Post by petejwatts on Dec 22, 2010 22:10:02 GMT -5
It's good to see that the board is still active despite it being the dead
of winter. Do ppl know if ppl are turning up to play at the Nerro? I
havent felt up to the jpurney in this horrible weather, and Im worried
there's be nobody there.
My posts appear to have been popular, so I've been thinking what I can
write about. It occurred to me I could write "Tourney reports". So here
is my first.
I and a score of other brave souls fought through blizzard conditions to
play the Coulsdon Rapidplay last Saturday. After some ruminations as to
whether to abandon the tourney, it was decided to continue with
contestants making their own choice as to whether to risk being snowbound.
I'm glad I chose to stay. Coulsdon is a great venue. The sets are all
good condition triple weight with digital clocks on every board. Even
better, apart from blitz tourneys, all timings are Fischer mode, which is
why I try to support them in order to help the mode prosper. They used to
do nice meals but I think bureaucracy has shut that down, though they made
snacks for us in light of the harsh conditions. People are very friendly.
The only problems are its a bit of a hike from London and the tables are
a bit rickety.
I found out my rapidplay grade is now 129, just one off its highest ever.
I know that isnt very good. My excuses are that I think I've always been
able to play better than that but my match temperament isnt good and Im
easily distracted. I particularly dont like playing juniors, who are very
intense and distracting in several ways. While mo longer allowed to play
in an U120 tourney it does mean I play them less often. My other excuse is
that I normally only ever play blitz than ruins your rapidplay game.,
despite myths to the contrary. It also damages slowplay but imo not as
badly, as the games are so different.
My first opponent was a teen boy graded 145 and I expected him to be
tough. He didnt have to be however, as after only a few minutes I
blundered my queen! Rather than sit around twiddling our thumbs I
suggested he take the point and then we play on taking the move back. We
did and to my surprise he tried a combination that lost him a piece and I
ended up winning. Sigh!
My second apponent was another Wimbledonian graded just less than me. We
wished each other luck getting home and set to. To my surprise he gave me
a two pawn advantage, connected in the centre, and I thought I was home
and dry (at least as far as the game of chess was concerned). Alas some
gaffes left me fighting off a mating threat in a queen, rook and opposite
colored bishop middle game - and my bishop was a bad one. I was obliged
to give a pawn back and I expect the game was probably drawn, but then he
obligingly blundered his queen so it was my point.
Seeing my 3rd round opponent's grade of 84 made me think "junior? hope
not!". Apart from their distracting habits, juniors are often improving
rapidly and play well above their listed grade. a Coulsdon junior graded
24 almost beat a while back, so I was relieved to see another middle aged
man. Mistake - I played badly and lost!
MY 4th round opponent's listed club as a Primary school told me in advance
the young lady graded 92 was a junior. A very cute 9 year old Asian girl,
perhaps the daughter of my 2nd round opponent, I had earleir watched her
play a strong game and be unlucky to lose. She also had the common
distracting habit of juniors of recording her moves, even in a rapidplay.
I thought my fate was sealed. Like a man facing the gallows when she
replied the Sicilian 1. ... c5 to my 1. e4 I thought "sheep as for a lamb"
and played the Open variation 2. Nf3 followed by 3. d4. She ended up with
a very strong knight outposted on e4 but I felt (mostly) confident that I
had the stronger position, and I could swap off her knight. I then
realized it would leave her with a connected central passed pawn that
could prove winning. In the event she misplayed the ending and I got the
point. In true junior fashion she made me play it right to the end,
mating her with queen and rook. With Fischer mode its a complete waste
of time (even more than usual) - I just hope unlike many other people I
can think of she grows out of it.
I wrote about my game with my 5th opponent under the "Rapid Chess
Improvement Thread". The most difficult and gripping game, enoyed by the
Arbiter! Lucky win for me.
My last game was with a guy rated just over 100, and he beat me with a
French, much to my annoyance, as with a win I just might have won some £.
