Frost and Fire

Gataulla Rustemovich Kamsky – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
14th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival; Catalan Bay, February 3, 2016
Queen’s Pawn Game D00

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4. Today it’s not just a kid’s game for Queen Mary. Her opponent, in fact, is Gataulla Rustemovich Kamsky, that’s like saying you travel back into chess history. 2. ... Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 e6 6. c3 Bd6 7. Bg3 0-0 8. Bd3 b6 9. e4 Be7 10. e5 Nh5 11. 0-0 Bd7 12. Re1 Nxg3. For 12. ... Rc8 13. a3 Nxg3 14. hxg3 f5 15. dxc5 bxc5 16. b4 g5 see Kamsky – Nakamura, 59th U.S. Chess Championship, Saint Louis 2015. 13. hxg3 a5 14. a3 a4 15. Nf1 b5! 16. Ne3. 16. Bxb5 is satisfactorily answered by 16. ... Nxe5. 16. ... b4 17. cxb4 cxb4 18. axb4 Nxb4 19. Bb1 Bb5 20. g4 h6 21. g3 g6 22. Kg2 Kg7 23. Rh1 Qb6 24. Ra3 Rh8 25. Rc3 Nc6 26. Bd3 Na5 27. Bxb5 Qxb5 28. Qc2 Nb3 29. g5. Since White is going to be overwhelmed on the Queenside, Gata tries fishing in troubled waters through a Pawn sacrifice. 29. ... Bxg5 30. Ng4 Bd8 31. Nf6 Bb6. Not 31. ... Bxf6? 32. exf6+ Kxf6 33. Rc7 followed by Nf3-e5 with an irresistible attack. 32. Rh4 Ba5 33. Rc6 Na1 34. Qc1 Nb3 35. Qc2 Na1 36. Qc1 Nb3 ½ : ½. Being short of time, Muzychuk contented herself with a draw by repetition, fearing some trick of her opponent on the Kingside. All in all, this is a very well-played game by Women’s World Champion.

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk. Photo: Sophie Tray.

Gataulla Rustemovich Kamsky. Photo: Sophie Tray.