Song of the Earth

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk – Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
11th Women’s European Team Chess Championship; Reykjavík, November 19, 2015
Torre Attack A45

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. e4 h6 4. Bxf6 Qxf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qd3 b6 8. 0-0-0 Bb7 9. f4 Bxc3 10. Qxc3 c5 11. dxc5 Qxc5 12. Qxc5 bxc5 13. Ne2 Ke7 14. Nc3 g5

15. f5! A very powerful positional Pawn sacrifice through which White quickly increases her lead in development. 15. ... exf5 16. Nd5+ Kd8 17. Nf6 Kc8 18. h4 g4 19. Rd2! Nc6 20. Nxd7. Mariya renounces the most direct 20. Rd5, and contents herself with a smaller but very long-lasting advantage. 20. ... Rd8 21. Nxc5 Rxd2 22. Kxd2 Nxe5 23. Ke3 Bc6 24. Kf4 f6 25. Kxf5 Kc7 26. b4 Bd5 27. Rg1 Bxa2 28. Kxf6 Nc6 29. c3 Rf8+ 30. Kg7 Rg8+ 31. Kh7 Ne5 32. Bd3 Rd8 33. Bf5 Rd2 34. Re1 Nc6 35. Re8 h5. Not 35. ... Rxg2? on account of 36. Rc8+ Kd6 37. Be4 winning easily. 36. Kh6 Rd6+ 37. Kg5 Rd5 38. Kf4 Rd8 39. Rxd8 Nxd8 40. Bg6 Bd5 41. g3 Kb6 42. Bxh5 a5 43. Bxg4 Kb5 44. Be2+ Bc4 45. Bxc4+ Kxc4 46. h5 Kd5 1 : 0.

Muzychuk vs. Kosteniuk. Photo: Hrafn Jökulsson.