(1) Lewis,Richard (1700) - Moldovan,John (1812) [B20]
Kenilworth Intra-Club Match Kenilworth, 21.05.2009
[Moldovan & Rybka 2.3]

board 2 G/55+5 B20 Sicilian Defense Snyder Variation

1.e4 e6 2.b3!? This has been credited to Richard Reti but the stem game (Horwitz - Pindar : Manchester ENG 1861) dates back nearly 6 decades further.

2...c5 [2...d5 3.Bb2 dxe4 4.Nc3 Nf6 (Or 4...f5 5.d3 exd3 6.Bxd3 Nf6 7.Qe2© ) 5.Qe2 Bb4 /\6.Nxe4? Nxe4! 7.c3[] (not 7.Qxe4?? Qxd2# ) 7...Qxd2+N 8.Qxd2 Nxd2 & a P-up ending was an option but I've had great success with the Sicilian-transposing text (now +7-0=1).]

3.Bb2 Nc6 4.Nc3 [This isn't bad but it does interfere with the Bb2. 4.Nf3 (by far the most popular continuation) 4...a6 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4= seems more appropriate.; For those who would prefer a closed position, I'll suggest the Rossolimo-rendering 4.Bb5 ; or 4.Qe2 which reverts to a Tchigorin French line.]

4...Nf6 5.g3 [RR5.Nf3 Be7 6.Bb5 Nd4N 7.Nxd4 cxd4 8.Ne2 Nxe4 9.Bxd4 Bf6= "Pil" - Moldovan : G/15+5, Chess Assistant Club 05/21/2009! (some 19 hours before the Lewis game); 5.f4 d5 6.e5= ]

5...d5 Diagram



6.e5?!N [This loses a P for little or no compensation. >=6.Bg2 d4 7.Nce2 e5 8.d3 /\ c3]

6...Nxe5 7.Qe2 /\ Nxd5, discovering on the Ne5 & restoring the material balance.

7...Nc6 [Keeping the P is safest & best but 7...Bd6 /\8.Nxd5? (8.Nb5 Nc6 9.0-0-0=/+ is correct.) 8...exd5 9.Bxe5 0-0 had merit.]

8.Nf3 a6 [Bert Shiffman's 8...Bd6 9.Nb5 Bb8 , followed chasing the steed away, was a good alternative.]

9.Bg2 Bd6 10.0-0 0-0 11.Rfe1 b5 [>=11...e5 ]

12.a4 [>=12.Nd1=/+ ]

12...b4 13.Nd1 Bb7 [>=13...e5-/+ with control of f5 & g4.]

14.Ne3 Re8 Diagram



15.Rad1!? [/\ d2-d4, gaining some play, but the R seems misplaced after my reply. Perhaps 15.d3 was a bit better.]

15...e5 16.Ng5?! [This hits the d5P a 2nd x but doesn't accomplish much. >=16.d3 ; or 16.Qf1 ]

16...Nd4 17.Qf1 [17.Bxd4?? drops a piece to 17...exd4-+ ]

17...h6?! [>=17...e4 , taking f3 away from the wayward steed, then ...h6.]

18.Nf3 Nxf3+ [>=18...Bc7-/+ ]

19.Bxf3 e4 20.Bg2 Be5 [>=20...d4 21.Nc4 Bc7 ; not 20...Nd7? 21.Bxg7!= ]

21.Bxe5 Rxe5 22.d4 [>=22.d3 ]

22...exd3? [22...cxd4 23.Rxd4 Qb6 24.Red1 Rc8-/+ was best.]

23.Rxd3 [>=23.cxd3=/+ ]

23...Re7? Diagram

[A tactical slip. 23...Qe7 was right.]

24.Red1 [Doc & I missed 24.Nxd5! Nxd5 25.Bxd5 Bxd5 26.Rxd5 overload theme 26...Qxd5 27.Rxe7= ]

24...d4 [>=24...Rd7 ]

25.Bxb7 [>=25.Nf5=/+ ]

25...Rxb7 26.Qg2 [>=26.Nc4 ]

26...Re7 27.h3 Raa7!? /\ ...Qa8, breaking the pin.

28.Nf5 Re2?? Diagram

[Another huge f-up. 28...Re5-+ was correct.]

29.Qf3?? [This yields a 2nd P & the game. 29.Ne3 would've turned the tables & forced me to cough-up an Exchange with 29...Re7 30.Qf3 R7xe3 31.Rxe3 Rxc2+/= ]

29...Rxc2-+ 30.Nxd4?! [I don't understand this. At best, White will be a piece-down for a passed a-P & that's just not enough justification or compensation for his action. >=30.Qf4 ]

30...cxd4 31.Rxd4 Rd7 [>=31...Qe7 ]

32.Rxd7 Nxd7 33.Qb7? Diagram

[This hits 3 targets (Nd7, a6 & b4 Ps) but 33.Qf5 Rc7 34.Qa5 Qc8 35.Qxb4 ; & 33.Qd3 Rc7 34.Qxa6 Qe7 35.Qa8+ were better tries. Now, Black doesn't even have to retreat his R to c7 & protect the N because he has the deadly, counter-attacking...]

33...Qf6!! This move is similar to the 33...Qxg6 I played against Lou Sturniolo in last month's Ellner Memorial.

34.Qa7 [>=34.Qa8+ Nf8 35.Qa7 ; Of course, if R or 34.Qxd7? then 34...Qxf2+ & mates next.]

34...Nc5 35.f4? This weakens g3, exposes the 2nd rank & hastens the conclusion but, with Black consolidated, there was no hope for the first-player, anyway.

35...Qb2?! [35...Qc3 , & # in 8, was better still.]

36.Qa8+ Kh7 37.Qd5 /\ 38.Qf5+ & a draw by repetition but...

37...Qxb3 ...covers f7, attacks g3 & forces the Qs off (otherwise it's mate). So... White resigns. Time left - Dr. Lewis 2:36, Moldovan 26:06 Estimated time used - Dr. Lewis 55:29, Moldovan 31:59 Longest think by White - 8 minutes for 34. Qa7 Longest think by Black - 5 minutes for 27...Raa7!? 0-1