Symphony No. 3

Monika Bobrowska-Soćko – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
42nd Women’s Chess Olympiad; Baku, September 12, 2016
Bogo-Indian Defence E11

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 a5 5. Bxb4 axb4 6. g3 b6 7. Bg2 Bb7 8. 0-0 0-0 9. Nbd2 c5 10. Re1 d6 11. e4 Nc6 12. d5 exd5 13. cxd5 Ne7 14. Nc4 Ng6 15. a4 bxa3 16. Rxa3 b5 17. Rxa8 Bxa8 18. Na3 Re8 19. Nxb5

19. ... Rxe4!? This is a little more speculative than simply regaining the e4-Pawn with the Knight (19. .. Nxe4). 20. Rxe4 Nxe4 21. Qa4? 21. Nh4! at once was Bobrowska-Soćko’s best continuation on which there could follow: 21. ... Qa5 (idem to say 21. ... Qd7) 22. Bxe4 Qxb5 23. Nf5 Qxb2 24. Qa4 Qb8 25. Qa1! f6 26. Qa4 Nf8 27. Qa6 with an edge for White. 21. .. Bxd5 22. Nh4? The losing move. After 22. Nd2 Nxd2 23. Bxd5 Qe8 24. Qa8 Qxa8 25. Bxa8 Nc4 Black’s extra Pawn is not yet decisive. 22. ... Nxh4 23. Bxe4

23. ... Qe8!−+ 24. gxh4 Bxe4 25. Qa5. If, instead, 25. Nc3 Black can reply either with 25. ... Qxa4 26. Nxa4 Kf8 or 25. .. Bc6 26. Qd1 h6 winning in both cases. 25. ... Qd7 26. h3 h6 27. Nc3 Bf3 28. Kh2 Qe7 29. Qa6 Qe5+ 30. Kg1 Qe6 31. Kh2 Qg6 32. Qf1 Qf6 33. Kg3 Bc6 34. Qe2 d5 35. Qg4 d4 36. Nb1 Qe5+ 37. Qf4 Qe1. Threatening both ... Qe1-g1# and Qe1xb1. 38. Qf5 Qg1+ 39. Kf4 Qxf2+ 40. Ke5 f6+ 0 : 1. For if 41. Ke6 then 41. ... Bd7+! and it’s all over.

What a difference of mood! Photo: Polski Związek Szachowy.