侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Antoaneta Stefanova
Women’s Grand Prix 2009–2011; 4th stage; Jermuk, June 27, 2010
Caro-Kann Defence B12
Women’s Grand Prix 2009–2011; 4th stage; Jermuk, June 27, 2010
Caro-Kann Defence B12
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3!? g6!? 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. Be3 Qb6 6. Rb1 e5
7. Nge2 Ne7 8. Bf2!? This is a novelty, but nothing special with respect to 8. Qd2(!) exd4 9. Nxd4 which gives White an enduring edge, Lastin – Maslak, 62nd Russian Chess Championship (Higher League), Ulan-Ude 2009. 8. ... Qa5 (8. ... Qc7!?) 9. dxe5 Bxe5 10. Bh4? Dissatisfied with the opening’s outcome, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) goes for adventures, soon getting into trouble. 10. Bd4(!) was probably her best way to keep the balance. 10. ... dxe4 11. b4 Qc7
12. Nxe4 0-0 13. Bf6 Nd5 14. Bxe5 Qxe5 15. Qd4 Qxd4 (15. ... Nd7!?) 16. Nxd4
Rd8 17. Kf2 b5 18. Ne2 a5 19. bxa5 Bf5 20. Rd1 Nd7 21. N2g3
Bxe4 22. fxe4 Nc3 23. Rd3 b4? (23. ... Na4∓)
24. a3! What a turnabout! 24. ... c5. If 24. ... Rxa5 then 25. axb4 Ra3 26. Ke3 with a very pleasant Pawn up ending. 25. axb4 cxb4 26. Be2. White strangely decides to return her extra Pawn for reasons that are not intuitive. If nothing else, after 26. a6! Ra7! 27. Rd4± Black would have been compelled to suffer long. 26. ... Rxa5 27. Bg4 Ra7 28. Rd4 Kf8 (28. ... Rc7! 32. Ne2 Nxe2 33. Bxe2 Ra8=) 29. Ne2! Ke7? This can be definitely regarded as Black’s losing move. Correct was 29. ... Nxe2 30. Kxe2 Rc7 31. Rhd1 Rxc2+ 32. Ke3 f5! 33. Bh3 Rc7 34. exf5 g5 35. Rxb4 Re8+ 36. Kf2 h5 with a draw in sight. 30. Nxc3 bxc3
31. Rhd1. White simply threatens a general liquidation on d7 forcing a won King and Pawn ending. With her answer, Black only delays such an outcome. 31. ... f5. Also after 31. ... Nf6!? 32. Rxd8 Nxg4+ 33. Ke2 Nxh2 34. Rc8 White should win. 32. exf5 Rf8 33. Re1+ Kd8 34. Re3 gxf5 35. Be2 Rc7
36. Bb5 Rf7 37. Red3 Kc8 38. Bxd7+ Rcxd7 39. Rxd7 Rxd7
40. Rxd7 Kxd7. Here they are, after all! 41. Ke3 1 : 0.