Nine Days

Jan Krejčí – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)

1st Prague International Chess Festival; Challengers Tournament; Prague, March 14, 2019

Queen’s Gambit Declined D38

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 0-0 8. Rc1 dxc4 9. Bxc4 c5 10. 0-0 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Qe7. Very interesting is 11. ... Bd7 12. Ne4 Qe7 13. Qh5 Nc6 14. Nb3 Be8 15. a3 f5 16. Qe2 Bxa3 17. bxa3 fxe4 18. Nc5 Ne5 19. Ba2 Nf3+ 20. Kh1 Qh4∞ with a double-edged game, So – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 77th Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 2015. 12. Qb3. If 12. Be2 there might follow 12. ... Nd7 13. a3 Ba5 14. b4 Bb6 15. Na4 Rd8 16. Nxb6 Nxb6 17. Qc2 e5 18. Nb3 Be6 19. Nc5 Rac8 20. Qb2 Bd5 21. e4 Bc6 22. Bg4 Rb8 23. Rfd1 Na4= 马中涵 (Mǎ Zhōnghán) – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), 13rd “映美杯” (“Yìng Měi Cup”) Chinese Chess League, 北京 (Beijīng) 2017. 12. ... Ba5 13. Rfd1 Rd8!? A novelty and probably also an improvement on 13. ... a6 14. Be2 b5 15. Bf3 Ra7 16. a3 Bb7 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. Ne4 Rd8 with approximate equality, Bobrowska-Soćko – Khotenashvili, 2nd SportAccord World Mind Games, Women’s Blindfold Tournament, 北京 (Beijīng) 2012 — as it is likely that White could have done better. 14. Be2 Nd7 15. Ne4 Ne5? An obvious mistake which costs Black both in material and in position, condemning her to a long afternoon of anguish. Of course, 15. ... Nf8 16. a3⩲ was what 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) should have done, leaving White only a slight edge. 16. Rc5. Now White wins a Pawn by force. 17. ... Bc7 17. Qc2 Nc6 18. Nxc6 bxc6 19. Rxc6 Bb6 20. Rxd8+ Qxd8 21. Bf3 Bb7 22. Rc3 Bxe4 23. Bxe4 Rb8 24. g3 Qf6 25. b4 g6 26. a4 Kg7 27. Kg2 h5 28. h4 Bd8 29. Rc4 Qe5 30. Rd4 Bb6 31. Rc4 Bd8 32. Bf3 a6 33. Bc6 Be7 34. b5 axb5 35. axb5 Bd8 36. Re4 Qd6 37. Rd4 Qe5 38. Rd7 Bb6 39. Qd2 Kg8 40. Qd3 Qf6 41. Qe4 Kg7 42. Qb4 Qe5 43. Qa3 Bc5 44. Qd3 Bb6 45. Be4 Qf6 46. Qc2 Ba5 47. Bc6? Luckily for 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), White puts his Bishop in the best place to allow her to exchange Rooks! 47. Bd3± was obviously better.

47. ... Rd8! 48. Rxd8. White cannot avoid the exchange of Rooks, for otherwise ... Rd8-d2 would follow. 48. ... Qxd8 49. Qe4 Bb6 50. Qe5+ Qf6 51. Qb8 Qd8 52. Qxd8. In fact, White agrees to split the point, the opposite-coloured Bishops ending being objectively drawn. 52. ... Bxd8 53. Kf3 Kf6 54. Ke4 Bb6 55. f3 Ke7 56. Kd3 f5 57. Ke2 Bc7 58. Kf2 Bb6 59. Bb7 Bc5 60. Bc8 Bb6 61. Ke2 Bc7 62. f4 Bb6 63. Kd3 Bc5 64. Bb7 Bb6 65. Bf3 Bc5 66. Bd1 Bb6 67. Bb3 Bc5 68. Ke2 ½ : ½.

Jan Krejčí vs. 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn). Photo: Vladimír Jagr.

Back Up

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – Jiří Štoček

1st Prague International Chess Festival; Challengers Tournament; Prague, March 13, 2019

Sicilian Defence B52

After two or so days of headaches, today 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) finally breathed a sigh of relief and came back to win. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Nxd7 5. 0-0 Ngf6 6. Qe2 e6 7. c3 Rc8 8. d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 d5 10. e5 Ne4 11. Be3 Be7. Another modus vivendi is 11. ... Nb6 12. Ne1 f5 13. f3 Ng5 14. b3 Nf7 15. Nd3 Nd7 16. Nd2 Be7 17. Rac1 0-0 18. Rxc8 Qxc8 19. Rc1 Qb8 20. Nf4 Re8 21. g4 fxg4 22. fxg4 Bg5 23. Nd3 Bxe3+ 24. Qxe3 Nd8 25. Nf4 Nc6 26. Nf3 Qd8 27. Rf1 Qe7 28. h4 Nf8 29. Rf2 Rc8 30. Kg2 ½ : ½ Mamedov – Ivanchuk, 23rd Türkiye İş Bankası Chess League, Kocaeli 2017. 12. Ne1 f5 13. f3 Ng5 14. Nd3 0-0 15. Nc3. In his book “The Sicilian for the Tournament Player”, Batsford, London, 1989, p. 223, Grandmaster Eduard Yefimovich Gufeld mentioned 15. Nf4 Rc6! (Ghinda – Chandler, 1st World Team Chess Championship, Lucerne 1985) as quite satisfactory for Black. 15. ... Qb6 16. Rfc1 Nf7 17. Rc2 Rc6 18. Na4 Qa6 19. Rxc6 Qxc6 20. b3 Ba3 21. Bc1 Be7 22. Bd2

22. ... b5? Štoček becomes too ambitious and, not surprisingly, soon gets into trouble. Black had to be content with 22. ... Ba3(!) 23. Bb4 (23. Bc1 Be7 just repeats moves) 23. ... Bxb4 14. Nxb4 Qc7 holding White’s edge within more reasonable bounds. 23. Rc1! Qa6. 23. ... Qb7 24. Nac5 is also discouraging for Black. 24. Nf4 Nb8 25. Nc5 Bxc5 26. Rxc5 Nd8 27. Rxb5. The b5-Pawn has fallen, and Black’s whole position will soon fall as well. 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) meets no obstacles on her way to the win: 27. ... Nbc6 28. Be3 g5 29. Nh5 f4 30. Bf2 Rf7 31. Nf6+ Kh8 32. a4 Ne7 33. Qc2 Ndc6 34. h4 gxh4 35. Bxh4 Nf5 36. Bf2 Rf8 37. Qd2 Qc8 38. Qxf4 Qc7 39. Qd2 1 : 0.

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) vs. Jiří Štoček. Photo: Vladimír Jagr.

