ok, this time for sure
just signed up for the Far Out West Chess Brawl in reno, march 21-23. i’m excited. i think i’m playing in the d section.
the entry form didn’t have an e section, it had d and unrated. and that is ok. last time i played in the d section and lost all but one game, and i felt horrible. my current rating right now is the lowest yet, even though i won 3 games, and i beat someone rated higher than me, i still managed to go down in rating points, which i don’t understand.
but i had a small epiphany there at the tourny in sturbridge, i was thinking about it all and it struck me. fuck ratings, learn chess. if i play in the d section at every tournament, regardless of my crappy ratings, i will eventually learn to get better and start winning. and that’s what i want.
also, i honestly think i’m learning. now, when i read a book or go over a game, it feels like the information is sticking. i have enough experience, limited as it is, and familiarity with positions, that i understand the moves now, why things are good or not, underlying potentials, etc. i think i’m actually getting it, and i think i can play good solid chess.
there are two schools of thought. 1) play in your section until you get good enough, learn, you can’t run until you walk. 2) play up, it forces you to play better and you learn.
well, my feelings on playing in the lower section is, when i do play in the lower section, i play worse and my bad moves are not punished, so they get somehow reinforced. i get away with shit and i think “this works, i’ll use it.” it’s almost a different kind of chess. it’s the difference between a boxing match with pads and protection and a back alley brawl.
so i’m gonna go back to reno, and again i’m gonna play in the d section. but this time, i’m going to play better, and if/when i lose, i won’t let it get to me as much. that is part of it, and i know that. my ego will have to deal with it.
another epiphany i had in sturbridge is the fun factor. i had a blast, i had fun, and my losses didn’t affect me as much. everyone has their reason for doing what they do. i’m not in chess for the money, i’m not going to be a gm. i’m in it to play the game and learn the game and have fun, and to meet new people, see places, etc. i’m in it for the whole experience.
soapstone questioned himself about if “just having fun playing chess” is a sour grapes answer to his lofty goals. i had lofty goals, and i still do, but i don’t think having fun and getting to 2000 are mutually exclusive. i don’t’ think you have to sacrifice one for the other. it might take longer, it might be a harder road, it might be setting myself up for failure, but if at the end of the day i don’t make my goal, i still have the fun and experiences, and to me, the people i meet, the cool fun i have, means way more to me than a number to say how good at chess i am. fuck, i can be rated 800 and as long as i pay the entry fee, i can play in the A section. cool thing is, you would take everyone by surprise when you won.
i have lots more on my mind and such, but i gotta get going to work. then i gotta come home and study tactics tactics tactics, and i want to look at shirov’s games. that will be my focus this week.
blunderprone said,
March 5, 2008 at 10:47 am
If all I did was focus on the lofty goal… i may have been a master by now… but a miserable one. I’m glad for my detours. I am still learning and Chess is more fun than I evr imagined just for the fact that I make it a point to meet the people behind hte ratings. I mean, really get to know them, cut it with them and really have a good time.
Life is a buffet, step up and fill your plate then come back for more.
chessed said,
March 5, 2008 at 11:36 am
I used to “play up” most of the times I had an opportunity. The theory is that by playing stronger competition you a) have nothing to lose and b) force yourself to raise your level of play (because if you do relax you’re toasted quickly!). The other side of it is that, when I did play “down” I found that 4-1 scores disappointed me.
blunderprone has the right idea though. Compete as hard as you can, but also take in the theory of chess tournaments as a social event. Get to know the players, and don’t let the result of a game ruin the day. We all speak the same language (fianchetto ???) and it’s an interesting diversity of people that you can meet.
Wahrheit said,
March 5, 2008 at 12:40 pm
It’s just SUPER COOL that you’re coming to Reno again–I’m not playing this time, I have to work all Friday on some big superduper govt. bullshit project to make sure Lake Tahoe doesn’t burn up again, but that will make it easier to hang out and have some fun this time anyway!
Really looking forward to it. I’ll be in touch.
drunknknite said,
March 5, 2008 at 4:10 pm
I think this tournament is a good one to play up. It’s not going to have savage beasts since they’re all going to be at Foxwoods, this is a nice mid-sized tournament where you can get a good tournament in without having to worry about 100-150 people in your section.
At bigger tournaments: Foxwoods, Chicago, National Open, World Open, North American Open; I would recommend playing your section because at these tournaments there are many underrated players and I think you will find your section more than challenging.
I haven’t actually played up in a long time prior to the tournament in LA, I think it was because I was consistently in the running for first and it’s hard to give that up just to learn a lesson. Are you considering going to the National Open in Vegas in June? (This is my absolute favorite tournament)
Mr. Parx said,
March 5, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Hi.
I just wanted to introduce myself. I just last week finished reading your blog (yes, all of it), and am very interested in your progress. We’re very close in age and, I think, in playing skill. I suspect you’re ahead in tactics and I’m (a bit) ahead in endgame. I still only know a few openings, and spend a lot of time adjusting to new ones.
At any rate, I enjoy your writing and hope you do well in Reno. It’s more fun to read about your victories, even if your humor is better in your defeats. I don’t have many people to play here, and haven’t been playing online for several years (ICC) but have just signed on to FICS. I’m too cheap to commit to paying for ICC until I can get back into the habit of regular play.
Good luck and please keep us posted.
Best,
Mr. Parx
Joe Bailey said,
March 5, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Really enjoy reading your tournament summaries and your blog in general. I’ve really found your attitude towards chess a nice change to the pretentious jackassery that can come with chess.
