Stand in the Storm

Anna Muzychuk – Elena Sedina
11th Women’s European Team Chess Championship; Reykjavík, November 16, 2015
French Defence C11

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nbd7 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bxf6 Nxf6 8. Bd3 c5 9. Nxf6+ gxf6 10. Qe2 Bd7. For 10. ... Qa5+ 11. c3 cxd4 12. Bb5+ Bd7 13. Bxd7+ Kxd7 14. 0-0-0 Rd8 see Alvir – Neubauer, 43rd Austrian Chess Championship, Frohnleiten 2000. 11. d5 Qa5+ 12. c3 0-0-0 13. dxe6 fxe6 14. Bc4 e5 15. 0-0-0 h5 16. Qe4 Qa4. So far nothing bad has happened, but Elena already got into time pressure. 17. Kb1 Be7 18. b3 Qa5? A safer looking try is 18. ... Qc6, although after 19. Bd5 Qc7 20. Nh4 White still appears to stand somewhat better.

19. Rxd7! A brilliant touch! By a pseudo-sacrifice of the Exchange Miss Anna Muzychuk forces liquidation into a won ending. 19. ... Rxd7. Clearly not 19. ... Kxd7 on account of 20. Qxb7+ Ke8 21. Qc6+ Kf8 22. Qe6 Ke8 23. Qf7+ Kd7 24. Be6+ Kd6 25. Rd1+ and White wins. 20. Be6 Rd8 21. Rd1 Qb6 22. Qf5 Qc6 23. Kc2 Kc7 24. Rxd7+ Rxd7 25. Bxd7 Qxd7 26. Qxh5. Hoc erat in votis. 26. ... c4 27. Qh7 cxb3+ 28. axb3 Bc5 29. Qg6 Qc6 30. Nd2 Bxf2 31. Ne4 Be1 32. Qf7+ Kc8 33. Qf8+ Kc7 34. Qe7+ Kb6 35. Qd8+ Ka6 36. Qxf6 Qxf6 37. Nxf6 Kb5 38. g3 Bf2 39. Ng4 Bg1 40. h4 e4 41. h5 Bc5 42. Nf6 e3 43. Kd3 Kc6 44. g4 a5 45. c4 b5 46. cxb5+ Kxb5 47. g5 Kb4 48. h6 Bf8 49. Nd7 1 : 0.