Rockin’ Chair

Anna Muzychuk – Bela Khotenashvili
Women’s Grand Prix; 4th stage; 成都 (Chéngdū), July 14, 2016
Caro-Kann Defence B18

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. Nf3 Nd7 7. Bd3 e6 8. 0-0 Ngf6 9. Bxg6 hxg6 10. Re1 Be7 11. Bg5 Nd5. Deviating from Anna’s reference book: 11. ... Qc7 12. c4 Rd8 13. Qc2 Nf8 14. Rad1 N8h7 15. Bc1 Ng4? 16. Rxe6! with powerful attack, A. Muzychuk – Ubiennykh, Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship, Khanty-Mansiysk 2014. 12. Qd2 Qc7 13. c4 Bb4 14. Qc2 N5f6 15. Re2 Bd6 16. Rae1 0-0 17. Ne4 Bf4 18. h4! Rfe8 19. g3 Bd6 20. a3 Nxe4 21. Qxe4 c5 22. b4! b6 23. dxc5 bxc5 24. Rd1 Nb6 25. Red2 Bf8 26. Ne5 cxb4 27. axb4 Bxb4. Maybe 27. ... f6!? 28. Bxf6! gxf6 29. Rd7! f5! could have been a bit more unclear, even if a bit more substantial for White anyway.

28. Rd7! The elder Muzychuk sister finally gives a display of her great chess talent, sometimes overshadowed by her familiar responsibilities. 28. ... Nxd7 29. Rxd7 Qa5 30. Rxf7. White is threatening Rf7xg7+, so Black’s move is pretty forced. 30. ... Qxe5 31. Qxe5 Kxf7. Black has two Rooks for the Queen, but her Kingside is crumbling and White’s initiative is quicker than light. 32. c5! Ba5. If 32. ... Kg8 then 33. Bc1! followed by Bc1-b2 keeping the attack powerfully into her (White) hands. 33. Qf4+ Kg8 34. Qe4 Kf7 35. Qb7+ Kg8 36. Qe4. Muzychuk repeats moves to gain time on the clock. 36. ... Kf7 37. Qb7+ Kg8 38. Bf4 Bc3 39. Qa6 Bd4. More tenacious seems 39. ... e5 40. Bg5 Bd4 41. Qxg6 Bxc5, although after 42. h5! Bf8 43. h6 Kh8 44. Qf7 White keeps more than excellent winning chances. 40. Bd6! Rad8 41. Kg2 e5 42. Qc4+ Kh7 43. Qf7! Now White elegantly starts her mating attack. 43. ... a5 44. g4! e4 45. g5! e3 46. h5! Be5 47. fxe3 Bxd6 48. hxg6+ Kh8 49. cxd6 Re4 50. Qf5 Rh4 51. d7 Rb8 52. Qe5 1 : 0.

Anna Muzychuk vs. Bela Khotenashvili
Photo: 樊璐璐 (Fán Lùlù)/sports.sina.com.cn