I'm going to start updating my blog again. I have a lot of games to review. Also, sorry that all the links don't work anymore, I need to find somewhere to host my files and I will have all my old games back online. If anyone knows a good place to do this let me know. Hi again everybody.

Over the last few months I decided I would pursue an MBA in the fall. The good news, I got into the school I want: University of Toronto. The bad news: I have to move before the club championship will be over. Last night my friend came into town and I decided to just concede my match because I will not be able to play in the finals and I wanted to hang out with my friend. I know, very anti-climactic.

I am not really happy with my game from Thursday although it is very very interesting. Basically I closed the position up completely leaving my opponent with one file with which to penetrate which was not enough for him to find an advantage. After 30 moves of trying to get in while I just moved my king back and forth (some other pieces too but in reality I was doing nothing for the last 30 moves of the game). My opponent gave up and agreed to a draw. I set up a fortress and waited for him to give up.

At some point during the day I decided that I would rather try to win with White and take all the pressure off. I'm not sure that this was the best choice and I really wish the match was over already but I lived to fight another day. After butchering the opening I was in no position to make a real fight for the advantage so I just drew and moved on.

Also charging king is back with a new blog just wanted to let everybody know, check it out!

Since LEP asked so nicely, here is the game.

The original pawn sacrifice 13.f4 may be a little worse for White but I wanted to give the position the rather distinct character that I have been achieving good results in lately. After 22...Qxd2 Black forfeits all chances of winning and for the rest of the game I am never worse, there are times Black is able to put up more resistance but in essence I am risking absolutely nothing and playing to win on a mistake from Black. The beauty of the queen trade is that Black is forcing the pawn up endgame he achieves after the exchange of rooks on c3 and this seems to make him an overwhelming favorite, so it is difficult to resist. But once he accomplishes this position he realizes that the ball is really in my court. This was an ideal position for me to be in considering if I lost I would be eliminated. Tonight is the same, if I lose it is over. But... if I win it is over too...

Last night I played a little wild. I ditched the d4 experiment for the time being and went with my beloved e4. I scored the point. I found a pawn down ending that I thought offered me good winning chances. I'm very happy about the result, although to be honest, I all but guaranteed it to several people and all day I knew I would win the game. My friend asked me earlier in the day if I knew how it felt to just know you would get an A on a test, I said that's how I felt about my game. I made pretty good decisions, I took some unnecessary risks, but if there is one thing that I have learned from this match it is that Case does not want to enter a tactical battle. He tries to keep the game very calm. So I livened things up a bit to see how he would react. It was a very interesting game. I had to win though, I hadn't won in three weeks, I was getting anxious about it.... 1.5-1.5 with one game to go, I'm black but I don't think that's going to stop me from playing for the win.

PS Chess? thanks for the support. Also who ever else is out there, thanks.

On Thursday I did not get any real chance for advantage and got frustrated and blundered away the draw. But... I did not give up and I drew the pawn down endgame anyways. Very reminiscent of the games at the Far West Open, I was down a pawn but my opponent was unable to make any progress. Anyways now I am down 1.5-0.5 so not out of this yet but I need a win very badly.

I finished the qualifier with 10/10, I did not end up playing the 11th game (incidentally against the highest rated player). But in spite of this I clinched the top seed from my group and have begun my match with Bill Case. I played 1.d4 in the first game. I also played this opening in the last game of the qualifier and scored a nice win. This game did not go so well for me. He played the Dutch, which I did not expect although I was not altogether unprepared. After an uninspiring opening I reached a roughly equal endgame and played very poorly, giving up my first loss at the Reno Chess Club in 2009. I completely lost the thread. It was a breakdown. I thought it would be pointless to go over the game until I am finished with the matches (or match if I cannot get out of this hole). I already know I can play better, it's stupid to look at how poorly I played, this will just be discouraging. I do not think the opening had much to do with the loss, I just didn't show up. Anyways, Game 2 is coming up tonight and I have the Black pieces. Down 1-0 with the Black pieces is a tough spot, especially considering it is only a 4 game match so I am already running out of time. He played well in the first game and I am just going to have to bring the A game out tonight. If I really believe that I can play at the master level then I need to be able to win games like this. Also if I win this match then in all likelihood I get a match with Garingo which I think everyone at the club has wanted to see (including us). I am very disappointed that I did not just lock down the half point in the first game. I was hallucinating. Anyways this was pretty much just a pity rant but hopefully tomorrow I'll have better news.