Okay, okay, Edna, enough — may you indeed have a happy new year!

Artwork © by Letizia Lemme (@lemmelove_)

Dancing the Night Away

All is set for the finals of the 1st “机器人谷杯” (“Robot Valley Cup”) China City Chess League, which will take place in the tropical enchantment of 棋子湾 (Qízǐ Bay), 昌江黎族自治县 (Chāngjiāng Lí Autonomous County), 海南省 (Hǎinán Island), China from January 1–3, 2021. Eight cities, namely (in alphabetical order): 成都 (Chéngdū), 海口 (Hǎikǒu), 杭州 (Hángzhōu), 济南 (Jǐnán), 青岛 (Qīngdǎo), 上海 (Shànghǎi), 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), and 苏州 (Sūzhōu) will compete for victory and cash prizes. Among the participants — many, if not most, of the most prominent Chinese Grandmasters — the island is graced with the presence of four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) — pictured above with her 济南 (Jǐnán) teammates, from left to right: 卢尚磊 (Lú Shànglěi), 黄仁杰 (Huáng Rénjié), and 温阳 (Wēn Yáng). Time control is 30 minutes plus 15 seconds per move. Photo: Sina Sports.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) is being interviewed backstage at the grand opening of the 1st “机器人谷杯” (“Robot Valley Cup”) China City Chess League at 开元度假村 (Kāiyuán Resort) in 棋子湾 (Qízǐ Bay) on Thursday evening, December 31, 2020. Screenshot and video courtesy of Hainan TV Channel.

The Queen’s Twin

Her Majesty’s of China, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), a four-time Woman’s World Chess Champion and a Rhodes Scholar, as well as the youngest Women’s World Chess Champion ever at 16 and the youngest University Professor ever at 26, is, mutatis mutandis, the one and only nemesis of Beth Harmon, the fictional anti-heroine of Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit. Photo: Jujube Planet.

Well, Edna, let’s just hope that next year will be better than this year

Artwork © Lilian Sinicio Letrinta (@lilianletrinta)

Like leaves on autumn trees

Because it was Christmas Day, the dead leaves were turned into gifts. Photo: Matilde Guerri.

Up to Date

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 白金石 (Bái Jīnshí)
51st Chinese Chess Championship; 兴化 (Xīnghuà), December 30, 2020
Slav Defence D10

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bf4 e6 6. e3 Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8. Bd3 0-0 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. 0-0 Bd7 11. Rc1 Rac8 12. a3 a6 13. h3 Rc7 14. e4!?TN (14. Qe2 Rfc8 15. Rc2 h6 16. Rfc1 Na5 17. e4 dxe4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Qxe4 f5 20. Qe1 Rxc2 21. Rxc2 Rxc2 22. Bxc2 Nc6 23. Qc3 Be8 24. Bb3 Bh5 25. Qe3 Bxf3 26. Qxe6+ Qxe6 27. Bxe6+ Kf8 28. gxf3 Nxd4 29. Bc8 b6 30. Bxa6 Nxf3+ 31. Kf1 Ke7 32. Bc8 g6 33. Kg2 Nd4 34. Kf1 Kd6 35. Ke1 Ke5 ½ : ½ Belov – Matlakov, 17th Russian Team Chess Championship Premiere League, Dagomys 2010) 14. ... dxe4 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 h6

17. d5 exd5 18. Bxd5 Be6 19. Bxc6 Rxc6 20. Rxc6 Qxc6 21. Nd4 Qb6 22. Nxe6 Qxe6 23. Re1 Qb6 24. Qc2 Qd6 25. Qd1 Qb6 26. Qc2 Qd6 27. Qd1 Qb6 28. Qc2 ½ : ½.

Well, they are the Champs: 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) (♀) and 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) (♂). Photo: Chinese Chess Association.

