Happy Birthday!

Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
75th Tata Steel Chess Tournament;Wijk aan Zee, January 12, 2013
French Defence C11

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Be7. All along the sideline — 6. ... Nc6 7. Be3 Qb6 is the most usual continuation. 7. Be3 b6 8. Be2 Ba6 9. 0-0 Bxe2 10. Nxe2 Nc6? “Probably 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) decided to make a present for me and of course I take the presents”, Karjakin joked afterwards. Safer seems 10. ... Na6 followed by Na6-c7, and also 10. ... 0-0 11. c3 Nc6 (Akobian’s suggestion) is worth considering.

11. c4! “I think at some point she blundered a very strong move 11. c4! in the opening and then I was better for the entire game. I don’t know if she could defend better, but I think the game was quite okay”, then Karjakin said. 11. ... dxc4 12. d5!± exd5 13. Qxd5 Nb4. 13. ... Qc7 14. Nc3 0-0 15. Qxc4 also leaves White with a powerful advantage. 14. Qxc4 b5 15. Qe4 (Δ a2-a3) 15. ... Qc8 16. Nc3 Qc6 17. Qxc6 Nxc6 18. Nxb5 Rb8 19. Nc7+ Kd8 20. Nd5 Rxb2 21. Rfd1 Re8 22. Rac1 Rxa2 23. Nd2 g5 24. Ne4 gxf4 25. Bxc5 Bxc5+ 26. Nxc5 Rg8 (26. ... Ncxe5?? 27. Nb7#) 27. g3 fxg3 28. h3 Ndxe5 29. Nb4+ Ke8? After 29. ... Ke7! 30. Nxa2 Nd4 31. Rxd4 Nf3+ 32. Kg2 Nxd4 Black, with three volatile Pawns for the Knight, can still hope for a miracle to happen. 30. Nxa2 Nf3+ (30. ... Nd4 31. Rxd4 Nf3+ 32. Kg2 Nxd4 33. Nb3! Ne6 34. Rc8+ Nd8 35. Nd4+−) 31. Kg2 Nh4+ 32. Kf1 Nf3 33. Ne4 g2+ 34. Kf2 g1=Q+ 35. Rxg1 Rxg1 36. Rxc6 Ra1 37. Nf6+ Ke7 38. Nc3 Ne5 39. Ncd5+ Kd8 40. Rc3 Ra2+ 41. Kg3 Rd2 42. Kf4 Ng6+ 43. Kg5 Ne7 44. Nxe7 Kxe7 45. Re3+ Kd8 46. Ra3 Rg2+ 47. Ng4 h6+ 48. Kh4 f5 49. Nxh6 1 : 0.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) congratulated Karjakin on his 23rd birthday. Photo: Tata Steel Chess.