(3) Moldovan,John (1806) - Wojcio,Mike (1613) [C01]
2nd Irving Ellner Memorial Kenilworth, NJ (2.3), 23.04.2009
[Moldovan & Rybka 2.3]
G/40 + :05 delay
C01 French Defense
Exchange Variation
1.e3
Mike answered this with laughter, a draw-offer &...
1...e5
[... which stops me from playing my intended Bird's Opening, leads to a Reversed French/Exchange French & varies from the 1...c5
2.Nf3
Nc6
3.Bb5
Nb8?!
of a 5-minute game we played in April 2006 (same colors, of course).]
2.d4!?
[This is suitable for blitz & skittles but not tournament, match or correspondence play. >=2.c4
& an English Opening. For examples, see my games against Sherry (2006 Checkmate Qualifier) & Minkov (2007 KST).]
2...exd4
[2...e4
3.c4
c5!?
; & 2...Nc6
3.d5
Nce7
4.c4
Ng6
would've made more interesting, asymmetrical positions.]
3.exd4
d5
4.Nf3
[RR4.Bd3
Nc6
5.c3
Nf6
6.Nf3
Bd6
7.0-0
0-0
8.Bg5
h6
(‹8...b6
9.Nbd2
Be7?!
10.Re1
Bg4?!
Moldovan - Mann : Springfield 05/14/2000 11.h3+/=
) 9.Bh4
Re8
10.Nbd2
Bg4
11.Qc2
Be7=
12.Rfe1
Qd6?!N
13.Ne5+/=
Moldovan - Mann : G/5 Tourney, Kenilworth 05/08/2008]
4...Nf6
5.Bd3
Bd6
[RR5...c5
6.c3
Nc6
7.0-0
Bd6
8.Re1+
Be6
9.dxc5
Bxc5
10.Bg5
h6N
11.Bh4
g5
12.Bg3
Moldovan - Goeller : G/5, Kenilworth 11/15/2007 12...Ne4!=
/\13.Bxe4
dxe4
14.Qxd8+
Rxd8
15.Rxe4
Rd1+
16.Re1
Rxe1+
17.Nxe1
0-0!
18.Nd2
Rd8=/+
]
6.0-0
0-0
7.Bg5
[7.Nc3
/\ Bg5 is probably more accurate.]
7...h6
8.Bh4
g5
Diagram
|
Can Black can get away with this?
9.Bg3
Nc6
10.c3
Be6N
[10...Bg4
11.Nbd2
Ne7?!
12.Qc2
Nh5
13.Rae1
Qd7
14.Ne5
Bxe5
15.Rxe5
f6
16.Ree1+/=
was played in Metger - Blackburne : Frankfurt 1887.]
11.Re1
Qd7?!
[11...Bxg3
12.hxg3
Ng4
would've maintained the balance & affirmatively answered the question posed at move 8. Now White gets an advantage.]
12.Ne5
Bxe5
13.dxe5
Nh7
[>=13...Ne8+/=
]
14.Qh5?!
[>=14.Qc2
my original thought 14...f5
(or 14...f6
Everything else loses.) 15.exf6
Nxf6
16.Nd2+/-
]
14...Kg7
Threatening 15...Bg4 -+. Thus, I answer...
15.h3
Ne7
[>=15...Bf5
]
16.f4?
[This tries to punish Black for moving his g-P but ignores development, weakens g3 & loses the upper-hand. 16.Na3+/=
/\Bf5
17.Rad1
was more rational.]
16...Bf5
17.Bxf5
I didn't see any point in retreating to f1.
17...Qxf5
18.fxg5
[>=18.Na3
]
18...Nxg5
19.Rf1
[>=19.Nd2
]
19...Qg6
Diagram
20.Qh4?
[A big mistake. I should've played 20.Qg4!?=/+
covering f5; or, better still, settled for 20.Qxg6+
fxg6
21.Na3=
]
20...Nf5
21.Qg4??
[This should've lost. 21.Rxf5[]
Qf4 loses to 21...Nxh3+! 21...Qxf5
22.Nd2-/+
was required.]
21...Nxg3??
[Somehow, we missed 21...Ne3-+
even in the post-mortem!]
22.Qxg3
Ne4
23.Qf4!
[‹23.Qxg6+
fxg6
24.Rd1
]
23...Qg5
[>=23...Qb6+
24.Kh2
Rae8!
(rather than 24...Qxb2
25.Qg4+[]
Kh8
(25...Ng5?
26.h4
Qxa1
27.hxg5+/-
) 26.Qf4©
) 25.Nd2
Nxd2
26.Qxd2
Rxe5
]
24.Na3
Qxf4
25.Rxf4
c6
[>=25...Rae8
26.Nb5
c6
27.Nd6
Rxe5
28.Re1©
]
26.Nc2
[>=26.Nc4!=
/\dxc4?
27.Rxe4+/=
]
26...Rae8
27.Ne3?
[27.Rf5
f6
28.exf6+
Kg6
29.Rf3
Rxf6
30.Re3©
]
27...Rxe5
28.Nf5+
Kh7
29.Raf1
Diagram
29...Rxf5?
[Apparently attempting to trade down, Black forgets that his f7 is insufficiently covered & captures there are with check. 29...h5-/+
was best.]
30.Rxf5
Ng3??
[Having said 'A', he follows through with 'B' & falls in very short order. 30...f6+/-
would have given chances to resist; due to the strongly posted N & a 20-minute clock lead.]
31.Rxf7+
Rxf7
32.Rxf7+
Kg6
33.Rxb7
Black resigns
Time left - Moldovan 8:12, Wojcio 28:40
Estimated time used - Moldovan 34:33, Wojcio 14:05
Longest thinks by White - 6 minutes for 14.Qh5?! & 21.Qh4?
Longest think by Black - 2 minutes for 18...Nxg5
A very lucky & undeserved win. Had my opponent not played as if the time control was G/15, the result would certainly have been 0-1; not...
1-0
