[Event "PHI-ch"] [Site "Quezon City"] [Date "2001.04.09"] [Round "8"] [White "Sales, Jesse Noel"] [Black "Senador, Emmanuel"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2328"] [BlackElo "2410"] [PlyCount "97"] [GameId "284825069268"] [EventDate "2001.04.02"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "11"] [EventCountry "PHI"] [EventCategory "7"] [SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2001.05.06"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"] [SourceQuality "1"] {[%evp 0,97,19,34,32,-12,-11,-9,-5,-16,-7,1,-5,21,43,50,44,34,25,40,53,51,57,71,72,64,72,72,75,81,83,84,85,79,90,92,101,101,107,108,127,120,132,142,132,136,187,204,203,154,218,201,202,188,209,205,205,134,153,146,152,155,159,150,153,132,48,0,94,100,141,141,164,154,163,16,5,0,5,0,652,676,680,675,696,744,769,777,1647,1664,2041,2248,2172,2172,1729,2912,1904,1336,29983,29984]} {I selected this featured game because the late IM Senador defeated me in several tournaments. My goal is to instruct players, from beginners to experts, on how to manage their fear when facing stronger opponents.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. cxd5 {I have prepared the Queen's Gambit Exchange to counter IM Senador's preferred Tarrasch Defense, which is his favored opening as black against 1.d4.} exd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bg5 {Deploying the bishop is a fundamental move, yet it should be done with a specific purpose.} Nbd7 6. e3 ({If} 6. Nxd5 Nxd5 7. Bxd8 Bb4+) 6... Be7 7. Bd3 c6 8. Nge2 Ne4 {It appears to be a trap, anticipating that I might postpone castling. However, being a pawn ahead could prove beneficial in the endgame.} 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Bxe4 dxe4 11. Ng3 {Indeed, the pawn at e4 is vulnerable, but moving my king would delay castling, serving as a precursor to my daring strategy.} Nf6 12. Qc2 {Wallah...it is crystal clear pawn up for me...} O-O 13. Ngxe4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 Qb4 {The temptation to castle queenside is there, but having played against IM Senador before, I am well aware of his formidable attacking skills. It's quite intimidating, so it's wiser to play it safe.} 15. Qc2 {In Filipino language you call this move "TAKOT AKO"...} Bf5 {See, how attacker player he is...} 16. Qd2 Qc4 17. b3 Qa6 18. f3 {The only option for positioning my lazy king was to move laterally to f2; from the outset, I was aware of the repercussions that would follow from the strategy I had selected.} Rfe8 19. Kf2 c5 {Here we go, this is how IM Senador plays, dangerous player indeed.} 20. d5 Qh6 {Pursuing my noble king... though he has yet to accept his destiny, I will endeavor to rescue him...} 21. Rad1 Qh4+ 22. g3 Qh3 {Let my anxiety pass; I must conquer my fear regarding the position and the player. Indeed, I can hear my heart beating...} 23. e4 Bd7 24. Qf4 {My over-protective queen boldly pursues the black queen, aiming to reach an endgame position that is favorable to me.} Qh5 25. h4 {At last, my king is secure, and I am poised to turn the tide by assessing the strength of my central pawns.} f6 26. Qd6 {Once again, I find myself gaining more pawns, akin to my idol Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, who continuously defeated renowned boxers and was more inclined to accumulate accolades, even at the risk of life for the Filipino people. He is God-Fearing and I knew he would be a great Politician.} Rad8 27. Qxc5 {It's beneficial to capitalize on freebie pawns, yet it's equally important to remain vigilant against the unpredictable tactics of IM Senador.} f5 28. exf5 {It's crucial not to open the f-file, which could directly attack my vulnerable king.} Qxf5 29. Rd2 {It's time to defend once more. Despite the risks, I must overcome my fear of the stronger player who has defeated me several times. In Filipino, we call this "SUKI."} Rf8 30. f4 Rc8 31. Qd4 Rfe8 32. Rd3 b5 {The late IM Senador has attempted all possible breaks to open my position, but it remains well-guarded, and I am holding on until it reaches an endgame position or, hopefully, a reversal of the situation occurs.} 33. Re1 b4 34. Rxe8+ Bxe8 35. Ne2 Qh3 {Here we go again, it never stops, but all is well...} 36. d6 Bd7 37. Re3 Qh2+ 38. Ke1 Qh1+ 39. Kd2 Qh3 40. Re7 {I believe in this position, white has the advantage, even though my king is still evading danger.} Qg4 41. Qd5+ Kh8 42. Qb7 {Now, I am the hunter. It's crucial to control your emotions, as they can sometimes lead to mistakes, especially when nervous.} Qg6 43. Qxd7 Rc2+ 44. Ke1 Rxe2+ 45. Kxe2 Qc2+ 46. Ke3 {With white in a winning position, I trust this game has taught you about self-control, risk assessment, and the importance of cautious play against more skilled opponents.} Qc5+ 47. Ke4 Qc2+ 48. Kd5 Qd1+ 49. Kc6 {Black resigns. Losing is part of the game and a significant contributor to the learning process. In life, we encounter problems and challenges, but it is resilience, faith, and the ability to conquer negativity within ourselves that are paramount for self-transformation. May International Master Emmanuel Senador rest in peace; thank you for the games.} 1-0