The Day Before Tomorrow

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
14th European Women’s Team Chess Championship; Terme Čatež, November 20, 2021
Spanish Game C67

Particularly after yesterday’s débâcle in the men’s field against Ukraine, the wounded Russian bear pinned its hopes of redemption on today’s women’s High Noon. Especially significant is the presence of Muzychuk, the older of the two sisters, on the first board of Ukraine. In accordance with the official regulations she was hastily called to replace former Women’s World Champion Anna Yuriyivna Ushenina who resulted positive for COVID-19, thus taking the occasion to issue an impromptu challenge to world’s No. 2 woman and three-time Russian Women’s Champion Goryachkina.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6. So there will not be a blood bath but only a theoretical confrontation. 4. 0-0 Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Ke8 10. Nc3 h5 11. Bf4 Be7 12. Rad1 Nh4. Likewise 12. ... Be6 13. Ng5 Rh6 14. g3 Bxg5 15. Bxg5 Rg6 16. h4 f6 17. exf6 gxf6 18. Bf4 Nxh4 19. f3 Rd8 20. Rde1 (or 20. Kf2 Rxd1 21. Nxd1 Nf5 22. Rh1 Bxa2 23. Rxh5 Be6 24. g4 Nd6 25. Rh7 Nf7 26. Ne3 Kd8 27. Nf5 c5 28. Ng3⩲ Carlsen – Anand, Sochi 2014, World Chess Championship match game 7) 20. ... Kd7 21. Rd1+ Ke8 22. Rxd8+ Kxd8 23. Kf2 Nf5 24. b3 b6 25. Rh1 Ng7 26. Ne2 Bf7 27. c4 a5 28. a4 Ne6 29. Rxh5 Rg8 30. Rh6 Rg6 should be holdable for Black, Motylev – Goryachkina, 22nd Russian Team Chess Championship Premiere League, Sochi 2015. 13. Nd4. The blessed alternative is 13. Nxh4 Bxh4 14. Rfe1 Be6 15. Ne4 Rd8 16. Nc5 Ra8 17. Ne4 Rd8 18. Nc5 Rxd1 19. Rxd1 Bc8 20. e6 Bd8 21. Re1 Be7 22. exf7+ Kxf7 23. Ne4 Bd8 24. Ng5+ Bxg5 25. Bxg5 Re8 26. Rxe8 Kxe8 27. Bf4 Bf5 28. c3 Kd7 29. Kh2 c5 30. Kg3 Bb1 31. a3 c6 32. Bb8 a5 33. Kf4 Ke6 34. Kg5 g6 35. g4 hxg4 36. hxg4 a4 37. f4 Bd3 38. Ba7 c4 39. Bd4 b5 40. Bf2 Bc2 41. Be3 Bd3 42. Bd4 ½ : ½ 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Harika, 16th Asian Games — Women’s Individual Rapid Chess, 广州 (Guǎngzhōu) 2010 (time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move). 13. ... Nf5 14. Nf3 Nh4 15. Nd4 Nf5 16. Nce2 g5 17. Bh2

17. ... Rh6. Quite dubious is 17. ... a6 18. e6 Nd6 19. Rfe1 Rh6 20. exf7+ Kxf7 21. Nf3 g4 22. Ne5+ Kg7 23. Bf4 Rh7 24. hxg4 hxg4 25. Ng3 Bf6 26. Nd3 Nf5 27. Ne4 Be7 28. Bxc7 Be6 29. Nf4 Bf7 30. Rd7 Re8 31. Ng5 Rh6 32. Be5+ Kg8 33. Nxf7 Kxf7 34. Bc3 g3 35. Re5 gxf2+ 36. Kxf2 Nd6 37. Bb4 Nc8 38. Rxb7 Rh4 39. Bxe7 Rxf4+ 40. Ke3 1 : 0 Vachier-Lagrave – Caruana, 42nd Biel International Chess Festival, Biel/Bienne 2009. Instead 17. ... Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Rh6 can present similarities with the actual game: 19. Rfe1 Bc5 20. e6 Bxe6 21. Nxe6 Rxe6 22. Rxe6+ fxe6 23. Bxc7 Ke7 24. g4 Rf8 25. gxh5 Rh8 26. b4 Bxb4 27. Rb1 a5 28. a3 Bxa3 29. Rxb7 Rxh5 30. Bxa5+ Kd6 31. Kg2 Bc1 32. Bc7+ Kd5 33. Bg3 c5 34. Rf7 Rh8 35. Rd7+ Kc4 36. Rd6 Rh6 37. Rd3 Bf4 38. h4 Rh7 39. Bxf4 gxf4 40. Kh3 e5 41. f3 Rg7 42. h5 Rg3+ 43. Kh4 e4 44. fxe4 Rxd3 45. cxd3+ Kxd3 ½ : ½ Caruana – Jakovenko, 32nd French Team Chess Championship, Mulhouse 2011. 18. Nxf5. For what it is worth, White managed to turn the ending to his advantage after 18. Rfe1 a6 19. Nxf5 Bxf5 20. Nd4 Be6 21. Nxe6 Rxe6 22. g4 hxg4 23. hxg4 c5 24. c3 c4? (⌓ 24. ... a5! 25. Kg2 a4 26. a3 Rb6 27. Re2 Rd8 looks tenable for Black) 25. Kg2 b5 26. Kf3 Rb8 27. Bg3 Rh6 28. Ke4 b4 29. Rd4 bxc3 30. bxc3 Rb2 31. Rxc4 c5 32. Ra4 Kd7 33. Rd1+ Kc8 34. Ke3 Rc2 35. Kd3 Rb2 36. Rd2 Rxd2+ 37. Kxd2 Rb6 38. Kc2 Kd7 39. Re4 Ke6 40. Re1 Rb5 41. a4 Ra5 42. Re4 Kd5 43. f3 c4 44. Rd4+ Kc5 45. Bf2 Kc6 46. Rxc4+ Kd5 47. Re4 Ke6 48. Kb3 Rxe5 49. Bd4 Rxe4 50. fxe4 Kd6 51. c4 Kc6 52. e5 Bd8 53. Kc3 Kd7 54. Kb4 Kc6 55. Kc3 Kd7 56. Kd3 Ke6 57. Ke4 Bc7 58. c5 Bb8 59. c6 Bc7 60. Bc3 Bb6 61. Bd2 Bd8 62. Be3 Bc7 63. Bxg5 Bxe5 64. Bf4 Bc3 65. c7 Kd7 66. Kf5 Bd4 67. Be5 1 : 0 Karjakin – Aronian, 2nd SportAccord World Mind Games, Men’s Blitz Tournament, 北京 (Běijīng) 2012. 18. ... Bxf5 19. Nd4 Bd7 20. f4

