Five Minutes of the Dragon Queen’s Time

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik

“Satty Zhuldyz” Blitz Tournament; time control: 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move; Astana, April 25, 2023

French Defence C11

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Qb6 8. a3 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bc5 10. Na4 Qa5+ 11. c3 Bxd4 12. Bxd4 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 b6 14. Bd3 Ba6 15. Bc2 Qb5 16. Qd2 Rc8 17. b4 Qc6 18. Rc1 0-0 19. Nb2 f6 20. exf6 Nxf6 21. a4 Bc4 22. Nxc4 Qxc4 23. Bd3 Qc6 24. Bb5 Qd6 25. 0-0 Ne4 26. Qe3 Rc7 27. Bd3 Nxc3 28. Bxh7+ Kxh7 29. Rxc3 Rcf7 30. Qh3+ Kg8 31. Re3 Rf6 32. Qg4 d4 33. Rg3 R8f7 34. b5 d3 35. Qd1 Qd4+ 36. Kh1 Rxf4 37. Rxf4 Qxf4 38. Rf3 Qe4 39. Rxd3 g6 40. Rf3 Rxf3 41. gxf3 Qd5 42. Qe2 Kf7 43. Kg2 Qd4 44. Qc2 Kf6 45. Kg3 g5 46. Qe4

The position in the diagram drew the attention of ChessBase’s renowned endgame expert, German Grandmaster Karsten Müller, who analysed it in his article “Endgames from Kazakhstan (2)” (ChessBase.com, April 29, 2023). “Of course, blitz games should not be analysed”, he wrote, “but the players are so strong that I have decided to make an exception”.
46. ... Qxe4!? Müller rightly noted that 46. ... Qg1+ 47. Kh3 Qf1+ with perpetual check would be a simpler way to a draw, because from a practical perspective, a King and Pawn ending is more insidious as it requires exact calculations.
47. fxe4 Ke5 48. Kg4 Kxe4 49. Kxg5

49. ... Kd4? Losing a crucial tempo. As Müller pointed out, Black ought to play 49. ... e5! at once, for after 50. h4 Kd3 (50. ... Kf3 also draws) 51. h5 e4 52. h6 e3 53. h7 e2 54. h8=Q e1=Q 55. Qh7+ Kc4 56. Qxa7 Qe5+ the Queen ending must be a draw.
50. h4 e5 51. h5 e4 52. h6 e3 53. h7 1 : 0.

Making them not just Pawns, but Queens too. Photo: Aditya Sur Roy/ChessBase India.