The Long Run

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk (@chessqueen)

Nearly 50,000 people, including thousands from abroad, ran through the streets of Paris on Sunday April 3, 2016, for the city’s annual marathon. Among them was also 12th Women’s World Chess Champion Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk, who did surprisingly well, running her first ever marathon in 4 hours!

• Evgeny Surov, Александра Костенюк: “Эмоции? До слёз...” (Alexandra Kosteniuk: “Emotioned to tears...”), Chess-News.ru, April 4, 2016

12th Women’s World Chess Champion Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk at the starting line of 40th Paris Marathon on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Photo: Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk (Facebook).

The Shoe Queen

Sophye Tray (@sophietray)

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
Photo: Sophie Tray

Absolutely Anything

Bela Khotenashvili – Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
20th Women’s European Chess Club Cup; Skopje, October 19, 2015
English Opening A29

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. g3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Nb6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. 0-0 Be7 8. Rb1 a5 9. d3 0-0 10. Be3 Be6 11. d4 Bf5!? The personal touch. For 11. ... e4 12. Nxe4 Bxa2 13. Ra1 Bc4 14. b3 Bd5 15. Nc5 Nd7 see Agdestein – Romanishin, 12th Miguel Najdorf Memorial, Warsaw 2014, while for 11. ... exd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 Qxd4 14. Bxd4 Nc4 see 卜祥志 (Bǔ Xiángzhì) – 李超 (Lǐ Chāo), 1st Hǎinán Dānzhōu Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament, 儋州 (Dānzhōu) 2010. 12. Rc1 Nc4 13. d5 Nb4 14. a3 Na6 15. Nd2 Nxe3 16. fxe3 Qd7 17. Nc4 Bg5 18. h4 Bh6 19. Kh2 Rae8 20. d6. The phase which follows is quite interesting and, whatever may have been her actual merits, slowly but surely, Bela manages to gain ground. 20. ... Be6 21. Nd5 cxd6 22. Nxa5 e4 23. b4 f5 24. Nc4 Kh8 25. Qd4 Qd8 26. Rfd1 Bf7 27. Rc2 Nc7 28. Nxc7 Qxc7 29. Rdc1 Rd8 30. Na5 Qe7 31. Rc7 Rd7 32. Rxd7 Qxd7 33. Qb6 Bd5 34. Rd1 Bc6 35. Nc4 d5 36. Qc5 Qe8 37. Nd6 Qe7

38. Bh3? With only 40 seconds left to reach move 40, Khotenashvili commits a grave oversight which costs her a Pawn. Instead, after 38. b5! Bxb5 39. Rxd5 Bc6 (39. ... Bd7 40. Qc7 Qe6 41. Rxf5! is no better) 40. Nxf5 White comes out a Pawn ahead. 38. ... Bxe3! 39. Qxe3 Qxd6 40. Qf4? The exchange of Queens is offered too hastily. More stubborn was 40. Qb6 since after 40. ... f4!? 41. b5 Qxa3 42. gxf4 Qb3 43. Qc5 Rg8 44. Rc1 Qxb5 45. Qxb5 Bxb5 46. Be6 Bxe2 47. Bxg8 (or 47. Bxd5 Re8 48. Bxb7 g6) 47. ... Kxg8 although Black retains excellent winning chances, White can still hope for a draw with the very best play. 40. ... Qxf4 41. gxf4 g6 42. a4 Bxa4 43. Rxd5 Rc8. Now Alexandra Konstantinovna confidently concludes the game by her excellent technique. 44. h5 Kg7 45. hxg6 hxg6 46. b5 Rc2 47. Bf1 b6 48. Kg3 Rc3+ 49. Kf2 e3+ 50. Kg3 Rb3 51. Rd7+ Kh6 52. Rb7 Rxb5 53. Bg2 Rb2 54. Bd5 Rxe2 55. Rxb6 Re1 56. Bc4 Rc1 57. Be2 Bc6 58. Rb3 Rg1+ 59. Kh3 Re1 60. Rb2 g5 61. fxg5+ Kxg5 62. Bd3 f4 63. Rc2 Rh1+ 64. Rh2 Rd1 65. Be2 Rd2 0 : 1.

