Thursday, May 31, 2012

#1035 Coroner Wins May Mania B Section!

This afternoon I defeated "antiseptic" to take clear 1st in section B of May Mania!

Here is the game:

A00 Grob's Opening!!
antiseptic 1842 - jmoldovan 1934


I got an advantage out of the opening and lost it with mistakes at moves 24 and 26. However, my time-troubled opponent also faltered and soon lost his Q.

PGN

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

#1034 Anand Wins Playoff, Retains Title

Viswanathan Anand won the 4-game rapid playoff over Boris Gelfand 2.5-1.5, to retain his World Championship title.

4th game drawn:

[Event "World Championship"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.05.30"]
[Round "13.4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[PlyCount "111"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. d4 Ngf6 5. e5 Qa5+ 6. Nc3 Ne4 7. Bd2 Nxc3 8. Bxd7+ Bxd7 9. Bxc3 Qa6 10. exd6 exd6 11. Qe2+ Qxe2+ 12. Kxe2 f6 13. b3 $146 Bb5+ 14. Kd2 Bc6 15. Rad1 Kf7 16. Kc1 Be7 17. d5 Bd7 18. Bb2 b5 19. Nd2 a5 20. Rhe1 Rhe8 21. Re3 f5 22. Rde1 g5 23. c4 b4 24. g3 Bf8 25. Rxe8 Bxe8 26. Nf3 Kg6 27. Re6+ Kh5 28. h3 Bf7 29. Rf6 Bg6 30. Re6 Re8 31. Bf6 g4 32. hxg4+ Kxg4 33. Nh2+ Kh3 34. Nf3 f4 35. gxf4 Kg4 36. Ng5 Ra8 37. Re3 Kf5 38. Bb2 a4 39. Ne6 Bh6 40. Rh3 Bxf4+ 41. Nxf4 Kxf4 42. Bf6 Ra7 43. Re3 Be4 44. Bh4 axb3 45. Bg3+ Kf5 46. axb3 Ra1+ 47. Kd2 Ra2+ 48. Ke1 Ra6 49. f3 Bb1 50. Kd2 h5 51. Kc1 h4 52. Bxh4 Kf4 53. Bg5+ Kxg5 54. Kxb1 Kf4 55. Re6 Kxf3 56. Kb2 1/2-1/2

3rd game drawn:

[Event "World Championship"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.05.30"]
[Round "13.3"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[PlyCount "126"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. Bd3 Nbd7 9. O-O Bd6 10. h3 O-O 11. Qc2 $146 Qe7 12. Rd1 Rac8 13. c5 Bb8 14. f4 Ne8 15. b4 g5 16. Rb1 f5 17. b5 gxf4 18. exf4 Nef6 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. Ba6 Rc7 21. Be3 Ne4 22. Rb2 g5 23. Rdb1 gxf4 24. Bxf4 e5 25. Bxe5 Nxe5 26. Rxb8 Ng6 27. Nxe4 fxe4 28. Qf2 Qg7 29. Kh2 Rcf7 30. Qg3 Nf4 31. R8b3 Qxg3+ 32. Rxg3+ Kh7 33. Rd1 Ne6 34. Be2 Rf2 35. Bg4 Nf4 36. Rb1 Rf7 37. Rb8 Rxa2 38. Rc8 e3 39. Rxe3 Rxg2+ 40. Kh1 Rd2 41. Rxc6 Ne6 42. Rf3 Rxf3 43. Bxf3 Nxd4 44. Rc7+ Kh6 45. Bxd5 Rc2 46. Be4 Rc3 47. Kh2 Kg5 48. Rd7 Nf3+ 49. Bxf3 Rxf3 50. Rxa7 Rc3 51. Rc7 Kf5 52. c6 Ke6 53. h4 Kd6 54. Rc8 Ra3 55. Kg2 Re3 56. Kh2 Ra3 57. Kg2 Re3 58. h5 Re5 59. h6 Rh5 60. Rh8 Kxc6 61. Rh7 Kd6 62. Kg3 Ke6 63. Kg4 Rh1 1/2-1/2

Anand wins game 2:

