Saturday, July 8, 2023

A Resilient Crown

雷挺婕 (Léi Tǐngjié) – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
Women’s World Chess Championship 2023; match game 3; 上海 (Shànghǎi), July 8, 2023
Spanish Game C65

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 0-0 6. Bg5 d6 7. Nbd2 a6 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. d4 exd4 10. cxd4 Bb6 11. 0-0 h6 12. Bf4 (⌓ 12. Bh4 Re8 13. Re1 g5 14. Bg3 Bg4 15. Qc2⩲)
12. ... Re8 13. Qc2 (⌓ 13. Re1 Bg4 14. Qc2 Qd7=)


13. ... Nxe4! A little tactic which wins a Pawn, even if temporarily, leaving Black with a theoretical edge and in practice an easy equality — a situation which marks a clear turnaround compared to 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)’s struggles in the first two games.
14. Nxe4 Bf5 15. Rfe1 d5 16. Ne5 Bxe4 17. Qc3 Qf6 18. Bg3 Re6 19. Kh1 a5 20. f3 Bf5 21. a4 h5 22. Bf2 Rae8 23. Rf1 c5 24. dxc5 Qxe5 25. Qxe5 Rxe5 26. cxb6 cxb6 27. Bxb6 Re2 28. Bxa5 Rxb2 29. Bc3 Rc2 30. Rfc1 Ree2 31. a5 Bd3 32. Rxc2 Rxc2 33. Bd4 Ba6 34. Kg1 f6 35. Rb1 Ra2 36. Ra1 Rd2 37. Bc3 Rc2 38. Bd4 Kf7 39. h4 Rc4 40. Rd1 Ke6 41. Kf2 Ra4 42. Ke3 43. g3 Ra3+ 44. Kf2 Kd6 45. Rb1 Kd7 46. Rb8 Ra2+ 47. Ke3 Ra3+ 48. Kf2 Ra2+ 49. Ke3 Ra3+ ½ : ½.

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) has apparently benefited from the day off and, for the first time in the match, she enjoyed an easy time. Photo: David Llada/FIDE.

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