So, What do the Blitz need? They need someone besides Jorge to get hot. Here are my nominees to pick it up in the stretch run. In order of most likely to turn it on… Marc on 2nd board, Vadim on 3rd board, Daniil on 4th board, and Ilya alternating 3rd to 4th . How about IM van de Mortel… Oh yeah, and one more guy, who turned in the best game of this match… FM David Griego… Maybe, just maybe, he’s the guy to carry us to the playoffs. He notched his first win of the season and if he gets hot, well… we’ll have more matches like this.

No problem with the top boards, the GMs and Jorge seem to have it under control. Let’s take a look at Jorge in cruise control to a nice win on board 1…


IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) vs SM Jorge Sammour-Habun (BOS) – Board 1

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Qa4+ Nbd7 6.Bg2 a6 7.Qxc4 c5 8.0–0 b5 9.Qd3 Bb7 10.a4 cxd4! a fine move and a departure from the norm.

Position after 10… cxd4!

This move cramps White’s game and, therefore, he has no time to take the b-pawn safely. Black is slightly better. [10...c4 11.Qc2 Nb6 12.Bg5 is better for White] 11.axb5 axb5 12.Rxa8 Qxa8 13.Qxb5 Be7 14.b3… after this White is near losing.-/+ (-1.00) Probably best is … [14.Bf4 0–0 15.Rc1 d3 advantage Black after... 16.Nh4 Bxg2 17.Nxg2 dxe2 18.Qxe2 White's b-pawn is a weakness.] 14…0–0 15.Qa4 e5 16.Qxa8 [16.Ba3 Qxa4 17.bxa4 is better... hoping to hold a very bad ending.] 16…Rxa8 Black gains the 7th rank (or 2nd in this case)… and we all know what that means. The rest is self explanatory. 17.Nbd2 Ra2 18.Nc4 Ba6 19.Nfd2 Bb4 20.Rd1 Nc5

Position after 20…Nc5

How’s this for overworked pieces? I think I could win this one.
21.Nxe5 Bxe2 22.Nc6 Bc3 23.Re1 d3 24.b4 Ncd7 25.Ne7+ Kf8 White resigns 0–1
Nice smooth victory… and Jorge didn’t even get in time trouble.
Boston (1 – 0)

Finishing at about the same time was my pick for game of the match… a very nice attacking game, not flawless, but attacks never are… unless your name is Garry.

FM David Griego (BOS) vs FM Kassa Korley (CAR) – Board 2

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0–0 8.d4 Nxd4 9.Nxd4 [9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 (9...Rxf7 10.Nxe5 Rf8 (10...c5 11.Nxf7 Kxf7 12.e5 Ne8 13.c3 Nc6 14.Qd5+) 11.Qxd4 Bb7 with some development for the pawn. +/= 0.25/0 ) 10.Nxe5+ Kg8 11.Qxd4 Bb7 as above +/=0.25 Play develops similarly to a Marshal gambit after... 12.Nc3 c5 13.Qd1 b4 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Bd6 Black's two bishops make things interesting.] 9…exd4 10.e5 Ne8 11.c3!?… an attempt at enterprising gambit

Position after 11.c3!?…

Will somebody please tell me the name of this weird gambit? 11…Bb7?! Players don’t allow gambits in this modern age. Of course, accepting was best , but if you must decline, try 11… c5 [11...c5 12.cxd4 c4 13.Bc2 d5 and hope to withstand White's kingside attack.] 12.cxd4 d6 13.Nc3 dxe5 14.dxe5 c5 [14...Qxd1 15.Rxd1 is too rough and probably winning for White as the c-pawn will not advance +-2.00] 15.Qg4 c4 16.Bc2 The attack is on, but the moves are not easy for either side. White is nearly winning. What can Black do? 16…Nc7?! complex but not good. White is now winning +-2.30 [16...Qc8 17.Bf5 Qc7 18.Bf4 g6 19.Rad1 Ng7 is a big advantage White... but, Black is still in the game. +/–0.90] 17.Bh6 Ne6 18.Rad1 Qc7 19.Bf5 Bc5

Position after 19… Bc5

White has maximized his positional edge… Is there a win?

20.Bxe6?… Oh! not this. Such a nice attack can be spoiled so quickly. The pawn is not the priority here… after… [20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.Rxd5 Threatens to take on c5 and then e6. There is no defense. 21...Kh8 22.Qh4!…

Analysis Position after 22.Qh4!...

Such an Alekhine-like position… I just had to show it.
22… Rg8 23.Be3 g6 24.Qf6+ Ng7 25.Rxc5 Qa5 26.Rd1 Rad8 27.Qxd8 Rxd8 28.Rxd8+ Qxd8 29.Rc8 White is a piece up] Now back to the drudgery of a pawn up endgame. 20…fxe6 Now, White’s advantage is minimal and things are very difficult. +/=0.80 21.Qxe6+ Qf7 [Worse is... 21...Rf7 22.Be3 Bf8 23.Nd5 Qc8 24.Qxc8 Rxc8 25.f4] 22.Qxf7+ Kxf7 23.e6+ Kg6 24.Be3 Bb4? the final mistake.

Position after 24…Bb4?

You see, that’s the thing about attacks… they carry with them a thing called “pressure” which eventually causes stress fractures, which eventually causes structural damage.
[24...Bxe3 25.fxe3 (25.Rxe3 Rad8 26.Rxd8 Rxd8 27.f4 Kf6 is equal) 25...Rae8 (25...Rad8?? 26.e7) 26.Rd6 Rf6 27.Ne2 Bc8 28.a3 Bxe6 29.Rxa6 and heading toward a pawn up Rook endgame gives best chances for White to win.] 25.a3 Ba5 26.Rd7 [better was... 26.h4 Rae8 27.Rd7 Bc6 (27...Bc8 28.h5+ Kxh5 29.Rd5+ Kg6 30.Rg5+ Kf6 31.Nd5+ Kxe6 32.Bd2+ Kd6 33.Bxa5 wins...) 28.Rd6 Bb7 29.Bd4 Rf4 30.g3 Rg4 31.Rd7 wins] 26…Bc6 27.Rd6 Rfc8 [27...Rac8 keeps Black in the game. 28.Bc5 Rfd8 29.Rxd8 Rxd8 30.e7 Rc8 31.Re5 and there is work to be done.] 28.Bd4 Bc7? [28...Be8 seems best and White is still winning... but Black can hope for opposite colored bishops.. .]

Position after 28…Bc7?

Black has trapped himself.
29.Rxc6 Bxh2+ 30.Kxh2 Rxc6 31.Nd5 Re8 32.Re5 [Who but a computer would think of... 32.Nf4+ Kf5 33.g3 and Re5+ will end it. 33...Rcc8 mate in 11.] 32…Kh6 33.Be3+ Kg6 34.Rg5+ Black resigns [34...Kh6 35.Nf6 gxf6 36.Rg8+ Kh5 37.Rxe8… etc…] 1–0
Well, that was special.
Boston (2 – 0)
Now, on to board 3. I was a bit worried… and for good reason.

FM Ron Simpson (CAR) vs IM Jan van de Mortel (BOS) – Board 3

1.c4 g6 2.Nc3 Bg7 3.g3 d6 4.Bg2 e5 5.d3 f5 6.e4 Nf6 7.exf5 gxf5 8.Bg5 c6 9.Nge2 h6 10.Bh4 0–0 11.0–0 [11.b4 a6 12.b5 is better for White... but nothing to fear. For example... 12...axb5 13.cxb5 Be6 14.0–0 Ra3 15.bxc6 bxc6 16.d4 e4 17.d5 cxd5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.Qxd5+ Qf7] 11…Be6 12.Qa4 Nbd7 13.Rad1 Qe8 14.Qb4 Nc5 15.b3 a5 16.Qa3 Qh5 17.f3 [17.d4 exd4 18.Nxd4 Rfe8 19.Nde2 +/- (1.25) is much better for White.] 17…a4 18.Qb2 axb3 19.axb3 White has only a slight edge. 19…Qf7 20.d4 Ncd7 21.Qd2 Qe8 22.Bh3 Qh5? This is probably a mistake, as the game proves. Black is now on the edge of losing.

Position after 22…Qh5?

The Black Queen is offsides… It will accomplish nothing here.
23.Qc2! excellent. Threatens d5… 23…Nb6 24.Qc1 White misses… [24.Ne4…

Analysis Position after 24.Ne4!...

