Curtain Falls

Nino Batsiashvili – Elena-Luminița Radu-Cosma
22nd European Women’s Chess Club Cup; Göynük, October 14, 2017
2q2rk1/R1rn1pp1/1p2p3/1Q4p1/2pP4/1P3N1P/5PPK/R7 w - - 0 36

Position after 35. ... Nb8xd7

The last round of the European Chess Club Cup(s) did not produce any substantial changes, and in the end, both in men’s and women’s competitions, the favoured teams ended up winning. Nino Batsiashvili finally knew the bitter taste of defeat, really doing her best to motivate her team to win even without her daily help. In the position of the diagram it is almost impossible to think that White may lose after 36. Ra8, but, as everyone knows, there is always more than one way to throw away anything! 36. bxc4?? Rxa7 37. Rxa7 Qb8+. Apparently Batsiashvili overlooked this trivial check! The follow-up is instructive: 38. Ne5 Nxe5 39. Ra3 Nf3++ 0 : 1. Mate follows next move.

Keep Climbing

Daria Stanislavovna Pustovoitova – Nino Batsiashvili
22nd European Women’s Chess Club Cup; Göynük, October 13, 2017
English Opening A13

In the meantime, women too were playing on the Titanic, and no one has been able so far to eclipse the star of Nino Batsiashvili. 1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. b3 c5 5. Bb2 Nc6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Be2 Bd6 8. 0-0 0-0 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Qe7 11. Nxc6? This must be wrong. More commendable is 11. Nc3 Rd8 12. Ncb5 Bb8 13. Rc1 and White stands somewhat better, U. Andersson – F. Ólafsson, 1st “La Méditerranée” International Tournament, Geneva 1977. 11. ... bxc6 12. Nd2 Re8 13. Qc2 Bd7 14. Rfd1 a5 15. a4 Rab8 16. Bc3 Bc7 17. Bd4 Ng4 18. g3? Having to choose between three possibilities (h2-h3, Nd2-f3, and g2-g3), White – quite inexplicably – opts for the worst one. 18. ... Nxh2! 19. Kg2. 19. Kxh2 Qh4+ 20. Kg2 Qh3+ 21. Kg1 Bxg3 seems horrible for White, but after 22. Nf1! Bd6 23. f4 h6!? (Stockfish) Black should content herself only with her inititative. 19. ... Qe6 20. Rh1? The line abovementioned was now mandatory. 20. ... Qh3+ 21. Kg1 Bxg3! The difference is that now the Black Knight is on the board! 22. Nf1 Bf5!

23. Qd1? After this (mistake) Black’s attack easily triumphs. More stubborn was 23. Qxf5(!) Qxf5 24. Nxg3, although after either 24. ... Qg6 25. Kxh2 Rxb3 (Stockfish) or 24. ... Nf3+ 25. Kg2 Nxd4 26. Nxf5 Nxf5 Black should win anyway. 23. ... Be4 24. f3 Re6! (Δ ... Re6-g6) 25. Nxh2 Rh6 26. fxe4 Bxh2+ 27. Kf2 Qg3+ 28. Kf1 dxe4 29. Qc2 Re8 30. Bg4!? c5! 31. Bxg7!? Desperation. 32. ... Kxg7 32. Qf2 Rf6 33. Bf5 Qxf2+ 34. Kxf2 Rxf5+ 35. Ke2 Be5 36. Rag1+ Kh8 0 : 1.

Churchkhela

Nino Batsiashvili – Olga Alexandrovna Girya
22nd European Women’s Chess Club Cup; Göynük, October 10, 2017
Queen’s Pawn Game D02

