G/85+5 (delay)
C11 French Defense
Steinitz Variation
(by transposition)
1.e4
e6
2.Nf3
[I expected 2.d4
d5
3.exd5
exd5
4.c4
.; Last year Mike chose 2.f4
.]
2...d5
3.Nc3
Nf6
This varies from the 2006 Championship... [... where I played 3...d4
]
4.e5
Nfd7
5.d4
c5
6.dxc5
Nc6
7.Bf4
Bxc5
We've reached the end of my preparation.
8.Bd3
Diagram
8...a6
[The books recommend 8...f6
but, as my opponent said afterward, that's what White wants.; 8...0-0?
is met by the thematic 9.Bxh7+!+/=
]
9.Qe2
[For 9.0-0
see my Jan. 2009 draw vs. Eve Zhurbinskiy.]
9...Be7
This defends the g5 square and clears c5 for my Nd7. [9...h6
is okay but does only 1 thing.]
10.0-0-0
[>=10.h4
b5
11.h5
h6
12.Rh3=
as in Gunnarsson - I. Thompson : Reykjavik 2010]
10...b5
11.Kb1
Nc5
Diagram
12.Rc1N
[Predecessor: 12.Qd2
b4
13.Ne2
a5
14.Ned4
Nxd4
15.Nxd4
Ba6
16.Nc6
Qc7
17.Nxe7
Qxe7
18.Be3
0-0
19.Qe2
Nxd3
20.cxd3
Rfc8
21.Rc1
Qd7
22.Rxc8+
Rxc8
23.Rc1
Rxc1+
24.Kxc1
d4
25.Bf4
h6
26.f3
Qb5
27.Bg3
a4
28.Bf2
Qc5+
29.Qc2
Qxe5
30.Qxa4
Bxd3
31.Qd1
Qb5
32.Kd2
e5
33.f4
f6
34.fxe5
fxe5
35.Qg4
Kh7
36.h4
Qc4
37.h5
Qc2+
38.Ke1
Bf5
39.Qf3
Qb1+
40.Qd1
Qxb2
41.g4
Be4
Szymanski,M (2430)-Labeckas,K (2221) Warsaw 2006 0-1]
12...Bd7
13.h4
h6
14.h5
Qa5
15.Qd2
b4
16.Ne2
Diagram
16...Na4
Black goes for the attack but ends-up losing his edge. [>=16...Ne4=/+
]
17.Rcd1
Rb8
Threatening 18...Nc3+!
Time check: White has 24 minutes left vs. Black's 64.
18.Ka1[]
Bc5
[18...Nc5
was best.; 18...Nc3!?
19.bxc3
bxc3
20.Qxc3
Bb4
, forcing a draw, was another option.]
19.Be3
Bxe3
20.fxe3
0-0
[>=20...Nc5
]
21.g4!
Diagram
21...Nc5?
This gives White the upper hand. [>=21...Qc7
Goeller 22.g5
Nxe5=
; or 21...f6
22.exf6
Rxf6=
]
22.g5
Nxd3?
[>=22...b3
23.Qxa5
Nxa5
24.axb3
hxg5
25.Nxg5
Nc6+/=
; or 22...Ne4+/=
/\23.Bxe4?!
dxe4=
24.Qxd7
exf3
25.Qxc6
fxe2-/+
]
23.cxd3
[>=23.Qxd3
]
23...hxg5?
Diagram Having completely lost the thread, Black offers a draw. White, being behind on the clock and having pity on me, accepts. Game drawn by agreement. The players tie for 2nd place.
Time left - Goeller 10:33, Moldovan 33:38
Estimated time used - 76:22, Moldovan 53:17
Longest think by White - 30 minutes for 11.Kb1
Longest think by Black - 14 minutes for 21...Nc5? [23...hxg5?
24.Ned4
g4
25.Nxc6
Bxc6
26.Nd4
Bb5
27.e4+/=
; >=23...b3
24.Qxa5
Nxa5
] 1/2-1/2