Well, it’s time to bite the bullet, so to speak. The match was billed as a sort of showdown at the O.K. Corral and… I guess it kinda turned out that way… The Earp brothers showed up and mercilessly gunned down the people’s favorite Clanton’s. Too bad Boston was on the wrong end of the barrel this time. Come to think of it, weren’t the Clantons and McLaurys braggen on how they was gonna put an end to those Yankees. Hmmm… but that would mean the Earps were from the north, and the Clantons from the south and… I think we got it backwards somehow.

As it turned out, the Dallas Mavericks rode into to town… guns a blazin’… and shot the sheriff and his buddies before they could even pick up a weapon. At least, the aforementioned gunfight left the Earps wounded. Strangely, Boston’s proven championship caliber team went down with a thud in a battle that is the stuff of which legends are made.

Now, hand me that there shovel… I gotsta bury me some bodies… the first being everyone’s favorite 4th board. Deputy Ilya Krasik…

FM Ilya Krasik (BOS) vs. FM Darwin Yang (DAL) — Board 4

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb7 6. Nc3 c5

Position after 6… c5

Ilya’s next move is standard, but, I can’t say I like it much.

7. e4…

This leads to the type of game that Ilya seemed, in my own often erroneous opinion, quite uncomfortable playing. So, may I suggest two other continuations which I like very much.

The first allows White to get in d5, after which I’m sure Ilya would have played more confidently.

7. Bg5 h6 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9. d5 Na6 10. O-O-O O-O-O

The second is a favorite type of gambit of mine… the one in which you give a pawn with no real prospects of getting it back. As an example, may I present the game Bayram – Invanchuk, 2002 which continued…

7.d5!? exd5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Bd2 Nc7 10.e4 Nc6 11.0-0-0 Nd4 12.Qd3 Nce6 13.Kb1 g6 14.h4 h5 15.Ng5 Bg7 16.f4 Nxg5 17.hxg5 Qe7 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.exd5 0-0-0 20.d6 Qxd6 21.g3 Qc6 22.Rh2 Rhe8 23.Bg2 d5 24.Bc3 Kb8 25.g4 hxg4 26.Rh7 Rg8 27.Re1 Nf5 28.Bxg7 Rxg7 29.Rxg7 Nxg7 30.Re7 Rd7 31.Qe2 Ne6 32.Qe5+ Kc8 33.Rxf7 Rxf7 34.Bxd5 Rf5 35.Qh8+ Rf8 36.Qe5 Rf5 37.Qh8+ Rf8 38.Qe5 Rf5 ½ – ½ drawn by perpetual check.

I’m sure Ilya would have been comfortable with this… a bit of humor here.

7… cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bc5 9. Nb3 Nc6 10. Bd3…

This is only equal and seems to lead to somewhat misplaced pieces on White’s side.
Better was 10.Bf4!… threatening to grab Black’s c5 Bishop and post a White Bishop on d6. After the obvious 10.Bf4 d6 11.O-O-O… White has the advantage.

10… O-O 11. Bf4 Nh5 12. Bd2?!…

This is a slight mistake.

Position after 11… Nh5

I know, Knights on the rim… Still, it was time to settle for a draw with…

12. Nxc5 Nxf4 13. Nxb7 Qc7 14. g3 Nxd3+ 15. Qxd3 Qxb7 16. f4…

and a small chance to drum up something. After White’s last, Black has a chance to grab the initiative with 12… Qh4!? 13. O-O Nf6 14. Nxc5 bxc5 15.Nb5 Ne5

12… e5?

Oh, but not this self-inflicted gaping hole. Now, White has a chance to jump on top as the game continued.

13. Nd5 Nd4 14. Nxd4 Bxd4 15. O-O Rc8

Position after 15…Rc8

What to do? What else… eliminate Black’s best piece. 16.Be3! Bxe3 17.fxe3!… gives White the advantage. Or 16.Be3! b5 17.Bxd4 exd 18.Qb3… works even better. By no means is White winning, but he is better.

16. g3?!…

Yeah, the Knight might some day go to f4… who cares. Now Black has a nice move to make use of his misplaced Knight. 16… f5! Yes, and the pawn cannot be take since White’s d5 Knight hangs to the pin on the c-file… and, to boot, the pawn threatens to advance. White’s best would seem to be… 16… f5 17. Bc3 Bxd5 18. exd5 Bxc3 19. Qxc3 e4 20. Be2 Qe8 with Black a scooch better.

16… d6?

No! No! No!.. which piece does this move free? Now White can move back on top with 17.Be3! Bxe3 18.Nxe3… and if 18… b5 19.Rad1 bxc 20.Bxc4… with advantage.

