#367 STC Championship - Round 8

I had Black against the tournament leader hahahaum in a must-win game, played a Modern Defense, was equal or slightly better most of the way (through move 36) but burned too much time trying to create chances, lost a drawn ending and was officially eliminated :

[Event "STC Championship"]
[Site "World Chess Live"]
[Date "2008.09.03"]
[Round "8"]
[White "hahahaum"]
[Black "jpmoldovan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ICCResult "Black resigns"]
[WhiteElo "1923"]
[BlackElo "1900"]
[Opening "Modern Defense"]
[ECO "B06"]
[NIC "KF.06"]
[Time "20:20:24"]
[TimeControl "3600+30"]
1. e4 {1:00:23} g6 {1:00:13} 2. c3 {0:59:38} d5 {1:00:15} 3. exd5 {0:59:43} Qxd5 {1:00:30} 4. d4 {0:59:42} Bg7 {1:00:11} 5. h3 {0:59:29} Nf6 {0:58:23} 6. Nf3 {0:59:55} O-O {0:58:05} 7. Be2 {1:00:10} c5 {0:53:42} 8. dxc5 {0:59:58} Qxc5 {0:50:23} 9. Be3 {0:59:46} Qc7 {0:50:32} 10. O-O {0:59:49} Rd8 {0:50:46} 11. Qc1 {1:00:08} Nc6 {0:50:54} 12. Nbd2 {1:00:27} Nd5 {0:50:20} 13. Nb3 {1:00:43} Nxe3 {0:50:13} 14. Qxe3 {1:01:08} b6 {0:44:58} 15. Rad1 {1:01:06} Bb7 {0:45:19} 16. Nbd4 {1:01:07} a6 {0:43:38} 17. Nxc6 {1:00:43} Bxc6 {0:42:51} 18. Rxd8+ {0:59:34} Qxd8 {0:37:37} 19. Rd1 {0:59:54} Qc7 {0:37:45} 20. Nd4 {0:59:43} Bb7 {0:37:44} 21. Bf3 {0:59:58} Bxf3 {0:37:22} 22. Qxf3 {0:59:21} Rd8 {0:37:06} 23. Nc2 {0:57:26} Rxd1+ {0:32:36} 24. Qxd1 {0:57:53} Bf6 {0:31:29} 25. Nb4 {0:58:09} Qc4 {0:29:24} 26. Qd8+ {0:57:26} Kg7 {0:29:38} 27. Qxb6 {0:57:47} a5 {0:14:49} 28. Qxa5 {0:58:05} Qe2 {0:14:34} 29. Qc5 {0:55:24} Qxb2 {0:12:04} 30. Nd5 {0:55:41} Qc1+ {0:10:10} 31. Kh2 {0:56:08} Be5+ {0:09:58} 32. g3 {0:56:29} e6 {0:09:11} 33. Nc7 {0:51:14} Qxc3 {0:08:31} 34. Qxc3 {0:51:32} Bxc3 {0:08:58} 35. Kg2 {0:51:55} Kf6 {0:09:06} 36. f4 {0:52:13} Kf5 {0:09:23} 37. Kf3 {0:52:39} Ba5 {0:09:26} 38. Nb5 {0:52:26} h5 {0:09:21} 39. Nd6+ {0:52:45} Kf6 {0:09:47} 40. Nc4 {0:53:13} Bc7 {0:10:04} 41. a4 {0:52:10} g5 {0:10:02} 42. a5 {0:52:23} gxf4 {0:09:36} 43. a6 {0:52:42} Bb8 {0:10:01} 44. Nb6 {0:52:08} Ba7 {0:09:56} 45. Nc8 {0:52:33} Bc5 {0:08:42} 46. gxf4 {0:52:56} e5 {0:08:45} 47. a7 {0:53:19} Bxa7 {0:09:10} 48. Nxa7 {0:53:49} Kf5 {0:09:17} 49. fxe5 {0:54:12} Kxe5 {0:09:44} 50. Nc6+ {0:54:40} Kf5 {0:10:09} 51. Nd4+ {0:55:05} Kg5 {0:10:34} 52. Kg3 {0:55:31} h4+ {0:10:17} 53. Kf3 {0:55:57} f5 {0:08:54} 54. Ne2 {0:56:20} Kf6 {0:08:57} 55. Kf4 {0:56:15} Kg6 {0:09:20} 56. Nd4 {0:56:21} Kh6 {0:09:14} 57. Kxf5 {0:56:42} Kh5 {0:09:40} 58. Kf4 {0:57:10} Kg6 {0:09:59} 59. Kg4 {0:57:40} {Black resigns} 1-0

You can view the replay here.

#366 Springfield Fall Swiss Starts 9/21

There will be a non-rated four-round Swiss at the Springfield Barnes & Noble on September 21st and 28th, 2008.

You will play two games per night, starting at 8:45 p.m.

The time control will be Game/30.

USCF rules will govern play except as follows:

• Digital clocks are to be set at G/27 + 3 second delay.
• A player can stop keeping score if his clock goes under 10 minutes.
• His opponent must continue writing the moves down until he also goes under 10 minutes.

There is no entry fee and there are no prizes.

To register, send an email to rsherry8@comcast.net no later than Saturday, September 13th.

P.S. - This would be a good warm-up for the KCC's Sy Fish Memorial, a USCF-rated G/30 that begins October 2nd!

#365 KST 2008 - Round 13

In the battle for 1st place, I overcame a lost position against undefeated (+10-0=6) rival Ian Mangion to finish one-point ahead (14.0 to 13.0).

Luck and volume played a huge part in the wire-to-wire success (my first at the KCC); as I collected 4 points from 7 possible defeats and played most games (18).

