Yeah, Edna, this is just what it means to look good on screen

Artwork © J A G A S (@tony.jagas)

A Lesson

Karl Schlechter – Matteo Gladig
Trieste, December 6, 1910
King’s Gambit Declined C30

Notes by Karl Schlechter, Allgemeine Sport-Zeitung, December 18, 1910, p. 1686.

Friendly game, played on December 6, 1910 in Società Scacchistica Triestina.

1. e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5 3. Nf3 d6 4. Nc3 Bg4 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Qxf3 Nc6 7. Bb5 Nf6. Black should not allow his c-Pawn to be doubled. Far better would be 7. ... Ne7.
8. d3 0-0 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. fxe5 dxe5 11. Bg5 Be7 12. Ne2 Rb8 13. b3 Ne8 14. Be3 a5. This Pawn is very exposed here, and later Black will have to put a Rook into a bad position to defend it. Black should have moved this Pawn only one step.
15. 0-0 Bg5

16. a4! White immediately fixes the weak Pawn on a5.
16. ... g6. This creates a new pernicious weakness on f6. 16. ... Nd6 was worth considering.
17. Qg3 Bxe3+ 18. Qxe3 Qd6. There was the threat of Qe3-c5.
19. Rf2 Ng7 20. g4 f6 21. Raf1 c5 22. Nc3 Rf7

23. Nb1! The Knight heads for c4 in order to attack a5.
23. ... Qe7 24. Nd2 Ra8 25. Nc4 c6 26. Rf3 Ra7 27. Qf2 Ne8 28. g5 f5. Or 28. ... fxg5 29. Rxf7 Qxf7 30. Qxf7+ Rxf7 31. Rxf7 Kxf7 32. Nxe5+ Ke6 33. Nxc6 followed by Nc6xa5 with an easy win for White.
29. exf5 Qxg5+ 30. Kh1 Ng7 31. fxg6 Rxf3 32. gxh7+ Kxh7 33. Qxf3 Re7 34. Nd6! Re6 35. Ne4 Qh6

36. Kh2! Bad would be 36. Nf6+ on account of 36. ... Rxf6 37. Qxf6 Qxh3+ etc.
36. ... Rg6 37. Nf6+ Kh8 38. Ng4 Qd2+ 39. Rf2 Qc1 40. Qf8+ Kh7 41. Nf6+ Kh6 42. Qh8+ 1–0.

Simply One Move at a Time

Anastasia Mikhailovna Bodnaruk – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

6th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship “Julius Bär” Main Event; Round of 16 match game 6; time control: 3 minutes plus 1 second per move; chess.com, August 26, 2024

Sicilian Defence B50

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. b3 d6 4. Bb2 e5 5. Bc4 Nc6 6. 0-0 Be7 7. d3 a6 8. a4 Nf6 9. Nc3 0-0 10. h3 Rb8 11.Nd5 b5 12. axb5 axb5 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Bd5 Nb4 15. Nd2 Nxd5 16. exd5 Be7 17. f4 exf4 18. Rxf4 Bg5 19. Rf1 Be3+ 20. Kh2 Qg5 21. Ne4 Qh6

22. Qf3 f5 23. Ng3 Rb7 24. Nh5 Rbf7 25. Nf4 Bxf4+ 26. Qxf4 Qxf4+ 27. Rxf4 b4 28. d4 Bb7 29. dxc5 dxc5 30. d6 Be4 31.Ra5 Rc8 32.Rf2 Rd7 33.Rd2 Kf7 34. Be5 g5 35. Kg1 Ke6 36. Bh2 f4 37. Re2 Kf5 38. Ra6 Rcd8

39. g4+? Losing control of herself and her position. She ought to play 39. Rd2 Ke6 (or 39. ... Ke5 40. g3! Rxd6 41. gxf4+ gxf4 42. Bxf4+ Kxf4 43. Raxd6 Rxd6 44. Rxd6 Ke3 45. Re6 Kd4 with a dynamic equilibrium) 40. Re2 Ke5 41. Ra5 Rxd6 42. Rxc5+ Rd5 with equality.
39. ... Ke5 40. Ra5 Rc8 41. c3? The losing mistake. After 41. Ra6 Kd4 Black stands much better, but the game is not yet lost.
41. ... bxc3 42. Ra4

42. ... c4! 43. bxc4 c2 44. Ra1 Rxd6 45. Kf2 Rxc4 46. Rc1 Rd1 47. Re1 Rd2+ 48. Re2 Rd1 49. Re1 Rxc1 50. Rxc1 Rb4 51. Ke2 Rb3 52. Bg1 Rxh3 53. Bb6 Rg3 54. Bc7+ Kd5 0–1.

To be sure, Edna, a cup of coffee a day keeps the doctor away

Photo © Funko Europe

Crushing It

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Anastasia Mikhailovna Bodnaruk

6th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship “Julius Bär” Main Event; Round of 16 match game 5; time control: 3 minutes plus 1 second per move; chess.com, August 26, 2024

Sicilian Defence B53

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 a6 5. Be2 Nc6 6. Qd3 g6 7. Nc3 Bg7 8. 0-0 Nf6 9. Nd5 0-0 10. c3 Bg4 11. Bg5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Ne5

14. Qe4! Probably an improvement over 14. Qe3, which has been employed more than one time in online blitz games by a past chess queen, Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk.
14. ... h6 15. Be3 f5 16. Qb4 Qd7 17. f4 Ng4 18. Bb6

18. ... Kh7? This loss of time will leave White with an overwhelming superiority of position. Better was 18. ... Nf6 at once, for after 19. Bf3 Qb5 20. Qxb5 axb5 21. Rfe1 Black can reply 21. ... b4! 22. Rxe7 bxc3 23. bxc3 Ne4! with good chances of defence.
19. Rae1 Nf6 20. Bf3 Rf7 21. a4 Ne8 22. Re2 Bf6 23. Rfe1 Ng7 24. h3 Re8 25. Bd4 h5 26. Bxf6 Rxf6 27. Qd4 Rf7 28. a5 Qc7 29. b4 Rc8 30. Re3 Kg8 31. Be2 Rb8 32. Kh2 Ne8 33. Rg3 Kh7 34. Bd3 Nf6 35. Rge3 Re8 36. Re6 Qd7 37. c4 Qc7 38. Qe3

38. ... h4? A Pawn is finally immolated on the altar of crushed and ruined hopes. Even without the text, however, Black could hardly prevent White from bringing the Queen to h4 and then pushing on g4.
39. Qf2 Nh5 40. Qxh4 Qd7 41. g4! 1–0. For after 41. ... fxg4 42. Qxh5+ Kg8 43. Rxg6+ Rg7 44. Ree6 White forces mate in a few moves.

