Downswing

Well, the October swiss tournament at the MCC could have gone better. I don’t think it would be fair to term it an “unmitigated disaster” as I did win 2 out of 5 games, but it was pretty bad. I didn’t play anyone with a higher rating than my own. I won against a pair of players in the 1300 range and lost to two 1400 and one 1300 player.

Oh, but the way I lost those games.

Wollkind – Bottini

White to play

This position looked pretty dead drawn to me. I was pretty confident in that assessment, but figured I should play on until there was no question…after all, my opponent might overplay his position. Ha! I was the one who misplayed, with the fatal 44. Ke3?? allowing the rook to get out of the pawn’s way with tempo. I had been well aware that this was his route to victory, yet completely forgot my prior analysis and threw away a draw.

Wollkind – Hong

White to play

White is a piece up, but under some pressure. There are some interesting things to look at earlier in this game, but this is the key moment. Once the sacrificing had settled down I lost sight of my plans and had a lapse of reason. Instead of 32. Rb2, parrying the mate threat and allowing me to play on I played into mate in 2 with 32. Qb2??. I’m not sure if I could have found a good way to get the knight into the game, but I feel there’s no way white should lose from this position.

The fifth round game that I lost against Ed Lafferty was a joke from start to finish. I hung a pawn, fell into two pawn forks, and ultimately miscounted and gave away a rook when I thought I was giving back the Exchange. I don’t mean any disrespect to Mr. Lafferty, but my play in that game was embarrassing, plain and simple.

I haven’t been spending any time on chess outside of the weekly games, and it’s starting to show. I learned an important lesson in round 5: when you don’t feel like going to play chess and you go anyway you will stink. My interest in chess has always waxed and waned as other ways of spending my free time rise and fall on my internal priority list. I think I should take a hint from myself and take a step back for a little while. I do still enjoy the games and the competition, but I can’t play at a level that satisfies me if I’m not working on improving between games, and I don’t have it in me right now.

So, a brief hiatus until I feel that fire again. Projects, holidays, CFA level 3 study and exam will take me to June. I could be back for a brief spell in early 2008, but suspect I won’t be back full time until the summer.

Until then, good luck everyone…