The star of Nino Batsiashvili, who very recently earned her final Grandmaster norm in the 4th Isle of Man International Chess Tournament, keeps shining even in Turkey. Today she defeated the higher ranked Olga Alexandrovna Girya, despite some inconsistency and one big blind spot (she missed a trivial mate) along the path. 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d5 3. e3 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nd2 e6 6. Ngf3 Bd6 7. Ne5 Qc7 8. Ndf3 Nd7 9. Nxd7 Bxd7 10. Bg3 Bxg3!? “Book” gives 10. ... b6 11. Bd3 h6 12. 0-0 0-0 with another (dull) story, Barlocco – Vaisser, 10th International Open, Mendrisio 1989. 11. hxg3 Qd6 12. Bb5 0-0-0 13. Qa4 a6 14. Bxc6 Bxc6 15. Qc2 h6 16. dxc5 Qxc5 17. b4 Qd6 18. a4 Kb8 19. Qb3 Bd7 20. b5 Rc8 21. bxa6 Qxa6 22. Rh4 Rc4 23. Ne5 Rxh4 24. Nxd7+ Kc7 25. Nc5 Rh1+ 26. Kd2 Rxa1 27. Nxa6+ bxa6 28. Qb4 Rb8 29. Qc5+ Kb7 30. e4 dxe4 31. Qe7+ Kc6 32. Qxf7 Rd8+ 33. Kc2 Rd6 34. Kb3 Kc5?? Self-mate! This happened for a reason, of course: Girya, in fact, had little more than 30 seconds left, otherwise she would have certainly realized that after 34. ... Rb1+ 35. Kc4 Rb7 Black should not have had too many problems holding her own. 35. Qc7+ Rc6. If 35. ... Kd5 then 36. c4+ Ke5 37. Qxg7+ Kf5 38. Qf8+ winning the Rook.

White to move and mate in four moves: 36. Qe5+ Kb6 37. Qd4+? But Batsiashvili has totally overlooked it: 37. Qb8+ Kc5 38. Qb4+ Kd5 39. Qd4 mate. 37. ... Kb7 38. Qxg7+ Rc7? This is another mistake under terrific time pressure: Black cuts her own Rook off from activity, making her opponent’s win much easier. 39. Qxh6 Rb1+ 40. Kc2 Rb6 41. a5 Rbc6 42. Qe3 Kc8 43. g4 Kd7 44. g5 Ke7 45. Qd4 Rc4 46. Qe5 R4c5 47. Qf6+ Kd6 48. g6 Rf5 49. Qd4+ Ke7 50. g4 Rfc5 51. Qg7+ Kd6 52. Qf6 Rxa5 53. g7 1 : 0.

First Day of School

Olga Alexandrovna Girya – Cécile Haussernot
22nd European Women’s Chess Club Cup; Göynük, October 8, 2017
4r1k1/6np/1p1p4/1PqP1p1b/p1PNrP2/3R1NP1/Q5KP/2R5 w - - 5 39

Position after 38. ... Ra8-e8

With respect to the 22nd European Women’s Chess Club Cup, instead, the big surprise of the day was the defeat which Olga Alexandrovna Girya suffered by the hand of Cécile Haussernot. The position in the diagram shows the “epiphany” of their game, when Girya should have wisely aimed for a draw by repetition. 39. Rc2. The Pawn is taboo: 39. Qxa4?? Re2+ 40. Kh1 (or 40. Kf1 Bxf3 41. Rxf3 Qxd4 with irresistible attack) 40. ... Bxf3+ 41. Nxf3 Qf2 42. Rg1 Ra2! 43. Qb3 (or 43. Qd1 Ree2−+) 43. ... Re1! and wins. 39. ... Qb4 40. Rb2 Qc5 41. Rc2. Again, Girya prefers not to take the Pawn, and probably she is right. After 41. Qxa4 Bxf3+ 42. Nxf3 Re2+ 43. Rxe2 Rxe2+ 44. Kh3 Qf2 perhaps White can survive, but Black’s threats (... h7-h6 followed by ... Qf2-g2+ and Qg2xh2+) appear at least very annoying. 41. ... Qb4 42. Ng5? Girya’s nerves collapse, and by refusing to repeat moves (42. Rb2 Qc5), she irremediably takes her step of no return. 42. ... Qe1! Her Majesty enters with deadly intentions. 43. Nxe4. This is not good, but anything else would not be better; for instance: 43. Ngf3 Bxf3+ 44. Nxf3 (or 44. Kxf3 Rxf4+! 45. gxf4 Qf1+ 46. Kg3 Nh5+ 47. Kh4 Qxf4+ 48. Kxh5 Qg4+ and mate next move) 44. ... Re2+ 45. Kh3 Qf1+ 46. Kh4 Rf8!! 47. Rxe2 Rf6 48. Rg2 Qxd3−+ (Stockfish’s analysis). 43. ... Qxe4+ 44. Rf3 Qxd4 45. Rff2 Re1 46. Rf1 Bf3+!! A pretty finish. 47. Rxf3 Rg1+ 48. Kh3 Qf6! 0 : 1. The only way to parry the one-move mate threat (... Qf6-h6 mate) is 49. g4, but then the coup de grâce follows by 49. ... fxg4 mate.