It goes without saying, Edna, that the more they lie to themselves, the more they believe in TV news and mainstream media

Artwork © Doria nava ♡ (@sishumaro_17)

唱名 (Solfège)

These are Not Easy Times

Anastasia Mikhailovna Bodnaruk – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

6th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship “Julius Bär” Main Event; Round of 16 match game 4; time control: 5 minutes plus 1 second per move; chess.com, August 26, 2024

Sicilian Defence B84

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 Nf6 7. 0-0 d6 8. Be3

8. ... b5! 9. a3. The critical alternative is 9. a4, to which Black can reply 9. ... b4 10. Na2 Nxe4 11. c3! b3! giving back the Pawn to keep the c-file closed, Shirov – Kasparov, International Tournament, Astana 2001.
9. ... Bb7 10. Bf3. 10. f3 may also make sense, especially if followed by g2-g4-g5; for example: 10. f3 Be7 11. Qd2 0-0 12. g4 Nc6 13. g5 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Nh5 15. Be3 e5 16. Rf2 f5 17. Nd5 Qd8 18. c4 bxc4 19. Bxc4 Kh8 20. Rg2 fxe4 21. fxe4 Nf4 22. Bxf4 exf4 23. h4 Rc8 24. b3 Bxd5 25. exd5 Qd7 26. Rf1 Qf5 27. Rf3 Bd8 28. Kh2 Bb6 29. Bxa6 Ra8 30. Qd3 Qxd3 31. Bxd3 Rxa3 32. Bc4 Be3 33. Re2 Rfa8 34. Kg2 g6 35. Rf1 Kg7 36. Kf3 Ra1 37. Rxa1 Rxa1 38. Rh2 Rg1 39. Ra2 Rg3+ 40. Ke4 Kf7 41. Ra6 ½–½ Chekhover – Kotov, 14th USSR Chess Championship, Moscow 1945.
10. ... Nbd7 11. Re1 Ne5 12. Bg5 Be7 13. a4 b4 14. Na2 Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3 Qc5. Attacking both the Knight and the Bishop.
16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Nb3 Qb6 18. a5 Qc7

19. Nxb4? This precipitates White into a strategic débâcle. 19. c3! bxc3 20. Nxc3 was still playable for White. After the text, Bodnaruk can do nothing but wait for the inevitable.
19. ... Bxb2 20. Ra4 0-0 21. Qd3 Rfc8 22. Rd1 Be5 23. Nd4 Qc4 24. f3 h6 25. Ne2 Qc7 26. Kh1 Rd8 27. c4 Rac8 28. Nc2 Bc6 29. Ra2 Rb8 30. Ne3 Rb4 31. Nc2 Rb7 32. Ne3 Rdb8 33. f4 Rb3 34. Qd2 Bf6 35. Ng3 Bc3

36. Qc2. If 36. Qxd6 then 36. ... Qxd6 37. Rxd6 Rb1+ 38. Nef1 Bxe4 with crushing advantage.
36. ... Bxa5 37. f5? A way as another to surrender her arms. In any case 37. Nef1 Qb6! was also hopeless.
37. ... Rxe3 38. fxe6 fxe6 39. Nh5 Re1+ 40. Rxe1 Bxe1 41. Ra1 Qf7 42. Qe2 Bc3 43. Rf1 Qe7 44. Qg4 Be5 45. h3 Rf8 46. Rd1 Be8 0–1.

Yes, Edna, that is to that extent a classical case in which a “win–win” situation is the only win that counts

Courtesy of lami ୨୧

The Queen’s Gambit

Daria Vyacheslavovna Charochkina – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
74th Russian Women’s Chess Championship; Barnaul, August 28, 2024
Queen’s Gambit D06

1. d4 d5 2. c4 ½–½.

On the day in which Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno inscribed her name for the first time in the roll of honour of Russian Women’s Championship, Goryachkina (pictured above) and Charochkina tied for second only half a point behind. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili/Chess Federation of Russia.

Luck Favours the Prepared

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Anastasia Mikhailovna Bodnaruk

6th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship “Julius Bär” Main Event; Round of 16 match game 3; time control: 5 minutes plus 1 second per move; chess.com, August 26, 2024

Sicilian Defence B70

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. a4 g6 7. Be2 Bg7 8. 0-0 0-0 9. Be3 Nc6 10. Qd2 Bd7 11. Rfd1 Ng4 12. Bxg4 Bxg4 13. f3 Bd7 14. Nd5 Rb8?! This concedes White too much in terms of space and control. Decidedly better was 14. ... Rc8 15. Rac1 Ne5 16. b3 e6 17. Nf4 b5 18. axb5 axb5 19. Nd3 Nxd3 20. Qxd3 Qa5 21. c3 d5 22. exd5 exd5 23. b4 Qa2 24. Nxb5 Bxb5 25. Qxb5 Rxc3 26. Rxc3 Bxc3 27. Bc5 Ra8 28. Qc6 d4 29. Qe4 Qa4 30. Rf1 Re8 31. Qd3 ½–½ 王皓 (Wáng Hào) – 周健超 (Zhōu Jiànchāo), 6th Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2007.
15. a5 Be6 16. Nb6 Qc7 17. c3 Ne5 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. Qe2 Nd7 20. Ra4 Nxb6 21. Bxb6 Qd7 22. Rb4 e5 23. Qc2 Kh8 24. Qb3 Rbc8 25. Be3 Rc7 26. Qd5 Rc6 27. Rb3 Qc7 28. Ra3 Qd7 29. Raa1 Qc8 30. Rd2 Rc4 31. h4 Rc6 32. Kf2 h5 33. Rh1 Bf6 34. Qb3 Kh7 35. Rh3 Bg7 36. Bg5 Bh6 37. Bxh6 Kxh6 38. Rd5 Rc5 39. Rh1 Qc7 40. Ra1 Qc6 41. Rad1 Qc7 42. Qb4? White fiddled around enough to squander almost all of her advantage, but her last move is simply ruinous. 42. Rxc5 was called for.
42. ... Rc4 43. Qa3

43. ... Rc8? Both have overlooked 43. ... Rxe4! which would have reversed the situation in favour of Black.
44. Kg3 Rc5 45. Rxc5 Qxc5 46. Qxc5 Rxc5 47. Ra1 g5 48. hxg5+ Kxg5 49. Kf2 Kg6 50. Ke3 Kg5 51. g3 Rc6 52. Kd3 Kg6 53. Rh1 Kg5 54. b4 Kg6 55. f4 exf4 56. gxf4 Rc8 57. f5+ Kg5 58. Kd4 h4 59. c4 Kg4

60. Rg1+? A mistake which could have led to White’s downfall. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) ought to have contented herself with 60. Kd5 h3 61. Ke6 Rxc4 62. Kxe7 Rxe4+ 63. Kxd6 with a draw in view.
60. ... Kf3 61. Rg7. 61. Rh1 Rh8! is no better.

61. ... h3? But Bodnaruk misses her big chance. 61. ... Rh8! is a “book” win for Black.
62. Rh7 Kg2 63. Rg7+ Kf3 64. Rh7 Kg2 65. Rg7+ Kf3 ½–½.

Don’t worry, Edna, no one will never know that you are her and that she is you

Artwork © amigurumis lana Lanera (@lanalaneraconamor)

Winged Knight

Anastasia Mikhailovna Bodnaruk – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

6th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship “Julius Bär” Main Event; Round of 16 match game 2; time control: 5 minutes plus 1 second per move; chess.com, August 26, 2024

Sicilian Defence B90

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Nb3 e6 7. g4 b5 8. g5 Nfd7 9. Be3 Bb7 10. Bg2 Ne5 11. Qe2 Nc4 12. 0-0-0 Nd7 13. f4 Nxe3 14. Qxe3 b4? An instructive mistake which White can promptly profit by. Much better was 14. ... Qb6 ½–½ Rabatin – Sikora, 25th Czech Team Chess Championship — Extraliga, Ostrava 2017, after which there might follow 15. Qh3 b4∞ with complex play.

15. Nd5! Afterwards 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) called this a “wonderful sacrifice”, although it is pretty thematic in such positions.
15. ... exd5 16. exd5+ Be7 17. Rhe1

17. ... h6? Apparently shocked, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) fails to put up a worthy resistance. 17. ... Ne5 at once should be played, although after 18. Kb1 0-0 19. fxe5 Bxg5 20. Qh3 White still retains a dangerous attack.
18. Nd4! The White Knight takes the scene, eyeing both c6 and f5.
18. ... Ne5 19. h4 hxg5?! This cannot be good, but if 19. ... Ng6 then 20. Nc6! Bxc6 21. dxc6 0-0 22. Bd5! with an overwhelming position.
20. fxe5 0-0 21. Nc6 Bxc6 22. dxc6 gxh4. White couldn’t wish for nothing more than the open g-file, but at least Black threatens a skewer with ... Be7-g5.
23. Kb1 Qc7 24. Bd5! dxe5 25. Rg1 Bf6. Or 25. ... Qd6 26. Bxf7+ winning the Queen and the game.
26. Qh6 Qd6

27. Rxg7+! Bxg7 28. Qxd6 1–0.

You mean, Edna, it’s like if no thing and nothing were allowed to play together with no one else around

Artwork © Gecko (@gecko1011010)

Life Lessons

Interviewed by Benjamin Bok after her victorious round of 16 in the 6th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship “Julius Bär” Main Event, four-time Women’s World Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) spoke at length of her missional life as an university professor and of how her life is still bounded to her young past. “Well, actually I still have a lot to do with chess, since in my University job chess is one of the main topics of my lectures, but not from a pragmatic professional perspective”, she said. “Basically it’s about talking chess as a selective course in the Physical Education and Research Department for all PKU undergraduate students. So such lectures are not meant to only focus on chess techniques but more importantly on chess as a discipline, on its cultural background and on any other meaning that goes beyond professionalism, similarly to all other academic disciplines. So we have to put efforts on projects, on writing essays. Also, I’m in charge of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Physical Education and Research Department, something like Internet communication or things like that — just trying to promote or enhance this kind of communication”.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) showed no sign of tiredness while answering questions from the netizens. Screenshot from the live stream .