17. Qd1 Nf6

The game is equal.

18. Ra2…

Whoops! I spoke too soon. Black is better. After…

18. Rb1 Nxd5 19. exd5 f5 20. Qh5 e4 21. Be2 b5 22. b3 bxc4 23. bxc4 Ba6 24. Rfc1 Rb8

But, at least White’s pieces seem coordinated. After the games 18.Ra2… White never seems to get his pieces in order.

18… Nxd5 19.cxd5 f5 20. Qf3 fxe4 21. Qxe4 g6 22. b4 Kg7?!

This gives White chances. Black should go after the d-pawn with moves like 22… Rc7 threatening 23…Qa8 or 22… Qf6 to f7. Now, White should again play 23.Be6… to rid himself of that ridiculously good bishop of Black’s… But, alas, this is not in Ilya’s view at the moment.

23. Rc2 Rxc2 24. Bxc2 Qf6 25. Bd3?… (25.Ba4… put up a tougher fight) 25… Qf7

Position after 25…Qf7

The d-pawn is lost… if Black wants it.

26. Bc4 Rc8 27. Bb3 Ba6 28. Qh4 Bxf1 {White resigns} 0-1

Oops! White can’t even lose the exchange by capturing.
Let’s call this the game of the cowardly Bishop who refused to go to e3.
Boston (0-1)

Second to fall was Boston’s Special Deputy Vadim (Doc) Matirisov, who is always prepared very well, although, because he is used only in spot starts, it was thought he could be a little rusty. As he was playing the higher rated FM Keaton Kiewra, this game was a “who knows” match-up. As it turned out, FM Keiwra was a little faster on the draw than we hoped…

FM Keaton Kierwa (DAL) vs. NM Vadim Matirosov (BOS)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. c3 a6 6. Ba4 b5 7. Bc2 Bb7 8. a4!?…

Position after 8.a4!?

This position is more critical than it looks… and credit FM Kierwa for putting on the pressure so early. Since I play the Sicilian e6 opening as Black, I fully understood Vadim’s issue hear… and I have never had success with the early d5 as played here.

8…d5?!

Most games I looked at prefer 8…b4. I must say, I have never understood why. After reviewing this game, my guess is that White’s advantage in development shows to be just a bit too much after the game move. Let’s take a look at some options…

8… Ng6 At least this move does something to help black catch up in development.
9. axb5 (9. Re1 Rc8) 9… axb5 10. Rxa8 Qxa8 11. d4 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 Be7
14. Re1 e5 15. Qd3 Bc6 16. Nd2 O-O and Black will be a tough nut to crack.

8… b4 9. d4 bxc3 10.d5…
Again, I must mention that I love gambits, but this one is just not quite enough. Unless some diligent reader can improve.

(10. bxc3 cxd4 11. cxd4 Nb4 and Black looks ok.)

(10. Nxc3 Nxd4 11. Nxd4 cxd4 12. Qxd4 Nc6 and again Black is fine)

In both options above, White has an edge, but, Black has a playable game… now back to the gambit…

10… cxb2 11. Bxb2 Nb4 12. Bb3 exd5 13. exd5 Nexd5 14. Re1+ Be7 15. Bxg7 Rg8
16. Bh6… and White just doesn’t have enough… I think.

Analysis Position after 16. Bh6…

Did I mention I like these types of gambits? Everything hangs on a thread. Black can’t castle, but White’s f3 Knight may hang in some variations. What is the plan… for both sides? Is there an improvement. If so, this whole 8…b4 may be just as bad as the game.

9. exd5 Nxd5 10. d4?! Be7 (10… b4!?)

Black could have tried to transpose back to the above variations.

11. axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. Nbd2 O-O 15. Ne4 Be7 16. Qd3!…

Ouch! Now, that’s gonna leave a mark.

Position after 16.Qd3!…

White is now firmly on top and it will take the skill of Kramnik to save the game.
The move options for Black are slim and usually will lose the b5 pawn. They are…
16…h6 17.Qxb5 Qc7 and suffering on a pawn down.
16…Qc7 18.Nc6 g6 19.Nxb5… and more suffering
or my favorite loosening move…
16… f5 17. Neg5 Qc8 18. Qe2 Nc7 19. Re1 Rf6 20. Bf4 h6 21. Bxc7 hxg5
22. Nxg5! Qxc7 23. Qh5 Rh6 24. Qf7+ Kh8 25. Qe8+ and White mates.

ridiculous but fun Analysis position after 23.Qh5…
White mates… or wins big time material.

17…Qb8?

There are better forms of suicide, but this is as good as any. I can’t blame Vadim. I think I would want out of my misery here as well.

