Bounce

Rameshbabu Vaishali – 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí)
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2024; Toronto, April 14, 2024
Sicilian Defence B22

1. e4 c5 2. c3 e6 3. d4 d5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Nf3 a6 6. Bd3 c4 7. Bc2 Bd6 8. 0-0 Ne7 9. b3 cxb3 10. axb3 0-0 11. Ng5 g6 12. Qf3 Qc7 13. h4 Nbc6 14. Ba3 Kg7 15. Re1 h5

16. c4? To be sure, White can hardly content herself with her own insignificant opening, but the text is a grave error that in fact loses a Pawn.
16. ... f6 17. Bxd6 Qxd6 18. c5? As they say, a mistake leads to another, and this one loses another Pawn.
18. ... Qc7 19. Nh3 Nxd4

20. Qe3? Even an Exchange is now blown up, but after 20. Qf4 Qxc5 21. Rxe7+ Qxe7 22. Qxd4 Qe1+ 23. Kh2 Qe5+ 24. Qxe5 fxe5 Black’s advantage would be preponderant anyway.
20. ... Nxc2 21. Qxe7+ Rf7 0–1.

In going down to her fourth consecutive defeat, Vaishali gave 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) the boost of confidence that she needed. Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova/chess.com.