我们爱中国！

香港 (Hong Kong), China, August 29, 2012.

Travet

香港 (Hong Kong), China, August 29, 2012. Photo: Mado Flynn.

Travet [tra-vèt] masculine noun. From the name of the protagonist of the comedy, in Piedmontese dialect, Le miserie ’d Monsù Travet (1863), which features a modest and poorly paid employer, who leads an extremely monotonous and unrewarding life.

Globalizzazione

In Italia, in Cina, in tutto il mondo...

LA CRISI LA PAGHINO LE BANCHE!

HK (香港), 29 agosto 2012
Foto: Isadora Duncan

Girl from Nowhere

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Harmen Jonkman
69th Corus Chess Tournament (Group C); Wijk aan Zee, January 13, 2007
Spanish Game C65

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. 0-0 Bd7 6. c3 g6 7. Re1 Bg7 8. Nbd2 0-0 9. Ba4 Qe8 10. Bb3 h6 (10. ... Nh5 11. Nf1 Nd8 12. Ne3 Kh8 13. d4 f6 14. g3 Rc8 15. Bc2 Nf7 16. Ng2 Bh6 17. Bxh6 Nxh6 18. Qd2 Kg7 19. Nfh4 g5 20. Nf5+ Nxf5 21. exf5 Kh8 22. dxe5 dxe5 23. Be4 Bc6 24. Qe2 Ng7 25. Rad1 Bxe4 26. Qxe4 Qb5 27. b3 Rfd8 28. h4 h6 29. hxg5 hxg5 30. Ne3 Kg8 31. Nd5 Kf7 32. Nxc7 Qc6 33. Nd5 Rh8 34. c4 Rh6 35. Kg2 Rch8 36. Rh1 Rxh1 37. Rxh1 Rxh1 38. Kxh1 a5 39. Kg1 b5 40. g4 Ne8 41. Qh1 bxc4 42. Qh7+ Ng7 43. Qg6+ Kf8 44. bxc4 1 : 0 T. A. Kosintseva – C. A. Foișor, 10th European Individual Women’s Chess Championship, Saint Petersburg 2009) 11. d4 Nh5 12. Nh4 Kh7

13. Nf5. White gives up a Pawn for the initiative. What follows is not precisely forced, though it is quite correct: 13. ... exd4 14. Nxg7 Nxg7 15. Nc4 dxc3 16. bxc3 Be6 17. Qd2 g5 18. f4 f6 19. Ne3 Bxb3 20. axb3 Qxe4 21. Nd5 Qf5 22. Nxc7 Rac8 23. Nd5 Rce8 24. Bb2 Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Re8 26. Rf1 g4 27. c4 Re6 28. Kh1 h5 29. Qf2 Ne7 30. Nc7 Re4 31. Nb5

31. ... Qc5? At last Black succumbs to emotional pressure. After 31. ... Ne8! Black’s Knight seems to defend everything. 32. Qc2+− f5 (32. ... d5 33. Nc3+−) 33. Qc3 Ne6 34. Qh8+ Kg6 35. Qf6+ Kh7 36. Qxe7+ Kg6 37. Qf6+ Kh7 38. Nxd6 Qf2 39. Qxf5+ 1 : 0.

Notorious

10th World Chess Champion Boris Vasilievich Spassky confirms everything: “I felt like being under family arrest”. The old and sick Boris Vasilievich repeated his charges against his wife Marina Yurievna Shcherbachova and his French family on television.
Spassky’s lawyer presented to Russian TV Channel One a medical certificate — signed by Spassky’s doctor in charge — stating that Boris Vasilievich is “mentally sane” and “doesn’t need psychiatric treatment”. Spassky himself has then revealed the identity of the mysterious “Sunday Woman” who organised his daring escape from Paris: Valentina Alekseevna Kuznetsova, who has been his agent since 2007.
For further details visit: http://chess-news.ru/en/node/9674.

Edging Through

A. Giri – Hóu Yìfán

Hoogeveen, 27 ottobre 2012

Catalana E06

1. d4 Cf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Ag2 Ae7 5. Cf3 0-0 6. 0-0 dxc4 7. Da4 a6 8. Dxc4 b5 9. Dc2 Ab7 10. Ad2 Ae4 11. Dc1 Ab7 12. Af4 Cd5 13. Cc3 Cxf4 14. Dxf4 Cd7 15. Tfd1 Ad6 16. De3. Se 16. Dh4 allora 16. ... Ae7 17. Df4 Ad6 18. Dh4 Ae7 19. Df4 Ad6 20. Dh4 Ae7 ½ : ½ Muzychuk – Hóu Yìfán, Mardin, 26 dicembre 2011.16. ... Cb6. Più convincente di 16. ... De7 17. Ce4 Ad5 18. Tac1 Cb6 19. b3 a5 20. Dd3 b4 21. Ceg5 f5 22. e4 fxe4 23. Cxe4 Tad8 24. Te1± Kaidanov – Rosentalis, Lvov 1987. 17. a4 bxa4 18. Cxa4 Cxa4 19. Txa4 Tb8 20. b3 Ad5 21. Cd2 Ab4 22. Axd5 Axd2 23. Df3 Dxd5 24. Dxd5 exd5 25. Txd2 Tb6 26. Tda2 Ta8 27. Ta5 c6 28. g4 g5 29. Rg2 Rg7 30. h4 gxh4 31. Rh3 Txb3+ 32. Rxh4 Tb6 33. Rg5 h6+ 34. Rf5 Te8 35. e3 Te6 36. Rf4 Tb1 37. Ta1 Tb2 38. Rg3 Tg6 39. Th1 Tb6 40. Rf4 Tf6+ 41. Rg3 Tg6 42. Rf4 Tf6+ ½ : ½.

The Long, Long Afternoon

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Hikaru Nakamura
16th Unive Chess Tournament; Hoogeveen, October 26, 2012
Sicilian Defence B53

Notes by Grandmaster Eltaj Safarli.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 e5. Black chose to play 4. ... e5, but I don’t really like it — because it weakens Black’s position. The most normal and main line is: 4. ... Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Bg5 e6 9. 0-0-0 etc.
5. Qd1 Nf6 6. Nc3. 6. Bd3!? was another set-up, where White had a solid and slightly better position: 6. ... Be7 7. 0-0 0-0 8. c4 etc.
6. ... h6 7. Bc4 Be6 8. Bb3. 8. Bxe6 would be possible as well, but it seems that after 8. ... fxe6 9. Nh4 Rg8 (9. ... Kf7? 10. f4! exf4 11. e5! Nfd7 12. Qh5+ Kg8 13. Bxf4±) 10. Ng6 Nc6 11. 0-0 Kf7 12. Nxf8 Rxf8 Black has a reasonable position with equal chances.
8. ... Be7 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Be3 Nc6 11. Qe2 Na5 12. Rfd1 Qc7 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Nc4 15. c3 Rac8 16. Rac1

16. ... a6. I think 16. ... Qa5! would be strong, with equality.
17. b3 Nxe3 18. Qxe3⩲ Bd7 19. Rc2 Kh7 20. Nd2 g6? 20. ... b5 was better.

