Round 5: Cherniack-Martirosov 0-1

It was not a good night to be named Alex. White blunders first the exchange and then a piece. As a result, Vadim remains undefeated and within striking distance of the leader.

[Event "BCC Championship"]
[Site "Somerville, MA USA"]
[Date "2004.10.06"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Cherniack, Alex"]
[Black "Martirosov, Vadim”]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteUSCF "2228"]
[BlackUSCF "2198"]
[ECO "D35"]
[Opening "Queen’s Gambit Declined"]
[Variation "Exchange"]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 Nf6 6.e3 Bf5 7.h3 0-0 8.Nge2 Re8 9.g4 Be6 10.Bg2 c5 11.0-0 Nc6 12.Rc1 cxd4 13.Nxd4 Rc8 14.g5 Nd7 15.Nxd5 Bxg5 16.Nxc6

[16.Nb5!? Bxf4 17.Nxf4 +/- Fritz]

16...bxc6 17.Bxg5 Qxg5 18.Nf4 Nf8 19.Nxe6 Rxe6 20.Qg4 Qe5 21.Qd4 Qa5 22.a3

[Better is 22.b4 Qxa2 23.Ra1 Qe2 24.Rxa7 +/= Fritz]

22...Rg6 23.Rc5 Qb6

24.b4??

[24.Qb4 was necessary]

24...Ne6 25.Qd7 Rd8 26.Qxc6 Nxc5 27.Qxc5 Qb7 28.f3 Qd7 29.Kh1 Qd2 30.Rg1 h6 31.Qxa7 Qf2 32.f4 Rg3 33.Qe7 Qd2 34.Qh4 Rxe3 35.Qg4 Rxa3 36.b5 Qb2 37.Qf5 Ra1 38.Bd5??

[Another blunder, though the game was already lost]

38...Rxg1+ 39.Kxg1 Qd4+ 0-1