Can it be? Is it really the beginning of another season? I guess when you get to my age, tempus fugit, space warps, and obviously won games are incredibly lost. My sympathies to Queens and GM Stripunsky and, most of all, to the relayer, who, I assume, was most unceremoniously beaten with fine strips of bamboo.

Oh, the horror of having lost your team’s draw on a relayer’s mouse slip; well at least that’s the story we got. But, more on that later.

It was a match of sorrow and elation as the Boston Blitz met the Queens Pioneers, that other New York team, on a night of the Good… the Bad… and the Ugly! Looking at things from the Boston perspective, let’s start with the first game to finish… and my candidate for “the Ugly” part of the evening.

FM Andrei Azremba (QNS) vs. SM Marc Esserman (BOS) — Board 3

1.d4 f5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5 d5 4.Bxf6 exf6 5.e3 Be6 6.Bd3 Qd7 7.Nge2…

The beginning of a sneaky plan and, I suspect, some home preparation. Another more common path is 7. h4 h5 8.Nh3 Nc6 and the White Knight eyes f4 from a different angle.

7… Nc6 8.a3 Ne7 9.b3!?…

And here it is… the prep (my guess)… an odd but solid continuation. I could find only two games with this, (Arutinian,Davi – Nijboen, Frisco, 2006, ½-½ and Shengeilia, Da. – Schlosser,Ph. 2006, ½-½) both of which had Black Castling Kingside with not much happening.

Any guesses as to White’s plan?

9… Bf7?!

I didn’t like this move and, as it turns out, it is really a lost tempo. Black should wait for White’s Nf4 before playing this.

10.Na4 0-0-0

Yikes! I thought White’s plan deterred Queenside castling. After the game, I asked Marc if he considered this move a mistake… He did not. Marc is always looking for a fight. He is unrelenting in this respect and this can be his greatest strength and most notable weakness.

11.c4 Kb8 12.Qc2 g6 13.0-0 h5 14.c5…

White’s attack is brutal and practically plays itself. Marc’s eyes reflected his disgust with his position. After the game he told me he was obviously lost… the kind of game good players just file as an oops… and quickly move on. Would he castle queenside again?… I wouldn’t bet against it.

14… h4 15.b4 h3 16.g3 Bh6 17.b5 b6 18.c6 Qd6 19.Nac3 Rhe8

White’s attack is inexorable… how to prevent the opening of the Black King’s position. 19… a5 20.bxa6 Nxc6 21.Nb5 Qd7 22.Rfc1… seems hopeless, as does 20… Qxc6 21.a4 Ka8 (eh! What else?) 22.a5… etc…

20.a4 Nc8 21.a5 Re7 22.Ra4 Rde8 23.Na2 Ka8 24.Nb4 Bg8 25.Rfa1 Qe6 26.axb6 cxb6 27.c7! Qd6?!

27… Qd7 made things tougher, as the combination in the game was not available.

28.Rxa7+! Nxa7 29.c8Q+ Rxc8 30.Qxc8+ Qb8 31.Qc6+ Rb7 32.Qxf6 Qf8 33.Qxg6 Bf7 34.Qxf5 Qxb4 Why not… 35.Qc8+ Rb8 36.Rxa7+ Black resigns 1-0

A very nice mating combo, and probably the best game of the match… if we’re being fair… Naahh! I won’t go that far. Boston (0 – 1)

And now for something good!

Let’s have a nice round of applause for the newest and youngest Boston team member Andrew Wang making a wonderful debut as white against Queens’ Shaun Smith. I can’t say the play was flawless… but, once Andrew got the attack, he never let up.

Andrew Wang (BOS) vs Shaun Smith (QNS) — Board 4

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d3 Bg7 4. g3 Nc6 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O e6 7. c3…

White’s last move signals a King’s Indian Attack where he possibly intends queenside expansion with a3 and b4 rather than the Fischer style that develops later in this game. I think that this must have thrown off his opponent as his reply seems, to be kind, not the best.

7… Qb6?!

Is the point really to threaten the b-pawn? Controlling d4 was better accomplished with 6…e5. We are out of book early here. One possible alternative is 7… Nf6 8. Re1 e5 9. a3 O-O 10. b4… Now, White switches to the manly attack… I’m sure Jorge approved.

8. Na3!?…

Heading for g4.

8… d5 9. Qe2 Nge7 10. h4 h6 11. Bf4 O-O 12. e5 a6 13. Rab1 Kh7
14. Nc2 Qc7 15. Rfe1 b6 16. d4 c4 17. Ne3 Nf5 18. Ng4 Qd8 19. Kh2…

The beginning of an elaborate series of moves to prepare h5… which Fritz says can be done immediately with no harm to White if Black captures as Black’s King is too exposed. But, hey… who can argue with success.