21. Qa7! Rb8 22. Nc4! f5. It’s funny that even after 22. ... Bd8 White can play 23. Nb6!.
23. Qb6. White decided to simplify the position. Perhaps Black would find it harder to defend with a Queen on the board after: 23. Nb6.
23. ... Rfc8 24. Qxc7 Rxc7 25. Nb6 Bc6 26. f3 Bg5 27. Nc4. 27. Kf2 I think it would be better. In this case White saves the Knight. This would have made it harder for Black to defend.
27. ... b5! 28. Bxc6. 28. Nxd6 leads to a draw after 28. ... Rd8 29. c4! Be3+ (29. ... Rxd6? 30. cxb5 axb5 31. Bg8+! Kxg8 32. Rxd6+−) 30. Kh1 b4 31. c5 Bxd5 32. Rxd5 Bxc5 33. Rcxc5 Rxc5 34. Rxc5 Rxd6=.
28. ... bxc4 29. Bd5 cxb3 30. axb3

The position is also good for White. Anyway, Black still has to work for a draw.
30. ... Rb6 31. Kf2 a5 32. Ra1 Rc5 33. Ke2 Kg7 34. Kd3 Rb8 35. Ra4 Bd8 36. b4 axb4 37. cxb4 Rxc2 38. Kxc2 Bb6 39. Kb3 Kf6 40. Kc4 Ke7. So, after the first time control White has some chances to win. However I thought Hikaru would hold the position without too much difficulty.
41. h3 Kd7 42. Bf7 fxe4 43. fxe4 Ke7 44. Bd5 Kd7 45. Ra3 Rf8 46. Ra6 Kc7 47. Ra2 g5 48. Rc2 Rf2 49. Rxf2 Bxf2 50. g4 Be1 51. Be6 d5+ is interesting, but I think unnecessary.
52. exd5 e4 53. Kd4 Bxb4 54. Kxe4 Kd6 55. Kf5 Ba5 56. Kg6 Bd8 57. Kxh6 Ke5 58. Kg6 Be7 59. Kf7 Bb4 60. Ke8 Kd6 61. Bg8 Bd2 62. Kf8 Ba5 63. Kg7 Ke5 64. Kg6 Bd8 65. Kg7 Be7 66. Kf7 Bb4 67. Kg6 Be7 68. Be6 Bd8 69. Kf7 Kd6 70. Ke8 Ba5 71. Kf7 ½ : ½.

Good to the last drop. Photo: Univé Schaaktoernooi.

八卦新闻 (Gossip)

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and 刘翔 (Liú Xiáng) spotted together at the 2011 CCTV Sports Personality Awarding Ceremony held in 北京 (Běijīng), China on January 15, 2012.

Stillicidium

S. Tiviakov – Hóu Yìfán

Hoogeveen, 25 ottobre 2012

Siciliana B52

Commenta il Grande Maestro Eltaj Safarli.

1. e4 c5 2. Cf3 d6 3. Ab5+ Ad7 4. Axd7+ Dxd7 5. c4 Cf6 6. Cc3 g6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Cxd4 Ag7 9. h3. Tre giorni fa Sergei ha giocato contro Nakamura 9. f3. 9. ... Dc7 10. De2!? Perlopiù il Bianco gioca così: 10. b3 Da5 11. Ad2 Cxe4 12. Cxe4 De5 13. Db1 f5 14. Ac3 Dxe4+ 15. Dxe4 fxe4 (la posizione diviene meno complessa e mi pare che il Nero pareggi senza troppi problemi) 16. Cb5 Axc3+ 17. Cxc3 Cd7 18. Cxe4 Tc8 19. Rd2 Cc5 20. The1 Cxe4+ 21. Txe4 Tf8 22. f3 Rd7 23. a4 a5 24. Tae1 Tf7 25. Re3 ½ : ½ Spasov – Mamedov, Konya 2011. 10. ... Cc6 11. Cc2 0-0 12. 0-0 a6 13. Ad2. Sergei cerca di sviluppare i pezzi. La posizione è naturalmente all’incirca pari. 13. ... e6 14. Tac1 Tfe8 15. Ae3 Ce5 16. Ca3 (16. b3 b5!) 16. ... Tac8 17. b3 Da5 18. Cab1 d5! 18. ... b5?! è dubbia, poiché dopo 19. cxb5 axb5 20. Dxb5 Dxb5 21. Cxb5 Cxe4 22. f3! Cg3 23. Cxd6 Ce2+ 24. Rh1 Txc1 25. Txc1 Cxc1 26. Cxe8 Cxa2 27. Cxg7 Rxg7 28. Ad4 f6 29. Axe5 fxe5 30. Rg1± il Bianco può ottenere un finale vincente in una variante più o meno forzata. 19. f4. 19. cxd5 exd5 20. exd5 Cxd5 21. Cxd5 Dxd5 22. Txc8 Txc8 23. Td1 De6 24. Ca3 sarebbe pari. 19. ... Cc6 20. e5 Ch5 21. Df2?! Nonostante questa mossa conduca il Bianco alla vittoria, a parer mio una miglior mossa sarebbe 21. g4, col probabile esito di una patta. La mossa scelta dal Bianco poteva arrecargli enormi problemi. Tuttavia, il Nero non si è reso conto dell’occasione. 21. g4 Cg3 (21. ... d4 22. gxh5 dxe3 23. Ce4∞) 22. Df2 Cxf1 23. Ab6 Db4 24. Ac5 Da5 25. Ab6=. 21. ... d4! 22. Axd4 Cxd4 23. Dxd4 g5! 23. ... Cg3!? era pure interessante (ma 23. ... g5! è molto più forte): 24. Tf3 Af8 25. Rh2 Cf5. 24. fxg5 Axe5 25. Df2