24…Ne8 (24...exd4 25.Nxd6 Rad8 26.Nf4 traps the Queen) 25.dxe5 Bxe5 26.f4 Bg7 27.Nxd6 Wins a pawn and probably the game.] 24…Bd7 25.Bg2 Rae8? This is very near losing. [25...f4 26.dxe5 dxe5 27.Qd2 is also a nice edge for White.] 26.Qa3 Hits the weak point, but White had better. [26.dxe5 Rxe5 (26...dxe5 27.Qe3 is worse) 27.Rxd6 +- (2.60) White is up a safe pawn/] 26…Nc8 27.Qb4? The Queen is misplace and Black is better. [27.dxe5 Rxe5 28.Qa8 Is better for White. 28...b6 29.Qa2 Rfe8 30.Qd2 Qf7 31.Nd4 Ne7 +/- (1.00)] 27…exd4 Ouch! White cannot recapture due to the pawn fork on c5. 28.Nf4 Qf7 29.Na4 b5 Maybe slightly better is the endgame after… [29...c5 30.Qxb7 Bxa4 31.Qxf7+ Rxf7 32.bxa4 Nb6] 30.cxb5 cxb5 31.Nb2 Nd5 32.Nxd5 Qxd5 33.Nd3 f4? This one I missed. [33...Re3 34.f4 Qe6 -/+ (–0.90)] 34.Nxf4 Rxf4 35.gxf4 d3 36.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 37.Bxe1 Ne7 38.Qe4 Qf7 39.Rxd3 [39.Qxd3 d5 40.Bf2 +- (3.00) is overwhelming 40...Qxf4 41.Bc5] 39…d5 40.Qb4 Nf5 scary… but… 41.Qd2 d4 42.Bf2 Be6 43.Qa5 [43.Bh3 Qh5 44.Qe2 Kf7 45.Bg4 Qg6 46.Kh1 is winning for White... 46...h5 47.Bh3 Bd5 48.Bxf5 Qxf5 49.Bxd4 Bxd4 50.Rxd4 Bxb3 51.Qe4 +- (4.25)] 43…Bxb3 44.Qxb5 Bc4 45.Qb8+ Kh7 46.Ra3 Qe7 Black should force White to defend… [46...d3 47.Qd8 Bf6 48.Qa5] 47.Ra7 Qe2 48.Qe5 [48.h4 Threatens Bh3... and Black cannot defend.] 48…Qd1+ 49.Be1 Kg6 50.Qe4 d3? The position was lost for Black… but now it is over in one… 51.Rd7? Still winning but not as good as… [51.Bh3 Bd4+ 52.Kg2 Qe2+ 53.Qxe2 dxe2 54.Bxf5+ Kxf5 55.Ra4 White will be up a Rook.] 51…Bc3 52.Qe8+ Kf6 53.Qh8+ Ke6 54.Qxc3 Kxd7 55.Bh3 Be6 56.Bf1 Qxf3 57.Qxd3+ Qxd3 58.Bxd3 The two Bishops and a pawn…

Position after 58.Bxd3…

White should still win… but, Oh, it is tough. 58…Ke7 59.Bb4+ Kf6 60.Bc3+ Kg6 61.Kg2 h5 62.Be4 Bd5 Very Nice… but does it hold? 63.Kf3 Bxe4+ 64.Kxe4 Nh4 65.Be1 Nf5 66.Ke5 Nh6 67.Ke6 Nf5 68.Bc3 Nh6 69.Bf6 Nf5 70.Ke5 Nh6 71.Be7 Nf5 Yes, it holds… Game drawn by mutual agreement ½–½
A grueling, gut it out draw… Wow! Those IMs are hard to beat.
Boston (2.5 – 0.5)
Meanwhile, Daniil was crushing his opponent in a most interesting and strangely comical game.

Daniil Mosiyenko (BOS) vs NM Craig Jones (CAR) – Board 4

1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nc6 3.Nf3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.d4 Bg4 6.Be2 cxd4 7.cxd4 e6
8.Nc3 Bb4 9.0–0 Qd6 Wow! This is asking for it. The kind of move that as White you feel that your opponent must have something prepared.

Position after 9… Qd6

Seemingly, more reasonable alternatives are… [9...Qa5 10.a3 Nf6; 9...Bxc3 10.bxc3 Nge7; 9...Qd7 10.d5 exd5 11.Nxd5 Nge7] 10.Nb5 Qd7 11.Bf4 Only second best… Convincingly crunching is… [11.a3 Bxf3 (11...Bd6 12.d5 exd5 13.Qxd5 Bb8 14.Qg5 f6 15.Qe3+ +-; 11...Be7 12.Ne5 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Qxd1 14.Bxd1 Bxd1 15.Rxd1 Rc8 16.Nxa7 +-; 11...Ba5 12.Bf4 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Nf6 14.b4 Bb6 15.d5 exd5 16.Nd6+ Kf8 +-) 12.Bxf3 Be7 13.d5 exd5 14.Bf4 Kf8 +- White is winning] 11…Rc8 12.d5 exd5 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bxe2 15.Qxe2 Ne7 16.a3 a6

Position after 16…a6

Black loses the exchange for just about nothing.
17.Nc7+ Should win, but still better was… [17.Na7 Ra8 18.axb4 0–0 (18...Rxa7 19.Bxg7 Rg8 20.Qe5 Ra8 21.Rfe1 Rc8 22.Bf6 Rg6 23.Bh4 f6 24.Bxf6 Kf7 25.Bxe7 Re6 26.Qxe6+ Qxe6 27.Rxe6 Kxe6 28.Re1+ +- with an easy win.) 19.Bd4 Nf5 20.Bc5 Rfe8 21.Qd3 d4 22.Rfc1 +- Black will have difficulty recovering the piece.] 17…Rxc7 18.Bxc7 Qxc7 19.axb4 0–0 20.b5 axb5 21.Rfe1 Nc6 22.Ra8 g6 23.Rxf8+ Kxf8 24.Qxb5 d4 25.Qc5+ Kg7 26.b4 Qf4 27.b5 Nd8 28.g3 Qf6 29.Qe7 Good and winning, but even better was… [29.Qd5 h6 30.Re8 Ne6 31.b6 d3 32.Qxd3 Qe5 33.Rc8 +-(3.40) Black cannot prevent the trade of Queens and then Rc7] 29…Qb6 30.Qe5+ Kh6 [30...Qf6 31.Qd5 as above.] 31.Re4 +- (13.48) according to the beast. 31…f6 32.Qe7 +- (36.14) 32…d3 Mate in 5!

Position after 32…d3

Do you see it? I think Daniil saw it as well, and just thought that his next move was just as easy… he was wrong.
33.g4 a mistake… +- (16.53) 33…Ne6 34.Qxf6 another mistake +- (4.45) [34.Rxe6 Qd4 35.Re4 Qa1+ 36.Kg2 d2 White mates in 3.] 34…d2 35.g5+ and yet another mistake… +- (2.70) 35…Kh5 36.Qf3+ Kxg5 37.Rg4+ a mistake… +- (1.88) better, but hard to see was. [37.Re5+ Kh6 38.Rh5+ Kg7 39.Rd5 White wins easily?] 37…Kh6 38.Rh4+ after this the win is problematic. [38.Qd5 d1Q+ 39.Qxd1 Qxb5 40.Qd2+ g5 (40...Kg7 41.Rb4 Qf5 42.Qc3+ Kh6 43.Qe3+ Qg5+ 44.Qxg5+ Kxg5 45.Rxb7 is a win, but tough.) 41.Rh4+ Kg7 42.Rb4 Qc6 43.Qb2+ Kg6 44.Qb1+ Kf6 45.Rxb7 +- (2.30)] 38…Kg7 39.Qc3+ Kg8 40.Qxd2 Qxb5 41.Re4 Qf5 42.Qe3 Ng5 43.Qb3+ Kf8 44.Qb4+ [44.Qa3+ Kf7 (44...Kg7 45.Qe7+ Kg8 46.Qd8+ Kg7 47.Qc7+ Nf7 48.Qxb7) 45.Qe7+ Kg8 46.Qd8+ Kg7 47.Qc7+ Nf7 48.Qxb7 with good winning chances.] 44…Kg7 45.Re7+ Nf7 [45...Kg8 46.Qxb7 Qg4+ 47.Kh1 Qd1+ 48.Kg2 Qg4+ 49.Kf1 Qc4+ 50.Re2 Qd3 51.Qb8+ Kg7 52.Qe5+ Kh6 53.Qe3 arduous, but should win.] 46.Rxb7 Qg5+ 47.Kf1 Qc1+ 48.Ke2 Qc2+ 49.Ke3 Qc1+ 50.Kd3 Oops! It looks like a draw from here. [50.Qd2 Qc8 51.Qd4+ Kg8 52.Qd5 still +-] 50…Qf1+ 51.Kc3 Qxf2 52.Qd4+ Qxd4+ 53.Kxd4 Kf6 White is better? 54.Kd5 g5 55.Rb6+ Kf5 56.Rb1 h5 57.Rf1+ Kg6 58.Ke6 Nh6 59.Rf8 g4 = 60.Ke5 Kg5 61.Ke4 h4 62.Rf1 h3 63.Ra1 g3 64.hxg3 Kg4 65.Ra6 h2 66.Rxh6 Kxg3 67.Ke3 Kg2 68.Rg6+ Kh1 69.Ra6 Kg2 70.Ra2+ Kg1 71.Rxh2 Kxh2 Game drawn because neither player has mating material ½–½

Well, too bad… Daniil’s game was my favorite, up until it fizzled to a draw.
Boston (3 – 1)

Let’s see, what we need is a Shining Star… No matter who you are… Shining bright to see… what you can truly be…. Break it down now.

