Tortilla Flat

Kjetil Aleksander Lie – Mariya Muzychuk
72nd Corus Chess Grandmasters Group C; Wijk aan Zee, January 31, 2010
English Opening A25

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 f5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. d3 g6 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. 0-0 0-0 8. Rb1 d6 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. b4 Ne7 12. Nd2 c6 13. b5 e4 14. Rc1 d5 15. cxd5 cxd5 16. Nb3 Be6 17. e3 g5 18. f4 gxf4 19. gxf4 Qf7 20. Ne2 Ng6. Both parties carried out their own plans and, although Black’s position looks a little more dynamic, the situation is more or less balanced. 21. Nc5 Nh4 22. Ng3 exd3 23. Qxd3 Nxg2 24. Kxg2 d4. If nothing else, Mariya shows a fighting spirit. 25. Nxe6 Qxe6 26. exd4 Qxa2+ 27. Kh3 Rad8 28. Rc4. Obviously not 28. Nxf5?? on account of 28. ... Qe6 winning a piece. Also after the immediate 28. Rc7 Rf7 29. Rxf7 Qxf7 30. Qxf5 (or 30. Nxf5 Rd5! winning back the Pawn) 30. ... Rxd4 31. Qxf7+ Kxf7 Black equalizes with ease. 28. ... Qb2 29. Rc7 Rxd4 30. Qe3 Rd2 31. Rh1 Qd4 32. Qe6+. Or 32. Qxd4 Bxd4 33. Rxb7 Rf2 34. Rc1 Rxf4 35. Rc6 Rf7! with equality. 32. ... Kh8

33. Rxb7?? Quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus. Correct was 33. Qg6!, e.g. 33. ... Rg8 34. Qxf5 Qf2 35. Rxg7! Rxg7 36. Qf8+ Kh7 37. Qf5+ with perpetual check. 33. ... Qf2. A deadly blow, threatening 34. ... Qg2+ 35. Kh4 Qxh2+ 36. Rxh2 Rxh2 mate. 34. Qc6 Rf6. Not 34. .. Qxf4?? 35. Rxg7! dramatically turning tables. 35. Rb8+ Kh7 36. Qa8 Qxf4. Threat: ... Qf4-g4 mate. 37. Rh8+ Bxh8 38. Qxa7+ Kg6 0 : 1.

Kjetil Aleksander Lie vs. Mariya Muzychuk
Photo: Giorgio Gozzi