Red Tigress

Phạm Lê Thảo Nguyên – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
19th Asian Games — Women’s Team Standard; 杭州 (Hángzhōu), October 4, 2023
Queen’s Pawn Game A46

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4 b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. Bd3 Nh5 6. Bg3 Nxg3 7. hxg3 g6 8. Nbd2 Bg7 9. Qe2 c5 10. c3 Nc6 11. Ba6 Bxa6 12. Qxa6 0-0 (12. ... cxd4 13. exd4 Qc7 14. Qe2 d5 15. Nf1 0-0 16. Ne3 Rab8 17. Ng4 h5 18. Ne3 b5 19. a3 a5 20. g4 hxg4 21. Nxg4 b4 22. axb4 axb4 23. Qe3 Rfc8 24. Nh6+ Kf8 25. Ng5 bxc3 26. bxc3 Bxh6 27. Rxh6 Nd8 28. Rh3 Rb3 29. Nh7+ Ke7 30. Qg5+ Kd6 31. Nf6 Qb6 32. Qf4+ Kc6 33. Re3 Rb1+ 34. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 35. Ke2 Qc2+ 36. Kf3 Qf5 37. Ng4 Qxf4+ 38. Kxf4 Kd6 ½ : ½ Kosić – Z. J. Szabó, 64th Hungarian Team Chess Championship, Budapest 2011)
13. 0-0 Qc7 14. Nb3. Here or at the next move 14. Qe2 was highly recommendable.
14. ... Ne7 15. c4 d6 16. Rfd1 Nc6 17. a3 Rfd8 18. Rac1 Rac8 19. Rc2 e5 20. d5 Nb8 21. Qa4 e4 22. Nfd2 Qe7 23. Nc1 Rc7 24. Ne2 Nd7 25. b4

White’s convolutions on the Queenside produced nothing but an uncoordinated mess, and hence 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) takes opportunity to seize the initiative on the Kingside.
25. ... h5! 26. Nb3 Ne5 27. bxc5 dxc5 28. Nd2 Ng4 29. Nf1 Rcd7 30. Rcd2 h4 31. d6 Qf6 32. Nf4 hxg3 33. Nxg3 Qh4 34. Qc6. If 34. Nxe4 then 34. ... Bh6! and Black’s attack continues.
34. ... Qh2+ 35. Kf1

35. ... Nxe3+ 36. fxe3 Qxg3 37. Qxe4 Qg5. Here 37. ... Qh4 (Δ ... g6-g5) 38. Qf3 Be5 looks a little more promising.
38. Nd5 Qe5 39. Qh4?! 39. Ne7+ Kf8 40. Qxe5 Bxe5 41. Nc6 Re8 might even be enough for a draw, but the Vietnamese team desperately needs a win.
39. ... Rxd6! 40. Rf2 R8d7! 41. a4 a6 42. Rb1

42. ... Rxd5! Obvious and strong.
43. cxd5 Qxd5 44. Kg1 Qe6 45. Qf4 Be5 46. Qf3 c4 47. Qa8+ Kg7 48. Qxa6 c3 49. Rbf1 Qg4 50. Qc8? This loses at once. 50. Rf3 Qh4 51. Rh3 Qd8 was, if nothing else, a much more stubborn defence.
50. ... Qg3!−+ 51. Re1. Of course the Rook is taboo because of mate in one.
51. ... Qh2+ 52. Kf1 Qh1+ 53. Ke2 Rd2+ 0 : 1.

Once again, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) shone like a queen through the crowd. Photo: 天涯棋人 (Tiānyá chessman).