But a Lady in White is the superstar of superstars: 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) from 上海 (Shànghǎi), a three-time Women’s World Chess Champion, finished at 4th place in the men’s field with a score of 6/11 — quite an unprecedented result for a debutant, and something which echoes the flamboyant “past” of world’s woman No. 1 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), who was the first girl to ever be admitted to the all-gender Championship (uninterruptedly from 2009 to 2014). Photo: Chinese Chess Association.

Yeah, Edna, whenever she takes a selfie with him and posts it on the Internet, it is almost as though she regretted being the woman whose kiss turned a toad into a bullfrog prince who now claims to be her betrothed

Artwork © Nico (@yokeeto)

Four Dancers

Today Viola celebrated a delayed Christmas Day along with Anna, Emma, Federica and Giulia, four dancers of the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” who diligently kept taking her online dance classes every week: “Hi Alessandra, our pretty girls wanted to meet me to give me a Christmas gift. Thus, during a one hour interlude from the incessant rain we met in Piazza Fardella, and they handed me a book shaped lamp and a voucher to spend at Tezenis. I brought to each of them a gift bag of chocolates, and then we ate and drank outside in the square — mini pizzas and Estathé. They are all well and greet you”, she wrote. Photos: Viola Rocchini.

Classical mechanics

林艺 (Lín Yì) – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
51st Chinese Chess Championship; 兴化 (Xīnghuà), December 29, 2020
Slav Defence D10

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Bf4 Nc6 5. e3 Nf6 6. Nc3 a6 7. Be2 Bf5 8. Nf3 e6 9. Qb3 Nh5. Black sacrifices two Pawns in exchange for a perfect dynamic balance, which may suggest it being a home-made variation. Another continuation is 9. ... Bb4 10. Ne5 Qa5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. 0-0 Bxc3 13. bxc3 0-0 14. Qb4 Qd8 15. Rfc1 a5 16. Qa3 Qb6 17. Qb3 Qd8 18. Qa3 Qb6 19. Qb3 ½ : ½ 林艺 (Lín Yì) – Stefánsson, 6th International Chess Open, Graz 2019. 10. Qxb7. Alea iacta est. A previous game had continued 10. Bg5 Qc7 11. Ne5 h6 12. Bh4 Nxe5 13. dxe5 g5 14. Bxh5 gxh4 15. 0-0 Be7 16. Qa4+ Kf8 17. Qf4 Qc4 18. Qxc4 dxc4 19. Rfd1 Rd8 20. Rxd8+ Bxd8 21. Bf3 b5 22. Bb7 Bc7 23. f4 Ke7 24. Bxa6 Bb6 25. Kf2 Rd8 26. Re1 ½ : ½ Ryzhkov – Gnilka, ICCF Veterans World Cup 7 – Semifinal 02, by correspondence, 2016. 10. ... Na5 11. Qc7 Nxf4 12. Qxd8+ Rxd8 13. exf4 Rb8 14. 0-0-0 Bb4 15. Bd3. If 15. Nh4 Black can reply 15. ... Bxc3 16. bxc3 Be4 17. f3 Bb1 18. Rd2 Nc4 19. Bxc4 dxc4 20. Rb2 Rxb2 21. Kxb2 Bd3 followed by ... Ke8-d7 with a pretty dynamic balance. 15. ... Bg4 16. Bxa6 Bxf3 17. gxf3. It is no wonder that at least one of White’s extra Pawns, being one of triple Pawns, turns out to be meaningless. 17. ... Bxc3 18. bxc3 Rb6 19. Bd3 Ke7 20. Kc2 Rc8. White is two Pawns up, but can’t free himself in any way.

21. Rc1. The third Pawn would be indigestible: 21. Bxh7?? Nc4−+ with winning threats. 21. ... g6 22. Kd2 Rb2+ 23. Rc2 Rb6 24. Rcc1 Rb2+ 25. Rc2 Rb6 26. Rcc1 ½ : ½.

