Week 6 Review

Arizona Scorpions vs. Baltimore Kingfishers 1-3
IM Mackenzie Molner (2511) - GM Giorgi Margvelashvili (2593) 0.5-0.5 View Game
IM Levon Altounian (2493) - IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2509) 0.5-0.5 View Game
IM Mark Ginsburg (2400) - NM Jared Defibaugh (2357) 0-1 View Game
WFM Amanda Mateer (2144) - NM Richard Selzler (2242) 0-1 View Game

Note: Players in italic have the white pieces.

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The Baltimore Kingfishers extended their winning streak in matches against the Arizona Scorpions with a 3-1 victory. Baltimore moved up a spot to sixth-place in the Eastern Division standings, only 1 match point behind first-place New York.

Board 1: These two played a Philidor Defense: Improved Hanham in which IM Molner struck with the speculative sacrifice, 13. Nf5?!

GM Margvelashvili accepted the sacrificed knight and gave up a rook for white's other knight. Then, it was GM Margvelashvili's turn to sacrifice one of his knights for a couple of pawns and a strong pin on the g-file. The game ended when black chose to take a draw by repetition to assure a team victory as he saw Board 3 had already been won and Board 4 looked close to winning. However, he could have played for a win in the position after 23. Qh5:

The winning line goes 23... Rg6 24. Be3 Ne6 25. f4 exf4 26. Bxb6 (26. Bf2 Be4 27. Bxb6 f3 28. Rf1 Nf4 or 26. Rf2 Rg5 27. Qf3 fxe3) Ng7 27. Qf3 Qxb6+.

Board 2: In a Queen's Gambit Accepted, IM Enkhbat sacrificed his e-pawn for rapid development and preventing black from easily castling his king. This game turned out to be the last one to finish, so Baltimore had already clinched the match victory. White had kept up compensation for the pawn for much of the game, but IM Altounian could have kept his extra pawn after 34. Rc6:

34... Nc7 35. Rd6+ Kc8 when 36. Nxe6 is impossible due to Re8 where white's back rank is vulnerable. Re8 or e5 on the next move will hold the extra pawn. Even with the extra pawn, it would still be a long path to press for a win. In the actual game, white won back the extra black pawn and the two sides liquidated to a even ending with opposite-colored bishops.

Board 3: This was the first game of the match to finish. It began as an English: Anglo-Grunfeld that appeared to be close to equal or perhaps slightly better for black with the centrally-placed rooks. Take a look at the position after 17... Nb4:

After trading off both of white's bishops with 18. Bxb4 axb4 19. Bxb7 Qxb7, IM Ginsburg's position suffered a surprisingly sudden collapse. Perhaps 18. Bxg7 Qxg7 19. Ne4 f5 20. Nc3 could have kept the balance. NM Defibaugh broke open the center and invaded with his rooks when white resigned after the move 25... Rd3, facing unstoppable threats against his king. In fact, the final position shown below is a forced mate in 7.

Board 4: This game started as a Sicilian: Kan, Polugaevsky variation. White won the e-pawn in the early middle game and started to consolidate the advantage. WFM Mateer attempted to complicate the position, but NM Selzler played accurately and kept her on the defensive. NM Selzler won the game with mate in 2 on the board position seen below.

Week 6 Lineup

Wednesday, 9:00 PM EDT
Time Control 60 min. with 30 sec. increment

Arizona Scorpions vs. Baltimore Kingfishers
IM Mackenzie Molner (2511) - GM Giorgi Margvelashvili (2593)
IM Levon Altounian (2493) - IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2509)
IM Mark Ginsburg (2400) - NM Jared Defibaugh (2357)
WFM Amanda Mateer (2144) - NM Richard Selzler (2242)

Note: Players in italic have the white pieces.

