侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Nigel David Short
Wijk aan Zee, January 14, 2008
Spanish Game C67
Wijk aan Zee, January 14, 2008
Spanish Game C67
Notes by 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), New In Chess 2/2008, pp. 83-85, Ian Rogers, Michael Adams, Goran Urosevic, Malcolm Pein, and Steve Giddins.
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): This was my second game against Mr. Short. Our previous game happened in the UK–China match that was staged in Liverpool last year. In that first encounter I luckily escaped with a draw from a bad position. This time I am very grateful for the organizers to offer me the opportunity to meet Mr. Short again.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. 0-0 Nxe4 5. d4 Be7
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): An unexpected reply, and I had to think of something beyond my preparation.
Ian Rogers: “A surprise”, said 侯 (Hóu). “I had never seen this before”.
“She doesn’t know the old games so much”, said Yú [Shăoténg]. “She’s a 21st century girl”.
6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7 9. c4
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): Here the common move is 9. Nc3, but at that point I couldn’t remember it.
Rogers: Why not 9. Nc3? “I am just playing moves”, said 侯 (Hóu).
9. ... 0-0 10. Nc3 Re8?!
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): A worthwhile try might be 10. ... f6!?, to make room for the Bishops.
11. Rd1 Bf8
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): I believe this move caused some problems for Black. Maybe 11. ... d6!? is much better, e.g. 12. Nd4 Bd7 13. Qf3 (or 13. e6 fxe6 14. Nxe6 Qc8 and Black is fine) 13. ... Qc8 and Black seems OK.
Rogers: “I have no idea what he is doing”, admitted Hóu.
Malcom Pein: I think Nigel was making this up.
12. Bg5! f6 13. Bh4 g5
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): The other line, 13. ... d6 14. Qc2 Bg4 15. exf6 gxf6 16. Re1 will ensure White an edge, as the enemy King has no safe shelter.
Rogers: Hóu made a face when this move was replayed. “She’s saying ‘Is he joking?’”, explained Dutch GM Péng, a former number two woman in the world and an amused spectator to 侯 (Hóu)’s demonstration.
14. Bg3
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): A bit soft-hearted. The tough one is 14. Ne4!? gxh4 15. Nd4 with a powerful attack.
14. ... d6
Goran Urošević: Nigel Short found himself on the wrong side of Berlin variation of Ruy Lopez. Young Chinese star consistently outplayed him to reach the current position. Curious interaction on the d- and e-files as both Queens are pinned by the Rooks. The crucial difference is in the safety of the Kings. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) will have the luxury of sacrificing material to open the gates around Kg8. She starts with wonderful:
15. Ne4! Bg4?!
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. 0-0 Nxe4 5. d4 Be7
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): An unexpected reply, and I had to think of something beyond my preparation.
Ian Rogers: “A surprise”, said 侯 (Hóu). “I had never seen this before”.
“She doesn’t know the old games so much”, said Yú [Shăoténg]. “She’s a 21st century girl”.
6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7 9. c4
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): Here the common move is 9. Nc3, but at that point I couldn’t remember it.
Rogers: Why not 9. Nc3? “I am just playing moves”, said 侯 (Hóu).
9. ... 0-0 10. Nc3 Re8?!
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): A worthwhile try might be 10. ... f6!?, to make room for the Bishops.
11. Rd1 Bf8
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): I believe this move caused some problems for Black. Maybe 11. ... d6!? is much better, e.g. 12. Nd4 Bd7 13. Qf3 (or 13. e6 fxe6 14. Nxe6 Qc8 and Black is fine) 13. ... Qc8 and Black seems OK.
Rogers: “I have no idea what he is doing”, admitted Hóu.
Malcom Pein: I think Nigel was making this up.
12. Bg5! f6 13. Bh4 g5
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): The other line, 13. ... d6 14. Qc2 Bg4 15. exf6 gxf6 16. Re1 will ensure White an edge, as the enemy King has no safe shelter.
Rogers: Hóu made a face when this move was replayed. “She’s saying ‘Is he joking?’”, explained Dutch GM Péng, a former number two woman in the world and an amused spectator to 侯 (Hóu)’s demonstration.
14. Bg3
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): A bit soft-hearted. The tough one is 14. Ne4!? gxh4 15. Nd4 with a powerful attack.
14. ... d6
Goran Urošević: Nigel Short found himself on the wrong side of Berlin variation of Ruy Lopez. Young Chinese star consistently outplayed him to reach the current position. Curious interaction on the d- and e-files as both Queens are pinned by the Rooks. The crucial difference is in the safety of the Kings. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) will have the luxury of sacrificing material to open the gates around Kg8. She starts with wonderful:
15. Ne4! Bg4?!
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): This was the fatal mistake. Better is 15. ... fxe5 16. Nfxg5 h6 17.
