#1304 Westfield CC Closed Tomorrow

The Westfield YMCA & Westfield Chess Club will be closed tomorrow, April 1st, as it is Easter Sunday.

Our next tournament will be G/50 Quads on Sunday, April 8th, 2018, at 1:30 p.m.

#1303 Kenilworth Spring Swiss - Round 3

I sat out to make an even number but the upsets continued, as unrated Wedley Pluviose defeated Paul Gottlieb & Geoff McAuliffe drew Terry Fricker.

Round 3 Results:

Benitez 0-1 Camejo
Hunt 0-1 Kernighan
Fricker 1/2-1/2 McAuliffe
Pluviose 1-0 Gottlieb

1/2 point byes: Tomkovich, Moldovan

Standings, after 3 of 4 rounds:

1. Camejo 2.5
= 2-4. Kernighan, Benitez, Moldovan 2.0
= 5-6. McAuliffe, Tomkovich 1.5
= 7-9. Fricker, Hunt, Pluviose 1.0
10. Gottlieb 0.5

The event wraps-up next week.

#1302 Special Announcement From The Westfield CC

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

If you are playing in today's Westfield G/60 Quads please bring the exact entry fee: $20 for club members, $25 for non-members.

Also: If your USCF membership has expired please renew it before coming to the Y.

Thanks.

#1301 Kenilworth Spring Swiss - Round 2 Annotations

Here is my win over Terry Fricker, which put me back over 1800 again. I missed a win at move 20 & made a small mistake 2 turns later but otherwise played well:

[Event "Kenilworth Spring Swiss"] [Site "Kenilworth"] [Date "2018.03.22"] [Round "2"] [White "Fricker, Terry"] [Black "Moldovan, John"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D36"] [WhiteElo "1835"] [BlackElo "1784"] [Annotator "Moldovan,John"] [PlyCount "84"] [EventDate "2018.03.15"] [Source "Moldovan,John"] [SourceDate "2018.03.24"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2018.03.24"] [SourceQuality "1"] {Board 3 G/61+5 (delay) D36 Queen's Gambit Exchange Variation (by transposition)} 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 {The only move I prepared for.} (2. g3 { would have caused some consternation.}) 2... d5 $5 ({I usually opt for} 2... f5 {& did so in our previous game (in Rahway on 12/12/2015) but trying to force my foe into a Q's Gambit seemed like a good idea.}) 3. d4 ({Avoiding the aforementioned, with} 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bb5+ Nc6 7. Ne5 Qc7 8. Qa4 $5 {(De Veauce - Nunn : Birmingham, ENG 1974), was possible.}) 3... Nf6 {[#]} ({I wanted no part of} 3... c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 { Marshall's Gambit} Qxd4 7. Bxb4 Qxe4+) ({but} 3... Be7 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nf6 { was an option.}) 4. a3 $5 {A waiting move. Normally one would not see this until move 6 (in an Anti-Cambridge Springs line) or 8 (in the Classical Defense).} Nbd7 (4... b6 {, /\ transposing into a Q's Indian, was considered}) ({but not} 4... Be7) ({&} 4... c6 {though, as it turns out, I've played those before!}) 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Nf3 Be7 7. Qc2 c6 8. Bg5 {This position is more naturally reached via 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.Nf3 c6 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Qc2 Be7 8.a3!?} (8. Bf4 $143 {N. Schneider - Proeschel : Germany 2012} Nh5 $146) 8... Nf8 {/\ of trading light-squared Bs, with ...Ne6, ...Pg6, ... Ng7 & ...Bf5, a plan 1st seen in Reshevsky - Stahlberg : Kemeri 1936.} 9. e3 Ne6 10. Bxf6 (10. Bh4 $142 {Kotov - Spassky : Leningrad 1956}) 10... Bxf6 11. Bd3 g6 12. O-O Ng7 (12... O-O $142 13. b4 Bg7 {/\ ...f5. Tiggelman - Theulings : Enschede 1990}) 13. b4 {[#]} O-O $146 (13... a6 14. a4 Bf5 {was tried in Nendick - Boyce : Bristol 1990 & Pogosian - Ustinov : Obninsk 2009.}) 14. h3 Bf5 15. g4 $2 (15. Bxf5 $142 Nxf5 16. b5 $11) 15... Bxd3 16. Qxd3 Ne6 17. a4 $2 (17. Na4 $142 $15) 17... Bg7 18. Rab1 f5 19. Nh2 $4 (19. Kg2 $142 $17) 19... Qh4 20. f4 {[#]} Qxh3 $4 ({I spent 3 minutes looking at} 20... Qg3+ $1 21. Kh1 {but could not find} fxg4 $1 22. hxg4 Rxf4 $1 $19) 21. Rf3 Qh4 22. g5 h6 $6 ( 22... Bxd4 $142 $1 23. Ne2 (23. exd4 $2 Nxf4 24. Qf1 Qxg5+ 25. Kh1 Ne6 $17) 23... Bb6 $1 24. a5 Nxg5 $1 25. fxg5 Bc7 $15) 23. Qf1 Nxg5 (23... Bxd4 $142 $1 24. Ne2 hxg5 25. Nxd4 Nxd4 26. exd4 g4) 24. fxg5 Qxg5+ 25. Qg2 Qxg2+ 26. Kxg2 f4 27. Ne2 (27. Rxf4 $142 Rxf4 28. exf4 Bxd4 29. Ne2) 27... fxe3 28. Rbf1 (28. Rxe3 $142) 28... Rxf3 29. Rxf3 {[#]} a5 $1 30. b5 $2 (30. bxa5 $142 Rxa5 31. Rxe3 Rxa4 32. Re7 Bxd4 33. Nxd4 Rxd4 34. Rxb7 c5 $44) 30... cxb5 31. Rxe3 $4 ( 31. axb5 $142 a4 32. Rf1 $15) 31... bxa4 $19 32. Ng4 $2 b5 33. Ne5 $2 b4 34. Nc6 $2 b3 35. Nc3 a3 36. Re1 Ra6 37. Ne7+ Kf7 38. Nexd5 Bxd4 39. Nb5 Bb2 $6 ( 39... a2 $142 $1 40. Nxd4 b2) 40. Rf1+ Kg7 41. Nbc7 {White offers a draw.} Rc6 {Black declines.} 42. Ne8+ Kh7 {White time-forfeits. Time left - Fricker 0:00, Moldovan 2:46 Estimated time used - 64:35, Moldovan 61:44 Longest thinks: White - 6 minutes for 30.b5? Black - 7 minutes for 23...Nxg5 With the win, I'm back over 1800!} 0-1

