I guess we aren’t really invincible. Arizona played a good match and certainly deserved to win. Ramirez played a good game, finishing with a combination that was even better than I thought after the game. I went home thinking that I missed a draw on the 37th move.
Here I played 37…Nc5 and lost. Who stops an h-pawn with a knight instead of a king? It’s certainly not instinctive. I moved some pieces around on the board after the end, and found the following draw:37...Ke6 38.Bd4! [38.h6 Kf7] 38...Kf7 39.b4 Kg8 40.Kg3 Kh7 41.Kh4 [41.Kf4 Kh6 42.Kxf5 Kxh5 43.Ke5 c5 44.Bxc5 Nc3] 41...Kh6 and Black draws by a tempo; 42.Be3+ Kh7 43.Kg5 Nc3 44.Kxf5 Nd5 45.Bd2 Kg7 and whenever White’s king runs to the queenside, I snap the b4-pawn and play Kh6.
Of course this is complete nonsense because White play 38.b3! and wins easily. 38…c5 39.bxa4 bxa4 40.Bb2! and the bishop easily copes with Black’s pawns.
But everything happens for a reason, so I present...
The Top Five Reasons Why the Knockouts Lost
5) Joel’s kindergarten students gave bad advice
4) Arizona did not play Adamson, meaning disappointed fans had no opportunity for their “Larry, Larry” serenade. [At least Mets fans will get that one]
3) Dean overdosed on Red Bull and Five Hour Energy
2) They played better than us
1) NO DONUTS!!
7 comments:
Thank for taking the time to post and read this. I just want to be clear on this, you are suggesting that substituting Donuts for Red Bull would have helped? How about a granola bar or nice green salad instead? As for the Mets comment, if you need to rely on stuff like that I think it is time to either move to another city or take up competitive croquet. Lastly, I think you mean b3 on move 39? Good luck next week and have a nice day!
Reason 6: NJ sucks!
Richard T.J.
No donuts??? No wonder!
Here is another reason why I think the Knockouts were outplayed. I don't think the majority of chess players are used to a 9:00 P.M. start time for an evening round. I know that given the time zone, it doesn't appear that Dean, Joel and the rest of the team ever played a tournament round starting at 9:00 P.M. 8:00 P.M, yes, but 9:00 P.M. is really pushing it. Thanks.
Michael, the above isn't a reason but an excuse. 9 pm start times are not unusual for USCL, chess plaers for the most part are nocturnal creatures so the late start is a good thing for most. If the match was at 9 in the morning then I could see it affecting the quality of play. NJ isn't going to get breaks in every match and they simply lost to a hungrier, more desperate team.
For those in the west, they have to rush to get home from work or leave work early. I can imagine this being a huge distraction.
Larry reference is to Chipper Jones, which Yankee fans get as well from their 2 World Series match ups against the Braves.
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