tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74195416237283451332024-03-05T08:52:14.360-08:00New Jersey KnockoutsNJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-84095982200200095282011-09-14T19:47:00.001-07:002011-09-14T19:48:57.421-07:00The final game of the match<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTfYusF8b9_T1zRzkf8YTv8twoA_1JKF9VvBn0FWnsblqM_VemK6cNo4TgixXSBNGLelfW6RV9eCWG8RwQHYHz5t3WkBLU6oc-Tqnx-Diy_6Z8s-N5s3NgVa0MVZo639n-4Incz8tzkthE/s1600/2011-09-14_22-44-10_558.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTfYusF8b9_T1zRzkf8YTv8twoA_1JKF9VvBn0FWnsblqM_VemK6cNo4TgixXSBNGLelfW6RV9eCWG8RwQHYHz5t3WkBLU6oc-Tqnx-Diy_6Z8s-N5s3NgVa0MVZo639n-4Incz8tzkthE/s400/2011-09-14_22-44-10_558.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652412812716258210" /></a><br />Joel vs. Erenburg.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div>NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-70608598095121776322011-09-02T13:03:00.000-07:002011-09-02T13:10:52.555-07:00GM Joel's Clinic for the Knockouts<span class="Apple-style-span"><b>BREAKING NEWS</b></span> from the Dean of Chess Academy and NJ Knockout Dean Ippolito...<div>
<br /><div>We here at <a href="http://www.deanofchess.com">Dean of Chess Academy</a> have an exciting event planned! On Saturday September 24th from 5pm until 8pm, Grandmaster Joel Benjamin will be offering a three-hour clinic, where he will analyze games submitted by participants. GM Joel has won the US Championship three times, and he hosts a weekly chess radio show, "Game of the Week" on the Internet Chess Club.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>This event will be a fundraiser for the New Jersey Knockouts, New Jersey's only professional chess team. Both Dean Ippolito and Joel Benjamin have been members of the Knockouts since its inception. DOCA is proud to host this unique instructional seminar, given by one of the leading chess teachers in the USA.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>There will be a maximum of only 10 participants in the clinic, so Joel will have time to analyze each game thoroughly. Anyone age 14 and older is eligible to participate. If you are between 11 and 13 years old, you must be an experienced tournament player and must contact Dean directly for special permission to take part in this event.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>The cost of GM Joel's clinic is only $75 (in advance) for the three hour session, and $100 space permitting at the door; all funds will go to the Knockouts -- please sign up at DOCA.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>The Dean of Chess Academy is located at 3150 Rt. 22W, Branchburg NJ 08876.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Additionally, we will have a G/5 tournament immediately after the clinic. The G/5 will be a 6 round swiss and is open to everyone. The entry fee is $20 to members and $30 to non-members. The prizes are 40% of the total entry fees collected minus the TD fee for first place. 20% minus the TD fee will go to second, 10% minus the TD fee will go to 3rd. 5% minus TD fee will go to top Under 1600 (quick ratings used) and 5% to the top Under 1300. The remaining 20% will go to help fund the NJ Knockouts.</div></div>NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-39259201582366193282011-08-31T20:45:00.000-07:002011-08-31T20:47:43.114-07:00Knockouts Lose Opening Match<div>
<br /></div><div>NJKOs lose opening match to Carolina. Highlight was Anna Matlin's attacking masterpiece against much higher rated Cobra, Craig Jones.</div><div>
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<br /></div>NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-36911377061956674222010-10-24T19:16:00.000-07:002010-10-24T19:20:54.502-07:00Do or Die Day for the KnockoutsThe Knockouts have one task this week -- to beat the Baltimore Kingfishers.<br /><br />And not just beat them... utterly destroy them by a score of 4-0.<br /><br />Because unless the ultimate destruction occurs, there will be no more <a href="http://www.uschessleague.com">United States Chess League</a> season for the Knockouts. A 4-0 win by New Jersey will propel the Knockouts into the playoffs. Any other score will send the Knockouts to the phones to set up their tee times.<br /><br />Watch all the action on the <a href="http://www.chessclub.com">Internet Chess Club</a>, Monday October 25, 2010, at 7:45pm.NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-10846585695260507862010-10-11T16:08:00.000-07:002010-10-11T16:12:56.256-07:00Webcam: Oct 10 versus ManhattanLive webcam of NJ site in match versus the Manhattan Applesauce...<br /><br /><embed width="330" height="330" src="http://www.blogtv.com/livesdk/b2_vY2PwaeZFbuXubX" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true"></embed><br><font size = 1><a href="http://www.blogtv.com/People/bioniclime">bioniclime</a>- <a href="http://www.blogtv.com/">Broadcast your self LIVE</a></font>NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-40248968198946854692010-09-29T18:11:00.000-07:002010-09-29T18:18:01.985-07:00Knockouts vs Seattle LIVE WebcamLive webcam from the NJ Knockouts playing site... match versus Seattle.<br /><p>Follow us on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Twitter</span>: <a href="http://twitter.com/njknockouts">http://twitter.com/njknockouts</a><br /><br />Like us on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook</span>: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Jersey-Knockouts/129446521636">click here for the Knockouts on Facebook</a><br /><br /></p><hr /><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.blogtv.com/livesdk/b2_vY2PwaeZFbuXubX" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="330" height="330"></embed><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.blogtv.com/People/bioniclime">bioniclime</a>- <a href="http://www.blogtv.com/">Broadcast your self LIVE</a></span>NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-65327070617676731772010-09-22T16:16:00.000-07:002010-09-22T16:18:51.118-07:00Live NJ Knockout TVThis is a live feed from New Jersey playing site.<br /><P><br /><HR><br /><br /><embed width="330" height="330" src="http://www.blogtv.com/livesdk/b2_vY2PwaeZFbuXubX" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true"></embed><br><font size = 1><a href="http://www.blogtv.com/People/bioniclime">bioniclime</a>- <a href="http://www.blogtv.com/">Broadcast your self LIVE</a></font>NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-37660830695503515222010-09-21T20:14:00.000-07:002010-09-21T20:37:35.101-07:00IM Kapengut AnnotatesLast week, IM Albert Kapengut scored a win against Carlito Agner of the Carolina Cobras. Kapengut has played three games in the <a href="http://www.uschessleague.com/">USCL</a> and has won all three. This week, he plays again against Vadim Martirosov of the Boston Blitz. Can IM Kapengut win again?<br /><br />Of course he can!<br /><br />He has generously annotated last week's game and presents it below.<br /><br /><hr /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Albert KAPENGUT (2372) </span><span style="font-size:85%;">[New Jersey Knockouts]</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">- Carlito AGNER (2251) </span><span style="font-size:85%;">[Carolina Cobras]</span><br />US Chess League, Week 4 (15 Sep 2010)<br />Internet Chess Club: G/90+30"<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Annotations by IM Albert Kapengut</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. e4 d6 2. d4 g6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Qe2 Nc6 5. c3 e5 6. dxe5 </span><br /><br />(6. d5 Nb8 <span style="font-style: italic;">(6... Ne7 7. f4 exf4 8. Bxf4 Bg7 9. Nf3 Nh5 10. Be3 O-O 11. O-O f5 12. e5+= {Farges,Y-Weeramantry,S /Philadelphia 1993})</span> 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 O-O 10. Nbd2 Qe8= {Margulis,I -Grefe,J /California 1997})<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6... Nxe5! 7. Bb3 Qe7 8. Bg5 </span><br /><br />(8. f4 Nc6 9. Nd2 Bh6! 10. g3 O-O 11. Ngf3 Re8 =+ {Wachinger,G -Blodig,R /Bayern 2000})<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8... h6 9. Bh4? </span><br /><br />(9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Nd2=)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9... g5 10. Bg3 </span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8LcSQDRgwwGKHMgP8f70VtSO-Z41iPiIVHsivgxmw1aLfBaj8s1wOZCL6JK_Sp33exRQITG9CiJcUSkM94AeRsdfX8Ay-K7wtDnT9B4nHyCRr5wAnlogwfWnQ_5CL8ux1wMFQvs-I1PM/s1600/Kap-Agn_afterW10.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8LcSQDRgwwGKHMgP8f70VtSO-Z41iPiIVHsivgxmw1aLfBaj8s1wOZCL6JK_Sp33exRQITG9CiJcUSkM94AeRsdfX8Ay-K7wtDnT9B4nHyCRr5wAnlogwfWnQ_5CL8ux1wMFQvs-I1PM/s320/Kap-Agn_afterW10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519574438344349250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /><br />10... Nxe4! 11. Bxe5 Qxe5 12. Nf3 Qe7 13. O-O Nc5=+ 14. Qd1 Qf6</span><br /><br />(14... Bg7 15. Re1 Be6=+)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">15. Re1+ Be7 16. Nd4 O-O </span><br /><br />(16... Bd7 17. Nd2 O-O-O=+)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">17. Bc2 Be6?! 18. b4 Nd7 19. Qd3 Qg7 </span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifSyAtmm6xVHH5eZAYgnryvARiu75fS8R6zRm2sTSTQIeQOQjUnkrK5Oa5c2yjKFFdf8srXxxibkH_3hVZY53LvIaENWLmlzANhL5_wdSFjFQR_6NZ_t2LwBqSemGeW8ZCh6Nha7s2bnZ/s1600/Kap-Agn_afterB19.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifSyAtmm6xVHH5eZAYgnryvARiu75fS8R6zRm2sTSTQIeQOQjUnkrK5Oa5c2yjKFFdf8srXxxibkH_3hVZY53LvIaENWLmlzANhL5_wdSFjFQR_6NZ_t2LwBqSemGeW8ZCh6Nha7s2bnZ/s320/Kap-Agn_afterB19.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519574693522573682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br />20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Rxe6+= Ne5 22. Qh3?!</span><br /><br />(22. Qe4!?)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">22... Rf6 </span><br /><br />(22... Qf7!? 23. f3 Qf4 <span style="font-style: italic;">(23... g4? 24. Qxh6 gxf3 25. Bb3+-)</span> 24. Na3 g4 25. Qg3 Bg5 26. Qxf4 Bxf4 27. fxg4+=)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">23. Rxf6 Bxf6 24. Nd2 Nf7?! </span><br /><br />(24... g4!? 25. Qh5 Rf8 26. Rd1 Qg5=)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">25. Ne4 Be5 </span><br /><br />(25... d5 26. Nxf6+ Qxf6 27. Re1+=)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">26. Rd1 b5? </span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvbi6JXZiQnY4zanjxOORIcfwx5HwtiGar7lvZTGP2NMOgdJlkE_9BMZAAWSlSPkb_qCLN0idxvXdSYloe3CXbw2lRn776X5quWtq2Cc8edOBhfkBps_TbvZUhXywD0HzrX0wUewOaLkq/s1600/Kap-Agn_afterB26.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvbi6JXZiQnY4zanjxOORIcfwx5HwtiGar7lvZTGP2NMOgdJlkE_9BMZAAWSlSPkb_qCLN0idxvXdSYloe3CXbw2lRn776X5quWtq2Cc8edOBhfkBps_TbvZUhXywD0HzrX0wUewOaLkq/s320/Kap-Agn_afterB26.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519575227898164786" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br />27. Qd7!+- a5 28. Qc6! Qf8 </span><br /><br />(28... Ra7? 29. Qxb5+-)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">29. Bb3! axb4 30. cxb4 Qe8 </span><br /><br />(30...Kg7 31. Bd5 Rc8 32. Qxb5 c5 33. bxc5 dxc5 34. Bxf7 Rb8 35. Qc6 Qxf7 36. Nxc5+-)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">31. Qxc7 Ra3 </span><br /><br />(31... d5? 32. Qb7+-)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">32. Qb7 Rxb3 33. axb3 Qe6 34. Qd5 Qg4 35. g3 Kg7 36. Rc1 Qd7 37. Rc6 Qb7 38. Rxd6! </span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeWWX_mMoQGdGc6c2TNCvNMV-3mJEylGf67Nf9k-7v0Bq70JimXw5HDDTMGRCUF42IgU78WsC25ntiM5hbm_V9k7k4I9P3HIlH5RBhmTVpIXrMek8HJlWu3X7lEvYHjvwK7eoPsQR6XtX/s1600/Kap-Agn_afterW38.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeWWX_mMoQGdGc6c2TNCvNMV-3mJEylGf67Nf9k-7v0Bq70JimXw5HDDTMGRCUF42IgU78WsC25ntiM5hbm_V9k7k4I9P3HIlH5RBhmTVpIXrMek8HJlWu3X7lEvYHjvwK7eoPsQR6XtX/s320/Kap-Agn_afterW38.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519575995068072946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br />Black resigns.</span><br /><br />(38. Rxd6 Nxd6 39. Qxe5+ Kh7 40. Nxd6+-)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1-0</span>NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-28721945717079348622010-09-15T17:31:00.000-07:002010-09-15T17:35:36.470-07:00Match In Progess: Carolina Week 4Match is currently in progress. Here's a picture!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmHUEo4e1qE9Bv1NKYVi3COwQb5oB6z4fKTjJK8-wJ3Q19iRTEvXjl-nLlRWYWKE9oPQWEcBP9UTuAtiy8mm_SDwNH8ESQShgiXTQ4WuOclZTgZzUlGnR47elaFungNX7LEW2nacm8fTG/s1600/NJKOvsCarolina15Sep2010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmHUEo4e1qE9Bv1NKYVi3COwQb5oB6z4fKTjJK8-wJ3Q19iRTEvXjl-nLlRWYWKE9oPQWEcBP9UTuAtiy8mm_SDwNH8ESQShgiXTQ4WuOclZTgZzUlGnR47elaFungNX7LEW2nacm8fTG/s400/NJKOvsCarolina15Sep2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517302785986669538" border="0" /></a>Follow the Knockouts!