斯劍虎 (Smilodon)

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Harika Dronovalli
Women’s Grand Prix 2013–2014; fifth stage; Lopota, June 27, 2014
French Defence C00

Notes by International Master Alina l’Ami. 1. e4 e6 2. Qe2 c5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d6 5. Bg2 g6 6. 0-0 Bg7 7. c3 e5 8. a4 Nge7 9. Na3 0-0 10. Nc4 h6 11. d3 Be6 12. Bd2 Re8 13. h3 b6 14. Rfe1 Qd7 15. b4 cxb4 16. cxb4 d5 17. exd5 Bxd5 18. Nfxe5 Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Qb7 20. f4 Nf5 21. Qf2 Nd4 22. Rac1 Rad8 23. Bc3 Qa8

Here Yìfán could have played 24. Bxd4 Bxg2 25. Qxg2 (25. Kh2!?) with a risk-free advantage in the endgame. Instead, 24. b5 gave Harika the chance to strike with 24. ... Bxg2 25. Qxg2 Bxe5 and either White takes on a8 or e5, a check on f3 will always win the Exchange in the end. 24. ... Nb3 25. Rc2 Nc5 26. Bb4 Bxe5 27. Bxc5 Bxg2 28. Rxe5 Rxe5 29. fxe5 Bxh3 30. Bd6 Qd5 31. Qe3 Re8 32. Re2 Bg4 33. Qe4 Qxe4 34. Rxe4 Bf5 35. Rc4 Bxd3 36. Rc7 Ra8 37. Kf2 Bf5 38. Ke3 Be6 39. Kd4 g5 40. Rb7 h5 41. Rb8+ Rxb8 42. Bxb8 h4 43. gxh4 gxh4 44. Ke3 Bb3 45. Bxa7 Bxa4 46. Bxb6 Bxb5 47. Kf4 Bd7 48. Bd8 h3 49. Kg3 Be6 50. Bf6 Bf5 51. Bd8 Be6 52. Bf6 Bf5 53. Bd8 ½ : ½..

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). Photo: Alina l’Ami.