25. ... Af4? Il Nero ha giocato con gran forza e giudizio, ma purtroppo adesso Hóu Yìfán manca l’opportunità di assumere l’iniziativa. 25. ... Cg3! 26. Tfd1 (26. Dxf7+ Rh8 27. Tf2 Dc5 28. g6 hxg6 29. Dxg6 De3! 30. Dc2 Tcd8) 26. ... Ted8 e probabilmente il Bianco è qui in grossi guai. 26. Ce4!± Axc1 27. Txc1 Il Bianco ha scelto una via più posizionale. 27. Dxf7+ Rh8 28. Txc1 Cg7 29. Cbd2±. 27. ... De5 28. Te1 Rh8 29. Cbd2 Ted8 30. Cf3±. Il Bianco aveva una splendida posizione e non dubitavo che a questo giro Sergei avrebbe vinto. 30. ... Df4 31. g3 Dc7 32. Db2+ Cg7 33. Ce5 Db6+ 34. Rg2 Tc7 35. c5 Db4 36. Df2 Td5 37. Cd6 Cf5 38. Cexf7+ Txf7 39. Cxf7+ Rg7 40. Cd6 Cxd6 41. Df6+ Rg8 42. Dxe6+! Rg7 (42. ... Cf7 43. Tf1! Td2+ 44. Rh1+-) 43. cxd6. Vince anche così, ma 43. Df6+ avrebbe mattato in 9 mosse. Per esempio: 43. ... Rg8 44. Dd8+ Rg7 (44. ... Rf7 45. Te7+ Rg6 46. Dg8+) 45. Te7+ Cf7 46. Dxd5. 43. ... Dxd6 44. Dxd6 Txd6 45. Te7+ Rg8 46. Txb7 Td2+ 47. Rf3 Txa2 48. Rg4 Td2 49. h4 a5 50. Rh5 Td6 51. Ta7 Tb6 52. Rg4 Tb4+ 53. Rh3 Tb5 54. Rh2 Rh8 55. Rg2 Rg8 56. Rh3 Rh8 57. Rg4 Tb4+ 58. Rf5 Txb3 59. h5 Tf3+ 60. Rg4 Tf8 61. Txa5 Tb8 62. h6 Rg8 63. Rh5 Rf7 64. Tf5+ Re6 65. Tf4 Tb3 66. Tf6+ Re7 67. Ta6 Rf7 68. Ta7+ Rg8 69. Ta8+ Rf7 70. Th8 1 : 0.

 Hóu Yìfán

An Open Letter

The Chinese-language website RedChinaCn.net has published an open letter in support of 薄熙来 (Bó Xīlái), summarily expelled from the Chinese Communist Party last September 28. The signers of the letter, over 700 intellectuals so far, oppose the expulsion of 薄熙来 (Bó Xīlái) and ask for “facts, and evidence of facts”, as well as for guarantees of the “defendant’s right to a fair law”. 薄熙来 (Bó Xīlái), former Communist Party Secretary of 重庆 (Chóngqìng), was considered — before the scandal which ended his career — a likely candidate for promotion to the élite CCP Politburo Standing Committee in 18th Party Congress scheduled to begin on November 8, 2012.

重庆 (Chóngqìng), August 2012. Photo: Mado Flynn.

A Queen of Two Crowns

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
17th European Women’s Chess Club Cup; Eilat, October 11, 2012

Caro-Kann Defence B10

“Today was the first round of the European Club Cup 2012 in Eilat, Israel. I am playing for the team ‘SHSM’ which is composed exclusively of players from Moscow, with Russian Champion Gunina on the second board and Kovalevskaya on the 3rd board. We played against the top rated team Monaco, which has hired the current world champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) on the first, Humpy Koneru on the second, Anna Muzychuk on the third. So it was a fierce match, and especially the first board match was the most watched in the tournament, with me playing 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), that is the 12th women’s world chess champion playing the current 13th women’s world chess champion. I decided to give her a little surprise, and for the first time in my life... played the Caro-Kann defence with Black!”, Kosteniuk wrote in her blog on October 12, 2012.

1. e4 c6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 e5 4. Ngf3 Bd6 5. d4 exd4 6. exd5 Nf6 7. dxc6 Nxc6 8. Be2 0-0 9. Nb3 Re8 10. 0-0 Bg4 11. h3 Bxf3. If 11. ... Bh5 then 12. Nfxd4 Bxe2 13. Nxe2 Bh2+ 14. Kxh2 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 Rxe2 16. Rd2 Rae8 17. c3 Re1 18. Rd3 Ne5 19. Re3 Rf1 20. Bd2 Rxa1 21. Nxa1 Rd8 22. Re2 Nc4 23. Bg5 Rd1 24. Nc2 Nxb2 25. Ne3 Rb1 26. Nd5 h6 27. Nxf6+ gxf6 28. Bxf6 Nd3 29. h4 h5 30. Rd2 Nf4 31. Kg3 Ne6 32. Rd5 Kh7 33. Bd4 Kg6 34. Bxa7 Rb2 35. Ra5 b6 36. Ra6 Rc2 37. Bxb6 Rxc3+ 38. Be3 Kf5 39. Ra5+ Kg6 40. Kf3 Nd4+ 41. Ke4 Ne6 42. g3 Rc2 43. a4 Ra2 44. Ra8 Nc7 45. Ra7 Ne6 46. a5 Ra4+ 47. Kd5 Ng7 48. Bb6 Nf5 49. Rd7 Nh6 50. Kc6 Ng4 51. Kb7 Ne5 52. Rd4 Nc4 53. a6 Na5+ 54. Bxa5 Rxa5 55. a7 1 : 0 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Danielian, 2nd World Women’s Team Chess Championship, 宁波 (Níngbō) 2009. 12. Bxf3 Be5 13. Nc5 Rc8 14. Nd3 Bb8 15. Bg5 h6 16. Bh4?! White decides to give up a Pawn, counting a little too much on the open f-file. 16. Bxf6 was probably best.

16. .. g5! 17. Bg3 Bxg3 18. fxg3 Qd6 19. Rf2 Kg7. 19. ... Qxg3 20. Bh5 Qe3 21. Kh2 leaves White with enough compensation. 20. Qd2 Qxg3 21. Raf1 Re7 22. c3 (22. Bxc6 Rxc6 23. Nb4 Rd6 24. Rxf6 Rxf6 25. Rxf6 Kxf6 26. Nd5+ Ke6 27. Nxe7 Kxe7 28. Qxd4 Qe1+ 29. Kh2 Qe6 30. Kg1 Qxb2=) 22. ... Ne5 23. cxd4 Nc4 24. Qb4 Rcc7 25. Rc1 Ne3 26. Rxc7 Rxc7 27. Qd2? (⌓ 27. Qe1)