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Twitter </span></span>- <a href="http://twitter.com/njknockouts">http://twitter.com/njknockouts</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Facebook </span>- <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Jersey-Knockouts/129446521636">http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Jersey-Knockouts/129446521636</a><br /><br />The New Jersey Knockouts are sponsored by the <a href="http://www.njscf.org">New Jersey State Chess Federation</a>.NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-43246318552928964142010-08-31T21:05:00.000-07:002010-09-01T21:00:58.149-07:00Victor Shen Annotates Win Over Getz<span style="font-size:130%;">by Victor Shen</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">edited by Robert N. Bernard</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Editor's note: We are honored to have Victor annotate this beautiful victory over Alec Getz of the New York Knights.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nf3 h6 8. O-O Be7 9. Re1 O-O 10. h3 Be6 11. Bf1 Rc8 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. exd5 Nb4 14. c4 a5 </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKVRhLH91AqM_-V_XuXEMjGXsVZ3DWR7lMKzP3dbJ01yneux7QwGQmatBYouKwZ6AxENvbYX3Hbe1UeAzBG9JFkvYgHHbRXZaYugasGq0tu2vBrQ1E2MYfR3wCBFNSFGm5VdDGKbbjK2F/s1600/Shen_after14B.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKVRhLH91AqM_-V_XuXEMjGXsVZ3DWR7lMKzP3dbJ01yneux7QwGQmatBYouKwZ6AxENvbYX3Hbe1UeAzBG9JFkvYgHHbRXZaYugasGq0tu2vBrQ1E2MYfR3wCBFNSFGm5VdDGKbbjK2F/s320/Shen_after14B.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512157736796772098" border="0" /></a><diagram>I was pretty happy about my position at this point, as I have two bishops and slightly more space. However, I found it more difficult than I thought to make progress.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">15. a3 Na6 16. Bd2 </span><br /><br />I thought this was better than Rb1, as the rook may potentially be wanted on c1. Also, I had strange dreams of attacking the a5 pawn.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">16...Nd7 17. b4 f5 </span><br /><br /><diagram></diagram></diagram><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMOaZBef4V8hzNuzsvwbuwmGritxhONOzIpKfMjJm6faYjfMUZxWSzmXRe16kC-C-QDfR0Y1nac6tVwcYw-CtkCQLqWsj9Anc9vHKxpyMVTLMPauDgW1WHjybxN3hqBpN1TWsqsEdNOxx/s1600/Shen_after17B.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMOaZBef4V8hzNuzsvwbuwmGritxhONOzIpKfMjJm6faYjfMUZxWSzmXRe16kC-C-QDfR0Y1nac6tVwcYw-CtkCQLqWsj9Anc9vHKxpyMVTLMPauDgW1WHjybxN3hqBpN1TWsqsEdNOxx/s320/Shen_after17B.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512157742961105442" border="0" /></a><diagram><diagram><span style="font-weight: bold;">18. Qb3</span><br /><br />I spent way too much time playing this natural move, perhaps because I was frustrated that black had counterplay. The computer suggests the move 18. Qc2 as the road to advantage, which to me looked odd but actually is quite interesting as it stops a piece from coming to f6.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">18...Bf6 19. Bc3 Qb6 20. Nd2 </span><br /><br />Apparently the retreat 20. Qd1! is the only way to make progress, as black's queen is slightly misplaced on b6. If e4, Nd4. This would have a been a cool solution to the problems of the pin on my queen and e4<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">20... axb4 </span><br /><br />My idea was 20... e4 21. Bxf6 Nxf6 22. c5<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">21. axb4 e4 22. Bxf6 Rxf6 23. Rab1 Ne5</span><br /><br /></diagram></diagram><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttBkIzrPoZ-IO3vjCLuQhQ9sn_yUPRCmuKBtM0TOLIykXmirrbQk9brk1koL6_PXvUQJ-TbmyvxBTSjQf82Ly1eZUMXikUQgoRAMnVI1POJi9PwLfaVnU-0jPUoC2cn2l-W_VhpeuTzhT/s1600/Shen_after23B.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttBkIzrPoZ-IO3vjCLuQhQ9sn_yUPRCmuKBtM0TOLIykXmirrbQk9brk1koL6_PXvUQJ-TbmyvxBTSjQf82Ly1eZUMXikUQgoRAMnVI1POJi9PwLfaVnU-0jPUoC2cn2l-W_VhpeuTzhT/s320/Shen_after23B.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512157748008301250" border="0" /></a><diagram><diagram><diagram><span style="font-weight: bold;">24. Qc3</span><br /><br />I was happy with this move. This is a position with not much going on, and so strategical maneuvering begins. My idea is c5, and I simply wait to see what black will do.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">24...Qc7 25. Qe3</span><br /><br />Now I gain the diagonal, but more importantly the d4 square for my queen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">25...Qf7 26. Kh1</span><br /><br />I'm not sure how to assess this move, but I wanted to see what he would do. If he commited with Qh5, I would be free to break on the queenside, and I believed that with only 3 pieces he could not stir up much of an attack<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">26...Qh5 27. Rb3 </span><br /><br />Multipurpose: I protect h3 and the kingside, while at the same time may double on the c-file in the future.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">27...Qh4 28. Kg1 </span><br /><br />...Ng4 ideas were scaring me.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">28...Rg6 29. Rc1 Nc7 30. Qd4</span><br /><br />Around here we were both down to about 5 minutes, but I thought that my position was easier to play. His c7 knight is clumsy, and my plan of c5 is simple. The computer says equal, but under the circumstances white should be preferred.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">30...Ne8 </span><br /><br />It seems natural to try and get the knight into play, but now white's q-side initiative gives him a large advantage.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">31. c5 Nf6</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 32. Rbc3<br /></span></diagram></diagram></diagram><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKVRhLH91AqM_-V_XuXEMjGXsVZ3DWR7lMKzP3dbJ01yneux7QwGQmatBYouKwZ6AxENvbYX3Hbe1UeAzBG9JFkvYgHHbRXZaYugasGq0tu2vBrQ1E2MYfR3wCBFNSFGm5VdDGKbbjK2F/s1600/Shen_after14B.png"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaR72Zx5SJwP3bHDddMO7UvtL_DVM2xsAoG4SzPtAEXsJwxAP-4Ht6b4chQvwQA-OluDsU108jyXopTQzd7FBYPzmv1TkyDgbWRsNbvnfJap-6IyKz8N51kdSWZLTmrYZy4HPYIrEOD1ku/s1600/Shen_after32W.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaR72Zx5SJwP3bHDddMO7UvtL_DVM2xsAoG4SzPtAEXsJwxAP-4Ht6b4chQvwQA-OluDsU108jyXopTQzd7FBYPzmv1TkyDgbWRsNbvnfJap-6IyKz8N51kdSWZLTmrYZy4HPYIrEOD1ku/s320/Shen_after32W.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512157757652266786" border="0" /></a><diagram><diagram><diagram><span style="font-weight: bold;">32...Ra8? </span><br /><diagram><br />The losing mistake in time pressure. 32... Nh5 was necessary to quickly create threats with Nf4.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">33. c6 Kh7<br /><br /></span></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77leSplffGJHmu9OktS7HYdWT0u6cuYGHoH5WYSMe0P9imAK-WQLnipslQ30Hir8TObjhCMtwcZ-BIGdqz-V1Bvv7YMCmigcKBWO3FCNsc6ftzbOhBistXx-znQX-wFHfanax_mMElIM_/s1600/Shen_after33B.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77leSplffGJHmu9OktS7HYdWT0u6cuYGHoH5WYSMe0P9imAK-WQLnipslQ30Hir8TObjhCMtwcZ-BIGdqz-V1Bvv7YMCmigcKBWO3FCNsc6ftzbOhBistXx-znQX-wFHfanax_mMElIM_/s320/Shen_after33B.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512157759952232834" border="0" /></a><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><span style="font-weight: bold;">34. c7</span><br /><br /><diagram>Call me a coward, but with a couple minutes left I didn't want my queen to go too far<br />away. For example, 34. cxb7 Rb8 35. Qa7 Nfd7 36. Ra3!! followed by Rc8. The a-rook is<br />needed to guard against e3} (36. Rc8? e3!! 37. Qxe3 Rxb7) Note that 34. b5 is also<br />better than c7.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">34... Rc8 35. b5</span><br /><br />With the idea of b6 Ba6.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">35...b6!</span><br /><br />A good practical try in time pressure. Taking the b-pawn wins, but decided on a "safer" option.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">36. Ra1?! Nfd7</span><br /><br />Oops. he wants to bring a knight to c5.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">37. Ra7 Nc5? </span><br /><br />Instead, 37... Qe7 should hold.<br /><br /><diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0KIiQyOIL6iwNs-lCTupYQxUHSPKi-m6nb25Gxmq3jRRMgtD-07OQvFpRW2Ei5BOjVTj7EylXoxM2Ma15DB4jf5QT1DVPWX4xetjwqcjQ1_37aqGZAvTjbatopC0o7zojuPvUhyphenhyphenVkaxZ/s1600/Shen_after37B.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0KIiQyOIL6iwNs-lCTupYQxUHSPKi-m6nb25Gxmq3jRRMgtD-07OQvFpRW2Ei5BOjVTj7EylXoxM2Ma15DB4jf5QT1DVPWX4xetjwqcjQ1_37aqGZAvTjbatopC0o7zojuPvUhyphenhyphenVkaxZ/s320/Shen_after37B.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512158351179964226" border="0" /></a><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><span style="font-weight: bold;">38. Rxc5!</span><br /><br />Forced, but good.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">38...bxc5 39. Qe3 Nd7 40. Nc4 Qe7 41. Qb3 f4 42. b6 e3</span><br /><br />With both our clocks running low, this move, though objectively bad, is scary.<br /><br /><diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj851vrkEBIOehy-dZ2JT8NT2rTaTLhRf5dxDK_FRHMfk7u0Qhl1oY0PGdqLPV1mZgZ9m7a1e9_72HQCVFgLbB8R0ea5Q4d-4F9QRd_yZL3KlqmFRfuaMco6i1RkTCnsne9UudWyox71R30/s1600/shen43W.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj851vrkEBIOehy-dZ2JT8NT2rTaTLhRf5dxDK_FRHMfk7u0Qhl1oY0PGdqLPV1mZgZ9m7a1e9_72HQCVFgLbB8R0ea5Q4d-4F9QRd_yZL3KlqmFRfuaMco6i1RkTCnsne9UudWyox71R30/s320/shen43W.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512154621042504754" border="0" /></a><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><span style="font-weight: bold;">43. Bd3? </span><br /><br />Instead, 43. fxe3! fxe3 44. Qxe3 Qxe3+ 45. Nxe3 Nxb6 46. Bd3<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">43... e2 44. Bxg6+ Kh8<br /><br /></span><diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozM2r83Ed_NjeyS4x119kRQ-d1lgNF-Bo1MCz-OzzhShNF_f3dswWD1kZk0LxFed3n60TfbYp1vXScW_Bc_xA4v8zJ_xbpNO0A_cdXYen5_i_AcXJj3SPFPAXLiJcDTkoyZ9p1i9F5oj8/s1600/shen45W.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozM2r83Ed_NjeyS4x119kRQ-d1lgNF-Bo1MCz-OzzhShNF_f3dswWD1kZk0LxFed3n60TfbYp1vXScW_Bc_xA4v8zJ_xbpNO0A_cdXYen5_i_AcXJj3SPFPAXLiJcDTkoyZ9p1i9F5oj8/s320/shen45W.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512152613258849922" border="0" /></a><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><span style="font-weight: bold;">45. Ra1 </span><br /><br />Of course I saw 45. b7!, and of course I considered it. But with a minute on the clock I was seized with the fear of...I don't know... two queens for my opponent? Forgive me, but I didn't want to allow him two queens, lose, and have my teammates kick me. (45...e1=Q+ 46. Kh2 Rf8 47. Qf3!!)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">45... e1=Q+ 46. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 47. Kh2 Nxb6<br /><br /></span><diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7nvpQWpowuNcA6hRu6Z9EuGTYMeJ4fTf8ZWcs-1qWtXXW1uu6pWmm0nPuMPdy2ZxNSiaTV8nr7Tu5YQa32fJWk5MC0qu3JIxQn0e9Y_bOkq-zLhyphenhyphencbEBWPN7IyDlBPDz0U5bmTTQMfA9/s1600/shen48W.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7nvpQWpowuNcA6hRu6Z9EuGTYMeJ4fTf8ZWcs-1qWtXXW1uu6pWmm0nPuMPdy2ZxNSiaTV8nr7Tu5YQa32fJWk5MC0qu3JIxQn0e9Y_bOkq-zLhyphenhyphencbEBWPN7IyDlBPDz0U5bmTTQMfA9/s320/shen48W.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512152617389046434" border="0" /></a><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><span style="font-weight: bold;">48. Nxd6?! </span><br /><br />Winning immediately was 48. Nxb6! Rxc7 49. Qa4!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">48... Qxf2 49. Nxc8 Nxc8 50. Bf5 c4 51. Qc3 </span><br /><br />Um... 51. Qa3! Eeek!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">51... f3!</span><br /><br /><diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAALC26wmp8ZRF9Z9R3b2odr4U32Hz-tuUoBj7yabOctot2VBhPRQWLcFmspXt1O43uHD6Lr-WVgtdD4Fa45t7dKF6mzK2wbYIebyDKHK4azdKU_FeAFVafK8EJMpf6IGtQlmtdVFHcNOn/s1600/shen52W.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAALC26wmp8ZRF9Z9R3b2odr4U32Hz-tuUoBj7yabOctot2VBhPRQWLcFmspXt1O43uHD6Lr-WVgtdD4Fa45t7dKF6mzK2wbYIebyDKHK4azdKU_FeAFVafK8EJMpf6IGtQlmtdVFHcNOn/s320/shen52W.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512152625903622114" border="0" /></a><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram>One last trick in time trouble.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">52. Qxf3 Qc5 53. Qf4 Nb6 </span><br /><br />Or, 53... Nd6 54. Bg6 Kg8 55. c8=Q+<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">54. d6 Nd5 55. Qe5 </span><br /><br /><diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdj8iPWxy5NfURQ25grU4-ZqdiC28WCPlHnmAd_OxMiLV3oAjR5nhEpEZFmebKPwxh9B2pn0HFKTBlsbJTZenv7oZ4lnaioMMeDQa1WHwsA8-VYQnlt5RSF2_hkhjYOgeudrkYSX8Vh2ws/s1600/shen45B.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdj8iPWxy5NfURQ25grU4-ZqdiC28WCPlHnmAd_OxMiLV3oAjR5nhEpEZFmebKPwxh9B2pn0HFKTBlsbJTZenv7oZ4lnaioMMeDQa1WHwsA8-VYQnlt5RSF2_hkhjYOgeudrkYSX8Vh2ws/s320/shen45B.