Because of the busy schedule, I committed to chess by
starting a club at work during lunch time. There are a lot of folks who “play-only-on-chess.com”
and were eager to playing someone who played “seriously” or at least, used to.
What this means is that there is a mixed bag of competition who’s playing strength
is marginally on par with my most rusty capabilities… but I welcome it.
It’s like playing as the top seed in the lowest section of tournament.
The expectation is that you’d win EVERY TIME… but reality is I don’t and it’s
more embarrassing for me who can “talk a good game” but following through is much
different story. I also know playing up
a section in a tournament is always better for improving performance than
playing in the top percentile of the lower section.
But I need to take some rust off. So this once a week lunch
time chess club is what I have to work with. The “play-only-on-chess.com-players”
are also learning to play with real opponents, slowing down, playing with a real
clock, and not just blitz and mouse clicks. So, I think I am also providing a
service and spreading the enthusiast chess bug around. We play G15 time
controls which is quick ( for an old timer like myself), have a club rating
system and monthly matches for friendly bragging rights. The time control
allows us to get a game in during a lunch break as the corporate world often bookends
meetings around lunch breaks.
I use this as a sparring practice. G15 time control forces
me to really not dwell to much in the opening and have a plan for the middle
game so I can try to capitalize for the point. Problem is that, if I get thrown a doozy of an opening variant… and
I know I should be able to punish my opponent if I had the time, the quick and
dirty “play-only-on-chess.com-players” are used to such shenanigans that they
once in a while are able to squeak in a point.
I find going back to the database following a defeat sooths the bruised
ego and I move on. Tactical training helps me in some of these games as I can
see knight forks, discovered attacks and mating nets a little better than this
group though that’s changing. As I am learning to adapt to their style of play,
they are getting better as well. So, it’s
all good.
One other thing I will mention is how board blindness seems
to be a big thing in G15 games for me and a couple of other players. For myself, it happens when I am short on
time and I hyper-focus on a small part of the board. Others talk about how the clock is a huge
distraction… talking about increasing time limits for the game. I’m reluctant,
as I think this is good training for us and levels the playing field. I’m older and rusty. Short time controls give
my younger novice players a little more of an advantage as well as forces them
to work within the constraints.
Sparring is good practice no matter at what level. I am
using this opportunity to find ways to improve my quick chess skills as this
has always been a hindrance for me. I also think if I can improve my ability at
these time controls, my abilities at “normal time” will improve especially
where I have run into time trouble. Learning how to be flexible with odd
openings and players who play “out of the book” on move 2 or 3 is also good
practice for me to better understand my repertoire and when mainlines are not
played… how to capitalize on them…eventually. Tactics is still my middle name
and I practice these as a baseline foundation almost daily. Learning how to efficiently and consistently defeat players
of developing strengths at my “rusty-yet-barely-above-novice-playing-level” is
good to keeping my ego at check. I am blunderprone after all.
Who knows, maybe I’ll play in an OTB tournament later in
2018. See you on the other side of the board.