#1300 Kenilworth Spring Swiss - Round 2 Results

Round 2 Results:

Kernighan 0-1 Benitez
Camejo 1-0 Hunt
Fricker 0-1 Moldovan
McAuliffe 1-0 Gottlieb
Pluviose -+ Tomkovich


Standings, after 2 of 4 rounds:

1. Benitez 2.0
= 2-3. Camejo, Moldovan 1.5
= 4-7. Kernighan, Hunt, McAuliffe, Tomkovich 1.0
= 8-9. Fricker, Gottlieb 0.5
10. Pluviose 0.0



Notes to my game will follow.

#1299 Kenilworth Spring Swiss - Round 1 Annotations

Here is my draw vs. Camejo. It's not for those with weak stomachs. There were some 25 errors in the game and I missed 4 wins. The first was at move 21. That might be a good place to stop:

[Event "Kenilworth Spring Swiss"] [Site "Kenilworth"] [Date "2018.03.15"] [Round "1"] [White "Camejo, Mauricio"] [Black "Moldovan, John"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B14"] [WhiteElo "2057"] [BlackElo "1784"] [Annotator "Moldovan,John"] [PlyCount "128"] [EventDate "2018.03.15"] [Source "John Moldovan"] [SourceDate "2007.09.12"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2007.09.12"] [SourceQuality "1"] {Board 5 G/61+5 (delay) B14 Caro-Kann Defense Panov Attack Camejo arrived 5 minutes into the round & I was the only player available. Thus, both of us played a stronger opponent than expected.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 ({I expected} 3. Nc3 {, as in our 2014 Father's Day Quick game in Westfield.}) 3... cxd5 4. c4 {No surprise. I didn't think he'd play the more sedate Exchange Variation.} Nf6 5. Nf3 (5. Nc3 {is more usual.}) 5... e6 {(!)} ({The engines suggest} 5... Nc6) ({& the Gruenfeld-like} 5... g6 {but I prefer the Nimzo-Indian-style treatment.}) 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Bd2 (7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bd2) ({&} 7. Bd3 dxc4 8. Bxc4 {are the main lines.}) 7... O-O 8. a3 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 Nc6 { [#] This position can be classified under code E51.} 10. Nd2 $2 $146 {There have been 85 games with 8 different moves.} Re8 $2 (10... e5 $142 $1 11. dxe5 $8 d4 $1 12. Nb3 $8 (12. exf6 $2 Re8+ 13. Be2 d3 $19 14. fxg7 $140 $2 Rxe2+ 15. Kf1 Qh4) 12... dxc3 13. Qxd8 $8 Rxd8 14. exf6 $8 c2 $1 $17 {would've refuted White's novelty.}) 11. f4 $2 (11. Nf3 $142 $15) 11... Qc7 (11... b6 $142 $17) 12. Qf3 dxc4 13. Bxc4 Qd6 $2 (13... Rd8 $142 $1 14. Qf2 b6 $15) 14. Ne4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 b6 16. Bd3 $6 (16. d5 $142 Na5 17. Bd3 f5 $1 18. Qd4 exd5+ 19. Kf2 Qc7 20. Rhe1 $44) 16... g6 (16... f5 $142 $1) 17. O-O-O $2 (17. f5 $142 $1 gxf5 18. Qh4 $44) 17... Bb7 18. h4 Rac8 19. Kb1 Na5 20. Qe2 Qd5 $6 (20... h5 $142 $17) 21. Rh2 $4 {[#]} (21. Rhg1 $142 $15) 21... Nc4 $4 (21... Rxc3 $142 $1 22. bxc3 Qb3+ 23. Ka1 Rc8 $19) 22. Rc1 h5 $2 (22... Nd6 $142 23. h5 Ne4 $11) 23. g4 hxg4 24. h5 $2 (24. Qxg4 $142 Nxa3+ 25. bxa3 Qb3+ 26. Rb2 Qxa3 27. Bxg6 Rxc3 28. Rxc3 Qxc3 29. Be4+ Kf8 30. Bxb7 Rd8 $44) 24... gxh5 25. f5 $6 (25. Qc2 $142 a5 26. f5) 25... exf5 26. Qf1 Qf3 $2 (26... Nd6 $142 27. Rxh5 Qf3 $17) 27. Bxc4 Be4+ 28. Ka1 {[#]} Rxc4 $4 (28... Qxf1 $142 29. Bxf1 Kh7 30. Rxh5+ Kg6 $44) 29. Qxc4 Qf4 30. Rch1 $4 (30. Rd2 $142 $18 {when everything is covered.}) 30... Bxh1 31. Rxh1 g3 32. Qc6 $4 (32. Ka2 $142 $16) 32... Qe4 33. Qxe4 Rxe4 34. Rxh5 Rg4 $4 (34... f6 $142 $19) 35. d5 (35. Be1 g2 36. Bf2 g1=Q+ 37. Bxg1 Rxg1+ 38. Ka2 f4 39. Rf5 Rf1 40. d5 $17) 35... Kf8 $2 (35... f6 $142 $1) 36. Rh1 $2 (36. Be5 $142 g2 37. Bh2 g1=Q+ 38. Bxg1 Rxg1+ 39. Ka2 Rf1 40. Kb3) 36... g2 37. Rg1 f4 38. Bd4 $4 (38. d6 $142 Ke8 39. Bd4 Kd7 40. Bf2 Kxd6 41. Re1 $17) 38... f3 39. Bf2 {[#]} Ke8 $4 (39... Re4 $142 $19 {/\ ...Re2}) 40. Re1+ Kd7 41. Kb1 Kd6 42. Kc2 Kxd5 43. Kd3 f5 44. Re3 $2 (44. Ke3 $142 Re4+ 45. Kd2 Rxe1 46. Kxe1 Kc4 47. a4 $11) 44... g1=Q 45. Bxg1 Rxg1 46. Rxf3 Ke5 47. Re3+ Kf4 48. Re7 Rg3+ $2 (48... a5 $142) 49. Kd2 $4 (49. Kc4 $142 $15) 49... Kg4 $2 (49... a5 $142 $19) 50. Rxa7 $11 f4 51. b4 Kh3 52. a4 Kg2 53. Rf7 f3 54. a5 bxa5 55. bxa5 f2 (55... Rg5 $142 56. a6 Ra5 57. a7 f2 58. Rg7+ (58. Ke2 $4 Ra2+ $19) 58... Kf3 59. Rf7+ Kg2 60. Rg7+ {etc.}) 56. Ke2 {[#]} Ra3 $8 ({Not} 56... Rg5 $4 57. Rxf2+ Kg3 58. Rf3+ Kg4 59. Ra3 $18) 57. Rxf2+ {White is now a P ahead but the position is a book draw.} Kg3 58. Rf5 Kg4 59. Rc5 Kf4 60. Kd2 Ke4 61. Kc2 Kd4 62. Rh5 Kc4 63. Kb2 Rb3+ 64. Ka2 Rb5 {Black offers a draw. White accepts. Game drawn by agreement. Time left - Camejo 25:01, Moldovan 2:26 Estimated time used - Camejo 41:19, Moldovan 63:54 Longest thinks: White - 5 minutes for 35.d5 Black - 7 minutes for 13...Qd6? A terrible game. Missed wins: Camejo 1, Moldovan 4!!!! With the result, however, I pick-up 12 points. My live rating is now at 1796.} (64... Rb5 65. Rh4+ Kc5 66. Ra4 Rb8) 1/2-1/2