27. ... Nf5. Much stronger was 27. ... Nxg2! 28. Bxg2 Ne4 29. Qe2 Nxf2 30. Nxf2 Rc1+ 31. Nd1 Qf4∓ (Pogonina’s analysis). 28. Ne5 Nd6 29. Rf1 Qh4 30. Qd3. They both were under pressure. 30. ... Qg3 31. Qd2 Nf5 32. Qd3. Or 32. Bxb7! Ne3! 33. Re1 (not 33. Rf3?? because of 33. ... Rc1+! followed by mate) 33. ... Nf5 34. Rf1 Ne3 drawing by repetition. 32. ... Nd6 33. Qd2 Nf5 34. Qd3 Qf4 35. Bxb7 Qxd4+ 36. Qxd4 Nxd4 37. Ba6 Rc2 38. Rf2 Rc1+ 39. Rf1 Rc2 40. Rf2 Rc1+ 41. Kh2. Having reached the time control, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) became ambitious again. However, there were good reasons instead to play 41. Rf1 Rc2 with a draw. 41. ... h5 42. Rd2 Nf5 43. Rf2 Nd6 44. Bd3 h4 45. Rf1 Rc7 46. g3 Re7 47. Nf3 Re3 48. Ba6 hxg3+ 49. Kxg3 Nf5+ 50. Kh2 g4 51. hxg4 Nxg4+ 52. Kh3 Ne5 53. Bb7 Nd6 54. Ba8 f5 55. Kg3?! The White King goes in search of trouble. ⌓55. Re1! seems to force a draw. 55. ... Nd3 56. Kh4? The trouble becomes more serious. ⌓56. Kg2! was called for, still with good chances of defence. 56. ... Kf6 57. b3? Oblivious to the coming catastrophe, but it’s not easy to suggest anything constructive.

57. ... Re8! 58. Rd1. On a Bishop move instead, Black continues ... Re8-h8+ followed by ... f5-f4+ and ... Nd6-f5 with a mating attack. 58. ... Rxa8 59. Rxd3 Ne4 0 : 1. “The threat of ... Ra8-h8# is too strong. If White plays 60. Kh3 there is a fork 60. ... Nf2+ winning the Rook. A wonderful coordination between the Rook, Knight and Pawn to achieve a ‘back rank’ mate”, Kosteniuk noted.

Two Queens in one realm. Photo: Anastasiya Valeryevna Karlovich.

推敲 (Revision)

Hikaru Nakamura – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
16th Univé Chess Festival; Hoogeveen, October 23, 2012
Sicilian Defence B81

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. g4. The Keres Attack. 6. ... h6 7. Rg1 e5!? Very interesting novelty. 7. ... Nc6 is a tabiya. 8. Bb5+ Nbd7 9. Nf5 a6 10. Bxd7+ Qxd7 11. g5 Nxe4 12. Nxg7+ Bxg7 13. Nxe4 Qc6 14. Qd3. White rightly refuses the Pawn, as after 14. Nxd6+ Ke7 15. Nxc8+ Raxc8 16. Qg4 Rcd8 17. c3 hxg5 18. Bxg5+ Bf6 19. h4 Bxg5 20. Qxg5+ f6! (21. Qg7+ Ke6) Black is fine. 14. ... Ke7 15. gxh6 Bxh6 16. Bxh6 Rxh6 17. Qe3 Rh5. By necessity. Black couldn’t allow the Queen check on g5 (17. ... Rh3?? 18. Qg5+ Kd7 19. Nxd6!+−). 18. Rd1 (18. 0-0-0?? Bf5) 18. ... Bf5 19. Ng3. Not 19. Nxd6? because of 19. ... Bxc2 20. Rd2 Rd8 with equality.

19. ... Bxc2? Black sacrifices her Bishop for two Pawns but no other positional compensation. Instead, after 19. ... Rah8! (an Exchange sacrifice in the style of Petrosian) 20. h3! (or 20. Nxh5 Rxh5 21. c3 Rxh2 with a dynamic balance) 20. ... Bxh3 21. Nxh5 Rxh5 22. Kd2! Bf5 23. Qc3 Qb6 24. Kc1 Rh2 25. Rgf1 Black has only one Pawn for the Exchange, but far more positional benefits. 20. Nxh5 Bxd1 21. Kxd1 Qd5+ 22. Ke2 Qxa2 23. Qg5+ Kd7 24. Qf5+. Nakamura is in no hurry. After 24. Rc1! Black could resign (24. ... Qxb2+ 25. Kf1+−). 24. ... Ke7 25. Qc2 Qa5 26. Ng3 Qb5+ 27. Kf3 Qc6+ 28. Qe4 Rh8 29. Nf5+ Kd7 30. h4+− Qb5 31. Rd1 Qxb2 32. Nxd6 (32. Qc4!+−) 32. ... Kc7 33. Nc4 Qb5 34. Nxe5 f6 35. Rc1+ (35. Rb1!+− Qxe5 36. Rxb7+ Kd6 37. Qb4+ Kc6 38. Qb6+ Kd5 39. Rd7+ Kc4 40. Rc7+ Kd3 41. Qb1+ Kd2 42. Qc1+ Kd3 43. Qd1 mate) 35. ... Kb8 36. Rb1 f5. Spes, ultima dea: Black hopes for 37. Nc6+?? Ka8 turning tables. 37. Qxf5 Qd5+ 38. Qe4 Rf8+ 39. Ke3 Qc5+ (39. ... Qxe4+ 40. Kxe4 Rxf2 41. Ng4+−) 40. Qd4 Qxd4+ 41. Kxd4 Rf4+ 42. Ke3 Rxh4 43. f4 Kc7 44. f5 Kd6 45. Ng6 Rh7 46. Rd1+ Kc7 47. Kf4 b5 48. f6 Rf7 49. Ke5 1 : 0.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). Photo: Univé Schaaktoernooi.

Edge

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Anish Giri
16th Unive Chess Tournament; Hoogeveen, October 22, 2012
Sicilian Defence B93

Notes by Grandmaster Eltaj Safarli.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f4. I think that by selecting this variation, White simply wished to play without much preparation — she just wanted to create problems for Black over the board. Let’s see what happens...
6. ... e5 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8. a4 Qc7. Black doesn’t allow White to develop his Bishop on c4. The main line is 8. ... Be7 9. Bc4 [or 9. Bd3 0-0 10. 0-0 exf4 (10. ... Nc5)] 9. ... 0-0 10. 0-0 exf4 11. Bxf4 Qb6+.
9. Bd3 Be7 10. 0-0 0-0 11. Kh1 Nc5. 11. ... b6 This was another setup for Black which is also interesting.
12. Qe2 Bd7 13. fxe5 dxe5 14. Bg5 Be6 15. Nh4 Nxd3 16. cxd3

