(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