Cat in the Castle

Russian chess Grandmaster Dmitry Olegovich Jakovenko won on tie-break over Levon Grigori Aronian the fourth and last stage of the Grand Prix 2017 held in Palma de Mallorca, Spain from 16 to 25 November 2017. Photo: Francisco Javier Ochoa de Echagüen (@echaguen).

Odds and Ends

Teimour Boris oghlu Radjabov – Richárd Rapport
FIDE Grand Prix 2017; 4th stage; Palma de Mallorca, November 25, 2017
Queen’s Gambit Declined D30

Teimour Boris oghlu Radjabov left the stage without so much as a restless farewell. He seemed not to have the strength to try for more. 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 e6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Bxe7 Qxe7 6. Nbd2 Nf6. Rapport is not so generous to give a copyleft licence to his opponent for free: 6. ... f5 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3 Nh6?! (better was 8. ... Nf6 followed by ... Nf6-e4) 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Qc2 g6 11. Rab1 Nf6 12. Ne5 Nf7 13. f4 Bd7 14. Ndf3 Rfd8 15. b4 Be8 16. Rfc1 a6 17. Qf2 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Nd7 19. Nf3! Rdc8 20. c5 and Black got dramatically pythonised, Capablanca – Treybal, International Chess Masters Tournament, Karlsbad 1929. 7. g3 0-0 8. Bg2 b6 9. 0-0 Bb7 10. Ne5 Nbd7 11. Nxd7 Nxd7 12. Rc1 Rfd8 13. Qb3 Rab8 14. Rfd1 Nf6 15. Qa4 Ba8 16. b3 a5 17. c5 Nd7

18. cxb6 Qb4 19. Qxb4 axb4 20. e3 Rxb6 21. Nf3 Bb7 22. Rc2 Ra8 23. Bf1 Kf8 24. Rdc1 Ke7 25. Ne1 Ra5 26. Kg2 Kd6 27. Nd3 Ba6 28. Nc5 Bxf1+ 29. Kxf1 Kc7 30. Nd3 Ra8 31. f4 Kd6 32. g4 Rc8 33. h4 Nf6 34. Ne5 Rc7 35. Kg2 Ne4 36. Kf3 ½ : ½. “I don’t fully understand Radjabov’s decision, given that he had to play for a win to fight for the only thing worth fighting for in the Grand Prix. These things are always difficult, but in this case it was really all or nothing”, Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana tweeted. However, after 36. ... f6 37. Nd3 Rb5 eventually followed by ... c6-c5 there’s no reason for which White shouldn’t agree a draw.

Form and Object

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave – Dmitry Olegovich Jakovenko
Agon Grand Prix; fourth stage; Palma de Mallorca, November 24, 2017
Giuoco Piano C54

So Maxime Vachier-Lagrave did not succeed in conquering a chair for the next Candidates Tournament, in spite of his desire to fight for it till the very end. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. 0-0 d6 7. a4 Ba7 8. Re1 0-0 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2. For 10. b4 Ne7 11. Nbd2 Ng6 12. Nf1 c6 13. Bb3 Re8 14. Ra2 d5 15. Ng3 Be6 16. Rd2 Qc7 see Vachier-Lagrave – Giri, 2017 “Your Next Move” Grand Chess Tour Rapid, Leuven 2017. 10. ... Re8 11. b4 Ne7. The alternative 11. ... Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Nf1 Ne7 14. Ng3 Ng6 15. d4 Qd7 16. d5 Ree8 17. a5 c6 also seems to be okay for Black, Vachier-Lagrave – Carlsen, Grand Chess Tour Blitz Paris 2017, Paris 2017. 12. Qb3 Rf8 13. d4 exd4 14. cxd4 d5 15. exd5 Nexd5 16. b5 Be6 17. bxa6 bxa6 18. Ba3 Re8 19. Ne5. White seems to have seized the initiative, but Jakovenko defends strenuously his “uncomfortability”. 19. ... Nf4 20. Ndf3 Bxc4 21. Qxc4 Qd5 22. Qxd5 N6xd5 23. Nc6 Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 a5 25. g3 Ng6 26. Nxa7 Rxa7 27. Re8+ Kh7 28. h4 Rb7 29. Nd2 Nc3 30. h5 Nh8 31. Nc4 Nxa4 32. Ne5. White desperately pushes for a win. On the other hand, if 32. Nxa5 Black might answer 32. ... Rb5 33. Re5 c5! with almost equality. 32. ... Nb6 33. Bc5 a4. Black’s passer more than compensates for the sad position in which the h8-Knight is placed. 34. d5!? When you should play for a draw it’s hard to play for a win. Stockfish gives 34. Nc6 Nd7 35. Ra8 Nxc5 36. dxc5 Rb5 37. Ne5 Rxc5 38. Nd7 Rxh5 39. Nf8+ with a draw by perpetual check. But it was obviously not enough for Vachier-Lagrave. 34. ... f6! 35. Nc6 Nd7 36. Bd4 Rb5

Objectively speaking, White has now nothing better than 37. Ra8 Rxd5 38. Rxa4 Rxh5 39. Ra7 Rd5 40. Rxc7 playing for a draw in an ending a Pawn down. Understandably, Vachier-Lagrave keeps looking for something more that he won’t find. 37. Nd8?? It looks like a broken dream. 37. Re7 was also not good, but not that bad: after 37. ... Rxd5 38. Bb2 Nb6! 39. Rxc7 (or 39. Bxf6 Rd7) 39. ... Rd7 Black successfully consolidates his plusses. 37. ... Rb8! 38. Bb2. White goes even deeper into his drama. 38. ... Rxb2 39. Ne6 a3 40. Re7 Nf7! Sic et simpliciter. 41. Rxf7 a2 42. Rxg7+ Kh8 43. Rxd7 a1=Q+ 44. Kg2 Qe1 0 : 1.

“I’ll Do It All Tomorrow”

Boris Abramovich Gelfand – Teimour Boris oghlu Radjabov
Grand Prix 2017; 4th stage; Palma de Mallorca, November 24, 2017
Queen’s Indian Defence E18

Also Teimour Radjabov will play all out tomorrow, thanks to his remarkable victory in today’s game against Israeli Grandmaster Boris Abramovich Gelfand. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. 0-0 0-0 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Bd2 Nxd2 9. Qxd2 d6 10. Rad1 Nd7 11. Rfe1 c5 12. e4 a6 13. d5. Playing for space. 13. e5 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 cxd4 15. Qxd4 Nxe5 was the (quite complex) alternative, Moroni – Romanov, 6th International Open, Llucmajor 2017. 13. ... e5 14. b3 g6 15. Rf1 Bc8 16. Ne1 Rb8 17. a4 f5 18. f4 exf4 19. gxf4 fxe4 20. Nxe4 b5 21. a5 bxc4 22. bxc4 Rb4 23. Rc1 Nf6 24. Ng5 Qxa5 25. Nd3 Ra4 26. Qe3 Qd8 27. Rce1 Bf5 28. Bh3. I have not much to say except that such a game could well have ended in a draw.

