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!

This was a tough one to take as the Blitz were in clear first and a win would mean a nice step toward the playoffs. I figured no worse that a draw here… But, I forgot to take into consideration the opponent. They showed up… Big Time.

Board one looked like a sure win early. FM Griego pushed it to a two pawn advantage against grizzled veteran GM Larry Kaufman… no trouble here right… wrong! A truly mysterious draw.

Board two saw Vadim play beautifully. Black, IM Tegshuren Enkbaht, had an extra doubled pawn but no hope of development… again, I thought… Vadim the conqueror… but Ohhhh those Rook endgames… draw.

Board three, Ilya was my pick to win one and he held the advantage through to the endgame against NM Jared Defibaugh… certainly he had draw in hand , then boom! Those tricky Knights and a loss.

Board four really broke my heart… It’s not easy to play a gambit against the Queen’s Indian… but, gambit Chris did in a wonderful attacking game… if only he would have seen 22.Rd7… NM Ian Schoch would have been toast… instead, it was a champagne toast for the Kingfishers… The agony of defeat for Chris… lets take a look…

Christopher GU (BOS) vs NM Ian Schoch (BAL) – Board 4

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.0–0 0–0 7.d5 exd5 8.Nh4 c6 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Nf5 Nf6 11.e4 d5 12.Nc3 dxe4 13.Bf4 Re8
Would you believe, the first non-book move. Better was… [13...Nd5 14.Qg4 g6 15.Nxe4 White has compensation for the pawn.]

Position after 13… Re8

14.Nxe4 ?! This is just equal. During the game, I noticed a much more forcing line… and Fritz agrees… [14.Qxd8 Bxd8 15.Nd6 Re7 This is near winning for White. But, he must keep the pressure and complications with... 16.Rfe1 Ba6 17.Ndxe4…

Analysis Position after 17.Ndxe4…

White has many threats and Black is behind in development and running out of moves.. For example... 17...Nbd7 18.Nd6 Rxe1+ 19.Rxe1 Nc5 20.Bxc6 Nd3 21.Rd1 Rb8 22.Nxf7 Nxf4 23.Rxd8+ Rxd8 24.Nxd8 And White is a pawn up... +/- (+1.30) ] 14…Nxe4 15.Bxe4 Bf8 16.Qf3 Qf6 = 17.Rad1 Na6 18.Be3 ? A mistake. Black now has an advantage. [18.Bd2 !! this move is hard for Black to handle and keeps an advantage. For example... 18...Qe6 19.Rfe1 g6 20.Nd4 Qxa2 21.Nxc6 Nc7 (21...Nc5 22.Bd5 wins) 22.Bf4 Rac8 23.Ra1 Qc4 24.Ne7+ Rxe7 25.Bxb7 Rxe1+ 26.Rxe1 Re8 27.Rc1 Qxc1+ 28.Bxc1 Re1+ 29.Kg2 Rxc1 White has an advantage with Queen for Knight, Rook and pawn. But Black may hold.] 18…Qe6 19.Nh6+ Fritz likes this as best. It should give an equal game. 19…gxh6 20.Bf5 Qxa2 ?! a mistake, but this probably won the game for Black. [20...Qe5 21.Rd7 Nc5 22.Bxc5 bxc5 23.Rxb7 Re7 24.Rxe7 Bxe7 25.Rd1 Rd8 26.Rxd8+ Bxd8 Black's pawns are a mess... but Bishops of opposite give him chances to hold.] 21.Qg4+… Better was… [21.Rd7 Bg7 22.Rxb7 and Black has trouble due to weak White squares. 22...Nc5 23.Bxc5 bxc5 24.Qxc6 +/=] 21…Bg7

Position after 21… Bg7

22.Bd4 ?? losing [22.Rd7! after this Black seems lost.

