The Show Must Go On

And so — call it karma if you will — Ganges Grandmasters went from stars to rags within a few hours, and now their chances to make it through to the grand final are hanging by a thread, i.e., they depend on which show is “on the move” tonight. Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova/Global Chess League.

After The Opera

Humpy Koneru – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

1st Tech Mahindra Global Chess League; upGrad Mumba Masters – Ganges Grandmasters; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Dubai, June 30, 2023

English Opening A30

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 b6 3. b3 Bb7 4. Bb2 d6 5. e3 Nf6 6. Be2 e6 7. 0-0 Be7 8. d4 0-0 9. Nc3 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nbd7 11. Bf3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Ne5 13. Qe2 Qc7 14. Rfd1. There is no scientific way of deciding which of the two Rooks is the “right” one. A recent game continued 14. Rad1 Rfe8? (⌓ 14. ... Rfd8) 15. f4 Ned7 16. Qf3 a6 17. g4 g6 18. Nc6 Bf8 19. f5 gxf5 20. gxf5 e5 21. Nd5! with a powerful upper hand, Sharan – Lodici, 26th HIT Open, Nova Gorica 2022.
14. ... a6 15. Rac1 Rfd8 16. h3 Rac8 17. f4 Nc6 18. Nf3 Qb7 19. e4 Nh5

20. f5!? Koneru sets the powder on fire.
20. ... exf5 21. exf5 Re8. 21. ... d5! at once seems more effective, with the likely continuation 22. Nxd5 Bc5+ 23. Kh2 (23. Nd4? Rxd5!−+) 23. ... Bd6+ 24. Ne5 g6 25. Kg1 Bc5+ drawing by repetition.
22. Qf2. 22. Nd2!? Nf6 23. Nce4 appears to offer better chances for White.

22. ... d5! 23. Nxd5 Bc5 24. Nd4 Re4? This was the move upon which 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) relied, and which — alas for her — will meet an unexpected refutation. Black’s best was probably 24. ... Qb8! 25. f6 Ng3 (Δ ... Re8-e2) 26. Rc2 Ne4 27. Qe3 (27. Qf3 Qe5!) 27. ... Ng3 28. Qf2 Ne4 with a draw.

25. b4! Nxb4 26. Qf3! Ng3? Better is 26. ... Rce8, though after 27. Nxb4 Nf4 28. Nd5 Ne2+ 29. Kf1 Nxc1 30. f6! White should emerge from the complications with a winning game.
27. Qxg3 Nxd5 28. cxd5 Qxd5 29. Kh1 Qxa2 30. Ba1 g6 31. fxg6 hxg6 32. Nf5 Rce8 33. Qc3 R4e5 34. Nh6+ Kf8 35. Ng4 Re4. Saves the Rook, but at the cost of being mated.
36. Qg7+ (36. Qh8+ Ke7 37. Qh4+ Kf8 38. Bg7+! Kxg7 39. Qh6+ Kg8 40. Nf6#)
36. ... Ke7 37. Qf6+ Kf8 38. Qg7+ Ke7 39. Nf6 Re2 40. Rd7+ Ke6 41. Qxf7+ Kf5 42. Nd5+ 1 : 0. For mate follows after 42. ... Kg5 43. Qf4+ Kh5 44. Rh7#.

Today 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) had to bow to a defeat that hurts. Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova/Global Chess League.

Pearls of Wisdom

When asked in her interview by Tania Sachdev and Keti Tsatsalashvili what helped Ganges Grandmasters recover from the temporary setback, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) smilingly unveiled the arcane: “That’s a secret from the team! Well, actually, yesterday, the whole team went for a show. So therefore our coach said: maybe every evening after the match, we should go somewhere for special preparation”.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) revealed that she and her teammates recharged the batteries by enjoying Franco Dragone’s aqua permanent show La Perle at Al Habtoor City in Dubai, UAE. Photo: Aditya Sur Roy/ChessBase India.