28. ... Nxd5! Bravo, Radjabov! In a must-win situation, and without particular certainties, he does the only thing he has to do: so he sacrifices the Knight for three Pawns, hoping to get more possibilities from such an unclear balance of powers. 29. cxd5 Bxg5 30. Bxf5. 30. fxg5 Re4 31. Qg3 Rxe1 32. Nxe1 Bxh3 33. Rxf8+ Kxf8 34. Qxh3 Qxg5+ 35. Qg2 Qe5 was another version of the same story. White should not lose such and endgame, but he is definitely the only one who may lose it. 30. ... Rxf5 31. Qe6+ Kg7 32. fxg5 Qxg5+ 33. Kh1 Ra2 34. Qe7+? This might be Gelfand’s crucial mistake (if not the only one), who wrongly thought that without Queens the ending might have been more easily drawable. On the contrary, without the help of Her Majesty, the White Rook and Knight won’t succeed in stopping (all) the enemy Pawns. Stockfish gives here 34. Qe4(!) Qd2 35. Qe7+ with a likely perpetual check – and if it were right (and if it had happened), it might have been all another story to tell. 34. ... Qxe7 35. Rxe7+ Kf8 36. Ree1 Rxf1+ 37. Rxf1+ Ke7 38. Re1+? According to Grandmaster Dejan Bojkov, who analysed the game in detail for the chess.com website, here White in time trouble misses the not easy to see 38. Nf2! which should eventually ensure him a draw. Just take a look at his analysis. 38. ... Kd7 39. Re3 a5! 40. Rh3 h5! 41. Nf4 a4 42. Nxg6 a3 43. Rf3. 43. Rc3 is probably less complacent, but after 43. ... Ra1+ 44. Kg2 a2 45. Ra3 c4 it’s hard to imagine that White will survive. 43. ... c4! 44. Nf4. 44. Rc3 Ra1+ 45. Kg2 a2 46. Ra3 c3! is just a preview of what is to come. 44. ... Ra1+ 45. Kg2 a2 46. Ra3 c3! 47. Ne2 c2 48. Kf2 Rh1! 0 : 1. For if 49. Rxa2 then 49. ... Rxh2+ 50. K~ Rxe2+ 51. Kxe2 c1=N+ with a didactic win.

Still Another Day

Ernesto Kazbekovich Inarkiev – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Grand Prix 2017; 4th stage; Palma de Mallorca, November 24, 2017
Grünfeld Defence D84

With today’s draw against Ernesto Kazbekovich Inarkiev, French Grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave has delayed his final audition for the Candidates until tomorrow, when he will have to play all out for the win. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 0-0 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Nxd5 Qxd5 8. Bxc7 Na6 9. Bxa6 Qxg2 10. Qf3 Qxf3 11. Nxf3 bxa6 12. Rc1 f6 13. Rg1 Rf7 14. b3 Bd7!? Vachier-Lagrave changes his way. 14. ... Bf8 15. Nd2 Bb7 16. Ke2 Re8 17. f3 e5!? proved to be quite unclear (but substantially balanced) in Giri – Vachier-Lagrave, 2017 “Your Next Move” Grand Chess Tour Blitz, Leuven 2017, whilst for 14. ... Bb7 15. Ke2 Bf8 16. Ba5 e6 see 李超 (Lǐ Chāo) – Giri, 4th Norway Chess 2016, Stavanger 2016. 15. Ba5 e6 16. Nd2 Rc8 17. Rxc8+ Bxc8 18. Ne4 Bf8 19. Ke2 Bb7 20. f3 Kg7 21. Rc1 g5 22. Nc5 Bxc5 23. dxc5 Bc6 24. Rd1 Bb5+ 25. Kf2 Rd7. Certainly Vachier-Lagrave was not unfamiliar with what having Bishops of opposite colour would have meant. 26. Rxd7+ Bxd7 27. Bc7 e5 28. Bb8 Kg6 29. Bxa7 Kf5

30. Kg3. If 30. e4+ Black’s answer would equally have been 30. ... Ke6 (and certainly not 30. ... Kf4?? 31. c6! ~ 32. Be3 mate). 30. ... h5 31. e4+ Ke6 32. h4 gxh4+ 33. Kxh4 f5 34. Kxh5 fxe4 35. fxe4 Bc6 36. Kg4 Bxe4 37. Kg3 Bb1 38. a3 Bc2 39. b4 Ba4 40. Kf3 Kd5 41. Ke3 ½ : ½.

Another virtuality to be real

Teimour Boris oghlu Radjabov – 李超 (Lǐ Chāo)
FIDE Grand Prix 2017; 4th stage; Palma de Mallorca, November 23, 2017
English Opening A10

Azerbaijani Grandmaster Teimour Boris oghlu Radjabov has today bounced back from yesterday’s débâcle, slowly outplaying 李超 (Lǐ Chāo) in a vintage 1980s English Opening, and thus still hoping for a pyrotechnic réentrée into the Candidates. 1. c4 g6 2. e4 e5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nf3 exd4 5. e5 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qe7 7. Bxb4 Qxb4+ 8. Qd2 Qxd2+ 9. Nbxd2 Nh5 10. Nxd4 Nc6 11. N2f3!? An unsubstantial novelty. For 11. Nxc6 dxc6 12. 0-0-0 Bf5 13. f3 Ng7 14. g4 Be6 15. Ne4 h5 see Polugaevsky – Timman, 2nd International Tournament, Bugojno 1980. 11. ... b6 12. Nb5 Kd8 13. 0-0-0 Re8 14. g3 a6 15. Nbd4 Bb7 16. Nxc6+ Bxc6 17. Bh3 f5 18. Bg2 b5 19. Rhe1

19. ... bxc4? This really seems to be a bad positional error, after which Black’s position gets scattered, eventually causing him to lose first a Pawn and then also the (end)game. Black should rather have consolidated by ... Nh5-g7-e6 with reasonable chances to hold. 20. Nh4 Bxg2 21. Nxg2 Rb8 22. Rd4 g5 23. Red1 Rxe5 24. Rxd7+ Kc8 25. Rxh7 Nf6 26. Rh8+ Kb7 27. Rxb8+ Kxb8 28. Ne3 f4 29. Nxc4 Re2 30. Rd2 Re1+ 31. Kc2 Kb7 32. Kd3 Rh1 33. gxf4 gxf4 34. f3 Rf1 35. Ne5 Re1 36. Ng4 Nd5 37. h4 c5 38. h5 Nb4+ 39. Kc4 Rc1+ 40. Kb3 Nc6 41. h6 Nd4+ 42. Ka3 Nxf3 43. h7 Nxd2 44. h8=Q Nc4+ 45. Ka4 Nb6+ 46. Kb3 a5 47. Qf6 a4+ 48. Ka3 Ka6 49. Qxf4 Nc4+ 50. Kxa4 Nxb2+ 51. Kb3 Nd3 52. Qd6+ Kb5 53. a4+ 1 : 0.

