Ok… This has to be a quick and dirty recap of the Boston’s win over the Queen’s Pioneers (2.5 – 1.5) since this is a short week with our next match on Monday. So, first congratulations to all the players for making the playoffs once again and for entertaining us with some incredible chess.

It seemed that every single game was… well… weird. Usually, I don’t understand one or two of the games… and I just chalk it up to my own inadequacies… who am I to question GMs and SMs. But, this night was different… I didn’t understand any of the games.

On Board 3, Marc, as White, was off to his usual fast start and won a piece in like… 10 moves?… against a strong IM?… in which his opponent played the very safe and solid Caro-Kahn?

Second board had Eugene, after a very nice opening as Black, pitch the exchange for no reason and no compensation, against a strong IM… and draw?

Andrew, playing Black on board 4, seemed to be struggling in the opening… but everybody told me I was crazy and he was winning?… and he did?… with a nice positional exchange sac which, of course, I never saw coming?

Finally, Larry, as White, played… well, his usual, incomprehensible (at least to me) opening… got into trouble… dropped a pawn… then, just when it seemed he swindled a draw… again, everyone disagreed with me and said he was lost… and after the team had clinched the match… he just wandered aimlessly into a loss? Why? I don’t know. Third base.

But, I don’t think I know much, these days, not much at all. You see, as you get older, the usable portion of your brain shrinks… and it’s nights like this that make me think that my brain has been washed in too hot water and dried in too high heat… I just don’t understand… not at all.

But, I do appreciate… and especially so, the pieces-flying style, of one SM Esserman, who never fails to entertain…


SM Marc Esserman (BOS) vs. IM Yuri Lapshun (QNS)

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Be6

Now here’s something you don’t see very much… at least, not from 2500+ players. I did find some games by GM Miles… a known eccentric. In general, the variation has a poor reputation.

6. Nge2!?…

The earliest game I found with this move was GM Mark Hebden-IM Andrew Martin, 1985. It continued, 6… dxc 7. Nf4 Bc8 8. Bxc4 e6 9. d5 e5 10. O-O… and White won on move 28. Let’s give him credit for this method.

6… Nc6?!

After this Black has problems. Around this time, Marc passed by in the hall and mentioned to me that he hasn’t given away a pawn. I told him that that means he should win in 10 moves… I think he took me too literally.

7. Nf4 g6 8. Be2 Qa5?

I think this may be the losing move. After 8… Bg7 9. Bf3 Bd7 Black has a bad game and will be a pawn down for a long time. But, at least he is developing.

9. Bd2 dxc4?

IM Lapshun must be tired of this game. He had to play 9… Qd8 10. Be3… and it is Black’s turn again to chose a loser.

10. d5 O-O-O 11. dxc6 Bh6

Position after 11… Bh6

At this point, I was in our “analysis” room. That’s where we all gather around computers and chess boards and say stupid things like “What the heck is he doing?”… I know I was saying something like… “Why doesn’t Black just resign?”. He is down a piece and still has a bad position.

12. cxb7+ Kb8 13. Ncd5!?…

“He played what?” , could be heard throughout the analysis room.
We all thought that 13.O-O… was the simplest as White gets out of harms way and keeps his piece. But, we were wrong. Yes, 13. O-O.. was better… or even 13. Qc1… However, each leads only to an exchange up game with White winning. Let’s take a look at Black’s options.

First, after the game move, best is 13…Rxd5 14.Bxa5 Rxd1+ 15.Rxd1 Bxf4 16.Bf3…
and Black is down the exchange in a bad position. White is winning (Fritz +-2.11).

Second, if White had opted for the better 13.0–0 Bf5 14.Ncd5 Rxd5 15.Bxa5 Rxd1 16.Raxd1 Bxf4 17.Bxc4 Kxb7
White is winning (Fritz +-3.56)

Third, and again better 13.Qc1 Rxd2 14.Qxd2 Rd8 15.Qe3 Bf5 16.Qxe7 Bxf4 17.0–0…
White is winning (+-3.23)

So, what’s my point… I guess it is that if each of the above is winning… it is just a matter of taste… and we all owe Marc an apology for criticizing this move afterward… especially since it is this move that caused his opponent to panic and play…

13… Qxd2+?…

IM Lapshun realizes he is lost and prefers to go down with some complications.

