A Day So Gray

Törmönkhiin Mönkhzul – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
19th Asian Games — Women’s Team Standard; 杭州 (Hángzhōu), September 30, 2023
French Defence C01

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd6 6. c4 dxc4 7. d5 a6 8. Ba4 b5 9. dxc6 bxa4 10. Nbd2. Theoreticians recommend 10. 0-0 Ne7 11. Nbd2 recovering the Pawn with a good game. The text leaves White a Pawn down with little or nothing to show for it.
10. ... Qe7+ 11. Qe2 Qxe2+ 12. Kxe2 Be6 13. Ne4 Ne7 14. Nxd6+ cxd6 15. Bf4 Nxc6 16. Bxd6 0-0-0 17. Bc5 Rhe8 18. Rhd1

18. ... Rxd1. Also strong seems to be 18. ... Bf5+ 19. Kf1 Bd3+ 20. Kg1 Re2∓ with great advantage to Black.
19. Kxd1 Bg4 20. Rc1 Ne5 21. Rc3 Kb7 22. Kd2 Rd8+ 23. Ke3 Bxf3 24. gxf3

24. ... g6. 24. ... Re8 at once seems much better.
25. Bd4 Re8. Or 25. ... Nxf3 26. Bf6 as in the actual game.
26. Kd2 Rd8 27. Ke3 Nxf3 28. Bf6 Rd6 29. Be7 Re6+ 30. Kxf3 Rxe7 31. Rxc4 a3 32. b3 Rd7 33. Ra4 Rd3+ 34. Kg2 Kb6 35. Rxa3 Rd4 36. b4 Rxb4 37. Rh3 h5 38. Rf3

38. ... f5. A little better is 38. ... Rg4+ 39. Kh3 f5, but even then after 40. Rg3! g5 41. f4! gxf4 42. Rc3! White saves the day by combining stalemate with a positional draw.
39. Rg3 Rg4 40. h3! Rxg3+ 41. Kxg3 g5 42. h4 f4+ 43. Kf3 gxh4 44. Kxf4 Kc5 45. Kf3 Kd4 46. Kg2 Ke4 47. Kh3 Kf3 48. Kxh4 Kxf2 49. Kxh5 Ke3 50. Kg4 Kd2 51. Kf4 Kc3 52. Ke4 a5 53. a4 Kb4 54. Kd3 Kxa4 55. Kc4 ½ : ½.

Come on, Edna, the best is always yet to come

Artwork © Bad Airt (@badairt)

One

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Nilufar Muradovna Yakubbaeva
19th Asian Games — Women’s Team Standard; 杭州 (Hángzhōu), September 29, 2023
Spanish Games C65

