Broken Melody

Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

“Satty Zhuldyz” Rapid Tournament; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Astana, April 21, 2023

Sicilian Defence B31

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3 e5 7. a4 b6 8. a5 b5 9. Be3 Qd6 10. Nbd2 Nf6 11. Nb3 c4 12. Nc5 cxd3 13. cxd3. Or, similia similibus, 13. Qxd3 Qxd3 14. cxd3 Nd7 15. Rc1 0-0 16. Ke2 with a definite edge for White, Halkias – Atabayev, 5th World Rapid Chess Championship, Doha 2016.
13. ... Nh5 14. 0-0 Nf4 15. Rc1 0-0 16. Qd2

16. ... Ne6. If 16. ... g5!? then 17. Bxf4 (17. Nxg5? Qg6 is the tactical justification of Black’s previous move) 17. ... exf4 18. d4 g4 19. hxg4 Bxg4 20. e5 Qg6 21. Rc3 Bh6 22. Qc2 retaining the better game.
17. Nxe6 Qxe6 18. Qc3 Bd7 19. d4 exd4 20. Bxd4 Bxd4 21. Qxd4 Rfd8 22. Rfd1 Qe7

23. Qe5? This is a bit too scholastic. 23. Qe3! would have maintained the bind on the dark squares.
23. ... Qb4? But Black did not seize her chance of escape — that is, 23. ... Qxe5 24. Nxe5 Be8! 25. Nd3⩲ leaving White with a minimal advantage which would hardly have yielded her anything more than mere abstract possibilities for more tangible outcomes.
24. Qf6+− Qxe4. Clearly not 24. ... Qxa5? because of 25. Ne5 Be8 26. Ng4 with irresistible attack.
25. Rd6 Qf5 26. Qe7 b4 27. Rcd1

Black is forced to give up material because of the threat of Rd6-f6.
27. ... Re8 28. Qxd7 Qxa5 29. Qxc6 Rac8 30. Qd5 Rc5 31. Qd4 Rc2 32. Rd5 Qa2 33. Rd8 Rxd8 34. Qxd8+ Kg7 35. Qd4+ f6 36. Qxb4 1 : 0.

A good mood is power. Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova and Damir Kuzhumov for Satty Zhuldyz.