Round 2: Primates get back on the winning track

After losing a close one in round 1, we roared back in round 2, winning 3 – 1 against Team “Masagatsu Agatsu U2000”. Curt and I both drew our games, but our middle boards --- Darren and Tom --- played in convincing style, both bringing home the full point. Darren did so with a nice combination, and Tom played a game which I thought is “Game of the Week” material, playing the White side of Dragon Yugoslav attack.

See for yourself:
http://team4545league.org/pgnplayer/pgnplayer.php?id=26022

Standings-wise we are on top of the table temporarily as there is still one game in the other match to play in our division. Best case, we’ll be a half point off the lead, worst just a point. Next round we’ll be facing Team “Point-Blank”. More to follow on that.

Round 1 Primates lose out to Kingfischers57 2.1 – 1.5

On paper I thought this round would be, well much easier than it turned out. Here was the lineup:

Campagnolo (2061) vs.eurander (2271)
nosalt (2051) vs. PrincessChess (1812)
Speedy-Reedy (2022) vs. tourettes (1703)
ivanson (1859) vs vollmerj (1632)

While I would be facing Eurander, rated 2271, the rest of the team would be playing opponents on average 200+ points lower. So I figured a 3 – 1 final score would be about right, but not as a loss. It did not bode well when Tom lost in a desperate time scramble after successfully trotting out the Alekhine as Black. (Alekhine, Tom, really the Alekhine? The Alekhine is not a real opening. And that is not opinion, but true fact). Then Darren and Curt both fought hard but had to settle for draws (Darren for example pushed unsuccessfully for well over 100 moves to try and get the win). I was also not successful, having a bit of pressure but overlooking a nice resource which converted the position to a dead drawn opposite colored bishop endgame. ThusKingfischers57 won 2.5 – 1.5.

Round 2
Next Round we face the Masagatsu Agatsu, and again we match up pretty well.

Here is the lineup:
Ptzz (2039) White vs Campagnolo (2061) Black
Zumbi (2038) Black vs. Nosalt (2051) White
Alexdb (1972) White vs. Speedy-Reedy (2022) Black
PaulKaspar (1921) Black vs. Ivanson (1859) White

T42 Commences and Primates Return

Tournament 42 kicks off on Tuesday, 28 July, and the Primates return for what should be another action-packed tournament full of great chess. I would hope that all the bad luck we suffered in T41 is gone forever and we are primed to return to our winning ways.

We have a couple changes to the team. First off, Darren joined us as the newest member of the team, Darren. Welcome, Darren! Don is taking a break to pursue academia again (good luck, Don!) and Trond is taking the summer off (enjoy your well-earned break, Trond).

As we get set to start another season, first and foremost to be a Primate is to remember that on this team :
- We play to enjoy chess and to improve.
- We support each other by “observing” each other’s games (schedule permitting of course). Post-Mortems are encouraged (another great learning tool).

We are seeded in the Magnolia Division, with what I think is a very competitive group of folks. But if everyone plays to their ability, we should well.
http://team4545league.org/tournament/t42/t42teams.html#Arbor

Stay Tuned!
- Bob

Updates on Rounds 3 & 4

The Primates are having the oddest tournament so far in Tournament 41. Well, when I say oddest, I mean bad but in a truly bizarro fashion. And the bizarre was in grand fashion in Round 3. Mind you, I knew we were having "issues" in the first two rounds, drawing games from winning positions and just losing games for no apparent reason. I told the team that we in some sense were overdue for some bad "luck" as things had gone so smoothly for us in tournaments 38, 39 & 40. So, while we had lost the first two rounds by the respectable same score 1.5 -2.5, I figured that a good solid victory would be just the medicine the chess doctor ordered. Man, was I wrong.

First, Trond misread his start time and showed 2 hours late -- forfeited. Again, this was Trond's first ever forfeit loss in a ton of tournaments. Did I mention this was his first ever forfeit? But Tom evened it right up in smashing fashion, leveling the score 1-1. So Bob and I were playing at near identical times; but Bob had to take a quick draw due to family emergency (everything turned out OK), and I managed to resign in an even position -- a first for me ever, OTB, ICC, correspondence. Incredible. So we go down in flames 1.5 - 2.5 for the third week in a row.

