Artwork © Jesus Arcia
Thursday, April 17, 2025
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
A Pure Formality
And here below is the 9th and last game of one of the most one-sided world matches in chess history, which we give just for ”duty of chronicle”:
居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí)
Women’s World Chess Championship 2025; match game 9; 重庆 (Chóngqìng), April 16, 2025
Sicilian Defence B30
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. 0-0 Nge7 5. Re1 Nd4 6. Nxd4 cxd4 7. c3 a6 8. Bf1 Nc6 9. Na3 Be7 10. Nc2 d5 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. cxd4 dxe4 13. d3 exd3 14. Bxd3 0-0 15. Be4 Bf6 16. Be3 g6 17. Qb3 Bxd4 18. Rad1 e5 19. Bxd4 exd4 20. Qb4 a5 21. Qxd4 Qxd4 22. Rxd4 Be6 23. Bd5 Rfd8 24. Red1 Rac8 25. Kf1 Rd6 26. Bxe6 Rxe6 27. Rd8+ Rxd8 28. Rxd8+ Kg7 29. Rd7 b6 30. g4 Kf6 31. Rb7 h5 32. gxh5 gxh5 33. Kg2 Kg6 34. Kg3 f6 35. h4 Kf5 36. Rh7 Kg6 37. Rb7 Kf5 38. Rh7 Kg6 39. Rb7 ½–½. And thus 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) successfully defended her title for the fourth time.
Once again, the inseparable couple, 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) and 倪华 (Ní Huá), proved the harmony of their partnership. Photo: Anna Shtourman/FIDE. |
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Horizon effect
A woman spends leisure time at a waterside park in southwest China’s 重庆 (Chóngqìng). Photo: 王全超 (Wáng Quánchāo)/新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency). |
Monday, April 14, 2025
But Not Today
谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
Women’s World Chess Championship 2025; match game 8; 重庆 (Chóngqìng), April 14, 2025
Vienna Game C28
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nc6 4. d3 Bb4 5. Nf3 d6 6. 0-0 Bxc3 7. bxc3 0-0 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 Na5 10. Bb3 Nxb3 11. axb3 Qe7 12. Re1 Qe6 13. d4 Nd7 14. Qd3 a6 15. Rad1 Re8 16. Bg3 b5 17. Nd2 Nf6 18. b4 Nh5 19. Nb3 Qg6 20. dxe5 Nxg3 21. hxg5 Rxe5 22. Na5 Bd7 23. Re3 Rae8 24. Rde1 f5 25. Qd4 Rxe4 26. Rxe4 Rxe4 27. Rxe4 fxe4 28. c4
It had to be revenge, but not yet. After 28 moves 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) was down a Pawn and the one begging for a draw, but once again 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) showed a rather fairy touch:
28. ... e3! 29. Qxe3 Qxc2 30. Qa7 bxc4 31. Qxc7 Bb5 32. Nb7 (32. Qxd6 c3−+)
32. ... c3 33. Nxd6 Qd3 34. Qf7+ Kh7 35. Nf5 Qd7 36. Qxd7 (36. Ne7 Qe8 37. Qf5+ g6 38. Qc5 c2−+)
36. ... Bxd7 37. Nd4 Ba4 38. Ne2 c2 39. f3 Kg6 40. Kf2 Bb5 41. Nc1 h5 42. Ke3 Kg5 43. Kd2
28. ... e3! 29. Qxe3 Qxc2 30. Qa7 bxc4 31. Qxc7 Bb5 32. Nb7 (32. Qxd6 c3−+)
32. ... c3 33. Nxd6 Qd3 34. Qf7+ Kh7 35. Nf5 Qd7 36. Qxd7 (36. Ne7 Qe8 37. Qf5+ g6 38. Qc5 c2−+)
36. ... Bxd7 37. Nd4 Ba4 38. Ne2 c2 39. f3 Kg6 40. Kf2 Bb5 41. Nc1 h5 42. Ke3 Kg5 43. Kd2
43. ... Bf1! 44. Nb3 Bxg2 45. Nd4 Bxf3!! 46. Nxf3+ Kg4 47. Nd4 Kxg3 48. Nf5+ Kg4 49. Ne3+ Kf3! 50. Nxc2 h4 51. Ne1+ Kg3 52. Ke3 h3 53. Nf3 h2 0–1.
居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) won her fourth game in a row and is now just a draw away from the longed-for crown. Photo: Anna Shtourman/FIDE. |
Sunday, April 13, 2025
The End of the Beginning
Magnus Carlsen – Hikaru Nakamura
1st Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour; second leg; Stage 2: Knockout; Final match game 1; time control: 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move; Paris, April 13, 2025
qnbrnkrb/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/QNBRNKRB w GDgd - 0 1
Position #103
1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 e5 4. b4!? Contemporary Romanticism.
