The Last Day of School

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
Women’s Candidates Tournament; Kazan, June 14, 2019
Caro-Kann Defence B12

With two rounds to spare, Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina, 20, has won the Women’s Candidates Tournament in Kazan, Russia for the right to take on 17th Women’s World Chess Champion 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) of China in an upcoming match for the title. Curiously enough, Goryachkina, an engineering student at Moscow University, was the lowest-rated of the eight challengers, and only entered in as first reserve after four-time Women’s World Chess Champion (as well as No. 1 woman player in the world) and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) declined the invitation due to her Master’s study at the University of Oxford. 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5 6. Be3 Qb6 7. Nc3 Nc6. The capture of the b2-Pawn can cost Black dear: 7. ... Qxb2 8. Qb1 Qxb1+ 9. Rxb1 c4 10. Rxb7 Nc6 11. Nb5 Nd8 12. Rc7 Rb8 13. Nd6+ Bxd6 14. exd6 Rb1+ 15. Bd1 Bxc2 16. Kd2 Bxd1 17. Rxd1 Rb6 18. Bf4 Nf6 19. Re7+ Kf8 20. Rxa7 Ne4+ 21. Kc2 f6 22. h4 Nxf2 23. Rb1 Rxb1 24. Kxb1 Ne4 25. a4 Rg8 26. a5 Nc6 27. Ra6 Nb8 28. Ra7 Nc6 29. d7 Nd8 30. Kc2 Ke7 31. a6 e5 32. Bc1 Kd6 33. Ba3+ Kc6 34. Ra8 1 : 0 Karjakin – Eljanov, 39th Chess Olympiad, Khanty-Mansiysk 2010. 8. Na4 Qa5+ 9. c3 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Ne7 12. 0-0. It is not long ago that Goryachkina was around here: 12. Nc5 Qc7 13. 0-0 Nc6 14. Rc1 Be7 15. g4 Bg6 16. f4 h5 17. f5 Bxc5 18. fxg6 Bxd4+ 19. cxd4 0-0 20. Qd3 Qb6 21. gxf7+ Rxf7 22. Rxf7 Kxf7 23. gxh5 Qxd4+ 24. Qxd4 Nxd4 25. Rc7+ Kg8 26. Bg4 Rf8 27. Rxb7 Rf7 28. Rb8+ Rf8 29. Rxf8+ Kxf8 30. Kf2 Kf7 31. Ke3 Nc6 32. Kf4 Nb4 33. Be2 Nxa2 34. Ke3 Nb4 35. Bb5 Nc2+ 36. Kd3 Ne1+ 37. Ke2 Ng2 38. Kf3 Nh4+ 39. Kf4 Nf5 40. Bd3 Nd4 41. Ke3 ½ : ½ Alekseenko – Goryachkina, 16th Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2018. 12. ... Nc6 13. b4 Qc7 14. Rc1 Be7 15. g4! Bg6 16. f4 Qd7? Goryachkina unconsciously does her best not to stop the music today. Here Black ought to play 16. ... Be4 17. Nc5 a5 18. Be3 axb4 19. cxb4 Ra3 20. Bf2 Bxc5 21. Bxc5 Rxa2 22. b5!? Bc2? (22. ... Na5! 23. b6 Qc6 24. Rf2 Nc4!∞) 23. b6!+− Bxd1 24. bxc7 Kd7 25. Bxd1 Kxc7 26. Bd6+ Kd7 27. Rb1 1 : 0 Giri – Navara, 5th Gashimov Memorial, Şəmkir 2018. 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. Bxc5 h5 19. g5? But this move is the sign that 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) has nothing to object against the credibility of the incumbent candidate. 19. f5! seems crushing for White, and it would indeed have been most unpleasant for Black. 19. ... Ne7 20. a4 a6 21. a5 h4 22. Bf3 0-0 23. Qe1 Bd3 24. Rf2 Bf5 25. Rd2 h3 26. c4 Rfd8 27. Rcd1 Qe8 28. Kf2 Ng6 29. Kg3 dxc4 30. Bxb7 c3 31. Rxd8 Rxd8 32. Rxd8 Qxd8 33. Qxc3 Qd1 34. Bf3 Qf1 35. Qe3 Qb1 36. Qe2 Qc1 37. Be3 Qb1 38. Bc5 Qc1 39. Qe3 Qb1 40. Qd2 Qf1 41. Qf2 Qc4 42. Qe3 Qf1 43. Bd4 Qb1 44. Bc3 Ne7! 45. Qd4 Kh7 46. Qd1 Qa2 47. Qd7 Qb1 48. Qd1. Of course The Kinght is taboo: 48. Qxe7?? Qg1+ 49. Kh4 Qf2+ 50. Kh5 g6 mate. 48. ... Qa2 49. b5 Nd5 50. Qd2 Qb1 51. Bxd5 exd5 52. Kf2? The game was quite even, but certainly not “easy playing” for White, which can justify so serious a misstep. Correct was 52. Qe3! Qf1! 53. Qf2 Qxb5 54. e6! Qd3+ 55. Qf3 Qxf3+ 56. Kxf3 Bxe6 with a completely drawish opposite colour Bishops ending. 52. ... Qh1! 53. Ke3 Qe4+ 54. Kf2

54. ... Qg2+? The engines show that 54. ... Bg4! (with the deadly threat of ... d5-d4) win for Black in all variations, and no one will ever know whether Goryachkina overlooked it or not. Of course, there’s a difference between forgive and forget, but in this case, it’s not important at all. 55. Ke3 Qe4+ ½ : ½.

In the end two-time Russian Women’s Chess Champion Goryachkina just did it! Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.

Battling Blazes

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk – Nana Dzagnidze
Women’s Candidates Tournament; Kazan, June 12, 2019
Sicilian Defence B31

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. 0-0 Bg7 6. Re1 Nh6 7. c3 0-0 8. h3 f5 9. e5 Nf7 10. d3 d6. Another continuation is 10. ... Rb8 11. Na3 Ba6 12. c4? (correct is 12. Nc4) 12. ... d6! 13. Qa4 Bc8 and Black stands well, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Korobov, 20th Corsican Circuit Knockout (15+5), Bastia 2016, match game 2. 11. Bf4 Ba6 12. Nbd2 dxe5!? After 12. ... Bxd3 13. e6 White has obvious compensation for the Pawn (but hardly more than that), Zhigalko – Meribanov, 84th Belarusian Chess Championship, Minsk 2018. Dzagnidze tries another idea — incidentally a new one. 13. Nxe5 Bxe5 14. Bxe5 Bxd3 15. Qb3 a5 16. a4 Qd7 17. Bf4

17. ... g5! It’s the minimum that two tacticians could do! Dzagnidze too — by giving back her Pawn — goes seeking an “attack with Bishops of opposite colour”. 18. Be5. If 18. Bxg5 then 18. ... c4! 19. Nxc4 Qd5 20. Bxe7 Rfb8∞ with very complex play. 18. ... f4 19. Nf3 Rad8?! This finesse could have serious consequences. 19. ... c4 at once seems to be better (and perfectly playable). 20. Nxg5 c4 21. Nxf7! Rxf7. Her Majesty is obviousy taboo: 21. ... cxb3?? 22. Nh6 mate. 22. Qb6 f3!? 23. Qe3?! Maybe Muzychuk should try for more with 23. Qxa5 fxg2 24. Re3 which ought to lead to a clearly better ending for White. 23. ... Qf5 24. Qxf3 Qxf3 25. gxf3 Rxf3 26. Bg3 Kf7 27. Kg2 Rf5 28. Re3 Re8 29. Rae1 e6 30. Re5 Bc2 31. Rxf5+ exf5 32. Rxe8 Kxe8 ½ : ½.

Muzychuk and Dzagnidze battled in a game without exclusion of blows that finally ended in a draw. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.

