Turning Tables

Humpy Koneru – Mariya Muzychuk

Women’s World Chess Championship; playoff game 2; Krasnaya Polyana, March 28, 2015

Queen’s Gambit Declined D45

“The second game was even harder. I did not expect this opening and had to recall the relevant variations at the board (and, of course, failed to succeed). Soon I lost a Pawn, and my position was very poor. I realized my only chance was to create complications. And I found my chance – when we both had just a minute left on the clocks, Koneru miscalculated and blundered...”, then Mariya Muzychuk said. 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Be2 0-0 8. 0-0 e5 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nb5 Bb8 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Bd2 a6 13. Nbd4 Ne4 14. Rad1 Qd6 15. Qb3 Nc5 16. Qa3 b6 17. Nxe5 Qxe5 18. f4 Qf6 19. Bb4 Bd6 20. Nb5 Bb7 21. Nxd6 Qxd6 22. Bf3 Rfe8 23. e4 Rac8 24. exd5 a5 25. Be1 Ba6 26. Rf2 Rcd8 27. Rfd2 Qxf4 28. Bg3 Qf6 29. Bc7 Rd7 30. d6 Bb7 31. Bg4 Qg5. “Well, she clearly had a won position with the Pawn on d6. After I played 31. ... Qg5, it was still winning for White with the perfect play, so she probably blundered later”, Mariya said. 32. Bxd7

32. ... Re3!? Koneru was probably expecting 32. ... Nxd7 33. Rf2 with a huge advantage to White. But, instead of such a prosaic answer, Black produces a flashy surprise! 33. b3. In time trouble Humpy does not venture 33. h4! Qe5 (else 33. ... Qh6 34. Bxb6! Rxa3 35. Bxc5 Rg3 36. Bh3 winning) 34. Bh3! Rxa3 35. d7 Qe3+ 36. Kh2 Nxd7 37. Rxd7 h6 38. bxa3 and White wins. 33. ... Rd3! Another surprise! 34. Re1 Here the immediate 34. Qc1 was probably called for. 34. ... Re3 35. Qc1?? A tragic blunder. White should have played 35. Rf1 and if 35. ... Rf3!? might follow 36. Rdf2 Rxf2 37. Rxf2 Bxg2! 38. Bd8! Qxd8 39. Rxg2 with advantage to White. 34. ... Nd3! A deadly blow! 36. Bd8 Rxe1+ 37. Qxe1 Qc5+ 38. Kf1 Nxe1 39. Kxe1 Qc1+ 40. Ke2 Ba6+ 41. Ke3 Qe1+ 42. Kd4 0 : 1.

Mariya Muzychuk
Photo: Anastasiya Karlovich