Desert Island

Anna Muzychuk – Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
Women’s Grand Prix; third stage; Batumi, April 25, 2016
Sicilian Defence B66

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. 0-0-0 h6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Bf4 d5 11. Qe3 Bb4 12. Be2 0-0 13. e5 Nh7 14. Ne4 f5. Kosteniuk varies from 14. ... Qh4 15. a3 Ba5 16. Nd6 Bb6 17. Qxb6 Qxf4+ 18. Qe3 Qxe3+ 19. fxe3 a5 as occurred against the same opponent two years before, A. Muzychuk – Kosteniuk, 30th European Women’s Club Cup, Bilbao 2014. 15. exf6. It is very likely a step into unknown territory. For 15. Nd6 Ng5 16. a3 Bxd6 17. exd6 Ne4 see Dobrowolski – Shishkin, 26th Józef Kochan Memorial, Koszalin 2015. 15. ... Nxf6 16. Nxf6+ Qxf6 17. Be5 Bc5 18. Qc3 Qxf2 19. Bd3 Bd7 20. Rhf1. Anna launches herself into a one-way attack which implies the sacrifice of a second Pawn. 20. ... Be3+ 21. Kb1 Qxg2 22. Qb4 c5. Kosteniuk knows very well the variation as Black, and it’s not easy to take her by surprise. 23. Qb7 Bb5

24. Rf7. Very Lasker-like gamble. Objectively speaking, it’s not satisfactory, but the priority line listed by most chess engines, viz. 24. Rfe1 Bf2 25. Rd2 eventually followed by Be5-g3, doesn’t look so appealing, too. 24. ... Rxf7 25. Qxa8+ Rf8 26. Bh7+ Kxh7 27. Qxf8. That’s the position she was aiming for. However, we much prefer Black, who has two Pawns for the Exchange, two powerful Bishops and plenty of initiative. 27. ... Qg4! 28. Rh1. Not 28. Re1?? Bd2 29. Rh1 Qg2 and the Rook is lost. 28. ... Qg2. Kosteniuk contents herself with a draw by repetition. Apparently, 28. ... d4 29. Qe7 d3! seemed to offer her excellent prospects for a dynamic advantage. 29. Rd1 Qg4 30. Rh1 Qg2 ½ : ½.

Here are the participants in the Women’s Grand Prix enjoying their free day. It happened yesterday in Batumi, Georgia. All photo by Anastasiya Valeryevna Karlovich.