Friday, December 7, 2012

肠粉 (Rice noodle roll)

李雪怡 (Lǐ Xuěyí) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
6th “雅戈尔杯” “Youngor Cup” Chinese Chess League; 广州 (Guǎngzhōu), September 12, 2010
Nimzo-Indian Defence E20

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 c5 5. d5 d6 6. e4 0-0. As 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) plays both the Modern Benoni and the Nimzo-Indian, it is not strange that she does not dislike this Nimzo-Benoni combo. 7. Bd3 (7. Ne2 b5!?) 7. ... Nbd7 8. Ne2 Ne5 9. 0-0 exd5 10. cxd5 a6 11. Bc2 Re8 12. Bg5. Here 12. Ng3 b5 13. Kh1 is quite thematic, on which there may follow 13. ... Ba5 14. h3 Bb6 15. b3⩲ Cebalo – Tirabassi, 47th New Year’s International Tournament, Reggio Emilia 2005. 12. ... h6 13. Bh4 Ba5 14. a3 b5 15. b4 Bb6 16. Kh1 Nc4 17. Bf2 (17. Qd3 Ne5) 17. ... Bd7 18. Bb3 cxb4 19. axb4 Ne3 20. Bxe3 Bxe3 21. Qd3 Bb6 22. Nd4 Nh5 23. Nce2 Qf6 24. Bc2 Nf4 25. Nxf4 Qxd4


26. Qb3? This is the beginning of all White’s trouble. White’s best consisted in 26. Ne2! Qxd3 27. Bxd3 Ra7 28. Ra2 Rea8 29. Rfa1 g6 with a rough equality. 26. ... Rec8 27. Ra2 Rc4 28. Ne2 Qe3. Probably simpler is 28. ... Qd2 29. Bb1 Qxb4 30. Qd3 g6 31. f4 Qc5∓ with a sound extra Pawn. 29. Bd3 Rc7 30. Qb1 h5 31. f4 Rac8 32. Rxa6


32. ... Bg4?! 32. ... h4 at once saves a tempo, which may make a difference to what follows, for after 33. Ra2! (best) 33. ... h3 34. f5 Black can still make a bid for the initiative with 34. ... f6! threatening ... Bd7-e8-h5. 33. Ra2! A providential defence! 33. ... h4 34. Re1? But White throws away all! The only move was 34. h3! Bxe2 (because of the presence of the Rook on a2, now 34. .. Bxh3!? 35. Rf3 Rc1+! 36. Qxc1 Rxc1+ 37. Kh2 Qxf3 38. gxf3 Rf1 ought not to give Black more than equality) 35. Rxe2 Rc1 36. Rxe3 Rxb1 37. Rxb1 Bxe3= with even chances. 34. .. h3! 35. Ng1


35. ... Qxf4. Of course there’s nothing wrong with this, but also 35. ... Rc2!! would have forced checkmate in a few moves. 36. Rf1 (36. gxh3 Bxg1−+) 36. ... Qe3 37. Raf2 (37. gxh3 Rc1−+) 37. ... Rc1 38. Qb3 Qxf2! 0 : 1.

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