神州行 (Easyown)

Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
14th “映美杯” (“Yìngměi Cup”) Chinese Chess League; 南京 (Nánjīng), May 23, 2018
Russian Defence C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. c4 Be7 6. d3!? Nf6 7. d4 0-0. Or 7. ... d5 at once, transposing into the Exchange Variation of the French Defence. 8. Nc3 d5. Just the same. 9. Bd3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nc6!? Better is 10. ... Bd6! 11. h3 h6! 12. a3 Bf5 with a very comfortable game for Black, de la Bourdonnais – MacDonnell, London 1834, match game 44. 11. h3 Na5 12. Bd3 Be6 13. 0-0 h6 14. Re1 c5 15. Bc2 Nc6 16. Be3 Qa5? A big tactical error that loses the Exchange for no good reason. 16. ... b6 looked like nothing special for White. 17. d5! Rfd8 18. Bd2! The pointe. 18. ... Nxd5 19. Nxd5 Rxd5 20. Bxa5 Rxd1 21. Raxd1 Nxa5 22. Be4 Bf6 23. b3 c4 24. bxc4 Bxc4 25. Bd5 Rc8 26. Bxc4 Nxc4 27. Rd7 Rb8 28. Rc1 Nb6 29. Rd3 g6 30. Nd2 Kf8 31. Ne4 Be7 32. Nc5 Rc8 33. Rdc3 Rb8 34. Kf1 Ke8 35. Ne4 h5 36. Rd1 Kf8 37. Rdd3 Ke8 38. Rc7 Na8 39. Rc2 Nb6 40. Ke2 Kf8 41. Kf3 Ke8 42. g3 Kf8 43. h4 Kg7 44. Rd4 Kf8 45. Ng5 Nc8 46. Rcd2 Nb6 47. a4 Rc8 48. Kg2 Rc5 49. f4 Rc7 50. Kh3 a5 51. Rb2. Stockfish evaluates 51. f5! gxf5 52. Rf2 Bc5 53. Rxf5 Bxd4 54. Ne6+ Ke7 55. Nxc7 Nxa4 56. Rxa5 as a much better winning path for White. That said, it’s true that Gunina delays too much in mobilising her Pawn majority on the Kingside. 51. ... Bb4 52. Rd8+ Ke7 53. Rg8 Nxa4. Now, Black’s two passed united Pawns on the Queenside become telling, and finally, after much striving, 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) can claim a compensation. 54. Re2+? This only helps Black in her long march towards the promised land. Much better was 54. Rf2 soonly followed by f4-f5. 54. ... Kd6 55. Rg7 Nc3 56. Re5 Nd5 57. Rg8 Kc6 58. Rd8 Nc3 59. f5 Kb6

60. Ra8. 60. Nxf7! gxf5! 61. Rxf5 a4∞ was quite unclear, but probably less dispersive than the text. 60. ... a4 61. g4? White was still in time for 61. Nxf7(!). Gunina’s continuous losses of time ended up putting her into a lost position. 61. ... a3 62. Nxf7? Now this is objectively wrong, but at least succeeds in unbalancing 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn). Anyway, other moves would not have probably prevented Black from making gradual progress towards a win. 62. ... hxg4+? This zwischenzug check turns out to be a cruel fata morgana. Simply 62. ... Rxf7! 63. fxg6 Rf8 would have lead to an easy win. 63. Kxg4 gxf5+. Now, if 63. ... Rxf7 64. fxg6 Rf8 then 65. Rea5! Bxa5 (with the King on h3, Black could give a deadly check at f3: ... Rf8-f3+) 66. Rxf8 a2 67. Rf1 Nb1 69. g7 with a likely draw. 64. Rxf5 a2 65. h5 Rc8 66. Rf6+ Kc7 67. Ra7 Kb8 68. Rxa2 Nxa2 69. h6 Bc3 70. Rg6 Rc4+ 71. Kh3 Rc5 72. Nd6 Bd2 73. Kg4 Bxh6 74. Rxh6 Rc6 75. Kf5 Nc3 76. Ke5 Ka7 77. Rh7 Rc5+ 78. Ke6 Nb5 79. Rxb7+ Ka6 80. Rxb5 ½ : ½.

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn). Photo: qipai.org.cn.

Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina. Photo: qipai.org.cn.

The Queen’s Pawn

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – Olga Alexandrovna Girya
 14th “映美杯” (“Yìngměi Cup”) Chinese Chess League; 南京 (Nánjīng), May 22, 2018
Semi-Slav Defence D44

