The Resurgence of the Hypermodern

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) – Bela Khotenashvili
Women’s Grand Prix; third stage; Batumi, April 27, 2016
English Opening A30

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. h4!? Nf6 4. b3 Bg7. For 4. ... d6 5. Bb2 e5 6. e3 Bg4 7. Be2 Bg7 8. d3 Nc6 9. Nbd2 0-0 10. a3 Re8 11. Qc2 Rc8 12. 0-0 Nh5 13. Rfe1 f5 see Bosboom – Iturrizaga Bonelli, 71st Corus Chess Tournament (C-Group), Wijk aan Zee 2009. 5. Bb2 h5. 5. ... d6 6. e3 0-0 7. Be2 Nc6 8. d3 e6 9. Nbd2 b6 10. Qc2 Bb7 transposes into M. I. Ivanov – Ljavdansky, White Nights Open, Saint Petersburg 1998 6. Nc3 d6 7. e3 Nc6 8. Be2 0-0 9. Ng5 a6 10. 0-0 Rb8 11. Rc1 Bf5 12. Ba1 Qa5 13. a4 Nb4 14. d3 Bd7 15. d4 cxd4 16. Qxd4 Bc6 17. Qd2 Qf5?? This is indeed a very bad mistake. Kotenashvili should have contented herself with 17. ... b6 18. e4 reducing her opponent’s edge to acceptable levels. 18. e4 Qd7 19. Nd5! Now Black is doomed to sad failure. 19. ... a5. If 19. ... Bxd5 then 20. cxd5 a5 21. Bd4 with crushing threats. 20. Nxb4 axb4 21. f3 Ne8 22. Bxg7 Nxg7 23. Qxb4. 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) stands a Pawn to the good and has an overwhelming advantage as well. 23. ... f6 24. Nh3 Ne6 25. Qd2 Kg7 26. Qe3 Qc7 27. f4 Qa5

28. c5! Nxc5. Also 28. ... dxc5 is met by 29. f5 Nd4 30. Nf4 and wins. 29. f5 Bxe4 30. Qg3 Bxf5 31. Rxf5 Ne4. Or 31. ... Qd2 32. Nf4 and wins. 32. Qxg6+ Kxg6 33. Rxa5 Nc5 34. Nf4+ Kh6 35. b4 b6 36. Rb5 1 : 0.

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě)
Photo: Anastasiya Valeryevna Karlovich