Rounding out the top 5 were : 2005 KST-winner NM Mark Kernighan (10.5), 2006 KST-victor Greg Tomkovich (7.0) and Pat Mazzillo (6.0).

Here are the final standings plus 3 of the final-round games (1 annotated) in Java-replay and PGN. A ChessBase file with all the available games will follow and perhaps some other goodies, too.

#364 STC Championship - Round 7

My opponent resigned after just 13 moves. He had a bad position & said I was taking too much time but STC is short for Slow Time Control.

With 2 games to go, I'm at 4.5-2.5. +4 was enough to win in 2005 (the runner-up had 6.0) but won't be this year.

Even if Cli2 (currently =3rd) beats hahahaum (he leads with 5.5) this week, I win-out against them & no other contender emerges, the tiebreaks are against me.

Anyway, here are the replays & PGN of all my games from the event.

#363 STC Championship - Round 6

My 6th round STC World Championship game was an uphill battle but it ended in a draw.

Playing the Black side of an Exchange French, I unwisely grabbed a pawn at move 12...

McKnights-Moldovan
after 12.Bg5

... and missed a White tactic at turn 15 that left me a piece down for roughly 80-85% compensation. Things got much worse at move 18 when I chose a far-too-slow plan.

However, my 1843-rated opponent, who had used just 6:53 through 19 near-perfect moves, missed a win at move 20 by going after more material (are you catching my drift?!)...

McKnights-Moldovan
after 20.Nb6??

...and errored again at move 22 to allow a repetition. In the final position, I was better but too nervous to continue.

McKnights-Moldovan
before 28...Qg4+
1/2-1/2

Here are the replays & PGN of all my games from the event.

As it turns out, only the section winners and the ICC runner-up will advance to the finals; not 16.

#362 KST 2008 -- Round 12

I kept a slim one point lead with a pair of wins against Bert Shiffman. Ian Mangion kept pace by beating Greg Tomkovich twice. NM Mark Kernighan clinched 3rd place with a victory over Don Carrelli. Wayne Burmett & Joe Renna also won.

Here are the standings with 1 round to go plus 5 of the above games (2 annotated) in Java-replay and PGN.

Sorry for the lateness of this report but I had an STC game to play Friday night & spent most of yesterday analyzing it. You'll see why in the next post.

#361 KST 2008 - Round 11

2008 Kenilworth Summer Tournament
Results from week #11 :

• Burmett 0-1 Moldovan
  
• Mangion 1-0 Shiffman
  
• Renna 0-1 Kernighan
  
• Mazzillo 1-0 Carrelli
• Carrelli 1-0 Mazzillo
  

Here are the standings with 2 rounds to go plus all of the above games (4 annotated) in Java-replay and PGN.

#360 STC Championship - Round 5

My 5th game of the 2008 STC World Championship is tonight (Wed. 8/13) at 8:15 p.m. EDT.

Server	Game	White	Scheduled	Black
WCL	4446	jpmoldovan (1900) 2.0	Wed. 8/13 @ 20:15	artbertini (1345) 2.0

Afterwards, I'll post the score & a recap.

UPDATE 8/13 @ 11:24 p.m. :

I played a strong game against my opponent's Slav and won in 26 moves.

Moldovan-Bertini
after 18...Na6

White to win

Java-replay and PGN of all my games in the event; including light notes to tonight's victory.

#359 STC Update

I gave my 4th round opponent a 2nd chance to play and lost. So, with 5 rounds to go, I'm tied for 8th, 2 points off the pace :

1. hahahaum 4.0
2. mace 3.5
3. ChristopherP 3.0
3. Cli2 3.0
3. jivepar 3.0
6. jps7 2.5
6. McKnights 2.5

... & practically out of Finals-qualifying contention. 4.5-0.5 the rest of the way probably won't do the job.

Here are the replays and PGN of all my games thus far.

#358 KST 2008 - Round 10

KCCC U1800 Champ Dr. Ian Mangion remained undefeated (7-0-5) and moved to within a point of 1st place with a 1.5-0.5 match-victory over me. He won the opener to snap my unbeaten streak at 16 tournament games and drew the nightcap.

The latter was a hard-fought Queen's Gambit where both sides missed a win in time-pressure :

[Event "Summer Tournament"]
[Site "Kenilworth, N.J."]
[Date "2008.08.07"]
[Round "10.2"]
[White "Moldovan, John"]
[Black "Mangion, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "1800"]
[BlackElo "1764"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2008.06.05"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceDate "2008.08.08"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. d4 Bd6 6. Bg5 c6 7. Qc2 Nbd7 8.
e3 O-O 9. Bd3 h6 10. Bh4 Re8 11. O-O-O b5 (11... Qa5 $145 12. Nd2 b5 13. Nb3
$146 Qb6 $11 {Moldovan - knightchaser : FICS G/15 Championship, semi-final #1,
02/27/2005}) 12. Kb1 Qb6 $146 13. Rdg1 Ba6 14. g4 b4 15. Na4 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 Qb5
17. Qxb5 cxb5 18. Nc5 Nxc5 19. dxc5 Bxc5 20. g5 hxg5 21. Rxg5 Be7 22. Rhg1 g6
23. Re5 Kf8 24. Bxf6 Bxf6 25. Rxd5 a6 26. h4 Red8 27. Rgd1 Rxd5 28. Rxd5 Rd8
29. Rxd8+ Bxd8 30. Kc2 Bf6 31. b3 Ke7 32. Kd3 Kd6 33. Ke4 a5 34. Ng5 Ke7 35.
Kd5 a4 36. Kc5 axb3 37. axb3 Bc3 38. Kxb5 f5 39. Nf3 Kd6 40. Kc4 Ke7 41. Kd5
Kf6 42. Kd6 Kg7 43. Ke6 Kh6 44. Kf7 Kh5 45. Ng5 Be1 46. e4 Bxf2 47. e5 Bxh4 48.
Nf3 f4 49. e6 Bd8 50. Kg7 $4 Kg4 $19 51. Nd4 f3 52. Kxg6 f2 53. Nc2 f1=Q $4 54.
Ne3+ Kf3 55. Nxf1 $16 {&, some 11 moves later, with both sides in severe
time-pressure (less than 25 seconds left) and the following position :
White - Pb3, Nd7, Pe6 Kg6 Black - pb4, kc3, bh4 Moldovan played Nc5 and
claimed a draw by 3-fold repetition. Nf6 (Selling) would've won.} 1/2-1/2