Well, alright, Edna; maybe it was a little more, but at least on feast days you ought not to measure everything in terms of milliliters of alcohol and calories per gram of sugar

Artwork © Mrs.Crafty 🎀 (@mrs.crafty.1)

Glass Half Full

Because it was Christmas Day, the noon dinner included two fingers of red wine into the chalice. Photo: Matilde Guerri.

Or Else

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) – 倪诗群 (Ní Shīqún)
44th Chinese Women’s Chess Championship; 兴化 (Xīnghuà), December 28, 2020
Caro-Kann Defence B14

1. c4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Qb3 e6 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. c5 Bg7 9. Bb5 0-0. The immediate 9. ... Ne4 can turn, by transposition, into the following game: 10. Bf4 0-0 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. 0-0 f6 13. Rfe1 g5 with good play for Black, Tsotsonava – Ferkova, 37th World Junior Chess Championship Girls U-20, New Delhi 2019. 10. 0-0 Ne4 11. Rd1 Bd7 12. Bf4 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Na5 14. Qa4 Bxb5 15. Qxb5 Re8 (15. ... b6!?) 16. Ne5 Re7 (16. ... b6!?) 17. Ng4 Rd7 18. h4 Nc6 19. Bg5 f6 20. Bf4 h5 (20. ... f5!? 21. Bg5 Qf8) 21. Ne3

21. ... Kf7. Black’s “self-defence by the King” is a harbinger of difficulty. Probably better is 21. ... Qe8 22. Bd6 Qf7 to be followed by ... Bg7-f8 or ... e6-e5. 22. Rab1 Bf8 23. Rb3 Rc8 24. Qe2 Na5 25. Rb5 b6 26. Re1? White ought to play here 26. g4! hxg4 27. Re1 Rc6 transposing to the game. The text gives Black an opportunity to escape her doom. 26. ... Rc6? (26. ... bxc5!∞)

27. g4! hxg4 28. Rxa5! bxa5 29. Nxg4 Rb7? (29. ... Bg7! 30. h5! gxh5 31. Ne3↑) 30. Qf3! Be7?! Only a little better is 30. ... Bg7 to which there would follow 31. Nc4+− with destructive threats such as h4-h5, Ne3-c4-d6+, and c3-c4. 31. h5! Qh8. Neither 31. ... g5 32. Qd3+− nor 31. ... gxh5 32. Nh6++− are of any use. 32. Bg3 Kg7 33. Ne5! Rc8 34. Nxg6 Qg8 35. Nf4 Kf7 36. Nxe6 Rd7 37. Qf5 1 : 0.

Thus it was 16th Women’s World Chess Champion 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) who “seized the day” in Monday’s clash at the top of the 44th Chinese Women’s Chess Championship. Photo: Chinese Chess Association.

A Dance with Dragons

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 黄仁杰 (Huáng Rénjié)
51st Chinese Chess Championship; 兴化 (Xīnghuà), December 28, 2020
Sicilian Defence B31

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. 0-0 Bg7 5. c3 Nf6 6. Re1 0-0 7. d4 d5 8. e5 Ne4 9. Be3!? Qb6 (9. ... cxd4 10. cxd4 f6 11. h3!) 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Qc1 c4. The alternative is 11. ... Rb8 12. b3 Qa5 13. dxc5 Rxb3 14. axb3 Qxa1 15. b4 Qa4 16. Nd4 Bxe5 17. f3 Nf6 18. Qa3 Qxa3 19. Nxa3 with compensation for the Pawn, Caruana – Dubov, 82nd Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 2020. 12. Nbd2 Nxd2 13. Nxd2 Bf5 14. b3 Qa6!? A novelty in place of 14. ... Bd3 15. Qa3 Rfe8 16. Qa4 (is there anything better?) 16. ... Qb5 with near equality, Alekseev – Vokhidov, 1st Mukhtar Ismagambetov Memorial, chess.com, June 26, 2020 (time control: 3 minutes plus 1 second per move). 15. Bg5 f6 16. Bf4 fxe5 (16. ... g5!? 17. Bg3 Bd3 18. Nf3⩲) 17. Bxe5 Bh6 18. bxc4 dxc4 19. f4 c5