#1298 Kenilworth Spring Swiss - Round 1 Results

Kenilworth Spring Swiss

March 15-April 5, 2018

Participants, by rating:

1. LM Mark Kernighan 2257
2. NM Mauricio Camejo 2057
3. Gilberto Benitez 1835
4. Terry Fricker 1835
5. John Moldovan 1784
6. Bob Hunt 1671
7. Geoff McAuliffe 1609
8. Greg Tomkovich 1600
9. Paul Gottlieb 1540
10. Wedley Pluviose ----


Round 1 Results:

Kernighan 1-0 Tomkovich
McAuliffe 0-1 Benitez
Gottlieb 1/2-1/2 Fricker
Hunt 1-0 Pluviose
Camejo 1/2-1/2 Moldovan


Standings after round 1 of 4:

= 1-3. Kernighan, Benitez, Hunt 1.0
= 4-7. Camejo, Fricker, Moldovan, Gottlieb 0.5
= 8-10. McAuliffe, Tomkovich, Pluviose 0.0


Notes to my game will follow.

#1297 USATE 2018: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

At last month's 48th annual U.S. Amateur Team East tournament I had the extremely dubious distinction of beating a 2135-rated, losing to a 1257 and dropping 51 points on day 3.

Altogether, I scored 3/6 playing board 1 for the Zugzwang Zigzaggers, which also featured Joe Demetrick, Alec Touhey and Jack Silver.

Here are my games, the good (wins in rounds 2, 4), the bad and the ugly:

