Eight Pieces on a File: A Response

Recently, esteemed United States Chess League commissioner Greg Shahade posted several videos summarizing the week's action at chessvideos.tv.

In one of these videos, he showed the RCostigan-SShankland game from the Philadelphia-San Francisco match. In the position after Black's 30th move, there are eight pieces (no kings, no pawns) all on the g-file. Greg claimed that he had never seen anything like that before in a chess game, and challenged viewers to prove him wrong.

Check and mate, Mr. Commissioner.

I found 24 games that had such a set up on the c-file or f-file. In my video response, also posted on chessvideos.tv, I show how I used the position search dialog box to find these games, and show two of the positions (one from Linares 1991, and the other from a famous USCL player!).

Unfortunately, there's an annoying low hum from the microphone, which you'll have to endure. It was my fourth take doing the video (the first time I messed up the search, the second time the audio didn't record, the third time I had to give first aid to a banged up kid), and I didn't want to do it again!

So, without further ado, here's my response. I hope you enjoy it!

UPDATE: The video got munched in the upload. I'll try and re-upload it tomorrow. Until then, here are the positions.


(above) Ehlvest-Barus (Japfa op Bali 2000) after 12.Qc2


(above) Gelfand-Jussupow (Linares 2001) after 15...Qc7

UPDATE TWO: One more, in response to Shankland's comments, that occurred on a "random" file, after move 30 -- past all the opening theory.


(above) Praszak-Hausner (Prague, 1990) after the 31st move.

USCL Top Board Honors, Week 4

Here are the USCL ratings leaders after Week 4. Here's a recap of how one is eligible for this list.

1. USCL rating must be published and active -- three lifetime USCL games minimum and at least one this season.
2. Players must have played the majority of their games on that particular board. If they have played the same number of games on different boards, the most recent board on which they played is the one for which they are eligible for the Top Board Honors.

Some may ask why Alex Lenderman, who is 4-0 this year, not on the Top Board Honors. He has played two games on board 2, and two games on board 3. Because he's played on both boards, the most recent one on which he played is the Top Board Honors for which he is eligible -- that was board 2 last Monday. However, the three players listed below for board 2 honors all have higher USCL ratings than he does, and therefore, he doesn't make it.

Board 1
Gold	2609	Sergey Erenburg	Baltimore
Silver	2606	Hikaru Nakamura	Seattle
Bronze	2598	Jaan Ehlvest	Tennessee
Board 2
Gold	2593	Vinay Bhat	San Francisco
Silver	2593	Josh Friedel	San Francisco
Bronze	2538	Dean Ippolito	New Jersey
Board 3
Gold	2463	Sam Shankland	San Francisco
Silver	2460	Gregory Braylovsky	New York
Bronze	2427	Parker Zhao	Queens
Board 4
Gold	2566	Marc Esserman	Boston
Silver	2360	Craig Jones	Carolina
Bronze	2341	Eric Rodriguez	Miami

Note that next week, players will have to have played at least two games this season to be eligible for Top Board Honors.

Week 4 USCL Rating List, CORRECTED

-- CORRECTED: Accounts for last minute Dallas substitution --

Rating list after week 4 of the 2008 United States Chess League..

Three interesting things to note...

(1) Marc Esserman, board 4 player, is number 11 with a 2566 rating -- he played board 1 in his first match and was given a temporary rating of 2550 (as are all board 1s initially). He hasn't lost a game since, and his rating keeps increasing!

(2) San Francisco has three of the top six players (Wolff, Bhat, Friedel).

(3) Alex Lenderman has risen from a temporary rating of 2350 (since he started on board 3) to a current rating of 2488 -- 138 points in 4 games (and 4 wins)!

Top Board Performance will come probably on Friday.