The Half Hour

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave – Evgeny Yurievich Tomashevsky
Grand Prix 2017; 4th stage; Palma de Mallorca, November 23, 2017
Spanish Game C84

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3 0-0 9. Nc3 Bg4 10. Be3 Nd4 11. Bxd4 exd4 12. Nd5 Nd7. If 12. ... Nxd5 there might follow 13. Bxd5 Rc8 14. Bc6 (14. h3 Bd7 15. Nxd4 c6 16. Bb3 Bf6 17. c3 Bxd4 18. cxd4 Qf6 19. Qd2 ½ : ½ Vachier-Lagrave – Aronian, 7th Chess World Cup, Tbilisi 2017, match game 2) 14. ... Bf6 15. a4 Bd7 16. Bxd7 Qxd7 17. Qd2 Qc6 18. b3 Rfe8 19. Rfe1 Qc5 20. g4! with the initiative, Vachier-Lagrave – Aronian, 7th Chess World Cup, Tbilisi 2017, tie-break game 1 (25+10). 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 a5 15. Nxe7+. The alternative was 15. c3 dxc3 16. bxc3 c6 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. d4 c5 19. Rfe1 Rab8 20. Re3 b4 21. axb4 axb4 22. dxc5 Ne5 23. Qg3 dxc5 24. Bd5 Rb6 25. f4 which after 25. ... Nd7? (25. ... Nc6) 26. e5! ended badly for Black, Naiditsch – Ponomariov, 8th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”, 儋州 (Dānzhōu) 2017. 15. ... Qxe7 16. Qg3 a4 17. Ba2 Qe5 18. f4 Qc5 19. Rfe1!? Vachier-Lagrave presents his novelty Pawn sacrifice. In any event, it cannot be worse than 19. Qf2 which after 19. ... Rab8 20. c3 dxc3 21. d4 Qc6 22. e5 cxb2 23. Qxb2 Nb6 24. Rab1 Nc4 gave Black a more than satisfactory position, A. Mista – D. Wagner, 37th Schachbundesliga, Griesheim 2017. Aesthetically speaking, however, it seems to me that the most natural move would be 20. Rf2, but Vachier-Lagrave apparently needs something more to accomplish his mission impossible.

19. ... Rae8. Tomashevsky does not dare to grab the Pawn for fear of drowning into a computer-based flood. After 19. ... Qxc2 20. e5! White has plenty of compensation, but a conclusive assessment requires further analysis. The rest is foreseeable. 20. Re2 Re7 21. b4 axb3 22. Bxb3 Qb6 23. Rb1 Qa6 24. Qg5 Rfe8 25. Qd5 Qxa3 26. Qxb5 Qc5 27. Bd5 Qxb5 28. Rxb5 Rc8 29. Bb7 Rb8 30. Re1 Nc5 31. Bc6 Rxb5 32. Bxb5 f5 33. e5 dxe5 34. fxe5 g6 35. Kf2 Kg7 36. Kf3 g5 37. h4 Kg6 38. Bc4 Nd7 39. e6 Nf8 40. g4 fxg4+ 41. Kxg4 gxh4 42. Re4 ½ : ½.

Blind Spot

Evgeny Yurievich Tomashevsky – Teimour Boris oghlu Radjabovv
Grand Prix 2017; fourth stage; Palma de Mallorca, November 22, 2017
8/1p2b1r1/p6k/P2Bp2p/1P2P2P/5KP1/2R5/8 w - - 3 56

Position after 55. ... Bd8-e7

Meanwhile, Teimour Boris oghlu Radjabov sadly leaves the scene of the Candidates. The most he achieved today (against Evgeny Yurievich Tomashevsky) was a bad ending a Pawn down, which, however, did not seem winnable by default by his opponent. 56. Rb2 Bd8 57. Rb3 b6?? But after this horrific blunder everything becomes easy for White: 58. b5! 1 : 0. For after 58. ... axb5 59. a6 Ra7 60. Bb7 Black would be virtually a Rook down.

A Shortcut in Time

Levon Grigori Aronian – Anish Giri
Grand Prix 2017; fourth stage; Palma de Mallorca, November 19, 2017
English Opening A16

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d3 Bg7 6. Bd2 0-0 7. g3 c5 8. h4!? Nc6. 8. ... h5 9. Bg2 Nc6 may transpose into Bacrot – Lékó, 4th SportAccord World Mind Games, Blitz Event, 北京 (Beijīng) 2014. 9. h5 Nxc3 10. bxc3 c4 11. hxg6. Not 11. d4 because of 11. ... e5! with a very comfortable game for Black. 11. ... hxg6 12. Qa4 Na5? This leads Black to a sad situation. Giri probably didn’t like Stockfish’s line 12. ... cxd3 13. Qh4 f6, which, however, seems quite sustainable; for instance: 14. Bh6 Qa5 15. Qc4+ Rf7 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Rh7+ Kxh7 18. Qxf7+ and draw by perpetual check. 13. d4 b6 14. Bg2 Bb7 15. Qc2 Qd5 16. Nh4 Qd7 17. e4! White finally breaks through the wall and prepares for the assault on the Kingside. 17. ... e5 18. d5 Bc8 19. f4! Qe7 20. f5 g5

21. Qd1! Maybe not necessary, but brilliantly correct! 21. ... gxh4 22. Rxh4 Rd8 23. Qh5 Kf8 24. Rg4!? 24. Bh6 was possibly simpler, but Aronian is following his aesthetic plots, or maybe only his own computer preparation. 24. ... Bf6? A tough, tougher and toughest defence was 24. ... Qd6, but after 25. Rxg7! Kxg7 26. Qg5+ Kf8 27. Kf2! (Δ Ra1-h1) 27. ... Ke8 28. Qg7! Qf8 29. Qxe5+ Qe7 30. Qg7 Qf8 31. Qxf8+ Kxf8 32. Bg5! (Stockfish’s analysis) Giri would have found out that, even without Queens, White’s attack was strong enough to force him to give back (too) much of his extra material. 25. Bh6+ Ke8 26. Rg8+ Kd7 27. d6! A most romantic pointe. 1 : 0.

