U.S. Chess League Week 2 Quiz
By Jennifer Shahade   
September 5, 2008
In the second week of U.S. Chess League action,Miami Sharks, Boston Blitz and the Queens Pioneers vaulted to 2-0 with respective wins against the New York Knights, the Carolina Cobras and the New Jersey Knockouts. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Inventors defeated Baltimore and the Dallas Destiny won against expansion team Arizona Scorpions. Check out Greg Shahade's video recaps and the official website for many daily links to blogs, Game of the Week results and news on the league. 

This week, Chess Life Online is also offering up to $30 worth of USCL store merchandise for the first person to answer all the puzzles correctly plus a special trivia question. If there are no perfect answers as of Monday, September 8 , Noon EST, the entry with the most correct answers up to that point will win the prize (Each puzzle worth 1 points, Triva question is worth 4 points). Login as a member and post your answers as a comment to this article. Include your email in your answer or email [email protected] if you'd prefer to keep your email private. Sorry, previous winners, USCL players and managers are not eligible. 

USCL Week 2 Highlight Quiz
(2 points each)

1.
16...Nd7.jpg
White to Move



  Victor Shen (NJ Knockouts) just played Nd7, a typical Sicilian move. How did Benjamin Katz (Queens' Pioneers) cause him to resign just a few moves later?

2.
20...a4.jpg
White to Move



Board one GM Julio Becerra led the Miami Sharks to a crushing 3.5-0.5 win against the New York Knights. What thematic positional move did he play against GM Pascal Charbonneau in the above position?

3.
Vovshabestplan10..dxe5.jpg
White to Move



In this theoretical variation of the Pirc Defense, Eli Vovsha of the Queens' Pioneers used a strong plan against Mackenzie Molner of the New Jersey Knockouts. What should he play?

4.
VovshaMolner.jpg
Black to Move



10 moves later in Vovsha-Molner, White just played Bxe6 and Black responded fxe6 but lost quickly after 20.Bg5+ Bf6 21.Bxf6 Nxf6 22.Nf5. What would White do if Black played Kxe6 in the above position?

5.
17.Rxd5.jpg
Black to Move



What is Black's best move in this wild tactical position from Daniel Rensch (Arizona Scorpions)-John Bartholomew (Dallas Destiny)?

6.
41.Re6.jpg
Black to Move


In Evan Ju (NJ Knockouts)-Alex Lenderman (Queens' Pioneers), Evan (Ed. correction 9/6/08)  just played Re6, but this is a mistake. Why?

7.
32.g5.jpg
Black to Move



  How did Bayarra Zorigt (Dallas Destiny) win material against Warren Harper (Arizona Scorpions) in the above position?

8.
42.Nxd7.jpg
Black to Move

Slava Mikhaliuk of the Seattle Sluggers just played Nd7 against Peter Bereolos of the Tennessee Tempo. Does Black have a good continuation?

9. USCL Trivia Question (partial credit possible/points deducted for incorrect answers)

List all the players on this week's roster who were fresh off a victory (or tie for first place) in a State Champ or Grand Prix over Labor Day weekend. (1 point for each correct answer)