Last week I was at the Mises Institute teaching at its summer program for students, and on the Monday night they held a chess tournament.

I am not good at -- and in fact two years ago resolved to completely avoid -- so-called blitz chess, in which both sides have to play very fast. In my opinion it encourages bad habits and makes the game into more a matter of reflexes than thinking.

But what the heck, I thought.

And I thought to myself: I bet I'll win!

Third round, Woods got knocked out.

D'oh.

Later I played a casual (and slower) game with that same player. Lost again.

Then I discovered why I kept losing: he was rated over 2000, which is officially expert level. (I would estimate my own rating as somewhere around 1700-1750.)

Well, I got one last chance and...I played him to a draw.

Here is the critical position a few moves before he agreed to the draw:

 

(In this position I'm pretty sure he played Rd8.)

Considering his strength, I consider that draw a real accomplishment!

As I say, that was my last chance against him before we left the event.

Well, dear reader, this is your last chance.

Tomorrow we'll be closing down the free review calls my team has been doing with some of you good readers.

In a short conversation you show us what you’ve got in terms of a business or funnel, particularly online (even if all you have is a rough idea), and we’ll give you a straight read on it.

What’s strong, what’s missing, and what we’d do in your shoes.

If you’ve been sitting on this long enough and you’re ready to do something with it, this is a chance to get experienced eyes on your idea and finally get some direction.

It’s the kind of conversation that can, in under an hour, cut through months or even years of spinning your wheels.

And you're talking with people who are actual experts on all this. Not the fake "experts" the state trots out and insists you bend the knee to, but authentic experts who know a huge amount about a great many things.

Tomorrow is the last day, so claim one of the final spots here:

https://www.tomwoods.com/reviewcall

Tom Woods