14. Qxd2 Nxd5 15. Qa5 Bxf4 16. O-O…

Position after 16. O-O…

Black has two minor pieces for his queen… not enough. White is winning (Fritz +-4.25).
So, really, which of White’s 13th moves was best?… Marc, I apologize.

The rest is tricky but anticlimactic… except, that I would like to point out three transitions. It starts above with Queen for two minors, and continues…

16… Nb6 17. Rad1 Bd5 18. Qa3 Rd7 19. Bf3 e6 20. Bxd5 exd5 21. Rfe1 d4 22. Re4 Bd6 23. Qh3 Bc5 24. Re5 Rc7 25. Rxc5! Rxc5 26. Rxd4 Re8

Position after 26… Re8

Transition 1… Queen for Rook and Knight (Fritz +-3.23)

27. g4 Kxb7 28. Qf3+ Ka6 29. Qxf7 Re1+ 30. Kg2 Ra1 31. b4 Rc8
32. Rd7!! Nxd7 33. Qxd7 Rb8

Position after 33… Rb8

Transition 2… Queen for two Rooks (Fritz +-7.17)

Black is helpless… a direct result of his failure to resign on move 10.

34. Qc6+ Rb6 35. Qc8+ Kb5 36. Qc5+ Ka6 37. Qxc4+ Kb7 38. Qd5+ Ka6
39. Qc4+ Kb7 40. b5 Ka8 41. a4 h5 42. g5 Ra3 43. Qc8+ Rb8 44. Qc6+ Rb7
45. Qe4 Ra1 46. h3 Ra3 47. Qe8+ Rb8 48. Qc6+ Rb7 49. Qe4 Ra1 50. Qe8+ Rb8
51. Qxg6 Rxa4 52. Qc6+ Rb7 53. g6 Rd4 54. g7 Rd8 55. Qd5…
{Black resigns} 1-0

Final position

A very pretty picture. Not a simple game, but Marc was in control all the way.
Boston (1 – 0)

Having completely misunderstood this game… let’s move on to another game that just left the audience stunned.

IM Dmitry Schneider (QNS) vs. GM Eugene Perelshteyn (BOS) — Board 2

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 g6 7. O-O Bg7
8. Nb3 O-O 9. f4?!…

More common is 9. Be3… to slow Black’s counterplay.

9… b5

The pawn is immune due to the check.

Position after 9… b5

The game is about equal.

10. Bf3 b4 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Qb6+ 13. Kh1 Na5 14. Re1?!
(14. Nxa5 Qxa5 is slightly better for Black) 14… Nc4 15. Rb1 (15. Nd2 Nxd2
16. Bxd2 Bxb2 17. Rb1 Bf6 18. Rxb4… =) 15… Ba6 16. Re4 (16. Rxe7 Rae8
17. Rxe8 Rxe8 =) 16… Rac8 17. Be2 Rc7 18. f5?! gxf5 19. Rh4 Ne5
(Black is better -/+0.60) (19… e5 20. Qf1 f4 -/+ 1.20) 20. Bxa6 Qxa6 21. Be3 Ng4
22. Bg1 Qc8

This is only equal. Fritz likes the computer-like 22… e5 23. Rh5 Qxa2
But, 22… e6 is safer. For example, 23. Nd4 Qxa2 24. dxe fxe 25. b3 Re8
26. Ra1 Qb2 27. Rb1 Qa2 ( 27… Qc3 28. Nb5… )

Position after 22… Qc8

23. Nd4 Rc5? Oops! Losing the exchange…White is winning.

In the analysis room… “Huh! What’s he doing?” Eugene walked out into the hall
with a sheepish smile on his face. I can only think that he meant to play 23… Rc4.
Fritz likes 23… a5 But, the real problem is that Black’s pieces will lack scope after
the Knight is driven back.