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
Photo: Anastasiya Karlovich

Les Jeux des nuages et de la pluie

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
Women’s Grand Prix Series 2015-2016; Monte Carlo, October 15, 2015
Vienna Game C26

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 Bc5 5. Nge2 d6 6. h3 Be6 7. Na4 a6 8. Nxc5 dxc5 9. d3. After 9. 0-0 there may follow 9. ... Qd7 10. Kh2 Ng8 11. Nc3 Nge7 12. f4 f6 13. d3 0-0-0 14. Be3 c4 with consequences similar to those in the game, Runić – Savanović, Banja Dvorovi Banja Dvorovi 2002. 9. ... Qd6 10. Be3 Nd7 11. 0-0 f6 12. c3 0-0-0 13. Qc2 f5 14. Rad1 Nf6 15. f4 fxe4 16. dxe4 Qe7 17. f5 Bf7 18. g4 h6 19. Nc1 Na5 20. b3 b6 21. Bf3 Kb8 22. Rxd8+ Rxd8 23. h4 Nh7 24. Qh2

So far White has played quite badly, committing herself to a serious Kingside weakening; no wonder then that Kosteniuk is ready to launch a crushing assault on the enemy scattered position. 24. ... c4. Very well played. 25. b4 Nb7. Intending ... Nb7-d6 followed by ... Bf7-e8-c6. 26. Kg2. This only helps Black to spread her wings. White should have tried to consolidate with Be3-f2-g3. 26. ... Nd6 27. g5 Be8 28. Qg3 Bc6 29. Qg4 hxg5 30. Bxg5. If, instead, 30. hxg5 then 30. ... Nf7 31. g6 Nf6 32. Bg5 Rd2+! and Black wins. 30. ... Nxg5? Here 30. ... Nf6! was very strong, because sooner or later White will have to take on f6 and then the resulting opening of the g-file will leave Black with a terrific attack. 31. Qxg5 Qxg5+ 32. hxg5 Bxe4 33. Re1 Bxf5 34. Rxe5 g6 35. Re7 Bd3 36. Bc6 Nb5 37. Bxb5 axb5 38. Re5 Kb7 39. Kf2 Kc6 40. Ke3 Rh8? Mrs. Kosteniuk misses another big chance before the time control. After 40. ... Bf5! her opponent would have had to find more than one good move to save the day. If, for instance, 41. Ne2 then 41. ... Kd6! 42. Kd4 c5+! 43. bxc5+ Kc6+ 44. Ke3 bxc5 followed sooner or later by ... b5-b4 (Nerwal’s analysis). 41. Nxd3 Rh3+ 42. Kd2 Rxd3+ 43. Kc2. Now the ending looks drawish. Kosteniuk therefore decides to give back the Pawn trying to trap the White Rook. A clever idea, but not sufficient. 43. ... Kd6!? 44. Rxb5 Rg3 45. a4 Rg2+ 46. Kb1 Re2 47. Kc1 Kc6 48. Kb1 Re3 49. Kc2 Re1 50. Kb2 Re8 51. Ka2 Kd6 52. Kb2 Re1 53. Kc2 Re2+ 54. Kc1 Ra2 55. a5 Kc6 56. Re5 bxa5 57. Rc5+ Kb6 58. Rxc4 a4 59. Rc5 Rg2 60. Kb1 a3 61. Ra5 Rb2+ 62. Ka1 Rg2 63. Kb1 c6 64. Rc5 Rb2+ 65. Ka1 Rg2 ½ : ½.

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
Photo: FIDE Grand Prix 2015

Сохраняй спокойствие (Keep Cool)

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
65th Russian Women’s Chess Championship; Chita, August 18, 2015
English Opening A35

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Nc2 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Nf6 8. Nb4 0-0 9. Nd5 b6 10. Ba3

10. ... d6! When Kosteniuk would have expected her opponent to play 10. ... Ne4, instead Goryachkina surprises everyone with a bold – and perfectly sound – Pawn sacrifice. 11. Nxf6+ exf6 12. Qxd6 Qxd6 13. Bxd6 Re8 14. e3 Bb7 15. Rb1 Re6 16. c5 Na5 17. Bc7 Bd5. Black’s dynamic position fully compensates for her Pawn deficit. 18. Rb5 Bc6 19. Rb2 Bd5 20. Rd2 Bc4 21. cxb6 axb6 22. Bg3 Kg7 23. Be2 Bxe2 24. Kxe2 Rc6 25. Rd3 Nc4 26. Ra1 Ra3 27. Kf3 Ne5+. Aleksandra Yuryevna allows a trade of her dominant Knight for White’s Bishop just because she’s going to win back her Pawn. 28. Bxe5 fxe5 29. Ke2 Rcxc3 30. Rd2 Rc5 31. Rb1 Rca5 32. Rbb2 h5 33. Kd1 b5 34. Kc1 b4 35. e4 Kf6 36. Kb1 Rb5 37. Rd6+ Ke7 38. Rc6 b3 39. axb3 Raxb3 40. Rxb3 Rxb3+ ½ : ½.