4. ... Nxb4 (4. ... cxb4 5. Nd5 d6 6. d4!↑)
5. Nxe5 g6 6. d4 0-0. On 6. ... cxd4 7. Bh6+ would be annoying.
7. Ng4! Bg7. Black has not an easy time as White’s initiative can easily take the lead after either 7. ... h5 8. Nh6+ Kh7 9. g4! or 7. ... cxd4 8. Nh6+ Kg7 9. Nb5 or 7. ... Bxd4 8. Rxd4! cxd4 9. Nb5 (9. Nd5).
8. dxc5 d5! 9. Nh6+ Kh8 10. g4 Be6 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd5 Bxd5 13. Bb2 Be6 14. g5 Rxd1+ 15. Qxd1 Qc8 16. Rg3 Qxc5 17. Ne4 Qd5 18. Qxd5 Bxd5 19. Nf6 (19. Nc3!? Bxa2 20. Ba3)
19. ... Bxa2 20. Ra3 Be6 21. Rxa7 Nd6 22. f3 Rc8 23. Be5 Nf5 24. Nxf5 Bxf5 25. Rxb7 Be6 26. Rb4 Bxf6 27. Bxf6+ Kg8 28. Kf2 Rc5 29. Kg3 h6 30. gxh6 Kh7 31. Bg7 g5
5. Nxe5 g6 6. d4 0-0. On 6. ... cxd4 7. Bh6+ would be annoying.
7. Ng4! Bg7. Black has not an easy time as White’s initiative can easily take the lead after either 7. ... h5 8. Nh6+ Kh7 9. g4! or 7. ... cxd4 8. Nh6+ Kg7 9. Nb5 or 7. ... Bxd4 8. Rxd4! cxd4 9. Nb5 (9. Nd5).
8. dxc5 d5! 9. Nh6+ Kh8 10. g4 Be6 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd5 Bxd5 13. Bb2 Be6 14. g5 Rxd1+ 15. Qxd1 Qc8 16. Rg3 Qxc5 17. Ne4 Qd5 18. Qxd5 Bxd5 19. Nf6 (19. Nc3!? Bxa2 20. Ba3)
19. ... Bxa2 20. Ra3 Be6 21. Rxa7 Nd6 22. f3 Rc8 23. Be5 Nf5 24. Nxf5 Bxf5 25. Rxb7 Be6 26. Rb4 Bxf6 27. Bxf6+ Kg8 28. Kf2 Rc5 29. Kg3 h6 30. gxh6 Kh7 31. Bg7 g5
32. e4? Carlsen has kept all power in his own hands so far, but his last move was a bit too impulsive and could cost him dearly. More consistent was 32. Re4! Rc4 33. Re5 Kg6 34. e4 with a crushing advantage.
32. ... f5! 33. Rb7 f4+ 34. Kf2 Rc2+ 35. Ke1
32. ... f5! 33. Rb7 f4+ 34. Kf2 Rc2+ 35. Ke1
35. ... Ba2?? A tragic oversight that loses at once. Simply 35. ... Rxh2! 37. Bf8+ Kg8 would leave White empty-handed.
36. Bf8+ 1–0. What a difference can one tempo make! Idem to say: 36. ... Kg8 37. h7+ Kh8 38. Bd6 or 36. ... Kg6 37. Rg7+ Kf6 38. h4! or 36. ... Kh8 37. Be7 Rxh2 38. Bxg5 winning in all cases.
36. Bf8+ 1–0. What a difference can one tempo make! Idem to say: 36. ... Kg8 37. h7+ Kh8 38. Bd6 or 36. ... Kg6 37. Rg7+ Kf6 38. h4! or 36. ... Kh8 37. Be7 Rxh2 38. Bxg5 winning in all cases.
A Knight for a Queen
居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí)
Women’s World Chess Championship 2025; match game 7; 重庆 (Chóngqìng), April 13, 2025
Sicilian Defence B30
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. 0-0 Nge7 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Qb6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Bd3 Ng6 9. c4 Be7 10. Nc3 0-0 11. Na4 Qc7 12. c5 d5 13. cxd6 Bxd6 14. Qh5 Rb8 15. b3 Rd8 16. Rd1 Rb4 17. Bb2 Nf4 18. Qf3 Nxd3 19. Rxd3 Ba6 20. Rdd1 Bxh2+ 21. Kh1 Bd6 22. Qc3 Bf8 23. Nc5 Rb6 24. Qe5 Qe7 25. Rac1 Rb5 26. Rxd8 Qxd8 27. Qd4 Qh4+ 28. Kg1 Bc8 29. e5 Qxd4 30. Bxd4 a5 31. f4 h5 32. Kf2 Be7 33. Ke3 g5 34. Ne4 gxf4+ 35. Kxf4
35. ... Bb7? How to bury a Bishop in Knight manure.
36. Bc5! Bxc5 37. Nxc5 Kg7?! If 37. ... a4!? then 38. Kg5! (38. Nxa4? c5! is no clear at all) 38. ... axb3 39. axb3 Bc8 40. Kf6! Kf8 41. Rc4! with overwhelming advantage.