[Event "48th USATE"] [Site "Parsippany, NJ"] [Date "2018.02.17"] [Round "1"] [White "Moldovan, John"] [Black "Li, Jerry"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D36"] [WhiteElo "1802"] [BlackElo "2123"] [Annotator "Moldovan,John"] [PlyCount "84"] [EventDate "2018.02.17"] [EventType "team-swiss"] [EventRounds "6"] [EventCountry "USA"] [Source "Moldovan, John"] [SourceDate "2018.02.28] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2018.02.28"] [SourceQuality "1"] [WhiteTeam "Zugzwang Zigzaggers"] [BlackTeam "Ajab's Rule - No Pin, No Win"] {Board 48.1 40/120, SD/30 +5 (delay) D36 Queen's Gambit Exchange Variation} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 O-O 7. Qc2 c6 8. e3 Nbd7 9. Bd3 Re8 10. h3 Nf8 {[#]} 11. O-O ({For} 11. Bf4 {see my ICCF win over Brissman.}) 11... Ng6 {This prevents the aforementioned} ({but} 11... Ne4 $142 {Saemisch - Koch : Berlin 1928}) 12. Rab1 (12. Ne5 $142 Nd7 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. f4 Ndxe5 15. dxe5 f6 16. exf6 Qxf6 17. Rae1 {Gustafsson - Langheinrich : Binz 1994}) ({or} 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. b4 {P. Nikolic - Gostisa : Han Pijesak 1978}) 12... Ne4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. b4 a6 15. Na4 {Komodo agrees with this} ({but Houdini prefers} 15. a4) 15... Nh4 (15... Bf5 $142 16. Nc5 Rad8 {Simutowe - K. Abdel Razik : Windhoek 2007}) 16. Nxh4 Qxh4 17. Nb6 Rb8 (17... Bxh3 $143 $6 18. f3 $8 Bxg2 $1 (18... Ng3 $2 19. Nxa8 $16) 19. Qxg2 $8 Re6 20. fxe4 Rg6 $8 21. e5 $1 (21. Nxa8 {allows} dxe4 22. Bc2 Rxg2+ 23. Kxg2 Qg4+ {& a draw.}) 21... Rxg2+ $8 22. Kxg2 $14) 18. Nxc8 (18. Bxe4 $142 $1 $146 Qxe4 19. Qxe4 Rxe4 20. a4 $14) 18... Rbxc8 19. Bxe4 $1 $146 ({Previously seen here was} 19. f3 Nd6 $1 (19... Ng3 $143 20. Rfe1) 20. Rbe1 Re6 21. Re2 Rce8 22. Rfe1 g6 23. a4 Qf6 24. Kh1 Nf5 25. Bxf5 gxf5 26. Qd3 Qg6 27. Kh2 Kg7 {Baraeva - Izhokin : Anapa 2012}) 19... dxe4 $2 {[#]} (19... Qxe4 $142 20. Qxe4 Rxe4 $11) 20. f4 $2 (20. a4 $142 $14) 20... exf3 21. Rxf3 Qg5 (21... Qd8 $142) 22. Qc5 (22. Rbf1 $142) 22... Qg6 23. Rbf1 f6 24. Qb6 $6 (24. Qc4+ $142 $11) 24... Re7 25. Qc5 Rce8 (25... Qf7 $142 $15) 26. d5 $2 (26. Qc4+ $142 Kh8 27. Rc1 Rxe3 28. Rxe3 Rxe3 29. d5 Rg3 ( 29... Rxh3 $4 30. dxc6 bxc6 31. Qxc6 $18) 30. Rc2 $44) 26... cxd5 27. Qxd5+ Qf7 28. Qxf7+ (28. Rd1 $142 Qxd5 29. Rxd5 Rxe3 30. Rxe3 Rxe3 31. Kf2 Ra3 32. Rd8+ Kf7 33. Rd7+ Kg6 34. Rxb7 Rxa2+ 35. Kf3) 28... Kxf7 {[#]} 29. Kf2 $2 (29. Re1 $142 $15) 29... Rc8 30. Kg3 Rc3 $17 31. Re1 $2 (31. Rd1 $142 Ke8 (31... Rcxe3 32. Rxe3 Rxe3+ 33. Kf4 Re7 34. Rd6 $15) 32. Kh2) 31... Re4 32. b5 axb5 33. Rb1 b4 34. Rb3 (34. Rb2 $142) 34... Ke6 35. Kh2 $2 (35. Rb2 $142 $17) 35... f5 $2 ( 35... Rxb3 $142 36. axb3 h5 $19) 36. Rf4 $4 (36. Rb2 $142 $17) 36... Rxf4 37. exf4 Rxb3 38. axb3 Kd5 39. g4 Kd4 40. gxf5 Kc3 41. h4 Kxb3 42. h5 h6 {White resigns. Estimated time left - Moldovan 37 minutes, Li 48 minutes Estimated time used - Moldovan 116:30, Li 104:30 Longest thinks: White - 14 minutes for 17.Nb6 Black - 14 minutes for 17.Rb8} 0-1 [Event "48th USATE"] [Site "Parsippany, NJ"] [Date "2018.02.17"] [Round "2"] [White "Bero, Philippe C"] [Black "Moldovan, John"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E00"] [WhiteElo "1443"] [BlackElo "1802"] [Annotator "Moldovan,John"] [PlyCount "64"] [EventDate "2018.02.17"] [EventType "team-swiss"] [EventRounds "6"] [EventCountry "USA"] [Source "Moldovan, John"] [SourceDate "2018.02.28"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2018.02.28"] [SourceQuality "1"] [WhiteTeam "Trump Administration: No Resignations..."] [BlackTeam "Zugzwang Zigzaggers"] {Board 98.1 40/120, SD/30 +5 (delay) E00 Catalan System} 1. c4 e6 2. d4 ({ This is actually the 2nd time we've played. In the 2014 USATE Bero chose} 2. Nc3 {& we transposed into a Nimzo-Dutch.}) 2... Nf6 3. g3 Bb4+ (3... c5 { & a Modern Benoni or an English transposition, was an option.}) 4. Bd2 a5 (4... Be7 5. Bg2 d5 $11 {is probably best.}) 5. Bg2 d6 {I've played this several times but it doesn't seem to equalize.} ({Likewise} 5... d5 6. Qc2 O-O) 6. Bxb4 {This trade usually favors Black, who gains a half-open a-file + control of the a3 & c3 squares.} (6. Nf3 $142 {E11 Bogo-Indian} Nbd7 (6... Nc6 7. O-O e5 8. Bg5 $14 {Neurohr - Pritchett : Germany (Bundesliga) 1990}) 7. O-O e5 8. e3 $14 {Krogius - Smyslov : Spartakiad, Moscow 1967}) 6... axb4 {[#]} 7. Qd2 $146 (7. e3 $142 $146 {=}) (7. e4 $143 $2 {Kobo - Navara : Pardubice 2012} c5 $15) 7... Na6 $6 (7... c5 $1 8. dxc5 dxc5 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 $15 {was right.