2006 Georgia State Championship

I've decided to play in the 2006 Georgia State Championship from May 5-7 at the scenic Emory University campus. I haven't played tournaments since last year. I'll be playing a completely new opening repertoire for the first time (that as of this post I know maybe half of). And I'll be fighting against the Curse of Emory. So it looks like I have nothing to lose :)

I scored 2.5 out of 5 in last year's championship. It should be fun!

FM Miles Ardaman
2005 Georgia State Champion

FM Todd Andrews
2004 Georgia State Champion

FM Stephen Muhammad
2003 Georgia State Champion

A New Beginning

I have taken a break from chess since the new year. Part of my decision was because I had used up all my vacation time for work on taking Mondays off after weekend tournaments, and was unable to take my customary week off between Christmas and New Years. But mainly it was because I needed a break.

I've made some significant practical decisions about how chess fits into my life.

1) I have completely revamped my opening repertoire. Previously I opened with 1.e4, playing many main lines. With Black I responded to 1.e4 with 1...e5, mostly main lines, and a Nimzo-Queen's Indian system against 1.d4. I'll go into my new repertoire at a later date, once I actually start playing it in tournaments. For now I'll say that 99% of my opponents won't have prepared for the lines, they are minimal in theory, and still very playable.

2) I am going to have fun. I had fun before, but there was also a lot of grind associated with my chess preparation. I did the Tactics Boot Camp. I drilled tactics and opening variations regularly. Weekend tournaments were gruelling affairs where I tapped into my energy reserves by the third day and completely exhausted myself (hence my Mondays off from work). Okay, I'm getting old(er). Vital-physical conditioning is now assuming a top priority in my preparation. I have this crazy idea that the more balanced my entire being is, the better I will play, even without constant drilling. I want to look at a game of chess as something that can't really be prepared for. I want to forget everything I know when I sit down to play, so that I can simply be there. I want to see a position for what it is, with a clear and empty mind, not filled with rules and ideas all competing with one another. A chess game is a sculpture being carved by two players. Each move gives it more shape, removing more and more possibilities.

I have seen many chess games in the A class (and below), where the winner is the player who maintained a clearer focus in the later parts of the game. Four hours go by and both players play some hard chess. Very complicated tactical struggles resolve down to an endgame with a few minor pieces and pawns remaining, and both players are tired. I have noticed that the consistent winners of class sections are not always the flashiest players. Some of these winners I even feel that I can generally outplay them. They are good enough to hold on and survive to the endgame. But by then I am tired, and they maintain their focus. And they beat me almost every time. There's a lot to be said for this. They are the better chess player and competitor, simply because they get the full points. I want to feel fresh in the late middlegames and endgames. I believe so many lost games can be drawn and even won, and many drawn games can be won in these phases of the game. This is the area I want to focus my study on. It's not boring. It's ripe with possibilities.

I'll let you know how this goes. I'm not yet sure when I'll start playing tournaments again, but it will definitely be a new beginning for me.