38. Kg5 Ba8?! Sad, but after 38. ... a4 39. Rc4! axb3 40. axb3 Bc8 41. b4 Rb8 42. Rd4 Black would also end up badly zugzwanged.
39. Kxh5 Rb8 40. Rc4 Rh8+ 41. Kg4 Rh2 42. Kg3 Rh5 43. Rg4+ Kf8 44. Ra4 Ke7 45. Rxa5 Rxe5 46. Ra7+ Kd6 47. b4! 1–0.
36. Bc5! Bxc5 37. Nxc5 Kg7?! If 37. ... a4!? then 38. Kg5! (38. Nxa4? c5! is no clear at all) 38. ... axb3 39. axb3 Bc8 40. Kf6! Kf8 41. Rc4! with overwhelming advantage.
38. Kg5 Ba8?! Sad, but after 38. ... a4 39. Rc4! axb3 40. axb3 Bc8 41. b4 Rb8 42. Rd4 Black would also end up badly zugzwanged.
39. Kxh5 Rb8 40. Rc4 Rh8+ 41. Kg4 Rh2 42. Kg3 Rh5 43. Rg4+ Kf8 44. Ra4 Ke7 45. Rxa5 Rxe5 46. Ra7+ Kd6 47. b4! 1–0.
居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) scored her third victory in a row, and is just a stone’s throw away from reconfirming her title. Photo: Anna Shtourman/FIDE. |
Saturday, April 12, 2025
The Last First Time
Magnus Carlsen – Fabiano Caruana
1st Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour; second leg; Stage 2: Knockout; Semifinal match game 2; time control: 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move; Paris, April 12, 2025
qbbnnrkr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/QBBNNRKR w HFhf - 0 1
Position #4
1. c4 c5 2. b3 b6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Ne6 5. Qd2 Nf6 6. Ne3 Re8 7. Bb2 Bb7 8. f3 Bf4?! The Black dark-squared Bishop goes from the a-side to the h-side looking for something to target, but the whole journey takes a little too much time. 8. ... d5! seems a more direct way to equilibrium.
9. g3 Bh6 10. N1g2 g6. Finally, fianchettoing the Bishop.
9. g3 Bh6 10. N1g2 g6. Finally, fianchettoing the Bishop.
11. h4! Qb8 12. g4 Bg7 13. h5 Bh6. Otherwise there follows h5-h6.
14. 0-0-0 Bg5 15. Bc2 Nf4 16. Nxf4 Qxf4 17. Nf1 Qxd2+ 18. Nxd2 e5 19. Kb1 Re6
14. 0-0-0 Bg5 15. Bc2 Nf4 16. Nxf4 Qxf4 17. Nf1 Qxd2+ 18. Nxd2 e5 19. Kb1 Re6
20. h6! Keeping Black bottled up.
20. ... 0-0 21. e4 d6 22. b4 Nd7 23. Ka1 Rc8 24. Bb3 Rf6
20. ... 0-0 21. e4 d6 22. b4 Nd7 23. Ka1 Rc8 24. Bb3 Rf6
It’s finally time to break through:
25. c5! Ba6. Both 26. ... bxc5 and 26. ... dxc5 would be met by 27. Nc4 with prompt invasion by the Knight.
26. Bc4 Nb8? Black was already very short of time, and inevitably committed mistakes. Here 26. ... Bb7! was called for, so as to reply to 27. Bb3 with 27. ... Ba6, offering to repeat moves.
27. b5! Rxc5 28. bxa6 Bxd2 29. Rxd2 Rxc4 30. Bxe5! Re6. The Bishop is obviously taboo because of the back rank mate at d8.
31. Bxd6 Nxa6
25. c5! Ba6. Both 26. ... bxc5 and 26. ... dxc5 would be met by 27. Nc4 with prompt invasion by the Knight.
26. Bc4 Nb8? Black was already very short of time, and inevitably committed mistakes. Here 26. ... Bb7! was called for, so as to reply to 27. Bb3 with 27. ... Ba6, offering to repeat moves.
27. b5! Rxc5 28. bxa6 Bxd2 29. Rxd2 Rxc4 30. Bxe5! Re6. The Bishop is obviously taboo because of the back rank mate at d8.
31. Bxd6 Nxa6
32. Bb8!? The simple doubling of the Rooks, with 32. Rhd1, should suffice, but Carlsen is irresistibly tempted by the tricky text move, which fell like a thundernbolt on Caruana.
32. ... Re8? The cool 32. ... Kf8!! would hold everything together, for if 33. Bxa7 Black can reply with 33. ... Rc7 without fear of being checkmated.
33. Bxa7 b5 34. Bd4 Nc7 35. Bf6 Ne6 36. Rhd1 Ra4 37. Rd3 g5 38. R1d2 b4 39. Kb1 Rea8 40. Be7 Re8 41. Bf6 Rea8 42. Rb2 R4a6 43. Rdb3 Nf8 44. Bxg5 1–0.
