Another Brick in the Wall

Clarice Benini – Rowena Mary Bruce
Women’s Western European Zonal Tournament; Venice, May 14, 1957
English Opening A24

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 0-0 5. Nf3 d6 6. 0-0 e5 7. d3 c6 8. Bd2 Ne8. Not the most natural move on the board. 9. Qc1 f5 10. Bh6 Nd7 11. Bxg7 Kxg7 12. b4 Ndf6 13. a4 a6 14. b5 Bd7 15. Qb2 Nc7 16. c5. Striving for the initiative. 16. ... Qe7. On 16. ... dxc5 17. b6 equally follows. 17. b6 Nce8. Black can also consider 17. ... Ne6 as after 18. cxd6 Qxd6 19. a5 White’s advantage is minimal. 18. Nd1 e4 19. dxe4 fxe4 20. Nd2 d5 21. Qd4 Kg8 22. f3 Ng7! 23. fxe4 Ne6 24. Qb4 dxe4. Sharp play. After 24. ... Qxc5+ 25. Qxc5 Nxc5 Black has at least equality. 25. Rc1 Ng5 26. Ne3 Bh3 27. Bxh3 Nxh3+ 28. Kg2 Ng5 29. Qc4+ Kg7 30. h4 Nf7 31. Rf4 Ne5 32. Qc2 Nd5 33. Rxe4. Establishing a lasting pin. 33. ... Nxe3+? Correct was 33. ... Nf6, although after 34. Nec4! Nxe4 35. Qxe4 White has excellent compensation for the sacrificed Exchange (35. ... Rae8 36. Nd6). 34. Rxe3 Rf5? The lesser evil would have been 34. ... Rae8 35. Qc3 Qf6 36. Ne4 Ng4 37. Nxf6 Nxe3+ 38. Kh3 Rxf6, though after 39. Qd4! White’s advantage is clear. 35. Nf3. Much stronger was 35. Qc3! Rae8 36. Ne4 with crushing effect. 35. ... Qf6 36. Qc3? 36. Rd1! was the right move, and probably the last chance White had to play for a win. 36. ... Nxf3 37. Qxf6+ Kxf6 38. exf3. Now technique has its say in such an ending, where White’s extra Pawn can hardly be exploited. 38. ... Rd8 39. Rce1 Rd7 40. Re6+ Kf7 41. Rd6 Re7 (41. ... Rd5!) 42. Rc1 Rfe5. Black by a series of pseudo-forced moves could win back her Pawn and come out with excellent drawing prospects: 42. ... Re2+ 43. Kh3 (43. Kf1 Re3=) 43. ... Rxf3 44. Rd7+ Re7 45. Rcd1 Rf5 46. Rc7 Ke8! (46. ... Rxc5?? 47. Re1!+-) 47. Rc8+ Kf7 48. Rdd8 Ke6! (48. ... Rxc5? 49. Rc7 Ke6 50. Rb8) 49. Rc7 Rff7 and Black should hold the game. 43. Rc4 Re1 44. g4 R1e5 45. Kg3 Re1 46. Kf4 R1e5 47. g5 Rf5+ 48. Kg4 Rfe5

49. h5! Kg7 50. hxg6. 50. h6+! Kf7 51. Rf4+ Ke8 52. Rfd4 would be still more effective. 50. ... hxg6 51. Rf4 Kh7. After 51. ... Rxc5 52. Rff6 Black is hopeless. 52. Rdf6 (52. Rfd4 Rxc5 53. Rd7 Re5 54. Rc7+-) 52. ... Kg7 53. Rd6 Kh7 54. Rc4 (54. Rfd4 Rxc5 55. Rd7 Re5 56. Rc7+-) 54. ... Kg7 55. Rd8 Re1 56. f4 Rg1+ 57. Kf3 Rf1+ 58. Kg2 Rfe1 59. Rd3 R1e2+ 60. Kf3 Re1 61. Rcd4 Kf7 62. Rd7 Rf1+ 63. Kg3 Rg1+ 64. Kf2 Re1 65. R3d6. 65. Rxb7! would have won on the spot. 65. ... Kg7 66. Rc7 Re4 67. Kf3 Kf7 68. Rdd7 Ke8 69. Rxe7+ Rxe7 70. Rxe7+ Kxe7 71. Ke4 Ke6 72. a5 Kf7 73. f5 1 : 0. Source: Kurier Szachowy, N. 15, April 2015, Volume 2, page 113.

Rowena Mary Bruce (née Dew) at the Women’s Interzonal (Moscow, 1952). Photo: Keverel Chess.