1	2609	Sergey Erenburg
2	2606	Hikaru Nakamura
3	2598	Jaan Ehlvest
4	2595	Patrick Wolff
5	2593	Vinay Bhat
6	2593	Josh Friedel
7	2583	Julio Becerra
8	2580	Jorge Sammour-Hasbun
9	2571	Davorin Kuljasevic
10	2568	Drasko Boskovic
11	2566	Marc Esserman
12	2564	Joel Benjamin
13	2550	Larry Christiansen
14	2547	Gregory Serper
15	2538	Dean Ippolito
16	2536	Eli Vovsha
17	2536	Pawel Blehm
18	2529	Sergey Kudrin
19	2510	Pascal Charbonneau
20	2504	Jan van de Mortel
21	2500	Alex Stripunsky
22	2498	Lev Milman
23	2488	Alex Lenderman
24	2485	John Bartholomew
25	2483	Osmany Perea
26	2478	John Donaldson
27	2476	Dmitry Schneider
28	2463	Sam Shankland
29	2460	Gregory Braylovsky
30	2442	Bruci Lopez
31	2436	Denis Shmelov
32	2432	Tegshsuren Enkhbat
33	2430	Irina Krush
34	2428	Oleg Zaikov
35	2427	Parker Zhao
36	2423	Ron Burnett
37	2420	Marcel Martinez
38	2419	Jonathan Schroer
39	2403	Robby Adamson
40	2402	Mackenzie Molner
41	2400	Bryan Smith
42	2399	Charles Riordan
43	2392	Igor Schneider
44	2392	Jay Bonin
45	2390	Blas Lugo
46	2384	Mark Ginsburg
47	2380	Daniel Yeager
48	2367	Ron Simpson
49	2367	Eric Tangborn
50	2361	Slava Mikhailuk
51	2360	Craig Jones
52	2355	Richard Costigan
53	2349	John Readey
54	2341	Eric Rodriguez
55	2336	Daniel Naroditsky
56	2333	Ralph Zimmer
57	2332	Irina Zenyuk
58	2327	Peter Bereolos
59	2324	Larry Kaufman
60	2320	Michael Thaler
61	2319	Bayaraa Zorigt
62	2317	Elvin Wilson
63	2310	Benjamin Katz
64	2300	Todd Andrews
65	2296	Victor Shen
66	2280	Michael Lee
67	2280	Matthew Herman
68	2276	Evan Ju
69	2271	Ilya Krasik
70	2266	Udayan Bapat
71	2260	Jayson Lian
72	2259	John Bick
73	2251	Evan Rosenberg
74	2249	Josh Sinanan
75	2238	Ray Kaufman
76	2205	Jennifer Shahade
77	2203	Jerry Wheeler

Week 4 Power Rankings

Week 4 BLUPRs (Bionic Lime USCL Power Rankings). Raw results now. Commentary tomorrow!

1 -	Queens (same)
2 -	San Francisco (same)
3 -	Dallas (up 1)
4 -	New Jersey (up 3)
5 -	Miami (down 2)
6 -	Boston (down 1)
7 -	Arizona (up 1)
8 -	Carolina (up 4)
9 -	Chicago (down 3)
10 -	Seattle (up 3)
11 -	Baltimore (same)
12 -	Philadelphia (down 3)
13 -	New York (down 3)
14 -	Tennessee (same)

An Easy Puzzle

From a recent game I played... I found that its rare to get to play combinations that you practice in tactics books, but in this case...

White to move...

USCL 2008 Week 4 Predictions

Some have asked about how the Bionic Lime predictions are calculated each week. Through gut instinct or intuition? Through a thorough study of each player's opening choices and records versus a particular opponent?

Absolutely not.

The truth is that all predictions are made via a simple rule set that is relatively easy to explain.

1. Take the player's USCL ratings.
2. Add 72 to the player playing White.
3. If the difference is greater than 80, predict a win for the player with the higher rating, otherwise predict a draw.
4. Sum the total of the four boards to get a team prediction.

Note that there are a bunch of exceptions and (some further addition and division) if a player does not have a rating in the USCL, but that's the basic procedure.

Therefore, if a player, team, or fan is upset by a prediction, they can blame the rule set, the rating model, or basic mathematics. Personally, I always blame mathematics -- especially when I look at my checking account balance at the end of the month.


BALTIMORE vs QUEENS

Without top-rated Erenburg sweeping up on first board, the Kingfishers can't commit regicide on Queens.

