The Queen’s Necklace

Anish Giri – Wesley So

Champions Showdown Chess960 2018; blitz match game 10 (5+5); Saint Louis, September 14, 2018

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Position 833

1. f4 f5 2. Qxa7? Like in the 2nd rapid match game Topalov – Kasparov, the White Queen goes for Pawn hunting in the very beginning, then wasting much time trying not to be trapped, thus conceding to Black a huge development advantage and a scaring initiative. 2. ... b6 3. a3 Bb7 4. Qa4 Ra8 5. Qd4 e6 6. e3 Bf6 7. Qb4 g5! 8. fxg5 Bxg5 9. Bf3 Nd6 10. Bxb7+ Kxb7 11. Nf3 Be7 12. Ng3 Ng6 13. d3 f4! White is nearly busted. 14. exf4 Nxf4 15. Qd2. 15. 0-0 is also answered by 15. ... h5! with an overwhelming initiative. 15. ... h5!

16. 0-0? Castling on the h-side looks like a suicide, but White’s King’s situation is tragic enough wherever he (it) goes (or does not go)! 16. ... Qg4? Just a slight uncertainty by So. 16. ... h4! 17. Nxh4 Bg5! won immediately. 17. Rbe1? Quite luckily for So, Giri doesn’t seize the chance to bite the time with 17. Ne5(!) Qg5(!) 18. Nf3(!) Qd5!∓→ which, even if it leaves Black with a powerful attack, at least doesn’t lose immediately. 17. ... h4. Now it’s all very easy. 18. Ne4 Rg8 19. Neg5 (19. Kh1 Nxg2 20. Ne5 Qg7 21. Rg1 h3−+) 19. ... Rxg5 20. Nxg5 Bxg5 21. Kh1 Rg8 22. Qf2 Bh6 23. Rg1 c6 24. b4 Nf5 25. Qf3 Qg5 (Δ ... Nf5-g3+) 26. Re5 Bg7 27. Re4 Ng3+! 28. hxg3 hxg3 0 : 1.