You know, Edna, sometimes eyes do not see all there is, and sometimes they see more than there is

Photo © nuimos_vagabundos (@nuimos_vagabundos)

A Voice in the Wind

A Room of One’s Own

In praising the format’s versatility and gender inclusivity of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and women’s world No. 1 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) has remarked how such mixed-gender team events play an essential role in the development of women’s chess. “The general situation of women’s chess has evolved dramatically in the past few decades. I remember when I was young, most of the events for women were only be FIDE official events and very few invitational events. Even for some open events, the chances for women players to win it weren’t as good as today”, she was quoted as saying by the media on Thursday. “In the past few years, there are more organisers and sponsors paying attention to women’s chess. There are stronger women players in the open chess tournaments. I hope that there will be a more promising attitude towards women’s chess and I also hope that because of our performance and experience, it will encourage more young girls to get involved with chess”.

Being a woman in a men’s world. Photo: Aditya Sur Roy/ChessBase India.

Bella Ciao

A Higher Calling

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

1st Tech Mahindra Global Chess League; Balan Alaskan Knights – Ganges Grandmasters; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Dubai, June 29, 2023

Queen’s Indian Defence E12

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Bf4 Be7 6. Nc3 d5. Not too much time ago 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) has put 6. ... Nh5 to a test in a friendly blitz match against Fedoseev:
a) 7. Bd2 Nf6 8. g3 c5 9. dxc5 bxc5 10. Bg2 0-0 11. 0-0 d6 12. b4 Nbd7 13. Qb3 a6 14. Rfd1 Qc7 15. Bf4 h6 16. b5 a5 17. a4 Nb6 18. Ne1 Bxg2 19. Nxg2 Rfd8 20. e4 Qb7 21. f3? d5!⩱/∓ Fedoseev – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 6th China–Russia Junior Match of Friendship, 济南 (Jǐnán) 2019, match game 7 (time control: 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move);
b) 7. Bc1 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.g3 0-0 10. Bg2 Nd7 11. 0-0 a6 12. Ne5 Nhf6 13. Bf4 Bd6 14. Qa4 b5 15. Qc2 Nb6 16. Nd3 Bxf4 17. Nxf4 Qd6 18. Nd3⩲/± Fedoseev – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 6th China–Russia Junior Match of Friendship, 济南 (Jǐnán) 2019, match game 9 (time control: 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move).
7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nxd5 Bxd5 9. e3 0-0 10. Bd3 c5 11. dxc5

11. ... Nd7!? Black’s reply, which involves a Pawn sacrifice, may be a novelty, and probably it is a sound one. That being said, 11. ... bxc5 is also perfectly playable, after which there might follow (by transposition): 12. Rc1 Nd7 13. 0-0 Qb6 14. Qc2 h6 15. e4 Bc6 16. Nd2 Bb5 17. Bxb5 Qxb5 18. Nc4 Nb6 19. Bd6 Qd7 20. Rfd1 Nxc4 21. Qxc4 Bxd6 22. e5 Rab8 23. exd6 Rxb2 24. Qxc5 Rd8 25. Rd3 Rb5 26. Qc7 Rd5= Mamedyarov – Kasimdzhanov, FIDE Grand Prix 2012–13, 3rd stage, Zug 2013.
12. c6 Bxc6 13. Bxh7+ Kxh7 14. Qc2+ Kg8 15. Qxc6 Nc5 16. Rd1 Nd3+ 17. Kf1 Rc8 18. Qe4 Nc5 19. Qb1 Qe8

20. h4. 20. g4!? Qc6 21. Kg2 Ne4 22. h4 Rfd8 has consequences similar to those in the game.
20. ... Qb5+ 21. Kg1 Rfd8 22. Nd4 Qe8 (22. ... Qc4!?)
23. Bg3 Bf6 24. Kh2 Qa4 25. b4 Bxd4 (25. ... Nd7!?)
26. Rxd4 Rxd4 27. exd4 Nd7 28. Rc1 Rxc1 29. Qxc1 Nf6 30. f3 Qd7 31. Be5 Nd5 32. Qc4 Qd8 33. Kh3 Ne3 34. Qd3 Nf5 35. Qe4 f6

36. Bc7! A last try — if now 36. ... Qxc7?? then 37. Qxe6+ recovering the piece and emerging two Pawns ahead. But of course 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) keeps her cool and does not bite the bait:
36. ... Qd7! 37. Qa8+ Kh7 38. Bg3. Or 38. Qxa7 Qxd4 39. Bg3 Nxg3 40. Kxg3 Qe5+ with a draw by perpetual check.
38. ... Nxd4 39. Kh2 Nf5 40. Qe4 Kg8 41. Qa8+ Kf7 42. Qe4 b5 43. Bf2 Qc7+ 44. Kh3 a6 45. g4 Nd6 46. Qa8 Qb7 47. Qxb7+ Nxb7 48. Kg3 Nd6 49. Be3 Nc4 50. Bc1 f5 51. h5 e5 52. gxf5 Ke7 53. Kg4 Kf6 54. Bg5+ Kf7 55. Bc1 Kf6 56. Bg5+ Kf7 57. Bc1 ½–½.