Half of Tomorrow

Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
Women’s Candidates Tournament; Kazan, June 12, 2019
Caro-Kann Defence B19

On a day when nothing much has happened, Goryachkina’s half a point against Lagno brings her a litte closer to her goal. 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. Bd3 Bxd3 9. Qxd3 e6. Everything looks near normal, except for the White Pawn at h4 instead of h5. That means that White can play for a Kingside attack with g2-g4-g5, provided, of course, she castles Queenside. In that case, however, Black, too, will go on castling Queenside. 10. Bf4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qc7 12. 0-0-0 Ngf6 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 Nf6 15. Qe2 Bd6 16. Kb1. It may be interesting to note here that also Mikhail Ivanovich Chigorin, the father of modern Russian chess, has had his saying on this theoretical nuance: 15. Ne5 0-0-0 16. f4 Kb8 17. g3 c5 18. dxc5 Bxc5 19. Kb1 Rhf8 20. c4 Nd7 21. Ba5 b6 22. Bc3 f6 23. Nxd7+ Rxd7 24. Qxe6 Rfd8 25. Rxd7 Rxd7 26. Kc2 Qd8 27. Re1 Bf2 28. Re2 Bc5 29. Rd2 Rxd2+ 30. Bxd2 Bf2 31. Bb4 Kc7 32. Qg4 Qd7 33. Qf3 Qa4+ 34. Kd3 Bc5 35. Bxc5 bxc5 36. Qe3 Kd6 37. f5 Qxa2 38. Qe6+ Kc7 39. Qe7+ Kc6 40. Qe8+ Kc7 41. Qe7+ Kc6 42. Qe6+ Kc7 43. Qf7+ Kb6 44. Qe6+ Kc7 45. Qe7+ Kc6 46. Qe8+ Kc7 47. Kc3 Qa5+ 48. Kc2 Kb7 49. Qe4+ Kc8 50. Qe6+ Kb7 51. Qd5+ Ka6 52. Qc6+ Qb6 53. Qc8+ Ka5 54. Qd7 Qa6 55. Qd2+ Ka4 56. Qc3 1 : 0 Chigorin – Cohn, 13th DSB Kongress, Hannover 1902. 16. ... 0-0-0 17. c4 c5 18. Bc3 Rhe8 19. Rhe1 a6!? A novelty by Goryachkina — who notoriously knows very well her own theory. Both 19. ... cxd4 20. Nxd4 a6 21. Nb3 Qc6 22. g3 Kb8 23. Na5 Qc7 24. Qf3 Ka8 25. b4 Be7 26. Ka1 Rxd1+ 27. Rxd1 Rd8 28. Rxd8+ Bxd8 29. Qd3 Be7 30.a3 ½ : ½ A. R. B. Thomas – Golombek, 27th Hastings International Chess Congress, Hastings 1951/1952 and 19. ... Re7 20. dxc5 Qxc5 21. b4 Qf5+ 22. Kb2 Red7 23. c5 Bc7 24. Rxd7 Rxd7 (with a laborious draw agreed at 71st move), L. Steiner – Flohr, 6th Chess Olympiad, Warsaw 1935 had passed its test much time ago, but it’s quite likely that White’s play may be improved in both cases — and in more than one way. 20. a3 Qb6 21. Ka2 Bc7 22. Qc2 Qc6. 22. ... cxd4 23. Bxd4 Qc6 seems to be both safer and more balanced.

23. dxc5. Perhaps Lagno ought to have moved 23. Ne5! at once, for after 23. ... Bxe5 24. dxe5 Ng8 25. Rd6! any further exchange should take White more and more closer to a favourable ending. 23. ... Qxc5 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Ne5 Bxe5 26. Bxe5 Ne8 27. f3 Qc6 28. Qe2 f6 29. Bg3 e5 30. f4 Rd4. No doubt Black has succeeded in equalising. 31. fxe5 Qxc4+ 32. Qxc4+ Rxc4 33. exf6 Nxf6 34. Re7 Nh5 35. Be5 Re4 36. g4 Rxg4 37. Rc7+ Kd8 38. Rxb7 Rxh4. A draw is coming. 39. Bxg7 Nxg7 40. Rxg7 a5 41. Kb3 a4+ 42. Kc3 Rh3+ ½ : ½.

Facing Lagno’s positional strategy, Goryachkina defended with her customary patience and fortitude. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.

Europe on a Budget

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk – 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí)
Women’s Candidates Tournament; Kazan, June 10, 2019
Spanish Game C77

Both Muzychuk sisters seem to have finally recovered from their uncertain start. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. 0-0 d6 8. c3 Bb6 9. Be3 Bxe3 10. fxe3 0-0 11. Nbd2 Na5 12. Bc2 c5 13. Qe1 Nc6. Another continuation is 13. ... Rb8 14. Nh4 c4 15. d4 b4= Cabarkapa – Golod, 3rd Karpos Open, Skopje 2013. 14. h3 Ra7 15. Qf2 a5 16. a4 b4 17. Bb3 Be6 18. Bc4 Nd7?! This, and Black’s next move, give a sense to Muzychuk’s Bishop maneuver, offering White a lasting initiative. 18. ... Bxc4!? 19. Nxc4 d5!? was worth considering. 19. Bb5! Ndb8?!

20. d4! bxc3 21. bxc3 cxd4 22. exd4 exd4 23. Nxd4 Nxd4 24. cxd4 d5 25. e5 f6 26. Qe3 Raf7 27. Nf3 Nd7 28. exf6 Rxf6 29. Ng5 Bf5? Black had first to exchange a pair of Rooks, as after 29. ... Rxf1+ 30. Bxf1 Bf5 31. Re1 White wouldn’t have that much advantage. 30. Rae1 Rg6 31. h4 h6 32. Rxf5!  Rxf5 33. Bd3 Rfxg5 34. hxg5 Rd6 35. Qe8+ Nf8 36. Qxd8 Rxd8 37. g6 Rb8? After this last mistake, Black ends up in zugzwang very soon, but not even 37. ... Nd7 38. Re6 Ra8 39. Bf5 might have saved the game. 38. Re5 Rd8 39. g4 Kh8 40. Bf5 Rd6 41. Re8 Rf6. 41. ... Kg8 42. Kf2 is no better, the White King heading for the e5-square. 42. Be6 h5!? Desperately hoping for 43. gxh5?? Rxg6+! 44. hxg6 stalemate. But Muzychuk goes for mate: 43. Bf7! 1 : 0.

Muzychuk’s keen tactical sense made a difference in today’s game with 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí). Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.

Bravura

Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
Women’s Candidates Tournament; Kazan, June 10, 2019
Caro-Kann Defence B10

1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Qe2 Nxe4. Goryachkina, quite understandably, stays away from Pavlovian theory: 5. ... Nbd7 6. Nd6# 1 : 0 Keres – Arłamowski, 1st Przepiórka Memorial, Szczawno Zdrój 1950. 6. Qxe4 Qa5 7. Bc4 Bf5 8. Qe2 e6 9. Ne5!? Gunina tries a new move A recent rapid game continued: 9. 0-0 Be7 10. Bb3 Nd7 11. d4 0-0 12. h3 Rfe8 13. Bf4 Qb6 14. Rad1 a5 15. a4 Rad8 16. Rfe1 Bb4 17. Bd2 Bxd2 18. Rxd2 h6 19. Qd1 Nf6 20. c3 Ne4 21. Rde2 Nf6 22. Rd2 Ne4 23. Rde2 Nf6 24. Bc4 Nd5 25. Ne5 Nf4 26. Rd2 Ng6? (26. ... f6) 27. Nxf7! Kxf7 28. g4+− Ter-Sahakyan – Grandelius, 2nd PRO Chess League Group Stage (15+2), Chess.com 2018. 9. ... Be7 10. c3 Bf6 11. d4 Bxe5 12. dxe5 Nd7. Gunina has nothing to lose by now, but her next bold attack leaves her very (too much) over-extended on the Kingside. 13. g4!? Bg6 14. f4 b5 15. b4?! Indeed, 15. Bb3 Nc5= leads nowhere for White, but the text is even more committal than that. 15. ... Qd8 16. Bb3 Qh4+ 17. Kd1? An appreciation of White’s compensation for the Pawn after 17. Qf2 Qxg4 may well be discouraging, but the move in text is by no means disastrous.

