The Light Inside

楚若桐 (Chǔ Ruòtóng) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

17th Chinese Chess League Division A Regular-Rapid “武陵山大裂谷杯” (“Wǔlíng Mountain Great Rift Valley Cup”); time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; 重庆 (Chóngqìng), September 12, 2022

English Opening A37

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 d6 6. a3 Bf5 7. d3 Qc8 8. Nd5 Rb8 (8. ... Nf6 9. e4 Ag4 10. Ne3 Bh3 11. 0-0 0-0 12. Bxh3 Qxh3 13. Ng5 Qd7 14. f4 h6 15. Nf3 Rab8 16. a4 a6 17. f5 b5 18. axb5 axb5 19. Nd5 Nxd5 20. cxd5 Nb4 21. Nh4 Kh7 22. Qg4 Qe8 23. Ra3 g5 24. f6 exf6 25. Nf5 Qe5 26. Rb3 Rg8 27. d4 Qe8 28. Nxd6 Qe7 29. dxc5 Nc2 30. Qd1 Na1 31. Ra3 Ra8 32. Rxa8 Rxa8 33. Qd3 Kg8 34. Be3 Ra4 35. b4 Ra2 36. Nf5 Qb7 37. c6 1 : 0 Schacher – M. Albano, 17th Open, Cesenatico 2013)
9. 0-0 h5 10. Rb1 Bh3 11. Re1 Nf6 12. e4 Bg4 13. Ne3 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 h4 15. b4 b6

16. bxc5 dxc5. 16. ... bxc5 seems safer.
17. Bb2 hxg3 18. hxg3 Nh5? 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) shows signs of impatience, and is eager to take the offensive, even at the cost of the soundness of her position.

19. Bg4!? In her awe of her opponent, White hesitates just enough to let her chance slip by. Much stronger seems 19. e5! Nxe5 20. Nd5 with an overwhelming position.
19. ... e6 20. Bxg7. 20. Nf5!? was now very interesting.
20. ... Nxg7 21. Kg2 Qc7

In a by now relatively balanced situation, White loses patience and does now what she should have done earlier, with disastrous consequences.
22. Nd5? After 22. Rh1 Ke7 there is not much more than all there is — i.e. a more or less equal position, maybe a little easier for Black to play.
22. ... exd5 23. exd5+ Ne7 24. Qf3 Qd6 25. Be6? fxe6 26. Qf6 Rh7 0 : 1.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) cunningly tricked her opponent in believing that her dreams could become true. Photo: 樊璐璐 (Fán Lùlù)/Sina Sports.