Caption time

This and that…

While getting better will certainly improve your rating, getting your rating higher does not mean you are getting better.

My goal was to get better and get my rating up to 2000, by the Feb 2007 supplement. With the 20 point loss last w-end, the chances of that happening are not so good. I only have 6 more games scheduled before the February cut-off. (Which I think will be around Jan 2-3)

I will probably be paired down in 4 of these 6 games.

The games I have scheduled are:

Dec 29:
Three G/45 at FRIDAY NIGHT QUICK CASH - Kansas City, MO
Dec 30:
Three(1st round bye) G/70 at McLean County Historical Museum Open - Bloomington, IL

Probably the prudent thing to do is not risk rating points by playing mostly lower rated players in these quick events. But, I enjoy playing too much and I am also trying to improve my time management skills.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, starting Jan 1, I will only have time to play in about 1 tournament a month. I plan to study more and play up when I get a chance. I will also concentrate on getting better and not worry about the rating.

Things I need to concentrate on:
- Lots of tactics (I think that tactics alone can get you to well over 2000)
- Endgames
- Openings
- Study the type of middle games that come out of these openings

Some one was asking how I got an 1800 floor. I have that covered that here.

Western Michigan Open XXIV, Dec 16, (Grand Rapids,MI)

I had great time at this tournament. The playing conditions and organization were excellent, complementary coffee and snacks were nice touches.

Complete Results

Douglas M Forsythe - Organizer and TD

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I don't like to play with time controls less then G/90 or play more than 2 games a day. This tournament was G/60 and there were 4 games in one day. But there was nothing else I could find for this w-end, and I decided that I would like to get better at shorter time controls too.

All my games went right down to the wire in terms of time. The two games I lost were mad time scrambles by both players.

I finished with 1-2=1, and will probably lose about 19 points. to get back down to 1865

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I lost both games as White! The final 10-15 moves in these games were not recorded.

Click here to replay the first loss.

Click here to replay the 2nd loss.

Missing Loss

This was a loss I forgot to include in a previous post. White tries an unusual second move. Instead of playing 2...d6 or 2...d5 I tried 2...Qa5. That was not that bad, but after I played 7...c5 I was in a bad way. I had to play 7...d6

Russ Montey (1842) vs Me Loss

Click here to replay the game.

Progress Report etc.

I have been able to devote so much time to playing chess for the last few months because my family has been out of state. They will be returning Jan 1 so after, that I won't have too much time to go to tournaments. Although, I will be able to study, which is what I really need in order to improve. I will be traveling to and from Texas over the Christmas/New Year's break. I will be flying down and driving back.

My goal is to get to 2000 by the February 2007 supplement. There are only three weekends left. (I don't think the Jan 6-7 weekend will make the February supplement)

These are some of the tournaments I am looking at playing in:

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Dec 16 : Western Michigan Open XXIV
Rounds : 4
Time Control : G/60
Location : Grand Rapids, MI
CON(S) : Distance
Site: Leonard Terrace Apartments 1315 Leonard Street North East Grand Rapids, MI 49505 Directions: Yahoo Map Infospace Map Format: 4-SS Open USCF and MCA Membership required Time Control: G/60 or G/55(t/d 5) Rounds: 10AM - 12:00PM - 3:00PM - 5:00PM Lunch - after round 2 - 2:00PM - 3:00PM Entry Fee: $20 - Western Michigan Open XXIV Free - USCF rated blitz - side event(s) Registration: 9 - 9:45, December 16, 2006 Prizes: Plus-score tournament 4.0 = $40 3.5 = $35 3.0 = $30 2.5 = $25 Entries/Info: Douglas M Forsythe, Local TD 1825 Ball Avenue North East Grand Rapids, Michigan 49505 (616) 361 - 8214 forsythe.douglas@comcast.net

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Dec 23 : 2nd Saturday Touch Move CC Action
Rounds : 5
Time Control : G/30
Location : Chicago, IL
CON(S) : G/30, Tournaments played at this club have not been rated yet.
5639 N. Ashland Chicago IL. Limit 40 players. EF: $30 non-members, $20 TMCC members. ($360 b/24) $120 - $70, U2200- $65, U2000- $55, U1800/Unrated- $50, Reg.: 12:00 pm Rounds: 1pm-2:30-3:45-5-6:20 pm. 2 bye limit, request before rd 3. Info: IM Angelo Young (773) 627-2759, TMchesscenter@hotmail.com

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Dec 29 :Friday Night Quick Cash
Rounds : 3SS
Time Control : Game/45
Location : Kansas City, MO
CON(S) : G/45
The Chess Club at Vivion West Shopping Mall (North Kansas City), 2314 NW Vivion Rd, Riverside MO 64150. EF: $25 by Dec. 27th, $30 onsite. Memb. Req'd: $5. OSA. $$GTD: $225. $75. U2000 1st $75 U1600 1st $75 100% of entries will be paid out as cash prizes!. Accelerated pairings will be used. Reg: Between 6-7 PM. Rds: 1st Round 7PM. No Byes Available. ENT: Ken Fee 1537 Baker St. Liberty, MO 64068. Club Phone: 816-505-1615 PAYPAL to chessclub@powerpawn.net. INFO: chessclub@powerpawn.net. http://www.powerpawn.net/.

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Dec. 30 : McLean County Historical Museum Open
Rounds : 4SS
Time Control : G/70
Location : Bloomington, IL
McLean County Historical Museum, 200 N. Main, Bloomington, IL. EF: $20 if received by 12/28 ($16 under 20), $25 at site. $540 b/35. 1st $200, 2nd $100 (1st and 2nd prizes are guaranteed) U2000 $100, U1600 $80, U1200 $60. Reg: 8:30-9:30 AM, Rds: 10, 1, 3:45, 6:30. Ent: Dennis Bourgerie, Box 157, Normal, IL 61761. 309-454-3842. Cell: 309-531-1723. Schoolstreeter@msn.com, NS, NC.

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Observations etc.

• I attribute my imrovement mainly to my mental attitude. I used to be "scared" of my opponents. Not any more. Swiching(from the Qd6 Scandinavian) back to Caro Kann helped too.
• Most of my recent losses/draws were due to mistakes during time trouble, I have to improve in that department.
• I see a lot more tactics now, but I still miss a lot.

5 more points and a painful draw in Round 3

My result was 1-1=1. The new rating will be around 1889

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Round 3 Me vs Raymond Hayes(2100) draw

I fell for 3 fold repetition in time trouble in a completely winning position against floored out 2100 player Raymond Hayes. I stopped taking notation after move 49.

Click here to replay the game.

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Round 2Russ Montney (1842) vs. me Loss

White tries an unusual second move. Instead of playing 2...d6 or 2...d5 I tried 2...Qa5. That was not that bad, but after I played 7...c5 I was in a bad way. I had to play 7...d6

Click here to replay the game.

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Round 1 Me vs James Coons (1883) win

Click here to replay the game.

My opponent usually gets in time trouble and is known for memorizing openings. I knew that I could get a good time advantage if I varied from the main lines. I played 7. h3 and after that had a good advantage on the clock. Towards the end of the game I had about 20 min. and he had less than 2. Some of the moves I made toward the end (eg. 24 Qh5) were made not because I thought they were the best moves, but because I though they would give him the most discomfort with the clock ticking away towards zero.

Caption time

Wisconsin Memorial : Dec 9-10 (Madison, WI)

I finished 3-0=1, and gained 19 points to end up at 1885. I split the $100 class A prize with David Cardenas.

Complete Results

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Round 4 - Me vs Richard Wagner(1900) - Win

I could have won a pawn with 13. Bxf6. but I decided to go into a closed position with active pieces, my king's bishop had a lot of scope, and I could expand on the queen side.

15...f5 creates a backward pawn on an open file, and a hole on e5 which the king's knight now is itching to occupy.

