Kheer

Mariya Muzychuk – Humpy Koneru
Women’s Grand Prix; 4th stage; 成都 (Chéngdū), July 13, 2016
Pirc Defence B07

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 g6 5. e5. Maybe just a little bit too early. 5. ... dxe5 6. Nxe5 Bg7 7. Bc4 0-0 8. 0-0 Nbd7 9. Bf4 Nh5 10. Nxd7 Bxd7 11. Be5 Bxe5 12. dxe5 Bf5 13. Qe2 Ng7. A novelty – as far as I know. The old try was 13. ... Nf4 14. Qe3 Nd5 15. Nxd5 cxd5 16. Rad1 e6 17. Bb3 a5 18. Rd4 b5 19. g4 Bxg4 20. Rxg4 a4 21. Qh6 Ra7 22. h4 axb3 23. axb3 f6 24. h5 Rg7 25. hxg6 Kh8 26. Rg3 fxe5 27. gxh7 Qf6 28. Qxg7+ Qxg7 29. Rxg7 Kxg7 30. Ra1 Kxh7 31. Ra6 Re8 32. Rb6 Kg6 33. Rxb5 Kf5 34. b4 Kf4 35. Kf1 d4 36. Ke2 Rh8 37. Rb6 Rc8 38. c3 dxc3 39. bxc3 Rxc3 40. Rxe6 Rb3 41. Rf6+ Ke4 42. f3+ Kd4 ½ : ½ Pötsch – Czebe, Budapest 2010. 14. Rad1 Qb6 15. Bb3 Rad8 16. h3 Be6 17. Na4 Qa5 18. Qe3 Bxb3 19. axb3 Ne6 20. Kh2 Rd5. Black obtained a more comfortable position, and Muzychuk must now decide how to defend her e-Pawn. 21. Rxd5?! This is not too commendable in itself, but also inconsistent with her next move. Better 21. f4 Rfd8 with a slight edge for Black. 21. ... cxd5 22. f4?! “Why did she not play it before?”, wonders Grandmaster Bachar Kouatly in his commentary for Europe Échecs. 22. ... d4! 23. Qg3 Kh8 24. c3 Qa6 25. c4

24. ... b5! 26. f5!? bxa4 27. fxe6 Qxe6 28. bxa4 Qxc4. Black has a Pawn more, and an imposing position. 29. Rf4 Rd8 30. Qf2 Kg8 31. g3 Qd5 32. e6!? Muzychuk’s last-ditch attack. 32. ... fxe6 33. Rf7 d3 34. Rxe7 Rf8 35. Qxa7 Qe5 36. h4 Qe2+ 37. Kh3 Qf1+ 0 : 1. White resigns, having the choice between the loss of her Queen (38. Kh2 Rf2+) or mate (38. Kg4 Qf5 mate).

Mariya Muzychuk (R.) vs. Humpy Koneru (L.)
Photo: 樊璐璐 (Fán Lùlù)/sports.sina.com.cn