Sad and Lonely? see BOS vs SF
(Beat Reporter: Mark LaRocca)
Did you ever feel like you were completely worthless, unattractive on both a physical and emotional level… like you're just not good enough, and you can’t do anything about it?... Nahhh!... neither have I. However, this feeling is exactly what you get when you lose a game in a team match. Oh, so you think I’m exaggerating… well, obviously, you don’t play team chess for the Blitz. Most evenings we remove all pointy or sharp objects from the playing area… just in case one of the players should draw. This is a serious business… this team chess… and I don’t want to alarm anyone… but, most calls to psychiatric hotlines occur… no, not during a full moon… but, rather, just after a Blitz draw… I’m just saying… you draw your own conclusions… no pun.
Now, you understand why my job is so important… my job is to predict Blitz wins… so, let’s start with this week’s (lucky 7) matchup with the 49’ers… er… sorry… I mean the San Francisco Mechanics. The Blitz go with a very top heavy lineup. I guess manager Ilya Krasik was depressed over last week’s draw with NY… and after a long hotline conversation… decided to go for broke. From my perspective, it looks like a MUST win for the Blitz… time is getting short… it is time to get rolling. I’ll save my final score until the end… just to keep the suspense…
GM Eugene Perelshteyn (BOS) vs GM Vinay Bhat (SF)
I keep thinking that someday Eugene might dust off the King’s Gambit… but, alas, GM Bhat would never allow it. No, this will boil down to a semi-slav… from 1.d4… or 1.c4… These guys are no strangers and have played a few times in the past. Eugene wins a big game… who knows, maybe a Botvinnik? Boston (1 – 0)
IM Daniel Naroditsky (SF) vs IM Marc Esserman (BOS)
This will be a barn burner… 1.e4 c5. Now, if IM Naroditsky is looking for information… he might try the Morra! But, somehow, I doubt it… I’ll go with a Bb5… anti-Sicilian. In any case, neither player will back down… gotta’ be a perp in a Najdorf. Boston (1.5 – 0.5)
FM Samuel Sevian (BOS) vs FM Andy Lee (SF)
Sam will definitely play 1.e4… and I am thinking Sicilian… but, not too sure of what FM Lee plays. However, no matter, Board 3 is far too low for Boston’s youngest player… and the rating advantage will tell. Sam in a walk away… Boston (2.5 – 0.5)
NM Vignesh Panchanatham (SF) vs Michael Mahoney (BOS)
This will be another tough one for Michael. He is giving about 200 points… and with a record of 0-2 this season… playing Black for the first time… what can I say… DRAW. 1.d4 Nf6 and an Ilya influenced Grunfeld? I am way off here… for sure. But, it will be interesting to see if my precognition reigns... Boston (3 – 1)
So, if you’re feeling sad and lonely… don’t call me. Just come on down and help console our half-pointers. See ya all there!
Harvard SOCH Building, 59 Shepard st, Cambridge, MA.