17. Bxc6 the bishop gives his life so that the king's knight can occupy e5. (The knight is humbled by the bishop's selfless act).

18. Ne5 This knight is an octopus!

18...Qh5 Looks dangerous for White, but there is nothing here. Time to defend!

20...f4?? Black blunders

23. f3 although this was not necessary I wanted to stop all counter play by black

25. Rc4 The rooks are planning to double themselves on the b file

27. h3 more prophylaxis

Click here to replay game.

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Round 5 - Jeremy Kane(2065) vs Me - Draw

I have choked in the last round many times in the past few weeks, and was determined not to let that happen this time. Theory in this variation of the Caro Kann goes from the opening all the way to the ending, where Black is suposed to have excellent drawing chances. Kane missed the book move 12.Qc6+. I offered a draw right after this, but it was declined. He then offred a draw after his final move and I accepted. Although I thought I was better, I figured that that chances of me making a mistake were higher.

Click here to replay game.

Apology - 3rd Coast Chess Festival

I would like to apologize to the organizers of the 3rd Coast Chess Festival for the comments made in this blog entry.

Instead this is what I would like to say:

I would like to thank the organizers for having the event, and also for the community service projects they undertake.

The tournament was well directed and the playing conditions were excellent, although basing the prizes on 180 participants was overly optimistic. (Based on adult participation in Illinois events)

Illinois Class Champ. : Dec 2-3 (Joliet, IL)

Results

Tournament format: 4 round Swiss G/120

I finished with 1-2=1. I missed lots of tactics but still lost only 10 rating points to end up at 1865.

Game 3 where I was able to sacrifice my queen for mate made the whole tournament worthwhile for me. (I missed 13..Bxa3 & 17...Qf1+, but If I had seen them, I would not have been able to sac the queen in the end!)

Game 4 was a big disappointment. After playing a great game, (where I missed at least 2 opportunities to put the game away 17. Qh3 and 22.Bb4) I got myself into terrible time trouble and lost. There was $100.00 riding on this game too!

Observations etc.

Bad time management in Game 4. I spent about 20 min. deciding between 9.0-0 and (9.Nxd7 Nxd7 10.Qg4.) I was about an hour behind my opponent on time after about 17 moves.

I used to not be able to recover after a loss, but after losing Game 2 I came back strongly in Game 3 and almost had Game 4.

I had lost only 2 games out of 12 for the month of November. If I want to keep that up in December I can't lose any more games!

"A" players miss lots of tactics!

Rnd 1 - HECTOR R HERNANDEZ (1900) vs Me - Draw

Rnd 2 - Me vs TREVOR S MAGNESS (1897) - Loss

This was a bad loss. I completly missed the danger at f2. Instead of 16.Bd3, 16.h5 would have left me with a slight pull. Even after 17.Nxe5 I could have still played h5 and the game is about equal.

Click here to replay game.

Rnd 3 - DANIEL SAJKOWSKI(1862) vs Me - Win

Click here to replay game.

Rnd 4 - Me vs ERIC S ROSEN (1909) - Loss

Click here to replay game.

Some progress...

I have made some progress, but getting to 2000, by the February supplement may be a tall order, but the way I see it, I need just one really good result!

I will not be playing Nov 25-26. I plan to stop by at the Scott Kittsley Quick Chess Festival . I decided not to play because I don't think I could learn much from G/29, and even if I did well, it won't change my regular rating. I am going to try and finish the book on rook endings instead.

My next tournament is the 2006 Illinois Class Championship in Joliet, IL. Dec. 2-3.

I am also thinking about playing in the Wisconsin Memorial in Madison,WI, Dec 9-10

3rd Coast Chess Fest.: Nov 18-19 (Northbrook, IL)

The turn out was very dissapointing, only about 60 players showed up. The prizes were based on a ridiculously high number of 180!

Complete Results

My goals for this tournament were, to get my rating to 1900 (from 1872) and to be one of the prize winners.

I managed to tie for 3rd-4th which was worth $62.50 (the entry fee was $65). I went 3-1 (plus one bye), and gained 3 points to end up at 1875

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There are many things that keep me from getting to 2000. One that I have worked on is not to get discouraged when I am not doing so well, instead I try extra hard to put as many obstacles as possible in front of my opponent. Another is to get over confident when I am doing well, I still need to work on that.

Round 1 Bye

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Round 2 Mehmed Covic (1800) vs Me Loss
It was the first time that I played 5...h5, 6...h4 in this variation of the Caro-Kann. I was in bad shape after playing 9...Nbd7 (e6 was correct) , and White could have won with 19.c4 but I managed to hang in there and win the exchange and get to a winning position, I then got my rook "trapped" (after 54 Bd4) and had to sac a pawn to get it out. The funny thing was the rook was not trapped as with 55...c5 and 56...b4 I was winning easily, but after the White king guards the bishop the situation is less in my favor. I then managed to get in to severe time trouble and lost what was a drawn endgame.

Click here to replay game.

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Round 3 Me vs Jan Suplat (1676) Win

Click here to replay game.

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Round 4 Me vs Nicola Dos Santos (1668) Win

Click here to replay game.

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Round 5 Boris Deriy (1607) vs Me Win

This game was about tactics, imaginary and real.

Imaginary Tactics - played
When I played 15...Bxg3 I thought I would be picking up the bishop on b2 next move, but right after I played it I saw that White has 16.Rf2. But I played the 2 moves 15..Bxg3 and 16...Qb6 + with such authority that it fooled my oponent and he just played 16. kh2

Real Tactics - unplayed
I had 14...Bxg3 and if White plays 15.fxg I pick up the rook with 16...Qd4+, but White has the surprising 15.Bb2 when Black is only slightly better after he playes 16...Bh4 and then 17...Bf6 (after White plays 16.Bxg7 17. Bxh8) . I don't think a human player would find 15. Bb2, it is pretty rare to just attack a pawn when your opponent just took your knight.

Click here to replay game.

Kings Island Open : Nov 11-12 (Mason, OH)

I only played one good game (round 4), but still lost only 2 rating points to finish with 1-1=2 with a rating of 1872.

Complete Results

Round 1
Bye

Round 2 - Me vs MICHAEL A MORRIS (1944) Loss
In this game I could have forced the following position (on move 16) with Black to play:

I thought that the isolated pawn would be a liability, but I think that my active pieces compensate for this and White should be fine. I lost this game because of the move 17. Nh7, for a moment I forgot that rooks can move horizontally too!

Click here to replay game.

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Round 3 - KEVIN MALLOY (1914) vs me Draw
I could have played Kh7 and there are no more checks and Black shold be able to win with the extra piece.

Click here to replay game.

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Round 4 Me vs - MICHAEL CHIANG (1856 ) Win

Click here to replay game.

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Round 5 GEORGE J ELGIN (1771) vs Me Draw

This was a very interesting but frustrating draw. I was clearly winning for most of the game, and then I got into a winning pawn endgame (43...e5). I then blundered with 51...Kg2 and should have lost, but my opponent captured the wrong pawn and the game was drawn. 60. K x b5 wins while K x b4 draws. So instead of gaining about 12 rating points I lost a couple.

Click here to replay game.

Wisconsin Veterans : Nov 4-5 (Oshkosh, WI)

I finished with 4/5 and tied for 2nd-5th, worth $52.50 and a new rating of 1874.

James Coons with 3.5/5 took home the trophy for the highest finishing person over 50.

Results

First place winner Daniel Lindquist 4.5/5, $170

Top 2 seeds on the left. Kelly Borman, Souvick Roychoudhury.

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My Results
Rnd 1 - Win Timothy Hiddemen (1130) vs Me

Click here to replay game.

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Rnd 2 - bye

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Rnd 3 - Win Me vs R. Hollenhorst (1500 )

Click here to replay game.

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Rnd 4 - Draw Kelly Borman (2003) vs Me .

