Alone in the Mirror

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) – Marie Rachel Sebag
1st Women’s Chess World Cup; match game 1; Krasnaya Polyana, July 18, 2021
Sicilian Defence B94

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 Nbd7. “Although this is played relatively often, it does not have a good theoretical reputation. Not only does Black have to play the opening accurately to avoid a tactical disaster, he faces the prospect of a positionally inferior middlegame at the end”, John Nunn wrote in his book “The Najdorf for the Tournament Player”, Collier Books, New York, 1988, p. 275. 7. f4 Qc7 8. Qf3 g6 9. 0-0-0 Bg7 10. g4. The following are very good vintages of 1954 and 1961: 10. Be2 h6 11. Bh4 e5 (11. ... 0-0 12. g4 e5 13. Nb3 exf4 14. g5 Nh5 15. Nd5 Qd8 16. Rdg1 Ne5 17. Qf2 hxg5 18. Rxg5 Nf6 19. Rg2 Be6 20. Qxf4 Bxd5 21. exd5 Nxd5 22. Qe4 Nf6 ½ : ½ Barden – Sajtar, 11th Chess Olympiad, Amsterdam 1954) 12. Ndb5 axb5 13. Nxb5 Qa5 14. Nxd6+ Kf8 15. Bc4 exf4 16. Nxf7 Qc7 17. Bb3 Ne5 18. Nxe5 Qxe5 19. Rd8+ Ne8 20. c3 g5 21. Qh5 Qe7 22. Bf2 Bg4 23. Rxe8+ Rxe8 24. Qxg4 Be5 25. Rd1 1 : 0 Spassky – Vladimirov, 29th USSR Chess Championship, Baku 1961. 10. ... h6 11. Bh4 e5 12. Nb3!?TN (12. Nde2 b5 13. f5 Bb7= Cueto – Danner, 34th Chess Olympiad, Istanbul 2000) 12. ... exf4

13. g5! hxg5 14. Bxg5 Nb6 15. Qxf4 Nh7 16. Bh6 Be5 17. Qd2. This move sounds quite strange both strategically and tactically, even though it will eventually pay off. However, 17. Qf2 Bg4 18. Rd3⩲ seemed more natural. 17. ... Bg4 18. Be2. Committal, but White has no intention at all of giving up the d-file. 18. ... Bxc3 19. bxc3 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Bxe2 20. Qxe2 0-0-0. Not 20. ... Qxc3 on account of 21. e5! grabbing the initiative. But Black could also play 20. ... Nf8! 21. Bf4 0-0-0 transposing into the line given in the next note. 21. Bf4

21. ... Na4? Sebag is dramatically overestimating her attacking chances, which causes her to lose almost immediately. After the correct 21. ... Nf8! 22. Rhf1 Ne6 23. Bg3 Rd7 Black would be perfectly fine. 22. Rd4! Nxc3. 22. ... b5 23. c4! is no better at all. 23. Qd3+− b5 24. Bxd6 Ne2+ 25. Kb2 Nf4 26. Qd2 Rxd6 27. Rxd6 Ne6 28. Qd5 Kb8 29. Rxa6 1 : 0.

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí), the only Chinese participant in the inaugural Women’s Chess World Cup, is more than ever determined not to regret the choice she has made. Photo © Anastasia Korolkova.

Half of One Thing

Marie Rachel Sebag – Zhansaya Daniyarovna Abdumalik
1st Cairns Cup; Saint Louis, February 7, 2019
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 c5. If 12. ... Nd7 then 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 c6 15. Nxe7+ Qxe7 16. Qg3↑ with f2-f4 in the offing, Domínguez Pérez – Eljanov, 50th Capablanca Memorial, Havana 2015. 13. h3 Be6 14. Nf4 Bxb3 15. cxb3. The White doubled b-Pawn being ready to advance (b3-b4) is anything but a weakness. 15. ... Nd7 16. Rc1!? A new move, or, more precisely, a new move order, none too different in its strategic essentials from 16. Re1 Re8 17. Nd5 Nb6 18. Nxb6 Qxb6 19. Qd2 Bf6 20. g3 h6 21. h4 Rac8 22. Rac1 Qb7 23. Qf4 Qd7 24. Kg2 Qe6 25. Rcd1 Be5 26. Qd2 Qxb3 27. Nh2 c4 28. dxc4 Rxc4 29. Re2 Rec8 30. Qd3 Qxd3 31. Rxd3 Rc2 32. Red2 Rxd2 33. Rf3 d3 34. Rxd3 Rxd3 ½ : ½ Spasov – 叶江川 (Yè Jiāngchuān), 1st Open Ruy López, Zafra 2007. 16. ... Nb6 17. Re1 Rc8 18. Rc2 Bf6 19. Nh5 Be5 20. Nxe5. Sebag tries her luck on the Kingside, for there aren’t particular perspectives on the other flank: if 20. b4 then 20. ... Na4 with an unclear balance. 20. ... dxe5 21. Qd2 g6 22. Ng3 Qd6 23. Rec1 Rc6 24. Qg5. With the obvious threat of Ng3-f5. 24. ... f6 25. Qg4 Kf7. This King “self-defence” solves some problems but not others. However, it’s questionable that Black may save it in most variations. Whatever it is, now Sebag takes a risky but probably necessary gamble in enthusiastically throwing herself into the brawl: 26. f4 exf4 27. Ne2