That said, this weeks opponent, the Carolina Cobras (one of the pack tied at 3 -4 ), comes in on the low side of that average. The Blitz, on the other hand, are fielding an impressive lineup with the top three boards over 2490. Does this mean anything?… I doubt it… the Blitz have reached the point of “show me”… they definitely cannot afford another loss if they expect to make a run this year. Now, Let’s do the math…

       White			   Black
------------------------------------------------------------
1.  IM Schroer (CAR)  	        SM Sammour-Hasbun
2.  FM Griego (BOS)		FM Korey (CAR)
3.  FM Simpson (CAR)	        IM Jan van de Mortel (BOS)
4.  Mosiyenko (BOS)		NM Jones (CAR)

IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) (2435) vs SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) (2605) – Board 1

FM David Griego (BOS) (2494) vs FM Kassa Korey (CAR) (2368) – Board 2

Seems a lopsided (mathematically), bet on Boston, matchup here. FM Griego needs to start winning, and the Blitz need a hot hand right now. I believe this is his first White this season… and it will be his first win. Queen’s Gambit Accepted…
Boston (2 – 0)

FM Ron Simpson (CAR) (2317) vs IM Jan van de Mortel (BOS) (2499) – Board 3
Let’s see 2499 minus 2317… hmmm… well, you do the math. Boston wins this exciting, dare we hope, Sicilian Dragon… I love it when IMs play he-man chess… Boston (3 – 0)

Daniil Mosiyenko (BOS) (2132) vs NM Craig Jones (CAR) (2305) – Board 4

Never mind what the math tells you here… Daniil will win this one. He turned a big corner in his last appearance and made believers of us all. This is also his first White of the season… Let’s say 1.d4 d5 and Boston (4 – 0)

Yes, I know, the kiss of death… a sweep for the Blitz… hard to believe you say? Well maybe, so prove me wrong Cobras… come on… Hit us with your best shot!

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!

       White			   Black
-------------------------------------------------
1.  GM Christiansen (BOS)	IM Molner (ARZ)
2.  IM Altounian (ARZ)		FM Griego (BOS)
3.  NM Krasik (BOS)		FM Adamson (ARZ)
4.  FM Atoufi (ARZ)		Mosiyenko (BOS)

GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) vs IM Mackenzie Molner (ARZ) – Board 1

Larry makes his first start of the season for the Blitz in a matchup straight out of the
X-files… Oh, sorry, that’s “Mulder”… Well, anyway, it will be 1.e4 c5 and an X-traordinary Najdorf worthy of the top X-traterrestrials. Boston (1 – 0)

IM Levon Altonian (ARZ) vs FM David Griego (BOS) – Board 2

David is looking for his first win of the season and is certainly facing tough opposition here. I will guess 1.e4 c5 with some sort of e6 sicilian… maybe Schev… shvesh… ingenkov. I was never very good at pronunciation. Boston (1.5 – 0.5)

NM Ilya Krasik (BOS) vs FM Robby Adamson (ARZ) – Board 3

Ilya has surprised us all season in that I have picked him to win in three appearances and he has lost. Now, he faces perhaps his toughest opponent and I will help him out by predicting a draw in a tough 1.d4 d5 slav. Boston (2 – 1)

FM Pedram Atoufi (ARZ) vs Daniil Mosiyenko (BOS) – Board 4

Daniil also faces his toughest opponent. I really don’t know what to expect here… but, if the Benoni is the choice, I don’t see good things. I apologize and will light candles for Daniil, but I must issue my first negative Blitz prediction here.
Boston (2 – 2)

That’s it, I’ve gone against my conscience and predicted a Blitz draw… On the bright side, that means that they will probably reverse my idiotic and groundless thoughts and brilliantly win. Yes, I am taking one for the team here… and it hurts… Go Blitz!

I offer as evidence…

Esserman drew again (3 draws this season)!?? And this time with White against IM David Vigorito’s King’s Indian.
(Blitz 0.5 – NE 0.5)

Jorge played the Black side of a Benko Gambit against GM Sam Shankland, and then attacked on the Kingside!??
(Blitz 0.5 – NE 1.5)

Vadim plays the stodgy Berlin versus NM Alex Cherniack’s Ruy Lopez… and gambits a pawn!?? (Blitz 0.5 – NE 2.5)

Ilya destroy’s NM Ben Goldberg’s Gruenfeld defence (as I predicted) winning 3 pieces for Queen and pawn by move 13… But wait,,, this middle/endgame is only equal??, or is it??
(Blitz 0.5 – NE 3.5)

Paranormal activity?… to say the least. And Marc was one victim as he just couldn’t get his fingers to cooperate… the pieces seemed to have their own peaceful plan.

IM Marc Esserman (BOS) vs IM David Vigorito (NE) – Board 2

1.c4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.g3 0–0 6.Bg2 Nc6 7.0–0 a6 8.h3 Bd7 9.e4 e5 10.d5 Nd4 11.Be3… Safe and good, but more aggressive and possibly better, and more Marc’s style, is… [11.Nxd4 exd4 12.Qxd4 Qc8 13.h4 Ng4 14.Qd1… White is a pawn up.

Analysis Position after 14.Qd1...

Black must prove compensation for the pawn.] 11…Nxf3+ 12.Qxf3 Qc8 13.Bg5 Nh5 14.Kh2… = and again more aggressive is… [14.g4 Nf4 15.Bxf4 exf4 16.Qxf4 White is a pawn uo, but facing two strong Bishops.] 14…Qe8 It’s nice to have your cake and eat it too… However, Black could have taken over the initiative with either 14… b5 or 14… f5. [14...f5 15.Bd2 f4 16.g4 Nf6 17.Qd3 Qd8 with a slight advantage for Black.] 15.Qd3 f5 16.c5?!! Now this is Marc’s style… questionable, but complex, and therefore good.

Position after 16.c5?!!

Perhaps safer was… [16.exf5 gxf5] 16…f4 17.c6?!! even worse, but great. 17…bxc6 18.dxc6 Bxc6… Black is up a pawn… but, now White has things to do… and that is Marc’s game. 19.g4 Bf6 20.Bh6?!! this is almost losing… but good. better was… [20.Bxf6 Nxf6 21.g5 Nh5 22.Bf3 Ng7 -/+ (–1.00)] 20…Ng7 21.Rac1 Rf7! Black is winning.

Position after 21… Rf7!

Just slowly untangle and ease the extra pawn to victory… no problem.

22.Nd5 Bd8 23.Bxg7 Kxg7 24.Rfd1 a5 25.Bf3… Marc thought that this move assured a draw and it sure looks like Black will have trouble getting his pieces untangled. But, the computer likes Black big time after… [25...Ra7 26.Qa3 Bd7 27.Rd2 c6 28.Nc3 Bc7 Black seems a solid pawn up. –+ (–1.87)]
25…Bb5 26.Qd2 c6 Strangely, the Bishop in front of the pawn is not as good.
27.Nc3 Bb6 28.Nxb5 There goes the two Bishops.
Game drawn by mutual agreement. ½–½

Final Position after 28.Nxb5…

Only Black can play for a win here after…
[28...cxb5 29.Rc2 Bd4 30.Rdc1 Black still has a large advantage. But, Bishops of opposite color seem drawish if we imagine all pawns on the Queenside gone.]
Boston (0.5 – 0.5)

Jorge’s game was very difficult. A Benko gambit usually means Black has Queenside pressure, not so, in this strange reversal of roles.

