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.

Our first game to finish, seemed to promote this thought… as Super Vadim walked through his opponents hail of bullets… without even working up a sweat.


NM Evan Rosenberg (NY) vs. NM Vadim Matirisov (BOS)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 Nf6 6.e3 Bf5 7.a3…

Not a good novelty, better is… 7.Nge2 0–0 8.Ng3 Be6

7…c6 8.Nf3 0–0 9.Qb3 Qb6 10.Qxb6 axb6 11.Be2 Nbd7 12.h3 b5 13.0–0 Nb6 14.Ne5 Ne4 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Rfc1?…

Black is already better, but this move loses a piece. White should try… 16.f3 f6 17.Ng4 Nd5 18.Nf2 Nxf4 19.exf4 exf3 20.Bxf3 Rfd8 with a bad, but playable game.

16…f6

Position after 16… f6

We all saw this one… could it be so easy?

17.Ng4…

Fritz gives the best way to lose the piece as 17.Nxc6 bxc6 18.Rxc6 Nd5 19.Bd6 Bd7 20.Rc5 Bxd6 21.Rxd5 Ra6 22.Bxb5 Bxb5 23.Rxb5 Rc8 with three pawns for the piece and, who knows, some chances (=/+0.65). But, my money is on Black. After the game move, things are rather easy… tricky… but, easy.

17…h5 18.Nxf6+ gxf6 19.Bxh5 Nd5 20.Bg3 Rfd8 21.Bd1 Bd6 22.Bxd6 Rxd6 23.g4 Bg6 24.Bb3 Kg7 25.Kg2 f5 26.g5 f4 27.Bxd5 Rxd5 28.h4 Rh8 29.Rh1 Bh5 30.Rh2 Bf3+ 31.Kg1 Kg6 32.b4 Kf5 White resigns 0–1

Boston (1 – 0)

We were on our way as Anya seemed, as always, in control. But, her tricky opponent turned the tables… and actually seemed better at the end… although it was opposite color Bishops. As it turns out, he should have kept playing.

WGM Anya Corke (BOS) vs. NM Yaacov Norowitz (NY)

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.Bxf6 Qxf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Qd2 e5 7.Nd5…

My database gives 7.Nf3 c6 8.Be2 Be7 9.0–0 0–0 10.Nd1 exd4 11.Nxd4 Re8 12.f4…
But I like Anya’s move better, as it maintains a pawn center.

7…Qd8 8.c3 g6 9.Bd3 Bg7 10.Ne2 0–0 11.0–0 c6 12.Ne3 d5

This gives White a big advantage. Better is 12…exd4 13.cxd4… and White has a smaller edge.

13.exd5 exd4 14.Nxd4 cxd5 15.Bb5 Qd6 16.Ne2 [16.Nf3 Rd8 17.Rfd1 Be6 18.Bc4] 16…Be6 17.Rad1 Rd8

Position after 17… Rd8

18.Ba4…

Anya told me after the game that 18. Bc4… did not work because of 18… Be5
However, some quick analysis with Fritz shows that 19.Nxd5 Bxh2+ 20.Kh1 Be5 21.Qxh6… gives White a winning game. However, Fritz also suggests as best….18.Bc4 Nc6 19.Bxd5 Ne7 20.c4 Nxd5 21.cxd5 Rac8 22.Qa5 Bd7 with the two bishops as compensation for the lost pawn.

After the game move, Black eliminates the isolated pawn and the game moves to a draw.

18…Nc6 19.Nc2 d4 20.Ncxd4 Bc4 21.Rfe1 Bxe2 22.Qxe2 Nxd4 23.cxd4 Bxd4 24.Bb5 Qb6 25.Bc4 Rd7 26.Kh1 Rad8 27.Rd2 Kg7 28.Red1 Qf6 29.h3 a6 30.Rd3… Game drawn by mutual agreement ½–½

Black is better… but the opposite color Bishops make it a likely draw. Another solid performance from Anya.

Boston (1.5 – 0.5)

All seemed right in Mudville… until Boston’s Superstar first board went down swinging.

SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) vs. GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY)

1.c4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.a4 e6 6.Bg5 Bb4 7.e4 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Qa5 9.Bxf6…

Jorge’s home analysis, perhaps better is
9.e5 Ne4 B/0 0 10.Bd2 Qd5 and White has compensation for the pawn.

9…Qxc3+ 10.Nd2 gxf6 11.Bxc4 Qxd4 12.0–0 Nd7 13.Qe2 Ne5 14.Kh1 h5 15.f4 Ng4 16.Ra3 Bd7 17.Rd3 Qc5 18.e5 f5 19.Ba2 0–0–0 20.Nc4 Kb8 21.Nd6 Bc8

Position after 21…Bc8

Jorge has battled back and Fritz now considers the game equal… meaning White’s attack is worth two pawns… which means, at least to me, that Jorge should win this.

22.Qb2…

Fritz like 22.h3… not to take the Knight, as it is immune right now, but to give White’s King a place to go in some lines… and also, to tie Black’s Queen to the g1-a7 diagonal, or Black may indeed lose his Knight. One example…

22.h3 f6 23.Nxc8 Rxd3 24.Qxd3 Kxc8 25.Bxe6+ Kb8 26.Qd6+ Qxd6 27.exd6… =

22…b6 23.Qd2?…

Probably the losing move.
Better was 23.Rd4 Ba6 24.Rc1 Nf2+ 25.Kg1 Nd3 26.Rxc5 Nxb2 27.Rxc6… (+/- 0.95)

23…f6 24.Rc3 Qb4 25.Qc2…

There are just no good moves from here… 25.Rb1 Qxa4 26.Rc4 Qa6 27.Qb2 fxe5 28.fxe5 Qa5 gives Black a winning advantage.

25…Ba6 26.Bc4 Bxc4 27.Rxc4 Ne3 28.Rxb4 Nxc2 29.Rb2 Rxd6 30.exd6 Nd4 31.a5 31…Kb7 32.axb6 axb6 33.Rfb1 b5 34.Rd1 c5 35.Ra2 Rd8 36.Rc1 Kb6 37.Rca1 c4 White resigns 0–1

Boston (1.5 – 1.5)

Well, Jorge did prove that this wild variation is playable… but practical is another matter. It puts the pressure on White to find the perfect moves right from the beginning. Meanwhile, we all thought Denys was lost… and, of course, this meant he would surely win.

