Faro Ladies

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk – Dinara Ramazanovna Saduakassova
41st Women’s Chess Olympiad; Tromsø, August 9, 2014
Ponziani Opening C44

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d5 4. Qa4 f6 5. d3 Ne7 6. Be2 Be6 7. 0-0 Ng6 8. Be3. For 8. Rd1 dxe4 9. dxe4 Bd6 10. Na3 see M. Muzychuk – E. Pähtz, Women’s World Rapid Championship, Khanty-Mansiysk 2014. 8. ... Be7 9. Nbd2 0-0 10. d4 Qd7 11. dxe5 fxe5 12. exd5 Bxd5 13. Bc4 Kh8 14. Rad1 Bxc4 15. Nxc4 Qg4 16. h3 Qe6 17. Ncd2 Nf4 18. Qb3

18. ... Nxh3+!? Alea iacta est! Faced with an unpleasant ending, Dinara Ramazanovna boldly sacrifices her Knight for two Pawns and a volatile initiative. 19. gxh3 Qxh3 20. Qxb7? Mariya loses her nerve. After the cool 20. Nh2! White neutralizes all her opponent’s threats; for instance, if 20. ... Bc5! (20. ... Rf6 21. Kh1 leads nowhere for Black) might follow 21. Bxc5 Rf6 22. Qd5! Rh6 23. Ndf3 Rg6+ 24. Ng5 Rxg5+ 25. Kh1 Rh5 26. Qg2 and White succeeds in consolidating. 20. ... e4! A very pretty coup. Suddenly Black’s attack becomes very dangerous. 21. Qxc7. Despite its sharp appearance, it would have been better to play 21. Qxc6 Qg4+ 22. Kh1 exf3 23. Nxf3 Rxf3 24. Qxa8+ Bf8 25. Qxf3 Qxf3+ 26. Kg1 Qg4+ 27. Kh2 Bd6+ 28. Rxd6 Qh5+ 29. Kg2 cxd6 30. Bxa7 Qg6+ 31. Kh2 Qh6+ 32. Kg2 Qd2 with a very unclear position. 21. ... exf3 22. Qg3 Qf5 23. b4 Rf6 24. Qxf3 Qxf3? Saduakassova misses 24. ... Qe6! 25. Qe4 (24. Bf4 Qf7 is no better) 25. ... Rg6+ 26. Kh2 Bd6+ 27. f4 Qg4 with an overwhelming attack for Black. 25. Nxf3 Rxf3 26. Rd7 Bf6? 26. ... a6 27. a4 Rb8 would have offered Black better chances of winning the game. 27. b5 Na5 28. Bxa7 Rxc3 29. b6 Ra3 30. Rb1 h6 31. b7 Nxb7 32. Rbxb7 Rxa2 33. Bd4 Bxd4. The ending is virtually drawn. 34. Rxd4 R8a7 35. Rdd7 Rxb7 36. Rxb7 Kh7 37. Kg2 Kg6 38. Rb6+ Kh5 39. Kg3 Ra5 40. f3 Kg5 41. Rb7 g6 42. Rb4 h5 43. Rc4 Kf5 44. Rf4+ Ke6 45. Re4+ Re5 46. Ra4 Rb5 47. Re4+ Kf6 48. Rf4+ Rf5 49. Ra4 Kg5 50. Ra8 h4+ 51. Kg2 Rf4 52. Rh8 Ra4 53. Kh3 Rb4 54. Rf8 Ra4 55. Rf7 Rb4 ½ : ½.

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk. Photo: David Llada.