Hours of Prague

Alexei Dmitrievich Shirov – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)

1st Prague International Chess Festival; Challengers Tournament; Prague, March 12, 2019

Catalan Opening E00

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bd6 6. Nc3 c6 7. Qc2 0-0 8. e4 dxe4. Worth of further study is 8. ... e5!? 9. dxe5 Bg4 10. Be2 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. exd6 Re8 13. 0-0 Qxd6 14. Bf4 Qf6 15. Rfe1 Nd7 16. Ng5 Bf5∞ Vidit – Praggnanandhaa, 1st Tata Steel Chess India Blitz, Kolkata 2018. 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Nd7 11. Bd3 Nf6. Black’s last two moves are only good for avoiding immediate mate, but very ineffective in all other ways. On the other hand, 11. ... g6!? 12. 0-0-0!↑ doesn’t seem too pleasant either, Erdos – Abramović, 32nd European Chess Club Cup, Novi Sad 2016. 12. Qh4. Black is doomed already! 12. ... Re8. There are at least two earlier games which tellingly show the irresistibility of White’s attack: a) 12. ... b5 13. Bg5 h5 14. c5 Bxc5 15. 0-0-0 Be7 16. g4 Bb7 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. g5 c5 19. gxf6 Bxf3 20. Rhg1 g6 21. Qg5 1 : 0 Ragger – Braun, 30th SchachBundesliga, Baden-Baden 2010; b) 12. ... Be7 13. 0-0-0 b5 14. c5 Bb7 15. g4 g6 16. Qg3 Nd5 17. g5 Qc7 18. Ne5 f6 19. gxf6 Bxf6 20. h4 Kh8 21. h5 g5 22. Bxg5 Bxg5+ 23. Qxg5 Qe7 24. Qh6 1 : 0 Ponfilenok – Puraev, 24th Chigorin Memorial, Saint Petersburg 2016. 13. 0-0-0 b5 14. c5 Bxc5 15. g4 Bxd4!? A tricky “last-ditch” novelty. If 15. ... Qd5 (Sorokin – Sousa, 27th European Youth Championship BU18, Mamaia 2017) then 16. Bg5! and White’s attack continues vehemently to hit. 16. g5! Shirov brings his attack to a very brilliant conclusion. 16. ... Bxb2+ 17. Kc2 Qd5. No better is 17. ... g6 18. gxf6 Qxf6 19. Ng5 h5 20. Qe4 threatening Rh1-g1 followed by Ng5xf7. 18. gxf6 Bxf6 19. Qxh7+ Kf8 20. Bb4+ c5 21. Qh8+ Ke7 22. Qxe8+! Kxe8 23. Bxb5+ Kd8

24. Bc6! 1 : 0.

Czechoslovakia’s legendary Grandmaster Vlastimil Hort making the first move in the game between Alexei Dmitrievich Shirov and 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn). Photo: Vladimír Jagr.

Mosaics in an Afternoon

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – Mateusz Bartel

1st Prague International Chess Festival; Challengers Tournament; Prague, March 11, 2019

Spanish Game C78

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 Be7 8. a4 0-0 9. Nc3 Na5 10. axb5 Nxb3. Probably best is 10 ... axb5 11. Nxb5 Nxb3 12. Rxa8 Qxa8 13. cxb3 Rb8 14. Na3 d5 15. Nxe5 dxe4 16. dxe4 Bxe4 17. f3 Bd5 18. Nac4 Qb7 19. Bg5 ½ : ½ Ljubojević – Planinc, 3rd Milan Vidmar Memorial, Ljubljana/Portorož 1975. 11. cxb3 axb5. Apparently Bartel is not interested in repeating 11. ... d6 12. bxa6 Rxa6 13. Bg5 which didn’t leave Black with enough for the Pawn, Naiditsch – Bartel, Before Trzcianka GM Blitz 2014, Poznań 2014. 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Nxb5 c5 14. Nc3 d6 15. Bg5 Nh5 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Nd2 Nf4 18. Nc4 d5!? This and the next move are as much ambitious as unsound, weakening the light squares in the centre. 19. Nb6 d4 20. Ne2 Ne6 21. Nc4 Qc7 22. Qd2 Rb8 23. f4!? White’s splendid Knight pair as well as her “half Pawn” up could have well justified the entering into an endgame by 23. Qa5. 23. ... exf4 24. Nxf4 Bc6? This indifferent move — no doubt a grave mistake — should have lost the game. Black had to play 24. ... Nxf4 25. Qxf4 Qxf4 26. Rxf4 Rxb3 (on 26. ... g6 27. Rf6! can be annoying) 27. Rf5 Bb7 28. Rxc5 g6 with good drawing chances.

25. Nxe6? 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) performs her task too scholastically, without even suspecting that she was very near to a win: indeed, 25. Nd5! Qd8 (25. ... Bxd5 26. exd5 Nf8 27. Qf2!+−) 26. Qf2! Rb7 27. b4! would have given White an overwhelming advantage. 25. ... fxe6 26. Qg5 Be8! 27. Ra1 h6 28. Qg3. 28. Qg4 Bf7 29. Ra3 keeps alive the illusions of advantage, but nothing decisive is likely to happen. 28. ... Qxg3 29. hxg3 Kf8 30. Ra3 Bb5 31. Ne5 Ke7 32. Ra7+ Kd6 33. Nf7+ Kc6 34. Ne5+ Kd6 35. Nf7+ ½ : ½.

“Some GMs find 居 (Jū) vs. Bartel game very interesting 😊”. Caption and photo: Prague Chess Festival (@PragueChess).

Little Things Matter

Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)

1st Prague International Chess Festival; Challengers Tournament; Prague, March 10, 2019

Russian Defence C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6. 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) insists on the Russian Defence. 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 0-0 8. Qd2 Nd7 9. 0-0-0 c6. The alternative is 9. ... Nf6 10. Bd3 c5 11. Rhe1 Be6 12. Kb1 Qa5 13. c4 Qxd2 14. Bxd2 h6 15. h3 d5 16. Ne5 Rfd8 17. cxd5 Bxd5 18. g4 Kf8 19. g5 hxg5 20. Bxg5 Rd6 21. Re2 Be6 22. Rde1 Nd5 23. h4 Bxg5 24. hxg5 Nf4 25. Re4 Nxd3 26. Nxd3 Rad8 27. Kc1 b6 28. Rh4 g6 29. Reh1 Ke7 30. Re1 Kf8 31. Reh1 Ke7 32. Re1 Kf8 ½ : ½ Praggnanandhaa – Vocaturo, 44th Sunway Open, Sitges 2018. 10. Kb1. Sharper may be 10. h4 Re8 11. c4!? a6!? 12. h5 h6 13. Bd3 Nf6 14. Bd4 b5 15. Rde1 Be6 16. Nh4? (16. g4! bxc4 17. g5! cxd3 18. gxh6!∞) 16. ... bxc4 17. Bf5 Nd5! 18. Bxe6 Bg5−+ Tokhirjonova – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), Women’s World Chess Championship Knockout Tournament, Khanty-Mansiysk 2018, match game 2. 10. ... Re8 11. Bd3 d5 12. h4 Bc5 13. Bf4!? A novelty of the young Indian Grandmaster. If 13. Bd4 Black replies with 13. ... Bxd4 14. cxd4 Nf6 15. Rde1 Ne4 16. Qf4 Qf6 defending well enough, Karjakin – Giri, 4th Grand Chess Tour, Rapid YourNextMove, Leuven 2018. Likewise 13. Rde1 proved not enough to bring any advantage: 13. ... Bxe3 14. Rxe3 Rxe3 15. Qxe3 Nf6 16. Re1 Qd6 17. Qe8+ Qf8 18. Qxf8+ Kxf8 19. Kc1 Bd7 20. c4 dxc4 21. Bxc4 Re8 22. Rxe8+ Bxe8 23. Kd2 Ke7 24. Ne5 Nd7 25. Nf3 Nf6 26. Ne5 Nd7 27. Nf3 Nf6 28. Ne5 ½ : ½ Aronian – Caruana, 43rd Chess Olympiad, Batumi 2018. 13. ... Nf6 14. Rde1 Ne4!? A Pawn sacrifice which basically has only defensive function, and so not easy to understand. 14. ... Rxe1+ 15. Rxe1 Bd7 was much consistent with Black’s “philosophy” of opening and near enough to equality.

