Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) briefly analysed and annotated for the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) web site the decisive final round games of the 3rd 深圳龙岗 (Shēnzhèn Lónggǎng) Masters “读特杯” (“Dú Tè Cup”): 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) v. Pentala Harikrishna and Anish Giri v. Dmitry Olegovich Jakovenko. Photo courtesy of International Mind Sports Association.
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3rd 深圳龙岗 (Shēnzhèn Lónggǎng) Masters “读特杯” (“Dú Tè Cup”); 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), April 27, 2019
3r2k1/pp4pp/2nprp2/4p3/8/3PP1P1/PP1N1P1P/2R2RK1 w - - 0 24
The game started with an English Opening, and after over twenty relatively steady moves the position in the diagram was reached:
Position after 23. ... Re8xe6
At first glance, the positions are almost symmetrical and the game appears to move towards a draw. Most people would think so, but not 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén), who succeeds in stirring up high waves from seemingly calm waters:
24. a3! Prophylactic thinking. White prevents Black’s ... Nc6-b4 as he intends to double Rooks on the c-file, thus occupying the only open file.
24. ... Ree8 25. Rc2 d5?!
It seems like a good deal to occupy the centre with Pawns, but indeed it paves the way to subsequent failure. It is worth emphasizing here how much difference there is between middlegame and endgame play, a key strategy of endings being to let the King join the party — 25. ... Kf7 26. Rfc1 Ke6 27. b4 Rc8 so as to dispute the control of the c-file as much as better possible.
26. Nb3! A keen intuition! It is only the first of a series of key Knight jumps, by which White seizes the weak point of Black’s previous move.
26. ... Rd6 27. Rfc1 Kf7 28. Nc5 Nd8 29. b4 Re7 30. Kf1 Ne6 31. a4
24. a3! Prophylactic thinking. White prevents Black’s ... Nc6-b4 as he intends to double Rooks on the c-file, thus occupying the only open file.
24. ... Ree8 25. Rc2 d5?!
It seems like a good deal to occupy the centre with Pawns, but indeed it paves the way to subsequent failure. It is worth emphasizing here how much difference there is between middlegame and endgame play, a key strategy of endings being to let the King join the party — 25. ... Kf7 26. Rfc1 Ke6 27. b4 Rc8 so as to dispute the control of the c-file as much as better possible.
26. Nb3! A keen intuition! It is only the first of a series of key Knight jumps, by which White seizes the weak point of Black’s previous move.
26. ... Rd6 27. Rfc1 Kf7 28. Nc5 Nd8 29. b4 Re7 30. Kf1 Ne6 31. a4
Consolidating and maintaining the pressure on Black’s position. Now Harikrishna has to face the Hamletian dilemma of exchanging or not exchanging Knights, that means simplifying into a four Rook ending or retaining the Knight for counter-attacking purposes.
31. ... Ng5.
“The best defence is a good offence”! Objectively speaking, it is hard to say which was best. 31. ... Nxc5 32. Rxc5 Ke6 33. Rc8 leads to an apparently equal position, but the difference of strength between Rooks is considerably in White’s favour, as they occupy the only open file and can eventually penetrate Black’s back rank. It is not enough to ensure victory, but Black should be ready to face long-term difficulties.
32. b5!
Once again 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) gave proof of his consummated skill. He was not in any hurry to force his opponent to make a choice, but steadily and consistently carried out his plan — begun with 24. a3 — to expand on the Queenside. Here the seemingly tempting 32. h4 would not lead to any advantage: 32. ... Nf3 33. Ke2 Nh2! 34. f3?! (locks up the h2-Knight) 34. ... b6 35. Nb3 e4 — a “golden shell is unshelled” and Black spotted a point for a counter-attack.
32. ... e4 33. d4 Nf3 34. h3 f5 35. Nb3!
The Knight, after accomplishing its aim of damaging Black’s formation, retreats and changes its objectives, both offensive and defensive — it just can offer the exchange of Knights and attack the b7-Pawn at any time through the a5-square.
31. ... Ng5.
“The best defence is a good offence”! Objectively speaking, it is hard to say which was best. 31. ... Nxc5 32. Rxc5 Ke6 33. Rc8 leads to an apparently equal position, but the difference of strength between Rooks is considerably in White’s favour, as they occupy the only open file and can eventually penetrate Black’s back rank. It is not enough to ensure victory, but Black should be ready to face long-term difficulties.
32. b5!
Once again 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) gave proof of his consummated skill. He was not in any hurry to force his opponent to make a choice, but steadily and consistently carried out his plan — begun with 24. a3 — to expand on the Queenside. Here the seemingly tempting 32. h4 would not lead to any advantage: 32. ... Nf3 33. Ke2 Nh2! 34. f3?! (locks up the h2-Knight) 34. ... b6 35. Nb3 e4 — a “golden shell is unshelled” and Black spotted a point for a counter-attack.
32. ... e4 33. d4 Nf3 34. h3 f5 35. Nb3!
The Knight, after accomplishing its aim of damaging Black’s formation, retreats and changes its objectives, both offensive and defensive — it just can offer the exchange of Knights and attack the b7-Pawn at any time through the a5-square.
35. ... b6?!
With White breathing down his neck, Harikrishna plants his own seed of defeat. Black’s plan looks somewhat contradictory. 31. ... Ng5 was aimed at counter-attacking on the Kingside in order to balance White’s Queenside offensive, but in the crucial moment Black is not alert enough. Consistent was 35. ... g5! 36. Na5 (after 36. Nd2 Nxd2+ 37. Rxd2 f4 Black saves not only an unnecessary move such as ... b7-b6, but also avoids weakening the c6-square — “he’d kill two birds in one fell swoop”) 36. ... f4 37. Rc7 Rh6! (Black should still not be content with 37. ... Rdd7 38. Rc8 Kg7 39. Ke2) 38. Rxe7+ Kxe7 39. Kg2 a6! (the ingenious counter-attack on the b5-Pawn, combined with ... Rh6-b6, provides an indirect defence of the b7-Pawn) 40. Rc7+ Kf8 41. Rxb7 axb5 42. axb5 Ne1+ 43. Kf1 Nf3 and White cannot avoid a draw, because the b-Pawn is too far away from the queening square, while the Black Rook cannot be permitted to breakthrough for mate along the h-file.
36. Nd2 Ng5. It’s even more disadvantageous to exchange Knights now, with respect to the previous note, as one of White’s Rooks would get easy access to the weakened c6-square (as a result of 35. ... b6).
37. h4 Ne6
37. h4 Ne6
Do you still remember 26. Nb3? Since then, the Knight supported the whole of White’s forces, and now, the time has finally come for it to make the key leap:
38. Nb1!
The Knight is heading to b4 (via c3 and a2), from where it would attack the weak d5-Pawn and would also threaten to jump to c6 eyeing the a7-Pawn. Once again, the not-so-obvious drawbacks of Black’s 35. ... b6 became apparent.
38. ... h6. Just in the mood to fight back — but, alas! for him, it’s too late.
39. Nc3 g5 40. hxg5 hxg5 41. Na2 f4 42. Nb4 Kf6 43. Rc8 Kf5
38. Nb1!
The Knight is heading to b4 (via c3 and a2), from where it would attack the weak d5-Pawn and would also threaten to jump to c6 eyeing the a7-Pawn. Once again, the not-so-obvious drawbacks of Black’s 35. ... b6 became apparent.
38. ... h6. Just in the mood to fight back — but, alas! for him, it’s too late.
39. Nc3 g5 40. hxg5 hxg5 41. Na2 f4 42. Nb4 Kf6 43. Rc8 Kf5
Black’s position is disintegrating: both Rooks and Knights being tied up together, the serious lack of fluidity, not to mention the King’s floating position and the weakness of the Pawns on d5 and a7 make it clear who will win. A little more tenacious was to cut the White Rook off on the back rank: 43. ... Nd8 44. Nc6.
44. Rh8 Rf7 45. Ke2 f3+ 46. Kd2 Nf8 47. Rc8 Ng6 48. Rh6 Ne7 49. Rxd6 Nxc8 50. Rxd5+. White wins. The rest is omitted.
Thus 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) defeated Harikrishna, who was leading the tournament at the time, by virtue of his superb strategic skills. The other winner, Giri, squeezed out a win in a fluid endgame, and with it won the “读特杯” (“Dú Tè Cup”) as well. Congratulations to Giri!
44. Rh8 Rf7 45. Ke2 f3+ 46. Kd2 Nf8 47. Rc8 Ng6 48. Rh6 Ne7 49. Rxd6 Nxc8 50. Rxd5+. White wins. The rest is omitted.
Thus 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) defeated Harikrishna, who was leading the tournament at the time, by virtue of his superb strategic skills. The other winner, Giri, squeezed out a win in a fluid endgame, and with it won the “读特杯” (“Dú Tè Cup”) as well. Congratulations to Giri!
Anish Giri – Dmitry Olegovich Jakovenko
3rd 深圳龙岗 (Shēnzhèn Lónggǎng) Masters “读特杯” (“Dú Tè Cup”); 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), April 27, 2019
r1b2rk1/5ppp/1pp1pn2/4N3/2p5/2N3P1/PP2PP1P/R4RK1 b - - 1 14
The two opponents kicked off with the Catalan Opening, and after White’s 14th move, the following position was reached:
Position after 14. Nd1-c3
14. ... Bd7?!