Just say bye-bye to the crown and the royal limousine. 上海 (Shànghǎi)’s Queen, 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), has already got back to her (hard) daily work in the backwards of the Celestial Empire! 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Be7 11. exf6 Bxf6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. g3 Na6 14. Bg2 Bb7 15. Ne4. If 15. Nxb5 then 15. ... 0-0-0 16. Qa4 cxb5 17. Bxb7+ Kxb7 18. Qxb5+ Ka8 19. Qc6+ Kb8 20. Qb5+ Ka8 21. Qc6+ Kb8 22. Qb5+ Ka8 ½ : ½ Obolentseva – Girya, Russian Women’s Cup Final 2016, Khanty-Mansiysk 2016. 15. ... Qe7 16. 0-0 0-0-0 17. h4. The alternative was 17. a4 Kb8 (Kasparov then suggested 17. ... f5! 18. axb5 cxb5 19. Rxa6 Bxa6 20. Nc5 Qxc5! 21. dxc5 Rxd1 22. Rxd1 b4!∞) 18. Qd2 b4 19. Rac1 e5 20. Rxc4 f5 21. Ng5 c5 22. Bxb7 Qxb7 23. Qe3 exd4 24. Qe5+ Ka8 25. Ne6 (Alexander Valeryevich Khalifman recommended 25. Qxf5±) 25. ... Qh7 26. h4 Rhe8 27. Qe2 Rd6 28. Qf3+ Qb7 29. Qxb7+ Kxb7 30. Nxc5+ Nxc5 31. Rxc5 d3 32. Rd1 Re2 33. Rb5+ Ka6 34. Rxb4 d2 35. Kf1 Rde6 36. Kg2 Rd6 ½ : ½ Kasparov – Smyslov, Candidates Final, Vilnius 1984, match game 5. 17. ... c5 18. a4 Rxd4 19. Qe2 b4 20. Rad1 Qc7 21. Ng5! This seems stronger than 21. Rc1 which yet gave White the win, but only after many complications that Black might have handled better: 21. ... Bd5 22. Nf6 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 e5 24. Ng4 Qb7+ 25. Kh2 f5 26. Qxe5 Qh7 27. Qf6 Rxg4 28. Qxa6+ Kb8 29. Qf6 f4 30. Rfd1 fxg3+ 31. fxg3 Rc8 32. Kh3 Qe4 33. Rd8 Rg8 34. Qd6+ Ka8 35. Qd5+ Qxd5 36. Rxd5 Rgd8 37. Rxd8 Rxd8 38. Rxc4 Rd5 39. Kg4 Kb7 40. h5 Kc6 41. h6 1 : 0 Matlakov – Sandipan, 15th Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2017. 21. ... Bxg2 22. Kxg2 Rhd8 23. Rc1 R8d7 24. Rxc4 Qc6+ 25. Kg1 Rxc4. Probably Black may improve her game somewhere, but it’s not quite so easy to guess how and where. From a human viewpoint, the text makes little sense, as any kind of simplification ends up enhancing the strength of White’s passed h-Pawn. So 25. ... Rd2 appears to be a more lively choice, and it is likely worth further analysis. 26. Qxc4 Nc7. Not 26. ... Qxa4? because of 27. h5 with a win coming soon. 27. Rc1 f5 28. h5 e5 29. Qg8+ Kb7 30. Qg6. Stockfish evaluates 30. Qf8(!) f4!? 31. Qf5 as a more convincing win for White. 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), however, is eager to make things simpler, even at the cost of renouncing something. 30. ... Qxg6 31. hxg6

31. ... Kb6? Black ought to have played 31. ... Rg7 32. Rxc5 Rxg6 33. Nf7 Ra6 34. a5 which leaves White with much the better game (and possibly an almost won game) that, however, would still have to be won. 32. Nf7 e4? This loses off right, but also 32. ... Ne6 33. Nxe5 Rg7 34. f4 is undefendable. 33. g7 1 : 0.

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) (right) vs. Olga Alexandrovna Girya (left). Photo: qipai.org.cn.

Only one designer in the world could imagine such a dress!

Kazakhstani International Master Dinara Ramazanovna Saduakassova playing the round four of the 14th “映美杯” (“Yìngměi Cup”) Chinese Chess League in 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China on April 14, 2018. Photo: 樊璐璐 (Fán Lùlù).

Google Save the Queen

杜雨馨 (Dù Yǔxīn) – 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí)

13rd “映美杯” (“Yìngměi Cup”) Chinese Chess League; 中山 (Zhōngshān), December 3, 2017

Spanish Game C77

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 Bc5 6. 0-0 d6 7. c3 Ba7 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 Bd7 10. Nbd2 Qe7 11. Re1 g5! 12. Bg3 0-0-0! The heterogeneous castling means that Black is running to win. 13. b4 h5 14. h4 g4 15. Ng5

15. ... Ng8! Something went wrong with White’s opening as Black seized the initiative. Now the g5-Knight is in trouble. 16. d4? Amateurly speaking this is not a solution. White ought to play 16. Bxc6 Bxc6 17. Qb3. 16. ... f6 17. Ne6 Qxe6. Perhaps 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) could play for winning a piece by 17. ... Bxe6 (and if 18. d5 then 18. ... f5!), but she must have feared some kind of tricky attack against her own King. Whatever it is, her decision sounds quite good. 18. d5 Qe8 19. dxc6 Bxc6 20. Bxc6 Qxc6. Black contented herself with an extra Pawn and a much better position. 16th Women’s World Chess Champion has no difficulty in bringing home the point, which will give 重庆 (Chóngqìng) the team’s win over 深圳 (Shēnzhèn). 21. c4 Ne7 22. Qb3 Bd4 23. b5 Qb6 24. Rab1 c5 25. bxa6 Qxa6 26. Qb5 Kc7 27. Rb3 Ra8 28. Reb1 Qxb5 29. Rxb5 Rhb8 30. Nb3 Nc6 31. Nxd4 Nxd4 32. R5b2 Ra4 33. Rc1 Rba8 34. Rcb1 R8a7 0 : 1.

