Starry☆Sky

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2013–2014; 5th stage; Lopota, June 29, 2014
Sicilian Defence B40

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4. Although playable, this move is questionable because of the “hole” at d4. 3. ... Nc6 4. Be2 Nge7. The sharpest try is 4. ... g5!? 5. d3 g4 6. Nfd2 Ne5 7. Nb3 Nf6 8. Nc3 Rg8 9. Be3 d6 10. d4 cxd4 11. Qxd4 a6 12. 0-0-0 Nfd7 13. Kb1?! (13. f4 gxf3 14. gxf3⩲) 13. ... b6 14. f4 gxf3 15. gxf3 Bb7∞ Gavrikov – J. Polgár, 11th Rapid Tournament, Tallin 2001. 5. d4 Nxd4 6. Nxd4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Nc6 8. Qd2 Bc5 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Nc3 d6 11. a3 a5 12. b3 e5. Black’s position is just a little easier, but nothing more. 13. Nb5 Qh4. Black fights energetically for the initiative. 14. Bf3 Be6 15. Qg5? Very ill-timed. Probably best was 15. Rb1 with reasonable play. 15. ... Qxg5 16. Bxg5 h6! 17. Bd2?! 17. Be3 seems more consistent, although after 17. ... a4 18. bxa4 Nd4! Black stands much better. 17. ... a4! 18. Bd1. Not good, but 18. b4 Bxc4 is equally bad.

18. ... Nd4! After this sacrifice of the Exchange, White’s position collapses like a castle of sand. 19. Nc7. Also after 19. b4 Nxb5 20. cxb5 Bd4 21. Rc1 Rfc8 Black’s position is imposing. 19. ... axb3! 20. Nxa8 Rxa8 21. Bc3 Bxc4 22. a4 b5! The rest requires no comment. 23. axb5 Rxa1 24. Bxa1 Nxb5 25. Re1 Bd4 26. Bxd4 exd4 27. e5 dxe5 28. Rxe5 b2 0 : 1. For if 29. Re8+ then 29. ... Kh7 30. Bc2+ d3 31. Bb1 Nc3 wins.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). Photo: Alina l’Ami.