UTC+08:00

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Anastasia Mikhailovna Bodnaruk

6th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship “Julius Bär” Main Event; Round of 16 match game 1; time control: 5 minutes plus 1 second per move; chess.com, August 26, 2024

Sicilian Defence B90

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. a4 e5 7. Nf3 h6 8. Nd2 Be7 9. Nc4 Be6 10. Be3 Ng4 11. Bb6 Qd7 12. h3 Nf6 13. Be3 Bxc4 14. Bxc4 0-0 15. 0-0 Qc7 16. Qd3 Nbd7 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. Bxd5 Nf6 19. Bb3 Rac8 20. a5 Qc6 21. Ra4 Rfd8 22. Rd1 Qd7 23. Bb6 Rf8 24. c3 Nh5 25. Be3 Kh8 26. Qe2 Nf6 27. Qd3 Nh5 28. Rd2 Rc7 29. Qc2 Rcc8 30. Ra1 Qc7

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) played an exemplary game, as she squeezed her opponent between her strongholds in the centre and on the Queenside.
31. Bb6 Qd7 32. Be3 Qc7 33. Qd3 Qd7 34. Ba4 Qe6 35. Rf1 Nf4 36. Bxf4 exf4 37. Qc2 Rc5 38. Bb3 Qg6 39. Bd5 f3!? In an attempt to break the strategic siege Black launches herself into a counter-attack, although it costs her a couple of Pawns.
40. g3 Bf6 41. Qd3 Be5 42. Qxf3 Rxa5 43. Bxb7 Rb8 44. Bd5 Rab5 45. Bxf7 Qg5 46. Qd3 Bf6 47. b4 Rf8 48. Bd5 Be5 49. Kh2? A tactical oversight which could allow Black back into the game.

49. ... Qg6? But Bodnaruk misses her opportunity: 49. ... Bxg3+! with a messy play.
50. f4 Bf6 51. Ra2 Rc8 52. Ra3 Rbb8 53. Be6 Rc7 (53. ... Rxc3 54. Rxc3 Bxc3 55. Qxd6+−)
54. Qxd6

54. ... Rbb7? A melodramatic blunder, which runs into mate in two. Black could still try 54. ... Rd8!? for if now White were greedy enough to play 55. Qxc7??, the answer 55. ... Rd2+ would force mate in three moves. But, of course, White would have played 55. Bf5! and won without difficulty.
55. Qf8+ Kh7 56. Qg8# 1–0.

Even with little sleep and a bleary gaze, she’s still a knockout. Screenshot from the live stream.

In the Still of the Night

[Event "6th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2024.08.26"]
[Round "01-01"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Bodnaruk, Anastasia Mikhailovna RUS"]
[ECO "B90"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "111"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a4 e5 7.Nf3 h6 8.Nd2 Be7 9.Nc4 Be6 10.Be3 Ng4 11.Bb6 Qd7 12.h3 Nf6 13.Be3 Bxc4 14.Bxc4 O-O 15.O-O Qc7 16.Qd3 Nbd7 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.Bxd5 Nf6 19.Bb3 Rac8 20.a5 Qc6 21.Ra4 Rfd8 22.Rd1 Qd7 23.Bb6 Rf8 24.c3 Nh5 25.Be3 Kh8 26.Qe2 Nf6 27.Qd3 Nh5 28.Rd2 Rc7 29.Qc2 Rcc8 30.Ra1 Qc7 31.Bb6 Qd7 32.Be3 Qc7 33.Qd3 Qd7 34.Ba4 Qe6 35. Rf1 Nf4 36.Bxf4 exf4 37.Qc2 Rc5 38.Bb3 Qg6 39.Bd5 f3 40.g3 Bf6 41.Qd3 Be5 42.Qxf3 Rxa5 43.Bxb7 Rb8 44.Bd5 Rab5 45.Bxf7 Qg5 46.Qd3 Bf6 47.b4 Rf8 48. Bd5 Be5 49.Kh2 Qg6 50.f4 Bf6 51.Ra2 Rc8 52.Ra3 Rbb8 53.Be6 Rc7 54.Qxd6 Rbb7 55.Qf8+ Kh7 56.Qg8# 1-0

[Event "6th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2024.08.26"]
[Round "01-02"]
[White "Bodnaruk, Anastasia Mikhailovna RUS"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[ECO "B90"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "55"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Nb3 e6 7.g4 b5 8.g5 Nfd7 9.Be3 Bb7 10.Bg2 Ne5 11.Qe2 Nc4 12.O-O-O Nd7 13.f4 Nxe3 14.Qxe3 b4 15.Nd5 exd5 16.exd5+ Be7 17.Rhe1 h6 18.Nd4 Ne5 19.h4 hxg5 20.fxe5 O-O 21.Nc6 Bxc6 22.dxc6 gxh4 23.Kb1 Qc7 24.Bd5 dxe5 25.Rg1 Bf6 26.Qh6 Qd6 27.Rxg7+ Bxg7 28.Qxd6 1-0

[Event "6th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2024.08.26"]
[Round "01-03"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Bodnaruk, Anastasia Mikhailovna RUS"]
[ECO "B70"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "130"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a4 g6 7.Be2 Bg7 8.O-O O-O 9.Be3 Nc6 10.Qd2 Bd7 11.Rfd1 Ng4 12.Bxg4 Bxg4 13.f3 Bd7 14.Nd5 Rb8 15.a5 Be6 16.Nb6 Qc7 17.c3 Ne5 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Qe2 Nd7 20.Ra4 Nxb6 21.Bxb6 Qd7 22.Rb4 e5 23.Qc2 Kh8 24.Qb3 Rbc8 25.Be3 Rc7 26.Qd5 Rc6 27.Rb3 Qc7 28.Ra3 Qd7 29.Raa1 Qc8 30.Rd2 Rc4 31.h4 Rc6 32.Kf2 h5 33.Rh1 Bf6 34.Qb3 Kh7 35. Rh3 Bg7 36.Bg5 Bh6 37.Bxh6 Kxh6 38.Rd5 Rc5 39.Rh1 Qc7 40.Ra1 Qc6 41.Rad1 Qc7 42.Qb4 Rc4 43.Qa3 Rc8 44.Kg3 Rc5 45.Rxc5 Qxc5 46.Qxc5 Rxc5 47.Ra1 g5 48.hxg5+ Kxg5 49.Kf2 Kg6 50.Ke3 Kg5 51.g3 Rc6 52.Kd3 Kg6 53.Rh1 Kg5 54.b4 Kg6 55.f4 exf4 56.gxf4 Rc8 57.f5+ Kg5 58.Kd4 h4 59.c4 Kg4 60.Rg1+ Kf3 61. Rg7 h3 62.Rh7 Kg2 63.Rg7+ Kf3 64.Rh7 Kg2 65.Rg7+ Kf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "6th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2024.08.26"]
[Round "01-04"]
[White "Bodnaruk, Anastasia Mikhailovna RUS"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[ECO "B84"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "300+1"]
[PlyCount "92"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 Nf6 7.O-O d6 8.Be3 b5 9.a3 Bb7 10.Bf3 Nbd7 11.Re1 Ne5 12.Bg5 Be7 13.a4 b4 14.Na2 Nxf3+ 15.Qxf3 Qc5 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Nb3 Qb6 18.a5 Qc7 19.Nxb4 Bxb2 20.Ra4 O-O 21.Qd3 Rfc8 22.Rd1 Be5 23.Nd4 Qc4 24.f3 h6 25.Ne2 Qc7 26.Kh1 Rd8 27.c4 Rac8 28.Nc2 Bc6 29.Ra2 Rb8 30.Ne3 Rb4 31.Nc2 Rb7 32.Ne3 Rdb8 33.f4 Rb3 34.Qd2 Bf6 35.Ng3 Bc3 36.Qc2 Bxa5 37.f5 Rxe3 38.fxe6 fxe6 39.Nh5 Re1+ 40.Rxe1 Bxe1 41.Ra1 Qf7 42.Qe2 Bc3 43.Rf1 Qe7 44.Qg4 Be5 45.h3 Rf8 46.Rd1 Be8 0-1