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí)
Photo: sports.sina.com.cn

Nemo propheta in patria

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk – 张岚琳 (Zhāng Lánlín)

13rd “映美杯” (“Yìngměi Cup”) Chinese Chess League; 中山 (Zhōngshān), December 2, 2017

Semi-Slav Defence D46

After a long strike, due to a dispute with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, former Women’s World Chess Champion Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk came finally back to the board, but not to represent her country. Both she and her sister are actually playing in the Chinese Chess League: Mariya Olehivna for the 河北 (Héběi) team, and Anna Olehivna for the 上海 (Shànghǎi) team. 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bd3 Nbd7 6. 0-0 Bd6 7. Nc3 0-0 8. e4 dxe4. The alternative is 8. ... dxc4 “transposing” into a Slav formation. 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4 Nf6. This pseudo-gain of time doesn’t enjoy a good (theoretical) reputation. Both 10. ... c5 (11. Bc2 Qc7 12. Qd3 f5) and 10. ... h6 (11. Bc2 e5 12. Qd3 f5) are regarded as sounder. 11. Bc2 h6. Not 11. ... c5? because of 12. Bg5 (intending Qd1-d3) 12. ... cxd4 13. Qxd4 Be7 14. Qh4! h6 15. Bxh6! with overwhelming attack, Jaffe – Baird, New York 1911. 12. Ne5!? Probably a new move. In any event the old one is still very good: 12. Be3! Re8? 13. Qd3 Qc7 14. c5 Bf8 15. Ne5 with great advantage to White, Pillsbury – Winawer, Budapest 1896. 12. ... c5 13. Bf4 Qb6? A serious mistake that costs Black the Exchange for no compensation at all. She should have taken on d4.

14. b4! What follows is all forced: 14. ... Qxb4 15. Nd3 Qb6 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Rb1 Qc6 18. Nxc5 Qxc5 19. Bd6 Qh5 20. Bxf8 Qxd1 21. Bxd1 Kxf8 22. Bf3. The ending is hopeless for Black. 22. ... Rb8 23. c5 b6 24. cxb6 axb6 25. Rb4 e5 26. Re1 Be6 27. a4 Nd7 28. Bc6 Rc8 29. Bb5 Rc5 30. f4 f6 31. Rd1 Ke7 32. Bxd7 Bxd7 33. fxe5 Rxe5 34. Rxb6 Bxa4 35. Rb7+ Kf8 36. Ra1 Be8 37. Raa7 Rg5 38. Kf2 h5 39. g3 Kg8 40. h4 Rg4 41. Rb8 Kf8 42. Kf3 f5 43. Ra5 g6 44. Re5 1 : 0.

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk. Photo: 樊璐璐 (Fán Lùlù).

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk. Photo: 樊璐璐 (Fán Lùlù).

Deadline

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 李超 (Lǐ Chāo)
13rd Chinese Chess League; 北京 (Běijīng), June 11, 2017
Queen’s Indian Accelerated A50

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. Nc3 Bb7 4. f3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 e5 8. Be3 Be7? It looks like an improvised Pawn sacrifice in a well-known position. For 8. ... exd4 9. cxd4 Bb4+ 10. Kf2 0-0 11. Bc4 see Riumin – Chekhover, Leningrad 1934. 9. dxe5 Nd7 10. Qa4 c6 11. Rd1 b5 12. Qb3 Qa5 13. f4 0-0-0 14. Nf3 Nc5 15. Bxc5 Bxc5 16. Bd3 Rd7 17. Ke2 Rhd8 18. Rhf1. 18. e6 fxe6 19. Ng5 was also very interesting. 18. ... h6 19. f5! Qc7 20. g3! a5 21. a4! 李超 (Lǐ Chāo) ended up getting completely outplayed by his opponent. 21. ... bxa4 22. Qxa4 Qb6

23. Qc2? 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) hesitates in the moment of truth, throwing all her advantage away. The trivial 23. Rb1 Rxd3! 24. Rxb6 Bxb6 25. Rb1 Re3+ 26. Kf1! Rxf3+ 27. Kg2 Rf2+ 28. Kh3 Be3 might have given Black an easier – if not better – game, but 23. e6! seemed to put insurmountable problems to Black; for instance: 23. ... fxe6 24. fxe6 Rd6 (or 24. ... Re7 25. Rb1 Qa7 26. Bc4 followed by Nf3-e5 with devastating effect) 25. e7 Re8 26. Rb1 Qa7 27. Nd4! Kc7 (or 27. ... Bxd4 28. Rf8 Kd7 29. cxd4 Rxe7? 30. e5+−) 28. Nf5 with a (likely significant) gain of material. 23. ... Ba6! Well, the rest is quite uninteresting. White’s position still might be drawable, but 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) has no longer the will to hold it, and slowly her opponent succeeded in picking the whole point. 24. Bxa6+ Qxa6+ 25. c4 a4 26. Rxd7 Rxd7 27. Ra1 a3 28. Ra2 Rb7 29. e6 fxe6 30. fxe6 Re7 31. e5 Rxe6 32. Kf1 Re7 33. Kg2 Kc7 34. Ra1 Qa5 35. Qd3 Rd7 36. Qc2 Bb4 37. Ra2 Bc3 38. Qe4 Bb2 39. e6 Re7 40. Qf4+ Kb7 41. Nd4 Qb4 42. Qb8+ Kxb8 43. Nxc6+ Kb7 44. Nxb4 Rxe6 45. Kf3 Rb6 46. Nd3 Rb3 47. Ke2 Kc6 48. Kd2 Rxd3+! 49. Kxd3 Kc5 50. h4 Kb4 51. g4 Kb3 52. Rxa3+ Bxa3 53. Kd4 Be7 54. h5 Kb4 55. Kd5 Bc5 56. Ke5 Kxc4 57. Kf5 Be7 58. Kg6 Bf6 0 : 1.

