Play to Win

[Event "ICC"] [Site "Internet Chess Club"] [Date "2013.12.24"] [Round "?"] [White "Misticknights3"] [Black "Terlizzi"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A21"] [WhiteElo "1787"] [BlackElo "1859"] [Annotator "Terlizzi"] [PlyCount "57"] [EventDate "2013.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700%2B45"] 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bb4 4. Bg2 Bxc3 5. bxc3 c6 6. Nf3 d6 7. O-O O-O 8. Rb1 e4 9. Nd4 d5 10. Ba3 Re8 11. Qb3 a6 12. c5 Nbd7 13. Qa4 Ne5 14. Rfc1 Nc4 15. Rc2 Nxa3 16. Qxa3 Ng4 17. Nb3 a5 18. d4 e3 19. f3 Bf5 20. Rbc1 Bxc2 21. Rxc2 Nf6 22. Rb2 Qc7 23. Nc1 Nd7 24. Bh3 g6 25. Bxd7 Qxd7 26. Kg2 f6 27. Nd3 g5 28. Rb6 g4 29. f4 1/2-1/2 ’/>'/>

I was both happy and a little disappointed at the result of this game. My opponent had a strong rating at 1787 ELO. I feel that I outplayed him during the game and had a significant advantage but on the other hand I was really tired and ready for the game to end. I was starting to get nervous that I was going to ruin my advantage. His knight could have been tricky. However, at move 29 my opponent offered a draw and I accept. Ergo, I was both pleased and displeased at the result. When you have a three point advantage on your opponent then you have to play to win because I feel in a way it was somewhat of a loss for me due to a lack of confidence. In chess, the only way is to play to win.