Clash of Clans

王玥 (Wáng Yuè) – 卜祥志 (Bǔ Xiángzhì)
1st China Chess Kings; match game 2; 台州 (Tāizhōu), November 25, 2015
Queen’s Gambit Declined D44

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Be7 11. exf6 Bxf6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. g3 Na6 14. a4. The alternative was 14. Bg2 Bb7 15. Nxb5 0-0-0 16. Qa4 cxb5 17. Bxb7+ Kxb7 18. Qxb5+ Ka8 19. Qc6+ Kb8 20. Qb5+ Ka8 21. Qc6+ Kb8 22. Qb5+ Ka8 ½ : ½ Svidler – 卢尚磊 (Lú Shànglěi), China – Russia Match, 宁波 (Níngbō) 2015. 14. ... Nb4! More enterprising than 14. ... Bb7 15. Bg2 b4 16. Ne4 Qe7 17. Qe2 0-0-0 18. Qxc4 e5 19. dxe5 Qxe5 20. 0-0 Rd4 21. Qc2 c5 22. Rfe1 Kb8 23. h4 Qd5 24. Bf3 Qf5 25. Re3 Rhd8 26. Rae1 c4 27. Qc1 Nc5 ½ : ½ Ribli – Fahnenschmidt, Schachbundesliga 1985/1986, West Germany 1986. 15. axb5 cxb5 16. Nxb5 Kf8! 17. Qd2? A safer looking try is 17. Bxc4 Bb7 18. f3, e.g. 18. ... Bxf3 19. 0-0 Qh6 20. Rxf3 Qxh2+ 21. Kf1 Qxb2 22. Kg1 Qh2+ 23. Kf1 Qb2 drawing by repetition. 17. ... a5 18. Bxc4. If 18. Rxa5 then 18. ... Nc2+ 19. Kd1 Rxa5 20. Qxa5 Bb7! gives Black a very powerful initiative. 18. ... Bb7 19. f3. It is not pleasant, but 19. 0-0?? tragically runs into 19. ... Rxh2! 20. Kxh2 Qh8+ and mate in two moves. 19. ... Rc8! Despite being two Pawns down, Black has has an overwhelming position. 20. Qc3

20. ... Rxc4! 21. Qxc4 Qxf3 22. Kd2 Rh5! 23. Rhe1 Rxh2+ 24. Re2 Bd5 25. Qc8+ Kg7 26. Rxh2 Qd3+ 27. Ke1. Else 27. Kc1 Qe3+ 28. Rd2 Bb3 leads to mate in short order. 27. ... Qxg3+ 28. Rf2 Nd3+ 29. Ke2 Nxf2 30. Qc3 Qg2 31. Ke1 Ne4 0 : 1.

卜祥志 (Bǔ Xiángzhì)
Photo: qipai.org.cn