hopefully after my exams i will be entering lot's of tournaments mainly in the major. i think that many people there might underestimate me because of my grade and feel that it will be criminal of them not to win. what do you think? would you accept the draw if your opponent was 900 rated in a level endgame? hopefully by entering the major it will bring me well needed experience that will allow me to possibly enter the open or the challengers section.i hope to go to the dundee and angus congress and i noticed that you played there-possibly if you go i might get to play against you.

Maxwell

I take it your a junior? Most junior gradings arn't a true reflection of actual strength. when you play a junior they calculate the grading outcome by adding 300 points to the junior grade. I,ve lost to an 800 before, not for some time tho. I'd recommend entering a major. And Dundee and Angus Chess Congress major would be a good one. I think it's under 1600 or something. I have played in every one since it was re-established. I'm also on the organising committee. It's an excellent congress. Even if we didn't play at least we could say helo and maybe get some games for videoing.

Playing up is a good idea. By having games against stronger players we get a real feel for the actual strength, and weaknesses, of our game.

yeh i'm a junior and still learning my way in chess. i've played my close friend michael adam a 713 rated opponent and lost to him on a few occasions and i know he is vastly underated as he beats 1600's and 1500's and sometimes 1700's on a regular basis.the scottish rating system to me is very misleading.
the dundee and angus tournament i've heard is a great tournament and i look forward to entering it. i have high expectations of myself despite people thinking i'm being optimistic but i have realised that impossible is nothing when it comes to chess and that it isn't easy to beat people when there is pressure due to grade differences to win.

At about 12 minutes into the video, you play 1. BxQ BxQ 2. BxR BxR 3. RxB and you end up a piece. But if instead 2. RxR+ RxR 3. BxR then you're up a rook.

at 14:20 your opponent missed a good chance:

Rxd5 Rg7+ (Your gonna lose your rook anyway, so why not keep that king as far off the center as possible) Kxg7 xd5

It's probably winning also, but without Rg7+ he could have some drawing chances there. Obviously the center d pawn is very weak.