Good luck at the tournament. Ive noticed that you really stress meditation and relaxation before a game. How does that work for you? I’ve found that I’ve played my best chess when I have my angriest, most testosterone-pumped attitude, when I just want to stomp on my opponent. When you think about it in that way, your strip club idea isnt a distraction, its a way to get yourself in the right mindset. I like that idea.
Any chance of you coming to the Chicago Open this year? Cause I need one of those stickers.
chessloser said,
March 5, 2008 at 6:57 pm
blunderprone - you always said “have fun” and this time around, during the game, i found myself actually enjoying the game, even when i was losing. i don’t think you would be a miserable GM, you are just too full of spirit…
chessed - most definately, i will compete with all seriousness, but between rounds i’m a social butterfly…of course, its easy for you to say, your a 1900….
wahrheit - i hope you have the time to hang out a bit, we still have lots to talk about….
drunknknight - thanks for the advice, i shall heed it. i am planning on vegas, it’s about 75% sure, i hope to see you there as well…
Mr, Parx - it’s great to “meet” you, thanks for leaving a comment. holy crap dude, you should get a prize for reading the whole thing! wow, thanks. where are you that you don’t have many chess people? i don’t either actually, except for the chess club that i keep not going to….i promise i will keep posting all my wins and losses, even when everyone gets sick of me and doesn’t care anymore…
Joe - thanks for reading and commenting. the meditation calms me and lets me see things in a more “detached” way. i know being angry and “hating” your opponent works for some, but for me, i get excited and i screw up even more. i don’t know if i’ll make it to chigago, but now that you mention it, i just might. if you want a sticker, email me your address, i’ll send you one….
wang said,
March 5, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Dude, I have to say I think you’ve found your chess groove. You had fun at the last tournament, and that’s important. I hope you’ll come down for Ye Olde Pueblo again, after all I owe you a beer. I think you should…do whatever the hell you want to do. Play up, play at your level, whatever. Just do whatever is going to make you happy. If you want to get that rating up you’ll have to play up. If the rating isn’t as important to you then screw it play in your section and go to a strip club and party.
Mr. Parx said,
March 5, 2008 at 7:43 pm
CL:
I live in Savannah, about 4 hours from Atlanta. I used to play at the club in ATL, but we moved about 10 years ago.
I can’t remember who linked to one of your posts, but I liked it and wanted to see how the whole blog started. Then, I just kept going.
Chess it up in Reno.
-Parx
Brian Eibert said,
March 5, 2008 at 8:22 pm
By-the-way CL, good luck in Reno and I’ll try to get some good shots of your bumper sticker and send them to you. You can never have enough of those I am sure. I am going to Scotland in a couple of months so I will try to bring it with me.
Brian
Anonymous said,
March 6, 2008 at 8:10 am
No sooner did I say there’s not much chess in Savannah, did I stumble across this:
http://www.chessco.com/news3/?XY462S&sess_id=d77d20ab833faa957c4d6d37fb9afa2e
(forgive my lack of html skills)
Chess Clinic in Savannah in June! Beach 20 minutes away! No open container law downtown (you can walk around with drinks)! Bars / restaurants galore!
So, I hope your readership will add to the list, to make sure they actually have this thing.
Best,
Parks
Mr. Parx said,
March 6, 2008 at 8:11 am
Whoops, it’s July 12-13. Couple days before I turn 40. Geez.
-p
Bob Long said,
March 6, 2008 at 9:25 am
Thanks Mr. Parx
It’s always a challenge to to the chess thing in a new city. Most of my experiences were in the midwest. Then I moved down tot he Savannah, GA area. Very pretty down here.
Yes, I am putting together my 3rd chess clinic and the main band leaders will be IM Andrew Martin, and myself.
I publish a bi-weekly chess newsletter which runs about 10-16 pages–and is only e-mailed. I can send a sample issue, say #51, as it explains a lot about the Chess Clinic in Savannah, GA July 12-13.
Some of the comments in this blog remind me of when I was younger and full of vim and vinegar. Having sold books and tournament equipment for years on the road as well as in the mail and at a retail location, I got to know the players who aspired to more but often played for “fun.” Yet, it is a helluva lot more fun winning than losing (I am not referring to drunks, who can’t tell the difference).
If you want a few free copies of “The Chess Report,” just drop me a line and I will shoot them out to you. Subscriptions are $50 per semester, but there is also a great deal package of nearly 680 pages, issues 1-51 for $99. It takes awhile to email all of them. Am thinking of putting them all on a CD.
Let’s get in touch… I am sure we all have great stories to tell.
d! said,
March 6, 2008 at 7:55 pm
chill bro, and have a lil fun. thats the best way.
i’m good at art because i like it not because i sit around and read books to be the best.
that dont make no sense to me
Dan said,
March 6, 2008 at 9:08 pm
sounds like you are really enjoying the game, bro… always fun to see!
still the best blog in chess…. and I got a promotion and changed to a new building… your “hardcore pawnography” sticker is again raising eyebrows and making me popular!
you ever hit a tourney in Minnesota, I’ll make sure you get a chance to play chess with Paul Bunyon and Babe the Blue Ox!
Cheers!
chessloser said,
March 7, 2008 at 8:10 am
wang - what if i played up and still went to strip clubs? they don’t have to be mutually exclusive, do they?…..
brian - i’d love pics of the sticker in action, i’ll post them. have a great time in scotland!!!!!
dan - congrats on the promotion! i will somehow figure a way to play in minnesota someday, just to play against paul bunyon and babe….