The Fatal Eggs

Mariya Muzychuk – Iossif Davidovich Dorfman
6th Snowdrops vs Oldhands; Poděbrady, December 6, 2013
Sicilian Defence B90

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 7. Nde2 h5 8. Bg5 Be6 9. f4 Nbd7 10. f5 Bc4 11. Ng3 Rc8 12. Qf3 Qa5 13. Bxc4. Less committal is 13. Bd2 ½ : ½ D. Popović – A. Brkić, 11th Croatian Team Chess Championship, Bol 2013. 13. ... Rxc4 14. 0-0-0 b5 15. Kb1 Rxc3 16. bxc3 Nb6 17. Bxf6 gxf6

18. Nxh5? This is a terrible blunder! The h-Pawn has been impregnated with a deadly poison. 18. ... Rxh5! Deep and very original game by Dorfman, involving the sacrifice of the Exchange twice! 19. Rd3. Not 19. Qxh5?? on account of 19. ... Qa3 with the deadly threat of ... Nb6-c4 followed by ... Qa3-b2 mate. 19. ... Nc4 20. Ka1 Rh4. Of course 20. ... Qa3 21. Rb1 Rh8 is also good. 21. Qf2 Rh8 22. Qa7. With Bishop and Knight against Rook and Pawn Dorfman goes on to win without much difficulty. 22. ... Be7 23. Rb1 Rg8 24. g4 Bd8 25. Rb4 Kf8 26. Qb7 Bb6 27. Rb3 Bc5 28. Rd5 Qb6 29. Qxb6 Nxb6 30. Rd3 Kg7 31. Rb1 Rh8 32. Rh1 Rh4 33. Kb2 Kh6 34. Kc1 Nc4 35. Rf3 Kg5 36. Kd1 d5 37. Re1. Or 37. exd5 e4 and wins. 37. ... dxe4 38. Rxe4 Nd6 39. Re2 e4 40. Rg3 Kf4 41. Reg2 Bf2! 42. Rd3 exd3 43. Rxf2+ Ke5 0 : 1.

Mariya Muzychuk
Photo: Anežka Kružíková