The Distant Scene

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk – Klaudia Kulon
19th European Individual Women’s Chess Championship; Vysoké Tatry, April 16, 2018
Sicilian Defence B50

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Be2 g6 5. 0-0 Bg7 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Bxd7+ Nbxd7 8. Re1 0-0 9. d4 Rc8 10. d5 c4 11. Na3 a6!? White’s unpretentious opening pushes Kulon to seek something more than 11. ... Nc5 12. Nxc4 Ncxe4= Biliškov – Cvitan, 6th Open, Split 2016. 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 Ne5!? 13. ... b5!= seemed very natural with a satisfactory game for Black. 14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. b3 b5!? 15. ... cxb3 16. Qxb3 b5!? seems simpler and better. 16. bxc4 Qa5 17. Qb3 bxc4? Black’s best chance seemed to lie in 17. ... g5 18. Bg3 Nd7, although after 19. cxb5(!) Rxc3 20. Nc4 Rxb3 21. Nxa5 Rxb5 22. Nc6 e6 23. dxe6 fxe6 24. f3 White stands better. 18. Nxc4 Qc7 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Nb6 Rb8 21. Rab1. Black is not only a Pawn down, but her Queenside appears to be doomed. 21. ... Bg5 22. Red1 Rfd8 23. Qc4! Qd6. Rightly judging that the ending would be lost for her after the Queens exchange, Kulon sacrifices another Pawn desperately hoping for counterplay.

24. Qxa6? This cannot be wrong, but gives Black something that she wouldn’t have had after 24. Qb4! (virtually forcing the exchange of Queens) followed by c3-c4. 24. ... f5! 25. exf5 e4 26. a4 e3 27. a5 exf2+ 28. Kh1 Rf8 29. fxg6 Bf4 30. Qd3!? 30. Qe2 Bxh2 31. Rd3 was probably better, but after 31. ... Bg3! 32. Rf1 Rf6! 33. Nd7!? Qxd7 34. Rxg3 Qxd5 35. Rxf2 Rxf2 36. Qxf2 Qd1+ 37. Kh2 Qh5+ 38. Rh3 Qe5+ 39. Qg3 Qxg3+ 40. Kxg3 Rb5 41. Rxh6 Rxa5 a Rook ending arises in which Black’s chances to draw suddenly go up. 30. ... Bxh2 31. Qh3 Bf4 32. Rb2? This is a terrible error, also due to time shortage. Best was 32. Rf1 Qxg6 33. Rb4 (Δ g2-g3) 33. ... Kh8∞ with unclear but probably even play. 32. ... Bg3! 33. Rf1? It’s hard to blame Muzychuk for missing Stockfish’s pyrotechnic rescue line: 33. Rxf2! Rxf2 34. Qxh6 Be5 35. Nc4 Qf6 36. Nxe5 Qxe5 37. Qh7+ Kf8 38. a6 Qg7 39. a7 Ra8 40. d6! exd6 41. Qh3! with a draw in all variations. 33. ... Qxg6. Tables are clamorously turned. 34. Rb4. Or 34. a6 Kh7! followed by the deadly infiltration of Black’s Queen. 34. ... Qd3! 35. Qe6+ Kh7 36. Qe4+ Qxe4 37. Rxe4 Rf5 38. Rh4 Bxh4 39. g4 Re5 40. Kg2 Re1 41. c4 Rg8 0 : 1.