17. ... Rd8. There is nothing wrong, of course, with making such a sound, winning move, but a human sensibility might have been tempted also by the air of Paul Charles Morphy’s “Opera Game”: 17. ... 0-0-0!−+ to be finishing soon with a Rossinian crescendo. 18. Bd2 h5 19. f5!? exf5 20. e6. Gunina plays her last tricks on her impenetrable opponent, who concludes the game with inexorable accuracy. 20. ... Nf6 21. exf7+ Kf8 22. Kc1 Ne4 23. Be1 Qg5+ 24. Kb2 hxg4 25. a4 Bxf7 26. Bxf7 Kxf7 27. axb5 cxb5 28. Rxa7+ Kg6 29. Qxb5 Rd1 30. Qc6+ Kh7 31. Qc7 Rg8 32. Kb3 Rb1+ 33. Ka4 Qe3 34. Kb5 Rxe1 35. Rxe1 Qxe1 36. c4 Nc3+ 37. Ka5 Qa1+ 38. Kb6 Qg1+ 39. Ka6 Qd4 40. Qf7 Qd6+ 41. Ka5 Qg6 42. Qd7 Rf8 43. c5 f4 44. Ra6. 44. c6 allows a pretty finish: 44. ... Qg5+ 45. Kb6 Qb5+ 46. Kc7 Qb8 mate. 44. ... Qf5 45. Qd4 Qc2 46. Kb6 Rb8+ 47. Kc6 Qg2+ 0 : 1.

Goryachkina is just keeping doing the best she can and make the most out of her games. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Second Time Around

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) – Nana Dzagnidze
Women’s Candidates Tournament; Kazan, June 9, 2019
Queen’s Gambit Declined D58

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 0-0 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 b6. The so-called Tartakower Defence. 8. Be2 Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. b4 c6. Garry Kimovich Kasparov invariably played 11. ... c5 in a number of games of his World Chess Championship matches against Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov. 12. 0-0 Qd6. 12. ... a5 13. a3 Qd6 14. Qb3 axb4 15. axb4 Nd7 is also playable, with near equality, Estévez Morales – Karpov, Interzonal Tournament, Leningrad 1973. 13. Qb3 Nd7 14. Rfe1 Rfe8. If 14. ... Be7 then 15. Rab1 a5 16. bxa5 Rxa5 17. a4⩲ Karpov – Ki. Georgiev, 18th Interpolis Chess Tournament, Tilburg 1994. 15. Rad1. 15. Bf1 Be7 16. Rab1 a5 17. bxa5 Rxa5 18. a4⩲ it would be something similar to the aforementioned reference, Karpov – Bönsch, Baden-Baden 1992. 15. ... Be7 16. b5 c5!TN 17. dxc5 Nxc5 18. Qb1 Bf8? One may guess that Black’s problems begin here. 18. ... Rac8(!) seems best, with approximate equality.

19. Bc4! dxc4?! Rather than losing the d5-Pawn without any obvious compensation, Dzagnidze embarks herself in a positional sacrifice of the Queen for Bishop and Rook, that, however, won’t give her the “dynamic return” she needed. 20. Rxd6 Bxd6 21. Rd1 Ne4 22. Qc1 Red8 23. Rd4 Nxc3 24. Qxc3 Bc5 25. Rg4? Simpler and stronger was 25. Rxd8+ Rxd8 26. Nd4 with a manifest advantage. 25. ... Rd1+ 26. Ne1 g6 27. Kf1 Rad8 28. Ke2 Rb1 29. Qc2 Rxb5?? A grave mistake that loses immediately. 29. ... Rb4! 30. Rxc4 (30. Nf3 c3!=) 30. ... Rxb5 was perfectly playable and quite tenable. 30. Rxg6+!+− fxg6 31. Qxc4+ Bd5 32. Qxb5 Bxa2 33. Nd3 Bf8 34. Ne5 Rd5 35. Qe8 Rxe5 36. Qxe5 Bc4+ 37. Kd2 b5 38. Qe8 g5 39. e4 a5 40. e5 Kg7 41. Qd7+ Kg6 42. Qc6+ Kf7 43. Qf6+ Ke8 44. e6 Be7 45. Qf7+ Kd8 46. Qg8+ Kc7 47. Qe8 Bb4+ 48. Kc2 Kd6 49. Qd7+ 1 : 0.

If nothing else, after throwing away her last few games due to serious tactical oversights, 16th Women’s World Chess Champion 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) did not miss her “lucky” date with Dzagnidze today. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.

Domino show

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
Women’s Candidates Tournament; Kazan, June 9, 2019
Queen’s Gambit Declined D44

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qa5 9. Bd2 Qc5 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Nb3 Qc7. Quite a rare move, due to the White Rook coming to c1. More usual is 11. ... Qe7 (as also played by Kosteniuk herself against Girya in the Russian Women’s Rapid Chess Championship in Olginka, 2011). 12. 0-0 0-0. A sound continuation is 12. ... Bxc3 13. Bxd7+ Qxd7 14. Bxc3 Nc6 15. Qe2 Qe7 16. f3 0-0 17. Qb5 Rfd8 18. Rfd1 Rac8 19. Rac1 Rxd1+ 20. Rxd1 Qc7 21. Be1 a6 22. Qc5 Rd8 23. Rc1 Rc8 24. Bg3 Qd8 25. Qd6 Qxd6 26. Bxd6 b6 27. a4 Ne8 28. Ba3 Rc7 29. Nd2 f6 30. Kf2 e5 31. b3 Kf7 32. Nc4 b5 33. axb5 ½ : ½ 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) – So, 4th Chess World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk 2011, match game 2. 13. Bd3. 13. Rc1 Nc6 may transpose into 14. Qe2 Rfd8 15. Bg5 Be7 16. Be3 a6 17. Bd3 Be8 18. f4 Ng4 19. Qxg4 Rxd3 20. Bf2 Qd8 21. e5 Nb4 with rough equality, Kramnik – Vallejo Pons, 41st Chess Olympiad, Tromsø 2014. 13. ... Rd8 14. Qe2 Nc6 15. Rac1 Be8 16. Rfd1!? A natural and good move — and maybe a new one, too. Theory gave 16. Bg5 Be7 17. Nb5 Qb8 18. Bh4 Ng4 with near equality, Arab – Talbi, 13th African Chess Championship, Oran 2017. 16. ... a6. 16. ... Ng4!? 17. g3 Qb6!? was at least worth considering (and if 18. Bg5 then 18. ... f6 19. Qxg4 Ne5 regaining the piece with quite a tenable position), as the text move leaves White a free hand in consolidating her edge. 17. Be3! Bd6 18. g3 Qe7 19. Bb6 Rdc8 20. Bb1 Nd7 21. Be3 Bb4 22. a3 Na5 23. Nxa5 Bxa5 24. Bd4 f6?! Kosteniuk gives a sign of impatience, weakening permanently her own Pawn centre. Black should resign herself to try to hold on by 24. ... Bb6 25. e5! Bxd4 26. Rxd4 Rd8 followed by ... Nd7-f8. 25. Ba2 Bf7

26. e5!± fxe5 27. Bxe5 Nxe5 28. Qxe5. The isolated Pawn on e6 is doomed to fall, giving Black a hard time. 28. ... b5 29. Ne4 Bc7 30. Qc3 Qf8 31. Qd4 Rd8 32. Qe3 h6 33. Rxd8 Qxd8 34. Nc5 Bb6 35. Bxe6 Bxe6 36. Qxe6+ Kh8 37. Ne4 Bd4 38. Rd1. 38. Nd6! at once would have been even stronger (38. ... Qf6 39. Nf7+ Kh7 40. Qe4+ g6 41. Qxa8 Qxf2+ 42. Kh1 Qxf7 43. Qg2+−). 38. ... Ra7?? Kosteniuk blunders two moves before time control, ending up losing her Bishop. She had nothing better than 38. ... Qb6 39. Qxb6 Bxb6 40. Rd6 Bc7 41. Re6 leaving White with a Pawn up and also with the much better endgame — but not yet a forced win. 39. Nd6 Bxf2+ 40. Kxf2 Rd7 41. Kg2 Qa8+ 42. Qd5 1 : 0.