16. ... Ne8! After this typical manoeuvre Black doesn’t have any problems.
RR 16. ... Kh8 17. Rac1 Qd8 18. Nf5 Ng8 19. Be3 Bg5 20. Nd5 Bxe3 21. Qxe3 Bxd5 22. exd5 g6 23. Qxe5+ f6 24. Qg3 Qxd5 25. Rc7 Rf7 26. Ne3 Qe6 27. Rxf7 Qxf7 28. d4 Re8 29. d5 f5 30. Nc4 Rd8 31. Ne5 Qxd5 32. Qc3 Nf6 33. Nxg6+ hxg6 34. Qxf6+ Kh7 35. h3 Rd7 36. Re1 Qd2 37. Qe6 Rc7 38. Qe5 Rc1 39. Qe7+ ½ : ½ A. Y. Sokolov – Beliavsky, Candidates Tournament, Montpellier 1985.
17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Nf3. Black is also okay after 18. Nf5 Bxf5 19. Rxf5 (19. exf5 Nf6) 19. ... Nc7.
18. ... f6 (18. ... Qd6!?)
19. d4 Rc8 20. Rac1. Of course 20. d5 here would be a mistake because after 20. ... Bg4 even though White has a well protected passed Pawn, Black’s position is still much better, taking into account the strong Knight on d6 and White’s weaknesses on the Queenside. 21. h3 Bxf3 22. Rxf3 Nd6⩱.
20. ... exd4 21. Nd5 Qd6 22. Rxc8 Bxc8 23. Qc4 Be6 24. Nxd4 Rf7 25. h3?! (25. Re1!?; 25. Rd1!?)
25. ... Bxd5. Anish was playing too fast. I think after 25. ... Qe5!⩱ Black would have a slightly better position without any risk.
26. exd5 Nc7 27. Nf5! Qxd5 28. Qg4 h5? Another mistake. Black should have played 28. ... Rd7! 29. Nxg7 Rxg7 30. Qc8+ Kf7 31. Qxc7+ Kg6 32. Qf4 Qe5= with equality.
29. Qxh5 Rd7 30. Re1! Kf8! (30. ... Qf7 31. Qg4)
31. Qh8+ Qg8 32. Qh4 a5 33. Qg4 (33. Re3 Qd5!; 33. b4 Qd5!)
33. ... Qf7. Now 33. ... Qd5? is wrong because of 34. Nxg7! Rxg7 35. Qc8+ Kf7 36. Qxc7+ Kg6 37. Qc2+ f5 38. b3±.

34. Nh4 34. Qf3! was also possible and probably even better. White’s attack might be strong here: 34. ... b6 35. Qa3+ Kg8 36. Qe3 Qh5 [36. ... Nd5? 37. Qg3! and White is almost winning in this spectacular line: 37. ... Qh5 38. Qb8+ Kh7 39. Re4!+− Qxf5 40. Rh4+ Kg6 41. Qe8+ Rf7 (41. ... Kg5 42. Qh5#) 42. Rg4+!+−] 37. Ne7+ Kf8 38. Nc8 (38. Qxb6? Qe8!) 38. ... b5 39. axb5 Qxb5 40. Nd6 Qb8□ 41. Qe4→.
34. ... g5?! Black did not necessarily have to weaken her Pawns on the Queenside. Better was 34. ... Qd5! and it seems after 35. Ng6+ Kf7 Black has nothing to worry about.
35. Nf5 Qd5 36. Rf1 Qd3 37. Ng3 Ne8 38. Rf3?! After 38. Kh2± Black was supposed to defend in an unpleasant position.
38. ... Qd1+ 39. Kh2

39. ... Rd3! Nice trick, after which the position gets simplified and most probably the game is going to end in a draw.
40. Qxg5 Rxf3 41. Qc5+ Qd6!? 41. ... Kg8 is possible as well: 42. gxf3 Qxf3 43. h4 Qb3=.
42. Qxd6+ Nxd6 43. gxf3 Nc4 44. Ne4 Nxb2 45. Nc5 Kf7 46. Nxb7 Nxa4 47. Nxa5 Kg6 48. Kg3 Nc3 49. Nb3 Ne2+ 50. Kg4 f5+ 51. Kh4 Kh6 52. Nd2 Nd4 53. Kg3 Kg5 54. Nf1 f4+ 55. Kg2 Kh4 56. Nd2 Nc2 57. Nc4 Ne1+ 58. Kf2 ½ : ½.

It has been a tense game in which 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) had some chance for a surprise. Photo courtesy of Chess Daily News.

Lost in translation

Ennesima licenza universitaria per la Campionessa del Mondo 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), in lizza a Hoogeveen (Olanda) dal 19 al 27 ottobre nel XVI Festival Univé, un quadrangolare a doppio giro cui concorrono – oltre lei – il nippo-americano Hikaru Nakamura e gli olandesi Anish Giri e Sergei Tiviakov.

Hóu Yìfán – S. Tiviakov
Hoogeveen, 21 ottobre 2012
Francese C10

Commenta il Grande Maestro Eltaj Safarli.

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Cc3 dxe4 4. Cxe4 Cd7 5. Cf3 Cgf6 6. Cxf6+ Cxf6 7. Ae3 Ad6 8. Ad3 b6 9. Ce5 0-0 10. Df3 Cd5 11. Ad2 Ab7 12. c4 Axe5 13. dxe5 Ce7. 13. ... Cf4 14. Axh7+ Rxh7 15. Dxf4 Dd3 16. f3 Tfd8 17. Ae3 (seguita da Ta1-c1, Re1-f2) 17. ... Dc2 18. 0-0. 13. ... Cb4!? 14. Axh7+ Rxh7 15. Dh3+ Rg8 16. Axb4 c5 17. Ac3 Dg5 18. 0-0 Tfd8 19. Dg3 (19. Tfd1 Txd1+ 20. Txd1 Td8) 19. ... Df5 20. f3 Td3 con buon compenso. Credo che il Bianco stia lievemente meglio, ma nel complesso la posizione è già quasi equilibrata. 14. Dg3 Cg6 15. 0-0-0 Dd4 16. The1 Dh4 17. f3 Dxg3 18. hxg3 Tfd8 19. Ag5 Te8 20. Axg6 fxg6 21. Td7 Tac8 22. Ted1 Ac6 23. Td8 b5 24. Txc8 Txc8 25. Td8+ Txd8 26. Axd8 bxc4 27. Rd2 Rf7 28. Axc7 g5 29. Rc3 g4 30. fxg4 Ad5 31. a3 Re8 32. Rb4 Rd7 33. Ab8 a6 34. Rc5 c3 35. bxc3 Axg2 36. Ad6 Af3 37. g5 g6 38. c4 Ae2 39. a4 Af1 40. a5 Ae2 41. Rd4 ½ : ½.

Foto di gruppo

Hóu Yìfán

Foto: Univé Schaaktoernooi

夏日春情 (The Long, Hot Summer)

Alessandra in 重庆 (Chóngqìng), China, August 2012.

