Wandering and Wondering

鹿妙夷 (Lù Miàoyí) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

19th Chinese Chess League Division A Finals; Match 杭州银行队 (Hángzhōu Bank Team)–深圳鹏城队 (Shēnzhèn Péngchéng Team); 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; 绍兴 (Shàoxīng), January 12, 2026

Sicilian Defence B22

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Nf6 4. Bb5+ Nbd7 5. d4 Qb6?! (⌓ 5. ... a6 6. Be2 Nxd5)
6. Bc4! cxd4 7. Nf3 Qc5?! 8. Na3 a6? (⌓ 8. ... dxc3 9. 0-0 a6)
9. b4 Qb6 10. Nxd4 Qc7 11. Ne2 Nb6 12. Bb3 Qd8

Black has made five Queen moves in her first twelve moves — not even 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) can afford such luxuries!
13. Nf4 a5 14. 0-0 g6 15. Re1 axb4 16. cxb4 Bg4 17. f3 Bd7 18. Bb2 Bg7 19. d6 e6

20. Bxe6! fxe6. 20. ... 0-0 21. Bb3 leaves White with two Pawns ahead. On the other hand, the text allows White to unleash a devastating attack.
21. Nxe6 Bxe6 22. Rxe6+ Kf8 23. Qb3 Nbd5 24. Bxf6 Bxf6 25. Qxd5 Rxa3 (25. ... Bxa1 26. Re7+−)
26. Rc1 Qb6+ 27. Kh1 Kg7 28. Rc7+ Kh6 29. Qd2+ Bg5 30. f4 Bd8 31. f5+ Kh5. On 31. ... Bg5 there follows 32. Rxh7+!! Kxh7 33. Qxg5+− with unavoidable mate.
32. Qd1+ Kg5 33. Qd2+ Kh5 34. Qd1+ Kg5 35. fxg6 hxg6 36. Rc5+ Kh6 37. Qc1+ Kg7 38. Qxa3 Rf8 39. Qd3 Bf6 40. Rc7+ 1–0.

A classic of what one must not do: 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) neglected development in the opening and was harshly punished by her opponent. Photo: 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency).