And Then There Were None

Alexander Sergeyevich Morozevich – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
50th International Chess Festival; Biel/Bienne, July 24, 2017
King’s Indian Attack A08

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 e6 4. 0-0 Be7 5. d3 0-0 6. Nbd2 c5 7. e4 Nc6 8. Re1 Qc7 9. c3 b6 10. e5 Nd7 11. Qe2 a5 12. Nf1 a4 13. Bf4 Bb7 14. h4 Rfc8!? 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) innovates on 14. ... d4 15. c4 b5 16. cxb5 Nb4 17. a3 Nd5 when Black was able to achieve a laborious draw only after defending at length: 18. Bg5 Ra5 19. Rac1 Qd8 20. N1d2 Rxb5 21. Nc4 Bc6 22. Rc2 h6 23. Bxe7 Nxe7 24. Nfd2 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Qa8+ 26. Kh2 Qd5 27. Nd6 Rbb8 28. N2c4 Nc8 29. Ne4 Ncb6 30. f4 Nxc4 31. Rxc4 Rb5 32. Rec1 Rfb8 33. R1c2 Ra5 34. Qd2 Rba8 35. Qc1 Rb8 36. Qd2 Rba8 37. Qe2 ½ : ½ Bruzón Batista – Yılmaz, 18th Dubai Open Chess Tournament, Dubai 2016. 15. Ne3 Qd8 16. h5 b5

17. Nxd5!? After about a quarter-hour’s thinking, Morozevich dares to venture an interesting Knight sacrifice, which, even upon subsequent analysis, proved quite sound. 17. ... exd5 18. e6 Nf8. Not 18. ... fxe6? because of 19. Qxe6+ Kh8 (19. ... Kf8? 20. Ng5!+−) 20. h6! and White’s attack continues with undiminished vehemence. 19. exf7+ Kxf7 20. h6. 20. d4!? Kg8!? gives rise to a rather unclear play, which, under the present circumstances, was probably the most White could get. 20. ... Bf6 21. Nh2. 21. d4!? was still probably White’s best, though after 21. ... cxd4!? Black is healthy and must stand better. 21. ... Ne7 22. Bh3?! 22. hxg7 makes little difference, since after 22. ... Kxg7 23. Ng4 Neg6 White likewise has not enough compensation for the Knight. 22. ... Rc6 23. Ng4 Neg6 24. Bd2 d4! Black’s light-square Bishop powerfully enters the scene just as White’s attack is over. 25. hxg7 Kxg7 26. Qf3 Rb6. 26. ... Bg5−+ was also very strong. 27. Qf5 Qd5. The exchange of Queens ends all White’s hopes for another outcome. 28. Bh6+ Kf7 29. Qxd5+ Bxd5 30. Nxf6 Rxf6 31. cxd4

31. ... Nh4! 32. gxh4 Rxh6 33. Re5 Rd8 34. Rf5+ Rf6 35. dxc5 Ng6 36. c6 Bxc6 37. Rc1 Rdd6 0 : 1.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and Morozevich share smiles and handshakes for the cameras. Photo © Biel Chess Festival.