IM Irina Krush (NY) vs. SM Denys Shmelov (BOS)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 b6 5.Bd3 Bb7 6.Nf3 0–0 7.0–0 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Ne5 Bd6 10.f4 c5 11.Qf3 Nc6 12.Qh3 g6 13.Bd2 cxd4 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.exd4 Ne4 16.Bxe4 dxe4 17.f5 Re8

Would you believe? 17…Bc5 18.Be3 (18.dxc5 Qxd2 19.Rad1=) 18…Bxd4 19.Rad1 Bxe3+ 20.Qxe3 Qf6 +/= White has a slight advantage.

18.Bh6 Bf8 19.d5 Bd7 20.Bxf8 Rxf8 21.Nxe4 Bxf5 22.Rxf5 gxf5 23.Qxf5 f6 24.Rf1 Qe7 25.d6 Qf7 26.Nxf6+ Kh8 27.Qe5 Qg7 28.d7 Rad8 29.h4 Rf7

Position after 29… Rf7

30.Rf4?…

White is winning after 30.Rf3 [or 30.Rf2…] h6 31.Kh2 Re7 32.Qd6 Rexd7 (32…Rf7 33.Ne8) 33.Nxd7 Rxd7 34.Qc6 Qe5+ (34…Rd2 35.Rg3) 35.Rg3 Rg7 36.Qxh6+ Kg8 37.Qxg7+ Qxg7 38.Rxg7+ Kxg7

After the game move, White is losing.

30…Rdxd7 31.Rf5 Rde7 32.Qf4 Re6 33.Nh5 Rxf5 34.Qxf5 Qd4+ 35.Kf1 Qd1+ 36.Kf2 Qe1+ 37.Kf3 White resigns 0–1

Denys is definitely the best squirmer on the Boston team. Give him a bad position and he will definitely make the most of it.

Boston (2.5 – 1.5)

Not bad for a meaningless match… if you take out the grudge factor. But, in reality, it just doesn’t matter… why can’t we just forget about who we are playing and simply play chess… is that too much to ask?

Looking forward… Boston meets this same team in round one of the playoffs… Of course, the rosters for both teams will be different… but, the X factor will still be there… Could the bad guys win?… Never!

The first mate and first board, seaman Eugene Perelshteyn proved up to the task as he avoided trouble waters and sunk the opponents boat even without the two bishops.

GM Eugene Perelshteyn (BOS) vs. IM Bruci Lopez (MIA)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0–0 6.Be2 e5 7.Be3 h6 8.d5…

More common is… 8.0–0 Ng4 9.Bc1; or, 8.h3 exd4 9.Nxd4 Re8 10.Qc2 Qe7 11.Bf3 c5 12.Nde2 Nc6 with a very slight edge for White.

At first, the dynamic pawn grab 8.dxe5… seems good as Black’s h6 pawn may hang. For example, 8… dxe 9.Nxe5 Nxe4 10.Nxe4 Bxe5 11.Bxh6… with advantage White. Unfortunately, Black can cleverly maintain with… 8…Ng4 9.Bc1 Nxe5 Tisdall-Rowson, ½-½, 1993 was a cute draw after 9. exd Nxe 10.fxe cxd 11.O-O Bxc3! and White’s two sets of doubled pawns defeat the purpose of being a pawn up.

8…Ng4 9.Bd2…

or, 9.Bc1 f5 10.g3

9…f5 10.h3 Nf6 11.exf5 gxf5

The game is very slightly better for White.

Position after 11… gxf5

Black does have a scary presence in the center. And now Eugene begins a series of moves that I find incredulous, but, of course, they are perfectly logical… to a GM.

12.g3…

This is the first move that baffled me… Turns out, it serves to support the Knight on h3.

12…Na6 13.Qc1 Kh7 14.Qc2!…

Another of those GM maneuvers… giving Black a pin to worry about.

14…c6 15.Nh4 e4

Ah! Now I see. The pressure on Black’s f-pawn has produced a weakening advance… yes? Or, is Black attacking? Fritz calls it +/= 0.35, a very slight edge for White.

16.0–0…

Must not be an attack.

16…cxd5 17.Nxd5…

Maybe a smidge better is… 17.cxd5 Qc7 18.Rac1 Qf7 19.Bxa6 (19.Bc4)19…bxa6 But, you and I both know Eugene would never relinquish the two Bishops for a smidge.

17…Nxd5 18.cxd5 Nc7 19.Qb3…

It was after this move that I thought that Black could generate some counterplay with 19… f4.

Position after 19.Qb3…

19…Be5

After this, Black never seems to get back into the game. Complicating, but no better is… 19…f4 20.Qc2 Kg8 21.Qxe4 Qe8 22.Qd3 Bxh3

20.Rac1 b6 21.Bh5 Rf6 22.Bc3 Bxc3 23.Rxc3 Bb7 24.Rd1 Na6 25.Qc2 Qe7 26.Ng2 Qd7 27.Nf4 Rc8 28.a3 Rc7 29.b4 Qc8 30.Rc1 Rxc3 31.Qxc3 Qxc3 32.Rxc3 Rf8 33.Bg6+ Kg8

White is winning.

Position after 33… Kg8

However, this is not an easy position, especially with the clock ticking. Fritz gives as best… 34.f3 Rc8 35.Re3 Rc1+ 36.Kf2 Rc2+ 37.Ke1 Nc7 38.Bxf5…

Analysis position after 38.Bxf5…

And Black cannot capture either pawn. 38… Nxd5 39… Be6+ wins a piece; or, 38… exf3 39.Bxc2… White will be up two pawns.

34.Ne6…

This move keeps the same advantage; but, Black could repeat if he chooses.

34…Rf6 35.Bh5 Bxd5

Black repeats with 35…Kh8 36.Nf4 Kg8. After the game move, Eugene invades with the Rook.