张继林VS侯逸凡：和卡尔森没可比性 欣赏小波和谢军

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张继林VS侯逸凡：和卡尔森没可比性 欣赏小波和谢军
http://sports.sina.com.cn 2012年08月24日17:15 新浪体育微博

棋后侯逸凡接受采访

新浪体育讯　不久前结束的杰尔穆克大奖赛上，侯逸凡凭借后半程发力，提前一轮即锁定冠军，更是提前取得了2013年女子世界冠军对抗赛的资格，这位年轻的棋后正在朝着她的职业巅峰迈去…
　　以下搜集的是编辑和棋迷的一些提问：
　　1.你觉得你在世界女子棋坛的统治地位和卡尔森在男子中的称霸有没有可比性？
　　这个很纠结。卡尔森是男子排名第一，我还不是，所以应该没有可比性。他成绩突出，我的成绩也没有他好。我觉得他是个天才，是我学习的榜样。
　　2.世界女子棋坛中谁是你认为最重要的竞争对手？
　　其实现在女子棋手等级分总体都有提高，高手很多，基本上等级分高的几位年轻棋手都颇具竞争力，并没有谁最强。
　　3.直觉是女子棋手最重要的下棋技术。对于你来说直觉占多大的比重？
　　没仔细想过这个问题，我觉得直觉对所有棋手都很重要，不仅仅是女棋手。我没有明显感觉，就是正常去下每一盘棋，整个过程就顺其自然。
　　4.你的助手有谁？
　　没有特别的助手，教练是叶江川和余少腾。
　　5.都说国际象棋是艺术，科学和体育的结合。撇开这些不谈，国际象棋对你来说是什么？
　　可以说是我之前生活中的一部分，我的生活中不只有国际象棋，但它占相当大的比重。
　　6.你觉得女子棋手或者女子棋坛的主要特征有什么？
　　从一个还不是特别有经验的年轻棋手的角度，很难说，也许会比较片面。感觉女子棋手更感性一些，这种感性体现在棋上，造就一种风格吧。
　　7.分析一下自己的主要优缺点？
　　对自己认识深刻，感觉缺点很多，还在总结当中，自己觉得判断不准，不太相信自己判断出来的优点。
　　8.如果没有国际象棋，你生命中最主要的激情会在什么地方？
　　不太好说。因为我从小就下棋，没有选择其它的机会，不过我不后悔。我现在除了下棋还比较喜欢看书，游泳等。
　　9. 你会下中国象棋和围棋吗？
　　围棋一点也不会，象棋略知一二，懂些皮毛吧。小时候倒是学过玻璃跳棋和五子棋。不过都是小孩子之间的游戏，不过我很喜欢下跳棋，自我感觉水平还行：)
　　10. 你最欣赏的女子棋手有谁？
　　小波尔加和谢军都非常具有代表性，都是我学习的榜样。
　　11.打算下到多少岁？
　　我一直觉得未来是个未知数，希望自己能走得更远更久吧。
　　笔者联赛中和侯逸凡共同效力同一俱乐部8年，对她棋上的事没有那么大兴趣，于是选了几个感兴趣的问题：
　　继林：最近的消遣是什么？喜欢什么电影或音乐？
　　逸凡：最近当然是看奥运会啦。最支持刘翔，喜欢的项目还有体操，游泳，跳水等，当然还有110米栏，如果有机会还会看些球类比赛。08年北京奥运会因为有事没能去看刘翔比赛非常遗憾。
　　继林：如果接下来有时间，可以去三个地方旅游，你会想去哪儿？
　　逸凡：想去的地方太多了，以前喜欢法国，瑞士。要说想去旅游的地方，现在想到的有奥地利，香港，台湾，一些岛屿国家比如马尔代夫，也喜欢北欧一些国家比如丹麦和挪威。
　　继林：一般旅行都喜欢玩些什么呢？
　　逸凡：我比较喜欢自然风光，历史名胜，北欧国家的风景就很好。想去岛屿是因为我喜欢大海，从小就觉得自己和水有莫名的关联。
　　继林：去香港台湾是喜欢购物吗？
　　逸凡：一般不太喜欢购物，台湾风景也很好啊，如果一定要买东西我会选择具有当地特色，有纪念意义或者能让我一件钟情的东西吧。
　　最后侯逸凡还向笔者透露了一个特别的事情：她说自己是有紫色情节的人，从小就喜欢紫色，而且是淡紫色，觉得非常具有艺术家的气质，“就是你婚礼请柬的颜色，我非常喜欢。”

Chóngqìng

Chóngqìng, agosto 2012
Foto: Isadora Duncan

Xīnhuá Shūdiàn

Xīnhuá Shūdiàn
Foto: Isadora Duncan

Long Train Runnin’

上海 (Shànghǎi), July 30, 2007. Ready to sleep on the train overnight on the way to 重庆 (Chóngqìng). It will be a long journey of 33 hours! Photo: Mado Flynn.

The Sun Also Shines at Night

Baira Sergeevna Kovanova – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
17th European Women’s Chess Club Cup; Eilat, October 17, 2012
English Opening A37

Notes by Grandmaster Kevin Spraggett.

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. 0-0 d6 6. Nc3 Nh6 7. b3 0-0 8. Bb2 Bd7 9. d3 Rb8 10. Qd2 Nf5 11. e3 a6 12. Ne2 e5 13. d4 cxd4 14. exd4 e4 15. Ne1 Re8 16. Nc2 b5 17. Bc3 bxc4 18. bxc4 Bh6 19. Ne3 a5 20. Nf4 Nh4! 21. Bh1 [Ed. Note: 21. gxh4?? Bxf4 Δ Qd8xh4−+] 21. Bh1 Bxf4! 22. gxf4 Qf6 23. Nd5 Qf5 [Ed. Note: Δ Qf5-g4+] 24. Qe3 Nb4 25. Bxb4 axb4.
The following example is from yesterday’s round at the European Team Cup in Israel. The players are the Russian woman grandmater B. Kovanova (with the White pieces) and the current women’s world champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) from China.
This example illustrates how some players look more deeply into the position than others and as a result are not only able to avoid subtle traps but also able to set them! Here the Russian grandmaster thinks that she has trapped the world champion, only to later realize that she is infact the one who has been trapped...

Black stands somewhat better as White’s King position is exposed and compromised. However, Black’s position is not a bed of roses either... White should probably dig in with 26. Qg3!?, which would lead to a complex and difficult game for both sides.
HOWEVER, Kovanova became obsessed with a tactic based on the Knight fork on f6 (a family fork, infact), and she convinced herself after some analysis that she could get away with taking Black’s Pawn on e4, thereby breaking Black’s attacking chances on the Kingside:
26. Bxe4?!

To be fair to White, this move almost works but for a very subtle point that will become apparent only after Black’s 29th move.

PLAY CONTINUED:

26. ... Rxe4! 27. Qxe4!

The whole point of White’s play! Now 逸凡 (Yìfán) must avoid 27. ... Qxe4? 28. Nf6+! Kg7 29. Nxe4 Bh3 30. Rfd1 Bg4 31. Nxd6 with advantage for white.
27. ... Qh3!

The threat of ... Nh4-f3+ means that White will have to give up her Queen to avoid the mate on h2. HOWEVER, Kovanova had already taken this into account before she played her 26th move.