20. ... gxf4. Apparently a new move, but it is also sooner or later inevitable: 20. ... c5 21. Ne2 Rd8 22. c4 Bc6 (⌓ 22. ... gxf4!) 23. b3 (⌓ 23. f5!) 23. ... gxf4 24. Rxd8+ Bxd8 25. Bxf4 Rg6 26. g3 b5 27. Be3 bxc4 28. bxc4 Bd7 29. Kg2 Ra6 30. Nc3 Ra3 31. Rc1 Be7 32. Rc2 Bf5 33. Bc1 Bxc2 34. Bxa3 Bd3 35. Nd5 Bxc4 36. Nxe7 Kxe7 37. Bxc5+ Ke6 38. Bxa7 Bxa2 39. Kf3 Kxe5 40. Bb8 Bd5+ 41. Ke3 Kd6 42. h4 Kc6 43. Ba7 Be6 ½ : ½ Rasmussen – Glud, 89th Danish Chess Championship, Hillerød 2010. 21. Bxf4 Rg6 22. e6 Bxe6 23. Nxe6 fxe6 24. Bxc7 Rc8 25. Be5 Rd8. Now a simplification follows, which helps Black to get what she wants. 26. Rxd8+ Bxd8 27. Bd4 a6 28. Bc5 Be7 29. Bxe7 Kxe7 30. Rf4 Rg5 31. Kf2 Rb5 32. b3 Ra5 33. a4 Rc5

34. Rc4 (34. c4 b5=) 34. ... Rf5+. It is worth noting that after 34. ... Rxc4?? 35. bxc4 the Pawn ending is lost for Black because of the possibility for White to create a passed Pawn on the Kingside. 35. Ke3 Re5+ 36. Re4 Rg5 37. g4 hxg4 38. hxg4 Kf6 39. Rf4+ Ke7 40. Kf3 e5 41. Re4 Ke6 42. Re2 Rg7 43. Rg2 a5 44. Ke4 Rg5 45. Kf3 ½ : ½. And finally, thanks to the victories on second and fourth boards, Russian women’s team won both its eighth match in a row and the European Team Championship with one round to spare.

Both Goryachkina and Muzychuk will bring forward their challenge to the reigning Champ in the next Women’s Candidates Tournament which is scheduled to be held in the first half of 2022. Photo: ECU Press.

Plusminus

Gunay Vugar qizi Mammadzada – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
14th European Women’s Team Chess Championship; Terme Čatež, November 19, 2021
French Defence C07

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 cxd4 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. 0-0 Nf6 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 Be7 11. c3 0-0 12. Qf3 Qc7 13. Bb3 a5 14. a4 Bd7 15. Re1 Qb6 16. Bf4TN (16. Bg5 Rfe8 17. Rab1 Rad8 18. Bc2 Nd5 19. h4 Bc6 20. Bxe7 Rxe7 21. Qg3 Red7 22. Re2 Nf6 23. Rbe1 h6 24. Qf4 Rd5 25. Qg3 Kh8 26. Bb3 R5d7 27. Re5 Rxd4 28. cxd4 Rxd4 29. R5e3 Qd8 30. Qh3 Nh5 31. g3 Nf6 32. Qf1 Ng4 33. Rc3 Qb6 34. Rd1 Rb4 35. Bc2 Rxb2 36. Qe2 f5 37. Rc4 Rb4 38. Rxb4 axb4 39. Bb3 Be4 40. a5 Qxa5 41. Bxe6 Ne5 42. Bb3 Kh7 43. h5 Qb6 44. Qa2 Nf3+ 45. Kf1 Nh2+ 46. Kg1 Nf3+ 47. Kf1 Nh2+ ½ : ½ Samusenko – Shimanov, 74th Russian Championship Higher League, Cheboksary 2021) 16. ... Rac8 17. Be5 Rfd8 18. Qh3 Ne8. Very interesting is the engines’ suggestion 18. ... Rc5 on which there can follow 19. Bc2!? (19. Qg3 Nh5=) 19. ... Qxb2 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Qxh7+ Kf8 22. Nf5 Rxf5 23. Bxf5 Qxc3∞ with unclear play. 19. Re3 Bf6 20. f4 Bc6 21. Rf1 h6