17. Nc5 g6 18. Nd7 Qb7 19. Nxf8 Bxf8

And Black has lost the exchange for a bad position. The game is lost.

20. Qe2 Nce7 21. Re1 Nf5 22. Bxf5 gxf5 23. Rd1 Qc6 24. Qe5 Bd6 25. Qd4 Be7 26. Bh6 Bf6 27. Qa7 Qe8 28. Ra1 Bc6 29. Nd4 Bg7 30. Nxc6 Bxh6 31. Qb7…
{Black resigns} 1-0

So, the lesson here… always dodge the 8.a4!?… bullet with 8…b4… now I see! All those years and lost games… I might still be a master… Naaahh! 8…b4 is still too tough for me. Nice game by FM Kierwa. Boston (0 – 2)

This put the pressure on the top two boards as both were suffering very nicely on their own without the added knowledge that they must win at any cost… and to their credit, both Bostons top guns refused to go quietly and fell on their swords rather than accept a team loss. Well, maybe a bit dramatic, but, it’s been my experience in watching league games that players often accept draws when they see that they must win or the team loses… Maybe this team spirit is all we can take from this match… and maybe it’s the real reason Boston has been a perennial contender.

The next to go down was top gun GM Larry (Wyatt) Christiansen who had the better of a tricky opening against IM Jacek Stopa until…

IM Jacek Stopa (DAL) vs. GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) – Board 1

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. Qe2…

Very tricky these Indians… Sorry, quick flashback to a Bob Hope movie.
IM Stopa will push e5… and there is really no way to stop it.

Position after 5.Qe2…

5…c6

5… O-O 6. e5 dxe5 7. dxe5 Nd5 8. O-O c6 is about the same as the game.

6. e5 Nd5 7. O-O O-O 8. Bb3…

Fritz and I like… 8. exd6 Qxd6 9. Re1… and White keeps an initiative.
Book is the stifling 8. h3… to prevent Black’s next move.

8…Bg4 seems equal now.

9. Nbd2?!…

This move hands the initiative to Black. 9.Nc3… or 9.exd6 Qxd6 are equal. But, hey… how else to provoke a winnable game in this obtuse opening.

9…dxe5 10. dxe5 Nd7 11. h3 Bf5 12. Nc4?!..

After this, Black has an edge… better was 12.Re1… and with the idea of bringing the Knight through f1 to g3.

Position after 12.Nc4?!…

Black has quite a bit of pressure on the e-pawn. Larry now increases his advantage.

12… a5 13. a3 Qc7 14. Re1 Nc5 15. Ba2 Rad8

I kind of like the space grabbing…

15… b5!? 16. Ne3 Nf4 17. Qf1 Be6 18.Ng4 Bxa2 19.Rxa2… (19.Bxf4? Bc4 wins)
20… Nfe6 21.Bh6 Bxh6 22. Nxh6 Kg7 23.Ng4 h5 24.Ne3 Rfd8…

Analysis position after 24…Rfd8

However, White is solid here although I don’t know what he can do to stop Black’s doubling of Rooks on the d-file. I think Larry was trying to keep things complicated in order to drum up greater winning chances.

16. Ne3 Be6 17. Ng4 Bxg4

This is no more than equality… and Black can’t afford that… at least until he knows what is happening on the bottom boards. Both of which looked bad at this point.

18. hxg4 Ne6 19. Qe4…

The game is still equal. But, Black lacks a plan and White has a clear one.

Position after 19.Qe4…

White has some pressure, but needs a way in.

19… b5 20. Be3 Rd7 21. c4 bxc4 22. Bxc4 Qb7

23. Re2… (23.b3… is better. Now, Black has 23…Rfd8 with near equality)

23… Nec7?!

This is the start of a bad idea. Black can’t afford to weaken f6.

24. Rc1 e6?

Just too weakening.

25. Bc5 Rfd8 26. g5 Bf8 27. Bxf8 Kxf8 28. Qh4 Kg8 29. Nh2 Ne8 30. Ng4 Nb6
31. Nf6+ Nxf6 32. exf6 Rd1+ 33. Re1 Rxc1 34. Rxc1…

There is no hope now.

Position after 34.Rxc1…

Note that… 34… Kh8 35.Qh6 Rg8 fails to 36.Rc3… and it is mate on the h-file.

34… h5 35. gxh6 Nxc4? 36. h7+ {Black resigns} 1-0

Our top gun goes down and with him the match. A very interesting game and congratulations are due to IM Stopa for his whole concept. It’s not easy to beat Larry with a tactical variation.

