And yet, Edna, the highest reward is when you are suddenly caught up in the ecstatic awareness that finally you’ve got rid of them

Artwork © Apo Radilla (@apo_radilla)

Tetrachromacy

From left: Caterina Gaja, Aurora Cheli, Chiara Parrini, Maddalena Sottili, Emma Guliani, and Matilde Guerri (not in the picture) performing in the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s summer dance show on Saturday, June 15, 2019. Photo: Stefano Marmino.

Rhythm and Rhyme

Of course, a game at chess can be a very important thing, but hardly a secret worth leaking. On the contrary, a secret dance passion must not be unveiled too early. So a special thank to Niccolò for conducting an improvised workshop in urban dance style for the benefit of Andrea, who pretty soon will try his vocation to the hip hop culture.

Crashdown

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Eduardo Patricio Iturrizaga Bonelli

2nd Chess Festival Eighth Centenary 2019 of Salamanca University; time control: 40 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; Salamanca, November 30, 2019

Caro-Kann Defence B10

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Qe2 Nxe4 (5. ... Nbd7?? 6. Nd6 mate, Keres – Arlamowski, Szczawno Zdrój 1950) 6. Qxe4 Qd5 7. Qh4 Qe6+ 8. Be2 Qg4 9. Qg3 Qxg3 10. hxg3 g6 11. a4!? An interesting strategic novelty which will provide White with a lasting initiative, though in the end 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) won’t achieve more than a drawish endgame, probably due to some omissions along the way. Proof theory gave 11. d4 Bg7 12. Bh6 Bf6 13. Ne5 Be6 14. 0-0-0 Nd7 15. f4 Rg8 16. g4 Rd8 17. c4 Bxe5 18. fxe5 Nb6 19. b3 g5 20. Kc2 f6 21. exf6 exf6 22. Kc3 Kf7 23. Rdf1 Rg6 24. Bd3 Bxg4 25. Bxg6+ Kxg6 26. Re1 Nc8 27. c5 Rg8 28. a4 a5 29. b4 axb4+ 30. Kxb4 Rd8 31. Kc3 b6 32. Kc4 Bf5 33. Re3 Bc2 34. Bxg5 Kxg5 35. Rg3+ Kf5 36. Rxh7 Bxa4 37. Rh5+ Ke6 38. Re3+ Kf7 39. Rh7+ Kg6 40. Rc7 Bb5+ 41. Kc3 bxc5 42. dxc5 Kf5 43. g3 Kg6 44. Kb4 Rd4+ 45. Kc3 Rd8 46. Kb4 Rd4+ ½ : ½ Bacrot – Topalov, 3rd Grand Chess Tour, 1st stage, Rapid Tournament, Paris 2017. 11. ... Bg7 12. a5 Bf5 13. c3 e5 (13. ... Nd7 14. d4 0-0 15. 0-0 Rfd8 16. Re1⩲) 14. d3. After 14. d4!? exd4 15. Nxd4 Bxd4 16. cxd4 0-0 17. g4 Be6 “Two Bishops and the better King gives White the upper hand”, says Grandmaster Vasif Durarbayli. 14. ... Nd7 15. Be3 0-0 16. Nd2 Nf6 17. Nc4 (17. f3⩲) 17. ... Nd5 18. Bc5 Rfd8 19. Nd6 b6 20. Nxf5 bxc5 21. Nxg7 Kxg7 22. Rh4 Rab8 23. Ra2 f5 24. Rc4 Rb5 25. Kd2 Nf6 26. Kc2 Ne8 27. Rca4 Nd6 28. a6 Kf6 29. Ra5 Rdb8 30. c4 Rxa5 31. Rxa5 Rb6 32. f4 e4 33. dxe4 Nxe4 34. g4 fxg4 35. Bxg4 Nd6 36. Rxc5 Rxa6 37. Bf3 Nf5 38. Kc3 Ne7 39. Re5 h5 40. b4 Ra3+ 41. Kd4 Ra4 42. Kc5 a5 43. b5 cxb5 44. cxb5 Rxf4 45. Re1 Rf5+ 46. Kb6 Nc8+ 47. Ka6 Re5 48. Rc1 Re6+ 49. Kxa5 Nd6 50. b6 h4 51. Bg4 Re5+ 52. Ka6 Re4 53. Bd7 Re2 54. Ka7 Rxg2 55. Rd1 Ra2+ 56. Kb8 Nc4

57. Rf1+. A pretty drawing variation is 57. b7! Na5 58. Rd6+ Ke7 59. Ra6 Kxd7 60. Rxa5 Rxa5 stalemate. 57. ... Ke7 58. b7?? Crashdown. 58. Kc7 should still be enough for White to draw the game. 58. ... Kxd7 59. Rd1+ Nd6 0 : 1.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) is still struggling to recover her best form after her year of full-time study at the University of Oxford. Photo: Ajedrez Salamanca via Flickr.