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk vs. Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
chess24.com (@chess24com)

Леди-ястреб (Ladyhawke)

Olga Girya – Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
65th Russian Women’s Chess Championship; Chita, August 17, 2015
Queen’s Indian Defence E15

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 Ba6 7. b3 c6 8. Nc3 d5 9. e4 dxe4 10. Ng5 c5 11. Bg2. For 11. Ngxe4 Nxe4 12. Nxe4 see Kortschnoi – A. Greenfeld, Beersheba 1987. 11. ... Nc6 12. dxc5. Colourless is 12. Ngxe4 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 Rc8 14. Bxc6+ Rxc6 15. 0-0-0 Rd6 16. d5 0-0 17. Qf4 exd5 18. Rxd5 Rxd5 19. Nxd5 Bb7 20. Rd1 Bxd5 21. Rxd5 Qc8 22. Qf5 Qxf5 ½ : ½ M. Andersen – Idani, Andranik Margaryan Memorial, Yerevan 2014. 12. ... Qxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Rd8+ 14. Kc1 Ke7 15. Ngxe4 Ng4

16. cxb6 axb6 17. h3. 17. Na4 Bb7 18. Nxb6 (or 18. h3 Nge5 19. Nxb6 Nb4!) 18. ... Nce5 also leads nowhere for White. 17. ... Nge5 18. f4 Nd3+ 19. Kb1 f5 20. Ng5 Bb7 21. Rd1 Nc5 22. Kb2 Nd3+ 23. Kb1 Nc5 24. Kb2 Nd3+ 25. Kb1 Nc5 ½ : ½. Next round: Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk vs. Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina.

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
Photo: ruchess.ru

Дама с камелиями (The Lady of the Camellias)

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk – Anastasia Sergeyevna Savina
65th Russian Women’s Chess Championship; Chita, August 16, 2015
Sicilian Defence B40

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nc3 Qb6 6. Be3. With Morphy on her side, who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf? 6. ... Nc6. Obvioulsly not 6. ... Qxb2?? on account of 7. Ndb5!+- P. C. Morphy – L. Paulsen, New York, November 8, 1857. 7. Ndb5 Bxe3 8. fxe3 Nf6. After 8. ... Qxe3+ 9. Be2 White has the better chances, “as numerous practical examples have shown”, says Grandmaster Valeri Beim in his book “Paul Morphy Una Prospettiva Moderna”, Roma, Prisma Editori, 2008, p. 58. For instance, let’s suppose 9. ... Qb6 10. Qd6 (Maróczy’s analysis). 9. Nd6+ Ke7 10. Qd2 Ne5. For 10. ... a6 11. 0-0-0 Rd8 see Santo-Roman – Hauchard, French Team Chess Championship, Bordeaux 2001. 11. 0-0-0 Ne8 12. Nf5+ Kd8 13. Nd4 a6 14. Nf3 Qc7 15. Qf2 Ke7 16. Qh4+ Nf6 17. Qg3 d6 18. Nxe5 dxe5 19. Qxg7 Rg8 20. Qh6 b5 21. Be2 b4 22. Rhf1 Rg6 23. Qh4 Qb6. After 23. ... bxc3 24. Rxf6! Rxf6 25. Rf1 White wins back her Rook with interest. 24. Nb1 Qxe3+ 25. Nd2 Bb7. Not 25. ... Qxe2? 26. Rxf6! Rxf6 27. Rf1 and wins. 26. Bh5 Qg5 27. Qf2! Kosteniuk exhibits great skill in the conduct of her attack. 27. ... Qxh5 28. Qb6 Kf8 29. Qxb7 Rd8 30. Nc4? A hasty move after which Black’s attack soon vanishes into air. A relatively sharp continuation seems to be 30. g4!, e.g. 30. ... Qg5 31. h4! Qxh4 32. Qc7 Rd4 33. Nf3 Rxd1+ 34. Rxd1 Qh6+ 35. Kb1 Nxg4 36. Nxe5 Nxe5 37. Qb8+ Kg7 38. Qxe5+ Kf8 39. c4! and White’s attack continues. 30. ... Rxd1+ 31. Rxd1 Rxg2 32. Nd6 a5 33. Rf1 Qg5+ 34. Kb1 Qg6 35. a3 Kg7 36. axb4 axb4 37. Ka2 Rxc2 38. Qe7

38. ... b3+?? A blunder due to time trouble. Black’s only chance was 38. ... Rxb2+! 39. Kxb2 Qg2+ 40. Kb3 Qxf1 41. Qxf7+ Kh8 42. Qxe6 Qf3+! 43. Kxb4 Qf4 with rough equality. 39. Ka3 Rc6 40. Rxf6! The move which appears to have been overlooked by Anastasia Sergeyevna. 40. ... Ra6+. On 40. ... Qxf6 41. Ne8+ White wins the Queen. 41. Kxb3 Rb6+ 42. Ka4 1 : 0. Thus Alexandra Konstantinovna leads the Russian Women’s Chess Championship after her fourth win in a row.