Prediction: Baltimore 1.0 - 3.0 Queens


SEATTLE vs CHICAGO

With Strunk (as White) Chicago has the elements of a stylish victory, despite the double GM lineup from the Sluggerinos.

Prediction: Seattle 1.5 - 2.5 Chicago


NEW JERSEY vs BOSTON

Marc Esserman's USCL rating (based on 2 games, so it is not officially published) is 2565, which in USCL rating terms, is only a point below Larry Christensen. And he's on board 4. Yikes.

Prediction: New Jersey 1.5 - 2.5 Boston


CAROLINA vs NEW YORK

The other Iryna is back. Knight All-Star Iryna Zenyuk charms the Cobras on board 4.

Prediction: Carolina 1.0 - 3.0 New York


DALLAS vs MIAMI

Destiny and the Sharks. Sounds like a romance novel. But in any case, thematch will end up a "Big D".

Prediction: Dallas 2.0 - 2.0 Miami


PHILADELPHIA vs SAN FRANCISCO

Usually, Mechanics end up fixing things created by Inventors. But in this case, the Inventors are just going to be fixed. Ouch.

Prediction: Philadelphia 1.5 - 2.5 San Francisco


TENNESSEE vs ARIZONA

Last week, the metronome broke, and the Tempo were shut out. This week, the Tempo bring in a new conductor, GM Jaan Ehlvest.

Prediction: Tennessee 2.5 - 1.5 Arizona

2008 USCL Power Rankings Week 3

How the mighty have fallen. Only Queens remains undefeated in the USCL, and they have moved up to the top of the BLUPRs (Bionic Lime USCL Power Rankings). San Francisco, with their win over current USCL Champions, Dallas, moves up to number 2.

The biggest rise this week was the expansion Chicago Blaze with their blanking of Tennessee, as they move up four spots to number six. The biggest drop this week was Carolina, which dropped six spots to number twelve, due to their loss to the previously point-less Baltimore Kingfishers.

1 -	Queens
2 -	San Francisco
3 -	Miami
4 -	Dallas
5 -	Boston
6 -	Chicago
7 -	New Jersey
8 -	Arizona
9 -	Philadelphia
10 -	New York
11 -	Baltimore
12 -	Carolina
13 -	Seattle
14 -	Tennessee

Until next week, when the Dallas-Miami matchup should shake up the standings... Unless they draw...

USCL 2008 Rating List Week 3

Following a week that proved the United States Chess League is rather balanced, here is my USCL rating list for players post-week 3.

Once again players must be active in 2008 to be included and must have played three or more games lifetime in the USCL.

1	2609	Sergey Erenburg
2	2603	Julio Becerra
3	2597	Hikaru Nakamura
4	2593	Vinay Bhat
5	2592	Josh Friedel
6	2580	Jorge Sammour-Hasbun
7	2575	Patrick Wolff
8	2568	Drasko Boskovic
9	2566	Larry Christiansen
10	2557	Eli Vovsha
11	2551	Joel Benjamin
12	2548	Davorin Kuljasevic
13	2540	Sergey Kudrin
14	2525	Gregory Serper
15	2510	Pascal Charbonneau
16	2500	Alex Stripunsky
17	2492	Dean Ippolito
18	2489	Lev Milman
19	2478	Alex Lenderman
20	2478	John Donaldson
21	2476	Dmitry Schneider
22	2466	John Bartholomew
23	2464	Denis Shmelov
24	2460	Gregory Braylovsky
25	2442	Tegshsuren Enkhbat
26	2442	Bruci Lopez
27	2438	Marcel Martinez
28	2430	Charles Riordan
29	2430	Irina Krush
30	2429	Sam Shankland
31	2428	Ron Burnett
32	2423	Jay Bonin
33	2419	Jonathan Schroer
34	2401	Bryan Smith
35	2392	Oleg Zaikov
36	2390	Blas Lugo
37	2386	Richard Costigan
38	2384	Mackenzie Molner
39	2383	Parker Zhao
40	2380	Daniel Yeager
41	2371	Ralph Zimmer
42	2367	Eric Tangborn
43	2365	Igor Schneider
44	2361	Slava Mikhailuk
45	2349	John Readey
46	2341	Eric Rodriguez
47	2332	Elvin Wilson
48	2327	Peter Bereolos
49	2326	Todd Andrews
50	2324	Larry Kaufman
51	2319	Daniel Naroditsky
52	2319	Bayaraa Zorigt
53	2310	Benjamin Katz
54	2307	Craig Jones
55	2296	Victor Shen
56	2295	Michael Lee
57	2280	John Bick
58	2280	Matthew Herman
59	2276	Evan Ju
60	2271	Ilya Krasik
61	2266	Udayan Bapat
62	2261	Jayson Lian
63	2251	Evan Rosenberg
64	2249	Josh Sinanan
65	2238	Ray Kaufman
66	2205	Jennifer Shahade
67	2203	Jerry Wheeler