Even today no one has been able to stop Goryachkina. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.

Ambient Music

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
Women’s Candidates Tournament; Kazan, June 8, 2019
English Opening A35

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina closed the first half of the Candidates Tournament well atop the standings by 1½ points, but today’s game against 15th Women’s World Chess Champion Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk shows that the two-time Russian Women’s Champion will still have half way to go to get any bill for a Women’s World Chess Championship match. 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. e3 Nf6 5. d4 cxd4 6. exd4 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Qb3 e6 9. Bb5 Bg7 10. 0-0 0-0 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Na4 Qd6 13. Re1 Rb8 14. Qd1 Ne7 15. b3 Nf5 16. Bb2 Rd8 17. Rc1!? A recent game continued: 17. Qc2 Nxd4 18. Bxd4 Bxd4 19. Rad1 e5 20. Nxe5 c5 21. Nxc5 Bf5 22. Qc4 Qxc5 23. Qxf7+ Kh8 24. Qf6+ ½ : ½ Andersen – Wagner, 38th SchachBundesliga, Hockenheim 2018. 17. ... Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Bxd4 19. Bxd4 Qxd4 20. Qf3 Rd5 21. Nc3 Rf5 22. Red1 Qh4 23. Qg3. 23. Qe3 Qe7 24. Qd4 can hardly give White more than a very slight edge, but Goryachkina’s somewhat too minimalist approach — a Queen exchange offer — produces nothing but a drawish endgame a Pawn down, which, quite naturally, proves to be a little more uncomfortable for her. 23. ... Qxg3 24. Rd8+ Kg7 25. hxg3 Rc5 26. f4 Ra8 27. Ne2 Rxc1+ 28. Nxc1 Bb7 29. Rd7 Ba6 30. Kf2 h5 31. a3. This and White’s next move (instead of a3-a4) are both questionable, if not unhelpful. White ought, probably, to have played 31. Rc7 c5! 32. Rxc5 Rc8 with equality. 31. ... c5 32. Ke3 c4 33. b4. 33. Rc7 still looks rather drawish. 33. ... Bb5 34. Rb7 Bc6. 34. ... a6! followed by either ... Ra8-d8 or ... Ra8-c8 would have put White’s defence seriously to the test. 35. Rc7 Bxg2 36. Rxc4 Bf1 37. Rc7 a5 38. Kf2 axb4

39. axb4. 39. Kxf1 bxa3 40. Rc2 Rb8 41. Nd3 g5!?∞ is as much unclear as it is drawish. 39. ... Bb5 40. Rb7 Bc4 41. Rc7 Bb5 42. Rb7 Ra1. 42. ... Ba6 43. Rc7 Rb8 was an imperative must, as the Rook ending is much too likely to end as a draw. 43. Rxb5 Rxc1 44. Rb7 Rc2+ 45. Kf3 Rc3+ 46. Kg2 Kf6 47. b5 Rc5 48. b6 e5 49. Rc7 Rb5 50. fxe5+ Rxe5 51. b7 Rb5 52. Kf3 Rb4 53. Ke3 g5 54. Kd3 Kg6. 54. ... h4 55. gxh4 gxh4 56. Ke3= leads nowhere. 55. Kc3 Rb1 56. Kd4 f6. 56. ... h4 57. gxh4 gxh4 58. Ke5 h3 59. Rc3= also leads to a draw. 57. Kd5 Kf5 58. Kc6 Kg4 59. Rh7 f5 60. Rh8 Kxg3 61. Rxh5 Kf4 62. Rh1 Rxb7 63. Kxb7 g4 64. Rf1+ Ke4 65. Re1+ Kf3 66. Rf1+ Ke4 67. Re1+ Kf3 68. Rf1+ ½ : ½.

Goryachkina had to defend with patience and temper an uneasy ending against Muzychuk. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.

At the Edge of Summer

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk – Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
Women’s Candidates Tournament; Kazan, June 6, 2019
3r2k1/1pp2p2/p1br1bp1/P1N1p1p1/1PRnP1B1/3P2P1/1B3P1P/2R3K1 w - - 6 34

Position after 33. ... Nb5-d4

Black’s last move (33. ... Nb5-d4?!) proves to have been too ambitious: 34. Bxd4 Rxd4 35. Nxa6 Rxc4?! If she had foreseen what was to happen, Kosteniuk would have probably preferred 35. ... Bb5 36. Rxd4 exd4 37. Nxc7 Bxd3 38. Nd5 trying to limit her damage to only a Pawn down. 36. Rxc4 Bb5

37. Nxc7! This brilliant Exchange sacrifice gives White two Pawns as a material compensation, and, much more importantly, the almost definite prospect to make one or more passed Pawns on the Queenside. 37. ... Bxc4 38. dxc4 Rd4 39. Nd5 Bd8 (39. ... Rxc4 40. Nxf6+ Kg7 41. Nd5 f5 42. Bf3 g4 43. Bg2 fxe4 44. b5+−) 40. Bc8! Rxc4 41. Bxb7 f5 42. a6 Rc1+ 43. Kg2 Ra1 44. b5 g4 45. h3 f4 46. hxg4 Ra3 47. gxf4 exf4 48. b6 f3+ 49. Kg3 1 : 0.

Muzychuk finally came back to win, and in brilliant style too. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.

Thursday Next

Nana Dzagnidze – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
Women’s Candidates Tournament; Kazan, June 6, 2019
English Opening A11

Goryachkina eventually increased her lead to 1½ points after winning a quasi-lost game to Dzagnidze. 1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. b3 Bf5 5. Be2 h6 6. Ba3!? Nbd7 7. 0-0 e6 8. Bxf8 Nxf8 9. Nc3 N8d7. 9. ... a6 may transpose into 10. d4 N8d7 11. Qc1 0-0 12. Qa3 Qb8 13. Rfc1 Re8 14. Qb4 Bg4 15. h3 Bh5 16. Rc2 ½ : ½ Radjabov – Vallejo Pons, 18th European Team Chess Championship, Porto Carras 2011. 10. d4 0-0 11. b4!? White finally goes on her own way. Another continuation was 11. Rc1 Qe7 12. Qd2 Ne4 13. Qb2 Rfc8 14. Nxe4 Bxe4 15. Nd2 Bg6 16. b4 a5 17. bxa5 Rxa5 18. cxd5 exd5 19. Bg4! Rb5? (19. ... Rc7 seems okay for Black) 20. Qxb5! with powerful compensation, Fries Nielsen – Seirawan, 17th World Junior Chess Championship, Graz 1978. 11. ... Qe7 12. Qb3 Bg4 13. Rfd1 Ne4 14. Rac1 Ndf6 15. h3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Nd6 17. c5 Nf5 18. b5 e5 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. Rb1 e4? From a strategic standpoint it is a very doubtful move since Black’s Kingside movement isn’t worth her Queenside weakness. Correct seems 20. ... exd4 21. exd4 Rfe8 with quite a playable game. 21. Be2 Rac8 22. Rd2 Rc7 23. Rdb2 Nh4 24. g3 Nf3+ 25. Kg2 Qd7 26. Qd1 Ng5 27. h4 Ne6 28. Rb8 g5 29. hxg5 hxg5 30. Qh1 Rxb8 31. Rxb8+ Rc8 32. Qb1 Qd8 33. Rb7 Ra8? After all, Black managed somehow to hold everything together, and now she should have probably contented herself with 33. ... Rc7, eventually offering to repeat moves (34. Rb8 Rc8). 34. Qh1 Qc8 35. Rb1 Rb8 36. Qh6 Rxb1 37. Nxb1 Nh7 38. Nd2 Qb7. As the time control approaches, Goryachkina finds her defence very distressing and most difficult. If 38. ... Qf8 there could follow 39. Qh3 f5 40. Ba6! keeping Black terribly tied up. 39. Bg4 Ng7 40. Qd6 f5? The last move of time control is often a mistake! Black had hardly anything better than 40. ... Nf8 41. Qe5 Nge6 42. Qf6 with the prospect of suffering just a little bit longer. 41. Bd1+− Qb5 42. a4. After 42. Bb3 Nf8 43. g4! Black could well have resigned. 42. ... Qa6 43. Bb3 Qc8 44. a5 Ne8 45. Qg6+ Kh8 46. g4 Ng7 47. Ba4 f4

