Houston Open #4: The Thief of Time
There’s a saying among certain populations of white America: “All those Orientals look the same.” (Annie and Caroline, I have a confession to make. I can’t tell you two apart…usually, I just guess.) And this would be my first match with one of the multitude of non-descript Asian schoolchildren.
Mr. Diao seemed to be 12 or 13, with good humor. He got to the table early and already had the board and clock setup. Sort of.
Although the clock said 2:00:00 for both of us, he claimed he just bought the clock and had to test it. So we punched the clock a couple times to make sure it was working. And before either of us could pause it, my time went down to 1:59:59. My heart start to flutter as Mr. Diao explained he wasn’t sure how to reset his new clock–and the TD was about to start the round! That sort of time advantage could influence the rest of the game!
Clearly, he was trying to throw me off by getting an “accidental” one second time advantage. As the game started, I exclaimed “I want my second back!”
Fortunately, I was able to regain my composure. By move 20, I had a time and material advantage! But slowly, the position deterioriated over the next 15 moves until I was almost at the point of offering a draw. Mr. Diao deserves a lot of credit for fighting it out and finding ways to give me problems. A tactical shot caused the game to end before it really deserved to.
(In all seriousness, losing the second wasn’t a big deal–the kids at the next board, Mr. Diao and I were all joking about it before the game started. It wasn’t worth trying to figure things out on the fly.)
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someone once thought caroline was my daughter. that was a cool feeling.
Reply to annieTime: the 17th piece. Maybe endgame Jon can come up with a new shirt?
Fueled with an over active imagination and passion for game 2000 years old, I apologize for my colorful annotations that merit no scientific backing other than pure entertainment. With that, I present:
Dark side of the Egg
This game gives me a flashback of a classic song by Pink Floyd from the Dark side of the moon called Time. Add to this an old stoner’s bad advice of watching Wizard of Oz with the sound off while the music plays in the back ground.
The chimes intro of the song rings when 7…Qc7 is played. It seems harmless but this is like the scene when you see the appearance of Almira Gulch, on her bicycle who later becomes the wicked witch. You know something isn’t quite right with that lady. Later, this witch shows her green face in the center of the board.
Playing 13 e5 is the start of the dark clouds forming. Do you hate pawns that much? Old school evaluation of opening suggests that you were building up energy around attacking e5 ( professor Marvel offered some sage advice to Dorothy as she was running away adhering to Past, Present and Future)). Black was targeting e4. Ne5 was more accurate that was good insight. By the time you were playing 14. c4, it looked like the house was spinning and lifting in the storm as Dorothy on d3 lies backwards and unconscious on the bed.
“I’ve got you my pretty” says 17…Qxe5. Now you are in the land of the munchkins. Why didn’t you play 17 Qxg5? You seem to make short order of her fireballs though and pick up a rook with your tin man. I think it was wiser to grab it as well than the a5 move… otherwise “ you run and you run to catch up with the sun.”
26. Bxd5 I think would have been better than 26 Qe7. “ Every year is getting shorter” says the song… but for the dark side of the egg… this means every exchange will benefit you since you have material.
The flying monkeys come with 28…Nb4 but it’s an idle threat. I did like the good witches prior move to e5. But your were “shorter of breath” with 30 .d4. and “one day closer to death” with 31. Qa5. Better might have been 30 Rd2 followed by 31 Rad1 perhaps… Rally troops to enter the emerald palace.
The game played itself as the witch poured water on herself… 35… Rxa6? Soon enough, Dorothy was back to consciousness and looking at all her family and friends with a new light after that.
Yes, my past was THAT vivid and rehab only cleared up the toxins.
Reply to Blunderprone@Annie & Blunderprone: too tired to properly respond–will get to it.
Reply to Donnie@Annie: LOL. Bet that was cool, especially since you two don’t look related whatsoever.
@Blunderprone: Yes, my past was THAT vivid and rehab only cleared up the toxins.
LOL. From the pieces you’ve shared from your past, I completely believe it! Obviously enough brain cells are left so you can maintain a high level of creativity and sense.
Reply to Donnie