GM Sam Shankland (NE) vs SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) – Bd 1

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 6.Nc3 Bxa6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.g3 d6 9.Bg2 Nbd7 10.Rb1 Nb6 11.b3 Bc8 12.Nh4 h6 13.Qc2 Qd7 14.0–0 g5 15.Nf3…

Position after 15.Nf3…

15… Qf5?! Possibly special preparation. Fritz evaluates this as much better for White +/- (1.28) [Book is ... 15...Nfxd5 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Bd2 Bb7 18.a4 Rc8 19.Rbd1 Nf6 20.Ne1…]

Analysis Position after 20.Ne1…

Black seems slightly better. This was the only possibility for a good game that I saw for Black. The rest is in White’s favor.
16.e4 Qg6 17.Bb2… [17.b4 Nbxd5 (17...cxb4 18.Rxb4) 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.bxc5 0–0 20.Bd2 and White is just a pawn up.] 17…0–0 18.Rfd1 Bg4 19.h3 Bd7 20.Qe2 Rfe8 21.a4 e6 [21...c4 22.Ra1 cxb3 23.a5 White is winning.] 22.dxe6 Rxe6 23.Qf1… [better is... 23.e5 dxe5 24.Nxe5 Qf5 25.Bxa8 Rxe5 26.Qa6 +- (2.30)] 23…Bc6 24.Nd2 Nfd7 25.Nd5 Bxb2 26.Rxb2 Bxd5 27.exd5 Ree8 [27...Re7] 28.Qb5 Red8 29.a5!… Obvious and strong.

Postion after 29.a5!…

There is no hope now.
29…Nc8 30.Nc4 Rb8 31.Qc6 Qf6 32.Qc7 Ra8 33.Re2 Ra7 34.Qc6 Nb8 35.Qb5 Na6 36.Rde1 Nc7 37.Qc6 Kg7 38.Re3 Na6 39.Rf3 Qd4 40.Ne3 Ne7 41.Qb6 Rdd7 42.Rd1 Qe5 43.Bf1 Nb4 44.Nc4 Qe4

Position after 44… Qe4

45.Re3?!… [Winning immediately is... 45.Rxf7+ ! 45...Kxf7
Analysis Position after 45… Kxf7

Well, it was a pretty enough combination to deserve a look.
(45...Kg6 46.f3 traps the Queen) 46.Qxa7 Rxa7 47.Nxd6+ Kf8 48.Nxe4]
45…Qc2 The Queen is needed near the King and Black is losing, but he can make things tough with… [45...Qg6 46.Rxe7 Rxe7 47.Nxd6 Rxa5 48.Qxa5 Qxd6 49.Bg2 +- (1.48)] 46.Nxd6 Qxd1 47.Ne8+ Kh7 48.Qf6 Qd4 49.Qxf7+ Kh8 50.Nf6 Black resigns 1–0
Boston (0.5 – 1.5)

And how was our Berlin defence doing… you know they are always drawish… well, not so good.

NM Alex Cherniack (NE) vs. NM Vadim Martirosov (BOS) – Board 3

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0–0 Nxe4 5.d4 Be7 6.dxe5 0–0 7.Qd5 Nc5 8.Be3 d6 [8...Ne6 9.Nc3 f6 10.exf6 Bxf6 11.Bc4 is better for White.] 9.Bxc5 dxc5 10.Bxc6 bxc6 Now, here’s an interesting position if I ever saw one.

Position after 10…bxc6

The problem here is that, although the evaluation may be equal, Black’ pawns are so bad that it is up to Black to prove it.

11.Qxc6… [11.Qe4 Qd5 12.Qe3 =] 11…Rb8 12.Nc3 Bb7 13.Qa4 Bxf3 14.gxf3 Rb4 [14...Qd2 15.Ne4 Qd5 16.b3 Qxe5 =; Or, the rather long... 14...Rxb2 15.Rad1 Qe8 16.Qa3 Rb6 17.Nd5 Rg6+ 18.Kh1 c6 19.Nf4 Rg5 20.Qe3 Qb8 21.Rfe1 Qc7 22.Nd3 Rf5 23.Nxc5 Bxc5 24.Qxc5 Rxf3 25.Rd6 Qb6 =] 15.Qc6 Rh4? In Vadim’s words, “a bogus attack”. Black is now much worse, possibly losing. Still with struggling equality is… [15...Rxb2 16.Rfd1 Qe8 17.Qe4 c6 =]

Position after 15…Rh4?

Black’s pieces do not bode well for an attack. He can only hope for a bad mistake on White’s part.

16.Rad1 Qc8? After this, Black has no counterplay. [16...Qb8 17.Nd5 Bd8 18.Rfe1 Rh6 19.Qxc5 Qc8 20.Ne3 Qh3 21.Nf1 Qxf3 22.Rd3 Qf5 23.Qxa7 Black's game hangs by a thread +-(1.40) ] 17.Rd7 Rh6 18.Qxc7 Qa6 19.Ne4… The move Vadim missed when he played 15…Rh4.
19…Rg6+ 20.Ng3 Bg5 21.Qxc5 Qxa2 22.b3 Qb2 23.Rfd1 h5 24.R1d6 Qc1+ 25.Kg2 h4 26.Rxg6 fxg6 27.Qc7!… very nice.

Position after 27.Qc7!…

Winning the h-pawn and the game.
27…Bh6 [27…Kh8 28.Rxg7 Bh6 29.Rxg6…] is also winning for White as 31.f4… is threatened.
28.Qc4+ Kh7 29.Qxh4 Qxc2 30.Qc4 Qxc4 31.bxc4 Re8 32.Rxa7 Rxe5 33.Ne4 Bf4 34.Nf6+
Ouch!…Black resigns 1–0
Boston (0.5 – 2.5)

Can anyone stop this out of control train? How about board 4? White is winning, yes?… Oops! Those gremlins got us again.

NM Ilya Krasik (BOS) vs. NM Ben Goldberg (NE) – Board 4

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qb3 dxc4 7.Qxc4 0–0 8.Bf4 c6 9.e4 b5 10.Qb3 a5 [Theory is... 10...Be6 11.Qc2 Qa5 12.Bd2 b4 13.Nd1 Qb6 14.Be2 With a slight edge for White.] 11.e5 Be6 12.exf6 Bxb3 13.fxg7 Kxg7 14.axb3 Na6 Is this, as they say, dynamically equal.

Position after 14…Na6

We humans watching this game assumed easy win for White. But it is not so easy. [Let's try... 14...Qd7 15.Be2 Qf5 16.Be3 Qc2 17.Bd1 Qf5 18.0–0 Nd7 19.Re1 Rfc8 20.h3 h5 21.Rc1 Nf6 22.Ne5 Qe6 23.Bc2 Qd6 24.Ne4 Nxe4 25.Bxe4 Ra6 26.Rc3 a4 27.bxa4 bxa4 28.Rc5 Qb8 29.Re2 a3 30.bxa3 Rxa3 31.Re1 e6 32.Nxc6 Qd6 33.Rec1 and with all the pawns on one side, Black is still in the game.] 15.Be2 Nb4 16.0–0 Qd7 17.Rac1 Qe6 18.d5 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 Qxd5 20.Rfd1 Qe4 21.Be3 Rfd8 22.Nd4 Rac8 23.Bf3 Qh4

Position after 23… Qh4


24.Rc5?!… After this, Black is slightly better. [24.Nxc6 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1…

Analysis Position after 25.Rxd1…

Looks like White will win the a-pawn, for example... 25...Kg8 26.Bc5 Re8 27.Nxa5 Qf6 28.Nc6 e5 29.Be4 h5 30.f3 h4 31.h3 Kh7 32.Bb4 Qe6 33.Bd5 Qf5 34.Bc3 Rc8 may be equal... ] 24…h6 25.g3 Qf6 26.Bf4… This makes things worse. [26.Bg4 e6 Black has a smaller edge than in the game.] 26…Kh7 27.Be5 Qxf3 28.Nxf3 Rxd1+ 29.Kg2 f6 30.Bc3 b4 Better, and close to winning for Black is… [30...Rd5 31.Rxd5 cxd5 32.Bxa5 e5] 31.Bd2 e5 32.Be3 Rd5 33.Rc4 c5 34.Kf1… [34.Nd2 f5 35.Rc2 and planting the Knight on c4 is equal.] 34…Kg7 35.Nd2 f5 36.Ke2 g5 37.f3 Kg6 38.g4!…
Ilya jumps on a slight edge for White.

Position after 38.g4!…

38…fxg4 39.fxg4 h5 40.Ne4… [40.gxh5+ Kxh5 41.Ne4 Kg6 42.Nxg5 Rh8 43.h3 Rh5 44.h4 is close to winning for White.]

Analysis Position after 44.h4…

40…hxg4 41.Nxg5?!… better was… [41.Nf2 ! 41...Rh8 42.Rxg4 Rxh2 43.Rxg5+ Kf6 44.Rg8 Ke6 45.Ra8 With only a very slight edge to White.] 41…Rh8

Position after 41…Rh8

42.Ne4?… The losing move… I think. [42.Rxg4 Rxh2+ 43.Kf3 Kf5 44.Ne4 Rxb2 45.Rg5+ Ke6 46.Rg6+ Kf7 47.Ra6 Rxb3 48.Ng5+ Ke8 49.Ke4 Rd1 50.Bxc5 is very complicated dynamic equality.]

