The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter

Mariya Muzychuk – Wolfgang Uhlmann
6th Snowdrops vs Oldhands; Poděbrady, December 2, 2013
Trompowsky Attack A45

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. e4 h6 4. Bxf6 Qxf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Qd2 g6 7. 0-0-0 Bg7 8. f4 0-0. No better is 8. ... a6 9. g4 Nd7 10. Nf3 b5 11. e5 Qe7 12. f5 and White enjoys a powerful initiative, Mamedyarov – Anastasian, 3th European Individual Championship, Batumi 2002. 9. Nf3 Qe7 10. h4 h5 11. e5 b6 12. Ne4 Bb7 13. Bd3 Nc6

14. g4!! This amazing move has not been taken into account by Uhlmann! 14. ... hxg4 15. Nfg5 Nxd4 16. h5! Mariya is showing her exceptional talent as a fanciful attacking player. 16. ... dxe5 17. hxg6 f5. Now 17. ... f6 is probably best, but after 18. Qh2 Rfd8 19. Nf7 Black can hardly hope to survive. 18. Qh2! Rfe8 19. fxe5? A surprise move... surprisingly bad! After 19. Qh7+ Kf8 20. Ng3!! White seems to win in all variations, e.g. 20. ... Bxh1 21. Nh5! exf4 22. Nf7! with an overwhelming attack. 19. ... fxe4 20. Nxe4 Bxe4 21. Bxe4 Qg5+ 22. Kb1 Rad8? German veteran misses the big chance! After 22. ... Qxe5 23. Qh7+ Kf8 White has nothing else to do but hope for a miracle. 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. Rdf1+ Nf5 25. Bxf5 exf5 26. Rh5. Now it is all over. 26. ... Rd1+. Well, it’s just a delay. 27. Rxd1 Qf4 28. c3 Qe4+ 29. Ka1 Qxe5 30. a3 g3 31. Rf1 1 : 0.

Mariya Muzychuk
Photo: Anežka Kružíková