48. Kh3? Dzagnidze wants everything without giving anything. Consistent and strong was 48. Qxc6+− (48. ... Qxg4+ 49. Kf1+−). 48. ... Ne6∞ 49. Nxe4!? 49. Qf7 Nhf8 is likewise quite unclear. 49. ... fxe3 50. fxe3 dxe4 51. Qxe4 Nf6 52. Qe5. If 52. Qxc6 then 52. ... Nf4+! 53. exf4 Qxg4+ with at least equality. 52. ... Kg7 53. Bd1? Like yesterday, Dzagnidze proves not to be able to handle tactics in time pressure, and (quite dramatically) she ends up losing the game. The text is aimed at defending g4, but now other problems arise. Probably best was 53. Bb3 Qa6 54. Bxe6 (idem to say 54. Qxe6) 54. ... Qf1+ with draw by perpetual check. 53. ... Qa6!→ 54. Bf3 Qf1+ 55. Bg2 Qf2. The tables have dramatically turned and Goryachkina finishes in beautiful style. 56. Bxc6 Qh4+ 57. Kg2 Qxg4+ 58. Kf2 Kf7 59. Bf3. No better is 59. Bd5 Qh3! followed by the advance of the g-Pawn. 59. ... Qh4+ 60. Ke2 Qh4+ 60. Ke2 g4 61. Bb7 g3 62. Bg2 Qg4+ 63. Kd2 Ng5 64. c6 Nge4+ 65. Bxe4 Nxe4+ 66. Kd3 Nf6 67. c7 g2 68. d5 g1=Q 69. Qe6+ Qxe6 70. dxe6+ Kg7 71. Kd4 0 : 1.

In the end Goryachkina has brilliantly survived her worst Thursday of June. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.

Reckless Wind

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk – Nana Dzagnidze
Women’s Candidates Tournament; Kazan, June 5, 2019
6kr/2nn2p1/p4p2/3PbR2/2p1N3/4B2P/P1B3P1/7K w - - 0 33

Position after 32. ... b5xc4

The younger Aleksandra, however, owes more than something to the elder Alexandra, who won against Dzagnidze a tense game. In the position of the diagram White continued 33. d6 after which Black should probably have contented herself with 33. ... Nd5 34. Bg1 Kf7 35. Ng5+ Ke8 36. Ne6 Kf7 37. Ng5+ Ke8 drawing by repetition. Instead the Knight jumped into the wild, heading to the rim. 33. ... Nb5 34. a4 Na3. 34. ... Nd4 seems simpler. 35. Bd1 Kf7 36. Bc1 Rh4? This is a tactical mistake which costs Black material. 36. ... Nb1 at once was called for. 37. Ng5+! Kg6? 37. ... Ke8 38. Nf3 Re4 39. Bxa3 g6 40. Rxe5+ may eventually leave White with two Bishops against a Rook — understandably Dzagnidze didn’t like the perspective, but the text loses at once. 38. Nf3 Re4 39. g4 Nb1 40. Bc2 Nc3 41. Nxe5+ fxe5 42. Rf3! 1 : 0.

Kosteniuk played boldly and neatly with Dzagnidze, eventually winning the game. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.

The Little Things

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí)
Women’s Candidates Tournament; Kazan, June 5, 2019
Catalan Opening E04

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 c5 6. 0-0 Nc6 7. dxc5 Qxd1 8. Rxd1 Bxc5 9. Nbd2 c3 10. bxc3 0-0 11. Nb3 Be7 12. Nfd4 Nxd4 13. cxd4 Nd5 14. Na5 Bb4 15. Nc4. The alternative is 15. Bd2 Nc3 16. Nxb7 Nxe2+ 17. Kf1 Nc3 18. Bxc3 Bxc3 19. Rac1 Bxb7 20. Bxb7 Rab8 21. Rxc3 Rxb7 22. d5 exd5 23. Rxd5 Re8 24. Ra5 g6 25. Rca3 Ree7 26. g4 Kg7 27. Kg2 h6 28. h4 Rbc7 29. Kg3 Rb7 30. h5 g5 31. Re3 Red7 ½ : ½ Rapport – 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī), 3rd 深圳龙岗 (Shēnzhèn Lónggǎng) Masters “读特杯” (“Dú Tè Cup”), 深圳 (Shēnzhèn) 2019. 15. ... Bd7 16. Rb1 Ba4 17. Rf1 Bc3 18. Bxd5 exd5 19. Ne3 Bxd4 20. Nxd5 b5 21. Bb2 Bxb2 22. Rxb2 Rfd8 23. Nc3 Rac8 24. Nxb5 Bxb5 25. Rxb5 Rd2 26. Rfb1 Rxa2 27. Rc5 Rd8 28. Kf1 Ra6. Now 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) produces a series of disconcerting Rook moves which will soon bring her into difficulties. Black should play something like 28. ... Re8, after which might follow 29. e4 h5 30. Rb7 Rxe4 31. Rcc7 h4 32. Rxf7 Rg4 33. Rxa7 hxg3! 34. hxg3 (34. Rxa2?? gxh2−+) 34. ... Rxa7 35. Rxa7 Rb4 with a drawn ending. 29. Rb7 Rh6 30. Rcc7 Rf8. 30. ... Rxh2 31. Kg1 Rh6 32. Rxf7 Rg6 33. Rxa7 may well lead to similar outcomes. 31. h4 a6 32. f3 Rf6 33. g4 h5 34. g5 Rf4

35. Kg2 Rd4. Not 35. ... Rxh4? on account of 36. e4! kicking the Black Rook out of the play. 36. g6! Rf4 37. Ra7 Rf6 38. gxf7+ R8xf7 39. Rxf7 Rxf7 40. Rxa6. The most White’s got is an endgame of Rook and three Pawns vs. Rook and two Pawns, with all Pawns on the same side. It might be not winnable (against best defence), but it is certainly very hard to draw. “When White has a KP, his prospects are brighter”, Reuben Fine wrote in his “Basic Chess Endings”, David McKay Company, Philadelphia, 1941, p. 373, “but except for certain positions the game is a draw. The chief of these won cases is No. 391 (Capablanca – Yates, Hastings 1930–31)”. 40. ... Kh7 41. Ra4 Kg6 42. Kf2 Rc7 43. Ra6+ Kf7 44. Ra5 g6 45. Kg3 Rc1 46. Kf4 Kg7 47. e4 Rf1 48. Ra7+ Kf6?? A “natural” blunder which loses by force. 48. ... Kf8 was still a tough story to tell. 49. e5+! Ke6 50. Ra6+ Kf7 51. Kg5! Rg1+. 51. ... Rxf3 52. Rf6+!+− was the pretty pointe. 52. Kh6 Rh1 53. Rxg6 Rxh4 54. Rf6+ Ke7 55. Kg5 Rh1 56. Rh6 Rg1+ 57. Kf5 Rh1 58. Rh7+ Kf8 59. e6 Kg8 60. Ra7 h4 61. Ra8+ Kg7 62. e7 1 : 0.