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. 0-0 Nd7 7. Be3 Qe7 8. Qe1 0-0 9. Nc3 Bxe3. Another possibility is 9. ... Re8 10. a3 Bd6 11. Nd2 Nf8 12. f4 exf4 13. Bxf4 Ng6 14. Bg3 Be6 15. Nf3 Rad8 16. Kh1 Bg4 17. h3 Bxf3 18. Rxf3 Rd7 19. Rf5 b6 20. Ne2 c5 21. b3 Qd8 22. Qf2 Bxg3 23. Qxg3 Qh4 24. Qxh4 Nxh4 25. Rf2 Ng6 26. Nc3 Ne5 27. g3 a5 28. a4 Nc6 29. Kg2 Nb4 30. g4 Re5 31. Nd1 h5 32. Ne3 Nc6 33. Kg3 Nd4 34. Raf1 f6 35. Nd5 Kf7 36. Ne3 Kg8 37. Nf5 hxg4 38. hxg4 Nxf5+ 39. gxf5 g6! 40. fxg6 Rg5+ 41. Kf4 Rxg6 42. Ke3 Rf7 43. Kd2 Kf8 44. Kc3 Ke7 45. Kc4 c6 46. Rh1 Rg8 47. Rh6 Ke6 48. Rh5 Rfg7 49. c3 Rg5 50. Rh6 R5g6 51. Rfh2 f5 52. Rxg6+ Rxg6 53. exf5+ Kxf5 54. d4 cxd4 55. cxd4 Rg1 56. Rh6 Rc1+ 57. Kd3 Rd1+ 58. Kc2 Rxd4 59. Rxc6 Rb4 60. Kc3 Ke5 61. Rc4 Rxc4+ 62. Kxc4 Kd6 63. Kb5 Kc7 64. Ka6 Kc6 65. Ka7 Kc7 66. Ka6 Kc6 67. Ka7 Kc7 ½ : ½ 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – Goryachkina, Women’s World Chess Championship 2020, Vladivostok 2020, match game 7.
10. Qxe3. Or, by transposition, 10. fxe3 Re8 11. Nh4 Nf6 12. Nf5 Bxf5 13. Rxf5 Nd7 14. Qg3 Qb4 15. Rb1 Re6 16. a3 Qe7 17. Rbf1 Rf6 18. h4 Rxf5 19. Rxf5 Re8 20. Nd1 Qc5 21. Qf2 Re7 22. g4 Qd6 23. g5 c5 24. Nc3 c6 25. Qg3 b5 26. Nd1 Re6 27. Nf2 c4 28. h5 cxd3 29. cxd3 c5 30. Qf3 ½ : ½ Khachiyan – Gulko, 51st U.S. Chess Championship, Stillwater 2007.
10. ... c5 11. Nd2 c6 12. Qg3 Nf6 13. Nc4 Re8 14. Qh4 Ng4 15. Qg3 Nf6 16. Ne2 b6 17. a4 Bd7 18. b3 Rad8 19. h3 Bc8 20. Kh1 h6 21. Qe3 Nh5 22. g4 Nf6 23. Ng3 Nh7

24. Nf5 Bxf5? The opening of the g-file will turn out to be disastrous. Black should have played 24. ... Qc7 whereupon if 25. f4 then 25. ... exf4 26. Qxf4 Qxf4 27. Rxf4 Ba6 with a tenable defence.
25. gxf5 Qg5 26. f4 exf4 27. Rxf4 Rd4 28. Rg1 Qh5 29. Nd2 f6 30. Rfg4 Rd7 31. Qg3 Qf7 32. Qf4 Kh8

33. Nc4! 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) is not interested in winning the Queen for two Rooks, and continues instead to inexorably increase the attack against the Black King.
33. ... Qf8 34. Qg3 Qe7 35. Ne3 Rg8 36. Ng2 Nf8 37. Nf4 b5 38. Nh5. Threatening both Qg3-e3 and Qg3-h4.

38. ... Kh7 39. Qh4 Qe5 40. Nxf6+. Or 40. Nxg7! Rgxg7 (40. ... Rdxg7 41. Qxh6+!! Kxh6 42. Rh4#) 41. Qxh6+!! and mate in two moves.
40. ... Qxf6 41. Qxf6 gxf6 42. Rxg8 Rf7 43. R8g3 b4 44. Rd1 Rd7 45. Kg2 Rd8 46. Kf2 Nd7 47. Rdg1 Ne5 48. Rg7+ Kh8 49. Rb7 Rd7 50. Rxd7 Nxd7 51. Rg6 Kh7 52. Ke3 1 : 0.

Yeah, Edna, Dylan meant just that when he said, “She knows there’s no success like failure / And that failure is no success at all”

Artwork © Naomi Aurora Isolani (@naomi_artattoo)

Bronze by Gold

Although she had had to content herself with only the bronze medal, women’s world No. 1 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) looked not at all heartbroken over her “failure”. “I feel very happy to see two of my young teammates winning the gold medal in the Women’s and Men’s Individual Rapid Chess. It is a collective success story of the Chinese school of chess”, she said. She is also convinced, however, that China is not the centre of the world, at least in chess: “We cannot ignore many other Asian countries, such as Uzbekistan, India, and Kazakhstan. They are also extremely competitive”. Photo: 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency).