Stargirl

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Gunay Vugar qizi Mammadzada
21st European Women’s Chess Club Cup; Novi Sad, November 12, 2016
Sicilian Defence B53

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 a6 5. Be3 Nc6 6. Qd2 Nf6 7. 0-0-0 e6 8. Nf3 Be7 9. Bf4 Ng4 10. h3 Nge5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Be3 b5 13. f4

13. ... Nc6? The Knight is badly placed here. Correct is 13. ... Nd7! intending ... Bc8-b7 and ... Ra8-c8, Benitez Lozano – Duda, 52nd World Junior Chess Championship, Kocaeli 2013. 14. h4 Qa5 15. Kb1 Bb7. A little better seems 15. ... b4 16. Ne2 Bb7, though even then after 17. Nc1 Qc7 18. g4 White retains the initiative. 16. Qf2 Qc7. Now 16. ... b4? is too late on account of 17. Bb6 Qh5 18. Be2 Qg6 19. Nd5! with devasting effect. 17. g4 0-0 18. g5 b4 19. Na4 Na5 20. Bb6 Qc6 21. b3 Bd8

22. Rh2. Indirectly defending the e4-Pawn, for if 22. ... Qxe4?? then 23. Bxa5 Bxa5 24. Bg2 winning material. 22. ... Rb8 23. Qd4. White dominates the board, which will soon get her to win the a6-Pawn, thereby winning. 23. ... Ba8 24. Bxd8 Rfxd8 25. Rhd2 Rdc8 26. Qxd6 Qxd6 27. Rxd6 Bxe4 28. R1d2 Nb7 29. R6d4 Bd5 30. Bxa6 Rc6 31. Bb5 Rc7 32. Nb6 Bc6 33. Bxc6 Rxc6 34. Nd7 Ra8 35. Rxb4 Rc7 36. a4 Nc5 37. Nb6 1 : 0.

The uncrowned Queen of Monte Carlo just made another hit. Photo © Lennart Ootes.

摩纳哥王妃 (Grace of Monaco)

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) at the first board of the Cercle d’Échecs de Monte-Carlo playing Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina in the 19th European Women’s Chess Club Cup in Bilbao, Spain. Photo courtesy of Sina Sports.

Another One Bites the Dust

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Anna Yuriyivna Ushenina
19th European Women’s Chess Club Cup; Bilbao, September 18, 2014
Sicilian Defence B31

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3 b6 7. 0-0 Nh6 8. Nc3 f6 9. Be3 Nf7 (9. ... e5 10. Nh2 Nf7 11. Qd2 0-0 12. f4 exf4 13. Rxf4 Ne5 14. Rf2 Be6 15. Raf1 Rf7 16. Nf3 Nxf3+ 17. Rxf3 Qd7 18. b3 Re8 19. Kh1 Bh8 20. Bh6 Qc7 21. Ne2 a5 22. Bf4 Qd7 23. Be3 f5 24. exf5 Rxf5 25. Rxf5 Bxf5 26. Ng1 Be6 27. Bh6 Bd5 28. Re1 Rxe1 29. Qxe1 Bf6 30. Qe3 Qe6 31. Qf4 Qe5 32. Qxe5 Bxe5 33. Ne2 Kf7 34. Kg1 Kf6 35. Be3 g5 36. Kf2 h5 37. g3 Kf5 38. Ng1 g4 39. h4 a4 40. c4 axb3 41. axb3 Bh1 42. Ne2 Bf3 43. Nf4 Bd1 44. Nxh5 Bxb3 45. Nf4 Bc2 46. Ke2 Bd6 47. Kd2 Bb3 48. Ne2 b5 49. cxb5 cxb5 50. Nc3 Bxg3 51. Nxb5 Bxh4 52. Bxc5 Bd5 ½ : ½ Kovalevskaya – Čmilytė, 9th European Women’s Individual Chess Championship, Plovdiv 2008) 10. a3 0-0 11. Re1 e5 12. b4 cxb4 13. axb4 Be6 14. Ra3 Qe7 15. Qa1 Rfb8

