Black Swan

翟墨 (Zhái Mò) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

19th Chinese Chess League Division A Regular "武陵山大裂谷杯" (“Wǔlíng Mountain Great Rift Valley Cup”); time control: 90 minutes per 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game plus 30 seconds per move starting on move 1; 重庆 (Chóngqìng), July 7, 2024

Queen’s Gambit Declined D63

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 h6 6. Bh4 Be7 7. Nf3 0-0 8. Rc1 a6 9. c5 c6 10. Be2 b6 11. b4 a5 12. a3 axb4 13. axb4 bxc5 14. bxc5 e5! Very natural, though 14. ... Ba6 15. 0-0 Bxe2 16. Qxe2 Ne4 also gives Black a comfortable equality, Lintchevski – Mastrovasilis, 24th Open International Tournament, Kavala 2015.
15. dxe5 Ne4 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Nd4 Nxe5 19. 0-0. Not 19. Qc2 because of 19. ... Nd3+! 20. Bxd3 exd3 21. Qxd3? Ba6↑ keeping the White King in the centre.
19. ... Be6 20. Nxe6 Qxe6 21. Qd4 Qf5 22. Ra1 Rad8 23. Qb4 Rfe8 24. Rfd1 Rb8 25. Qc3 Re6 26. Rd6 Qf6 27. Qd4 Rxd6 28. cxd6

28. ... c5! 29. Qa4 c4 30. Rc1? This imperceptible inaccuracy is sufficient to give Black the initiative. Safer was 30. Rd1 Nd3 31. Bxd3 cxd3 32. Qxe4 Qxd6 with more or less equality.
30. ... Qxd6 31. Bxc4 Qc7 32. h3 Nd3! 33. Ra1 Nb2 34. Bxf7+ Qxf7 35. Qxe4 Rf8 36. f3 Nc4

37. Qd4? This concedes 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) a vehement attack. After 37. Ra8 Nd6 38. Rxf8+ Kxf8 39. Qd4 Ne8∓ would be anything but easy for Black to show a win.
37. ... Qe6 38. e4 Kh7 39. Kh2 Ne5! Threatening ... Ne5xf3+.
40. Qc3 Qd6 41. Kh1

41. ... Nxf3! 42. gxf3 Qg3 43. Qc2 Qxh3+ 44. Qh2 Qxf3+ 45. Qg2 Qh5+ 46. Qh2 Qg4 0–1.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) played highly inspired chess and deservedly won. Photo: Sina Sports.