22. f5!↑ Bd5 23. fxe6 Bxb3

24. Nxb3. An automatic move, which however may be a perceptible loss of time. Critical is 24. Bxf6 Nxf6 25. Rxf6! Bxe6 (the only move as 25. ... gxf6?? is demolished by 26. e7 Re8 27. Nf5+− and 25. ... fxe6?? by 26. Rg3!+−) 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. Qxe6+ Qxe6 28. Rfxe6 simplifying to a Rooks ending a Pawn up — which indeed would be hardly winnable for White. 24. ... Qxb3 25. Bxf6 Nxf6 26. e7 Re8

27. Rxf6! Rc7! The best and only move, as Black could not play 27. ... gxf6?? because of 28. Rg3+ Kh7 29. Qf5+ followed by mate in two. On the other hand, if the Queen abandoned the diagonal a2-g8, White would just take the f7-Pawn with the Rook. 28. Rf1. If 28. Rxh6 Black replies 28. ... Qd1+ 29. Kf2 Qd2+ drawing by perpetual check. 28. ... Rcxe7 29. Rxe7 Rxe7 30. Qc8+ Kh7 31. Qf5+ g6 32. Qxa5 Qxb2. Now that the dust has settled, it seems that the time has come for a draw. 33. Qc5 Qe2 34. h3 Rd7 35. Qf8 Qe3+ 36. Kh1 Qe6 37. Qb4 Kg7 38. Qf4 h5 39. Qg3 Qe4 40. Qf4 Qe6 41. Qg3 Rd5 42. Qc7 Rd7 43. Qg3 Rd5 44. Qc7 Rd7 ½ : ½.

The ponytail challenge was a hard fought draw in forty-four moves. Photo: ECU Press.

Blackbird

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Stavroula Tsolakidou
14th European Women’s Team Chess Championship; Terme Čatež, November 18, 2021
Slav Defence D10

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Bf4 Nc6 5. e3 Nf6 6. Nc3 a6 7. Be2 Bf5 8. Nf3 e6 9. Qb3 Bd6. Tsolakidou might now regret her opening choice since Goryachkina plays it well with both colours: 9. ... Ra7 10. 0-0 Be7 11. h3 0-0 12. Rfc1 Nd7 13. Na4 h6 14. Bg3 Bg6 15. Ne1 Na5 16. Qd1 b5 17. Nc3 Nc4 18. b3 Nd6 19. Bd3 Nf5 20. Bh2 Ba3 21. Rc2 Ra8 22. Ne2 Nf6 23. Nf3 Ne7 24. Ne5 Bd6 25. Qd2 a5 26. Nc3 Bb4 27. a3 Bxd3 28. Qxd3 Bxc3 29. Rxc3 Ne4 30. Nc6 Nxc6 31. Rxc6 b4 32. axb4 axb4 33. Rf1 Ra2 34. Rc2 Ra3 35. Rc6 Qa8 36. Rcc1 Ra2 37. Rc2 Rc8 38. Rxc8+ Qxc8 39. f3 Nd2 40. Rd1 Qc3 41. Qe2 Rc2 42. Bd6 Nc4 43. Bxb4 Qb2 0 : 1 翟墨 (Zhái Mò) – Goryachkina, 11th China–Russia Summit Women, 秦皇岛 (Qínhuángdǎo) 2018. 10. Bxd6 (10. Qxb7? Na5 11. Qxa8 Qa8 12. Bxd6 Nc4∓) 10. ... Qxd6 11. Qxb7 0-0 12. Qb3. Clearly not 12. Bxa6?? on account of 12. ... Rab8 (or 12. ... Rfb8) winning the Queen. 12. ... Rfb8 13. Qa3 Qxa3 14. bxa3 Na7 15. a4 (15. Bxa6 Ne4) 15. ... Nc6. After 15. ... Ne4 16. Nxe4 Bxe4 17. Nd2 Bc2 18. Nb3 Bxb3 19. axb3 Rxb3 20. Bxa6 Nc6 21. Be2 Rb2 22. Bd1 Nb4 23. 0-0 Na2 Black’s position appears to fully compensate for the Pawn, Gledura – Ali Marandi, 18th European Individual Chess Championship, Minsk 2017. That would have been Black’s best hope of saving the day — unless of course Goryachkina had something ready to object. 16. 0-0 Rb2 17. Rfc1 h6. Tsolakidou’s novelty does not improve the assessment of the probable outcome of the game. Theory contemplated 17. ... Nb4 18. a3 Nd3 19. Bxd3 Bxd3 20. Ne5 Bf5 21. a5 g5 22. Na4 Rb5 23. Nb6 Rb8 24. a4 Rb2 25. Rc7 Bg6 26. Ra7 g4 27. Rxa6 Ne4 28. Nxg4 h5 29. Ne5 Nxf2 30. Nxg6 fxg6 31. Ra8 Rxa8 32. Nxa8 Ng4 33. a6 Nxe3 34. Nc7 1 : 0 Hera – Bobras, 35th German Schach Bundesliga, Dortmund 2014. 18. h3 g5 19. Bf1 Nb4 20. a3 Nd3 21. Bxd3 Bxd3 22. Ne5 Bc2 23. a5 Ne8

