Being and Time

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
2nd Cairns Cup; Saint Louis, February 7, 2020
Russian Defence C42

This is Muzychuk’s first time in Saint Louis, while instead 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) put her foot here three years ago to take part in the inaugural Fall Chess Classic. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Qd2 Be6 9. 0-0-0 Qd7 10. h3 h6 11. Kb1. If 11. b3 then 11. ... Bf6 12. g4 0-0-0 13. Bg2 Kb8 14. Rhe1 Rhe8 15. Kb2 a6 16. Re2 Qe7 17. Rde1 Qf8 18. Nd4 Nxd4 19. Bxd4 Bxd4 20. Qxd4 Bd7 21. f4 Rxe2 22. Rxe2 Re8 23. Rxe8+ Bxe8= Carlsen – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 2016. 11. ... 0-0-0 12. Nd4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Rhg8 14. Qe3!? A novelty. On the other hand, 14. Be2 c5 15. Be3 Qa4 16. b3 Qa3 17. Bg4 Bf6 18. Qd3 Rge8 19. Rhe1 d5 20. Bf4 Qa5 was quite balanced as well, McShane – Mastrovasilis, 17th European Rapid Chess Championship, Katowice 2017. 14. ... a6 15. c4 Kb8 16. Qc3 g6 17. Be2 Qc6 18. h4 h5. 18. ... Qxg2?? 19. Bf3 costs the Queen. 19. b3 Bg4 20. Bxg4 hxg4 21. g3 Rde8 22. h5 gxh5 23. Rxh5 Qe4 24. Be3 Rg6! 25. Re1

25. ... Bf6! That is the pointe of 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)’s previous move, for now after 26. Ba7+ Kxa7 27. Rxe4 Rxe4 28. Qd2 Bd4 Black would obtain an immediate and satisfying compensation for the Queen. 26. Qd3 Kc8 27. Kc1 Kd7 28. Kd2 Qxd3+ 29. cxd3 c5= 30. Reh1 Be5 31. Rh7 Re7 32. a4 Rge6 33. R7h6 Rxh6 34. Rxh6 f5 35. Rh5 Rf7 36. Rg5 Ke7 37. Ke2 Rf8 38. Rh5 Ke6 39. Rh6+ Ke7 40. Rh5 ½ : ½.

Here they are at the end of a long journey through the barricades. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club.