Variance: The Most Boring Game Ever - Trip Report
I've visited about 1/3 of the Major League Baseball Stadiums and a fun simul combining both a ball game and chess somewhat in my area seemed to cool to pass up. As I understood from the advertisement this was supposed to be a simul hosted by Greg and Jen Shahade, and I had signed up in the email to play Curtains!!! zomg! When I got there I found out it was actually Jen and her father FM Michael Shahade.
Jen was filled up, so I got Mike, he seemed like a real nice guy and upon seeing him I remember thinking I was happy this was just a chess game and not a chess boxing match! He probably has 35 years on me or so but I still wouldn't mess with him.
I have to consider the result of this game a failure, given he did have 24 other games going on at once and the rating difference was 400 pts or so. I don't think he lost a single game (giving up a handful), but I was one of the stronger players there, it was mostly little kids and novice adults. That being said, at least I didn't lose! I really enjoy aggressiveness in chess, and this game was well disappointingly dull
Any suggestions by anyone on better play for either side? And yes yes I know If i wanted an exciting game I shouldn't have opened with Petroff's. I usually play to its more aggressive lines when my opponent doesn't transition to 4 Knights. I suppose in a simul I should have expected this.
[Event "LakeWood BlueClaws Simul"]
[Site "Lakewood, PA"]
[Date "August 3rd, 2009"]
[Round "-"]
[White "FM Michael Shahade"]
[Black "PyramidScheme"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 Bxc3 7. bxc3 d6 8. Bg5 Bg4 9. d4 h6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. d5 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Qxf3 13. gxf3 Ne7 14. Rfb1 f5 15. Bd3 b6 16. a4 a5 17. Re1 f4 18. Kf1 Rf6 19. Ke2 Raf8 20. Rg1 Rg6 21. Rxg6 Nxg6 22. Rg1 Nh4 23. Bb5 Rf6 24. Bd7 Rg6 25. Rxg6 Nxg6 26. Be6+ Kf8 27. Bg4 Ke7 28. Bh3 Nh8 29. Kd3 Nf7 30. Kc4 Kd8 31. Kb5 h5 32. Bg2 h4 33. Bh3 Ng5 34. Bg4 Nh7 35. Kc6 Nf6 36. h3 Ne8 37. c4 Ke7 {Draw By Agreement}
{Notes, Draw offered by White and declined at move 22}
Baseball game ended with the home team falling 3-1 if I remember right!