Finding chess again

I've returned to tournament chess. I was 1 for 4 in my return at the Morgantown Spring Open. I've been playing on-line at http://freechess.org as well. My rating is fluctuating wildly, but has dipped a bit from where it was. I think it's on the climb again, but I'm behind my all time high in both USCF tournament play as well as on-line. I have some games to analyze and I think I must be lacking something fundamental that I had before. Possibly I'm giving up too much to try and fit everything into my game plan. I haven't been seeking to force trades as black and I haven't been defending the center as white, preferring a king-side attack with the Bishop's opening. I'm pretty sure that its a weak opening, but I was hopeful that it was not so fashionable anymore and that my opponents would know less about it than me, which hasn't always been the case. It may be time to get a chess book or give up on favoring a particular opening and just using solid opening theory, without worrying about book. That's dangerous too, since playing a common opening could mean that a more studious player could put me in a trap on a common line.

I remember when I played back in high school that one of my adult opponents said, "I'd hate to play you when your 30." I don't think he'd have so much to worry about. Maybe I should get Chess Praxis and My System and read them. It's on my to-do list anyways.