27. ... Rfc8. 27. ... Nd7! 28. Nxf4 Ne5 might have been a little more promising, perhaps. 28. Nxf4 c4 29. bxc4 bxc4 30. dxc4 Rxc4. 30. ... Nxc4 looks better, but, indeed, after 31. Qh4 Kg7 32. Nd3! White’s position is sound and safe; for instance: 32. ... Ne3 33. e5! fxe5 34. Rxc6 Rxc6 35. Rxc6 Qxc6 36. Qe7+ with perpetual check. 31. Rxc4 Rxc4 32. Rxc4 Nxc4 33. Qc8. That’s all: Black’s King cannot escape perpetual check. 33. ... Ne3 34. Qb7+ Kg8 35. Qc8+ Kf7 36. Qb7+ Kg8 37. Qc8+ Kf7 ½ : ½.

Marie Rachel Sebag vs. Zhansaya Daniyarovna Abdumalik. Photo © Austin Fuller/Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis.

Fallout

Marie Rachel Sebag – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
11th Women’s European Team Chess Championship; Reykjavík, November 21, 2015
Spanish Game C83

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Be7 10. Nbd2 0-0 11. Bc2 f5 12. Nb3 Qd7 13. Nbd4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 c5 15. Nxe6 Qxe6 16. f3 Ng5 17. a4 Rad8 18. Bxg5 Bxg5 19. f4 Be7 20. axb5 axb5 21. Kh1 d4 22. cxd4 c4 23. b3 Bc5 24. bxc4 Rxd4 25. Qb1 bxc4 26. Ra5 Qc6. A “long and winding road” to Muzychuk’s theoretical novelty instead of 26. ... Qb6 27. Rb5 Qc6 28. Bd1 g6 29. Bf3 Qc8 30. Rb7 as in Sebag – A. O. Muzychuk, 4th SportAccord World Mind Games, Women’s Rapid Event; 北京 (Beijīng) 2014. 27. Bd1 Qc7 28. Qb5 Bb6 29. Ra6 Rb8 30. Bf3 c3 31. Rc1 Kh8

32. Ra8?? An awful mistake, after which White’s position dramatically falls apart. Correct was 32. g3 keeping cool. 32. ... Rxa8 33. Bxa8 Rd8! A finesse maybe overlooked by Sebag, who was possibly expecting 33. ... Qd8 34. Bf3 Rd2 35. Qb1 with hopes to keep the balance. 34. Bf3 Be3 35. Rc2 Bxf4 36. e6 Rb8 37. Qd5. Equally after 37. Qf1 Bxh2 Black wins. 37. ... Rb1+ 38. Bd1 h6 39. Qd3 Qd6 0 : 1.

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk. Photo: Hrafn Jökulsson.

À l’ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs

Closing ceremony of the 13èmes Rencontres d’Échecs du Cap d’Agde. All the participants were on stage, including the four flowering girls. Photo: CapÉchecs (Facebook).

Les Fleurs Animées

Europe Échecs (@EuropeEchecs)

The shark who scared a fisher

Laurent Fressinet – Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; tie-break game 2 (3+2); Cap d’Agde, October 31, 2015
English Opening A29

After two draws in the rapid games (25+10), Anatoly Yevgenyevich has undeservedly lost the first tie-break blitz game. No wonder he just played all out in the second one: 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bc5 5. Bg2 d6 6. 0-0 0-0 7. e3 Re8 8. d4 exd4 9. exd4 Bb6 10. h3 Bf5 11. g4 Bg6 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 Be4 14. Nxe4 Rxe4 15. d5 Nd4 16. Nxd4 Rxd4 17. Qc2 g5 18. Bg3 Nd7 19. b4 a5 20. a3 Qf6 21. Rad1 axb4 22. axb4 Ra3 23. Kh2 Kg7 24. Rde1