Here are the top three players on each board -- players must have played at least one game this season in the USCL (three lifetime). If a player played on more than one board in a season, the board on which the player played more frequently is chosen, or if that is equal, the most recent of those that are equal.

BOARD 1

2609	Sergey Erenburg (BAL)
2603	Julio Becerra (MIA)
2597	Hikaru Nakamura (SEA)

BOARD 2

2593	Vinay Bhat (SFM)
2592	Josh Friedel (SFM)
2557	Eli Vovsha (QUE)

BOARD 3

2478	Alex Lenderman (QUE)
2464	Denis Shmelov (BOS)
2460	Gregory Braylovsky (NYK)

BOARD 4

2371	Ralph Zimmer (BAL)
2341	Eric Rodriguez (MIA)
2332	Elvin Wilson (PHI)

Gates Seinfeld Shoe Circus

Boy, with all the negative reaction to the Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates "Shoe Circus" commercial, you would think that it was some sort of monstrosity.

In reality, it is absurd and wry. Personally, I think it is brilliant.

Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz6amk3P-hY

Am I the only one who feels this way?

USCL 2008 Week 3 Predictions

Well, everyone had a lousy week, prediction-wise, but your humble mechanical citrus (YHMC) has still managed to rise to second place!

Onto this week's predictions...

BOSTON vs DALLAS

A rematch of last year's title match, won in dramatic fashion by Dallas. Do you know if you switch the initial consonants of the team's nicknames, and then combine them, you would get Blestiny Ditz? Sounds like quite an intriguing person to me. Oh yeah, everybody with White wins.

Prediction: Boston 2.0 - 2.0 Dallas

UPDATE: Three draws and a loss, and Dallas wins 2.5 - 1.5. Ehh, I was close...


SAN FRANCISCO vs MIAMI

The City by the Bay takes on South Beach. Some people actually prefer the weather in Miami to San Francisco, but those people must enjoy going to steam rooms fully clothed. The top two boards will all be drawn, but the bottom two boards will be split decisions.

Prediction: San Francisco 2.0 - 2.0 Miami

UPDATE: San Francisco wins 2.5 - 1.5, even if GM Wolff had to drop out at the last minute. Yikes.


NEW YORK vs PHILADELPHIA

Pascal Charbonneau has payed more games in the USCL than any other player. He was a USCL MVP. He just got back from an international tournament in Montreal. He'll still draw his game, however. Look for Jay "Million Game March" Bonin to pick up a point for the Knights.

Prediction: New York 2.5 - 1.5 Philadelphia

CAROLINA vs BALTIMORE

GM Sergey Erenburg is the king, but the rest of the team needs to stop acting like fish. As Erenburg goes, so goes the team. The bottom three boards will split 1.5-1.5. Erenburg has black, but Milman has done well in the USCL.

Prediction: Carolina 2.0 - 2.0 Baltimore

CHICAGO vs TENNESSEE

If you only knew the teams playing, you would think that Chicago ought to be able to pick up their first USCL match win over the usually overmatched Tempo, based on reputation only. However, ask Seattle about the value of the Tempo's reputation. Unfortunately for Tennessee, they won't have much of a chance to erase any more of their reputation, as Chicago will sweep the top boards.