The Wisdom of the Queen

Apparently, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) took with philosophy her failing to defend her title of Women’s Individual Rapid Chess at the Asian Games: “It’s gratifying to see young people grow up”, she said, alluding to 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) and Umida Omonova, who won gold and silver medals, respectively.

Well, Edna, the occasion could not be more propitious to quote William Shakespeare’s pertinent aphorism, “All that glisters is not gold”

Artwork © Robert Wright Art (@adoodlepage)

Day and Night

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): “I cherish the opportunity to represent my country”. Video: 新民晚报 (Xīnmín Evening News).

青铜时代 (Bronze Age)

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Törmönkhiin Mönkhzul

19th Asian Games — Women’s Individual Rapid Chess; time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; 杭州 (Hángzhōu), September 27, 2023

Richter–Veresov Attack D01

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bf4 g6 4. e3 Bg7 5. Nb5 Na6 6. Be2 0-0 7. h3 c6 8. Nc3 Nc7 9. Nf3 b6 10. 0-0 Bb7 11. a4 Ne6 12. Bh2 a5 13. Nb1 c5 14. c3 Ne4 15. Nbd2

15. ... N6g5 16. Nxg5 Nxg5 17. Qb3 Bc6 18. Rfd1 Re8 19. h4 Ne6 20. Nf3 c4 21. Qc2 b5 22. axb5 Bxb5 23. e4 dxe4 24. Qxe4 Qb6 25. Ne5 Rac8 26. Re1 Nf8

27. h5 f6 28. Nf3 Bd7 29. Qc2 Bf5 30. Qd2 g5

31. Ra4 g4 32. Nh4 Bd7 33. Rxc4 f5 34. Rxc8 Rxc8 35. Bf4 Bf6 36. g3 a4 37. Bd3 e6 38. Ng2 Bc6 39. Bg5 Bg7 40. Nf4 Bb7 41. Bf1 Re8 42. Kh2 h6 43. Bh4 e5 44. dxe5 Bxe5 45. Nd5 Qc5 46. Bg2 Nh7 47. Ne7+ Rxe7 48. Bxe7 Bxg2 49. Bxc5 1 : 0.

In spite of her grit, by the end 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) had to content herself with the bronze medal, behind Umida Omonova (silver) and 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) (gold). Photo: 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency).

Halfway Up

Bibisara Erkhanovna Assaubayeva – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

19th Asian Games — Women’s Individual Rapid Chess; time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; 杭州 (Hángzhōu), September 27, 2023

English Opening A13

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. 0-0 Bc5 6. d3 a5 7. Na3 Nge7 8. Nc2 e5 9. Rb1 0-0 10. b3 Rb8 11. Nd2 Ng6 12. a3 Be6 13. b4 axb4 14. axb4 Be7 15. b5 Na5 16. Nb4 f5 17. Nf3 c5 18. bxc6 bxc6 19. Ba3 Qd7 20. Qd2

20. ... e4 21. Ne1 c5 22. Nec2 cxb4 23. Bxb4 Bxb4 24. Rxb4 Rxb4 25. Qxb4 Nc6 26. Qc5 Nge5 27. dxe4

27. ... d3 28. exd3 Nxd3 29. Qa3 Nce5 30. exf5 Rxf5 31. Ne3

31. ... Nxc4 32. Nxc4 Bxc4 33. Bh3 Ne5 34. Bxf5 Qxf5 35. Qa8+ Kf7 36. Qb7+ Kg6 37. Rd1 Nf3+ 38. Kg2 Ne1+ 39. Kg1 Nf3+ 40. Kg2 Bd3 41. Qc6+ Kg5 42. Qc7 Be4 43. Qxg7+ Kh5 44. g4+ Qxg4+ 45. Qxg4+ Kxg4 46. Ra1 Nd2+ 47. f3+ Bxf3+ 48. Kf2 Ne4+ 49. Ke3 Bg2 50. Rg1 Kh3 51. Rxg2 Kxg2 52. Kxe4 h5 53. h4 Kg3 54. Ke3 ½ : ½.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) dominated through the whole game, but eventually she let all her advantage slip away. Photo: 潮新闻 (Tide News).