PLAY CONTINUED:

28. Nf6+! Kg7 29. Nxd7

Kovanova thought that she had everything undercontrol. She had forseen 29. ... Nf3+? 30. Qxf3 Qxf3 31. Nxb8 Qb7? (Black should take the perpetual) 32. Rac1 Qxb8 33. c5 and White has the advantage once more.
In White’s mind she was going to make a draw against the world champion. Bitter surprise awaited her:

29. ... Re8!!

This move is a cruncher that 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) must have forseen much earlier!
White can not take the Rook as 30. ... Nf3+ will mate [Ed. Note: Quite curiously, Spraggett didn’t notice 30. ... Qg2#]. Relatively best would be moving away with the Queen (30. Qb7) but then Black would have a decisive material and positional advantage after 30. ... Nf3+ 31. Qxf3 Qxf3 32. Nb6 Qxf4 33. Nd5 Qg4+ 34. Kh1 Qxd4 etc.
Probably flustered, White made things worse and resigned the next move:
30. Ne5?! dxe5 0 : 1.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) in the spotlight. Photo: Anastasia Karlovich.

生日蛋糕 (Birthday cake)

 

北京 (Běijīng), February 27, 2012. Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) celebrated her 18th birthday at the 北京 (Běijīng Blood Centre making a voluntary unpaid blood donation and serving as a donor of bone marrow. “I always wanted to donate blood, because it is a direct way to help others, but since I was under 18, I couldn’t donate it. It has always been a wish of mine, and finally it came true today”. Photos: sports.163.com.

Iron and Silk

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Marsel Efroimski
17th European Women’s Chess Club Cup; Eilat, October 16, 2012
Caro-Kann Defence B19

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. 0-0-0 Be7 13. Kb1 0-0 14. Ne4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 Nf6 16. Qe2 Qd5 17. Be3. The alternative is 17. Ne5 Qe4 18. Qxe4 Nxe4 19. Be3 Rfd8 20. g4 c5 21. f3 cxd4 22. Bxd4 Bc5 23. Bxc5 Nxc5 24. c3 f6 (Grandmaster Rustem Hazitovich Dautov recommends 24. ... Kf8! in order to reply 25. Kc2 with 25. ... Ke7 26. b4 Nd7= or 25. b4 with 25. ... Na4 26. Kc2 b5 27. Kb3 Nb6=) 25. Ng6!? e5 26. Kc2 Kf7 27. Nh4 Ne6 28. Rh2 (Dautov suggests 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. Rd1 Rxd1 30. Kxd1 with a very slight edge for White) 28. ... Rxd1 29. Kxd1 Rc8 30. Rd2 Rc7 31. Nf5⩲ b6 32. Ke2 Kf8 33. Ke3 Kf7 34. Rd6 Nc5 35. Rd2 Ne6 36. c4 Nc5 37. b3 Nb7 38. Ke4 Ke6 39. Rd5 Nc5+ 40. Ke3 Nb7 41. Kd2 Kf7 42. Kc3 g6 43. hxg6+ Kxg6 44. Ng3 Rf7 45. b4 Kg5 46. Rd3 Kf4 47. Nh5+ Kg5 48. Rd5 Kh4 49. c5 bxc5 50. bxc5 f5 51. Rxe5 fxg4 52. fxg4 Kxg4 53. Kd4 Nd8 54. Kd5 Rd7+ 55. Kc4 Rf7 56. Kd5 Rd7+ 57. Kc4 ½ : ½ 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 周唯奇 (Zhōu Wéiqí), 40th Chinese Chess Championship, 兴化 (Xīnghuà) 2009. 17. ... a5. It was worth considering 17. ... Rfd8 Δ 18. Rhg1 Ng4= (Dautov’s analysis). 18. Ne5 a4 19. f3 Qa5 20. c4 Qa6? This is really too slow. Grandmaster Zenón Franco Ocampos suggests 20. ... a3 21. b3 Rad8 (idem to say 21. ... Rfd8) eventually followed by ... Nf6-d7. 21. g4 a3. If 21. ... Nd5 then 22. Bd2 with clear advantage to White. 22. b3 b5. After 22. ... Nh7 23. g5!? (23. f4) 23. ... Nxg5 24. Rhg1 Bf6 25. Qg2! White’s attack is easy and powerful. 23. g5! hxg5 24. Qc2! bxc4 25. h6! cxb3 26. axb3 g6

27. Nxg6!+− Bb4 28. h7+! Kg7. If 28. ... Nxh7 then 29. Ne7+ Kg7 30. Qxh7+ Kf6 31. Bxg5+! Kxg5 32. Qh6 mate. 29. Nxf8 a2+ 30. Ka1 Rxf8 31. Bxg5 Nd5. Black is doomed: 31. ... Qa5 (Δ ... Bb4-c3+) 32. Bxf6+ Kxf6 33. Rh6+ Kg7 (33. ... Ke7 34. Rc1+−) 34. h8=Q+! Rxh8 35. Qg2+ and finis. 32. Bh6+! Kh8 33. Rdg1 1 : 0.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (left) vs. Marsel Efroimski (right). Photo © Anastasia Karlovich

The Peppermint Queen

Elina Danielian – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
17th European Women’s Chess Club Cup; Eilat, October 13, 2012
English Opening A30

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 e6 6. 0-0 Be7 7. b3 0-0 8. Bb2 d6 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Bxg2 11. Kxg2 Qd7 12. e3 Nc6 13. Nxc6 Qxc6+ 14. Qf3 Rfc8 15. Rfd1 a6 16. Rd2 Rab8 17. Rc1 Kf8 18. Ba3 Qxf3+ 19. Kxf3 Rc6 20. Ne2 Rbc8 21. Rcd1 d5 22. Bxe7+ Kxe7 23. cxd5 Nxd5 24. Nf4 Nc3 25. Rd7+ Ke8

26. R1d2. The temporary surrender of a Pawn by 26. R1d6! Nxa2 27. Rd8+ Rxd8 28. Rxc6 Rb8 29. Nd3 a5 40. Ke2 would allow White to equalise the game. After the text Black gradually tightens her grip until she gains a Pawn. 26. ... e5 27. Nh3 Rh6 28. Ng5 Rf6+ 29. Kg2 h6 30. Nh3 Ne4