A Man Called Horse

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 马群 (Mǎ Qún)
13rd Chinese Chess League; 北京 (Běijīng), June 8, 2017
Slav Defence D10

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Bf4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. e3 Bg4 7. Qb3 Na5 8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Qa4 e6 10. Bg5 Nc6 11. Nf3 a6. For 11. ... Be7 12. Ne5 Qc7 13. Rc1 0-0 14. Bxc6 Bxc6 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. 0-0 Rfc8 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Ne2 Rab8 see 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – Fressinet, 15th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival, Catalan Bay 2017 12. Axc6 Axc6 13. Db3 h6!? 马群 (Mǎ Qún)’s novelty actually appears to be better on 13. ... Be7 14. Ne5 0-0 15. 0-0 Nd7 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Nxc6 bxc6 18. Na4 Rab8 19. Qc3 Rfc8 20. Rac1 h5 21. b3 h4 22. h3 Rb5 23. Rc2 e5 24. Rfc1 e4 25. Qd2 Qd6 26. Rc3 g5 27. Qc2 Nb8 28. Qe2 Qg6 29. Nc5 Kg7 30. f3 exf3 31. Qxf3 Re8 32. Rf1 Re7 33. Qg4 Rxc5 34. dxc5 Nd7 35. Qf5 Qxf5 36. Rxf5 Kg6 37. Rf1 Re4 38. Rd1 1 : 0 Radjabov – Vachier-Lagrave, 3rd SportAccord World Mind Games, Rapid Event, 北京 (Beijīng) 2013. 14. Bh4 Bd6 15. Rc1 Rc8 16. 0-0 0-0 17. Ne5 Bxe5! Consistent with his 13th move and well calculated. White has no real way to exploit the weakening of Black’s Kingside, and indeed she will have to play with mood and tone for keeping a sound balance. 18. dxe5

18. ... g5 19. Bg3 Ne4 20. Qd1 Kg7 21. f4 Bb5 22. Re1 Nxc3 23. Rxc3 Rxc3 24. bxc3 f5 25. exf6+ Qxf6 26. fxg5 hxg5 27. Qd4 Qxd4 28. exd4 g4 29. Be5+ Kg6 30. Bd6 Re8 31. Re3 Bc4 32. a3 Bb3 33. h3 gxh3 34. Rxh3 Bc2 35. Rg3+ Kf7 36. Rf3 Bf5 37. Kf2. The silly 37. g4? Rg8 would lose a Pawn, but probably not the game because of the opposite coloured Bishops. 37. ... Rg8 38. Rg3 Rxg3 ½ : ½.

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
Photo: slide.sports.sina.com.cn

Not Too Long Ago

韦奕 (Wéi Yì) – 万云国 (Wàn Yúnguó)
13rd Chinese Chess League; 北京 (Běijīng), June 6, 2017
Pirc Defence B07

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Qd2 0-0. For 5. ... Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 [for 6. ... 0-0 7. Bh6 e5 8. Bxg7 Kxg7 9. d5 Ne7 10. Be2 Bg4 11. Ng1 Bd7 12. Nf3 h6 13. h3 Nh7 14. g4 g5 15. Nh2 Ng6 16. Nf1 Nf4 17. 0-0-0 Rh8 18. Ne3 Nf8 19. h4 see 韦奕 (Wéi Yì) – Melkumyan, World Blitz Chess Championship, Doha 2016] 7. d5 Nb8 8. Be2 Nbd7 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 c5 11. 0-0 a6 12. a4 0-0 13. Rfe1 Qa5 14. Ra3 see 韦奕 (Wéi Yì) – Mamedov, World Blitz Chess Championship, Doha 2016. 6. 0-0-0 Nc6 7. f3 Nh5? It seems a very unfortunate novelty, which only helps White to mount his serialised Kingside attack. For 7. ... a6 8. g4 Re8 9. Bh6 Bh8 10. h4 e5 see Fedorchuk – Czerwonski, 1st Bank Pocztowy SA Open, Bydgoszcz 1999. 8. Bh6 e5 9. Nge2 Bxh6 10. Qxh6 exd4 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. Rxd4 Bd7 13. g4 Nf6. 13. ... Qf6 would work only in case of 14. Qe3 (14. ... Qf4), but White would clearly go for a lot more by 14. Qd2! Qxf3 15. Rg1 Nf4 16. e5 with a win at hand. 14. h4 Qe7 15. h5 Be6 16. Rd2 Kh8 17. Qe3. Black is so harmless that White can afford himself to take all the time necessary for his army to deploy in its best possible (mating) formation. 17. ... Kg8 18. Rdh2 Rad8 19. Qh6 c6 20. Bd3 Kh8

21. e5! 1 : 0. For if 21. ... dxe5 there would follow 22. g5 Ng8 (or 22. ... Nxh5 23. Qxh7+! Kxh7 24. Rxh5+ Kg7 25. Rh7+ Kg8 26. Rh8+ Kg7 27. R1h7 mate) 23. Qxh7+! Kxh7 24. hxg6++ Kg7 25. Rh7 mate.