Goryachkina took the lead thanks to her win against 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí), who spoiled a totally drawish ending with poor technique. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.

Invisible Jukebox

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
Women’s Candidates Tournament; Kazan, June 4, 2019
Giuoco Piano C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. 0-0 Bb6 7. a4 a5!? Usual and flexible is 7. ... a6 8. b4 0-0 9. Nbd2 Ne7 10. Bb3 Ng6 11. Nc4 Ba7 12. Be3 Be6 13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. Ne3 Qd7 15. a5 Raa8 16. Re1 Bxb3 17. Qxb3 Rfe8 18. c4 c6 19. Rad1 Qc7 20. Qc3 Rad8 21. c5 d5 22. Qc2 Ne7 23. Nf1 Nh5 24. Qb2 Ng6 25. g3 Nf6 26. Qc2 h6 27. Ne3 Ne7 28. Qb2 Ng6 29. Qc2 Ne7 30. Qb2 Ng6 31. Qc2 ½ : ½ So – Caruana, 1st Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chess Tournament, New Delhi 2011. 8. Nbd2 Ne7 9. Bb3 c6. The game position can also be reached by a different move order: 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Nf3 d6 5. 0-0 Nc6 6. c3 Bb6 7. a4 a5 8. Nbd2 Ne7 9. Bb3 c6 (Bishop’s Opening C24). 10. d4!TN Ng6 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Nc4 Qxd1 13. Rxd1 Bc7 14. Be3. Much stronger was 14. Ng5! 0-0 15. Be3 with a powerful bind. 14. ... Bg4. Naturally, the White Knight is not given a second chance. 15. h3!? Bxf3 16. gxf3 0-0 17. Nd6 Nh4 18. Nxb7!? Muzychuk does not hesitate to assume some calculated risk. 18. ... Nxf3+. The alternative 18. ... Rfb8 19. Nc5 Bb6 20. Nd7 Nxd7 21. Rxd7 Bxe3 22. Bxf7+ Kf8 23. fxe3 Rxb2⩱ is favoured by most engines, even though it can be hardly regarded as advantageous for Black. 19. Kg2 Nh4+ 20. Kg3 Rfb8 21. Nc5

21. ... Nxe4+. 21. ... Bb6 22. Kxh4 Bxc5 23. Bxc5 g5+ 24. Kxg5 Nxe4+ 25. Kf5 Nxc5⩱ is a bit easier for Black, but probably not enough to hope for a win. 22. Kxh4 Nxc5 23. Bxf7+ Kxf7 24. Bxc5 Bd8+ 25. Kg4 Rxb2. Black has just won a Pawn, but it won’t be enough due to White’s initiative. 26. Rd7+ Kg8 27. Re1 Bf6 28. Re4 Rc2 29. Rc4 e4 30. Rc7 Rxc3 31. Rxc3 Bxc3 32. Rxc6 Re8 33. Be3 Bb4 34. Rc7 Rb8 35. Rc4 Re8 36. Rc7 Rb8 37. Rc4 ½ : ½.

Goryachkina kept her nerve cool to take half a point against the elder Muzychuk sister, and she is now ½ point behind Dzagnidze. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.

The Sound of Silence

Nana Dzagnidze – Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina
Women’s Candidates Tournament; Kazan, June 4, 2019
French Defence C01

The organisers stopped the music and bargained for a quieter and secluded room, but the quality of play suddenly declined to lower levels. The only one who took advantage of the normalisation regime was Dzagnidze, who easily demolished Gunina’s very uninspired French Defence, Georgian Grandmaster being now in the lead by half a point over Goryachkina. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5. Dzagnidze hides herself behind the “drawish” French Exchange Variation. Gunina should be content with half a point, but no, she wants more. 3. ... exd5 4. Nf3 Bd6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 0-0 7. cxd5 Bb4?! It’s very hard to understand such a waste of time. 7. ... Nbd7 8. Be2 Nb6 9. Bg5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Qb3 Bf5 12. 0-0 a5 seems a more “economic” way of playing for equality, Pachow – Uhlmann, 28th East Germany Chess Championship, Suhl 1979. 8. Bg5 Nbd7 9. Be2 h6 10. Bh4 Nb6 11. 0-0 Bxc3? Black cedes the Bishop pair for nothing. Here 11. ... Be7! was obviously better, with a tenable game. 12. bxc3 Nbxd5 13. Rc1 c6 14. Ne5 g5?! This Kingside demonstration sounds quite bad, indeed, offering new targets of opportunity for White. On the other hand, 14. ... Bf5 15. Bc4 was not too pleasant either. 15. Bg3 Ne4 16. Bc4 Kg7 17. Re1 Nxg3. If 17. ... Ndxc3 (idem to say 17. ... Nexc3) then 18. Rxc3! Nxc3 19. Qh5 with overwhelming attack. 18. hxg3 Be6 19. Bb3 Qf6?! Black can do little or nothing to avoid the unavoidable, but certainly the Queen stands badly here. 20. c4 Ne7

21. Rc3. The threat of Rc3-f3 forces Black to further painful concessions. 21. ... h5 22. Rf3 Qh6. Now the end comes quickly: 23. d5 cxd5 24. cxd5 Rad8 25. Qa1 f6 26. Nd3 g4 27. Rfe3 h4 28. Rxe6 Ng6 29. Qc1 Qh8 30. Nf4 1 : 0.

Playing for a draw (but only in the opening!) was Dzagnidze’s secret to beat Gunina today. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.

Half a Day Off

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno
Women’s Candidates Tournament; Kazan, June 2, 2019
Grünfeld Defence D85

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8. Bb5+ Nc6 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Ba3 cxd4 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. cxd4 Bg4 13. Bc5 Re8 14. Rb1 Qd7 15. Rb4 e5!? 15. ... a5 16. Ra4 Qb7 17. Qb3 Qb5 also seems safe for Black, Kortschnoi – Sax, 1st GMA World Cup, 3rd stage, Reykjavík 1988. 16. dxe5 Qe6 17. Qb3 Bxf3 18. Qxe6 Rxe6 19. gxf3 Rxe5 20. Rc4 Rg5+ 21. Kh1 Bf8 22. Rfc1 Rxc5 23. Rxc5 Bxc5 24. Rxc5. The Rook ending looks pretty drawish, but Goryachkina pursues the win (out of nothing) with a will worth the World Chess Champion! 24. ... Rc8 (24. ... Rb8 25. Rxc6 Rb2=) 25. Kg2 Kf8 26. f4 Ke7 27. Kf3 Kd6 28. Ra5 Rc7 29. Ke3 Rb7 30. h4 Kc7 31. Ra6 Kd6 32. Kd4 Rb4+ 33. Kd3 Rb7 34. Kc4 Rb2 35. f3 Rf2 36. Rxa7 Rxf3 (36. ... f6 37. Rxh7 Rxf3=) 37. Rxf7 Ke6 38. Rxh7 Rxf4 39. Kd4 c5+ 40. Ke3 Rg4 41. a4 Ke5 42. Kd3 Rg1 43. a5 Ra1 44. Ra7 Ra4 45. a6 c4+ 46. Kc3 Kxe4 47. Ra8 Kf5 48. a7 Kg4 49. h5 gxh5 50. Rg8+ Kf3 51. a8=Q+ Rxa8 52. Rxa8 h4 53. Rh8 Kg3 54. Kd2

54. ... h3?? By now playing with a draw in her pocket, Lagno falls into a fatal inversion of moves. 54. ... c3+! (deflection) would have gained the vital tempo necessary to distract the White King and draw the game. 55. Ke3+− h2. Now it’s too late for 55. ... c3 on account of 56. Rg8+ Kh2 57. Kf4! (57. Kf2?? c2 58. Rc8 c1=Q! ends in a stalemate) 57. ... c2 58. Rc8 Kg1 59. Rxc2 h2 60. Kg3! h1=N+ 61. Kf3 and finis. 56. Rg8+ Kh3 57. Kf2 h1=N+ 58. Kf3 Kh2 59. Rh8+ Kg1 60. Rc8 Nf2 61. Rxc4 Nd3 62. Ke3 Ne5 63. Re4 Nc6 64. Re6 Nb4 65. Ke2 Nd5 66. Rg6+ Kh2 67. Kf3 Nc3 68. Rh6+ Kg1 69. Rc6 Nb5 70. Rc4 Nd6 71. Rc5 Kh2 72. Kf4 Kg2 73. Rc2+ Kh3 74. Rc6 Nb5 75. Ke5 Kg2 76. Rc2+ Kf1 77. Rc5 Na3 78. Rc3 Nb5 79. Rb3 Nc7 80. Rb7 1 : 0. The Knight is finally doomed.

