Sprite

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – Nafisa Muminova
Asian Nations Women’s Chess Cup; Abu Dhabi, April 2, 2016
Slav Defence D17

1. c4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Qc7 8. g3 e5 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Bf4 Nfd7 11. Bg2 f6 12. 0-0 Nc5 13. e4 Bg6 14. Bxe5 fxe5 15. f4 Rd8 16. Qe2 exf4 17. gxf4 Be7!? This is a novelty, especially in conjunction with the next move. Anyway, 17. ... Nb3 18. Rad1 Bc5+ 19. Kh1 Nd4 is also satisfactory for Black, Córdova Daza – Fressinet, 34th World Open, Philadelphia 2006. 18. Ne5 Ne6 19. Nxg6 hxg6 20. Qg4 Kf7 21. e5 Rh4 22. Qg3 Rdh8 23. h3 Kg8 24. Ne4 Qb6+ 25. Kh1 Qxb2 26. Rab1 Qe2. The position is quite unclear, but certainly Black’s game is easier to play. Now, for instance, 27. ... Rxh3+ 28. Bxh3 Qxe4+ is one among the various “threats to threaten”. 27. Qb3. Not 27. Qxg6?? Rxh3+! 28. Kg1 Rh1+! 29. Bxh1 Qh2 mate. 27. ... Qg4 28. Nf2? A serious slip, and in fact the decisive mistake. Correct was 28. Rf3! (with the threat of f4-f5) 28. ... Kh7 29. Qxb7 Nxf4 30. Rxf4 Qxf4 31. Qxe7 Rxh3+! 32. Bxh3 Qxe4+ 33. Kh2 Qc2+ drawing by perpetual check. 28. ... Qf5 29. Qxb7. A poisoned Pawn, but Black lacked good moves.

29. ... Rxh3+! 30. Kg1. If 30. Nxh3 then 30. ... Rxh3+ 31. Bxh3 Qxh3+ 32. Kg1 Bc5+ and wins. 30. ... Nxf4 31. Rb2 Bc5 32. Qxc6 Rh1+ 33. Bxh1 Qg4+ 34. Bg2 Nh3+ 35. Kh2 Nxf2+ 0 : 1. For if 36. Kg1 there follows 36. ... Rh1 mate.

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn). Photo: qipai.org.cn.