Time Away

何静扬 (Hé Jìngyáng) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

1st “火炬地产杯” (“Torch Real Estate Cup”) Chinese Chess League; 霞浦 (Xiápǔ), June 26, 2005

Sicilian Defence B66

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. f4 h6 9. Nxc6?! The usual continuation is 9. Bxf6, while if 9. Bh4 Black can reply 9. ... Nxe4 10. Bxd8 Nxd2 11. Nxc6 bxc6 transposing to the game. 9. ... bxc6

10. Bh4? White was still in time for 10. Bxf6 (by transposition) 10. ... Qxf6 11. 0-0-0 Qd8! 12. Bc4 Be7 13. Bb3 a5 14. Kb1⩲ Egger – Rodríguez Céspedes, 31st Chess Olympiad, Moscow 1994. 10. ... Nxe4 11. Nxe4. 11. Bxd8 Nxd2 12. Ba5 Nxf1 13. Rxf1 c5 14. 0-0-0 Bb7 leaves Black up a Pawn and a powerful pair of Bishops. However, the text is no better. 11. ... Qxh4+ 12. g3 Qd8 13. Bg2 d5 14. Nf2 Be7 15. 0-0 0-0 16. Kh1 Qb6 17. c3 a5 18. Rfe1 Ba6 19. Ng4 Rad8 20. Rad1 Bc5

21. Ne5? White blunders away the Exchange for no return but an inevitable débâcle. ⌓ 21. Bf1 Bxf1 22. Rxf1 Rfe8∓/−+ was probably the best offer White could get. 21. ... Bf2 22. Ng4 Bxe1 23. Rxe1 c5 24. Qf2 d4 25. f5 exf5 26. Qxf5 Bc8 27. Qf4 Bxg4 28. Qxg4 Qxb2 29. Qf5 Qxc3 30. Rf1 d3 31. Bd5 Qf6 32. Qh3 Qe5 33. Bb3 c4! 0 : 1.

A Day Off

[Event "1st Torch Real Estate Chinese Chess League"]
[Site "霞浦 (Xiápǔ) CHN"]
[Date "2005.06.24"]
[Round "17"]
[White "谷笑冰 (Gǔ Xiàobīng)"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B44"]
[WhiteElo "2331"]
[BlackElo "2158"]
[PlyCount "24"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. e4 d6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O a6 10. Qd2 Bd7 11. f3 Rb8 12. a4 Kh8 1/2-1/2

肠粉 (Rice noodle roll)

李雪怡 (Lǐ Xuěyí) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

6th “雅戈尔杯” “Youngor Cup” Chinese Chess League; 广州 (Guǎngzhōu), September 12, 2010

Nimzo-Indian Defence E20

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 c5 5. d5 d6 6. e4 0-0. As 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) plays both the Modern Benoni and the Nimzo-Indian, it is not strange that she does not dislike this Nimzo-Benoni combo. 7. Bd3 (7. Ne2 b5!?) 7. ... Nbd7 8. Ne2 Ne5 9. 0-0 exd5 10. cxd5 a6 11. Bc2 Re8 12. Bg5. Here 12. Ng3 b5 13. Kh1 is quite thematic, on which there may follow 13. ... Ba5 14. h3 Bb6 15. b3⩲ Cebalo – Tirabassi, 47th New Year’s International Tournament, Reggio Emilia 2005. 12. ... h6 13. Bh4 Ba5 14. a3 b5 15. b4 Bb6 16. Kh1 Nc4 17. Bf2 (17. Qd3 Ne5) 17. ... Bd7 18. Bb3 cxb4 19. axb4 Ne3 20. Bxe3 Bxe3 21. Qd3 Bb6 22. Nd4 Nh5 23. Nce2 Qf6 24. Bc2 Nf4 25. Nxf4 Qxd4

26. Qb3? This is the beginning of all White’s trouble. White’s best consisted in 26. Ne2! Qxd3 27. Bxd3 Ra7 28. Ra2 Rea8 29. Rfa1 g6 with a rough equality. 26. ... Rec8 27. Ra2 Rc4 28. Ne2 Qe3. Probably simpler is 28. ... Qd2 29. Bb1 Qxb4 30. Qd3 g6 31. f4 Qc5∓ with a sound extra Pawn. 29. Bd3 Rc7 30. Qb1 h5 31. f4 Rac8 32. Rxa6