32. ... Re8? The cool 32. ... Kf8!! would hold everything together, for if 33. Bxa7 Black can reply with 33. ... Rc7 without fear of being checkmated.
33. Bxa7 b5 34. Bd4 Nc7 35. Bf6 Ne6 36. Rhd1 Ra4 37. Rd3 g5 38. R1d2 b4 39. Kb1 Rea8 40. Be7 Re8 41. Bf6 Rea8 42. Rb2 R4a6 43. Rdb3 Nf8 44. Bxg5 1–0.
Friday, April 11, 2025
Secret of the Underwear Dragon
People sit outside U.S. retailer Victoria’s Secret in 北京 (Běijīng). Stock markets slid further on Friday this week amid growing fears of an escalating trade war between the world’s two biggest economies, as China announced it would increase its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods to 125%. Photo: Jessica Lee/EPA. |
Old and New
The old and the new
Giorgio Agamben, Quodlibet, April 7, 2025
Why are we able to describe and analyse the old that is dissolving and, instead, are unable to imagine the new? Perhaps because we believe more or less unconsciously that the new is something that comes — no one knows where from — after the end of the old. The inability to think the new manifests thus itself in the careless use of the prefix post: the new is the post-modern, the post-human — in any case something that comes after. Exactly the contrary is true: the only way we have to think the new is to read it and decipher its hidden meanings in the forms of the old that passes and dissolves. That’s what Hölderlin clearly asserts in the extraordinary fragment on The declining fatherland, in which the perception of the new is inseparable from the memory of the sinking old and must in some way lovingly assume its figure. What has had its day and seems to dissolve loses its topicality, empties itself of its meaning, and somehow becomes possible again. Benjamin suggests something like this, when he writes that in the moment of memory the past, that seemed to be accomplished, appears to us unaccomplished and thus gives us the gift of the most precious thing: the possibility. Only the possible is truly new: if it were already topical and effective, it would always be deciduous and aged. And the possible does not come from the future; it is, in the past, what has not been, what perhaps will never be, but what could have been, and which therefore concerns us. We perceive the new only if we are able to grasp the possibility that the past — that is, the only thing we have — offers us, for a moment, before disappearing forever. It is in this way that we must refer to Western culture that everywhere around us is now falling apart and dissolving.
Giorgio Agamben, Quodlibet, April 7, 2025
Why are we able to describe and analyse the old that is dissolving and, instead, are unable to imagine the new? Perhaps because we believe more or less unconsciously that the new is something that comes — no one knows where from — after the end of the old. The inability to think the new manifests thus itself in the careless use of the prefix post: the new is the post-modern, the post-human — in any case something that comes after. Exactly the contrary is true: the only way we have to think the new is to read it and decipher its hidden meanings in the forms of the old that passes and dissolves. That’s what Hölderlin clearly asserts in the extraordinary fragment on The declining fatherland, in which the perception of the new is inseparable from the memory of the sinking old and must in some way lovingly assume its figure. What has had its day and seems to dissolve loses its topicality, empties itself of its meaning, and somehow becomes possible again. Benjamin suggests something like this, when he writes that in the moment of memory the past, that seemed to be accomplished, appears to us unaccomplished and thus gives us the gift of the most precious thing: the possibility. Only the possible is truly new: if it were already topical and effective, it would always be deciduous and aged. And the possible does not come from the future; it is, in the past, what has not been, what perhaps will never be, but what could have been, and which therefore concerns us. We perceive the new only if we are able to grasp the possibility that the past — that is, the only thing we have — offers us, for a moment, before disappearing forever. It is in this way that we must refer to Western culture that everywhere around us is now falling apart and dissolving.
(English translation by I, Robot)
林風眠 (Lín Fēngmián), Chinese opera series: Legend of the White Snake, ca. 1960s. Courtesy of WikiArt. |
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Channel Tunnel
Fabiano Caruana – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
1st Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour; second leg; Stage 2: Knockout; Quarterfinal match game 2; time control: 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move; Paris, April 10, 2025
nnrbbkqr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NNRBBKQR w HChc - 0 1
Position #73
1. c4 c5 2. f4 d6 3. d3 f5 4. Nc3 e6 5. Nc2 Qf7 6. Qf2 0-0 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. e3 Nc7 9. d4
9. ... g5!? A hasty, wild advance, lacking the background of a sound development. It brings to mind an evocative hologram of the ghost of Morphy in Paris: 1. a3 e5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e3 Be6 6. Nf3 Bd6 7. Be2 0-0 8. d4 Nxc3 9. bxc3 e4 10. Nd2 f5 11. f4 g5!? (Anderssen – P. C. Morphy, Paris 1858, match game 6).
