Chess Emotions- by Gordon Ma Episode 1

2 players are sitting across from each other, taking a good look at each others opponent. Now, chess is a very complicated game in many different levels. Theres the Psychological Connection between players, presence, communal chesss blindness, tactics, strategies, etc. I happened to experience most of this.
It was a cold day, and the playing halls had open windows and doors, so you could say that the enviroment wasn't up to top good. As I was drinking some coffee, the pairings bell(which stated a paper was up somewhere and told you who you were playing) rang and I rushed to the crowd to see my opponent. I quickly grabbed the score notation sheet(a sheet to take moves on) and went to my seat to wait for my opponent to arrive. I did some heart preperation and tried to remember different tactics and openings I would use. The player I was battling had a name of Aidan Burdick, rated 1030 and my rating was obviously lower than that. Finally, he arrived. I then noticed how tall and elegant he was compared to me, and knew that this game wasn't going to be easy.
The tournament director announced to start the games, and everyone did the traditional way for wishing good luck to their opponent, by shaking hands. Ofcourse, after weeks and even months of practice, I certainly didn't want to lose the very first game. I made the first move. e4. Aidan quickly responded by playing fast chess, A.K.A blitz which is a very dangerous thing to do in a tournament. We played on, and my opening plan actually worked so I was at a good start. My position was obviously much better than his for the moment. Suddenly, his queen immedietaly challenged me by checking my king. I had been in a relaxed state, so I thought everything was under control, and thought the queen check was just a bluff. Thats when I made the first mistake. Instead of moving the king and playing safe, I took the queen. Now, in chess its hardly ever the first mistake that costs you the game. Its the second mistake that can be brutal. Going back to the tournament, I really wanted to win this game so I played all out aggresive. Thats when the second mistake came. I was soo.. emersed in the psychological connection that I lost control of the position, and slowly after that second mistake I lost. Just like when theres a mid-air airplane crash, the remaining parts slowly plunge down to the earth, costing everyones life and in this case, the game. Now, I was fully in the heat of the battle. I tried defending my pieces and playing real chess, but it was already too late. After that I caculated the couple of moves down the line, saw I had no chance and resigned the game! See how quickly I lost? The position was clearly an advantage for me but I made the first mistake. But then, it was the second mistake that cost me the game.
So the moral to this story is its hardly ever the first mistake that costs you the game. Its the second mistake that pulls the trigger.

The Pursuit of Love

I most certainly agree with the statement "Its better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. Both history and literature have examples of characters who strive for passion, without fear of losing the love. Those are the people that reach great heights. The results like loss and pain, are probably outweighed by the greatness experienced along the way. But, I think love is still worth fighting for and worth the pain that so often comes with it.
For example, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet would be a nice example for this. The passion that they felt for each other, despite the many obstacles laid before them clearly said that their love was more important than the inevitable fate which awaited them-death. I think these 2 would verify love like theirs, no matter how brief and tragic, was wonderful.
In history as well, we can see that the abstract emotion called love is a far greater good than to have no allegiance. The great patriot Nathan Hale held his head high at his execution and proclaimed-"I only regret that I have but 1 life to give for my country". Had the greatest leaders of our revolution cared more about being safe, then about the love and ideals of this country, the whole nation would have suffered.
And yes, I do believe that to be loved and lost is much better than to have never been loved before.

Numb-lyrics

I'm tired of being what you want me to be,
Feeling so faithless must under the surface,
Dont know what your expecting of me,
Put under the pressure,
Of walking in your shooooooooese.....
(caught in the undertoe just caught in the undertoe)
Every step that I take is another mistake to youuuuuuuuuuu
(caught in the undertoe just caught in the undertoe)
I've become so numb I cant feel you there,
Become so tired so much more aware,
I'm becoming this
All I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
Cant you see that your smothering me,
Holding too tightly afraid to lose control,
Cause every thing that you thought I would be,
has fallin apart, right in front of you..........
(caught in the undertoe just caught in the undertoe)
every step that I take is another mistake to you..............
(caught in the undertoe, just caught in the undertoe)
and every second I waste is more than I can take!!>>!!
I've become so numb I cant feel you there
Become so tired so much more aware
I'm becoming this all I want to do,
is be more like me and be less like you.....
and I know.....
that I may end up failing too,
But I know
You were just like me with someone dissapointed in you.........
I've become so numb I cant feel you there,
Become so tired so much more aware,
I'm becoming this all I want to do,
Is be more like me, and be less like you...............
I've become so numb Icant feel you there,
I'm tired of being what you want me to be,
I've become so numb, I cant feel you there,
I'm tired of being what you want me to be................................
(music)
The End