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512152634878529490" border="0" /></a><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><diagram><span style="font-weight: bold;">1-0</span><br /><br /><br /></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram></diagram>NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-35301852761718996952010-08-17T03:23:00.000-07:002010-08-18T20:44:32.840-07:00Knockouts Roster 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRciISZarM1w0gbg-aeftILo8GMnmG13R2jzTJxGQhULYnWMJEe-PwRe3nKaA8kvwm-r-0sPfNisDii-0dNjw_U-rH86-SheGWChIDQVoUUo7cliIAa_-EkvmYoKiaAIfX3OMNOtzYVwAn/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRciISZarM1w0gbg-aeftILo8GMnmG13R2jzTJxGQhULYnWMJEe-PwRe3nKaA8kvwm-r-0sPfNisDii-0dNjw_U-rH86-SheGWChIDQVoUUo7cliIAa_-EkvmYoKiaAIfX3OMNOtzYVwAn/s400/002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506326589502127202" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">KNOCKOUTS KNEWS</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">by Robert N. Bernard, NJKO Manager</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Facebook: </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Jersey-Knockouts/129446521636">New Jersey Knockouts</a></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Twitter: </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://twitter.com/njknockouts">NJKnockouts</a></span><br /></div><br />The New Jersey Knockouts are getting prepared for their fourth season in the <a href="http://www.uschessleague.com/">United States Chess League</a>. Last year, the NJKOs had the best regular season record in the USCL, but were vanquished in the divisional final by the eventual USCL champion, the New York Knights.<br /><br />This year, the Knockouts have returned with many of the same players as last year, and a new face. GM Joel "<span id="result_box" class="short_text"><span style="" title="">Señor </span></span>Sombrero" Benjamin (pictured at right), captain and founder of the Knockouts, once again leads the team on the top board. GM Boris "The Incredible Gulk" Gulko, hopes to continue his streak of eight straight USCL wins on Board 2, which made him a USCL Board 2 All-Star last year.<br /><br />IM Dean "501" Ippolito, also a 2009 USCL Board 2 All-Star, returns to the team as well, despite preparing for his <a href="http://deanofchess.com/?page_id=173">world record simultaneous exhibition attempt</a> in November. Newly minted IM Mackensie "Big Mac" Molner will capitalize on all his recent tournament successes to take down the Knockouts' opposition.<br /><br />Also returning are FM Victor "No Longer Eligible for U-2400" Shen, who won the U-2400 section of the World Open this year, and IM Albert "Dr. Theory" Kapengut who returns after his two victories last season.<br /><br />The team's rookie, FM Gregory "The Fridge" Markzon, will fill a valuable hole in the team's roster, filling the mid-2200 range. FM Arthur "Bro-Bro" Shen, returns as a formidable fourth board.<br /><br />Finally, we have Sean "Dorsal" Finn, last year's late season replacement, returning to more success. And, finally, Anna "Gonna Drop You To The" Matlin, will anchor the final position.<br /><br />Currently three of the Knockouts, Victor Shen, Arthur Shen, and Anna Matlin are competing in the North American Youth Championships, for which you can see up to the minute results by clicking here. Anna has all but sewn up her division (Girls Under 16) already, and the Shen brothers are in contention for the top prizes in their divisions as well.<br /><br />Stay tuned for more Knockouts' Knews!NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-77665572024336374632010-07-22T17:33:00.000-07:002010-07-22T17:39:27.528-07:00NJ Knockouts 2010 SeasonThe 2010 season schedule for the Knockouts has been posted. You can see it on the <a href="http://www.uschessleague.com/">USCL</a> website <a href="http://www.uschessleague.com/NewJerseySchedule.html">here</a>, or you can simply read the summary below...<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><big><big><big><big><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></big></big></big></big><big><big><big><big><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><small><small><small><small><br /></small></small></small></small></span></big></big></big></big> <table style="text-align: left; width: 320px; height: 310px;" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top; font-weight: bold;">Day<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top; font-weight: bold;">Date<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top; font-weight: bold;">Color<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top; font-weight: bold;">Opponent<br /> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">Mon<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">8/23<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">Black<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">Philadelphia Inventors </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">Mon<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">8/30<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">White<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">New York Knights </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">Wed<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">9/8<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">Black </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">New England Nor'easters </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">Wed<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">9/15<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">White </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">Carolina Cobras </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">Wed<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">9/22<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">White </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">Boston Blitz<br /> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">Wed<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">9/29<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">Black </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">Seattle Sluggers</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">Wed<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">10/6<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">Black </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">Boston Blitz </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">Mon<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">10/11<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">White </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">Manhattan Applesauce </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">Mon<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">10/18<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">Black </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">New York Knights </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">Mon<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">10/25<br /> </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">White </td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">Baltimore Kingfishers</td> </tr> </tbody> </table><br />Get ready for another season where the pummeling starts!NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-72822313645912238962009-11-22T00:36:00.000-08:002009-11-22T00:48:26.460-08:00Knockouts' Season Ends with loss to Knights<span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:78%;">by Joseph Criscuolo</span><br /></span><div style="margin: 1ex; font-family: verdana;"><div> <p><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihX50hyYPK9q-R6oCUzLm73Dll4GTzk4cTF85U0S3TDi42_hqEvc3VSAaM_qLQVZoW2gtBgFmfj9sBBlkCG_4lkb3m4oaQKQ_Fvcz00CqCy0m96vzSG5npTsnskktBznmNehtALwtW1_Gt/s1600/EastNJKO.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihX50hyYPK9q-R6oCUzLm73Dll4GTzk4cTF85U0S3TDi42_hqEvc3VSAaM_qLQVZoW2gtBgFmfj9sBBlkCG_4lkb3m4oaQKQ_Fvcz00CqCy0m96vzSG5npTsnskktBznmNehtALwtW1_Gt/s400/EastNJKO.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406846693276590034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">In a breakthrough season, the New Jersey Knockouts were two points away from making the US Chess League Finals, but unfortunately they fell short. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Despite having the best record in the league during the regular season, the</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Knockouts fell to the New York Knights by a score of 2.5-1.5, a worthy team that the week before, defeated the second place Boston Blitz by the same score. The Knights will play the Miami Sharks in the US Chess League finals. The Knockouts' match was close the entire time, ending with three draws and one decisive game. The Knights' Yaacov Norowitz was the difference maker, as he defeated Sean Finn on board four. Certainly this match was another chapter in a short but exciting rivalry between the two teams, and one that should be exciting to follow for years to come.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">On board one, it appeared that Joel Benjamin would earn his first win this year against Giorgi Kacheishvili but that would not be the case. Joel Benjamin was up by a pawn on move 55, but Kacheishvili would find a combination that would allow him to win an exchange and a pawn. The two players would then play on into a drawn endgame, something that would be costly at the end for the Knockouts.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">On board two Dean Ippolito would end up drawing Pascal Charbonneau in a game that was unbalanced from early on. At move 19, Ippolito had a queen, two rooks, bishop, and five pawns against Charbonneau’s two rooks, two bishops, knight, and seven pawns. By move 44, it appeared that Charbonneau was clearly winning but Ippolito found a draw, a draw that Charbonneau happily accepted in what would help determine the match for the Knights.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Mackenzie Molner had a lot of chances to make this a 2-2 match with a board three win against Matt Herman, but time trouble was potentially the difference in this game. Molner managed to earn a pawn on move 10, one that would evaporate 5 moves later on move 15. The clock was not friendly to Molner as seen on move 17, when Herman owned 1:27:20 of clock while Molner just had 18:35 on his clock. As the game progressed the game became more and more equal and the two played to a draw.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Sean Finn had a tough challenge to make on board four, playing against Yaacov Norowitz, possibly the most dangerous player on board four. Move 22 was the defining move, one that would allow Norowitz to gain an important pawn, after Finn took Norowitz’s bishop, Norowitz would take the pawn with his bishop attacking the queen allowing for him to take Finn’s knight and become the hero of the match as he would checkmate Finn after thirty eight moves.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;">The Knockouts had never made the playoffs in their history, and despite their league-best record, the loss was a heartbreaker. Still, building on the success of this season should place the Knockouts as an elite team in the US Chess League for years to come.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> </div> </div>NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-56093078448901365112009-11-16T21:42:00.000-08:002009-11-16T22:03:18.332-08:00Knock, Knock, Knockouts on Final's Door<span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:78%;">by Joseph Criscuolo</span><br /></span><div style="margin: 1ex;"> <div> <p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSgpYG2o_RRifnmTx9CVIrrdaOK_HBZBZkJkuv97haz4HaLjh2I8A7QPj9DrDNFq9cQKaFqpnmFbCW7zKg3xjTfXwCXa1bPIYvV9tPKx4G1e6LumZOPGCIq8SizKpuS1zHtSHtHoZu11P/s1600/three_strikes.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSgpYG2o_RRifnmTx9CVIrrdaOK_HBZBZkJkuv97haz4HaLjh2I8A7QPj9DrDNFq9cQKaFqpnmFbCW7zKg3xjTfXwCXa1bPIYvV9tPKx4G1e6LumZOPGCIq8SizKpuS1zHtSHtHoZu11P/s400/three_strikes.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404948881479490642" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;">The New Jersey began their quest for the US Chess League Championship with a big win over the Baltimore Kingfishers last week. Now, they must defeat the New York Knights for the third straight time this se</span><span style="font-size:100%;">ason in order to face the surprising Western Conference Champion Miami Sharks, who defeated the San Francisco Mechanics.<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The Knockouts won both battles between themselves and the Knights, New York Knights is a team that's better than their marginally winning record. The Knockouts </span><span style="font-size:100%;">chose White on first board and </span><span style="font-size:100%;">will field the exact same lineup that led them to their decisive 3-1 victory against Baltimore. The lineup features GM Joel Benjamin, IM Dean Ippolito, Mackenzie Molner, and Sean Finn. The New York Knights do the same, bringing the same lineup that upset the Boston Blitz in the first round. Their lineup is GM Giorgi Kacheishvili, GM Pascal Charbonneau, Matt Herman, and Yaacov Norowitz. The Knockouts own draw odds for this match, meaning that all the Knockouts need are two points to make their first championship appearance, against Miami Sharks. While the championship is nice, the Knockouts must concentrate on this match first to prevent a letdown. This game will be played at 7:00 PM ET on Wednesday November 18, with the time control of game 90 with 30 seconds increments after each move. </span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">On board one we see a matchup that already resulted in two draws this season, GM Joel Benjamin playing as white against GM Giorgi Kacheishvili. In the two matchups between the GMs this year, they were all even, though Joel Benjamin probably could have won the second game between the two GMs.