First off, I’d like to thank Chris Bird for organizing and directing a wonderful tournament. The glamourous town of Pawtucket is the perfect location to do nothing but watch Michael Phelps win gold medals, and play chess.

I never get opportunities to play in events this strong, in a closed field. Typically players with a FIDE rating as low as mine are inelligable, and I can understand why. With norms at stake, FM’s and IM’s shift into second gear. I am left at the starting line, crying a little.

I am actually having a decent tournament however. I have no complaints about my 1/3, all against opponents who outrate me by at least 100 points. The important thing for me is, regardless of the result, to take at least 3 things away from every game. I think I read that in a book by Jacob Aagard, and he is an extremely instructional author. I can suitabley apply his advice to my first and third games, both draws. My second round, unfortunately, is lacking. All I can think of is “Don’t fall for tactics.” My preparation for Friedel fell short relatively early when he deviated from a game he played against Shulman. Afterwards I was careful not to allow typical Benko counterplay for the pawn, but after one innocent looking move I was busted.

OK, time to head back to the Comfort Inn before it gets too dark. Best of luck to all the competitors in search of norms or otherwise.

-Evan