Boston(0 – 3)

Now, only dignity lay at stake on Board 2 as Jorge (Morgan) Sammour-Hasbun was now in very deep doo-doo against IM Daniel Ludwig… but, as fate would have it, a shotgun blast from out of nowhere brought down our final hero…

SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) vs. IM Daniel Ludwig (DAL) – Board 2

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3
h6 9. Bh4 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Qc7 11. Be2 O-O

A new move in the opening? As far as I can tell, this is the real article and a most logical continuation it is if Black knows he can survive the coming attack.

Position after 11…O-O

The book says 11… Rg8 or 11… Rb8. Mikhail Tal even won a game as Black with the dubious 11…b5. Obviously, IM Ludwig has something special in mind.

Up to now, both sides have been playing best moves according to Fritz.

12. Qg3 Nc5 13. Bf3 e5

Again, best according to my buddy Fritz.

14.Nd5…

But, this is only second best although it does keep an advantage for White. Fritz gives the following…

14. fxe5 dxe5 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Kb1 Be6 17. Nf5 Rfc8

Analysis position after 17…Rfc8

An amazing position and a very good example of why computers are so strong now. Proper play from here consists of the incredible… 18.Ka1… to prevent the equally incredible 18… Na4 (similar to the game) and White cannot take or even move his c3 Knight. Fritz continues with 18… Kh8 of course and 19.Ne3… with advantage to White.

14… Bxf5 15. exf5 Rac8 16. Kb1??…

Position after 16.Kb1?…

This move brings White to the brink of losing. Instead, the following sequence keeps White’s advantage.

16. fxe5 Nfe4 17. Bxe4 Nxe4 18.Qg4 Bxh4 19.Qxe4 Bg5+ 20.Kb1 dxe5

and White is better. Incredibly, 18… Nxc3 is a mistake due to… 19. f6! g6 20. fxe7 Nxd1 21. exf8=Q+ Kxf8 22. Qxd1… and White wins.

Analysis position after 19.f6!…

Wow… these computers. In the game, Black plays the beautiful and forcing…

16… Na4! 17. Nxa4… White has nothing better.

17… Qxc2+ 18. Ka1 e4! Another body blow.

19. Nb6?… This move may be the loser…

Fritz gives this incredible road to equality…

19.Nc3 Rxc3 20.bxc3 Qxc3+ 21.Kb1 exf3 22.Qxf3 Qb4+ 23.Ka1…

Analysis position after 23.Ka1…

and White is in the game… Of course, there are other complex options for Black. But, I saw no definite win. After the game move, Black is probably lost.

19… Rc6 20. Nd7 Rfc8 21. a3 Nxd7 22. Bxe7 Rb6 23. Rb1 exf3
24. f6 Qxg2 25. Rhg1 Qxg3 26. Rxg3 g6 27. Rxf3 d5 28. f5 g5 29. Rg1 Kh7
30. h4 Rg8?

Black’s last is a mistake and makes the win problematic at best. Instead, Black should try 30… gxh4 But, even this is difficult to win.

31. hxg5 Rxg5 32. Rxg5 hxg5 33. Rh3+ Kg8

Position after 33…Kg8

It seems this position is quite drawish after…

34.Rg3 Nxf6 35.Rxg5+ Kh7 36.Rg3 Kh6 37.b4 Rc6 38.Rd3 b5 39.Kg2 Kg5
40.Rxd5 Kf4 41.Bxf6 Rxf6 42.a4 Ke4 43.Rc5 Rxf4 44.Rc6 Rf2+ 45.Ka3 Rf3+
46.Ka2 bxa 47.Rxa6 f5 48.Rxa4… =

Analysis Position after 48.Rxa4… =

Of course, such endings have many other possibilities… so, don’t bet the house that there wasn’t a trick to give Black the win.

Instead, White tried to save the f6 pawn and this just doesn’t work.

34. Rh6 Rc6 35. Ka2 g4 36. Kb3 d4 37. Rh4 Nxf6 38. Bxf6 Rxf6
39. Rxg4+ Kh7 40. Rh4+ Kg7 41. Rxd4 Rxf5 42. Rd7 Rb5+ 43. Kc3 Kf6
44. b4 Ke6 45. Rc7 f5 46. Rh7 Ke5 47. Kc4 f4 48. a4 Rb6 49. b5
axb5+ 50. axb5 f3 51. Kc5 Rf6 52. Re7+ Kf4 {White resigns} 0-1

Final Position

Boston (0 – 4)

And so goes the showdown at the OK Corral… except, of course, that everything was backwards, and the Clantons got their revenge… and the analogy doesn’t fit at all… does it? Well, I buried those bodies anyway… and we’ll remember them Clantons… yeah, we’ll remember them Legends of the West… at least until next week.