Wednesday, May 18, 2011

More or Less

Pia Cramling – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
12th European Women’s Chess Club Cup, Kemer, October 8, 2007
Bogo-Indian Defence E11

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 0-0 5. a3 Be7 6. e4 d5 7. e5 Nfd7 8. b4 a5 9. b5 c5 10. Bb2 cxd4 11. Bxd4 Nc5 12. Be2 Nbd7 13. 0-0 b6 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Bb2. Inconclusive is 15. Re1 Bb7 16. Qb1 Re8 17. Bd1 Bf8 18. Bc2 g6 19. a4 Rc8 20. Qb2 Ne6 21. Bb3 Bg7 22. Re3 Bh6 23. Rd3 Ndc5∓ 周健超 (Zhōu Jiànchāo) – Bocharov, 6th Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2007. 15. ... Bb7 16. Re1 Re8 17. Nf1 Ne6 18. Ne3 Ndc5 19. Nf5 Bf8 20. Bf1 Rc8 21. N3d4 g6.


Black has more than equalised by sound strategic means. Now White decides to sacrifice a Pawn for the sake of her pair of Bishops. 22. Nd6 Bxd6 23. exd6 Qxd6 24. g3 Ng7 25. Rxe8+ Rxe8 26. Bg2 Ne4 27. Rc1 f6 28. Qc2 Rc8


29. Qxc8+? A mirage! Simply 29. Qd1 retained reasonable compensation. 29. ... Bxc8 30. Rxc8+ Kf7 31. Rc6


31. ... Qd8. 31. ... Qe5! is even stronger with the threat of ... Ne4-d2 followed by a Queen check on e1. 32. h4 Nc5 33. Bh3 f5? Again Black should have seized command of the open e-file by 33. ... Qe7! with excellent winning chances. 34. Nf3 Nge6 35. Bf1 Ke8 36. Nd4! Nf8 37. Bc1! Ne4 38. Be3 Kf7 39. Nf3 Nd7 40. Bf4 Qe7 41. Rc7 Kf8 42. Rc8+ Kf7 43. Rc7 Kf8 44. Rc8+ Kg7 45. Rc7 Kf8 ½ : ½.

Lagno and Koneru are seated in the first row and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and Cramling at the back. Photo: Turkish Chess Federation.