Sunday, December 14, 2014

Time for a Quick One

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina
4th SportAccord World Mind Games; Women’s Blitz Tournament; 北京 (Beijīng), December 13, 2014
Caro-Kann Defence B10

Notes by International Master Alina l’Ami.

The gold and silver of the Rapid are once again in the same position after Day 1 of the Blitz. However, their direct encounter in round 10 changed the top in 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s favour:

1. e4 c6 2. c4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. cxd5 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nxd5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Bb5 e6 8. 0-0 Nc7 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 10. Qa4 Bd7 11. Ne5 Bd6 12. d4 0-0 13. Ne4 Be7 14. Be3 Nd5 15. Rac1 Be8 16. Nxc6 Qb6 17. Nxe7+ Nxe7 18. Qa3 Nd5 19. Rc5 f5 20. Nc3 f4 21. Nxd5 exd5 22. Bd2 f3 23. gxf3 Bh5 24. f4 Qe6 25. Qe3 Qf7 26. Qg3 Rfe8 27. Re1 Rxe1+ 28. Bxe1 Re8 29. Bd2 h6 30. f5 Qxf5 31. Rc7 Bg6 32. Be3 Qb1+ 33. Kg2 Qe4+ 34. Qf3 Qe6 35. Qf4


35. ... Kh7?? With 35. ... Rf8 36. Qg3 and now the Rook-lift 36. ... Rf6! Black could have started a very dangerous-looking initiative. But in blitz accidents happen! 36. Qxh6+! And mate next move, out of the blue! 1 : 0.

A matching mate in 5 minutes. Photo: Alina l’Ami.

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