24. ... Rf4! Fantastic! So far, Tolya has displayed the lucidity and simplicity with which he used to play in his prime! 25. Re2. 25. Bxf4 gxf4 gives Black excellent compensation for the Exchange, but probably nothing more. It’s not easy, however, to handle such positions in a blitz game. 25. ... Rc3! 26. Qa4 Ne5 27. c5 Bxc5 28. Re4 Rxf2? A grave miscalculation, which throws away a well-deserved win. Both 28. ... Rxe4 29. Bxe4 Rxg3 30. bxc5 (or 30. fxg3 Qxf1 31. bxc5 Qf2+ 32. Kh1 Qxg3) 30. ... Rc3 and 28. ... Rxg3! 29. bxc5 Rxf2 30. Kxg3 Rxf1 31. Bxf1? Qf3+! 32. Kh2 Qf2+! would have easily won the game. 29. Bxf2 Bxf2 30. Qa2? But Fressinet gives his opponent a second chance! White should have played 30. Kh1! and if 30. ... Rg3 (threat: ... Rg3xg2) then 31. Qd1 Nd3 32. Qc2 followed by Re4-e2, winning two pieces for a Rook. 30. ... Nf3+? The decisive mistake! Instead, after 30. ... Bg3+ 31. Kh1 Bf4 followed by ... Ne5-g6-h4 Black would have kept excellent winning chances. 31. Kh1 Nh4 32. Qxf2 1 : 0.

Laurent Fressinet (right) vs. Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov (left). Photo © CapÉ/Europe Échecs.

Иремель (Iremel)

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov – Romain Édouard
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 30, 2015
Nimzo-Indian Defence E35

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. Qxc3 0-0 10. e3 c6 11. Nf3 Bg4 12. Be2 Nd7 13. 0-0 Qe7 14. b4 a6 15. a4 Rac8 16. Rfc1 Rfe8 17. h3 Bh5 18. Ra2 Nf6 19. Qc5 Qd8 20. b5. The minority attack on the Queenside “is thematic”, Grandmaster Laurent Fressinet said. 20. ... Ne4 21. Qa3 cxb5 22. axb5 Rxc1+ 23. Qxc1 a5. The creation of a passed Pawn on the a-file can be considered as a “typical reaction”, says Fressinet. “The position is unbalanced and hard to evaluate, but there is plenty of play on both sides, perhaps slightly favourable to Black”. 24. Qa3 Qc8 25. Ne5 Bxe2 26. Rxe2 f6 27. Nd3 Qc4 28. b6 Rc8 29. Rb2 Kh7 30. Kh2 a4 31. Nf4? A slip by Karpov. Correct was 31. f3 Qc3 with fairly even chances. 31. ... Qc1? But Édouard misses 31. ... Qf1! with the deadly threat of ... Rc8-c1. 32. f3 Nc3

33. Qe7! When all seems lost, Anatoly Yevgenyevich launches a brilliant attack against the enemy King! 33. ... Qxb2 34. Nh5 Rg8 35. Nxf6+ Kh8 36. Nxg8 Kxg8 37. Qxb7 a3. White is now a Knight down, while the a3-Pawn quickly runs toward the promotion square. But Karpov has calculated very accurately that the only possible outcome is a draw by perpetual check. 38. Qc8+ Kh7 39. Qf5+ Kh8 40. Qc8+ Kh7 ½ : ½.

Romain Édouard congratulates Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov
Photo © Pierre Textoris/CapÉchecs

Into Eternity

Europe Échecs (@EuropeEchecs)

The Reach

Marie Rachel Sebag – Laurent Fressinet
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 29, 2015
Modern Defence B06

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bd3 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nxe4 6. Bxe4 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8. dxc5 Qa5+ 9. c3 Qxc5 10. 0-0 0-0 11. Be3 Qc7 12. Re1 Nd7 13. Bc2 b6 14. Be4 Rb8 15. Nd4 Nc5 16. Bf3 Bd7 17. a4 a6 18. b4 Ne6 19. Ne2 Rfd8 20. Qb3 Bc6 21. Bxc6 Qxc6 22. Rad1 b5 23. a5 h5 24. h3 Bf6 25. Bb6 Rxd1 26. Rxd1 Rc8 27. Qd5 Qxd5 28. Rxd5 Bxc3 29. Nxc3 Rxc3 30. Rd7 Rc4 31. Ra7 Rxb4 32. Rxa6

32. ... Rb1+ 33. Kh2 b4 34. Ra8+ Kh7 35. a6 b3 36. a7 b2 37. Rb8 Ra1 38. Be3 f5 39. Rxb2 f4 40. Bb6 Nf8 41. Rd2 1 : 0.

