Jerry Hanken, Photo 2007
I had this Expert crushed three ways to Sunday but I just completely missed Qh4.
I played this nine-year-old kid with 1532 rating and I lost!! These kids should have a height limit, like if they're under three feet tall, they gotta' play in kid tournaments! You know, like in Disneyland.
I was playing this old life master on his floor and I had him so busted! I went into an endgame two pawns up and let him draw. What an idiot I am!
That darned kid was so booked up, he had moves coming out of his ears! I killed him anyway!
Those Russians talk to each other in Russian.... There should be a rule that you gotta' talk English in a chess tournament.
Which way is the bookstore?
He took the Najdorf pawn and he knew 32 moves but I had some secret Yugoslav analysis so I was ready for him! -----Did you win ? ---- Nah, I lost but not out of the opening.
This is my first tournament in 20 years-my kid got me started again-he's higher rated than me!
That's it, I am gonna withdraw and just quit playing chess!-Does anybody want to buy a great book collection? I got twenty Silman books and the Bronstein '53 tournament book-that should be worth a hundred easily."
Does anybody understand the rating system?---I won the B prize and my rating only went up only five points!"
When is the next round in the five day, why am I playing up, I was supposed to play down this round and I got Black--- AGAIN!, anybody know which way the escalator is? And on and on and on.
Nothing profound, but its' fun listening to chess chatter!
I don't want to say much about my game last night. I only had three hours of sleep last night, so I planned a nice nap before the game. Harold Winston reminded me that we had a bylaws committee meeting at a restaurant outside of the hotel before the round. There went the nap. We did have a good meeting and I had a delicious filet. They are not just blowing smoke when the natives tell you they have the best steaks in the country! So anyway, I had White and got a overwhelming position and just carelessly pitched a knight on c3. My opponent, Mr. Pennington told me after the game that he would have taken a draw after I lost the piece. I told him it would be insulting to offer a draw in that position! Anyway, I had to make some more bad moves before he put me away.
Back to even with four rounds to go and lots of meetings, meetings, and meetings! I gotta get some shuteye tonight or I will collapse! Still no answers to my first three quizzes so no more until somebody gets at least one! Good day, goodnight, and good chess. Jerry