Hey, Edna, you better not let your would-be groom see you looking like a boss, or else he won’t marry you

Lou Romano, Edna Mode Costume Study, 2004. Courtesy of Pixar Animation Studios, © Disney/Pixar.

Black Friday

Sophie Milliet – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

2nd Chess Festival Eighth Centenary 2019 of Salamanca University; time control: 40 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; Salamanca, November 29, 2019

Sicilian Defence B40

There is only one round today, and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) hopes to redeem herself for yesterday’s disaster. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. Qe2 Be7 6. 0-0 d5 7. e5 Nd7 8. d3 b5 9. a4. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) faced this King’s Indian Attack many years ago, and Black ended up arriving first also after the immediate 9. h4 0-0 10. c3 a5 11. Bf4 Ba6 12. Nbd2 Rc8 13. Rfd1 Qe8 14. Nf1 b4 15. N1h2 a4 16. c4 Nb6 17. b3 a3 18. Ng4 Kh8 19. Rac1 Bb7 20. Bg5 Rd8 21. Qe3 f6 22. exf6 gxf6 23. Bh6 Rg8 24. Ngh2 e5 25. cxd5 Nxd5 26. Qe1 Qg6 27. Be3 Nf4 28. Bxf4 exf4 29. Nf1 Bd6 30. d4 fxg3 31. fxg3 cxd4 32. Kh2 Rde8 33. Qf2 d3 34. Rd2 Re2 35. Rxe2 dxe2 36. Qxe2 Bxg3+ 37. Kh1 Ne5 38. Ne3 Nd3 39. Rg1 Nf2+ 0 : 1 Skripchenko – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 8th Rencontres Nationales et Internationales d’Échecs du Cap d’Agde, Trophée CCAS Groupe B, Cap d’Agde 2008 (time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move). 9. ... b4 10. c4 bxc3 11. bxc3 0-0 12. h4 Rb8 13. h5 Ba6 14. h6 g6 15. Bf4 Rb3 16. Qc2 Qb8 17. c4? White’s position was already quite unpleasant, but the text only brings more trouble. 17. ... dxc4 18. dxc4

18. ... Rxf3! 19. Bxf3 Nd4 20. Qd1 Bxc4 21. Re1? Probably better was to return the Exchange with 21. Nd2, hoping to contain the disadvantage to only one Pawn, while after the text move Black wins easily and smoothly. 21. ... Bb3 22. Qd3 g5! 23. Nd2. In desperation, because after 23. Bd2 (idem to say 23. Bc1) 23. ... Nxe5 White could resign. 23. ... Bc2 24. Qe3 gxf4 25. Qxf4 Nxf3+ 26. Nxf3 Qb4 27. Qe3 Nb6 28. Qe2 Bxa4 29. Nd2 Bb5 30. Qf3 Qxd2 31. Re3 Qc2 32. Rxa7 Nd5 33. Re1 Qd3 34. Qg4+ Qg6 35. Qh3 Nf4 36. Qh1 Ne2+ 37. Rxe2 Qb1+ 38. Kh2 Qxh1+ 39. Kxh1 Bxe2 40. Rxe7 Rc8 0 : 1.

Moonwalk

Tomorrow is Saturday and you’re going to play chess and chess960 in the ballet room of Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” from 16,00 (4 P.M.) as usual, so do not forget to take with you a pair of clean sneakers to be used in the dance room only!

The moonwalk is a fun hip hop dance move where you appear to be walking forward when you’re actually moving backwards. Courtesy of lovetoknow.

Yes, Edna, they are interested only in their own selfish gain and ego’s parody of power, so it cannot be difficult for you to carve out a space where you can dance freely and joyfully into everyday life

Photo © Enifer ♥

Time to Think

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Sabrina Vega Gutiérrez

2nd Chess Festival Eighth Centenary 2019 of Salamanca University; time control: 40 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; Salamanca, November 28, 2019

