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.