Child King

韦奕 (Wéi Yì) – 赵骏 (Zhào Jùn)
1st China Chess Kings; match game 2; 台州 (Tāizhōu), November 25, 2015
Spanish C65

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. c3 0-0 7. Re1 Bd7 8. Nbd2 h6 9. Nf1 Re8 10. Ng3 Bf8 11. h3 Ne7 12. Bxd7 Qxd7 13. d4 Ng6 14. Qc2 Nh7. The alternative was 14. ... c6 15. Be3 b5 16. a4 a6 17. b3 Qb7 18. Rad1 Rab8 19. Rb1 Ra8 20. Rbd1 Rab8 21. Rb1 Ra8 22. Rbd1 Rab8 23. Rb1 ½ : ½ C. Balogh – Aleksandrov, 13rd International Open, Dubai 2011. 15. Be3 Be7 16. Nf5 Bf6 17. Rad1 Qe6 18. d5! Playing for a space advantage in the centre, as well on the Queenside. 18. ... Qd7 19. c4 Ne7 20. Ng3 Bg5 21. c5! b6 22. Nxg5 hxg5 23. cxd6 cxd6 24. Rc1 Rac8 25. Qd2 g4 26. h4 Rxc1 27. Rxc1 Rc8 28. Rxc8+ Qxc8 29. Qb4. Black has too many weaknesses for living peacefully with them. 29. ... Qd7 30. h5 f5. 赵骏 (Zhào Jùn) offers a temporary Pawn sacrifice hoping for a breath of fresh air. 31. exf5 Nf6 32. Bg5 Nxf5. 32. ... Nexd5 33. Qd2 followed by h5-h6 would also be unpleasant for Black. 33. Nxf5 Qxf5 34. Bxf6 g3!? The only chance. Both 34. ... gxf6 35. Qxd6 and 34. ... Qxf6 35. Qxg4 lead to untenable positions. 35. fxg3 Qxf6 Black is a Pawn down and can only hope for the Queen ending.

36. Qh4! Of course 韦奕 (Wéi Yì) is not willing to cooperate. 36. ... Qxh4? A terrible mistake! After the exchange of Queens White’s task is quite easy. Black should have played 36. ... Qh6 since after 37. Kh2 or 37. Qg4 a “mathematical” win is not yet in sight for White. 37. gxh4 Kf7 38. Kf2 Kf6 39. g4 Kf7 40. Kf3 Ke7 41. Ke4 Kf6 42. g5+ Ke7 43. Kf5 Kf7 44. g6+ Kf8 45. Kg5 Kg8 46. b3 1 : 0. A very elegant finish. When all moves are exhausted, Black will be forced to move the King to f8 or h8, after which White wins inexorably by h5-h6.

韦奕 (Wéi Yì)
Photo: sinochess (@sinachess)