</span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Board two features a matchup that was played the first game of the week of the season, IM Dean Ippolito ( plays as black against GM Pascal Charbonneau. In that game, Ippolito won the USCL Game of the Week prize, weaving a two knights versus pawn mating net against the former Canadian Champion. This type of win is something that may be easy for a player of Ippolito’s caliber, but certainly not one of the easier for those who enjoy this game.</span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">On board three, Mackenzie Molner faces off as white against Matt Herman. The two have met earlier this season, with Mackenzie Molner earning the win in what would be one of two wins for the Knockouts help that decided the match for New Jerseys fourth consecutive win.</span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">On board four, Sean Finn has the dark pieces and will try to beat Yaacov Norowitz. While ratings alone favor Norowitz, Finn’s two wins this season have both come against players with higher ratings, he has defeated WGM Jennifer Shahade for his first ever US Chess League win and earned his first playoff win against WIM Tsagaan Batsettseg.</span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This game can be seen at the Internet Chess Club (ICC) Wednesday November 18th at 7:00 PM. Change of schedule changed the Western Championship game to Monday so this will be the only game of the night for what has been an exciting season. Watch along as a new Eastern Division Champion will be crowned on this historic night!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> </div> </div>NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-47355089133697189832009-11-10T18:17:00.001-08:002009-11-10T19:42:00.972-08:00Knockouts Win and Draw in Quarterfinal<span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />by Robert N. Bernard</span></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />The New Jersey Knockouts defeated the Baltimore Kingfishers on Monday night by a score of 3-1, in United States Chess League playoff action. With the win, New Jersey advanced to the Eastern conference finals, where they will play the New York Knights, who defeated the Boston Blitz 2.5-1.5. New Jersey won on boards one and four, and held Baltimore to draws on boards two and three. </span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">(GM Joel Benjamin, pictured below)</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKrS1p1MECvdbmlcy9V_B94gNb3bZHy7XrxXGUMu4wAdhZbC-Mw9HuPjui7lAzB2A5LjWTpomGXW4Hf7xX3dBQ_5VQa05iePfhL8AB2ysZp8tHg56Q6iBQVjy0HHhjflmeHHCn97SN_x7/s1600-h/002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKrS1p1MECvdbmlcy9V_B94gNb3bZHy7XrxXGUMu4wAdhZbC-Mw9HuPjui7lAzB2A5LjWTpomGXW4Hf7xX3dBQ_5VQa05iePfhL8AB2ysZp8tHg56Q6iBQVjy0HHhjflmeHHCn97SN_x7/s400/002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402682365933207474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">The match was closer than the 3-1 score might indicate. Because of a better regular season record, New Jersey had draw-odds, meaning that a drawn match (2-2) would count as a New Jersey win. Three of the boards had sharp, double-edged positions that could have gone either way with a misstep by one player or the other. Baltimore, which had won the USCL Championship in 2005, was hoping to get back the the playoffs, which had eluded the Kingfishers for the last few years. They put up a valiant fight, but in the end, the Knockouts' sharp and aggressive play proved to be a gamble that paid off with a handsome victory.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcTuIYFeNaUeOJV8AsMwRNy-ezxt8fqJv8eHgiouJzcwfsErKzk0FleBly9ma5dESMxtqVehfznLGSf8z0zukYk2-7apCShLgTPlw0CDAComS8krnLQwQUuh7imiTxA38_iFzVMkRchSq/s1600-h/007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcTuIYFeNaUeOJV8AsMwRNy-ezxt8fqJv8eHgiouJzcwfsErKzk0FleBly9ma5dESMxtqVehfznLGSf8z0zukYk2-7apCShLgTPlw0CDAComS8krnLQwQUuh7imiTxA38_iFzVMkRchSq/s400/007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402682371401758162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Board Two, which had </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.uschessleague.com/games/enkhbatippolito09.htm">IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat as White against the Knockouts' IM Dean Ippolito</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">, <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">(pictured above)</span> </span>was the only tame affair of the evening. In a Slav Defense, an early queen exchange and several other trades led to an early endgame, with Enkbhat's bishop and rook against Ippolito's knight and rook. After the minors were traded, a repetition in a drawn rook endgame seemed to be a logical conclusion. Ippolito commented after the game that a draw with Black in a match with draw odds is a favorable result.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYnjLC5ALlzFKM0cpbUw8MlsIbIHawG5eE67XCtvgI2TAkfk0i08-BVAewLv9S-DWDTtyoGuMv6NSH2-Rh1NiZdm9dvtZXqFONDnjU1g96V6XeBPbBgV5oi3gzpJCtsKcVWlekDl4pcRv/s1600-h/020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYnjLC5ALlzFKM0cpbUw8MlsIbIHawG5eE67XCtvgI2TAkfk0i08-BVAewLv9S-DWDTtyoGuMv6NSH2-Rh1NiZdm9dvtZXqFONDnjU1g96V6XeBPbBgV5oi3gzpJCtsKcVWlekDl4pcRv/s400/020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402682373537410450" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Board Four saw </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.uschessleague.com/games/battsetsegfinn09.htm">WIM Tsagaan Battsetseg as White against Sean Finn</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(pictured above)</span></span> of New Jersey. Finn brought out a King's Indian Defense, and while Finn opened up lines on the queenside, Battsetseg countered with a pawn rush on the kingside. Finn played the speculative and quite possibly unsound exchange sacrifice 24...Rxa4, but was rewarded when his opponent blundered in time pressure, and allowed 28...Nxd5. From then, Finn won back the exchange, had some extra pawns, consolidated, was vigilant for any perpetuals, and brought home the win.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">At this point, the score was 1.5-0.5 for New Jersey, and the Knockouts just need to score a draw in one of the final two games.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />On Board Three, the Knockouts' </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.uschessleague.com/games/molneruesugi09.htm">Mac Molner was on the white side of a Sveshnikov Sicilian against FM Shinsaku Uesugi</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">. The game followed known theory for a while. Molner showed signs of an attack, but queenside counterplay foiled his efforts. Molner fought valiantly until the endgame, when Uesugi was a pawn up in a rook and opposite colored bishop endgame. Uesugi allowed the exchange of rooks, which turned a possible slight advantage into a pawn up, but drawn position. When Uesugi realized that there was no point in paying further, he offered a draw, which Molner accepted and clinched the match for New Jersey.</span> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >(Sean Finn and Mac Molner </span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">rejoice in the thrill of victory, below.)</span></span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7G09TqCg8rcbMO8BvFABHX_T4OWCtdt0NmOkg9_qhM2MO1eH9JUdDw_deWMqyST-pSHrpKTc7UFSU-lXq9-dcwfK8MYcn70y0XICo1KlT0gjBwWtlrCWdeUhogQ7J9PJGNq3xoYKxX-_9/s1600-h/024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7G09TqCg8rcbMO8BvFABHX_T4OWCtdt0NmOkg9_qhM2MO1eH9JUdDw_deWMqyST-pSHrpKTc7UFSU-lXq9-dcwfK8MYcn70y0XICo1KlT0gjBwWtlrCWdeUhogQ7J9PJGNq3xoYKxX-_9/s400/024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402682386755346338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">On Board One, the </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.uschessleague.com/games/benjaminerenburg09.htm">game between GM Joel Benjamin as White and GM Sergey Erenburg</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> was an exciting and interesting affair. Benjamin trotted out the Spanish Four Knights when he encountered Erenbug's unusual looking 4...Bd6. Of course, as everyone knows, </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.newinchess.com/Shop/Images/PDFs/01SOS_Bosch%20deel%201%2040-42.pdf">this move has been discussed</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> in the inaugural volume of Secrets of Opening Surprises as "Solokov's Surprise". Benjamin tossed out the aggressive, but thematic 8. g4, which he mentioned after the game is an idea in these types of positions. Benjamin has a vicious attack going, but low on time, and keeping his eye on the other games, simplified to an approximately equal position. While the other players were celebrating New Jersey's victory, Benjamin walked Erenburg's king to the queenside, wove a mating net, and eventually Erenburg had to concede after losing some material.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The victory was met by joy and celebration throughout the Garden State. Or, at least throughout the Garden State Parkwa<span style="font-family: verdana;">y.</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >(Dean Ippolito and Joel Benjamin</span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"> celebrate the big win, below.)</span><br /></span><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcY5h2cQSolIAFlXz46df8baR0HGnuCmJ1CryXjJZSlxRL5EnN1PnuTu_yDl3avWkfUkmJxOCTwsU5RNu5oVjgoXYyWe4IsX9d5ib-piGIMlEj8RGI_u21Ehyudeb4tsyd30MWcEy27wC/s1600-h/022.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcY5h2cQSolIAFlXz46df8baR0HGnuCmJ1CryXjJZSlxRL5EnN1PnuTu_yDl3avWkfUkmJxOCTwsU5RNu5oVjgoXYyWe4IsX9d5ib-piGIMlEj8RGI_u21Ehyudeb4tsyd30MWcEy27wC/s400/022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402682379619490770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">The lineups for the Eastern Conference Championship -- the Battle of the Hudson -- will be posted on Sunday evening. New Jersey will have the White pieces on boards 1 and 3. This blog will have a preview of the match early next week.</span>NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-91796542289880496042009-11-09T04:00:00.000-08:002009-11-09T04:33:33.859-08:00First Round Playoffs: Knockouts Look to Piscatorially Dethrone Kingfishers<span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">by Joseph Criscuolo</span></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNL0gJ6q3dl_zQAwePdRPUO2Rb8-I1Ou_CS0EtVBcc_JynBvMl0R4o1zgJwdH28UQKBKj0tgxXMs19Bx5T5ZMml_Y82sUm8_h19tl1REVGQq-77vC_LG7OPhcSj7jmOttP_j3Ltfjvr7OY/s1600-h/KingFisher.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNL0gJ6q3dl_zQAwePdRPUO2Rb8-I1Ou_CS0EtVBcc_JynBvMl0R4o1zgJwdH28UQKBKj0tgxXMs19Bx5T5ZMml_Y82sUm8_h19tl1REVGQq-77vC_LG7OPhcSj7jmOttP_j3Ltfjvr7OY/s400/KingFisher.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402078673677492530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">The New Jersey Knockouts enter their first playoff game in team history in a great position to contend for a US Chess League Championship. To get there, they must first concentrate on defeating the Baltimore Kingfishers. By virtue of finishing first, the Knockouts own draw odds and thus a score of 2-2 will be good enough to advance to the Eastern Division finals. The Knockouts defeated the Kingfishers in Week 7 by a score of 3.5-0.5, but both lineups in this match definitely have a different look to them. For the Knockouts they feature a lineup of Joel Benjamin, Dean Ippolito, Mackenzie Molner, and Sean Finn against a Baltimore Kingfishers' lineup of Sergey Erenburg, Tegshsuren Enkhbat, Shinsaku Uesugi, and Tsagaan Battsetseg. The Knockouts will own white on boards one and three, and black on boards two and four. If Knockouts can stay consistent with history they have a good shot at winning, the Knockouts own the record against the two teams with a record of 3.5-1.5.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">GM Joel Benjamin makes his USCL playoffs debut as white against GM Sergey Erenburg on board one. Joel Benjamin had a huge season for the Knockouts earning five out of nine points in nine games with three wins, four draws, and only two losses. The two grandmasters met two times last season with Sergey Erenburg winning both of those matchups. Sergey Erenburg is undefeated in five games with two wins and three draws.