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Expansion + Contraction = Growth
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Expansion + Contraction = Growth

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GrizwoldZed
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Issue No 14
1/27/2025

Expand, Contract, Grow

Report on the situation

“Using the expand and contract pattern for schema changes”

CONTENT

  • Tournament and Match status:
  • Introduction
  • My personal Training Notes
  • My personal Training Notes
  • Training Log
  • Book Review

 


Introduction

Opening and expanding your mind was “scholarly” in college.  The same is true for chess.  Even beginners, who learn the rules and start playing in fifteen minutes, get better by simply playing games.  The problem with keeping an open mind is that sometimes you need to close it down for repairs.  This is a universal principle of all that exists.  If it does not exist, then by principle, it exists.

Moving from the philosophy to a more practical application, as it were, to chess, we as chess players want to get better.  From beginner to amateur to professional, even all the way to the top… that’s what we all work towards.  We study.  We take lessons.  We practice.  Then we enter the tournament.  That is expansion.  So, high expectations we go.  After the games are over, and the winner is crowned, we go home exhausted, dejected, bruised and battered (emotionally and physically).  “If only I hadn’t blundered that piece and lost my last round game, I would have won the event.  Even one lousy draw would have kept me in the winner’s circle.” That is contraction.  After a brief period of mourning, we pick up the pieces and begin again… with a vengeance.  Somewhere in this vicious circle we didn’t even notice that we grew.  It’s like watching your children as they attend their sixth birthday party; “My, how you’ve grown!”  The kids don’t know or care, they’re just having fun.  But their parents see it.  And your chess buddies notice that you’re getting harder to beat.  That’s the hidden power of growth.

From my perspective, I’m feeling the joy of many victories and the agony of far more defeats than I expected.  I’m talking about the first tournament I played in since 2021.  Namely Chess.com’s online tournament, the 2025 Chess.com Daily Chess Championship.  I lost six games, ultimately finishing in 5th place, with a score of 15½-6½.  For me the event is over as I won’t make it to the next round.  But I had a lot of fun, made a bunch of friends, and grew as a chess player and a human being.

 

Tournament and Match status:

  • “The Final Countdown,” a tournament That started last year in December. I am currently in 1st place with two games to go.  I only need a half-point to advance to the next round.
  • “Diamond members” tournament that started three days ago.
  • CVC Daily Round One
  • Diamond members (NO VACATION)

† I now have 36 games in process (matches, tournaments and challenges ~salute`)!  Although most of my online friends have a lot more than that going on.  I’m cautiously beginning to accept challenges, but with my training schedule and all the tournaments I’m playing in, I hope to keep up.

† Suggestion: Join a chess club.  Play a match with your team against another club.  It’s a great comradery.  Join up if you want to play.  There are lots of clubs to check out, and friends to be made from all over the world.  Don’t miss out. 

My personal Training Notes

Using the “Deep-Think” option in your Daily Games.

† What I like about daily games online is that you get one, three, or more days to make each move.  I usually make my usual opening moves quickly.  Of course, the obvious moves I also make in a minute or so.  But for the more difficult moves and thoughts about strategy, positional analysis, and tactical considerations that require a “deep-think” I utilize the 24-hour option to get serious.  In OTB games the clock is ticking and anything more than 20 minutes could get you into time trouble.  The beauty about daily games is that you can use twenty hours, thirty hours, even sixty-four hours!  That is like paying homage to the chessboard.

† BTW: I bought a set of ECO’s years ago in a used bookstore, so they are way out of date.  I use them for reference only on occasion.  My first MCO was the 11th edition, and I wore it out when I was in high school.  I also found the Rubin Fine edition in Boston bookstore near the common.  I think I paid $12 for it in 1998.
~ Personally, I love books, but these days I buy Kindle editions and look up openings in online references.  I rarely memorize openings by rote.  Those days are over.

~ Play longer serious games (like in a tournament). Be sure to analyze your games! That way you can spot your weaknesses and improve. Don't rely on any other analysis but your own (including AI and computers). The harder you work at it, the better the improvement. Listen to any advice a Master gives you and follow it!

That's why I upgraded to a Diamond membership.  For me it was worth the nominal expense. 
~ I’m busy developing a training game Schedule.  I will be noting my progress in this blog.  This is what my blog is all about… following a plan to get better at playing the greatest game ever!  If it works for me, it might just work for you too. ;o)

>> Of course, I play practice games with the Bots and Fritz.  I also play practice matches with my online friends, usually in a daily format, but also open to a Blitz frenzy.  Ideally, we play a specific opening for practical experience.  There is nothing like playing against a real human being!

 BTW: I have a lot of chess books in my personal library. 
I plan on selling most of them before I pass on. 
… Contact me if you’re interested. 😉

>> to all my new-found online chess friends:  challenge me anytime.  ~ I won’t refuse, unless it’s Blitz and I’m not sitting at my computer, so feel slighted if decline the challenge.  Message me to see if I’m up for a session.  Should I load the Chess.com app on my iPhone?!

Training Log:

1/22/25 30min study endgames, R+P vs R
1/22/25 30min Puzzles
1/22/25 30min study Master game Tarrasch-Alekhine, Pistyan, 1922
1/22/25 30min study Master endgame, K+Q vs K+R+P
1/22/25 30min Analyze games from Daily Championship
1/23/25 30min study Master game Tarrasch-Alekhine, Pistyan, 1922
1/23/25 30min study openings: Falkbeer counter-gambit.
1/24/25 30min study openings: Falkbeer counter-gambit.
1/24/25 30min study openings: Petrov’s Defense.
1/24/25 60min Endgame lesson, King activity (Romain Edouard)

Book Review
(coming soon)

  • Books on openings: "Fundamental Chess Openings," a series by Paul van der Sterren, a UK publication. I'm checking it out now.
    Thanks to: CyriacAntony (Chess.com) for the tip. I'll write a review about the series in the near future.

Resources

(1) https://www.chess.com/home
 (number one best so far)
(2) https://www.zedwaldo.com/take-action/chess
 (my other chess blog)
(3) https://theweekinchess.com/
 (weekly update with thousands of free game downloads available)
(4) https://new.uschess.org/
(all about chess in the good ‘ol USA)
(5) https://en.chessbase.com/
(a really great database program + the Fritz engine, but expensive: €499.90)
(6) https://www.fide.com/
(all the official stuff in the world of chess)

 

CyaL8r