I just played in five international tournaments in Hungary. The idea was to become a Grandmaster at age 50.

But before I could beat a Grandmaster, I had to first face -

Torture.

I had had twenty years off from chess, and a little something had changed since then: computers. I came to Hungary without a laptop, to the astonishment of my foes - I also came with bad openings.

I'll give it to you straight, you readers out there in cyber space - I was playing openings not because they were good, or because they suited my style, but because they were easy to learn.

One such was the Accelerated Dragon. Hey Folks, here's an opening you can learn in a day! No complicated theory or opposite side attacks like in the real Dragon — just that boring old Maroczy.

Well, in Hungary, they take their Maroczy seriously - a nice old-fashioned photo portrait of him hangs over the First Saturday playground. He stared at me as I was tortured by (who else) Attila the Hun, aka Attila Czebe - the first Grandmaster I faced in Hungary.

Those who faint at the sight of blood (mine!) are advised not to read on.

GM Czebe vs. IM Taylor

1.e4 c5

2.Nf3 g6

3.d4 cxd4

4.Nxd4 Nc6

5.c4

Maroczy appeared to smile approvingly.

5...Bg7

6.Be3 Nf6

7.Nc3 0-0

8.Be2 b6

And here I show myself to be supremely out of touch with the times. It's not that this move is bad - it's no worse than other Accelerated Dragon lines - it's that the move features prominently in the database of MY games! Which I didn't even consider! Yes, there are nice wins of mine with this line, on the Chessbase list, which means that Attila could prepare, kind of like seeing the plans of the Roman legion in advance! So he already knew that I had never faced the most testing line.

9.f4!

Which he played instantly, barely into his preparation.

WHITE TAKES THE BULL BY THE HORNS

Now what? THE ACCELERATED DRAGON, by Peter Heine Nielsen and Carsten Hansen, gives no clear answer. They try to justify 9...e5, but end up with this comment "Black will probably have to sacrifice if he wishes to remain active." Not a real big help, and I am deeply suspicious of the weaknesses in Black's game after 9...e5 10.Ndb5.

But this is not really the point. The point is this: I played this opening, just like I have against American Swiss players (what training!) with absolutely no idea of what to do against the most testing line!

It is impossible to play this way against a strong GM. I simply developed with

9...Bb7

Whereupon he hit me with the immediate

10.e5 Ne8

11.Bf3 Rc8

12.0-0 f6

DESPERATELY SEEKING FREEDOM

Nielsen and Hansen helpfully comment that after the alternative 12...Na5 13.Bxb7 Nxb7 14.Qe2 d6 15.e6 f5 16.b4 Nf6 17.Nd5 Ng4 18.Rac1 Qe8 19.Nb5 "Black's position was downright awful in Mortensen-Kristensen, Denmark 1983."

What is going on here? One, my opponent knows these games, I don't. Two, this opening leads to passive, defensive positions, not suited to my style, as an attacking player. Three, I was playing a line that had been smashed before, AND I HAD NO IMPROVEMENT READY!

Evidently I deserved torture!

13.Qd2!

And now I saw my attempt to "force" White to relinquish his center pawn, was just slightly flawed, e.g. 13...fxe5 14.fxe5 Bxe5 15.Bd5+ e6 16.Bxe6+!

BLACK IS TOAST

and as Yudasin would say, "Black's best move is resigns!"

13...fxe5

14.fxe5 Nc7

15.Bh6 Ne6

16.Bxg7 Kxg7

WHITE NOW ADMIRED HIS POSITION

He actually thought here. After some cogitation, he decided it would be more fun to torture me than to go straight for a kingside attack that might give me some slight chance.

17.Bxc6! Bxc6

18.Rxf8 Nxf8

19.Rd1 Ba8

COWERING ON THE BACK RANK

I was really proud of myself now! After nineteen moves I have succeeded in developing all my pieces . to the back rank! It's not every IM who can do this!

20.Qg5!

At this point, let me introduce the somewhat mysterious character of "play". A strong master looks at this position and says, "White has all the play." Which is true, but what does it mean? I would say, this means, White has objectives. (Unfortunately one of these is my king!) White can attack my king, he can pressure the d-file, he can gain space on the queenside. All these are laudable objectives.

But what can Black do?

Nothing - he is only reacting to White's threats, and thus has "no play of his own." It's separate, but it's sure not equal!

20...Kh8

21.b3

I believe the generic "annotator's comment" is emphasizing Black's "helplessness." OK, it's a good line!

21...Qe8

22.Rf1

The torture begins in earnest. White can effortlessly shift his forces, while Black can barely escape the back rank! There is no need to criticize Black's moves - but all the criticism in the world can be levied at the Black player for allowing himself to get into this mess! That is what proper opening preparation is all about!

22...Ne6

23.Nxe6 dxe6

24.h4 a6

25.Ne2 b5

26.Nf4 bxc4

27.bxc4!

WHY RUSH TO PULL THE TRIGGER?

Alas, my opponent, enjoying this torture, is in no hurry and doesn't let me have tricks with a passed pawn.

27...Be4

27...Rxc4 is met by 28.Nxe6 when Black can't do anything about the threat of 29.Rf8+.

28.Nxe6 Qd7

29.Nf4 Rxc4

30.Qh6

THE AGONY IS ALMOST OVER

30...Kg8

Nothing saves Black, e.g. 30...Rc8 31.Ng6+ is fatal.

31.Ne6 Qa7+

32.Kh2 Thrilled that I had given check, I decided that I had worked hard enough and resigned the game! 1-0.

Next up in Part 2: I TRIUMPH as Black in another Accelerated Dragon, vs. GM Kovacevic - I make a draw! How incredibly exciting!