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />On board two is IM Dean Ippolito facing off as black against IM </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Tegshsuren Enkhbat</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">. Dean Ippoltio had a huge regular season, in five games he won three, drew one, and only lost once. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Tegshsuren Enkhbat</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">’s season has featured him earning points in six out of seven games, with five draws and one win, with one of those draws coming against Knockouts top board Joel Benjamin. The two international masters have met twice, in 2008 and 2007 with Dean Ippolito winning both of these matches for the Knockouts.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />SM Mackenzie Molner plays as white on board three against FM Shinsaku Uesugi. These two have never faced each other before in the US Chess League. Mackenzie Molner played four games this season, earning a win and two draws, and only losing one game. Shinsaku Uesugi earned three out of the team’s six points, with two wins, two draws, and two losses in his first season in the US Chess League. Uesugi lost to the Knockout's IM Albert Kapengut in the New Jersey - Baltimore this year.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Sean Finn faces off against WIM Tsagaan Battsetseg with black on board four. In the short time he’s been a Knockout, Finn has done his job well, earning a win and a draw. Finn’s first win came against WGM Jennifer Shahade in a big upset that helped solidify the Knockouts in the game that clinched the Eastern Division. Tsagaan Battsegseg played two games this year, winning one and losing once.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This match can be seen at the Internet Chess Club as always at 7:15 PM Eastern Time, tonight. Time control will be the traditional game 90 with 30 second increments. The other game affecting the Knockouts as long as the Knockouts win, is the game between the New York Knights and Boston Blitz, with the winner of that match facing the winner of the Knockouts-Kingfishers game. The Boston Blitz will win the match if they draw, as they too have received draw odds. Games in the Western Division can be seen on Wednesday, November 11th.<br /><br /></span><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; text-align: center; font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Knockouts are sponsored by the </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.njscf.org/">New Jersey State Chess Federation</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><a href="http://twitter.com/njknockouts">Follow the Knockouts</a> on Twitter!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Jersey-Knockouts/129446521636">Become a fan of the Knockouts</a> on Facebook!</span><br /><br /></div>NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-90761653089744310032009-11-08T16:43:00.000-08:002009-11-08T16:46:01.200-08:00Benjamin Frankly: GM Joel Previews New Jersey's Playoffs<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:78%;">by GM Joel Benjamin</span><br /><br />The New Jersey Knockouts find itself in an unaccustomed position. We weren’t quite prepared to clinch a playoff spot midway through the season, not after the brutal finishes to our first two seasons. And clinching the Eastern Division title with a round to spare…we kind of had to pinch ourselves after that. So we go into the playoffs with the top seed, giving us draw odds and choice of colors in the opening round. Our opponents, the Baltimore Kingfishers, are a formidable squad with a strong first board and good balance in their lineup. You can throw out the regular season records when you get to the playoffs, a point driven home to me by the Sunday Sports section of the New York Times. They assessed the strength of all 27 World Series Champion Yankee teams, rating the 2000 team as the worst, one of the worst World Series winners in history. That team, which won only 87 games, defeated my beloved Mets in five games. So while we remain confident, we temper our optimism with caution. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lineups are affected by player availability. Probably every team will be kept from its ideal lineup at some point in the playoffs by logistical concerns. Both teams will have one of the two grandmasters on the roster in the match. Sergey Erenburg beat me twice last season, so I will be particularly determined to make a good showing on Monday night. We are going with Dean Ippolito and Mac Molner, two of our core players from the beginning, on two and three. Both of them played a bit less than in the past this year, but will be primed for the playoffs. Our fourth board, Sean Finn, was added to the roster late in the season as insurance for the playoffs. He looked good in two games for us—a draw with David Adelberg of Arizona, and a win over Jennifer Shahade of Philadelphia—so we think he’ll do a good job as well. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">As the top seed, we got choice of colors. We had to choose before we knew their lineup, though they are fielding pretty much what we expected. With some teams, in may be clear on which boards you want the White pieces, but not always. I think the conventional wisdom is to choose White on one and three, on the theory that color makes a bigger difference for higher rated players than lower rated players. That seemed as good a reason as any to choose white on the odd boards. Indeed, New York and Arizona made the same call, with only Seattle choosing Black. I’m not surprised by the Sluggers’ decision, as Nakamura feels he can beat anybody with either color. If I were that good, maybe I would feel the same way. (If we make it through to the final against Seattle, we will have choice of color.) </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Kingfisher trio of Enkhbat, Uesugi, and Battsetseg are not particularly well versed in opening theory, but they are scrappy players who can be strong if they get the right type of position. On paper the teams are pretty even, but only needing to score two points to advance should make us a slight favorite. Hopefully we will be able to “reel in” their kings (or any other Baltimore-themed phrase in Bioniclime style) and advance to the Division finals. </span>NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-81828913136982884302009-11-05T12:06:00.000-08:002009-11-05T18:15:45.529-08:00New Jersey Tops Throughout Playoffs, Despite Being Sacrificed to Queens<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzacwokUa7y8mX0H4ATa83hskQL9OVXSQeUWKwkOVDR1DgFInfNr8QihLtWnpDzGNR21FGFy8sVs03gvzWGxok-dbZSVJRycvCKRHZBgD56OyZ6oR_3tMMh3SfthcOEyb8P6ARQKsG3Is/s1600-h/299.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzacwokUa7y8mX0H4ATa83hskQL9OVXSQeUWKwkOVDR1DgFInfNr8QihLtWnpDzGNR21FGFy8sVs03gvzWGxok-dbZSVJRycvCKRHZBgD56OyZ6oR_3tMMh3SfthcOEyb8P6ARQKsG3Is/s400/299.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400803743918325138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">by Robert N. Bernard</span></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />A new location, flaky internet connections, and lack of donuts all contributed to New Jersey's loss last night to the Queens Pioneers, 3-1. Despite the loss, New Jersey will still be going to the United States Chess League playoffs, facing Baltimore in the first round. New Jersey is the top seed, retaining draw-odds and color choice in the first round, draw-odds in the second round, and color choice in the finals. Queens, on the other hand, will be staying home watching the playoffs on the Internet Chess Club, wishing that the magic they invoked to beat the Knockouts could have been summoned for their other matches.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />The night did not start well for the Knockouts. Because the New Jersey public schools have off Thursday and Friday of this week, the regular playing location, Chapel Hill Academy, was closed for the evening. This necessitated a move to </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.deanofchess.com/">Dean of Chess Academy</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">, a beautiful facility in Branchburg, run by the Knockouts' Dean Ippolito. Dean of Chess is in a new location, having just moved a little over a month ago. That left one of our players lost, as he had gone to the old location first, eventually showing up to the game almost 15 minutes late.<br /><br />Then, while we were setting up, the wireless internet connection that had been working flawlessly for the past month, decided not to work any more. The internet company had (ahem) "repaired" and "improved" the internet connection the previous day, but alas, in NewSpeak, "repaired" now means "broke" and "improved" now means "degraded". So, after some scrambling, we were able to find unsecured wireless to which we connected. The manager of the Knockouts (your writer) was apprehensive that this randomly-selected internet connection had a very good chance of being lost in the middle of the game, and he would have to turn into a relayer. Fortunately, that didn't happen.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />All these set up problems were insignificant, however, to the final issue. There were </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;">no donuts</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> again. There was simply no time to purchase them before the match started, and when substitute donuts arrived around 10:30pm, it was already too late. The Legend of the Deep Fried Tori continues.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />The games did not go much better, either.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksD8nKOTse8IEDHIYvNkzjBtPYBlAu5TT_WNF_vpAze9w7ARCemvRJUG2ZDnqWYh4V-v8zO8kq_vsnYbpfJFowur-0qSvZIJJw-w5j7KaP5QHpH7pXkjVe6KLYrT1RtVx4c1eetcihdnw/s1600-h/303.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 156px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksD8nKOTse8IEDHIYvNkzjBtPYBlAu5TT_WNF_vpAze9w7ARCemvRJUG2ZDnqWYh4V-v8zO8kq_vsnYbpfJFowur-0qSvZIJJw-w5j7KaP5QHpH7pXkjVe6KLYrT1RtVx4c1eetcihdnw/s400/303.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400805196478493570" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">On Board 1, Joel Benjamin took some chances in attacking Stripunsky's king, but a sufficient defense was employed, and Joel came out a couple of pawns down -- the perpetual he sought was as elusive as a unicorn in a pristine glade. He played on until Stripunsky's forced an exchange of queens, and Benjamin was lost.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">On Board 2, Mac Molner (<span style="font-style: italic;">pictured, right</span>) pressed in a tough position against Milman. With Mac low on time, Milman eventually penetrated Mac's position, and Mac was forced to call it a day.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzeGwtrWMu8X8t9OgkQga09vSgp1Kb6vLs10ZQINCFA4ljhaY-3SPRtXl09NOmlc2dDQW5P0wtHCWPWdF6gZIF7ODo689uQsuQZulhSdwM_8CV6S0MDIHoDPqSE4jQvCxTbHV_rHQdNTY/s1600-h/300.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 157px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzeGwtrWMu8X8t9OgkQga09vSgp1Kb6vLs10ZQINCFA4ljhaY-3SPRtXl09NOmlc2dDQW5P0wtHCWPWdF6gZIF7ODo689uQsuQZulhSdwM_8CV6S0MDIHoDPqSE4jQvCxTbHV_rHQdNTY/s400/300.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400803751782005666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">On Board 3, Andrew Ng (<span style="font-style: italic;">pictured, left</span>) whipped up a kingside attack on blogger-extraordinaire, Liz Vicary. At a crucial moment, where he may have been able to solidify his advantage, he blundered, losing a rook to a cute zwischenzug. Shaking his head, and casting his eyes down to his shattered position, he lay down his arms.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9RI3JfezA4Zj3lXnkiXqkI3HCjZ7CQ4ZPJiFIp-uI8rurfpQQWTxC9hygd4rg8kJKeOSCXHHgfVAXIwT6Z0LgvtO3claLmwASjF4zYOI8vixjjirSsccNGdJCQ7RMV2Wk7-haOBhpVeJ/s1600-h/301.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9RI3JfezA4Zj3lXnkiXqkI3HCjZ7CQ4ZPJiFIp-uI8rurfpQQWTxC9hygd4rg8kJKeOSCXHHgfVAXIwT6Z0LgvtO3claLmwASjF4zYOI8vixjjirSsccNGdJCQ7RMV2Wk7-haOBhpVeJ/s400/301.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400806341068084642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">On Board 4, young Arthur Shen (<span style="font-style: italic;">pictured, right</span>) was the bright spot of the night,</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> slowly and deliberately outplaying his opponent Fritz Gaspard. Shen got a little too excited, though, as the pawn being jammed down Gaspard's throat was a little too tempting. Shen pushed the pawn, inexplicably missing that Gaspard could mate him in two moves. The crowd on ICC went wild, including Arthur's brother (the Knockouts' own Victor Shen) whose finger was stuck on the question mark key for what seemed like an eternity. And then, even more</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> inexplicably, Gaspard missed the mate. Shen consolidated, avoided last ditch stalemate tricks, and Gaspard gave up. When the potential mate was verbally pointed out to Arthur after the game, Arthur looked to the ceiling, paused a second, gave an infectious smile, and said, "Boy, was I lucky!"