This was an exciting game. With 19...Be7 I would have had the advantage. The sac on e6 does not work for White, and that was what he was going to do. After 20 Bxe6 fxe6. 21 Rxe6 Qf7 Black wins

Click here to replay game.

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Rnd 5 - Win Me vs John Phythyon (1900)

Click here to replay game.

Etc.

I went to the Waukesha Chess Club today. They were concluding a g/29 tournament and needed a house player for the last round, I decided to play since it was only quick rated.

Click here to replay game.

This w-end I plan to play in the Wiconsin Veterans Tournamet.

The w-end of the 11th is the King's Island Open. I have not decided if I will play there. If I can get at least one more person to go with me I will.

Caption Time

Governor's Cup : Oct 27-29 (Sioux Falls,SD)

I played in the U2000 section and tied for 2nd-3rd.That was worth $400. I also got my rating up to 1856.

Here are the results.

This was a great, well directed tournament and I recommend it highly. One of the highlights was the “chess social” that was held at the Knudson residence. Where else would mere patzers like us get to hang out with GMs and IMs while partaking in a sumptuous spread?

I got into time trouble in all my games, but managed 3.5/4. (I took a bye in the first round to finish 4/5). The main reason I am getting into time trouble is that I am trying to be careful in order to minimize errors, but this is counter productive since the lack of time introduces errors later in the game.

CAMILLA BAGINSKAITE (Left)

ALEX YERMOLINSKY (Right)

ALEXANDER IVANOV SERGEY KUDRIN (Left)

chess social

A good result

I finally had a good result. I went 4-0 with a performance rating of 2000 in the Waukesha Chess Club 4 round swiss, which should bring my rating upto 1841, but that loss from the other tournament that I taked about in my last post will cost me about 25 points, so I will be around 1816 when that gets rated. Still, 3 tournaments in a row where I stay above my floor is good for me.

My next tournament is the Governor's Cup in South Dakota. Driving a total of about 16 hours might seem like a crazy idea, but I am making an exception since I have always wanted to play in the tornament.

Game replay

This is the win from yesterday. I missed Rxf7, but other than that I was happy with my play. I got into time trouble again and had to play the last 10 moves with less than 8 min.

A frustrating loss

A little background:

I know it’s silly to be concerned so much about ratings, but I can't help it. I finally managed to get my rating above the floor albeit by just 6 points. But I had the possibility of getting it even higher because I am currently playing in two local events:

Event 1 – Event ends Oct/17th

Game 1 Win 1250
Game 2 Win 1550
Game 3 Win 1900
Game 4 Win 1600

Event 2 Event ends Oct/18th

Game 1 loss 1900
Game 2 Draw 1800
Game 3 Loss 1733 - The game I am taking about.

When you are close to your floor the order in which the events get rated is important. For instance If I have 1 bad and 1 good performance. If the bad one gets rated first, I get to keep the points form the good one, but if the good one gets rated first I don’t. In this situation I have the latter case. (Event 2 has an official end date of 10/18 although I played the game yesterday)

Mistakes and other observations I made in this game:

1) I got over-confident after getting a great position. Mentally, I had already marked a 1 in the win column pretty early in the game.

2) When confronted with an unexpected move (20 ..Qe5) I panicked and did not look hard enough for a refutation. I should have done what Jose Gatica recommends in these situations - Walk away from the board so you can mentally adjust. With 21. Qd3 I am still winning. But this 2 move sequence Qd3, Qd4 is very hard to find in time trouble.

3) Did not look hard enough for tactics 15. B x c6 wins.

4) I was taking to Jose Gaticca about me getting into time trouble often. The obseravation he made is that becuase I am not tactically up to par, I take too long thinking about tactcal posibilties (even then I miss things). To really improve I have to train myself tactically so the ideas come to me without having to spend too much time. To address this issue, I am currently reading a book that Tim Crouse recomended. The is book called Understanding Chess Tactics . This book does a great job in breaking down tactical ideas.


5) What I was thinking just before/after the blunder.
"Can the Queen get out of the pin and cover all the knight escape routes" I didn't look hard enough and did not find 20 ..Qe5. So when he played it I panicked. What's ironic is that although there is such a square it still does not work becaouse of 21. Qd3, so my initial assessment was correct after all!

"There was such a square, now I am lost"
"I should have not played Nxb5"
"I should have just put pressure on the c pawn"

What I should have been thinking:

"Okay I didn't expect 20 ..Qe5, don't panic, calm down, look for a refutation" If I had done that I would probably have found 21. Qd3

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The number of actual points I lose for this loss depends on the result of my round four game in the other event. According to my calculations:

Win 1854 1828 26
Draw 1831 1800 25
Loss 1818 1800 18

Column 2 Rating after good event
Column 3 Rating after bad event
Column 4 number of points this game cost.

Caption Time

Midwest Class Championships Oct -13-15

Results
Ehlvest wins clear first with 4.5/5 beats Shulman in the last round

The top contenders were:
2679 GM Yuri Shulman
2666 GM Jaan Ehlvest
2573 GM Dmitry Gurevich
2500 IM Stanislav Smetankin
2456 IM Angelo Young
2445 FM Mehmed Pasalic
2435 FM Ruslan Ahundov
Smetankin, Gurevich, Ahundov - Playing in the 2 day event (Smetankin, Gurvich win, Ahundov loses to Ehlvest )
Shulman vs Nienart - 3 day event round 2 - Shulman wins

Ehlvest

Magdalena Matyszewska 1984 (highest rated female player)

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The father and son Karklins

Andrew Karklins 2311

Erik Karklins 2026 He is over 90 years old and maintains an expert rating!

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4th round clash of the Eriks. Age difference around 70! years. Erik Santarius wins this and draws the last round to finish clear first in the U2200 and wins $1000.

I finished 3/5 (first round bye, 3rd round forfeit win) U2000

Rnd 2.Me (1800) - Bartlett,R (1733) [D30]Midwest Class, 14.10.2006
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 e6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 h6 8.Bh4 0-0 9.Nc3 c6 [9...c5 10.dxc5 Nxc5 11.0-0] 10.0-0 b5 11.Bd3 Bb7 12.Rc1 a5 13.Bg3 Nh5 14.Be5 Nxe5 15.dxe5 [15.Nxe5 Nf6 16.Qf3] 15...g6 16.Ne4 [16.Qc2 Qe8 17.Nd4±] 16...Qb6 17.Nd4 Rad8 18.Qe2 Nf4 19.exf4 Rxd4 20.Qe3 Rfd8 21.Bb1 c5 22.Nf6+ Kg7 23.a3 Qc7 24.Ne4?? [24.Qxd4 Wins] 24...Bxe4 25.Bxe4 a4 26.g3 Qa5 27.Bc2 b4 28.axb4 cxb4 29.Ra1 b3 30.Bxb3 Qd2?? [30...Rd3 Wins for Black] 31.Qxd2 [31.Bxa4 Qxe3 32.fxe3 Rd2 33.b3] 31...Rxd2 32.Bxa4 Rxb2 33.Rab1 Rdd2 34.Rxb2 Rxb2 ½-½

I think I had a decent opening, I should have played 16.Qc2 and would have had a good game. We both got into time trouble and made many gross blunders. I could have won with 24.Qxd4 and he could have won with 30...Rd3

Rnd 4 Me (1800) - Magness,T (1857) [B11]Midwest Class (4), 15.10.2006
1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.h3 Bh5 [ 4...Bxf3 5.Qxf3 e6 6.d3 Nf6 7.Bd2 Nbd7 8.g4 Qb6 9.0-0-0 d4 10.Ne2 Bb4 11.g5 Bxd2+ 12.Rxd2 Ng8] 5.exd5 cxd5 6.g4 Bg6 7.Bb5+ Nc6 8.Ne5 Rc8 9.d4 e6 10.h4 f6 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.Qd3 Nge7 13.Be3 a6 14.Ba4 Qa5 15.0-0-0 b5 16.Bb3 Nb4 17.Qd2 Ng8 18.a3 Nc6 19.Qd3 Kd7 20.Qxg6 Nge7 21.Qd3 b4 22.Na4 Ng8 [ 22...bxa3 23.Nc5+ Ke8 24.bxa3 Qxa3+ 25.Kd2 Nb4] 23.Bd2 Bd6 24.Rde1 Rb8 25.g5 Qd8 26.Qe3 Qe7 27.Bxd5 exd5 [ 27...bxa3 28.Bxe6+ Kd8 29.Qe4 axb2+ 30.Kb1] 28.Qh3+ Kd8 29.Rxe7 Ngxe7 30.Qe6 Kc7 31.axb4 Nxb4 32.Nc5 Rhd8 33.Bxb4 Rxb4 34.Nxa6+ Kb7 35.Nxb4 Bxb4 36.gxf6 gxf6 1-0

I was not familiar with this variation of the Caro Kann. I didn't wan't to give up the 2 bishops on move 4, but looks like that was the best move.