Prediction: Chicago 2.5 - 1.5 Tennessee

QUEENS vs ARIZONA

The undefeated and untied Pioneers are westward ho, as they try to step on and smush the Scorpions. But can the Scorpions blow the wind of change, ruin Queens' big city nights, and rock them like a hurricane? Yes! Expect Arizona to pull off the upset, and the Pioneers to really have a blackout.

Prediction: Queens 1.5 - 2.5 Arizona

SEATTLE vs NEW JERSEY

The pugilists prepare to parlay premium punching power, as well as an ample amount of alliteration, when one will wind up winning. Boris Gulko debuts for the Knockouts, on board 2, of all places. The battle of the 20 year separated prodigies is on board one, as Hikaru Nakamura drives in from Vancouver to play for Seattle to take on Joel Benjamin. Seattle may Slug, but New Jersey will deliver the Knockout.

Prediction: Seattle 1.5 - 2.5 New Jersey

USCL 2008 Week 2 Power Rankings

The Bionic Lime USCL Power Rankings (BLUPRs) are here!

1 -	Miami
2 -	Queens
3 -	Boston
4 -	San Francisco
5 -	Dallas
6 -	Carolina
7 -	Philadelphia
8 -	New Jersey
9 -	Arizona
10 -	Chicago
11 -	Seattle
12 -	Tennessee
13 -	New York
14 -	Baltimore

No change at the top, as Miami's crush of New York, assures their top spot. Queens, with a decisive blow over the NJ Knockouts, moves up a few spots to second. Boston, who also crushed the Cobras, lies in third.

The Knockouts had the biggest drop, from third last week to eighth this week. The point-less Kingfishers and Knights bring up the rear. I thought if your name started with a K in chess, you were supposed to be really good?

Until next week!!

USCL 2008 Week 2 Rating List

It is very late here on the East Coast of the USA, so I'm not planning to do any sort of formal introduction here of the rating list.

This is the unofficial USCL rating list, after week 2 of play. Only players active in 2008 are listed, and each player must have played at least 3 total USCL games (in any combination of seasons).

1	2619	Jorge Sammour-Hasbun
2	2593	Vinay Bhat
3	2579	Sergey Erenburg
4	2578	Josh Friedel
5	2575	Patrick Wolff
6	2572	Julio Becerra
7	2568	Drasko Boskovic
8	2566	Larry Christiansen
9	2565	Sergey Kudrin
10	2561	Joel Benjamin
11	2557	Eli Vovsha
12	2525	Gregory Serper
13	2517	Lev Milman
14	2509	Davorin Kuljasevic
15	2497	Denis Shmelov
16	2492	Dean Ippolito
17	2478	Pascal Charbonneau
18	2476	Dmitry Schneider
19	2474	John Bartholomew
20	2460	Gregory Braylovsky
21	2442	Bruci Lopez
22	2441	Oleg Zaikov
23	2438	Marcel Martinez
24	2436	Jay Bonin
25	2431	Ron Burnett
26	2430	Charles Riordan
27	2430	Bryan Smith
28	2430	Irina Krush
29	2417	Sam Shankland
30	2399	Eric Rodriguez
31	2390	Blas Lugo
32	2386	Richard Costigan
33	2373	Eric Tangborn
34	2372	Mackenzie Molner
35	2361	Daniel Yeager
36	2361	Slava Mikhailuk
37	2360	John Readey
38	2347	John Bick
39	2346	Peter Bereolos
40	2332	Todd Andrews
41	2332	Elvin Wilson
42	2324	Larry Kaufman
43	2310	Igor Schneider
44	2308	Bayaraa Zorigt
45	2307	Craig Jones
46	2305	Ralph Zimmer
47	2296	Victor Shen
48	2295	Michael Lee
49	2283	Ilya Krasik
50	2276	Evan Ju
51	2260	Matthew Herman
52	2254	Daniel Naroditsky
53	2251	Evan Rosenberg
54	2238	Ray Kaufman
55	2226	Josh Sinanan
56	2203	Jerry Wheeler

Here are the TOP 3 of each board. If a player has played on different boards, the board on which they played the majority of their games is counted. If this number is equal, then the most recent board is used.