[Event "World Championship"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.05.30"]
[Round "13.2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "153"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. b3 e5 6. Nxe5 Qe7 7. d4 $146 d6 8. Nxc6 Qxe4+ 9. Qe2 Qxe2+ 10. Kxe2 Bb7 11. Na5 Bxg2 12. Rg1 Bh3 13. dxc5 dxc5 14. Nc3 O-O-O 15. Bf4 Bd6 $2 16. Bxd6 Rxd6 17. Rg5 Nf6 18. Rxc5+ Kb8 19. Nc4 Re8+ 20. Ne3 Ng4 21. Ncd5 Nxe3 22. Nxe3 Bg4+ 23. f3 Bc8 24. Re1 Rh6 25. Rh1 Rhe6 26. Rc3 f5 27. Kd2 f4 28. Nd5 g5 29. Rd3 Re2+ 30. Kc1 Rf2 31. h4 Ree2 32. Rc3 Bb7 33. Rd1 gxh4 34. Nxf4 Re8 35. Rh1 Rc8 36. Rxc8+ Bxc8 37. Rxh4 Bf5 38. Rh5 Bxc2 39. Rb5+ Ka8 40. Nd5 a6 41. Ra5 Kb7 42. Nb4 Bg6 43. Nxa6 Rxf3 44. Nc5+ Kb6 45. b4 Rf4 46. a3 Rg4 47. Kd2 h5 48. Nd7+ Kb7 49. Ne5 Rg2+ 50. Kc3 Be8 51. Nd3 h4 52. Re5 Bg6 53. Nf4 Rg3+ 54. Kd4 Bc2 55. Rh5 Rxa3 56. Rxh4 Rg3 57. Nd5 Rg5 58. b5 Bf5 59. Rh6 Bg4 60. Rf6 Rf5 61. Rb6+ Ka7 62. Rg6 Bf3 63. Rg7+ Kb8 64. Nc3 Bb7 65. Kc4 Bf3 66. Kb4 Bd5 67. Na4 Rf7 68. Rg5 Bf3 69. Nc5 Kc7 70. Rg6 Kd8 71. Ka5 Rf5 72. Ne6+ Kc8 73. Nd4 Rf8 74. Nxf3 Rxf3 75. Kb6 Rb3 76. Rg8+ Kd7 77. Rb8 1-0

Game 1 drawn:

[Event "World Championship"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.05.30"]
[Round "13.1"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[PlyCount "64"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O e5 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. e4 exd4 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 h6 13. b3 $146 Ne5 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. Re1 Re8 16. Bb2 Bd7 17. Qd2 Qf6 18. g3 Rac8 19. a4 $6 Qf3 20. Be4 Qxb3 21. Reb1 Bxg3 $1 22. Ra3 Qb6 23. Bxd4 Bxh2+ 24. Kxh2 Qd6+ 25. Rg3 Rxe4 26. Bxg7 Kh7 27. Rxb7 Rg8 28. Qxh6+ $6 Qxh6+ 29. Bxh6 Rxg3 30. Kxg3 Bc8 31. Rc7 Kxh6 32. Rxc8 Rxa4 1/2-1/2

Friday, May 25, 2012

#1033 Goeller Wins Ellner Memorial

Michael Goeller won the 5th Irving Ellner Memorial, held at the Kenilworth Chess Club from April 12th thru last night. He scored 5.0/6, yielding just 2 draws.

Lev Zilbermintz finished 2nd. LM Mark Kernighan was 3rd. Greg Tomkovich won the U1900 prize while Robert Vinson and Pat Mazzillo tied for U1500 honors.

For Michael's notes to his 2nd, 4th and 5th round games, visit The Kenilworthian.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

#1032 Ellner Memorial - Round 6 Pairings (Corrected)

Here are the revised board by board pairings for the Ellner Memorial's final round on Thursday 5/24:

1. Vinson - Goeller
2. Zilbermintz - O'Connor
3. Sherer - Kernighan
4. Sturniolo - Tomkovich
5. McAuliffe - Pelican
6. Ruales - Mazzillo

Senyatkin: 1 point bye
Constantino: 0 point bye
Dr. Lewis: 0 point bye.

