Blaze on Familiar Ground for Season Opener

Underdogs vs. Arizona, not for the first time

The pairings for this season’s first match, between the Chicago Blaze and the Arizona Scorpions, have been posted on the U.S. Chess League site, and as the teams get ready for the opening salvos of their 2009 title quests, the Windy City squad finds itself on familiar territory: as underdogs.

Here’s the lineup, in which Arizona has a ratings advantage on every board:


Board 1
GM Alejandro Ramirez vs. GM Nikola Mitkov (Chicago)

Board 2
FM Florin Felecan (Chicago) vs IM Levon Altounian

Board 3
FM Robby Adamson vs. IM Mehmed Pasalic (Chicago)

Board 4
Trevor Magness (Chicago) vs. David Adelberg

This is not a new situation for Chicago. The Blaze were underdogs in many if not most of their maiden-season matches last year, yet they managed to draw or win several of those contests. As a result, the team came that close to earning a playoff berth in its expansion-team season, staying in contention until the final game of the final match. Being down is nothing new for the Blaze, yet they've managed to carve out an impressive record of success despite the odds.

It’s a good thing, too because in the Scorpions, we face a formidable opponent. The Blaze faced Arizona twice last year and lost both times. This year they may be stronger, having added GM Ramirez to their roster. The Scorpions have a lot of resources, too, having just added the popular Chess.com site to its prodigious list of corporate sponsors. No wonder the team's manager, FM Robby Adamson, predicts victory for the Scorpions over the Blaze.

But to paraphrase the late Bobby Fischer, sponsorships don’t win chess games; strong moves do. The Blaze will be ready Wednesday night. The action begins at 8:00 Central time at the Holiday Inn Skokie (5300 West Touhy). Fans are welcome, so please come and cheer the team or follow them on the Internet Chess Club. We’ll also try to post reports on Twitter.

Hope to see you one way or another, either virtually or in person, as the 2009 Chicago Blaze season gets under way.

Ted Kennedy, Rest in Peace

Really Wacky Wednesday

Veteran chess player and blogger Polly Wright invented Wacky Wednesday, the idea of devoting one day a week to the posting of abolutely ridiculous, blunder-laden games, many of which end in the opening because someone has flamed out in epic fashion. With decades of tournament play under her belt, Polly has a huge personal database from which to pluck suitably absurb games, and she sprinkles them throughout her blog now and then for a laugh.

I don't have Polly's vast experience, but I do have two things going for me that are helping me catch up in the accumulation of crazy games: (1) I play a lot of fast blitz (often G/3); and (2) I play badly. These two factors conduce to the creation of truly bad games, one of which I am happy to present for your entertainment today.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.Nc3 Qc6 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4
The center counter gambit isn't the strongest defense in the world for Black. White already has a big lead in development.

6. . . . Bb4 7.Bb5??
Duh! What am I thinking by attacking Black's queen with my bishop? Black can just take the prelate without fear of recapture by my knight, which is pinned to my king. Just because the N on c3 often protects the c5 bishop doesn't mean it always does. A huge blunder on my part, and I am apparently about to lose my bishop.

7. . . . Bc5???
Double Duh! Then again, maybe not. Black misses the easy capture. Even worse, he must think we're about to exchange queens, but it is not to be, for my queen capture will also put his king in check.

8.Bxc6+ Nxc6 9.Qxc5 1-0
Black is down a queen and resigns. It's a game that's just as well over and one truly worthy of Wacky Wednesday, since not one but both players made horrendous blunders.

The Blaze on Facebook

The Chicago Blaze now has its own Facebook page. Go here to become a fan, and while you're at it don't forget to follow the team on Twitter, too. Thanks.

O Tactics!

It isn't often a player of my limited ability sees a real tactic in a game, but in this one I spotted a discovered check (19. Bg5+) that won me my opponent's queen and shortly thereafter the game. This is when chess is the most fun. Time control was game in 10.

Crazy Mate in 14

It's still Wednesday (just barely), so I can still post this crazy miniature under the Wacky Wednesday imprimatur.

Remember, kids: be on the lookout for threats from your opponent, and when you see 'em deal with 'em; don't just keep pushing pawns.

True Guitar Hero

Michael's tribute to Woodstock