BOARD 1

2619	Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS)
2579	Sergey Erenburg (BAL)
2578	Josh Friedel (SFM)

BOARD 2

2593	Vinay Bhat (SFM)
2557	Eli Vovsha (QUE)
2509	Davorin Kuljasevic (DAL)

BOARD 3

2460	Gregory Braylovsky (NYK)
2436	Jay Bonin (NYK)
2430	Charles Riordan (BOS)

BOARD 4

2399	Eric Rodriguez (MIA)
2332	Elvin Wilson (PHI)
2308	Bayaraa Zorigt (DAL)

USCL Week Two Predictions

The Citrus Symbols (myself and Orange King) sit side-by-side in second and third in the prediction contest, behind last year's winner Ron Young, and ahead of the Assistant Commish of the USCL Arun Sharma.

Therefore, there's really no reason to change much of a good thing. So, once again, these predictions are based primarily on comparisons of players on the USCL rating list that I developed.

NEW JERSEY vs QUEENS

Knockouts' captain Joel Benjamin is old enough to remember Welcome Back, Kotter -- the other members of the team may have trouble remembering The OC. Well, this week, his line up looks like a spin off of that 1970s show -- Welcome Back, Benjamin. The teacher (Benjamin) and three wisecracking, but good-hearted youngsters (Molner, Ju, and Shen), two of them Benjamin's students (Ju, Shen), tee it up against the Queensmen. Look for Benjamin and Shen to lead the Knockouts to victory.

Prediction: New Jersey 2.5 - 1.5 Queens

• UPDATE: The Knockouts were creamed on the lower boards, even though Bejamin won. Queens 3-1.

PHILADELPHIA vs BALTIMORE

The big game of the week is the Battle of the Sergeys, between the ultra-solid (in the USCL) GM Sergey Kudrin and the winner-of-seemingly-everything-recently-over-the-board GM Sergey Erenburg. Watch for an ultra-sharp line, deep into theory, before someone lashes out with a novelty, and then an exciting draw. On Board 3, Daniel Yeager may be the one to nip FM Ray Kaufman and bring Philly a victory.

Prediction: Philadelphia 2.5 - 1.5 Baltimore

• UPDATE: Right on target. Yeager won too!

BOSTON vs CAROLINA

I'm hesitant to pick a non-Tennessee team (sorry, my Tempo friends) to get almost wiped out in a match, but Boston's fire and determination make it kind of intimidating this week for the experienced Carolina team. GM Larry Christiansen's game ought to finish first, and the dominoes will fall soon after that.

Prediction: Boston 3.5 - 0.5 Carolina

• UPDATE: Boston won 3-1, and probably had a good chance to win on Board 1 too, if it weren't for Larry Christensen's computer melting in the morning.

MIAMI vs NEW YORK

The first glimpse of the Pascal and Irina show this week, should see decisive results on both the top boards, while the lower boards draw. IM Krush should be especially eager to wipe newcomer FM Osmany Perea off the board, after skipping the Women's World Championship this week.

Prediction: Miami 2.0 - 2.0 New York

• UPDATE: Pascal and Irina had decisive games, but both lost. Miami blew the Knights off the board, 3.5 - 0.5

CHICAGO vs SAN FRANCISCO

Fan favorite IM Emory Tate debuts his "take no prisoners, leave no witnesses" attitude in the USCL against IM Vinay "One Minute" Bhat on Board 2, but Bhat's consistency and record of USCL excellence may be too much for Tate. All the other boards will be hard-fought draws.

Prediction: Chicago 1.5 - 2.5 San Francisco

• UPDATE: Bhat won over Tate, but all other games were decisive too for a 2-2 draw.

TENNESSEE vs SEATTLE

Todd Andrews, valiantly defending Board 1, will duel GM Serper brilliantly, but the rest of the team is unfortunately overmatched. Of course, I picked that Seattle would surely win last week, and look what happened. So the Tempo may prove me wrong, but I don't think so.