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
Photo: ruchess.ru

The Queen that roared

Antoaneta Stefanova – Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
16th European Individual Women’s Rapid Chess Championship; Kutaisi, June 3, 2015
8/3R4/2P2p1b/5p1P/3PpP2/3kB3/r7/5K2 w - - 3 55

White is in trouble. Although her extra Pawn and three passers, Antoaneta can hardly stand the overwhelming threats of Black’s trio King-Rook-Bishop. 55. Bf2. Apparently, 55. c7 Rc2 isn’t any better. 55. ... Bxf4? A little too hasty, when there was a simple win by the immediate 55. ... e3! 56. Be1 Ke4-+. 56. d5? Stefanova does not get the chance. Comparatively best was 56. c7 Rc2 57. h6 Bxh6 58. d5 e3 59. Be1 Ke4 when White has still a difficult afternoon, but some drawing chances. 56. ... e3! 57. Bxe3. Equally after 57. Be1 Ke4!! 58. c7 Rc2 59. d6 Kf3 White is helpless. 57. ... Kxe3 58. c7 Kf3 59. Re7 Bxc7 60. h6 Bg3 0 : 1.

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk wins the Women’s European Rapid Championship
Photo: Chess-News.ru

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk (@chessqueen)

Aloo gobi

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk – Dronavalli Harika

Women’s World Chess Championship; playoff game 2; Krasnaya Polyana, March 25, 2015

French Defence C06

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. cxd4 f6 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. Nf3 Bd6 11. 0-0 0-0 12. Bf4 Bxf4 13. Nxf4 Ne4 14. Qc1 Ng5 15. Nxg5 Qxg5 16. Ne2 Qf6 17. Qc5 Bd7 18. Rad1. If 18. Rac1 then 18. ... Rf7 19. f4 g6 20. a3 Rc8 21. Qc3 Qd8 22. Qb3 ½ : ½ Matulović – Vasiljević, Tivat 1995. 18. ... Rac8 19. Qd6 Be8 20. Rd2 Kh8 21. Bb5 Na5 22. Bd3 Bg6 23. Qb4 b6 24. Bxg6 Qxg6 25. Nc3 Qf6 26. Nb5 a6 27. Nc3 Nc4 28. Rdd1 Rf7 29. Rd3 Qe7 30. Qxe7 Rxe7 31. b3 Na3 32. h4 Kg8 33. Na4 Rc6 34. Re1 Rec7 35. Kh2 Nb5 36. h5 Rf7 37. Kg3 Rf5 38. h6 gxh6 39. f4 Kf7 40. Kf3 h5 41. Rh1 Ke7 42. Nb2 Rc2 43. Nd1 Rxa2 44. Ne3 Rf7 45. Rxh5 Nd6 46. Rc3 Ne4? Dronavalli goes astray. Best was 46. ... Kd8 and if 47. Re5 then 47. ... Rd2 keeping a solid edge. 47. Rc7+ Ke8 48. Rxf7 Kxf7 49. Rxh7+ Kg6 50. Rb7 Rf2+ 51. Kg4 Re2 52. f5+ exf5+ 53. Kf4 Rf2+ 54. Ke5 Nc3 55. Rxb6+ Kg5 56. Rf6 Re2 57. Rxf5+ Kg6 58. Rf3 Nd1 59. Kf4 Nxe3 60. Rxe3 Rxg2