24. Ra2. Goryachkina proceeds to convert her material and strategic advantages with irreproachable technique. 24. ... Rxa2 25. Nxa2 Ba4 26. Nc3 Rc8 27. Nd3 Bb3 28. Nc5 Bc4 29. Rb1 e5 30. Rb6 Kg7 31. g4 Nf6 32. f3 Rc7 33. Kf2 h5 34. Nd1

34. ... Re7?! This allows White to liquidate into a Knight vs. Bishop ending with two Pawns up. On the other hand after 34. ... hxg4 35. hxg4 e4 36. Nb2 Bb5 37. a4 Bd7 38. Kg3 exf3 39. Nbd3! Bc8 40. Nf2 the temporary restoration of material equality is no reason for consolation since Black’s ending looks bad in any case. 35. dxe5 Rxe5 36. Rxf6 Kxf6 37. Nd7+ Ke6 38. Nxe5 Kxe5 39. gxh5 Kf6 40. Kg3 Kg7 41. Kg4 Kh6 42. Nc3 Bb3 43. h4 gxh4 44. Kxh4 f5 45. Ne2 Ba4 46. Nd4 Bd7 47. f4 Bc8 48. Nc6 Bd7 49. Nb4 Bc8 50. Nxd5 Bb7 51. Nf6 Ba8 52. Ng8+ Kg7 53. Ne7 Kf6

54. h6! 1 : 0.

Goryachkina continues to show confidence in the future of her ambitions. Photo: ECU Press.

Cheerio

Olga Anatolyevna Zimina – Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina
14th European Women’s Team Chess Championship; Terme Čatež, November 16, 2021
Caro-Kann Defence B10

1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Qe2 Nxe4 (5. ... Nbd7?? 6. Nd6# 1 : 0 Keres – Arłamowski, 1st Przepiórka Memorial, Szczawno Zdrój 1950) 6. Qxe4 Nd7. 6. ... Qa5 7. Bc4 Bf5 8. Qe2 e6 9. Ne5 Be7 10. c3 Bf6 11. d4 Bxe5 12. dxe5 Nd7 also seems reasonable for Black, Gunina – Goryachkina, Women’s Candidates Tournament, Kazan 2019. 7. Bc4 Nf6 8. Ne5 e6 9. Qe2 b5 10. Bd3 Qc7 11. b3. Gunina had bad experience with this Caro-Kann variation against Stefanova at Gibraltar’s rock: 11. 0-0 Bd6 12. f4 Nd5 13. g3 0-0 14. a3 Bb7 15. Nf3 Rae8 16. b3 e5 17. fxe5 Bxe5 18. Nxe5 Rxe5 19. Qg2 c5 20. Bb2 Re6 21. Qh3 g6?! (21. ... Rg6! 22. c4 bxc4 23. bxc4 f5! 24. cxd5 c4 25. Bxf5 Qc5+! 26. Rf2 Qxd5∞) 22. Qh6 f6 23. Bxb5 Nb6?! (⌓ 23. ... Qe7) 24. Rae1! Rxe1 25. Rxe1 c4 26. Qe3 Bd5 27. Qe7 Qxe7 28. Rxe7 cxb3 29. cxb3 Bxb3 30. Rxa7 Rd8 31. Bc3 Nc4 32. Bd7 Nb6 33. Bh3 Rd6 34. Ra6 Bc4 35. Bb4 Rc6 36. Ra7 Bd3 37. Bg2 Re6 38. Bf3 g5 39. Kf2 f5 40. Bh5 Rf6 41. Bc3 Nd5 42. Bxf6 Nxf6 43. Bf3 h5 44. a4 h4 45. a5 g4 46. Bb7 f4 47. gxf4 Bc4 48. a6 Nh5 49. Ra8+ Kg7 50. a7 g3+ 51. hxg3 hxg3+ 52. Kg2 1 : 0 Stefanova – Gunina, FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2019–21, 4th stage, Catalan Bay 2021. 11. ... Bd6 12. Bb2 Nd5 13. 0-0 0-0 14. Qh5!?TN (14. c4 Nf4 15. Qe3 Nxd3 16. Nxd3 bxc4 17. bxc4 Bxh2+ 18. Kh1 Bd6 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Qg5+ Kh8 21. Qf6+ Kg8 22. Qg5+ Kh8 23. Qf6+ Kg8 24. Qg5+ Kh8 25. Qf6+ ½ : ½ Ibarra Jerez – Asís Gargatagli, 84th Spanish Chess Championship, Marbella 2019) 14. ... g6