16. d4 Qxb4 17. dxe5 fxe5 18. Rb1 Qf8 19. Rxa7 b5 20. Qa6 Rxa7 21. Bxa7 Qc8 22. Qxc8+ Rxc8 23. Bc5 Ra8 24. Ne1 Bc4 25. Nd1 Ng5 26. f3 Ne6 27. Be3 Nd4 28. Nb2 Bf7 29. Nbd3 Ra3 30. Bxd4 exd4 31. f4 Bf8 32. Kf2 Be8 33. Nf3 c5 34. Ke2 c4 35. Nf2 Bc5 36. Ng4 Kg7 37. Ng5 Bd7 38. Ne5 d3+ 39. cxd3 Ra2+ 40. Kf3 c3 41. Nxd7 c2 42. Rf1 Ba3 43. Ne6+ Kg8 44. Nd4 c1=Q 45. Rxc1 Bxc1 46. Nxb5 Ra5 47. Nd6 Ra3 48. Ne5 Rb3 49. Ndc4 Kg7 50. g4 h6 51. h4 g5 52. hxg5 hxg5 53. f5 Bf4 54. Ke2 Rb1 55. Nf3 Ra1 56. d4 Rc1 57. Kd3 Rf1 58. Nce5 Rf2 59. Kc4 Rg2 60. Kd5 Kf6 61. Nd7+ Ke7 62. Nfe5 Bxe5 63. Nxe5 Rg3 64. Ng6+ Ke8 65. Ne5 Ke7 66. Nc6+ Ke8 67. e5 Rxg4 68. Ke6 Rg1 69. d5 g4 70. d6 Rd1 71. f6 g3 72. Ne7 g2 73. f7+ Kf8 74. Ng6+ 1 : 0.

On the Road Again

Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
19th European Women’s Chess Club Cup; Bilbao, September 15, 2014
Bogo-Indian Defence E11

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 a5 5. g3 d6 6. Bg2 Nbd7 7. 0-0 e5 8. Nc3 c6 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Qc2 0-0 11. Rad1 Re8 12. a3. If 12. Be3 may follow 12. ... Qc7 13. Na4 Bf8 14. Ng5 h6 15. Ne4 Ng4 16. Bc1 f5 17. Nec3 Nc5 18. Nxc5 Bxc5 19. Na4 Bf8 20. Bh3! f4 21. Qg6 Nf6 22. Bxc8 Qxc8! 23. Kg2 Qe6 24. Nb6 Rad8 25. b3 Bd6 26. Bb2 Bc5! 27. Na4 Bd4 28. gxf4 b5?! 29. f5?! Qe7 30. Nc3 bxc4 31. e3 Bxc3 32. Bxc3 cxb3 33. axb3 Rf8 34. Bxa5 Rxb3 35. Rb1 Rb5! with advantage to Black, Komljenović – Lalić, Benasque 1994. 12. ... Bf8 13. h3 Qc7 14. Nh4 Nc5 15. Bg5 Nfd7 16. Ne4 a4 17. Kh2 Ne6 18. Be3 Ndc5 19. Nxc5 Bxc5 20. Nf5 g6 21. Bxc5 Nxc5 22. Nd6 Rd8 23. Qc3 f6 24. Qe3 Nb3 25. Ne4 Kg7

