Earlier Game against FoggyDew that I had a draw but lost (Played on FICS 6.15.2020)

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. cxd5 exd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. e3 Bd6 6. Bb5+ c6 7. Bd3 O-O 8.
Nge2 Qc7 9. Ng3 Bg4 10. Qc2 Nbd7 11. a3 Rfe8 12. b4 a5 13. b5 c5 14. Nce2 Qb6
15. a4 c4 16. Bf5 Bxf5 17. Nxf5 Bb4+ 18. Bd2 Bxd2+ 19. Qxd2 Ne4 20. Qc2 Qf6
21. g4 g6 22. f3 gxf5 23. fxe4 fxe4 24. h4 Qf3 25. O-O-O Qxe3+ 26. Kb2 Nb6
27. Nc3 Rac8 28. h5 Qg3 29. g5 e3 30. g6 hxg6 31. hxg6 f6 32. Qf5 e2 33. Rh8+

Kg7 34. Rh7+ Kg8 35. Qxf6 Nxa4+ 36. Nxa4 Qb3+ {cterlizzi resigns} 0-1

(I went for the win with 35 Qxf6 and turned down the draw with 35. Rh8! - I overlooked blacks next move - Nxa4)

So, why is it so much more important to play opponents A LOT better than you?  You'll consider your mistakes more significant.  If they are more significant to you then you will remember them a lot easier.  If you remember your mistakes, you will improve! 

- LIZZI

My First Blindfold Checkmate (Lichess.org)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nxe4 4. Qe2 Nc5 5. Nc6+ Be7 6. Nxd8 O-O 7. Nxf7 Rxf7 8. Qh5 Rf8 9. Bd3 Bd6 10. Bxh7+ Kh8 11. Bg6+ Kg8 12. Qh7# 1-0 I cannot be very proud of this game considering my opponent blundered his Queen very early in the opening. That being said, this is still the first time actually checkmated an opponent in a BLINDFOLD game - not just win through a resign, but an actual checkmate! Game played 6.13.2020 on Lichess.org

My First Blindfold Game To Go Into an Endgame (Lichess.org)

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. h4 O-O 5. g3 d6 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Bb5 c6 8. Bd3 Nc5 9. O-O Nxd3 10. Qxd3 b5 11. c4 Bb7 12. Nc3 c5 13. cxb5 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Be4 15. Qc4 h6 16. f3 hxg5 17. fxe4 Nxe4 18. a4 Nxc3 19. bxc3 Rc8 20. Nc6 Rxc6 21. bxc6 d5 22. c7 dxc4 23. cxd8=Q Rxd8 24. hxg5 Bxc3 25. Kf2 Bxa1 26. Rxa1 1/2-1/2

The 2016 STL Chess Club Thanks Giving Open

I was satisfied with my results in last weekend's tournament. I got really discouraged after a heart-breaking loss in round 2 to a player rated 300 points higher than me. I call it "heart-breaking" because for a while I was up a pawn and had the advantage. I got too exhausted by the time we reached the endgame, and I lost my ability to focus. I caughed up a couple of pawns and resigned. I imagine if I could have won that game I would have had much better results for this tournament. But, I was still satisfied with myself because I came out of this tournament with a positive score (more wins than losses).

I think I may have over-done it by going to two major tournaments within a couple weeks of each other when I haven't been very active in tournament chess over the past few years. Oh well, I learned a lot.

I must also add that I defeated two children (rounds 1 & 6). Why do I mention this? Because when I play kids in the 7 - 11 age range I usually do really bad. The problem is that they are usually overconfident and they move very fast... it throws me off psychologically! But, I relaxed and took my time this time. It made all the difference.

I'm not sure when my next tournament will be. Maybe the one in my hometown in March. We'll see.