15. Bxe4 dxe4 16. Rxe4! Be6 17. Qxd8 Raxd8 18. Be3 Bf8. 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)’s only hope is that White’s doubled Pawns on the c-file and Black’s Bishop pair can prove a sufficient compensation for the Pawn. 19. b3 c5 20. Bf4 f6 21. Rhe1 Kf7 22. c4 Bd7 23. Rxe8 Bxe8 24. Kc1 Bc6 25. Re3 h5 26. Ne1 Kg6 27. Bc7 Rc8 28. Bg3 Kf5 29. f3 g6. Maybe 29. ... g5 at once, in order to force 30. hxg5 fxg5 31. Re5+ Kf6 32. Re2 Re8 offered better defensive chances. 30. Kd1 b6. This is very questionable, because it gives meaning and scope to Bg3-b8 after an exchange of Rooks. 31. Nd3 Rd8 32. Ke2 g5 33. Kf2 Be8 34. hxg5 fxg5 35. Re5+ Kf6 36. Rd5 Be7 37. f4 Ke6? This loses a second Pawn, with consequences easy to guess. 37. ... Rxd5 38. cxd5 Kf5 was her comparatively best worst; for instance: 39. fxg5 Bxg5 40. Bb8 a6 41. Bc7 Ke4 42. Bxb6 Be3+ 43. Ke2 c4 44. Bd8 cxd3+ 45. cxd3+ Kxd5 46. Kxe3 with Black seeking an unlikely salvation in an opposite-coloured Bishops ending two Pawns down. 38. Re5+ Kd7 39. fxg5 Bg6 40. Rd5+ Kc8 41. Rxd8+ Bxd8 42. Bf4 h4 43. Kf3 Bf5 44. g3 hxg3 45. Kxg3 Kd7 46. Kh4 Ke8 47. Kh5 Kf8 48. Kh6 Kg8 49. Bd6 Kf7 50. Nf4 Bxc2 51. g6+ Kg8 52. Nd5 Be4 53. Bf4 Bxd5. Desperation, but 53. ... b5 54. Nc3 loses as well. 54. cxd5 Bf6 55. d6 Kf8 56. d7 Ke7 57. Bg5 1 : 0.

Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa vs. 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn). Photo: Vladimir Jagr.

国际妇女节 (International Women’s Day)

David Arturovich Paravyan – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)

1st Prague International Chess Festival; Challengers Tournament; Prague, March 8, 2019

Russian Defence C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bf5 7. 0-0 Be7 8. Re1 Nc6 9. c4 0-0 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 Re8 13. cxd5 Qxd5 14. Bf4 Bd6 15. Ng5 g6 16. Ne4. Another way is 16. Bd2 Be7 17. h4 b5 18. Nf3 Bd6 19. a4 a6 20. axb5 axb5 21. Rxa8 Rxa8 22. Bg5 h5 23. Bf6 Bf8 24. Ng5 Bg7 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Qg3 Rc8 27. Qf4 Qd7 28. Qe4 Rd8 29. Re3 Qd5 30. Qf4 Rd6 31. Rf3 Nd8 32. Qe3 b4? (32. ... Rd7 33. Qe8 c6 offered a robust defence) 33. cxb4 Qxd4 34. Rxf7+! 1 : 0 Anand – Charbonneau, 36th Chess Olympiad, Calvià 2004. 16. ... Re6!? This is a new move, or at least a new move order, in comparison to 16. ... Kg7 17. Qf3 Bxf4 (17. ... Re6 transposes into the game) 18. Qxf4 Qf5 19. Qxf5 gxf5 20. Nc5 Na5 21. g3 c6 22. Kg2 b6 23. Nd3 Re4 24. f3 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Kf6 26. h4 Rd8 27. Nf4 Nc4 28. g4 fxg4 29. fxg4 c5 30. d5 b5 31. Kg3 h6 32. Nh5+ Kg6 33. Re7 Nb6 34. Rc7 Na4 35. Rc6+ Kh7 36. g5 hxg5 37. hxg5 Nxc3 38. Rh6+ Kg8 39. Nf6+ Kg7 40. d6 Ne2+ 41. Kg4 c4 42. Rh2 Nd4 43. Rh7+ Kg6 44. Rh6+ Kg7 45. Kh5 Rh8 46. d7 Nc6 47. Ne8+ Kg8 48. Nf6+ Kg7 ½ : ½ Iljiushenok – Iljin, 25th Russian Team Chess Championship, Sochi 2018. 17. Qf3 Kg7 18. Nxd6 Qxf3 19. gxf3 cxd6 20. Rxe6 fxe6 21. Bxd6 Rd8 22. Bg3 Rc8 23. c4 Rd8 24. Rb1 Rd7. White’s extra Pawn is meaningless, to say the least, because of Black’s much better Pawns and King. On the other hand, by giving it back with 25. Bf4 or 25. d5, White would increase his own drawing chances substantially. Instead, Paravyan does his very best to lose the game: 25. Be5+? Nxe5 26. dxe5 g5!∓ 27. Kf1!? Kg6

28. Ke2. 28. c5 Kf5 29. Rb5 was also worth considering. 28. ... Kf5 29. Rb5!? The effects of such a move may even be reversible, but conceptually it carries in itself the seeds of its own nemesis. 29. ... b6 30. a4? This seems to be the fatal faux pax. Correct was 30. Ke3! to be followed by a2-a4-a5 or c4-c5 (or both), making it very hard for Black to progress. 30. ... Rc7! 31. a5 Rc5 32. Rb1. Or 32. axb6 Rxb5 33. cxb5 axb6 with a won Pawn and King ending. 32. ... Rxe5+ 33. Kf1 Rxa5 34. Rd1 Ra4 35. Rd7 a5 36. Rc7 Ke5 37. c5 b5 38. Rxh7 Rc4 39. f4+ Kxf4 40. h4 a4 41. c6 Rxc6 42. h5 Kg4 43. Kg2 Ra6 44. f3+ Kh4 0 : 1.