Prediction: Tennessee 0.5 - 3.5 Seattle

• UPDATE: Tennessee pulled off a draw in this match. Good for them!

DALLAS vs ARIZONA

It is very hard to pick against the current champs, but it worked last week, so what the heck! Arizona goes to 2-0 with a nailbiter against the Destiny. Look for "Coach" Robby Adamson to knock off Igor Schneider in a rook and minor piece endgame.

Prediction: Dallas 1.5 - 2.5 Arizona

• UPDATE: Wrong! Dallas won 3-1, but Adamson and Schneider was a rook and minor piece endgame.

USCL Power Rankings Week 1

The Power Rankings have been computed for week 1. Of course, with a sample size of one week, the power rankings are extremely unreliable.

This year, I'm not going to give scores, but just a ranking from 1 to 14. If a team is tied from the calculation, the tie will be broken by calculating a team rating (which is not the average of the individual ratings, but think of it as if the team were an independent entity). Ties won't happen very often, except in the first few weeks.

Blah blah blah, let's get to the good stuff.

POWER RANKINGS AFTER WEEK 1

1 -	Miami
2 -	Boston
3 -	New Jersey
4 -	Carolina
5 -	San Francisco
6 -	Queens
7 -	Arizona
8 -	Dallas
9 -	Philadelphia
10 -	Chicago
11 -	New York
12 -	Baltimore
13 -	Tennessee
14 -	Seattle

Until next week!

USCL Ratings after Week 1 (UPDATED with Board Top 5)

After Week 1, here is the (unofficial) USCL ratings list. Once again, details of how the ratings are computed are here.

Note: Only players active in the 2008 season are included, and players must have played at least three lifetime games in the USCL (in any season).

Complete List

1	2619	Jorge Sammour-Hasbun
2	2576	Sergey Erenburg
3	2575	Patrick Wolff
4	2567	Sergey Kudrin
5	2555	Joel Benjamin
6	2538	Davorin Kuljasevic
7	2531	Eli Vovsha
8	2514	Gregory Serper
9	2509	Dean Ippolito
10	2501	Lev Milman
11	2500	Josh Friedel
12	2485	Dmitry Schneider
13	2477	Denis Shmelov
14	2452	Bryan Smith
15	2447	Gregory Braylovsky
16	2442	Bruci Lopez
17	2436	Jay Bonin
18	2433	Oleg Zaikov
19	2433	Sam Shankland
20	2431	Ron Burnett
21	2410	Eric Tangborn
22	2407	Marcel Martinez
23	2394	John Readey
24	2390	Blas Lugo
25	2386	Richard Costigan
26	2385	Elvin Wilson
27	2374	Mackenzie Molner
28	2371	Victor Shen
29	2369	Todd Andrews
30	2343	Eric Rodriguez
31	2336	Larry Kaufman
32	2318	Bayaraa Zorigt
33	2316	Ilya Krasik
34	2294	Igor Schneider
35	2284	Craig Jones
36	2273	Daniel Naroditsky
37	2251	Peter Bereolos
38	2250	Josh Sinanan
39	2243	Ray Kaufman
40	2234	Ralph Zimmer
41	2204	Evan Rosenberg

Board 1 - TOP 5
2619 Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS)
2576 Sergey Erenburg (BAL)
2575 Patrick Wolff (SFM)
2567 Sergey Kudrin (PHI)
2555 Joel Benjamin (NJK)

Board 2 - TOP 5
2538 Davorin Kuljasevic (DAL)
2531 Eli Vovsha (QUE)
2509 Dean Ippolito (NJK)
2500 Josh Friedel (SFM)
2452 Bryan Smith (PHI)

Board 3 - TOP 5
2477 Denis Shmelov (BOS)
2436 Jay Bonin (NYK)
2433 Sam Shankland (SFM)
2394 John Readey (SEA)
2390 Blas Lugo (MIA)

Board 4 - TOP 5
2385 Elvin Wilson (PHI)
2371 Victor Shen (NJK)
2343 Eric Rodriguez (MIA)
2318 Bayaraa Zorigt (DAL)
2316 Ilya Krasik (BOS)

USCL Week One Predictions

No nonsense here. Just some straight up predictions.