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The third and final Interdivisional Match of the 2012 season sees the Baltimore Kingfishers square off against the Arizona Scorpions. These two teams have met twice before with Baltimore scoring victories in both matches by a score of 2.5-1.5. They last met just over 2 years ago, also in Week 6. Only 3 players (IM Barcenilla, GM L. Kaufman, FM Zimmer) from that match remain on these two teams' current rosters, but none of them are scheduled to play in this match. Surprisingly, more players (5: IM Enkhbat, GM L. Kaufman, IM Altounian, IM Ginsburg, FM Adamson) remain from the Week 4, 2009 match with 3 of the players returning to play in this match. Interestingly, Arizona has used this same lineup in Weeks 1 and 5, scoring victories by 3-1 and 3.5-0.5. On the other side, Baltimore's lineup is a new one for this season.

Board 1: IM Mackenzie Molner vs. GM Giorgi Margvelashvili. IM Molner, a 7-year USCL veteran of 3 teams, is (+1 =3 -1) this season and (+3 =1 -2) against Baltimore. He drew last week as white against GM Jesse Kraai (SF) on Board 1. His opponent, GM Margvelashvili, is (+1 =1) on the season and last played in Week 4, a win on Board 1 as white against FM Cozianu (SEA). This season is only his 2nd year in the USCL, so he has not played against Arizona previously.

Board 2: IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat vs. IM Levon Altounian. This game is a rematch with the same colors of a draw on Board 1 in Week 4, 2009. For each of the players, that was the only game he played against the other team. IM Enkhbat, an 8-year USCL veteran, is (=2) on the season and played last week as white against GM Ivanov (NE) on Board 1. This game will be his first time on Board 2 this season. His rival in this sequel, IM Altounian, is (+1 =2) so far in his 5th USCL season. He won last week as black against IM Dmitry Zilberstein (SF) on Board 2.

Board 3: IM Mark Ginsburg vs. NM Jared Defibaugh. IM Ginsburg, playing in his 4th USCL season, is (+3 =1) this season and won last week as white against FM Yian Liou (SF) on Board 3. He has played against Baltimore once previously, a draw as white against GM L. Kaufman on Board 2 in Week 4, 2009. This time, he will face NM Defibaugh, who is in his 3rd USCL season and has scored (+1 -2) this season. NM Defibaugh won last week as white against NM Andrew Wang (NE) on Board 3. He has not played against Arizona previously.

Board 4: NM Richard Selzler vs. WFM Amanda Mateer. NM Selzler is (-2) on the season, having last played as black against NM Joshua Sinanan (SEA) in Week 4. He has played in 2 seasons in the USCL and has not played against Arizona previously. He will be challenged by WFM Mateer, who is (+1 =1) this season and won last week as black against NM Kesav Viswanadha (SF) on Board 4. She has played in the USCL for 4 years though has not played against Baltimore previously.

Week 5 Review

Baltimore Kingfishers vs. New England Nor'easters 2.5-1.5
IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2509) - GM Alexander Ivanov (2656) 0.5-0.5 View Game
GM Larry Kaufman (2445) - IM David Vigorito (2548) 0.5-0.5 View Game
NM Jared Defibaugh (2357) - NM Andrew Wang (2302) 1-0 View Game
FM Ralph Zimmer (2304) - Bennet Pellows (2152) 0.5-0.5 View Game

Note: Players in italic have the white pieces.

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The Baltimore Kingfishers score their first match victory this season.

Board 1:This game began as a Catalan in which black played 3... Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Be7 and then the game transposed into a Bogo-Indian Defense. GM Ivanov gained space on the kingside with g5 and f5 and soon won a pawn after white allowed the opening of the g-file. Black was perhaps a little too quick to aim at the white king with 29... Rg3:

White could have won an exchange with 30. Bxf4 Qxf4 31. hxg3 Qxg3 32. Bg2! and it will be white who will have the upperhand as his rooks will quickly occupy the open files on the kingside. However, IM Enkhbat chose a more defensive strategy with 30. Rg1 and managed to hold the draw, which clinched the match victory as the last game to finish.