19… b5 20. Rh1 b4 21. Kg1 Rb8 22. Rc1 Rb7 23. Qd2 Qa5 24. h5 g5 25. Bxg5! Qxa2

The Bishop cannot be captured…

Yes, it is mate after… 25… hxg5 26. h6 Bh8 27. Nxg5+ Kg6 28. Qd1! Kxg5 29. Nf6 Bxf6 30. Qh5#

Black cannot stop Ng4f6 and mate on h5.

26. Qf4?…

But this single move throws away White’s advantage. Better was… 26. Bf6 Rg8 27. Bxg7 bxc3 28. Qf4 Kxg7 29. bxc3. The difference is that Black does not have 26…Qxb2.

26… bxc3?

Trading mistakes. After 26… Qxb2 27. Bf6 bxc3 28. Bxg7 Kxg7 Black is better.

27. bxc3 Rb2 28. Bf6 Rg8 29. Nh4 Nce7 30. Bxg7 Rxg7 31. Nf6+ Kh8
32. g4… winning

No home for the Knight.

32… Rg5 33. gxf5 exf5 34. Rh3 Qa3 35. Rg3 Rxf2 36. Kxf2 Black resigns 1-0

Congratulations Andrew. Boston (1 – 1)

And now the other good thing… a very nice positional lesson from GM Eugene Perelshteyn. I must say, I never quite know who has the advantage in Eugene’s games… but I’ll keep trying… even if it makes my head hurt.
Take a look and I think you’ll see what I mean.

GM Eugene Perelshteyn (BOS) vs. IM Eli Vovsha (QNS) — Board 2

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 Bg4 3. c4 Bxf3

A rare move in high level play. I found only two games, (Aronian,L. vs Svidler P., 2004, ½-½ and BuXiangzhi vs. Svidler,P. 2005, ½-½) Both featured an early d5 by White as in this game. Eugene now keeps the advantage throughout the game using the Bishop vs. Knight to perfection… or nearly so.

4. exf3 Nd7 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 c6 7. Qd2 Bg7 8.Be2 Nb6 9. d5 Nf6 10. dxc6 bxc6 11. O-O O-O 12. Rac1 d5 13. b3 e5 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. Bc5 Re8 16. Rfd1 d4 17. Ne4 Nxe4 18. fxe4 Qh4 19. Qd3 Bf8 20. g3 Qh3 21. Bxf8 Kxf8?!

Taking with the King seems a slight mistake… as White has checks and other attacking maneuvers that affect things negatively for Black.

22. Qa6…

Possibly 22.f4 f6 23.Rf1… is better and taking 22… exf leaves Black with a weak isolani in the endgame.

Fritz rates White’s advantage about half a pawn, not nearly lost. This is the position I asked Eugene about after the game. He considered it advantage for White and nearly winning. During the game, I thought this was drawish. Now, after some work with Fritz, I don’t think so… it is very tough on Black… If you have GM technique and don’t get fooled by that protected passer.

22…Rec8 23. a4! Qd7?

Now White’s advantage is very large as the endgame of Bishop vs. Knight looms.

24. a5 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Rc8 26. Rxc8+?!…

Here Eugene overlooks a simple move creating a much larger advantage. Fritz shows 26. Rf1 Na8 27. Bc4… and Black’s Knight is struggling.

27… Kg7 (Showing the slight weakness of the King on f8) 28.f4… and White is winning… or, 27… Rc6 28.Qb5 Nc7 29.Qb8+… and the either the a-pawn or the e-pawn goes. The game continuation is probably still winning, but more difficult.

26… Nxc8 27. Qf6 Kg8

Again the weakness of the K on f8. Black cannot save the pawn… for example, 27… Qe6 28. Qa8+ Ke7 29.Bc4 Qd7 30. Qxe5+…

28. Qxe5 d3 29. Bd1 Ne7 30. Kf1 Nc6 31. Qc3 Qd6 32. Ke1 Nb4 33. Kd2 Qe7 34. Qc4?!…

Fritz says this move drops the advantage to half a pawn. Better was 34. e5 Na2 35. Qd4 Qc7 36. Kxd3 Qxa5 37. Ke3 Nb4 38. f4… Why?…

34… Qd6?

Oops! Black misses 34… Qg5+ picking up the a-pawn and he is back in the game. Or, 35. Kc3 Qc8+ 36. Kxb4 Qxd1 with a tough game ahead.

35… Na2 36. b4 Nxb4…

Better was 36… Qxb4+ 37. Qxb4 Nxb4 38. Bb3… but, still lost.