A radiant 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) held her own today and could celebrate her team victory. Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova/Global Chess League.

Interlude

But see, Edna, whatever you do, you do better than them... even when you do nothing at all, you know

Courtesy of BraceletBook

👸

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) stands tall as the ultimate Queen of the match! Caption and playbill: Ganges Grandmasters.

Backstage Stuff

One Thing Or Another

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Irina Borisivna Krush

1st Tech Mahindra Global Chess League; Ganges Grandmasters – SG Alpine Warriors; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Dubai, June 28, 2023

Sicilian Defence B67

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. 0-0-0 Bd7 9. Kb1 Be7 10. Nxc6 Bxc6 11. f3 0-0 12. h4 b5 13. Ne2 d5? This thematic advance is now very dubious. The most usual is 13. ... Rc8 14. Nd4 Bb7 15. g4 Nd7 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Qe3⩲ whereupon if 17. ... b4?! (Black’s counterattack is not quick enough) then 18. g5 Nc5 19. h5 a5 20. g6!? fxg6? (20. ... h6 21. Rg1±) 21. hxg6 h6 22. Bc4 Qf6 (Lékó – Kožul, 16th European Individual Blitz Chess Championship, Tallin 2016) and now 23. Nf5! d5 24. exd5 Qxf5 25. dxe6 Ba6 26. Rxh6! would have won by force.
14. Nd4 Bb7. No better is 14. ... Rc8 15. e5 Nd7 16. f4 Nc5 17. Bd3 Qd7? (⌓ 17. ... f6) 18. f5! Nxd3 19. Qxd3 exf5 20. Nxf5 Bd8 21. Bf6! with a crushing attack, Delchev – Bartakke, 8th Ideon Andron Open, Anogia 2019.
15. e5 Nd7 16. f4! Nc5

17. g4 Ne4 18. Qe3 Qc7 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. g5 b4 21. h5 a5 22. Bd3 a4 23. Bxe4 dxe4 24. h6 g6

25. Nb5! b3 26. Rh2? Letting the initiative slip out of her hands. 26. Nd6! at once was stronger.
26. ... Ba6 27. Nd6 bxc2+ 28. Rxc2!? 28. Kxc2 Bd3+ 29. Kd2 is hardly a winning long-term bet, but the Exchange sacrifice is not more promising either.
28. ... Bd3 29. Rxd3 exd3 30. Qxd3 Qa7 31. a3 Rfb8 32. Qc4 Qg1+ 33. Ka2 Qb6 34. Qc7

34. ... Qb3+?? A catastrophic blunder, probably due to shortness of time, by which Black self-mates. She ought simply to play 34. ... Qxc7 35. Rxc7 Rb3= in view of 36. Rxf7 Rab8 37. Rg7+ Kf8 38. Rf7+ Kg8 39. Rg7+ with a draw by perpetual check.
35. Kb1 Rf8 36. Qe7 Qd3 37. Qf6 Qd1+ 38. Rc1 Qd3+ 39. Ka1 1 : 0.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) eventually won, but hardly happily, as her victory was not sufficient to balance her teammates’ losses on the first and sixth boards. Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova/Global Chess League.

