GWJ Chess Club/Tourno?

fogrob wrote:

I just pretend it's a chess lesson I don't have to pay for.

But you DO have to pay... with your tears! Mwhaahahaha!
But seriously, I doubt you can learn anything from me aside from half-assed openings...

Heh. Part of the fun of playing with goodjers is that you can't really judge by ranking. Since most of you haven't played much outside of our little group, your ratings have never had time to settle. You may very well get a very tough game from someone at 1200 level. Keeps you on your toes, anyway...

il dottore wrote:

I don't expect an easy time at all though, we've played before and none of you are pushovers... well, except for Mantis of course!

It hurts because it's true.

I'm sure my game has atrophied as I've played maybe two games since the last tourney. Time to cram with the Chess Mentor!

Baron of Hell seems to be MIA.

Rabbit is MIA also, looks like only three in our group.

Copingsaw wrote:

Rabbit is MIA also, looks like only three in our group.

Not really surprising, unfortunately. Based on what he said some time ago on the podcast I was afraid he wouldn't have the patience...

Really glad I checked this thread today, since I forgot about the tournement over the weekend. And I had no idea I was supposed to be playing more than one game at a time.

Sorry I missed the email that went out and wasn't following this thread at all.

Lots of MIA's. Too bad.

Yeah. Got the emails that it was my turn at work. Immediately forgot about them. Then got emails that I forfeited. Sorry.

Well I haven't forfeited any games yet. Almost but not yet.

Don't forget that you can set up conditional moves - just go the games you've already moved on and you can set up an automatic move if your opponent makes the anticipated play. I think I was playing at Chess.com for a full year before I realized that option was available.

DAMMIT. This morning I broke my self-imposed rule to not make any moves in the morning before I've had my coffee and become coherent. It cost me one game and shortened one I was dragging my feet on.

You know Liquid, you can always resign against me, that'll be much nicer than the next 20 moves of end game followed by your eventual win

LiquidMantis wrote:

DAMMIT. This morning I broke my self-imposed rule to not make any moves in the morning before I've had my coffee and become coherent. It cost me one game and shortened one I was dragging my feet on.

I sometimes use notes because of how long it is in-between moves. I can't tell you how many games I've lost because I've seen a correct variation, but then two days later I've forgotten how to play through it and lose my queen or something similar. One of the drawbacks of correspondence chess, really.

Minarchist wrote:

I sometimes use notes because of how long it is in-between moves. I can't tell you how many games I've lost because I've seen a correct variation, but then two days later I've forgotten how to play through it and lose my queen or something similar. One of the drawbacks of correspondence chess, really.

I hear that. Although this set up has been a lot better as the time between moves has been much shorter.

So... What I'm hearing is that I should drag it out more?

I know what you're saying though. When I play Chess IRL I get into the zone and focus, subsequently playing a much better game (1400-1500 level) But with correspondence chess I make moves and never remember what's going on and make stupid mistakes.

Minarchist wrote:
LiquidMantis wrote:

DAMMIT. This morning I broke my self-imposed rule to not make any moves in the morning before I've had my coffee and become coherent. It cost me one game and shortened one I was dragging my feet on.

I sometimes use notes because of how long it is in-between moves. I can't tell you how many games I've lost because I've seen a correct variation, but then two days later I've forgotten how to play through it and lose my queen or something similar. One of the drawbacks of correspondence chess, really.

Happens to me all the time as well, though it really makes a difference playing with a 2 day limit. Been too lazy to take notes, but maybe it's time to start!

Liquid... sorry again, it was an unexpected ending. That whole game was a painful reminder of how just one wrong move can change a game completely...

il dottore wrote:

Liquid... sorry again, it was an unexpected ending. That whole game was a painful reminder of how just one wrong move can change a game completely...

Hey, don't be sorry! You played two excellent games. It's obvious which one of us has been practicing.

Whoa, I didn't double-post. Although I see my mouse is whining about its battery. Low-voltage button bounce?

The second round has started! Please remember to attend to your games; I'd like to avoid any timeouts. If I see people who still haven't made their first move by tomorrow morning, I will be PMing you here and on chess.com to try and avoid it. Best of luck to all involved!

I signed up for the group on chess.com

Sorry, I forgot about my moves for a day or so. Should be all caught up now.

If nothing else these games are highlighting a weakness of mine: I'm getting killed by early advances by my opponent's knights. I seem to make too many assumptions about how long "the opening" will last and focus on developing my pieces without watching out that my opponent's knights are setting up for some killer forks.

As a side note, in one of my non-tournament games I just lost a pawn to an en passant capture. After close to 20 years of playing chess I'm fairly certain that's the first time I've seen it actually happen in a game I've played.

Our bracket looks like it is going to take a long time to complete. albertoluigi (il dottore) changed his status to "vacation" over a week ago. I'm not sure how long he is going to be gone but my games with him have barely started.

Sorry guys, had some family issues to take care of...
But now I'm back, yes I'm baaack! Promise I'll be lightning-fast with my moves so we can catch up with the other bracket!

il dottore wrote:

Sorry guys, had some family issues to take care of...

No worries here. Hope everything is alright with you and yours.

LiquidMantis wrote:
il dottore wrote:

Sorry guys, had some family issues to take care of...

No worries here. Hope everything is alright with you and yours.

Everything's fine, thanks!
Not as dramatic as it may have sounded, it's just that some things needed my undivided attention for a few days, mostly baby-related stuff. You just can't reason with babies!

Yeah, babies. Stupid jerks. Trying to grow, and learn, and stuff.

Had a couple awesome games with Elysium. We split them, but I felt pretty good about both. This tournament has been a lot of fun because it's been cool to see the quality of play from goodjers (I feel as though I can include my self in this statement) really stepped up from last year to this year. Keep on improvin'!

Minarchist wrote:

Yeah, babies. Stupid jerks. Trying to grow, and learn, and stuff.

Exactly! Gimme a break, right? It's not like life gets much better when you're all grown up anyway!

Elysium is a mean deceiver... playing the fool every time they talk chess on the podcast... "Grandmaster Rabbit, which one's the queen?" and then BAM!!!
But really, everybody so far has been unexpectedly strong. Don't trust the ratings!