So halfway through T41 and we have lost more matches than in the first 3 tournament we played combined. To be fair, it will take a major miracle to get in the playoffs now.

OK, Round 4. We are playing team "Opening Drive". Here is the lineup.

Opening Drive v Primates of the Caribbean
Merciful (2137) - Campagnolo (2100): TBD
Hubris123 (2003) - Nosalt (2063): TBD
Kabrindra (1796) - Ivanson (1833): Monday, May 25 1600
Badmove (1522) - Budzo (1708): Monday, May 25 1000

Updates on Rounds 1 & 2

I got a little behind in my reporting, so this will be a combination of a wrap up of Round 1 plus a look ahead to Round 2.

Round 1. At the risk of repeating myself, “we matched up well against our first round opponents.” Actually, Tom and I were higher rated than our opponents, while Curt and Bob were lower rated. And to Curt’s & Bob’s credit, they acquitted themselves quite well, drawing both games. But then… the wheels came off the cart, as Tom drew after being 2 pawns in an opposite colored bishop ending (as he states, “I got complacent.”). I however played the worst game of chess in a long time, get in horrible time pressure then blow a completely even game. Argh!!!!! So we lose the first round 2.5 – 1.5 to the team “4hourslife”.


So, onto round 2.
Here is the lineup: Primates of the Caribbean v Opening Drive
Campagnolo (2100) v Merciful (2137): Wednesday, 13 May @ 2100
Nosalt (2063) v Hubris123 (2003): 0-1
Ivanson (1833) v Upsan 1826: ½ - ½
Budzo (1708) v cityprosecutor (1806): Wednesday, 13 May @ 2000

T41 has arrived!

Just a quick note in order to keep every up to speed on T41. It has seemed like years since the end of Tournament 40.In T41, we have been placed in the U2000 Willow division with the teams “4hourslife”,” Opening Drive” & “OWNAGE” --- 3 other teams we have never faced. As for the team, the lineup consists of Myself, Tom, Trond, Curt & Bob. Don is taking a break and Trond will be serving as the “Official Sub”. Of note Kristian will be playing for his old team, "Marvelous Moves Clique II in the Magnolia Division. Good luck, Kristian!

Our team averages a respectable 1988, so I believe we should be pretty competitive. As Round 1 will be starting this Tuesday, we are soon to find out. As soon as the round 1 pairings are posted, I will follow up.

Lower Primates crash out in Semis

It was not meant to be. I guess that it how I should phrase our semi-final match against the team “Fischer Disciples”. On paper we matched up quite well, but once we got to the “practical application” we just couldn’t put our erstwhile opponents away. It had started auspiciously enough with Tom winning quite easily on Board 2. With the first set of tiebreaks being even, the second set would be taking the score of the top 3. So, all it required was for the team to get one point between the two of us and we would go to the finals. However, I knew that I faced a very tough match against Ser-Enigma, who was undefeated in this tournament. Plus I had Black. Ooof. Don would also have Black, but he possessed a higher rating than his opponent, so I estimated Don’s chances to win better than mine. Curt’s game on Board 4 would only matter if Don and I failed, but Curt would be facing an opponent over 200 points higher, so he had a pretty formidable challenge on his hands.
Ser-Enigma surprised the heck out me by playing this offbeat Benko-line (anti-Benko line?), the third guy I have faced in a row with Black that has chosen to play against my Benko (and the third guy to whom I have lost). It was a bit frustrating; each time getting a reasonable position then missing some form of tactic. Argh. I guess I should expect folks to tee up against my Benko and I just need to play it better (and isn’t that the whole point?).
The Curt also lost, but as long as Don won, we would advance. And Don played a beautiful game, had a completely crushing position, then got into time trouble. From there it all went awry as his opponent could exchange sac and get a perpetual, which he did. So we lost 2.5 – 1.5. Oh well.
Still, we had a great tournament, we made the playoffs (which was my goal) and we got to the semi-finals.
So now, I am making preparations for Tournament 41, so stay tuned!