Prizes (minimum): 1st $100, 2nd $50, 3rd $25, Best under 1900 $20, U1500 $20.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

#1031 May Mania - Round 3

Tonight, I won my 3rd round May Mania game:

jmoldovan 1899 - GolfgutS 1837

D06 Queen's Gambit
Marshall's Defense


I was much better out of the opening but started going astray in the early middlegame. By move 34 the position was equal and my opponent had a K-side attack but, in mutual time trouble, he missed the advantageous 38...Rxh3+!

Several further errors by both sides followed but I ended-up being a lucky bastard for the 3rd straight week as Black missed at least 1 draw (44...Bxg2+!) and blundered with 47...Rg5?

PGN

Saturday, May 19, 2012

#1030 Minkov Wins West Orange Championship


Ari Minkov won the West Orange CC Championship, which was held March 13-May 8.

Minkov defeated Lev Zilbermintz in the final round, scored 6/7 overall and raised his rating past Expert level for the first time.

photo: Michael Goeller, 2005

Friday, May 18, 2012

#1029 Earlier Start For Westfield Quads

Starting on Sunday May 20, the Westfield Chess Club's Quads will begin at 2:15 p.m.

Those not registered by 2:00 p.m. may, at the directors' discretion, be excluded from the tournament or placed in a Swiss section.

Round times are expected to be 2:15, 4:05 and 5:55 p.m.

#1028 CZE Defeats USA

The Czech Republic has clinched victory in its correspondence match with the U.S. With 1 game left, we trail 26-23.

#1027 Ellner Memorial - Round 5

Here are the results of last night's Ellner Memorial games:

1. Goeller 1/2-1/2 Sherer
2. Zilbermintz 1/2-1/2 Kernighan
3. O'Connor 1-0 Tomkovich
4. Pelican 0-1 Vinson
5. Senyatkin 0-1 Sturniolo
6. Mazzillo 1/2-1/2 McAuliffe
7. Lewis 1-0 Ruales

Constantino received a 1 point bye.


Standings after 5 of 6 rounds:

1. Goeller 4.0
2. Zilbermintz 3.5
= 3-7. Kernighan, Sherer, O'Connor, Sturniolo, Vinson 3.0
= 8-9. Mangion (wd), Tomkovich 2.5
= 10-14. Lewis, Pelican, McAuliffe, Mazzillo, Constantino 2.0
15. Senyatkin 1.5
16. Ruales 1.0
17. Palakollu (wd) 0.5

The event concludes next Thursday night.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

#1026 Ellner Memorial - Round 5 Pairings

Here are the board by board pairings for round 5 of the Ellner Memorial on Thursday 5/17:

1. Goeller - Sherer
2. Zilbermintz - Kernighan
3. O'Connor - Tomkovich
4. Pelican - Vinson
5. Senyatkin - Sturniolo
6. Mazzillo - McAuliffe
7. Lewis - Ruales

Constantino receives a 1 point bye.
Mangion withdrew.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

#1025 May Mania - Round 2

Tonight, in round 2 of May Mania, I won an ugly game against Section B's #3 seed:

John Moldovan 1852 - CastleOO 1857

D35 Queen's Gambit
Exchange Variation


My 19.b4? gave Black an edge but he couldn't hold it and blundered with 26...Ra4?? However, I then hung a piece (30.Ne7+??) and missed 3 wins (30.Rc7, 35. Re8 & 38.Qg8+). Finally, my opponent's 50...f4?? turned an equal R-ending into a White victory

PGN

Friday, May 11, 2012

#1024 Ellner Memorial - Round 4

Here are the results of last night's Ellner Memorial games, by board number:

1. Kernighan 0- 1 Goeller
2. O'Connor 1/2-1/2 Sherer

3. Tomkovich 1-0 Mazzillo
4. Vinson 1/2-1/2 Senyatkin

5. Sturniolo 1-0 Lewis
6. McAuliffe 1-0 Constantino

Zilbermintz: 1/2 point bye
Pelican: 1/2 point bye
Mangion: 0.0 point bye
Ruales: 1 point bye


Standings after 4 of 6 Rounds

1. Goeller 3.5
2. Zilbermintz 3.0
= 3-6. Kernighan, Mangion, Sherer, Tomkovich 2.5
= 7-11. O'Connor, Pelican, Senyatkin, Sturniolo, Vinson 2.0
= 12-13. McAuliffe, Mazzillo 1.5
= 14-16. Lewis, Constantino, Ruales 1.0
17. Palakollu (wd) 0.5


Round 5 will be played on May 17th. The 6th/final round is May 24th.