[Event "6th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2024.08.26"]
[Round "01-05"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Bodnaruk, Anastasia Mikhailovna RUS"]
[ECO "B53"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "81"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 a6 5.Be2 Nc6 6.Qd3 g6 7.Nc3 Bg7 8.O-O Nf6 9.Nd5 O-O 10.c3 Bg4 11.Bg5 Nxd5 12.exd5 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Ne5 14.Qe4 h6 15. Be3 f5 16.Qb4 Qd7 17.f4 Ng4 18.Bb6 Kh7 19.Rae1 Nf6 20.Bf3 Rf7 21.a4 Ne8 22.Re2 Bf6 23.Rfe1 Ng7 24.h3 Re8 25.Bd4 h5 26.Bxf6 Rxf6 27.Qd4 Rf7 28.a5 Qc7 29.b4 Rc8 30.Re3 Kg8 31.Be2 Rb8 32.Kh2 Ne8 33.Rg3 Kh7 34.Bd3 Nf6 35. Rge3 Re8 36.Re6 Qd7 37.c4 Qc7 38.Qe3 h4 39.Qf2 Nh5 40.Qxh4 Qd7 41.g4 1-0

[Event "6th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2024.08.26"]
[Round "01-06"]
[White "Bodnaruk, Anastasia Mikhailovna RUS"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[ECO "B50"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "108"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.b3 d6 4.Bb2 e5 5.Bc4 Nc6 6.O-O Be7 7.d3 a6 8.a4 Nf6 9. Nc3 O-O 10.h3 Rb8 11.Nd5 b5 12.axb5 axb5 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Bd5 Nb4 15.Nd2 Nxd5 16.exd5 Be7 17.f4 exf4 18.Rxf4 Bg5 19.Rf1 Be3+ 20.Kh2 Qg5 21.Ne4 Qh6 22.Qf3 f5 23.Ng3 Rb7 24.Nh5 Rbf7 25.Nf4 Bxf4+ 26.Qxf4 Qxf4+ 27.Rxf4 b4 28. d4 Bb7 29.dxc5 dxc5 30.d6 Be4 31.Ra5 Rc8 32.Rf2 Rd7 33.Rd2 Kf7 34.Be5 g5 35.Kg1 Ke6 36.Bh2 f4 37.Re2 Kf5 38.Ra6 Rcd8 39.g4+ Ke5 40.Ra5 Rc8 41.c3 bxc3 42.Ra4 c4 43.bxc4 c2 44.Ra1 Rxd6 45.Kf2 Rxc4 46.Rc1 Rd1 47.Re1 Rd2+ 48.Re2 Rd1 49.Re1 Rxc1 50.Rxc1 Rb4 51.Ke2 Rb3 52.Bg1 Rxh3 53.Bb6 Rg3 54. Bc7+ Kd5 0-1

[Event "6th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2024.08.26"]
[Round "01-07"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Bodnaruk, Anastasia Mikhailovna RUS"]
[ECO "B53"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "83"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 a6 5.Be2 Nc6 6.Qd3 g6 7.Nc3 Bg7 8.O-O Nf6 9.Nd5 O-O 10.c3 Nd7 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 Nc5 13.Qc2 f5 14.exf5 Bxf5 15.Qd1 g5 16.Bg3 Ne4 17.Bd3 e6 18.Ne3 d5 19.Nd4 Nxd4 20.cxd4 Bxd4 21.Bxe4 dxe4 22.Nc4 Qf6 23.Qe2 b5 24.Nd6 Bxb2 25.Rad1 Rad8 26.Nxe4 Qg7 27.Nc5 Rde8 28. Nd7 Rf7 29.Ne5 Bxe5 30.Bxe5 Qg6 31.Rd6 Rc8 32.Rfd1 Bc2 33.Rc1 Rff8 34.Rd7 Bf5 35.Rxc8 Rxc8 36.h3 Kf8 37.Bd6+ Kg8 38.Be5 Kf8 39.Rg7 Qe8 40.Qd2 Qd8 41.Qb4+ Ke8 42.Rg8+ 1-0