61. Re6+? Alexandra Konstantinovna is going down the wrong track! With the straightforward 61. Ke5! Rg5+ 62. Ke6 White would have won. 61. ... Kf7 62. Rxa6 Re2! 63. Kf5 Re4 64. Ra7+ Ke8 65. Ra5 Rxd4 66. Ke6 Re4+ 67. Kxd5 Rb4 68. Ra3 Kd7 69. Kc5 Rh4 70. Kb6 Rb4+ 71. Kc5 Rh4 72. b4 Kc7 73. Ra7+ Kb8 74. Re7 Rh5+ 75. Kb6 Rh6+ 76. Ka5 Rg6 77. Rf7 Rh6 78. Rf8+ Kb7 79. Rf5 Ra6+ 80. Kb5 Rb6+ 81. Kc4 Rc6+ 82. Kb3 Rh6 83. Rc5 Rg6 84. Rf5 Rh6 85. Rf7+ Kb6 86. Ka4 Rg6 87. Rf8 Rh6 88. Rb8+ Ka7 89. Rb5 Rg6 90. Ra5+ Kb6 91. Re5 ½ : ½. Triumph of Philidor’s position (1777), also known as third rank defence.

Dronavalli Harika
Photos: Eteri Kublashvili

Robot war

Dronavalli Harika – Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk

Women’s World Chess Championship; playoff game 1; Krasnaya Polyana, March 25, 2015

Richter–Veresov Attack D01

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 a6 5. dxc5 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Be2. For 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 e6 9. 0-0-0 Qa5 10. Bd6 see Vaisser – Raznikov, PokerStars IoM Masters, Douglas 2014. 7. ... e6 8. Na4 Nd7 9. 0-0 Nxc5 10. Nxc5 Bxc5 11. h3 Bh5 12. Ne5 Bxe2 13. Qxe2 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Qh4 15. Rad1 0-0 16. Bd4 Rac8 17. c3 Rfe8 18. Bxc5 Rxc5 19. Rd4 Qf6 20. Rfd1 b5 21. e4 Qe5 22. f4 Qb8 23. exd5 Rxd5 24. Rxd5 exd5 25. Qf3 b4 26. f5 bxc3 27. bxc3 Qb6+ 28. Kh1 Rd8 29. a4 h6 30. Rd4 Qb1+ 31. Kh2 Qb8+ 32. Qg3 Qxg3+ 33. Kxg3 Rc8 34. Rxd5 Rxc3+ 35. Kf2

35. ... Ra3? An incredible error, which blunders a Pawn. After 35. ... Rc6 the endgame is nothing special for White. 36. Ra5 h5 37. Rxa6 h4 38. Ra7 f6 39. a5 Kh7 40. a6 Kh6 41. Ke2 Ra2+ 42. Kf3 Ra4 43. Ke3 Ra2 44. Kd4 Rxg2 45. Rc7 Ra2 46. a7 Kg5 47. Rxg7+ Kxf5 48. Kc5 Kf4 49. Rg4+ Ke3 50. Kb6 f5 51. Rxh4 Kf3 52. Rh8 Kg3 53. a8=Q Rxa8 54. Rxa8 Kxh3 55. Rf8 1 : 0.

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Звезда галактика

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
Photo: Anastasiya Karlovich

Women’s World Chess (‏@worldwomenchess)

• Anastasia Karlovich, Alexandra Kosteniuk: Choosing the opening was the hardest part, FIDE Women’s World Chess Championship 2015
• “До сих пор в борьбе!” Александра Костенюк отыгралась черными во второй раз за всю историю нокаутов, Chess-News.ru, March 25, 2015

Воскресение (Resurrection)

Dronavalli Harika – Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
Women’s World Chess Championship; Krasnaya Polyana, March 24, 2015
Black Knights’ Tango A50

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Nc6 4. a3 d6 5. Nc3 g6 6. g3 Bg7 7. Bg2 0-0 8. 0-0 Re8 9. e4 e5 10. dxe5. “She wanted to play solid chess, it transpired from her 10. dxe5 instead of the more logical 10. d5. With the text move Harika accepted a slightly worse position in my opinion”, then Kosteniuk said. However, after 10. d5 Nd4 I guess Black needn’t worry. 10. ... Nxe5 11. Nxe5 Rxe5 12. Be3. Another way is 12. Bf4 Re8 13. Qc2 Be6 14. Nd5 Nd7 as in the game Zherebtsova – Vasilevich, Moscow 2015. 12. ... a5 13. Bd4. After 13. c5 Black can reply 13. ... Ra6. 13. ... Re8 14. h3 Be6 15. Nd5 a4! 16. Nxf6+. Irresolute. With 16. Ne3 Rb8 17. Re1 White can still hope for a symbolic plus. 16. ... Bxf6 17. Rc1 Ra5! 18. f4 b6 19. Rf2 h5! Alexandra Konstantinovna carries out her strategy at a high level of inspiration! 20. Rc3 Bxd4 21. Qxd4 Rc5 22. Kh2 Qd7 23. Bf1 Qe7 24. Rcf3 Bc8 25. Bd3 Ba6 26. f5 g5

