What can I say? The Blitz lost to the New York Knights in the quarterfinals… a bitter pill to swallow. However, I have always believed that what it takes to be a good chess player is the ability to take one on the chin and get back up… to quickly forget… and concentrate on the next game. Some rationalization, Huh? Well, to some extent it is true, and especially so for the Blitz fans… just forget… take a Valium… or any of the benzodiazepines will do… there’s always next year.

I was worried going into this match as our top boards had not rounded into form at all this season. Let’s go to the stats… after 10 season matches and 1 quarterfinal…

(wins – draws – Losses) = total pts/11 games

First Board…….. (5 – 0 – 6) …. 5.0 pts.

Second Board…. (3 – 3 – 5) …. 4.5 pts.

Third Board……. (5 – 3 – 3) …. 6.5 pts.

Fourth Board….. (7 – 2 – 2) …. 8.0 pts.

Boston’s negative score on it’s top boards was it’s Achilles heal this season. But, enough recrimination… I’m not bitter… and I’m not one to point fingers… Or, am I? Let’s take one last painful look at the season’s end.

On a night when the bottom boards astonished… the top boards disappointed… and the Blitz will watch the rest of the playoffs through the bottom of an empty beer bottle… or at least Ilya will… but, he watches every match that way.

The evening started well on 3rd board with Vadim on his game in what seemed a hard fought draw… which he won!


NM Matt Herman (NY) vs. NM Vadim Matirisov (BOS) — Board 3

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.c3 Bg7 5.0–0 d6?!

More usual is 5…Nf6 6.Re1 0–0 7.d4 cxd4 8.cxd4 d5 9.e5 Ne4 fighting for the initiative.

6.h3!?…

A bit passive, but probably necessary at some point. White can keep a
strong initiative with the immediate 6.d4 cxd4 7.cxd4… Not fearing… 7… Bg4
for example, 8.d5 a6 9.Be2 Bxf3 10.Bxf3 Ne5 11.Be2 Nf6 12.Be3 0–0
13.f4 Ned7 14.Nc3… with advantage

6…Bd7 7.Re1 a6 8.Bf1 Nf6 9.d4 cxd4 10.cxd4 0–0 11.Nc3 b5 12.e5 Ne8
13.Bf4 dxe5 14.dxe5 Be6 15.Rc1 Nc7

Position after 15… Nc7

Due to his passive 5th move, Black finds himself struggling. White can now grab
a large advantage with… 16.Nxb5 axb5 17.Rxc6 Nd5 18.Bc1 Rxa2 19.Ng5 Qd7
20.Rc5…

Analysis position after 20.Rc5…

Black will lose the b-pawn and/or suffer major positional damage.

16.Qe2?… After this, the game is only a little better for White.

16… Nd4 17.Qe4 Nxf3+ 18.Qxf3 Bd5 19.Qe3 b4 20.Nxd5 Nxd5
21.Qe4 e6 22.Bd2…

The maneuvering is over and White has emerged with a nice advantaged due to
the two Bishops and more active pieces. But, how to remove Black’s Knight.

Position after 22.Bd2…

White is threatening both 22.Rc6… and 22.Bxb4… So…

22…Qb6 23.Rc4…

23.Bc4… more to block the c-file than threaten the Knight was better. For example…
23… Rac8 24.Qh4… and White has a free hand on the Kingside.

23…Rfc8 24.Rec1 Rxc4 25.Bxc4… Now, White’s Queen is tied to the e-pawn.

25…a5 26.Bg5… [26.Be3… is slightly better.] 26…Re8 27.Bxd5 27…exd5
28.Qxd5 Bxe5 the game is equal.
29.Rc6??…

Wow… who would believe that this is a blunder… with an amazing refutation.
Take a moment to find it.

Position after 29.Rc6??…

Do you see it?

29…Qd4?

Don’t feel bad. Vadim and all of us in the analysis room missed it as well.

29…Bg3!! amazing, 30.Be3 Bxf2+ (30…Rxe3 31.Kf1 Re5 32.Rxb6 Rxd5
33.fxg3 Rd1+ 34.Kf2 Rb1 35.b3 Rb2+ 36.Kf3 Rxa2 is a tough pawn up
Rook endgame.) 31.Bxf2 Re8+ 32.Kh2 Qxf2 is winning.

Analysis position after 32…Qxf2

Black will drive the White King out of hiding and/or trade to a
winning ending.

30.Qxd4 Bxd4 The endgame is slightly better for
Black, but, should not be winning.

