#1258 Hamilton Quads 8/26/2017

On Saturday I split 2 games in the Hamilton Quads.

Notes to the Ahuja game updated 9/10/2017 @ 6:32 a.m.

[Event "Hamilton Quads (Section 3)"] [Site "Hamilton, NJ"] [Date "2017.08.24"] [Round "1"] [White "Moldovan, John"] [Black "Ahuja, Shikhar"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B41"] [WhiteElo "1814"] [BlackElo "1757"] [Annotator "Moldovan,John"] [PlyCount "89"] [EventDate "2017.08.24"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "3"] [EventCountry "USA"] [Source "The Chess Coroner #1258"] [SourceDate "2017.08.29"] [SourceVersion "2"] [SourceVersionDate "2017.09.10"] [SourceQuality "1"] {Board 1 Time Control: 40/80+15/30... B41 Sicilian Defense Kan Variation (by transposition - 7.e4)} 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. a3 $5 {(?! HIARCS 14's opening book)} (6. e4 $142 Bb4 $140 7. Qd3 {Holub - Barta : Prague 1955}) (6. g3 $5 Qc7 7. Bg2 Qxc4 8. Bf4 $44 {(Friedman - Bodisko & Friedman - Charmov : correspondence 1975) does not impress.}) 6... b6 (6... d5 $142 7. cxd5 Nxd5 {Holm - Sznapik : Nordic Team Tournament, Oslo 1983} ) 7. e4 {[#] This is the 3rd time in 10 days that I've transposed from the Symmetrical English to an Open Sicilian.} Qc7 (7... Bb7 $5 {Skreno - Likavsky : Ilichevsk 2002} 8. e5 $140 $146 Ng8 $1 {was an option.} (8... Ne4 $143 $6 9. Nxe4 Bxe4 10. Qg4 $14)) 8. Be2 (8. Be3 $1 Bb7 9. f3 d5 $140 $4 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Rc1 {(Barrio - Hernansanz : Eibar 2013) is precise.}) 8... Bb7 9. Qd3 (9. f3 d5 $140 $2 {As in the previous note, this "freeing" move is mistaken.} 10. cxd5 exd5 {Ernst - M. Carlsson : Swedish Championship, Gavle 1982} 11. Bg5 $16 {(TN) was a good, more solid alternative.}) 9... d6 {/\ ...Nbd7 + either 11... Ne5 or 11...Nc5. So, White has to find a way to prevent &/or neutralize both.} 10. f4 Nbd7 11. Nb3 (11. b4 $142 {Queimadelos - S. Kovacevic : Pedrido 2004 but I was worried about weakening c4.}) 11... Be7 12. Be3 O-O 13. O-O {[#] These Hedgehog positions are very demanding & not my cup of tea but I didn't think a draw-offer was in order.} Rac8 $146 (13... Rfd8 14. Rad1 Rab8 15. Kh1 Bc6 16. Nd2 Nc5 17. Qc2 {was played in Jacobsen - Nogues : London 1927.}) 14. a4 (14. Rad1 $142) 14... Qb8 15. a5 Nc5 16. Nxc5 bxc5 17. Bf3 Bc6 18. g4 { /\ 19.g5, dislodging the Nf6 & relieving some of the pressure against e4.} h6 { [#]} ({Of course} 18... Qxb2 $4 {loses to} 19. Rfb1) {We've played well to this point but have used an inordinate amount of time - 42:24 for me, 49:50 for my foe.} 19. Rfd1 $6 {Indecisive.} ({A full K-side commitment with} 19. h4 {would've maintained the balance.}) 19... Nh7 {Now Black is better.} ({Daniel Girsh's} 19... Nd7 {was a good alternative:} 20. Qe2 Rfd8 (20... g5 $143 $6 21. Rf1 $11) 21. Qf2 Bf6 (21... g5 $6 22. Rf1 $11) 22. h4 Bxc3 23. bxc3 Nf6 24. Qg2 Qa8 25. g5 hxg5 26. hxg5 Nxe4 $15) 20. Qe2 $2 (20. Rab1 $142 $15) 20... f5 $2 ( 20... Rfd8 $142 $17) 21. exf5 Bxf3 22. Qxf3 exf5 23. Nd5 Bf6 $2 (23... Rce8 $142 $11) 24. Nb6 $2 {[#]} (24. g5 $142 $16) 24... fxg4 $4 (24... Rce8 $142 $11 ) 25. Qd5+ $18 Kh8 26. Nxc8 Rxc8 27. Qxd6 Qxb2 28. Qxa6 Re8 $2 (28... Rg8 $142) 29. Rab1 $2 ({Much} 29. Qb5 $142 $1 Rxe3 (29... Qxb5 $143 30. cxb5 Bxa1 31. Rxa1 Rxe3 32. a6) 30. Qxb2 Bxb2 31. Rd8+ Nf8 32. Rxf8+ Kh7 33. Ra2 Bd4 34. Kf1) 29... Qe2 $6 (29... Qa3 $142 30. Bf2 Bd4 31. Bxd4 cxd4) 30. Re1 Qd3 {[#]} ( 30... Qf3 31. Bxc5 {was little or no better.}) 31. Bf2 $6 {This covers g3} ({ but} 31. Bxc5 $142 Rxe1+ 32. Rxe1 Bd4+ 33. Bxd4 Qxd4+ 34. Kh1) 31... Rf8 32. Qe6 (32. Qc6 $142 Qxc4 33. Qd6 {/\ Rb8}) 32... Bd4 33. Bxd4 Qxd4+ 34. Kh1 $6 ( 34. Qe3 $142 $1 Qxc4 35. Ra1) 34... Qf2 $2 (34... Qc3 $142 35. Qxg4 Nf6 36. Qg2 Qxa5) 35. Qxg4 Rxf4 (35... Nf6 $142 36. Qg2 Qxf4) 36. Qg3 Qd4 37. Rg1 $6 (37. a6 $142 Qxc4 $140 38. Rb8+ Rf8 (38... Nf8 $143 39. a7) 39. a7) 37... Ng5 38. Rbd1 $4 {[#]} (38. a6 $142 $18) 38... Qe4+ $2 (38... Ne4 $142 $1 39. Rxd4 Nxg3+ 40. hxg3 Rxd4 41. a6 Rd7 $16) 39. Qg2 Qxc4 40. Qd5 $2 (40. Qb7 $142 $18) 40... Qxd5+ $2 (40... Qa6 $142 $16) 41. Rxd5 $18 Nh3 $2 (41... Ra4 $142 42. Rxc5 Ne4 {& White has to show technique.