Analysis Position after 50.Bxc5…

A position worthy of study. The rest is easy.

42…Rxh2+ 43.Nf2 Kf5 44.Ke1 g3 45.Ne4 g2 46.Kf2 Rd3 47.Ng3+ Ke6 48.Rc1 Rxb3 49.Bxc5 Rxb2+ 50.Kg1 Rh8 51.Bf2 a4 52.Ne4 Rh1+ White resigns 0–1

A second straight defeat and the first win for the Nor’easters over the Blitz in their entire history (only one season).
Boston(0.5 – 3.5)

The Blitz are now in 5th place, only one game out of first. We had our chance to put an end to these guys… but, oh those New England Poltergeist… Look out league… They’re Baaack!

Both teams put their best foot forward, lineup wise.

	White		   Black
-------------------------------------------------
1.  GM Shankland (NE)	SM Sammour-Hasbun (BOS)
2.  IM Esserman (BOS)	IM Vigarito (NE)
3.  NM Cherniack (NE)	NM Martirosov (BOS)
4.  NM Krasik (BOS)	NM Goldberg (NE)

GM Sam Shankland will attend this match intending to put an end to Jorge’s GOTW streak on board one. Can he, or rather, will he attempt to match tactics with arguably the leagues top tactical player? Shankland will play 1.e4… and we will see an explosive Ruy Lopez…. or not. (½ – ½)

On board two, Marc Esserman (White) has been in a bit of a slump (for him) with two draws this season. Usually, he competes with Jorge for most GOTWs on the team. This week he faces a staunch positional challenge as IM Dave Vigorito will test his patience with fine positional play… a Najdorf??… Would be like trying to kill a bull by butting him with your head… (1 – 0)

After last weeks fine performance (although a draw) on board two, Vadim returns to board three where he has proven unstoppable with two wins, one of them over this weeks opponent, the grinder, NM Alex Cherniack (White). NM Cherniack has expanded his repertoire to 1.e4… Book your tickets now… Philidor fans. (½ – ½)

Ilya has two losses this season; however, he should have two wins (in your humble author’s opinion). With White on board four against NM Ben Goldberg, he will rebound with a nice dismantling of the Gruenfeld. (1 – 0)

If you are not good at math (and I’m not; so please double check for me), let’s call it Boston (3 – 1) in an early season must win for both sides.

Hey, fans, don’t miss this one. I will be there to root on the home team. See ya in Providence, CMC academy, 201 Wayland ave…7:00 pm. It’s worth the trip, no doubt!

There is only one great truth that I was able to extract from this match… that is… Computers will never be able to think. One by one, the Blitz’s top mathematicians were able to show that Turing machines do not always terminate and human thinking is, at points, non-algorithmic.

To begin, Jorge, an enthusiastic supporter of Kurt Godel, was able to demonstrate that in any formalism (If you will allow chess as one) there is at least one proposition (theory if you will) that is neither provable, nor disprovable… i.e. development is a good thing.

Vadim, on the other hand, is an Intuitionist… that is, he believes that just because something is not false, does not mean that it is true. That is, we all know Philidor is not good (a well know and established theorem)… but, it is not bad. This allowed him to play what I consider the best game of the match and yet allow Jorge to play the Game of the week… an inside Intuitionism joke.

Marc Esserman supported both Jorge and Vadim in their theories, as he was unable to prove or disprove that space, on the chess board, is a good thing… but, it was his easy drawing effort that put the cork on the bottle, as we mathematicians like to say.

At one point, it looked like the match might be 4-0 Boston. But, with two wins racked up and Marc in control, Ilya somehow lost his concentration in a won position… i.e. “If A, does not imply B”… thinking is definitely not algorithmic.

As for Vadim, one small step for Intuitionism, one large step for the Blitz…
I, for one, love this game.

SM Matt Herman (NY) vs NM Vadim Martirosov (BOS) – Board 3

The Philidor is an absurd opening… really… isn’t it? But, that does not account for intuition… I am proud to say that my intuition caused me to predict this choice… and Vadim’s knowledge that Reductio ad absurdum is not valid reasoning (in Intuitionism) allowed him to win this wonderful game.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.Nc3 0–0 7.0–0–0 Nc6 8.Qd2 a6 9.Kb1 Be6 10.Bd3 Ne5 ?!
I thought this a mistake at the time because of White’s follow up.

Position after 10… Ne5?!

I think that better was (and still theory)… [10...h6 11.Bf4 Nb4 12.Nd4 Nxd3 13.Qxd3 Nd7 14.Bg3 Bf6 15.Qe3 Re8 16.Rhe1 Ne5 17.f4 Nc4 18.Qe2 Bxd4 19.Rxd4 c5 20.Rdd1 Qa5 with Philidor equality!]
11.Nxe5 dxe5 12.f4 +/= White has a small edge 12…h6 ?! This is too dangerous [12...exf4 13.Qe1 Nd7 14.Bxf4 is slightly better, but White still has an attack.]
13.h4 ? This is equal. [Let's look at the sacrifice... always present against the Philidor... 13.Bxh6 gxh6 14.f5 Bd7 15.Qxh6 Nh7

Analysis Position after 15… Nh7

I believe White’s attack is winning. For example…
16.Bc4 Bg5 17.Qh5 b5 18.Bb3 a5 19.Rd3 Ra6 20.Rhd1 is winning for White.; Also better for White is the very safe... 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.f5 Bc8 15.Nd5 with a nice edge.]
But, this is the life of a Philidor player… and it in no way takes away, at least for me, the beauty of the concepts. Heck, how many times was Jorge on the wrong end of the stick in his game.
13…exf4 14.Qxf4 Ng4 seems best. 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Nd5 Qd6 17.Qxd6 cxd6 18.Nb6 Nf2 19.Nxa8 Rxa8 20.Rhf1 Nxd1 21.Rxd1 Kf8 and a fairly equal game has arrived.

Position after 21…Kf8 =

But, as in all Philidor’s White seems frustrated that he did not get more and begins to misplay the position. 22.Be2 Ke7 23.Bf3 Get your pawns off White squares and take a draw should be the plan. But, White thinks he deserves more. 23…g5 24.hxg5 hxg5 25.e5 ?

Position after 25.e5?…

Black’s advanced Kingside majority give him a much better endgame. 25…dxe5 26.Bxb7 Ra7 best to keep the a pawn as it slows any White advance. 27.Bf3 g4 [maybe a little better was... 27...f5 28.Rh1 Kd6] 28.Be2 a5 29.c4 Rd7 30.Rxd7+ [a better way to trade was... 30.Kc2 Rxd1 31.Bxd1] 30…Bxd7 Black is winning, but must avoid the old sac the Bishop trick. 31.Kc2 f5 32.Kd3 Bc6

Position after 32…Bc6

I believe that White is lost here; but after 33.e6… Black will probably be forced to bring his King to the Kingside and there is work to be done.
33.Bf1 ? This is really bad. At least get the g-pawn to a dark square and keep the bishop on Black’s g-pawn preventing Black’s next. There is no hope now.

33…f4 34.Ke2 Kd6 35.b3 Kc5 36.a3 a4 37.bxa4 Kxc4 38.Kf2+ Kc5 39.g3 Bxa4 40.Bd3 Bd7 41.Bg6 Kd4 42.Bf7 f3 White resigns… 0–1
It’s mate in 18. Boston (1 – 0)

And now for a completely different absurd game…

GM Gorgi Kacheishvili (NY) vs SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) –Board 1

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 c6 4.e4 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Qxd4 7.Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8.Be2 Na6 9.Ba5 f6 10.Qd8+ Kf7 11.f3… No book move this. 11.Nf3… is book and logical.
11… Qc2 Where to put the queen… not an easy decision.
12.Bc3 e5 13.f4…

Position after 13.f4…

And now… a critical position

13… e4???!

Jorge gives this one ? in his annotations. ( read Jorge’s analysis ) Should it lose, probably; But, it did complicate.
True, this keeps White’s Knight from f3. But, if you have the courage to grab the first pawn… why not another… Fritz gives as best…
[13...exf4 14.Nf3 Qe4 15.Rd1 Nc5 16.0–0 Qe3+ and Black is struggling, but better.