20. Nf3. Of course 20. dxc5 at once is also good: 20. ... Qc6 21. Nf3 Qxc5+ 22. Nd4 with a dominating position. 20. ... Rad8? This, however, seems tantamount to breakdown. Black has nothing better than 20. ... cxd4, though after 21. Nxd4 followed by Qc1-e3 White stands much better. 21. dxc5 Qc6 22. Qe3 Rd3 23. Qf2 Be4 (23. ... Bg4 24. Nd4 Qxc5 25. Qh4+−) 24. Nd4 Qd5 25. Qe2 Bf5

26. c6 Bc8 27. Qf2 Rxc3 28. Nf5 Rxf5 29. Bxc3 Rxf4. Not good, but the endgame arising from 29. ... Bxf4 30. Qd4 Qxd4+ 31. Bxd4 offers no hope either. 30. Qe2 Rf5 (30. ... Qxc6 31. Qe5+−) 31. Rad1 Qxc6 32. Qxe7 Bb7 33. Rd8+ Rf8 (33. ... Bf8 34. Qg7#) 34. Rxf8+ Bxf8 35. Qe2 Bc8 36. Qe5 Qc5+ 37. Kf1 Qxe5 38. Rxe5 Bf5 39. Ra5 Bd6 40. g3 Kf8 41. Rxa7 h5 42. a4 Ke8 43. a5 Be4 44. a6 Kd8 45. Rg7 Kc8 46. a7 Bc5 47. Rg8+ 1 : 0.

No doubt 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) took the challenge to try it. Photo: Chinese Chess Association.

Well, Edna, let’s just wait for the new year to come, as only then a prince disguised as a toad will rescue you before the Befana gets you

Artwork © Zere

A Line

Because it was Christmas Day, there were not only biscuits and dry pastries, but also almonds and walnuts. Photo: Matilde Guerri.

By Heart

许翔宇 (Xǔ Xiángyǔ) – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
51st Chinese Chess Championship; 兴化 (Xīnghuà), December 27, 2020
Four Knights Game C48

The 51st Chinese Chess Championship has resumed after the day off. In round eight, 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), playing Black, has picked up half a point in a partie sans événements. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. Bc4 Bc5 6. Nxe5 Qe7 7. Nf3 d5 8. Nxd5. Theoretically speaking, 8. Bxd5 is much more critical for the evaluation of the whole variation, but apparently 许翔宇 (Xǔ Xiángyǔ) is not interested in opening debates. 8. ... Qxe4+ 9. Ne3 Bg4 10. Be2 Nxe2 11. Qxe2 0-0-0 12. d3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Qxf3 14. gxf3 Rhe8 15. 0-0. If 15. Rg1 then 15. ... g6 16. Kf1 Re6 17. Bd2 Nh5 18. Bc3 Nf4 19. Rg4 Bxe3 20. fxe3 Nd5 winning back the Pawn with equality, Mijović – Todorović, 23rd “Belgrade Trophy”, Belgrade 2009. 15. ... Nd5 16. Re1 Re6!? A new move, or maybe only a new move order. A previous game continued 16. ... Nf4 17. Bd2 Re6 18. Ng4 Ne2+ 19. Kf1 Nd4 with more or less equality, Nandhidhaa – Pratyusha, 32nd World Junior Chess Championship Girls U-20, Pune 2014. 17. Ng2 Rxe1+ 18. Nxe1 Re8 19. Kf1 Bd6 20. h3 Re5 21. c4 Nb4 22. Be3 Rh5 23. Kg2 c5

24. d4 cxd4 25. Bxd4 Be5 26. Bxe5 Rxe5 27. Kf1 Rh5 28. Kg2 Rg5+ 29. Kf1 Rh5 30. Kg2 Rg5+ 31. Kf1 ½ : ½.