Do not worry, Edna, you will win, whatever the odds

Artwork © Jose Alberto Oviedo

An Afternoon Tea

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Medina Warda Aulia

19th Asian Games — Women’s Individual Rapid Chess; time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; 杭州 (Hángzhōu), September 26, 2023

Queen’s Pawn Game A40

1. d4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bf4 Bd6 4. Bxd6 Qxd6

5. e4! After all, White is determined to make a gambit of it.
5. ... dxe4 6. Qg4. 6. Nxe4 Qb4+ 7. c3 Qxb2 is another interesting and unclear possibility.
6. ... Qxd4 7. Nf3 Nh6. Or 7. ... Qf6 8. Qxe4 Nc6 9. 0-0-0 and White’s lead in development compensates for the Pawn.
8. Qxe6+ Bxe6 9. Nxd4 Bd7 10. 0-0-0 Nc6 11. Bb5. White continues in gambit style, for if, instead, 11. Nxe4 then 11. ... 0-0-0 with even chances.
11. ... f5 12. Bxc6 bxc6?! A little better seems 12. ... Bxc6 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. f3 exf3 15. Rhe1+ Kf8 16. gxf3 Re8 with a dynamic equilibrium.
13. f3 0-0-0 14. fxe4 fxe4?! (⌓ 14. ... Rhe8 15. Rhe1 Ng4)
15. Nxe4 Bg4?! 16. Rd2 Rhe8 17. Nxc6

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) has been given more than she hoped for, since now White has a Pawn more and the better game.
17. ... Rxd2 18. Nxd2 Kb7 19. Na5+ Ka6 20. Nab3 Re2 21. Rg1 Bc8 22. Nd4 Rf2 23. Ne4 Rf4 24. Re1 Nf5 25. g3 Rg4 26. Nc6 Rg6 27. Nb4+ Kb5 28. Nd5 Kc6 29. Nb4+ Kb5 30. a3 Kb6 31. Nd2 Rh6 32. Re5 Nd6. If 32. ... Rxh2 then 33. Nc4+ Kb7 34. Rb5+ Ka8 35. Nc6 Bb7 36. Rxf5 Bxc6 37. Na5! Rxc2+! 38. Kb1! winning a piece and the game.
33. Re2 Bb7 34. c4 c5 35. Nd3 Rf6

36. Re5 Rf5 37. Re6 Rf6 38. Rxf6 gxf6 39. b4 1 : 0.

Bitter Sugar

Umida Omonova – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

19th Asian Games — Women’s Individual Rapid Chess; time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; 杭州 (Hángzhōu), September 26, 2023

French Defence C07

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. 0-0 Nf6 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 Be7 11. Re1 0-0 12. c3 Qc7 13. Bb3 b6 14. Qf3 Bb7 15. Bf4 Bxf3 16. Bxc7 Bd5 17. Be5 Bb7 18. a4 a6 19. Rad1 Bc5? A Pavlovian reflex. 19. ... Rfe8 first was correct.

