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davidhopkins's Blog


    • September Swiss 2011

      I'm not too proud of my performance at this tournament. I went 1-3. I played decently against some higher rated players (in rounds one and two), but then fumbled in the endgame. I lost a game against a much lower rated player in round three, a per... | Read More

    • Dallas Ches Club G30 (7/20/11)

      I did better this week, but still not great. I won one game against a lower rated player, and I lost two games against higher rated players. However, I think in all three games -- I could've played much better; my pieces weren't placed very well i... | Read More

    • Dallas Chess Club G30 (7/13/11)

      Honestly? I don't want to post this tournament. However, if I plan to learn from my losses, I need to continue the process of reviewing games. Over the past three tournaments, my rating had been going up, up, and up. Last night, I was 0-2. I had ... | Read More

    • Texas State and Amateur Championship 2011

      The nice thing about competing in the same tournament year after year is that it gives you an opportunity to measure your improvement. Last year at this tournament, I scored one win (against a player rated 791) and two draws (really should have... | Read More

    • Many Springs Quad 3

      I broke my losing streak with the Tarrant County Chess Club tournaments of 0-8. (You can see my blog post on the Many Springs Open 35 and 36 for the horrific details.) For this tournament, I was a respectable 4-1, winning second place in my sectio... | Read More

    • Austin Chess Club Championship

      Finally! A tournament where I achieved a winning record. 3-2. I beat two players rated 400 points higher than me, and I also received the U1200 prize. In round 3, Duane Herrera and I both agreed I could've won that one, but I missed some key oppor... | Read More

    • Many Springs Open 36

      Another tournament and another situation where I'm competing against players a few hundred points higher than me. 0-4. I can only think of what Kevin Durant said to his teammates after they lost game six to the LA Lakers: "This will make us better... | Read More

    • U.S. Chess Class Championships

      On October 2nd and 3rd, I competed in this national tournament in Houston, Texas. It was a fun event. I spent some time with my friend Chuck Ventimiglia (used to be "RockingRook" on this site, now he's more active on ICC). He was a great coach and... | Read More

    • Many Springs Open 35

      Yesterday, I participated in Tarrant County Chess Club's Many Springs Open 35. I didn't do well at all, a solid 0-4. However, I still enjoyed the tournament... in theory, i.e., the opportunity to compete in OTB games and work through a new opening... | Read More

    • Many Springs Two Day

      I did not play well at this tournament. If the first game is any indicator, I just didn't have "my head in the game" (as the expression goes).   | Read More