Twilight

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin
78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Wijk aan Zee, January 16, 2016
Réti Opening A07

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Na3 Bg7 5. Nxc4 Nc6 6. Bg2 e5 7. d3 Nge7 8. 0-0 0-0 9. Bd2 Nd5 10. Rc1 Re8 11. h3. For 11. a3 h6 12. b4 a6 13. Qc2 Bg4 14. Na5 Nxa5 15. bxa5 c6 16. Rb1 Rb8 17. Rb3 Nc7 18. a4 Ne6 19. e3 Qd7 20. Rfb1 Nd8 21. Bc3 see Chatalbashev – Pijpers, 9th International Open, Leiden 2015. 11. ... Nd4 12. e3 Nxf3+ 13. Qxf3 c6 14. Na5 Qd6 15. Qe2 Rb8 16. Nc4 Qe7 17. e4 Nb6 18. Be3 Be6 19. b3 Nxc4 20. dxc4 a5 21. c5 f5 22. Kh2 Rf8 23. exf5 gxf5 24. Bd2 Ra8 25. Bc3 Qxc5. This Pawn grab looks a bit risky as after 26. f4 White will promptly regain her own leaving Black with a weak isolated f-Pawn. 26. f4 Qd6 27. Bxe5 Bxe5 28. fxe5 Qe7 29. Rf4. Now White prepares for surrounding and capturing the isolated f5-Pawn. 29. ... Kh8 30. Rcf1 Rg8 31. h4 Rg6. It would seem that Karjakin overestimates his own counter-chances on the Kingside. 32. ... a4 33. bxa4 Ra5 followed by ... Rg8-a8 was worth considering. 32. Bh3 Rag8 33. R1f3 Qg7 34. Qe3 Rh6

35. Qd3. With only two minutes left on the clock, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) prefers to play for safety. Indeed, after 35. Bxf5 Bxf5 36. Rxf5 Rxh4+! 37. Kg2 Qh6! Black should be able to hold his own, but, as “suggested” by all chess engines, 35. Qd4 (defending the e5-Pawn) would have put Black in a tight spot. 35. ... Qxe5 36. Bxf5 Bd5 37. Be4 Rd6 38. Rf2 Bxe4 39. Qxe4 Qxe4 40. Rxe4 Rgd8 ½ : ½.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) vs. Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin
Photo: Tata Steel Chess (Facebook)