24. Nxf5 Qxf5 25. Bxc5 h5 26. Bxa7 Ra8 27. Bg1? (27.h3!…)
Rxa2 28. Rh3 Bxb2 29. Rf3 Qe4 30. Qd2 Bf6 31. Rxb4 Qxc2 32. Qxc2 Rxc2
33. h3 Ne5 34. Rf5 h4 35. Be3 Kg7 36. Bg5 Kg6

Somehow, this position arose. I don’t understand how… but it did.

Position after 36… Kg6

Black wins back the exchange and the game is a draw.

37. Bxf6 Kxf5 38. Bxe7 Nc4 39. Rb1 Ke4 40. Bxh4 Kxd5 41. Rf1 Ne5
42. Bg3 Ke6 43. Re1 f6 44. Kg1 d5 45. Rd1 Nc4 46. Bf2 Nd6 47. Bd4 Ne4 48. Kh2
Kf5 49. Rf1+ Ke6 50. Rd1 f5 51. Be3 Ke5 52. Bd4+ Ke6 53. Be3 Re2 54. Bf4 Rf2
55. Be3 Re2 56. Bf4 Rf2 57. Be3 Re2 {Game drawn by repetition} 1/2-1/2

Boston (1.5 – 0.5)

You see what I mean… I didn’t understand this game either… did you?
Well, no need to ponder too long as our youngest player was rolling…
Or was he?

Jeff Kelleher (QNS) vs. Andrew Wang (BOS)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f4 0–0 6.Nf3 c5 7.d5 e6 8.dxe6…

8.Be2 exd5 9.cxd5… is standard and probably best.

8…fxe6 9.Bd3 Nc6 10.0–0 b6 11.Kh1?…

Very passive… The game is equal. 11.Qe1!?… keeps an initiative

11… Nh5?!

Too aggressive. Black should do something about his development. 11… Bb7 makes more sense.

Position after 11… Nh5?!

Young players often forget that they are Black and must defend first.
After the game move, White reacts correctly with the violent…

12.f5 Ne5 13.fxg6?! …

But, this is only equal.
13.Bg5!?… +/- 0.50 If 13… Qd7 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. Qg4… +/- 0.70 White is better.
After the game’s 13.fxg6?!… Black can ease his defense by exchanging Rooks.

13…hxg6 14.Bg5 Qd7 15.Nh4 Nf6?!

Black could have had the better of equality with…15…Rxf1+ 16.Bxf1 Bb7 17.Nxg6 Ng3+
18.hxg3 Nxg6 19.Qh5 Ne5 20.Be2 Rf8 21.Bf4…
Now, White continues very nicely with a strong initiative against the
weakened Black Kingside.

16.Bf4! Kh7?!

Position after 16… Kh7

Now 17.Bxe5 dxe 18. Nf3… with the better game. Fritz prefers giving up the
g6 pawn with 16… Nfg4. However, I have no confidence in either this or the game.
At this point, I thought Andrew was suffering… but everyone else seemed to
think otherwise. Was it me? What do you think after…

17.Be2 Nf7 18.Nf3?!…

Now is the time to attack with 18.Qd3 e5 19.Bd2 Bb7 20.Qg3 Nh8 21.Nf3

Analysis Position after 21. Nf3…

White is much better.

18…Bb7 The game is equal

19.Qc2 Nh5 20.Ng5+ Nxg5 21.Bxg5 Be5 22.Bxh5 gxh5 23.Qe2 Kg6
24.Bd2 Qe7 25.Qe3 Bg7 26.e5 dxe5 27.Ne4?!… [27.Qd3+ Rf5 28.Ne4…
keeps the balance.] 27…Qh4 28.Ng3 Qg4 29.Qd3+ e4 30.Qe3 Rad8 31.Ne2??…

White had to play 31. Rxf8 Rxf8 33. h3 Qh4 34. Kh2… to ease the pain.
However, he is nearly lost in either case.

