Backwards Loss, Tal, draw match, BOS vs MAN
(Beat Reporter: Mark LaRocca)
How can you lose a match… and yet draw a match? Let me explain…
First, we must note that the Blitz drew their week 6 match with the Applesauce… a bit disappointing… but, still… we are in the race… to stay out of last place in the Eastern division.
But, back to my point… I came in about an hour late to this one and began, as usual, just watching and internally rooting… it’s that internal rooting that causes some real angst… the kind where your stomach gets upset… and you almost can’t eat… note the “almost”.
But, again, back to my point. First board, IM Steven Zierk (BOS) is playing Black against IM Victor Shen (MAN)… and his position is dynamic… fascinating… was he better?… worse?… I thought. Who knows.
Then… Boom… NM Chris Williams (BOS) pulls a Tal, as Black on board 3, winning a beautiful game against FM Rico Salimbagat (MAN)… and my attention was diverted…
Wow! We were up, Boston (1 – 0).
But, again, back to my first point… Steven’s game was just intriguing… I fully expected a finish soon… because of the unbalanced position… plus, he kept groaning under his breath… scary to say the least. Yet, something didn’t feel right…
Then… Boom… NM Ilya Krasik (BOS) pulls a Nakamura-vs-Carlsen, on board 4 as White… and loses to NM Levy Rozman (MAN) and just like that… we’re staring death in the face…
Boston (1 – 1)… who put this curse on us?...
But, really, back to my point… I couldn’t think too long about Ilya’s game… my mind was wrapped up in board one… if only Steven could pull it out… takes… takes… was there a win?... at one point, I thought so.
Then… Boom… Crash… Bang… IM Marc Esserman (BOS) went down as White… playing the Morra… in a spectacular refutation of the entire opening by IM Farai Mandizha (MAN). Marc is home at this very moment ripping pages out of his book, Mayhem in the Morra.
Boston (1 – 2) and Steven had to win… to draw the match.
But, still, to get back to my point… Something was wrong on Steven’s board… I just couldn’t figure it out… Was he losing?... I thought so… and then it was over. I was depressed… I had seen him lose… and yet… everyone else was enjoying the match draw… Turns out Steven had grabbed my board and set up with the White pieces toward him… even though he was Black… So, all game… I had been rooting for White… when our guy was Black!!... and now, I must apologize to Steven for my idiotic comments afterwards… But… it was his own fault… who sets up the board backwards anyway?...
So, Steven lost (in my mind) making the match Boston (1 – 3)… a loss… which was really a draw… since he really won… Boston (2 – 2)
Man… the food I was “almost” not able to eat.
And now, on to my Game of the Match… and what a great attacking game it was… a 19 move mini-treat… way to go Mikhail…er… I mean... Chris!
But first, let's try our hand at Tal's... er... I mean Chris's game ender... Mate in 4...
I do give Chris credit for some very nice attacking play… But, what was going through White’s mind is certainly a mystery to me. He was probably just nervous about playing Mikhail.
Now, If only Ilya’s opponent would cooperate… but it seemed to be a day where the White pieces just wouldn’t go to the right squares. Get a whiff of this torturous miasma of despair.
I must say, I liked Ilya’s spirited choice of opening… but, exact move order is a tough row to hoe.
And now on to my most interesting game of the match… Is the Morra refuted? You tell me…
Well, what do you think… is the Morra refuted?... is 6…Bb4! The end?... Naahh!... Pawns just get in the way… it’s pieces that count… and I’m sure Marc will finish his analysis on this line in a future encounter.
On to our backward playing first board… What in the world was going on here?... and why look at it backwards… well, who can complain… it seemed to work… Steven confused his opponent… and me.
Ok, So, I was rooting for the wrong side… so slap me in the face and call me hot buttered toast!... it all turned out good in the end… right? Nice game Steven… although I wish you would play with your pieces on your side of the board… It’s just too confusing for me… and much too stressful… especially if you are winning… you see, I would think you were losing… but, you’re not… and this leads to depression… and loss of appetite… it could happen!... unless we’re having pizza… then, no problem.
Come join us for week 7… no backwards boards… as the Blitz take on St.Louis.
Tues., Tues. Oct. 7, 7:45pm., at 59 Shepard st. Cambridge, MA., SOCH building, Harvard University.
Or, at least follow the games online… on ICC, www.chessclub.com