31.Rc2 Kg7 32.Kf1 h6 33.Bd2 Re5 34.b3 g5 [34...Rf5 35.f3 h5 =/+ 0.25]
35.g4 Kg6 36.Rc6+ f6 [=] 37.Ra6 Rc5 38.Be1 h5 39.Ke2 h4 40.f4?…
[40.Bd2… =] 40…gxf4 41.Bxh4 Be5 42.Be1 Rc2+ 43.Kf3 Rxa2

Somehow Black has managed to get a winning position.

Position after 43… Rxa2

44.h4?!…

Better was 44.Bxb4 Rh2 45.Bc5 Rxh3+ 46.Kf2 Bc3 47.Bb6 Kg5 48.Ra8…
White has no time to win the a-pawn. Black is winning.

44…Rb2 45.Rxa5 Rxb3+ 46.Kg2 f3+ 47.Kf2 Bd4+ 48.Kf1 f2 49.Bxf2 Rf3
50.h5+ Kh6 White resigns 0–1

Final Position

Well, this is not a special final position… but, Vadim deserves a pat on the back
for making something out of less than nothing and putting the team in the
driver seat… for the moment.

Boston (1 – 0)

This game put Vadim’s season record at (2 – 0) on third board and (1 – 1) on
fourth board… for an overall (3 – 0 – 1 ), 3pts/4games… a very nice season,
and a very nice playoff win.

This win also affirmed Jorge’s choice for board 3 and 4. This may be Boston’s
strongest lineup… as Ilya seemed to be recovering nicely from his awful
opening position…

NM Ilya Krasik (BOS) vs. NM Yaacov Norowitz (NY)

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0–0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.a3 c5 8.dxc5 Nxc5
9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.Be5 Bf6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Qd4 Qe7 14.Rd1 Bf5!?…

Position after 14… Bf5!?

The game is equal after 14…Rd8. Yes, all of this has been played before in
Van Wely – Ponomariov ( ½ ) 2007 . But, 14… Bf5!? is not all that bad.
Of course it should lose a pawn to… 15.Qxd5 Be6 (15…Rfd8 16.Qxf5 Rxd1+
7.Kxd1 Rd8+ 18.Kc2 Qc7 19.Bc4) 16.Qd6 Qxd6 17.Rxd6 Rac8 18.Be2 Ne4
19.Rd1 Bb3 20.Ra1 Bd5 (20…Rc2 21.Bd3) 21.Nd4…

Analysis Position after 21.Nd4…

Ok, so it is bad. But, seeing all this to a safe pawn up for White is not easy.
It’s about 6-ply and there is a possible piece sac in there.

15.b4 Ne6 16.Qxd5 Bc2 17.Rc1…

Now, we see the difference in taking the pawn before driving the Knight to e6.
White cannot trade Queens. So, if…
17.Qd6 Qf6 18.Rc1 Qb2 19.Qd2 Rac8 20.Bd3 Rfd8 21.Rxc2 Qb1+ 22.Qd1 Qxd1+
23.Kxd1 Rxd3+ 24.Kc1 Rxc2+ 25.Kxc2 Rxa3 26.Kb2… With a probable draw.

17…Rac8 18.Be2 Rfd8 19.Qa5?…

After this move White is much worse.

Position after 19.Qa5?…

White could have equalized with… 19.Qe5 Bd3 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Nd4 Bxe2
22.Nxe2 Rc2 23.Qe4 Ra2 24.Qb1 Rxa3 25.0–0 Ra6 =
(25…Ra4 26.Nc3 Ra6; 25…a5 26.bxa5 Rxa5 27.Qe4 =)

19…Bd3 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Qe5 Qd7 22.Bd1 Qc6

Better was… 22… Rc1 23. Kd2 (23. Qb2 Rb1 24. Qd2 Qd5 25. Qc3 Bc4
26. Qd2 Qe4) 23… f6 24. Qb2 Rb1

23.Qb2 Qe4 24.Qe5 Qc4 25.Qb2 Qe4 26.Qe5 Qg4 27.h3 Qxg2 28.Rg1 Qxh3
29.Nd4 Bg6?

This should be the losing move.

Position after 29… Bg6?

Black should have played the following…

29…g6 30. Bg4 Nxd4 31. Qxd4 Qh2 32. Bxc8 Qxg1+ 33. Kd2 Bf5 34. Ke2 Bxc8
35. Qd8+ Kg7 36. Qxc8 Qh1

Analysis Position after 36… Qh1

Black is a pawn up in a very tough Queen endgame.

30.Bg4 Qh6?