Position after 31. Ne2??…

31… Rd3

This keeps the win… but, Andrew misses the best…

31…Rxd2! 32.Qxd2 e3 33.Nf4+ Rxf4 34.Rxf4 Qxf4 35.Qd3+ Be4 36.Qf1 Qxf1+
37.Rxf1 e2

Analysis position after 37… e2

Black is easily winning.

32.Nf4+ Rxf4 33.Qxf4 e3 [33...Rxd2 wins a Bishop] 34.Qxg4+
[34.Qf7+ Kh7 35.Qxb7… keeps White in the game.] 34…hxg4 35.Bc3 Bxc3 36.bxc3 Rd2 37.Rg1 e2

White is lost.

Position after 37… e2

Also, good was…
37…Rf2 38.Rae1 a) 38.Rad1 e2 39.Rde1 Be4 40.Ra1 Bd3;
b) 38.a4 e2 39.a5 bxa5 40.Rab1 (40.Rxa5 Bxg2+) 40…Be4 41.Ra1 a4; 38…e2
With the Rook on the f-file, White’s King never gets in the game and he quickly runs out of useful moves.

But, the game move ends well also.

38.Rge1 Ba6 39.Kg1 Bxc4 40.a3 Kf5 41.Kf2 Kf4 42.Rac1 e5 43.Ra1 e4 44.g3+ Ke5
45.Ke3 Rd7 46.Rh1 Rh7 47.Rac1 Bd3 48.Ra1 Rf7 49.Rae1 Rf3+ 50.Kd2 Kd5
51.h3 gxh3 52.Rxh3 Kc4 53.Rhh1 Rxg3 54.Reg1 e3+ 55.Ke1 Rf3 White resigns 0–1

Final Position… Mate in five

I was a little worried about this game in the opening… I guess unnecessarily so.
Well, all’s well that ends well. Congratulations to Andrew for winning the match.
Boston (2.5 – 0.5)

At this point, I thought Larry’s game was a draw… shows what I know. I assumed he
was not making the easy drawish moves because he knew we didn’t need the game.
Turns out, again, I know nothing.

GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) vs. IM Eli Vovsha (QNS)

I think it’s safe to say that Larry has been in a slump this season. His record of 2 wins
and 2 losses, counting this game, is far below his norm. We were hoping this was
the game he would get back on track.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Qa4+…

Unusual, but not bad. White keeps things solid… no exchange sacrifice here.

7… Nd7 8.Nf3 0–0 9.Bg5 c5 10.h3?!…

This is unusual in a bad way. Theory is getting the Rook out of harms way
with Rb1 or Rc1… and Black’s next points out why.

10… cxd4 11.cxd4 Nc5

Black grabs an advantage early.

Position after 11… Nc5

Now, 12. Qc2… is hit by 12… Ne6 and White will lose a pawn with little compensation.

12.Qa3 Nxe4 13.Bxe7 Qc7?!

Another of those moves I don’t understand. It is clear that White will move his Rook
to c1 with tempo. Is f4 that good a square?

13…Qb6 14.Be2 Bxd4 15.Nxd4 Qxd4 16.0–0 Re8
Winning a pawn at the cost of the two Bishops seems dangerous. I can’t blame
IM Vovsha for rejecting it. But, maybe, b6 was the correct location for the Queen
in the first place.

14.Rc1 Qf4 15.Be2?!…

This is about equal. It is very un-like Larry to play a passive move like this
when an obviously aggressive move would give him the advantage…

After 15.Bc4 Re8 16.0–0 Bd7 17.Bd5… White is better.

Analysis position after 17. Bd5…

White will win a pawn. For example, 17… Bc6 18. Rxc6 bxc 19. Bxc6…
(Fritz +/- 1.17)

15…Re8 16.0–0 Be6 17.Bc4?!…

Admitting his earlier mistake does not make things easy in this case.
Again, the aggressive 17.Bb5 Rec8 18.Rxc8+ Rxc8 19.Qxa7… kept things
about equal. White probably can’t hold the extra pawn.

