Thanksgiving Open Analysis Day 2 | Risk & Reward

Round 3

This game was against another opponent (junior!, 2060) that I lost to in embarrassing fashion earlier this year, withdrew from the remaining rounds of that event & didn't play again over the board until this tournament. However, I've spent some time reviewing a new Sicilian opening & had the opportunity to play it for the first time in this game, in what became another game decided soon after opening theory was exited.

I've never been comfortable with accepting an opening outcome that leaves me with minimal chances to create anything interesting (in online games, I'll overpress until I turn a clear draw into a sure loss) - but I suppose that sometimes, being a better chess player means draws are not a bad result (even against 'weaker' players). I was fully intending to play on in this game as well, but was also content with a draw if that was the eventual result.
After this round, I was in pole position on 3/3 after the other 2 leaders drew - I could expect to have another game with Black (and hopefully another Sicilian!) against a stronger player soon.

Round 4

The pairings worked out such that I was still a rating favourite in Round 4, playing with White - due to being seeded 3rd, I had played every game with the same colour as the top-ranked player and thus missed that match-up again. My opponent this round was far stronger than his 1930 rating (almost junior! but at least post-secondary age), but as the analysis below shows, the available chances were mostly due to my languid mis-steps.

Similar to Rounds 1 & 2, while I seemed to have a generally correct understanding of the position, my calculation was lackluster at best in key moments and gave my opponent multiple opportunities to get back in the game with active play. However, I was now on 4/4 and still leading the tournament after 2/3 days, with a match-up coming up where I'd certainly not have leeway for the same lazy decisions.