15. Ng4! White claims the initiative — even if only psychologically — by means of a flashy Queen pseudo-sacrifice. 15. ... e5 (15. ... gxh5?? 16. Nh6#) 16. Qh4 Bxg4 17. Qxg4 f5 18. Qh4 Rae8 19. a4! A timely move, aiming at taking command of either the diagonal a2-g8 or the a-file. 19. ... a6 20. axb5 axb5 21. c4

21. ... Be7?! Gunina ends up by going astray by opting for an unnecessary and probably unsound Pawn sacrifice. Correct was 21. ... Nf4! 22. cxb5 Nxd3 23. Qc4+ Rf7 24. Qxd3 e4! regaining the Pawn with approximate equality. 22. Qg3 Nf4?! Making things decidedly worse. 22. ... e4 23. cxd5 Qxg3 24. hxg3 exd3 25. dxc6 Bb4 was a much better version of the Pawn sac, as Black can still hope to find some compensation. 23. cxb5 cxb5 24. Bxb5 Rb8 25. Ba6. Maybe Black was hoping for 25. Bc4+?? Qxc4! turning the tables, but no. The endgame is just too high a mountain for Gunina to climb. 25. ... Bf6 26. Qc3 Qd6. Of course, after the exchange of Queens, Black cannot take on b3 because of the Bishop check at c4. 27. Bc4+ Kh8 28. Ra6 Rb6 29. Rxb6 Qxb6 30. Ra1 Qb7 31. Qf3 Qb8. The ending without Queens — and down a Pawn — does not offer Black any drawing chances either. 32. Qc6 Bg7 33. Bc3 Rc8 34. Qd7 Rd8 35. Qe7 Re8 36. Qf7 Rf8 37. Qa7 Qd8 38. Qb7 h5 39. Ra7 Qf6

40. Qxg7+! This is one of those lucky cases where the 40th move is a strong one! 40. ... Qxg7 41. Rxg7 Kxg7 42. Bxe5+ Kh6 43. Bxf4+ g5 44. Be5 Rd8 45. h4 Rxd2 46. hxg5+ Kxg5 47. g3 Kg4 48. Kg2 h4 49. gxh4 Rc2 50. Bf6 Rd2 51. Bg5 Rc2 52. Bd5 (Δ Bd5-f3#) 52. ... Kh5 53. Bf7+ Kg4 54. b4 Rb2 55. b5 f4 56. Be6+ Kh5 57. Bd7 Rd2 58. Bc6 Rb2 59. Kf3 Kg6 60. Bxf4 Kh5 61. Be3 Rc2 62. Be4 Rb2 63. b6 Rb3 64. b7 Kxh4 65. Kg2 1 : 0.

Two-time Italian Women’s Chess Champion Zimina’s sensational victory over Gunina was not enough, however, as Russia eventually defeated Italy 2½ – 1½. Photo: ECU Press.

Treasure hunting

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Elisabeth Pähtz
14th European Women’s Team Chess Championship; Terme Čatež, November 14, 2021
Bogo-Indian Defence E11

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 a5 5. g3 d5 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. a3 Be7 8. Qa4+ Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Nc3 0-0 11. Qd3. Not surprisingly at all, Goryachkina is at her ease in Karpov’s shoes: 11. 0-0 Nbd7 12. Qd3 b6 13. Rac1 Bb7 14. Bf4 c5 15. Rfd1 cxd4 16. Nxd4 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Rc8 18. Ncb5 e5 19. Rxc8 Qxc8 20. Nf5 Bc5 21. Bg5 Qc6+ 22. f3 Qe6 23. Nc7 Qc6 24. Nd5 Qe6 25. e4 g6 26. Nfe3 Kg7 27. b4 axb4 28. axb4 Bd4 29. Nc2 Nxd5 30. exd5 Qxd5 31. Nxd4 exd4 32. Qxd4+ Qxd4 33. Rxd4 Ne5 34. Rd6 Nc4 35. Bf6+ Kg8 36. Rc6 b5 37. Rc5 Rb8 38. g4 h6 39. h4 Nd6 40. Rc6 Ne8 41. Be5 Rd8 42. Rc5 Rd2+ 43. Kg3 f6 44. Bf4 g5 45. Bxd2 1 : 0 Karpov – Édouard, 3rd Karpov Trophy Blitz, Cap d’Agde 2014 (time control: 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move). 11. ... b6 12. 0-0 Bb7 13. Ne5 Bxg2. Perhaps 13. ... Qc8 might have been considered here, hoping for something better than what she’s going to get. 14. Kxg2 Nfd7 15. Qf3. Black now suffers some difficulty in finding a good place for her Queen’s Rook, to the detriment of her whole development.

15. ... Ra6 16. Rfd1 Qe8 17. Bf4 Bd6 18. Nxd7 Qxd7 19. Rac1 a4 20. e4 Bxf4 21. Qxf4 Ra5

22. d5! Na6 23. dxe6 Qxe6 24. Rd5 Rc5 25. Rxc5. Goryachkina goes in for the gain of a Pawn, which perhaps could be delayed in favour of a more consolidating policy: 25. Rcd1 with powerful advantage. 25. ... Nxc5 26. Qxc7 Rc8? This naïve mistake causes Black insurmountable problems. 26. ... f5! was better in order to seek compensation by opening the f-file.