26. Nxf6? In search of the Holy Grail White unnecessarily sacrifices a Knight. More realistic was 26. c5 Ra5 27. Rd6 Rxd6 28. cxd6 (28. Nxd6 Bd7) 28. ... Qd8 29. g4 f5 with mutual chances. 26. ... Kxf6 27. Rxd8 Qxd8 28. f4. More consistent looks 28. Qh6, e.g. 28. ... Qe7 29. f4 e4 30. f5! Bxf5 31. g4 Ra5 32. gxf5 Rxf5 33. Qh4+ g5 34. Rxf5+ Kxf5 35. Qg4+ Kf6 36. Bxe4 Qe5+ 37. Kg2 h5! and Black’s advantage is striking, but perhaps not yet decisive. 28. ... Qe7 29. fxe5+ Kg7 30. Rf6 Ra5 31. Bd5 cxd5 32. Qg5. A last, desperate threat: Rf6xg6+. 32. ... Qe8 33. Rd6 Ra6! Elegant and timely defence. 34. Qf6+ Kg8 35. Rxa6 bxa6 36. cxd5 Nc5 37. Qd6 Qf8 38. Qc7 Qf2+ 39. Kh1 Qf1+ 40. Kh2 Qxh3+ 41. Kg1 Qxg3+ 42. Kh1 Bf5 0 : 1.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) is playing for the Cercle d’Échecs de Monte-Carlo. Photo: Bilbao Chess (@bilbaochess).

Killer Queen

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
18th European Women’s Chess Club Cup; Rhodes, October 23, 2013
Sicilian Defence B82

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 Qc7 9. 0-0-0 a6 10. h3 [10. g4 Nd7 11. g5 b5 12. Bd3 Bb7? (⌓ 12. ... Nc5) 13. Qh3 Nc5 14. g6!→ Zawadzka – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 1st World Mind Sports Games, Women’s Individual Rapid Tournament, 北京 (Běijīng) 2008] 10. ... Rb8 11. g4!?TN (11. Kb1) 11. ... b5 12. g5 Nd7 13. Nxc6 Qxc6 14. Bg2 Bb7 15. Bd4 (15. Kb1) 15. ... 0-0 16. Rhe1 Rfc8 17. Rd2 Qc7! (17. ... b4 18. Nd5 Bf8 19. Nxb4 Qc7∞) 18. Kb1 Qa5 19. Qe3?! (19. Qf2 b4 20. Nd1 e5 21. Ba7 Ra8 22. Be3⩲) 19. ... b4 20. Ne2 e5!⩱ 21. fxe5 Nxe5 22. b3?! (⌓ 22. Bxe5 dxe5⩱)

22. ... Ng6!∓ 23. h4 (23. Qf2 Bxg5 24. Rf1 Qc7∓) 23. ... Nxh4 24. Bh1 (⌓ 24. Nf4) 24. ... Bxg5 25. Qg1 Ng6 26. Rd3?! (26. Bb6 Qe5 27. Bd4 Qe7)

26. ... Rxc2!−+ 27. Kxc2 Qxa2+ 28. Bb2 Bf6 29. Kd2 Qxb2+ 30. Ke3 h6 31. Red1 Bg5+ 32. Kf2 Nf4 33. Re3 Bc6 34. Rb1 Qf6 35. Ke1 Nxe2 36. Rxe2 Qc3+ 37. Kf2 Bb5 0 : 1.

Towards each other in opposite directions. Photo: Chessdom Photo Gallery.

The Sun Also Shines at Night

Baira Sergeevna Kovanova – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
17th European Women’s Chess Club Cup; Eilat, October 17, 2012
English Opening A37

Notes by Grandmaster Kevin Spraggett.