Analysis Position after 22.Rd7!…

22...Re6 (to defend 23.Bd4…) (22...Qxb2 23.Bd4 +- Should win for White.; 22...c5 may be better, but... 23.Rxb7 Qxb2 24.Bxh6 Qf6 25.Bg5 Qe5 26.Rd1 Nb4 27.Rdd7 And White is winning... 27...Rf8 28.Bf4 Qf6 29.Rd6 Qa1+ 30.Kg2 Qh5... is the end) 23.Rfd1 Rae8 24.Bxe6 Qxe6 25. Qxe6 Rxe6 26.Rxb7 Bxb2 What else? 27. Rdd7 Rf6 28.Rxa7… with the exchange and winning game. ] 22…f6 23.Bxf6 Qf7 White’s attack is over 24.Bc3 Re7 25.Rd6 Rf8 26.Bd3 Bc8 27.Qh4 Nc5 28.Bc4 Be6 29.Be2 Bxc3 30.bxc3 Bd5 31.Bh5 Qg7 32.c4 Nb7 33.Rxh6 Re4 34.Qh3 Qxh6 35.cxd5 cxd5 White Resigns 0-1
Not a good first game to finish in a match… But, I must say, I liked Chris’s opening choice… Oh well… this win proved a loss… Boston (0 – 1)

But Board three was doing well… I thought… just get that Bishop free somehow.

NM Jared Defibaugh (BAL) vs NM Ilya Krasik (BOS) – Board 3

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0–0 5.Nf3 d6 6.0–0 Nc6 7.Rb1 e5 8.b4 Bf5 9.d3 Qd7 10.e4 [10.b5 Nd8 11.Ng5 h6 12.Nge4 Nxe4 13.dxe4 Bh3 14.Ba3 is slightly better for White] 10…Bg4 = 11.Be3 Nh5 12.Nd5 Nd4 13.Bxd4 exd4 14.Qd2 c6 15.Nf4 Nxf4 16.Qxf4 Rae8 [Also good for Black is... 16...f5 17.exf5 Qxf5 18.Qxf5 Bxf5 =/+] 17.Qd2 f5 18.exf5 ? 18…Rxf5 Black is nearly winning.

Position after 18…Rxf5

White must move the Knight and Black’s Rook will get to the second rank. 19.Nh4 Rfe5 [19...Re2 20.Qc1 Rf8 -/+ Black is much better.] 20.f3 ? This is probably the worst of the not so good moves available. Black is now winning. [20.b5 Bf6 21.bxc6 bxc6 22.Rfe1 Bg5 23.f4 Rxe1+ 24.Rxe1 Bxh4 25.gxh4 and Black has a nice endgame advatage, but White has chances to hold.] 20…Re2 21.Qg5 Bh3 22.Rf2 R8e5 23.Qc1 Rxf2 24.Kxf2…

Position after 24.Kxf2…

Is Black winning? I think so.
24… Qe6 ?! a slight misplay… better was… [24...Re3 ! Threatening 25...g5, thus 25.Qf1 Be6 26.f4 Bf6 27.Nf3 d5 28.c5 Bf5 29.Rd1 Qe7 Black controls the game.

Analysis Position after 29… Qe7

He will advance on the Queenside and liberate his center pawns; after which the two Bishops and will guide them forward. For example, 30.Ne1 a5 31.a3 axb4 32.axb b6 33.cxb Qxb4 wins 34.Nc2 Qb2] 25.Qf1 Bxg2 26.Nxg2 Qh3 27.f4 Qf5 It’s equal now. [27...Re7 28.Re1 Bf6 29.Rxe7 Bxe7 30.Qe2 Kf7 =] 28.Kg1 Re7 29.Qf3 b5 = Black is fighting to win here when he should just wait. There is no win. 30.g4 Qf7 31.Rc1 bxc4 32.Rxc4 c5 33.bxc5 dxc5 34.Kf2 simpler and better was… [34.Rxc5 Qxa2 35.f5 still =] 34…h6 ?! Maybe trying to lure his opponent to advance. But, he should be playing to draw. [34...Rc7 35.Rc2 c4 36.dxc4 Rxc4 37.Rxc4 Qxc4 38.Qb3 =] 35.Kg3 [35.Rxc5 Qxa2+ 36.Kg3 = but Black must be careful as White has active pieces] 35…Rc7 36.h4 h5 ! advantage Black, but only slightly. 37.a4 Bf8 38.Kf2 Rb7 ! now Black has a good game. 39.Rc2 Rb3 not best. Better was… [39...hxg4 40.Qxg4 Kh7 41.Ne1 Bd6 42.Kg3 Re7 43.Nf3 Re3 =/+] 40.gxh5 gxh5 41.Qe4 Rb6 42.Re2 Rf6 43.Qe5 Bd6 44.Qe8+ Qxe8 45.Rxe8+ Kf7 46.Rh8 Bxf4 47.Rxh5…