Let’s go to sleep now, Edna, and please don’t wake me before noon

Credit: ColorGround

Winter Holidays

Matilde, a bright dancer of Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”, just returned from her university studies in Bologna to spend holidays with her family, just in time to immortalise Christmas Day in her black and white pictures. Photo: Matilde Guerri.

An Armor of Ice

Three-time Russian Women’s Chess Champion Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina gave an in-depth interview to the press attaché of the Russian Chess Federation, speaking on many topics, such as personal interests, good times, memories and expectations — which was quite unusual for her. The integral interview is available in English and Russian, and of course it’s worth reading in full. Just to excerpt a few lines here, it may be interesting to know how she felt about losing her Women’s World Chess Championship match to 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) in a dramatic tie-breaker: “It took me quite a while to come around after the match with 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn). I think that even if there was no pandemic, it would still be necessary to take a break, come to your senses and take stock of what is going on. I was just trying to recollect myself”. But the pandemic was there, and cancelled all her dates. She had an invitation to the 53rd Biel International Chess Festival, but no way to get there; then she was due to take part in the Women’s World Chess Cup at Minsk in September, but it was eventually cancelled: “In general, I never stopped preparing for tournaments, but it so happened that they either would not take place, or I would not make it there”, she said. And what’s about The Queen’s Gambit, Netflix’s hit drama? “To be honest, I am not a fan of chess-related movies. There is no lack of chess in my life, and the last thing I want to see is more chess. So I try to choose TV series or movies as a way to distract myself”, she answered. And finally, who’s her chess hero? Needless to say, she said, “I’ve never had any idols”. And so on — you can read more here. Photo © David Llada.

A Separation

13th World Chess Champion Garry Kimovich Kasparov announced the death of his mother December 25 in a concise tweet: “With great sorrow I share the news of the passing of my mother, Klara Shagenovna Kasparova. My role model, my greatest champion, my wise counsel, and the strongest person I will ever know. I love you, Mama”. Similarly to other mothers in chess history, Mrs. Kasparova mentored his son far beyond his professional carreer, always accompanying him even when they had to part from each other for safety reasons. Photo: Garry Kimovich Kasparov (@Kasparov63).

What have I told you, Edna? The more they insist on her, the more they prove you to be transcendent and universal

Photo © MM (@moggymummy)

High Five

On Christmas Day, China Media Group just released the top ten domestic sports news of 2020. At number five it is the story of 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) being crowned for the third time as Women’s World Chess Champion.

The Science of Sweets

Subjectivity is overrated, so just take for granted that Viola’s Christmas biscuits are the most tasty. Photo: Viola Rocchini.

Undertale

张睿 (Zhāng Ruì) – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
51st Chinese Chess Championship; 兴化 (Xīnghuà), December 25, 2020
Scotch Game C45

Usually, in most cases, a draw with Black is regarded as a reasonably satisfactory result, but 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) might well regret having been the only one to draw a game with the unrated participant 张睿 (Zhāng Ruì), who, so far, had always lost. It’s not given to know what his presence actually means, as it is an unprecedented exception to Chinese strict hierarchical rules. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Bc4 0-0 8. 0-0 Bb6 9. Kh1 d6 10. Na3 Qg6 11. Nxc6!? A novelty with little to offer White. A previous game went 11. f3 Kh8 12. Nac2 f5 13. exf5 (13. Nb5!?⩲) 13. ... Nxf5 14. Nxf5 Bxf5 15. Nd4 Ne5= Jodorcovsky – Dos Santos, 39th Argentine Junior Chess Championship, San Rafael 1992. 11. ... bxc6 12. Re1 Be6 13. f4 Bxe3 14. Rxe3 Bxc4. 14. ... d5!? seems also good with a pretty equal game. 15. Nxc4 f5 16. Qb3 Qf7 17. Na5 c5 18. Rae1 Qxb3 19. axb3 Rab8 20. g3 h5 21. exf5 Nxf5 22. Re4 Rb6 23. Kg2 Ra6 24. Ra4 Rb6 25. Rae4 g6 26. h3 Ra6 27. Ra4 Rb8 28. g4 hxg4 29. hxg4 Nh6 30. Kg3 Rxb3 31. Re8+ Kg7 32. Nxb3 Rxa4