In other games, Greg Tomkovich beat Bert Shiffman, Mark Kernighan won vs. Max Sherer and Wayne Burmett took 1.5 points against Pat Mazzillo.

Replays, more scores, notes & the full standings will follow.

Update 8/8 at 11:00 p.m. - Annotated Java-replay page, zipped PGN file & table uploaded.

#357 STC Championship - Round 4

My 4th game of the 2008 STC World Championship, where I'm currently = 5th-11th, is scheduled for tomorrow (Wed. 8/6) at 10:15 p.m. EDT. The task will be difficult; as my opponent, the highest-rated player in the event, has lost just 14 times (149-14-13) in 176 standard games!!

Server	Game	White	Scheduled	Black
WCL	4234	ChristopherP (2158) 2.0	Wed. 8/6 @ 20:15	jpmoldovan (1906) 2.0

In case the STC/WCL bot fails to collect the PGN & generate the replay, I'll post the score & a recap ASAP.

Update Wed. 8/6 @ 8:55 p.m. - White didn't show up, so I claimed a forfeit.

#356 KST 2008 - Round 9

2008 Kenilworth Summer Tournament
Results from week #9 :

• Moldovan 1-0 Shiffman
• Mazzillo 1/2 Moldovan
  
• Sherer 1/2 Mangion
• Tomkovich 0-1 Kernighan
  
• Burmette 1-0 Carrelli
• Sokolosky 0-1 Renna
  

I extended my lead to 2 full points by playing a simul but should've lost to Pat Mazzillo.

Here are the standings entering the final month of the event plus 5 of the above games (3 annotated) in Java-replay and PGN.

#355 Correspondence Database Errors

ChessBase's Corr Database 2009, MegaCorr4 and the 15th USCCC Preliminaries file have errors in two of my games :

• Moldovan-Kremen is given without result but my foe resigned at move 21 (on November 6th, 2000) before withdrawing due to illness.

Before 20...Nxb4??

• In Pitter-Moldovan, White did not play 40.g3. He sent 40.f4 (on June 5th, 2001). Thus, 43...Qxd6 and 44.Qc8 weren't blunders.

After 13.Nc4?

Black to play

For your perusal & download, here are the corrected contests (my best of the event), sans notes, in Java-replay and PGN.

#354 STC Championship - Round 3

Time Change

My 3rd game of the 2008 STC World Championship, where I'm currently = 9th-16th, is now scheduled for tomorrow (Wed. 7/30) at 10:00 p.m. EDT.

Server	Game	White	Scheduled	Black
WCL	4120	RayseanWhitney (1465) 1.0	Wed. 7/30 @ 22:00	jpmoldovan (1902) 1.0

WCL standings after 2 rounds

Update - Wed. 7/30 @ 10:37 p.m. : My opponent forfeited. He didn't show up within 30 minutes of our agreed starting time.

#353 STCWC - Notes to Game 2

I have uploaded the annotated PGN & Java-replay of my 2nd round game from the STC World Championship.

#352 KST 2008 - Round 8

As in week 7, there were just 4 games played in the Kenilworth Summer Tourney this Thursday :

• Shiffman 0-1 Moldovan
• Renna 1-0 Tomkovich
• Tomkovich 1-0 Renna
  
• Carrelli 1/2 Mangion

With 5 rounds to go, I lead Ian Mangion by 1 point.

Here are the full, up-to-date standings plus 3 of the night's games (2 annotated) in Java-replay and PGN. I'll try to get the other for you.

corrected notes uploaded 7/27 @2:52 p.m.

Carrelli-Mangion score added 8/2 @ 12:45 p.m. Thanks Don.

#351 STC Championship - Round 2

My 2nd game of the 2008 STC World Championship is scheduled for 8 p.m. tonight.

Server	Game #	White	Scheduled	Black
WCL	Game 4081	jpmoldovan (1900)		crazyjon (1955)

Regardless of outcome, the PGN will be pasted here afterwards.

9:38 p.m. - The game against crazyjon was drawn in 39 moves. I had an advantage until the 24th turn and fell behind with errors at moves 32 & 33. However, Black returned the favor with 35...Qb2? instead of ...Ndf8 -/+ and took a repetition :

[Event "STC World Championship"]
[Site "World Chess Live"]
[Date "2008.07.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "jpmoldovan"]
[Black "crazyjon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "1900"]
[BlackElo "1955"]
[ECO "E67"]
[Opening "King's Indian"]
[Variation "Fianchetto variation"]
[TimeControl "3600+30"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. d4 d6 5. g3 O-O
6. Bg2 c6 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Qc2 Qc7 9. b3 e5 10. Rd1 a6
11. Ba3 $146 Re8 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Bd6 Qb6 14. e3 Bf8 15. Rab1 Bxd6
16. Rxd6 Qc7 17. Rbd1 Rb8 18. R6d2 Nf8 19. h3 Bf5 20. e4 Be6
21. Qd3 N6d7 22. Qe3 Kg7 23. Ng5 Rbd8 24. Nxe6+ $2 Nxe6 25. Ne2 Nf6
26. f4 Rxd2 27. Rxd2 exf4 28. gxf4 Rd8 29. Rxd8 Qxd8 30. Bf3 Qd1+
31. Kf2 Qc2 32. e5 $2 Nd7 33. Be4 $2 Qxa2 34. f5 gxf5 35. Bxf5 Qb2 $2
36. Bxe6 fxe6 37. Qg5+ Kf7 38. Qh5+ Kg7 39. Qg5+ Kf7
1/2-1/2

PGN download
Java-replay

#350 Minutes of the Emergency Meeting

The minutes of Thursday's emergency business meeting have been posted on the KCC Minutes site.