Thin Ice

Hikaru Nakamura – Teimour Boris oghlu Radjabov
FIDE Grand Prix 2017; 4th stage; Palma de Mallorca, November 19, 2017
Sicilian Defence B30

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. 0-0 Nge7 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Ng6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Be2 0-0 9. Nc3. 9. c4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Bf6 seems to be fine for Black, Caruana – Radjabov, 7th Kings Tournament, Bucharest 2013. 9. ... Qc7 10. f4 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 b6 12. Qd2 Bb7 13. Rad1 Bc6 14. a3 Bf6 15. g3 Rac8 16. e5 Be7 17. h4 Rfd8 18. h5 Nf8 19. Ba6 Rb8

20. Qd6! Well, don’t get too impressed. It’s just a funny way to exchange Queens. 20. ... Bxd6 21. exd6 Qc8 22. Bxc8 Rbxc8 23. a4 h6 24. Ra1 Ba8 25. a5 Rc6 26. Rfd1 b5? This seems Radjabov’s decisive mistake. Simply 26. ... bxa5 27. Rxa5 a6 (Stockfish) appeared to be tenable. 27. a6!! White temporarily sacrifices a Pawn, but puts a deadly mortgage on Black’s Queenside. 27. ... b4 28. Nb5 Rxc2 29. Rd2 Rdc8 30. Nc7 Rxd2 31. Bxd2 Bc6 32. Be3 Nh7 33. Bxa7 Nf6 34. Bc5 Ne4. 34. ... Nxh5 makes no difference at all because of 35. a7! Nxg3 36. Ra6! Be4 37. Rb6!+− similarly to the game. 35. Bxb4 Nxg3 36. a7 Ne2+ 37. Kh2 Nxf4. And now Nakamura arrives at a very elegant conclusion: 38. Ra6! (Δ Ra6xc6) 38. ... Be4 39. Rb6! Nxh5 40. Rb8 Rf8 41. Bd2 Nf6 42. b4 1 : 0.

The Evanescence of the Ineffable

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave – Levon Grigori Aronian
Grand Prix 2017; 4th stage; Palma de Mallorca, November 18, 2017
Spanish Game C84

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3 0-0 9. Nc3 Na5 10. Ba2 Be6 11. b4 Bxa2 12. Rxa2 Nc6 13. Bg5 Nd7. At least from a theoretical viewpoint, this makes more sense than 13. ... Qd7 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nd5 a5 16. c4 Ne7 17. Rc2 Nxd5 18. cxd5 axb4 19. axb4 Ra4 20. Qd2 Rfa8 21. Rfc1 Bd8 22. h3 Ra1 23. Rxa1 Rxa1+ 24. Rc1 Ra4 25. d4 exd4 (25. ... f6 is probably more solid) 26. Nxd4 Bf6 27. Nc6± Carlsen – 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén), Champions Showdown, Saint Louis 2017, match game 9 (20 minutes). 14 Bd2 Nf6 15. Re1 Qd7 16. Nd5!? This novelty might have been suggested to Vachier-Lagrave by Étienne Bacrot as a result of a review of his own summer games: 16. Qb1 Rab8 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 Nd4 19. Nxd4 exd4 20. a4 Rfe8 21. axb5 axb5 22. Ra7 Ra8 23. Ra5 Rac8 24. h3 Bh4 25. Rxe8+ Rxe8 26. Qa1 Bf6 27. Ra8 h5 28. Kf1 g6 29. Rxe8+ Qxe8 30. Qa7 Qc8 31. Bc1 c6 32. dxc6 Qxc6 33. Qa2 Kg7 34. Bd2 Be5 35. Qb1 Bf6 36. Qa2 Be5 37. Qb1 Bf6 ½ : ½ Bacrot – Lékó, 50th International Chess Festival, Biel 2017. 16. ... Nxd5 17. exd5 Nd8. I think it would have been advisable for Black to play 17. ... Nd4, similarly to what done by Péter Lékó in the abovementioned game. 18. a4! Rb8 19. c4! Now White seizes a distinct initiative on the Queenside which will soon result in a favourable endgame. 19. ... bxc4 20. dxc4 f5 21. b5 Ra8 22. Bc3 Nb7 23. Qc2 Bf6 24. Nd2 axb5 25. cxb5 Qf7 26. Qxf5 Qxd5 27. Qc2 Nc5 28. Ne4 Bh4 29. g3 Nxe4 30. Rxe4 Bd8 31. Bb4 Rf3 32. Ra3 Rf7 33. Qc4 Qxc4 34. Rxc4 d5 35. Rc2 d4

36. Rc5. This allows Black to exchange Bishops, finally simplifying into a drawish four-Rook ending. Maybe 36. Rc4 Rd7 37. Kf1 (Stockfish) would have offered better chances of playing for the win. 36. ... Be7 37. Rc4 Bxb4 38. Rxb4 Rd7 39. Kg2 d3 40. Ra1 d2 41. Rd1 Rd4 42. Rxd4 exd4 43. Rxd2 Rxa4 44. Rc2 Ra5 45. Rxc7 Rxb5 46. Rc8+ Kf7 ½ : ½.

