Ironing

Ivan Bocharov – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
69th All-Russian Higher League; Kolomna, June 29, 2016
8/4k1p1/3N1pb1/2P1n2p/8/4P1P1/4BK1P/8 w - - 1 45

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina, at her first experience in a men’s high contest, has already fulfilled the expectations of those who trusted her skill enough to know that she could have done it. Today, however, after entering a Bishop and Knight endgame down a Pawn, was not able to put up the toughest resistance – that’s quite strange for her! 45. Nc4 Nd3+? This, in fact, is a serious mistake, which clears the way for an easy win for White. It would seem that 45. ... Nd7! 46. c6 Ne5 47. Nxe5 fxe5 would have led her a bit closer to the possibility of a draw – even though drawing would have been all but easy. 46. Bxd3 Bxd3 47. Nd6 f5. Prevents e3-e4 followed by Kf2-e3-d4. 48. Kf3. Now White keeps both the passer and the free entrance on the Kingside. 48. ... Ke6 49. Kf4 g6 50. h4 Bc2 51. Nb5 Kd5 52. c6! 1 : 0. For if 52. ... Kxc6 then 53. Nd4+ finis.

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
Photo: chtn.ru