War and Peace

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina – Pia Cramling
Women’s Grand Prix Series 2015-2016; Tehran, February 12, 2016
Sicilian Defence B83

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 Nf6 7. 0-0 Be7 8. Kh1 Bd7 9. Nb3 0-0 10. f4 a5 11. a4 Nb4 12. Bf3 e5 13. Be3 Qc7 14. Rf2 Rfc8 15. Rd2 b6 16. Qe2 Qb7 17. f5. Pogonina’s (new?) move is not a great idea. For 17. Rad1 Bc6 18. fxe5 dxe5 19. Bg5 h6 20. Bh4 Ne8 21. Bxe7 Qxe7 22. Qe3 Rab8 see Paoli – Plachetka, Odessa 1976. 17. ... Bc6 18. Bg5 Ne8 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. Rad1 Rd8 21. Nc1 Nf6 22. Nd3 Na6 23. Nf2 Nc5 24. b3 Rab8 25. Kg1 Qc7 26. h3 Rd7 27. Ng4 Qd8 28. Qe3 Nxg4 29. Bxg4 Qf6 30. Be2 Rbd8. 30. ... Bb7 31. Bb5 Rdd8 32. g4 h6 seems a bit better. 31. Bb5 Bxb5 32. axb5 Qh4

33. g3! Qh5. On 33. ... Qxh3?? 34. Rh2 Qg4 35. Rh4 traps Her Majesty. 34. Kg2 f6 35. Nd5 Rb7 36. Qf3. Even stronger looks 36. Nxb6! Nxe4 (not 36. ... Rxb6?? 37. Qxc5! and wins) 37. g4! Qe8 38. Qxe4 Rxb6 39. c4 with an imposing position. 36. ... Qe8 37. Qe2 Rc8 38. g4 Kh8 39. h4 h6 40. Rh1 Kg8 41. Rh3 Ra8 42. Rd1 Qd8 43. Rg3 Nd7 44. g5. Finally! 44. ... Kh7 45. gxh6 Kxh6 46. Rg6+ Kh7 47. Qh5+ Kg8 48. Rd3. Or 48. Rxg7+! Kxg7 49. Qg6+ Kf8 50. Kf3 followed by Rd1-g1 soon mating. 48. ... Nf8 49. Rdg3 1 : 0.

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina vs. Pia Cramling
Photo: Alina l’Ami