27. f6 Qe5 28. Qe3 Bb7 29. h4. Obviously, after 29. Rf5? Qxf5! 30. Rxf5 Rxf5 the two Rooks are worth much more than the Queen. 29. ... Re6. The pointe. 30. hxg5. “I expected 30. Rf5 in reply and wasn’t sure about the resulting endgame”, then Kosteniuk said, and indeed after 30. Rf5 Qxf5 31. Rxf5 Rxf5 32. hxg5 Ree5 Black stands better, but probably nothing more. 30. ... Bxe4 31. Rf4 Bxd3 32. Qxd3 Qxg5 33. Qf3 Rce5 34. Qg2 Re1 35. Rf5 Qg4 36. R5f4 Qg6 37. Rf5 Re8 38. Qh3 R8e2 39. Qg2 Rxb2! 40. Rxb2 Qxf5 41. Re2 Rf1 42. Qa8+ Kh7 43. Qxa4 Qxf6 44. Qc2+ Kg7 45. Qd2 h4 46. Rg2 Kf8! 47. Qd5 hxg3+ 48. Rxg3 Qh4+ 49. Rh3 Qf4+ 50. Rg3 Rf2+ 51. Kh3 Qh6+ 0 : 1. Just one move before checkmate: 52. Kg4 Rf4 mate. A superb game by Lady Kosteniuk.

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Tragedy of the commons

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk – Dronavalli Harika
Women’s World Chess Championship; Krasnaya Polyana, March 23, 2015
French Defence C18

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. h4 Qa5 8. Bd2 Qa4 9. h5 b6 10. h6 gxh6 11. Nf3 Ba6 12. Rh4. Alexandra Konstaninovna takes a walk on the sharpest side. It is probably more convincing 12. Bxa6 Nxa6 13. Bxh6 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Rc8 15. Qf3 Nc5 16. Bg7 Rg8 17. Rxh7 Nf5 18. Nxf5 exf5 19. Qxf5 Qe4+ 20. Qxe4 Nxe4 21. 0-0-0 Nxf2 22. Rxd5 Ne4 23. e6 fxe6 24. Re5 Nc5 25. Bf6 Rxg2 26. Reh5 Rg1+ 27. Kb2 Na4+ 28. Kb3 Nc5+ 29. Ka2 Rg6 30. Re7+ Kf8 31. Rxa7 Rg8 32. Rhh7 Ne4 33. Be5 1 : 0 Smirin – E. Berg, Bronstein Memorial, Minsk 2014. 12. ... Bxf1 13. Kxf1 Nbc6 14. dxc5 Qb5+ 15. c4 dxc4 16. Qe2 Ng6 17. Re4 bxc5 18. Bxh6 Rd8 19. Qxc4 a6 20. Qxb5 axb5 21. Rb1 b4 22. Rc4 bxa3. By far Black’s best practical chance. 23. Rxc5 Nge7 24. Ra1 Ra8 25. Nd2. “To consolidate [her] edge and guarantee a ‘two result’ game (i.e. either White wins or Black holds a draw) [Kosteniuk] needed to round up Black’s passed a-Pawn, which could have been done with 25. Rc3 a2 26. Rb3 followed by Rb3-b2 and snapping it off”, Dennis Monokroussos writes. 25. ... Kd7 26. Nc4 Nd5

27. Rb5? A bad mistake. If 27. Nxa3 then 27. ... Rhb8 with roughly even chances, whereas after 27. Rxa3 Rxa3 28. Nxa3 Nxe5 29. Bg7 Ra8 30. Bxe5 Rxa3 31. c4 White would have retained his microscopic advantage. 27. ... Nd4 28. Rxd5+. Also after 28. Nb6+ Kc6 White is forced to sacrifice the Exchange anyway. 28. ... exd5 29. Nb6+ Ke6 30. Nxa8 Rxa8 31. c3 Nc6 32. Bc1 a2 33. Ke2 Nxe5 34. Kd2 h5 35. Kc2 Kf5 36. Kb3 Nd3 37. Ba3 Nxf2 38. Rxa2 Ne4 39. Re2 Kg4 40. c4 dxc4+ 41. Kxc4 Rxa3 42. Rxe4+ Kg3 43. Re5 h4 44. Rg5+ Kh2 45. Rg7 Rg3 46. Rxf7 Kxg2 47. Rd7 Rg4+ 48. Kc3 h3 49. Rd2+ Kg3 50. Rd3+ Kh4 51. Rd2 Rg3+ 52. Kc4 Rg2 53. Rd8 h2 54. Kd3 Rg5 55. Kd4 0 : 1.