Surprisingly Black is okay after 12...f5

Rnd 5 Me (1800) - Blackman,W (1893) [D21]Midwest Class (5), 15.10.2006
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 a6 3.c4 dxc4 4.a4 [ 4.e3 b5 5.a4 c6] 4...c6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.e3 Be6 7.Ne5 Nbd7 8.Nxc4 Bxc4 9.Bxc4 Nb6 10.Bd3 e6 11.0-0 Be7 12.Bd2 a5 [ 12...e5 13.a5 exd4 14.exd4 Nbd5 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Qg4] 13.Qe2 0-0 14.Ne4 Nbd5 15.Nxf6+ Nxf6 16.Bc3 Qc7 17.Rac1 Rfd8 18.f4 Bd6 19.Be1 Nd5 20.Rf3 g6 21.g4 Nxf4 [ 21...f5 22.g5 ( 22.gxf5 exf5 23.Qg2 Qe7 24.Bf2) ] 22.exf4 Bxf4 23.Rc4 Rd5 24.Qf2 Bd6 25.Bd2 [ 25.Be4 Rg5 26.Qh4 Be7 27.Bg3 Qd8 28.Qh6] 25...Bf8 26.Qh4 Rad8 27.Rh3 f5 28.gxf5 exf5 29.Bf4 [ 29.Rc1 Rxd4 30.Bc4+ Kh8 31.Bc3; 29.Bg5 R8d7; 29.Rc3 Rxd4 ( 29...Kh8 30.Bg5 R8d6 31.Bc4 Rxd4 32.Bf6+ Rxf6 33.Qxf6+ Bg7 34.Rxh7+ Kxh7 35.Rh3+ Bh6 36.Be6) 30.Bc4+ Kh8 31.Qf6+ Bg7 32.Rxh7+ Kxh7 33.Rh3+ Rh4 34.Rxh4+ Bh6 35.Rxh6#] 29...Qf7 [ 29...Qg7 30.Be5 Be7 31.Bxg7 ( 31.Qf4 Bf6) 31...Bxh4 32.Be5] 30.Be5 [ 30.Bg5 R8d7 31.Rc2 Rxd4 32.Bc4 Rxh4 33.Bxf7+ Kxf7 ( 33...Rxf7 34.Rxh4) 34.Rxh4] 30...Bd6 31.Qxd8+ 1-0

Black had a = game before he gave up the knight

Corpus Christi - Texas

Took part in a fun-event in Corpus Christi, Texas, The Susan Polgar Giant Chess Set Tournament. (For teams of three)

The UT Brownsville team showed up, and they decided to have two teams one with their coach GM Gilberto Hernandez and the other with IM Daniel Fernandez.

The competition was lopsided to say the least with basically 400 rated players competing against GM/IM for the same prizes.

UT Brownsville finished 1st-2nd(Surprise! Surprise!)
We finished tied for 3rd-4th (4th on tie breaks), but the organizers decided not to split the prize money, but give it to the 3rd place team(based on tie breaks)

The 3rd place team lead by Bill Wheeler was very generous and decided to split the prize money with us.

That's it!

I have played 10 tournaments in a row in which I have not been able to get off my floor. It's time to stop playing so much and figure out how I can improve.

When I started playing rated chess I got my rating up to the mid 1800s pretty quickly, then I it was stuck from 1600 - 1700 for almost 15 years. Then last year I managed to get my rating up to 1880, but since then I have been stuck at my floor of 1800 (This is a floor based on prize money, not rating) . If not for the floor I would be back in the 1600-1700 range. Is history repeating itself? It might be another 15 years before I see my rating go over 1800 again!

Encouraged by the results of last year I decided to set a goal for myself. To get to 2000 by the February 2007 rating supplement.

My plan

Phase 1) Play lots of rated games
Phase 2) Go over the games with a coach and study (tactics mainly , endgames, grand master games in the openings I play)

I am done with phase 1 I have more than enough games to go over. I didn't expect any rating gains, but a few points would have been nice. There were many instances where it came down to the last round. May be I should start skipping the last round!

I am going to look at my last 100 games and pay special attention to the last 50 losses.

For the month of October I plan to play in two main events, The Midwest Class in Chicago and the Governor's Cup in Sioux Falls. I will be taking first round byes in both so that's only 8 games. I also plan to play another 6 games at local chess clubs. That's a total of 14. (I averaged 28 games/month for last 3 months).

Greg Knutson Memorial - Sep 23-23

Top seeds :

1) ALEXANDER BETANELI 2280
2) JOSEPH P RICHARDS 2036
3) LUO, BRIAN J 1972

Two of the nations top juniors are here.
Velikanov the nations #2 eight year old.
Luo the nations #1 nine year old.

Betaneli vs Luo in round 5 (Betaneli won)








"I am impressed to see kids like Ray Robson, Daniel Naroditsky and Brian Lou. All of them have the potential to become not only strong, but leading American grandmasters....."

-Gary Kasparov (page 39 September 2006 Chess Life)

Velikanov has a +1-0=1 record against Luo.

Touranament results

Cardenas, Jayne,new comer Zeeshaun and I made the trip from Milwaukee

Round 2
me vs Betaneli loss
I had a great game against Betaneli, but it came at a cost; bad time management. I made a critical error right before time control. But I was happy with way I played upto then.

This and that

A few days ago I had a dream that I had suddenly become a better player. I had two relatively easy wins against a 1600 and 1700 right after that. I was almost starting to believe my dream, but was brought back to earth pretty quickly. I had a couple of losses to an expert and an A player and then only scored 1-3=1 at the Iowa Open. One win in seven games!

Today was the last game at the Waukesha Team Tournament. I was paired against the 9-0, eight year old Alexander Velikanov.

I don't think many people gave me a chance, (Including myself) but I managed to win.

I was going to play the Caro Kann which I used to play, instead of my new defense to e4 the Qd6 Scandinavian. But I was surprised when he played 1.d4 which I have never seen him play. He then followed that up with e3, Bd3 and f4.

It was a classic case of good Knight vs bad Bishop.

Game replay

Check out this great application by Wayne Zimmerle

Iowa Open - Sep 16-17

Burgess beats Betaneli to tie for first(Along with Robert Raynolds). Remarkable come back by Burgess after he was upset in the first round by a 1700 player. This 1700 player Dan Brashaw had a great tournament. 2 wins and 3 draws agains very tough competition.

Cardenas had a chance to tie for first, but lost to Raynolds in the last round.

Complete Results

My problem is that when it comes to chess I am caught in two minds.

1) I really enjoy playing in tournaments.

2) I want to become a better player.

I am obviously playing far too much and not doing much when it comes to # 2 above. Playing so much without studying will have a negative impact (Jose Gatica). Since I am making the same kinds of mistakes over and over.

