CHESS
32. cxd5?
Again, White should avoid the
exchange of rooks by playing 32.
Red1 d4=/+
32...c4?
Black misses an opportunity to
go into a favorable endgame with
32...Rxe1 33. Rxe1 Rxe1 where the
poor position of the white queen
leads to White’s eventual demise.
33. Rxe7 Qxe7 34. Rd1
White finally realizes that the
best he can hope for is a draw, and
attempts to coordinate his pieces.
34...Qe3+ 35. Kg2 Qe4+ 36. Kh3
White gives back his pawn but
ensures the exchange of queens,
leading to an approximately level
endgame. After 36. Kg1 Black
should take the draw with 36...Qe3+
since 36...Qxf5 gives White the
advantage after 37. Bh3 Qg6.
36... Qxf5+ 37. Kh4 Qg6
The threat of Bf1-h3 forces
Black to seek this exchange.
38. Qh5 Rc8 39. Bh3 Qxh5+ 40.
Kxh5
With an eventual draw in the
unclear endgame.
1/2-1/2
“Chess is mental torture”
— Garry Kasparov
HORIZONS
85th Western MA & CT Valley
by Ed Kostreba
The Western Mass. and
Connecticut Valley Championship is
the longest running trophy only
tournament in the United States. It is
sponsored each year by the Western
Massachusetts Chess Association
(W.M.C.A.). It is a 5 round tournament with only one section, and r e cognizes top finishers for each class of
player. The championship drew 29
players from Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, Vermont, and Connecticut.
It was held at our best site yet: the
Kittredge Center at Holyoke
Community College (H.C.C.), made
possible by our contact at