bad. However, I think this shows my lack of understanding the position and again the overall strategy from this point on. The engine suggests Na6 and I'm sure I would have still won the game if I had found that move (but just due to the pawn majority I had).
In conclusion, does anyone know where the deep problem in my failure lies? I know (somehow) what I'm missing. A repetitive mistake is not just a fault, it's an error of thinking and I do not yet know how to fix it.
Thanks in advance!