In this tournament I lost to a 2300 player in the first round. (No time trouble)

In the second round I could only manage a draw against a 1666 player after obtaining the following position as black: (Time trouble) In round 3 I lost to a 1523 player (Who is actually much better and beat a 1943 player in the first round) I had this position as White, but could not come up with a good plan. (Time trouble)
I finally had a win aginst a 1732 player in round 4. I just played e5 (I am black) and right after that saw that White could play Rxh2. But I can then play Qf5 and it gets pretty complicated. (No time trouble)

Round 5 : Made the wrong move in the opening and it was all down hill from there. I am suposed to bring the Q bishop to g4. (6.....Bg4)
(12) Johnson,K (1677) - Me (1800) [B01]Iowa Open (5), 17.09.2006
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 a6 6.Bd3 b5? [ 6...Bg4 7.Ne4 Nxe4 8.Bxe4 Nc6] 7.Ne4 Nxe4 8.Bxe4 Nc6 9.0-0 [ 9.Bf4 Qf6 10.Be5 Qh6 11.Bxc7] 9...Bb7 10.c3 Na5 11.Qc2 e6 12.Ne5 c5 13.Bf4 Qb6 14.dxc5 Bxc5 [ 14...Bxe4 15.Qxe4 Qb7 16.c6] 15.b4 Bxf2+ 16.Rxf2 Nc6 17.Nxf7 Rf8 18.Nd6+ Ke7 19.Qd2 Rad8 20.Bg5+ Rf6 21.Bxf6+ gxf6 22.Qf4 Rxd6 23.Qxf6+ Kd7 24.Kh1 Ne7 25.Bxb7 Qxb7 26.Qg7 Qd5 27.Raf1 Qd1 28.h3 1-0

My Games

Caption Time

Dream etc.

I had a dream a couple of days ago that I had suddenly become a better player! Since then I have played 2 rated games (G/90), and in both cases I won pretty handily. (against a 1600 and 1700). I am almost beginning to believe my dream. But I am sure that I will be brought down to earth in short order.

In the first game I got my pieces well developed and the attack netted me a pawn. Although I was pretty sure that I could have gotten more, (move 12) I decided to go into the end game a solid pawn up. Later I managed to weaken black's pawn structure and then get a knight on to the great f4 square. I have been reading Irving Chernev's "Capablanca's Best Chess Endings", and was reminded of some of them in this game, especially when black finds him self in zugzwang after he runs out of pawn moves around move 36. Even patzers like us can have a good day once in a while!

In the next game my opponent makes a not so good move against the center counter. 2. e5, and got himself in trouble with my bishops causing havoc on the queen side.

Game Link

Both these games are part of a 5 round double round robin. I only have a 4-4=0 score so far. The story of the event is 8 year old Alexander Velikanov. He is 9-0. With only one game remaining against me. All the other adults in the club are rooting for me. I can't let an 8 year old go 10-0! After this tournament gets rated he should be the highest ranked 8-year old in the nation!

Here is Alxander's last game. (He is playing white)

If you have any pointers for me please let me know. I usually play the Qd6 Scandinavian, I played it against Alexander a few weeks ago and got a great game out of the opening, but lost in the end. I don't think he will play the same way again. He is very good tactically and has a lot off opening knowledge. He is thought to have an expert level knowlede of rook endings and to be almost as good in pawn endings. I thought of playing the Caro Kann (Which I used to play) But by me switching openings just for him, I might find myself in more trouble. He has a coach and they prepare for specific opponent's by going through their openings. When I played white against him a few weeks ago, he knew more about the opening that I did!

Can you think of a caption for this picture?

Michigan Open

The playing site. The very nice Radisson Plaza Hotel
Top seed Torman, Eric (2454) (right) who re-entered the 2 day schedule after losing in round 3. He has 3.5/4. All schedules merge for the next round (5)

I took a first round by.

Round 2 : Loss
I was paired agianst near master Seth Homa. He was upset by a 1900 player in the first round. I thought I had an even game but could not hold.

Seth Homa in his trademark outfit

Homa,S (2197) - Me(1800) [B01]MI Open (2), 02.09.2006
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 a6 6.g3 b5 7.Bg2 Bb7 8.0-0 e6 9.Bf4 Qb6 10.a4 b4 11.a5 Qa7 12.Na4 Nd5 13.Bd2 Nd7 14.c4 bxc3 15.bxc3 Be7 16.c4 N5f6 17.Qe2 Ne4 [ 17...0-0 18.d5 Rae8 19.dxe6 fxe6 20.Qxe6+ Kh8 21.Be3 Qa8 22.Nh4] 18.Bf4 Bd6 19.Ne5 Bxe5 20.dxe5 Nec5 21.Bxb7 Qxb7 22.Nxc5 Nxc5 23.Rad1 0-0 24.Bg5 Ne4 25.Qf3 Nc5 26.Qg4 Qe4 27.Qxe4 Nxe4 28.Be7 Rfe8 29.Rd7 Rac8 30.Rfd1 Rxe7 [ 30...f6 31.f3 Ng5 32.Kf2] 31.Rxe7 Nc5 32.Rxc7 1-0

Round 3: Draw against a 1500 (a kid who is having a great tourament)

Round 4 : Win
Finaly a win against a higher rated player. It's amazing the tactics we missed. I could have won right out of the opening with 12...Be4 or 13 ...Qd5, but instead went into an equal middle game. Then I was completely lost, but managed to win in the end.

Skidmore,M (1927) - Me (1800) [B01]MI Open (4), 03.09.2006
1.e4 d5 2.e5 c5 3.Bb5+ Nc6 4.Bxc6+ bxc6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.0-0 e6 7.c3 d4 8.h3 Bh5 9.g4 Bg6 10.cxd4 h5 11.dxc5 hxg4 12.hxg4 Bd3 [ 12...Be4 13.d4 Rh3 14.Nbd2 Qh4 15.Nxe4 Rh1+] 13.Qa4 Bb5 [ 13...Qd5 14.Qf4 Be2] 14.Qe4 Bxc5 15.d4 Bb6 [ 15...Bxf1 16.Qxc6+ Kf8 17.Qxc5+ Ne7 18.Kxf1 Rc8] 16.Re1 Ne7 17.Bg5 Qd7 18.Bxe7 Kxe7 19.a4 Bc4 20.Nc3 Ba5 21.Qe3 Rab8 22.Qg5+ Kf8 23.Qd2 Ke7 [ 23...Bd5] 24.Qg5+ Kf8 25.Kg2 Rxb2 26.Rh1 Rg8 27.Ne4 Bd8 28.Qc1 Rb4 29.Qc3 a5 30.Rab1 Qb7 31.Nd6 [ 31.Nc5] 31...Qa6 32.Rxb4 axb4 33.Qxb4 Bd5 34.Qb8 Ke7 35.Rb1 c5 36.dxc5 Rf8 37.Qb5 [ 37.Nc8+ Ke8] 37...Qa8 38.Qd3 Qxa4 39.Kg3 Bc7 40.Rh1 Qc6 41.Rh7 Qxc5 42.Rxg7 Bxf3 [ 42...Bxd6 43.exd6+ Qxd6+ 44.Kg2 Rh8 45.Rg5 Qf4 46.Rxd5 Qxg4+] 43.Nxf7 Rxf7 44.Rxf7+ Kxf7 45.Qh7+ Ke8 46.Qg8+ Ke7 47.Qg7+ Ke8 48.Qg8+ Ke7 49.Qg7+ Kd8 50.Qg8+ Kd7 51.Qf7+ Qe7 52.Qxf3 Bxe5+ 53.Kg2 Qd6 54.Qf7+ Kc6 55.Qe8+ Kc5 56.Qc8+ Qc6+ 57.Qxc6+ Kxc6 58.Kf3 Kd5 59.g5 Bd4 60.g6 Bf6 61.Kf4 Kd6 62.Kg4 Ke7 63.Kh5 Kf8 64.Kh6 Be5 65.Kh7 Bg7 66.f3 e5 67.f4 e4 0-1

Round 5 : Loss to 1885

Round 6: Draw 1849

Round 7: Loss 1820

I had a chance to gain rating points right upto the last round, but since I lost the game I did not. But I had a great time and made many new friends. The playing conditions were excellent.

