My last opponent was George Neale (150 at the time of the game, now 149) and I had the black pieces. If he really did want a draw from the start then he chose the right variation since this game kept up my 'perfect' score with it! As usual in the Exchange Semi-Slav I got a pleasant position but (in a complete reversal from the morning game) underestimated my chances and allowed the game to die away:
At least I didn't lose, I suppose. This game had most of my greatest hits rolled into one: ambitious ideas with no basis in reality (11... Na6), not bothering to find the background tactics that justify my preferred move (14... Nd7) and playing the move that looked pretty instead of the move that worked (26... Nxc5). If only I'd played on, got into time trouble and blundered horribly in the ending, I could have completed the box set!
My tournament can only be described as a car crash from start to finish, and my summary of each game demolishes my play quite conclusively. And yet, for the most part I don't think I played too badly! Leaving aside the game against Pert, the others all seemed to trend in my direction before I blew myself off course; in short, I folded whenever accuracy was required. All that rapid chess, perhaps? Anyway, the Major Open should work much better for me, especially since I've had a week off work beforehand and I won't be coming in cold.
Time will tell if I can get reliable internet in Llandudno, which is more than I had in Bournemouth a year ago. Unfortunately I've concluded that it takes too much time to do a day-by-day summary whilst also playing, and there's no rest day in the new accelerated format. There should be enough chess to keep everyone occupied anyway!
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