Analysis Position after 16…Qe3+

A Possible continuation is…
17.Rf2 (17.Kh1 Ne6) 17...Qe7 18.Qd2 (18.Qd4 Ne4 19.Rff1 Nxc3) 18...Ne4 19.Qxf4 Nxf2 20.Re1 Ne4 21.Bd3 Nxc3 22.Rxe7+ Nxe7 23.bxc3 Rd8 24.Bxh7 Rd1+ 25.Kf2 Ra1 =] 14.Rd1 Nc5 15.Bb4… [15.f5 We all wondered about this move after the game. Fritz 12 gives 15...Nd3+ 16.Kf1 (16.Bxd3 Qxg2 17.Be2 Qxh1 18.Bb4 Qxg1+ 19.Kd2 Qg5+ 20.Kc2 Bxf5 21.Qxa8 h5 22.Qxb7+ Kg6 23.Qxa7 Nh6 24.Kb3 e3 25.Qc5 Qg2 26.Qxe3 Ng4 27.Qf3 Qxh2 Black is a pawn up and slightly better; but the slightest misstep from either side can turn the game.) ] 15…b6 !! Wow, such a calm move in such a complex position. no one in the analysis room expected this. Black has a slight edge. [White wins by force after. 15...Ne6 16.Rd7+ Bxd7 17.Bh5+ g6 18.Qxd7+ Ne7 19.Qxe7+ Kg8 20.Qxe6+ Kg7 21.Qe7+ Kh6 22.Qxf6 +- 22...Qxg2 23.Be2 Qxh1 24.Kf1 Rhg8 25.Bc3 mate in two.] 16.Bxc5 This is not good… if one can ever say there is a bad move in a position like this. Better was… [16.Nh3 Qxb2 17.0–0 h6 (17...Qxe2 as in the game 18.Ng5+ fxg5 19.fxg5+ Kg6 20.Qe8+ Kxg5 21.Bd2+ Ah, but the bishop is still alive. White wins.) ] 16…bxc5 17.Nh3 Qxb2 18.0–0?!… maybe a bit too much

Position after 18.0-0?!…

Now, Black’s King will run for his life… But, with a couple of pieces for free.
[18.Rf1 Qb4+ 19.Kf2 Qb7 (19...Qb6 20.Ke3 Qxd8 21.Rxd8 White is better in this endgame.) 20.Rb1 Qe7 21.Rfd1 e3+ 22.Kf1 Qe4 23.Bh5+ g6 24.Bf3 Qxf3+ 25.gxf3 Bxh3+ 26.Ke2 Rxd8 27.Rxd8 Kg7 28.Rb7+ Kh6 29.Rxa7 Be6 30.Kxe3 Bxc4 31.a4 White is better] 18…Qxe2 19.Ng5+ fxg5 20.fxg5+ Kg6 21.Qe8+ Kxg5 22.Qe5+ Kh6 23.Rd6+ g6

Position after 23…g6

After the game, we looked at 24.h4… and this proves equal after… [24.h4 Qg4 25.Qxh8 Bf5 26.Rxc6 Qxh4 27.Rxf5 Ne7 28.Qxa8 Nxf5 29.Qf8+ Kh5 30.Qxc5 Qe1+ with a perpetual check; The draw that I saw during the game (which Jorge wouldn't let me show) was... 24.Rxg6+ Kxg6 (24...hxg6 25.Qxh8+ Kg5 26.g3 Qxf1+ 27.Kxf1 Nf6 28.h4+ Kf5 29.g4+ Nxg4 30.Qf8+ Ke6 31.Qe8+ Kd6 32.Qd8+ etc...) 25.Qd6+ Kh5 26.Qe5+ White has a perpetual] 24.Qxh8 ? the losing move. 24…Qe3+ 25.Kh1 Qg5 26.Rxc6 Bd7 27.Rc7 Rf8 28.Qa1 Nf6 29.Qe1 e3 30.Rxa7 Bc6 31.Qe2…

Position after 31…Qe2

and now the best move (which, again, Jorge wouldn’t let me show after the game) was… [31...Ng4 32.Rxf8 Qe5 and White has only spite checks.]
31…Rd8 32.Rxf6 Rd1+ 33.Rf1 Qxg2+ 34.Qxg2 Rxf1# Mate… It’s not often you see a checkmate at this level… let’s give GM kacheishvili credit for his good sportsmanship. 0–1

Well, so much for unprovable propositions. I don’t think I could ever say who should have won this game…
Congratulations Jorge on the GOTW! Boston (2 – 0)

Now, both Marc and Ilya were unhappy with their results; but, both played wonderfully in my opinion. I don’t have time in this short week ( the next match is Monday) to analyze these games, although I would have liked to do so. But, Let me show one position from each so that the reader may understand why I thought we had a chance at 4-0.

Krasik (BOS) – Bodic (NY)
Position after 22… Rg7

The computer gives White +- 6.00; the reader can deduce for himself. But, 0-1
Boston (2 – 1)

Esserman (BOS) – Fedorowicz (NY)
Position after 22… Rec8

Fritz gives White +-1.90 Space, of course, is neither bad nor good. I would say this position is un-provable. Again, let the reader decide. Boston(2.5 – 1.5)

Anyway, that’s it from the Space-Time continuum that is the home of the Blitz. Let’s Congratulate the team for a fine performance and first place in the East. Next week Jorge gets a blow (now, now, that’s baseball lingo for a day off). This implies that there will be no GOTW award… Reductio ad absurdum.

	White				Black
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.  GM Kacheishvili (NY)      	SM Sammour-Hasbun (BOS)
2.  IM Esserman (BOS)		GM Fedorowicz (NY)
3.  SM Herman (NY)		NM Martirosov (BOS)
4.  NM Krasik (BOS)		NM Bodek (NY)

GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) vs SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) – Board 1

GM Kacheishvili was Jorge’s 2010, week 10, GOTW victim and will surely be intent on returning the favor. 1.d4… and maybe a Slav would be ironic. Naahhh! Let’s go with an Albin Counter-gambit… A man’s opening, right Jorge. Swami says a split point in a barn burner.

IM Marc Esserman (BOS) vs GM John Fedorowicz (NY) – Board 2

Marc is still fuming from last weeks dullness… He will definitely mix it up. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a King’s Gambit! Or, irony of ironies…, a    2…c3 sicilian. Ha! I crack myself up sometimes. That’s it! Marc shows how to sac a pawn as White in a c3 Sicilian… Oh yeah! That’s a Smith-Morra! 1-0

SM Matt Herman (NY) vs NM Vadim Martirosov (BOS) – Board 3

Vadim will have his hands full this week. Of course, 1.e4… and, of course, 1…c5 and God love us… a Najdorf? No not that… How about a simple 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 Philidor? Hmmmm! Maybe good for a draw… ½ – ½

NM Ilya Krasik (BOS) vs NM Michael Bodik – Board 4

The return of the soul of the Blitz… 1.d4… and lots of funny faces. Maybe a semi-slav or a King’s Indian. A win here would be nice… but, Ilya won’t need it.
½ – ½    He takes a draw in a winning position to secure the match.

That’s it from Swami land… and if I don’t come close this time, I will tattoo NY on my behind… wait, I think that’s too much pressure on the team… I’ll sing “I love New York” on a podcast… I’m a really lousy singer… So, guys, don’t make me do it.
Boston (2.5 – 1.5)

I know, I know… I know what you’re thinking… some Swami he is. Well, it’s not easy being precogniscient (if that’s a word) and wasn’t that proved Wednesday evening as the Blitz suffered a small setback… a draw with the Applesauce!

I picked a fine night to attend. I like the new site it is a very comfortable facility. It does need a few fan facilities… a projector for the games… and some way for the fans to sit an watch… mostly, we were confined to a side room where everyone had a lot of fun analyzing. All and all, a nice way to spend an evening.

Of course, Jorge’s game drew the most attention. We all kinda’ new he had it in the bag. Why would any rational being play the poison pawn Najdorf against Jorge? Give IM Milman credit for guts and confidence. I enjoyed this game immensely, but, the only doubt in its outcome came from Ilya as he screamed… “for God sake, Jorge, you !@#$%, make a move!” True, Jorge loves to torture fans by taking 20 minutes to do the obvious.

Marc Esserman, however, was his usually angry self when his opponent unveiled 1.e4?… and he became even angrier when he saw 1.e4 c5 2.c3!?… taking the life out of his hopes for a real fight. It was drawish all the way and at no time did I see any way for Marc to complicate. A nice strategy by IM Bartholomew. But, a rather boring draw… especially aggravating to someone with Marc’s temperament.

The match hinged on the results of the two newcomers to the Blitz playing boards 3 and 4. IM Jan van de Mortel played very enterprisingly taking a weak but advanced pawn on e6 and forcing play. Just when I thought he might be winning, he went a bit crazy and may have been lost somewhere before they agreed draw. Afterward, he kindly explained why he was not winning… but we’ll save that for later.

Then there was Daniil Mosiyenko, who played well, but just when we all thought he might be better, he misplayed the position in time trouble and overstepped. Well, let’s chalk this one up to a rookie mistake. I’m sure the Blitz can expect fine play from this young man… make no mistake.