#349 KST 2008 - Round 7

Because of the Emergency Business Meeting on Thursday, there were just 4 games played in the Kenilworth Summer Tourney this week :

• Cavaliere 1/2 Moldovan
• Moldovan 1/2 Cavaliere
• Mangion 1/2 Kernighan
• Shiffman 0-1 Sokolosky

So, at the moment, I have a half-point lead over Ian Mangion. NM Mark Kernighan is 2 points back.

Here are the full, up-to-date standings plus the evening's action (all 4 games annotated) in Java-replay and PGN.

Moldovan - Cavaliere
after 37...d4??

White to win

#348 STC Annotations

I have uploaded the annotated PGN & Java-replay of my 1st round game from the STC Championship.

#347 Emergency KCC Business Meeting Tonight

The will be an emergency business meeting of the Kenilworth Chess Club tonight at 8:15. Full details on the KCC Minutes site.

#346 STC Opener A Draw

I had a clear plus against jps7 after 24 moves but could only manage a draw :

[Event "STC World Championship"]
[Site "World Chess Live"]
[Date "2008.07.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "jps7"]
[Black "jpmoldovan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "1653"]
[BlackElo "1913"]
[ECO "E19"]
[Opening "Queen's Indian"]
[Variation "Old main line, 9.Qxc3"]
[TimeControl "3600+30"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7
6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Qc2 Nxc3 9. Qxc3 d6 10. b3 Bf6
11. Bb2 c5 12. e3 Nd7 13. Rad1 Qc7 14. Qc2 Rac8 15. dxc5 bxc5
16. Rfe1 Bxb2 17. Qxb2 Nf6 18. a3 a5 19. Qd2 Rfd8 20. Qb2 Qb6
21. Rb1 Be4 22. Ra1 Qb7 23. Nh4 Bxg2 24. Nxg2 Rb8 25. Reb1 Rdc8
26. Nf4 a4 27. b4 cxb4 28. Qxb4 Qxb4 29. axb4 Rxc4 30. Rxa4 g5
31. Nd3 Nd5 32. Ra6 Rc3 33. Ne1 Rxb4 34. Rd1 Rbb3 35. Rxd6 Nf6
36. Nf3 Ne4 37. R6d4 f5 38. Rxe4 fxe4 39. Nxg5 Rc2 40. Nxe4 Rbb2
41. Rd6 Kf7 42. Rd7+ Kg6 43. h4 Kf5 44. Nd6+ Ke5 45. Nf7+ Kf6
46. Ng5 h6 47. Ne4+ Ke5 48. Rd4 Kf5 49. Nd6+ Kg6 50. Rg4+ Kf6
51. Rf4+ Ke7 52. Nc4 Rb4 53. Na3 Rc1+ 54. Kg2 Rb3 55. Nc4 Rb4
56. Ne5 Rxf4 57. Ng6+ Kf6 58. Nxf4 Rd1 59. g4 e5 60. Nh5+ Kg6
61. Kf3 Rh1 62. Kg3 Rg1+ 63. Kf3
1/2-1/2

There were 9 draw-offers in the game!

Update 7/17 @ 12:40 p.m. The STC Bunch has posted the plain java-replay & downloadable PGN. My annotated replay & zip will follow.

#345 STC Championship - Round 1

Tonight (Tuesday 7/15) at 9 p.m. EDT, I'll be playing my opening game in the 2008 STC World Championship.

If you want to watch, join World Chess Live (all USCF members are eligible for 6 free months), download Dasher, install it, login & follow me.

Server	Game #	White	Scheduled	Black
WCL	Game 3890	jps7		jpmoldovan

#344 KST 2008 - Round 6

There were 7 games played in the Kenilworth Summer Tournament last night and White, which had scored a collective +4-26=7 in the previous rounds, took them all!! :

• Moldovan 1-0 Sokolosky annotations uploaded 7/11 @ 1:12 p.m.
  
• Mangion 1-0 Carrelli
• Norowitz 1-0 Kernighan
• Burmett 1-0 Tomkovich
• Wojcio 1-0 Sherer
• Kruglyak 1-0 Sturniolo
  
• Cavaliere 1-0 Sokolosky
  

Wayne Burmett (-206) was the biggest upset winner. I should've lost but remained in a tie for 1st, with Ian Mangion, at 6.5.

Here are the full, up-to-date standings plus four fresh games in Java-replay and PGN.

#343 STC World Championship Starts 7/14

The 2008 STC World Championship, a free, 9-round event with a 60+30 time control, starts July 14th on the Free Internet Chess Server, Internet Chess Club, and World Chess Live.

The top 16 finishers will advance the STC WC Finals; a knockout tournament, starting September 15th. Full details here. I qualified for the last finals, back in 2005, by winning the now-defunct U.S. Chess Live section.

The entry deadline is Sunday, July 13th at 5:00 p.m. EDT (21:00 GMT). However, late joins will be accepted until round 3.

To play, become an ICC, FICS or WCL member, join the STC Bunch, login and register for the tournament.