36.Rc8+ Kh7 37.Nf4 Bf7 38.Rf8

38.Be2… wins a piece, but who’s counting.

38…Kg7 39.Ra8 Bc4 40.Rxa7+ Kg8 41.Ra8+ Rf8 42.Ra7 Rc8 43.Bg6 Rf8 44.Bh7+… Black resigns 1–0

Final position…

It’s mate after 44… Kh8 25.Ng6#… Boston (1 – 0)

Very nice demonstration of the power in controlling the open file.

Meanwhile, back on the other side of the ship, Frigate Lieutenant Shmelov was teetering on the brink as wave after wave pushed him nearer the edge…

FM Marcel Martinez (MIA) vs. SM Denys Shmelov (BOS)

This was one of those “theoretical discussions” , unfortunately, I don’t think that Black ever quite equalized.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 b6 5.Nge2 c5 6.a3 Ba5 7.Rb1 Na6 8.Bd2 0–0 9.Ng3…

Position after 9.Ng3…

It is early, but I think this is the crucial position of the game. The most common move here for Black is 9… Bb7. However, it doesn’t seem to lead to equality. Let’s look at Gonzalez-Akopian, ½ , 2004 which continued…

9…Bb7 10.Bd3 d5 Most top players avoid the obvious 10… Bxg2 11.Rg1 Bb7 for obvious reasons. A good attacking player will make Black’s life miserable here.

However, this may be the best. 11.cxd5 cxd4 12.exd4 Bxc3 13.bxc3 Qxd5 14.Qe2!… In the game, Gonzalez contiued (14.f3 Nc5! And Black equalized). This improvement works better as Black’s Knight must move to a bad square. 14…Nb8 15.f3 Qa2 16.Bc1 Qxe2+ 17.Kxe2 Rc8 18.Bd2…

Analysis position after 18.Bd2…

The endgame is much better for White. His king is centralized, he has the two Bishops, and he controls more space in the center. (Fritz +/- 0.85) Let’s call this variation A.

I’m sure that Denys was familiar with the type of position that results here and so, he displays his own improvement.

9… cxd4 10.exd4 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 Bb7 12.Bd3 d5 13.b3 Qe7 14.0–0…

Postion after 14.O-O…

I became interested in the difference between this position and Variation A above. Here, White’s dark squared Bishop is better placed and his pawns are already advanced. Black is holding better in the center, but the presence of Queens means Black is under attack on the Kingside as well. This means that White can alternate threats and possibly create more winning chances than in variation A. So, if Black must suffer, why not grab a pawn?

14…Rfd8

This was Denys’s chance to complicate White’s plan. Let’s look at the pawn grab. 14…dxc4 15.bxc4 Qxa3 16.Qd2 Qd6 17.Rfd1 Rfd8

Analysis position after 17… Rfd8

White is down a pawn and must prove his idea. Fritz and I consider White slightly better; but, if Black can slip out of the attack, perhaps Denys’s 9…cxd4 is the best. After the game move, Denys slips back into an inferior endgame.

15.Re1

15.Bb2…

Rac8 16.Qd2 Qd7

After this Black is worse. Grabbing the pawn was still possible, but a little more dangerous than before.

16…dxc4 17.bxc4 Qxa3 18.c5 Nc7 19.Ra1 Qb3 20.Rxa7 Bc6 21.Bb4 bxc5 22.Bxc5…

The game is close to equal as Black has eliminated the queenside pawns and a draw is in sight. Of course, White could have tried to trap the queen or shift to the kingside attack. So, I fully understand why Black rejected this line.

17.Bb2 Nc7 18.Rbc1 Nce8 19.f3 Qd6 20.Qe3 Qd7 21.c5 Bc6 22.Ne2 Rb8 23.Bc2 a5 24.Qd2 Rdc8 25.Nf4 Qd8 26.Bc3 Nd7 27.b4 Bb5 28.Nd3 Bc4 29.Nb2 Nef6 30.Bd3 axb4 31.axb4 b5

White still has a slight advantage that he has maintained almost from the beginning.

Position after 31… b5

The position on the Queenside has become static with White having the advantage of a protected passed pawn and slightly less awkwardly placed pieces. This proves enough for FM Martinez.

32.Ra1 Ra8 33.Nd1…

33.Bc2 Qc7 34.Qg5… kept an advantage.

33… Rxa1 34.Bxa1 Ra8?!

34…Qc7 35.Nc3 Qc6 36.Bb2 Ra8 =

35.Nc3 Rb8 36.Bb2 h6 37.Qe2 Nf8 38.Ra1 Ng6 39.g3?!…

This is an error. Denys has played well and has put some pressure on White’s game.

Position after 39.g3?!…

Now, he can actually gain a slight advantage with 40…Ne7! 41.Nb1 Nc6 42.Bc3 Ne8 43.Na6 Nc7

Analysis position after 43… Nc7

Somehow White’s pieces are the awkward ones.

39… Nh5 40.Qe3 Bxd3?!

40…Ne7!

41.Qxd3 Qg5 42.Kf2 e5?

A loser… the sacrifice 42…Nhf4 43.gxf4 Nxf4 44.Qf1 Qg6 45.Ke3 Qc2 46.Kxf4 Qxb2 47.Ne2 e5+ 48.Kg3 Re8 49.Rb1 Qd2 50.Kh3 exd4 51.Ng3 d3 52.Qd1 Qe3 53.Rb3 Qe6+ 54.Kg2… does not work… although it is the best he has as the b-pawn is falling.

Position after 42…e5?

43.Bc1

Nxd5!… is better.

Qd8 44.Qf5 Nf6 45.dxe5 d4 46.Ne4 Nxe4+ 47.Qxe4 d3 48.Be3 Qe8

And the rest, as they say, is technique.

49.f4 Rd8 50.Rd1 Qe6 51.Rxd3 Qa2+ 52.Bd2 Re8 53.Rd7 Nf8 54.Qd5 Ra8 55.Qxa2 Rxa2 56.Rd8 g6 57.Kf3 Kg7 58.Rd3 Rc2 59.g4 f6 60.Ke4 Kf7 61.exf6 Kxf6 62.Kd5 Ne6 63.Kc6 Black resigns 1–0

Boston (1 – 1)

Well, one mate overboard, no pun intended; but the two deck hands were cleaning up pretty good… so far.