27. Rd1! The threat of back rank mate makes the White Queen immune to capture as White takes command of the d-file with decisive effect. 27. ... f6 28. Rd8+ Rxd8 29. Qxd8+ Kf7 30. Qd5 Ke7. After 30. ... Qxd5 31. exd5 the Pawn down Knight ending is completely hopeless for Black. 31. Qd4 h5? This loses another Pawn, in an already lost position. 32. Nxa4 Nxe4 33. Nxb6 h4 34. Nd5+ Kf8 35. Nf4 h3+ 36. Nxh3 Qc6 37. f3 1 : 0.

And, who knows, maybe inspired by the high teaching of the Living Goddess, three-time Russian Women’s Chess Champion Goryachkina continues, slowly but inexorably, to pursue the mountain’s stony edge. Photo: ECU Press.

It’s amazing what chocolate can do!

• Марія Музичук пропустила чемпіонат Європи через борги міністерства молоді та спорту України | Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk didn’t take part in the European Women’s Team Chess Championship because of the unpaid debts of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, galinfo.com.ua, November 9, 2017

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk didn’t take part in the European Women’s Team Chess Championship because of the unpaid debts of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine The renowned Ukrainian chess player Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk didn’t take part in the European Women’s Team Chess Championship because of the unpaid debts of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine. Thus spoke Natalia Muzychuk, Mariya Olehivna’s mother and manager, at a press conference held on November 9. “The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine has a debt to Mariya Olehivna for the Women’s World Chess Championship match she played with 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) of China in Lviv”, says Natalia Muzychuk. “Frankly speaking, we can even close our eyes on the debt, but we’d like to encourage a different attitude towards us. Whereas other sports, not as prestigious for Ukraine’s image as chess, earn much respect from officials and institutions, well, the situation is clearly not good for chess. Mariya Olehivna will continue to represent the national team of Ukraine, but we want our players to be given the right conditions for training. Unfortunately, our players usually go abroad for competitions at their own expense. For example, when Anna Olehivna flew to Iran for the Knockout Women’s World Chess Championship Tournament, she had to buy her only way ticket and then pay one day at a time. Unfortunately, for all the 25 days Anna Olehivna spent there, no one ever called her from the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine. In any other country, for such an attitude towards a country’s top athlete, the Minister of Sports would give his resignation. Another complication is that the Ministry throws all responsibilities on the Ukrainian Chess Federation, and the Federation in turn gives all the blame to the Ministry. And that’s enough, regardless of the fact that Mariya Olehivna traveled on her own for the Knockout Women’s World Chess Championship Tournament in Krasnaya Polyana, and after victory she received a prize of only ₴25,000 hryven’”, Natalia Muzychuk said.

(Free translation by Nobody’s Perfect)

If nothing else, Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk (pictured third from left) appeared free of charge at Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport on November 7, 2017 just to welcome her sister Anna Olehivna (pictured first from right) coming back from Crete, where the Ukrainian women’s team won bronze medal. Photo: loda.gov.ua.

Longest path problem

Elena Sedina – Elena-Luminița Radu-Cosma
12th European Women’s Team Chess Championship; Hersonissos, November 5, 2017
8/4R2K/4np2/1N1pk3/1P5P/2P3r1/8/8 w - - 0 123

Position after 122. ... Rg8xg3

Women’s Italian and Rumanian teams eventually equalised (2 – 2), and we cannot but feel a little regret at the half-point lost by International Master Elena Sedina, who, after working very hard (and very well) on “bringing home the bacon”, did not guess her lucky number at the very end. The diagram shows the critical moment, when White, after 122 moves, is finally on the verge of making the sting. White to move and win a piece: 123. Nc7? Oh, no! With forty seconds left, and maybe tired, Sedina plays the apparent “dual”, instead of 123. Nd4 Rxc3 124. Nxe6 Kd6 125. Nf4! (perhaps the move overlooked) which would have actually won a piece and the game (125. ... Rf3 126. Re6+ Kd7 127. Rxf6+−). 123. ... Kd6 124. Rxe6+ Kxc7. White can’t believe her luck: she didn’t get the piece and the Rook endgame is theoretically drawn. 125. h5 Rxc3 126. h6. 126. Kg6 Rh3 also leads to a draw. 126. ... Rg3 127. Rxf6 d4 128. b5 d3 129. b6+ Kb7 130. Rd6 Ka6 131. Kh8 Kb7 132. h7 Ka6 133. Rxd3 ½ : ½.

Toblerone

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk – Marina Brunello
12th European Women’s Team Chess Championship; Hersonissos, November 4, 2017
Sicilian Defence B94