So, I thought the Blitz would make mincemeat out of the Applesauce. Instead, they had to settle for cottage cheese and applesauce… not bad, my grandmother used to make this for me as a child… I eat it to this day… but, I digress…

Let’s take a look at the weekly GOTW contender, Jorge Sammour-Hasbun, and his very nice win… cottage cheese not withstanding… this one was a treat.

SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) vs IM Lev Milman (MAN) – Board 1

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 h6 8.Bh4 Qb6 9.Qd2 Qxb2 10.Rb1 Qa3 11.e5… The most often played move. 11…dxe5 12.fxe5 g5 and now for some really crazy stuff…
[12...Nfd7 13.Ne4 Qxa2 14.Rd1 Qd5 15.Qe3 Qxe5]

Analysis Position after 15… Qxe5

Wow! Black has three pawns, virtually no development, and we are still in book. 16.Be2 Bc5 17.Bg3 Bxd4 18.Rxd4 Qa5+ 19.Rd2 0–0 20.Bd6 My database shows a 50–50 split of 10 games from here. Now Fritz suggests gaining development and giving the exchange with… 20…Nc6 21.Bxf8 Nxf8 22.0–0 Nd7 23.Nd6 Call it equal. But, we humans know that one side or the other will win this game.
13.exf6 gxh4 14.Be2 Nd7

Position after 14… Nd7

My computer ranks as equivalent this move, or 14… Qa5, or, my choice during the game, 14… h3, just to complicate. All seem slightly better for Black; the problem is that this curveball variation is in Jorge’s wheelhouse. The computer rates this and 14… Qa5 or, my favorite, 14… h3 as equivalent. For kicks, check out Nispeanu (2673)-Wojtaszek (2711), 2011 after 14…Qa5

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 h6 8. Bh4 Qb6 9. Qd2 Qxb2 10. Rb1 Qa3 11. e5 dxe5 12. fxe5 g5 13. exf6 gxh4 14. Be2 Qa5 15. O-O Nd7 16. Kh1 Qg5 17. Rf4 e5 18. Nd5 exd4 19. Qxd4 Kd8 20. Rd1 h3 21. g3 Bd6 22. Re4 Re8 23. Nb6 Rxe4 24. Qxe4 Qc5 25. Nxa8 Nxf6 26. Qd3 Ke7 27. Bf3 h5 28. Qe2+ Be6 29. Bxb7 Ng4 30. Rf1 h4 31. gxh4 Nxh2 32. Rg1 Kf8 33. Rg5 Qb4 34. Qe4 Qb1+ 35. Rg1 Nf1 36. Qc6 Ng3+ 37. Kh2 Nf1+ 38. Kh1 Qd1 39. Qf3 Qd2 0-1

This just shows how crazy things are here.

15.0–0 Qd6 15…Qa5 transposes to Nispeanu-Wojtaszek with a slight advantage to Black. Now, Fritz calls it equal; but, as a human, I like White. 16.Ne4 Qc7 [Fritz prefers the brave... 16...Qd5 17.Bf3 Ne5 18.Qe3 h3 would you believe...equal?] 17.Rfd1… Now, White has the initiative, as Black’s moves are limited. 17…b6 Now, White has an advantage. I let the computer run for a while here… just to see if there is a definite win. [17...h3 18.Rb3 Qe5 is better and returns to the theme of at least have an active Queen.] 18.Bh5!…

Position after 18.Bh5!…

[18.Rb4… The beast considers this move or Jorge's as best. I just mention this because it looks strange to offer the exchange this way. 18...Bc5 (18...Bxb4 19.Qxb4 Nc5 20.Nb5 axb5 21.Nd6+ Kf8 22.Nxb5 Qd7 23.Rxd7 Bxd7 is winning for White as Black's King is trapped and his King's Rook is worthless.) 19.Nxc5 bxc5 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Bh5+ Kd8 22.Rg4 Qe5 23.Qa5+ Qc7 24.Qe1 Qb6 25.f7 and White wins.]
18…Nc5 19.Qe2 Rg8 20.Nf5… [20.Bxf7+ Qxf7 21.Rxb6 not winning, but, very tough to defend 21...h3 22.g3 Bd7 23.Nf5 Nxe4 24.Qxe4 Bc5+ 25.Kh1 Rd8 26.Nxh6 Rg4 27.Qxg4 Bxb6 28.Rxd7 Qxf6 29.Rxd8+ Bxd8 equal.] 20…Nxe4 21.Qxe4 Bc5+ 22.Kh1 Bb7 23.Ng7+ Kf8 24.Qxh4 Bd5?! After this Black is hopeless. He had to play… [24...Rxg7 25.fxg7+ Kxg7 and White still must work. Jorge's time was much too low and Black's bishops are threatening. However, Black is still lost.]

Position after 24… Bd5?!

25.Bf3 Bxf3 26.gxf3 Rh8 27.Rd3 Rd8 28.Rbd1… [Even better is.. . 28.Qg3 Rd6 29.Rbd1 Rxd3 30.Rxd3 but why quibble.] 28…Rxd3 29.Rxd3 Qc8 30.Qg3 Rh7 31.Rd7!… Black resigns

Final Position after 31.Rd7!…

White threatens 32.Nxe6… and the Rook is immune due to 32.Qb8+… Great game Jorge and another GOTW candidate. 1–0

Boston (1 – 0)

Next to finish was IM Jan van de Mortel whose enterprising play had us fans sweating a bit near the end.

IM Jan van de Mortel (BOS) vs FM Farai Mandizha (MAN) – Board 3

1.d4 e6 2.c4 f5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.0–0 0–0 7.Nc3 d6 8.Qc2 Nc6 9.d5 Ne5 10.Nd4 Nxc4 [10...exd5 11.cxd5 Qe7 +/- White has the advantage.] 11.Nxe6 Bxe6 12.dxe6 c6 White has the two Bishops but a very weak pawn.

Position after 12…c6

if only he could prevent …d5 13.e4 [13.b3 Nb6 14.Ba3 Re8 Naahhh!] 13…fxe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 d5 16.Qe2 Qe7 = 17.Rb1 Rae8 18.b3 Nd6 19.Ba3 Bd4?! [ better was 19...Qxe6 20.Qxe6+ Rxe6 21.Bh3 Ref6 22.Rbe1 Rd8 23.Re7 Rb8 White has compensation for the pawn.]

Position after 19…Bd4?!

20.Bxd6 ?! This is only equal. But, White had a big advantage with… [20.Rbd1 Bg7 (20...Bb6 ? 21.Qe5 Rd8 22.Bb2 +-) 21.Bh3]

Analysis Position after 21.Bh3…

It seems Black has no constructive moves.

20…Qxd6 21.Bh3 b5 22.Rbd1 Bb6 Black gets to keep his Bishop on a much better diagonal and the game is probably a draw.
23.Kh1 a6 24.f4 Re7 25.f5 gxf5 26.Rxf5 Rxf5 27.Qg4+ Kf8 28.Qxf5+ Ke8
Here is where I thought White had a winning game with… 29.Rf1 Kd8 30.Qf8+ Kc7 31.Rf7 Bc5

Analysis Position after Bc5

Is there a win? probably not, but White has the ad here.
For example, 32.Bf5 d4 33.Rxe7+ Qxe7 34.Qh8… and White will win a pawn. But, it is, of course, complicated.
29.a3 Kd8 30.b4 Kc7 31.Rf1 a5 32.a4?…

Position after 32.a4?…

White can hold a draw easily. But, now risks losing for complications. 32…bxa4 33.b5 cxb5 34.Rd1 b4? equal… Missing his chance. [34...a3 !! 35.Bg2 (35.Rxd5 ? 35...a2 !!) 35...Qxe6 36.Qf4+ Qe5 37.Qc1+ Kb8 38.Qxa3 b4 Black should win.]

Analysis Position after 38…b4

35.Rxd5 Qc6 36.Qe5+ Kc8 37.Qh8+ Re8 38.Qe5 Re7 39.Qh8+ Re8 40.Qe5 Re7 41.Qh8+ Re8 Game drawn by repetition… Wheww! that was a close one. ½–½
Credit IM van de Mortel with some gutsy play.
Boston (1.5 – 0.5)

However, on board 4 Daniil Mosiyenko was lacking air… in fact, at points I think he could hardly breath.