Don’t worry, Edna. Night brings counsel, says the proverb

Artwork © marsuvees

The Eclipse of Being

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

1st Tech Mahindra Global Chess League; Chingari Gulf Titans – Ganges Grandmasters; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Dubai, June 27, 2023

Queen’s Pawn Game A40

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+ 3. Nc3 b6 4. Qb3 a5 5. e4 (5. a3 a4!)
5. ... Bb7 6. Qc2 Qh4 7. Bd3 f5 8. Nf3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3? This automatic move loses a Pawn and leaves White with an uncomfortable game. Best is 9. Kf1! Qe7 10. bxc3 fxe4 11. Bxe4 Bxe4 12. Qxe4 Nc6 13. Bf4 Nf6 14. Qe2⩲ with a somewhat preferable position for White.
9. ... Qg4 10. Nd2 Qxg2 11. Rf1 fxe4 12. Bxe4 Bxe4 13. Nxe4 Qg6 14. Qe2 Nf6 15. Ng3 h5 16. h4 Qg4 17. Qd3 Nc6 18. Bg5

18. ... Ne7? (18. ... 0-0! 19. Rg1 Ne8∓)
19. Rg1 Rf8 20. f3 Qh3 21. 0-0-0! White managed to get off the hook and can now hope for better luck.
21. ... Nf5? 22. Ne2? Much stronger was 22. Bf4! (threatening to trap the Queen with Rg1-h1) 22. ... Nxg3 23. Rxg3 Qxh4 24. Bxc7 Rf7 25. Rdg1→ with a powerful attack.
22. ... Ne7 23. Bf4 Qf5 24. Bxc7 Qxd3 25. Rxd3 Rc8 26. Bxb6 Rxc4 27. Bc5 (27. Rxg7 Nf5=)
27. ... Rf7 28. Kc2 a4 29. Rb1 Kd8 30. Ng3 Kc7 31. Nf1 Nfd5? 31. ... d5! is better, for after 32. Ne3 Rxc5 33. dxc5 Black would reply 33. ... Nd7 followed by ... Nd7xc5.
32. Nd2 Rxc5 33. dxc5 Nf5 34. Nc4? It’s hard to imagine how Black could have survived after 34. c4 followed by Rd3-a3.
34. ... Nxh4 35. Rb7+ Kxb7 36. Nd6+ Kc6 37. Nxf7 Kxc5 38. Ng5 Nf5 39. Ne4+ Kc6 40. Rd2 h4 41. Rh2 Nf4 42. c4 d5! 43. cxd5+ exd5 44. Ng5 Kc5 45. Kd2 Kb4 46. Nh3 Nxh3 47. Rxh3 Ka3 48. Kc3 d4+ 49. Kc4 Kxa2 50. Rh2+ Kb1 51. Kb4? Time punctuates its dramatic turns. Wiser was 51. Rh1+ Kc2 52. Rh2+ with a tacit offer of a draw.

51. ... Kc1? (51. ... g5 52. Kxa4 Kc1 53. Kb3 Ne3−+)
52. Kc4 Kd1 53. Kd3 Ke1 54. Ke4 g6 55. Ra2 Kf1 56. f4 Kg1 57. Kf3 Ne3 58. Ra1+ Nf1 59. Ke2?? A blunder which ought to have costed the game. 59. Rxa4 would draw easily; for example: 59. ... h3 60. Ra6 d3 61. Rxg6+ Kh1 62. Rd6 d2 63. Kf2 h2 64. Kxf1 d1=Q+ 65. Rxd1 stalemate.

59. ... d3+? But 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) misses her big chance: 59. ... Kg2! 60. Rxf1 d3+ 61. Ke1 h3 and White is unable to stop all the Black Pawns.
60. Kxd3 Kg2 61. Rxa4 h3 62. Ra6 h2 63. Rxg6+ Ng3 64. Rh6 ½ : ½.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) has every reason to regret her failure to win against Kosteniuk, which costed her team the match. Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova/Global Chess League.

Hey, Edna, just think what might happen with a randomised algorithm

Artwork © Gabrielle Janse van Rensburg (@strange_and.unusual)

🙌

Remarkable moves and tactical brilliance from these masterminds! Caption and collage: Ganges Grandmasters.

