LAST TOURNAMENT GAMES

Over the past 10 years I had had the great pleasure of being able to travel and play in excellent tournaments. 

During these 10 years I have had problems with sleeplessness, though in the early years it was not serious enough to hinder Chess play too much.

Over the last 3 years the sleeplessness has become very severe, so it is now a waste of time trying to take part in tournament play.

I have published my final 2 tournament games below.

My opponent in this game was Clifton T Ford. When I saw the draw on the internet, I was able to source some of Clifton`s previous games.

He seemed to play a certain line against the Slav defence which had been getting him good results against strong players.

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Fortunately I have good resources for playing the Slav so I was able to prepare.
This DVD by Victor Bologan has been very useful. Sorry I cannot find a video sample for this DVD, at the minute.

This one by Andrew Martin has been very useful as well.

A short while ago I read the article on Chess.com about pre-arranged draws.

I have never been involved in pre-arranged draws but I have had to make draw offers when having an advantage because a lack of sleep has made it very difficult for me to continue concentrating.

In the game shown with Clifton Ford, I had not slept for 24 hours, so when it came to move 28, I felt I had a better position, but I had to make a draw offer as the risk of trying to play on with poor concentration was too great, the possibility of making a serious blunder was highly likely.

To my relief, Clifton agreed to the draw offer. After the game I got the chance to speak to him, he is a very nice guy and he informed me he was taking lessons from a GM, the GM had shown him the line he plays against the Slav.  
I also discovered he had been a candidate master when he was a young man.

The final game is below, it was played 24 hours after the previous game above and I still had not slept.
My opponent was Paul Haddock and he is a nice guy, I have come to know him from going to Gibraltar.

In reaching move 10 it was impossible to continue, so I had to offer a draw, Paul thought about it for about 2 minutes and much to my great relief he agreed the draw.

If Paul had turned down the draw offer and said, "play on," I would have been forced to resign the game as I could not continue.
After this game I withdrew from the tournament.

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This chapter of my life has now come to an end, though it is enjoyable to go to the Isle Of Man tournament to be a spectator.
Everything has a time and a season, then it comes to an end.

Ecc1:1 ¶  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3  A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4  A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5  A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6  A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7  A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8  A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

PROBLEMATIC OPENING FOR ME

Nf3, g3 and other such like move orders are something I have problems with.  

Fritz opened this game with 1.g3 so I was very wary what to play against it.  

Ended up with a draw eventually.

Due to having past difficulties facing such openings, I have aquired two ways of playing against them.

One defence was supplied by Nigel Davies in a black repertoire he gives. 
Due to copyright I cannot say give any details of the defensive techniques he supplies, other to say it is very playable against 1.Nf3, 1.g3 or any of the other move orders.

The second system is a good DVD by Henrik Danielsen.  
What I like about this system, is the fact it only takes 1 hour to refresh the system in your mind, if you know your next tournament opponent may play 1.Nf3 or 1.g3 or anything similar to this move order.

Ecc 12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

THE DOWNSIDE OF DOUBLING

Previously I have mentioned the opportunity of using the "Double Function," which is built into the Fritz rated games module.

A few minutes ago I just finished a game were I doubled and it resigned. I am trying very hard to stop using the doubling function as it has a downside.

You can instinctively know you have a superior position, but you cannot accurately analyse or assess why the position is better?

For example here is the game I have just played, Fritz is white and has played 23.Kd1...I doubled.



To be honest I am not sure what the best move is for black, though I sensed an advantage.

It would be interesting to see people`s suggested best move for Black, obviously without consulting a computer?

Have found this a very valuable resource for combating Queen`s Pawn openings.



Ecc 12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

I CANNOT BELIEVE I WALKED INTO THIS

Just lost a game after walking into a well-known endgame technique. This endgame technique is one which I have actually shown to others!

There are lot`s of books, videos and online articles which illustrate this technique. I have won games with it, yet in this instance I failed to spot it being applied to me, I became the hapless victim!

Here is one such video explaining how to apply the technique.

It is strange how you never imagine you will fall victim to these well-known tricks?

Once Fritz played 66.f5,  I remembered everything but alas, it was too late.

It serves as a sharp lesson and a sharp warning bout mental laziness!

Proverbs 6:9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.