#342 KST 2008 - Round 5

There was a light schedule in the KST on Thursday - just five games :

• Sokolosky 0-1 Moldovan
• Burmett 0-1 Mangion
• Wojcio 0-1 Kernighan
• Mazzillo 0-1 Tomkovich
• Sherer 0-1 Goeller
  

Here are the full, up-to-date standings plus three annotated game from round 5 in Java-replay and PGN.

Burmett-Mangion
after 16...h6?? (N)

White to win

Sherer-Goeller score & replay added on 7/11. For annotations see The Kenilworthian blog.

#341 KST Update

The Java-replay page and zipped-PGN file for the Summer Tourney's 4th round have been uploaded along with a crosstable.

links fixed 7/1 @ 11:55 p.m.
replays fixed (missing gif folder uploaded) 7/4 @ 1:51 a.m

Sorry for the delay, problems & inconveniences.

#340 KST Correction

TD Greg Tomkovich has informed me that his Thursday night win over Ted Mann was not a tournament game.

So, the correct scores after week 4 of 13 are :

4.5 Moldovan, Mangion
4.0 Kernighan
3.5 Mazzillo
3.0 Tomkovich
2.0 Sturniolo
1.5 Burmett, Shiffman, Sokolosky
1.0 Norowitz, Goeller, Lewis, Pelican, Cavaliere
0.5 Carrelli, Wojcio
0.0 Matlin, McAuliffe, Sherer, Renna, Cole, Roth

#339 KST 2008 - Round 4

Here are the 4th round results from the KST :

• Carrelli 0-1 Moldovan
• Goeller 0-1 Kernighan
• Mann 0-1 Tomkovich
• Mangion 1-0 Wojcio
• Wojcio 0-1 Mangion
• Shiffman 0-1 Mazzillo
• Sokolosky 0-1 Sturniolo
• Lewis 0-1 Norowitz
• Roth 0-1 Lewis

... The updated standings :

4.5 Moldovan, Mangion
4.0 Kernighan, Tomkovich
3.5 Mazzillo
2.0 Sturniolo
1.5 Burmett, Shiffman, Sokolosky
1.0 Norowitz, Goeller, Lewis, Pelican, Cavaliere
0.5 Carrelli, Wojcio
0.0 Matlin, McAuliffe, Sherer, Mann, Renna, Cole, Roth


... & 4 games from Thursday :

[Event "Summer Tournament"]
[Site "Kenilworth, N.J."]
[Date "2008.06.26"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Carrelli, Don"]
[Black "Moldovan, John"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B21"]
[WhiteElo "1748"]
[BlackElo "1814"]
[Annotator "Moldovan & HIARCS 11"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2008.06.05"]
[SourceDate "2008.06.27"]

{G/55 + :05 delay B21 Sicilian Defense (by transposition)} 1. f4 c5 ({
A change from our March 27th, KCCC game; which featured} 1... c6 2. Nf3 g6 3.
g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d6 5. e4 Qb6 6. c3 Nf6 7. Qc2 $146 Ng4 $5) ({
More daring is Lev Zilbermintz's} 1... h6 $5) 2. Nf3 (2. b3 {
preventing the following, was a good alternative.}) 2... g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2
Nf6 $5 (4... Nc6 5. d3 e6 6. e4 Nge7 {would've joined my game from West Orange
but I had just finished showing it to Don and was already paranoid that the
line might be over-exposed.}) 5. d3 Nc6 6. e4 d6 (6... d5 7. e5 Nd7 (7... Ng8
8. d4 Bg4 {& a Gurgenidze-like setup, looks okay, too.}) 8. d4 Qb6 {
deserved consideration.}) 7. c3 Qc7 8. Na3 a6 {Diagram #} 9. Nc4 $146 ({
This varies from the} 9. Nc2 Rb8 10. O-O {
of Chmielinska - Kucypera : Rowy 1998 where Black should've answered} O-O $11 {
instead of ...b5.}) 9... b5 10. Ne3 Bb7 11. Bh3 O-O (11... e6 12. g4 d5 13. e5
Nd7) ({&} 11... c4 {looking to undermine the enemy e-pawn, were options.
But, I wasn't going to play ...0-0-0 and the Bh3's placement (in front of the
h-pawn) rules-out quick K-side attacks.}) 12. Ng4 $6 ({
This gives me an easy game.} 12. g4 {would've kept things tense and equal.})
12... Nxg4 13. Bxg4 b4 (13... Na5 $142 $15 {idea : ...c4}) 14. Bd2 a5 15. Qc2
$2 (15. O-O {would've restored the balance.}) 15... Bc8 (15... bxc3 $142 16.
Bxc3 (16. bxc3 $2 Nb4 $1 $19) 16... Nb4 {threat : ...Ba6} 17. Bxb4 axb4 {
& a clear plus.}) 16. Bxc8 Rfxc8 {Diagram #} 17. c4 $6 ({
This increases the Bg7's scope and makes a hole on d4.} 17. O-O $142) 17... Nd4
18. Nxd4 cxd4 $2 (18... Bxd4 {keeping the long, dark diagonal half-open} 19.
Ke2 a4 20. Be3 Bg7 {
would've retained the advantage (=/+ HIARCS 11; -+ Fritz 8).}) 19. Rc1 Qc5 20.
O-O {/\ f4-f5 but I beat Don to it.} f5 $1 21. exf5 ({I expected} 21. Rfe1)
21... gxf5 (21... Qxf5 $142) 22. Be1 Rf8 23. Bf2 $2 ({
This puts Carrelli's cleric in the path of my central Ps.} 23. Qe2 e5 24. fxe5
dxe5 25. Qh5 $11 {was right.}) 23... e5 24. fxe5 dxe5 25. b3 Rae8 26. Rce1 Re7
{Diagram #} 27. Qd2 $4 ({The leaves White's B without an escape.} 27. g4 $17 {
was required.}) 27... e4 $19 28. Qg5 e3 29. Bxe3 dxe3 30. Re2 $2 (30. d4) 30...
h6 31. Qh4 Kh7 32. Rf4 Bf6 (32... Rd7 $142 {winning the d3P.}) 33. Qh5 Bg5 34.
Rf3 $2 (34. d4) 34... Rg7 (34... Qd4 $142 $1 35. h4 $140 Qxd3 $8 36. Rf1 f4 $1
37. hxg5 f3 38. Qxh6+ Kg8) ({or} 34... Rd7) 35. h4 Bf6 $6 ({Trying to be cute.
} 35... Be7 {was strongest.}) 36. Rexe3 $2 ({
This drops a whole R & shortens the game.} 36. Qxf5+ $142 {
Not 36.Rxf5? Rxg3+ 37.Kh2 Qc7 threat : ...Rg5+} Qxf5 37. Rxf5 Rxg3+ 38. Kh2 Rg4
39. Rxe3 Rxh4+ 40. Kg2 Rg4+ {
although the 1st player wouldn't want a piece-down ending.}) 36... Bd4 37. Kf2
Re7 $6 {37...Be3 was best but the text is good enough. White resigns
Time left - Carrelli 26:32, Moldovan 12:19 Estimated time used - Carrelli 31:
33, Moldovan 45:46 Longest think by White - 4 minutes for 37.Kf2 Longest
think by Black - 11 minutes for 34...Rg7} 0-1