}) 42. Ra1 {Now, the win is easy.} Rg4 {Threat: 43...Nf2 mate.} 43. Rd2 {Defending.} c4 44. a6 c3 45. Rc2 {Black resigns. Time left - Moldovan 28:08 (for 10 moves), Ahuja 27:00 (for 11) Time used - Moldovan 81:52, Ahuja 83:00 Longest thinks: White - 8:48 for 9.Qd3, Black - 12:12 for 17...Bc6 Game length - 2:44:52} ({After} 45. Rc2 Kh7 {/\ 46.Rxc3?? Nf2 mate} (45... Rc4 46. a7 Rc8 (46... Nf2+ 47. Rxf2 c2 48. a8=Q+ Kh7 49. Rxc2 Rxc2 50. Qe4+ Kg8 51. Qxc2 $18 {->}) 47. Rxc3 $1 ({or simply} 47. a8=Q Rxa8 48. Rxa8+ Kh7 49. Rxc3 $18) 47... Rxc3 48. a8=Q+ Kh7 49. Qe4+ $18 {->} Kg8 (49... g6 50. Qe7+ Kg8 ({or} 50... Kh8 {etc.}) 51. Ra8+ Rc8 52. Rxc8#) (49... Kh8 50. Ra8+ Rc8 51. Rxc8#) 50. Qe6+ Kh8 (50... Kf8 51. Ra8+ Rc8 52. Rxc8#) 51. Ra8+ Rc8 (51... Kh7 52. Qf5+ g6 53. Qf7#) 52. Rxc8+ Kh7 53. Qe4+ g6 54. Qe7#) (45... Rf4 46. a7 Nf2+ 47. Rxf2 Rxf2 48. a8=Q+ $18 {->}) (45... Rg5 46. a7 Kh7 47. a8=Q $18) 46. a7 {a8Q follows.}) 1-0 [Event "Hamilton Quads (Section 3)"] [Site "Hamilton, NJ"] [Date "2017.08.24"] [Round "2"] [White "Chapovsky, Boris"] [Black "Moldovan, John"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C04"] [WhiteElo "1778"] [BlackElo "1814"] [Annotator "Moldovan,John"] [PlyCount "91"] [EventDate "2017.08.24"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "3"] [EventCountry "USA"] [Source "The Chess Coroner #1258"] [SourceDate "2017.08.29"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2017.08.29"] [SourceQuality "1"] {Board 1 Time Control: 40/80+15/30... C04 French Defense Guimard Variation} 1. e4 e6 (1... g6) ({&} 1... c6 {were considered.}) 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 {[#]} 4. Ne2 $5 {Something I've never seen before. However, the move dates back to Aaltio - E. Haag : Budapest 1959.} dxe4 {This is okay but} (4... e5 $1 5. exd5 $140 Qxd5 6. dxe5 {Connolly - DeKok : Viborg 1979} Bg4 $1 $44 {was a more vigorous & thematic response.}) 5. Nxe4 Nf6 6. Nxf6+ Qxf6 7. c3 $146 ({There have been 9 games with} 7. Be3 {. Crawley - Sorensen : Politiken Cup, Copenhagen 1987 was the 1st.}) 7... Bd6 $6 (7... e5 $142 $1 8. d5 $140 Bc5 $3 9. dxc6 $4 Qxf2+ 10. Kd2 Bf5 $19 {threat: 11...Be3 mate, 11...0-0-0 mate and 11...Rd8 mate.}) 8. Ng3 O-O 9. Ne4 (9. Nh5 $143 $2 Qh4 $15) 9... Qg6 10. Nxd6 cxd6 {[#] I thought my 3-step lead in development was worth more than White's B pair but, apparently, it's not.} 11. Qd3 e5 (11... f5 $142 $11) 12. d5 $6 ( 12. Qxg6 $142 hxg6 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Bc4 Bf5 15. Bg5 $14) 12... Ne7 (12... Bf5 $142 13. Qg3 (13. Qb5 $2 Ne7 14. Qxb7 Rfe8 $17 {/\ ...Rab8 + ...Nxd5}) 13... Ne7 14. Qxg6 Bxg6 15. c4 b5 $1) 13. Qg3 $2 (13. Qxg6 $142 hxg6 14. c4 $11) 13... Qxg3 (13... Qe4+ $142 14. Be2 Qxd5 $17) 14. hxg3 Nxd5 15. Bd2 (15. f3 $142 Be6 16. g4 $15) 15... Be6 16. O-O-O Rac8 17. Kb1 Rfd8 (17... h6 $142 18. Be2 f5 19. Bf3 Rfd8 20. Bc1 Rc5 $17) 18. Bd3 h6 19. f3 {[#]} Nf6 $6 (19... f5 $142 $17) 20. g4 e4 $6 (20... d5 $142 21. g5 hxg5 22. Bxg5 d4 $15) 21. Be2 $6 ( 21. Bc2 $142 exf3 22. gxf3 Nh7 23. Be3 $11) 21... Bc4 $2 (21... Re8 $142 $15 22. g5 $140 exf3 $1 23. Bxf3 Bf5+ 24. Kc1 hxg5 25. Bxg5 Ne4) 22. Bxc4 Rxc4 23. g5 hxg5 24. Bxg5 exf3 25. gxf3 Rc5 26. f4 $6 (26. Bxf6 gxf6 27. Rd4 $44) 26... Rf5 27. Rd3 {[#]} d5 $4 (27... Rd7 $142 28. Rdh3 $140 Kf8 29. Rh8+ Ng8 $15) { Now White wins.} 28. Rdh3 $18 Kf8 29. Re1 Kg8 30. Re5 $1 Rxg5 $8 31. fxg5 Ne4 { Resigns was an option.} 32. Rd3 Nc5 33. Rdxd5 Rxd5 34. Rxd5 b6 35. Kc2 Ne6 36. b4 Kh7 37. c4 Kg6 38. c5 bxc5 39. bxc5 f6 40. gxf6 Kxf6 41. c6 Ke7 42. Rd7+ Ke8 43. Kc3 a6 44. Kc4 g5 45. Kd5 Nf4+ 46. Kd6 {Black resigns. A rare loss in the Guimard, just my 3rd in 13 tournament games (+7-3=3). Minutes left - Chapovsky 56 (for 9 moves), Moldovan 25 (for 10) Minutes used - Chapovsky 54, Moldovan 85 (for 10) Longest thinks: White - 6 minutes for 27.Rd3, Black - 7 minutes for 21...Bc4? Game length - 2:19 I skipped round 3.} 1-0