NM James Black (MAN) vs Daniil Mosiyenko (BOS) – Board 4

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nge2 Bg7 8.Ng3 0–0 9.Be2 a6 10.a4 Nbd7 11.0–0 Re8 12.Bg5 h6 13.Be3 Rb8 14.Qd2 Kh7 15.Kh1 Ne5 I’m not sure this move accomplishes much. I prefer the Benko like gambit… [15...b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.Bxb5 Ng4 18.Bxd7 Bxd7 19.Bf4…]

Analysis Position after 19.Bf4…

I think the game is pretty equal. Black can choose to play on the Queenside with 19… Qb6 or Kingside with 19…Qh4. What do you think?
16.h3 b6 17.f4 Ned7 18.Rab1 Bb7 19.Bd3 Rc8 20.b3 Qe7 [Fritz finds a cute equality in... 20...Ng4 21.Bg1 Qh4] 21.Rbe1 Kg8 Strangely, Fritz considers this the best. I feel that Black is cramped and is struggling to find a plan. Space advantages, or lack thereof, will do that to you. 22.Qc2 h5 [Again, more active was... 22...Ng4 ] 23.Rf2 ?! [23.Rf3 Ng4 =] 23…h4 24.Nf1 Nh5 25.Rf3…

Position after 25.Rf3…

25… Bd4 Black is slightly better
[25...g5 !? is very Benoni-like as White dare not take... 26.fxg5 Ne5 27.Rf2 Nxd3 28.Qxd3 Bxc3 29.Qxc3 Qxe4 gives Black a nice edge] 26.Bd2 Qf8 passive. 26… Ndf6 or Nhf6 prevents White’s maneuver. 27.Ne2 Bg7 28.Ne3 Rb8 29.Ref1 Bc8 30.Ng4 Black lacks counterplay. +/- 30…Ndf6 31.Nxf6+ Bxf6 32.e5 ! Of course. 32…Bg7 33.Bc3 Bb7

Position after 33…Bb7

It’s getting hard to breath in here.
34.Be4?… 34.f5… was a cruncher… You figure it out. 34…Qe7 [34...f5 hangs on. 35.exf6 Nxf6 36.Bxf6 (36.Bxg6 Bxd5) 36...Qxf6 37.Nc3 +/- advantage White, but it's a game.] 35.Re3… again, 35.f5… wins. 35…dxe5 36.fxe5 Qg5 37.Bd2… White’s threats are many… What to do?

Position after 37.Bd2…

37… Bxe5?! Oh, Applesauce! I can’t fault this move too much. Who but a computer would play…
[37...Rxe5!! 38.Rxf7 Bxd5 39.Bxd5 Rxd5 40.Re8+ Rxe8 41.Bxg5 Kxf7]

Analysis Position after 41… Kxf7

with Benoni equality
38.Ref3 Qd8 ? [38...Qe7 39.Rxf7 Rf8 and the game continues.] 39.Rxf7 Qd6 40.Bxg6 Black forfeits on time. White is winning anyway. 40… Qxd5 41.Rxb7 Qxb7 42.Bxe8… 1–0
Well, a draw here would have meant the match win. Nevertheless, a fighting, entertaining Benoni…. I like it Daniil…
Boston (1.5 – 1.5)

Meanwhile, back on board 2, Marc was pulling his hair out to try to complicate… he did not succeed.

IM John Bartholomew (MAN) vs IM Marc Esserman (BOS) – Board 2

1.e4 c5 2.c3… Yuck! Every Sicilian player hates this move.
2… Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bc4 e6 6.0–0 d6 7.d4 Be7 8.Re1 0–0 9.exd6 Qxd6 10.dxc5 Qxc5 11.Qe2 a6 12.Nbd2 b5 13.Bb3 Nf4 14.Qe4 Ng6 15.Nf1 Bb7 16.Be3 Qd6 17.Rad1 Qc7 18.Qg4 Na5 19.Bc2… [19.Bxe6 Bxf3 20.gxf3 fxe6 21.Qxe6+ Rf7 22.Bb6 Qc6 23.Bxa5 Qxf3 Black is better 24.Nd2 (24.Qe3 Nh4) 24...Qxf2+ 25.Kh1] 19…Nc4 20.Bc1 Rad8 21.Ng5 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 Rd8 23.Re1…

Position after 23.Re1…

A decision point.
23… Bxg5?!… I don’t like giving up the two bishops here, not because this is a bad move as Black is fine, but because it just makes things hard. Let’s look at… [23...Qc5 24.h4 Rd5 25.Qg3 Qd6 26.Qxd6 Nxd6 Black is better 27.g3 Bxg5 28.hxg5 Ne5 29.Nh2 Nd3 30.Bxd3 Rxd3] and Black is doing better than in the game.
24.Qxg5 Nce5 = [24...Nd6 25.Rd1 Bd5 26.a3 =] 25.Qg3 Rd7 This, with the idea of trading Queens, leaves White with an un-loseable edge. However, complicating seems worse… [25...f5 26.Bg5 Re8 27.h4 f4 28.Qh3 f3] 26.h4 Nc4 27.Qxc7 Rxc7 28.Rd1 f6 29.h5 Nf8 30.Rd8 Rc8 31.Rxc8 Bxc8 32.Ne3 Nxe3 33.Bxe3…. White has achieved his endgame with an edge, the two Bishops.

Position after 33.Bxe3…

Marc is counting on the fact that his opponent is not Kramnik.
33…Kf7 34.f3 g6 35.hxg6+ hxg6 36.Kf2 Nd7 37.a4 Ne5 38.axb5 axb5 39.Bf4 Nc4 40.b3 Nb6 41.Bd3 Bd7 42.c4 bxc4 43.bxc4 Bc6 44.Bc7 Nd7 45.Ke3… [45.Bd6 makes things tougher] 45…e5 46.g4 Nc5 47.Bc2 Ne6

Position after 47…Ne6

Things are pretty equal now that the Knight has some good outposts.
48.Bb6 Ng5 49.f4 exf4+ 50.Kxf4 Ne6+ 51.Ke3 Ng7 52.Bd4 Ne6 53.Bc3 Nc5 54.Bb4 Nd7 55.Bd6 Ke6 56.c5 Ne5 forget about it! 57.Bxe5 Kxe5 58.Bxg6 Bd7 59.Kf3 Bxg4+ Game drawn by mutual agreement ½–½
All in all, a pretty boring game. No famous Esserman pawn sacs were even remotely possible here.
Boston (2 – 2)

That’s it from the front. A match draw… Hmmmm! Still, Applesauce and cottage cheese is one of my favorite dishes.

Manhattan comes into this match fresh off a week one draw against Philly, while the Blitz, after an energizing win against New England, must avoid a let down as so often happens after big matches.

The good news for the Blitz is they welcome back IM Marc Esserman, who, I am sure, will provide the necessary fireworks to keep the team anxious and focussed on the prize. Marc is returning to league play after his unconditional retirement last year. Hey, chess is just like the NFL! It will be great to see Marc playing his usual uncompromising chess for the Blitz once again.

And now for the most accurate preview of the season…

      White                      Black
------------------------------------------------

1. SM Sammour-Hasbun (BOS)    IM Milman (MAN)
2. IM Bartholomew (MAN)       IM Esserman(BOS)
3. IN Van de Mortel (BOS)     NM Mandizha (MAN)
4. NM Black (MAN              NM Masiyenko (BOS)

SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) vs IM Lev Milman (MAN)

I believe this is their first encounter in league play… maybe ever.
Jorge’s new found positional/rational style vs IM Milman’s rock solid defense makes this one tough to pick. Swami (my new nickname) sees a calm and quiet English opening. Boston 1-0.

IM John Bartholomew (MAN) vs IM Marc Esserman (BOS)

From my extensive research (about 10 minutes on the InterWeb) IM Bartholomew will probably play 1.d4… Now, this will be a great test for Marc, as he seems to have had a revelation… Good players should play solid openings like the Gruenfeld… not the Dutch. Will he be tempted to revert?
No! Swami says he plays the Gruenfeld and shows the world the new Marc. Of course, he will still sac a pawn somewhere. Boston 2-0.

IM Jan Van de Mortel (BOS) vs FM Farai Mandizha (MAN)

Another newcomer to the revamped Blitz… All together now… Welcome Jan! Since I don’t know much about either player in this match, I had to use all my psychic Swami abilities to forsee… 1.d4 d5 and a Semi-Slav where Black avoids the hazardous Botvinnik. Although I never met Jan, I know he will produce the game of the day… saccing a piece by move 20… Boston 3-0

NM James Black (MAN) vs Daniil Masiyenko (BOS)

Yet another newbee… Welcome aboard Daniil! May all your sacrificed pawns be poison… Wow! It just hit me… a poison pawn Najdorf… If ever a Swami there was, I am one because… Hey, if it comes true, I am a legend. Come on Daniil, Bobby played it… so can you… Unless, of course, your opponent reads this article and takes the way of the cowardly lion.
Boston 3.5-0.5

Well, that’s it for your swinging Swami. The Blitz win again and Manhattan sings the Applesauce Blues all the way back to New… New… N…N….Newww… well, you know where.