Jackhammer

Jon Ludvig Nilssen Hammer – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
Altibox Norway Chess Qualifier; Fagernes, March 25, 2016
Modern Benoni A77

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5. Black’s Modern Benoni came not as a surprise to Hammer. 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Nd2 Bg7 8. e4 0-0 9. Be2 Re8 10. 0-0 Nbd7 11. h3 a6 12. a4 Rb8 13. a5 b5 14. axb6 Nxb6 15. Bd3. “Hammer is play[ing] faster than ever today against Hóu at the Altibox Norway Chess Qualifier so her choice of the Benoni seems to be no surprise”, Grandmaster Jonathan David Tisdall said. 15. ... g5 16. f4 gxf4. Here 16. ... g4!? 17. f5!? c4!? is a critical line, possibly offering more chances for counter-play. 17. Rxf4. Hammer said that he analysed this position with computer during his preparation. “Computer prefers White after 17. Rxf4”, he told Tarjei J. Svensen. “But for a human being it’s all very unclear, because Black has some strong points, particularly the e5-square and the long diagonal h8-a1. So I felt it wasn’t clear at all”. 17. ... Nbd7? It appears that 17. ... Nfd7(!) would have allowed Black to reculer pour mieux sauter in a more harmonious and comfortable position. 18. Nc4 Ne5 19. Nxe5 Rxe5 20. Rf3 Nd7 21. Rg3 Nf8 22. Bxa6 Ng6 23. Bxc8 Qxc8 24. Ra7 Rb7 25. Rxb7 Qxb7 26. Rf3. White is up a Pawn and has plenty of play on the light squares – it’s enough to draw the conclusion that Black is in trouble. 26. ... Re8 27. Rf1 Ne5 28. Qh5 Ng6 29. Qf5 Re5 30. Qf3 h6. Don’t trust your chess engine: Black simply lacks good moves. 31. Ne2! Intending Ne2-g3-f5. Black cannot do anything about it. 31. ... Qd7 32. Ng3 Nh4 33. Qd3 Qb7 34. Qe2 Qd7 35. Bf4 Re8 36. Qh5 Ng6 37. Bxh6 Bxb2 38. Bg5. White is ready to launch the decisive assault by Ng3-f5-h6+-g4. 38. ... Bd4+ 39. Kh1 Qb5

40. Rxf7! Hammer concludes brilliantly with a classic Rook sacrifice. 40. ... Kxf7 41. Qh7+ Bg7. Or 41. ... Kf8 42. Bh6+ and mate next move. 42. Nf5 Qf1+ 43. Kh2 1 : 0. “Hammer time”, Tisdall said.

Hammer vs. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). Photo: Tarjei J. Svensen.