20. Nc2? It was now White’s turn to return the favour. Much stronger was 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. Nxe6! fxe6 22. Bxe6+ Kh8 23. b4 Be7 24. Rd7 Bxb4 25. Rxb7 Bxc3 26. Rc1 Be5 27. Bf5 with great advantage.
20. ... Rfd8 21. Bd4 Nd7 22. Ne3 Rac8 23. Bc2 Bf8 24. Ng4 Bc5 25. Ne3 Kf8 26. f3 h5 27. Kf2 Be7 28. Bb3 Nc5 29. Bc2 Bc6 30. b3 Nd7 31. Nc4 Bd5 32. Ne3 Bb7 33. c4 Bb4 34. Rg1 Nc5 35. g4 hxg4 36. Rxg4 g6 37. Rh4 Nd7 38. Ng4 Bc5 39. Rh7 Bxd4+ 40. Rxd4

40. ... Nc5? Again, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) misses her best chance: 40. ... Nf6! 41. Rxd8+ Rxd8 42. Nxf6 Rd2+ recovering the piece with good drawing possibilities.
41. Rxd8+. Very strong is also 41. Bxg6! Rxd4 42. Rxf7+ Kg8?? (42. ... Ke8 43. Rf4+ Ke7 44. Rxd4 Nxb3 45. Rf4+−) 43. Nf6+ Kh8 44. Rh7#.
41. ... Rxd8 42. Ke3 Bc6 43. Ne5 Be8

44. b4 Nd7? Black is losing material, but, any way, after 44. ... Nb7 45. Bxg6 Nd6 45. Bd3 White is a Pawn ahead with much the better game.
45. Rh8+ Kg7 46. Rxe8! Rxe8 47. Nxd7 b5 48. cxb5 axb5 49. a5 Rc8 50. Nc5 f5 51. Nxe6+ Kf6 52. Nc5 Re8+ 53. Kf2 Rh8 54. Bd3 Rxh2+ 55. Ke3 f4+ 56. Kd4 g5 57. a6 Ra2 58. Bxb5 g4 59. Ne4+ Kg6 60. fxg4 f3 61. Bc4 Ra4 62. b5 1 : 0.

Sugarcane

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr)

19th Asian Games — Women’s Individual Rapid Chess; time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; 杭州 (Hángzhōu), September 26, 2023

Sicilian Defence B22

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nc6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Be3 cxd4 7. cxd4 e6 8. Nc3 Qd8 9. a3 Be7 10. Bd3 0-0 11. 0-0 b6 12. Qe2 Bb7 13. Rad1 Re8 14. Bb1 Rc8 15. Rfe1 Bf8 16. Bg5 Ne7

17. Bxf6 (17. Ne5 Ned5 18. Qd3 h6 19. Bd2⩲)
17. ... gxf6 18. d5 Nxd5 19. Nxd5 Bxd5 20. Be4 f5 21. Bxd5. Simpler seems 22. Qxe8 Rxe8 23. Rxe8 Rxe8 24. Kf1 Bg7= with equality.
21. ... exd5 22. Qd3 Re4 23. Nd4 Qf6 24. h3 Rce8 25. Rxe4. By proudly refusing the possibility of a draw, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) made the initiative slip in her opponent’s hands.
25. ... fxe4 26. Qb5 Re5 27. b4 Rg5 28. Qd7 Qg6

29. Ne2?? The beginning of a tragicomedy of errors. 29. g4 was now called for, as after 29. ... h5 30. f4! exf3 31. Nxf3 Qc2 32. Rxd5 Rxd5 33. Qxd5 White would save the day.
29. ... e3?? 29. ... Rxg2+ 30. Kh1 Bd6 forces White to give up the Queen.
30. g4 Qc2? (30. ... exf2+ 31. Kxf2 Re5 32. Rxd5 Qf6+ 33. Ke1 Re6−+)
31. Rxd5 Rxd5 32. Qxd5 h6. If 32. ... Qxc2 then 33. Qg5+ with a draw by perpetual check.
33. Qf3 exf2+ 34. Kxf2 a5

