FM Ron Young's predictions - Week 9
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by FM Ron Young                       
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We have here a rematch on board one and Stripunsky
pressed Charbonneau last time with black but I expect
Pascal to have used his doghouse time to work his
Sicilian into shape and think this match will have to
be decided elsewhere. The guys on board two are both
pretty tricky but Enkhbat was on the wrong end of last
week’s trickiness while Braylovsky has yet to taste
the bitters of defeat. The odds look generous, so put
five yuchtmans on Braylovsky. I’ll be Noble and say
that Shahade Borders on Amazon, and the Book, if you
set Store in such things, favors white but as far as
betting goes, I’d just put another two materas on
Braylovsky. Eisen used to be reliably 1 e4 e5 but
given the frightening attack Rouleau likes to employ
in the double king pawn opening, look for 1...g6 or
1...Nf6 today. I’m not sure I meant to pick NY here
but I seem to have written myself into a corner so
I’ll say now they do win by the odd game.

Larry C is a huge fave but I wouldn’t go near that
unless the singles in my pocket were so grungy they
were about to disintegrate. Costigan’s London System
last week turned out not so solid so I think he’ll let
fly this time. Friedel should be able to duck, though,
and maybe even respond with a few rocks of his own.
Five joshis on Friedel. And I pick Boston to win, but
only with the minimum passing score.

This match looks like the toughest this week. I
predict a tie but lean slightly to San Francisco. Bhat
made a great debut a couple weeks ago, albeit with the
aid of a very poor opening by Kaminsky. Add the odds,
though, he might be worth putting a few ramayrats on.
So plunk down five on Bhat.

I am told that the Carolina-Miami match has been
postponed. Too bad, as I saw Milman springing a few
knight forks on Becerra and leading the Miracle ‘Bras
to the upset of the season.