Vivere est cogitare

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina – Humpy Koneru
Women’s Grand Prix Series 2015-2016; Tehran, February 18, 2016
Catalan Opening E04

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bd7 6. Ne5 Bc6 7. Nxc6 Nxc6 8. 0-0 Qd7 9. e3 0-0-0 10. Nd2 h5 11. Nxc4 Nd5 12. a3. For 12. e4 Nb6 13. Nxb6+ axb6 14. d5 see Cernousek – Matsenko, Pankrác Cup 2014, Prague 2014. 12. ... h4 13. b4 f6 14. b5 Nce7 15. a4 hxg3 16. hxg3 g5

17. Bd2. White achieved an almost decisive superiority and her attack is particularly easy to implement. 17. ... Kb8 18. Qe2 Qe8 19. e4 Nb6 20. Nxb6 cxb6 21. Rfc1 Nc8 22. e5 Bg7 23. a5 fxe5 24. dxe5. Stronger and faster is 24. Qc4! Qf7 25. axb6 Nxb6 26. Qa2 with a mating attack. 24. ... Qh5 25. Qc4 Bxe5 26. Bc3 Bxc3 27. Qxc3 Qh2+ 28. Kf1 Qh7 29. Qe5+ Nd6. Not 29. ... Ka8? 30. axb6 Nxb6 31. Rxa7+! Kxa7 32. Ra1+ winning easily. 30. axb6 axb6 31. Ra3 Qh1+ 32. Bxh1 Rxh1+ 33. Kg2 Rxc1 34. Qxg5 Rdc8 35. Qe5 Rd1 36. Qxe6 Nxb5 37. Rb3. Natalia Andreevna misses 37. Ra8+!, but there is not very much difference in substance. 37. ... Nd6 38. Rxb6 Nc4 39. Rb4 Rd4 40. Qe7 Rc7 41. Qf8+ Rc8 42. Rxb7+ 1 : 0.

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina (R.) vs. Humpy Koneru (L.)
Photo: Alina l’Ami