It’s the Girls!

14th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival (@GibraltarChess)

Physique du rôle

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina – Mariya Muzychuk
Women’s Grand Prix Series 2015-2016; Monte Carlo, October 13, 2015
Grünfeld Defence D85

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bd2 Bg7 6. e4 Nxc3 7. Bxc3 0-0 8. Be2. For 8. Rc1 c5 9. dxc5 Qxd1+ 10. Kxd1 Rd8+ 11. Ke1 Be6 12. Bxg7 Kxg7 13. a3 Nc6 14. Nf3 Nd4 see Gunina – M. Muzychuk, 41st Women’s Chess Olympiad, Tromsø 2014. 8. ... c5 9. d5 e6 10. Nf3. “I have not analyzed the move 8. Be2 before. First I was thinking the idea is Be2-f3 and Ng1-e2, but it does not work, even I can play 10. ... Nd7 (if 10. Bf3) and it’s no time to play 11. Ne2 because 11. ... Ne5”, then Mariya said. 10. ... exd5 11. exd5 Nd7. The alternative was 11. ... Bg4 12. 0-0 Qd6, e.g. 13. Qb3 Nd7 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. Qxb7 Rab8 16. Qc6 Qf4 17. b3 Rb6 18. Qa4 Qxa4 19. bxa4 Rd6 20. h3 Bxf3 21. Bxf3 Ne5 ½ : ½ P. Horváth – Naumann, Schachbundesliga 2013-2014, Trier 2014. 12. 0-0 Nf6. For 12. ... Nb6 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. d6 Qf6 15. Rc1 Rd8 see Schweda – Groszpeter, Austrian Team Chess Championship 2011-2012, Vienna 2011. 13. Bc4 Ne4 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. Rc1 Qf6. Good and perhaps less committal is 15. ... Bg4 16. h3 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Nd6 with satisfactory play for Black. 16. Bd3 Nd6 17. Rxc5 Qxb2 18. Qa4 Rd8. Black, being a little behind in development, must defend carefully. Bad is, for instance, 18. ... Bf5 19. Bxf5 Nxf5 on account of 20. Rb5 winning a Pawn. 19. Rc7 b5 20. Qh4 Qf6 21. Qb4 Bb7

22. Bxb5 Rab8! An energetic Pawn pseudo sacrifice by Miss Muzychuk with which she takes over a volatile initiative. 23. Be2 Ba6! 24. Qd2 Rb2 25. Rc2 Ne4 26. Qc1 Bxe2 27. Qxb2 Qxb2 28. Rxb2 Bxf1 29. Kxf1 Rxd5. Black has finally won back her Pawn and still retains her very slight initiative, but in fact this is not sufficient to mean something more than a draw. 30. Rc2 Rd3 31. Rc4 Rxf3 32. Rxe4 Ra3 33. Re2 g5! 34. f3 f5 35. Kf2 Kf6 36. g3 f4 37. gxf4 gxf4 38. Kg2 Kf5 ½ : ½. A lively and interesting draw.

Michel Roger (Minister of State of Monaco) making first move in the game Natalia Andreevna Pogonina (R.) vs. Mariya Muzychuk (L.). Standing, left to right: Marius Vizer (President of International Judo Federation), Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov (President of FIDE), Michel Roger, and Jean-Michel Rapaire (President of Fédération Monégasque des Échecs). Photo: FIDE Grand Prix 2015.

The Eighth Day of the Week

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina – Antoaneta Stefanova
Women’s Grand Prix Series 2015-2016; Monte Carlo, October 8, 2015
Queen’s Gambit Declined D46

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 0-0 8. 0-0 dxc4 9. Bxc4 e5 10. Bb3 h6 11. h3 Re8 12. Nh4!? Nf8 13. dxe5 Bxe5 14. Rd1. For 14. Nf3 Bc7 15. e4 Ng6 see Khuseinkhodzhaev – Smirnov, Grand Europe Cup, Golden Sands 2014. 14. ... Qe7 15. Nf5 Qc5 16. Nd4 Ne6 17. Nf3 Bc7 18. e4 Qh5