}) 8. a3 (8. Nf3 O-O 9. O-O b6 $1 10. Ne5 dxe5 11. Bxa8 exd4 $44 {is also interesting.}) 8... c5 $1 (8... bxa3 9. Rxa3 O-O {followed by ...Rb8 was playable but more passive.}) 9. dxc5 dxc5 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 11. axb4 cxb4 12. Nf3 {/\ Ne5-d3} Nd7 { This creates a temporary logjam but stopping an immediate Ne5 was necessary. Once f7 is protected, I'll be able to unravel with ...Ndc5 + ...Bd7, connect Rs, break the pin on the Na6 & perhaps challenge for control of the d-file.} 13. O-O Ke7 14. Rd1 $6 (14. Nbd2 $142 Ndc5 15. Nd4 Bd7 16. f4) 14... Ndc5 15. Ra5 Bd7 {To stop Rb5.} 16. Ne5 Ba4 $5 {[#]} (16... Rhd8 $142 17. Nxd7 Rxd7 18. Rxd7+ Kxd7 19. Rb5 Kc7 20. Kf1 Rd8 21. Ke1 b6) 17. Rxa4 $2 (17. Rc1 $11 { was correct.}) 17... Nxa4 $2 (17... Rad8 $142 $1 $17 {, wresting control of the d-file & exploiting White's 1st-rank weakenesses, would've refuted his Rxa4.}) 18. Rd7+ Kf6 19. f4 {With the Ne5 protected, he is threatening Rxf7# & my b7 P.} Rhf8 20. Be4 $2 {This threatens mate again, this time by Ng4} ({but} 20. Bxb7 $142 Rad8 21. Bxa6 Nc5 22. Bb5 Nxd7 23. Bxd7 $11) 20... g6 $2 (20... g5 $142 $1 21. Bxb7 gxf4 22. Ng4+ (22. gxf4 $143 $2 Rad8 23. Bxa6 Nc5 24. Bb5 Nxd7 25. Nxd7+ Ke7 26. Nxf8 Rd1+ 27. Kf2 Kxf8 28. Na3 $1 Rc1 29. c5 Rxc5 30. Bd3 bxa3 31. bxa3 h6 $17) 22... Kf5 23. Bxa8 Rxa8 24. h3 Rf8 $15) 21. Rxb7 $4 ( 21. Bxb7 Rad8 22. Bxa6 Nc5 23. Bb5 Nxd7 24. Bxd7 $11 {was required.}) 21... N4c5 {Now I'm winning.} 22. Rxf7+ Rxf7 23. Bxa8 Ra7 24. Bg2 {[#]} (24. Bf3 $142 ) 24... Nb8 (24... Nb3 $142) 25. Nd2 Nbd7 (25... Ra2 $142) 26. Nxd7+ (26. Nd3 $142 Nxd3 27. exd3 Ra2 28. Kf2 Rxb2 29. Ke3) 26... Rxd7 27. Nf3 (27. Ne4+ Nxe4 28. Bxe4 Rd2 29. Kf2 Rxb2 30. c5 b3 31. c6 $140 $2 Rc2 $1 32. Ke3 (32. Bxc2 $2 bxc2 33. c7 c1=Q) 32... Rc4 33. Kd3 $2 Rxe4 $1 34. Kxe4 b2 35. c7 b1=Q+ { was little or no better.}) 27... Rd1+ 28. Kf2 Rb1 29. g4 Rxb2 30. g5+ Ke7 31. Nd4 b3 32. Ke3 Ra2 {[#] White resigns. Time left - Bero 12:55, Moldovan 65:44 Estimated time used - Bero 109:45, Moldovan 56:56 Longest thinks: White - 10 minutes for 15.Ra5 Black - 7 minutes for 21...Nac5} 0-1 [Event "48th USATE"] [Site "Parsippany, NJ"] [Date "2018.02.18"] [Round "3"] [White "Moldovan, John"] [Black "Scobie, Micah"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D31"] [WhiteElo "1802"] [BlackElo "1391"] [Annotator "Moldovan,John"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "2018.02.17"] [EventType "team-swiss"] [EventRounds "6"] [EventCountry "USA"] [Source "Moldovan, John"] [SourceDate "2018.02.28"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2018.02.28"] [SourceQuality "1"] [WhiteTeam "Zugzwang Zigzaggers"] [BlackTeam "SA Bed-Stuy MS2"] {Board 104.1 40/120, SD/30 +5 (delay) D31 Queen's Gambit Exchange Variation} 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 c6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nc3 Bd6 6. Qc2 (6. Bg5 $142 {Forgacs - A. Neumann : Barmen 1905}) 6... f5 $2 (6... h6 $142 $1 {preventing 7.Bg5}) ( 6... Nf6 {transposing into more standard lines}) ({or} 6... Bg4) 7. Bg5 Nf6 ( 7... Ne7 $142 8. e3 O-O $14 {Ivkov - Zinn : Dresden 1959}) 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 { [#] This loses a P} ({but} 8... gxf6 $143 $6 9. e3 f4 10. exf4 $146 Bxf4 11. Bd3) 9. Nxd5 Qe6 ({Of course, not} 9... cxd5 $4 10. Qxc8+ Qd8 11. Qxb7 $18) ({ RR} 9... Qh6 10. Nc3 Be6 11. e3 O-O 12. Bd3 Nd7 13. h4 {Kaidanov - Lakdawala : U.S. Open 1990}) 10. Nc3 O-O 11. e3 Nd7 12. Bd3 $146 ({Previously seen here were} 12. O-O-O Nb6 13. h4 {Zwerver - Houtman : Groningen 1999}) ({&} 12. b3 $6 {Satvik - Padmanaban : Teheran 2006}) 12... Nf6 13. Ng5 Qd7 14. Bc4+ Kh8 15. Be6 Qe7 {[#]} 16. Bxf5 $2 (16. Bxc8 Raxc8 17. Qxf5 $18 {was right.}) 16... Bxf5 (16... Nd5 $142 17. Bxc8 $8 Qxg5 18. Bh3 Nxe3 $1 19. fxe3 Qxe3+ 20. Qe2 Qxd4 21. Rd1 $8 Qh4+ 22. g3 Bxg3+ 23. hxg3 Qxg3+ 24. Kd2 Rf2 25. Qxf2 Qxf2+ 26. Kc1 g6 $11) 17. Qxf5 g6 18. Qh3 $4 (18. Qe6 $142 Qc7 $140 19. Qh3 $18) 18... Nh5 $4 (18... Nd5 $142 $14) 19. g4 $4 (19. Nge4 $142 $18) 19... Qxg5 (19... Nf4 20. Qxh7+ Qxh7 21. Nxh7 Kxh7 22. exf4 Rae8+ 23. Kd2 Rxf4 24. f3 Rxf3 25. Raf1 Ref8 26. Rxf3 Rxf3 {was also +/=.