Once Upon a Time in India

Humpy Koneru – Almira Skripchenko
Women’s Grand Prix Series 2015-2016; Monte Carlo, October 5, 2015
Queen’s Indian Defence E15

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Nbd2 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. a3 Bxd2+ 8. Bxd2 cxd4 9. 0-0 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 Nc6 11. Bf4 0-0 12. Bd6 Re8 13. b4!? Seemingly Humpy has sharpened up her play. White usually continues 13. Bxc6 dxc6 14. Qxd4, e.g. 14. ... e5 15. Bxe5 Qxd4 16. Bxd4 Rxe2 17. Rfe1 Rae8 18. Kf1 Rc2 19. Rxe8+ Nxe8 20. Bc3 Kf8 21. Rd1 Ke7 22. Re1+ Kd7 23. Rd1+ Ke7 24. Re1+ Kd7 25. Re4 c5 26. Rh4 h6 27. Rf4 f6 28. h4 ½ : ½ Mamedyarov – Naiditsch, 5th Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2006. 13. ... e5 14. b5. Certainly not 14. Bd5? Nxd5 15. cxd5 Qf6! with great advantage to Black, Murdzia – Solozhenkin, Lublin 1993. 14. ... Na5!? Almira comes up with a perhaps not quite unjustified Exchange sacrifice, but 14. ... e4! looks much more convincing, e.g. 15. bxc6 dxc6 16. Qxd4 exf3 17. exf3 c5 with satisfactory play for Black. 15. Bxa8 Qxa8 16. Rc1 Nb7 17. Bb4 d6 18. e3 dxe3 19. fxe3 Re6. Black is still aiming to counterattack on the Kingside. Koneru’s next move will dispel any illusion. 20. Qf3 h6 21. Rc2 Qc8 22. Rd1 Nc5? This is a grave error. After 22. ... e4 23. Qf5 Qc7 24. a4 Re5 25. Qf4 White stands better, but the game is not yet over. 23. Qc6! Qb8. Not 23. ... Qxc6? 24. bxc6 Ne8 because of 25. Bxc5 bxc5 26. Rb2 with overwhelming effect. 24. Bxc5 dxc5

25. Rcd2! The last part of the game is conducted by Humpy in her usual elegant style. 25. ... Re8. If 25. ... Rxc6 then 26. Rd8+ Kh7 27. Rxb8 Rc7 28. h3 and White should win in the long run. 26. Rd6 e4 27. Rxf6! The right move at the right time: White cashes in by giving back the Exchange. 27. ... gxf6 28. Qxf6 Qc8. Alternatively, 28. ... Qe5 29. Qxe5 Rxe5 30. Rd7 Rf5 31. Rxa7 Rf3 32. Ra6 Rxe3 33. Rxb6 Rxa3 34. Rc6 gives White the decisive advantage of two united passed Pawns. 29. Qxh6 Qg4. The last mistake, but Black has no good move. 30. Rd5 1 : 0.

Humpy Koneru
Photo: Qatar Masters Open (@Qatar_Masters)