Golubzý

Nana Dzagnidze – Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina
19th European Individual Women’s Chess Championship; Vysoké Tatry, April 16, 2018
6k1/2r2pp1/6n1/pq2P3/2N1QPPp/1Pp2K1P/8/1R6 w - - 0 39

Position after 38. ... Qb4xb5

After an intense battle (which has been long dominated by White), Dzagnidze and Gunina arrived – with the minutes counted down – to the position of the diagram, where there is no longer trace of any White’s advantage – and whereas instead Black’s passed c-Pawn looks rather dangerous. Dzagnidze has probably only one way to go, but nerves and time ticking lead her into Gunina’s macabre dance: 39. Qa8+? The right way was 39. e6! c2 (but 39. ... Qb8! could be quite more unpleasant to face, especially on the move before time control) 40. Qxc2 Qd5+ 41. Qe4 fxe6 with approximately equal chances. 39. ... Kh7 40. Qe4 a4! White’s lost tempo proves to be fatal. 41. Nd6 Qa6. Threatening both ... a4xb3 and c3-c2. 42. bxa4 c2 43. Rc1 Rc3+ 44. Kf2 Qb6+ 45. Ke2 Rxh3 46. Nc4 Rh2+ 47. Kd3 Qb3+ 48. Kd4 Qxa4 49. e6 Qa7+ 50. Kd5 fxe6+ 51. Kxe6 Re2! 0 : 1.