35. bxa5?? Another huge mistake, which should lose the game for White. 35. Qf6! would have hold on to the end.
35. ... bxa5 36. Qd5 Qc5+ 37. Qxc5 Bxc5+ 38. Kf3 Bf8?? Indeed, there’s no obvious reason why Black did not take the Pawn (38. ... Bxa3−+).
39. Kf2?? Unbelievable but true. Of course 39. a4 would have drawn easily enough.
39. ... Bc5+ 40. Kf3 Bxa3. Black is not given a second chance!
41. Nc3 Bb4 42. Na4 Kg7 43. Ke4 Kf6 44. Nb6 Kg5 45. Kf3 Kh4 46. Kg2 Bc5 47. Nc4 Bb4 48. Ne5 Kg5 49. Nxf7+ Kf4 50. Nxh6 a4 51. Nf5 Ke4 52. Ng3+ Kd3 53. Kf3 a3 54. Ne2 Bd2 0 : 1.

And thus 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) grew to be a kind of bête noire to 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). Photos: 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency).

And so, Edna, may you be blest with icing sugar and whipped cream, and like under a spell, may you turn all beings into caryatids of marzipan

Artwork © Lonewolf-Sparrowhawk

Once Upon a Pawn

Humpy Koneru – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

19th Asian Games — Women’s Individual Rapid Chess; time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; 杭州 (Hángzhōu), September 25, 2023

Queen’s Gambit Declined D37

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 h6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. a3 a6 7. b3 b6 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. 0-0 Bd6 10. Bb2 0-0 11. Qc2 dxc4 12. bxc4 Bxf3. Black gives up the Bishop pair in order to spoil the Pawn shield of her opponent’s castle, but the opening of the g-file can just as easily turn in White’s favour.
13. gxf3 c5

14. Ne4. More consistent seems 14. d5! Ne5 15. Be2 exd5 16. cxd5 Ng6 17. Kh1! b5 18. Rg1↑ with a dangerous initiative.
14. ... Nxe4 15. Bxe4 Rc8 16. f4 cxd4 17. Rfd1 Bc5 18. Bxd4 Bxd4 19. Rxd4 Qc7 20. Rad1 Nc5 21. Bf3 Rfd8 22. Qb2 Na4 23. Qb4 Rxd4 24. Rxd4 Nc5 25. Qb2 Rd8 26. Qd2 Rxd4 27. exd4 Nd7 28. Be2 Nb8 29. Qe3 Kf8 30. Qe4 g6 31. d5 exd5 32. cxd5 Nd7 33. Qb4+ Qc5 34. Bxa6 Qxb4 35. axb4 Ke7

36. f5. Likewise after 36. Bc4 Kd6 37. Kf1 Nf6 38. Ke2 Nxd5 39. Bxd5 Kxd5 40. Kd3 the Pawn ending must be a draw (40. ... b5 41. f3 g5 42. fxg5 hxg5 43. Kc3 Ke5 44. Kd3 Kf4 45. Ke2=).
36. ... g5 37. Kg2 Nf6 38. Bc4 Kd6

39. f4? The losing move, made under clock pressure. White had to play 39. Kf3! Nxd5 40. Bxd5 Kxd5 41. Kg4 with a draw in view (41. ... b5 42. Kh5 Ke5 43. Kxh6 Kxf5=).
39. ... Nxd5 40. Kf3 f6 41. fxg5 hxg5 42. b5 Kc5 43. Bd3 Kd4 44. Be2 Ke5 45. Bd3 Kd4 46. Be2 Nc3 47. Bf1 Ne4 48. Kg4 Nd6 49. h3 Ke4 50. Bg2+ Ke5 51. h4 gxh4 52. Kxh4 Nxb5 53. Kg4 Nd6 54. Bf1 Nxf5 55. Kf3 Nd4+ 56. Ke3 b5 0 : 1.

Like a steamroller, but a kind, gentle steamroller. Photos: 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency).