#1257 KST - Round 13 Annotations

My 1st place-clinching draw vs. Life Master Mark Kernighan:

[Event "Kenilworth Summer Tournament"] [Site "Kenilworth, NJ"] [Date "2017.08.24"] [Round "13"] [White "Moldovan, John"] [Black "Kernighan, Mark"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B54"] [WhiteElo "1814"] [BlackElo "2231"] [Annotator "Moldovan,John"] [PlyCount "70"] [EventDate "2017.06.01"] [EventRounds "14"] [EventCountry "USA"] [Source "The Chess Coroner #1257"] [SourceDate "2017.08.25"] [SourceVersion "2"] [SourceVersionDate "2017.08.25"] [SourceQuality "1"] {Board 1 G/55+5 (delay) B54 Sicilian Defense (by transposition - 6.e4)} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. Nc3 (4. d5 exd5 (4... b5 {is Blumenfeld's Gambit}) 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 {gives Black fewer options & is probably best but I'd rather have an English or Sicilian than test his Modern Benoni.}) 4... cxd4 (4... d5 { & a Tarrasch QGD is another way to play.}) 5. Nxd4 d6 (5... d5 $142 {as in my 2009 draw vs. Mangion}) (5... Nc6 {as in my 2010 loss to Sherry}) (5... Bb4) ({ &} 5... a6) 6. e4 a6 ({For} 6... Nc6 {see my 2015 GSCL win over Minkov.}) ({For } 6... Nbd7 {see my round 12 win over Dovydaitis.}) 7. Be3 Be7 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O {[#]} Nc6 ({For} 9... Nbd7 {see our 2009 Kenilworth Championship game.}) 10. Qd2 Bd7 11. Rad1 (11. Rfd1 {, /\ Rac1 (anticipating ...Qc7) + Bf1 & Qf2, was a good alternative. For example:} Rc8 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. f3 Qc7 14. Bf1 b6 15. Rac1 Qb8 16. b4 Rfd8 17. Qf2 Nd7 18. Rb1 Bf6 19. Bd4 b5 20. cxb5 axb5 21. a4 bxa4 22. b5 Bxd4 23. Qxd4 Bb7 24. Nxa4 d5 25. exd5 Bxd5 26. Qe3 Qd6 27. Rbc1 {½-½ Zaichik - Yudasin : Atlantic Open, Washington 2002}) 11... Qc7 12. Nxc6 $146 (12. f4 $142 $14) (12. f3 $14) ({&} 12. Rc1 $14 {Kernighan (Yeritsyan - V. Stefansson : Prague 2016, by transposition)} Ne5 $140 13. h3 $1 Nxc4 $2 14. Bxc4 Qxc4 15. Nd5 exd5 16. Rxc4 dxc4 17. f3 $16) 12... Bxc6 13. f3 Rfd8 14. Bd3 (14. Bd4 $142) 14... d5 15. exd5 exd5 16. Qf2 $2 {[#]} (16. cxd5 $142 Bxd5 ( 16... Nxd5 $2 17. Bxh7+ $1 $14) 17. Qf2 $11) 16... dxc4 $2 (16... d4 $142 $1 17. Bxd4 Rxd4 $1 18. Qxd4 Bxf3 $1 19. Qh4 $8 {Kernighan} Qc5+ 20. Kh1 Bxd1 21. Rxd1 (21. Rxf6 $143 g6 22. Nd5 Bxf6 23. Qxf6 Re8 24. Qc3 Re6 25. Nf6+ Rxf6 26. Qxf6 Ba4) 21... g6 $15) 17. Bxc4 Qe5 ({Of course, if} 17... Bxf3 {then} 18. Bxf7+ Kxf7 19. Qxf3) 18. Rfe1 Rxd1 19. Rxd1 Bd6 20. g3 Qe7 21. Nd5 Nxd5 22. Bxd5 Bxd5 23. Rxd5 Qe6 24. Qd2 Bc7 25. Kg2 (25. Rd7 $142 {right away.}) 25... Re8 {[#]} 26. Rd7 $2 {Now this is big mistake.} (26. Bf2 $142 Qe2 $140 $6 27. Qb4 $14 ({or} 27. Qxe2 Rxe2 28. Rc5 $11 Bb6 $4 29. Rc8+ Bd8 30. Rxd8+ Re8 31. Rxe8#)) 26... Bb6 $2 ({We missed} 26... Ba5 27. Qd5 $8 Qxd5 $8 (27... Qxe3 $4 28. Qxf7+ Kh8 29. Qxg7#) 28. Rxd5 Rxe3 29. Rxa5 Re2+ 30. Kh3 Rxb2 {winning a P} 31. g4 Rb6 $17) 27. Bxb6 Qxb6 28. Rd6 Qb5 29. Rd8 g6 30. Rxe8+ Qxe8 31. Kf2 Qe6 32. Qd8+ Kg7 33. Qd4+ Kg8 (33... f6 34. Qb4 b5 {was playable}) ({but} 33... Kh6 $143 $2 34. Qe3+ Kg7 35. Qxe6 fxe6 36. Ke3 Kf6 37. Ke4 e5 $8 38. Kd5 Kf5 39. h4 $14) ({&} 33... Qf6 $4 34. Ke3 $18) 34. Qd8+ Kg7 35. Qd4+ Kg8 {White offers a draw. Black accepts. Game drawn by agreement. Time left - Moldovan 5:20, Kernighan 2:02 Estimated time used - Moldovan 52:35, Kernighan 55:53 Longest thinks: White - 7 minutes for 20.g3, 6 minutes for 12.Nxc6 & 26.Rd7? Black - 10 minutes for 4..for .cxd4, 9 minutes for 16...dxc4? With the draw I clinched 1st place & free entry into the NJ Open but due to scheduling & traveling issues I'm not sure if I'll be able to play.} (35... Kg8 36. Qd8+ { is a 3-fold repetition.}) 1/2-1/2

#1256 Kenilworth Summer Tournament - Round 13 Results

13th round results, by board number:

1. Moldovan 1/2-1/2 Kernighan
2. Lowey 1/2-1/2 McAuliffe
3. Tomkovich 1-0 Ruales
4. Mazzillo 0-1 An. Tang
    Mazzillo 1-0 McCorkell
5. Pelican 0-1 Selling
6. Dovydaitis 0-1 J. Tang

Standings after round 13 of 14:

1. Moldovan 14.5
2. Kernighan 12.0
3. McAuliffe  9.5
= 4-5. Tomkovich, Mazzillo 8.0
6. Camejo 6.5
= 7-8. Au. Hu, Vinson 6.0
9. McCorkell 5.0
= 10-12. Benitez, Al. Hu, Gottlieb 3.0
13. Al. Tang 2.5
= 14-18. Selling, An. Tang, Lowey, J. Tang, Scarola 2.0
= 19-21. Pelican, Renna, Levanda 1.0
= 22-23. Constantino, Ruales 0.5
= 24-26. E. Singh, Touhey, Dovydaitis 0.0

No photos this week.
My 1st place-clinching draw will follow.

#1255 KST - Round 12 Annotations

My wins over Joseph Dovydaitis & Mike Lowey.

[Event "Kenilworth Summer Tournament"] [Site "Kenilworth, NJ"] [Date "2017.08.17"] [Round "12.1"] [White "Moldovan, John"] [Black "Dovydaitis, Joseph"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B54"] [WhiteElo "1814"] [Annotator "Moldovan,John"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2017.06.01"] [EventRounds "14"] [EventCountry "USA"] [Source "The Chess Coroner #1255"] [SourceDate "2017.08.19"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2017.08.19"] [SourceQuality "1"] {Board 1.1 G/55+5 (delay) B54 Sicilian Defense} 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 d6 { This leads to an inferior Sicilian.} ({I expected} 3... d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. d4 { & a Tarrasch QGD.}) 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. e4 Nbd7 7. Be3 a6 8. Be2 Nc5 { This is premature.} ({Completing the Hedgehog setup with} 8... b6 9. O-O Bb7 $14 {, etc., was best.}) 9. f3 Be7 10. O-O (10. Qc2 $142 $16) 10... O-O 11. Qd2 {[#]} b6 $4 {This weakens c6, loses a P & the game.} (11... Qc7 $142 12. b4 Ncd7 $14 {Pyatkova - Abdrakmanova : Obninsk 2007.}) 12. b4 $146 (12. Nc6 $143 Qc7 13. Nxe7+ Qxe7 14. b4 Ncd7 15. a3 {Kokeny - Bakos : Celldoemoelk 2011.}) 12... Ncd7 (12... Nb7 $142 13. Nc6 Qc7 14. Nxe7+ Qxe7 15. Bxb6 Bd7) 13. Nc6 Qe8 $8 14. Rfd1 Ne5 $2 (14... d5 $142 15. e5 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Bxb4 17. Bxb6 dxc4 18. a3 Be7 19. Bxc4 Bb7) 15. Nxe7+ Qxe7 16. Qxd6 Qxd6 17. Rxd6 Ned7 (17... Ne8 $142 18. Rd2 Rb8) 18. Rad1 Rd8 $2 {[#]} (18... Rb8 $142) 19. Bxb6 $1 (19. e5 $142 Ne8 20. R6d2 Rb8 21. c5) 19... Bb7 $2 {This loses a R, not just an Exchange.} ( 19... Re8 $142) ({Of course, if} 19... Nxb6 $2 {then} 20. Rxd8+ Ne8 21. Rxe8#) 20. Bxd8 Rxd8 21. e5 $1 Nd5 $2 (21... Rf8 $142 22. exf6 Nxf6 {or resigns.}) ( 21... Nxe5 $143 $2 22. Rxd8+ Ne8 23. Rxe8#) 22. cxd5 exd5 (22... Bc8 $142 23. dxe6 fxe6) 23. Nxd5 Bc8 (23... Kf8 $142 24. Nb6 g5) 24. Ne7+ Kf8 25. Nxc8 Ke8 26. Nb6 (26. Bxa6 $142) 26... Ke7 (26... Nxb6 27. Rxd8+ Ke7 28. Bxa6 {was no better.}) 27. Rxd7+ Rxd7 28. Rxd7+ Ke6 29. Rd5 (29. f4 $142) 29... f5 30. Bxa6 f4 31. Bc8+ Kf7 32. Rd6 Ke7 33. Nd5+ Kf7 34. e6+ Kg6 35. e7+ Kg5 36. e8=Q g6 37. Qe5+ Kh6 38. Qxf4+ (38. Be6 g5 $8 39. Bf7# {was fastest.}) 38... Kg7 39. Rd7+ Kg8 40. Qf7+ Kh8 41. Qxh7# {Black checkmated. Time left - Moldovan 34:30, Dovydaitis 1:46 Estimated time used - Moldovan 25:55, Dovydaitis 56:34 Longest thinks: White - 3 minutes for 7.Be3 Black - 7 minutes for 21...Nd5?} 1-0 [Event "Kenilworth Summer Tournament"] [Site "Kenilworth, NJ"] [Date "2017.08.17"] [Round "12.2"] [White "Moldovan, John"] [Black "Lowey, Mike"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D13"] [WhiteElo "1814"] [BlackElo "1596"] [Annotator "Moldovan,John"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "2017.06.01"] [EventRounds "14"] [EventCountry "USA"] [Source "The Chess Coroner #1255"] [SourceDate "2017.08.19"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2017.08.19"] [SourceQuality "1"] {Board 1.2 G/55+5 (delay) D13 Queen's Gambit Slav Defense Exchange Variation} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c6 4. cxd5 cxd5 (4... exd5 $142 {freeing the Bc8.}) 5. Nc3 Bd7 (5... Nc6 $142 6. Bf4 Bd6) 6. Bf4 Nc6 7. e3 Nf6 8. h3 {To preserve my d.s. B against ...Nh5.} Qa5 $146 {/\ ...Ne4} (8... a6 $142 9. Be2 Rc8 10. Rc1 Bb4 $14 {Storslett - Erikstad : Tromsoe 2001}) 9. a3 $2 (9. Bd3 Nb4 $140 ({or} 9... Ne4 10. Bxe4 dxe4 11. Ng5 Qa6 (11... f5 $143 12. O-O) 12. a3 $16) 10. Be2 $16 {was right.}) 9... Ne4 10. Rc1 $2 {[#]} (10. Qb3 {would have maintained the balance.}) 10... a6 $2 ({Black could have won a P & forced an ending with} 10... Bxa3 $1 11. bxa3 (11. Qb3 $143 Bd6 12. Bxd6 Nxd6 13. Be2 $17) (11. Ra1 $4 Bxb2 $1 12. Rxa5 Bxc3+ $19) 11... Nxc3 12. Qd2 Ne4 13. Qxa5 Nxa5 $15) 11. Qc2 $2 (11. Nd2 $142 $14 {breaking the pin & threatening to trade on e4.}) 11... Nd6 $2 {A strange move.} (11... Rc8 $142 12. Nd2 $8 Nxc3 13. Qxc3 Qxc3 14. Rxc3 f6 $11) {Now White gets a clear advantage.} 12. Bd3 h6 (12... b5 $142) 13. O-O Be7 14. Rfe1 $6 (14. b4 $142 $1 Qxa3 $140 $4 15. Bxd6 Bxd6 16. Ra1 Qxb4 17. Rfb1 $18) 14... f5 (14... O-O $142) 15. Nd2 (15. b4 $1 Qxa3 $140 $4 16. Ra1 Nxb4 17. Qd2 Qb3 18. Reb1 Nc4 19. Bxc4 Qxc4 20. Ne5 Qc8 21. Ng6 $18 {was a good alternative.}) 15... g5 (15... Qd8 $142) 16. Bh2 b5 $2 (16... O-O $142 $16 ) 17. Nb3 $18 Qb6 $2 (17... Qd8 $142 18. Nc5 Bc8) 18. Nc5 Nc4 $2 (18... Bc8 $142) 19. Nxd7 Kxd7 {[#]} 20. Bxf5 $3 Rhf8 $2 (20... Qb7 $142 21. Nxd5 Rac8) ( 20... exf5 $143 $2 21. Nxd5 Qb7 22. Qxf5+ $40) 21. Nxd5 $1 Qd8 (21... Qb7 $142) 22. Nxe7 Nxe7 23. Be4 (23. Bg4 $142) 23... Ra7 (23... Rc8 $142) 24. Red1 Qc8 $2 (24... Ke8 $142) 25. d5 (25. Qe2 $142) 25... e5 $2 (25... exd5 $142 26. Bxd5 Ke8) 26. d6 Nc6 27. b3 N4a5 $2 (27... Kd8 $142 28. bxc4 Na5) 28. g4 $6 { Black resigns. Time left - Moldovan 32:18, Lowey 17:37 Estimated time used - Moldovan 25:02, Lowey 39:43 Longest thinks: White - 4 minutes for 9.a3? Black - 7 minutes for 14...f5?} (28. Bf5+ $142 Rxf5 29. Qxf5+ Kd8 30. Qf8+ Kd7 31. Qf7+ Kd8 32. d7 Rxd7 33. Bxe5) 1-0