[Event "6th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2024.08.26"]
[Round "01-08"]
[White "Bodnaruk, Anastasia Mikhailovna RUS"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[ECO "B47"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "180+1"]
[PlyCount "116"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.g3 Nc6 7.Bg2 Nf6 8.O-O Nxd4 9.Qxd4 Bc5 10.Bf4 d6 11.Qd2 h6 12.Rad1 e5 13.Be3 Be6 14.Bxc5 dxc5 15. Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Qd6 17.f4 Nd7 18.f5 O-O 19.g4 Rfe8 20.Rfe1 Nf6 21.g5 hxg5 22.Qxg5 e4 23.Re3 Kf8 24.Rh3 Rad8 25.c4 Ke7 26.Bxe4 Kd7 27.Bg2 Re7 28.Qg3 Rde8 29.Qxd6+ Kxd6 30.Rb3 Ng4 31.h3 Re1+ 32.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 33.Bf1 Ne3 34.Kf2 Rxf1+ 35.Kxe3 Kc7 36.Ke4 Re1+ 37.Re3 Rb1 38.b3 Kd6 39.Kf4 Rf1+ 40.Kg4 Rg1+ 41.Rg3 Rf1 42.h4 Ke5 43.Re3+ Kf6 44.d6 Rd1 45.Re7 b5 46.Rc7 bxc4 47.bxc4 Rd4+ 48.Kg3 Rxc4 49.Rc6 Rd4 50.Rxa6 Kxf5 51.a4 Ke6 52.a5 Ra4 53.Kf3 g6 54. Ke3 f5 55.Kd3 f4 56.Ke2 Ra3 57.Kf2 Kd7 58.Ke2 c4 0-1

[Event "6th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2024.08.26"]
[Round "01-09"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Bodnaruk, Anastasia Mikhailovna RUS"]
[ECO "A00"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "87"]

1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 d6 3.e3 g6 4.c4 Bg7 5.Nc3 f5 6.d4 Nd7 7.Nf3 Ngf6 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.c5 O-O 10.Bc4+ Kh8 11.Ng5 Qe7 12.Ne6 Nb6 13.cxb6 Bxe6 14.Bxe6 Qxe6 15. bxc7 Rac8 16.Qb3 Qe7 17.O-O Rxc7 18.Nb5 Rd7 19.Rfd1 Rfd8 20.Rxd7 Rxd7 21. Nxa7 Ne4 22.Rd1 Nd2 23.Qc2 Qd8 24.Kh1 Ne4 25.Rxd7 Qxd7 26.Kg1 h5 27.Qc8+ Qxc8 28.Nxc8 Nd2 29.a4 Nc4 30.Bc3 Bf8 31.b5 Bc5 32.a5 Na3 33.a6 bxa6 34. bxa6 Nb5 35.Bxe5+ Kg8 36.Bd4 Bxd4 37.exd4 Kf7 38.a7 Nc7 39.Nb6 Ke6 40.Kf1 f4 41.Ke2 g5 42.a8=Q Nxa8 43.Nxa8 Kd5 44.Kd3 1-0

[Event "6th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2024.08.26"]
[Round "01-10"]
[White "Bodnaruk, Anastasia Mikhailovna RUS"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[ECO "B25"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "91"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nge2 g6 4.g3 Bg7 5.Bg2 d6 6.d3 e6 7.Be3 Nd4 8.O-O Ne7 9.Qd2 O-O 10.Nd1 Rb8 11.Nc1 b5 12.c3 Ndc6 13.Bh6 b4 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.f4 bxc3 16.bxc3 Ba6 17.Ne3 f5 18.Rf2 Qa5 19.g4 Rb6 20.gxf5 exf5 21.exf5 Nxf5 22.Nxf5+ Rxf5 23.Be4 Ne7 24.Bxf5 Nxf5 25.Ne2 Bb7 26.Ng3 c4 27.dxc4 Qc5 28. Nxf5+ Qxf5 29.Qd4+ Kh6 30.Qe3 Qg4+ 31.Qg3 Qf5 32.Re1 Rb1 33.Qg5+ Kg7 34. Qe7+ Kh6 35.Qh4+ Kg7 36.Re2 Rxe1+ 37.Rxe1 Qc5+ 38.Qf2 Qc6 39.Kf1 Qxc4+ 40. Kg1 Qc6 41.Qd4+ Kh6 42.Re2 Qh1+ 43.Kf2 Qxh2+ 44.Ke1 Qg3+ 45.Kd2 Bf3 46.Rf2 1-0

[Event "Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2024.08.26"]
[Round "01-11"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Bodnaruk, Anastasia Mikhailovna RUS"]
[ECO "A00"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "68"]

1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 d6 3.e3 g6 4.c4 Bg7 5.Nc3 f5 6.d4 e4 7.h4 Nf6 8.h5 Nxh5 9. Rxh5 gxh5 10.Qxh5+ Kf8 11.Nh3 c6 12.Nf4 Qe8 13.Qh3 Qf7 14.Be2 Nd7 15.O-O-O a5 16.b5 a4 17.a3 Nb6 18.d5 cxb5 19.Nxb5 Bxb2+ 20.Kxb2 Qf6+ 21.Kc2 Bd7 22. Nc7 Rc8 23.Nce6+ Ke7 24.Rd4 Bxe6 25.Nxe6 h5 26.Nf4 h4 27.Qh1 Nd7 28.Qb1 Nc5 29.Rd1 Nb3 30.Rh1 b5 31.Qb2 bxc4 32.Qxf6+ Kxf6 33.Kc3 Nc5 34.Bxc4 Rb8 0-1

[Event "6th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2024.08.26"]
[Round "01-12"]
[White "Bodnaruk, Anastasia Mikhailovna RUS"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[ECO "B35"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "39"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nge2 g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Bb3 Qa5 9.O-O d6 10.h3 Bd7 11.Qe2 Rfc8 12.Rad1 a6 13.f4 Nh5 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Qf2 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Bxe4 17.Bd4 Ng7 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Qd4+ Kg8 20.Qxe4 1-0