English Opening A13

In her fourth round game against Sabrina Vega Gutiérrez, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) wasn’t able to handle the “slow rapid” time control, and the melodramatic way in which she “self-mated” shows how far from the board she has taken herself, since she has been spending her sabbatical year studying at the University of Oxford. 1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. b3 Be7 5. Bb2 0-0 6. Qc2 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. h4 Nxc3. Alternatively, a key line may be 9. ... h6 10. g4!?∞↑ Carlsen – Ganguly, 5th World Rapid Chess Championship, Doha 2016. 10. Bxc3!? A new take on quite a recent game: 10. dxc3 f5 11. Rd1 Qe8 12. g4 fxg4 13. Ng5 Qh5 14. Bg2 Ne5 15. c4 with an ideal attacking position, Cornette – Niemi, 5th TV2 Fagernes International, Fagernes 2018. 10. ... Nb4 11. Qb1 Nd5 12. Ng5 f5 13. Bb2 Bf6 14. Bc4 Bd7 15. e4 Bxb2 16. Qxb2 fxe4 17. Qe5 Rf5 18. Qd6 (18. Qxe4? Qf6 19. 0-0 h6∓)

18. ... Qc7 19. Qxc7 Nxc7 20. Nxe4? 20. 0-0 h6 21. Nxe4 Bc6 is somewhat easier for Black, but quite tenable. 20. ... Bc6 21. Ng3 Re5+ 22. Kf1 Rd8 23. Rd1 Bb5? (23. ... Nd5!∓) 24. f3 Red5 25. Ne4 b6 26. Ke2 Bxc4+ 27. bxc4 Rd3 28. a4 e5 29. a5 Ne6 30. axb6 axb6 31. Rb1 Nf4+ 32. Kf1 R8d4 33. Rxb6 Rxc4 34. Kf2 h6 35. Rb8+ Kh7 36. Ra1 Rd7? 36. ... Rxe4! 37. fxe4 Rxd2+ 38. Kf3 Rd3+ 39. Kg4 Nxg2 is dynamically balanced. 37. Raa8 Kg6 38. Ra6+ Kh7 39. g3 Nh5? 40. g4? Simply 40. Ke3 would have left Black short of good moves. 40. ... Nf6 41. Rxf6 Rxe4 42. Rff8. 42. Rxh6+ Kxh6 43. fxe4 Rxd2+ 44. Ke3 Rh2 is a dead draw. 42. ... Rxd2+ 43. Kg3 Ree2 44. h5?? And here is 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s blundering self-mate. 44. Rh8+ Kg6 45. Rb6+ Kf7 46. g5 hxg5 47. h5! gives White sufficient counterplay for a draw. 44. ... Rg2+ 0 : 1. For mate in two follows.

Dataclisma

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Miguel Santos Ruiz

2nd Chess Festival Eighth Centenary 2019 of Salamanca University; time control: 40 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; Salamanca, November 28, 2019

Spanish Game C65

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3. In her round one game against Ponomariov, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) continued instead with 5. Bxc6. 5. ... 0-0 6. 0-0 d6 7. h3 Ne7 8. Ba4 Bb6 9. Re1 Ng6 10. Nbd2 c6 11. d4 exd4. The alternative 11. ... Re8 leaves White with a lasting initiative: 12. Bc2 h6 13. a4 Bc7 14. Nf1 d5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Bxe5 17. f4 Bc7 18. e5 Ne4 19. Bxe4 dxe4 20. Qh5 Be6 21. Ng3 Bb6+ 22. Be3 Qd3 23. Nf1 Rad8 24. f5 Bb3 25. f6 Qd5 26. Bxb6 axb6 27. fxg7 Qxe5 28. Qxh6 Qxg7 29. Qh4 Rd3 30. Re3 Re6 31. Rae1 Rh6 32. Qf4 Rxh3 33. Rxd3 Rxd3 34. Rxe4 Be6 35. Ne3 Rd8? 36. Re5! 1 : 0 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Bacrot, 50th Internationales Schachfestival, Biel/Bienne 2017. 12. cxd4 d5 13. e5 Nh5 14. Bc2 Nhf4 15. Nf1 f6. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) entered a variation which is assessed as quite uncomfortable for White. 16. Ng3. After 16. Bxf4 Nxf4 17. Qd2 fxe5 18. Rxe5 Qf6 19. Re3 Be6 20. Rae1 Rae8 White’s position deteriorated very quickly in Kasimdzhanov – Giri, 3rd HMC Calder Cup Élite, Rosmalen 2014 (maybe because in a rapid tournament): 21. Ng3 c5 22. Ne5 cxd4 23. Rf3 Qg5 24. Qb4 d3 25. Bxd3 Nxh3+ 0 : 1. 16. ... fxe5 17. Nxe5. Only relatively better is 17. Bxg6 Nxg6 18. Bg5 Qc7 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20. Rxe5 (Svidler – Anand, Candidates Tournament, Khanty-Mansiysk 2014) and now Anand ought to have capitalised on his advantage with 20. ... Rxf2!∓ remaining a clear Pawn to the good.

