Let's Keep Dancing

(Beat Reporter:  Mark LaRocca)

It’s been a long debate… with myself… should I write about this final straw that broke the backs of the Blitz… Yes, this is the final straw.  The Manhattan Applesauce put a stake in our hearts… the Blitz going down, (1.5 – 2.5) and with no thoughts of the playoffs  to be had.  Oh…  yeah… if everyone else above them is involved in a bus crash and double forfeits… or they just don’t want to play anymore and resign from the league… but, the reality is… that it’s all over.

And as I stood there last Monday, watching the calamity unfold, I started to hum a faint and haunting melody to myself… I don’t know if you remember it… or even why I thought of it… an old Peggy Lee song from long before even my time.  I think I was watchig Kazim as he dropped his Queen early… and I thought to myself…

Is that all there is?... Is that all there is… 

If that’s all there is my friends, then let’s keep dancing…

(Peggy Lee - Is that all there is)

The melody resounded within me and I couldn’t help the feeling of hopelessness that seemed to overwhelm…  I mean… my house hadn’t burned down…  and my wife is still waiting for me at home… although she doesn’t much like these late chess nights… But, then it hit me… indeed, the Circus has ended… no more colorful clowns… and no more elephants…

And if you believe him… No more Ilya to kick around.  It was Ilya that struck the first blow… and it looked to be a promising night at that point.  What a great game he played… He was totally winning at move 22… as I had predicted.  But, somehow that melody rang through…  As I present this featured game, I can’t help thinking… will we never see another Ilya USCL game?… Is that all there is?

NM Ilya Krasik (BOS) vs NM Andrew Ryba (MAN) 1-0

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.e3 c5 8.Bd3 Qa5 9.Qc2 0–0 10.0–0 Re8 [10...c4 11.Bf5 Re8 12.Nd2 g6 13.Bh3 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Ne4 15.Nxe4 dxe4=]

Position after 10...Re8

11.dxc5?!…This should be slightly better for White. But there was better to be had here with...

[11.Nxd5 Nxd5 12.a3 h6 13.axb4 Qxb4 14.Bh7+ Kh8 15.Be4 N5b6 16.Bh4 cxd4 17.exd4 +/- (1.10) White is much better.] 

11...Bxc3 12.bxc3 Qxc5 After this, White has an edge. [12...Ne4 13.c4 Ndxc5 14.cxd5 Nxd3 15.Qxd3 b6 16.Rfc1 Bb7 17.h4 Qxd5 18.Qxd5 Bxd5 is equal.] 13.Rab1 h6 14.Bh4 a6 15.a4 b6 16.Nd4 Bb7 17.Bf5 [The same pressure can be had more directly with... 17.Bxf6 Nxf6 18.Qb3 Nd7 19.Rfc1 And it looks like White will win the b-pawn. +/= (+0.65) or, Black will need to weaken the Kingside with 19…g6] 17...Bc6 18.Rfd1 Ne4 19.c4 g5? This weakens the Kingside. White is now winning after a odd, but very good move...[19...dxc4 20.Nxc6 Qxf5 21.Ne7+ Rxe7 22.Bxe7 White has the exchange for a pawn, but there is a difficult game ahead due to Black's advanced pawn.]

20.f3!! Nef6 [20...gxh4 21.fxe4 dxe4 (21...dxc4 22.Nxc6 loses a piece now as the Bishop is guarded.) 22.Qf2 Bxa4 23.Rf1 and Black's weak Kingside will prove fatal.] 21.Be1 Best! Threatening to win a piece with Bb4... 21...Bb7 22.cxd5 This is winning... but, there was a nicer, and very computer like win with... [22.Bxd7 Nxd7 23.Nf5 Ne5 24.Nxh6+ Kg7 25.Nf5+ Kg8 26.Bb4 Qc6 (26...Qxc4 27.Qb2 Qc7 28.Bd6+–) 27.Ne7+ Rxe7 28.Bxe7+–] 22...Bxd5 White is winning. +– (+2.15)

23.Qf2 Nf8 24.h4 Be6 25.Bb4 Qc7 26.hxg5 hxg5 27.Rbc1 Qb8 28.Nc6 Qb7 29.Qg3 N8h7 30.Bxe6 Rxe6 (+4.15) 31.Nd8 Qa7 32.Nxe6 fxe6 33.Qe5 (+7.80) 33...Qf7 34.Rc7 Qe8 35.Re7 (+11.50) 35...Qxa4

 Mate in 7

36.Qxe6+ Kh8 37.Rxh7+ Kxh7 38.Qf7+ Kh6 39.Qxf6+ Kh5 40.g4+… Oh my! missing a mate in 2 with... [40.Qf7+ Kh6 (40...Kh4 41.Be1#) 41.Rd6#] 40...Kh4 41.Be1+ Black resigns 1–0

Boston (1 – 0)

Here's the whole game to play through... it's worth a close look.

I must say that this is one of the best Blitz games this year.. Ilya was in control throughout and that 20.f3!!... was nice.

Well, that may be all there is for Ilya, but, the next to finish was Kazim... and this, my friends, was not pretty.

FM Kazim Gulamali (BOS) vs IM Dmitry Schneider (MAN) 0-1

Now, tell me that's not gonna leave a mark.  If only we played for a draw with Black.  I'm not blaming anyone, but I've seen this pattern over and over this year from just about every player.  And our last dance... was just that... A Queen and Knight vs. Queen and Bishop ending... which Eugene could not solve.  But, not for lack of trying...A real brain teaser... especially that late at night.

IM Eli Vovsha (MAN) vs GM Eugene Perelshteyn (BOS) 1/2-1/2

Oh Man... What a night... and What a playoff-hopes ending game.  But, a very good game by both players and one that we can all learn from. 

So, that's it for now.  Don't forget to join us for the "Loser Bowl" as the Blitz take on the New England Nor'easters... this Tuesday, 7pm, very appropriate in many ways.  I won't give the address agains, as Hurricane Sandy... os is it Sandra... well, no-nevermind... it's a big Nor'easter headed this way.

One more thing... I think I remember the last two lines to that diddy...  for Peggy... one more time...

Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is

Hey, not a bad idea... Right... Until next week... Let's keep dancing... Oh, and that booze thing too.