Tournaments and Matches

I am fortunate enough to play for Team Canada, despite that I live in Germany. I am actually Canadian and we ex-pats get very few benefits from our home country but this is one of them.

As well as my individual play I also play the National Team Friendlies, Panama games and International league. Those last two I don't usually get a game because it's about participation and rating and being one of the bigger teams I'm often near the bottom of the list.

Because of medical problems (6 surgeries in 18 months) I don't get to practice or even read/study as much as I would like, so my rating is fairly low. Sedatives are a bitch. Being older (I'm 60) apparently slows you down too.

Anyway, enough of that. I have a small piece of advice for tournament and match players. Don't wait until your time is running down to make your move. Sure, look for a good move and then look for a better one. I forgot who said that, but once you're sure of your move? Put it out there for your opponent to work with.

Why, because if you get into the habit of waiting until the last bit of time you've got? You risk timing out.

 I sign up for all our team Canada games. Even though I rarely get a match. However, I did just get a match in the Panama series and unfortunately my opponent was one of those "last minute move" kind of players. Gawd I hate those guys.

But sure enough, on move 6 my opponent timed out on both games. He used to be over an 1100 player compared to my 750, and the best part? That guy is no longer an 1100.

I even had a slight advantage in one of the games; https://www.chess.com/game/daily/683153077! I'm a happy dude, and that guy is on my block list.