Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
Women’s Grand Prix 2013–14; 4th stage; Khanty-Mansiysk, April 12, 2014
Modern Benoni A62
Women’s Grand Prix 2013–14; 4th stage; Khanty-Mansiysk, April 12, 2014
Modern Benoni A62
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Bg2 Bg7 8. Nf3 0-0 9. 0-0 Re8 10. Bf4 Ne4!? 11. Nxe4 Rxe4 12. Nd2 Rxf4!? “This sacrifice does not bring enough compensation to Black. Better is 13. ... Rb4”, pronounced a few years ago International Master Nikolai Minev... O tempora, o mores! More prudently, Grandmaster John Emms will write: “Previously I was suspicious of the objective merits of this sacrifice, and I’m still not entirely convinced. But if such a theoretician as Khalifman plays it, you have to sit up and take notice!”. Actually, 13. ... Rb4 might be a “delayed” version of the same idea; for example: 12. ... Rb4 13. a3 Rxf4 14. gxf4 Bxb2 15. Ra2 Bg7 and Black has sufficient play for the Exchange, Alburt – Peters, South Bend 1981. 13. gxf4 Bxb2 14. Rb1 Bg7 15. e4. For 15. Nf3 Nd7 see Dam – Norwood, Groningen 1988, whereas for 15. Nc4 b6 see de Ruiter – Timman, Hoogeveen 2012. Finally, is worth considering 15. Re1 Nd7 16. Nc4 Nf6 17. e4 Nh5 18. e5 Nxf4 19. Qf3 Nxg2 20. e6 fxe6 21. dxe6 Bxe6 22. Rxe6 Nh4 23. Qd5 Qg5+ 24. Qxg5 Nf3+ 25. Kg2 Nxg5 26. Rxd6 b6 27. Rd7 with a slight advantage for White, Belov – Khalifman, Khanty-Mansiysk 2007. 15. ... Na6!? Alina l’Ami: “The Ukrainian was up to the task, as she played the opening confidently, took the offer, but after Hóu Yìfán’s over the board novelty, 15. ... Na6, she sank in thought; although an Exchange down, Black’s play is somewhat easier, from a practical point of view (Bishop pair, good coordination), as it is not quite clear how and when and if White should put the center on fire with e4-e5.”. 16. Nc4 Rb8 17. a4 Nb4 18. Qf3 b6 19. Rbc1 Ba6 20. Rfe1 Na2 21. Rc2 Nb4 22. Rcc1 Na2 23. Rc2 Nb4 24. Rcc1 Na2 ½ : ½. Alina l’Ami: “Both players estimated that it might prove too dangerous to seek for more, the lines which could have appeared too difficult to calculate all the way until the end and a draw was agreed by repetition – the third game in a row the Chinese finishes under 25 moves, the Ukrainian being the only one so far who managed to slow down Yìfán”.
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