中美关系 (Sino-American relations)

Irina Borisivna Krush – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
41st Women’s Chess Olympiad; Tromsø, August 4, 2014
Queen’s Indian Defence E12

Notes by Krush, Chess Life, December 2014, pp. 26-27.

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Qa4+ Bc6 8. Qc2 dxc4 9. e3 b5 10. a4 b4 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Nb1 Bxf3 13. gxf3 c5 14. dxc5 Nd7 15. c6 Ne5 16. Bxc4 Qa5 17. Ke2 Rc8 18. Nd2 0-0 19. b3 Rxc6 20. f4 Nxc4 21. Rag1+ Kh8 22. Nxc4 Qh5+ 23. f3. Our first serious test came in round three, against China. I was thrilled at this good fortune, as it meant I got to play the Women’s World Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), who had just peaked at a rating of 2661 after a strong tournament in Biel. Unfortunately, although I got a position I aimed for, it didn’t work out as planned:

Going for this position, I thought I would be better given the strong Knight on c4 versus a not-very-good dark-square Bishop. It was a surprise to discover that White was actually a bit worse here due to the drafty position of my King. The world champion brought her Rook back to c8 in preparation for ... Rf8-g8 when I had problems contesting the g-file and ultimately White resigned.
23. ... Rcc8 24. Rg3 Rg8 25. Qb1 Rcd8 26. Kf2 Rg6 27. Kg2 Rdg8 28. Qe1 Rh6 29. Rxg8+ Kxg8 30. Kf2 Rg6 31. Qf1 Kh8 32. Ke2 Rg8 33. Qf2 Qf5 34. Rc1 Rd8 35. Ke1 Bc5 36. Qe2 Rd3 37. e4 Qxf4 38. Qxd3 Qxc1+ 39. Qd1 Qg5 40. Qe2 Bd4 41. Kd1 Qg1+ 42. Kc2 Qa1 43. Qd2 Bc3 44. Qd6 Qa2+ 45. Kc1 Qg2 46. Qb8+ Kg7 47. Qxa7 Qh1+ 48. Kc2 Qxh2+ 49. Kd3 Qh1 50. Ne3 Qb1+ 51. Kc4 Qb2 52. Qd7 h5 53. a5 Qa2 54. Kb5

54. ... h4 55. a6 h3 56. Qd1 Be5 57. Ng4 h2

58. Kb6 Qg2 59. Nxh2 Bxh2 60. a7 Qg1+ 61. Qxg1+ Bxg1+ 62. Kb7 Bxa7 63. Kxa7 Kg6 64. Kb6 Kg5 65. Kc5 Kf4 66. Kxb4 Kxf3 67. Kc5 Kxe4 68. b4 f5 69. b5 f4 70. b6 f3 71. b7 f2 72. b8=Q f1=Q 73. Qb7+ Ke3 74. Kd6 Qf6 75. Qb3+ Kf4 76. Qc4+ Kg5 77. Kd7 Qe5 78. Ke7 f5 79. Qc1+ f4 80. Qg1+ Kf5 81. Qb1+ Qe4 82. Qb5+ Kg4 83. Qf1 f3 84. Qg1+ Kf5 85. Kf7 Qb7+ 86. Kf8 e5 87. Qg3 Qc8+ 88. Kg7 Qd7+ 89. Kh6 Qd2+ 90. Kh7 Qg2 91. Qh4 Qg6+ 0 : 1.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) finally made her début at 41st Women’s Chess Olympiad. Photo: Georgios Souleidis/chess24.com.