#1023 Corr Update

Here's an update on my games in the Sweden-U.S. correspondence match:

D35 Queen's Gambit
Exchange Variation
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3

A21 English Opening
1.c4 g6 2.g3 Bg7 3.Bg2 d6 4.Nc3 e5

PGN of the games above.
PGN of all the SWE-USA games.

Friday, May 04, 2012

#1022 This Morning

This morning, on FICS, I won my May Mania opener:

jariv 1712 - John Moldovan 1814

C18 French Defense
Winawer Variation


At move 37, I mouse-slipped while trying to play 37...Rxf4 but my opponent, showing great sportsmanship, did not retreat his Bishop! I tried to return the favor by offering a draw, but he declined twice and blundered a few moves later.

Time-stamped PGN. Plain PGN

Annotations to follow.

#1021 Last Night

Last night I drew a Garden State League game at the Kenilworth Chess Club:

Aravind Kumar (DOCA) 1923 - John Moldovan (Summit) 1823

E58 Nimzo-Indian Defense
Rubinstein Variation


My opponent played the opening well and eventually got an edge but, with the match going in his team's favor (they won 3.5-0.5) and the clock in mine, he offered a Q trade instead of trying to squeeze with 25...Qc7.

PGN to copy & paste:

[Event "Garden State League 2011-12"]
[Site "Kenilworth, NJ"]
[Date "2012.05.03"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Moldovan, John"]
[Black "Kumar, Aravind"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E58"]
[WhiteElo "1823"]
[BlackElo "1923"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2011.10.06"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[Source "John Moldovan"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.04"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. Bd3 d5 7. O-O O-O 8. a3 Bxc3 9. bxc3 b6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. a4 Re8 12. Bb5 Bd7 13. Ba3 c4 14. Bxc6 Bxc6 15. Ne5 Qc7 16. Qc2 Nd7 17. Nxc6 Qxc6 18. Rfe1 Re6 19. a5 b5 20. f3 Rae8 21. Bc1 g6 22. Bd2 f5 23. Qb2 a6 24. Qb4 Nf6 25. Kf2 Qd6 26. Qxd6 Rxd6 27. Re2 Rde6 28. Rae1 Kf7 29. h4 h5 30. g3 R8e7 31. Ra1 1/2-1/2


Notes will follow

Wednesday, May 02, 2012

#1020 STC Update

The STC Bunch site is okay now and May Mania is proceeding as scheduled.

In round 1, I have Black against jariv.

Tuesday, May 01, 2012

#1019 SWE-USA Update

The clocks have officially started in Sweden vs. the U.S. 

8 of the games are into the 2nd time control and 1 of them, Thomas-K. Johansson, is already at move 14!

My opponent, however, has yet to play his 3rd move:

D31 Queen's Gambit
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3

A10 English Opening
1.c4 g6 2.g3 Bg7

PGN of all the games.

#1018 STC Bunch Site Hacked Again



The STC Bunch's website has been hacked again, just before the start of May Mania.

I entered the 4-SS, 40+20 tourney yesterday, to get some games in before the U.S. Amateur East, New Yorker Open, Chess Mates Championship and Kenilworth Summer Tournament, but now the event may be in doubt.

If we do play, my 1st round opponent in section B, where I am the 6th seed, will likely be 1722-rated Jariv.

#1017 Correspondence Update

It's been a while since I've posted an update on Team USA's correspondence matches.

The Czech Republic leads us 24.5-22.5 with 3 games remaining.

The match vs. Italy is over. We lost 48.5-33.5, despite 2-0 efforts from Jon Leisner (board 24), Karl Gellert (board 28) and Kyle Biedermann (board 33).

There is 1 game left in ARG-USA, 2 to go in UKR-USA, and 10 in GER-USA.