Fire and Ice

Anish Giri – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Agon Grand Prix; fourth stage; Palma de Mallorca, November 17, 2017
Sicilian Defence B96

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 h6 8. Bh4 Qb6 9. a3 Be7 10. Bf2 Qc7 11. Qf3 Nbd7 12. 0-0-0 b5 13. g4 Bb7. The alternative is 13. ... g5!? 14. h4 gxf4 15. Be2 Rg8 16. Rdg1? (Grandmaster Rafael Duailibe Leitão recommends 16. g5! Ne5 17. Qxf4 hxg5 18. hxg5 Nfd7 19. Nxe6!? fxe6 20. Rh7 with a dynamic mess of complications) 16. ... d5! 17. exd5 Ne5 18. Qh3 exd5 19. Re1? Kf8 20. Nf5 Bxf5 21. gxf5 Bc5 22. Qf1 d4 23. Nb1 Ne4−+ Giri – Vachier-Lagrave, 4th Altibox Norway Chess, Stavanger 2016. 14. h4. Giri is not curious to find out Vachier-Lagrave’s amendments with respect to 14. Bg2 Rc8 15. Kb1 g5 16. Qh3 Nc5 17. Rhe1 h5 18. Nf5! Ncxe4 19. Bxe4 Nxe4 20. Bd4 Rg8 21. Nxe7 Kxe7 22. gxh5± Nakamura – Vachier Lagrave, 8th London Chess Classic, London 2016. 14. ... Nc5. If, instead, 14. ... d5 then 15. e5 Ne4 16. Rh3 Nxf2 17. Qxf2 b4 18. axb4 Bxb4 19. f5 Nxe5 20. fxe6 0-0 21. Qg1 Rae8 22. g5 h5 23. Be2 g6 24. exf7+ Qxf7 25. Nb3 Nc4 26. Rf3 Qg7 27. Rxf8+ Rxf8 28. Qd4 Qxd4 29. Rxd4 Rc8 30. Bd3 Nxb2 31. Rxb4 Nxd3+ 32. cxd3 Rxc3+ 33. Kd2 Rc7 34. Ke3 Bc8 35. Kd4 Kf7 36. Nc5 Ra7 37. Kxd5 a5 38. Rf4+ Bf5 39. Kc6 Ke7 40. Rd4 a4 41. Kb6 Ra8 42. Nxa4 Bxd3 43. Nc5 ½ : ½ Caruana – Vachier-Lagrave, 4th GRENKE Chess Classic, Karlsruhe 2017. 15. Bd3 h5 16. g5 Ng4 17. Rhg1!? With this move, followed by the next Exchange sacrifice, Giri introduces a powerful novelty in a sharp Najdorf. White’s compensation appears to be more than worthy of further analysis by the mighty supercomputers. 17. ... g6

18. Rxg4! hxg4 19. Qxg4 e5 20. Nf3 Rc8 21. fxe5 dxe5 22. Kb1 Rd8 23. Nd5 Bxd5 24. exd5 Nxd3 25. Rxd3 0-0. Stockfish evaluates 25. ... Qc4 26. Nxe5 Qxg4 27. Nxg4 f6!? 28. gxf6 Bd6 29. Rc3 Kf7 30. Rc6 Bf4 as a safer option for Black, but, from a human viewpoint, it was not so easy to assess. 26. h5. And here, 26. Bg3! Bd6 27. Nd2!± (Stockfish) apparently gave White a manifest advantage. 26. ... Qc4! Well, Vachier-Lagrave doesn’t miss his chance and equalises through a very elegant Queen forth and back. 27. Qh3 Qc8! 28. Qxc8 Rxc8 29. Nxe5 Bxg5 30. d6 Bf4 31. d7 ½ : ½. For after 31. ... Bxe5 32. dxc8=Q Rxc8 the game is equal.

Intermezzo

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave – Boris Abramovich Gelfand
Agon Grand Prix; fourth stage; Palma de Mallorca, November 16, 2017
Sicilian Defence B35

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 0-0 8. Bb3 d5 9. exd5 Na5 10. 0-0. 10. Qd2 Nxb3 11. Nxb3 b5 12. Nxb5 Qxd5 13. Qxd5 Nxd5 14. Bd4 Rb8 resulted eventually in a laborious draw, Vachier-Lagrave – Gelfand, Grand Prix 2017, second stage, Moscow 2017. 10. ... Nxb3 11. Nxb3 b6 12. d6. 12. Qd2 Bb7 13. Rad1 Qc7 14. Bf4 Qc4 15. Rfe1 Rfd8 did not give Black any problems, Negi – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), Showdown Blitz, Saint Louis 2015, match game 1. 12. ... e6. Gelfand has recently favoured this line. The alternative is 12. ... Qxd6 13. Qxd6 exd6 14. Rfe1 Bf5 15. Nd4 Bd7 16. h3 a6 17. Rad1 Rfe8 18. Nb3 b5 19. Rxd6 b4 20. Ne2 Bb5 21. Ned4 Rac8 22. Rd1 Ne4 23. Rb6 Rcd8 24. Rb1 Rd5 25. Nxb5 axb5 26. Na5 Nd2 27. Re1 Bd4 28. Rb7 Bxe3 29. Rxe3 Rxe3 30. fxe3 Rc5 31. Nb3 Rxc2 32. Rxb5 Rxb2 33. Nxd2 Rxd2 34. Rxb4 Rxa2 35. Kh2 Ra3 36. Re4 h5 37. Kg3 Kg7 38. Kf3 Ra1 39. h4 Rf1+ 40. Kg3 Ra1 ½ : ½ Oparin – Gelfand, Nutcracker Generations Tournament (Kings vs. Princes), Moscow 2016. 13. Qf3 Rb8 14. Rfd1. Just a little departure from 14. Rad1 Bb7 15. Qh3 Nd5 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. Bd4 Bxd4 18. Rxd4 Rc8 19. Qh6 Qf6 20. Rc1 b5 21. Rh4 Qg7 22. Qxg7+ Kxg7 23. Rb4 a6 24. a4 bxa4 25. Na5 a3 26. bxa3 Rc5 27. Nb7 Rb5 28. Rxb5 axb5 29. Nc5 Rd8 30. d7 Kf6 31. Rb1 Bc6 32. Rb4 Bxd7 33. Nxd7+ Rxd7 ½ : ½ Adhiban – Gelfand, 4th Isle of Man International Chess Tournament, Douglas 2017. 14. ... Bb7 15. Qh3 Rc8 16. Bd4 Nd5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Rac1 b5? This seems untimely under contingent position. 19. ... Rc6 20. Qg3 Qf6 (Stockfish) seems harder to break up. 20. Qg3 Qf6. Now 20. ... Rc6 is no longer any good, as after 21. Nd4 Rxd6 22. Nxb5 Rd7 23. c4 Black stands badly. 21. Nd4 b4

22. c4! bxc3. If 22. ... Rxc4 then 23. Rxc4 Bxc4 24. Nc6± and White stands much better. The text, however, carries far worse consequences. 23. Rxc3 Rxc3 24. bxc3. White’s united passers win by themselves. 24. ... Rd8 25. h4! Monsieur Vachier-Lagrave doubles his bet. 25. ... e5. Black had any good move here, but this one loses by force. 26. Nf5+ Qxf5 27. Rxd5 Qe4 28. c4! f6 29. Qc3 Qb1+ 30. Kh2 Qxa2 31. Rd2 Qa4 32. g3 Qc6 33. c5 Rd7 34. Qc4 1 : 0.