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">That was it for the Knockouts' regular season, as they finished with a record of 8-2, the best in the Eastern division. But it is not over! Tune in to the Internet Chess Club Monday November 9th at 7:15pm to watch New Jersey play Baltimore in the first round of the playoffs.</span>NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-49853286723998964882009-11-03T09:19:00.000-08:002009-11-04T12:13:56.086-08:00Knockouts to Force Queens' Abdication<span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >by Joseph Criscuolo</span><div class="Section1" style="font-family:verdana;"><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Now that the N</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyuELOKLofXyp4cZf6xCYyNrDhLUfOvZof0r97ne_4DaT_V-yMzc-k83dvpbww-3ULdfZkSSJ75LsVMpgGY8w-5p3okGo2kTTZhe-yGNttP2ZmVO2KiK4ow5hjWpFyVOKcL0dx3gn0Ijt/s1600-h/boleyn.PNG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyuELOKLofXyp4cZf6xCYyNrDhLUfOvZof0r97ne_4DaT_V-yMzc-k83dvpbww-3ULdfZkSSJ75LsVMpgGY8w-5p3okGo2kTTZhe-yGNttP2ZmVO2KiK4ow5hjWpFyVOKcL0dx3gn0Ijt/s400/boleyn.PNG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399933534341519442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">ew Jersey Knockouts have won the</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">E</span><span style="font-size:100%;">a</span><span style="font-size:100%;">stern Division Title in the US Ches</span><span style="font-size:100%;">s League, there is one more thing at stake for th</span><span style="font-size:100%;">em, and that is owning the best record league. They can earn this with a great performance against the Queens Pioneers, who themselves have to win big to make it to the US Chess League playoffs. To ow</span><span style="font-size:100%;">n the best record in the league, the Knockouts simply need to clinch, but to own the best record via the first tiebreaker, the Knockouts simply need to get one win out of the four games in this match!<br /></span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The Knockouts will have a change of scenery for this match as they will be playing at the Dean of Chess Academy in Branchburg, New Jersey which is owned by the Knockouts' own Dean Ippolito. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">The Knockouts' regular site,</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Chapel Hill Academy</span><span style="font-size:100%;">, is closed </span><span style="font-size:100%;">this week.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Because of the location change, the match begins at 8:00 PM Eastern on Wednesday November</span><span style="font-size:100%;">. The time control has changed as well, with the game being in 75 minutes with 30 second increments.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> For the season finale Joel Benjamin, Mackenzie Molner, Andrew Ng, and Arthur Shen face off against Alex Stipunsky, Lev Milman, Elizabeth Vicary, and Fritz Gaspard.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Even though everything is set, the Knockouts can't afford a letdown. Even though the Pioneers appear to be the weakest team that still have playoff hopes, losing big to them and being forced to face them again in the first round of the playoffs facing them again would give a huge amount of momentum to Queens.</span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Queens can only make the US Chess League playoffs they must beat the Knockouts</span><span style="font-size:100%;">, while hoping the Baltimore Blitz lose to the Tennessee Tempo and the Philadelphia Inventors lose or draw to the Carolina Cobras. To make that a less likely opportunity for Queens the Tennessee Tempo and Carolina Cobras currently are last place in their division.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> In terms of game points, which are the first tiebreaker, the Queens Pioneers have to earn more points than the Baltimore Kingfishers, who have two more points than them, and the Philadelphia Inventors who only are up by half a game. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"> If Queens wins 4-0 and Baltimore loses 1.5-2.5, Queens would win that tiebreaker over Baltimore by only a half a point. However they also need Philadelphia to lose as well, in the same situation where Queens sweeps and Philadelphia draws, Queens would win the game point tiebreaker as well.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Thus, a sweep seems like the only thing Queens can do to better their chances of making the playoffs. Perhaps if Stripunsky’s mouse didn’t slip in week one, the Pioneers could have gotten a draw that week and be even closer to the playoff picture.</span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">GM Joel Benjamin will have white and face off against GM Alex Stripunsky on board one</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> playing</span><span style="font-size:100%;">. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Benjamin's season has been nothing short of spectacular -- in eight games, he has only lost once. His three wins and four draws made it so that the Knockouts had true support at their first board. His performance has put him fifth in the 2009 MVP Standings with 12 points.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Alex Stripunsky has performed well this season with two wins, one draw, and one loss in four games. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Stripunsky’s</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> lone loss </span><span style="font-size:100%;">came</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> against Larry Christiansen due to an unfortunate mouse slip late in the game.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> In three games between these two players, the two grandmasters have both have won once, drawn once, and lost once. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"> A win will give Joel Benjamin a great case for making the US Chess League All Star team!</span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">SM Mackenzie Molner will be using the black pieces on board two against IM Lev Milman. In the three games Molner has played, he has one win and two draws, with one of the draws being a game where he could have won but decided to go with the draw to </span><span style="font-size:100%;">earn</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> what was most important, a </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Knockout victory</span><span style="font-size:100%;">.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">In Lev Milman’s two games, he has lost both of them against John Donaldson of San Francisco and Gregory Serper of Seattle.</span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Playing as white a</span><span style="font-size:100%;">t board three, Andrew Ng faces off against WFM Elizabeth Vicary. Ng has played two games this season with a win and a loss. His win came in the week eight Boston Massacre, where the Knockouts won by a decisive score of 4-0. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">In her two games, Elizabeth Vicary has lost both of them, one against Tsaagan Battsetseg of Baltimore and the other against Yaacov Norowitz of New York.</span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">On board four is Arthur Shen facing off with the dark pieces against Fritz Gaspard. This is Arthur Shen’s third game of the season, in his previous two games he has lost both matches against opponents that were rated much higher than him, Craig Jones of Carolina and Yaacov Norowitz of New York who was up by at least 200 points in rating.</span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This match can be seen along with six other matches at the Internet Chess Club. Game time is 8:00 PM Eastern time . This looks to be an exciting match as the Knockouts gear up for the playoffs!<br /></span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p></div>NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-4433459105671675772009-10-29T13:45:00.000-07:002009-10-29T14:02:38.664-07:00Philadel-Phiasco! New Jersey Wins and Secures First Place<div style="font-family: verdana;" class="Section1"><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:78%;">by Joseph Criscuolo</span><br /></span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The New Jersey Knockouts have clinched the Eastern Division Title after overwhelming the Philadelphia Inventors a score of 3.5-0.5. The Knockouts' Eastern Division Title was earned once the Boston Blitz failed to defeat the Miami Sharks, with a 2-2 draw. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">The Knockouts dominated the match with wins from Boris Gulko, Victor Shen, and Sean Finn and a draw from the Knockouts' top player, Joel Benjamin.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> The Knockouts currently have the best record in the US Chess League with an 8-1 record, a point ahead of the Western Division leading Seattle Sluggers (7-2)</span><span style="font-size:100%;">.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">New Jersey can break the all-time single season record, held </span><span style="font-size:100%;">by the San Francisco Mechanics at 8.5/10, </span><span style="font-size:100%;">with a win </span><span style="font-size:100%;">in their match </span><span style="font-size:100%;">next week against the Queens Pioneers. Queens will try to beat the Knockouts and hope for a rematch the next week in the US Chess League Playoffs.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> The Knockouts will own the best record in the US Chess League with either a win or draw.</span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">On November 9th, the Knockouts will be slated to play the fourth seed in the Eastern Division, which has not yet been decided. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Three teams are battling for this position, the Baltimore Kingfishers with 3.5 points, the Philadelphia Inventors with 3.0 points, and the Queens Pioneers with 2.5 points. While Baltimore is in the lead, they face the eliminated Tennessee Tempo who definitely could play spoiler and ruin their playoff chances. The Philadelphia Inventors will face the Carolina Cobras and can get in if they can get help from the Tennessee Tempo. The Queens Pioneers are the most unlikely playoff opponent as they trail Baltimore by a point and will need help from Tennessee and Carolina as well as defeat New Jersey.<br /></span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">While owning bragging rights for best team in the East the Knockouts also earned something more important, they will own draw odds for the quarterfinals and semifinals, meaning that if they draw the opponent they will win the round. This is why winning the Eastern Division title is more important. The Knockouts will have color choice in the first round, and if Boston fails to beat New York in the quarterfinals, the Knockouts will own color choice in the Semifinals as well. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">The Knockouts are guaranteed color choice in the champion match if they can win or draw against Queens or if Seattle draws or loses against Chicago.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Joel Benjamin continues on what has been a great season for him with a draw against Sergey Kudrin. In the eight games he has played this year he has only lost one match. The match between the two Grandmasters was relatively short as neither could find an advantage in the 16 moves that they played up until the two agreed with a draw.</span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Boris Gulko continues his domination of the US Chess League as he defeated Tom Bartell for his fifth consecutive win of the season as well as his eighth consecutive win in his perfect US Chess League. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Gulko took advantage of Bartell early as he gained Bartell’s pawn on d5 on move fifteen with his bishop on c3. Bartell attempted a full attack to try to come back to defeat Gulko but in the end it wasn’t enough as Bartell resigned after move twenty t</span><span style="font-size:100%;">hree.</span> </p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMq6jdiqtSWx2WmAYXLoR63ForPXIvvN58KCdLf4smyvDy12G6BK1dt8aimTInZJHpeuBFa3cdmNDCFej6EmLKPAV4gAE1uGC1Bs-7780eFs-T59gP7X8VRUiLyNeRbrZyJZgJ9m5yfqU/s1600-h/shencostigan.PNG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 389px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMq6jdiqtSWx2WmAYXLoR63ForPXIvvN58KCdLf4smyvDy12G6BK1dt8aimTInZJHpeuBFa3cdmNDCFej6EmLKPAV4gAE1uGC1Bs-7780eFs-T59gP7X8VRUiLyNeRbrZyJZgJ9m5yfqU/s400/shencostigan.PNG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398130141580981858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">Victor Shen defeated Richard Costigan in a tight battle that was determined late in the game under time pressure for both sides. On move </span><span style="font-size:100%;">forty one</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Costigan had the opportunity to open up the game with a move such as Qg3 to set up what could be a winning advantage, instead he took a pawn with his Rook and lost his Knight and this eventually became an unbalanced endgame. However Victor Shen set up an attack that overwhelmed Costigan, and after a series of precise moves with his Queen, Rook, and Bishop (in severe time pressure no less), weaved a mating net from which Costigan could not escape.