32. ... Bg4?! 32. ... h4 at once saves a tempo, which may make a difference to what follows, for after 33. Ra2! (best) 33. ... h3 34. f5 Black can still make a bid for the initiative with 34. ... f6! threatening ... Bd7-e8-h5. 33. Ra2! A providential defence! 33. ... h4 34. Re1? But White throws away all! The only move was 34. h3! Bxe2 (because of the presence of the Rook on a2, now 34. .. Bxh3!? 35. Rf3 Rc1+! 36. Qxc1 Rxc1+ 37. Kh2 Qxf3 38. gxf3 Rf1 ought not to give Black more than equality) 35. Rxe2 Rc1 36. Rxe3 Rxb1 37. Rxb1 Bxe3= with even chances. 34. .. h3! 35. Ng1

35. ... Qxf4. Of course there’s nothing wrong with this, but also 35. ... Rc2!! would have forced checkmate in a few moves. 36. Rf1 (36. gxh3 Bxg1−+) 36. ... Qe3 37. Raf2 (37. gxh3 Rc1−+) 37. ... Rc1 38. Qb3 Qxf2! 0 : 1.

A League of Her Own

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 万云国 (Wàn Yúnguó)
8th “弈诚杯” (“Yìchéng Cup” Chinese Chess League; 泰州 (Tàizhōu), June 29, 2012

Sicilian Defence B23

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. Be3 b6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8. Bh6 Bxh6 9. Qxh6 Ng4. If 8. ... e5 then (by transposition) 9. h3⩲ Chernikov – W. Rosen, 11th World Senior Chess Championship, Arco 2001. 10. Qd2 e5 11. h3 Nf6 12. f4 exf4. Or similarly 12. ... Qe7 13. Nf3 exf4 14. Qxf4 Nh5 15. Qh6 f5? (⌓ 15. ... Ng3 16. Rg1 Nf5 17. Qf4 Nd4 18. 0-0-0⩲) 16. 0-0 f4 17. Ne2 Bd7 18. Nxf4 0-0-0 19. Qg5 Qe8 20. Nxh5 gxh5 21. Qe5 Qg8 22. Qxh5 Qg7 23. Qe5 Qh6 24. Qg5 Qd6 25. Qe5 Qh6 26. Qg5 Qd6 27. e5 Qd5 28. Kh2 Rhg8 29. Qe3 Rde8 30. Qe4 Qe6 31. Nd2 Qh6 32. Nc4 Re7 33. Rf6 Qg5 34. Qf3 Kc7 35. Re1 Be6 36. Ne3 Kb7 37. Qf4 Qh5 38. Nf5 Bxf5 39. Qxf5 Qh4 40. Re3 Qd4 41. Qe4 Qd7 42. e6 Qe8 43. Rf7 Rg7 44. Rxg7 Rxg7 45. e7 Rf7 46. Qe6 a6 47. Qxf7 1 : 0 Šolak – Pap, 1st Serbia and Montenegro Team Chess Championship, Budva 2003. 13. Qxf4 Be6 14. Nf3 Nd7. 14. ... Nh5 seems a little better, but after 15. Qe5 0-0 16. g4 Ng7 17. 0-0-0 White keeps a pleasant edge. 15. 0-0-0 0-0 (15. ... Qf6 16. Qd6)

16. d4 cxd4 17. Nxd4 Rc8 18. e5 Qe7? Black — though far from solving all his difficuties — ought to play 18. ... Qc7 19. Rhe1 Bd5 preventing, at least for a while, Nc3-e4. 19. Ne4+− f5 20. exf6 Nxf6 21. Nd6

21. ... Ng4 22. Nxc8 Bxc8 23. Nxc6 Qc5 24. Rd8 Rxd8 25. Nxd8 Bf5 26. Qd2 Ne5 27. Re1 Bxc2 28. Ne6 Qc4 29. Qd8+ Kf7 30. Qf8+ 1 : 0.

A Shining Star

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 王晓晖 (Wáng Xiǎohuī)
6th “雅戈尔杯” “Youngor Cup” Chinese Chess League; 宁波 (Níngbō), April 17, 2010
Modern Defence B96

1. e4 d6 2. d4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Be3 c6 5. Qd2 Nd7 6. Nf3 Qa5 7. Bd3 Ngf6 8. Bh6 0-0 9. 0-0-0. 9. h4 Bxh6 10. Qxh6 Ng4 11. Qg5 Qxg5 12. hxg5 f6 13. gxf6 Ndxf6 14. Nd2 e5 15. Ne2 exd4 16. Nxd4 d5 17. exd5 Re8+ 18. Kf1 Nxd5 ½ : ½ 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Svidler, 3rd NH Chess Tournament “Rising Stars vs. Experience”, Amsterdam 2009. 9. ... e5 10. Bxg7 Kxg7

11. g4!? A straightforward Pawn sacrifice for the initiative. 11. ... Nxg4 12. Rhg1 Ndf6 13. h3 exd4 (13. ... Nh6 14. Rg5⩲↑) 14. Nxd4 Qb4? Here is evidently the cause of all Black’s trouble. The correct 14. ... Nh6 15. f3!? leaves White with enough compensation for the Pawn, but probably no more than that. 15. hxg4 Qxd4 16. f3 h6 17. Ne2 Qc5 18. g5 Nh7. This loses quickly, but 18. ... hxg5 19. Rxg5 followed by the doubling of the Rooks on the g-file would not hold out much longer. 19. gxh6+ Kh8 20. Nf4 g5 21. Nh5 Qe5 22. f4! gxf4 23. Qg2 Rd8