So not brilliant but not entirely useless and not bad as I am very much
out of practice. On the w/e of 8/9 is Coulsdon Long Play Congress, which I
will play and report on. Sinceeits long play I will have a scoresheet and
can post the Fritz analyses. Merry Xmas!
of winter. Do ppl know if ppl are turning up to play at the Nerro? I
havent felt up to the jpurney in this horrible weather, and Im worried
there's be nobody there.
My posts appear to have been popular, so I've been thinking what I can
write about. It occurred to me I could write "Tourney reports". So here
is my first.
I and a score of other brave souls fought through blizzard conditions to
play the Coulsdon Rapidplay last Saturday. After some ruminations as to
whether to abandon the tourney, it was decided to continue with
contestants making their own choice as to whether to risk being snowbound.
I'm glad I chose to stay. Coulsdon is a great venue. The sets are all
good condition triple weight with digital clocks on every board. Even
better, apart from blitz tourneys, all timings are Fischer mode, which is
why I try to support them in order to help the mode prosper. They used to
do nice meals but I think bureaucracy has shut that down, though they made
snacks for us in light of the harsh conditions. People are very friendly.
The only problems are its a bit of a hike from London and the tables are
a bit rickety.
I found out my rapidplay grade is now 129, just one off its highest ever.
I know that isnt very good. My excuses are that I think I've always been
able to play better than that but my match temperament isnt good and Im
easily distracted. I particularly dont like playing juniors, who are very
intense and distracting in several ways. While mo longer allowed to play
in an U120 tourney it does mean I play them less often. My other excuse is
that I normally only ever play blitz than ruins your rapidplay game.,
despite myths to the contrary. It also damages slowplay but imo not as
badly, as the games are so different.
My first opponent was a teen boy graded 145 and I expected him to be
tough. He didnt have to be however, as after only a few minutes I
blundered my queen! Rather than sit around twiddling our thumbs I
suggested he take the point and then we play on taking the move back. We
did and to my surprise he tried a combination that lost him a piece and I
ended up winning. Sigh!
My second apponent was another Wimbledonian graded just less than me. We
wished each other luck getting home and set to. To my surprise he gave me
a two pawn advantage, connected in the centre, and I thought I was home
and dry (at least as far as the game of chess was concerned). Alas some
gaffes left me fighting off a mating threat in a queen, rook and opposite
colored bishop middle game - and my bishop was a bad one. I was obliged
to give a pawn back and I expect the game was probably drawn, but then he
obligingly blundered his queen so it was my point.
Seeing my 3rd round opponent's grade of 84 made me think "junior? hope
not!". Apart from their distracting habits, juniors are often improving
rapidly and play well above their listed grade. a Coulsdon junior graded
24 almost beat a while back, so I was relieved to see another middle aged
man. Mistake - I played badly and lost!
MY 4th round opponent's listed club as a Primary school told me in advance
the young lady graded 92 was a junior. A very cute 9 year old Asian girl,
perhaps the daughter of my 2nd round opponent, I had earleir watched her
play a strong game and be unlucky to lose. She also had the common
distracting habit of juniors of recording her moves, even in a rapidplay.
I thought my fate was sealed. Like a man facing the gallows when she
replied the Sicilian 1. ... c5 to my 1. e4 I thought "sheep as for a lamb"
and played the Open variation 2. Nf3 followed by 3. d4. She ended up with
a very strong knight outposted on e4 but I felt (mostly) confident that I
had the stronger position, and I could swap off her knight. I then
realized it would leave her with a connected central passed pawn that
could prove winning. In the event she misplayed the ending and I got the
point. In true junior fashion she made me play it right to the end,
mating her with queen and rook. With Fischer mode its a complete waste
of time (even more than usual) - I just hope unlike many other people I
can think of she grows out of it.
I wrote about my game with my 5th opponent under the "Rapid Chess
Improvement Thread". The most difficult and gripping game, enoyed by the
Arbiter! Lucky win for me.
My last game was with a guy rated just over 100, and he beat me with a
French, much to my annoyance, as with a win I just might have won some £.
So not brilliant but not entirely useless and not bad as I am very much
out of practice. On the w/e of 8/9 is Coulsdon Long Play Congress, which I
will play and report on. Sinceeits long play I will have a scoresheet and
can post the Fritz analyses. Merry Xmas!