Stop all your aggrivation, and make a visit to the Painless Dentist.
Go to WallyWorld, buy the small green can of Homer Formby's Furniture Refinisher and a pack of OOOO steel wool from the paint department.
Follow the can directions, pour a little refinisher into a small dish, sop some up with a new OOOO steel wool pad, and just wipe off all the old finish - even in the checkering, where I use an old toothrush.
Let the stock dry overnite, stain if wanted/needed, then finish with Tru-Oil (from WW, too).