Position after 47.Rxh5…

Do you see the winning move?
47… Bh6+ ?? missing a nice win. [47...Bh2+! 48.Ke2 Bg3

Analysis Position after 48… Bg3

Strangely, the Knight is lost
49.Rxc5 Rf2+ 50.Kd1 Rxg2 51.Rg5 Rg1+ 52.Kc2 Bh2 –+] 48.Kg3 Bf8 This is equal. Much better for Black is… [48...c4 49.Ne1 (49.dxc4 d3 50.Rd5 d2 Black will queen after ...Rf1) 49...Be3 -/+ 50.Kg4 Rf1 51.Nf3 c3 52.Rc5 Rf2 53.Rc4 c2 54.Ng5+ Ke8 55.Kg3 Re2 56.Kf3 Rh2 57.Kg3 Bd2] 49.Rh7+ Bg7 50.Nf4… with a very simple threat.

Position after 50.Nf4…

Tell me, can you see the threat?
50… Kg8 ?? Wow! this is a real stinker. [50...c4 51.dxc4 d3 52.Nxd3 Kg6 53.Rxg7+ Kxg7 is Better for Black. But, the Rook pawn makes it hard to win. At least it's better than this simple loss.]
The rest is easy.
51.Rxg7+ Kxg7 52.Nh5+ Kg6 53.Nxf6 Kxf6 54.Kf4 Black resigns 1-0

A tough result to take for Ilya, no doubt. Boston (0 – 2)

Another win for the Blitz becomes a loss… You just can’t survive that in this league, especially since the wins on the top two boards became draws… starting with Blitz hero Vadim…

NM Vadim Martirosov (BOS) vs IM Tegshuren Enkhbat (BAL) – Board 2

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bf4 a6 7.Rc1 Bf5 8.Ne5 Rc8 9.e3 Nxe5 10.dxe5 Ne4 11.Nxe4 Rxc1 12.Qxc1 Bxe4 13.e6 Qa5+ 14.Ke2 fxe6 15.f3 Qb5+ [15...Bf5 16.Be5 h5 (16...Qxa2 17.Qc8+ Kf7 18.Qxb7 Qc4+ 19.Kf2 Qc2+ 20.Be2 Bd3 21.Re1 Rg8 What I would call dynamic equality. 22.Qb4 g5 23.Qd4 Bb5) 17.Kf2 Kf7 is better for White. 18.Be2 Rh7 19.Qc8 g5 20.Qxb7 Qxa2 21.Rc1 Bg7 22.Bxg7 Rxg7 23.e4 dxe4 24.fxe4 Bg4 25.Bxa6 Qa5 26.Ke3 +/= with a tough game ahead.] 16.Kd2 Qb4+ 17.Qc3 Qxc3+ 18.Kxc3 Bg6 19.Be5 +/-

Position after 19.Be5…

Although a pawn down, White is probably winning… but it’s not easy. 19…Rg8 20.Bd3 ?? This must be wrong… if only aesthetically. Black is two pieces down for quite a while after… [20.Kd4 Bc2 21.Be2 Ba4 (21...g5 22.Rc1 Bf5 23.e4 Bg6 24.Rc7 White is winning... 24...Bg7 25.Rxb7 Bxe5+ 26.Kxe5 Kf7 27.Bxa6 g4 28.exd5 exd5 29.Be2 +-) 22.Rc1 Bd7 23.Rc7 b5 24.Ra7]

Analysis Position after 24.Ra7…

I say White is winning easily. How about you?
20…Bxd3 21.Kxd3 g5 22.Rc1 g4 23.f4 Rg6 24.Rc7 Rh6 25.Ke2 =

Position after 25.Ke2…

any move is equal here. [25.Rxb7 Rxh2 26.f5 Rh6 27.fxe6 Rxe6 28.Kd4 h5 29.Kxd5 Rg6 =] 25…Kf7 26.Kf2 Rxh2 27.Kg3 Rh1 28.Kxg4 h5+ 29.Kf3 b5 30.Ra7 Bg7 ?! a slight error. Trading makes things worse here. [30...Rf1+ 31.Ke2 Rb1 32.Rxa6 Bg7 33.Bxg7 Kxg7 34.Rxe6 Rxb2+ 35.Kf3 Kf7 =] 31.Bxg7 Kxg7 32.Rxa6 Kf6 ?! This gives White good chances for a win.

