The Open File - Hurricane Truth

Submitted by 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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2 votes:

Comments:

by Gonnosuke - 2 months ago
Southern California United States

Member Since: Feb 2008
Member Points: 752

Greetings Mike,

Can you provide any tips/strategies on the best way to respond to the Maroczy Bind when using the Accelerated Dragon? The Bind has always given me fits.

(Now that I think about it, I think you opted to use the Bind in the tournament game we played in which you gave me a good thrashing!)

-Roy

by NM Zug - 2 months ago
Longwood, Florida United States

Member Since: Feb 2008
Member Points: 376

To kaleva --

It is an old truism that extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. Your rather startling, if not bold, statement that "it is 99.9 per cent certain that more fierce and greater numbers of storms are caused by human-induced global warming" without doubt is an extraordinary claim. I have never seen any scientific study that has come to the "99.9% certainty" level that you state is a fact. If you amend that to say something like, "the prevailing belief is that humans are contributing to global warming", then I might tend to go along with you. However, your statement smacks of hyperbole, in this case hopefully to make a point.

On the other hand, your tournaments sound like they would be fun. I hope you get lots of participants!

And finally, thanks for the comments on the column. I hope you continue to enjoy it.

Regards, Mike Petersen (Zug)

by kaleva - 2 months ago
Pihtipudas Finland

Member Since: Feb 2008
Member Points: 8

It is 99.9 per cent certain that more fierce and greater numbers of storms are caused by human-induced global warming. I have created one 5-member co2 offset tournament called Chess Against Climate Change. I'll pay carbonneutral.com for all the c02 emissions caused by aour computers, lights and heating/cooling during that tournament. I'll probably start another for seven players under the title "2nd carbon free tournament" within some weeks. Please join if you notice it in time!

Kaleva = Pentti Ruotsalainen, Finland

PS: It is a well written blog, I enjoyed reading it. I have the same weaknesses except that my rating is only some 1600 and will probably never exceed 1800, because I don't study openings or chess theory... And I have never analysed any of my games afterwards...

by CatoTheElder - 2 months ago
New Orleans United States

Member Since: Nov 2007
Member Points: 134

I am a New Orleans native, and I can say the evacuation was very orderly and complete, and thus far all the levee systems are holding.

So it looks like despite localized effects in wind damage and flash flooding the city will be able to ride this one out.

Playing in exile in North Louisiana for now (Ruston).

by GotGoose - 2 months ago
Indiana United States

Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 242

I am impressed at your steadfastness with playing the Accelerated Dragon. Currently, I'm only playing the French Defense in order to become good at one defense against e-pawn openings.

It seems like there is more organization this time around in New Orleans.

Thanks for sharing your chess "sins"! I hope writing about them gave you time to reflect. Great article!

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