(1) Moskovich,Daniel (2176) - Slonimskij,Arkadij (2259) [A45]



1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.Bxf6 Qxf6 5.Nc3 c5
This isn't bad, but I was happy black played it. White seems to get an improved (Czech) Benoni by force.

6.d5 a6
I don't like this move. Just d6 looks better. Black will never play b5, and Nb5 isn't a real threat.

7.Nf3 e5 8.Be2 d6 9.Nd2 Be7
[If ever b5 is good it's now. But: 9...b5 10.a4 b4 11.Ncb1 weak square c4]

10.Nc4 Nd7 11.h4?!
Original but probably bad. Either of the obvious alternatives must be objectively better: [11.Bg4 Bd8 12.Qf3+/= ; 11.a4+/= ]

11...h5 12.g3!?
[I thought for ages about 12.Bxh5 g6 13.Bg4 Rxh4 14.Rxh4 Qxh4+/= But decided I prefered the text.]

12...g6 13.a4 b6 14.0-0?
Horrible move order because black should get counterplay. [Normal would be 14.Qd2 Rb8 ; The other idea I looked at is also interesting: 14.Bf1!? Rb8 15.Bh3 ]

14...0-0?
[14...g5 15.hxg5 Qxg5<=> ]

15.Kg2?!
I panicked after realizing my mistake last move, but this is an over-reaction. [>=15.Qd2 Rb8 16.Rab1|^ ]

15...Rb8 16.Qd2 Qg7 17.Rab1 Nf6?
Interesting idea but incorrect. [Better is the obvious: 17...f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.Bxh5 b5 20.Na5 b4 21.Nd1 Bxh4+/= ]

18.b4 Bg4?
Creating a stent threat which I defend against like an idiot. Just ignoring would have been best. Black probably should have admitted his error and dropped the knight back to d7. [18...cxb4 19.Rxb4 Nd7+/= ; 18...Nd7 19.bxc5 dxc5+/= ]

19.f3?
[19.bxc5 bxc5 20.Na5+- ]

19...Bd7 20.bxc5 bxc5 21.a5
[Peter's idea was perhaps better: 21.Na5!? Rxb1 (21...Nh7 22.Nc6!!+- is what I overlooked and why I didn't play this) 22.Rxb1 Ra8 23.Nc4+/- ]

21...Bb5 22.Ne3
[The other way would have been: 22.Nb6!? Bxe2 (22...Bd8? 23.Nxb5+- ) 23.Qxe2 g5 24.hxg5 Qxg5 25.Rh1+/- ]

22...Bxe2 23.Qxe2 Ra8 24.Rb6
[Another idea was: 24.Rb7 Bd8 (24...Rfe8 25.Na4+- ) 25.Na4+/- ]

24...Ne8!
A fascinating defensive resource, when I had thought black was already lost.

25.Qd3
[Peter suggested: 25.Rb7 Bd8 (25...f5 26.exf5 gxf5 27.f4+- ) 26.Ra1 (26.Nc4+/- ) 26...Qh6 27.Qd3+/- but I don't know whether this is better than what happened in the game.]

25...Nc7
[>=25...f5!? 26.exf5 Bd8 27.f6!+/- ]

26.f4?
[Now was the time! 26.Rb7! Bd8 (26...Rfc8 27.Nc4+- ) 27.Nc4 Ne8 28.Na4 (28.Nb6 Bxb6 29.axb6+/- ) 28...g5 29.hxg5 Bxg5 30.Nab6+- ]

26...exf4 27.gxf4 Bf6??
[He should have just exchanged pawns. 27...Bxh4 28.Rxd6 Nb5 29.Nxb5 axb5 30.a6~~ ]

28.Ne2 Rfd8 29.Kh3 Nb5 30.Rg1 Kh7 31.e5?!
It's so sad I can't give this a double exclamation mark! I became obsessed with it, thought I saw a win, and played it. But a much simpler idea would have been much better: [>=31.f5 Rd7 (31...Be5 32.Rb7 ) 32.Nf4+- ]

31...Bxe5??
Slonimskij trusts my calculation and commits suicide! Lucky me. [He should have calmly played: 31...dxe5 32.Nf5 (32.fxe5? for once one of Peter's idea fails! 32...Bxe5 33.Nf5 Qf8 34.Rbxg6 fxg6 35.Rxg6 Rxd5 36.Qe4 Kxg6 37.Nfd4+ Kh6 38.Nf5+= perpetual check) 32...Qh8 (32...c4? 33.Qxc4 Qh8 34.Qc6 ; 32...e4? 33.Qxe4 Qh8 34.Ne7 Qg7 35.f5 Nd6 36.fxg6+ fxg6 37.Qxg6+ Qxg6 38.Nxg6+- ) 33.c4! (I had actually intended 33.fxe5? Bxe5 34.Ne7 which I had thought wins because of the upcoming crisis on g6. But Fritz found the simple defense: 34...c4! 35.Qe4 (35.Qxc4 Nd6=/+ ) 35...Nd6 36.Rxd6 Rxd6 37.Rg5 f5 38.Nxf5 Qf6 39.Rxh5+ gxh5 40.Nxd6+ Kg7 41.Nf5+ is probably drawn- the kings are too vulnerable.) 33...e4 34.Qxe4 Re8 (34...Nc7? 35.Nd6 -- /\36.f5 ) 35.Qd3 Nd4 (35...Bd8? 36.Rbxg6 fxg6 37.Ne7+- ) 36.Nexd4 cxd4 37.Rg3+/- I really think I should win this, because Nxd4 is coming and white's connected passed pawns roll. But it would have been hard work.]

32.fxe5 Qxe5 33.Rb7 Ra7??
A blunder in a losing position.

34.Qxg6+
1-0 Moskovich,D-Slonimskij,A/Jeruchess FIDE 2007 1-0