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk vs. Dronavalli Harika
Photo: Vladimir Barsky

Великий Сибирский Путь

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk – 沈阳 (Shěn Yáng)
Women’s World Chess Championship; Krasnaya Polyana, March 21, 2015
Spanish C84

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3 0-0 9. Nc3 Bg4 10. Be3 Nd4 11. Bxd4 exd4 12. Nd5 c5 13. Nxe7+. A rather more energetic continuation is 13. a4! Be6 14. Nxf6+! Bxf6 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. Qe2 with a small plus for White, Motylev – Eljanov, 15th Karpov Tournament, Poikovsky 2014. 13. ... Qxe7 14. Re1 Nd7 15. h3 Be6 16. Ba2 Qf6 17. a4 Rfb8 18. axb5 axb5 19. Bxe6 fxe6

20. e5. “It was not easy, though one can hardly get such impression by playing out the game. After the opening I did something wrong and started to dislike my position. Despite spending 40 minutes on my two next moves, I still could not find a proper plan. Fortunately, the position still was roughly equal. I am not so sure about my Pawn sacrifice 20. e5, but I decided to go for it as I figured it would be easier to play having the initiative”, then Kosteniuk said. 20. ... dxe5 21. Qe2 Rxa1 22. Rxa1 Qf4 23. Ra7 Rd8 24. b3 h6 25. Qe1 b4 26. Qe2 Kh8 27. Rxd7. “27. Rxd7 tactics is also not necessary – Black could hardly make any progress at all”, Kosteniuk said. 27. ... Rxd7 28. Nxe5 Qc1+ 29. Kh2 Ra7 30. Ng6+ Kh7 31. Qxe6 Qg5 32. Nf8+ Kh8 33. Ng6+ ½ : ½.

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Царица (Tsaritsa)

沈阳 (Shěn Yáng) – Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
Women’s World Chess Championship; Krasnaya Polyana, March 20, 2015
Queen’s Gambit Declined D36

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nc3 c6 6. Qc2 g6 7. Bg5 Be7 8. e3 Bf5 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Nbd7 11. Bh6 Ng4 12. Bf4 f5 13. h3 Ngf6 14. Ng5 Nf8 15. g4? A venturesome move if not decidedly committal. 15. 0-0 N6d7 16. Nf3 looks much sounder. 15. ... Ne4 16. Be5 Rg8 17. Nf3 Bb4 18. Nd2 Ne6 19. Ncxe4 fxe4 20. Qb3 Qe7 21. h4 0-0-0 22. 0-0-0 Rgf8 23. Rdf1? White’s move is obviously useless. A lesser evil would have been 23. g5 Nc5! 24. dxc5 Bxd2+ 25. Rxd2 Qxe5 26. Qc3 Qxc3+ 27. bxc3 Rf5 with only a small plus to Black.

23. ... Nc5! 24. dxc5 Bxd2+ 25. Kxd2 Qxe5 26. Kc1 d4! Opening up lines against the enemy King. 27. exd4 Rxd4 28. Kb1 Rd2! 29. h5 g5! Alexandra Konstantinovna has obtained an overwhelming position. 30. h6 Kb8. It is not clear why Black didn’t capture the Pawn at c5 (30. ... Qxc5). 31. Rd1 Rdxf2 32. Rhe1 Kc8. Acknowledging and correcting her previous error. 33. a3 Re8 34. Qb4 e3! 35. Qd4 Qxd4 36. Rxd4 Rf4 37. Rd3 e2 38. Kc2 Rxg4 39. Kd2 Rge4 40. Rg3 Rd8+ 41. Kc2 Rd5 0 : 1.

沈阳 (Shěn Yáng) vs. Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
Photo: Boris Dolmatovsky

Женщина в красном

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk – Irina Berezina-Feldman
Women’s World Chess Championship; Krasnaya Polyana, March 17, 2015
Pirc Defence B07

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 Bg7 5. Qd2 0-0 6. Nf3 c6 7. Bh6 Qc7. We would have preferred 7. ... Qa5 8. 0-0-0 Bg4 as in the game Emma – Spraggett, Paris 1990. 8. h4! Striving for the initiative. 8. ... Bxh6 9. Qxh6 Ng4 10. Qd2 e5? Black can hardly afford the time for such amenities. The opposing 10. ... h5! was called for. 11. h5! b5 12. hxg6 fxg6. Clearly not 12. ... hxg6 on account of 13. Nh2! with a mating attack. 13. a4 d5?? A very bad mistake, almost inexplicable. After 13. ... b4 14. Bc4+ Kg7 15. Ne2 White stands much better, but the game is not over yet. 14. axb5 Qg7 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 17. 0-0-0 a6 18. bxc6 dxe4 19. Bc4+ Kh8. The alternative 19. ... Be6 is elegantly refuted by 20. Qh6 Ra7 21. Rd7! with a deadly interference.