[Event "6th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event"]
[Site "chess.com"]
[Date "2024.08.26"]
[Round "01-13"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) CHN"]
[Black "Bodnaruk, Anastasia Mikhailovna RUS"]
[ECO "B53"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[PlyCount "76"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Bxc6 Bxc6 7.Nc3 Nf6 8. Bg5 e6 9.O-O-O Be7 10.Qd3 O-O 11.Nd4 Rc8 12.f4 Qa5 13.Kb1 Rfd8 14.f5 e5 15.Nb3 Qb6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.Qxd5 Rc6 19.h4 Rdc8 20.Rd2 Qd8 21. g3 Be7 22.a3 Rc4 23.g4 Qc7 24.Qd3 b6 25.g5 Qc6 26.Re2 a5 27.Rd1 a4 28.Nc1 Rd4 29.Qxd4 exd4 30.Rxd4 Qc5 31.Rxa4 Qg1 32.Ra7 Bf8 33.Rd2 g6 34.fxg6 hxg6 35.e5 dxe5 36.Rdd7 Qf2 37.c3 e4 38.Ra4 e3 0-1

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) made it through to the quarterfinals with a 7½–5½ win over Bodnaruk in the round of 16 of the 6th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship “Julius Bä” Main Event. Screenshot from the live stream.

Quite importantly, Edna, the first duty of a free press in a free world is to censor any thought — including any reference to the censorship — which may induce the public to doubt their freedom

Artwork © ThePervyBiscuit

Live Sent

The Drama and the Stage

Another day to forget for Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina at the Altai Regional Drama Theatre named after Vasily Makarovich Shukshin, just to confirm that when something goes wrong, it doesn’t go wrong only on stage.

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
74th Russian Women’s Chess Championship; Barnaul, August 25, 2024
Queen’s Pawn Game D02

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bf4 Bf5 4. c4 e6 5. Nc3 dxc4 6. Qa4+ Nbd7 7. Qxc4 Bd6 8. Bxd6 cxd6 9. e3 0-0 10. Be2 Ne4 11. Nxe4 Bxe4 12. Qb4 Rc8 13. 0-0 Rc2 14. Bd1 Rc6 15. Nd2 Bd3 16. Re1 Qc7 17. d5 exd5 18. Qd4 Bc4 19. b3 Ba6 20. Bf3 Nf6 21. Bxd5 Nxd5 22. Qxd5 b6 23. Nf3 Rc5 24. Qd2 Bb7 25. Nd4 Qe7 26. e4 g6 27. f3 Rfc8 28. Rad1 Qf6 29. Qf2 a5 30. Rd2 b5 31. Nc2 Rc3 32. Ne3 h5 33. Qg3

33. ... Qe5!? An unnecessary Pawn sacrifice, which leaves Black with very little in return. 33. ... Rc1! offered the best prospects for equality.
34. Rxd6 Qc5 35. Kf2 Re8 36. Rd2 a4 37. bxa4 bxa4 38. Qd6 Qxd6 39. Rxd6 Kg7 40. Rb1 Bc8 41. Rb8 Kf8 42. Rb4 Ra3 43. Rd2 Be6 44. Nd5 Rd8 45. h4 Kg7 46. Ke2 Rd7 47. Rb6 Rd8 48. Rc6 Kf8 49. Rc3 Rxc3 50. Nxc3 Ra8 51. a3 Bc4+ 52. Ke3 Ke7 53. Rd4 Bb3 54. Rb4 Ra5 55. f4 Ra7 56. Kd4 Kf8 57. Rb8+ Kg7 58. Nd5 Ra6 59. Rb4 Ra7 60. g3 Rd7 61. Ke5 f5 62. Rd4?! 62. Ke6! was the best way to continue to play for a win as after the text White liquidates into a drawn Rook ending a Pawn down.
62. ... fxe4 63. Kxe4 Bxd5+ 64. Rxd5 Rb7 65. Rd3 Kf6 66. Rd6+ Kg7 67. Rd3 Kf6 68. Rc3 Rb2 69. Rc6+ Kg7 70. Rc7+ Kf6 71. Rc6+ Kg7 72. Ra6 Rb3 73. Rxa4 Rxg3 74. Ra7+ Kf6 75. Ra6+ Ke7 76. a4

76. ... Kd7? A strange blunder by an endgame virtuoso of Goryachkina’s stature. The right way was 76. ... Kf7! 77. a5 Ra3 with a book draw.
77. Ke5 Rg4 78. a5 Kc7 79. Re6? But Pogonina let slip her chance of an easy win by 79. Rb6! Rxh4 80. Rxg6, giving her opponent instead an unhoped opportunity for saving the day.
79. ... Kb7 80. Rf6 Ka7 81. a6 Ka8 82. Re6 Ka7 83. Rd6 Ka8 84. Ke4 Ka7 85. Rc6 Rg1 86. Kf3 Rf1+ 87. Kg3 Rg1+ 88. Kf2 Rg4 89. Kf3 Rg1 90. Rc5 Kxa6 91. Rg5 Rh1 92. Rxg6+ Kb7 93. f5 Kc7 94. Kf4

94. ... Rxh4+? As they say, she (he) who makes the last mistake loses. Salvation was still possible, but she should have found two “only” moves: 94. ... Kd7! 95. Kg5 Ke7! with a tablebase draw.
95. Kg5 Rh1 96. Rh6 Rg1+ 97. Kxh5 Kd7 98. Re6 Rg2 99. Kh6 Rg1 100. Rg6 Ra1 101. Kg7 Ra7 102. Re6 Ra5 103. Kg6 Ra1 104. Re2 Kd6 105. f6 Rf1 106. Kg7 Rg1+ 107. Kf8 Kd7 108. f7 Rf1 109. Rd2+ 1–0.

Goryachkina is now point behind in Championship struggle. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili/Chess Federation of Russia.