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. 0-0 d6 6. Nc3 Nh6 7. b3 0-0 8. Bb2 Bd7 9. d3 Rb8 10. Qd2 Nf5 11. e3 a6 12. Ne2 e5 13. d4 cxd4 14. exd4 e4 15. Ne1 Re8 16. Nc2 b5 17. Bc3 bxc4 18. bxc4 Bh6 19. Ne3 a5 20. Nf4 Nh4! 21. Bh1 [Ed. Note: 21. gxh4?? Bxf4 Δ Qd8xh4−+] 21. Bh1 Bxf4! 22. gxf4 Qf6 23. Nd5 Qf5 [Ed. Note: Δ Qf5-g4+] 24. Qe3 Nb4 25. Bxb4 axb4.
The following example is from yesterday’s round at the European Team Cup in Israel. The players are the Russian woman grandmater B. Kovanova (with the White pieces) and the current women’s world champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) from China.
This example illustrates how some players look more deeply into the position than others and as a result are not only able to avoid subtle traps but also able to set them! Here the Russian grandmaster thinks that she has trapped the world champion, only to later realize that she is infact the one who has been trapped...

Black stands somewhat better as White’s King position is exposed and compromised. However, Black’s position is not a bed of roses either... White should probably dig in with 26. Qg3!?, which would lead to a complex and difficult game for both sides.
HOWEVER, Kovanova became obsessed with a tactic based on the Knight fork on f6 (a family fork, infact), and she convinced herself after some analysis that she could get away with taking Black’s Pawn on e4, thereby breaking Black’s attacking chances on the Kingside:
26. Bxe4?!

To be fair to White, this move almost works but for a very subtle point that will become apparent only after Black’s 29th move.

PLAY CONTINUED:

26. ... Rxe4! 27. Qxe4!

The whole point of White’s play! Now 逸凡 (Yìfán) must avoid 27. ... Qxe4? 28. Nf6+! Kg7 29. Nxe4 Bh3 30. Rfd1 Bg4 31. Nxd6 with advantage for white.
27. ... Qh3!

The threat of ... Nh4-f3+ means that White will have to give up her Queen to avoid the mate on h2. HOWEVER, Kovanova had already taken this into account before she played her 26th move.

PLAY CONTINUED:

28. Nf6+! Kg7 29. Nxd7

Kovanova thought that she had everything undercontrol. She had forseen 29. ... Nf3+? 30. Qxf3 Qxf3 31. Nxb8 Qb7? (Black should take the perpetual) 32. Rac1 Qxb8 33. c5 and White has the advantage once more.
In White’s mind she was going to make a draw against the world champion. Bitter surprise awaited her:

29. ... Re8!!

This move is a cruncher that 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) must have forseen much earlier!
White can not take the Rook as 30. ... Nf3+ will mate [Ed. Note: Quite curiously, Spraggett didn’t notice 30. ... Qg2#]. Relatively best would be moving away with the Queen (30. Qb7) but then Black would have a decisive material and positional advantage after 30. ... Nf3+ 31. Qxf3 Qxf3 32. Nb6 Qxf4 33. Nd5 Qg4+ 34. Kh1 Qxd4 etc.
Probably flustered, White made things worse and resigned the next move:
30. Ne5?! dxe5 0 : 1.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) in the spotlight. Photo: Anastasia Karlovich.

Iron and Silk

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Marsel Efroimski
17th European Women’s Chess Club Cup; Eilat, October 16, 2012
Caro-Kann Defence B19