#1254 KST - Round 12 Photos

Captions to follow.

#1253 Kenilworth Summer Tournament - Round 12 Results

12th round results, by board number:

1. Moldovan 1-0 Dovydaitis
    Moldovan 1-0 Lowey
2. Mazzillo 0-1 Tomkovich
3. McCorkell 1/2-1/2 Gottlieb
4. Scarola 1-0 Benitez
    Kernighan 1-0 Benitez
5. Scarola 0-1 McAuliffe
6. Ruales 0-1 Selling

Standings after round 12 of 14:

1. Moldovan 14.0
2. Kernighan 11.5
3. McAuliffe  9.0
= 4-5. Tomkovich, Mazzillo 7.0
6. Camejo 6.5
= 7-8. Au. Hu, Vinson 6.0
9. McCorkell 5.0
= 10-12. Benitez, Al. Hu, Gottlieb 3.0
13. Al. Tang 2.5
14. Scarola 2.0
15. Lowey 1.5
= 16-21. Selling, Pelican, An. Tang, Renna, J. Tang, Levanda 1.0
= 22-23. Constantino, Ruales 0.5
= 24-26. E. Singh, Touhey, Dovydaitis 0.0

Photos & my games to follow.

#1252 Kenilworth Summer Tournament - Round 11 Results

Another very light turnout. Only 8 players showed and just 3 games were played. I was ill and had to sit-out.

Thanks to Geoff McAuliffe and Pat Mazzillo for supplying info & results.

11th round results, by board number: 

1. Scarola 0-1 Kernighan
2. Ruales 0-1 McAuliffe
3. Renna 0-1 Tomkovich

Standings after round 11 of 14:

1. Moldovan 12.0
2. Kernighan 10.5
3. McAuliffe  8.0
4. Mazzillo 7.0
5. Camejo 6.5
= 6-8. Tomkovich, Au. Hu, Vinson 6.0
9. McCorkell 4.5
= 10-11. Benitez, Al. Hu 3.0
= 12-13. Al. Tang, Gottlieb 2.5
14. Lowey 1.5
= 15-20. Pelican, An. Tang, Renna, J. Tang, Levanda, Scarola 1.0
= 21-22. Constantino, Ruales 0.5
= 23-25. E. Singh, Touhey, Dovydaitis 0.0

No round 11 photos or games.

#1251 KST - Round 10 Annotations

My loss to Jun Tang and win over Luis Ruales.