Seaman, or rather Seawoman, Anya Corke was pushing IM Blas Lugo all over the deck but couldn’t quite find the end of the plank.

WGM Anya Corke (BOS) vs. IM Blas Lugo (MIA)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nc3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 a6 9.e4 c5 10.d5 c4 11.dxe6 cxd3 12.exd7+ Qxd7 13.0–0 Bb7 14.Re1 Bb4 15.Bg5…

A very unusual move. Will White really open the g-file.

Position after 15.Bg5…

Most common is… 15.Ne5 Qe6 16.Nxd3 Bxc3 17.bxc3 with a tough game; but, White has a pawn. After the game move, Anya will trade pieces and calmly play into a pawn up ending where White is the only one with winning chances,

15…Bxc3 16.bxc3 Rc8 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Qd2 Rg8 19.Re3 Kf8 20.Rxd3 Qg4 21.Ne1 Qg5 22.Re3 Qf4?

22… Qe5 23.Rd1… was best, and White is nearly winning, but there is still a game.

Position after 22… Qf4?

23.Rd1?!…

Anya misses her best. 23.e5!… seems to be a winner threatening Qd7… as in the game. Thus, if 23… fxe5 24.Qd7… and Black cannot save the Bishop. So 23…Qf5 24.Qd6+ Kg7 25.e6 Rge8 26.Rg3+ Kh8 27.exf7 Rf8 28.Rd1 Qe5 29.Qxe5 fxe5 30.Rd7…

Analysis position after 30.Rd7…

White has two pawns and a dominant position. After the game move, White is also winning, but it is much tougher.

23…Rg6 24.Qd7 Qc7 25.Qxc7?!…

25.Qh3 Kg7 26.Nf3 Rd8 27.Rxd8 Qxd8 28.Nd4 Bc8 29.Qf3… is probably better as White has forced some favorable trades and kept her Queen and the attack.

Analysis position after 29.Qf3…

In the game, White has traded Queens and now the win depends on very precise technique.

25…Rxc7 26.Nf3 Rg4 27.Rde1?!…

27. Rd4… keeps the Rook more active… followed by h3… making luft will keep a bigger advantage. After the game move, Black has 27…f5 28. exf Kg7 29.Kf1 Ra4 30.Re2 Bd5 with a likely draw.

27… Rc4 28.Nd4 Rg5 29.Rd1 Bc8 30.Nb3 Re5 31.Rd4 Rc7 32.h3…

32.f4 Re8 33.Kf2

32…Re6 33.Na5 Re5 34.Nb3 Re6 35.Rd8+ Ke7 36.Rdd3 Rec6 37.Nd4 Rc5 38.f4 Kf8 39.Kf2 Rc4

Position after 39… Rc4

A lot of maneuvering has been going on and not much was accomplished.

40.e5…

This makes it hard, if not impossible to win. However, 40.g4 Ra4 41.Rd2 Ra3 42.Nb3 Be6 43.Rb2 Ke7 is no better. The game is slowly headed to equality.

40…fxe5 41.fxe5 Ra4 42.Rd2 Ke7 43.Rde2 Be6 44.Nxe6 Kxe6 45.Rf3 Ra3 46.Rf6+ Ke7 47.Rh6 Raxc3 48.Rxa6 Rc2 49.Rxc2 Rxc2+ 50.Kf3 Rc4 51.Ra5 Rb4 52.Ra6 Rc4 53.g3 Rc3+ 54.Kf4 Rc4+ 55.Kf5 Rc3 56.Ra7+ Kf8 57.Kf4 Rc4+ 58.Kg5 Rc3 59.Kf4 Rc4+ ½–½

Final Position

The game was agreed drawn. Let’s look at one possibility.

60.Kf3 Rc3+ 61.Kg4 Rc4+ 62.Kh5 Re3 63.Rxb5 Rxg3 64.Rb3 Rg2 65.a4…

Analysis position after 65.a4…

The two Rook pawns make it an easy draw after…

65… f5 68.Ra3 Rg6+ 69.Kh5… [ after 69.Kxh7 Ra6 the White King will never leave the h-file without giving the a-pawn] 69… Ra6 70.a5 Ke7 71.Kg5 Ke6 draw.

A very well played game by both sides. Some tough maneuvering and Anya kept the game in hand from the beginning. This was my favorite game from the match… theoretical and some nice endgame/late-middlegame play by both players.

Now, over to our last chance to win… deck hand Ilya gave it a great try and almost shoved his galley mop down his opponents throat.

NM Eric Rodriguez (MIA) vs. NM Ilya Krasik (BOS)

And yet another d4 opening.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.g3 dxc4 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 b5 8.Nd2 Bb7 9.Bg2 Qb6 10.0–0 Rd8

Position after 10… Rd8

Simple equality can be had by 10…c5 11.dxc5 Nxc5 12.Bxb7 Qxb7 13.Nb3 a6 Ilya’s move is a novelty and no worse.

11.a4?…

Loses a pawn. 11.a6… seems reasonable. If 11… Qxd4 12.Nxb5…

11… b4 12.a5 Qxd4 13.Nb5??…

Loses a piece.

13… Qe5

13…cxb5 14.Bxb7 Ne5 15.Qe1… is better for Black, but still a game.

14.a6 Ba8 15.Nxa7 Qc7 16.Nxc6 Bxc6 17.Qc2 Bc5 18.Nb3 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Rc8 20.Nxc5 Qxc5?!

Position after 20…Qxc5

With Queens on the board, Black’s task is actually easier. 20…Nxc5 21.Qc4 0–0 22.Be3 Nfd7 23.a7 Qb7+ 24.f3…

After the game move, Black must be careful… but, realistically, White is lost.