Even with 40/2 G/1 I found myself getting into time trouble. In four of the games it was mutual. Reminds me of "The slowness of genius is hard to bear, but the slowness of mediocrity is intolerable. – Henry Thomas Buckle"

Losses and Draws

Roman Lewit - Aug 26,27

Pete suggested that I play openings that I have never played before. So I tried all kinds of openings like 1.b3 as white.

Tournament Result

Looking at losses. Link to losses

I was thinking about the 4 games I lost in this tournament. I think the opening experiment was a good one. I got to experience many new kinds of positions, although it was unnerving at times, for instance having to face the kings gambit. I think I got out of the opening in fairly decent shape, except in the kings gambit game.

Loss 1 / Parker,A (1938) vs Me
Misplayed the black side of a Kings Gambit.

Loss 2 / Me vs Her,S (1665)
After having just won a piece, I made one of the worst moves possible, and even after dropping the queen I could have still gone into a slightly worse ending with a rook+minor piece vs queen, but I made a second bad move.

Loss 3 / Me vs Grochowski,R (1678)
Got my self into really bad time trouble after arriving about 20 min. late for the G/60 game, and dropped my queen.

Loss 4 / Me vs Schmakel,S (1708)
Got a great attacking positon with all my pieces bearing down on the king. Didn't have the tactical insight to see the killer blow on more than one occation, and ended up dropping a piece.


What I have observed in looking at these and other recent losses is that in the early part of the game I do okay and calculate fairly accurately, but as the game goes on I make very elementary tactical mistakes. Time trouble has something to do with it, but maybe I just get bored/tired. Maybe I should take a break in the middle of the game and go for a short walk/ drink some coffee etc.

Link to wins

---

I was planning on taking the coming w-end off, but I decided to play in the Michigan Open. I plan to play in the 4-day option and take a bye for the first round. The 40/120 G/60 time control is great.

Progress(No Progress) Report

Well, I am almost at the point where I start playing a lot less and instead study/get lessons. As far as gaining rating points I have a net gain of zero! But since I mainly spent my time playing this is hardly surprising. I have played every w-end for the last 13 w-ends in addition to the Wednesday and Thursday games at the local chess clubs.

What I have noticed in many of my losses is that I play well up to a point and then make one or two move tactical errors(sometimes very basic) which cost me the game. I have to learn to concentrate until the game is over.

Schedule:
September:
2-4 Michigan Open

16-17 Iowa Open

October:
13-15 or 14-15 15th Annual Midwest Class Championships

November:

December:

Getting to 1801?

A couple of my friends have suggested that I change the name of this blog to "Getting to 1801". The way I am playing right now, that might not be a bad idea.

I am trying to get off my floor before the October supplement comes out. Which means I still have the 7 round G/60 tournament coming up this w-end.

Today I lost a game to a 1764 player. There are many ways of losing, this way is pretty painful.

I am playing white. After an equal game where black may have been better, black finds himself 2 pawns down. He then thinks for a while and sacrifices a rook. I did not expect this sac and started to panic. Then I realized that the rook sac was a bluff, since I had the "always" relaible defensive knight move 33.Nf3. But just before I played it I saw another defensive move (33.Ra2), which I thought was eqally good, and only realized after I payed it that it loses quickly.

Escanaba observes Eastern Time! Final Update

David Cardenas and I am here to play in the UP Open. We planned to get there about an hour early and hoped to be paired down the first 2 rounds. But we didn't think about the time difference and ended up getting there just when the round was about to start. We had 2 options, play each other or take 1/2 point byes. We decided to play. I ended up losing the game, due to my lack of tactical intuition. I had to play 32.g3 It was masked because I induced the defensive move Rg6, which also happens to be a potent offensive move.

(12) Me(1800) - Cardenas,D (1906) [D03]UP Open G/120 (1), 19.08.2006
1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bg5 Nf6 4.e3 h6 5.Bh4 b6 6.Bd3 Bb7 7.Nbd2 Be7 8.c3 Nbd7 9.Qe2 Ne4 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Ne5 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Nxd2 14.Qxd2 f6 15.exf6 Rxf6 16.Rae1 Rd8 17.Qc2 e5 18.c4 [ 18.e4 d4 19.Rc1] 18...e4 19.Be2 d4 20.exd4 Rxd4 21.Qb3 Rd2 22.c5+ Qe6 23.Bc4 Bd5 24.Bxd5 Rxd5 25.cxb6 axb6 26.Qc4 Rc5 27.Qxe4 Qxa2 28.Ra1 Qe6 29.Ra8+ Kf7 30.Qh7 Re5 31.Rg8 Rg6 32.Rd8 [ 32.g3 Re1 33.Qh8 Rxf1+ 34.Kxf1 Qc4+ 35.Kg2 Qe4+ 36.Kg1 Qb1+ 37.Kg2 Qe4+ 38.Kg1] 32...Rxg2+ 33.Kxg2 Qg4+ 34.Kh1 Qf3+ 35.Kg1 Rg5# 0-1

Cardenas is the UP Champion. He finished 3-0=2 to finish clear first. He continues to improve and will be very close to 2000 in the next supplement.

I finished 3-2 with a win against Douglas Younkle (1911) in the last round. But this loss to David Sundeen (1600) ensured that I don't gain any rating points. David has been making the 7 hour drive to this tournament for the last 24 years!

(15) Sundeen,D (1600) - Me (1800) [B01]UP Open G/120 (2), 19.08.2006
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Be2 a6 6.d3 e6 [ 6...e5 7.d4 Nc6 8.dxe5] 7.0-0 Be7 8.Bd2 b5 [ 8...Nc6 9.Bg5] 9.a3 Bb7 10.Qc1 0-0 11.Ng5 c5 12.Nge4 Qd7 [ 12...Nxe4 13.Nxe4] 13.Bf3 Nc6 14.Re1 Rfd8 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Bg5 Bxg5 17.Qxg5 Nd4 18.Bxb7 Qxb7 19.Rac1 Rac8 20.Ne4 c4 21.dxc4 bxc4 22.Nf6+ Kh8 23.Nh5 f6 24.Qg4 Rc5 25.Rcd1 Rg5 26.Qh3 Rdd5 [ 26...Rgd5 27.Kf1 ( 27.Qg4 f5) 27...Nxc2 ( 27...Qxb2 28.Nf4) 28.Rxd5 exd5 29.Nxf6 gxf6 30.Qc3 Rb8 ( 30...d4 31.Qxc2 Qc7 ( 31...Qc6 32.Qf5 Rg8 33.f3) 32.Qf5) 31.Qxc2 Qxb2 32.Qf5 Qd4; 26...Nf3+ 27.Qxf3; 26...Ne2+ 27.Kf1; 26...h6 27.Kh1 Rgd5 28.c3 Nc2 29.Rxd5 Qxd5 30.Rg1] 27.Nf4 Rde5 28.Rxe5 fxe5 29.Nh5 g6 [ 29...Qxb2 30.c3 Qb3 31.Re1; 29...Qd5 30.Kf1 Qe4; 29...Qd5 30.c3 Ne2+] 30.Nf6 Rf5 31.Ng4 Ne2+ [ 31...Qxb2 32.Qh4 ( 32.c3 Qc2) 32...Rf7 33.Qd8+ Kg7 34.Qd6 Nxc2 35.Qd2] 32.Kf1 Nf4 [ 32...Rh5 33.Qe3 Nf4 34.f3 Nd5 35.Qc5] 33.Rd8+ Kg7 34.Qh6+ Kf7 35.Qf8# 1-0

A couple of wins

This(the Hetzel vs. Me game) is the 6th game of a 5 round double round robin tournament. I started off 1-3. Based on the ratings of the players I had to score 5/6 to avoid a rating loss. (Now 4/5). The rating loss I am talking about is hypothetical since I am at my floor. But since this tournament won't be rated till sometime in October, any good results I may have up to then will be wiped out when this tournament is rated, unless I can turn things around.

