Round 4: Riordan-Cherniack 0-1

Riordan runs into trouble with the clock again. Charles achieves a nice advantage out of the opening but gives it up and then runs out of time well before move 40.

[Event "BCC Championship"]
[Site "Somerville, MA USA"]
[Date "2004.09.29"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Riordan, Charles"]
[Black "Cherniack, Alex”]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteUSCF "2258"]
[BlackUSCF "2228"]
[ECO "A45"]
[Opening "Trompowsky Attack"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 c5 3.dxc5 Qa5+ 4.Qd2 Qxc5 5.Nc3 h6

[5...d6 appears to be the standard move here]

6.Bxf6 gxf6 7.e4 h5

[7...d6 8.0-0-0 Bd7 9.f4 Nc6 10.Nd5 +/= Bletz-Heidl, Hessen 1992 1-0 (24)]

8.f4 Bh6 9.Nd5 Na6 10.Ne2

[Fritz prefers 10.b4 Qd6 11.Bxa6 bxa6 12.c4 Bb7 13.c5 Qb8 14.Ne2 +/-]

10...Nc7 11.Nec3 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 Kf8 13.a4 b6 14.Ra3 Bb7 15.Rd3 Rc8

16.Nc3?

[A mistake which hands the advantage to Black, White could have maintained a slightly better position with 16.Rc3 Qd6 17.Rxc8+ Bxc8 18.g3]

16...d6 17.g3 f5

[17...Qb4 could be considered]

18.Bh3 e6

[Again, 18...Qb4 looks strong]

19.Rxd6 fxe4 20.Qd4?! Qxd4 21.Rxd4 Ke7 22.Nb5?

[A bad move in a bad position, time pressure must have been acute at this point]

22...Rxc2 23.0-0 0-1 [White lost on time]