10. Bd2 Qg7 11. Nb5 Nxb5 12. cxb5 Ne7 13. dxc5 dxc5 14. Bc3 Qg6 15. a4 Nd5 16. Be5 a6 17. bxa6 bxa6 18. Na3
10. Bd2 Qg7 11. Nb5 Nxb5 12. cxb5 Ne7 13. dxc5 dxc5 14. Bc3 Qg6 15. a4 Nd5 16. Be5 a6 17. bxa6 bxa6 18. Na3
18. ... Nf6? Finally, Black gets wrapped up in his own developmental scheme. Here 18. ... Bc6 19. Nc4 Be7 was to be preferred, although 20. b3!⩲ would have given Black reason enough to regret his 9th move.
19. Nc4 Be7 20. Bf3 gxf4. 20. ... g4 21. Bb7 Rd8 22. Bc7 would be a triumph of White’s Bishop pair.
21. exf4 Rd8 22. b3 Ne4 23. Qe2 Bc6 24. Bc7
19. Nc4 Be7 20. Bf3 gxf4. 20. ... g4 21. Bb7 Rd8 22. Bc7 would be a triumph of White’s Bishop pair.
21. exf4 Rd8 22. b3 Ne4 23. Qe2 Bc6 24. Bc7
24. ... Bf6. A desperate Exchange sacrifice, trying to delay the inevitable. If 24. ... Rd4 then 25. Ne5 Qe8 26. Nxc6 Qxc6 27. Be5 Rb4 28. Rc4! Rxc4 (28. ... Rxb3? 29. Rxe4!+−) 29. bxc4 with an imposing position for White.
25. Bxe4 Bxe4 26. Bxd8 Rxd8 27. Ne5 Bxe5 28. fxe5 Kh8 29. Rxc5 Qg5 30. Rc3 Qg7 31. Rfc1 Qb7 32. Qf2 1–0. An iron fist in a velvet glove.
25. Bxe4 Bxe4 26. Bxd8 Rxd8 27. Ne5 Bxe5 28. fxe5 Kh8 29. Rxc5 Qg5 30. Rc3 Qg7 31. Rfc1 Qb7 32. Qf2 1–0. An iron fist in a velvet glove.
Caruana showed a deep understanding of how Fischerandom chess works. Photo: Stev Bonhage/Freestyle Chess. |
Salt & Pepper
谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
Women’s World Chess Championship 2025; match game 6; 上海 (Shànghǎi), April 10, 2025
English Opening A13
1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. b3 d5 4. Bb2 c5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. g3 Nc6 7. Bg2 d4 8. 0-0 Be7 9. Na3 0-0 10. e3 dxe3 11. dxe3 Bf5 12. Ne5 Nxe5 13. Bxe5 Qc8 14. Qe2 Bh3 15. Qf3 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Qe6 17. Bb2 Ne4 18. Rfd1 Rad8 19. Nc4 b5 20. Ne5 f5 21. Nd3 g5 22. Ne1 Bf6 23. Bxf6 Qxf6 24. Rxd8 Rxd8 25. Rd1 Rxd1 26. Qxd1 Qd6 27. Qh5 Kg7 28. Qe8 a6 29. Nf3 Nf6 30. Qa8 h6
31. h4? 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) is unjustificably playing for a win, with the direct consequence that she will be losing her second game in a row! If anything, the ending ensuing from 31. a4 Qd5 was still sustainable.
31. ... g4! 32. Qb7+ Qd7! 33. Qxd7+ Nxd7. Now the ending is theoretically lost for White, as Black is the only one that can create a passed Pawn.
34. Nd2 Kf6 35. f4 Ke6! 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) brings home the point with superb technique.
36. e4 fxe4 37. Nxe4 Kd5 38. Nf2 Nf6 39. Kf1 Kd4 40. Ke2 h5 41. a4 Kc3 42. axb5 axb5 43. Nd3 Ne4 44. Ke3 Nxg3 45. Nxc5 Nf5+ 46. Ke4 Nxh4 47. Ke5 Kb4 48. Ne4 Kxb3 49. Kf6 Nf3 50. f5 h4 51. Ke7 g3 52. f6 g2 0–1.
31. ... g4! 32. Qb7+ Qd7! 33. Qxd7+ Nxd7. Now the ending is theoretically lost for White, as Black is the only one that can create a passed Pawn.
34. Nd2 Kf6 35. f4 Ke6! 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) brings home the point with superb technique.
36. e4 fxe4 37. Nxe4 Kd5 38. Nf2 Nf6 39. Kf1 Kd4 40. Ke2 h5 41. a4 Kc3 42. axb5 axb5 43. Nd3 Ne4 44. Ke3 Nxg3 45. Nxc5 Nf5+ 46. Ke4 Nxh4 47. Ke5 Kb4 48. Ne4 Kxb3 49. Kf6 Nf3 50. f5 h4 51. Ke7 g3 52. f6 g2 0–1.