[Event "Kenilworth Summer Tournament"] [Site "Kenilworth, NJ"] [Date "2017.08.03"] [Round "8.1"] [White "Moldovan, John"] [Black "Tang, Jun"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A02"] [WhiteElo "1814"] [BlackElo "1389"] [Annotator "Moldovan,John"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2017.06.01"] [EventRounds "14"] [EventCountry "USA"] [Source "The Chess Coroner #1251"] [SourceDate "2017.08.04"] [SourceVersion "2"] [SourceVersionDate "2017.08.05"] [SourceQuality "1"] {#1 of 2 simultaneous games Board 1 G/55+5 (delay) A04 Bird's Opening} 1. e3 c5 2. f4 Nc6 3. Nf3 Nf6 (3... g6 {preventing the game's b3, is a good alternative.}) 4. b3 e6 5. Bb2 Bd6 $5 ({Random game fragment:} 5... Be7 6. Bb5 Qc7 7. O-O a6 8. Bxc6 Qxc6 9. Ne5 Qc7 $11 {Moldovan - Sokolosky : G/7, Kenilworth 9/11/2008}) 6. Nc3 $146 (6. Bb5 {was played in Pashkin - Gorynin : Nizhnij Novgorod 2014.}) 6... O-O 7. Nb5 {(?!)} (7. Be2 $142 a6 8. O-O) 7... Bb8 {[#]} 8. Be2 $2 (8. g3 $1 a6 9. Nc3 {would've maintained the balance.}) 8... a6 9. Na3 b5 $2 (9... d5 $142 $15) 10. c4 bxc4 ( 10... b4 11. Nc2 a5 {which I expected} 12. d4 cxd4 13. Ncxd4 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Ba7 {is also fine.}) 11. Nxc4 Bc7 (11... d5 $142 12. Nce5 Ne7) 12. O-O d5 $2 (12... Bb7 $142 $11) 13. Nce5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 $2 (14. fxe5 $142 Nd7 15. Rc1 $14) 14... d4 $2 (14... Bb7 $142 15. Bf3 Nd7 $11) 15. Bf3 Nd5 $8 16. exd4 Qd6 $4 {[#]} ( 16... cxd4 $142 17. Nc6 Qd7 18. Rc1 Nxf4 19. Ba3 Bd6 $8 20. Ne5 Bxe5 $8 21. Bxf8 Rb8 22. Ba3 f6 $14) 17. dxc5 $2 (17. Ba3 $18 Bb6 $140 $2 18. Nc4 { would've won.}) 17... Qxc5+ 18. d4 Qd6 19. Bxd5 $2 (19. g3 $142 $16 { consolidating.}) 19... Qxd5 20. Qf3 Bb7 21. Qxd5 Bxd5 22. Rac1 Bd6 $6 (22... Rfc8 $142 $11) 23. Nd7 Rfd8 24. Nb6 Rab8 25. Nxd5 exd5 26. f5 $14 f6 (26... a5 $142 $14) 27. Rc6 a5 28. Re1 $6 (28. Bc3 $142 $16) 28... Bb4 $2 (28... a4 $142 29. Re3 Bf4 $14) 29. Ree6 Rdc8 30. Kf2 Rxc6 31. Rxc6 Bf8 (31... Re8 $142) 32. Kf3 $2 (32. Bc3 $142 $16) 32... a4 33. Rc3 Rb4 $4 {[#]} (33... Bb4 $142 34. Re3 Bd6 35. h4 Kf7 $14) 34. Ke3 $4 ({Missed win #2:} 34. Ba3 $1 $18 Rxd4 $2 35. Rc8 {threatening mate & winning a piece.}) 34... Rb8 35. Rd3 (35. Kf3 $142) 35... Re8+ (35... g6 $142) 36. Kf3 Rb8 37. Bc1 axb3 $6 (37... Rc8 $142 38. Be3 g6 $14 ) 38. Rxb3 Ra8 $2 (38... Rc8 $142 39. Be3 g6) 39. a3 $2 (39. Rb5 $142 $1 Rxa2 ( 39... Rd8 $143 $2 40. a4 $18) 40. Rxd5 $16) 39... Ra4 40. Ke3 Rc4 $6 (40... g6 $142 41. Bb2 Bd6 42. fxg6 hxg6 43. h4 $14) 41. Rc3 $4 {&, rather than wait for 41...Rxc3+, I immediately resigned. Time left - Moldovan 13:41, Tang 21:48 Estimated time used - Moldovan 44:44, Tang 37:32 Longest thinks: White - 4 minutes for 28.Re1?! & 37.Bc1 Black - 6 minutes for 37...axb3?!