24. Qg7+! Qxg7 25. hxg7+ Kg8 26. e5! f5 27. exf6 Be6 28. f7+! Bxf7 29. Bxh7+ Kxh7 30. Nf6+ Kh6 31. Rd2! Bg6 32. Rdg2 Kxg7 33. Rxg6+ Kf7 34. Ne4 Ke7 35. Re1 d5 36. Nd6+ Kd7 37. Nxb7 Rg8 38. Nc5+ Kc7 39. Ne6+ 1 : 0.

Toys Long Ago

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 徐媛媛 (Xú Yuànyuàn)

1st “火炬地产杯” (“Torch Real Estate Cup”) Chinese Chess League; 济南 (Jǐnán), April 22, 2005

Caro-Kann Defence B13

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Bg5. The most usual is 6. Bf4, but the text too has its history. 6. ... Bg4 7. Ne2 e6 8. Qc2. It’s never to late to enjoy a masterclass in endgame: 8. Qb3 Qd7 9. Ng3 Nh5 10. f3 Nxg3 11. hxg3 Bf5 12. Bxf5 exf5 13. Nd2 f6 14. Be3 Na5 15. Qc2 0-0-0 16. 0-0-0 Re8 17. Rde1 Bd6 18. Bf4 Bxf4 19. gxf4 g6 20. Nb3 Nxb3+ 21. Qxb3 h5 22. Qd1 Kd8 23. Rxe8+ Rxe8 24. Re1 Rxe1 25. Qxe1 Qd6 26. Qd2 Qa6 27. b3 Qf1+ 28. Kb2 Kd7 29. Qc2 b5 30. a4 a6 31. axb5 axb5 32. Ka3 Kc6 33. Kb4 Qe1 0 : 1 van den Bosch – Capablanca, Budapest 1929. 8. ... Bxe2 9. Qxe2 Bd6. Of theoretical significance is the alternative 9. ... h6 10. Bh4 Qb6 11. Bg3 Be7 12. 0-0 0-0 13. b3 Rac8 14. Nd2 a6 15. a4! Qd8 16. Rac1 Re8 17. Kh1 Bd6 18. f4 Ne7 19. Nf3 Nf5 20. Ne5 Be7 21. Rc2 g6?! (21. ... Nd6!) 22. Be1 h5 23. h3 h4?! 24. Bxf5 exf5 25. Bxh4 Ne4 26. Be1 Bh4 27. g4! fxg4 28. hxg4 Kg7 29. f5 Rc7 30. Kg2 Bxe1 31. Qxe1 Qg5 32. Qc1! Qxc1 33. Rcxc1 gxf5 34. Rxf5 f6 35. Nd3 Rxc3 36. Rxc3 Nxc3 37. Nf4 Re4 38. Kf3 Kh7 39. Rxf6 b5 40. Rxa6 Rxd4 41. Ra7+ Kg8 42. a5! Rb4 43. g5 Rxb3 44. Ne6 b4 45. Kf4! Ne2+ 46. Ke5 Re3+ 47. Kf6 Rf3+ 48. Kg6 Nf4+ 49. Nxf4 Rxf4 50. Ra8+ Rf8 51. Rxf8+ Kxf8 52. a6 b3 53. a7 b2 54. a8=Q+ 1 : 0 Topalov – Ivanchuk, 12th Torneo Internacional de Ajedrez Ciudad de Linares, Linares 1994. 10. Nd2 Qc7 11. Nf3 h6 12. Bh4 Nh5 13. Bg3 Nf4 14. Bxf4 Bxf4 15. 0-0 0-0 16. Rae1 Rab8 17. Kh1 Rfc8 18. Ne5 b5?! Maybe not wrong, but 18. ... Bxe5 19. dxe5 d4 seems perfectly good for Black. 19. Nxc6 Qxc6 20. Qg4 Qc7? But this is certainly a mistake. After 20. ... Bc7 21. f4 Rf8 22. Re3⩲ White stands better, but nothing is yet lost. 21. g3 Bd6 22. f4 Re8? Black is pursuing a wrong idea. She should rather content herself with 22. ... Bf8 which after 23. f5 implies the loss of at least a Pawm (d5). 23. f5 e5?! Now, after 23. ... exf5 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. Qxf5 g6 26. Qxd5 White would win a second Pawn — thanks to the double threat of Bd3xb5 (idem to say Qf5xb5) and Bd3xg6.

24. dxe5?! Now White misses the opportunity to close the deal: 24. f6! Bf8 25. Bg6!+− winning brilliantly. 24. ... Rxe5 25. Rxe5 Bxe5? All’s well that ends well. Best was 25. ... h5! as after 26. Qg5 f6 27. Qxh5 Bxe5 28. Qf3 White must content herself with the gain of the d5-Pawn, with still a long way to go. 26. f6 g6 27. Bxg6 fxg6 28. Qxg6+ Kh8 29. Rf5 Bxf6 30. Qxh6+ Qh7 31. Qxf6+ 1 : 0.