}) 20. gxh5 Qxh5 $4 (20... Rae8 $142 21. Rf1 Qh6 $14) 21. Qxh5 gxh5 22. f4 $18 {[#]} (22. Ne4 $142) 22... Rae8 23. Kd2 Bb4 $2 24. a3 Bxc3+ 25. bxc3 Rd8 26. Rhg1 c5 27. Rg5 cxd4 28. cxd4 Rg8 29. Rag1 Rge8 30. Rxh5 b6 31. Kd3 a5 32. Rb1 Rb8 33. a4 Re6 34. Rxa5 Rg6 35. Rg5 Rh6 36. a5 Rxh2 $2 37. axb6 Rb7 38. Rc1 Rb8 $2 39. b7 {Black resigns. Time left - Moldovan 77:55, Scobie 109:38 Estimated time used - Moldovan 45:20, Scobie 13: 32 Longest thinks: White - 13 minutes for 19.g4?? Black - 3 minutes for 18... Nh5} 1-0 [Event "48th USATE"] [Site "Parsippany, NJ"] [Date "2018.02.18"] [Round "4"] [White "Zhang, Alan"] [Black "Moldovan, John"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C19"] [WhiteElo "2135"] [BlackElo "1802"] [Annotator "Moldovan,John"] [PlyCount "80"] [EventDate "2018.02.17"] [EventType "team-swiss"] [EventRounds "6"] [EventCountry "USA"] [Source "Moldovan, John"] [SourceDate "2018.02.28"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2018.02.28"] [SourceQuality "1"] [WhiteTeam "See (King) Alpha"] [BlackTeam "Zugzwang Zigzaggers"] {Board 42.1 40/120, SD/30 +5 (delay) C19 French Defense Winawer Variation One of my best-ever games!} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. h4 (7. Qg4 $142 {, which we'll call the Verlinsky Variation.}) 7... Qc7 (7... Qa5 8. Bd2 Qa4 {(Phillips - Clarke : Chester/Cheshire 1952) is another way to play.}) 8. Nf3 ({Now it's too late for Q sortie:} 8. Qg4 $2 cxd4 9. Ne2 (9. Qxg7 $4 {loses to} Rg8 10. Qxh7 Qxc3+ 11. Kd1 Qxa1) 9... Nf5 10. cxd4 Qxc2 $17) 8... b6 $1 {/\ trading l.s. Bs.} (8... Bd7 $143 9. h5 h6 10. a4 {Ingbrandt - Sjodahl : Norrkoepping 1988} (10. g4 $5 {Hunt - Moldovan : Casual game, Springfield 12/26/1999} Ba4 $11)) 9. h5 h6 10. a4 (10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Bd3 Ba4 {(Yudasin - Casper : Leipzig 1986) is also fine for Black.}) 10... Ba6 {[#] } 11. Bd3 $6 (11. Bb5+ $142 Bxb5 12. axb5 $11 {Steiner - Foltys : Lodz 1938}) 11... Bxd3 $1 12. Qxd3 (12. cxd3 $2 {drops a P to} cxd4 13. cxd4 Qc3+ 14. Bd2 $8 Qxd3 $17) 12... Nbc6 (12... Nd7 {(Malenka - Kinchant : correspondence, ICCF 2007), overprotecting c5, also favors the 2nd player but is unnecessarily defensive. The text hits e5 & prepares the thematic ..Na5-c4.}) 13. Ba3 O-O 14. O-O (14. dxc5 $143 $2 bxc5 15. Bxc5 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Qxe5+ 17. Kf1 Qc7 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 $17) 14... Rfc8 $146 ({Previously seen here was} 14... Na5 15. Rfe1 (15. Nd2 {T. Bueno - L. Do Prado : correspondence, ICCF 2000} Rfc8 $15) 15... Nc4 16. Bc1 Rac8 17. Nh2 cxd4 18. cxd4 Na5 19. Ba3 Rfe8 20. Re2 Qc3 21. Qxc3 Rxc3 $15 {Levchenkov - Moskalenko : Lubniewice 1994}) 15. Nd2 ({Again, if} 15. dxc5 bxc5 16. Bxc5 $2 {then} Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Qxc5 $17) 15... Na5 16. Rfc1 cxd4 17. cxd4 Qd7 18. Bb4 (18. g4 $142 Nc4 19. c3 $11) 18... Nc4 {[#] Draw offer #1. I have the advantage + a 25 minutes lead and see that my team's prospects are not good. We're behind 1-0, a P down on board 4, worse on board 2 & out-rated on each by some 300 points.} {White immediately rejected the peace proposal but pondered 20 minutes before playing...} 19. Nb3 (19. c3 $142) 19... a5 { Draw offer #2. Now it's 2-0. White can clinch the match by accepting but he again declines.} 20. Bd2 $2 {After a 10 minute think.} (20. Bxe7 $142 Qxe7 21. Ra2 $15) 20... Nb2 $17 {Draw offer #3. The score is now 3-0 & White is practically forced to trade Qs, or so I thought.} 21. Qh3 $2 {I was going to be extremely critical of this move but given my young opponent's rating drop in the last 2 months, from 2184, let's just say that his desire to win-back a few points instead of losing nearly 30 wasn't warranted.} Nxa4 {Draw offer #4. Hey! I'm a P up but am still willing to give him a half-point & get home early. } ({The engine says} 21... Rc4 {was even stronger.}) 22. g4 $5 Rc4 23. g5 $2 { This gives my Ne7 the f5 square & makes it a monster.} (23. c3 $142) 23... Nf5 {[#]} 24. Qg4 Kh8 (24... hxg5 $142 25. Bxg5 Kh7) 25. Kh2 Nc3 26. gxh6 gxh6 27. Rg1 Kh7 (27... Ne4 $142 28. Bxh6 $140 Rxc2) 28. Rg2 $2 {Going all-in, White prepares to triple & forsakes the c-pawn.} (28. Be3 $142 Ne4 29. Rac1) 28... Ne4 {This discovers upon the c2P & hits the B.} 29. Be3 Qe7 30. Rag1 Rxc2 31. Qf4 {This blocks his B but [#]} (31. f3 Rxg2+ 32. Rxg2 Ng5 {was wanting, as well.}) 31... Qh4+ {(!) Trading Qs was good practical decison even if it was based on a oversight.} (31... a4 $142) 32. Qxh4 Nxh4 33. Rg7+ Kh8 34. Rxf7 Nf5 {I don't have 34...Nf3+ but this is still winning. 35...Nxe3, trapping the poor Nb3 & 35...Nxf2 are all threatened.} 35. Rg2 $2 (35. Kh1 $142 Nxf2+ 36. Bxf2 Rxf2 37. Rf6 a4 38. Na1 Re8) 35... a4 36. Na1 Ra2 {White has 36 seconds to make 4 moves.