Уайлд-кард (Wild card)

14th World Chess Champion Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik has been nominated by Agon Limited/FIDE as the “wild card” to enter the Candidates Tournament scheduled in Berlin, Germany from 10 to 28 March 2018. The decision came in advance of the 4th and last stage of Grand Prix 2017 that will take place in Palma de Mallorca, Spain from 16 to 27 November 2017, upon which outcome the names of the last two candidates still depend.

Gently Down the Stream

Pyotr Veniaminovich Svidler – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
FIDE Grand Prix 2017; 3rd stage; Geneva, July 15, 2017
Semi-Tarrasch Defence D35

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Rb1 Be7 8. Nf3 0-0 9. Bc4 Nc6 10. 0-0 b6 11. d5 Na5 12. Bd3 c4 13. Bc2 exd5 14. exd5 Bb7 15. Re1 Bf6TN (15. ... Re8 16. Ba4 Rf8 17. Bf4 Bd6 18. Bg5 f6 19. Be3 Bc7 20. Nd4 Qxd5 21. Qg4 f5 22. Qh3 f4 23. Bc1 ½ : ½ Matlakov – Shimanov, 18th European Individual Chess Championship, Minsk 2017) 16. d6 Re8 (16. ... Bxc3?? 17. Bxh7+!+−) 17. Rxe8+ Qxe8 18. Bf4 Rd8 19. Bf5 g6? 19. ... Qc6! 20. d7 g6 21. Bh3 Bxc3 22. Qe2 seems to be a lesser evil. 20. d7 Qf8 21. Bh3 Be4 22. Rc1 Qc5 23. Qe2 Bf5 (23. ... Bc6 24. Re1+−) 24. Rd1 Bxh3 25. gxh3 Kg7 (25. ... Nb7 26. Qe4 Qf5 27. Qxf5 gxf5 28. Bc7 Rf8 29. Nd4+−)

26. Rd6! Bxc3 (26. ... Qf5 27. Rxf6+−) 27. Ng5! Qf5 28. Qe7 h6 29. Ne6+ Kh7 30. Nxd8 Qxf4 31. Nxf7 1 : 0.

Given Away

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Anish Giri
FIDE Grand Prix 2017; 3rd stage; Geneva, July 14, 2017
Sicilian Defence B84

Notes by Grandmaster Ľubomír Ftáčnik.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. 0-0 Be7 8. f4 0-0 9. Kh1 Qc7 10. Qe1. The line with 10. Qe1 is a dangerous weapon in the Scheveningen Variation. Black will get counterplay, but White’s concentated pieces on the Kingside will represent great attacking potential. 10. a4 Nc6 11. Be3 Re8.
10. ... Nc6 11. Be3 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 13. Qg3 Bb7 14. a3 Rad8 15. Rae1 Bc6 16. Bd3 Qd7!? A very interesting development in a well known position. Attention has shifted from the older move 16. ... Qb7 to the clever idea 16. ... Rd7 followed by ... Qc7-d8 to this clever move. Black players are getting very good results with counterplay in the centre.
17. Rf3 17. Ne2 g6 18. Qe3 Ng4 19. Qg3 Nf6 20. Qf3 Ne8 21. Qe3 Bf6 22. Bxf6 Nxf6 23. Nd4⩱ Dragun – Grachev, 14th Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2016. 17. Nd1 Nh5 (17. ... g6 18. Ne3 Nh5 19. Qh3 Nxf4 20. Rxf4 e5 21. Qh6 f6 22. Rg4+− Schröder – Korneev, 3rd Heusenstammer Schloss-Open, Heusenstamm 2016) 18. Qg4 Nf6 (18. ... g6 19. Ne3 Nf6 20. Qf3 Qc7 21. f5 e5 22. Bc3 Kh8 23. Ng4 Nxg4 24. Qxg4= Brkić – Bosiočić, Mali Lošinj 2016) 19. Qg3 Nh5 20. Qh3 Nxf4 21. Rxf4 e5 22. Rg4 exd4 23. e5 g6 24. e6 Qe8⩱ 刘庆南 (Liú Qìngnán) – I. Popov, 11th “映美杯” (“Yìng Měi Cup”) Chinese Chess League, 杭州 (Hángzhōu) 2015.
17. ... e5! This counterblow was enabled by the location of the Black Queen. Black hopes to get enough compensation for the Pawn. 17. ... g6 18. f5 exf5 19. Rxf5 Ne8 20. a4 (20. Rf3 Ng7 21. Ref1⩲) 20. ... Ng7 21. axb5 axb5 22. b4 Rde8 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. Bxb5 Bxb5 25. Rxb5 Bf6⩲ Stukopin – Ramírez Álvarez, 1st Spring Chess Classic (Group C), Saint Louis 2017.
18. fxe5 Nh5 19. Qh3 (19. Qf2 dxe5 20. Bxe5 f6 21. Bg3 Nxg3+ 22. Rxg3 Bd6=)
19. ... Qxh3 20. Rxh3 Nf4 21. Rf3 Nxd3 22. cxd3 (22. Rxd3 dxe5 23. Bxe5 f5 24. Rxd8 Bxd8 25. Bd6 Re8=)
22. ... dxe5 23. Bxe5. The landscape has changed radically. Instead of defending against White’s attack Black will be hoping to prove full compensation with active pieces and the Bishop pair.
23. ... b4 (23. ... Rfe8 24. Bc7 Rd7 25. Ba5 Bf6=)
24. axb4 Bxb4 25. Rc1 Rc8 (25. ... a5 26. Kg1 Rfe8=)
26. h3 (26. Ne2! Bb5 27. Rxc8 Rxc8 28. Bc3 Bc5 29. Rg3⩲)
26. ... f6 27. Bg3 (27. Na2 Bxe4! 28. dxe4 Rxc1+ 29. Nxc1 fxe5 30. Rxf8+ Kxf8=)
27. ... Rfd8 28. Bf2 Bb7 29. Kh2. 侯 (Hóu) is a bit helpless and thus moves the King from the a8-h1 diagonal. 29. Be1 Rd7=.
29. ... f5! The dynamic potential of Black’s position is substantial, now White must be careful not to lose the extra Pawn.
30. Ra1 (30. Rxf5 Rxd3 31. Rf3 Rd2⩱)
30. ... fxe4 31. dxe4 Rd2 32. Nd5 Bf8. Giri had probably started dreaming about turning the tables and was not satisfied with a small advantage after grabbing the b2-Pawn. 32. ... Rxb2 33. Nxb4 Rxb4 34. Rd1 Bxe4 35. Rf4 Rb2 36. Rxe4 Rxf2 37. Re7⩱.
33. b4 (33. Rf1 Bxd5 34. exd5 Rxb2 35. Rd3 Rcc2 36. Bg3 Rxg2+ 37. Kh1 Rgd2 38. Re3=)
33. ... h6 34. Bc5?! The old wisdom in chess suggests putting your opponent under pressure, as even the players may crack. The former World Champion wants to limit the pressure at the cost of a Pawn.
34. ... Bxc5 35. bxc5 Rxc5 36. Rb3. Black will have an extra Pawn, but limited chances to hope for more than the better side of a draw.
36. ... Bxd5 37. exd5 a5 38. d6 (38. Rb8+ Kh7 39. Ra8 Rdxd5 40. h4⩱)
38. ... Rxd6 39. Rb8+ Kf7 40. Ra8 Rdd5 41. Ra7+ Kg6 42. Ra3 (42. h4! h5 43. Ra3=)
42. ... Rh5!? 43. Ra4 Rb5 44. h4. Both players understood that getting the Pawn to h4 would seriously help White. 44. Ra3 Kh7⩱.
44. ... Rb4 45. R4xa5 Rhxh4+ 46. Kg3 Kh7 47. Ra3 (47. R5a6 Rhg4+ 48. Kh3 h5⩱)
47. ... h5 48. Rf7 Rh1

