On Emotion

Dronavalli Harika – Erik Blomqvist
23rd TePe Sigeman & Co. Chess Tournament; Malmö, May 12, 2017
Sicilian Defence B65

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. 0-0-0 0-0 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qa5 11. Bc4 h6 12. Bh4 Qh5 13. Bg3 Rd8 14. Rhe1 Bd7 15. e5 dxe5 16. Rxe5 Bc6 17. Qg1? I don’t like this move (from a theoretical viewpoint), even though it doesn’t turn out bad. Maybe White should look for something better by 17. Nd5 exd5 18. Bd3 as occurred in the game Janošević – Csom, IBM International Chess Tournament, Amsterdam 1970. 17. ... Rxd1+ 18. Nxd1 Qg6 19. Nc3 Nd7 20. Bd3 Qf6 21. Ne4 Bxe4 22. Rxe4 Rc8 23. Kb1 Nc5 24. Rd4 Bd8 25. Qe3 Bb6 26. Rc4 Rc6 27. Be2 Qd8

28. Rd4?? As usual Harika – a very strong strategic player – pays (more than due) for her lack of tactical coolness. Here White stood well and maybe even better, and she might have long tormented her opponent by 28. Bf3! Nd7! 29. Qe2. 28. ... Nd7! Winning a neat Exchange which Blomqvist will convert into a win without too difficulty. 29. Bb5 Bxd4 30. Qxd4 Qb6 31. Qxb6 Rxb6 32. c4 Rd6 33. f5 e5 34. Kc2 a6 35. Bxd7 Rxd7 36. Bxe5 Re7 37. Bg3 Re2+ 38. Kc3 Rxg2 39. a4 Kf8 40. b4 Ke7 41. b5 a5 42. c5 Kd7 43. Kc4 Ra2 44. c6+ bxc6 45. Kc5 Rxa4 46. bxc6+ Kc8 47. Kb5 Ra2 48. Bd6 a4 49. h4 a3 50. Ka4 Rf2 0 : 1.

Dronavalli Harika (@HarikaDronavali)