Ok, I took the week off and I didn’t review last weeks games… so shoot me! A quick recap… another draw. Boston’s top boards lost, and the bottom boards won. The true hero being Daniil Mosiyenko (who I picked to lose… only to inspire him… really!). Congratulations to Daniil and I will never pick him to lose again. Final Score Boston 2 – Arizon 2, in what must be a disappointment to the Blitz who figure to win when both bottom boards come through. Oh well…

Now, on to this weeks match vs the Philadelphia Inventors… don’t let the nickname fool you, these guys are plenty tough. The match starts at 7:15 this Tuesday… now that’s news… I don’t think the Blitz have ever played on a Tuesday. Maybe it will change their luck. The Blitz are in stand-alone 4th place with a record of (3 – 3) while the Inventors are co-leaders in the East at (4.5 – 1.5)

       White			   Black
------------------------------------------------------------
1.  GM Perelshteyn (BOS)	GM Erenburg (PHI)
2.  FM Bartell (PHI)		IM Jan van de Mortel (BOS)
3.  NM Martirosov (BOS)	        IM Bonin (PHI)
4.  NM Fisher (PHI)		NM Krasik (BOS)

In keeping with my new policy of non-Homerism… I think that’s a word… I offer up the following rediculous opinion.

GM Eugene Perelshteyn (BOS) vs GM Sergey Erenburg (PHI) – Board 1

Any time two GMs meet I tend to favor the one with White. But, GM Erenburg is tough to beat. Eugene will open 1d4… and face a tough Semi-slav… no Botvinnik attack… White will close it up and play positionally… defending the c-pawn with b3… at some point. Got to be a draw… Boston (0.5 – 0.5)

FM Tom Bartell (PHI) vs IM van de Mortel (BOS) – Board 2

This is my pick of the day… Jan to win in a wicked Pirc?!! Usually, I’m not a big fan of the Pirc… but I have a feeling that this will be GOTW stuff. The Blitz will need this win to have a chance in this match… at least that’s the word according to Swami… that’s me. Boston (1.5 – 0.5)

NM Vadim Martirosov (BOS) vs IM Jay Bonin (PHI) – Board 3

Their grinder against our grinder… Oh my, this one could get ugly. Vadim has been playing well. Although his week five loss was a downer, he has been one of the stalwarts of the team this season. I see a very tough draw here… maybe an exchange Slav?
Boston (2 – 1)

NM William Fisher (PHI) vs NM Ilya Krasik (BOS) – Board 4

This board is pivotal… Ilya has crushed every one of his four opponents in the opening… and blown it every time… that is… until last week when he played GOTW quality throughout. NM Fisher will be a tough nut to crack… but, in a Blitz GOTW, I pick 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 and a wild King’s Indian win . Boston (3 – 1)

No Homerism here… just the plain truth as I see it… Boston “Blitzes” the Inventors. This could be the start of something big… like a winning streak… or a run to the playoffs… or… or not… It’s all up to Board 4. Go Ilya!