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Bc4 Qb6. Brunello’s hard fashion, playing à la the Poisoned Pawn. 8. Bb3 e6 9. a4 Qa5 10. Qd2 Be7 11. f3 Nc5. The alternative subject-matter-of-study is 11. ... h6 12. Be3 Nc5 13. Ba2 Qb4 14. 0-0 Bd7 15. a5 Bd8 16. Nde2 Bc7 17. Rfd1 Rd8 18. Qe1 e5 19. Qg3 Kf8 20. Nd5 Nxd5 21. Bxd5 Be6 22. b3 Rb8 23. Qf2 b6 24. Bd2 Qb5 25. Nc3 Qe8 26. b4 Nd7 27. Be3 Qc8 28. Rd3 bxa5 29. bxa5 Kg8 30. Bxe6 fxe6 31. Na4 Bxa5 32. Rxd6 Bb4 33. Rd3 Kh7 34. Rad1 Rb7 35. c3 Be7 36. Qd2 Nf6 37. Qf2 Nd7 38. Qd2 Nf6 39. Qf2 ½ : ½ Potkin – Sorokin, 70th Russian Chess Championship, Sochi 2017. 12. Ba2 0-0 13. 0-0 Qc7 14. a5 b5 15. axb6 Qxb6 16. Be3 Qc7 17. Rfd1 Rb8 18. Rab1 Bb7 19. Qf2 Rfc8 20. Qg3 Nh5 21. Qh3 Nf6 22. Nce2 a5 23. Nb5 Qb6 24. Nbc3 Qc7 25. Nf4. Kosteniuk avoids repetition of moves, although objectively she does not have any substantial advantage. 25. ... Ba8 26. Kh1 Re8 27. Rd2 Bf8 28. Qh4 Ncd7 29. Qf2 Ne5 30. Qf1 Qc6 31. Bb3 Rb4! 32. Rd4 Nfd7 33. Ba4 Qb7 34. Nb5 Rc8 35. c3 Rxd4 36. cxd4 Nc4 37. Bc1 Ncb6. Brunello played very well so far (and maybe she’s even got the upper hand), but she also ran short of time. 38. Bb3 a4 39. Ba2 Qa6 40. Bd2

40. ... e5? After thinking for about 3 of her 3 minutes and 30 seconds, Brunello pushes the wrong Pawn, frittering away a game well played. Instead, the thematic 40. ... d5! would have earned Black a perfectly satisfactory game, to say the least. 41. Bxf7+! Kosteniuk’s first move after time control is a lucky one, and it must have been completely overlooked by her opponent. 41. ... Kxf7. Black is forced to give up the Queen as 41. ... Kh8?? 42. Ng6+! hxg6 43. g4 would lead to mate in a very few moves. 42. Nxd6+ Bxd6 43. Qxa6 exf4 44. Ba5. Black’s scattered and uncoordinated survivors cannot do anything against the mighty powers of Her Majesty. 44. ... Rb8 45. Rc1 g6 46. h4 h5 47. Qb5 Ke6 48. Qg5 Nf8 49. Bxb6 Rxb6 50. Qd8 Rb8 51. d5+ 1 : 0.

Seated on the frontstage are Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk (left) and Marina Brunello (right). Photo: European Chess Union (@ECUonline).

Don’t Tell Anyone

“Most recently, former Women’s World Chess Champion Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk didn’t show any interest in chess competitions. It only remains to guess the reason behind this. Perhaps she has lost her motivation after suffering defeat in the Women’s World Chess Championship match with 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) from China. Perhaps there may be some other reasons as well, but unfortunately she will not be playing in Crete...”, Petr Marusenko wrote in his Ukrinform column of October 27, 2017. Photo © SarahVlad.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Joanna Majdan-Gajewska – Tea Gueci
12th European Women’s Team Chess Championship; Hersonissos, November 1, 2017
8/p4Qpk/6rp/2p5/2P1P3/3qnN2/P5P1/4R1K1 b - - 0 36

Position after 36. Qf5xf7

Yesterday must have been a very hard day’s night for men’s Italy team, crushed today by Ukrainian team 4 – 0. For the girls instead, there was no such bad news as they scored the equaliser against the very strong Polish team. There is just one little regret that Tea Gueci came very close to win, but just could not make it! It all looks very easy: 36. ... Rxg2+ 37. Kh1 Rg3? 2 minutes and 37 seconds left are not enough for Gueci to appreciate the strength of 37. ... Rg4! 38. Qh5 Rg3! 39. Kh2 g6! and White has no more moves. 38. Kh2? Majdan-Gajewska has time, but no inspiration. 38. Qf4 was called for. 38. ... Rg2+!? (38. ... Rg4!−+) 39. Kh1. 39. Kh3?? Qxe4 is the best way to self-mate. 39. ... Rg3? (39. ... Rg4!−+) 40. Qf4. There is not given a third chance. 40. ... Ng2 41. Qf5+ Kg8 42. Qc8+ Kh7 43. Qf5+ ½ : ½.

Sliding Doors

Marina Brunello – Tea Bosboom-Lanchava
12th European Women’s Team Chess Championship; Hersonissos, October 31, 2017
Philidor Defence C41