33. Re7+ Nf7 (33. ... Kf8! 34. Rxc7 g5!=) 34. Rxc7 Also after 34. g5!? Ra2 35. Rxc7 Rxb2 36. Na5 Kf8 Black should apparently be able to hold on to a draw. 34. ... g5!= 35. fxg5 Kg6 36. Nd2 (36. Rd7 Rxg4+!=) 36. ... Nxg5 37. Rc6 Nf7 38. b4 cxb4 39. cxb4 Rxb4 40. Nc4 Rb3+ 41. Kf4 Rd3 42. Ke4 Rd1 43. Ra6 Kg5 44. Rxa7 d5+ 45. Ke3 Nh6 46. Ke2 Rd4 47. Ne3 Nxg4 48. Rg7+ Kh5 49. Rxg4 Rxg4 50. Nxg4 Kxg4 51. Kd3 Kf5 52. Kd4 Ke6 53. Kd3 ½ : ½.

🎁

Although limited in number, Christmas Day at Rocchini family house is always a harbinger of joy and festivities; thus Viola, inspired by her thoughts and fantasies about the year to come, equipped her mom with useful, practical gifts that will make her life less gloomy. Photo: Viola Rocchini.

Well, Edna, there is one possibility that for this one time only he will close an eye and let you sew for him in the back of the boutique

Artwork © Clare Butler Creative (@clarebutlercreative)

Blowin’ in the Wind

Just before midnight the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” whispered its Christmas wishes in four verses by Alda Merini, accompanying them with Mado Flynn’s handmade decorations. And of course it’s not only because “Merry Christmas” would sound like mockery.

Nearer by Far

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 温阳 (Wēn Yáng)
51st Chinese Chess Championship; 兴化 (Xīnghuà), December 24, 2020
Semi-Slav Defence D45

In round six, 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) finally scored her first win, beating 温阳 (Wēn Yáng) in quite a brilliant manner. 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 b6 7. Be2 Bb7 8. 0-0 Bd6 9. Rd1 0-0 10. e4 Nxe4 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Qxe4 Qc7 13. Bd3 g6 14. Qh4 Rfe8. Much better seems 14. ... c5, as recently played in Mamedyarov – Duda, Grand Prix 2019, 2nd stage, Riga 2019, tie-break game 1 (time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move). 15. Ng5 Nf6!? Definitely an improvement on 15. ... Nf8 16. Ne4 Be7 17. Bg5 Bxg5 (17. ... c5 18. dxc5 bxc5 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. Qxe7 Rxe7 21. Nxc5 Rc8 22. b4 Rxc5 23. bxc5 Nd7 24. Be2 Nxc5 25. Rab1 Ba6 26. Kf1 h5 27. Rd6 Rc7 28. Rb8+ Kg7 29. Ke1 Kf6 30. Rb4 Ke7 31. Rd2 Ne4 32. Rc2 Nc5 33. h4 Rd7 34. Rd2 Rc7 35. f3 Rc8 36. a3 f5 37. Kf2 Rc7 38. Ke3 Kf6 39. g3 Ke5 40. Rd8 Rg7 41. f4+ Kf6 42. Rf8+ Ke7 43. Rbb8 1 : 0 Myć – De Wachter, 36th World Junior Chess Championship, Żagań 1997) 18. Qxg5 Red8 19. Nf6+ Kh8 20. Be4 Nd7 21. h4 Qd6 22. c5 Qf8 23. Bf3 Nxf6 24. Qxf6+ Qg7 25. Qf4 Rd7 26. Rd2 Kg8 27. Rc1 Rc8 28. b4 b5 29. Re1 Rcd8 30. Re5 Qf8 31. h5 Qg7 32. Bd1 Bc8 33. Bc2 Rb7 34. h6 Qf8 35. Bb3 Rbd7 36. g4 Rb7 37. g5 Rbd7 38. Re4 Bb7 39. Qf6 Re8 40. Rde2 Bc8 41. a4 Bb7 42. Rf4 Rde7 43. Re5 a6 44. a5 Bc8 45. Re3 Bd7 46. Qe5 Rc8 47. Bc2 Rce8 48. Bxg6 hxg6 1 : 0 Kasparov – De Poi, 20-board simultaneous exhibition, Asiago 1991.