17. ... Qh4? Much stronger was 17. ... Qf6!→ with too many threats to meet, Antipov – Ragger, 4th World Rapid Chess Championship, Berlin 2015. 18. Bxg6 Nxg6 19. Nxg6 hxg6 20. Be3 Bc7 21. Qd2 Bxg3. The “dual” 21. ... Bxh3!? 22. gxh3 Rf3! 23. Kg2 Raf8 is obviously more unclear, but it seems that Black has enough compensation for at least a draw. On the other hand, after the text the draw follows as a matter of course. 22. fxg3 Qxg3 23. Bf2 Qd6 24. Bh4 Bd7 25. Re5 Rae8 26. Rae1 Rxe5 27. Rxe5 Re8 28. Bg3 Rxe5 29. Bxe5 Qe7 30. Qa5 Bf5 31. Qxa7 Be4 32. Qb8+ Kh7 33. Qc7 ½ : ½.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) took some risk in the opening, but not so much as to make her opponent feel like a winner. Photo: Ajedrez Salamanca via Flickr.

No, Edna, your feet don’t touch the floor when you sit on the driver’s seat and that’s okay because it means you make a difference

Artwork © alfa by night (@flpmoia)

Thoughts and Memories

Karina Szczepkowska-Cyfka – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

2nd Chess Festival Eighth Centenary 2019 of Salamanca University; time control: 40 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; Salamanca, November 27, 2019

Modern Benoni A61

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. h3 a6 8. a4 Qe7 9. Nd2. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) never abandoned her inconstant devotion to the Modern Benoni, perhaps also to exorcise a bad memory: 9. Bf4 Nbd7 10. e3 Bg7 11. Be2 0-0 12. 0-0 Rb8 13. Nd2 Ne8 14. Nc4 b6 15. Qd2 f5 16. Rfe1 Ne5 17. Bxe5 Bxe5 18. Nxe5 dxe5 19. e4 f4 20. d6 Nxd6 21. Rad1 Rd8 22. Qc2 Kg7 23. Kh2 Qh4 24. Bf1 Be6 25. Nd5 Nf7 26. g3 fxg3+ 27. fxg3 Qh5 28. Qc3 Ng5 29. Nf4 Qh6 30. Qxe5+ Kg8 31. Qc7 Rdc8 32. Qd6 Bb3 33. Rd3 c4 34. Rxb3 cxb3 35. Qd5+ Nf7 36. Bc4 Qg7 37. Re2 Rd8 38. Qe6 Re8 39. Qd7 Rbd8 40. Qb7 Rb8 41. Qa7 Qf6 42. Nd5 Qf3 43. Nf4 1 : 0 Bobrowska-Soćko – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), Women’s World Chess Championship Knockout Tournament, Khanty-Mansiysk 2012, tie-break game 2 (time control: 25minutes plus 10 seconds per move). 9. ... Nbd7 10. e4 Bg7 11. Be2 0-0 12. 0-0 Rb8 13. Nc4 Ne5 14. Nb6 Qc7!? Possibly a new move in place of 14. ... Ned7 15. Nxc8 (Shabtai – Lev, Tel Aviv 1992) and now Black should have retaken by 15. ... Rbxc8 with near equality. 15. a5 Ned7 16. Nc4 b5 17. axb6 Nxb6 18. Na5 Nbd7 19. Nc4 Ne8 20. Bf4 Rb4 21. Na2 Rb8 22. Nc3 Nb6 23. Na5 f5 24. Nc6 Ra8 25. Bg5 Bb7. Black has clearly lost the theoretical duel, and after, let’s say, something like 26. Re1! it is hard to imagine how she may get out of her bad situation. 26. Ne7+ Kh8 27. exf5 Bf6 28. Bxf6+ Nxf6 29. Nc6 gxf5. 29. ... Nbxd5!? 30. Nxd5 Qxc6 31. Ne3 gxf5 32. Bf3 Ne4 might have been a little better. Nonetheless, in the next few moves White probably let her grip relax a bit too much. 30. Bf3 Rae8 31. Qd3 Nbd7 32. Rfe1 Bxc6 33. dxc6 Ne5 34. Qd1 Nxc6 35. Rxe8 Rxe8 36. Nd5 Nxd5 37. Qxd5 Nd4 38. Rxa6 Qe7 39. Bh5? Overlooking a tactical point.