21.Qxc5 Nxc5 22.Be3…

Possibly better was 22.a7 Kd7 23.Be3 Nb3 24.Ra4 Nd5 25.Rd1 Kc6 26.Rd3 Nc5 27.Bxc5…

22…Nb3 23.Ra4 Nd5 24.a7 0–0

24…Ke7 25.Kf3

25.Bf4

25.Rd1 Ra8 26.Kf3 Rfc8

25…Ra8 26.Bd6 Rfd8 27.Bxb4 Nxb4 28.Rxb4 Na5 29.Ra1…

Black is winning… do you see the move?

Position after 29.Ra1…

29… Nc6?

Ilya said after the game that he saw the winner as soon as he made this move. Funny, that is a common malady in chess. I don’t know the reason, but all of us have suffered in this way at one time or another.

Of course, the analysis room was buzzing and expecting 29…Rxa7 30.Rba4 Rda8 31.b4 Nc6 32.Rxa7 Rxa7 33.Rc1 Ne7

Analysis Position after 33… Ne7

And the Knight even guards the c8 checkmating square… amazing. After the game move, it is a draw.

30.Rb7 g6 31.b4 Rd2 32.b5 Rxa7 33.Rbxa7 Nxa7 34.Rxa7 Rb2 35.Rb7 Rxe2 36.Kf3 Rb2

Position after 36… Rb2

This is an easy draw and there is not much left to point out, except that Jorge’s suggestion after the game was incorrect… So, I will continue a bit.

37.b6 g5 38.h3 Kg7 39.Ke3 h5 40.Rb8 Kf6 41.Rb7 h4 42.Kf3 Rb3+ 43.Kg2 Kg6 44.Rb8 hxg3 45.fxg3 Kf5 46.Kf2 Ke4

Position after 46… Ke4

Ilya has been trying to generate some winning chances… unfortunately, there are none. But, here, Jorge suggested that Ilya had made a mistake by allowing White to play h4… He thought that White could win with this move. However, I hope it is some consolation to Ilya that this is not true. At no point was h4… winning for White. For example, from the position above…

47.h4 Rb2+ 48.Ke1 gxh4 49.gxh4 f5 50.h5 e5 51.h6 Ke3

Analysis position after 51… Ke3

Black need never come out from in front of his pawns and he can easily defend White’s isolated pawns.

52.Kf1 Kf3 53.Kg1 Rg2+ 54.Kf1 Rh2 55.Kg1 Rxh6 56.Rf8 Rg6+ 57.Kh2 Rg2+ 58.Kh1 Rb2 59.Rxf5+ Ke4 60.Rf6… =

The game continued…

47.b7 Rb2+ 48.Kg1 Kf3 49.Rg8 Rxb7 50.Rxg5 Rb1+ 51.Kh2 Rb2+ 52.Kh1 Rb1+ 53.Kh2 Rb2+ 54.Kh1 f5 55.h4 Rb7 56.Kh2 Rb2+ 57.Kh1 e5 58.Rxf5+ Kxg3 59.Kg1 e4 60.Kf1 Kg4 61.Rf8 Rh2 62.h5 Rxh5 63.Ke2 Rh3 64.Rg8+ Kf4 65.Rf8+ Ke5 66.Re8+ Kd5 67.Rd8+ Kc4 68.Rc8+ Kd4 ½-½

Boston (2 – 2)

This match was a good one for Boston, even though they didn’t win. There was never any chance of losing the match and all the players played steady and solid.

Just what was needed… a true and steady course. Did we right the ship? Well, maybe next week we can win some of these winning positions… and sail away to still waters… no more stormy New England weather… only Kramnik style calm seas.

The alarms in my head were faintly tinkling… something amiss; do you feel it?… and, sure enough, as the match begins, a dark-haired miscreant (some suspect alumni Paul MacIntyre) drops some boxes on the table… Sacre bleur, pastries, the most deadly form of brain fuel… You know the kind… they come with squiggly frosting decorations, some even look like birds or squirrels… they have French names you can’t pronounce and you wonder as you pick them up between your thumb and index finger whether it is proper to extend your pinky… They’re pretty and small enough to inhale, but you don’t. You take a small bite and shout magnifque! They’re not made by bakers… no, their authors are chefs… Oh, I don’t blame Paul (if, indeed, it was him)… How could he know the psychological terror he was unleashing in these insidious confections… nor, could he suspect the ghastly fate that awaited our innocent heroes as each, in turn, consumed the perilous electuaries contained therein.

Continue with me now to that middle ground between light and shadow… Let us view a creation of the mind… a strangely Marzipan game molded and shaped and marked with a B and left in the oven just a little too long… by team manager, and glucose intolerant, Jorge Sammour-Hasbun…

SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) vs. IM Dean Ippolito (NJ) — Board 2

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bg2 0–0 6.0–0 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.Qxc4 b5
9.Qc2 Bb7 10.Bd2 Be4 11.Qc1 Nbd7 12.Ba5 Ra7 13.Nbd2 Bd5 14.Re1 Ne4

The first new move. 14…Qa8 15.e4 Bb7 is no better. White has a slight advantage
as in the game.

15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.Qe3…

Nakamura-Illescas, 2007 (1-0) went 16.Qf4 Nf6 17.Ne5… with advantage White.
However, 16. Qf4 Qa8 17. Rec1 Bd6 18. Qg5 h6 19. Qd2… is no more than equal.

Position after 16. Qe3…

The game is equal.

16…Qa8 17.Rac1

17.Rec1 Nb6 is a little better as it keeps open the possibility of a4… at some point.

17…Nb6 18.b3 b4 19.Bf1 Bxf3 20.Qxf3…

After the game, Jorge thought that 20.exf3… was better. But, 20… Rd8 is also equal.
However, with Queens on the board, there are greater complications.

20…Qxf3 21.exf3 Rb8 22.f4…

According to Fritz, better was 22.Rc6 Nd5 23.Rec1 Bd6 24. f4 Kf8 25. Bg2 Rb5

Analysis Position after 25… Rb5

And now, the liquidation 26. Bxc7 Rxc7 27. Bxd5 Rxd5 28. Rxc7 Bxc7 29. Rxc7 Rxd4
is only slightly better for Black and probably a draw.
If 25…. Rb7 26. f5 Ke7 27. fxe fxe 28. f4 Kd7 29. f5… is actually better for White.
However, 28… g6! Puts the kibosh on White’s plans and Black is winning.

