WonkaEight Beginner Blog : 900-???

Interim Rating Re-calibration

Not including new games this time.  Comparison is with start of program.  Needed to redefine the range for the W8C number (this is by its nature a fluid thing).

SR 916 2021-01-03
W8O 952 (-3)
W8C 961 (-3)
W8T 889 (-1)

• Merely holding steady having submitted 28 more games.
• Latter results are more encouraging.
• Also a decent amount have been with the novelty of a clock.

Rating Update

5 games submitted (below average).  Par was 25 (24 blitz and 1 daily).

SR 916 2021-01-03
W8O 963 (+11)
W8C 961 (+0)
W8T 920 (+31)

• W8T converging on overall rating.  Range is from +91 up, and there had been some games where opponents were +250 and more, which would affect the results.  More recently though some wins over 1100s.  I dare not reproduce them here, as I got a little lucky in at least two of those games.  But I do take away the lesson not to resign too early.  Sub-1400s can and do find ways to make a mess of a winning position.
• Not advocating endlessly pushing wood, but given some possibility of finding a win one should play on.
• My rating for the last four months is probably 75-125 lower than normal.  I attribute this to a period in February where I just didn't want to know about chess: probably burnt out after overdoing it around lockdown/s... and results suffered.  I can definitely hold my own up to 1200, but have not made the leap beyond there unless my opponent is napping.

Rating Update

9 games submitted (above average). Par was 7 (6 rapid and 1 daily).

SR 916 2021-01-03
W8O 973 (+10)
W8C 968 (+7)
W8T 923 (+3)

• Chessable has been given a trial.  Not for me, but had I possessed more patience (and more means) I would really enjoy recalling some of those beautiful Morphy tactics.
• I'd say it be more an Intermediate thing.

• Feel free to ignore my annotations; indeed disregard the whole game score.  I thought it was a pretty decent skirmish, but the lesson/s outlined were purely personal.

Rating Update

13 games submitted (above average). Par was 25 (24 blitz and 1 daily).

SR 916 2021-01-03
W8O 982 (+9)
W8C 975 (+7)
W8T 946 (+23)

• I was able to play some “quick” games (admittedly without the clock) with opponents of similar rating. Sadly, this was less than edifying: frequently encountering typical sub-800 (and even sub-1000) follies like hanging pieces and pushing wood endlessly in lost positions.
• It's not like I've never hung a piece (duh) but I am confident I consistently resign out of respect for an opponent that will find an elementary win.
• My way of getting a fair game is with online randoms of this ilk: such is my lot need I persevere with this particular hobby. Aside from bad manners with holding out for a miracle (or a time out), I'm not learning anything from this junk chess. Perhaps there are other ways to get a strategic fix? (Would the Internet miss a middle-aged patzer anyway?)
• Vent now over, it is more important to seek the human being behind the rating: I haven’t mentioned the fun games I’ve enjoyed with certain people over the six years I’ve kept record/s of my chess. But observing the latter assigned opponents (and these people have logged thousands of online games and surely know better) means I could be selective there?
• I suppose chess players have to do their duty and demonstrate abundant technique: patiently demonstrating the win. The pain may be lessened if one can be philosophical.

Hi WonkaEight! 

In math terms, the rate at which an opponent resigns seems to be a function of the potential blunder rate. Higher ratings and more time to think means fewer blunders, and later resignations. I agree it's disrespectful to simply let the clock run out as a way to get back at the opponent. Other cases can be considered as a way to practice conversion techniques. How accurately can we put away our opponents in a position we know is winning. Hope this helps!

Interim Rating Re-calibration

• As rating is trending up, the W8C and W8T bands need to be redefined. Accordingly some games where I performed well against lower-rated players now need be excluded.
• Comparison is with start of blog / program: 55 games have been submitted.
• Clearly having some sort of accountability towards the goal of increasing my rating, including submitting sober analysis, is the positive.

SR 916 2021-01-03
W8O 982 (+27)
W8C 967 (+3)
W8T 933 (+43)

• My next goal is to defend 1050, which would be back to my lifetime high, and go from there.
• 1050 should be very achievable.