49. Re3? All players know the slippery feeling when defending a worse position. The situation may not get better, but any serious inaccuracy will multiply the burden. White had to find 49. Rf4! with excellent drawing chances. 49. Rf4! Rb2 50. Rd3 Kh6 51. Rfd4⩱.
49. ... h4+! 50. Kf2 Rbb1 51. Ree7?! When it rains it pours, 侯 (Hóu) did not realise how difficult the defence would be in the plain Rook ending. 51. Rc7 Kh6 52. Re6+ g6 53. Rc2 Rhf1+ 54. Ke3 Kh5∓.
51. ... Rhf1+ 52. Ke2 Rbe1+ 53. Kd3 (53. Kd2 Rxe7 54. Rxf1 Kg6 55. Rh1 Kg5 56. Rh3 Kg4 57. Ra3 g5−+)
53. ... Rxf7 54. Rxf7 (54. Rxe1 Rd7+ 55. Kc2 Kg6−+)
54. ... Kh6 55. Kd2 (55. Ra7 g5−+)
55. ... Re6 56. Rf4 Kh5 (56. ... g5 57. Rf3 Kh5 58. Ra3 Re4 59. Ra2 Kg6−+)
57. Rf7 Rg6! 58. Rf2 Kg4 59. Ke1 (59. Re2 Kg3 60. Ke1 Ra6−+)
59. ... Re6+ 60. Kf1 Rf6! Transitioning to a Pawn ending is mostly trival for very strong players. The defence becomes hopeless as it is fairly easy to force a theoretically won position.
61. Rxf6 gxf6 62. Kf2 (62. Kg1 h3−+)
62. ... Kf4 63. Kg1 Kg3 64. Kf1 h3 65. Kg1 (65. gxh3 Kxh3 66. Kf2 Kg4 67. Ke3 f5 68. Kf2 Kf4−+)
65. ... Kg4 66. gxh3+ Kxh3 67. Kf2 Kg4 68. Kg2 Kf4 0 : 1. 69. Kf2 f5−+.

Too much inertia and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) gave away an otherwise drawn endgame. Photo: Maria Moschou for ESPN.

All Hands

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Boris Abramovich Gelfand
FIDE Grand Prix 2017; 3rd stage; Geneva, July 13, 2017
Sicilian Defence B25

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4 4. Nf3 e6 5. 0-0 a6 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. b3 d6 8. Bb2 Nf6 9. Re1 Nd7 (9. ... Be7 10. e5 dxe5 11. Nxe5 Bd7 12. Ne4 Nxe5 13. Bxe5 Bc6 14. Qf3 Rc8 15. Re3 b5 16. Rae1 c4 17. bxc4 bxc4 18. Bxf6 Bxe4 19. Rxe4 Bxf6 20. Bxc4 Qxd2 21. Bxe6 fxe6 22. Rxe6+ Kd7 23. Qg4 Kc7 24. Qc4+ Kd7 25. Qa4+ Kd8 26. Qxa6 Kd7 27. Qb5+ Kd8 28. Re8+ 1 : 0 Grischuk – Gelfand, Grand Prix 2012–2013, 1st stage, London 2012) 10. Bf1 Nde5 11. d3TN (11. g3 Be7 12. Bg2 Nxf3+ 13. Bxf3 Bf6 14. Bg2 Bd4 15. Qe2 h5 16. Nd1 Bxb2 17. Nxb2 e5 18. Nc4 b5 19. Ne3 h4 20. c3 Kf8= Demianjuk – Matjushin, 12th Vladimir Yakovlevich Dvorkovich Memorial, Taganrog 2017) 11. ... Nxf3+ 12. Qxf3 Be7 13. Ne2 e5 14. c3 0-0 15. d4 f5 16. exf5 d5 17. Ng3 (18. c4!?) 18. ... cxd4 18. c4 Be6 19. Qg4 Bf7 20. cxd5 Bxd5 21. f4 Bf6 22. Rad1 Qa5 23. fxe5 Nxe5 24. Qf4 Rae8 25. Nh5

25. ... Nf3+ 26. gxf3 Rxe1 27. Nxf6+ Rxf6 28. Rxe1 Qxe1 29. Bxd4 Qb4 30. a3 Qxa3 31. Bxf6 gxf6 32. Qg4+ Kf7 33. Qh5+ Kf8 34. Qh6+ Kg8 35. Qxf6 Qf8 36. Qxf8+ Kxf8 37. b4 Bxf3 38. Kf2 Be4 39. Bh3 Ke7 ½ : ½.

Spend time just talking with each other a few minutes before getting up from the chair. Photo: Maria Moschou for ESPN.

审讯室 (Interrogation room)

Lennart Ootes (@LennartOotes)

You’d do better coming to the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s final dance showdown, Lennart. Ballerinas appreciate good photographers, so keep the date for next year (Saturday of third week of June)!

By a Hair’s Breadth

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Alexander Vladimirovich Riazantsev
FIDE Grand Prix 2017; 3rd stage; Geneva, July 7, 2017
Queen’s Gambit Declined D31

Notes by Grandmaster Alex Vladislavovich Yermolinsky, ChessBase.com, July 8, 2017.