Today 17th Women’s World Chess Champion 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) received flowers from organisers in celebration of the International Women’s Day (IWD). Photo: Vladimir Jagr.

布拉格天文钟 (Prague astronomical clock)

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – Peter Michalík

1st Prague International Chess Festival; Challengers Tournament; Prague, March 7, 2019

Sicilian Defence B31

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Nd7 8. Be3 e5 9. Qd2 h6!? 10. 0-0! Qe7 11. Nh2 Nf8 12. f4 exf4 13. Bxf4 g5. It’s still theory, but it probably is a wrong theory. 14. Bg3 Ng6 15. e5! Be6. Of course, 15. ... Nxe5 16. Rae1 plays into White’s hands. If, instead, 15. ... 0-0 then 16. Rae1 Be6 17. Nf3 with a powerful bind: 17. ... Bd5 18. Nxd5 cxd5 19. c3 Rae8 20. d4 cxd4 21. Qxd4 Qe6 22. Qxa7 Ra8 23. Qf2 Rxa2 24. Kh1 f6 25. Nd4 Qb6 26. Qf3 Ne7 27. Nf5 Nxf5 28. Qxd5+ Kh8 29. Rxf5 Rxb2 30. exf6 Bxf6 31. Rxf6 1 : 0 M. Adams – Michiels, 29th SchachBundesliga, Baden-Baden 2009. 16. Rae1 0-0-0 17. Nf3! This move — very strong indeed — costed 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) more than 40 minutes. 17. ... Kb8. 17. ... g4!? 18. hxg4 h5!? (18. ... Bxg4 19. Ne4 is even worse) 19. Qg5! is clearly advantageous for White. 18. Ne4 Ka8. 18. ... c4 19. d4 would not be appealing either. 19. Qc3!? Rd5 20. a3!? g4! White’s last two moves convinced Black that drastic countermeasures were imperative. 21. hxg4 Bxg4 22. Nf6 Bxf6 23. exf6 Qd7? This grave mistake loses the game almost immediately. Both 23. ... Qd8 24. Nd2 and 23. ... Qf8 23. Ne5 would have probably left White with somewhat the better chances, but nothing comparable to what is about to follow. 24. Nh4! Nxh4 25. Re7 Qc8 26. Bxh4 Be6 27. Re1 Rf5

28. R1xe6! fxe6 29. f7. Threatening Qc3xh8. 29. ... e5 30. Qxc5 b6 31. Qd6 1 : 0.

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn). Photo: Vladimir Jagr.

QuackShot

Vitaly Leonidovich Kunin – Francesco Rambaldi
35th Chess Mitropa Cup (Open Section); Prague, June 23, 2016
Grünfeld Defence D85

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. h3 0-0 9. Be2 Nc6 10. Be3 cxd4 11. cxd4 f5 12. Bc4+ Kh8 13. 0-0 fxe4 14. Ng5 e5. The alternative is 14. ... Nxd4 15. Nf7+ Rxf7 16. Bxf7 Qd6 17. Qd2 Bd7 18. Rab1 Bc6 19. Bc4 Rd8 20. Rfc1 Qc7 21. Qe1 Qe5 22. Rd1 Qc5 23. Bf1 Bf6 24. Kh1 Rd7 25. Rbc1 Qa3 26. Bh6 e5 27. Be3 Kg7 28. Bc4 h5 29. Bb3 Qe7 30. Qc3 Qd8 31. Qc5 a5 32. Bc4 g5 33. Bf1 g4 34. h4 Rd5 35. Qa7 Rd7 36. Qc5 Rd5 37. Qa7 Rd7 ½ : ½ Svidler – Vachier-Lagrave, FIDE Grand Prix, 3rd stage, Tbilisi 2015. 15. d5. If, instead, 15. dxe5 there might follow 15. ... Nxe5 16. Bd5 h6 17. Nxe4 Bxh3 18. gxh3 Nf3+ 19. Kg2 Nh4+ 20. Kg1 Nf3+ 21. Kg2 Nh4+ 22. Kg1 Nf3+ ½ : ½ Svidler – Grischuk, FIDE Grand Prix, 3rd stage, Tbilisi 2015. 15. ... Nd4 16. a4! For 16. Nxe4 b5 17. Bxd4 exd4 18. Bxb5 Qxd5 19. Bd3 Bb7 see Schachinger – Papp, 34th International Open, Zalakaros 2015. 16. ... Bf5? Maybe it’s not a mistake, but it seems to me that Black loses time and ground. Deserving consideration was 16. ... Qe7 17. Nxe4 Bf5 and if 18. f3 then 18. ... Rac8 with a reasonable position for Black. 17. Ne6 Bxe6 18. dxe6 Qe7 19. Qg4 Rf5 20. Qxe4 Nxe6 21. Bxe6 Qxe6 22. Qxb7. It’s quite obvious that Francesco has lost the opening battle. Black is in serious trouble. 22. ... Qe8 23. Rfc1! Rf7 24. Rc7 Rxc7 25. Qxc7 h5 26. a5. Not yet 26. Bxa7 because of 26. ... e4 followed by ... Qe8xa4. 26. ... a6 27. Rb1! Qa4

28. Bh6! Kunin delivers Italian boy a terrific blow. 28. ... Rg8. If 28. ... Bxh6 then 29. Rb7 finis. 29. Bxg7+ Rxg7 30. Rb8+ Kh7. On 30. ... Rg8 31. Rb7 White forces mate in three moves. 31. Qd8 Qa1+ 32. Kh2 Kh6 33. Qh8+ Rh7 34. Qf8+ Rg7. Or 34. ... Kg5 35. h4+! Kxh4 (35. ... Kg4 36. Qf3+ Kxh4 37. Qg3 mate) 36. Qf6+ g5 37. g3+ Kg4 38. f3 mate. 35. Rb7 e4 36. Qh8+ 1 : 0.

Francesco Rambaldi
Photo: Šachový svaz České republiky (Facebook)

From a Terrace in Prague

David Navara – Richárd Rapport
ČEZ Chess Trophy 2016; match game 4; Prague, June 8, 2016
Alekhine Defence B05

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Be2 e6 6. 0-0 Be7 7. h3 Bh5 8. c4 Nb6 9. Nc3 0-0 10. Be3 d5 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Ne1 Bxe2 13. Qxe2 c6 14. Nd3!? A novelty, as far as I know. For 14. f4 f5 15. g4 see M. D. Tseitlin – Vasiukov, Almaty 1979. 14. ... Na6 15. Rae1 Nc7 16. Nf4. Navara’s looking for luck on the Kingside, but, contrary to any appearances, the strategic key of White’s position is (or better should be) more positional than tactical. 16. ... Qd7 17. Nh5 Rae8 18. Qf3 Kh8 19. Ne2 Nc4 20. Bc1 f6! A cool defence. 21. Qg3 Bb4 22. exf6 g6

23. Bh6!? Regardless of the result, I think it’s a very interesting idea, which maybe deserved better luck. 23. ... Bxe1! But Rapport doesn’t fear anyone and anything. 24. Bxf8? Too hasty! White should have played 24. Rxe1 Rf7 25. Ng7 Ref8 26. Nf4! with good chances to complicate matters; for instance: 26. ... Rxf6 27. b3 Nd6 28. Nd3 Ne4 29. Qe5 Kg8 30. f3 Nd6 31. Nh5! gxh5 32. Bxf8 Rxf8 33. Qg3+ finally winning back the Knight with definite drawing chances. Of course, it’s all but forced, but it was better than the text. 24. ... Rxf8 25. Rxe1 gxh5 26. Nf4 Rxf6 27. Nxh5 Rg6. That’s all. There’s nothing for White. 28. Qh4 Re6 29. Rxe6 Qxe6 30. Nf4 Qf7 31. Qd8+ Ne8 32. Nd3 h6 33. b3 Nd6 34. Ne5 Qc7 35. Qh4 Qg7 36. Qd8 Kh7 37. f4 Qf6 38. Qd7+ Ng7 0 : 1.