Qh5!? (17. Nf3 Re6!) 17. ... hxg5 18. Nxg5 Qe7 19. Qg6+ Kg7 20. f4 and White has some compensation for the Knight.
Michael Adams: Nigel has been playing with fire during the opening phase of the game and now he gets his fingers burnt. 15. ... fxe5 16. Nfxg5 h6 17. Nf3 doesn’t look very enticing but it was the best available.
Urošević: 15. ... Bf5 16. Nd4! Bxe4 17. Qxe4 fxe5 18. Nxc6 with the clear advantage as Black pieces are awfully placed and light squares are alley for White Queen. 15. ... fxe5 16. Nfxg5! with idea Qe2-h5.
16. exf6 Bh5
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): The threat of f6-f7+ was very unpleasant.
Adams: Perhaps Short intended 16. ... Nc5 but then 17. f7+ is catastrophic.
Urošević: 16. ... d5? 17. f7+! Kxf7 18. Nfxg5+ is crushing.
17. Qe3
Rogers: Until now Hóu had not been prepared to make an assessment of the position but now she declared: “This seems OK for me– – a typical understatement since White is already winning.
Urošević: After this humble move, Black is lost.
17. ... Bh6
Adams: If 17. ... h6 18. Nfxg5 is deadly but now the Knight leaps forward another way.
Michael Adams: Nigel has been playing with fire during the opening phase of the game and now he gets his fingers burnt. 15. ... fxe5 16. Nfxg5 h6 17. Nf3 doesn’t look very enticing but it was the best available.
Urošević: 15. ... Bf5 16. Nd4! Bxe4 17. Qxe4 fxe5 18. Nxc6 with the clear advantage as Black pieces are awfully placed and light squares are alley for White Queen. 15. ... fxe5 16. Nfxg5! with idea Qe2-h5.
16. exf6 Bh5
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): The threat of f6-f7+ was very unpleasant.
Adams: Perhaps Short intended 16. ... Nc5 but then 17. f7+ is catastrophic.
Urošević: 16. ... d5? 17. f7+! Kxf7 18. Nfxg5+ is crushing.
17. Qe3
Rogers: Until now Hóu had not been prepared to make an assessment of the position but now she declared: “This seems OK for me– – a typical understatement since White is already winning.
Urošević: After this humble move, Black is lost.
17. ... Bh6
Adams: If 17. ... h6 18. Nfxg5 is deadly but now the Knight leaps forward another way.
18. Ne5!
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): I couldn’t resist playing this move. It is clear that in this position White can win in many ways, e.g. 18. Nfxg5.
However, the text-move leads to a nice finish.
Urošević: The threat is simple: Ne5xc6 and Nc6-e7+.
18. ... Rxe5 19. Bxe5 Bxd1 20. Rxd1
Adams: Black’s position is a wreck and the game is swiftly concluded.
20. ... Qe8 21. Bc3 Nd8 22. f7+! Qxf7
Ed. Note: 22. ... Kxf7 23. Rxd6! is no better at all.
23. Nf6+ 1 : 0.
Rogers: “On 23. ... Kf8 I was going to play 24. Re1 and I’m winning”, said Hóu.
After the game Short seemed in surprisingly good humour, declaring that there was nothing to do apart from go out that evening and get drunk.
Urošević: On 23. ... Kh8 White has 24. Ne8+ and Qe3-d4.
Pein: After 23. ... Kf8 wins 24. Re1 with Qe3-h3 amongst the threats.
Steve Giddins: After the game, a rueful Short blamed this disaster on inadequate preparation, adding that it was “especially embarrassing to lose to an opponent who is three years younger than my daughter!”. This was one of five (!) decisive results in the group.
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): I couldn’t resist playing this move. It is clear that in this position White can win in many ways, e.g. 18. Nfxg5.
However, the text-move leads to a nice finish.
Urošević: The threat is simple: Ne5xc6 and Nc6-e7+.
18. ... Rxe5 19. Bxe5 Bxd1 20. Rxd1
Adams: Black’s position is a wreck and the game is swiftly concluded.
20. ... Qe8 21. Bc3 Nd8 22. f7+! Qxf7
Ed. Note: 22. ... Kxf7 23. Rxd6! is no better at all.
23. Nf6+ 1 : 0.
Rogers: “On 23. ... Kf8 I was going to play 24. Re1 and I’m winning”, said Hóu.
After the game Short seemed in surprisingly good humour, declaring that there was nothing to do apart from go out that evening and get drunk.
Urošević: On 23. ... Kh8 White has 24. Ne8+ and Qe3-d4.
Pein: After 23. ... Kf8 wins 24. Re1 with Qe3-h3 amongst the threats.
Steve Giddins: After the game, a rueful Short blamed this disaster on inadequate preparation, adding that it was “especially embarrassing to lose to an opponent who is three years younger than my daughter!”. This was one of five (!) decisive results in the group.
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
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