Monday

Arizona over Chicago 3-1

See this.

UPDATE: Arizona won, but with 2.5

Wednesday

New York and Boston tie, 2-2

The top board Shabalov-Sammour Hasbun will be exciting, and likely the most watched match of the night. If USCL rookie and former US Champion Shabalov can hold off the Blitz powerhouse player (uncharacteristically playing first board), New York is in good shape. If he loses, watch out. Spectators should keep an eye on Jay "45,000 rated games a week" Bonin and Shmelov, who've had some entertaining encounters in past USCL games.

UPDATE: Watch out was right. Shabalov lost, and so went the Knights, losing 3-1.

New Jersey over Baltimore 2.5-1.5

With a year under their belt, the Knockouts ought to start the year off right. Benjamin and Erenburg both have had some OTB success this year. Look for a win from the KOs with White, either board two Dean Ippolito or board four, Victor Shen, which should put them over the top.

UPDATE: Well, both Shen and Ippolito won, so New Jersey won 3-1.

Philadelphia over Queens 2.5-1.5

The key here is newcomer to the USCL, Alex Lenderman. While he seemingly lives on ICC and is obviously used to the interface, he is taking on USCL veteran Richard Costigan, who tends to come up big in USCL play. If Lenderman draws (or loses), Queens will lose. If he wins, the match will be a tie.

UPDATE: Lenderman won, and Queens squeaked above Phildephia 2.5 - 1.5.


Carolina over Tennessee 3-1

The Battle of the Blue Ridge should see the Cobra desynch the Tempo. Wins are more likely to come from the edge boards, while the middle boards ought to slug it out.

UPDATE: The two top boards were decisive, but it was 3 - 1 Carolina.

San Francisco over Dallas 2.5-1.5

The Mechanics have a real good shot of taking down last year's champions Dallas. Chief Mechanic Patrick Wolff should gobble newcomer Marko Zivanic, while the bottom board is a toss-up, since World Champion Daniel Naroditsky has black, and the match is probably past his bedtime. A good longshot to bet on is for Dallas' second board Kulasevic to take down should-be-a-GM-any-day-now-if-FIDE-would-get-their-act-together Josh Friedel.

UPDATE: I got the score, but not the details. SF wins 2.5 - 1.5.

Seattle over Miami 2.5-1.5

This is probably the safest bet of the night; Seattle might even win 3-1 or 3.5-0.5. The top two boards for Miami are overmatched -- the Shark's perennial MVP Julio Becerra is off for the night. Miami can probably win one of the two games on the bottom boards, but not both.

UPDATE: Did I say this was the safest bet? You all knew I was kidding and wrote this on opposite day... All I can say is "oops". Miami a big winner at 3.5 - 0.5.

USCL Season: Week 1 Monday Predictions

The United States Chess League season starts next week, and I have been asked to participate in this year's prediction contest! I am very excited and honored to be part of it.

For most of the games and matches, I will be drawing heavily from my unofficial USCL ratings list, which I am planning to maintain throughout the year.

However, since the Monday match is between the two expansion teams, nobody on those teams has a USCL rating.

So, I suppose, I could predict a 2-2 tie, but I think I'll do something a little more intelligently.

Both boards 1 and 3 of Arizona have white, and outrate (USCF ratings) their opponents by about 80 points or so. Therefore I expect at least 1.5 out of those boards.

On board 2, IM Mehmed Pasalic (Chicago) is white against IM Mark Ginsburg (Arizona). Although Ginsburg is a little higher rated, Pasalic plays a lot in the North America Chess Association's FIDE norm tournaments, so he's probably in a good form.

On board 4, Warren Harper outrates his opponent by over 150 points, and although he has black, he's got a better shot to pull it out.

Thus, my prediction is Arizona over Chicago 3-1.

Fun Games for Baby

Chess is a fun game for a baby. They like chewing on the pieces.