[Event "Summer Tournament"]
[Site "Kenilworth, N.J."]
[Date "2008.06.26"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Goeller, Michael"]
[Black "Kernighan, Mark"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2034"]
[BlackElo "2210"]
[Annotator "Fritz 8"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2008.06.05"]
[SourceDate "2008.06.27"]

{B12 Caro-Kann Defense Advance Variation Caveman Attack (4.h4)} 1. e4 c6 2.
d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h6 5. g4 Bd7 6. c4 e6 7. c5 b6 8. Be3 bxc5 9. dxc5 Na6
10. b4 $2 (10. Bxa6 Qa5+ 11. Nd2 Qxa6 12. h5 $11) 10... Nxb4 11. Qa4 a5 12. a3
Na6 13. Bxa6 Rxa6 14. Nf3 h5 15. Nc3 $2 (15. gxh5 $16) 15... hxg4 16. Qxg4 Nh6
$2 (16... Qc7 $19) 17. Bxh6 Rxh6 $6 (17... gxh6 $142 $15) 18. Qd4 $2 (18. Na4
$44) 18... a4 19. Rb1 Bc8 20. Nxa4 g5 $2 (20... Qa5+ 21. Rb4 $8 Be7 $15) 21.
Rg1 $2 (21. h5 $14) 21... gxh4 22. Rg8 h3 23. Qf4 Rh5 24. Nb6 Rxa3 25. Ng5 Ra7
26. Kd2 $2 (26. Nxc8 Qxc8 27. Kf1 $15) 26... h2 (26... Rxg5 27. Rxg5 Ra2+ $17)
27. Rh1 $4 (27. Ra1 $3 $44 Rxa1 $140 $4 28. Qxf7#) 27... Ra2+ $19 28. Ke3 Rxg5
$1 29. Qxg5 Qxg5+ 30. Rxg5 Bh6 $6 (30... Bxc5+ $142) 31. Rxh2 (31. Nxc8 $142
Bxg5+ 32. Kf3) 31... Bxg5+ 32. Kf3 Ba6 33. Rh8+ Ke7 34. Kg4 Bc1 {White time-forfeited} 0-1

[Event "Summer Tournament"]
[Site "Kenilworth, N.J."]
[Date "2008.06.26"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Shiffman, Bert"]
[Black "Mazzillo, Pat"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D94"]
[WhiteElo "1369"]
[BlackElo "1280"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2008.06.05"]
[SourceDate "2008.06.27"]

{Gruenfeld Defense} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. e3 O-O 6. Bd3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. O-O
cxd4 9. Nxd5 Qxd5 10. e4 Qd6 11. Qe2 Bg4 12. b3 Nc6 13. Bd2 Ne5 14. h3 Nxf3+
15. gxf3 Bxh3 16. e5 Qxe5 17. Qxe5 Bxe5 18. f4 Bxf1 19. Kxf1 Bg7 20. Bb4 Rfe8
21. Re1 e6 22. f3 Rad8 23. Bd2 e5 24. f5 Bf6 25. fxg6 hxg6 26. Re2 Kg7 27. Rg2
Rh8 28. Kg1 Rh3 29. Kf2 Rdh8 30. Be4 b6 31. f4 Rh2 32. f5 d3 33. fxg6 fxg6 34.
Bf3 Rxg2+ 35. Kxg2 Re8 36. Be4 Rc8 37. Kf1 Rc2 38. Ke1 Rxa2 39. Bxd3 Ra1+ 40.
Ke2 Ra2 41. Kd1 g5 42. Be4 Kh6 43. Kc1 Kh5 44. Be1 g4 45. Bg3 Bg5+ 46. Kb1 Re2
47. Bd5 Bf4 48. Bc4 Bxg3 49. Bxe2 Kh4 50. Kc2 Bf2 51. Kd3 g3 52. Bf1 Kg4 53.
Ke4 a5 54. Kd3 b5 55. Ke2 a4 56. bxa4 bxa4 {and White resigned after 4 more moves.} 0-1

[Event "Summer Tournament"]
[Site "Kenilworth, N.J."]
[Date "2008.06.26"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Sokolosky, Bill"]
[Black "Sturniolo, Lou"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "1128"]
[BlackElo "1448"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2008.06.05"]
[SourceDate "2008.06.27"]

