Beyond Spacetime

Karina Cyfka – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

2nd Online Chess Olympiad Playoff; China – Poland; Quarterfinal match game 2; time control: 15 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; chess.com, September 13, 2021

Nimzo-Indian Defence E52

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 0-0 5. Bd2 b6 6. Nf3 Bb7 7. Bd3 d5 8. cxd5 exd5 9. 0-0 Bd6 10. Qb1 Re8 11. b4 Ne4 12. Be1. A cautious move, and probably a novelty. In a previous game play continued 12. Nb5 Bf8 13. Rc1 a6 14. a3 c5 15. bxc5 bxc5 16. dxc5 Naxc5 17. Bb4 Qb6 with reasonable chances for both colours, Stern – Dragun, 34th German Schach Bundesliga, Bochum 2014. 12. ... Nd7 13. a3 a6 14. Qa2 Ndf6 15. Rc1 Re6 16. h3 h6 17. Nd2 Nxc3 18. Rxc3 Re7 19. Rc1 Qd7 20. Qb3

20. ... Ne4! 21. Nxe4? This gives Black a powerful attack, which was what she aimed at. White ought to play either 21. f3 or perhaps better still 21. f4 with chances to hold. 21. ... dxe4 22. Bc4?! 22. Be2 Rae8 also leaves Black with an ideal attacking formation, but at least it saves a tempo for White. 22. ... b5 23. Be2

23. ... Bd5! 24. Qb2. Of course the Bishop is taboo because of the loss of the Queen after ... Bd6-h2+. 24. ... c6 25. Qc2 Rae8 26. Bd2 Bb8. Both sides have a pair of Bishops, but how different in power! 27. Rfe1 Qd6 28. g3 Qg6 29. Bf1. If 29. Kh2 then Black can play 29. ... f5 and the attack continues. 29. ... Re6 30. Bg2 h5. In spite of the time control, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) has no difficulty in carrying out her assault on the White King. 31. h4 Qf5 32. Qd1 Rf6 33. Rf1 Bd6 34. Qe2 Rg6. No doubt the Bishop on d5 is much more worth than merely an Exchange. 35. Rc2 Be7. Threatening 36. ... Bxh4 37. gxh4 Qh3 with mating attack. 36. Kh2 Bd6 37. Kg1 Ree6 38. Rfc1 Bc7 39. Be1 Rh6 40. Kh2 Qf6 41. Kg1

41. ... g5! 42. hxg5 Qxg5 43. f4. White moves quickly to checkmate, but there was no defence against all Black’s threats. 43. ... exf3 44. Bxf3 Rxe3 45. Bd2 Bxf3 46. Qxe3 Qxg3+ 47. Kf1 Qg2+ 48. Ke1 Re6 0 : 1.

Once again four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) proved to be one who makes a difference, dragging her team to the semifinals of the 2nd Online Chess Olympiad. Screenshot from the live stream.