With the 上海 (Shànghǎi) half of the match being over, it is time to switch to the next half in 重庆 (Chóngqìng). Photo: Anna Shtourman/FIDE. |
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
豆浆 (Dòujiāng)
居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí)
Women’s World Chess Championship 2025; match game 5; 上海 (Shànghǎi), April 9, 2025
Sicilian Defence B42
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Ba7 7. 0-0 Ne7 8. c4 Nbc6 9. Nc3 Ne5 10. c5!?
居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)’s novelty apparently upset 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) so much that she broke away:
10. ... N7g6 (10. ... b6!)
11. Be2 b5? 11. ... b6! was again in order here.
12. f4 Nc4 13. a4! b4 14. Bxc4 bxc3 15. bxc3. Here the engines give priority to the powerful 15. Qd4! — a move 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) did not think too seriously of.
15. ... Bb7 16. Qe2. Once again, 16. Qd4! would be the strongest move, but 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) seems to be happy enough with her extra Pawn.
16. ... 0-0 17. Bd3 f5? Another unsound decision by 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) that will hasten her own downfall. 17. ... Qc7! would keep Black in the way, and would give her thread to spin.
18. exf5 exf5 19. Be3 Qc7?! Black abandons the a-Pawn — a bet that won’t pay off.
20. Bxa6 Rfe8 21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. Qc4+ Kh8 23. Bd4 Re6 24. h3 Rae8 25. Rf2 Bb8 26. Raf1
10. ... N7g6 (10. ... b6!)
11. Be2 b5? 11. ... b6! was again in order here.
12. f4 Nc4 13. a4! b4 14. Bxc4 bxc3 15. bxc3. Here the engines give priority to the powerful 15. Qd4! — a move 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) did not think too seriously of.
15. ... Bb7 16. Qe2. Once again, 16. Qd4! would be the strongest move, but 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) seems to be happy enough with her extra Pawn.
16. ... 0-0 17. Bd3 f5? Another unsound decision by 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) that will hasten her own downfall. 17. ... Qc7! would keep Black in the way, and would give her thread to spin.
18. exf5 exf5 19. Be3 Qc7?! Black abandons the a-Pawn — a bet that won’t pay off.
20. Bxa6 Rfe8 21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. Qc4+ Kh8 23. Bd4 Re6 24. h3 Rae8 25. Rf2 Bb8 26. Raf1
26. ... Nxf4!? A last desperate attempt by 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) to survive, and one cannot blame her for it.
27. Rxf4 Bxf4 28. Rxf4 Re1+ 29. Rf1 Rxf1+ 30. Kxf1 Qe4. Threatening mate on e1.
31. Kg1! Qb1+ 32. Kh2 Re1
27. Rxf4 Bxf4 28. Rxf4 Re1+ 29. Rf1 Rxf1+ 30. Kxf1 Qe4. Threatening mate on e1.
31. Kg1! Qb1+ 32. Kh2 Re1
Black is now hoping for a draw by perpetual check, but 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) is here to win:
33. Qd5! h6 34. Nd2! Rh1+ 35. Kg3 Qe1+ 36. Bf2 Qe2 (36. ... f4+!? 37. Kf3 Rxh3+! 38. Kg4! h5+ 39. Kf5+−)
37. Qd4 Rd1 38. Be3 Kh7 39. a5 Re1 40. Bf2 Rd1 41. Be3 Re1 42. Nc4 Ra1 43. Nd6 Ra2 44. Bf2 Qe6 45. Qf4 Kg6 46. Kh2 Qf6 47. Nc4 Kh7 48. Bd4 Qe6 49. Nd6 Qg6 50. Qf3 f4 51. a6 Rxa6 52. Qxf4 Ra2 53. Qf3 Qe6 54. Nf5 g5 55. Ne3 d6 56. c6 Ra8 57. Nd5 Rc8 58. Qd3+ Kg8 59. Ne7+! 1–0. For after 59. ... Qxe7 60. Qg6+ Kf8 61. Qf5+ wins the Rook next move.
33. Qd5! h6 34. Nd2! Rh1+ 35. Kg3 Qe1+ 36. Bf2 Qe2 (36. ... f4+!? 37. Kf3 Rxh3+! 38. Kg4! h5+ 39. Kf5+−)
37. Qd4 Rd1 38. Be3 Kh7 39. a5 Re1 40. Bf2 Rd1 41. Be3 Re1 42. Nc4 Ra1 43. Nd6 Ra2 44. Bf2 Qe6 45. Qf4 Kg6 46. Kh2 Qf6 47. Nc4 Kh7 48. Bd4 Qe6 49. Nd6 Qg6 50. Qf3 f4 51. a6 Rxa6 52. Qxf4 Ra2 53. Qf3 Qe6 54. Nf5 g5 55. Ne3 d6 56. c6 Ra8 57. Nd5 Rc8 58. Qd3+ Kg8 59. Ne7+! 1–0. For after 59. ... Qxe7 60. Qg6+ Kf8 61. Qf5+ wins the Rook next move.