That’s not the mother of all problems, but it is somewhat negative. After this move, Black’s position becomes considerably less fluid and coordinated — something very similar to what occurred in the game 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) v. Harikrishna after the erroneous 35. ... b6. The text looks like a plausible defensive move, but gives White a free hand in increasing his advantage. More accurate seems to be 14. ... Nd5 15. Nxc4 (15. Nxc6 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Bb7) 15. ... Nxc3 16. bxc3 b5 17. Ne5 f6! Nxc6 Bd7 with plenty of compensation for Black, as his Rooks can attack White’s isolanis on the semi-open a- and c-files.
15. Rfd1 Rfd8 16. Nxc4 b5 17. Ne5 Be8. Another negative move. 17. ... Nd5 could still be taken into consideration.
That’s not the mother of all problems, but it is somewhat negative. After this move, Black’s position becomes considerably less fluid and coordinated — something very similar to what occurred in the game 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) v. Harikrishna after the erroneous 35. ... b6. The text looks like a plausible defensive move, but gives White a free hand in increasing his advantage. More accurate seems to be 14. ... Nd5 15. Nxc4 (15. Nxc6 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Bb7) 15. ... Nxc3 16. bxc3 b5 17. Ne5 f6! Nxc6 Bd7 with plenty of compensation for Black, as his Rooks can attack White’s isolanis on the semi-open a- and c-files.
15. Rfd1 Rfd8 16. Nxc4 b5 17. Ne5 Be8. Another negative move. 17. ... Nd5 could still be taken into consideration.
18. Rxd8 Rxd8 19. Nd3!?
A move of multiple purposes: it blocks the d-file, prevents Black from playing ... f7-f6 and ... e6-e5 in the future, and prepares a2-a4, which, if played at once (19. a4), would leave Black with an active game (19. ... bxa4 20. Rxa4 Nd5 21. Ne4 f6! 22. Nc4 e5!).
19. ... Kf8?!
Once again Jakovenko wastes time. Now Black ought to have prevented a2-a4 with 19. ... Ra8! not allowing the White Rook to activate itself and cooperate with the Knight pair.
20. a4 bxa4 21. Rxa4
19. ... Kf8?!
Once again Jakovenko wastes time. Now Black ought to have prevented a2-a4 with 19. ... Ra8! not allowing the White Rook to activate itself and cooperate with the Knight pair.
20. a4 bxa4 21. Rxa4
Once again Black is on the wrong track, “spinning a cocoon around himself”. Now 21. ... Nd5 should still be considered, but because of the time wasted with 19. ... Kf8, ... f7-f6 and ... e6-e5 have been put in “stand by”.
21. ... Nd7 22. Ra7 Rc8?! “A wise man always knows when to stop for breathing space” — 22. ... Nf6.
23. Ne4 c5 24. Nd6 Rb8.
Perhaps Black falls back on 24. ... Rb8 not having promptly appreciated the following exchanges (when playing 22. ... Rc8): 24. ... Rc6 25. Nxf7! Rb6 26. Ng5 h6 27. Ne4 c4 28. Ndc5 Nxc5 29. Nxc5.
25. Rc7! Ke7 26. Nb7 Kf6 27. b3 g5
21. ... Nd7 22. Ra7 Rc8?! “A wise man always knows when to stop for breathing space” — 22. ... Nf6.
23. Ne4 c5 24. Nd6 Rb8.
Perhaps Black falls back on 24. ... Rb8 not having promptly appreciated the following exchanges (when playing 22. ... Rc8): 24. ... Rc6 25. Nxf7! Rb6 26. Ng5 h6 27. Ne4 c4 28. Ndc5 Nxc5 29. Nxc5.
25. Rc7! Ke7 26. Nb7 Kf6 27. b3 g5
28. f3! Giri shows his solid foundation — he has no eagerness to cash in “dead Pawns”, but first strengthens his position destroying his opponent’s last hopes.
28. ... h6 29. Kf2 Ra8 30. Nd6. Now White could also take on c5, so as to convert his extra Pawn in the ensuing Rook and Knight v. Rook and Bishop endgame.
30. ... Ke7 31. Rc8 Rxc8 32. Nxc8+ Kd8 33. Nd6 Ke7 34. Nb7 Nb6 35. Nbxc5. White wins. The rest is omitted.
28. ... h6 29. Kf2 Ra8 30. Nd6. Now White could also take on c5, so as to convert his extra Pawn in the ensuing Rook and Knight v. Rook and Bishop endgame.
30. ... Ke7 31. Rc8 Rxc8 32. Nxc8+ Kd8 33. Nd6 Ke7 34. Nb7 Nb6 35. Nbxc5. White wins. The rest is omitted.
(Very free translation by Nobody’s Perfect)
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