Position after 32… Kf6?!

During the game I thought that Black should lose… I forgot the old axiom that all Rook endgames are draws. [32...Rf1+ 33.Kg3 e5 34.fxe5 Ra1 35.b4 Kf7 Black is only slightly worse. He is ready to attack White's center should the Rook move.] 33.Rb6 Rf1+ 34.Ke2 Rg1 35.Kf2 Rc1 36.Rxb5 Kf5 White is a pawn up with connected passers; but, Rook endgames are never easy. 37.Kf3 [37.Kg3 Re1 38.Rb3 Ra1 forced as White threatens (39.a4 ra1 40.Ra3...) and the pawn will march. 39.a3 e5 40.fxe5 Kxe5 41.Kf3 Rf1+ 42.Ke2 Rg1 43.Kf2 Ra1 44.Rb6 Kf5 45.Rb5 e6 It is difficult to make progress. For excample... 46.Rb4 e5 47.g3 Rb1 48.a4 Ra1 49.Kg2 e4 50.Rb5 Rxa4 51.Rxd5+ Kg6 52.Rd4 Ra2 53.Rxe4 Rxb2+ 54.Kf3 White can press here, but it is now drawish.
However, 37.a4!... puts the most pressure on Black and looks winning . For example,37… Kg4 38.Rb8 Rc2+ 39. Kf1…

Analysis Position after 39.Kf1...

39… Kg3 ( after 39…Rc1+ White fearlessly walks to the queenside, 40.Ke2 Rc2+ 41.Kd3 Rxg2 42.a5… White wins this race. 45… h4 43.a6 h3 44.a7 h2 45.Rh8) 40.a5 Rc1+ 41.Ke2 Ra1 (41...Kxg2 42.a6 Ra1 43.Ra8 Ra2 44.a7 Rxb2+ 45.Kd3 wins for White.) 42.Rg8+ Kh2 43.Kf2 and White will mate or Queen]

Analysis Position after 43.Kf2…

So 37.a4… wins? Not so fast, 37… Ra1 and we will probably transpose to the game.

37…Rf1+ 38.Ke2 Rg1 39.a4 Ra1 ?! [39...Rxg2+ 40.Kf3 Rg1 41.e4+ Kf6 42.exd5 e5 43.fxe5+ Kxe5 44.d6+ Kxd6 45.Rxh5 e5 =] 40.a5 h4 [40...Kg4 41.b4 Ra2+ 42.Kd3 h4 43.Rb8 Rxg2 44.b5 h3 45.b6 Rb2 46.Kd4 Rb5 47.b7 h2 48.Rh8 Rxb7 49.Rxh2 Rb4+ 50.Kc5 Ra4 51.Kb5 Ra3 52.a6 Kf5 53.Rb2 Ke4 54.Rb4+ Kxe3 55.Ra4 Rb3+ 56.Kc6 Rb8 57.a7 Ra8 58.Kb7 Rxa7+ 59.Rxa7 = Also equal is... (59.Kxa7 d4 60.Kb6 d3 61.Ra3 Ke2 62.Kc5 d2 63.Ra2 Ke1 64.Ra1+ d1Q 65.Rxd1+ Kxd1) 59...d4 60.Kc6 d3 etc...] 41.Kf3 Rf1+ 42.Ke2 Ra1

Position after 42…Ra1

43.Kd3…
Ok, I’ll give it one more try… What do you think of…
[43.Kf2 Kg4 44.Rb6 e5 45.Rg6+ Kf5 46.Rg5+ Kf6 47.b4 exf4 48.Rxd5 Ra2+ 49.Kf3 fxe3 50.Rh5 e2 51.Kf2 e5 52.Rxh4 Ke6 53.g4…]

Analysis Position after 53.g4…

I think White is winning and that’s all I will say… right?