37. Bb3 Qe7 38. Kc3 Nc2 39. Kxd3 Na3 40. Qd5 Qc7 41. e5 Nb1 42. Bc4 Kf8 43. Qd6+ Qxd6+ 44. exd6 Na3 45. Ba6

The Knight is trapped… Wow! A nice positional win…what else?… From Boston’s master of the grind. The rest is easy…
45… Ke8 46. Kc3 Kd7 47. Bd3 Kxd6 48. Kb3 Black resigns 0-1

But, really… it was won after 4… Bxf3… You can’t give Eugene the two Bishops… can you? Boston (2 – 1)

And now for the Bad… no not the game or the play… it was the end that was bad. Bad for the losing team, bad for the league, and really bad news for us relayers. See if you agree…

GM Alex Stripunsky (QNS) vs. GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) — Board 1

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6

The Philidor… All I can say is, Larry can and does play anything. A quick search of the online db shows that he has played this rarely in top competition with two draws. His game against GM Joel Benjamin in 1997 was quite nice for Black.

3. Bc4 Be7 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Bf4…

Now this move is not very common in master play. In fact, I can’t find a good example. Of course, I’m sure it has been played and it is quite logical. White maintains a slight pull.

So, the GMs have traded surprises. Larry continues very simply.

7… Re8 8.O-O Bf8 9. Re1 c6 10. a4 a5 11. h3 Nbd7 12. Nf3 Nb6 13. Bb3 Be6 14. Bxe6 Rxe6 15. Qd3 Nfd7 16. Rad1 Qf6 17. Be3 h6 18. Bd4 Qe7 19. Bxb6 Nxb6 20. Nd4 Rf6 21.b3 Qc7 22. Re3 Nd7 23. g3 Qb6 24. Qe2 Nc5 25. Kg2 Ne6 26. Nf3 Re8 27. h4…

This move is interesting, not because it is good, rather because it shakes things up in a game that has been dead equal since about move 20. Actually, Fritz gives black an edge after this. But, in equal games you need to unbalance things to keep playing and GM Stripunsky’s judgement proves correct.

27… Rg6 28. Kh2 h5 29. Nb1 Rg4 30. Nbd2 Be7 31. Nc4 Qc5 32. Qd2…

Now this is an interesting, but equal position. White is threatening the a-pawn… What to do?

Fritz says simply 27… Ra8… sticking your thumb in your ears and wiggling your fingers with a Na! Na!… Na! Na! Na! type of game. Sure, Black has weakenesses, the d6 and a5 pawns… but what about White’s weakened Kingside and the e4 pawn. The game is equal…Yet, Larry chuck’s a pawn.

32… b5? 33. axb5 cxb5 34. Nxa5 Qb6 35. b4…

White is just up a pawn.

Fritz now suggests as best the dubious variation 35… d5 36. Qxd5 Bxb4 37. Qxh5 Rg6 38. Nb3. Now Black is down two pawns… but at least he got rid of his weak d6 pawn. The idea is to win White’s c-pawn and draw a pawn down ending… not a nice scenario against a strong GM. Larry throws caution to the wind.

35…g5 36. hxg5 Nxg5 37. Qd5 Nxe4 38. Qxh5 Nf6 39. Qf5 Rg6 40. Rd4 Kg7 41. Kg2 Bd8 42. Rxe8 Nxe8 43. Rf4 Bf6 44. Nh4 Rg5 45. Qd7 Qd8 46. Nf5+ Kg6 47. Nh4+ Kg7 48. Qb7 Nc7 49. Nf5+ Kg6 50. Nh4+ Kg7 51. Nc6 Qd7 52. Nb8 Qd8 53. Nf5+ Kg6 54. Nh4+ Kg7 55. Nf3 Rg6 56. Nc6 Qd7 57. Ncd4 Be5 58. Rh4 Bf6 59. Rh5 Qd8 60. Nf5+ Kg8 61. N5d4 Rg4 62. Nc6 Qd7

White has been steadily increasing his advantage… pushing Black around… gaining time on the clock by repeating here and there.

And now, simply 63. Qb8+ Ne8 forced, and 64. Qxb5… wins another pawn and probably Larry resigns. But, here the Gods stepped in and a strange move appeared on the board.

63. Qa8+???

Eeeeck!! I’m sure I express the sentiments of the viewing audience at the time.

63…Nxa8! {White resigns} 0-1

At first we thought a time pressure mistake by GM Stripunsky… but really there was no real time pressure as the position was simple. Then we heard that GM Stripunsky had played the correct 63.Qb8+… and it was his relayer who made the mouse slip.

Evidently, the league does not allow for taking back mouse slips in the last few minutes of a game… relayer or not.

Well, there is no justice in chess… not on this night… and not for GM Stripunsky, certainly. Who knew that a relayer is as much a part of the team as a player… maybe we can have relayer ratings based on fewest mouse slips… this might give me a chance to reach GM relayer… maybe 2600+… Hey! How about World Champion relayer!

I smell another rules change. We can’t lose control of our game to those stinking Mice. Oh well, I probably wouldn’t have made GM relayer anyway… too much pressure.

Boston (3 – 1)