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).