Marie Rachel Sebag vs. Laurent Fressinet
Photo © Europe Échecs/CapÉchecs

Shining Through

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov – Anna Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 29, 2015
Nimzo-Indian Defence E35

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 c5 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. e3 0-0 11. Nf3 c4 12. Be2 Nc6 13. 0-0 Bf5 14. Qb2 b6 15. Nd2 Rad8 16. Rfe1 Rfe8 17. g3 Qg6 18. Bf3 Bd3 19. Bg2 h5 20. h4 Rd6 21. Qb5 Kf8 22. Ra2 Qg4 23. Nf3 Be4 24. Nd2 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Qg6 26. Qb1 Qg4 27. Rb2 Ne7 28. Qd1 Nf5 29. Qxg4 hxg4 30. a4 Nxd4 31. cxd4 c3 32. Rb5 cxd2 33. Rd1 Rc8 34. Rxd2 Ke7 35. a5 a6 36. Rxb6 Rxb6 37. axb6 Rb8 38. Rb2 Kd6 39. f3 f5 40. fxg4 fxg4 41. Rf2 Rxb6 42. Rf4 Rb2+ 43. Kf1 a5 44. Rxg4 a4 45. Rg6+ Kc7 46. Ra6 Ra2 47. h5 Kb7 48. Ra5 Kb6 49. Ra8 Kb5 50. g4

50. ... a3? Black can easily draw with the immediate 50. ... Rh2!, e.g. 51. Ra7 Rh4 52. Rxg7 a3 53. Kg2 Kb6 54. Rg8 Kb7=. But Anna needed to win... 51. g5 Rh2 52. h6! gxh6 53. g6 Rh5 54. g7 Rg5 55. g8=Q Rxg8 56. Rxg8 Kc4 57. Rc8+ Kb3 58. Ra8 a2 59. e4 dxe4 60. d5 1 : 0. Never mind. The two sisters are together again!

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov vs. Anna Muzychuk
Photo © Europe Échecs/CapÉchecs

What Lies Beneath

Romain Édouard – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 29, 2015
Nimzo-Indian Defence E59

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Bb4 5. e3 0-0 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 c5 8. 0-0 Nc6 9. a3 Bxc3 10. bxc3 b6 11. Qe2 Bb7 12. Bb2 Qc7 13. Bd3 e5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Qxe5 16. c4 Qg5 17. f3 Rfe8 18. Rae1 Rad8 19. g3 h5 20. e4 h4 21. Qe3 Qg6 22. Re2 Nh5 23. Rg2

23. ... h3? More consistent was the immediate 23. ... f5! maintaining excellent attacking chances (if 24. gxh4? then 24. ... Rxd3!). Now White turns the tables. 24. Rd2 f5 25. e5 Rd7 26. g4 Rf7? Black’s last chance was 26. ... Rxd3 27. Qxd3 Bc8, although even then White maintained the advantage by 28. Qc2 Nf4 29. Rd6 Qg5 30. Bc1 fxg4 31. Bxf4 Qxf4 32. Qe4. 27. Kf2 Nf6 28. gxf5 Qh5 29. Qf4 g5 30. Rg1 Rg7 31. Qg3 1 : 0. “A complicated position of the Nimzo-Indian”, then Édouard said. “Strategically speaking, White stands well, but Black has plenty of initiative. She tried to mount a Kingside attack. It was in fact quite logical, but luckily for me her variations didn’t work”.

Out of Sight

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk – Marie Rachel Sebag
4th Trophée KARPOV; Cap d’Agde, October 29, 2015
Sicilian Defence B52

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. 0-0 Nc6 6. c3 Nf6 7. d4 Nxe4 8. d5 Ne5 9. Re1 Nxf3+ 10. Qxf3 Nf6 11. b4 cxb4 12. cxb4 e5 13. dxe6 fxe6 14. Bb2 Be7 15. Qh3 Kf7 16. Nd2 e5 17. Qd3 Rhf8 18. Nf3 Kg8 19. Qb3+ Kh8 20. Ng5 h6

21. Ne6 Rfe8 22. f4 Bd8 23. f5 Bb6+ 24. Kh1 Qf7 25. Qf3 Rac8 26. Rac1 Rxc1 27. Rxc1 Qd7 28. h3 g6 29. g4 gxf5 30. gxf5 Rc8 31. Rd1 Qc6 32. Qxc6 Rxc6 33. Rc1 Kg8 34. Kg2 Nd5 35. Kf3 Nxb4 36. a3 Nd3 37. Rxc6 bxc6 38. Bc3 Kf7 39. Bd2 Nc5 40. Nxc5 Bxc5 41. Bxh6 Bxa3 42. h4 Bb2 43. Bd2 d5 44. h5 e4+ 45. Kf4 Kf6 46. h6 Be5+ 47. Kg4 d4 48. Bb4 e3 49. Bf8 Kf7 50. Bb4 d3 51. Kf3 Bd4 52. h7 d2 53. Ke2 Kg7 54. f6+ Bxf6 55. Bc5 Bg5 0 : 1. “It’s only a rapid game”, Marie Rachel eventually minimized. “This time I didn’t disintegrate: I won and climbed up. I took my time thinking. In my other games, I played a bit too fast. Against Karpov (round ten), particularly, I had a good position, but I was just ‘letting it go’ and I lost. Now I feel very tired. I’m not able to concentrate”.

