(4) Moldovan,John (1824) - Kruglyak,Mikhail (1367) [D15]
20th Kenilworth CC Championship Kenilworth, NJ (1), 14.01.2010
[Moldovan & Deep Rybka 3]
D15 Queen's Gambit
Slav Defense
1.Nf3
c6
So... my foe wants a Caro-Kann, eh!?
2.c4
Maybe next time ;-).
Actually, I did hesitate here & on the 3rd turn before deciding to walk into Mikhail's prep.
2...Nf6
3.d4
d5
4.Nc3
[Sidestepping with 4.Qc2
; or 4.Qb3
isn't very ambitious.]
4...Bf5?!
GM-elect Alex Lenderman recommends this for Black, in an ICC video, &, on behalf of the White side, I'd like to say... Thanks for the extra points!! [To repeat, >=4...e6
; or 4...a6
Yes, ...a6. Virtually every top GM has played it. Why won't our in-house Slavists even consider the move?]
5.cxd5
Nxd5
6.Qb3
Diagram
6...b5?
I can't understand this. It weakens & doesn't develop anything. [>=6...Qb6
as in our 2009 KST game.]
7.a4
(?!) [This improves upon the 7.e3
(too slow) 7...e6
8.Nxd5
Qxd5
9.Qxd5
exd5
10.Bd2+/=
of Nguyen Thi Thanh An - Yip Chi Fung : Macau 1996; But, according to Rybka, 7.e4N
(!) 7...Nxc3
8.exf5
Nd5
9.Bd3+/-
, which I rejected because it gives Black an outpost at d5 & saddles White with an isolated d-pawn, was best.; 7.Nxb5N
Nd7!
(Not 7...cxb5?
as after 8.e4!!+-
Bxe4?
9.Bxb5+
Nd7
10.Ne5
Black cannot reinforce d7 with the N (11.Qxf7#) or B (11.Qxd5).) 8.Nc3
Rb8
9.Qa4
e6+/=
isn't as good.]
7...e6??
This loses. [7...b4
8.Nxd5
Qxd5
9.Qxb4
Nd7+/=
was correct.]
8.axb5
Nb4
9.e4
Bg4?
[9...Bg6
was a much better try.]
10.Be3?
[This is unnecessarily defensive. 10.Ne5
/\Qxd4?
11.Nxg4
was right.]
10...cxb5?
This drops a piece (there's a double attack vs. the Nc6 & Bg4) but the position was untenable, regardless.
11.Bxb5+
N8c6
12.Ne5
Black resigns
Time left - Moldovan 68:45, Kruglyak 71:04
Estimated time used - Moldovan 17:15, Kruglyak 14:56
Longest think by White - 6 minutes for 7.a4?
Longest think by Black - 4 minutes for 7...e6??
2 mistakes in 12 moves isn't a good way to start an event but I'll accept the point.
1-0