<br /></span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sean Finn magaged to earn his first ever US Chess League win over the 2002 and 2004 U.S. Women's Champion, and much higher rated, Jennifer Shahade</span><span style="font-size:100%;">. Finn went up a pawn on move twenty one with the move exf5</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> after Shahade played f5, the move also weakened the safety of her king as well. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Finn would have a huge attack on Shahade which proved to be decisive as he was up by a Bishop and a pawn after thirty three moves. Shahade resigned after thirty five moves after Finn set up a beautiful attack which was more than the WGM and </span><span style="font-size:100%;">chess </span><span style="font-size:100%;">author could handle.</span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The Knockouts move to 8-1 and will play again next Wednesday in the last game of the season against the Queens Pioneers. Most games in the league has playoff implications, so tune into the Internet Chess Club for all fourteen teams in action!</span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p></div>NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-76622191853475128122009-10-27T20:52:00.000-07:002009-10-27T21:12:52.025-07:00New Jersey Turns Pike on Philadelphia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRBCKeEHRZulZl6zkMFb2LVJvoQyuy6Gx-7mVgkKcyMbiP92WOTCwdA-wJ9Nv9O1c3hqDQiwRvg7ggv5f_NjgaYnKMhUWdre2JqZQ01eBy5sW3V1r8ILEB7N0pVp0LWawZcz26Otz7xc4/s1600-h/benfranklin2.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 370px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRBCKeEHRZulZl6zkMFb2LVJvoQyuy6Gx-7mVgkKcyMbiP92WOTCwdA-wJ9Nv9O1c3hqDQiwRvg7ggv5f_NjgaYnKMhUWdre2JqZQ01eBy5sW3V1r8ILEB7N0pVp0LWawZcz26Otz7xc4/s400/benfranklin2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397498897022270370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:78%;">by Joseph Criscuolo</span><br /></span><div style="font-family: verdana;" class="Section1"><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The New Jersey Kn</span>ockouts look to cap off an excellent season by earning the Eastern Division title in the United States Chess League. If they are to do that, a good idea is to defeat the Philadelphia Inventors this week, who need a win to stay alive in the playoff race. The last time these t</span><span style="font-size:100%;">wo teams met earlier this season, the Knockouts defeated the Inventors by a score of 2.5-1.5 under a strong lineup headed by Joel Benjamin who certainly has to be one of the most important players in the US Chess League.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The Knockouts control their destiny in the East and can clinch first place this week with one of two situations, a Knockouts win combined with a Blitz draw or loss, or a Knockouts draw combined with a Blitz loss. Should one of these happen, the Knockouts will finish first place in the East with the advantage draw odd sand color choice in the first round against the fourth place team in the playoffs.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> This week's matchup features the Knockouts lineup of Joel Benjamin, Boris Gulko, Victor Shen, and Sean Finn against a tough Inventors lineup of Sergey Kudrin, Tom Bartell, Richard Costigan, and Jennifer Shahade.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Time control for this match is game in 90 with 30 second time increments.</span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Board one features a matchup that was seen in week two, this time GM Joel Benjamin will be playing as black against GM Sergey Kudrin. In their first matchup, Joel Benjamin was victorious against Kudrin, in a 2.5-1.5 win for the Knockouts. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Joel Benjamin has </span><span style="font-size:100%;">an</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> undefeated record of 2-1 against Kudrin in the US Chess League.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> In the five games he has played, Kudrin has lost all five, it’s hard to imagine him losing a sixth consecutive game, but it’s also hard to see anything stopping Joel Benjamin whose lone loss came against the Arizona Scorpions.</span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">GM Boris Gulko looks to go for his fifth win of the season with the white pieces against former New Jersey Knockout, FM Tommy Bartell. Last week, Gulko came in second the Game of the Week voting. The game will make Boris Gulko eligible to for the USCL All-Star Team, and with a record like his, he is likely to make it. The Knockouts definitely can look forward to having him in the playoffs.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">With a Benjamin-Gulko one-two punch in the playoffs, the Knockouts certainly give themselves a lineup that is hard to beat.</span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Off of his big win against the Boston Blitz, Victor Shen plays black on board three and looks to win his third game of the season against IM Richard Costigan. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"> In the two games this season, Victor Shen has two wins including his Game of the Week third place in last week’s sweep of the Boston Blitz against Marc Esserman.</span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sean Finn</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> will </span><span style="font-size:100%;">be playing his second US Chess League match at board with the white pieces against WGM Jennifer Shahade. In his first match, Sean Finn managed to draw David Adelberg of the Arizona Scorpions in the only match which the Knockouts have lost this season so far. This is also Jennifer Shahade’s second game of the year, she defeated Jared Defibaugh of the Baltimore Kingfishers last week. Sean Finn will not be hula hooping during the match. No word on Shahade.<br /></span></p><p style="margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This match can be seen online at the Internet Chess Club on Wednesday, October 28 at 7:00 pm Eastern time. It is one of four matches that can be observe</span><span style="font-size:100%;">d that night, which should be an exciting </span><span style="font-size:100%;">night in the US Chess League.</span></p></div>NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-32510690947606574202009-10-19T22:07:00.000-07:002009-10-20T17:29:42.585-07:00Knockouts Massacre Blitz: Boston Cremed, Score a Donut.<span style="font-size:78%;">by Robert N. Bernard</span><br /><br />The scoreboard tells it all.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHqSDm4569-jKhosT0DIj2YoRbqGO_-KOjVFEsQ48HWgV2IMnirO1JuZta3buGWOyNtCtuCN1c6hsSlygxuufPi3j82camEMjZZlF6OzVjhfDLGPX_cxuM9cE59IdPWWxNfuqffc25w4R/s1600-h/008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHqSDm4569-jKhosT0DIj2YoRbqGO_-KOjVFEsQ48HWgV2IMnirO1JuZta3buGWOyNtCtuCN1c6hsSlygxuufPi3j82camEMjZZlF6OzVjhfDLGPX_cxuM9cE59IdPWWxNfuqffc25w4R/s400/008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394543943579706530" border="0" /></a><br />The New Jersey Knockouts dealt a crushing blow to the Boston Blitz in Monday night United States Chess League action, annihilating them on every board, and winning by a clean sweep of 4-0. The Blitz and the Knockouts were tied coming into the evening for first place in the Eastern Division, but this victory relegated Boston to second and vaulted New Jersey to the top. New Jersey now stands at 7-1 and Boston at 6-2.<br /><br />The lineups for the match were questioned by bloggers and pundits from around the league. Why wasn't Joel Benjamin playing first board? Was he scared? Actually he had a prior commitment that evening, which the team knew about in August, so there is no truth to the conspiracy rumors.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhHquDEZakOStnpf8KedR42GTW38SE4UTapiq5JXzaIoTqp6RX66zoXmKowfN2gbvToE5K6lP_JGXKXLZ0foCDSOx90nBs0jdzYfEJMk5XK6UGeC-YNn_jyVZYU79_wARptgUHnnXloL4/s1600-h/002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhHquDEZakOStnpf8KedR42GTW38SE4UTapiq5JXzaIoTqp6RX66zoXmKowfN2gbvToE5K6lP_JGXKXLZ0foCDSOx90nBs0jdzYfEJMk5XK6UGeC-YNn_jyVZYU79_wARptgUHnnXloL4/s400/002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394544748410087282" border="0" /></a>The Knockouts won last week versus Baltimore, more than likely due to the return of the ubiquitous donuts, which went uncharacteristically missing during the team's only loss this year to Arizona. Therefore, to invoke the Caissac deities, and augment the strength of our opponents, we branded the Boston Creme donuts with a red B. Eating the donuts would surely allow us to grok the essence of the Blitz, and propel us to victory.<br /><br />Boy, did it work. But it didn't look good at 6:45pm.<br /><br />I came in the room, and just the arbiter, Mike Somers, was in the room. Where was everyone else? The traffic in New Jersey is usually pretty horrible, but I just drove in from 25 minutes away, and it wasn't that bad. Where is everybody? Was Arby's having a roast beef sale?<br /><br />Finally, Dean arrived carrying a large, heavy box. I wasn't about to speculate what he picked up in the swamps of the Meadowlands before he arrived. The rest of the team soon followed. When Victor arrived, he went into serious study mode. Ah good, I thought, he's booking up on Esserman's pet lines. But the book was a History textbook. Either he's going to crush Esserman, or he's going to be slaughtered like the Union in the pit outside of Petersburg (I think it was an American History textbook, thus the reference).<br /><br />So what could I do to psych us up and inspire the team subconsciously? I know... I could destroy one of the aforementioned donuts.<br /><br />That brings us to the controversial Boston CSI (Boston Creme Smashing Incident). The perpetrator of the elegiac ellipsoidicide, armed only with a hammer and a tube of red decorative incing, prepared the enemy donuts for their destiny. The donuts were tagged with the red Boston B, pictures were taken (see above), and then one unlucky pastry was given a lesson it never forgot, as it was mercilessly pummeled with a hammer. See the video below...<br /><br /><object height="364" width="445"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fnPsDrl6JWs&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fnPsDrl6JWs&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="364" width="445"></embed></object><br /><br />So, what happened in the match?<br /><br />Board two saw Dean Ippolito take the black pieces against the Blitz's manager, Jorge Sammour-Hasbun. Sammour-Hasbun has only played two matches for the Blitz this year so far, but his leadership has given them their stellar record. The Blitz leader played a Catalan, an opening quite familiar to Dean, but usually with white. The game was close throughout, but then took control of the c-file, and aimed at Dean's weak c7-pawn. The only problem was that Sammour Hasbun's bishop had little freedom, stick on a5. Sammour-Hasbun a remarkable speed chess player got in time trouble, and blundered. Ippolito won the trapped bishop, and then proceeded to consolidate his gains. Sammour Hasbun resigned, and it was 1-0 for New Jersey.<br /><br />On Board three, Victor Shen went up against against brand-new International Master Marc Esserman. Shen was outrated about 150 points, but with the white pieces, Shen had a chance. Esserman played a Two Knights Defense, and Shen slowly built up a nice center. The nasty tactic 19. Bxh6 clearly surprised Esserman, and after a number of exchanges, Shen had has passed d-pawn planted firmly on the sixth rank. Esserman, seeing Shen was down on the clock, offered a draw, which Shen completely ignored. Play continued, and revolved around the d-pawn, and low on the clock, Shen calmly maneuvered his pieces until the pawn made it to d7. At that point, Esserman was forced to give up his bishop for the pawn, and after some futile attempts to find a perpetual, Esserman gave up. New Jersey was now up 2-0.<br /><br />Board four, however, did not look promising for the Knockouts. Andrew Ng got in trouble in the opening, and by the 16th move was cramped and passive, with the Blitz's Andrew Wang getting a knight on Ng's sixth rank. That's always a bad sign. Ng searched for counterplay, ended up down a pawn or two, all the while draining his clock of digits. However, Wang never seemed to push his initiative as hard as he needed, and Ng ended up getting a little freedom in his position. It was only a little counterplay, but caused Wang to think. Wang ended up low on his clock, and with both players down to a less than a few minutes, Ng was back in the game, but still down a plethora of pawns. Then, the unthinkable happened. Wang's king was caught in the corner, and Wang blundered, dropping a piece. Then, almost immediately afterward, dropped an exchange. A few moves later, with his pawn approaching the eighth rank, but as helpless and clueless as a lemming's death march, Wang resigned. New Jersey 3-0, and the winner of the match.