Traditional 上海菜 (Shànghǎinese cuisine) is not known for being spicy. Photo: Anna Shtourman/FIDE. |
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Solidarity economy
陈漫 (Chén Màn), Long Live the Motherland, 北京 (Běijīng) No. 1, 2011. Photo © 陈漫 (Chén Màn). Courtesy The New York Times. |
The Raft of the Medusa
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa – Fabiano Caruana
1st Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour; second leg; Stage 1: Rapid Round Robin; time control: 10 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; Paris, April 8, 2025
rnkrbnqb/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNKRBNQB w DAda - 0 1
Position #667
1. f4 d5 2. g4 g5 3. f5 d4 4. a4 a5 5. Na3 Bc6. If 5. ... Bxa4 then 6. Nc4 recovering the Pawn with a good game.
6. Bg3 Nfd7 7. Nb5 Be5! 8. Ra3 Qg7 9. c3
6. Bg3 Nfd7 7. Nb5 Be5! 8. Ra3 Qg7 9. c3
9. ... d3! Enterprising play. If, instead, 9. ... dxc3 then White can play 10. Rxc3! offering the Exchange for the initiative.
10. exd3 Bxh1 11. Qxh1 c6 12. d4! An interesting positional sacrifice. The alternative was 12. Nd4 Bxd4 13. cxd4 Qxd4 14. Qe4 Qxe4 15. dxe4 Nf6 with at least equality for Black.
12. ... Bxg3 13. Nxg3 cxb5 14. axb5 Nf6 15. Re1 Nbd7
10. exd3 Bxh1 11. Qxh1 c6 12. d4! An interesting positional sacrifice. The alternative was 12. Nd4 Bxd4 13. cxd4 Qxd4 14. Qe4 Qxe4 15. dxe4 Nf6 with at least equality for Black.
12. ... Bxg3 13. Nxg3 cxb5 14. axb5 Nf6 15. Re1 Nbd7
16. Qf3. After 16. c4 a picturesque variation would be 16. ... Nxg4 17. Rxe7 Qxd4 18. Re4 Qh8 19. Rxg4 Nf6 20. Rxg5 h6 (the White Rook is trapped, but...) 21. Qg1! hxg5 22. Qc5+ Kb8 23. Qe5+ with a draw by perpetual check.
16. ... 0-0 17. Rxe7 b6 18. Qc6 Rac8 19. Qd6 Rcd8
16. ... 0-0 17. Rxe7 b6 18. Qc6 Rac8 19. Qd6 Rcd8
20. Kc2? (20. Nh5! Nxh5 21. Rxd7⩲)
20. ... Rfe8 21. Rxe8+ Nxe8 22. Qc6 (22. Qe7 Qf6)
22. ... Nef6 23. Ra4 (23. h3 Qf8)
23. ... Qf8 24. Rc4 Qe7 (24. ... Nxg4! 25. Ne4 Qe7∓)
25. Qf3? White’s last chance was 25. Nh5! Nxh5 (25. ... Nxg4 26. Qg2!) 26. gxh5 h6 with a near balanced situation.
25. ... Qd6 26. Rc6? 26. h3 Qf4 wasn’t pleasant at all, but better than the text.
26. ... Qf4 27. Qd3?! The attempt to complicate matters by not exchanging Queens ends in disaster for White, but also after 27. Qxf4 gxf4 28. Nf1 Nxg4 Black should not have too much trouble converting.
27. ... Qxg4 28. Qc4 h5 29. Kb3 h4 30. Nf1 Qf4 31. Qe2 Re8 32. Ne3 g4 33. Qc4 g3 34. hxg3 hxg3 35. Rc7 Nc5+ 36. dxc5 Qxc7 37. Qh4 Qe5 38. Qg5+ Kf8 39. Qh6+ Ke7 40. d4 Qe4 41. c6 g2 42. Nxg2 Qxg2 43. Qf4 Kf8 44. c4 Qe4 45. Qxe4 Nxe4 46. c5 bxc5 47. dxc5 Nxc5+ 48. Kc4 Na4 49. b3 Ke7 50. bxa4 Kd6 0–1.
20. ... Rfe8 21. Rxe8+ Nxe8 22. Qc6 (22. Qe7 Qf6)
22. ... Nef6 23. Ra4 (23. h3 Qf8)
23. ... Qf8 24. Rc4 Qe7 (24. ... Nxg4! 25. Ne4 Qe7∓)
25. Qf3? White’s last chance was 25. Nh5! Nxh5 (25. ... Nxg4 26. Qg2!) 26. gxh5 h6 with a near balanced situation.
25. ... Qd6 26. Rc6? 26. h3 Qf4 wasn’t pleasant at all, but better than the text.