17…Bxc4 18.Rxc4 Nd2 19.Nxd2 Qxd2 20.Bb4 Qf4 21.Qb3?!…

Again, a move that I just don’t understand.

Instead 21.Bd6 Qe4 22.Qb3 Qd5 23.Rc7… is about equal.

21…b5!

Now, White is worse as Black’s Queenside pawns get moving quickly.

Position after 21… b5!

Larry has passed by several chances to make things tough on Black and now,
it is tough for White. I guess this is the stuff of which slumps are made…
simply, missing opportunities.

22.Rc5 a5 23.Bc3 b4 24.Ba1 Bxd4 25.Bxd4 Qxd4 26.Rc7 Qf4 27.Rb7 Reb8
28.Rxb8+ Rxb8 29.Qa4 Qe5 30.Qd7 Qb5 31.Qc7 a4 32.Re1 b3 33.axb3 axb3 34.Kh2…

Position after 34. Kh2…

Black is winning… but, Larry makes it very difficult for his opponent.
In the war room we were all saying… “it’s easy” and with every other
move… “Why didn’t he…?”

34… b2 35.Rb1 h5 36.Qe7 Qf5 37.Qe1 h4 38.Kg1 Qc2 39.Kh2 Qc7+
40.Kg1 Qc2 41.Kh2 Rc8 42.f4 Qc1 43.Qe4 …

Position after 43. Qe4…

Now Black can apply the coup-de-gracie, as George Burns used to say.

43…Rd8 44.f5 Rd1 45.Qe8+ Kg7 46.Qe5+ f6 47.Qe7+ Kh6

Analysis position after 47… Kh6

And the threat of mate is not helped by 48. Rxc8…

43… Qc2 44.Qe1 Qc1 45.Qe4 Qc2 46.Qe1 Rb8 47.Qe5 Qxb1 48.Qxb8+ Kh7
49.f5 gxf5 50.Qb3 Kg8 51.Qb8+ Kh7 52.Qb3 Kg7 53.Qc3+ Kg6 54.Qc6+ Kg5
55.Qc3 f6 56.Qe3+ f4 57.Qb3 Kh6 58.Qb8 f3 59.Qf4+ Kg7 60.Qg4+ Qg6
61.Qd7+ Qf7 62.Qg4+ Kf8 63.Qb4+ Qe7 64.Qxb2 Qd6+ 65.Kh1 Qf4 66.Qa3+ Kf7
67.gxf3 [67.Qxf3 Qxf3 68. gxf3… is lost] Qg3 68.Qa2+ Kf8 69.Qe6?…

Position after 68… Kf8

69. Qg2! Qxg2 70. Kxg2… is a draw. Another missed opportunity.

69… Qxf3+ 70.Kg1 Qg3+ 71.Kh1 Qf3+ 72.Kg1 Qf4 73.Qd7 Qe4 74.Kf2 f5
75.Qh7?…

Position after 75. Qh7?…

White had to start checking with 75. Qd8+… with a very possible draw… although
Queen endings are impossible to evaluate perfectly. Still, after the game move, there
is no chance.

75… Qf4+ 76.Ke2 Qh2+ 77.Ke1 Qxh3 78.Qh8+ Kf7 79.Qh7+ Kf6 80.Qh8+ Kg5
81.Qg7+ Kf4 82.Qd4+ Kg3 83.Qf2+ Kg4 84.Qd4+ f4 85.Qd7+ Kg3 86.Qd3+ f3
87.Qe3 Qh1+ 88.Kd2 Qg2+ 89.Kc3 Kh2 White resigns 0–1

A tough one for Larry… about the only good thing is Boston (2.5 – 1.5)

With this win, Boston is assured to be in the playoffs. I guess this means
Jorge can give the regulars some rest and experiment a little… although Boston
has fielded a variety of lineups so far… I don’t think they can surprise us… can
they? But then, what do I know? I can’t even guess the next game move… let
alone, the next match move. Nice playing guys… I think… and good luck in
the Playoffs.