Saturday, I'll be playing in the Augusta (Maine) Fall Quads (follow link for more info http://chessmaine.net/chessmaine/2008/11/meca-augusta-series-fall-quads.html). I won't be online until later that evening.  Wish me luck.  This is my first live tourney since the Maine State Championship of 2000, so I'm a tad nervous.  I hope I win at least one of my 3 games.  I'll let you know how I do...Jake

Good luck Jake!  I have faith in you and know you will do very well.  Have fun! 

Good for you.  I don't have a USCF liscense, and have never played in a real tournament-- a whole other concept in stepping up to the plate I belive.

Good Luck-- Bruce

I'll be rooting for you!

Good luck -- not that you need it! Above all, ENJOY the playing.

Jake, You have been an inspiration to me since the day we met. What a lucky break for me, to know you. I will be with you in spirit and I wish you the best of luck. Go get em....

good luck dude ..... bring it on home

I hope you dont get youre ass kicked

good luck jake,

Just got back from the tourney. I had a lot of fun, though not great results. Sitting down at a board with someone staring back at you over the pieces is a lot different than what I'm used to.  I can't bring up the anaylsis board function and play out all the different combinations before deciding which move is best, but have to do it all be memory.  That said, and I'm not making excuses by the way, I knew I was in trouble when the pairings were announced and I found myself the lowest ranked player in my group by a lot.  It would be great experience I told myself and tried my best.  Though I lost all three, all three games went beyond 40 moves, all ending with just knights and pawns (or bishops and pawns) with my opponents managing to push a pawn to promotion.  2 of the 3 opponents said I scared the crap out of them, they thought I wouldn't be as much of a challenge as I turned out to be and were sweating the games outcome.  As you know from this site, when you lose to a lower ranked player, your ranking goes down a lot.  I will be playing in another tourney soon (I believe the next one is in January). I will take the experience I gained today, and all that I gain from  playing each one of you, to it....Jake

Good luck

That you had fun is the most important part. Good luck in the next one, too!

Proud of you...you inspire me!

Glad that you had a lot of fun and I am sure you learned a lot.   Good luck in your Jan. tourney.