(1) Singh,JP (1747) - Moldovan,John (1870) [A80]
STC Championship sf WCL (4), 29.07.2009
[Moldovan & Deep Rybka 3]

jps7 vs. jpmoldovan G/60+30 A80 Dutch Defense Zukertort System

1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 [In last year's event my opponent chose 2.c4 which led to a Q's Indian & a hard-fought, 63-move draw.]

2...f5 3.b3 [The ds cleric won't have much scope on the flank. >=3.Bf4 as played Renna in the 2008 KST.]

3...Nf6 4.Bb2 b6 5.e3 [As I've said before, the Dutch works well against e3 lines. Thus >=5.g3 ]

5...Bb7 6.Be2 Be7 [6...g6 7.0-0 Bg7 was an option.]

7.0-0 0-0 Diagram



8.Nbd2N [There have been 9 games with 8.c4 ]

8...Ne4 9.Rc1 With the apparent idea of c2-c4-c5 but, of course, I'm not going to allow it. [9.c4 was more flexible.]

9...Bf6 10.c4 c5 11.Qc2 [11.Rc2!? Nc6 / Na6 12.a3 /\ Qa1, over-protecting d4, is interesting.]

11...d6 12.Rcd1 [The R may be better-placed here but I prefer 12.Rfd1 Qe7 13.a3 to the tempo-sac. White's play to this point, while not optimal, has been acceptable. His next move, however, weakens f3 & d4.]

12...Qe7 13.Bd3 [>=13.dxc5 ]

13...Nxd2 14.Nxd2 [>=14.Qxd2 Bxf3 15.gxf3 which may still be equal.]

14...Nc6 Diagram



15.d5? This loses a P. [Rybka suggests 15.Nf3=/+ ]

15...Nb4 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Qb1 exd5 18.a3 Nxd3 19.Qxd3 dxc4 20.Nxc4? [>=20.bxc4-/+ making my d6P backward.]

20...d5 21.Nd2 Rad8 22.Nf3 Diagram



22...Rd6?! [My only mistake. All the engines say 22...f4-+ was best.]

23.Qc2? Neglecting his Nf3 again. [23.b4-/+ was indicated. Now White can't meet the following with exd4.]

23...d4-+ 24.Nd2 [‹24.exd4? Bxf3 25.gxf3 Qg5+ 26.Kh1 Qh5 ]

24...Qg5 25.e4 [‹25.f3 dxe3 ; 25.Nf3? Bxf3 ]

25...Rg6 26.g3 fxe4 27.Nxe4 [>=27.Rde1 ]

27...Qg4 28.f4 [28.Rfe1 Qf5 29.Rd2 Re6?! (>=29...Bd5! ) 30.f3 Qxf3 31.Qc4 Rfe8?? (31...Qf5-+ ) 32.Rf2-/+ was a better try.; Notice that 28.Nd2 saves the N but not the game. After 28...Qh3 29.Ne4 Rf3 Black would be threatening ...Rh6 followed by Qh2#.]

28...Qf5 29.Rfe1 Diagram



29...Re6 [Completely focused & relaxed for a change, I ignore the dog barking at a thunderstorm, avoid 29...Re8?? 30.Nd6+- & secure victory.]

30.Qc4 Bd5 31.Qa6 Rxe4 32.Qxa7 Rfe8 33.Rf1 Re2 34.Rf2 Rxf2 35.Kxf2 Qc2+ White resigns Time left - Singh 1:06:45, Moldovan 25:32 Time used - Singh 10:45, Moldovan 51:58 Longest think by White - 1:47 for 30.Qc4+ Longest think by Black - 8:46 for 22...Rd6 start - 1:16.09 p.m end - 2:21 p.m. length - 1:05:00 )including lag & reconnection time) 0-1