Mean Streak

All Things Chess
1

Greetings,

“Things won’t change, till you open up your eyes.” (Alves, Haze, Kennemore, Meniketti). I am back for another year of chess news and games. During the offseason, I got hot and set my records for longest streak without a loss at 26 games (all rated games) and longest winning streak at 18 games (all rated games). However, all good things come to an end, and Jeff Fox put a halt to both streaks. So, I decided to reward Jeff and get back into the mode of sharing chess stories. Hope you enjoy them!

Paul Anderson

The Newsletter
( cschess.webs.com/apps/blog/show/ … ean-streak )

  1. Game Of The Week: Mean Streak
  2. This Week In Chess: Cabin Fever Results
  3. Game Viewer: Jeff Fox v Paul Anderson ( cschess.webs.com/ )
  4. Video: 85 Bears ( youtube.com/watch?v=qbdSq1raBOg )

2012 Calendar Of Events for the Colorado Springs Chess Club:

cschess.webs.com/apps/calendar/

For additional events, see the following websites:

Denver Chess Club: DCC (denverchess.com)
Colorado State Chess Association: CSCA (colorado-chess.com/)
Wyoming Chess Association: WCA (wyomingchess.com/)
Kansas Chess Association: KCA (kansaschess.org/)

ps - Newsletter preview (for board diagram and video see The Newsletter):

Going into the Cabin Fever Reliever, I had not lost a game in 26 attempts. In fact, the only non-winning result was a draw to Mark McGough. I think what happened was that I lost a game I should have won to Dan Avery in the Colorado Springs City Championship, and I took it out on my next 26 opponents. I don’t like to lose any game, but when you play a game for 3 hours, finally break through, have a mate in 8, but blunder by giving your opponent a mate in one, it really makes you mad. It was like watching the 85 Bears play the Miami Dolphins all over again.

So, the best thing you can do is take that anger and use it to focus yourself for the next battle. I was talking to Anthea Carson about this very idea. She felt that she plays better when she does not like her opponent. Winning and friendly competition just don’t mix. I could relate. Now my favorite chess quote is, “If you don’t have a mean streak, you’ll have a losing streak” (Paul Anderson, 2011).

Well, I guess I was just in too good of a mood going into the Cabin Fever Reliever. I could not get my game face on, and I lost 3 out of 4 games. Worst yet was the fact that I blundered away another game. In my game against Jeff Fox, I came upon this position…