Prologue: initial hypotheses and conjectures on MDLM, et al.

This should probably be my "complete profile" section, but I'm going to write it as a post for now.

After implementing a "shortened" (200-problems) version of 7-cir, my rating jumped from 1275 to a whopping 1633 within six tournaments. (This was due, I think, to my increased positional understanding from Silman and others, as well as the tactics and a general sense of "gumption.") Since then, I've f*cked up a bunch of G/30 tournaments, lost my focus and willpower, and begun to drop. Current USCF: 1569, current Yahoo: 1410 (bleh!)

MY BEEF WITH THE MDLM SYSTEM

1) I completed the first Circle, but my performance on many of the last 200 problems was a farce--there were simply too many variations for the problems to be completely solved within 5-10 minutes.

2) None of the so-called "Knights Errant" has duplicated MDLM's performance. Some have improved their rating points by several hundred, but NONE has made it to Expert, or even freakin' 1900 for f*ck's sake. So, what did MDLM have or do that the KE don't/didn't?

3) I don't have a good feeling about MDLM's One-Move-A-Game study plan, and I don't like several of the openings he played (e.g. the "French Blackmar-Diemer," the Schliemann Defense, others.) The man himself admits that he "got lucky" in several of the 2001 World Open games.

And what do I want to do about openings? I want to learn, say, the Two Knights' and the Budapest at the same time as I do my tactical study--but MDLM claims this is a waste of time. I shouldn't do, say, the Two Knights' with One-Move-A-Game, simply because there are too many variations to learn. What, then: the Italian? Too quiet. Sicilian? Too mature for me (and I don't get a good feeling when I play it.) Scandinavian? It seems this should be good, but my results with it so far haven't been good.

I may just need a new attitude. But why did MDLM drop out? I'm thinking he realized that he could not sustain his habit of playing dubious (read: shitty) openings and getting lucky, and would have had to actually undertake a SERIOUS OPENING STUDY, which would have set him back into Class A, making the case for his study program look weak.

I may just have to find my own way. Whatever it is, it will still involve the Seven Circles of CT-Art, but as for the rest, we shall have to see. My first task is to finish this semester and drop out of the program with grace (and get a job.)