Dr. Kistler wins 7th Watertown Championship in 8 Years
by Don Klug
Dr. David Kistler squeezed and then pounced on Robert Kratzat’ s position in game four of the 2017 WCC Championship Match to win a 3-1 victory in December. Mr. Kratzat had upset the higher rated expert with a game three win to cut his deficit to 2-1, which created the excitement of a possible upset. A game four win would give Bob Kratzat the championship. It was not to be.
With just one game remaining in the match, David Kistler needed only a draw to re-capture the club title he chose not to defend after 2015. Dr. Kistler was only able to play nine games of a 30 game 2017 schedule, but he scored just enough points to qualify as the 4th seed in the Club Championship Matches. Dr. Kistler defeated #1 seed and defending champion Adolfo Prieto 1.5-0.5 in a semi-final championship match in November while Mr. Kratzat qualified with a 1.5-0.5 match win over #2 seed Don Klug. Fourteen players participated in the 2017 Watertown club eight tournament thirty plus game season.
Dr. Kistler displayed his classic style in game four by squeezing an opponent until something bursts!
Dr. Kistler, David (2001) – Kratzat, Robert (1690) [B07]
WCC 2017 Championship Finals (rd. 4), Dec. 27, 2017
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.f3 Nbd7 4.Be3 e5 5.d5 Be7 6.c4 b6 [6…Nc5 …the new Fritz 16 suggest 6… Nc5 while the older Fritz 11 suggests; 6…0–0 7.Nc3 Nc5] 7.Nc3 0–0 8.Qd2 h6 9.0–0–0 Nh7 10.g3 a6 [again, both Fritz engines suggest… 10…Nc5 as a way to open lines for Black’s queen bishop.] 11.Bd3 Bg5 [11…Nc5] 12. f4 exf4 13.gxf4 Bf6 14.Nf3 [White now has very nice open lines directed towards the black king position. Both engines favor white by +1 to +1.5 points.] 14…Nc5 15.Bc2 Re8 16.e5 dxe5 17.fxe5 Bxe5 18.Nxe5 Rxe5.
At this point in the game White has a very strong centralized position in spite of the pawn deficit. White’s offered sacrifice of 19.Bxh6! left Black to decide whether to give back the pawn or allow his position to be ripped or ‘burst’ open. (See position below)
XABCDEFGHY
8r+lwq-+k+(
7+-zp-+pzpn’
6pzp-+-+-vL&
5+-snPtr-+-%
4-+P+-+-+$
3+-sN-+-+-#
2PzPLwQ-+-zP”
1+-mKR+-+R!
xabcdefghy
Black decided on 19…g6. [Of interest is … 19…gxh6 20.Rdg1+ Ng5 21.h4]
The game continued with, 20. Qd4 Nd7
[The alternative analysis 20…Qf6 is of interest. 21. Rhf1 Rf5.]
XABCDEFGHY
8r+l+-+k+(
7+-zp-+p+n’
6pzp-+-wqpvL&
5+-snP+r+-%
4-+PwQ-+-+$
3+-sN-+-+-#
2PzPL+-+-zP”
1+-mKR+R+-!
xabcdefgh
(Analysis position of Kistler-Kratzat match game four)
- Rhg1 Qe8 22.Bf4 Rh5 23.Rde1 Qd8 [Both players suggested the merit of 23…Qf8 during post game analysis.] With this final move 24.Bxg6!!, the position bursts open! 1–0.
With this move, Black graciously resigns the game and match. The four game match victory returns Dr. Kistler as the Watertown Chess Club Champion, his 7th club championship since 2010.
Dr. Kistler is pictured below holding the Watertown Chess Club Championship Trophy.
Kunz and Klug tie in Watertown’s Holiday Invitational Chess Tournament
The Watertown Chess Club annual Invitational Tournament, held concurrent to the Club’s Championship, invites local non-club chess players to play in the non-rated event. Former club member John Kunz, whose professional career prevents regular scheduled events, tied with Don Klug at +3-1=0 for the tournament title. Six players enjoyed the event held each holiday season from Thanksgiving till just before Christmas. Adolfo Prieto defeated Klug in round two, but was unable to complete the event.
Watertown Chess ClubAdmin