A little Lev Alburt poolside

I haven't posted much this year. I haven't played much either. After a nearly 450 point rating increase from July 2013 to July 2015, I've been on a two year plateau, twice bumping up against 1750 and then shedding a quick 100 points. 

I'm now in graduate school, so the days of playing 25-30 events a year have come to a screeching halt. No more 20+ hours a week of training.

But, I still love chess and will be happy with more modest goals--maybe I'll crack 1800 some day but no more obsessing. 

This week I'm down in the Florida Keys getting SCUBA certified and guess what? You can eventually earn your Master Diver title, if you only work hard enough and take the right training  courses. 

Well, I don't think I'm going down that rabbit hole. Instead, I'll be happy with some Lev Alburt poolside and some coral reef diving this afternoon. 

That should be just enough.