39. ... Rd8? Here 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) misses 39. ... Qg5! which wins material for Black, for if 40. Bxe8?? then 40. ... Qc1+ 41. Kh2 Ne2 with inevitable mate. 40. Ra1 Rb8 41. b4 Qf6 42. Ra8 Rxa8 43. Qxa8+ Kg7 44. bxc5 dxc5 45. Qa7+ Kh6 46. Bd1 Qe5 47. Qb6+ Kg7 48. Qb7+ Kf6 49. Qb6+ Qe6 50. Qd8+ Kg7 51. Qc7+ Kg6 52. Qxc5. By now White can even afford to leave her Bishop to its fate without running any risk of losing the game. 52. ... Qe1+ 53. Kh2 Qxd1 54. Qd6+ Kh5 55. Qd5 Kg6 56. Qd6+ Kh5 57. Qd5 Qd2 58. Qf7+ Kh6 59. Qf6+ Kh5 60. Qf7+ Kh6 61. Qf6+ Kh5 62. Qf7+ Kh6 ½ : ½.

Luck on the Line

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Ruslan Olegovich Ponomariov

2nd Chess Festival Eighth Centenary 2019 of Salamanca University; time control: 40 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; Salamanca, November 27, 2019

Spanish Game C65

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 Bg4 7. Nc4. If 7. h3 then 7. ... Bh5 8. Nf1 Nd7 9. Ng3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 g6 11. Be3 Qe7 12. 0-0-0 0-0-0 with approximate equality, Anand – Carlsen, Chennai 2013, World Chess Championship match game 7. 7. ... Nd7 8. h3 Be6. 8. ... Bh5 transposes into well-known fields; for instance: 9. g4 Bg6 10. Qe2 Qe7 11. Bd2 0-0-0 12. 0-0-0 f6 13. Ne3 Nf8 14. Nf5 Qf7 15. Kb1 Ne6 16. Be3 Rhe8 17. Bxc5 Nxc5 18. Qe3 b6 19. Rhe1 Ne6 20. d4 Bxf5 21. gxf5 Nxd4 22. Nxd4 exd4 23. Rxd4 Rxd4 24. Qxd4 Qh5 25. Qe3 g6 26. fxg6 hxg6 27. f4 Rh8 28. Rh1 g5 29. fxg5 Qxg5 30. Qf3 Kb7 31. b3 ½ : ½ Láznička – Goganov, 17th European Individual Chess Championship, Gjakova 2016. 9. Na5 Rb8. 9. ... Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Bxa5 11. Bxa5 c5 12. Bc3 f6 also seems finely balanced, Warmerdam – Swinkels, 10th BPB Limburg Open, Maastricht 2016. 10. 0-0 f6 11. Qe1 0-0 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Qxe3 c5 14. a3 c6 15. b4 Qc7 16. Nd2 b6 17. Nab3 Qd6 18. bxc5 Nxc5 19. Nxc5 bxc5 20. Rfb1 Rb6 21. a4 Rfb8 22. Rxb6 axb6 23. a5!? 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) gives up the a-Pawn in order to force a Queen ending a Pawn down, feeling confident that she would be able to save it. Quite probably 23. c4!? Rd8 24. a5! bxa5 (not 24. ... Qxd3?? on account of 25. Qxd3 Rxd3 26. axb6 Rxd2 27. b7+−) 25. Nb3= would have set White on a safer way towards a draw. 23. ... Ra8 24. Nb3. 24. a6 Bc8 must ultimately lead to the fall of the a-Pawn anyway, with little difference with respect to the game. 24. ... Bxb3 25. cxb3 Rxa5 26. Rxa5 bxa5 27. Qe2 Kf8 28. Qg4 Qxd3 29. Qc8+ Kf7 30. Qxc6 Qd4 31. g4 h6 32. Qc7+ Kg6 33. Qxa5 Qxe4 34. Qxc5 Qb1+ 35. Kg2 Qxb3 36. Qc6 Qd3 37. h4 e4 38. Qe6 Qf3+ 39. Kg1 Qf4 40. Kg2 Qe5! The best offer. 41. Qxe5?? It sounds like a curse for 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) to go into a dead lost Pawn endgame! The best and almost only move was 41. Qd7! keeping the Queens on the board with pretty good drawing chances. 41. ... fxe5 42. Kf1

42. ... h5? Luckily for 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), Ponomariov misses his big chance: 42. ... Kf6!!−+ 43. Ke2 g5! 44. h5 Ke6 45. Kd2 Kd6! winning by force. 43. gxh5+ Kf5 44. Ke1 Kg4 45. Ke2 Kf4 46. h6! The only move to save the game. 46. ... gxh6 47. h5 e3 48. f3 e4 49. fxe4 Kxe4 50. Ke1 Kf3 51. Kf1 Kg4 52. Ke2 Kf4 53. Ke1 Kf3 54. Kf1 e2+ 55. Ke1 Ke3 stalemate.