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 6. 0-0 0-0 7. Re1 c6 8. a4 b6 9. b3 a6 10. Bb2 Bb7 11. Bd3 g6 12. Nb1 exd4 13. Nxd4 c5!? This move, connected with the next one, seems quite well founded. In any event, 13. ... Re8 14. Nd2 Bf8 15. f4 Bg7 16. c3 b5 also seems satisfactory for Black, N. Kosintseva – Bocharov, 8th Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2009. 14. Nf3 d5 15. e5 Nh5 16. Nc3 Re8 17. Bf1 Nf8 18. Qd2 Ne6 19. Rad1 Nc7 20. g3 d4 21. Ne4 f5? So far, Black has been playing enterprisingly, but this seems a bit too much! 22. Neg5. The interpolation of 22. exf6 Nxf6 23. Ng5 (Stockfish) might have been more promising. 22. ... h6 23. Bc4+ Bd5 24. Nh3 g5 25. Qe2 Ng7? 25. ... g4? was also met by 26. Nxd4! with disruptive effect, so Black had to try 25. ... Bxc4 26. bxc4 g4 27. c3!? d3!∞ (Stockfish) – very unclear. 26. Nxd4! cxd4 27. Rxd4 Nge6 28. Rxd5 Nxd5 29. Rd1 Nec7 30. Qh5!? Oh, White feels that 30. Bxd5+ Nxd5 31. c4+− is too trivial for her powers. 30. ... Bf8 31. Qg6+ Bg7 32. e6 Qe7? 32. ... Re7 was most imperatively called for, after which might have followed 33. Bxg7 Rxg7 34. Qxf5 Qf6 with a (big) mess. 33. Bxd5 Nxd5 34. Rxd5. Threatening Rd5-d7. 34. ... Rad8. 34. ... Rf8 is elegantly met by the zwischenzug 35. g4! (Stockfish) with the tactical pointe of 35. ... fxg4 36. Nxg5! hxg5 37. Rd7 and finis. 35. Rxf5 Rf8

36. Nxg5! Obviously, Brunello does not miss her last sacrifice! 36. ... hxg5 37. Rxg5 Rd1+ 38. Kg2 Qb7+ 39. Kh3 Rxf2 40. Qxg7+ Qxg7 41. Rxg7+ Kf8 42. e7+ Ke8 43. Ba3 1 : 0.

The Other Way Around

Dragana Nikolovska – Marina Brunello
12th European Women’s Team Chess Championship; Hersonissos, October 30, 2017
2r3k1/2q2pb1/p2p2p1/1prP4/6PQ/2PB1P2/PP6/1K1R3R b - g3 0 26

Position after 26. g2-g4

In a Dragon-like position (but no, it wasn’t a Dragon!), Marina Brunello, having already gained a great time advantage over Nikolovska, goes to win back her previously sacrificed Pawn in the most favourable circumstances: 26. ... Rxc3! 27. Be4? Not 27. bxc3?? Qxc3 and White can resign, but the text is hardly much better! White should have played 27. Qh7+ Kf8 28. Qh2 at once. 27. ... Rc4? Here 27. ... Rc2! would have won right off. We can only guess that Brunello were playing on time, in order to speculate on her opponent’s grave time trouble. 28. Qh7+ Kf8 29. Qh2 Qe7. Now Black must start all over again, even though luckily enough she retained at least the initiative. The text, among other things, prepares for ... Qe7-f6. 30. Rc1 Rd8!? This is a strange move that somehow works. 31. Rxc4? And now Nikolovska, with only a minute left, ends up exchanging Rooks at the worst price possible! 31. ... bxc4. Well, that’s because it was the worst possible price. The opening of the b-file suddenly gives Black an irresistible attack, which Brunello concludes in style: 32. Qc2 Rb8! 33. b3 Qe5 34. Kc1 a5 35. Rh2 a4 36. Re2 axb3 37. axb3 Bh6+ 38. Kb1 Rxb3+ 39. Ka2 Qd4 (Δ ... Qd4-a7 mate) 40. Qxb3 cxb3+ 41. Kxb3 f5 42. gxf5 gxf5 0 : 1.

How to Be Happy in an Unhappy World

Stavroula Tsolakidou – Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina
12th European Women’s Team Chess Championship; Hersonissos, October 28, 2017
3k4/1pr3pp/3N1q2/8/3P2Q1/3b4/6PP/2R3K1 w - - 5 37

Position after 36. ... Re7-c7

Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina’s crisis continues. In a recent interview to Yuri Volokhov for Sovetsky Sport (Александра Костенюк: Запретила бы женщинам играть с мужчинами | Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk: I am for a strict separation of women’s and men’s chess, Sovetsky Sport, October 26, 2017), Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk denied that Gunina may feel frustrated because of her (frustrated) desire to play (at least a little more often) in the men’s circuit, which is much more remunerative than the women’s one: “I think Valya can earn as much in women’s chess as well. All players who play for the Russian national team don’t have to complain about their earnings. Even though, of course, everything is relative”, Kosteniuk said. Whatever it is, today’s game was another disaster by Gunina, for the joy of all Stavroula Tsolakidou’s Greek fans. 37. Nxb7+! Ke8 (37. ... Rxb7 38. Qc8+ Ke7 39. Qxb7+ Ke6 40. Rc6+−) 38. Re1+ Kf8 (38. ... Re7 39. Qc8+ Kf7 40. Nd8+ Kg6 41. Qg4+ Kh6 42. Re6! Rxe6 43. Qh3+ Kg6 44. Qxd3+ Qf5 45. Nxe6!+−) 39. Nc5 Bf5 40. Qf4 Rc8 41. g4. The Bishop is doomed. 41. ... Kg8 42. gxf5 h6 43. Qe5 Qg5+ 44. Kh1 Qg4 45. Qe6+ Kh7 46. Qxc8 Qf3+ 47. Kg1 Qg4+ 48. Kf2 Qxd4+ 49. Kf3 Qc3+ 50. Re3 1 : 0.