Mariya Muzychuk vs. Marie Rachel Sebag
Photo: Europe Échecs (@EuropeEchecs)

Spider-Girl

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – Romain Édouard
4th Trophée KARPOV; Cap d’Agde, October 29, 2015
Sicilian Defence B46

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8. 0-0 Nf6 9. Qf3 Be7 10. Qg3 0-0 11. Bh6 Ne8 12. Bf4 g6. If 12. ... Bh4 then 13. Qf3 Be7 14. Na4! Nf6 15. b3 Qa5 16. e5 Nd7 17. Qg3 Re8 18. h4! c5 19. c4 d4 20. h5 Qc7 21. Rae1 Bf8 22. Bg5 g6 23. f4 Bg7 24. Qh4 Bb7 25. Kf2! with an irresistible attack, M. Adams – Láznička, 6th Chess World Cup, Baku 2015, match game 2. 13. Rad1 a5 14. Na4 Bd6 15. c4 Bxf4 16. Qxf4 Qc7 17. Qh4 Rb8 18. Rfe1 d4 19. e5 c5 20. b3 Bd7 21. Nb2 a4 22. Bc2 axb3 23. axb3 Ng7 24. Nd3 Bc8 25. Nf4 Bb7 26. Nh3 Qd8 27. Qh6 f6 28. f3 Qd7? Probably the decisive error that permits Anna to crown her attack in grand style. The lesser evil was 28. ... Qe7 29. exf6 Rxf6 in order to answer 30. Qg5 by 30. ... Rf7 (the c-Pawn is now defended by the Queen). 29. exf6 Rxf6 30. Qg5 Qe7 31. Re5 Rc8 32. Nf2 Qf8 33. Ng4 Rf4 34. Ra1 Kh8 35. Ra7 Rf7

36. Bxg6! hxg6 37. Qh6+ Kg8 38. Qxg6 Rcc7 39. Rh5 Qd8 40. Nh6+ Kf8 41. Nxf7 1 : 0. “I obviously played to win, but I didn’t want to take too many risks”, then Anna said. “In my opinion, I stood better after the opening. My position was easier to play. My plan was simply of directly attacking the King. Everything worked well. My attack was winning. Usually, it’s my sister who plays very aggressively. My style is more balanced. Rather, it’s more focused on strategy, but I may also play tactically. It’s a very pleasant experience during the game, while trying to give mate to your opponent. You feel a certain euphoria, but if the attack fails, that’s another story”.

Anna Muzychuk vs. Romain Édouard
Photo © Europe Échecs/CapÉchecs

Lucky Strike

Zhansaya Daniyarqyzy Abdumalik – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 28, 2015
Sicilian Defence B43

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Qc7 6. Bd3 Nf6 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. Nb3 b5 9. f4 d6 10. Be3 Bb7 11. Qf3 Be7 12. Qh3 Nb4 13. a3 Nxd3 14. cxd3 e5 15. Qg3. For 15. Rac1 Qd8 16. Nd2 (for 16. g4 h5 see Tukmakov – Csom, Zagreb 1971) 16. ... 0-0 17. d4 see Frolov – Shmuter, Zonal Tournament, Nikolaev 1993. 15. ... exf4 16. Qxf4 0-0 17. Nd4 Bc8 18. Rac1 Qb7 19. Qg3 Kh8 20. Kh1 Be6 21. Nf5 Bxf5 22. Rxf5 b4 23. axb4 Qxb4 24. Rcf1 Rac8 25. R1f2

