Hey guys, I just got a letter in the mail (with a nice check too) that I won the Most Interesting Game prize for the U1800 section at the 2009 Mass Open! I'm pretty excited because I've only been playing chess again for 2 months after not playing for 11 years or so (I'm 25 now). I know there were a few inaccuracies on my part in this game, but despite these the game is a very beautiful attacking game where I sacrifice a piece in order to generate a lot of pressure on the Black king. Please comment with analysis or questions. 

Well the time control for this tournament was 40 moves in 2 hours and then 60 minutes added after that so you would have plenty of time to analyze the position to find tactics like that. Thanks for taking a look!

Nice Game!

Thanks guys! Apparently the games were judged by GM Arthur Bisguier and IM Igor Foygl and there were quite a few players in the section and I am very excited that this game was chosen.

I should have cleaned that entire section but I did a few foolish things in clearly won positions ( the Ne6 Rxg2!!game ) and another game where I got caught playing fast in my opponents time trouble. Live and learn I guess. It's kind of funny, my "rating" at that tournament going in was 1030 because I hadn't played a rated game in 11 years. I've played in a few events and my rating is 1498 on the Uschess.org site and that isn't including a tournament that hasn't posted where I went 2 out of 4 against players rated 1970 1850 1980 and 2250. That should give me atleast 100 points or more so In about 2 months my rating has jumped about 600 points. This month I already have a win against a 1970 rated player in club tourney. I'm hoping to get up to class A by the winter time because I feel that is where I belong. 

Congrats!  Maybe I'll see you in the next big Massachusetts tournament (unless you've broken 1800 now).

Thanks, what tournaments are you planning on going to next? Im going to play the G/30 tourney in Portsmouth, NH coming up in July and I'm also going to play the Bradley Open in CT at the end of July.

I just got a card in the mail for a big tourney in Strugbridge, MA.  $2,000 for the top U-1700 and U-1900.

Aug 13-16, 14-16 or 15-16, 2009

http://www.chesstour.com/cono09.htm

I can't guarantee I will go, my life is a bit of a mess right now but it would be cool to go.  I can't afford to stay in the hotel for 4 days though & I want to do the 4 days.  Maybe I can pitch a tent in the hotel parking lot.  You don't have a van I can crash in do you?

Ahh yea I intend on going to that too I believe. I actually live fairly close to Sturbridge so I will probably commute for most of it. There's a chance I'll get a room for one night or something if I get sick of driving back and forth. So yea, keep in touch because I will definitely be there.

Chances are that my rating my still be 1498 by that point , meaning I could play in the U1500 section :)

Wooo, sweet.  I wish I could play in the U-1600 forever.  Sooner or later I'd win  I've gone 5-1, 5-1 & 6-3(draws)-1 so far in U16 events but I think I missed my chance forever (unless I bomb my next tourney & fall below 1600 again ).

I notice the have a promotion where unrated's enter free.  Maybe I could convince a friend to come along & split a room with him/her.

what was your rating and opponents rating at the time

My official rating at that time was 1083 or something like that. He was rated in the 1400's. I'm 2000+ now.