Richárd Rapport
Photo: praguechess.cz

David Navara
Photo: praguechess.cz

Папірологія (Papyrology)

Robert Hübner – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Snowdrops vs. Oldhands; Mariánské Lázně, December 5, 2011
Sicilian Defence B33

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8. exd5 Nb8 9. c4 Be7 10. Be2 0-0 11. 0-0 a6 12. Nc3 Bf5 13. f4 exf4 14. Bxf4 Bg6 15. Bd3 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 Nd7 17. Rae1 Bf6 18. Ne4 Be5. 18. ... Bxb2 19. Bxd6 clearly favours White.

19. Ng5 g6 20. Qh3 h5 21. Ne4. The threat is 22. Bxe5 Nxe5 (22. ... dxe5?? loses to 23. Qxd7!) 23. Nf6+ Kg7 24. Qg3 with a vehement attack. 21. ... f5. Black’s only good move. 22. Bg5!? The German papyrologist is still in the mood to fight for a win. 22. ... Qc7. If 22. ... Qb6+ 23. Kh1 Qxb2 then 24. Nxd6! Bxd6 25. Re6 Be5! 26. Rxg6+ Rg7 27. Bh6 Rf7 28. Bxg7 Rxg7 29. Qxf5 Rxg6 30. Qf7+ Kh8 31. Qxg6 Qe2! 32. Qh6+ Kg8 33. Qg6+ drawing by perpetual check. 23. Nd2 Nf6. Now 23. ... Qb6+ 24. Kh1 Qxb2 is indeed the critical line, when White must prove compensation for the Pawn. After the text move White succeeds in fighting for laborious equality. 24. Bxf6 Rxf6 25. b3 b5 26. Qe3 Re8 27. Kh1 Rff8 28. Qd3 Qc5 29. Re2 Qd4 30. Qxd4 Bxd4 31. Rfe1 Rxe2 32. Rxe2 Kf7 33. Nf3 Bf6 34. cxb5 axb5 35. h4 Ra8 36. Kh2 b4 37. Re6 Rxa2 38. Rxd6 Rb2 39. Rd7+ Ke8 40. Rd6 Kf7 41. Rd7+ Ke8 42. Rd6 Kf7 ½ : ½.

Hübner vs. Muzychuk. Photo: Martin Chrz.

Großmeister-Remis

Borislav Ivkov – Mariya Muzychuk
6th Snowdrops vs Oldhands; Poděbrady, December 3, 2013
English Opening A37

“The game Ivkov – Muzychuk was rather calm: Black managed to execute the important push ... d6-d5 in the English Opening and equalize. Then she sharpened the position by means of a brave advance ... e5-e4. However, the subsequent complications resulted in a mass simplification and a subsequent draw agreement”, Grandmaster David Navara said. 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. 0-0 Nge7 7. a3 d6 8. Rb1 a5. For 8. ... b6 9. b4 Bb7 10. Ne1 Qd7 11. Nc2 Nd4 12. Bxb7 Qxb7 13. Ne3 0-0 14. Ned5 see Ivkov – Bobotsov, 31st Hoogovens International Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 1970. 9. d3 Rb8 10. Bd2 0-0 11. Ne1 Be6 12. Nc2 d5 13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5 Bxd5 15. Bxd5 Qxd5 16. b4 cxb4 17. axb4

17. ... e4 18. b5 exd3 19. Ne3 dxe2 20. Nxd5 exd1=Q 21. Rfxd1 Nb4 22. Nxb4 axb4 23. Bxb4 Rfd8 24. Be7 ½ : ½.

Mariya Muzychuk
Photo: Anežka Kružíková

Strobilus

Mariya Muzychuk – Boris Franzevich Gulko
6th Snowdrops vs Oldhands; Poděbrady, November 30, 2013
Sicilian Defence B22

1. e4 c5 2. c3 e6 3. d4 d5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. 0-0 Nge7 9. Nbd2 0-0 10. Nb3 Bb6 11. Re1 Nf5 12. Bd3 Qd6 13. Bxf5 Bxf5 14. Be3 Bg4. For 14. ... Bxe3 15. Rxe3 Rfd8 16. h3 a5 17. a4 Qc7 18. Nbd4 see Deviatkin – Mickiewicz, 5th AMPLICO AIG Life Chess Tournament, Warsaw 2005. 15. Bxb6 axb6 16. Qd3 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Rfe8 18. a3 Ne5 19. Qe2 Qd7 20. Nd4 Nc4 21. Qc2 g6 22. h3 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Re8 24. Rd1 Re5

25. b3. A temporary Pawn sacrifice, that Mariya performs in the (vain) hope of cashing in her slight advantage. 25. ... Nxa3 26. Qd3 Re8 27. Ne2 Nb5 28. Qxd5 Qxd5 29. Rxd5 Rxe2 30. Rxb5 Re6 31. Rd5 Kf8 32. Rd8+ Re8 33. Rd7 Re7 34. Rd6 Re6 35. Rd7 Re7 36. Rd6 Re6 37. Rxe6 fxe6. Usually there are less chances for a draw in a King and Pawn ending than in a Rook ending, but this is not the case. 38. Kf1 Ke7 39. Ke2 Kd6 40. Kd3 b5 41. Ke4 e5 42. h4 Ke6 43. f3 Kd6 44. f4 exf4 45. Kxf4 h6 46. Ke4 Ke6 47. g4 Kd6 48. Kd4 h5 49. g5 b6 50. b4 Ke6 51. c4 Kd6 52. cxb5 Ke6 53. Ke4 ½ : ½.