25. ... Rxc3? A very hazardous Exchange sacrifice – to put it euphemistically. The thematic advance 25. ... d5! 26. exd5 (or 26. e5 Ng4) 26. ... Ng4 looks much more to the point. 26. bxc3 Qxc3 27. Bd2 Qd4 28. h3 Rb8 29. Qe3 Qxe3 30. Bxe3 Rb3 31. Rc2 h6 32. Rc7 Rxd3 33. Bf4 g6 34. Ra5 Ng8 35. Rxa6 Rd4 36. Ra8 Rxe4 37. Bxh6 Kh7 38. Bd2 d5 39. Rcc8. White probably missed a quick win on several occasions before. Also here, for instance, 39. Rd7 looks very strong, since after 39. ... d4 40. Re8 Black is in Zugzwang. 39. ... Rd4 40. Bc1 Rd1+ 41. Kh2 Bd6+ 42. g3 Ne7 43. Rh8+ Kg7 44. Bh6+ Kf6 45. Ra6 Nf5 46. Bf8? Also 46. Bf4? Kg7! leads nowhere. Abdumalik’s last chance to try to win was by 46. Re8. 46. ... Rd2+ 47. Kg1 Ke5 48. g4 Bxf8 49. Rxf8 Nd6 50. Rd8 Ne4 51. Ra5 Ng5 52. h4 Nf3+ 53. Kf1 Nxh4 54. Rf8 f5 55. gxf5 Nxf5 56. Ke1 Rg2 57. Rd8 Ne3 58. Re8+ Kf4 59. Ra4+ Kf3 60. Rf8+ Nf5 61. Kd1 Kg3 62. Ra3+ Kg4 63. Rg8 Kf4 64. Rd8 d4 65. Ra6 Kf3 66. Rb6?? A tragic blunder. White should have been able to draw by 66. Kc1. 66. ... Ne3+ 67. Kc1 Rg1+ 68. Kb2. On 68. Kd2 Rd1 it’s mate! 68. ... Nc4+ 69. Kb3 Nxb6 70. Rxd4 g5 71. Rd6 Nc8 72. Rf6+ Kg3 73. Kc3 Rd1 74. Rf8 Nd6 75. Kc2 Rd5 0 : 1. “I took a look at this game, and at first it seemed to be favourable to White”, Grandmaster Romain Édouard said. “Eventually I thought it would have ended in a draw, but the Women’s World Champion managed to wear the young Kazakhstani down and win”.

Run to the Hills

Laurent Fressinet – Anna Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 28, 2015
Dutch Defence A80

1. d4 f5 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bg5 g6 4. e3 Bg7 5. h4 c6 6. Bf4 Nd7 7. Nf3 Ngf6 8. Ng5!? 8. Ne5 Qb6 9. Rb1 Ne4 transposes into the game Vaisser – Grétarsson, 9th International Open, Cappelle-la-Grande 1993. 8. ... Nf8 9. Be5 h6 10. Nf3 Be6 11. Bd3. After 11. h5 g5 Black stands well. 11. ... Rg8 12. Ne2 Ng4 13. Bxg7 Rxg7 14. c3 Qd6 15. Qc2 Nf6 16. 0-0-0 N8d7 17. Nf4 Ne4 18. Rhg1 g5 19. hxg5 hxg5 20. Nxe6 Qxe6 21. c4 g4 22. Nh4 Qf6 23. Rh1 Rh7 24. g3 e6 25. Ng2 Rxh1 26. Rxh1 0-0-0 27. Nf4 Kb8 28. Kb1 e5! 29. dxe5 Nxe5 30. Bxe4 dxe4 31. Qc3 Qe7 32. a3

32. ... Nd3! Black has very convincingly equalized. 33. Rh8 Nxf4 34. exf4 Rxh8 35. Qxh8+ Kc7 36. Qd4 Qd6 37. Qxd6+ Kxd6 ½ : ½. “A draw with Black against Fressinet is a good result”, then Anna said. “I probably stood a little worse after the opening, but the time control doesn’t really allow us to evaluate everything. It was not easy to find the best way through. I got the idea 28. ... e5 that offered me counter-play. In my opinion, then, Black stands better, but I was short of time. I had only got two or three minutes left, and anything concrete. As for fourth place, first of all, I will try to play at my best. We’ll see if I can manage to qualify for the semifinals”.

Minding Tomorrow

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk – Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 28, 2015
Caro-Kann Defence B11

1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 e6 6. d4 Nf6 7. Bd3 dxe4 8. Nxe4 Nbd7 9. c3 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Nf6 11. Qe2 Bd6 12. 0-0 Qc7 13. Bg5 Bf4 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. a4 h5 16. b4 h4 17. Rfe1 Kf8 18. Be4 f5 19. Bf3 Kg7 20. Qb2 Bg5

21. b5 Rhd8 22. Re5 Rab8 23. Qb3 Be7 24. Qc4 Rdc8 25. bxc6 bxc6 26. Ree1. A very strange move! Why not 26. Rae1? 26. ... Qf4 27. Rab1 Bd6 28. Qd3 c5 29. Rb5 a6 30. Rb7 cxd4 31. Qxd4+ Qxd4 32. cxd4 Rc4 33. Rxb8 Bxb8 34. d5 e5 35. Rb1 Bc7 36. Rb7?? A terrible oversight. 36. ... Rc1+ 37. Kh2 e4+ 0 : 1. “In the first portion of the game, the position was mostly equal but slightly in favor of White”, Grandmaster Christian Bauer said. “Mariya spent a lot of time thinking, but she proceeded with a plan not too promising, aimed to transfer the Queen to c4. She intended to exert pressure on the Queenside, but after having opened the b-file, she ended up having problems. Karpov was ready to pounce!”.