Two games is a row where I develop the Queens rook via a7! But this time in a winning cause. I am not sure if 7...c5 was a good move by me, but since white did not play d4 when he got the chance, it worked out in my favor. The variation 20...Bg5 after 20.Nxd4 is very interesting. I stopped looking after I saw that White can play 24.Nc6 after 23...Bxe1. But the variation is not over as I can play Rc7 then Rfc8 (If White plays 25.Rxe1, but his best is 25.d4), force the knight to move and then either fork the Knight and Bishop or trap the Bishop. (Courtesy of Fritz)

So far the main story is the performance of 8 year old Alexander Velikanov who is in my section and has a score of 6-0!. I was supposed to play him next Wednesday with the black pieces, but the game has been postponed for late September. This is my loss as white gainst him played a few weeks ago.

Won a game in the Hales Corner Club Championahip. I think it was a mistake for me to play 8.c4 and give the black bishop scope. Other than that I don't think I made any bad moves.

Annotated Game etc.

I am playing the in-form David Cardenas, who has gained a lot of rating points in a the last few tournaments. He should be close to 1950 after this tournament gets rated.

Game Link (G/100)

I had dinner at a George Webb last night. There was this old waitress working hard and I decided that I was going to give her a really nice tip, but then I saw her go outside for a smoke. I figured she would just waste it on cigarettes, so I just went with 15%. I wasn't sure if I did the right thing. What do you think?

My work out program is coming along fine. I joined the WAC . My program consists of several (4-6) weeks of moderate training followed by a couple of weeks of more intense training. (Both weights and cardio) I just started the intense period.

My goals are:

1. to get to about 155 lb with a good muscle to fat ratio. I am at about 146 lb right now.
2. get in good cardiovascular shape

Improving/Training Etc.

This is my plan:

Phase I:

Play tournament games with time control of at least G/60.

Phase II:

Use the games from above to figure out an improvement strategy with the help of a coach. Study more and not play as much.

---

I am in the transition from Phase I to II, but since I enjoy playing so much its going to be hard to study instead of play. But if I want to improve that is what I have to do. I have started taking lessons from NM Pete Karagianis

I was planning on taking the coming w-end off, but that was before I saw the following tournament:

Aug. 19-20 34th Upper Peninsula Open
5SS, G/120. Bay College Cafeteria Center, 2001 N. Lincoln Rd, Escanaba MI. EF: $30 (19 and under $20), $5 more if after 8/12. $200 first pl. guar; other prizes based on entries. Trophy to top UP player and UP Jr. Reg: 9-9:30. Rds: 10-2:30-7, 10-2:30. Byes avail. Checks payable to LSCA c/o Robert John, 315 E Prospect St, Marquette MI 49855, 906-228-8126, rjjjr@chartermi.net.

I have never played in MI and Escanaba seems like a really nice place.

More Chess Blindness US G/45

I am black and played Bd6?? When Qxe5 just wins. I lost this game. I really can't explain gross blunders like this. The only explanations is that I have been playing a lot. In the next few months I will be playing a lot less and studying more.

US Open 2006 - 3

Susan Polgar won the Blitz tournament

US Open 2006 - 2

Today is Friday round 7 is winding down The Anzis family from Iowa

Aigner, Michael (Left) Had a remarkable 7/9 taking home $2000

Voje, Daniel(Mr. Chess Castle, Minneapolis) who won close to $300 in the A-Class

Mc Entee, Tim R vs Edelstein, Sam

US Open 2006 - 1

Lots of action today with 3 different schedules playing at the same time! I am in the 5-day with a .5 bye for round 1.

Traditional Schedule Round 5

Jose Gatica (Right)

Tim Mc Entee

6 Day Round 4

William Aramil

Emory Tate

5 Day Round 2

Alexander Stamnov(left) vs Gopal Menon (Stamnov won)

My Results

1. Bye
2. Loss Me (1800) vs Sean Vibbert (1480)Note to self - when Bishop attacks your undefended rook, do something about !
   1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d6 3.Nf3 g6 4.Nbd2 Bg7 5.e3 0-0 6.Bd3 Bg4 7.c3 c5 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Qxf3 Nc6 10.0-0 Qd7 11.Rad1 cxd4 12.exd4 d5 13.Rde1 Ne8 14.Bb5 e6 15.Qg3 Nd6 16.Ba4 Nf5 17.Qd3 e5 18.Bxc6 bxc6 19.dxe5 h6 20.Bf4 g5 21.Bh2 Ne7 22.Nf3 Qf5 23.Qe3 g4 24.Nd4 Qg6 25.hxg4 Qxg4 26.f4 Nf5 27.Nxf5 Qxf5 28.Qc5 Rfc8 29.Qd6 Bf8 30.Qf6 Qxf6 31.exf6 Bc5+ 32.Kh1 Kh7 33.f5 Re8 34.b4 Bf8 35.Kg1 h5 36.Kf2 Bh6 37.Re7 Rxe7 38.fxe7 Bg7 39.Kf3 Re8 40.Re1 Bxc3 41.Bd6??
3. Win Benjamin Corcoran(1512) vs Me
4. Win Paul Garner(1620) vs Me
5. Loss Me vs Waldemar Shultz (2064)
   1.d4 d5 2.Bg5 Nf6 3.Nd2 Bf5 4.e3 Nbd7 5.Ngf3 h6 6.Bh4 e6 7.Bd3 Bd6 8.0-0 0-0 9.Qe2 [ 9.Bxf5 exf5 10.c4] 9...c6 10.c4 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 Re8 12.Qb3 [ 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Be7 14.Bxf6 Nxf6 15.Ne5] 12...Qb6 13.c5 Qxb3 14.axb3 Bc7 15.b4 a6 16.Nb3 Ne4 17.Nfd2 Nxd2 18.Nxd2 e5 19.Bg3 f5 20.dxe5 Bxe5 21.Ra2 Bxg3 22.hxg3 Ne5 23.Ra3 Rad8 24.Nf3 Nxf3+ 25.gxf3 d4 26.Re1 dxe3 27.fxe3 Rd2 28.Rb3 Red8 29.Kf1 R8d3 30.Rxd3 Rxd3 0-1
6. Win Seth Diekman(1370) vs Me
7. Bye
8. Loss Me vs BROOKSHEAR, TIMOTHY (2000) 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.Nd2 Nbd7 4.e3 c5 5.c3 Qb6 6.Qb1 e6 7.Ngf3 Bd6 8.Bd3 h6 9.Bh4 0-0 10.0-0 Qc7 11.Qd1 b6 12.Rc1 Bb7 13.c4 Rac8 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Bf5 [ 15.dxc5 Nxc5 ( 15...bxc5 16.Qc2) 16.Bxf6 gxf6] 15...g5 16.Bg3 Bxg3 17.hxg3 Qd6 18.Ne5 Rc7 19.Ndf3 [ 19.Nxd7 Nxd7 20.Qh5 Kg7 21.dxc5 bxc5 22.Bxd7 Qxd7 23.Nb3] 19...Qe7 20.g4 [ 20.Nxd7 Nxd7 21.dxc5 bxc5 22.Qc2 Ne5] 20...Nxe5 21.Nxe5 Bc8 22.Qf3 Bxf5 23.gxf5 Rfc8 24.Qh3 Kg7 25.f4 cxd4 26.Rxc7 Rxc7 27.fxg5 Qxe5 28.Qxh6+ [ 28.gxf6+ Kh7 29.Qg4 Qxe3+ 30.Kh1 Qg5 31.Qxg5 hxg5 32.Rd1 Rc2 33.Rxd4 Rxb2 34.Rxd5 Rxa2 35.Rd7] 28...Kg8 29.exd4 Qe3+ 30.Kh1 Rc1 0-1
9. 
   Loss Placek, Philip C (1451)

I think its a case of too much tournament chess. I plan to hit the books, get a coach, and play a lot less.

