Defense Wins Championships
I was scheduled to play the Club Champion, Bill Case, last Thursday. We had never played before so I was excited to see what would come of this game. The game really only lasted about 9 moves from the end of the theory to the forced endgame but it was a tense 9 moves. I put the hood of my sweatshirt on after I missed 16...Bxd5 until I played 27...Rc2. This is something I normally do when I am defending and am wearing a hooded sweatshirt. It helps me block everything out. I ended up finding a nice continuation that muted his threats. This is a sign of my maturity at the board. I accepted the fact that I had missed my chance and the best thing to do was simply end the game and try again next time. I only used half an hour, this was a pretty easy game. I played well.
As I mentioned in my last post, I was a little frustrated with how my opening turned out. I expected to have more fighting chances in this variation. In reality as long as I can consistently draw this position my opponent should be the one looking for a new variation, so I'm not worried about it.
I have one more game left this year, as I will miss the final round of this weekly tournament due to a family trip to London (I'm not sad about it). It is against Terry Alsasua, who lost to Bill Case in the Club Championship last year after winning in 2006. I am going to have to be able to beat both these players if I want to make a run for the title this year, but I think I have a pretty good chance.
As I mentioned in my last post, I was a little frustrated with how my opening turned out. I expected to have more fighting chances in this variation. In reality as long as I can consistently draw this position my opponent should be the one looking for a new variation, so I'm not worried about it.
I have one more game left this year, as I will miss the final round of this weekly tournament due to a family trip to London (I'm not sad about it). It is against Terry Alsasua, who lost to Bill Case in the Club Championship last year after winning in 2006. I am going to have to be able to beat both these players if I want to make a run for the title this year, but I think I have a pretty good chance.
In terms of time it would be around an hour a week. So would you be interested - and if so - what is your fee?
Take care and have a great time in London!
-Samurai
Have fun in London, it's one of my favorite cities in the world. But watch your wallet, it's ridiculously expensive :)
Chessaholic - As you said in your last post, it's a long and rocky road. Keep at it.
I hope London will be fun, I need to find some seedy youth culture to get into while I'm there.
There's a certain player that I encounter on Thursday nights who has this really annoying habit of rocking back and forth. It's almost like he's chanting as he's thinking. The problem is he does it mostly on the opponent's move. I end out pulling my cap down to block him from my view. Unfortunately last week it was too cold for a baseball cap, so I had to use my hands as a visor.
That opponent sounds a little frustrating to play.
A side note: I was looking at your blog and I realized you play at the Marshall CC and you seemed vaguely familiar, I only played one tournament there but we actually played a G/30 in March of 2006 when I was visiting the city. Crazy small chess world...