Run to Earth

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě)
Women’s Grand Prix; third stage; Batumi, April 28, 2016
Giuoco Piano C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 Bb6 6. a4 d6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 a6 9. Nbd2 Be6 10. b4 Ne7!? Another try is 10. ... 0-0 11. 0-0 Qe7 12. Re1 Ba7 13. a5 Nb8 14. d4 Nbd7 15. h3 c6 16. Qb3 Rfe8 17. Rad1 g5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Nxe5 dxe5 20. Bg3 Rad8 21. Bxe6 Qxe6 22. Qxe6 Rxe6 23. Nc4 Rxd1 24. Rxd1 Nxe4 25. Rd8+ Kh7 26. Rd7 Nxg3 27. Rxf7+ Kg6 28. Rxb7 Bxf2+ 29. Kxf2 Ne4+ 30. Ke1 Nxc3 31. Rb6 Nd5 32. Rxa6 Kf5 33. Ra8 Nxb4 34. a6 Re7 35. a7 Ke6 36. Na5 c5 37. Nb7 Nc6 38. Nxc5+ Kd5 39. Rd8+ Nxd8 40. a8=Q+ Nc6 41. Nb7 e4 42. Qa6 1 : 0 韦奕 (Wéi Yì) – 周唯奇 (Zhōu Wéiqí), Chinese Team Chess Championship (Division A), 江门 (Jiāngmén) 2014. 11. Qb3 Qd7 12. d4 exd4 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Nxd4 Bxd4 15. cxd4 d5 16. exd5 Bxd5 17. 0-0 Rg8 18. g3 0-0-0. 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) aims for a sharp game with opposite castling. 19. b5 a5

20. Rac1. The choice between this and the most direct 20. b6! was not easy. 20. ... b6 21. Rfe1 Qh3 22. Bxd5 Nxd5 23. Nc4 Qg4 24. Qc2 Qd7 25. Ne3 Rge8 26. Qc6 Qxc6 27. Rxc6. Europe Échecs’ editor-in-chief Grandmaster Bachar Kouatly writes: “The game is equal and would have remained thus if 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) had played 27. ... Nxe3 28. Rxe3 Re6!. Instead, due to serious Zeitnot, she blundered with:” 27. ... Nb4? Kouatly: “which eventually costed her a Pawn after:” 28. Rxf6 Rxd4 29. Rxf7 Nd3 30. Rd1! Kouatly: “Anna Muzychuk then transposed into an absolutely won Knight ending with an extra Pawn, ending up with two connected passed Pawns on the Kingside”. 30. ... Ne5 31. Rxd4 Nxf7 32. g4 Re6 33. Nf5 c5 34. bxc6 Ne5 35. Kg2 Nxc6 36. Rd6 Rxd6 37. Nxd6+ Kc7 38. Nb5+ Kd7 39. f4 Ke6 40. Kf3 Nb4 41. h4 Nd3 42. Nc7+ Kd6 43. g5 hxg5 44. hxg5 Nb4 45. Nb5+ Kd5 46. Kg4 1 : 0.

From left: Anastasiya Valeryevna Karlovich, Anna Olehivna Muzychuk, and 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) sharing their impressions after the game. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.