31. Rd1. 31. R2d5 Re6 32. Ra7 g5 33. g4 h5! is also bad for White. 31. ... g5 32. R7d5 Re6 33. g4. Or 33. f3 Nc3 34. Rc1 Nxd5 35. Rxc8+ Kd7 winning a Pawn anyway. 31. ... Nf6 34. Rd6 Ke7 35. R6d2 Nxg4 36. Rd7+ Kf8 37. R1d6 Rc6 38. Rxe6 Rxe6 39. Ng1 Nf6 40. Ra7 a5 41. Ne2 Kg7 42. Ng3 Kg6 43. e4 h5 44. f3 Rc6 45. Rb7 g4 46. fxg4 hxg4 47. a3 Nh7 48. h4 gxh3+ 49. Kxh3 Ng5+ 50. Kg2 f6 51. b4 a4 52. b5 Rc2+ 53. Kf1 Rc3 54. Kg2 Rxa3 55. Rxb6 Rb3 56. Ra6 Rb4 57. Nf5 Rb2+ 58. Kg1 Nxe4 59. Ne7+ Kf7 60. Nf5 Rxb5 61. Rxa4 Ke6 62. Ne3 Rb1+ 63. Kg2 Rb2+ 64. Kg1 Nc5 65. Ra8 Re2 66. Ng2 Ne4 67. Kf1 Ng3+ 68. Kg1 f5 69. Ra6+ Kd5 70. Ra5+ Kd4 71. Ra3 Ne4 72. Nh4 Nd6 73. Kf1 Rb2 74. Ra6 Kd5 75. Ra5+ Ke6 76. Nf3 Rb5 77. Ra6 Kd5 78. Ra4 e4 79. Nd4 Rb1+ 80. Kf2 f4 81. Ne2 Ke5 82. Ra5+ Rb5 83. Ra2 f3 84. Nc3 Rc5 85. Nd1 Nf5 86. Rb2 Kf4 87. Ra2 e3+ 88. Ke1 Rc1 89. Ra4+ Ke5 0 : 1.

Lavender and peppermint tea. Photo: Mark Livshitz.

Face to Face with 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

January 16, 2011: face to face with 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán).

Green Tea vs. Coca-Cola

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Antoaneta Stefanova
17th European Women’s Chess Club Cup; Eilat, October 12, 2012
Spanish Game C67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. 0-0 Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Bd7 10. Rd1. Despite her young age, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) has already a good experience on the Berlin endgame: 10. h3 Kc8 11. b3 b6 12. Bb2 a5? 13. g4 Ne7 14. Ng5 Be8 15. f4 h5 16. Kg2 Kb7 17. Rad1 a4 18. Kg3 axb3 19. axb3 Ng6 20. Ra1! Rxa1 21. Bxa1 Be7 22. Nce4 with an overwhelming advantage for White, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 阮露斐 (Ruăn Lùfěi), 30th Chinese Women’s Chess Championship, 无锡 (Wúxī) 2006. 10. ... Kc8 11. Ng5 Be8 (11. ... f6?? 12. Nf7 Rg8 13. e6+−) 12. Nge4 b6 13. f3 (13. h3 Kb7 14. g4 Ne7 15. Bf4 h5 16. f3 c5 17. Kf2 Nc6 18. Nd5 Nd4 19. c3 Ne6 20. Bg3 Bc6 21. Rd2 hxg4 22. hxg4 c4 23. Kg2 Rd8 24. Rad1 Ba4 25. Re1 Bc6 26. Red1 Ba4 27. Re1 Bc6 ½ : ½ Kasparov – Kramnik, Kortschnoi’s 70th Birthday K.O., Z¨rich 2001. match game 1) 13. ... Kb7 14. Kf2 c5 15. Nd5 Rd8 (15. ... h6 16. g4 Ne7 17. c4 h5 18. h3 hxg4 19. hxg4 f5 20. exf6 Nxd5 21. cxd5 Bg6 22. Bf4 Bxe4 23. fxe4 gxf6 24. Rh1 c4 25. Rxh8 Bc5+ 26. Kg3 Rxh8 27. Rc1 b5 28. b3 Ba3 29. Rc2 a5 30. bxc4 b4 31. Be3 Rh1 32. c5 a4 33. c6+ Kc8 34. Rc5 b3 35. Ra5 Bd6+ 36. Kg2 Rh2+ 37. Kf3 Rh3+ 38. Ke2 Kd8 39. axb3 axb3 40. Rb5 Rh2+ 41. Kd3 b2 42. g5 Ke7 43. gxf6+ Kxf6 44. Bd4+ Be5 45. d6 cxd6 46. Bxe5+ dxe5 47. Rxb2 Rxb2 48. c7 Rb3+ 49. Kc2 Rb4 50. c8=Q Rxe4 51. Kd3 Rd4+ 52. Ke3 Rf4 53. Qc6+ Kf5 54. Qd5 Kf6 55. Qd6+ Kf5 56. Qe7 Re4+ 57. Kf3 Rf4+ 58. Kg3 Rg4+ 59. Kh3 Rd4 60. Qf7+ Kg5 61. Qe6 Rd3+ 62. Kg2 Kf4 63. Kf2 Rd2+ 64. Ke1 Rd3 65. Ke2 Re3+ 66. Kd2 Rg3 67. Qf6+ Ke4 68. Qh4+ Kf3 69. Kd3 Kf2+ 70. Ke4 Kg2 71. Kxe5 Ra3 72. Qg4+ Kf2 73. Qd4+ Kf3 74. Qd1+ Kg3 75. Ke4 Kh2 76. Qd2+ Kh3 77. Kf4 Ra4+ 78. Kf3 Ra3+ 79. Kf2 1 : 0 Inarkiev – Hammer, 12th European Individual Chess Championship, Aix-les-Bains, 31 marzo 2011) 16. Bg5 Rd7 17. c4 h6 18. Bd2 Nd4 19. Bc3 Ne6 20. Rd2 Rd8 21. Rad1 a5 22. h4 h5. This can turn out to be weakening. 23. Ng5 Nxg5 24. hxg5

24. ... Bc6? After 24. ... h4 25. f4 (25. g6!?) White stands better, but the game is far from over. 25. Nf4 Rxd2+ 26. Rxd2 Be7 27. g6 fxg6 28. Nxg6 Re8 29. Re2 a4 30. f4 Bd7 31. e6 Bxe6 32. Rxe6 Bh4+ 33. Nxh4 Rxe6 34. Bxg7 Re4 35. Ng6 Rxc4 36. f5 a3 37. bxa3 Rc2+ 38. Kg3 Rxa2 39. f6 Rxa3+ 40. Kh4 c4 41. f7 Ra8 42. Kxh5 c5 43. Kg4 b5 44. f8=Q Rxf8 45. Bxf8 Kc6 46. Kf3 1 : 0.

Green tea vs. Coca-Cola. Photo: Anastasiya Valeryevna Karlovich.

Here comes the sun

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) is being awarded the 晶报 (Jīng Bào) Sunshine Award in 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China on August 19, 2012. “Sunshine is a warm word. I wish I could become sunshine to warm other people”, she said. “I will play harder in my chess career. Chess is like life — we can learn a lot from both”. Photos: Shēnzhèn Daily.