Beyond the Ivory Tower

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Divya Deshmukh

3rd Tata Steel India Women’s Rapid Tournament; time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Kolkata, November 15, 2024

Queen’s Gambit Declined D37

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bf4 dxc4 6. e3 b5 7. Nxb5 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 Nd5 9. a3 Nxc3 10. Qd2 Bxa3 11. Qxc3 Bd6 12. Bxc4 (12. Bg3 Qe7 13. Bxd6 cxd6 14. Bxc4 0-0 15. 0-0 Bb7 16. Be2 Rfc8 17. Qa3 Nb6 18. Rfd1 Nc4 19. Qa2 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 d5 21. Be2 g6 22. Bxc4 Rxc4 23. b3 Rc7 24. Rdc1 Rac8 25. Rxc7 Rxc7 26. Qa5 h5 27. h3 Kg7 28. Qa3 Qxa3 ½–½ Deac – Martirosyan, 5th Stepan H. Avagyan Memorial, Jermuk 2024)
12. ... 0-0 13. Bg5 Qe8 14. 0-0 Bb7 15. Ne5. White gives up her Bishop pair, which may well be questionable. 15. Be2 was probably her best move.
15. ... Nb6 16. Nf3 f6 17. Bh4 Nxc4 18. Qxc4 Bd5 19. Qe2 Qg6 20. Bg3

20. ... f5! Deshmukh boldly takes the initiative.
21. Ne5 Bxe5 22. dxe5 f4 23. exf4 Rxf4 24. Rfc1 h5 25. f3 Rf7 26. Ra4 c6 27. Qe3 Rb7 28. b4 Rf7 29. Qd4 Raf8 30. Ra3 Rf5 31. Rxa7 Not less boldly, Goryachkina lets her opponent play her cards.

31. ... Bxf3! 32. gxf3 Rf4. 32. ... Rxf3 33. Kh1! Qf5! was also interesting and sharply balanced.
33. Qd7. If 33. Qf2 then 33. ... h4 winning back her piece with at least equality.
33. ... Rxf3 34. Qxc6 h4! It is not yet time for 34. ... Rxg3+ 35. hxg3 Qxg3+ 36. Kh1 Qh3+ with a draw by perpetual check.
35. Ra8! Rxg3+? Deshmukh is beguiled by a cruel Fata Morgana. 35. ... hxg3? 36. Qxf3! was likewise a blunder, but simply 35. ... Rxa8 36. Qxf3 (or 36. Qxa8+ Rf8=) 36. ... Rf8= would hold it in equilibrium.

36. Kh1! Black must have overlooked this non-automatic move.
36. ... Rg5 (36. ... Rf3? 37. Qxf3!+−)
37. Rxf8+ Kh7. Tantamount to resignation, but after 37. ... Kxf8 38. Qa8+ there is only the choice between either being checkmated (38. ... Ke7 39. Rc7#) or losing the Queen (38. ... Qe8 39. Rc8).
38. Rf4 Rh5 39. Qe4 1–0.

Goryachkina showed all her strength and style, vindicating her claim to the throne. Photo: Amruta Mokal.