You know, Edna, as the saying goes, “Purses are like friends, you can never have too many”

Artwork © artfulleighdesigned (@artfulleighdesigned)

Unnoticedly

The rating favourite of the field, Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina is now half a point behind her frenemy Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno after making two Großmeister-Remisen in a row (one with Lagno herself in 7 moves), which earned her more than a few perplexed looks from bystanders and kibitzers. Indeed, such a peaceful attitude may well signal that Goryachkina, whose relations with the Chess Federation of Russia are sometimes difficult to delineate, thinks or fears that the upper hierarchies of Russian chess are not rooting for her as much as Lagno.

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Daria Stanislavovna Voit
74th Russian Women’s Chess Championship; Barnaul, Monday, August 24, 2024
Caro-Kann Defence B12

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h5 5. Bd3 Bxd3 6. Qxd3 Qa5+ 7. Nd2 e6 8. Nf3 Qa6 9. c4

9. ... Bb4. If 9. ... Nh6 then 10. b3 Nf5 11. Bb2 Be7 12. g3 Nd7 13. Qc2 g6 14. a4 b6 15. 0-0 0-0 16. Rfc1 Rfc8 17. a5!? Qb7?! (17. ... c5 18. axb6 Qxb6 19. cxd5 exd5 20. Qd3 cxd4 21. e6!) 18. a6! with the better game for White, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Shuvalova, 5th Online Women’s Speed Chess Championship Main Event, chess.com, November 13, 2023, Quarterfinal match game 7 (time control: 5 minutes plus 1 second per move).
10. 0-0 Ne7 11. Rd1 c5 12. dxc5 Nbc6 13. Qc2

13. ... Bxd2 14. Bxd2. An insipid novelty which allows Black to equalise easily and quickly. Therefore, White must retake with the Knight: 14. Nxd2 Nxe5 15. cxd5 Nxd5 (a little better may be 14. ... exd5 15. b4⩲) 16. Ne4 0-0 17. b3!± 倪诗群 (Ní Shīqún) – 肖依依 (Xiào Yīyī), 5th “一带一路” (“One Belt One Road”) Women’s World Chess Summit, 西安 (Xī’ān) 2023, (time control: 15 minutes plus 5 seconds per move).
14. ... Qxc4 15. Qxc4 dxc4 16. Rdc1 Ng6 17. Rxc4 Ngxe5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Re4 Nd7 20. Bc3 0-0 21. b4 a5 22. a3 axb4 23. axb4 Rxa1+ 24. Bxa1 Rc8 25. Re1 b6 26. Rd1 ½–½.

Bobby Fischer would say, “To get squares, you gotta give squares”. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili/Chess Federation of Russia.

In the Bag

The Witches

Jazz-R&B-pop artist 9m88 poses for a picture with British actress Tilda Swinton after enjoying Embodying Pasolini, an almost two-hour performance tribute by Swinton herself to the costumes of legendary Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini’s most iconic films, which is being staged from Friday to Sunday at 台北表演艺术中心 (Taipei Performing Arts Centre) in 士林區 (Shìlín District), 臺北 (Taipei), Taiwan. Photo via 9m88.

Yes, Edna, without you they are like the seven dwarfs without Snow White

Artwork © nupsu (@nupsume)

8月30日

More importantly, Edna, no tech can overturn the objective truth that you are the best of the bunch

Artwork © Stephen Smith Galleries

An Eye on the Thames

Time to Say Goodbye

Aerial view of abandoned vehicles waiting to be scrapped in 南京 (Nánjīng), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China. Photo: AFP/Getty Images.

You know, Edna, the more one waits, the more sublime must be that which is waited for

Artwork © Funko Funatic: rontonsoup (@freddyfunkoncept)

Walled In

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Olga Alexandrovna Girya
74th Russian Women’s Chess Championship; Barnaul, Monday, August 21, 2024
Spanish Game C65

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Nbd2 d6 6. c3 0-0 7. 0-0 Bb6 8. a4 a6 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. a5 Ba7 11. h3 Re8 12. Re1 c5 13. Nc4 Rb8 14. Bg5 h6 15. Bh4 Re6 16. Nfd2 Qe8 17. b3 Nh7 18. Ne3 Rg6 19. Kh1 Ng5 20. Bg3 Ne6 21. Nf5 Nd8 22. Nc4 Be6 23. Ra3 Qd7 24. Nce3 Nc6 25. Qc2 Rb5 26. Rea1 Kh8 27. Kh2 Qc8? (27. ... Ne7!)

28. Bh4! Bd7 29. g4 Kh7 30. Nd5 Re6 31. Qd2 Bb8

The press release of the Chess Federation of Russia is exhaustive enough for a basic understanding of what there is to know: “In the game A. Y. Goryachkina – O. A. Girya, an anti-Berlin variation of the Spanish was played. Right after the opening, Black voluntarily walled in her Bishop on a7, where it remained until the end of the game. Goryachkina achieved a large space advantage, captured strongholds in the centre with her Knights, and mounted a direct attack on her opponent’s King. In order not to get checkmated, Black had to make serious material concessions, with not enough resources to find a perpetual check”.
32. Bf6! Nb4 33. cxb4 cxb4 34. R3a2 Rxd5 35. Bxg7 Rg6 (35. ... Rb5 36. Bxh6+−)
36. Ne7 Qd8 37. Nxg6 Kxg7 38. exd5 fxg6

White is two Exchanges ahead, while Black’s two Bishops count for little or nothing because of the walled off dark-squared Bishop.
39. Rc1 Bxg4!? A last desperate venture.
40. hxg4 Qh4+ 41. Kg2 Qxg4+ 42. Kf1 Qh3+ 43. Ke1 Qh1+ 44. Ke2 Qh5+ 45. f3 Qh2+ 46. Kd1 Qh1+ 47. Kc2 Qxf3 48. Qxb4 Ba7 49. Qe4 1–0.

Goryachkina easily took advantage of her opponent’s bad judgment. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili/Chess Federation of Russia.

Well, Edna, one way or another your ardent admirers can’t do anything but wait for Thursday next week, when you will finally show Anastasia how to get dressed

Artwork © J_love (@j_love5111)