Well, there’s not much to say except that Pawn endings can be tricky. Photo: Manuel Laya/El Norte de Castilla.

No doubt, Edna, Dalí and Picasso, had they been still alive, would have begged you to pose for them at any price

Artwork © Illustrations (gkrrillo_art)

From Stage to Screen

The presentation of the 2nd Masters Tournament of Salamanca University was held today in the Palacio de Figueroa in Salamanca, Spain in the presence of the four women and four men participating, with four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and former FIDE World Chess Champion and winner of last year’s inaugural edition Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov (both pictured below) to lead the respective gender groups. Photos: CD Ajedrez Salamanca.

Centre of mass

From left: Viola Rocchini, Silvia Bertini (somewhat behind), and Olga Calamai performing in the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s summer dance show on Saturday, June 15, 2019. Photo: Stefano Marmino.

¡Hola, Edna! Do not worry about your outfits: your suitcase is safe in the lost and found at the airport

Artwork © Chola-Maria (@illustratedbychola)

A Time of Transition

Giuditta Sottili performing in the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s summer dance show on Saturday, June 15, 2019. Photo: Stefano Marmino.

Limelight

Portrait of Claire Bloom as Terry dancer with umbrella, Limelight, 1951–1952. Photo: Charlie Chaplin Archive.

Well, Edna, you’ve become a role model for replication everywhere, and you should be proud of that

既視感 (Déjà-vu)

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Jens-Uwe Maiwald
40th German Schach Bundesliga; Deizisau, November 24, 2019
Sicilian Defence B42

By a curious coincidence, just like a year ago 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) played with Jens-Uwe Maiwald, and exactly on the same day of the same month as on last year! 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Ba7 7. Qe2 Nc6 8. Be3 Nge7 9. Nc3 0-0 10. 0-0 e5 11. Bxa7 Rxa7 12. Nd5 d6 13. Qe3 Ra8. Or, alternatively, 13. ... Be6 14. Rfd1 Ra8 15. Rd2 a5 16. Nb6 Ra7 17. Bc4 (but 18. Bb5! seems more promising) 18. ... a4 18. Nc1 Nd4= Zagrebelny – Bologan, 10th Goodricke Open, Calcutta 1999. 14. c4 a5!? A pseudo-novelty, and hardly an improvement over 14. ... Nxd5 15. exd5 Ne7 16. f4 exf4 17. Rxf4 Ng6= Kinnmark – Rantanen, 2nd Eksjö Schackklubb International Tournament, Eksjö 1974. Now, who knows what 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) had in mind about it. 15. Nb6 Ra7 16. Na4 Be6 17. Rac1 Qb8. 17. ... f5!? was probably a most principled continuation. 18. Rfd1 Rd8 19. h3 h6 20. Be2 Ng6 21. Bf1 Kh8 22. Nc3 a4. Overall, Black’s last moves are quite inconclusive, and White, with energetic play all over the board, will easily take advantage of it. Hence 22. ... b6 23. Nd2 Nce7 eventually followed by ... f7-f5 might have been taken into consideration. 23. Na1 Ra8 24. Nc2 Nge7 25. Nb5 Na7 26. Nca3 Nac6 27. Rd2 b6 28. Rcd1 Nc8 29. Nc2 Na5

30. Nb4! A temporary Pawn sacrifice which allows White’s Queen to deliver her crushing blows on both wings, so as to soon end the game. 30. ... Bxc4 31. Nc6 Nxc6 32. Bxc4 Ra5 33. Qa3 Kg8 34. Qf3 Rf8 35. Qc3 Nd4. Black has to return the Pawn anyway (for if 35. .. Rd8 then 36. Bxf7+), with not even a material consolation to “compensate” for his miserable position. 36. Nxd4 exd4 37. Rxd4 Rc5 38. Qb4 b5 39. Be2 h5 40. Rd5 1 : 0. There was no sense in continuing, for White wins both material and positional victories.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), the female star of the German Bundesliga, signing the book of the town of Deizisau. Screen capture from SchachBundesliga in Deizisau 2019 Impressions Day 1/GRENKE Chess YouTube Channel.

London Black Cab

Well, I’m glad I arrived in time to bring good luck to my friend Mado Flynn on her exhibit at the 17th Oberdrauburg Christmas Market which took place in Piazza della Repubblica in Signa, Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy on Saturday, November 23 and Sunday, November 24. For myself, I will only say that the taxi ride was not quite expensive, but not quite cheap either.

Of course, Edna, it was a calculated risk you were willing to take just for the sake of making them regret their team spirit

Artwork © Dr. Purple Entertainment (@dr.purple__ent)

Not Just a Game

Giuditta played very good chess today at Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”, but so far she didn’t succeed in persuading her friends to dance her improvised choreographies. That is, but... how long can they resist?