You can get to 1050 - I have faith in you!

Rating Update

8 games submitted (average). Par was 7 (6 rapid and 1 daily).

SR 916 2021-01-03
W8O 935 (-47)
W8C 931 (-36)
W8T 933 (+0)

• Lost a shed of points over the last few days: I blame lack of care while playing too quickly.  It happens, though it sets progress momentum back.  I'm also trying to defend a higher rating, which statistically puts (relatively) better players into my "competitive" band.

Rating Update

7 games submitted (average). Par was 25 (24 blitz and 1 daily).

SR 916 2021-01-03
W8O 920 (-15)
W8C 930 (-1)
W8T 932 (-1)

• Even an "average" week doesn't tell the story, as no less than four daily games needed to be adjudicated after time-outs.
• With winter all but here, I find my chess vanishes into the grey murk.
• The tonic would be better play and a pleasing result. Maybe next week!

Rating Update

11 games submitted (above average). Par was 7 (6 rapid and 1 daily).

SR 916 2021-01-03
W8O 929 (+9)
W8C 948 (+18)
W8T 949 (+17)

• Resigned after nine moves to a 1600. No doubt a well-worn opening trap employed, but discouraging.
• All games submitted were daily games, and three ended with an adjudication.
• Reality is I often don't feel up for the exercise of chess during the colder months.  Physical exercise does help.

Rating Update

8 games submitted (below average). Par was 32 (24 blitz, 6 rapid and 2 daily).

SR 916 2021-01-03
W8O 914 (-15)
W8C 949 (+1)
W8T 948 (-1)

• Chess work has shuddered to a halt (hellooo NBA playoffs) and my play far less than typical.  Losing twice to an (underestimated) grinder doesn't help with momentum.
• My records show in years past I have almost completely abandoned chess during the winter months: odd perhaps given more time indoors.  I suspect a function of too much chess resulting in fatigue.  I'm still logging in.
• Things typically pick up by late July!

Favorite NBA player?

Being Down Under, I've gravitated to rooting for the Sixers this time around... and love Joel Embiid.  Are NBA fans attached to their home towns?  I guess it would be tricky to live in Boston and root for the Lakers...

I think a lot of NBA fans are attached to their hometown yeah. Or at least get set on one team for life :-)

Well I can at least enjoy not being tethered to a franchise nor a US city.  Not that I back a winner every time.  Far from it!

Favorite GM?  Or is it just following a beautiful, clear game or three?

Rating Update

4 games submitted (below average). Par was 32 (24 blitz, 6 rapid and 2 daily).

SR 916 2021-01-03
W8O 914 (+0)
W8C 946 (-3)
W8T 951 (+3)

• This 12-week burst has formally ended.  I wasn't able to get the recommendations in: all I was good for was documenting my thinking and (questionable) statistical prowess.  Sometimes it helped.  I did enjoy annotating, and intend to resume this helpful process of archiving for you good folks on the Internet.
• Recommended number of games in this time was around 190, and I was good for 93.  So there you have an immediate chess goal for me.  190 games will mean 95 losses or so, but also 95 good lessons if I get around to unpicking them!
• My heartfelt thanks if you have stayed with me through here, and good luck with your own goals!

Rating Update

11 games submitted (below average).

SR 916 2021-01-03
W8O 921 (+7)
W8C 939 (-7)
W8T 987 (+36*)

• Not much to see here.
• The two rating bands that comprised the W8C & W8T subsets (contingent on my rolling rating as opposed to the stable kind) needed to be redefined.  Hence performance all over the place... but trending down!
• Next post will be an annotated game, as I find these helpful to prepare and to revisit.

• I'm trying to set up virtuous habits with annotating, only to realise how little I can bring to the craft.  Having an opening database, including a much larger base documenting the inquiries of amateurs, does help.
• As one can get frustrated with trying to unpick every possibility (if I missed it in-game, am I to catch it in the post-mortem?) I will be content with a few key moments.  This must be good advice from Coach.