The Open File - Hurricane Truth
Submitted by
NM Zug on Mon, 09/01/2008 at 6:44am.
The Open File
by Life Master Mike Petersen (Zug)
Hurricane Truth
I live in Florida. As I write this, I've been keeping track of a couple of storms; Gustav in the Gulf of Mexico, and Hanna that is meandering in the Atlantic. As I write this, Gustov is smashing into Louisiana with winds up to 135 mph. It missed me and mine. I hope you don't live in New Orleans. Before these two storms, Fay came rumbling through Florida and deluged the entire state.
Man, I was scared. I have lived in Florida since 1969 and understand the havoc these storms can wreak. However, my whole life didn't "flash before my eyes." There was too much time, too much warning. It sort of went past me in slow motion, as it were. And, since part of my life is chess, that sloshed by as well. As a result, I have been cleansed of all my chess sins. I have been chessically liberated, so I can now tell the truth about my chess fears.
First of all, I'll never be really good at this game. Sure, my rating is over 2200, but that's the highest it will ever get. No international titles for me. Besides, I'm 57 years old. It’s too late.
Second, everybody knows you're supposed to study your losses in order to eliminate your weaknesses. Well, I can now admit it. I never study my losses. I can't stand to! It was bad enough having to watch it as it happened. Why should I want to punish myself more? I'll just keep my weaknesses, thank you very much.
And another thing. I have a reputation as a good endgame player. Guess what? I haven't studied the ending in several years. Supposed to do that, too. So they say.
For over 30 years I have played one and only one defense against e-pawn openings, the Sicilian Accelerated Dragon. Most people think it's because I am an expert on it and cannot be caught "not knowing the line." Well, that’s part of it. The real truth, however, is because I am too lazy to learn any others. Boy, that’s hard to admit.
There are about five guys in my state I hate to face. I'll even give a draw to a lower rated player in a previous round if I think it'll pair me away from them. If only the guys I play in those "previous rounds" knew, they could get an easy draw. Now, if they ask, I'll tell.
Well, there's more, but you get the idea. My chess truth isn't pretty. The truth always hurts, but not nearly as much as getting blasted by Hurricane Gustov.
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Click here for links to Mike's other work on Chess.com
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