From Time to Time

Jan Michael Sprenger – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
40th German Schach Bundesliga; Deizisau, November 23, 2019
Sicilian Defence B90

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) made today his début for OSG Baden-Baden in the 2019/2020 season of the SchachBundesliga: after some anxiety, she finally succeeded in mating her opponent, Jan Michael Sprenger, the philosopher of Schachfreunde Berlin. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e6 7. g4 Nfd7 8. Bg2 Nc6 9. Be3 Qc7 10. Qe2 b5. After 10. ... Na5 11. 0-0-0 Nc4 12. Bf4 Nde5? 13. Bg3 g5 14. h4! Black very soon fell into serious trouble, Lékó – Grischuk, 9th Tal Memorial Blitz, Sochi 2014. 11. 0-0-0!TN Bb7 12. Rhe1 Be7 13. Nd5! White offers a thematic Knight sacrifice which gives him a powerful initiative. 13. ... exd5 14. exd5 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Qd8. 15. ... Ne5 16. Bxe5 dxe5 17. d6! is quite unpleasant too. 16. Bxg7 Rg8 17. Bh6 Rg6 18. g5 Rxh6 19. gxh6 Kf8 20. f4 Bf6 21. Qg4. Just a bit of luck that White “missed” 21. Rd3! with an attack hard to meet. 21. ... Nc5 22. Be4 Bc8 23. Bf5? After this grave error Black will be able to dramatically turn tables. 23. Qg3! would still leave White with the upper hand.

23. ... Bxb2+! 24. Kb1. Or 24. Kxb2 Qf6+ winning immediately. 24. ... Bxf5 25. Qxf5 Bc3 26. Re3 Qa5 27. Rxc3 Qxc3 28. Qxh7 Re8 29. Rg1. A way as another to surrender. 29. ... Re1+ 30. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 31. Kb2 Na4+ 32. Kb3 Qc3# 0 : 1.

And thus, Edna, may you be blessed in the only home where you’ll always be welcome!

Artwork © Arte de Lux (@_artedelux_)

Nonclassical Light

From left: Matilde Guerri, Chiara Parrini, Aurora Cheli, Caterina Gaja, Emma Giuliani, and Maddalena Sottili performing in the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s summer dance show on Saturday, June 15, 2019. Photo: Stefano Marmino.

From the Other World

Saturday is coming and there’s no reason to doubt that you prefer your chess and chess960 club to be called Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” rather than “ASD Arcovazzi Scacchi”, so be on time, and be in your seat by 16,00 (4 P.M.), only just remembering to take with you a pair of clean sneakers to be used in the dance room only!

Diagram of a chess board showing algebraic notation in Howard Staunton’s “The Chess-Player’s Handbook”, 1847. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Oberdrauburg Christmas Market

Mado Flynn will be on display with her latest new creations at the 17th Mercatino di Natale di Oberdrauburg (Oberdrauburg Christmas Market), which will take place in Piazza della Repubblica in Signa, Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy on Saturday, November 23 14,00–19,00 and Sunday, November 24 10,00–19,00.

Naw, Edna, once you turned yourself into a Lego Ninjago Stone Warrior, they cannot by any means pretend to oblige you to run a relay race

Artwork © Megan Hursthouse (@meghh_art)

Butterfly Wings

From left: Arianna Settembrini, Valentina Trafeli, Olga Calamai, and Viola Rocchini performing in the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s summer dance show on Saturday, June 15, 2019. Photo: Stefano Marmino.

Elephant Memories

Jan Smeets – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
70th Corus Chess Tournament (B Group); Wijk aan Zee, January 19, 2008
French Defence C13

Notes by Grandmaster Nick de Firmian, Chess Room Newsletter #893, November 16, 2019.

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4. Smeets plays aggressively offering a Pawn sacrifice as Alekhine did long ago. 逸凡 (Yìfán) prefers to just develop.
6. ... Nc6 7. Nf3.
Ed. Note: Just one year earlier, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) had ended up entangled in the Chatard-Alekhine Attack: 7. Rh3 h6 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Qd2 Nb6 10. Rg3 Rg8 11. Nf3 a6 12. Nd1 Qf8 13. a4 a5 14. Nc3 Bd7 15. Nb5 0-0-0 16. b3 f6 17. 0-0-0 fxe5 18. dxe5 Kb8 19. Kb1 Nb4 20. Rg4 Be8 21. Bd3 Qe7 22. Bg6 Bxg6 23. Rxg6 c5 24. Qf4 Nd7 25. Qg4 Nf8 26. Rxh6 Qf7 27. Rh5 g6 28. Rg5 Nh7 29. Nd6 Qg7 30. Qxe6 Nxg5 31. Nxg5 Qc7 32. c3 Nc6 33. Qxd5 Ne7 34. Qc4 Qc6 35. Ne6 Rd7 36. Nxc5 Rc7 37. Ne6 Qxc4 38. Nxc4 Rc6 39. Rd6 Re8 40. Nxa5 Rxc3 41. Kb2 Rcc8 42. Rb6 Nd5 43. Rxb7+ Ka8 44. Rb5 Nc3 45. Rc5 Nd1+ 46. Kc2 Rxc5+ 47. Nxc5 Rxe5 48. Kxd1 Rxc5 49. Nc4 Kb7 50. Ke2 Kc6 51. f4 Kd5 52. Kf3 Rc7 53. Kg4 Rb7 54. Ne5 Rxb3 55. Nxg6 Ke6 56. Ne5 Ra3 57. h5 Kf6 58. Nd7+ Kg7 59. Nb6 Kh6 60. Kh4 Rb3 61. a5 Rb5 62. g4 Rxa5 63. g5+ Kh7 64. Kg4 Ra1 65. Nd5 Rh1 66. Nf6+ Kh8 67. Nd7 Rd1 68. Ne5 Kh7 69. Kf5 Ra1 70. Nf7 Ra5+ 71. Ke6 Kg7 72. h6+ Kg6 73. Ne5+ Kh7 74. f5 Ra6+ 75. Ke7 Ra5 76. Kd6 Ra6+ 77. Nc6 Ra8 78. Ne7 Ra1 79. Ke6 Re1+ 80. Kf7 Rg1 81. g6+ Kxh6 82. f6 Rg2 83. g7 1 : 0 E. Pähtz – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 5th North Urals Cup, Krasnoturinsk 2007.
7. ... Nb6 8. Rh3?! f6 9. Bf4 fxe5 10. Nxe5 0-0. Black has achieved a sound and devoloped position and has good chances to start the middle game.
11. Qd2 Nxe5 12. Bxe5 Nd7 13. Bf4 c5. It is important to use the Pawns to hit the center.
14. dxc5 Nxc5 15. Be3 Bd7 16. 0-0-0 Rc8 17. g4

17. ... b5! This aggressive Pawn sacrifice brings Black the initiative on the Queenside.
18. Bxb5. Ed. Note: Who knows, maybe 18. b4!? Na4! 19. Nxd5! was a better way to cash in the Pawn.
18. ... Bxb5 19. Nxb5 Ne4 20. Qe1 Qd7 21. Nd4? White already needs to be careful and this is a mistake which lets Black gain momentum. Necessary to keep the disadvantage to a minimum was 21. Qe2.
21. ... e5 22. Nf5

22. ... Rxf5! 23. gxf5 Qxf5 24. Rh2 d4 25. f3. White is in trouble. The only way to keep it close was 25. Bxd4! exd4 26. f3 Qf4+ 27. Rdd2 Nd6! 28. Qxe7? Re8.
Ed. Note: 25. Bd2?? Rxc2+! 26. Kxc2 Nc5+ would blunder into a smothered mate.

25. ... Nc3! 26. Bxd4. 26. bxc3 Ba3+ 27. Kb1 Rb8+ 28. Ka1 Bb2+ 29. Kb1 Bxc3+.
26. ... Nxd1 27. Bxe5 Nf2! 28. Rxf2 Bxh4 29. Bc3 Qf7 30. Kb1 Rf8. Black wins the Exchange because of the pin and has a technically winning position. It takes a while, but there is no escape for Smeets.
31. a4 a6 32. Bb4 Bxf2 33. Qxf2 Qxf3 34. Qc5 Rd8 35. b3 Qd5 36. Qc7 Re8 37. Bc3 Qf7 38. Qc6 Qg6 39. Qd5+ Kh8 40. Qd7 Rf8 41. b4 h5 42. b5 axb5 43. axb5 Rf2 44. Qc8+ Kh7 45. Bd4 Rd2 46. Qc3 Rd1+ 47. Kb2 Qg5 48. Qc4 Qf4 49. c3 h4 50. Qd5 Qc1+ 51. Kb3 Qb1+ 52. Ka3 Qa1+ 53. Kb4 Rb1+ 54. Kc5 Qa7+ 55. Kd6 Qb8+ 56. Ke7 Qc7+ 57. Ke6 Re1+ 58. Be5 Rxe5+! 0 : 1. The Black h-Pawn queens and then skewers the newly queened b-Pawn on b8.