i'll need it i guess

maybe i should be content with a plus score, i played this stupid donkament 4 times and finished on 4.5/9 each time...

gl Noir

I thought the term donkament was only reserved for poker events, and not used for chess.

If any more people fancy commenting on my games, I've posted two of them so far and other three coming up on Thursday. It's not hard to see where the games took a turn in each case but there may be some more subtle things that I'm missing out on.

Annotated versions can be found here to explain my moments of madness a little bit ----> CLICK ME

http://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game...r.php?id=43617

http://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game...r.php?id=43618

Anyone looking to round out at Team 45 45 team on ICC? I've got one team, but I wouldn't mind picking up a second. I'm at 1477 after my first season.

I won on time, but I like the endgame position anyway

yeah I was thinking about it. Melchbeau was talking about it..

did you really agree a draw in the first position? I mean you are probably worse, so it's worse from your opponent than from you, but there is a lot of chess to play, it's not the kind of position I expect to see anyone agree a draw in.

I think 18. Qxa5 wins a piece in the second game.

I think in the first game black looks better, but actually, white has Ne6 Rb8+ Rf8+ and Rh8.

Clearly there is a lot of play left though

I want to play but it requires me to play some 20 standard rated games and that takes a while .

I had 1 minute on my clock so yeah I was happy with agreeing to a draw. He'd already offered me one a few moves back and I declined it but decided to accept after I messed up my position a bit. The guy drew all 5 of his games so..

Looks like you're right about gmae 2. Rxa2 looks quite dangerous though.

I played loads of drunken 15 min games to solve that problem

Anyone want to try talking me out of taking a shot at U2200 in the World Open?

Why would we do that?

Because I'm totally rusty and thoroughly unprepared.

The DoJ has just given me a lot of extra time to get ready though.

Attempt at talking you out...

The CCA imposes prize limits on people that have been a certain amount of pts over the threshold rating EVER in their lives. I have a feeling you'd be one of those people.

Nope, I'm good here...

Ok um.. your lifetime score against ME is 50%

You're supposed to be convincing me to play up to the Open section like I usually do, not quit chess entirely. (j/k )

lol oh, i didnt realize the U2200 idea was about playing down

The fee associated with the World Open entry fee is about 33%. $330 total entry, means $220 goes to prizes, while about $110 goes towards CCA's bottom line.

Basically, it's massive rake. Its a losing proposition for the long run, which makes it even more a gamble in the short-term.

$18,000 for first and $9,000 for second. 75% of each prize is gtd. It's somewhat unlikely you (or anyone else) will win clear first, probably more likely that you win 1st-2nd tied. U2200 section at WO can be a tough section to win outright.

That comes to roughly $10,000 ($27k / 2 x .75) as a prize you can go after. Let's not forget taxes on these winnings (CCA takes your SS# when you win), which bring it down to $7,000-$7,500.

Your openings have to be in order, and it can be annoying to spend hour after hour going over lines, most of which won't even occur during your 9 World Open rounds.

You may have opponents play very safely vs. you (recognizing you as a top dog in the section), trying to draw you, and your attempts at winning such games may be against the spirit of the position. The result could be either 3 draws across half a tournament, or losing a game due to over-pressing.

Also, PyramidScheme please check a tournament's listing before you talk about it.

http://www.chesstour.com/wo11.htm

Finally, there is a NYC CCA tournament for the first time in about a decade this summer!

The Manhattan Open: http://www.chesstour.com/mo11.htm

This is being held Aug 17-21, 18-21, 19-21, 20-21, 2011.

Note that this tournament's sections are shifted by 100 points, Open, U2300, U2100, U1900, etc.

The Open is 9 rounds and norms are possible, while the U2300 is a stand-alone section. All sections besides Open are 6 rounds.

Interesting. I'm going to play in the G/45 at the New Yorker on 4/30. For a multi-day event, it's a 1 hour train ride for me, which is better than paying for a hotel.

Can't white just play Ne2 Rd3 Nf4 Rc3 if he wants a draw?

Exactly my thoughts. Plus I'm kinda tired of going to Philly.

Netherlands here.

26. Ng6! imo