16. c5!? White gives up a Pawn for the initiative. 16. ... bxc5 17. dxc5 Bxc5 18. Bf4 e5 (18. ... Qb6!? 19. Bc4 Rad8) 19. Be3 Bxe3?? An incomprehensible mistake which opens the f-file for White’s Rook, thus making her attack irresistible. 19. ... Be7! 20. Bc4 Rf8 was a tougher defence, although after 21. b4!↑ White retains the upper hand. 20. fxe3+− Qb6 21. Bc4 Qxe3+ 22. Kh1 Kg7 23. Rf1 Qd4

24. Ne4! Qxe4. Likewise, if 24. ... Qxc4 then 25. Qxf6+ Kg8 (25. ... Kh6 26. Nd6+−) 26. Qh4 with overwhelming attack. 25. Qxf6+ Kh6 26. Bxf7 Rf8 27. Rae1 Qg4 28. Re3 c5 29. Rg3 Qh5 30. Kg1. Sic et simpliciter. 30. ... Bc8 31. Rff3 e4 32. Rh3 Bxh3 33. Rxh3 Qxh3 34. gxh3 Rad8 35. Qe7 Rd1+ 36. Kf2 Rfd8 37. Bc4 R8d2+ 38. Ke3 1 : 0.

Sure, Edna, sure. The more they offer her glamorous roles in new films, the more they steal your physique du rôle, the more they make you unique, the more resolute they make the world to take the crown back at your feet, no matter how much time it takes

Courtesy of Cartoons Serbia Wiki

From the Easy Chair

余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
51st Chinese Chess Championship; 兴化 (Xīnghuà), December 23, 2020
English Opening A28

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. a3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Qc2 Be7 7. e3 a6 8. Nxd5 Qxd5 9. Bd3 Be6 10. Be4 Qd6 11. b4 Bd5 12. Bb2 Rd8 13. Rc1 Qe6!?TN (13. ... Bxe4 14. Qxe4 Qe6 15. h3 f6 16. d4 f5 17. Rxc6 bxc6 18. Qxe5 Qb3 19. Qxg7 Rf8 20. Qxh7 Qxb2 ½ : ½ Dahlström – Isigkeit, 60yearsBdF-WSSF02, by correspondence, 2009) 14. Bf5 Qd6 15. 0-0 g6. Black could win a Pawn with 15. ... Bxf3 16. gxf3 Qxd2, but after 17. Qb1!? Qd5 18. Be4 Qe6 19. Kg2 White should get enough compensation for it — or else win it back. 16. e4 Ba2 17. Bh3 0-0 18. Bc3 Bc4 19. Rfe1 b5 20. Qb2 f6 21. g3 a5! Black has fully equalised.

What follows is the predictable outcome of a game correctly played by both sides: 22. Bf1 Bxf1 23. Kxf1 axb4 24. Bxb4 Nxb4 25. axb4 Qxb4 26. Qa2+ Rf7 27. Rxc7 Qa3 28. Qxa3 Bxa3 29. Rc6 Rb8 30. Rb1 Bf8 31. d3 b4 32. Nd2 Kg7 33. Ke2 Ra7 34. Rb2 h5 35. h4 Rb5 36. Nb3 Kf7 37. Rbc2 Rbb7 38. f4

38. ... Ra3 39. Rb2 Rba7 40. Ke3 Ra2 41. Rxa2 Rxa2 42. Nd2 Bh6 43. Nc4 Rh2 44. Rc7+ Kg8 45. Rc8+ Kf7 46. Rc7+ Kg8 47. Rc8+ ½ : ½.

