Small Achievements

It has been a while since I have posted.  It seems like I have more time during the holiday season then the rest of the year.  I guess this is why so few players become Masters after they reach the age of 30, life just gets in the way. 

Well, even though life gets in the way, I have been able to play few games and work my way up to a Class B player.  Given, a low Class B player but a Class B none the less.  I have had a few very good tournaments that have allowed me to reach this step on my way to becoming an expert including two wins to a 2100 but I still find it very very hard to defeat or draw a 1950 - 2050 player.  My weakness seems to have been shifting from my poor opening selection (which is still weak but decent for now) to tactics and miscalculations in the middle game.

Give those flaws I was able to find a few really good move combinations in a game this past week.  Here I am playing Kevin Geiss.  He is a newer player who has come a long way in the past few months of playing.  In the three games that we have played (each with me having the black pieces) we have fought to the end game and in two cases, I was able to control the final piece trade only when my pawns were in a much stronger position. 

Here is the game that I would like to show.  Now I have not hit this game with a computer so this is just some personal review so feel free to comment on what you think.

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The First Game of the Year

Hey Everyone,

I hope all had a good holiday season.  But not that all the presents are opened, family time had and everyone has returned back to their normal lives it is time to get back to chess.  Last week saw the first round of the 2011 Winter Swiss and as the first tournament of the year, I played the first ever Bird's Opening as White.  If you have read any of my other posts you will know that I have once again altered my openning selection including the Bird Opening.  I will only play this as White this year so hopefully I will be able to quickly learn the ins and outs of it.

I have my game listed below with my thoughts included.  I did not go through it with a computer yet becuase I find it important to look at the game and try to remember what I was thinking so that is what I did here.  I'm sure there is a lot that I missed but then this is how one learns.

If you have any feedback on my game, please let me know.  I hope you enjoy it.

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