Monday, August 10, 2015

Numbered Days

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Ekaterina Valentinovna Kovalevskaya
65th Russian Women’s Chess Championship; Chita, August 10, 2015
Sicilian Defence B51

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. 0-0 Bd7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. h3 e5 7. c3 Be7 8. d4 0-0 9. d5 Nb8 10. Bd3 b5? An aggressive-looking move, but indeed it is very weakening. 11. a4! From now on, 16-year-old Aleksandra Yuryevna plays with great energy. 11. ... bxa4 12. Nbd2 Ne8 13. Nc4 Kh8 14. Bc2 f5 15. exf5 Bxf5 16. Bxa4 e4 17. Nfd2 Nf6 18. Nf1 Bg6 19. Ng3 Na6? Half an Exchange sac, half a gross oversight. 20. Bc6 Nc7


21. Ne3! Of course White can even afford to take the Exchange, but the text is infinitely stronger. The Knight heads for f5. 21. ... Rc8 22. Rxa7 Rf7 23. Nef5 Bxf5 24. Nxf5 Bf8 25. Ng3 Re7 26. Ra4 Re5 27. Bf4 Rxd5 28. Bxd5 Ncxd5 29. Bg5 e3 30. Bxe3 Qd7 31. Qa1 Nb6 32. Ra7 Qb5 33. Rb7 Nfd5 34. Bc1 Qd3 35. Qa7 1 : 0.

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