Goryachkina made a win out of nothing today against her fellow countrywoman Lagno. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.

The Bite in the Apple

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) – Anna Olehivna Muzychuk
Women’s Candidates Tournament; Kazan, June 1, 2019
Neo-Grünfeld Defence D78

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 c6 5. Bg2 d5 6. b3 dxc4 7. bxc4 c5 8. 0-0 0-0 9. Bb2 Qb6 10. Qb3 Ne4 11. e3 Nc6 12. Ne5 Ng5 13. f4!? A novelty, but hardly an improvement on 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Qxb6 axb6 15. Bxc6 Ra7 16. Nd2 Rd8 17. Nb3 Rc7 18. Bg2 cxd4 19. Bxd4 Rxc4 20. Bxb6 Rd6 21. Rac1 Nh3+ 22. Bxh3 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Bxh3 24. Bc5 Ra6 25. a3 Kf8 26. Nd4 Bd7 27. f3 Ke8 28. Kf2 Ra8 29. Bb4 h5 30. Nb3 Ba4 31. Nc5 Rc8 32. Nb3 Ra8 33. Nc5 Rc8 34. Nb3 Ra8 ½ : ½ Jianu – Mekhitarian, 41st Chess Olympiad, Tromsø 2014. 13. ... Nh3+ 14. Kh1 cxd4 15. exd4 Rd8 16. Qxb6 axb6 17. Bd5? Very probably White had nothing better than 17. Nc3 Rxd4 18. Nd5 Rd2 19. Bc3 Re2 20. Bf3 Nf2+ 21. Kg1 Nh3+ with a draw by perpetual check. 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí)’s move gives Black a powerful initiative. 17. ... Bf5 18. Nd2 Nxe5 19. fxe5 Bh6 20. Nb3 Bd3 21. Rfe1 Rac8. The tempting sacrifice of the Exchange with 21. ... Rxd5!? doesn’t seem to offer much advantage: 22. cxd5 Be4+ 23. Rxe4 Nf2+ 24. Kg2 Nxe4 25. Kf3 f5⩱ — but it would certainly give Black an easier game. 22. Bc1? White first ought to play 22. Kg2. 22. ... Bxc1? What before was promising, has become very good: 22. ... Rxd5! 23. Bxh6 (now 23. cxd5? is met by 23. ... Rc2! 24. Bxh6 Bc4! with devastating effect) 23. ... Rxc4 24. Kg2 Bf5 with a Pawn ahead and the better game. 23. Raxc1 Rc7?! 23. ... Ra8! 24. Bxb7 Rxa2 was a little better, with still somewhat of an advantage. 24. Bg2 Ng5. They both have only a few minutes to reach the time control, which may explain much of what is going to happen. 25. c5? 25. d5! would have made the threat of h2-h4 very annoying to Black’s Knight. 25. ... bxc5 26. Rxc5 Rcd7 27. d5 b6 28. Rc6 Rxd5 29. h4?! The Black Knight, being on g5, always allows Black the resource ... Bd3-e4+, which, in case of 29. Bxd5 Rxd5, would offer her enough compensation for the Exchange (30. Rxb6?! Be4+). So, it’s understable, even if tactically unsound, 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí)’s wish to drive it away.

29. ... Ne6? Needless to say, Muzychuk’s omission makes her opponent’s wish come true instantly. Instead 29. ... Ne4! 30. Rxb6 (30. Bxe4 Rxe5 31. Nd2 f5 looks even worse) 30. ... Rxe5 would have left Black safe with an extra Pawn. 30. Bxd5 Rxd5 31. Rxb6. Now Black has no sufficient compensation for the Exchange, whilst White’s passed Pawn quickly decides matters. 31. ... Bc4 32. Rb4 Bb5 33. Kg1 g5 34. a4 Ba6 35. Kf2 Kg7 36. a5 h6 37. Re3 Rd1 38. Re1 Rd3 39. Re3 Rd1 40. Rb6 Bc4 41. Rc3 Bd5 42. a6 Rb1 43. Rb5 1 : 0.

16th Women’s World Chess Champion 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) got her first win by beating Anna Olehivna Muzychuk in a very tense game. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.

The Piano Tuner

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – Nana Dzagnidze
Women’s Candidates Tournament; Kazan, June 1, 2019
Sicilian Defence B31

Nana Dzagnidze made her big score today, although not too unexpectedly, since the elder Muzychuk sister did not appear in good shape lately as she was last year. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. 0-0 Bg7 5. c3 Nf6 6. Qe2 0-0 7. d4 d5 8. e5 Ne4 9. Rd1 cxd4 10. cxd4 f6 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 fxe5!? A new move instead of 12. ... Bg4 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. e6 Qa5 as occurred in the game Tokhirjonova – Vantika, 26th International Chess Festival, Abu Dhabi 2018. 13. Nxe5 Qc7 14. Nd3 Bf5 15. Bf4 Qa5 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Nb4 Rac8 18. Rac1 Be4 19. Bg5. Probably sounder was 19. Qd2!? Rf7!? with rough equaity (19. ... c5 makes now less sense due to 20. dxc5 Qxc5 21. Be3 maintaining control of the centre). 19. ... c5 20. dxc5 Qxc5 21. Be3

21. ... d4! 22. Bxd4. Most engines prefer White playing 22. Na6 Qd5 23. cxd4 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Bxg2 25. Nb4 Qe4⩱ which, however, results in quite an uncomfortable game, even if defensible. 22. ... Bxd4 23. Qxe4 Bxf2+ 24. Kh1 Qe3 25. Qc2?! The ending ensuing from 25. Qxe3 Bxe3 26. Rc2 Rf2 27. Rxf2 Bxf2 28. Nd5 Bc5 29. g3 Kf7 is certainly not pleasant for White, but definitely defensible. 25. ... Rc5! This attacking Rook lift also prevents White’s next 26. Nd5?? — which was possibly Muzychuk’s idea — due to 26. ... Rxd5! 27. Rxd5 Be1! with mating attack. 26. Nd3? This only helps Black add even more fuel to her Kingside attack. 26. Qb3+ e6 27. c4 Qe4↑ was quite mandatory, if not appealing, for Muzychuk. 26. ... Rg5 27. Qb3+ Kg7 28. Nxf2? Perhaps not good, but 28. Qb4 is also met by 28. ... Rxg2! winning material — and probably not only that. 28. ... Rxg2! 29. Qb7 Rxh2+!? Of course, engines do not miss 29. ... Rgxf2 with mate in ten moves to follow! Dzagnidze’s move, however, is good enough to win. 30. Kxh2 Rxf2+ 31. Qg2 h5 32. Re1 Qd2 33. Qxf2 Qxf2+ 34. Kh1 e5 35. c4 g5 36. c5 g4 37. Rf1 Qh4+ 38. Kg1 Qg3+ 39. Kh1 Qh3+ 40. Kg1 Qe3+ 41. Kh1 Qe4+ 42. Kg1 g3 0 : 1.