This is easily losing. Best is 30… Nxd4 31.Bxh3 Nf6+ 32.Kf1…[33.Ke2 Nxg8+
34.Kf1 Nxh3 35. Kg2 Nxf2 gives Black good drawing chances.] 32… Nxe5 33.Bxc8 Be4

Analysis Position after 33… Be4

Black has a pawn for the exchange, but it looks winning for White after…
34.f4 Nc4 35.Kf2 Nxa3 36.Ra1 Nb5 37.Bd7 Nc7 [38…a6 39.Bxb5 axb5
40.Ra8#…] 37.Rxa7…

31.Nxe6 Re8

Position after 31… Re8

This position is the reason that Black could not play 29… Bg6. Very difficult
to see this… White now has 32.Bf3!!… and Black’s Queen is trapped.

32…fxe6 33.Rh1 Bh5 34.Bxh5 g6 35.Bf3 Qf8 36.Bxb7…

32.Bf5?… Alas, this only draws… but, who knew we needed a win?

32…fxe6 33.Bxg6 hxg6 34.Qe4 g5 35.Qxb7 Qf6 36.Qc6 Rd8 37.Ke2 Qf5
38.Rg3 g4 39.e4 Rd2+ 40.Kxd2 Qxf2+ 41.Kd1 Qxg3 42.Qe8+ Game drawn
by mutual agreement ½–½

Boston (1.5 – 0.5)

Very Nice game by both sides. Ilya may be giving Denys a run for best squirmer on
the team. Ilya finished the season with a very nice record (3 – 2 – 1) with 4pts/6 games.
Not bad at all.

But, now things took a turn for the worse… as our top boards were unexpectedly being
pushed around like pawns… all we needed was a draw… from either board…
Ahh! The fates were against us this night… as Eugene couldn’t quite get his gambit
pawn back safely.

GM Eugen Perelshteyn (BOS) vs. GM Pascal Charbonneau (NY) — Board 2

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g3 0–0 5.Bg2 d5 6.Nf3 dxc4 7.0–0 Nc6
8.a3 Be7 9.e3…

Eugene’s home cooking I am guessing.

Position after 9.e3…

As far as I can tell, Eugene is the only person in the world who plays this move…
and he does so consistently. Standard is 9.e4… to allow the Bishop to escape
to e3 or f4 after Black’s next move. 9…Na5 10.Be3 Nb3 11.Rb1 c5 12.dxc5 Nxc5
13.Nd2 b6 14.Nxc4 Ba6 15.Bxc5 Bxc5 16.Qa4… and things are about equal.

9…Na5

9…Bd6 10.Qa4 e5 11.Qxc4 exd4 12.exd4 h6 was Perelshteyn-Izoria (2641) 1–0, 2007

10.Qe2 Rb8

This move certainly puts the question to Eugene’s pet variation. Was this home prep
by GM Charbonneau? 10…Bd7 11.Ne5 Bc6 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Nxc4… was
Perelshteyn-Livshits (2332) 1–0, 2009; 10…Bd7 11.Ne5 c5 12.dxc5 Bxc5 13.Nxc4 Nxc4
14.Qxc4 Rc8 15.Bxb7 Rc7 16.Qa6 Qb8 17.Bg2 Rfc8 Perelshteyn-Saggissian (2660) 1/2, 2009.
GM Charbonneau’s move seems better.

11.Rd1 b5 12.e4…

A lost tempo spent just to get the Rook to d1?

12…Nb3 13.Rb1 Nxc1 14.Rbxc1 c6 (-/+ 0.95, Fritz)

Position after 14…c6

Proof of concept is needed here. Is White’s attack worth the pawn?

15.Ne5 Qc7 16.f4 Re8 17.Qc2 a6 18.Nxf7 Kxf7 19.e5 Kg8 20.exf6 gxf6

White’s combination was the best line… but, he has not made much progress.
Black’s advantage stands.

21.Ne4 c5 22.d5 exd5 23.Rxd5 f5 24.Ng5…

White is suffering here.

Invalid fen-syntax:
Position after 24.Ng5… And Black can add to his suffering significantly with 24…Bf6! threatening 25.Bd4+… and White will eventually lose the exchange. Fritz gives as best… 25.Rcd1 Bd4+ 26.R5xd4 cxd4 27.Rxd4 Qb6 28.Bd5+ Kg7 29.Qc3 Rd8 30.Qe3 Qf6 31.Rd2 Rb6 32.Qc5 Rbd6 Black is winning
1

Analysis Position after 32… Rbd6

Of course, there are other lines… and this was probably too much to calculate.
So, GM Charboneau keeps a quieter… and smaller… advantage.