Today 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) scored another draw. She drew four of her first five games so far. Photo: Chinese Chess Association.

Yeah, Edna, they are too proud to admit a mistake and too haughty to beg you for mercy, but deep in their heart they know that that role wasn’t for her

Artwork © Amy Shimizu

Queen’s Road East

People queue on September 1, 1961 to be vaccinated against cholera in front of a medical centre next to the 舊灣仔郵政局 (Old Wan Chai Post Office) in 香港 (Hong Kong), which was at the time a Crown Colony. Photo: AFP.

Nash equilibrium

Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina

1st European Online Women’s Chess Club Cup; time control: 15 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; Tornelo, December 22, 2020

Spanish Game C65

Three-time Russian Women’s Chess Champion Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina, at her début on first board for the Cercle d’Échecs de Monte-Carlo, led her club to victory in the inaugural European Online Women’s Chess Club Cup, which took place online through Tornelo platform from December 19–22, 2020. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. 0-0 Nd4 6. Be3 Nxf3+ 7. Qxf3 Bxe3 8. Qxe3 0-0 9. Bc4 d6 10. Nd2 c6 11. Bb3 Be6. Or 11. ... a5 12. a4 Be6 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. Qe2 Qc7 15. c3 Nd7 16. g3 h6 17. Kg2 Rf7 18. d4 exd4 19. cxd4 d5 20. Ra3 Qb6 with roughly even chances, Nakamura – Karjakin, 5th Grand Chess Tour, 1st stage, Côte d’Ivoire Rapid, Abidjan 2019 (time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move). 12. f4? White ought to play here 12. Bxe6, likewise to the game mentioned in note. 12. ... Ng4 13. Qg3 Qb6+ 14. Kh1 Bxb3 15. axb3 (15. Nxb3 Ne3 16. Rf2 a5⩱) 15. ... Ne3 16. Rfc1

16. ... f5! 17. fxe5 dxe5 18. h3? (18. Nf3 Rae8⩱↑) 18. ... f4 19. Qf3 Rae8 20. Ra4

20. ... Re6! The Rook heads to the g-file with disruptive intentions. White cannot do much about it. 21. Nc4 Nxc4 22. Rxc4 Rg6 23. Rf1 Rg3 24. Qf2 Qd8 25. d4 (25. Qxa7?? Qg5 26. Qf2 f3−+) 25. ... Qg5 Equally strong was 25. ... Qh4! threatening both f4-f3 and Rg3xh3+. 26. Kh2 Rf6 27. Rc3 Re3. Black might also play 27. ... exd4 28. Rf3 Rg6 followed by ... Rg3xf3 and liquidation to a won King and Pawn ending a Pawn up. 28. d5 Rxe4 29. dxc6 bxc6 30. Qxa7 Re2 31. Rf2 Rxf2 32. Qxf2 e4 33. Qc5 Qxc5 34. Rxc5 Re6 35. Kg1 e3 36. Kf1 Rd6 37. c4 Rd1+ 38. Ke2 Rd2+ 39. Kf3 Rf2+ 40. Kg4 Kf7 41. Re5 Kf6 42. Re8 g5 43. b4 Rxg2+ 44. Kf3 Rxb2 45. h4 h6 46. hxg5+ hxg5 47. Rf8+ Ke7 48. Rf5 Rf2+ 49. Kg4 e2 50. Re5+ Kd7 51. b5 cxb5 52. cxb5 f3 53. b6 Kc6 54. Re6+ Kb7 0 : 1.