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. 0-0-0 Be7 13. Kb1 0-0 14. Ne4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 Nf6 16. Qe2 Qd5 17. Be3. The alternative is 17. Ne5 Qe4 18. Qxe4 Nxe4 19. Be3 Rfd8 20. g4 c5 21. f3 cxd4 22. Bxd4 Bc5 23. Bxc5 Nxc5 24. c3 f6 (Grandmaster Rustem Hazitovich Dautov recommends 24. ... Kf8! in order to reply 25. Kc2 with 25. ... Ke7 26. b4 Nd7= or 25. b4 with 25. ... Na4 26. Kc2 b5 27. Kb3 Nb6=) 25. Ng6!? e5 26. Kc2 Kf7 27. Nh4 Ne6 28. Rh2 (Dautov suggests 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. Rd1 Rxd1 30. Kxd1 with a very slight edge for White) 28. ... Rxd1 29. Kxd1 Rc8 30. Rd2 Rc7 31. Nf5⩲ b6 32. Ke2 Kf8 33. Ke3 Kf7 34. Rd6 Nc5 35. Rd2 Ne6 36. c4 Nc5 37. b3 Nb7 38. Ke4 Ke6 39. Rd5 Nc5+ 40. Ke3 Nb7 41. Kd2 Kf7 42. Kc3 g6 43. hxg6+ Kxg6 44. Ng3 Rf7 45. b4 Kg5 46. Rd3 Kf4 47. Nh5+ Kg5 48. Rd5 Kh4 49. c5 bxc5 50. bxc5 f5 51. Rxe5 fxg4 52. fxg4 Kxg4 53. Kd4 Nd8 54. Kd5 Rd7+ 55. Kc4 Rf7 56. Kd5 Rd7+ 57. Kc4 ½ : ½ 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 周唯奇 (Zhōu Wéiqí), 40th Chinese Chess Championship, 兴化 (Xīnghuà) 2009. 17. ... a5. It was worth considering 17. ... Rfd8 Δ 18. Rhg1 Ng4= (Dautov’s analysis). 18. Ne5 a4 19. f3 Qa5 20. c4 Qa6? This is really too slow. Grandmaster Zenón Franco Ocampos suggests 20. ... a3 21. b3 Rad8 (idem to say 21. ... Rfd8) eventually followed by ... Nf6-d7. 21. g4 a3. If 21. ... Nd5 then 22. Bd2 with clear advantage to White. 22. b3 b5. After 22. ... Nh7 23. g5!? (23. f4) 23. ... Nxg5 24. Rhg1 Bf6 25. Qg2! White’s attack is easy and powerful. 23. g5! hxg5 24. Qc2! bxc4 25. h6! cxb3 26. axb3 g6

27. Nxg6!+− Bb4 28. h7+! Kg7. If 28. ... Nxh7 then 29. Ne7+ Kg7 30. Qxh7+ Kf6 31. Bxg5+! Kxg5 32. Qh6 mate. 29. Nxf8 a2+ 30. Ka1 Rxf8 31. Bxg5 Nd5. Black is doomed: 31. ... Qa5 (Δ ... Bb4-c3+) 32. Bxf6+ Kxf6 33. Rh6+ Kg7 (33. ... Ke7 34. Rc1+−) 34. h8=Q+! Rxh8 35. Qg2+ and finis. 32. Bh6+! Kh8 33. Rdg1 1 : 0.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (left) vs. Marsel Efroimski (right). Photo © Anastasia Karlovich

The Peppermint Queen

Elina Danielian – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
17th European Women’s Chess Club Cup; Eilat, October 13, 2012
English Opening A30

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 e6 6. 0-0 Be7 7. b3 0-0 8. Bb2 d6 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Bxg2 11. Kxg2 Qd7 12. e3 Nc6 13. Nxc6 Qxc6+ 14. Qf3 Rfc8 15. Rfd1 a6 16. Rd2 Rab8 17. Rc1 Kf8 18. Ba3 Qxf3+ 19. Kxf3 Rc6 20. Ne2 Rbc8 21. Rcd1 d5 22. Bxe7+ Kxe7 23. cxd5 Nxd5 24. Nf4 Nc3 25. Rd7+ Ke8

26. R1d2. The temporary surrender of a Pawn by 26. R1d6! Nxa2 27. Rd8+ Rxd8 28. Rxc6 Rb8 29. Nd3 a5 40. Ke2 would allow White to equalise the game. After the text Black gradually tightens her grip until she gains a Pawn. 26. ... e5 27. Nh3 Rh6 28. Ng5 Rf6+ 29. Kg2 h6 30. Nh3 Ne4

