If you don’t like chess much, sorry. This is probably going to be a boring week on LEP for you. Over the weekend, I played 5 games in the Houston Open, which works out very nicely for posting one game a day this week.
However, I’ll try to fit in some usual LEP inanities during the week.
A big motivator to play in the tournament was that Ivan of Getting to 2000 was going to be there. He’d be only the second person I’ve met from the chess blogosphere, so of course I had to go! He took a picture because I forgot my camera.
As far as the chess itself, there were two opposing forces at work:
Why I would stink: I haven’t been playing much chess the past year, certainly no games longer than G/20. There was no way I would play as strong as my rating. My last tournament was Nov 2007 and last rated games in June 2008 (which, strangely, were a win against an Expert and a near-upset of a 1934. And I was supposedly “out of practice”. Go figure.)
Why I would rock-n-roll: I was rated 1596, the highest rating in the U/1600 section. People look at you differently when you’re the “top dog”, so there would probably be a bit of a psychological edge. The average rating looked to be a shade below 1400, which at least should be good for a couple “easy” victories.
Now if I had some foresight, I’d have played in the U/1800, a section higher. This way, if I layed an egg, people would just chalk it down to having a hard time against tougher competition. But in the U/1600, no one would care that I hadn’t played tournament chess for almost two years. I’d look like a fool.
Games upcoming.
I’ve met Ivan at the WO last year with Likesforests,and Chessloser. I’ve also met Transformer in person.
Beware, someday … we will meet.
As for the Psychological edge going in as the top seed of a section, it only lasts until you lose to that kid that’s 300 points lower than you. Then you try to come back even stronger and play even more risky moves until at round 5 you are like ” Why do I even PLAY this fracking game?” Been there done that… looking forward to the daily grind you endrured.
Crazy suspense post, dude.
I’ve met Blunderprone but he evidently doesn’t remember.
Sir I am offended that you would use the saying, “laying and egg” to express poor performance. I am beginning to think it is the mascot who may have the tough time over a LEP.
My Applogies to my local Club members who are also bloggers:
Reassembler, Globular, Smitty, Steve learns chess, Zweibluman,Harvey, Joshua’s chess Praxis and Horseyman ( though He’s not from our club)and Et_chess ( him neither) and any other massachusetts based blogger. What I SHOULD have stated was “out of state” bloggers. so there.
@Blunderprone: I dread the meeting. As we partake in the initial the staring contest, I look into your eyes, and see history. The history of all the chess players you’ve honored. The power of chess masters of generations past. While deep in the recesses of my pupils, you see…an Egg McMuffin.
@Derek: Yes, the suspense…because everyone is to dying to find out how a class C player did in a tournament.
And it’s not like the USCF posts the results on their website.
@Wang: You’re right, it was pretty insensitive. I’m never going to hear the end of it.
Dude, what’s with the shirt? You just got off work or something? Or are you a messy eater? 🙂
And what’s with that Ivan? Is that guy for real or does he have a statue of himself? I’ve seen a bunch of pictures of him and he always looks the same. Posing the same, same facial expression… Only different clothes 🙂
But it’s a cool picture though. You really look like an amicable guy.
Oh and wishing you all the best in the tournament.
@CMoB: LOL. The picture was not very flattering for either of us, actually.
And remember: amicable guys make for great backstabbers. >:)
Blunder – 🙂 I was only poking fun