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The CCSCSL has decided to run four one-day tournaments in 2011 held on a Sunday. The first such event was last Sunday, April 3, and twenty-six players participated. I was the highest rated (by quite a bit), and was able to cruise (for the most part) to a perfect 5-0 score. CCSCSL's own Mike Kummer was able to tie for second with 4-1 (losing to only yours truly) and break into Class A for the first time! A big congratulations to Mike Kummer, and the other big rating point gainers: Clark Berry (who gained a whopping 174 rating points!), Nathan Phan (who gained over 100 rating points!), and James Elliott.
My games were interesting. I had a theoretical Caro-Kann in round 1. Eventually I outplayed my opponent, got a winning position, and did all I could to blow it, but, was lucky to be winning even after missing the scary looking 40.Rb8+.
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Round 2 was a bit easier. My opponent overlooked my last move, 8.Qb3 and promptly resigned, although probably that was a bit too early! Black should probably try 8... Qb6 9.Bxf7 Kd8, and grovel.
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Round 3 was a battle royal with Mike Kummer. I played the opening, in, uh, enterprising style, and Mike decided not to punish me with the powerful 7.Nb5! Instead we went into a relatively equal ending, and I slowly outplayed Mike. The king and pawn ending was a bit interesting, but, more interesting for black.
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I won relatively easily in round 4, when my opponent overlooked 16.Nf5, after which it was a mop-up job.
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Round 5 was the strangest of my five games. After an unusual Sicilian, I thought the position was about equal, when my opponent sacrificed a piece for virtually nothing, making the win easy. When I asked afterwards, my opponent thought he was lost in any case!
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This week I will be playing in the U.S. Championship. Let's all hope I can start 5-0 there as well! Don't forget to pick me as the winner for your Fantasy Chess bracket! ;)