{King's Indian Defense (by transposition)} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 c5 4.
e3 Bg7 5. Bd3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. O-O d6 8. Nd2 Nc6 9. N2f3 e5 10. Nxc6 bxc6
11. e4 Bg4 12. Be2 $2 Nxe4 13. Qd3 Bf5 14. Qe3 Qb6 15. Nh4 Qxe3 16. Bxe3 Be6
17. Rad1 d5 18. b3 d4 19. Bc1 Nc3 20. Rd2 Bh6 21. Rb2 Bxc1 22. Rxc1 Kg7 23. Nf3
f6 24. Bd3 c5 25. Re1 Rfe8 26. a3 Bd7 27. Nd2 f5 28. f3 Bc6 29. Kf2 e4 30. fxe4
fxe4 31. Nxe4 Nxe4+ 32. Bxe4 Rxe4 33. Rxe4 Bxe4 34. Re2 Re8 {
and Black won after another 34 moves or so.} 0-1

#338 Games From West Orange

Here are 3 games from Tuesday's match between Kenilworth and West Orange.

[Event "Kenilworth at West Orange"]
[Site "West Orange, N.J."]
[Date "2008.06.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hart, Charles"]
[Black "Moldovan, John"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B21"]
[WhiteElo "1943"]
[BlackElo "1814"]
[Annotator "Moldovan, HIARCS 11 & Fritz 8"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2008.06.24"]
[Source "The Chess Coroner #338"]
[SourceDate "2008.06.27"]

{board 4 G/85 + :05 delay B21 Sicilian Defense (also C00 French)} 1. e4 e6
2. d3 c5 3. g3 $1 {Upgrading a statement I made some 12 days ago, I will now
say this is better, not just more flexible, than 3.Nf3 & a K's Indian Attack.}
Nc6 4. Bg2 g6 (4... Nge7 5. f4 $140 d5 6. Nd2 (6. e5 Nf5 7. Nf3 h5 {
is good for Black.}) 6... g6 {may be more accurate.}) ({
If a different approach is preferred,} 4... Nf6 5. f4 $140 d5 6. e5 Nd7 {
has merit.}) 5. f4 Nge7 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. c3 (7. Nc3 {is a Closed Sicilian.}) 7...
O-O 8. O-O (8. h4 $5 {looking to prove that ...0-0 is premature, was possible.}
) 8... d5 ({Attacking the center should be fine but every time I've played it
(now 4) a 1940+ opponent has outplayed me in the middlegame.} 8... d6 {
(8...f5, 8...b5, 8...b6 & 8...Rb8 are worth weighing, too.)} 9. Be3 (9. Qe2 {
makes a Tchigorin French.}) 9... b6 {/\ ...Ba6 &/or ...f5, may be a better fit.
}) 9. e5 f6 {Diagram #} (9... b6 $145 10. Re1 Qd7 11. Be3 Bb7 12. Bf2 Rfd8 13.
Nbd2 Qc7 14. Rc1 Nb8 15. Qe2 Nd7 16. g4 Rf8 17. Bg3 $14 {
Gavrikov - Ivanchuk : Lvov 1987}) 10. exf6 ({
This is the main line. At the USATE back in February, Hux introduced} 10. Be3 {
and the play was balanced until I erred at move 27.}) 10... Bxf6 11. Re1 Qd6 {
Black doesn't have the means to enforce ...e5 and with his Q on d6, he can't
meet Ne5 with a trade of steeds. So, the Dame should've been developed to b6
or c7, instead.} 12. Qe2 Bd7 ({This retains options but} 12... b5 $142 $1 13.
Na3 $140 b4 14. Nb5 $4 Qb8 $19) 13. Na3 a6 $146 (13... Rae8 {
Clearing the way for retreats to b8 & c8.} 14. Be3 a6 15. Bf2 b5 16. Nc2 b4 17.
cxb4 cxb4 18. d4 a5 19. h4 Qb8 20. Ne5 Nxe5 21. dxe5 Bg7 22. Nd4 Nf5 23. Rad1
Rc8 24. h5 Nxd4 25. Bxd4 $14 {
was seen in Movsziszian - Valmana : Albacete 2007.}) 14. Nc2 Rae8 15. d4 cxd4
16. Ncxd4 Nxd4 17. cxd4 Nf5 18. Qf2 Qb6 19. Rd1 {Diagram # Let's pause and
take stock of the position : White has more space and control of e5 but has
an isolated d-pawn P. Black has much better-placed pieces but his e-pawn is
backward, his Bd7 is bad and his 2 or 3-step lead in development may be
temporary. The chances are dynamically equal.} Nd6 ({This isn't bad but
there was no good reason to re-deploy the N here; as it can be kept out of e4
and c4.} 19... Rc8 $142 {looking to improve the QR which, with ...e6-e5 not
happening, was doing nothing at e8.}) ({or} 19... Nh6 {/\ ...Ng4.}) 20. Ne5 Bc8
$2 ({The start of my demise. I should've eliminated the enemy equine
immediately and taken the c-file with} 20... Bxe5 21. dxe5 Qxf2+ 22. Kxf2 Nf7 {
threat : ...Nxe5} 23. Kg1 Rc8) 21. b3 Nb5 $2 (21... Be7 $16) 22. Bb2 g5 23. Re1
gxf4 24. Qxf4 Bxe5 $4 ({
After this, Black can't defend the weaknesses around his K.} 24... Bg7 $16 {
was right.}) 25. Qxe5 $18 {If now 25...Rf5, as I planned, then 26.Qxf5.} Bd7 $2
(25... Qd8 {was a much better try.}) 26. Bxd5 $4 ({
This sac is unsound. White should've played} 26. Qg5+ Kh8 27. Rf1 $18) 26...
exd5 27. Qxd5+ Be6 $4 {Diagram #} (27... Rf7 $17 {was correct.}) 28. Qg5+ Kh8
29. Re3 $3 Rf5 ({With} 29... Bd5 30. Rxe8 Rxe8 31. Qxd5 {being 2 Ps down, I
have to, for better or worse, try something else and hope my foe goes wrong.})
30. d5+ Nd4 31. Rd1 $4 ({
This throws a full point away. White had his choice of wins here :} 31. Qh6 {
Moldovan}) (31. Qxf5 Bxf5 32. Rxe8+ Kg7 33. Rd1 {C. Hart}) ({or} 31. Rxe6 {
(best) Fritz 8 & HIARCS 11}) 31... Rxg5 $19 32. Bxd4+ Qxd4 33. Rxd4 Bd7 34. Kf2
Rge5 {White resigns Time left - Hart 28:56, Moldovan 24:29 Estimated time
used - Hart 58:54, Moldovan 63:21 Longest think by White - 11 minutes for
20.Ne5 Longest think by Black - 8 minutes for 23...gxf4} 0-1