Mariya Muzychuk vs. Boris Franzevich Gulko
Photo: Anežka Kružíková

Smažený sýr

Boris Franzevich Gulko – Mariya Muzychuk
6th Snowdrops vs Oldhands; Poděbrady, December 5, 2013
Queen’s Gambit Declined D10

Notes by Grandmaster Robert Cvek

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5. This is a favorite move of GM Gulko. I remember his old games where he played exactly the same moves. 3. ... cxd5 4. Bf4 Nc6 5. e3 Bf5 6. Nc3. In positions like this it seems to me that Black has no problems with compensation, but you need to know this and have to have the temperament to play such positions. That is not easy at all, especially for the aggressive Snowdrop. 6. ... e6 7. Qb3 Bb4 8. a3!? GM Plachetka proposed this move during analysis, as a possible improvement for White, and that was exactly what happened. 8. ... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3. Taking back with the Queen: 9. Qxc3 would just help Black, especially after 9. ... Rc8. 9. ... Qd7 10. Nf3 Nge7 11. a4! Nice strategic move. To be honest, after a first look at the position I thought that Black is okay. She would play 11. ... b6, then move her Knight to a5 with a blockade. However the White Bishops would be strong. That is an instructive strategic lesson. 11. ... b6 12. Ba6! Yes, he took control of the square c8, so the plan for Black is not that clear anymore. 12. ... 0-0 13. 0-0 Na5 14. Qa2 Nec6 15. Nd2 Nb8 16. Bb5 Qb7 17. Rfe1! This is a nice move, with an idea of playing e3-e4 after preparing f2-f3. Now, we can see that the position of White is a bit better. 17. ... Rc8 18. Rac1 a6 19. Bf1 b5

20. Qb2?! 20. axb5!, recommended by the GM Plachetka, is the key to lock in the advantage: 20. ... axb5 21. Qb2 Nc4 22. Nxc4 dxc4 23. f3 with a better game. 20. ... bxa4. The ending is better for the White, but it is still is not too clear. 21. Qxb7 Nxb7. The Pawns on the a-file are complicating life for White. 22. c4 Nc6 23. Rc3 Nb4! The correct activity of the Knight. 24. Ra1 Bc2! 25. Rc1. It would be good to consider 25. c5 but Black has a nice square for the Knight after 25. ... Na5 and ... Na5-c6!. 25. ... dxc4? Unnecessarily complicated. Black did not have too much time and she thought that the position was not too good for her. That is why she went for tactic complications. However, if she moved her Bishop back she would be okay. 26. R3xc2 Nxc2 27. Rxc2 Na5 28. Bd6 c3 29. Ne4 Nb3 30. g4! This is really good move – it creates space and also controls the square f5. After 30. g4 Rc6 31. Rxc3 Rac8 32. Bc5 White has a clear advantage. But he offered a draw, which Black gladly accepted. ½ : ½.

Mariya Muzychuk
Photo: Anežka Kružíková

Svíčková na smetaně

Iossif Davidovich Dorfman – Mariya Muzychuk
6th Snowdrops vs Oldhands; Poděbrady, December 1, 2013
Grünfeld Defence D76

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. e3 0-0 9. 0-0 Re8 10. a3 e5 11. d5 Na5 12. e4. For 12. Qc2 e4 13. Nd4 Bxd4 14. exd4 Bf5 see Shimanov – Navara, 16th European Chess Individual Championship, Jerusalem 2015. 12. ... c6 13. b4 Nac4 14. dxc6 bxc6 15. Qc2 a5! Now Black gets a slight initiative, which Dorfman is hardly able to smooth out.. 16. bxa5 Rxa5 17. a4 Qe7 18. Nd2 Be6 19. Nxc4 Nxc4 20. Rd1 Qc5 21. Bf1 Rea8 22. Bxc4 Qxc4 23. Qd3 Bf8 24. Qxc4 Bxc4 25. Ba3

25. ... Bb3 26. Bxf8 Kxf8. After 26. ... Bxd1 27. Bb4 Rxa4 28. Nxa4 Rxa4 29. Rxa4 Bxa4 the Bishops of opposite colour nullify Black’s extra Pawn. 27. Rdc1 Bxa4 28. Rxa4 Rxa4 29. Nxa4 Rxa4 30. Rxc6 Rxe4. Black has won a Pawn, but she has no chance to win, because all Pawns are on the same side of the board. 31. h4 h5 32. Rc7 Ke8 33. Kg2 Rd4 34. Kf3 Rd7 35. Rc5 f6 36. Rc8+ Ke7 37. Ke4 Rd4+ 38. Ke3 Ke6 39. Ra8 Kf5 40. Ra6 Rb4 41. Kf3 Rb3+ 42. Kg2 Rb2 43. Ra5 Rb6 44. Kf3 Ke6 45. Kg2 e4 46. Ra4 f5 47. Ra5 Kf6 48. Rc5 g5 49. hxg5+ Kxg5 50. Rc8 Rb2 51. Rg8+ Kf6 52. Rf8+ Kg6 53. Rg8+ Kf7 54. Rg5 Kf6 55. Rxh5 e3 56. Kf3 exf2 57. Kg2 Kg6 58. Rh4 ½ : ½.

Mariya Muzychuk
Photo: Anežka Kružíková

The Fatal Eggs

Mariya Muzychuk – Iossif Davidovich Dorfman
6th Snowdrops vs Oldhands; Poděbrady, December 6, 2013
Sicilian Defence B90

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 7. Nde2 h5 8. Bg5 Be6 9. f4 Nbd7 10. f5 Bc4 11. Ng3 Rc8 12. Qf3 Qa5 13. Bxc4. Less committal is 13. Bd2 ½ : ½ D. Popović – A. Brkić, 11th Croatian Team Chess Championship, Bol 2013. 13. ... Rxc4 14. 0-0-0 b5 15. Kb1 Rxc3 16. bxc3 Nb6 17. Bxf6 gxf6

18. Nxh5? This is a terrible blunder! The h-Pawn has been impregnated with a deadly poison. 18. ... Rxh5! Deep and very original game by Dorfman, involving the sacrifice of the Exchange twice! 19. Rd3. Not 19. Qxh5?? on account of 19. ... Qa3 with the deadly threat of ... Nb6-c4 followed by ... Qa3-b2 mate. 19. ... Nc4 20. Ka1 Rh4. Of course 20. ... Qa3 21. Rb1 Rh8 is also good. 21. Qf2 Rh8 22. Qa7. With Bishop and Knight against Rook and Pawn Dorfman goes on to win without much difficulty. 22. ... Be7 23. Rb1 Rg8 24. g4 Bd8 25. Rb4 Kf8 26. Qb7 Bb6 27. Rb3 Bc5 28. Rd5 Qb6 29. Qxb6 Nxb6 30. Rd3 Kg7 31. Rb1 Rh8 32. Rh1 Rh4 33. Kb2 Kh6 34. Kc1 Nc4 35. Rf3 Kg5 36. Kd1 d5 37. Re1. Or 37. exd5 e4 and wins. 37. ... dxe4 38. Rxe4 Nd6 39. Re2 e4 40. Rg3 Kf4 41. Reg2 Bf2! 42. Rd3 exd3 43. Rxf2+ Ke5 0 : 1.