20. Nxe4! We like very much Alexandra Konstantinovna’s move, even though all chess engines would certainly “recommend” 20. Rxh7+ Kxh7 21. Rh1+ Kg7 22. Qh6+ Kf6 23. Qxf8+ Kg5 24. Qh6+ Kf5 25. g4+! winning on the spot. 20. ... Ra7. If 20. ... Qxe4 then 21. Qc3+ and mate in two moves. 21. f4 Qxf4. Or 21. ... Qg7 22. Qd6! threatening both Qxd6xb8 and Rh1xh7+. 22. Qxf4 Rxf4 23. Rd8+ Kg7 1 : 0. And Black resigned without waiting for 24. Rg8 mate.

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk vs. Irina Berezina-Feldman
Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Countdown

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk (@Kosteniuk)

Translation: Women’s World Chess Championship starts March 16 sochi2015.fide.com Greet the spring in the mountains!:)

Into the Night

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk – Irina Krush
FIDE Women’s World Rapid Championship; Khanty-Mansiysk, April 23, 2014
French Defence C15

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 dxe4 6. Qg4 Nf6 7. Qxg7 Rg8 8. Qh6 c5 9. Ne2 Bd7 10. Bb2 Ba4. The vintage alternative was 10. ... Bc6 11. 0-0-0 Nbd7 12. c4 Qe7 13. h3 0-0-0 14. Rg1 Nb6 15. d5 Rg6 16. Qh4 Nfxd5 17. Qxe4 Nc3 18. Rxd8+ Qxd8 19. Qd3 Qxd3 20. cxd3 Nxe2+ 21. Bxe2 Rxg2 22. Rxg2 Bxg2 23. h4 Nd7 24. Bh5 f6 25. Bg4 f5 26. Bh5 Kd8 27. Kd2 Ke7 28. Ke3 e5 29. f4 Ke6 30. fxe5 Nxe5 31. Be2 Bh3 32. Kf4 Bg4 33. Bf1 Nf3 34. Bg2 Nxh4 35. Bxb7 Ng6+ 36. Kg5 Ne5 37. Bd5+ Kd6 38. d4 Nd3 39. dxc5+ Kxc5 40. Bf6 h5 41. Be7+ Kd4 42. Bd6 f4 43. Bb8 f3 44. Bxa7+ Nc5 45. a4 f2 46. Bg2 Kxc4 47. Bf1+ Kb4 ½ : ½ Radulov – Sigurjónsson, Zonal Tournament, Raach 1969. 11. 0-0-0 Nbd7 12. dxc5 Ng4 13. Qf4 Qg5 14. Rd2 Nxf2 15. Rg1 Qxf4 16. Nxf4 Ng4 17. h3 Nge5 18. Rd1 Nxc5 19. c4 Ncd7 20. g4 Rc8 21. Nh5 Ke7 22. Bc3 b6 23. Bb4+ Nc5 24. Be2 a5 25. Be1 Ng6 26. Rf1 Nd7 27. Bg3 e5 28. g5 Rgd8 29. Ng7 Nc5 30. Nf5+ Kf8 31. Nd6 Rc7 32. Rd5 Bc6

33. Nxf7! We cannot but admire the elegance of Alexandra’s tactical play. 33. ... Rxd5? Going from bad to worse. Relatively best was 33. ... Bxd5 although after 34. Nxd8+ Bf7 35. Bh5 White dominates the position. 34. Nxe5+ Kg7 35. cxd5 Bxd5 36. Nxg6 Rc6 37. Ne7 1 : 0.

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
Photo: FIDE Women’s World Rapid & Blitz Championships 2014

红旗

北京 (Beijīng), December 17, 2014. Prizes, medals and awards. From the left: Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě). Photos: sports.sina.com.cn.

Photo: World Mind Games

The Queen of the Tearling

北京 (Beijīng), December 17, 2014. Prizes, medals and awards. From the left: Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk (Silver), 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (Gold) and 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) (Bronze). Photos: World Mind Games.

World Mind Games (@WorldMindGames)