} 37. Rb7 Rxa1 38. Bxh6 Nxh6 39. Rgg7 Nf5 40. Rg6 Rf1 {[#] White resigns. Time left - Zhang 30:03, Moldovan 74 minutes Estimated time used - Zhang 123:17, Moldovan 79:20 Longest thinks: White - 20 minutes for 19. Nb3 Black - 6 minutes for 20...Nb2} 0-1 [Event "48th USATE"] [Site "Parsippany, NJ"] [Date "2018.02.19"] [Round "5"] [White "Moldovan, John"] [Black "Yao, Brian"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A53"] [WhiteElo "1802"] [BlackElo "1693"] [Annotator "Moldovan,John"] [PlyCount "100"] [EventDate "2018.02.17"] [EventType "team-swiss"] [EventRounds "6"] [EventCountry "USA"] [Source "Moldovan, John"] [SourceDate "2018.02.28"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2018.02.28"] [SourceQuality "1"] [WhiteTeam "Zugzwang Zigzaggers"] [BlackTeam "Cornell C"] {Board 85.1 40/120, SD/30 +5 (delay) A53 Old Indian Defense} 1. d4 c6 2. c4 (2. e4 $142 $1) 2... d6 3. Nc3 Qc7 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 e5 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Be3 Be7 {[#]} 10. a3 $6 $146 (10. Nh4 $142 $1 {/\ Nf5} Bg6 11. Rc1 O-O 12. Nxg6 hxg6 $16 {Sliwerski - Motyl : Krakow 2010}) (10. Qb3) (10. Qd2) ({&} 10. Rc1 {have also been played.}) 10... O-O 11. Qd2 (11. g4 $142 Bg6 12. Nh4) 11... Rfe8 12. Nh2 $2 (12. Nh4 $142) 12... h6 13. f4 (13. d5 $142) 13... Bg6 ( 13... exf4 14. Bxf4 g5) 14. Rf2 (14. f5 $142) 14... a5 15. Nf1 $2 (15. b3) 15... a4 $2 (15... Nb6 $142 $17) 16. Kh2 $2 Qa5 {[#]} 17. g4 $4 (17. f5 $142 Bh7 18. d5 $11) 17... Nb6 18. f5 Nxc4 19. Qd3 Nxe3 20. Nxe3 Bh7 $2 (20... exd4 $142 21. fxg6 Qe5+ 22. Kg1 Qxe3 23. gxf7+ Kxf7 24. Qxe3 dxe3 $19) 21. Nc4 $4 ( 21. d5 $142 $17) 21... Qc7 $2 (21... Qa7 $142 $19) 22. dxe5 dxe5 $2 (22... d5 $142) 23. Qg3 b5 24. Nd2 Rad8 25. Nde4 Nxe4 (25... Nd5 $142 $17) 26. Nxe4 Bg5 $2 (26... f6 $142 $15) 27. Nxg5 $2 (27. e3 $142 Qb6 28. Re1 Rd3 29. Nxg5 hxg5 30. Be4 $44) 27... hxg5 {[#]} 28. f6 $2 (28. Be4 $142 $44) 28... Rd4 29. e3 Rd7 (29... Rd6 $142 $19) 30. Raf1 $2 (30. h4 $142) 30... e4 $2 (30... Re6 $142 31. fxg7 Qd8 $17) 31. Qxc7 Rxc7 32. Rc1 (32. Rd1 $142 $15) 32... c5 33. Bf1 (33. Rd1 $142) 33... c4 34. fxg7 (34. Rd1 $142) 34... Rd8 35. Kg3 Kxg7 36. h4 gxh4+ 37. Kxh4 Bg6 38. Kg3 Rc5 39. Rcc2 f6 40. Bg2 Rd3 41. Kf4 f5 42. Bf1 $4 (42. g5 $142 $15) 42... Rdd5 $2 (42... fxg4 $19) 43. g5 Rc8 44. Rh2 (44. Rcd2 $142) 44... Rd1 {[#]} 45. Rhf2 $2 (45. Be2 $142 $44) 45... Rcd8 46. Bxc4 $4 bxc4 47. Rxc4 R8d5 48. Rxa4 $2 Rg1 49. Ra7+ Kf8 50. Rh2 Rg4# {Time left - Moldovan 4:57, Scobie 22:13 Estimated time used - Moldovan 149:13, Scobie 131:57 Longest thinks: White - 13 minutes for 19.g4?? Black - 3 minutes for 18...Nh5} 0-1 [Event "48th USATE"] [Site "Parsippany, NJ"] [Date "2018.02.19"] [Round "6"] [White "Mistry, Jayesh"] [Black "Moldovan, John"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B08"] [WhiteElo "1257"] [BlackElo "1802"] [Annotator "Moldovan,John"] [PlyCount "62"] [EventDate "2018.02.17"] [EventType "team-swiss"] [EventRounds "6"] [EventCountry "USA"] [Source "Moldovan, John"] [SourceDate "2018.02.28"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2018.02.28"] [SourceQuality "1"] [WhiteTeam "St. Joe's High School"] [BlackTeam "Zugzwang Zigzaggers"] {Board 109.1 40/120, SD/30 +5 (delay) B08 Pirc Defense} 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Be3 O-O 6. h3 a6 7. Qd2 ({For} 7. Bd3 {see my January 11th loss to Benitez.}) 7... b5 8. O-O-O $2 (8. e5 $142 b4 $1 9. exf6 bxc3 10. Qxc3 Bxf6 11. Qd2 $11 {Soderborg - Hesselborn : Lund 2010}) 8... b4 9. Ne2 $6 ( 9. Na4 $142 {Ciubotaru - Marcotulli : correspondence, IECG 2001} Nxe4 10. Qxb4 $15) 9... Nxe4 10. Qxb4 {[#]} Nc6 $2 $146 (10... c5 $142 $1 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. Bxc5 dxc5 {Szadkowski - Debowski : correspondence, ICCF 2014} 13. Rxd8 (13. Qxc5 $4 Bxb2+ 14. Kxb2 Qxd1 $19) 13... cxb4 14. Rxf8+ Kxf8 $17) 11. Qc4 Na5 ( 11... Na7 $142 $8 $11) 12. Qd5 $18 Nxf2 {Resigns was a good alternative.} 13. Bxf2 Bh6+ 14. Kb1 c6 15. Qe4 Bf5 (15... Rb8 $142) 16. Qh4 Bg7 17. g4 Be4 $4 ( 17... Bd7 $142) 18. Ng5 $1 {Winning a 2nd piece.} h6 $2 (18... Bxc2+ $142 19. Kxc2 h6) 19. Nxe4 Rb8 20. Be3 $4 {[#]} (20. N2c3 $142 $18) 20... Qb6 $4 { Missing a chance to get back in the game} ({with} 20... Nc4 $1 $16 21. Bc1 $140 $4 Rxb2+ $3 22. Ka1 (22. Bxb2 $2 Qb6) 22... Qb6 $19) {The rest needs little comment.} 21. b3 Nc4 22. Bxh6 Qb4 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. N2c3 Na3+ 25. Kc1 d5 { Black wins 1 piece back, to no avail.} 26. Nb1 dxe4 27. Nxa3 Qxa3+ 28. Kb1 Rb6 29. g5 Rh8 30. Qxe4 Rh5 31. d5 cxd5 {& I resigned without waiting to see 32. Qd4+. Time left - Mistry 60:08, Moldovan 46:35 Estimated time used - Mistry 62:32, Moldovan 76:00 Longest thinks: White - 10 minutes for 26.Nb1 Black - 8 minutes for 11...Na5?? & 12...Nxf2} 1-0

#1296 Kenilworth Ch. - Prize Winners & Crosstable

1st place: LM Mark Kernighan

2nd place: John Moldovan

3rd place: Gilberto Benitez

U1800: Greg Tomkovich

Biggest Upset: Moldovan (as Black) 1/2-1/2 vs. Kernighan in round 5.

Crosstable

#1295 Kenilworth Championship - Round 7 Annotations

My draw vs. Selling:

[Event "27th Kenilworth Club Championship"] [Site "Kenilworth, NJ"] [Date "2018.02.22"] [Round "7"] [White "Moldovan, John"] [Black "Selling, Ed"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E92"] [WhiteElo "1784"] [BlackElo "1845"] [Annotator "Moldovan,John"] [PlyCount "33"] [EventDate "2018.01.11"] [EventType "swiss"] [EventRounds "7"] [EventCountry "USA"] [Source "Moldovan, John"] [SourceDate "2018.02.28"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2018.02.28"] [SourceQuality "1"] {Board 2 G/75+5 (delay) E92 King's Indian Defense Petrosian Variation} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 Ne8 (7... a5 $142 { , which is the main line.}) 8. Bg5 ({RR} 8. h4 $142 $1 Nf6 {Frackowiak - Fudalej : Polanica Zdroj 2001} (8... h6 9. h5 (9. Nd2 f5 10. h5 g5 11. exf5 Bxf5 12. Nde4 $14 {Bilek - Lehmann : Capablanca Memorial, Havana 1965}) 9... g5 10. Be3 $14) (8... f5 $143 $2 9. h5 f4 10. hxg6 hxg6 11. g3 $16 {Gligoric - Bogdanovic : Titovo Uzice 1966}) 9. Be3 Ng4 10. Bg5 $14) 8... f6 9. Bh4 (9. Bd2 $142 f5 {I. Rajlich - Kolago : Rowy 1998} 10. O-O) {Now Black's d.s. B improves its scope.} 9... Bh6 10. Nd2 {[#]} Na6 $146 (10... Qd7) (10... c5) ( 10... Ng7) ({&} 10... Bg5 {have also been tried}) ({but} 10... a5 $146 { is probably best of all.}) 11. Bg4 (11. O-O $142 $14) 11... Nc5 12. Bxc8 $2 ( 12. Be2 $142 {humbly retreating, to cover d3} a5 {to stop me from kicking the Nc5 away} 13. Nb3 $11) 12... Qxc8 $2 (12... Nd3+ $142 13. Kf1 Qxc8 14. Nb3 Nf4 $15) 13. Qe2 f5 (13... Bxd2+ $142 $1 14. Kxd2 c6 $11) 14. f3 fxe4 15. Ndxe4 Nxe4 16. Nxe4 Qf5 17. O-O {[#] White offers a draw. Black accepts. Game drawn by agreement. [#] Time left - Moldovan 48:17, Selling 57:41 Estimated time used - Moldovan 28:08, Selling 18:44 Longest thinks: White - 7 minutes for 12. Bxc8? Black - 4 minutes for 14...fxe4 With the half-point I clinched 2nd place.} (17. O-O Qf4 (17... Qh5 $4 18. Be7 $18 Rf7 $2 19. Ng3 $18) 18. Qf2 $1 ( 18. Bg3 $143 Qe3+ 19. Qxe3 Bxe3+ 20. Bf2 Bxf2+ 21. Rxf2 Nf6 $11) 18... Qe3 19. Rfe1 Qxf2+ 20. Kxf2 $1 $14 {(keeping control of f6) /\ c5}) 1/2-1/2

#1294 Kenilworth Championship - Round 7 Photos

 Photo credit: Ed Selling

Captions to follow.

#1293 Tal Quote

A Mikhail Tal quote, per issue 23 of The Friendly Post:

"Over-the-board chess is the favorite of mortals. Correspondence chess is the favorite of the Gods."