43… Kg4 44.Rb8 Rxa5 45.Rg8+ Kf5 46.Rg5+ Kf6 47.Rg4 Rb5 48.Kc3 Rc5+ 49.Kd3 Rb5 50.Kc3 Rc5+ 51.Kd4 Rc2 52.Rxh4 Rxb2 = Nice defense by IM Enkhbat. 53.Rh6+ Kf7 54.g4 Rb4+ 55.Kc3 Rc4+ 56.Kd3 e5 57.Rh7+ Kg6 58.Rxe7 exf4 59.exf4 Rxf4 draw ½ – ½

A winning game drawn? You tell me.
God, how I hate Rook endgames… and Vadim must too. Why are they always so, so, frustrating. Boston (0.5 – 2.5)

The match was over and FM Griego was still struggling to win… maybe that’s why he agreed to a draw.

GM Larry Kaufman (BAL) vs FM David Griego (BOS) – Board 1

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 0–0 7.e4 a6 8.Be2 b5 9.Qb3 c5 10.dxc5 Bb7 11.e5 Nfd7

Position after 11…Nd7

The Gruenfeld is one of the most analyzed openings (not that everything isn’t these days). So, I don’t understand White’s next.
Book and probably better is… [12.Be3 holding on to the passed pawn. 12...Nxe5 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.0–0 Qc7 15.f4 Bg7 16.a4 with a decent advantage... +/- (–0.70)] 12.0-0 Nxc5 = 13.Qc2 [13.Qa3 = posing more problems... how to defend (or move) the Knight.] 13…Qc7 14.Be3 Ne6 15.Rac1 If White’s Queen were on a3, Black would have problems. 15…Nd7 16.Rfd1 Nxe5 ! winning a pawn. 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.Rxd5 Qxc2 19.Rxc2 Ng4 ! an excellent move. Black must quiesce the two Bishops. –+ (–1.40) 20.Bc1 Rac8 21.Rxc8 Rxc8 22.Rd1 Ne5 [Black could have eliminated the two Bishops with... 22...Bh6 23.Bxh6 Nxh6 24.g3 Kg7 Leaving White with grim prospects in a grind it out endgame a pawn down.] 23.Nxe5 Bxe5 24.g3 Nc5 25.b3 Ne4 26.Bf3 Nc3

Position after 26…Nc3

I believe that it is better to dull the two Bishops this way… [26...f5 daring White to give up the two Bishops 27.Be3 Kf7 28.Rd7 Rc7 29.Rxc7 Bxc7 30.a4 Ke6 31.axb5 axb5 -/+ (–1.00)] 27.Re1 ?! This is losing. (obviously an overstatement since the game ended in a draw) White had to play for activity… [27.Rd7 Nxa2 28.Bh6…

Analysis Position after 28.Bh6…

White will win at least one pawn back and the edge is not so great... -/+ (–0.75) for example... 28...Bg7 29.Bb7 Re8 30.Bxg7 Kxg7 31.Bxa6 b4 32.Ra7 Nc3 33.Rb7 Ra8 34.Bc4 Kf6 35.Rxb4 seems a draw.] 27…Nxa2 28.Bh6 Bg7 compare this to the variation above where White does not need to capture the e-pawn. [Possibly better is… 28...Bd6 29.Bb7 Rb8 30.Bg2 (30.Bxa6 Nb4 wins the Bishop.) ] 29.Bxg7 Kxg7 30.Rxe7 Kf6 31.Rd7 Ke6 32.Ra7 Nb4 Black has a winning advantage. White’s b-pawn will fall. 33.Bg4+ f5 34.Be2 h5 35.Rb7 ?! –+ (-2.40)

Postion after 35.Rb7?!…

[35.Rg7 Kf6 36.Rd7 Rc3 37.Rd6+ Kf7 38.Bd1 is hopeless too... but at least saves the b-pawn for a while.] 35…Rc3 36.Rb6+ Kf7 37.Kg2 Rxb3 38.h4 Rc3 39.Bf3 Rd3 Still winning, but… [39...Rc5 40.Rb7+ Kf6 41.Rb6+ Kg7 42.Rb7+ Kh6 43.Ra7… Black contols the game. –+ (-2.90)]

Analysis Position after 43.Ra7…

White’s Bishop has no way in.
40.Bb7 Rd7 41.Bc8 [41.Bxa6 Nxa6 42.Rxa6 Rb7 is hopeless, even for a Rook endgame.] 41…Rc7 42.Be6+ Ke7 43.Bb3 Rc6 44.Rb7+ Kd6 45.Bf7 Kc5 46.Be8 Re6 47.Bf7 Rf6 48.Be8 Re6 49.Bf7 Rd6 50.Be8 Nd5 51.Rg7 b4 !! excellent play.

