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.