Friday, September 16, 2022

Around the World in One-Half Day

李雪怡 (Lǐ Xuěyí) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
17th Chinese Chess League Division A Regular-Standard “武陵山大裂谷杯” (“Wǔlíng Mountain Great Rift Valley Cup”); time control: 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move; 重庆 (Chóngqìng), September 16, 2022
Queen’s Indian Defence E16

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 a5 5. Bg2 0-0 6. Nf3 b6 7. 0-0 Bb7 8. Bc1 Be7 9. b3 c5 10. dxc5 bxc5 11. Nc3 d5 12. cxd5 exd5


A sound position with hanging Pawns has arisen.
13. Ba3 Na6 14. Na4 Rc8 15. Ne5 Re8 16. Bb2 Rc7 17. e3 Bd6 18. Nf3 Rc8 19. Rc1 h6 20. Bh3 Rb8 21. Bg2 Bc6 22. Nc3


22. ... a4. This Pawn sacrifice seems quite inopportune.
23. Nxa4 Bxa4 24. Bxf6 Qxf6 25. bxa4 Nb4 26. a3 Na2 27. Rc2 Nc3


28. Qa1 (⌓ 28. Qd3 Rb3 29. Rfc1 d4 30. Nd2±)
28. ... d4 29. exd4 cxd4. ⌓ 29. ... Ne2+ 30. Kh1 Nxd4 seems to give Black better chances for a draw.
30. Nxd4 Nxa4 31. Nc6 Qxa1 32. Rxa1 Rb3 ½ : ½. Of course White could insist upon her extra Pawn, but she felt happy enough of drawing against the woman No. 1, who, on her part, was anxious to get back to her hotel room as soon as possible in order to focus on her first-round match for the Global title with Azerbaijani Grandmaster Teimour Boris oghlu Radjabov.

A woman at the edge of two worlds. Photo: 我要有耐心 (I have to be patient).

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