26. ... Qf4 27. Qd3?! The attempt to complicate matters by not exchanging Queens ends in disaster for White, but also after 27. Qxf4 gxf4 28. Nf1 Nxg4 Black should not have too much trouble converting.
27. ... Qxg4 28. Qc4 h5 29. Kb3 h4 30. Nf1 Qf4 31. Qe2 Re8 32. Ne3 g4 33. Qc4 g3 34. hxg3 hxg3 35. Rc7 Nc5+ 36. dxc5 Qxc7 37. Qh4 Qe5 38. Qg5+ Kf8 39. Qh6+ Ke7 40. d4 Qe4 41. c6 g2 42. Nxg2 Qxg2 43. Qf4 Kf8 44. c4 Qe4 45. Qxe4 Nxe4 46. c5 bxc5 47. dxc5 Nxc5+ 48. Kc4 Na4 49. b3 Ke7 50. bxa4 Kd6 0–1.
Monday, April 7, 2025
Unfinished
Magnus Carlsen – Fabiano Caruana
1st Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour; second leg; Stage 1: Rapid Round Robin; time control: 10 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; Paris, April 7, 2025
rknnqrbb/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RKNNQRBB w FAfa - 0 1
Position #751
1. f4 f5 2. g3 g6 3. a4 a5 4. Nc3 Nd6 5. d4 Nc6 6. e3 Bc4 7. Rf2 Nb4 8. b3 Be6 9. Rd2 Qf7. The opening turned out well for Caruana, who is going to castle a-side with fine play.
10. Nd3 Nxd3 11. Rxd3 c6 12. e4 fxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 0-0! 15. 0-0-0! Of course, the heterogeneous castling is strategically sound and tactically challenging!
15. ... Bg4 16. R1d2 e6 17. Rc3 Qe7 18. Kb2 Rab8 19. Bg2 Bf5 20. h3
10. Nd3 Nxd3 11. Rxd3 c6 12. e4 fxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 0-0! 15. 0-0-0! Of course, the heterogeneous castling is strategically sound and tactically challenging!
15. ... Bg4 16. R1d2 e6 17. Rc3 Qe7 18. Kb2 Rab8 19. Bg2 Bf5 20. h3
20. ... g5!? Black does not hesitate to give up a Pawn in order to keep the Bishop in the diagonal.
21. g4 Bg6 22. fxg5? A very hot Pawn. Within a couple of moves, Black’s attack unleashes all its potential. 22. f5! was called for.
22. ... b5! 23. Bh2
21. g4 Bg6 22. fxg5? A very hot Pawn. Within a couple of moves, Black’s attack unleashes all its potential. 22. f5! was called for.
22. ... b5! 23. Bh2
23. ... bxa4!! 24. Bxb8 Rxb8 25. h4? And Carlsen continues to play with fire. 25. Rc4! axb3 26. c3! was now the only way to survive.
25. ... Qb4! With the manifest threat of ... a4-a3+.
26. Qg3
25. ... Qb4! With the manifest threat of ... a4-a3+.
26. Qg3
26. ... c5? A spontaneous mistake! The right break was 26. ... e5! (27. dxe5 Re8), in fact preventing White’s next move.
27. Rc4! Qb6. Not 27. ... Qxd2 by reason of 28. Qxb8+ Kg7 29. Qe5+ Kg8 30. Qxc5 with overwhelming advantage.
28. h5 axb3 29. cxb3 Bf7? And, finally, Caruana comes to his cupio dissolvi. Correct was 29. ... Be8! 30. Rxc5 Bxd4+ 31. Rxd4 Qxc5 still holding everything together.
30. Rxc5 e5. Now the line as above does not work because of Black’s Rook en prise with check.
31. Bd5 Bxd5 32. Rxd5 exd4 33. Qd3 a4 34. b4 Qxb4+ 35. Ka2 Bg7 36. Rxd7 Qb3+ 37. Qxb3+ axb3+ 38. Kb1 Re8 39. Kb2 Re5 40. Rf2 d3 41. Kxb3 1–0.
27. Rc4! Qb6. Not 27. ... Qxd2 by reason of 28. Qxb8+ Kg7 29. Qe5+ Kg8 30. Qxc5 with overwhelming advantage.
28. h5 axb3 29. cxb3 Bf7? And, finally, Caruana comes to his cupio dissolvi. Correct was 29. ... Be8! 30. Rxc5 Bxd4+ 31. Rxd4 Qxc5 still holding everything together.
30. Rxc5 e5. Now the line as above does not work because of Black’s Rook en prise with check.
31. Bd5 Bxd5 32. Rxd5 exd4 33. Qd3 a4 34. b4 Qxb4+ 35. Ka2 Bg7 36. Rxd7 Qb3+ 37. Qxb3+ axb3+ 38. Kb1 Re8 39. Kb2 Re5 40. Rf2 d3 41. Kxb3 1–0.
However, it wasn’t the chance that brought together two archrivals in a highly creative chess challenge. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Freestyle Chess. |