The House was Rockin'

After the G/45 tournament ended, a violent thunderstorm, repleat with numerous lightening strikes too close for comfort, and hail, descended upon the House, causing a power failure. Undeterred by the storm sat Wayne Christensen playing speed with Alan Piper, while the Viktor Korchnoi of Southern chess, Klaus Pohl battled Kevin Eubanks. They rolled up the blinds and kept pushing pawns. These men obviously love the royal game with a passion I can only hope more peolple will discover sometime in their life. As I watched them playing speed chess, after driving a long distance to get to the House, and playing four games, I felt a deep love for each of them. It was then I realized I love everyone involved with chess, even those for whom I do not particularly care...The Dude once told me he thought it took two things to have a friendship; mutual interest and mutual respect. If one has an interest in chess, then we are half way there!
The power was off for over five hours. As I sat listening to H Johnson's wonderful program, Jazz Classics, on WABE-FM (You outta state readers can check it out online, Sat 9pm-2am) on my little battery operated Grundig (purchased from Mr Spinks six years ago before my see the USA trip), I began to feel pangs of hunger. My thoughts drifted to the bag of goodies left for the House by Henry Moon. Checking the bag, I found "bite size gold" TOSTITOS tortilla chips; pistachios; sunflower seeds; SNYDER'S Honey Mustard & Onion Nibblers; BACK TO NATURE Granola; ARCHER FARMS Multigrain oatmeal; NONNI'S Biscotti (which reminded me of a doctor who would come into the store in which I worked while in the mountains and purchase a cuppa java and a biscotti on his way to the office every day. He is a wonderful man who donates many hours to the free clinic); and MICHAEL SEASON'S Lite cheese puffs. Guess which one I had first? It was a veritably picnic in the dark! Thank you, Henry Moon!!! It had to be synchronicity...
A total of 56 players rocked the House for the G/45. There were 40 in the Open section, led by 2 masters; 4 experts; only 2 class A players; 11 B players; 6 C's; 9 D's; 4 other rated players, and 2 unrated's, who PLAY FOR FREE!!! We call it the House Special!
There were 13 players in the U1300 section. Three players did not show in this section, and one did not make it in the Open section, without informing the House. That left 4 players without a game in the first round. This is unacceptable. For that reason, we have instituted a new policy: You must pay to be paired! If you call to inform the House of your intention to play, we will make a note of it, but you will not be paired until you pay! You may enter by CC via the phone, or send a check or money order, and, of course, you can pay with cash at the House at any time. YOU WILL NTO BE PAIRED UNLESS AND UNTIL YOU HAVE PAID AN ENTRY FEE! If you think you oughta be an exception, let me disabuse you of that notion. Because exceptions are made to every rule, the House does have one exception; with that being the High Plains Drifter, Mr David Vest. When you win both the Ga St Championship and the Ga Senior Championship, the House will then consider an exception for you!
The top 4 players made it unscathed into the last round, with the Drifter facing the Alan Piper, who had White, on board one, while "Viktor" Pohl, behind the White army, squared off against the young and rapidly improving Joe Moon. Mr Vest gave up a piece but was able to gobble pawn after pawn, until he had too many pawns for the piece. The draw on the second board gave first place, and $167, to David Vest. Klaus and Joe took $97.50 each from the House. After the tournament ended and before the loss of power, a forlorn Mr Piper was looking for the winner, but he had already Drifted away, so I analyzed the critical position with him for some time. Even without the piece, the man from the High Plains had a dominating position, as the Pipe came to realize...
Michael Mulford, with his strategic 1/2 point bye in the last round, finished with 3 points, as did Ben Moon, Lintu Ramachandran, Jay Youngblood, and Alan Piper. All but the Pipe won $17.50. Something seems inherently unfair about that turn of events...Samuel Z-Man, Brennan Bukovics, Robert Jarchow, Dave Richards, Pinky Peatman, James Stack(house), and Chris Taylor each finished with 2-2. All but Mr Taylor, who was unrated, won $11 for their efforts. Arjun Grover, Nathan Wu, and Rishi Bagga also each finished with an even score, but because they are rated lower than the others they won more money, with each taking $22.35 from the House. That is clearly 40% of the entrants taking home cash!
The lower section was won by Daniel Justice with 3 wins and a full pt bye. His brother, Zachary, finished second with 3 wins and a draw. Alexander Hollins was third with 2 wins, one loss, and a full pt bye.

Stevie Ray Vaughan: The House is Rockin’

Well - the house is a rockin dont bother knockin/Yeah - the house is a rockin dont bother knockin/Yeah - the house is a rockin dont bother come on in/Kick off your shoes start losin the blues/This old house aint got nothin to lose/Seen it all for years start spreadin the news/We got room on the floor come on baby shake sumpin loose/Well - the house is a rockin dont bother knockin/Yeah - the house is a rockin dont bother knockin/Yeah - the house is a rockin dont bother come on in/Well - the house is a rockin dont bother knockin/Yeah - the house is a rockin dont bother knockin/Yeah - the house is a rockin dont bother come on in/Walkin up the street you can hear the sound/Of some bad honky tonkers really layin it down/Theyve seen it all for years and got nothin to lose/So get down on the floor shimmy til you shake sumpin loose/Well - the house is a rockin dont bother knockin/Yeah - the house is a rockin dont bother knockin/Yeah - the house is a rockin dont bother come on in/I said the house is a rockin dont bother come on in