That Said

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí)
Women’s World Chess Championship match game 8; 重庆 (Chóngqìng), May 15, 2018
Queen’s Gambit Declined D30

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c6 4. Bg5 f6 5. Bf4 g5 6. Bxb8 Rxb8 7. e3 Bd6!? This seems to be an improvement over 7. ... g4 8. Nfd2 e5!? as after 9. Nc3 dxc4? (9. ... exd4!? 10. exd4 Bg7!?) 10. Bxc4 b5 11. Qb3! Black fell into serious trouble, James – Fowler, 94th British Chess Championship, Great Yarmouth 2007. 8. Nc3 Nh6 9. Be2 0-0 10. Qc2 Bd7 11. e4 dxe4 12. Nxe4 Bb4+ 13. Nc3 g4 14. Nd2 Be8. Black might even temporarily sacrifice a Pawn by 14. ... e5!? 15. dxe5 Bf5 in order to make something of her very slight development lead. 15. Nb3 Bg6 16. Bd3 f5 17. 0-0-0 Qg5+ 18. Kb1 Rfe8 19. c5 Bxc3 20. Qxc3 Rbd8 21. Rhe1 Nf7 22. Bc4 Qf6 23. f4 gxf3 24. gxf3 b5. 24. ... f4+ 25. Ka1 (25. Bd3 e5!) 25. ... b5 was playable and good. 25. Bd3 e5. 25. ... f4(!) soonly followed by ... e6-e5 would have probably avoided much controversy. 26. dxe5 Rxe5? This error could cost 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) the match! Volens nolens, 26. ... Nxe5 was called for, as after 27. f4 Ng4 28. Rxe8+ Bxe8 29. Qe1 Bf7 30. h3 Nh6 Black is worse but not lost.

27. Bc2? 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) misses her big chance – maybe an unrepeatable one – to win the game and almost end the match by 27. Rxe5! Nxe5 (or 27. ... Qxe5 28. Qxe5 Nxe5 29. Bc4++−) 28. f4 Ng4 29. Qxf6 Nxf6 30. Bc4+! Nd5 31. Bxd5 cxd5 32. Nd4 with an easily won ending. 27. ... f4! 28. Rxd8+ Qxd8 29. Bxg6 Rxe1+ 30. Qxe1 hxg6 31. Qe4 Qf6 32. Nd4 Ne5 ½ : ½.

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) (left) vs. 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) (right). Photo: 张晓露 (Zhāng Xiǎolù).