} (41. Bd2 $142 $16) 0-1 [Event "Kenilworth Summer Tournament"] [Site "Kenilworth, NJ"] [Date "2017.08.03"] [Round "8.2"] [White "Ruales, Luis"] [Black "Moldovan, John"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A40"] [WhiteElo "661"] [BlackElo "1814"] [Annotator "Moldovan,John"] [PlyCount "62"] [EventDate "2017.06.01"] [EventRounds "14"] [EventCountry "USA"] [Source "The Chess Coroner #1251"] [SourceDate "2017.08.04"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2017.08.04"] [SourceQuality "1"] {#2 of 2 simultaneous games Board 2 G/55+5 (delay) A40 Modern Defense} 1. d4 g6 2. g4 $5 {[#] This Grob-like move is very unusual but seems quite playable.} d6 3. Bf4 $2 $146 {Overlooking the attack on g4.} ({Tactical defense, with} 3. Bg2 $1 Bxg4 $140 $2 (3... Bg7 $11) 4. Bxb7 {Winning an Exchange} Nd7 5. Bxa8 Qxa8 6. f3 {, was the correct follow-up.}) 3... Bxg4 4. h3 Bd7 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. e3 (6. Qd2 $142 {but, even then, White has little, if any, compensation for his loss.} ) 6... Nf6 7. Bg2 Qc8 (7... Nc6 $142 {straight-away}) 8. Nf3 (8. Nge2 $142 { keeping the Bg2's view un-obstructed.}) 8... O-O 9. Nh4 $2 (9. Qd2 $142 $17) 9... Nc6 (9... c5 $142 {but Black is already winning, regardless.}) 10. Qe2 Re8 (10... e5 $142 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Bh2 e4) 11. O-O-O e5 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Bg5 Bc6 {[#]} 14. f3 $2 (14. Rdg1 $142) 14... Qe6 $2 ({Much} 14... Nh5 $142) 15. b3 $4 (15. f4 $142 Bxg2 16. Qxg2 Nc4 17. f5) 15... Ned7 (15... h6 $142 16. Bf4 (16. Bxf6 $143 Qxf6 17. Rd4 Nd7) 16... Nh5 17. Bh2 Nd7) 16. Rd3 $2 (16. e4 $142) 16... Nc5 17. Rd4 (17. e4 $142) 17... Nfd7 (17... Nh5 $142) 18. Rhd1 Bxd4 ( 18... h6 $142 19. Bf4 g5) 19. Rxd4 (19. exd4 $142 Qxe2 20. Nxe2 Rxe2 21. Bf1 Ree8 22. dxc5 Nxc5 23. Kb2) 19... a5 (19... Qe5 $142 20. Bf4 $140 Qf6 21. Bg3 ( 21. Qf2 $143 Ne6) 21... Ne6 22. Rd3 g5) 20. a4 (20. e4 $142) 20... Kg7 $2 ( 20... Qe5 $142) 21. Rf4 $2 (21. e4 $142) 21... Qxe3+ {[#]} 22. Kd1 $2 (22. Qxe3 $142 Rxe3 23. Rxf7+ Kxf7 24. Bxe3) {Now I win more material.} 22... Qxe2+ ( 22... Qxc3 $142 {but trading Qs isn't bad & I still pick-up a piece.}) 23. Nxe2 f6 {White's cleric is trapped.} 24. Nf5+ $2 ({>= resigns or} 24. Rg4 fxg5 25. Rxg5) 24... gxf5 25. h4 $2 (25. Bh4 $142 Rxe2 26. Kxe2 Ne6 27. Rc4 (27. Rxf5 $2 Nd4+) 27... Ne5 28. Rc3) 25... fxg5 26. hxg5 {At this point I blundered in & lost the other game.} Ne5 27. Rh4 $2 (27. Rxf5 $142) 27... Bxf3 28. Rh6 $2 { This leaves the Bg2 hanging & endangers the R.} (28. Bxf3 $142 Nxf3 29. Rf4) 28... Bxe2+ 29. Kxe2 Nf7+ 30. Kf3 $2 {This drops the R, instead of an Exchange & P.} (30. Kf2 $142 Nxh6 31. gxh6+ Kxh6) 30... Nxg5+ 31. Kg3 Kxh6 {White resigns. Time left - Ruales , Moldovan Estimated time used - Ruales , Moldovan Longest thinks: White - 6 minutes for 24.Nf5+ Black - 3 minutes for 15...Ned7 & 16...Nc5} 0-1