Mariya Muzychuk
Photo: Anežka Kružíková

The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter

Mariya Muzychuk – Wolfgang Uhlmann
6th Snowdrops vs Oldhands; Poděbrady, December 2, 2013
Trompowsky Attack A45

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. e4 h6 4. Bxf6 Qxf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Qd2 g6 7. 0-0-0 Bg7 8. f4 0-0. No better is 8. ... a6 9. g4 Nd7 10. Nf3 b5 11. e5 Qe7 12. f5 and White enjoys a powerful initiative, Mamedyarov – Anastasian, 3th European Individual Championship, Batumi 2002. 9. Nf3 Qe7 10. h4 h5 11. e5 b6 12. Ne4 Bb7 13. Bd3 Nc6

14. g4!! This amazing move has not been taken into account by Uhlmann! 14. ... hxg4 15. Nfg5 Nxd4 16. h5! Mariya is showing her exceptional talent as a fanciful attacking player. 16. ... dxe5 17. hxg6 f5. Now 17. ... f6 is probably best, but after 18. Qh2 Rfd8 19. Nf7 Black can hardly hope to survive. 18. Qh2! Rfe8 19. fxe5? A surprise move... surprisingly bad! After 19. Qh7+ Kf8 20. Ng3!! White seems to win in all variations, e.g. 20. ... Bxh1 21. Nh5! exf4 22. Nf7! with an overwhelming attack. 19. ... fxe4 20. Nxe4 Bxe4 21. Bxe4 Qg5+ 22. Kb1 Rad8? German veteran misses the big chance! After 22. ... Qxe5 23. Qh7+ Kf8 White has nothing else to do but hope for a miracle. 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. Rdf1+ Nf5 25. Bxf5 exf5 26. Rh5. Now it is all over. 26. ... Rd1+. Well, it’s just a delay. 27. Rxd1 Qf4 28. c3 Qe4+ 29. Ka1 Qxe5 30. a3 g3 31. Rf1 1 : 0.

Mariya Muzychuk
Photo: Anežka Kružíková

Koláč (Kolach)

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk – Vlastimil Hort
4th Snowdrops vs. Oldhands; Mariánské Lázně, December 4, 2011
Russian Defence C43

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Bd6 6. 0-0 0-0 7. c4 c6 8. Qc2 Qh4 9. f4. Hoping to improve on 9. Nf3 Qh5 10. c5 Bc7 11. Bxe4 dxe4 12. Qxe4 Bg4 13. Ne5 ½ : ½ Timman – Hort, Bugojno 1980. 9. ... f6 10. Nf3 Qh5 11. c5 Bc7 12. Nbd2 f5 13. Ne5 Nd7 14. Nxe4 fxe4 15. Be2 Qe8 16. Be3 Nf6 17. b4 h5 18. h3 a5 19. a3 h4 20. Qb2 Nh5 21. Bxh5 Qxh5 22. b5 Rf6 23. Kh1 a4 24. b6 Bxe5 25. fxe5 Rf5 26. Rxf5 Bxf5 27. Rf1 Rf8 28. Kh2 Rf7 29. Qd2 Kh7 30. Rf2 Kg6 31. Rf4 Be6 32. Rxf7 Kxf7 33. Qf2+ Bf5? Correct was 33. ... Kg8 34. Qf4 Kh7 eventually followed by ... Qh5-h6, aiming for the transition to the endgame with opposite coloured Bishops.

34. Qf4? Muzychuk misses the sharp 34. e6+! Kxe6 35. Qf4 when White, at the cost of a Pawn, infiltrates decisively into the enemy camp. 34. ... Ke6 35. Qg5. Resigning herself to a draw. 35. ... Qxg5 36. Bxg5 Bg6 37. Bxh4 e3 38. g4 Bd3 39. Kg1 e2 40. Kf2 Be4 41. Bg3 g5 42. Kxe2 Bg2 43. h4 gxh4 44. Bxh4 Be4 45. Ke3 Bc2 46. Kf4 Bd1 47. Bd8 Be2 48. Kg5 Bd1 49. Kh4 Bc2 50. Bf6 Bd3 51. g5 Bg6 52. Kg4 Be8 53. Bd8 Bg6 54. Kf4 Bh5 55. Ke3 Kf5 56. Kd3 Be8 57. Kd2 Bh5 58. Kc3 Bg4 59. Bf6 Bh5 60. Be7 Bg4 61. Bd8 Bh5 62. g6 Kxg6 63. e6 Bg4 64. e7 Kf7 65. Kd3 Bh5 66. Ke3 Ke6 67. Kf4 Bf7 68. Kg5 Be8 69. Kf4 ½ : ½.

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk. Photo: Martin Chrz.

Հարիսա (Harissa)

Mariya Muzychuk – Rafael Artemovich Vaganian
4th Snowdrops vs. Oldhands; Mariánské Lázně, December 8, 2011
French Defence C14

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. f4 a6 8. Nf3 c5 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. 0-0-0 b5 12. Bd3 b4 13. Ne2 0-0. The alternative was 13. ... a5 14. f5 Nxd3+ 15. Qxd3 Ba6 16. Qe3 Bxe2 17. Qxe2 0-0 18. Kb1 a4 19. Nd4 Nxd4 20. Rxd4 exf5 21. Rxd5 a3 22. b3 Rad8 23. Rhd1 Rxd5 24. Rxd5 Rd8 25. Qd3 Rxd5 26. Qxd5 h5 27. Kc1 Qh4 28. Kd1 Qf2 29. e6 fxe6 30. Qxe6+ Kh7 31. Qd5 h4 ½ : ½ Chandler – Seirawan, 2nd GMA World Cup, 1st stage, Reykjavík 1991. 14. h4!? Just a bit of improvisation, instead of 14. g4 a5 (as in Lang – Vojinović-Rapport, 39th Women’s Chess Olympiad, Khanty-Mansiysk 2010).

14. ... b3!! A sharp “refutation”. 15. axb3. Grandmaster Natalia Andreevna Pogonina recommends 15. cxb3 Nxd3+ 16. Qxd3 Nb4 17. Qb1 a5 when “White will put Knights on c3 and d4, defending stubbornly”. 15. ... Nb4 16. Ned4 Ncxd3+ 17. cxd3 a5 18. Nc2? Pogonina suggests to create a (great) White King’s escape with 18. Qe3 a4 19. Kd2 axb3 20. Ke2, but after 20. ... Ra2 21. Rd2 Ba6 Black retains a significant edge. 18. ... d4? Vaganian gives back his extra Pawn in order to render his position more active, but 18. ... Rb8! (intending ... Bc8-a6 followed by ... Rf8-c8) would have been very unpleasant for White (19. Kb1 Ba6). 19. Nfxd4 Bb7 20. Qe3? “Here White had a chance to stabilize the position by 20. Kb1 as Black needs time to play ... a5-a4, and White will create counterplay with f4-f5”, Pogonina said. 20. ... Bd5 21. Rd2. A sad necessity. If 21. Kb1 there follows 21. ... a4! with a crushing attack. 21. ... a4 22. bxa4. A painful decision, but 22. Nxb4 (Pogonina’s suggestion) is refuted by the “zwischenzug” 22. ... axb3! 23. Kd1 Ra1+ and Black must win. 22. ... Rxa4? Precipitate. Vaganian could have won by 22. ... Nxc2 23. Nxc2 (both 23. Kxc2 and 23. Rxc2 are met by 23. ... Rxa4-+) 23. ... Rfc8 and White cannot parry all Black’s threats. 23. Kd1 Ra2. Pogonina suggests 23. ... Rc8 24. Ke2 Bxg2 25. Rg1 Bb7 when Black has ample compensation for the Pawn. 24. Ke2 Rxb2 25. Nxb4 Qxb4 26. Nf3. “White has a solid position, so Black doesn’t have any real winning chances”, Pogonina said. 26. ... Ra8 27. Rhd1 Rxd2+ 28. Rxd2 Ra4 29. g3 h6 30. Ne1 Qb1 31. Kf2 g6 32. Rc2 Kg7 33. Qc1 Qb4 34. Qd2 Qb6+ 35. Qe3 Qb1 36. Qc1 Qb6+ 37. Qe3 ½ : ½.