Analysis Position after 28… g6!

Now, 29.g4 Nxf4 is winning for Black.
It comes down to this, if White can maintain the two Bishops, he has winning chances.
My analysis shows he cannot. Jorge is trying to make something out of nothing…
a good chef knows when to stop adding ingredients.

22…Kf8 23.Bg2 Bd6 24.Rc2?…

Jorge should trade the Bishop for Knight with dead equality.

24.Bc6 Nd5 25.f5… (25.Bxd5 exd5) 25…Ne7 26.Ba4 Nxf5 is just winning for Black.

24.Rc6 Nd5 25.Rec1… is not good, as mentioned above.

24…Nd5! Of course.

Position after 24… Nd5!

I believe Black is winning. All tries to save the Bishop seem to lead to complications favoring Black.

25.Rec1 Rbb7 26.f5 Ke7

26…Rb5 27.Bxd5 Rxa5 28.Be4 exf5 29.Bc6… is ok for White.

27.fxe6 fxe6 28.Re1?…

A bit of time pressure here… but, Jorge is the best I’ve ever seen at it.
To be honest, all moves are bad, but this loses quickest. He had to try…

28.f4 g6 29. a4 bxa 30. Re2 Rb5 31. Bd2 c6 32. Rce1 Rd2 33. Bh3 Nc7
with complications.

Analysis Position after 33… Nc7

Can Black win? I think the advanced, passed a-pawn and White’s pawn
weaknesses gives Black the better chances. But, these are the types of
positions that Jorge usually manages to win. It is surprising that he missed this.

After the game move, the outcome is not in doubt.

28…Rb5 29.Rce2 Rxa5 30.Rxe6+ Kf7 31.Bf1 Nf6 32.Bc4 Kf8 33.R1e2 Ra8
34.f4 Re8 35.Rxe8+ Nxe8 36.Kg2 Be7 37.Kf3 Bf6 38.Ke4 Nd6+ 39.Kd3 Nb5
40.g4 Nxd4 41.Re4 Nc6 42.Re6 Nd8 43.Re2 Nb7 44.g5 Be7 45.h4 Rf5
46.Ke3 Bd6 47.Bxa6 Nc5 48.Bc4 Rxf4 White resigns 0–1

Boston (0 – 1)

This one hurt… as the pressure was now on, and, it wasn’t looking good on board 3,
where newly crowned IM Marc Esserman was being force fed some stale Italian Biscotti…
and our master chef looked ill indeed.

NM Victor Shen (NJ) vs. IM Marc Esserman (BOS) — Board 3

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Be7 5.0–0 d6

Or, 5…0–0 6.Re1 (6.Nc3 d6) 6…d6 with a probable transposition to the game.

6.a4 0–0 7.Re1 Na5

7…Be6 8.Nbd2 Qd7 9.c3… is about equal. But, Marc has a more complex idea in mind.

8.Ba2 c5 9.Nc3…

Position after 9. Nc3…

Anand-Naiditsch (1/2) 2009 went 9. Bg5 Nc6 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Nc3 Ne7 12. Nd5 Nxd5
13. Bxd5 Be6 14. Bxe6 fxe drawn on move 26.

9… h6?!

Marc must have been asking himself why 9.Bg5… was better. So, he decides to
prevent it. But, in my opinion, Black can’t waste moves here. He should probably
just let it transpose with 9… Nc6 or if 10.h3 Be6 =

10.h3 Nc6 11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.Bxd5 Bf6 13.c3 Kh7

Black’s last two moves are again a waste of precious time. …Be6 to finish his development
was called for… 13…Be6 14.Qb3 Qd7 15.Be3 Ne7 16.Bc4 Rfc8 is better for White,
but not as bad as the game.

14.Be3 g6 [14...Be6, last chance] 15.d4 exd4 16.cxd4 Nb4?!

After 16…cxd4 17.Nxd4 Ne7 18.Bb3… Black will probably lose his d-pawn…
but, he can still hope.

Position after 16… Nb4?!

This is losing since the endgame with White’s passed d-pawn is just too simple
to give Black chances.

17.dxc5 Bxb2 18.Rb1 Bc3 19.Bxh6 Bxe1 20.Bxf8 Qxf8 21.Qxe1 Nxd5
22.exd5 dxc5 23.Qe5 Kg8 24.a5…

Even better was… 24.Nd2 f6, Black must prevent Ne4…
25.Qc7 b6 26.Re1…

Position after 24. a5…

White dominates the board and will carefully nurture his d-pawn into a win.

24…Qd8 25.d6 b6 26.Ng5 Bf5 27.Qd5…

Surprisingly, White’s best seems to be… 27.Nxf7 Kxf7 28.Re1 Qe8
29.Qd5+ Be6 30.Rxe6 Qxe6 31.Qxa8 Qd7 32.Qd5+ Qe6 33.Qf3+ Kg7
34.Qb7+ Kf6 35.a6…
with a winning Queen endgame. (Fritz +- 7.90)

Analysis Position after 35. a6…

But, us humans tend to shy away from these tricky Queen endgames.

27…Qe8 28.Rd1 Rd8 29.Qc4 Rd7?!

Position after 29… Rd7?!

29…Qd7 30.Re1 (30.g4 Be6 31.Qd3) 30…Re8 31.Rxe8+ Qxe8, gave some
drawing chances. But, White is still in command.

30.g4 Be6 31.Qf4?!…

After this, Black is again struggling, but in the game.

31.Qc2 f6 32.Nxe6 Qxe6 33.Qxg6+ nets a pawn in a tough but winning
major piece ending.

31…Bb3 32.Rd3 Qe2

A better chance is… 32…Bc2 33.Re3 Qd8 34.h4 b5 35.Rc3… (Fritz +/-0.75)
Of course, White still dominates. After the game move, White is winning.