24…Bxg5 25.fxg5 Be6 26.Qc3 Rbd8 27.Re1 Bf7 28.Rxe8+ Rxe8 29.Rxf5…

This is best.

Position after 29.Rxf5…

White has his pawn back, but now Black gets his Queen into the game.
It was also possible to play…

29.Qf6 b4 30.a4 c3 31.bxc3 b3 32.Rd2 Qe7 33.Qxe7 Rxe7 34.Kf2 c4
Black is on top, but the win is not easy.

29…Qd6 30.Rf4 b4 31.Qc1…

31.Qc2 Re1+ 32.Bf1 Qe7 33.axb4 cxb4 34.h3 Qe3+ 35.Kh2 Rc1 36.Qg2…
Does not hold out much longer.

31… c3 32.bxc3 b3! 33.Rf2…

Or, 33.Be4 Re7 34.Bf5 c4 35.Rf2 Qe5 Black is better -/+ 0.70

33…c4 34.Bf1 Qc5 35.Qd2 Rf8 36.Bh3 Bd5 37.Kf1 Rxf2+
38.Qxf2 Qxf2+ 39.Kxf2 b2 40.Bf5 Bf7

White is lost.

Position after 40… Bf7

41.Bb1 Bg6 42.Ba2 b1Q 43.Bxb1 Bxb1 44.Ke3 Kf7 45.Kd4 Kg6
46.h4 Kf5 47.Kxc4 Kg4 48.Kd5 Bg6 49.Ke6 Kxg3 50.c4 Kxh4
51.Kf6 Kh5 52.c5 Be4 53.Ke5 Bc6 54.Kf5 a5 55.Kf6 a4 56.Kf5 Be8
57.Kf6 Kg4 58.Ke7 Bc6 59.Kf6 Kf4 60.g6 hxg6 61.Kxg6 Ke5
62.Kg5 Kd4 63.Kf4 Kxc5 64.Ke3 Kc4 65.Kd2 Kb3 White resigns 0–1

Eugene always seems to have trouble with GM Charbonneau… could we
call him his nemesis?… Well, not yet. But, I would think he owes him
and I look forward to their next meeting.

Boston (1.5 – 1.5)

However, Eugene’s record this season was actually quite good. Coming
into this round he had only lost to GM Gulko. On board 1 he was
(3 – 0 – 1) and Board 2, (1 – 1 – 0), for an excellent 4.5pts/6 games.
However, this playoff loss brought his overall to 4.5pts/7 games and,
although this is respectable, I know he took this lost hard. Easy on
the beer, Eugene… relax and watch the playoffs… take a couple aspirin
for the headache…we’ll be there next year.

In the meantime, talk about suffering, Larry was hanging on by a thread…
and just when his opponent threw him a rope… he missed it and went flailing
into the abyss… nice analogy, huh?

GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) vs. GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) — Board 1

1.d4 d6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.e4 Nc6 5.Ne2 e5 6.Be3 Nf6

In this odd variation, the move order seems to be… 6…Bg4 7.f3 Bd7
I guess just to un-coordinate White’s setup a little.

7.h3 0–0

7…d5, Norwood-Norris 0–1 1999, was a very interesting try, which Black won after…
8. dxe5 Nxe4 9. f3…

Analysis Position after 9.f3?…

Black gets Rook and 2 pawns and an attack for two minor pieces.
9…Nxg3 10. Nxg3 Bxe5 11. Kf2 Qh4 12. f4 Bxb2 13. Bxd5 Bxa1 14. c3 O-O
15. Qb3 Ne7 16. Be4 Nf5 17. Bxf5 Bxf5 18. Nd2 Be6 19. Qc2 Bd5 20. Nf3 Bxf3
21. Kxf3 Rfe8 22. Bd4 c5 23. Bf2 Qf6 24. Rxa1 Qc6+ 25. Kg4 f5+ 0-1

8.Nbc3 Bd7 9.0–0 a6

I was a bit puzzled by this move at the time… other than a6 is often played
in these types games for no discernible reason… I really think that it would
be better to wait and see if this is needed. Perhaps… 9…exd4 10.Nxd4 Re8

Position after 9… a6

The game is slightly better for White and it stays that way almost to the end.
Black never seems to equalize.

10.Qd2 exd4 11.Nxd4 Ne5 12.Qc1 c5

Aha! So this is the reason that 9…a6 was played… as now, White cannot attack
the weak d6 pawn with 13.N4b5… Black is now committed to a tactical skirmish to
equalize. His pawn structure is fatally weakened and GM Kacheishvili nicely exploits
this flaw.