A Powerful Mind

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno

1st Tech Mahindra Global Chess League; Ganges Grandmasters – Triveni Continental Kings; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Dubai, June 26, 2023

Giuoco Piano C50

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. 0-0 a6 6. a4 d6 7. c3 Ba7 8. Re1 h6 9. b4. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) is desirous to exorcise a bad memory: 9. Nbd2 g5 10. d4 g4 11. Nh4 exd4 12. Nf5 Bxf5 13. exf5+ Ne5 14. cxd4 Bxd4 15. Ne4 Ba7 16. Bf4 Qe7 17. Nxf6+ Qxf6 18. Qd5 0-0-0 19. Bxa6 c6 20. Rac1 Kb8 21. Qb3 Rd7 22. Bd3 Re8 23. Bxe5 (23. a5!) 23. ... Rxe5 24. Rxe5 Qxe5 25. Qd1 Qd4 26. Qe2 Kc7 27. a5 Bc5 28. Re1 Bb4 29. Rd1 Qe5 (and here White exceeded the time limit) 0 : 1 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Lagno, 4th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event, chess.com, September 2, 2022, Final match game 11 (time control: 3 minutes plus 1 second per move).
9. ... g5 10. Be3 g4. Much less convincing would be 10. ... Nh5 because of 11. b5 Na5 12. Bxa7 Nxc4 13. dxc4 Rxa7 14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. Qxh5 leaving Black with little or nothing for the Pawn, Lazov – Sonis, 22nd European Team Chess Championship, Batumi 2019.
11. Nfd2 h5 12. Bxa7 Rxa7 13. Nf1 Ne7 14. Qb3 Rh7. One cannot but note the Black Rooks on a7 and h7, and conclude that Lagno must have overestimated her chances of mounting an attack on the Kingside.
15. Nbd2 Kf8 16. b5 Ra8 17. bxa6 bxa6 18. Rab1 h4 19. Qd1 Ng6

20. Ne3 (20. g3)
20. ... c6?! (⌓ 20. ... Nf4 21. d4 Rg7)
21. d4 d5?! This is a little too ambitious, as she simply loses a Pawn without adequate compensation. Black was still in time for 21. ... Nf4 though now after 22. Bf1 White gets the better of it.
22. exd5 cxd5 23. dxe5 Nxe5 24. Nxd5 Nxc4. Alas for Black after 24. ... Nxd5 25. Rxe5 Nxc3?? 26. Qc2+− White wins material.
25. Nxf6 Qxf6 26. Nxc4 Be6 27. Ne5 Rd8 28. Qe2

28. ... g3? The wrong idea: Black sacrifices another Pawn for nonexistent returns. Instead after 28. ... h3! 29. Qxa6 (29. g3 Rh5 30. Nxg4 Qxc3) 29. ... hxg2 all is not yet clear.
29. fxg3 hxg3 30. hxg3 Qg5 31. Qe3

31. ... Qh5 32. Nf3 Qg4 33. Qc5+ Kg8 34. Qg5+ Qxg5 35. Nxg5 Rg7 36. Nxe6 fxe6 37. Rxe6 Rxg3 38. Kh2 Rg4 39. Rxa6 Rd2 40. Rb8+ 1 : 0.

Today was a triumphal day for Ganges Grandmasters in general and for 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) in particular, who made a display of her strength against Lagno. Photo: Aditya Sur Roy/ChessBase India.

Yeah, Edna, his fellow rival was so envious of him that he slandered and defamed him in order to steal the leadership of the party, but he made nothing of it

Artwork © Bruce M.G (@benjimator_og)

Oh! Darling

Crowns and Sceptres

But, after all, who cares which team wins and which team doesn’t? Of course, let it be said inter nos with no reductive intent, but no cinema audience would accept as veracious a bunch of Pawns promoting to Kings. And so hurrah, hurrah for our Queen! Playbill: Ganges Grandmasters.

A gentlewoman’s agreement

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Humpy Koneru

1st Tech Mahindra Global Chess League; Ganges Grandmasters – upGrad Mumba Masters; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Dubai, June 25, 2023

King’s Pawn Game C44

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. c4 d6 7. h3 h6. Here, one cannot but mention 7. ... 0-0 8. Nc3 Nd7 9. Bg5 f6 10. Be3 f5 11. exf5 gxf5 12. Qd2?! (both 12. Ng5 and 12. Bg5 came into consideration) 12. ... Nc5 13. 0-0 Ne6 14. Nd5? (⌓ 14. Ne2) 14. ... f4! 15. gxf4 Ncd4 16. Bxd4 exd4−+ (Duda – Giri, 81st Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 2019) as an omen of what was to come.
8. Nc3 Be6 9. Be3 Qd7 10. Qd2 Ng8 11. Rb1 a5 12. b3 Nd4 13. Bxd4 exd4

14. Nb5 (14. Ne2 c5 15. Nf4⩲)
14. ... c5 15. Qf4 Ra6 16. 0-0. Not an easy move to make.
16. ... g5 17. Qd2 Ne7

White cannot be happy at all with how the opening has gone, but with her few following moves she may end up making the situation worse.
18. h4? Better perhaps (or without perhaps) was 18. Nh2 at once, followed by f2-f4.
18. ... g4 19. Nh2 Be5 20. a3 Nc6 21. Rb2 Kf8 22. Kh1 Kg7 23. Qe1 Kh7 24. f4. They were both already gravely short of time, and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s move, further weakening her already frail position, reflects her own discomfort.
24. ... gxf3 25. Nxf3 Rg8 26. Nxe5 Nxe5 27. Rd2 Raa8 28. b4 axb4 29. axb4 b6 30. bxc5 bxc5 31. Bf3

31. ... Bh3? Koneru too had very little time left, which would explain why she was content with a draw by repetition, rather than going for the jugular with 31. ... Nxd3! 32. Rxd3 Bxc4 simply disintegrating the whole White’s army.
32. Bg2 Be6 33. Bf3 Bh3 34. Bg2 Be6 ½–½.

And yet 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s miraculous save wasn’t enough to avoid Ganges Grandmasters’ first setback. Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova/Global Chess League.

Otherwise Untold

Of course, Edna, of course. All went as it should, it was all perfectly calculated

Artwork © Bronwyn-Joe Prince (@bronwynjoe)

Summer Time

The Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s weekly classes in classical chess and Fischerandom chess will go on every Saturday at 5 P.M. until Saturday, July 15, 2023.

Malevich’s Black Square

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí)

1st Tech Mahindra Global Chess League; Ganges Grandmasters – Balan Alaskan Knights; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Dubai, June 24, 2023

Four Knights Game C49

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. 0-0 0-0 6. d3 Bxc3 7. bxc3 d6 8. Bg5 Ne7. A move introduced by Harry Nelson Pillsbury back in 1898. According to theoreticians, however, 8. ... Qe7 (the Metger Variation), followed by the unpinning maneuver ... Nc6-d8-e6, is Black’s soundest option.
9. Re1. It’s very dubious that White can claim any advantage after the text. Indeed, the old moves of 9. Nh4 and/or 9. Bxf6 still seem the most consistent and thematic.
9. ... Ng6 10. d4 h6 11. Bd2 Bd7 12. Bd3 Re8 13. h3!? This makes a little difference with 13. Rb1 Qc8 14. h3?! (⌓ 14. c4) 14. ... c5 with good play for Black, Sheskin – Arlinsky, Elitzur Winter 2011 IM, Petah Tikva 2011.
13. ... b6 14. Nh2 c5

15. Ng4? This Pavlovian move costs White not only a Pawn, but — what is far more grave — also a heavy price to pay in positional terms. 15. d5 was a strategic imperative here, to which might follow 15. ... b5 16. c4 b4 17. a3 a5 with a more or less equal game.
15. ... Nxg4 16. hxg4 cxd4 17. cxd4 exd4 18. Bc4?! Probably not the best idea, but 18. f3 Rc8 19. Qe2 Qh4 was not too appealing either.
18. ... Rc8 19. Bb3 Qf6 20. Qe2 Ne5 21. f3 Be6 22. Ba4 Bc4

23. Qf2?! A little better was 23. Qd1, but after 23. ... b5 24. Bb3 Qh4 Black still stands much better.
23. ... b5 24. Bb3 Bxb3 25. axb3. Sadly forced, because if 25. cxd3 then 25. ... Nd3 gaining the Exchange.
25. ... Rxc2 26. Qe2 Rec8. Now White is in a desperate situation.
27. Rxa7. To add insult to injury, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) was dramatically short of time.
27. ... Rb2 28. f4

28. ... Ng6. 28. ... Rxd2! 29. Qxd2 Nxg4 was also very strong, but 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) prefers a more methodical mode. The rest is pure technique.
29. Qd3 Rcc2 30. e5 dxe5 31. fxe5 Qe6 32. Re2 Qxg4 33. e6 fxe6 34. Ra1 Kh7 35. Rae1 e5 36. Rf2 Qe6 37. Ree2 Qxb3 38. Qf5 Qg3 39. Be1 Rxe2 40. Rxe2 Qb3 41. Rxe5 Qc2 42. Qxc2 Rxc2 43. Rxb5 Nf4 44. Rf5 g5 45. g3 Kg6 46. Rb5 Rc1 47. gxf4 Rxe1+ 48. Kf2 Re4 49. Rb6+ Kf5 50. fxg5 hxg5 51. Kg3 Re3+ 52. Kf2 g4 53. Rd6 g3+ 54. Kg2 Ke4 55. Re6+ Kd3 56. Rd6 Kc3 57. Rc6+ Kd2 58. Ra6 d3 59. Ra2+ Kc3 60. Ra3+ Kb2 0–1.

The superstitious will notice that 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s unexpected defeat in the Chinese derby did not in the least affect the triumphal march of Ganges Grandmasters. Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova/Global Chess League.

You know, Edna, as they say, one taste is all it takes

Girl with the Red Glasses A stunning hand painted cake on a fondant sheet, delicately place on decadent chocolate ganache covered cake. For all inquiries and orders, click here. Copyright © 2023 Crave by Leena.

Scheherazade at the Movies

Ganges Grandmasters triumph’d! Yet another day of glory for the “Superstar” of the team, who kept the audience — and especially the non-chess public — glued to the screen all throughout the live broadcast on JioCinema. Playbill: Tech Mahindra Global Chess League.

New Deal

Irina Borisivna Krush – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

1st Tech Mahindra Global Chess League; SG Alpine Warriors – Ganges Grandmasters; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Dubai, June 23, 2023

Nimzo-Indian Defence E53

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 0-0 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. dxc5 Nbd7 9. Bd2 Nxc5 10. Be2 Ba5. The alternative 10. ... Ne6 11. 0-0 a6 12. Qb3 Be7 13. Rfd1 b5 14. Be1 Bb7 15. a3 Rc8 also proved reasonably good for Black in Krush – Wojtaszek, 2nd Qatar Masters Open, Doha 2015.
11. 0-0 Nce4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Bxa5 Qxa5 14. Nd4 Qg5 15. Kh1 Bg4

16. Rc1. Likewise after 16. Bxg4 Nxg4 17. h3 Ne5 18. Qb3 Nd3 Black equalised and a draw soon followed: 19. Qxb7 Nxf2+ 20. Rxf2 Qxe3 21. Rxf7 Qxd4 22. Raf1 Rfb8 23. Qc6 h6 24. Qe6 Kh8 25. R1f6 Rb6 26. Rf8+ Rxf8 27. Rxf8+ Kh7 28. Qg8+ Kg6 29. Rd8 Qe5 30. Rd5 ½ : ½ Rambaldi – Pelletier, 38th French Team Chess Championship, Chartres 2017.
16. ... Rac8 17. h3 Bxe2 18. Qxe2 a6 19. Rc2

19. ... h5 20. Rfc1 Rxc2 21. Rxc2 Rd8 22. Rc7 Qd5 23. a3

23. ... Ne8. Naturally so; Black has no difficulty in holding the draw.
24. Rc3 Qe5 25. Qc2 g6 26. Rc5 Qe7 27. b4 Rd7 28. Rc8 Kh7 29. Qc3 Rd8 (29. ... Rc7 30. Rxc7 Qxc7=)
30. Rc5 Rd7 31. Rc8 Rd8 32. Rc5 Rd7 33. Rc8 Rd8 ½ : ½.

Today 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) has left the stage to her teammates, who actually led the team to a second consecutive win. Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova/Global Chess League.

Yeah, well, Edna, Bollywood has big plans for you

Artwork © Mike Norton

Queen of the Match

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) x boAt. Playbill: Global Chess League.

Sands of Time

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk

1st Tech Mahindra Global Chess League; Ganges Grandmasters – Chingari Gulf Titans; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Dubai, June 22, 2023

Spanish Game C88

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 0-0 8. h3 Bb7 9. d3 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nc3. After 11. Nxe5 Nd4 another theoretical tabiya arises, with Black claiming enough compensation for the Pawn.
11. ... Nxc3 12. bxc3 Bf6 13. Nd2 Na5 14. Ba3. 14. Ne4 Be7 15. Qh5 Nxb3 16. axb3 f6= wouldn’t worry Black at all, Vásquez Schröder – Kosteniuk, Early-Titled-Tuesday-Blitz-August-30-2022, chess.com, August 30, 2022 (time control: 3 minutes plus 1 second per move).
14. ... Be7!? A novelty by Kosteniuk, probably in the hope to take 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) out of her comfort zone. In his book “The Modernized Marshall Attack” (Thinkers Publishing, Landegem, pp. 196-198), Serbian Grandmaster Miloš Pavlović gives here 14. ... Re8 15. Ne4 Nxb3 16. axb3 Bh4!? (Δ ... f7-f5) 17. g3 (17. Qf3 a5 18. g3 Bg5 19. Qg4 Be7 20. Bxe7 Qxe7⩱) 17. ... Be7 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 19. Qf3 (19. b4 Bc6∞) 19. ... Bc6 20. Ra5 Rf8 21. g4 f6 22. Rae1 Bb7 23. b4 Rae8⇄ with a volatile, dynamic equality.
15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. d4 Qg5 17. Nf3 Bxf3 18. Qxf3 exd4. That’s a fact that Black ought first to play 18. ... Nxb3.

19. Bxf7+! Kh8 20. cxd4 Rad8 21. Qc3. Still stronger was 21. Re5! Qd2 22. c3 Nc4 23. Re2 Rxf7! 24. Qd5! Rff8 25. Qxc4! with a sound extra Pawn, but 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) can hardly be blamed for such reluctance.
21. ... Rxf7 22. Qxa5 h6. 22. ... Rdf8 may be more concrete, for after 23. Re2 Rxf2!! 24. Rxf2 Rxf2 25. Kxf2 Qf4+ Black either wins back the Rook or gives perpetual check.
23. Re2. If 23. Re4 then 23. ... c5! and again, after 24. dxc5 Rxf2!! 25. Kxf2 Qxc5+ Black recovers the Rook or forces perpetual check.
23. ... Rxd4 24. Qxa6 Kh7 25. Rae1 Rf6 26. Qb7 Rc4 27. Rd1 Rg6 28. Kh2 c6 29. g3 Qc5 30. Rd8 Rf6 31. Rdd2 h5. Good and straight was 31. ... Rd4! 32. Rxd4 Qxd4 33. f4 Re6! 34. Rxe6 Qf2+ with a draw by perpetual check.
32. Qd7 h4 33. Qd3+ Qf5 34. g4 Qxd3 35. Rxd3 b4 36. Kg2 Rcf4?! 36. ... Rf7 37. a3 c5 should be tenable for Black.

37. a3. 37. c3! gives, at least in theory, better chances to make good use of the extra Pawn.
37. ... bxa3. Possibly better was 37. ... c5 38. a4 c4! 39. Rd5 b3! with a drawish endgame.
38. Rxa3 Rf7 39. Ra5 g6 40. Rc5 R4f6. 40. ... R7f6 might have been more exact.
41. Rce5 Kg7? Black was still in time for 41. ... Rf4 42. Rc5 (42. Re6 is now answered by 42. ... Rc4!) 42. ... R7f6 with a hard nut to crack.
42. Re6 Rd7. Likewise after 42. ... g5 43. Rxf6 Kxf6 44. Re3 Black’s endgame is not tenable.
43. Re7+ Rf7 44. Rxd7 Rxd7 45. Re6

The endgame is hopeless for Black, and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) conducts it with superb technique.
45. ... c5 46. Re5 c4 47. Rc5 Rd4 48. c3 Rf4 49. f3 Rf7. Tantamount to resignation, but also after 49. ... Kf6 50. Kf2 g5 51. Ke3 Kg6 52. Re5 Black will be inexorably zugzwanged.
50. Rxc4 Ra7 51. g5 Ra2+ 52. Kg1 Rc2 53. Rc7+ Kg8 54. c4 Rc1+ 55. Kf2 Rc2+ 56. Ke3 Rh2 57. c5 Rxh3 58. c6 Rg3 59. Rd7 1 : 0.

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and women’s world No. 1 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) made her triumphant début in Dubai. Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova/Global Chess League.