33.Rd2 Qe1+ 34.Kh2 Kg7 35.Ne4 Qa1 36.axb6 axb6 37.g5 Be6
38.Nf6 Rd8 39.d7 Rh8 40.Ne8+ Kg8 41.h4 Bxd7 42.Rxd7 Rxh4+ 43.Qxh4 Qe5+
44.Qg3 Qxe8 45.Qd6 Qe2 46.Rd8+ Kh7 47.Qf4 Black resigns 1–0

Those Italian pastries are worse than the French ones… My kingdom for some pizza.

Boston (0 – 2)

And now for our youngest competitors… A Madeleine perhaps… a simple treat with
a distinctive flavor… a game that seemed Boston’s best of the night crumbled
as Andrew Wang clutched too hard for victory.

Andrew Wang (BOS) vs. NM Andrew Ng (NJ) — Board 4

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.d4 Ngf6 5.Nc3 cxd4 6.Qxd4 e5 7.Qd3 h6
8.Be3 Be7 9.0–0 0–0 10.Rfd1 a6 11.Bc4 Nb6 12.Bb3 Be6 13.Nh4!…

White has the advantage. (Fritz +/- 1.15)

Position after 13. Nh4!…

The transfer of the Knight to f5 is often played in this variation. Andrew
does not let his chance slip. Of course, the attempt to grab
the e-pawn loses a piece… 13… Nxe4 14. Bxb6 Qxb6 15. Qxe4…
So, relatively best is 13… Kh7 14. Nf5 Bxf5 and White will attack on both wings.

13…Nc8? This is losing.

14.Bxe6 fxe6 15.Ng6 Re8 16.Qc4! Bf8 17.Nxe5 Qa5

Position after 17… Qa5

White has won a pawn… but, how to consolidate… often the nemesis of young
players. From here on out, the analysis room was buzzing… “why didn’t he
play…?” , “Didn’t he see…?”. Surely, there were many wins to be had.; but,
the pressure of team chess on a young player cannot be underestimated.
Andrew new that he must win as the others were not doing so well.

18.Ng6… [18.Nf3 Qh5] 18…Qh5 19.Nf4

When under pressure, simplify… Best was 19.Nxf8 Kxf8 20.Bf4 e5
to calm the nerves.

19…Qf7 20.a4 Ng4 21.Bc1…

Better was… 21.Qe2 Nxe3 22.Qxe3 Be7 23.Nd3…

21…g5

Nearly equal is … 21…Nxf2 22.Kxf2 g5 23.Rf1 d5 24.exd5 e5 25.Kg1 Nd6 26.Ne6…

Analysis Position after 26. Ne6…

Perhaps a little complex… Yes?

22.Nd3 Nb6 23.Qb3 Nd7 24.f3 Nge5 25.Be3 Rac8?!

The old wrong Rook trick. Now, White can pull the old Queen takes b-pawn trick.

Position after 25… Rac8

If Black had played 25…Rec8 26.Qxb7? Nc4 27.Ba7 Bg7 with plenty of compensation.

26.Bf2?!…

A bit timid, but who can blame him. Better was … 26.Qxb7 Nc4 27.Bd4 Ra8
28.Qb3 Rec8 29.Ne2 Rab8 30.Qa2 and White is up two pawns for his misplaced Queen.

26…g4 27.fxg4 Nxg4 28.Bg3… [28.Qxb7… is better] 28…Nc5 29.Nxc5 Rxc5
30.Rf1…

It was better to keep pressure on the d-pawn with…
30.Rd3 Ne5 31.Bxe5 Rxe5 32.Qb6…

30…Qg7 [30… Qc7] 31.Ne2… [31.Rad1] 31…d5 32.h3 Ne5 33.Nf4 Nc4
34.Nh5 Qd4+ 35.Bf2 Qe5 36.Qf3 dxe4 37.Qg4+ Kh8

White has in his sights a crusher… the analysis room was overwhelmed with tension.

Position after 37… Kh8

Do you see it… of course, 38. Qg6!… wins. +- 7.00 on the Fritz-O-meter.
Hitting the e8-Rook and threatening Nf6… winning Black’s Queen or it’s mate.
After playing this whole line to attack Black’s King… Andrew misses this
easy move… Ouch!

38.Bxc5?!… still winning, but the hard way.

30… Bxc5+ 39.Kh1 Rg8 40.Qh4 Qg5 41.Qxg5 Rxg5 42.Nf4 Ne3

Again there is a win for White… a lot tougher, but a win…not easy to see
with clocks running low.

Position after 42… Ne3

43.Rfc1?… Oops! The game is equal.

The win was… 43.Nxe6 Nxf1 44.Nxg5 Ng3+ 45.Kh2 Bf2 46.Nf7+ Kg7
47.Ne5 Nf5 48.Rf1 e3 49.Nd3 Bg3+ 50.Kg1 Kf6 51.Nf4 Ke5 52.Ne2 Bf2+
53.Rxf2 exf2+ 54.Kxf2…

Analysis position after 54.Kxf2….

With a long hard Knight ending ahead… which White should win.

43…Rf5? Throws away the draw.

43…Bd6! 44.Nxe6 Rxg2 45.Rd1 Rh2+ (45…Bg3 46.Rd8+ Kh7 47.Rd7+ Kg6
48.Rxb7 Rh2+) 46.Kg1 Rg2+ 47.Kh1 Rh2+ with a perpetual.

44.Nxe6 Bb6 45.c4 Rf6 46.c5 Ba5 47.Nd4…

A simpler win is 47.c6 bxc6 48.Rxc6…

47…Bd2 48.Rg1… [again…48.c6 Bxc1 49.c7 Rf8 50.Rxc1…]
48…Nf5 49.Ne2 Ne3 50.Ng3 Re6 51.b3 Nd5 52.Rgf1 e3 53.Rf8+ Kg7
54.Rd8 Re5 55.Rd7+ Kg6 56.Rxb7 e2 57.Nxe2 Rxe2 58.c6 Bf4 59.Rd7 Nf6
60.Ra7 Rb2 61.Rf1 Be5 62.Rc1 Ne4

And again, there is a nice, though not easy, win on the board.

Position after 62… Ne4

Hint… it has to do with a passed pawn.

63.Re1?… Oh, no! We are equal again.

There were actually people in the analysis room pulling their hair out…
really… no joke.

