Plano as Chess Mecca

On April 10th, I played in a one day chess tournament at the Plano Chess Club. The event involved five rounds at various time controls...g/30, g/30, g/45, g45, and g/60. There were twelve players in the "Open" Section (above USCF 1300). Most of the players were 1600+.

Ten more people played in a "Novice" section (USCF 900 - 1300?), and there were about ten children who played in a "Scholastic Novice" section (under USCF 900). So the event had roughly thirty players. The "Open" section contained a seven year old girl who won at least two games! Thankfully, I did not play a chess game with her!

I'm sure you are breathlessly awaiting news of my performance! Well, I won two of five games. In Round 1, I played White with a USCF 1600 player and won via checkmate in a time scramble - I played Gucco Piano (the quiet game) -1- e4 -2- Nf3 -3- Bc4. In Round 2, I played a 1715 player as Black - I played Albin Counter Gambit -1- d4 d5 -2- c4 e5 he obtained a two pawn advantage almost immediately, and I got ground into dust. In Round 3, I played Jim Hollingsworth (1832), and gave the game everything - I am proud of my play - however, superior talent prevailed, and Jim won via checkmate. In round 4, my opponent (1694), surprised me with -1- d4 -2- Bc4 and moved a knight to g5 instead of a bishop in the early game. He sacrificed a knight for a pawn which led to sizable material gains and totally superior position - he won, although I put up some decent resistance, considering I had virtually no development and sizable material deficit. In Round 5, I'm in a bit of discouragement - thinking that I might go home with 4 straight losses - my opponent is a bit worse than me - he is 0-4. We begin playing, it is clear that my opponent can play chess, but he loses a knight for a pawn, and later in the game, allows a two move combination that loses his rook, so he resigns.

The Plano Chess Club has a first class facility and the tournament director is highly skilled. I will play in more chess events at the Plano Chess Club! Is Plano chess worth a 300 mile trip for Victoria Chess Club members? Maybe! Plano also has a tremendously good "Chinese Barbeque" restaurant about three blocks from the Plano Chess Club.

One more brief thought - not about chess - this was my first trip (ever) to Plano. I was struck by the opulent wealth of the place - every house seemed to be a brand new two story four bedroom brick. Plano has a large Asian community - every business in the shopping center where I ate lunch (bank, dentist, realtor, restaurant) had Japanese and English lettering on its door!