My First Game Against Alex M.

[Bill Salot]

During the recent Virginia 2012 Tournament, I met and played Mr. Moiseyev for the first time. He has sat across from many an opponent, and I bet most of them, like me, will remember that first occasion for the rest of their lives.

I hope there is no objection to my trying to describe my first such experience.

When we first sat down to play, and before we drew for colors, I presented my rehearsed statement: "It's a pleasure and honor to play you, Sir". He responded: "It's an honor to play you too". Wow, I wondered if he says that to all his opponents.

I had the White side in the first game, and we drew one of the many 3-move openings unfamiliar to me. After the obligatory 3 moves, I made what I thought was the best White move. Then I sat back and waited for the onslaught.

Mr. M. did not respond immediately. I figured he must be debating which way to slice and dice me. After a minute or so, I assumed he knew where he would move, but was first visualizing his full line of play to be sure he hadn't forgotten anything. But he continued to stare hard at the board, and I began to wonder if I had made some kind of off-book move that had him worried. As time went by, my mind wandered, and I suddenly realized that I was probably being psyched out. So I consciously started to stare at the board just like he was doing.

Finally, after about 5 minutes, that seemed like 20, he made his move, and I just had to ask, "Why did you take so long to make your first move?" Without lifting his eyes from the board, he said, "I'll tell you after the game".

Well, after the first game, he told me where I made my first inferior move, but we both forgot about the original question.

When the second game reached its inevitable conclusion, I remembered and asked him again. and he responded.

Before telling you what he said, I want to mention, as background,that I have read of famous players who have visualized far ahead to pull off a great coup or escape. Gonotsky's great escape against Lieber was one. Tinsley, Long, and others at times have been similarly praised.

So it came as a shock when Mr. M. said that, prior to making his first move in the first game, he was contemplating how he would play in the second game. Now that is long distance foresight!

He went on to explain, with perfect logic, that some players (and I proved to be one of them) tend to copy his moves and use them in the next game. So, anticipating that, he was simply deciding where to lead the copycat before dumping him in a swamp, or words to that effect.

Apparently it is not easy being a champ. One consolation for me is that nobody with any sense is going to copy my moves.