Position after 51…b4!!

52.Bxg6 f4?! misses the point of his fabulous 51st move. [52...Rxg6! 53.Rxg6 b3 54.Re6 (54.Rxa6 b2 55.Ra5+ Kc4 56.Ra4+ Nb4 Queens) 54...a5 etc...] 53.Bxh5 fxg3 54.fxg3 b3 55.Rb7 Nb4 56.Bf3 Rd3 57.Be4 Re3 58.Bg6 a5 White has now evened the score in pawns and kept the Bishop, which defends these opposite side positions well. It is now difficult to win, but Black still has more advanced pawns… however, his play must now be perfect. 59.h5 Re6 60.Bf5 b2 ! wonderful… gaining time to advance is the way to go. 61.g4 a4 62.Ra7…

Position after 62.Ra7…

This is a great position and it calls for a great, but probably obvious (to a computer), move.
62… Na6 [62...Nc2 !! ends things.

Analysis Position after 62…Nc2!!

I just had to diagram this position… Black’s Knight, Rook, and a-pawn hang and none can be taken.
63.Rc7+ Kb6 64.Rxc2 b1Q 65.Rc6+ Kxc6 66.Bxb1 Re1 67.Bf5 a3 and the a-pawn Queens] 63.Rb7 Nb4 64.Ra7 Na6 (Nc2!!) 65.Rb7 Nb4 ½ – ½

Whether this was time trouble or David meant to repeat, knowing the match was already lost… perhaps he will let us know in a comment…. regardless, this was a nice chance to pick up a point… and a very nice game by IM Griego.
Boston (1 – 3)

Oh well, who thought the Blitz would go undefeated anyway… Me, that’s who. Chess is sure a funny game… and very often not funny Ha Ha.

CMC Academy
201 Wayland Ave.
Providence, RI

Come on down and wander among the boards… listen to some post-game analysis… and cheer on your favorite team. Believe me, the drive is worth it.

This week the Blitz are without Jorge and Marc. Does this remind you of your favorite baseball team… Hey guys, it’s too early to rest for the playoffs. Nonetheless, they field a formidible lineup. Let’s take a look…

       White			   Black
-------------------------------------------------
1.  GM Kaufman (BAL)		FM Griego (BOS)
2.  NM Martirosov (BOS)		IM Enkhbat (BAL)
3.  FM Defibaugh (BAL)		NM Krasik (BOS)
4.  NM Gu (BOS)			NM Schoch (BAL)

GM Larry Kaufman (BAL) vs FM David Griego (BOS) – Board 1

GM Kaufman is always well prepared and his experience gives the edge here. FM Griego will, I’m sure, be determined to rebound from his opening day jitters. I think maybe 1.d4… and a Semi-Slav… David, hope you read Larry’s book. Draw
Boston (0.5-0.5)

NM Vadim Martirosov (BOS) vs. IM Tegshuren Enkhbat (BAL) – Board 2

Vadim’s stellar play (2 wins) merits a bump up in board. Maybe his toughest matchup in his years with the Blitz. Another Semi-Slav?… You betcha… It’ll be theory all night at the CMC Academy. My gut says a draw. Boston (1-1)

FM Jared Defibaugh (BAL) vs NM Ilya Krasik (BOS) – Board 3

Ilya was making faces and slamming pieces last week. But, he is playing well. This is my pick to win the match in a wide open/crazy closed Siciliam. Boston (2-1)

NM Christopher Gu (BOS) vs NM Ian Schoch (BAL) – Board 4

Chris needs another week 1-like hold… nothing fancy… keep it under control… maybe 1.d4 d5 ? Well, who knows. I still say draw… Boston (2.5-1.5) in a squeeker.

And the Blitz sneak by on a week without their top guns… they’re that good.
Too much you say. Well, call me a homer, but don’t call me late for supper.
Go Blitz!

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)