13.Nde2 Qc8 14.Kh2 Re8 15.Rd1 Qc7 16.Bg5 Bc6 17.Nf4 Ned7 18.Nfd5 Nxd5
19.Nxd5 Bxd5 20.Rxd5 Nb6 21.Rd1 Na4 22.c3 c4 23.Be3 Rad8 24.Qc2 b5 25.Rd5 Nb6 26.Rd2…

Black is helpless against a White build-up on the d-file.

Position after 26.Rd2…

It is not a question of if Black will lose the d-pawn, only when. So, Larry scrambles to
complicate, but, in doing so, allows White to open another front.

26…Nd7 27.a4! Ne5

Perhaps 27…Nc5 28.axb5 axb5 29.Rad1 Nd3 Staves off an invasion as in the game.
However, White is much better.

28.axb5 axb5 29.Rd5 Rb8 30.Ra7 Qd8 31.Qd2 Nd3 32.Bf1 Ne5 33.Be2 Bf8
34.Bg5 Qb6 35.Be3 Qd8 36.Ra6 Qc8 37.Ra5 Qc6 38.Bd4?!…

This move allows equality. Better was 38.f3… or 38.Qd4…

Position after 38.Bd4?!…

Now, 38…f5! 39.Bxe5 dxe is equal. 39.f3? Nxf3+ 40.Bxf3 fxe is winning for Black.

38…h5?! This is too weakening. White is better (+/- 1.00)

39.f4 Bh6 40.Kg2 b4?

This gives away the house. Surprisingly, 40…Nd7 may give some drawing chances.
For example, one fantasy variation is… 41. Ba7 Nf6 42. Rxd6 Nxe4
43. Rxc6 Nxd2 44. Bd1 Rbd8 45. Rxb5 Ne4 46. Bd4 Bg7 47. Be2 Nxc3
48. bxc3 Rxe2+ 49. Kf1 Rde8 50. Rxc4 Bxd4 51. cxd4 Re1+ 52. Kf2 R8e2+

Analysis Position after 52…R8e2+

Well, it’s a good try anyway.

41.cxb4 Nd3 42.b5 Qc8 43.Bxd3 cxd3 44.Qxd3 Qc1 45.Rxd6 h4
46.Bc3 hxg3 47.Qd4 Kh7 48.Rxg6 Qc2+ 49.Kxg3 Rg8 50.f5?…

This is only equality. 50.Raa6… keeps a large advantage.

Position after 50.f5?…

Now Black has 50… Rbd8 =
This move would have been bad if White had played 50.Raa6 Rbd8? 51.Qh8+ Rxh8
52.Rxh6+ Kg8 53.Rxh8#…
After 50…Rbd8 51.Qa7 Qd3+ 52.Kf2 Qc2+ 53.Kg3 Qd3+ we have a draw.

50…Qc1?

Missing his last hope… Black is lost.
Larry said after the game that he thought we needed a win. I guess he had
seen Ilya’s game at just the wrong time and had written it off as lost. Too bad.
He rejected 50… Rbd8 as only a draw.

51.Ra7 Qf4+ 52.Kg2 Rxg6+ 53.fxg6+ Kxg6 54.Qe5 Qxe5 55.Bxe5 Rxb5
56.Ra6+ Kh5 57.Bc3 Bc1 58.b4 Rb7 59.Ra5+ Kg6 60.Kf3 f6 61.h4 Rc7
62.Rc5 Rh7 63.Kg4 Black resigns 1–0

There are no chances here. This capped a very bad season for Larry. He was only at
(2 – 0 – 2 ) and this loss put him at a negative score for the first time in team history,
2pts/5 games. Of course, he always faces the best of the other team, but, I’m sure
he is disappointed. Oh well, hand me another Valium… there’s always next year.

I should mention some other team performances…

Anya on third board in her first year with the team scored (1 – 2 – 0), an undefeated
2pts/3 games. A very fine performance.

Andrew Wang was impressive in his first year with a (2 – 0 – 1), 2pts/3games.
He should have had 3 wins and no losses, but nerves got the better of him in
his game against Andrew Ng. Nice going Andrew.

And the only team GOTW winner, Marc Esserman, as always turned in a fine season
performance with 1 win on Board 2 and a Board 3 record of (3 – 1 – 2) for a total
of 4.5pts/7 games. Of course, he’ll tell you he should have done better… but,
congrats anyway.

Oh Yeah… and Team Manager Jorge Sammour-Hasbun… Congratulations
on a playoff appearance in your first year as manager… but, there’s this
little thing about your record… no, I won’t mention it… but, we need the
every other week, GOTW winner, Jorge back… relax… take a benzodiazapine…
and Let’s get ‘em next year.