US Open 2006 - Chicago

5 Round G/90 - Side Event (Aug 5-6)
There are 42 players, only 5 A players.

The top 2 seeds:

2454 Rohde, Michael(front-right) 2447 Tate, Emory (back-left)

My Results

1. Win HAYES, ROBERT W (1310) vs Me
2. Loss Me vs Tate, Emory (2447) I lasted 43 moves and and was the 2nd to last game to finish. He said that he took too many chaces in the opening.
   
   Me (1800) - Tate,E (2447) [A40]Chicago G/90 (2), 05.08.2006
   1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 b6 3.Bg5 f6 4.Bh4 Bb7 5.e3 Nh6 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.c3 Ne7 8.Nbd2 Nhf5 9.Bg3 h5 10.e4 h4 11.Bf4 Ng6 12.Be3 Nxe3 13.fxe3 Qe7 14.Qa4 a6 15.Rf1 c5 16.Rc1 b5 17.Qd1 cxd4 18.cxd4 Qb4 19.Qb3 Qa5 20.Ke2 Be7 21.a3 h3 22.g3 0-0 23.Ng1 Rab8 24.Nxh3 b4 25.Rf5 Qd8 26.a4 d5 27.Rf2 Qe8 28.Kf1 Rc8 29.Rc2 [ 29.Rxc8 Qxc8 30.Kg2 Qc1 31.Nf4 Nxf4+ 32.exf4 Rc8] 29...Qd7 30.e5 f5 31.Nf4 Nxf4 32.exf4 Bc6 33.Qa2 [ 33.Bxa6 Bxa4 ( 33...Ra8 34.Bb5 Bxb5+ 35.axb5 Qxb5+) 34.Bxc8 Bxb3] 33...Bxa4 34.b3 Bb5 35.Rf3 [ 35.Bxb5 Qxb5+ 36.Kg2 g5] 35...Rc3 [ 35...Bxd3+ 36.Rxd3 Qb5 37.Ke2] 36.Bxb5 [ 36.Rxc3 bxc3 37.Nb1 Rc8 38.Qc2 Bxd3+ 39.Rxd3 Qb5 40.Nxc3 Bb4] 36...Qxb5+ 37.Kg2 Rfc8 38.Rb2 [ 38.Rcxc3 bxc3 39.Qc2 Qe2+ 40.Rf2 Qe3 41.Nf3 Qe4] 38...g5 39.Rf2 gxf4 40.Rxf4 Bg5 41.Rf1 Be3 42.Nf3 Qd3 0-1
3. Win WELT, STEPHEN (1527) ws me
4. Loss Me vs SOTO-ARRIVI, JUAN MANUEL (1538)
   1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 d5 4.Nd2 Nf6 5.e3 Bf5 6.Ngf3 e6 7.c3 Bd6 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 Nbd7 10.Qb3 Qc8 11.Rc1 c5 12.c4 b6 13.Be2 Qb7 14.0-0 0-0 15.Qa4 Rac8 16.cxd5 exd5 17.Ba6 Qb8 18.Bxc8 Rxc8 19.Bg3 Bxg3 20.hxg3 b5 21.Qa5 c4 22.a3 Qb7 23.Nb1 Ne4 24.Qb4 Nf8 25.a4 a6 26.Nc3 Nxc3 27.Rxc3 Ng6 28.Nh4 Nxh4 29.gxh4 Qd7 30.axb5 axb5 31.Ra1 Be4 32.f3 Bf5 33.Ra5 Qe6 34.Rxb5 Qg6 35.Kf2 Qf6 36.Rc1 Qxh4+ 37.Kg1 Qg5 38.Qe1 Bd3 39.Rc5 Rb8 40.Qf2 (white lost on time)
5. Loss 1359 NASZODI, LASZLO (1359)1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.c4 Qd6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Qb3 Bxf3 7.gxf3 Nc6 8.Nb5 Qe5+? [ 8...Qd7] 9.Qe3 Rc8 10.d4 Qxe3+ 11.fxe3 a6 12.Nc3 e5 13.d5 Nb4 14.Kd1 a5 15.a3 Na6 16.Bh3 Rd8 17.Ke2 Nc5 18.e4 Nb3 19.Rb1 Nd4+ [ 19...Nxc1+ 20.Rhxc1 Nh5 21.Bg2 Nf4+ 22.Kf1 Bc5] 20.Kf2 Nc2 21.Rf1 Bc5+ 22.Ke2 h6 23.b3 g5 24.Bb2 Nh5 [ 24...Nd4+ 25.Kd1 Nxb3 26.Nb5] 25.Na4 Bd4 26.Bc1 f6 [ 26...Nf4+ 27.Kd2 ( 27.Bxf4 gxf4) ] 27.Bf5 Nf4+ 28.Kd1 Ne3+ 29.Bxe3 Bxe3 30.Nc3 c6 31.b4 Bd4 32.Ne2 Nxe2 [ 32...Ng2 33.Nxd4 exd4] 33.Kxe2 Rb8 34.Kd3 axb4 35.axb4 Ra8 36.Rb3 Ra2 37.h3 Ke7 38.c5 Rha8 39.Rc1 Rf2 40.Bg4 Raa2 [ 40...cxd5 41.exd5 f5 42.Bh5 Rh2 43.Rbb1 Rxh3 44.Rh1 Rg3] 41.b5 Rfd2+ [ 41...cxd5 42.exd5 f5 43.d6+ Kd8 44.Bh5 Rfd2+ 45.Kc4 Bb2 46.Rxb2 Raxb2] 42.Kc4 Rac2+ [ 42...Ra4+ 43.Rb4 Rxb4+ ( 43...cxb5+ 44.Kxb5 Rxb4+ 45.Kxb4 Rb2+ 46.Kc4 b5+) 44.Kxb4 Rb2+ 45.Ka4 Rxb5 46.dxc6 ( 46.Bc8 Bxc5 47.Bxb7 Rb4+ 48.Ka5 Rxb7 49.Rxc5 cxd5 50.exd5 Rb3 51.Rc7+ Ke8 52.Rh7 Rxf3 53.Rxh6 Ke7) 46...bxc6; 42...cxd5+ 43.exd5 Rdc2+ 44.Rxc2 Rxc2+ 45.Kd3 Rxc5] 43.Rxc2 Rxc2+ 44.Kd3 Rb2 [ 44...Rxc5 45.bxc6 b5 46.Ra3 Rc1] 45.Rxb2 Bxb2 46.dxc6 bxc6 47.bxc6 Kd8 48.Kc4 Kc7 49.Kd5 Ba3 50.Bd7 Bb4 51.Ke6 Bxc5 52.Kxf6 Bd6 [ 52...Kd6 53.Kg6 Be3] 53.Kg7 Be7 54.Kxh6 *

Just couldn't shake off the round 4 loss. Back to square 1!
Score: 2-3=0
Rating:1816-1800

Other News

Alexander Stamnov is back, just in time for the big event. He is playing in the G/90 event as well.

Hales Corners G/30 3 Round Swiss

I had great games in both the games I did not win, and could have picked up a lot of rating points, but with only 30 min on the clock many mistakes were made. I still gained a few points.

1. Win Me vs DEMLER, JOHN A (1527)
2. Draw FRICANO, PAUL ROYAL (1993) vs me
3. Loss Me vs MCELWEE, PATRICK (1977)

I had black in round 2 in the position above, and only managed a draw! (Black to play)

Score: 1-1=1
Rating: 1813-1816