31. Rd1. 31. R2d5 Re6 32. Ra7 g5 33. g4 h5! is also bad for White. 31. ... g5 32. R7d5 Re6 33. g4. Or 33. f3 Nc3 34. Rc1 Nxd5 35. Rxc8+ Kd7 winning a Pawn anyway. 31. ... Nf6 34. Rd6 Ke7 35. R6d2 Nxg4 36. Rd7+ Kf8 37. R1d6 Rc6 38. Rxe6 Rxe6 39. Ng1 Nf6 40. Ra7 a5 41. Ne2 Kg7 42. Ng3 Kg6 43. e4 h5 44. f3 Rc6 45. Rb7 g4 46. fxg4 hxg4 47. a3 Nh7 48. h4 gxh3+ 49. Kxh3 Ng5+ 50. Kg2 f6 51. b4 a4 52. b5 Rc2+ 53. Kf1 Rc3 54. Kg2 Rxa3 55. Rxb6 Rb3 56. Ra6 Rb4 57. Nf5 Rb2+ 58. Kg1 Nxe4 59. Ne7+ Kf7 60. Nf5 Rxb5 61. Rxa4 Ke6 62. Ne3 Rb1+ 63. Kg2 Rb2+ 64. Kg1 Nc5 65. Ra8 Re2 66. Ng2 Ne4 67. Kf1 Ng3+ 68. Kg1 f5 69. Ra6+ Kd5 70. Ra5+ Kd4 71. Ra3 Ne4 72. Nh4 Nd6 73. Kf1 Rb2 74. Ra6 Kd5 75. Ra5+ Ke6 76. Nf3 Rb5 77. Ra6 Kd5 78. Ra4 e4 79. Nd4 Rb1+ 80. Kf2 f4 81. Ne2 Ke5 82. Ra5+ Rb5 83. Ra2 f3 84. Nc3 Rc5 85. Nd1 Nf5 86. Rb2 Kf4 87. Ra2 e3+ 88. Ke1 Rc1 89. Ra4+ Ke5 0 : 1.

Lavender and peppermint tea. Photo: Mark Livshitz.

Alpha Girl

Betül Cemre Yıldız – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
16th European Women’s Chess Club Cup; Rogaška Slatina, September 26, 2011
Sicilian Defence B27

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Bd3?! Bg7 6. c4 Nc6. As a consequence of her uninspired opening play, White got herself into an unfavorable Maróczy Bind. 7. Ne2 Ne5 8. Nbc3 d6 9. 0-0 0-0 10. b3 Bd7! A cool novelty. An earlier game between two dei minores continued, in Benkö’s style, 10. ... Nxd3 11. Qxd3 b5!? 12. cxb5 a6 13. Bb2 axb5 14. Nxb5 Ba6 15. a4 Qb8 with controversial claims for compensation, Schwab – Hölzl, 47th Austrian Chess Championship, Hartberg 2004. 11. Kh1 a6

12. Nd4? The beginning of the end. 12. a4! was called for, and after 12. ... b5!? 13. axb5 axb5 14. Rxa8 Qxa8 15. cxb5 Rb8 Black should regain her pawn with comfortable equality. 12. ... b5! 13. cxb5. Of course White cannot take the Pawn with neither of the two Knights because of 12. ... Nxe4! with overwhelming effect. 12. ... Nxd3 14. Qxd3 axb5 15. Bb2 b4 16. Nd5. This loses a Pawn (even if not by force), but 16. Nd1 Ra5! eventually followed by ... Qd8-a8 is also hopeless. 16. ... Nxd5 17. exd5 Ra5 18. Qe4 Re8 19. a3 bxa3 20. Rxa3 Rxa3 21. Bxa3 f5 22. Qe3 Qa5 23. Bb2 Qxd5 24. Rc1 e5 25. Nf3 Be6 26. Nd2 Qb7 27. Ra1 Rc8 28. Qd3 Bd5 29. f3

29. ... e4! 0 : 1.

Through the Lens

Playing for the Cercle d’Échecs de Monte-Carlo at the 16th European Women’s Chess Club Cup held in Rogaška Slatina, Slovenia from September 25 to October 1, 2011, Women’s World Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) not only made the best score on first board (+4 −2), but she has also dabbled with taking pictures. Photo: Uroš Hočevar.