Muzychuk, as a result of her uninspired opening, ended up playing into Dzagnidze’s hands. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.

The Sound of Music

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina
Women’s Candidates Tournament; Kazan, June 1, 2019
Queen’s Indian Defence E15

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 c5 6. d5 exd5 7. cxd5 Bb7 8. Bg2 Nxd5 9. 0-0 Be7 10. Rd1 Nc6 11. a3 Nc7 12. Nc3 0-0 13. Bf4 d6!? New but not too different from 13. ... Ne6 14. e3 Nxf4 15. gxf4 d6 with approximate equality, Lenič – Navara, 20th European Team Chess Championship, Reykjavík 2015. 14. e3 h6 15. h4 Ne6. Now a skirmish begins, in which they both give proof of their tactical capabilities: 16. Bxd6 Bxd6 17. Ne4 Ncd4 18. exd4 Bxe4 19. Qxe4 Qf6 20. dxc5 Nxc5 21. Qd4 Nb3 22. Qxf6 gxf6 23. Rab1 Rad8 24. Nh2 Bc5 25. Ng4 Kg7 26. Bd5 Nd4 27. Ne3 b5 28. Kg2 Rfe8 29. Rd3 Re5 30. Ba2 Nc6 31. Rxd8 Nxd8 32. Rd1 Ne6 33. Bxe6 fxe6 34. Rd7+ (34. Ng4 Re2=) 34. ... Kg6 35. Kf3 h5. It was certainly better (and simpler) to liquidate into a Rook ending by 35. ... Bxe3 36. fxe3 a5 with a draw in sight. The text instead gives White a lasting initiative in the endgame, just to say the least. 36. Ng2! Kh6 37. Nf4 a5 38. Nd3 Rf5+ 39. Ke2 Bf8 40. Ke3 Bc5+ 41. Ke2 a4 42. f3 Bf8 43. Ke3 Kg6 44. Ke4 Kh6 45. Ke3 Kg6 46. Ke2 Kh6 47. g4 hxg4 48. fxg4 Rd5 49. Rf7 Bg7 50. Nf4 Re5+ 51. Kf3 Re1 52. Rb7 Rf1+ 53. Ke3 Bf8 54. Rxb5 Bd6 55. Rh5+ Kg7 56. Nxe6+ Kg6 57. Nd4 Be5 58. Nf3 Bxb2 59. Ra5 Bxa3 60. Rxa4 Bc5+ 61. Ke4 Rf2 62. h5+ Kg7 63. Nh4 Kh6 64. Ra5 Re2+ 65. Kf3 Rf2+ 66. Kg3 Rc2 67. Nf5+ Kg5 68. h6 Rc3+ 69. Kg2 Kxg4? After a strenuous defence, and although being so near to her goal, Gunina loses her way and the game. Correct was 69. ... Kg6! 70. Ra8 Be3! with a rock-solid blockade and excellent drawing chances. 70. h7 Rc2+ 71. Kf1 Rh2. Or 71. ... Rf2+ 72. Kg1! Rxf5+ 73. Rxc5! winning by force.

72. Nh4!! A study-like move by which White wins very elegantly. 72. ... Kg3 (72. ... Rxh4 73. Ra4++−) 73. h8=Q Rf2+ 74. Ke1 Bb4+ 75. Kd1 Bxa5 76. Ng6 Bd2 77. Qh4+ Kf3 78. Qxf6+ Kg2 79. Qc6+ Kg1 80. Nh4 Bf4 81. Qg6+ Kh2 82. Qg4 Bg3 83. Nf5 Rf1+ 84. Ke2 Rf2+ 85. Kd3 Rg2 86. Qh5+ Kg1 87. Ne3 Ra2 88. Qg6 Kh2 89. Qh7+ Kg1 90. Qg8 Ra3+ 91. Ke2 Kh2 92. Kf3 1 : 0.

Goryachkina beat Gunina in another high-noon Russian derby today. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.

Beyond the Soundtrack

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
Women’s Candidates Tournament; Kazan, May 31, 2019
Spanish Game C60

The Women’s Candidates Tournament started with three derbies and four draws, but probably nothing has happened by chance, since the pairings were drawn much before this time by FIDE President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich and the strongest female player of all time Judit Polgár. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. c3 a6 5. Bc4 Bg7 6. d4 exd4. Critical is 6. ... d6 7. Bg5 Qd7 8. dxe5 dxe5 9. Qe2 Nf6 10. Na3 0-0 11. Nc2 Nh5 12. g3 Kh8 13. Nh4 Qe8 14. 0-0-0 f5 15. Ne3 b5 16. Bb3 Na5 17. Rd8 Nxb3+ 18. axb3 Qf7 19. Rxf8+ Bxf8 20. exf5 gxf5 21. Nexf5 Bxf5∞ Tal – Spraggett, Candidates Tournament, Montpellier 1985 — “The position is very complex and unclear”, Spraggett writes on his website. “White should now proceed 22. Nxf5 Qxf5 23. Qxh5 but after 23. ... a5! it is still anybody’s game as White’s King is just as exposed as my own King”. 7. Bg5!? Now Kosteniuk varies from her previous 7. cxd4 b5 8. Bb3 Nge7 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Nc3 d6 11. h3 Na5 12. Bc2 c5 with a typical Ruy López game and chances for both colours, Kosteniuk – Aronian, 4th World Blitz Chess Championship, Moscow 2009. 7. ... Nge7 8. Nxd4 h6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Be3 d5 11. Bb3 Qd6 12. Nd2 0-0 13. 0-0 Be6 14. Qc1 f5 15. Rd1. Who knows, perhaps 15. exd5 cxd5 16. Re1 would have more effectively questioned the soundness of Black’s strategy. 15. ... g5 16. exd5 cxd5 17. Bd4 c5 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Nc4 Qc7 20. Qe3 Bg8 21. Qe5+ Qxe5 22. Nxe5 Rfd8 23. Ba4 Rac8 24. Rd2 Rc7 25. Rad1 Kf6 26. Re1 Nc8 27. g3 Nb6 28. Bb3 Re7 29. f4 Rde8 30. Kf2 a5 31. Red1 a4 32. Bc2 Be6 33. Nd3 Rc7 34. Re2 Bd7 35. Rxe8 Bxe8 36. Re1 Bb5 37. Re5 Bd7 38. Bd1 Be6 39. Bf3 Nc4 40. Re1 Nd6. The time control was reached and Black has made some progress, though they might be not sufficient to win against the best defence. 41. Ke3 Nc4+ 42. Kf2 Nd6 43. Ke3

43. ... a3! Black pushes a bit harder. 44. b4? Of course, after 44. bxa3 Nb5 Black regains her Pawn with interest, but no certainty of victory. Instead the text move might have cost Kosteniuk very dearly. 44. ... cxb4 45. cxb4 d4+? A strange decision. The quite crude 45. ... Rc4! 46. Rc1 d4+ would have guaranteed much more chances for winning. 46. Kxd4 Nb5+ 47. Ke3 Bxa2 48. Ne5 Be6 49. Bc6 Nd6. 49. ... Na7 50. Ba4 a2 might have been more accurate, still implying some concrete threat such as ... Rc7-c3+ followed by ... Rc3-a3. 50. Kd4 a2 51. Ra1 Ra7 52. b5 Nc8 53. Kc5 Ra3 54. Bd5 Rc3+ 55. Kb4 Rc2 56. Bxe6 Kxe6 57. Nc4 Rxh2. If 57. ... Nd6 then 58. Nxd6 Kxd6 59. fxg5 hxg5 60. h4! with a draw coming pretty soon. 58. b6 Nxb6 59. Nxb6 Rg2 60. Nc4 Rxg3 61. fxg5 ½ : ½.

Kosteniuk and Goryachkina eventually drew their Russian derby. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.