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk & Rafael Artemovich Vaganian analysing their game. Photo: Martin Chrz.

Graph theory

Rafael Artemovich Vaganian – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Snowdrops vs. Oldhands; Mariánské Lázně, December 3, 2011
English Opening A35

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. g3 f5 5. d3 Nf6 6. Bg2 g6 7. 0-0. Another reference is 7. a3 a5 8. 0-0 Bg7 9. Bg5 0-0 10. Rb1 d6 11. Ne1 h6 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Nc2 Bd7 14. b4 axb4 15. axb4 Nxb4 16. Nxb4 cxb4 17. Rxb4 Bc6 18. Qb3 Kh8 19. Rb1 Bg7 20. Rb6 e4 21. e3 exd3 22. Nd5 d2 23. Qc2 Ra1 24. Rxa1 Bxa1 25. Rb1 Bxd5 26. Rxa1 Bxg2 27. Kxg2 d5 28. Rd1 dxc4 29. Qxc4 Kh7 30. Qd4 Qxd4 31. exd4 b5 32. Kf3 Kg7 33. Rxd2 Kf7 34. Ke3 Ke6 35. Ra2 Kd5 36. Kd3 Rf6 37. Ra8 Rb6 38. Rd8+ Ke6 39. Kc3 Rc6+ 40. Kd3 Rb6 41. Kc3 Rc6+ ½ : ½ G. Meier – Krasenkow, French Team Championship, Mulhouse 2011. 7. ... Bg7 8. Bg5 d6 9. Ne1 h6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Nc2 0-0 12. Rb1 Rb8 13. a3 Ne7 14. Ne3 Bd7 15. Ned5 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Qf7 17. b4 b6 18. b5 Be6 19. a4 f4 20. Rb3 g5 21. a5 g4 22. Be4 Kh8 23. Ra3 h5 24. f3 Bh6 25. fxg4? Hitherto White has methodically tightened his grip on the Queenside, but now, with the text move, he unnecessarily opens up a way for her opponent on the Kingside. Comparatively best was the immediate 25. axb6 axb6 26. Qa1 Bxd5 27. Bxd5 Qg6 28. Qe1 and White appears to keep the upper hand. 25. ... hxg4 26. axb6 axb6 27. Qa1. Vaganian nonchalantly continues his plan. Probably more to the point would have been 27. Qe1 in order to contain Black’s initiative on the Kingside. 27. ... Bxd5 28. cxd5? After 28. Bxd5 Qh5 29. Ra8 Rxa8 30. Qxa8 Rg8! Black’s attack continues, but the text move is far worse. 28. ... Qh5 29. h4 fxg3 30. Rxf8+ Rxf8 31. Ra8 Qxh4 32. Rxf8+ Bxf8 33. Bg2

32. ... Qh6 34. Qa8. Loses on the spot, but 34. Qe1 Qe3+ is no better as Black’s Bishop will soon come into play in Kingside attack. 34. ... Qe3+ 0 : 1. For if 35. Kh1 then 35. ... Qc1+ and mate next move.

Rafael Artemovich Vaganian vs. Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk. Photo: Martin Chrz.

Maya the Bee

Mariya Muzychuk – Boris Franzevich Gulko
4th Snowdrops vs. Oldhands; Mariánské Lázně, December 6, 2011
Sicilian Defence B64

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. 0-0-0 0-0 9. f4 h6 10. h4!? A sharp Bishop sacrifice, suiting Mariya’s most imaginative style. 10. ... Nxd4 11. Qxd4 hxg5. Boris Franzevich accepts the challenge and takes the Bishop. 12. hxg5 Ng4! 13. Be2 e5 14. Qg1 exf4 15. Bxg4 Bxg4. More convincing than 15. ... Bxg5 16. Bxc8 Rxc8 17. Rd3 Re8? (comparatively best was 17. ... Bh6!?) 18. Kb1 Rc5 19. g3! fxg3 20. Rxg3 Re6 21. Rh5 Bf6 22. Nd5 b6 23. Rgh3 g6 24. Qg5!! 1 : 0 Dvoirys – Feher, Budapest 1991. 16. Qh2 f5

17. g6!? The alternative was 17. Qh7+ Kf7 (Anand – Kasparov, PCA / Intel Rapid Chess Grand Prix 1995, Paris 1995) when White could try 18. exf5!?, although after 18. ... Bxg5 19. Ne4 f3+ 20. Kb1 fxg2 21. Qg6+ Kg8 22. Nxg5 Bxf5 23. Qh5 gxh1=Q 24. Rxh1 Qxg5 25. Qxg5 Rac8 Black should be able to hold his own. 17. ... Bh4 18. Rd4 Bh5? A blind spot in Boris Franzevich’s opening theory. Not 18. ... f3 19. gxf3 Bxf3 20. Qxh4 Qxh4 21. Rxh4 Bxe4 22. Rd2 Rfe8 23. Nb5! and White stands better. Correct was 18. ... fxe4 19. Rxe4 Bh5 20. Qxh4 Qxh4 21. Rxh4 Bxg6 22. Re6 when White wins back her Pawn with a very slight edge. 19. Qxh4 Qxh4 20. Rxh4 Bxg6 21. Rxd6. White has come out of the opening clearly on top. 21. ... Bh7 22. exf5 Rxf5 23. Nd5 Re5? The decisive mistake. The immediate 23. ... Rg5 would have been the lesser evil, although after 24. Nxf4 Rc8 25. c3 White retains both her extra Pawn and her positional edge. 24. Rd7 Rg5. Too late. However, if 24. ... Re2 there follows 25. Rg4 with deadly effects. Now it’s very easy. 25. Ne7+ Kh8 26. Rd1. With the threat of 27. Rxh7+ Kxh7 28. Rh1+ and mate next move. 26. ... g6 27. Rdh1 Rh5 28. Nxg6+ Bxg6 29. Rxh5+ Bxh5 30. Rxh5+ Kg7 31. Rf5 1 : 0.

Mariya Muzychuk vs. Boris Franzevich Gulko
Photo: Martin Chrz