#1250 KST - Round 10 Photos

Masters Mauricio Camejo & Mark Kernighan faced-off for the 3rd time in the event.

Jun Tang & Luis Ruales, waiting for me to put down the camera & resume play.

(I answered 25.Nxd5 += & 16...Nc5 -+.)

Mike Lowey & Geoff McAuliffe also played their 3rd game.

#1249 Kenilworth Summer Tournament - Round 10 Results

It was a surprisingly slow night. Only 9 players showed & just 4 games were played.

10th round results, by board number: 

1. Moldovan 0-1 J. Tang
2. Ruales 0-1 Moldovan
3. Camejo 0-1 Kernighan
4. Lowey 0-1 McAuliffe


Standings after round 10 of 14:

1. Moldovan 12.0
2. Kernighan 9.5
= 3-4. McAuliffe, Mazzillo 7.0
5. Camejo 6.5
= 6-7. Au. Hu, Vinson 6.0
8. Tomkovich 5.0
9. McCorkell 4.5
= 10-11. Benitez, Al. Hu 3.0
= 12-13. Al. Tang, Gottlieb 2.5
14. Lowey 1.5
= 15-20. Pelican, An. Tang, Renna, J. Tang, Levanda, Scarola 1.0
= 21-22. Constantino, Ruales 0.5
= 23-25. E. Singh, Touhey, Dovydaitis 0.0

Photos and my 2 games to follow.