Mariya Muzychuk vs. Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov
Photo: Europe Échecs (@EuropeEchecs)

A Breath of Autumn

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 27, 2015
Russian Defence C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 0-0 8. Qd2 Qe8 9. Bd3 Nc6 10. 0-0-0. 9th Women’s World Chess Champion 诸宸 (Zhū Chén)’s husband, Grandmaster Mohammed Ahmed Al-Modiahki from Qatar, tried here 10. h4, but after 10. ... Ne5 11. Ng5 f5 12. 0-0-0 h6 White didn’t achieve anything, Al-Modiahki – Sandipan, FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship, Dubai 2014. 10. ... Ne5 11. Nxe5 dxe5 12. c4 Qa4 13. Kb1 Be6 14. Qc3 Bf6 15. Qb3 Qxb3 16. axb3 Be7 17. f3

17. ... a5! Mariya takes the opportunity to seize a volatile initiative, not sufficient, however, to secure her any significant advantage. 18. c3 a4 19. bxa4 Rxa4 20. b3 Ra3 21. Kb2 Rfa8 22. Ra1 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 Rxa1 24. Kxa1 f5 25. Kb2 b6 26. Kc2 g5 27. h3 h5 28. Kd2 Kg7 29. Ke2 Kf6 30. Bc2 Bd6 31. Bf2 Be7 32. Bb1 Bd6 33. Bc2 Be7 34. Bb1 Bd6 35. Bc2 Be7 ½ : ½. “It was an interesting game”, then Mariya said. “I decided to play the Russian Defence. For me it’s never easy to select an opening when I have to face my sister. We played each other so many times. Perhaps I stood a little better in the ending, but I couldn’t find any sort of winning plan. We arrived at the playing hall one after another, but just before we were together. We just needed ‘a breath of fresh air’ each on her own”.

Mariya Muzychuk
Photo © Pierre Textoris/CapÉchecs

The Girl Behind The Name

Marie Rachel Sebag – Anna Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 27, 2015
Sicilian Defence B33

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c4 b4 12. Nc2 0-0 13. g3 Bg5 14. Bg2 Qa5 15. 0-0 Qc5 16. b3 a5 17. Qd3. For 17. Kh1 a4 18. Qe2 Be6 19. Nc7 axb3 20. axb3 Rxa1 21. Rxa1 Na5 22. Na6 Qb6 23. Naxb4 Nxb3 see Caruana – Mamedov, Chess World Cup, Baku 2015, match game 2. 17. ... Be6 18. Rad1 Bxd5 19. Qxd5 Rfd8 20. h4 Bh6. This looks more natural than 20. ... Be7 21. Bh3 a4 22. Qd3 axb3 23. axb3 Ra2 24. Rd2 g6 25. Rfd1 Bf8 ½ : ½ P. Popović – Medvegy, Schachbundesliga 2010-2011, Baden-Baden 2010. 21. Kh2 Ne7 22. Qd3

22. ... a4 23. a3 Nc6 24. axb4 Nxb4 25. Nxb4 Qxb4 26. bxa4 Rxa4 27. f4? This seems wrong, as White’s position quickly falls apart, shifting the material balance in favour of Black. After 27. Rb1 Ra3 (or 27. ... Qxc4 28. Rxd6!) 28. Qd5 Qd2 chances are roughly equal. 27. ... exf4 28. gxf4 Qxc4 29. Qg3 g6 30. Kh1? White doesn’t have enough compensation for the Pawn, but surely the text makes things worse. 30. ... Qe6 31. e5 Qe7 32. Bc6 Rb4 33. Bd5 dxe5. Another Pawn falls with devastating effect on the Black King. 34. fxe5 Rxh4+ 35. Kg2 Rxd5 36. Rxd5 Rh5. “The rest is silence”. 37. Qf3 Rg5+ 38. Kh3 Rf5 39. Qd3 Rxf1 40. Rd8+ Kg7 0 : 1.