<br /><br />Last to finish was Boris Gulko on board one, playing white against Eugene Perelshteyn. A topical Slav Defense, with an early a2-a4 by Gulko, led to a complex middlegame. The position was tense throughout the game. Finally, a number of exchanges led to a rook and minor piece endgame that Gulko was nursing a slight advantage. Perelshteyn blundered with 37...g5, which dropped a pawn. That's all Gulko needed -- swap, swap, swap, and a rook and two-pawns versus a rook endgame was enough for Gulko. His impeccable training was on display as he methodically brought home the point. New Jersey 4-0. Brooms all around! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1f-mzkoPy602Y_gk_h8nOu6mw0ycN5rmJgACx0q5gL2imC9Ubep42PXODy0AX4Y0iS4HCIEV7_44uJ6Xj4xhB-XXiNCi1syG6M3JyQ2HCjOF9MpvXUa70r99NFZlFzP0gmLbyTIJq_0lh/s1600-h/005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1f-mzkoPy602Y_gk_h8nOu6mw0ycN5rmJgACx0q5gL2imC9Ubep42PXODy0AX4Y0iS4HCIEV7_44uJ6Xj4xhB-XXiNCi1syG6M3JyQ2HCjOF9MpvXUa70r99NFZlFzP0gmLbyTIJq_0lh/s400/005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394545222389565314" border="0" /></a>After the match, the team was all smiles (photo below, L to R: Ng, Ippolito, Gulko), with the exception of Victor Shen, who had left early to continue reading his history textbook.<br /><br />The next match is on Wednesday, October 28 versus the Philadelphia Inventors, a team that New Jersey beat earlier in the season. It starts at 7:00pm on the Internet Chess Club.<br /><br />You know what? Next week, we are going to get some Philly cheesesteaks, draw a picture of Benjamin Franklin out of Cheez-Whiz and attack it with a garden hoe. That's sure to work too.NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-41479457561465119702009-10-19T16:06:00.000-07:002009-10-19T20:25:14.330-07:00Live blog: Versus Boston<span style="font-weight: bold;">Webcam</span><br />http://www.blogtv.com/People/bioniclime<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Video of Boston Creme Donut Smashed by a Hammer</span><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnPsDrl6JWs<br /><br />11:24pm<br /><br />Wow! A sweep! 4-0 NJ!!!<br /><br />10:49pm<br /><br />Dean wins! NJ up 1-0<br /><br />10:35pm<br /><br />All the games going. clocks low. Incredible tension.<br /><br />10:20pm<br /><br />Dean has won a piece! S-H has some checks, but it looks like Dean can get out of it.<br /><br />10:07pm<br /><br />Sammour-Hasbun has a crucial move here. Nakamura suggested two equally plausible paths. One a draw, one a win for Dean. Which path will he take?<br /><br />9:58pm<br /><br />Victor in good shape, but he and Andrew are low on time.<br /><br />9:48pm<br /><br />Esserman offered a draw on Board 3, but Victor is going for the knockout with the killer move 25. d6.<br /><br />9:47pm<br /><br />Things heating up. Except the room.<br /><br />9:28pm<br /><br />Andrew Ng on Board 4 is still in a tough position, but slowly might be squirming his way out of it. His opponent may not be taking advantage enough of his initiative.<br /><br />9:23pm<br /><br />Victor Shen played the smashing move 19. Bxh6, completely crashing apart Esserman's kingside pawns. Esserman is on the ropes. Can he recover?<br /><br />9:17pm<br /><br />Ippolito 45min / Sammour-Hasbun 26min... A wild position, where Dean seems to be contemplating trading queens.<br /><br />9:07pm<br /><br />Gulko 49min / Perelshteyn 36min... Gulko's thinking about his 23rd move. He's got the two bishops and a little extra space.<br /><br />8:56pm<br /><br />It is almost 9pm -- the match is almost two hours old. The room has cooled a bit, but it is still in the low 80s in the room. In a few minutes, we'll go around the horn again, and see how all the boards stand.<br /><br />8:51pm<br /><br />Dean has no Red Bull this week. Just coffee... He did tell me that he went 12-0 at <a href="http://njknockouts.blogspot.com/2009/10/njscf-sponsors-homefront-chess-marathon.html">his simul this past weekend</a>, so yay for Dean!<br /><br />8:49pm<br /><br />We're handling the clock well two weeks in a row. Only down significantly on board 4, where the position is tough anway.<br /><br />8:39pm<br /><br />Andrew Ng's position on Board 4 looks rough already. He's got a white knight buried in his position, doubled and weak e-pawns, his knight is rather passive. Material is even, but it looks like he's going to have to extricate himself from a messy and difficult situation.<br /><br />8:33pm<br /><br />On Board 3, Victor Shen has his Bishop dominating the center of the board at d5, and a nice white pawn center. The only issue is that he's a bout 10 minutes down on the clock.<br /><br />8:21pm<br /><br />On Board 2, Dean Ippolito is up 10 minutes on the clock, and has made the long-diagonal smashing move 16...Qa8, lining up his queen right behind his rook on a7.<br /><br />8:15pm<br /><br />Over on Board 1, Gulko and Perelshteyn have a battle of the pawn structures. Gulko's isolani versus Perelshteyn's doubled g-pawns. Gulko has some weak light-squares around his king, but without a light-squared bishop, and Perelsheyn capitalize? Clocks are pretty even.<br /><br />8:12pm<br /><br />The donut smashing video is causing discussion.<br /><br />7:59pm<br /><br />It is almost 8:00pm and there are 71, 54, 52, and 47 people observing the four boards of the Knockouts' match.<br /><br />7:56pm<br /><br />On Board 4, Andrew Ng, winner of the aformentioned 2009 US Cadet Championship, is playing Andrew Wang. Ng threw up a Sicilian and was given 3. Bb5+. He's now down on the clock, pondering his 13th move.<br /><br />7:48pm<br /><br />On Board 3, we have high school junior, PanAm Under-16 Gold Medalist, and runner up in the 2009 US Cadet Championship, Victor Shen. He's playing newly minted IM Marc Esserman, who has been a USCL phenom. He seems to win all the time. Victor is on the White side of Two Knight's Defense and is taking a long look at deciding how to recpature on his 12th move. Bishop or Pawn?<br /><br />7:38pm<br /><br />On Board 2, Dean Ippolito as Black is facing a Catalan, an opening he apparently plays a lot as White. Dean is carefully pondering his 11th move, and the commentators are wondering if he has forgotten his theory. Unlikely...<br /><br />7:34pm<br /><br />Let's go around the horn and see what's up on each board.<br /><br />On Board 1, Gulko (as white) is in a topical line of the Slav Defense. His Blitz opponent just threw out 12...Qa5, and Gulko is going into a think for the first time this evening.<br /><br />7:29pm<br /><br />The room is about 85 degrees, but the heat is going off at 8pm, and it will get cold soon afterward.<br /><br />7:25pm<br /><br />Ippolito's game finally started. JS-H wasted 12 minutes on his first move. Probably transfixed by the donut smashing video.<br /><br />7:20pm<br /><br />Dean Ippolito's opponent, J. Sammour-Hasbun, has decided not to play, apparently. It has been 9 minutes and he still has not moved.<br /><br />7:07pm<br /><br />We're live from Chapel Hill Academy in Lincoln Park NJ. We smashed a Boston Creme Blitz donut prior to the match with a hammer. You can see the video evidence on youtube.NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-66120030059525200682009-10-18T18:16:00.001-07:002009-10-18T18:58:17.377-07:00Fun Night at the KO Corral: New Jersey vs. Boston Preview<span style="font-size:78%;">by Joseph Criscuolo</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUMFjyYMNwOCYIWM6ZLL7PGtUdQnKNiO7ONL8ZRIQGLK93hlD0P4awIx3cCU8cJwBPMErjGOhUq5lCIfDxnIFii4pafF-JY536jkRinG4n5lMzHl4SCTUkHBWUAdI36b2-yYQANbTJfyj/s1600-h/NJ_Boston_png.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 385px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUMFjyYMNwOCYIWM6ZLL7PGtUdQnKNiO7ONL8ZRIQGLK93hlD0P4awIx3cCU8cJwBPMErjGOhUq5lCIfDxnIFii4pafF-JY536jkRinG4n5lMzHl4SCTUkHBWUAdI36b2-yYQANbTJfyj/s400/NJ_Boston_png.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394123121691682466" border="0" /></a>Now that the New Jersey Knockouts have officially clinched a playoff berth for the first time in their three season history, they can set their sights on their first division title. They must finish ahead of this week's opponent, the always tough Boston Blitz. This could be the match that decides who finishes first in the Eastern Division. After seven matches, both teams have won six games and not lost a single match against a division opponent, with both teams losing their only match in interleague play. Boston currently holds the lead in the tiebraker, as they have more game points with 19 against the Knockouts who have 17.5. The teams have played two USCL matches in their history, with the New Jersey Knockouts owning the better side of the 1.5-0.5 score. Last season the Knockouts defeated the Boston Blitz in week four by a score of 3-1.<br /><br />The New Jersey Knockouts will field the lineup of Boris Gulko, Dean Ippolito, Victor Shen, and Andrew Ng against the Boston line up of Eugene Perelshteyn, Jorge Sammour-Hasbun, Marc Esserman, and Andrew Wang. There are many stories in this matchup. This is the first matchup without GM Joel Benjamin, who has played every game on first board this season, and has been influential in making the team what it is today as he has earned at least a draw in every game the Knockouts have won. Filling in for Joel Benjamin on board one is GM Boris Gulko, whom was asked to join the team by Joel Benjamin to join the team in the summer of 2008 when the two did a <a href="http://www.201.net/issues/2008/10/departments/Sports%20Chess.story"> photo shoot for a local magazine</a>; Boris Gulko was happy to join, and the rest was history. While the Knockouts top rated player isn’t playing, neither is the Boston Blitz’s top player, Larry Christiansen, who has played four games for the Blitz this season. Instead, Eugene Perelshteyn will be on board one for the Blitz. The matchup appears even, as the Knockouts are fielding higher rated players on boards one and four while the Blitz feature higher rated players on boards two and three.<br /><br />GM Boris Gulko plays his first game on board one as white against GM Eugene Perelshteyn. Boris Gulko’s has won all six of his USCL games, with three of them coming from this season, two of them coming against fellow grandmasters Larry Kaufman and Pascal Charbonneau and the other one being an incredible game of the week against Oleg Zaikov. Gulko’s opponent Eugene Perelshteyn is undefeated this season in four games, with a 3.5-0.5 record.<br /><br />On board two IM Dean Ippolito will face off with the black pieces against Jorge Sammour-Hasbun. The two have faced off before in the United States Chess League in a game where the Knockouts tied the Blitz in week eight of 2007, a game that Jorge Sammour-Hasbun won. This season Dean Ippolito has a record of 2.5-1.5 with two wins, one draw, and one loss, while Sammour-Hasbun has a win and a loss.<br /><br />On board three, Victor Shen faces off as white against Marc Esserman. This will be Shen’s second game of the season, with the only game for Shen coming in week one with a win against Matt Herman of the New York Knights in a 2.5-1.5 win for the Knockouts. In six matches this season, Esserman has an excellent record of 4.5-1.5.<br /><br />Playing as black on board four is Andrew Ng against Andrew Wang. Andrew Ng looks for his first win of the season, with his only game being a loss at board four against Eric Rosen of the Chicago Blaze. Last season, Andrew Ng had a record of 1.5-1.5 with a win, a draw, and a loss, his only win coming against Elvin Wilson of the Philadelphia Inventors. In two games, both against fourth boards of the Queens Pioneers, Andrew Wang has two wins this season.<br /><br />This exciting match can be seen on the night of Monday October 19 at 7:00 PM Eastern time on the Internet Chess Club. As with all games between east coast teams, the time control will be game in 90 minutes with time increments of 30 seconds. Fans of the US Chess League can also see the Dallas Destiny play the Miami Sharks at 8:00 PM and the Chicago Blaze play the Arizona Scorpions at 9:00 PM. Those games have a big impact of the playoff picture in the US Chess League.NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419541623728345133.post-15528087109977553372009-10-16T17:09:00.000-07:002009-10-16T17:19:23.676-07:00Kapengut Annotates Win Against Uesugi<span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Albert Kapengut has annotated his win against </span><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Shinsaku Uesugi. You can download the PDF of the annotations, <a href="http://www.bioniclime.com/chess/Uesugi-Kapengut_USCL2009.pdf">here</a>.<br /><br /><br /></span></span>NJKOshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01916640864770215568noreply@blogger.com0