Silk and Bamboo

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Dronavalli Harika

19th Asian Games — Women’s Individual Rapid Chess; time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; 杭州 (Hángzhōu), September 25, 2023

Queen’s Pawn Game A40

1. d4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bf4 a6 4. e3 b5 5. Qf3 Ra7. This is not bad in itself, but it is a fact that throughout the whole game the Rook will no longer move from here.
6. Bd3 Bb7 7. Qh3 d6 8. Nf3 Nbd7

9. 0-0-0 b4 10. Nb1 d5 11. g4 Ne4 12. Bxe4 dxe4 13. Ne5 Be7 (13. ... Nxe5 14. Bxe5 f6)
14. g5 Nxe5 15. Bxe5 0-0 16. Rhg1 Re8? (16. ... Bd5 17. Nd2 Bxg5 18. Bxg7! Kxg7 19. Qh5 f6 20. h4 Qe8 21. Qxe8 Rxe8 22. hxg5⩲)

17. Rg4! (Δ Rg4-h4)
17. ... Bxg5 18. Qg3 (18. Bxg7)
18. ... f6 19. h4 Qd7 20. hxg5 fxe5 21. dxe5 Qe7 22. Rh4 Rf8

23. Rxh7! Rf5 (23. ... Kxh7 24. g6+ Kg8 25. Qh3+−)
24. g6 Qg5 25. Qxg5 Rxg5 26. Rd8# 1 : 0.

Think like a cat, attack like a tiger. Photo: 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency).

Oh, Edna, only you have the power to make them disappear like dinosaurs queuing at a pâtisserie for a tiramisu

Artwork © Agent YiN Draws

Counterblow

Batkhuyagiin Möngöntuul – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

19th Asian Games — Women’s Individual Rapid Chess; time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; 杭州 (Hángzhōu), September 24, 2023

Sicilian Defence B45

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Bb7 9. c4 Nb4 10. Bd2 c5 11. Bxb4 Bxe4. The alternative 11. ... cxb4 tends to a draw: 12. Nd6+ Bxd6 13. Qxd6 Qb6 14. 0-0-0 Qxd6 15. Rxd6 Rc8 16. Bd3 Ke7 17. Rd4 Rc5 18. Re1 a5 19. Kd2 g5 20. g3 Bf3 ½ : ½ Maurizzi – Fedorchuk, 1st Barreau de Paris GM Tournament, Paris 2019.
12. Bc3 Qc7 13. Qg4 Bc6 (13. ... Qc6 14. f3 Bf5 15. Qf4 d6 16. Rd1 dxe5 17. Qxe5 f6 18. Qe3 Be7 19. Bd3 Bxd3 20. Rxd3 Kf7 21. Kf2 Rad8= Khachiyan – Halkias, Zonal Tournament FIDE Zone 1.5, Yerevan 2000)
14. Bd3 Qb7 15. f3 h5 16. Qg5 h4 17. h3 g6 18. 0-0 Be7 19. Qg4 Rh5 20. Rae1 Kf8 21. Re2 a5

22. Bd2 Kg7 23. f4?! Maybe too soon. Worth considering here was first 23. Bb1!, aiming at playing as in the actual game without leaving the Bishop hanging in the air when the Black Queen checks on d4.
23. ... Qxb2 24. f5 exf5

25. Qxh5? Bad judgment if not a miscalculation. Better to go for the exchange of Queens by 25. Bxf5 Qd4+ 26. Be3 Qxg4 27. Bxg4, though even then after 27. ... Rxe5! 28. Bh6+ Kxh6 29. Rxe5 Bd6 Black has ideal compensation for the Exchange and an easier game to play.
25. ... Qd4+ 26. Be3 Qxd3 27. Qh6+ Kg8. White is simply left with a handful of flies as Black can easily enjoy her powerful initiative.
28. Rb2 Bf8 29. Qf4 Re8 30. Rfb1 d6 31. Bf2 dxe5 32. Qxh4 f4

33. Rb8 Kg7 34. Rxe8? A way as another to surrender.
34. ... Qxb1+ 0 : 1.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) shining in all her majesty. Photos: 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency).