Not So Simple

Elisabeth Pähtz – Anna Olehivna Muzychuk
2nd Women’s Chess World Cup; Quarterfinal match game 2; Baku, August 13, 2023
4B3/8/4kP1p/pp6/6K1/P2b4/7P/8 w - - 1 41

Position after 40. ... Kd6-e6

The diagram shows the position of the second game of the quarterfinal between Pähtz and Muzychuk after Black’s 40th move. With time control reached, one might think that a draw would be agreed soon — namely, after 41. f7 Ke7 42. Kh5 Kf8 43. Kxh6 b4 44. axb4 axb4 (45. Ba4 Kxf7). Instead, tiredness and nerves play a bad joke on both of them.
41. Kh5?? As Pähtz then admitted, she didn’t even suspect what a tragic mistake the text was.
41. ... Kxf6 42. Kxh6 a4! Strange to say, this move (which threatens ... b5-b4) must have been overlooked by Pähtz.
43. h4

Black to move and win.
43. ... Ke7?? But no. Incredibly enough, Muzychuk fails in courtesy to her opponent, missing the obvious win 43. ... b4! 44. Bxa4 bxa3−+ when White cannot avoid being “zugzwanged”; for example: 45. Bb3 Bg6 46. Ba2 Bf7 47. Bb1 Bb3 48. Kh5 Be6! 49. Kh6 Bf7! 50. Kh7 Bg6+!! finis.
44. Bc6! Kd6 45. Be8 Bc4 46. Bg6 Kc5 47. h5 b4 48. axb4+ Kxb4 49. Kg7 a3 50. Bb1 a2 51. Bxa2 Bxa2 52. h6 Bb1 53. h7 Bxh7 54 Kxh7 ½ : ½.

Two friends, who have to put their friendship to one side, with things in common, sharing a board. Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova/chess.com.