Anna Muzychuk
Photo © Europe Échecs/CapÉches

Under the Autumn Star

Mariya Muzychuk – Tigran Alexandrovich Gharamian
4th Trophée KARPOV; Cap d’Agde, October 26, 2015
Modern Defence B06

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 a6 4. Be3 d6 5. Qd2 b5 6. h4 Bb7 7. h5 b4 8. Nd5 a5 9. h6. For 9. f3 Nd7 10. 0-0-0 see Domínguez Pérez – Mamedyarov, 1st SportAccord World Mind Games; Rapid Event, 北京 (Beijīng) 2011. 9. ... Bf8 10. Bd3!? Miss Tactics prepares for a quite interesting Knight pseudo-sacrifice. 10. ... e6 11. Bg5 f6

12. Nxf6+ Nxf6 13. e5 Be7. If 13. ... dxe5 then 14. dxe5 Ne4 15. Bxd8 Nxd2 16. Bf6 Rg8 17. Kxd2 with a slight edge to White. 14. exf6 Bxf6 15. f4 Bxg5 16. fxg5 0-0 17. Nh3 Nd7 18. 0-0-0 e5 19. Bc4+ Kh8 20. Be6 Re8 21. Bf7 Rf8 22. dxe5 Nxe5 23. Bd5 Bxd5 24. Qxd5 Rf5 25. Rhf1 Qg8 26. Rxf5 gxf5 27. Nf4. Perhaps 27. Qb7 Qb8 28. Qxb8+ Rxb8 29. Rd5 would have offered better chances of securing an advantage. 27. ... Qxd5 28. Nxd5 Rg8 29. Nxc7 Rxg5 30. Rxd6 Rxg2 31. b3 f4 32. Nd5 f3 33. Ne3 Rg6 34. Rd5 Nf7 35. Rf5 Nxh6 36. Rxf3 Rg5 37. Rf8+ Kg7 38. Ra8 Nf7 39. Nc4 h5 40. Ra7 Rd5 41. Ne3 Rg5 42. Nc4 Rd5 43. Ne3 Rg5 44. Nc4 Rd5 ½ : ½.

Mariya Muzychuk vs. Tigran Alexandrovich Gharamian
Photo: Europe Échecs (@EuropeEchecs)

The Sound and the Fury

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – Zhansaya Daniyarqyzy Abdumalik
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 26, 2015
Bird’s Opening A03

1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. 0-0 0-0 6. d3 c5 7. Qe1 Nc6 8. e4 dxe4 9. dxe4 e5 10. c3 Re8 11. f5 gxf5 12. Nh4 fxe4. For 12. ... Nxe4 13. Nxf5 see Sale – Armanda, International Open, Zagreb 2009. 13. Nd2 Ne7 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Bxe4 Rf8 16. Bg5 f6 17. Rd1 Qb6 18. Be3 Bg4 19. Rd2 f5 20. Bg2 Qc7 21. Rdf2 Rad8 22. Qc1 f4 23. gxf4 Nd5 24. f5 Nxe3 25. Qxe3 Rf6 26. Qg5 Bd1 27. c4 Rd4 28. Bd5+ Kf8 29. Rg2 Qe7

30. h3. Also 30. Kh1! (threatening Rf1-g1) deserves serious consideration. 30. ... Qc7 31. Nf3. Much stronger looks 31. Re1! (threatening Re1xe5), e.g. 31. ... Ba4 32. Nf3 Rd1 33. Rxd1 Bxd1 34. Nxe5 Qe7 35. Qxf6+! and wins. 31. ... Bxf3 32. Rxf3 h6 33. Qc1 Ke8 34. Rfg3 Bf8. The worst is over, and Zhansaya Daniyarqyzy, after having survived the middle game, will be able to hold her own in the ending too. 35. Be6 Qd6 36. Qc2 a6 37. Qe2 e4 38. h4 Kd8 39. Kh2 Kc7 40. Kh3 Kb6 41. Bd5 Qe5 42. Rb3+ Kc7 43. Rxb7+ Kc8 44. Rb3 Qxf5+ 45. Qg4 Qxg4+ 46. Rxg4 Rd3+ 47. Rxd3 exd3 48. Rg3 Rf2 49. Rxd3 Rxb2 50. Ra3 Rb6 51. Kg4 Be7 52. h5 Kd7 53. Kf5 Rf6+ 54. Ke5 Rb6 55. Rf3 Bd6+ 56. Ke4 Be7 57. Rf7 Rf6 58. Rh7 Rb6 59. Ke5 a5 60. Be4 Kd8 61. Bf5 Ra6 62. Rh8+ Kc7 63. Rh7 Kd8 64. a4 Rb6 65. Be6 Bg5 66. Kd5 Rb4 67. Kxc5 Rxa4 68. Kc6 Ra1 69. c5 a4 70. Ra7 a3 71. Bd5 Be3 72. Kd6 Bf4+ 73. Ke6 Be3 74. Kd6 Bf4+ 75. Ke6 Be3 76. Kd6 Bf4+ 77. Ke6 Be3 78. Kd6 Bf4+ 79. Ke6 Be3 ½ : ½.