Before spending 1 year at a higher college and 4 years at university, my youth reflected an uncritical attitude towards most things and chess was no exception.
In the 91/92 season, depression lifted for the first time in years and I started getting good. I went on a long winning streak and was voted player of the year that season. In the winter of 92, my team had to drive to Rushden to play a league match one evening. I faced S. Ruthin, rated 172. I wore a black fedora hat and plain light blue T-shirt, and had navy DM boots on with purple laces -please do not ask why!
Not exactly a fashion guru and something of a detached creature of habit also! Regarding the draw that evening, I was white and played the birds opening, which you probably know is very drawish (or so said the FM I once beat with it!). I fianchettoed my queen’s bishop and my opponent fianchettoed his king’s bishop to cancel it out. After the were both exchanged there was absolutely no life left in the dead drawn position and a draw was agreed. After the shake of hands I said ‘there goes my winning streak‘, to which my opponent, rather unpleasantly added ‘well, you should have played more for the win then’. But the thing is, of course he had a point. Who in their right mind wants to perpetuate a winning streak by playing very drawish openings? Some kind of detached creature of habit with an uncritical mindset or attitude, that’s who.
I was young, it was over three decades ago, I had not yet entered higher education…
Mark. J. McCready
McCreadyandChess 
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