[Event "Kenilworth at West Orange"]
[Site "West Orange, N.J."]
[Date "2008.06.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tomkovich, Greg"]
[Black "Cohen, Bryan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D87"]
[WhiteElo "1705"]
[BlackElo "1857"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2008.06.24"]
[Source "The Chess Coroner #338"]
[SourceDate "2008.06.27"]

{board 7 Gruenfeld Defense Exchange Variation} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5
Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Bc4 Bg7 8. Be3 Nc6 9. Ne2 O-O 10. O-O Qc7 11. Rc1
Rd8 12. Qd2 a6 13. Rfd1 b5 14. Bd5 Bb7 15. Qc2 e6 16. Bxc6 Qxc6 17. f3 Rac8 18.
Qb2 Kh8 19. c4 bxc4 20. Rxc4 Qb5 21. Rc2 c4 22. Qc1 a5 23. Nc3 Qc6 24. Qa3 Ra8
25. Qa4 f5 26. e5 Qxa4 27. Nxa4 Bxe5 28. Nb6 Ra6 29. Nxc4 Bg7 30. Rcd2 Bd5 31.
Ne5 Bxe5 32. dxe5 Rc6 33. Bg5 Rdc8 34. Bf6+ Kg8 35. Kf2 Rc2 36. a3 R8c3 37. Ke1
Rxd2 38. Rxd2 Rxa3 39. Rc2 Ra1+ 40. Kd2 Ra2 41. Be7 Bb3 42. Rxa2 Bxa2 43. Kc3
a4 44. Kb4 Bb3 45. f4 Kf7 46. Bd6 Ke8 47. g3 Kd7 48. Kb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Kenilworth at West Orange"]
[Site "West Orange, N.J."]
[Date "2008.06.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sharpell, Fred"]
[Black "Shiffman, Bert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C75"]
[WhiteElo "1818"]
[BlackElo "1369"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2008.06.24"]
[Source "The Chess Coroner #339"]
[SourceDate "2008.06.27"]

{board 10 Ruy Lopez Modern Steinitz Defense (by transposition - 5...d6)} 1. e4 e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nge7 {Cozio Defense} 4. c3 a6 {Norwegian Defense} 5. Ba4 d6 6.
d4 Bd7 7. d5 b5 $4 (7... Nb8 $14) 8. dxc6 Nxc6 9. Bb3 Be7 10. O-O Na5 11. Bc2
Nc4 12. b3 Nb6 13. Be3 c5 14. Nbd2 Be6 15. Re1 Qc7 16. Nf1 O-O 17. Ng3 Bg4 18.
h3 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Bf6 20. Rad1 Rad8 21. Nf5 Nc8 22. g4 Ne7 23. Nxe7+ Qxe7 24.
Kh2 Bg5 25. Bxg5 Qxg5 26. Qg3 Qe7 27. Rd5 Rd7 28. Red1 Rfd8 29. f4 f6 30. fxe5
fxe5 31. Rf1 Rf8 32. Rxf8+ Qxf8 33. Kg2 g5 34. Rd2 Rf7 35. Rf2 Rxf2+ 36. Qxf2
Qxf2+ 37. Kxf2 Kf7 38. Ke3 Ke6 39. Bd3 Kd7 40. a3 Kc6 41. c4 Kb6 42. cxb5 axb5
43. Kd2 Ka5 44. Kc3 c4 45. bxc4 bxc4 1-0

Notes to Tomkovich-Cohen will follow in a few days. Replays and a zipped PGN file will have to wait. There's no more room on the server.

#337 West Orange 7 Kenilworth 3

A very strong, deep West Orange team (1943.60 average & ten 1800+ players) soundly defeated visting Kenilworth last night, 7-3.

I had the lone KCC victory and should've lost. NM Mark Kernighan, Geoff McAuliffe, Greg Tomkovich and Max Sherer had draws.

Here's the board by board rundown, with Kenilworth's players listed first :

1. Stoyko 0-1 Radomskyj
2. Kernighan 1/2 Fernandez
   
3. Bliznikas 0-1 Rosas
4. Moldovan 1-0 C. Hart
5. Mangion 0-1 Ganning
   
6. McAuliffe 1/2 Susswein
7. Tomkovich 1/2 Cohen
8. Sherer 1/2 Burn
9. Mann 0-1 Stephan
10. Shiffman 0-1 Sharpell
    

C. Hart - Moldovan
after 27...Be6??

White to win

The score of and notes to the aforementioned will follow.

There will be a rematch at Kenilworth on October 16th.