The Pond in Winter

David Wei Liang Howell – 熊奕韬 (Jeffery Xióng)
Winter Chess Classic; Saint Louis, March 12, 2017
Queen’s Indian Defence E17

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. Nc3 Bb7 4. d4 e6 5. a3 g6 6. Qc2 c5 7. dxc5 bxc5 8. Bf4 Nh5 9. Bg5 f6 10. Be3 f5 11. Rd1 Be7!? Maybe new. The sharp “matrix” was 11. ... Nc6 12. Bg5 Be7 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. e3 0-0 15. Be2 Rad8 16. 0-0 g5 17. Ne1 g4 18. Nd3 a5 19. g3 Nf6 20. f3 h5 21. Rf2 d6 22. Nb5 gxf3 23. Bxf3 Ng4 24. Bxg4 hxg4 25. Qc3 Ba8 26. Kf1 Rd7 27. Rdd2 Rb8 28. a4 Rf8 29. b3 Kh7 30. Ke1 Nd8 31. Qxa5 Nf7 32. Nf4 Ng5 33. Kd1 Ne4 34. Kc1 Qf6 35. Kb1 Bb7 36. Qb6 Ra8 37. Nxd6 Nxf2 38. Qxc5 Ne4 39. Qb5 Nxd2+ 40. Kc2 Qe7 0 : 1 Dzagnidze – 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě), Women’s Grand Prix 2013-2014, 4th stage, Khanty-Mansiysk 2014. 12. g3 g5? Black’s strategy seems just a bit too primitive (and weakening as well), following apparently in the footsteps of 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě). 13. Bg2 f4? From bad to worse: Black comes up with the idea to provoke the opening of the g-file, which evidently gives White a new and unexpected strength. 14. gxf4 gxf4 15. Bc1 Nc6 16. Qd3. Tying the Black Queen to the defence of the d7-Pawn. 16. ... Rg8. Now 16. ... Qc7 17. Nb5 would only lose time, while if 16. ... a6 (preparing for ... Qd8-c7) there might follow 17. Rg1 Qc7 18. Ng5! with the upper hand on both wings. 17. Rg1. Winter is coming, as now the threat of Qd3xh7 becomes real.

17. ... Nf6. Black resignedly gives up the f4-Pawn, which means surrender. However, it is hard to suggest anything substantially better for Black as he finds himself in a kind of strategic Zugzwang; for instance: 17. ... Rg6 18. Kf1! (but also 18. Bf1! looks very strong) 18. ... a6 19. Bh1! (in true Fischarandom style!) with overwhelming preponderance. 18. Bxf4 Qa5 19. Kf1! Worth a castle! 19. ... 0-0-0 20. Nb5! White finishes in grand style. 20. ... Rdf8 21. Bh3 Rxg1+ 22. Kxg1 Rg8+ 23. Kf1 Qb6 24. Nd6+ Bxd6 25. Qxd6 Rd8 26. Ng5 Ba6 27. Nf7 Bxc4 28. Nxd8 Nxd8 29. Rc1 1 : 0. A crystal-clear demonstration of positional dominance by Howell.