63.c7! Ng3+ 64.Kg1 Bd4+ 65.Kh2 Rc2 66.Rxa6+ Kf7 67.Re1 Bf2
68.Rd1 Rxc7 69.Rxh6…

Analysis Position after 69. Rxh6…

This is a win… but, after the games I had seen this night… who knows.

63…Ng3+ 64.Kg1??…

As Joe Costiglione would say… “Can you Believe it?”.

A draw is had by 64.Kh2 Ne4+ 65.Kh1 Nf2+ 66.Kg1 Nxh3+ 67.gxh3 Bd4+
68.Kh1 Bxa7 69.Rc1 Bb6 70.c7 Bxc7 71.Rxc7 Rxb3

In time trouble White drops both Rooks.

64…Bd4+ 65.Kh2 Bxa7 66.Kxg3 Bf2+ 67.Kg4 Bxe1 68.c7 Rc2 White resigns 0–1

Well, that’s how the French cookie crumbles. And this was the teams best game.

Boston (0 – 3)

And next is our clash of the Crème de la Crème… the Petit Four of our
pastry night… What tantalizing tasty treat awaits our audience… I admit,
this was the game I was worried about. Eugene was black against a world
class GM. Yes, I know that GM Gulko’s rating has declined
but, his record in the league is superb… and as White, he has shown
that he has not slowed down all that much.

GM Boris Gulko (NJ) vs. GM Eugene Perelshteyn (BOS)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4
8.0–0 0–0 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.Ne5 Nbd7 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.Rd1 Qa5
13.Na2 Bd6 14.Bd2…

GM Gulko accepts equality…

Position after 14.Bd2…

One try for more is…
14.e4 e5 15.dxe5 Qxe5 16.f4 Bc5+ 17.Kf1 Qh5 18.Qxh5 gxh5
19.e5 Nb6 20.Bb3 Ng4 21.a5…

Analysis Position after 21.a5…

I can’t say I blame him for rejecting this… yet, White seems to come out on top.
What do you think? I like GM Gulko’s quiet line.

14…Qc7 15.g3 e5 16.Nc3 exd4 17.exd4 Nb6 18.Bb3 Nbd5 19.Qf3 Rad8
20.Bg5 Rd7 21.a5 Be7 22.Re1 Bd8 23.Na4…

Black’s pieces seem a bit awkward and White now has a very slight advantage.

Position after 23.Na4…

23…Nh7

Also possible was the strange… 23…Qxa5 24.Nc5 Re7 25.Red1 Qb4
26.Bxd5 cxd5 27.Bxf6 gxf6 28.Qxd5… with near equality for Black.
In the game, Black does not quite make it to equality..

24.Bd2 Bg5 25.Bxg5 Nxg5 26.Qg4 Nh7

If 26…Ne6 27.Nc5 (27.Rxe6 fxe6 28.Qxe6+ Rff7 29.Nc5 Rd6 30.Qg4…=)
27…Nxc5 28.dxc5… the game also seems equal after… 28… Re7
29.Bxd5 cxd 30. Qd4…

Perhaps this was the better choice as the game move is equal but complicated.

27.Nc5 Rdd8 28.a6… [28.Re5 Nhf6 29.Qh4 Rfe8 30.Nd3…=]
28…b6 29.Nd3 Nhf6 30.Qf3 Ne7?! 31.Rxe7! Qxe7 32.Ne5…

Position after 32. Ne5…

GM Gulko has sacrificed the exchange for what looks like no more than equality.

32… Rd6

Could Black hold on to the exchange?
Let’s try… 32…Qd6 33.Nxc6 Rd7 34.Ne5 Rc7 35.Nxg6 Re8 36.Rd1 b5
37.Ne5 Ree7 38.g4…

Analysis Position after 38.g4…

Fritz thinks White is about a pawn better. I played out several variations
from here and they seem to favor White. Is it a win? I am not sure…
but, it is very tough on Black.

33.Nxg6 Qe4 34.Qxe4 Nxe4 35.Nxf8 Kxf8

After this, White is just up a pawn and Black’s hopes to draw are slim.

If instead, 35…Nd2 36.Ba2 Nf3+ 37.Kg2 Nxd4 38.Nh7 Kxh7 39.Bxf7
White is up a pawn.

36.Rd1 Rf6?!

This is a mistake.

Better chances were given with… 36…Nf6 37.Kf1 Nd5 (37…Nd7 38.d5 c5)
38.Bxd5 Rxd5 39.Rc1 Rd6

Analysis Position after 39… Rd6

Black has hopes to draw a pawn down Rook ending.

37.f4 g5? 38.Bc2…

Position after 38.Bc2…

Black cannot hold the g-pawn… White is winning.
The rest is technique.

38…Nd6 39.fxg5 Re6 40.Kf2 Ne4+ 41.Bxe4 Rxe4 42.h4 Re6 43.Kf3 Kg7
44.d5 cxd5 45.Rxd5 b5 46.Rxb5 Rxa6 47.h5 Ra4 48.Rb7 Kg8 49.g4 a5
50.h6 Ra1 51.g6 fxg6 52.Kf4 Rc1 53.Kg5 Rc6 54.Ra7 Rb6 55.Rxa5 Kh7
56.Ra7+ Kh8 57.Rc7 Kg8 58.Rg7+ Kh8 59.Rxg6 Rb5+ 60.Kh4 Kh7
61.Rc6 Rxb2 62.Kh5 Rb5+ 63.g5 Ra5 64.Rc7+ Kh8 65.Re7 Rb5 66.Kg6 Rb8
67.Kf7 Rf8+ 68.Ke6 Rg8 69.Kf6 Rf8+ 70.Rf7 Ra8 71.g6 Kg8 72.Rg7+ Kh8
73.Rd7 Ra6+ 74.Kf7 Ra8 75.Ke7 Black resigns 1–0

So much for the Petit Four… I never did like those anyway.

Boston (0 – 4)

Oh my! What a night… every pastry seemed sour… Who brought those
lethal pastries in anyway? Paul… was it you? Just goes to show… you
can’t trust those curly-Q decorated gourmet treats… no, those
Petit Fours will kill you… trust me.

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?