East of the Don

Humpy Koneru – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2011–12; 1st stage; Rostov-on-Don, August 2, 2011
Nimzo-Indian Defence E46

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 0-0 5. Nge2 d5 6. a3 Be7 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Nf4 c6 9. Bd3 a5 10. 0-0 Na6 11. Bc2 Nc7 12. f3 c5 13. Na4 Na6!? It seems an improvement on 13. ... cxd4 14. exd4 Nb5 15. Qd3 Na7 16. Nc3 g6 17. Bb3 Bf5 18. Qd1± Kortschnoi – Kuzmin, Match Grandmasters–Young Masters, Sochi 1970.
14. Nc3 Nc7 15. Qe2 b5 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Rd1 Ba6 18. Qf2 Bb7 19. Bd2 Re8 20. Nce2 Ne6 21. Nd3 Bb6 22. Nd4

“The position turned out to be very difficult. Her Knight on d4 is very strong. After 15. ... b5, things became even more complicated. Later I made a few mistakes...”, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) said afterwards.
22. ... Rc8 23. Bc3 Ba6 24. Kh1 Rc4 25. Bb3

“After the opening, a complex position has arisen. Perhaps this is not the best move. Overall, however, it seems to me that White has a slight edge”, Koneru said.
25. ... Rc7 26. Rac1 b4 27. Nxe6 Rxe6 28. Bxf6 Rxf6 29. Rxc7 Bxc7 30. axb4 axb4 31. f4. Of course, 31. Nxb4? Qd6 is quite nonsensical, leading nowhere.
31. ... Bc4 32. Qc2 Bxb3 33. Qxb3 Rb6 34. Nc5 h6 35. Rxd5. Finally, White has a Pawn to the good, but she still has to be a little careful.
35. ... Qh4

36. h3?? Koneru blunders tragically, probably under time pressure. Correct was 36. g3! Qh3 37. Kg1± remaining a Pawn ahead with some winning chances.
36. ... Qe1+ 37. Kh2 Rg6 38. Qc2 Qxe3 39. Nd3 Bb6 40. Nc5 Qxf4+ 41. Kh1 Qf1+ 0 : 1. Because mate in three follows.

The thrill of waiting in anticipation of what the next Women’s World Chess Championship match will feature. Photo: Anastasiya Valeryevna Karlovich.