Board 2:These two played an Exchange Slav, Trifunovic variation in which black seemed at least equal out of the opening, especially as white's king stayed in the center. Later, GM Kaufman won the e4 pawn and began marching his d-pawn all the way to d2. In time trouble, he could not find a clear win and accepted a draw as FM Zimmer had just drawn and IM Enkhbat looked to be holding his game. In fact, the final position is a win for black but the best line includes a rather suprising second move. Can you find it?

38. Bd3+ Kg1 39. Kh7! Rxc8 40. Rxc8 Qf2 (40... Qxc8 41. Qe3+ Kh1 42. Qe1+ Rxe1 43. dxe1=R#) 41. Rc1 Bb3 42. Bc4 and white will soon lose with his pieces tied down in order to block the d-pawn.

Board 3:This game featured a King's Indian: Gligoric-Taimanov variation. The e and f files opened up quickly but the game continued fairly even for both sides without any particularly dangerous tactics. NM Defibaugh did have the unusual tripled g-pawns but had a space advantage to make up for it.

Black should be fine after 27... Bf8, but NM Andrew Wang blundered with 27... Kf7? 28. Qe7+ Qxe7 29. Rxe7+ Kf8 30. Rxb7 and black resigns seeing as he has to play Rg6 to keep the bishop but his queenside pawns will fall.

Board 4:The players started off with a Leningrad Dutch that got very exciting when they decided to go for the odd material imbalance of Rook, Knight, and Pawn for a Queen. At first, it seemed white should be better with black's pieces relatively undeveloped and a not-quite-open position for black's queen to take advantage. However, as the bishops and a pair of rooks were traded, black's queen came alive. White tried to use his rook and two knights to trap the black king and possibly mate but this gave black the opportunity to win the game.

It turns out 36... Qxa4 as played in the game lets the win slip away, but the immediate 36... Qe4 wins by nullifying white's attack while intending to promote the c-pawn. For instance, if 37. Nce6 Qh7+ ( 37... c4 38. Rg6 c3 39. Ng5 Qxg6 40. Nxg6+ Kg7 41. Nf4 c2 42. Nge6+ Kf7 43. Ne2 is probably better for white ) 38. Nh5 c4 39. g4 c3 40. Nf8 c2 41. Nxh7 Nxh7! (only move) and the c-pawn will queen with no tricky mate threats against the black king. Allowing white the extra move turned out to be just enough to draw so the players repeated moves.

Week 5 Lineup

Monday, 7:30 PM EDT
Time Control 90 min. with 30 sec. increment

Baltimore Kingfishers vs. New England Nor'easters
IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2509) - GM Alexander Ivanov (2656)
GM Larry Kaufman (2445) - IM David Vigorito (2548)
NM Jared Defibaugh (2357) - NM Andrew Wang (2302)
FM Ralph Zimmer (2304) - Bennet Pellows (2152)

Note: Players in italic have the white pieces.

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The Baltimore Kingfishers and New England Nor'easters both look to climb up to two places in the Eastern Division standings this week. In previous meetings, New England has bested Baltimore by a match score of 2.5-0.5 with the New England winning the last meeting by a 2.5-1.5 score.

Board 1: IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat vs. GM Alexander Ivanov. IM Enkhbat, an 8-year USCL veteran, is (=1) on the season, having played in Week 1 on Board 1 with black against GM Sergey Erenburg. He has a (+1 -2) record against New England. His opponent, GM Ivanov is new to the USCL this year and is off to a great start with a (+2 =1) record. He last played in a Week 4 win with white over FM Eric Rodriguez on Board 2.

Board 2: IM David Vigorito vs. GM Larry Kaufman. IM Vigorito, a 4-year USCL veteran, is (-1) on the season as he played in Week 2 with black against IM Puchen Wang on Board 2. He is (+1 -1) against Baltimore. Meanwhile GM Kaufman, another 8-year USCL veteran for Baltimore, is (=1 -1) this season and (-1) against New England. He last played in Week 3 with white, a game that ended as a draw against GM Mikheil Kekelidze on Board 2.

