Lightning Never Strikes Twice

Mariya Muzychuk – Yago de Moura Santiago
14th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival; Catalan Bay, January 31, 2016
Nimzo-Indian Defence E50

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Bd3 0-0 6. Nf3 b6 7. 0-0 Bb7 8. Qe2 d5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Rd1. The historical background is 10. a3 Bxc3 11. bxc3 Re8 12. Bb2 Nc6 13. Nd2 c4 14. Bc2 b5 15. f3 a5 16. e4 b4 17. e5 b3 18. Bb1 a4 19. f4 Nd7 20. Qh5 g6 21. Qg4 Bc8 22. Qf3 Qa5 23. Nxc4 dxc4 24. Qxc6 Ra7 25. Qf3 f5 26. g4 Nb6 27. h3 Qd5 28. Qg3 Rg7 29. Kh2 Bb7 30. Rg1 Ree7 31. Qf2 Ref7 32. Qe3 Qe6 33. Qe2 Bd5 34. Bc1 Kh8 35. Bd2 Rf8 36. gxf5 gxf5 37. Rxg7 Kxg7 38. Be1 Rg8 39. Bh4 Kf8 40. Bg3 Qg6 41. Qf2 h5 42. h4 Qg4 43. Qe3 Ke7 44. e6 Rg6 45. Qf2 Qd1 46. Be4 Qxa1 47. Bxd5 Nxd5 48. Qf3 Qxc3 0 : 1 Polugaevsky – E. Geller, 26th USSR Chess Championship, Tbilisi 1959. 10. ... Qe7 11. Bd2 Ne4 12. Be1 Nd7 13. Rac1 c4 14. Bb1 f5 15. b3 Ba3 16. Rc2 Nxc3 17. Bxc3 b5 18. bxc4 dxc4 19. d5 Bd6 20. Rb2 a6 21. Nd4 g6 22. Ne6

22. ... Nb6! An inspired Exchange sacrifice. 23. e4. Accepting the gift with 23. Nxf8 would have been dangerous, as after 23. ... Na4 Black’s initiative more than compensates. 23. ... Na4 24. Rc2 Rf7. The consistent sacrificial offering by 24. ... fxe4 25. Nxf8 Rxf8 26. Ba1 Rf5 appears more to the point. 25. Ba1 fxe4 26. Qxe4 Rf5 27. Re2 c3? It looks untimely. Perhaps Brazilian International Master Santiago should have entered the stage by 27. ... Rh5 28. g4 (or 28. f4 c3) 28. ... Rh3 with more unclear consequences. 28. Qg4 Rf6. Not 28. ... Rxd5? 29. Rxd5 Bxd5 on account of 30. Bxg6! hxg6 31. Qxg6+ Kh8 32. g3 and White’s attack soon becomes irresistible. 29. Bc2 Rc8 30. Rd4. It appears far simpler 30. Ng5 Qf8 31. Bxa4 bxa4 32. Ne4 with a huge advantage for White. 30. ... Nb2 31. h4. Now 31. Ng5 can be answered by 31. ... h5. 31. ... Re8 32. Bb3? Here 32. h5! Bxd5 33. Nf4 was the most promising way of capitalizing on her own initiative, even though it looks easier than it is. 32. ... Rf5 33. Bxb2 cxb2 34. Rxb2 Qf6 35. Rc2 Qe5. 35. ... a5! (Δ ... a5-a4) was strong as well. 36. Rd1 Qh2+ 37. Kf1 Kh8 38. Rc3 Qe5? Black possibly misses his last chance: 38. ... Rf4! 39. Qxf4 (39. Nxf4?? Qh1 mate) 39. ... Bxf4 40. Rh3 Qxh3 41. gxh3 Bd6 with much more reliable compensation for the Pawn. 39. Qd4. Now White consolidates her material advantage and slowly but surely she’ll convert it into a win. 39. ... Qxd4 40. Nxd4 Rf6 41. g3 b4 42. Rf3 Rxf3 43. Nxf3 Rf8 44. Kg2 a5 45. Ng5 h6 46. Ne4 Rd8 47. f3 Bf8 48. g4 a4 49. Bxa4 Rxd5 50. Rc1 Rd4 51. Bc6 Ba6 52. Be8 Bb7 53. Bxg6 Bxe4 54. Bxe4 Rd2+ 55. Kg3 Bd6+ 56. f4 Rxa2 57. g5 hxg5 58. hxg5 b3 59. Rh1+ Kg8 60. Rd1 Bb4 61. Rd8+ Kf7 62. Rb8 Bd6 63. Bd5+ Ke7 64. Rb7+ 1 : 0. Not an easy game, and not a short one.

Mariya Muzychuk
Photo: Sophie Tray