Time and Chance

许昱华 (Xǔ Yùhuá) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

2nd “火炬地产杯” (“Torch Real Estate Cup” Chinese Chess League; 北京 (Běijīng), April 4, 2006

Sicilian Defence B52

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. 0-0 Nf6 6. Qe2 Nc6 7. Rd1 e6 8. b3 Be7 9. Bb2 0-0 10. c4. 10. c3 Rac8 11. Na3 b6 12. d4 cxd4 13. cxd4 d5 is fine for Black, Galego – David, Zonal Tournament, Linares 1995. 10. ... e5! 11. Nc3 Nd4 12. Qd3 Qg4 13. Nxd4 cxd4 14. f3 Qg6 15. Ne2 Rfe8 16. Ng3 Bf8 17. Rf1

17. ... d5! 18. Rac1. Of course, 18. cxd5? Nxd5 is very much in Black’s favour. 18. ... a6 19. Qe2 dxe4 20. fxe4 Qg4 21. Rf3 Qe6 22. Rcf1 Nd7 23. Bc1. 23. Rxf7 Nf6 forces White to give up the Exchange for an uncertain compensation. 23. ... g6. More accurate seems 23. ... f6 followed by ... g7-g6. 24. d3. White could win the Queen and a Pawn for two Rooks by 24. Rxf7, but it wouldn’t be an easy game for her anyway. 24. ... f6 25. h4 Qg4?! (25. ... h5∞) 26. h5!→ Bg7 27. Qe1 Qh4? The Queen stands badly here. 27. ... Qe6 was better and quite good.

28. h6! Bf8 (28. ... Bxh6? 29. Nf5!+−) 29. R1f2? White misses 29. Qa5 (Δ Qa5-d5+) 29. ... b5 30. Qc7 breaking through with powerful effect. 29. ... Qg4 30. Rf1 Qe6 31. Nh1 b5 32. Qh4 Be7 33. Ng3 (33. g4) 33. ... bxc4 34. dxc4 (34. bxc4) 34. ... Bf8 35. Bd2? White ought to continue with Ng3-h1-f2-d3. Now Black easily shatters her opponent’s Queenside. 35. ... a5! 36. a4 Ra6 37. Kh2 Rb8 38. Nh1 Rab6 39. Qg3 Nc5 40. Qe1

40. ... Nxb3? (40. ... Be7!−+) 41. Bxa5? 41. Rxf6! Qxc4 42. Rxb6 Rxb6 43. Bg5! gave White enough for the Pawn. 41. ... Nxa5 42. Qxa5 Bxh6 43. Rxf6 Qxf6 44. Rxf6 Rxf6−+ 45. g3 Rb2+ 46. Kh3 Rf1 47. Qd5+ Kh8 48. Qxe5+ Bg7 49. Qe8+ Bf8 50. Qe5+ Bg7 51. Qe8+ Rf8 52. Qd7 h5 53. Qd5 Rf1 54. e5 Rbb1 55. e6 Rxh1+ 56. Kg2 Rhg1+ 57. Kh3 Rge1 58. a5 Re2 59. a6 Rbb2 60. Qh1 Ra2 61. g4 Ra3+ 62. Kh4 Bf6+ 63. g5 Be7 64. c5 Rxa6 65. c6 Bd6 66. e7 Ra8 0 : 1.

Greek gift sacrifice

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 章晓雯 (Zhāng Xiǎowén)

2nd “火炬地产杯” (“Torch Real Estate Cup” Chinese Chess League; 石家庄 (Shíjiāzhuāng), April 25, 2006

French Defence C11

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. Qd2 b5 9. a3 Bb7 10. Qf2 Qa5 11. Rb1!?TN (11. Ra2 Qb6 12. Ne2 b4 13. Nd2 a5 14. Nb3 c4 15. Nd2 Ba6 16. c3 bxa3 17. bxa3 Bxa3⩱ Hodgson – Chandler, Watson Farley Williams Tournament, London 1990) 11. ... b4 12. axb4 Qxb4 13. Bd3 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Bc5 16. Bxc5 Nxc5 17. 0-0 0-0 18. Ne2 a5 19. Nd4 Ba6? A catastrophic mistake. 19. ... Nxd3 20. cxd3 Ba6 was correct and good enough to hold balance.

20. Bxh7+! “Elementary, my dear Watson”. 20. ... Kxh7 21. Nc6. 21. Qh4+ Kg8 22. Nc6 transposes into the game. 21. ... Qb7 22. Qh4+ Kg8. (22. ... Kg6? 23. g4! Rh8 24. f5+ exf5 25. gxf5 mate) 23. Ne7+ Qxe7 24. Qxe7 Bxf1 25. Qxc5 Rfc8 26. Qf2 Bc4 27. b3 Bb5 28. f5 exf5 29. Qxf5 Rc6

30. c4! Bxc4 (30. ... dxc4 31. e6!+−) 31. bxc4 dxc4 32. Qd7 Re6 33. Rf1 Rxe5 34. Rxf7 Rg5 35. h4 Rg6 36. Qd5 Raa6 37. Rf6+ Kh7 38. Qh5+ 1 : 0.