Board 3: NM Jared Defibaugh vs. NM Andrew Wang. NM Defibaugh, a 3-year USCL veteran, is (-2) on the season and (=1) against New England. He last played in Week 3 against NM Ian Harris, which was a loss with black on Board 3. He will be facing NM Andrew Wang, who is playing in his 2nd USCL season and has a (+1 -1) record this season. He has never played against Baltimore before this match. His last game was a win with black in Week 4 against NM Ernesto Alvarez on Board 3.

Board 4: Bennet Pellows vs. FM Ralph Zimmer. Bennet Pellows is another player new to the USCL this year for New England. He is (+1 =1) this season, having last played to a draw in Week 4 on Board 4 with white against Miguel Recio. He will be battling FM Zimmer, who is a 7-year USCL veteran, (+2) on the season, and (=1) against New England. His last game was a win with white against NM Joshua Colas in Week 3 on Board 4.

Week 4 Review

Baltimore Kingfishers vs. Seattle Sluggers 1.5-2.5
GM Giorgi Margvelashvili (2593) - FM Costin Cozianu (2508) 1-0 View Game
IM Nazi Paikidze (2444) - FM Slava Mikhailuk (2415) 0-1 View Game
NM Adithya Balasubramanian (2345) - FM Curt Collyer (2294) 0.5-0.5 View Game
NM Ricky Selzler (2242) - NM Joshua Sinanan (2263) 0-1 View Game

Note: Players in italic have the white pieces.

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White wins all...almost, as the Seattle Sluggers edge the Baltimore Kingfishers with a 2.5-1.5 score.

Board 1: The game began with a King's Indian: Smyslov Variation, which turned into a semi-closed game that focused early on the queenside. Black gave away his a-pawn to prevent a b4-break by white. Once the b-file was blockaded, FM Cozianu turned his attention to breaking open the kingside. However, GM Margvelashvili was able to parry the attack, and finally, it was black's king who seemed more vulnerable as white preferred to open up the center with 40. e5 to immediately taking the offered exchange with 40. Ne7 (Both moves are winning). Position before 40. e5 and Black resigns:

Board 2: The Reti Opening transformed into a King's Indian Attack. They traded queens early, and then, FM Mikhailuk built up pressure on the queenside. He eventually won the a-pawn and began marching all his pawns slowly forward as black's pieces struggled to find sure-footing. Black resigned in the following position:

Board 3: This game started with the unusual Owen Defense. White maintained an edge well into the middle game. NM Balasubramanian won a pawn on move 34, but missed a chance to win more material (although it is far from obvious) after 36... Bc8:

37. Rbc1! Ree8 (37... Rc6 38. R1xc6 Qxc6 39. Qxf7+! Rxf7 40. Rxc6 and white is up a clear two pawns) 38. Qf3 Rd8 39. Bb4 winning the exchange as black must guard f7 from the queen invasion. However, white still had a slight advantage until 66. Qe5? in the following diagram:

White missed the deflection 66... a5! FM Collyer now had chances to play for a win, but seeing as it was the last game going and a draw clinched a match victory for Seattle, the game ended in a repetition of checks.

Board 4: Oddly enough in an East Coast vs. West Coast matchup, these two players are familiar with one another as NM Selzler originally hails from Washington state. In fact, NM Selzler mentioned having been on the Sluggers team (as an alternate in 2007) while NM Sinanan was on the roster, but NM Selzler had never actually played in a match for them. The USCL world turns out to be closer than realized.

Anyway, the game was a Queen's Gambit: Semi-slav Defense. The result centered around the complications that arose just after opening theory. The position after 13. Bg5:

Black played sharply with 13... b4 but ended up losing the pawn after 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Nd4 Bc5 16. Na4 Bxd4 17. Rxd4 h6 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Rxb4. After that, NM Sinanan kept the pressure up, especially with the rooks controlling the d-file. White's Queen, Bishop, and Knight finally overwhelmed Black's King position and black resigned with mate coming.