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 c6 6. e3 Bd6 7. Bg3 Ne7 8. Bd3 Bf5 9. Nge2 0-0 10. a3 a5 11. Rc1 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 Na6 13. Na4 Nc8 14. Nc5 Qe7 15. Qc3 Ra7 16. 0-0 Nc7 17. Nf4 Bxf4 18. Bxf4 Ne6 19. Bb8 Ra8 20. Bg3 Nb6 21. a4 Rfe8 22. b3 Nxc5 23. dxc5 Nd7 24. Rfe1 Nf8 25. h3 f6 26. Re2 Qf7 27. Rb2 Ng6 28. b4 axb4 29. Rxb4 Ne5 30. Rcb1 Re7 31. e4 Rd8 32. Rd1 h6 33. Qb3 Red7 34. exd5 cxd5 35. Rb1 Nc4 36. Rxb7 Nd2 37. Qb6 Nxb1 38. c6 Nc3 39. cxd7 Rxd7 40. Rxd7 Qxd7 41. a5 d4 42. a6 d3

A good, consistent game from 侯 (Hóu) up to this point. 43. Qb3+? A bad mistake, throwing away the win. Keep in mind, this was played after the time control. With this move, she loses her a-Pawn and advantage. 43. a7 d2 44. a8=Q+ Kh7 45. Qbb8 d1=Q+ 46. Kh2 Q1d5 is just equal, but 43. Bf4! would crown her efforts: 43. ... Nb5 (43. ... Ne2+ 44. Kh2 Nxf4 45. a7 d2 46. a8=Q+ Kh7 47. Qb1+ f5 48. Qf3 etc.) 44. Qb7 Qf5 45. Be3 winning the Knight and the game. 43. ... Kh8 44. a7 Ne2+ 45. Kh2 Qxa7 46. Qxd3 ½ : ½.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) was quite unfortunate in missing a well-deserved victory. Photo: Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE).

Slipping Away

Pavel Vladimirovich Eljanov – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
FIDE Grand Prix 2017; 3rd stage; Geneva, July 6, 2017
Giuoco Piano C54

Notes by Grandmaster Alex Vladislavovich Yermolinsky, ChessBase.com, July 7, 2017.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. 0-0 Nf6 5. d3 0-0 6. h3 d6 7. c3 Ne7 8. Nbd2 Ng6 9. Re1 Bb6 10. Bb3 c6 11. Bc2 Re8 12. d4 Bc7 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Nc4 Be6 15. Qe2 h6!? Ed’s Note: 15. ... b5 16. Ne3 h6 17. Nf5 Bb6 18. Be3 Bxe3 19. Qxe3 Qb6 20. Red1 Red8 21. Nd2 Qxe3 22. Nxe3 a5 23. a4 Nd7 24. axb5 cxb5 25. Ndf1 b4 26. Nd5 bxc3 27. bxc3 Rdc8 28. Nfe3 Ra7 29. Ra3 Nf6 30. c4 Rc5 31. Rb1 Nd7 32. Ba4 Nf4 33. Kf1 Nf6 34. f3 Bd7 35. Rb8+ Kh7 36. Nxf6+ gxf6 37. Bxd7 Rxd7 38. Rb5 Rxb5 39. cxb5 Rd2 40. Rxa5 Rb2 41. Nd5 Nxg2 42. b6 Kg7 43. Ra4 Kh7 44. Rb4 Ne3+ 45. Kg1 Rg2+ 46. Kh1 Nxd5 47. exd5 Rg8 48. b7 Rd8 49. d6 1 : 0 卢尚磊 (Lú Shànglěi) – Neelotpal, 9th Asian Continental Chess Championship, Olongapo City 2010. 16. Qf1 Nh7 17. Ne3 Nf4 18. Nf5 Bxf5 19. exf5 Nf6 20. Bxf4 exf4 21. Rad1 Qc8 22. Qc4 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Qf8 24. Bb3 Re8 25. Rxe8 Qxe8 26. Qb4 b5 27. Qd4 Bb8 28. a4 Qe7 29. Qd3 a6 30. Kf1 Qd7 31. Qxd7 Nxd7 32. Nd4 Ne5 33. axb5 axb5 34. Bc2 Ba7. Ed’s Note: Good enough seems 34. ... Kf8 35. Be4 c5 36. Nxb5 Nc4 winning back the Pawn with balanced chances. 35. b4

f3?! 侯 (Hóu) had chances of building a fortress after 35. ... Bxd4 36. cxd4 Nd7 37. Be4 Nb8 38. Ke2 Kf8 39. Kf3 Ke7 40. h4! (not the greedy and mindless 40. Kxf4 as Black then has 40. ... Kd6 followed by ... Nb8-a6) 40. ... Kd6 41. Kg4 Nd7 (41. ... Na6 42. Kh5!) 42. Kxf4 Nf6 43. g4 Nd7 It’s going to be very hard for White to break it down. 36. g4 Bxd4 37. cxd4 Nc4? ⌓ 37. ... Nd7 38. Be4 Nb8 39. Bxf3 Kf8. 38. Ke1 Nb6 39. Be4 Nd5 40. Bxd5! cxd5 41. Kd2 Kf8 42. Ke3 Ke7 43. Kxf3. The ending is a forced win for White.

43. ... Kd7. 侯 (Hóu) was hoping to barricade all possible approaches for the White King. Yet, she would have failed even in case of the most stubborn defense, 43. ... g5 44. fxg6 fxg6 45. Kf4! Ke6 (45. ... Kf6 46. g5+ hxg5+ 47. Kg4) 46. h4 Kd6 (46. ... Kf6 47. g5+ hxg5+ 48. hxg5+ Ke6 49. Kg4 Kd6 50. f4 Ke6 51. f5+ gxf5+ 52. Kf4) 47. h5! (47. g5? h5=) 47. ... gxh5 48. g5!! (48. gxh5 Ke6=) 48. ... hxg5+ 49. Kxg5 Ke6 50. f4+−. 44. Kg3! Pavel knows what he’s doing: the King ahead of the Pawns is the way to play Pawn endgames. 44. h4 Kd6 45. Kf4 f6 46. g5 h5!. 44. ... Ke7 45. Kh4! g6 46. g5 h5 47. f4 Kf8 48. fxg6 fxg6 49. f5 1 : 0.

Bad time management, and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) found herself in a lost Pawn ending. Photo: World Chess.