Mmm, my first loss… huhuhu…how sad... (LOL)
Ramadan Chess Festival (Crystal Plaza, Sharjah, U.A.E.)
October 4 - November 4, 20059 Rounds - Swiss System
I was playing white, Ahlam was playing black.
See how silly my blunder was!!
6th Round - Board 1
Scotch opening
1) e4 – e5
2) Nf3 – Nc6
3) d4 – exd4
4) Nxd4 – Nf6
5) Nxc6 – bxc6
6) Bg5 – Be7
7) Nc3? <--- huwaattt???7) ... Nxe4!! She got an extra pawn and after the exchange of pieces, her extra pawn was unstoppable for promotion into a queen, so I resigned. After replaying my game, I saw other blunders like a missed opportunity to capture her weak pawns and a missed opportunity for my king to occupy the center… but anyway, Ahlam and I are still friends. She’s too sweet and friendly, it doesn’t really matter if I lost. (Owss... "sweet-lemoning"...LOL)I should have offered a draw from the very beginning... or accepted her offer for a draw! (Obviously, regrets always come later!) . Yeah, she offered a draw but I was too confidently stubborn that I had to take the risk to play. Besides, I was playing white… and I was comfortable with the e4 – e5 opening… and she’s only 15 years old… and I used to beat her in chess games before… and… and… See what pride can do?? (LOL)
Ahhh, Life goes on…forget the trophy!! 3 rounds to go!!!
Lessons learned:
1) Be humble!!!
2) Be humble to offer a draw!
3) Be humble to accept an offer of draw!!
4) Think!
5) Pray!!!
6) Pray sincerely!!!
7) Pray humbly!!!
True, there are certain lessons in life that can be truly learned IF and ONLY IF I lose.
Psalm 23 for the Workplace(copied from a Friendster bulletin of a friend)The Lord is my real boss, and I shall not want.He gives me peace, when chaos is all around me.He gently reminds me to pray and do all thingswithout murmuring and complaining.He reminds me that He is my source and not my job.He restores my sanity everyday and guides my decisionsthat I might honor Him in all that I do.Even though I face absurd amounts of e-mails, system crashes,unrealistic deadlines, budget cutbacks,gossiping co-workers, discriminating supervisors and an aging body that doesn't cooperate every morning, I still will not stop---for He is with me! His presence, His peace, and His power will see me through.He raises me up, even when they fail to promote me.He claims me as His own, even when the company threatens to let me go. His Faithfulness and love is better than any bonus check.His retirement plan beats every 401k there is!When it's all said and done, I'll be working for Him a whole lot longer and for that, I BLESS HIS NAME !!!
Disturb us, O Lord, When we are too well pleased with ourselves, When our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little; When we have arrived in safety because we sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, O Lord, When with the abundance of things we possess We have lost our thirst for the water of life; When, having fallen in love with time, We have ceased to dream of eternity; And in our efforts to build a new earth, Have allowed our vision for the New Heaven to grow dim. Stir us, O Lord, To dare more boldly, To venture seas where storms shall show Thy mastery, Where losing sight of land We shall find the stars. In the name of Him Who pushed back the horizons of our hopes And invited the brave to follow Him. Amen. (Father Benny’s Personal Prayer, Catholic Digest)*** A prayer during the USLS-IS high school graduating class retreat in 1997 ***
