Powerlevel_9001 wrote:
How much was the entry fee?
If I read the information correctly here (http://main.uschess.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=199) , $430 was the entry fee for him. Yikes!
Playing Among Masters
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Found one game by Gary Cote. Doesn't show you much but he was playing the Karo-Cann in 1988, when outmatched anyway.
http://chesstempo.com/gamedb/player/42306
Have a think before you go about the moments before your first game and first couple of moves. Resolve to remember that fun is the name of the game win, lose or draw. You will have plenty of time to relive the experience of playing GMs later, over the board what will give you fun is to play chess.
Think for a moment or two also how you will feel when you lose, when you win and when you draw. How will you get your mental focus back onto the next game?
Try to have another interest going while the tournament progresses. Learn from Natalia. She writes that during the recent Russian Superfinal she was avidly watching the London Olympics and that as a result she was relaxed, sharp and focussed over the board.
Best of good luck.
My advice is to play whatever opening you know very well, Also, do NOT play for a draw--instead play for a win--just as you would in any other tournamet.
If you play for a draw, the gm you play will squeeze you to death and you will lose.
If you play your best and an opening you know very well you will give your strong opponent problems.
Another idea is to play a gambit which is totally sound if you know of such a gambit but be prepared for the declined lines.
Do not set a goal of so many points for the whole tournament--that is somewhat self-defeating. Your goal in every single game is to win.
Oct 16, 2012
0
#26
When I play, my goal is to play well. To see the board well. If I do that, a win is an entirely possible outcome. Focus on the process, not the result.
If you play for a win then you have to play well also. The point is to NOT say "oh, I have to play a gm--better play for a draw..."
There is a difference between playing drawish chess and playing directly for a draw. Playing directly for a draw would involve making trades that worsen your position; drawish chess means just playing moves that, while just as sound as the aggressive moves, are of a different style, and moves that don't mind if the game suddenly peters out.
Yes, he will probably squeeze you for a win if you play positionally (you actually said playing for a draw, so maybe you didn't mean positionally; if so, I apologize in advance). And yet, on the other side of the coin, he will beat you in 15 moves due to a blunder you make in a complicated position.
That's the problem -- if you are going to say what will happen with one strategy, you have to be consistent and point out what will happen if the other strategy is employed. The point is, neither strategy will be likely to be effective or else the rating difference wouldn't exist, so I think the decision of what kind of chess you want to play should be based on your style of play.
If you like tactical chess, play that; if you like positional chess, play that. As usual.
For the record, ponz, I do agree with most of what you say. If you don't make mistakes, there is not some magical force that will allow the GM to win. So if you play good moves that can't be refuted, they won't be, no matter who you play.
Yeah, please post the results
Right, streetfighter. I'm just saying, if you see a mate in 1, and know your opponent is a grandmaster, that doesn't mean it isn't still mate in 1 
. The fact that he is across from you doesn't change the realities on the board. Obviously you have to be a little suspicious of such situations to make sure there aren't any traps, but the best you can do is have faith in yourself, and the worst case scenario is you will lose. But if you never have faith in yourself, you will never find a win or draw, because you will never be able to believe it's there.
I wonder if the OP has any games against GMs or IMs under his belt to date ? The most important thing is to enjoy the experience and try to learn/improve from it .
Oct 17, 2012
0
#33
Elubas wrote:
For the record, ponz, I do agree with most of what you say. If you don't make mistakes, there is not some magical force that will allow the GM to win. So if you play good moves that can't be refuted, they won't be, no matter who you play.
+1
Oct 17, 2012
0
#34
play your normal stuff and learn. get a playable position and make your opponents beat you, if you play good moves they'll have to play better ones.
Very exciting ChessisGood. Maybe don't put too much pressure on yourself, enjoy the opportunity of playing big wigs. Much success and joy to you!
Reb wrote:
I wonder if the OP has any games against GMs or IMs under his belt to date ? The most important thing is to enjoy the experience and try to learn/improve from it .
Well, I've only played a few IMs/GMs, but I have lost all of my games against them. On the other hand, I've got several draws against FMs and some wins against 2200s, so I have decent chances against some of the lower masters.
If you can sometimes beat a FM then you have a chance against a gm.
Oct 17, 2012
0
#38
Good luck!
No matter if it is Kasparov, as long as you make SENSIBLE moves, a grandmaster is not going to "kill" you.
Usually, when I play a computer, I find I am crushed or losing by "+1.5" in 20 moves.
PLay your best for those 20 moves!!!!!
You have nothing to lose, they have everything to. It is a learning experience if you lose, and a great victory if you win/draw.
For them, they have to win against this "patzer", after all, I am a grandmaster!
Ugh, more people at my level who have beaten 2200+ players 
. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only 1900 who hasn't beaten or even drawn one hehe.
There are some nice beaches in Nassau, aren't there? Enjoy!