Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Near to

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Ivan Cheparinov
70th Corus Chess Tournament (B Group); Wijk aan Zee, January 26, 2008
Spanish Game C89

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 0-0 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. Re1 Bd6 13. g3 Bf5 14. d4 Qd7 15. Be3 Rae8 16. Nd2 Bg4 17. Qc2 Bf5 18. Qd1 Bg4 19. Qc2 Re7 20. Bg5 Rxe1+ 21. Rxe1 h6 22. Be3 Re8 23. c4 Bf5 24. Qd1 Nb4 25. Nf1 Bg4. 25. ... Bf8! 26. c5 a5! seems to offer better opportunities for equality.
26. f3 Bf5 27. a3 bxc4 28. Bxc4 Nc2 29. Re2 Nxe3 30. Nxe3 Bg6


31. Bd3. Here White omits the most obvious move 31. Bxa6 which after, let’s say, 31. ... Bb8 32. Kg2 Ba7 33. Nc2 Rxe2+ 34. Qxe2 Bxc2 35. Qxc2 Qxd4 36. a4 would have yielded her a healthy extra Pawn with excellent winning chances.
31. ... Bxd3 32. Qxd3 Bc5 33. Nc2 Rxe2 34. Qxe2 Bxd4+ 35. Nxd4 Qxd4+ 36. Kg2 c5 37. b3 Kh7 38. a4 g6 39. Qc4 Qxc4 40. bxc4 g5 41. f4 gxf4 ½ : ½.

“Dear Prudence, won’t you come out to play”... Photo: ChessVibes.