19. Nd5? A total hallucination. 19. ... cxd5 20. exd5 Bb6? But Stefanova misses the winning 20. ... Nf4! 21. Qxc7 Nxg2! 22. d6!? (22. Qg3 Bxh3 is no better) 22. ... Bd7!-+ (this move may have indeed been what Antoaneta overlooked). 21. Bxe6 Rxe6 22. Bf4. Now nothing is clear. 22. ... Rae8 24. Re1 Ne4 25. Be3 Bxe3 26. Rxe3 Ng5 27. Nxg5 Rxe3 28. fxe3 Qxg5 29. Re1 Rxe3 30. Qc8+ Kh7 31. Qc2+ g6 32. Rf1 Qe7 33. Qd2 Kg8 34. Rc1 a6 35. Rc8+ Kg7 36. Qd4+ Qe5 37. Qxe5+ Rxe5 38. Rc7 Rb5 39. b3 h5 40. h4 Kf6 41. Kf2 Rb4 42. g3 Ke6 43. Kf3 a5 44. Ke3 b6 45. Rb7 f6 46. Kf3 Kf5 47. Rb8 Rb5 48. Rb7 Ke5 49. Ke3 Rb4 50. Rb8 Kd5 51. Rf8 Re4+ 52. Kf3 Re6 53. Rg8 f5 54. Rc8 Re4 55. Rg8 Rg4 56. Rc8 a4 57. bxa4 Rxa4 58. Rg8 Rg4 59. a4 Ke5 60. Re8+ Kf6 61. Ra8 Kg7 62. Ra6 Rb4 63. a5 bxa5 64. Rxa5 Rg4. Many strange things happened meanwhile, but I was wandering downtown Florence searching for Sunday. Now, when I get back here, I know today is Thursday – idem to say it’s a dead draw. I wonder why they keep playing. 65. Ra7+ Kf6 66. Ra6+ Ke5 67. Ra5+ Kd6 68. Ra6+ Kc5 69. Rf6 Kd5 70. Ra6 Ke5 71. Ra5+ Kf6 72. Ra6+ Kg7 73. Ra7+ Kh6 74. Ra6 Re4 75. Ra7 Re6 76. Kf4 Re1 77. Kf3 Rf1+ 78. Kg2 Rd1 79. Kf3 Rd8 80. Kf4 Re8 81. Rb7 Re4+ 82. Kf3 Ra4 83. Rc7 Rg4 84. Rf7 Ra4 85. Rb7 Ra8 86. Kf4 Rg8 87. Ra7 Rg7 88. Ra4 Re7 89. Rb4 Re1 90. Rb7 Rf1+ 91. Ke3 f4+ 92. gxf4 Rh1 93. f5 Rh3+ 94. Kf4 Rxh4+ 95. Ke5 Ra4 96. f6 g5

97. f7?? Suddenly Pogonina literally throws her last Pawn into a fatal deadlock by trying too hard to win. 97. ... Rf4 98. Ke6 Kg7?? But once again, Antoaneta lacks accuracy and hastily plays by routine. Instead, the right way 98. ... Kg6 would have left Black without resource. 99. f8=Q+! The saving clause! 99. ... Kxf8 100. Rh7?? Just another crazy moment she (Pogonina) and she (Stefanova) would never forget! It was not too difficult to find the only way for White to draw: 100. Rb5! eliminating one of Black’s Pawns. 100. ... h4. Now the two connected passers must win. 101. Rh5 Rg4 102. Kf5 Rg3 103. Rh7 h3 104. Kf6 Ke8 105. Ke6 Kd8 106. Kd6 Kc8 107. Kc6 Kb8 108. Kb6 Rb3+ 109. Kc6 g4 110. Rh4 Rb1 111. Rh7 Rb2 112. Rh4 h2 113. Rh7 g3 0 : 1.

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina vs. Antoaneta Stefanova
Photo: FIDE Grand Prix 2015

Lucky Girl

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Natalia Andreevna Pogonina
65th Russian Women’s Chess Championship; Chita, August 19, 2015
Catalan Opening E04

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 7. a3 Bxd2+ 8. Nbxd2 b5 9. b3 cxb3 10. Qxb3 c6 11. 0-0 0-0 12. Rfc1 Bb7 13. Qb2 Nbd7 14. Ne1 Qb6. Less convincing would be 14. ... Nb6 as after 15. Bxc6 Bxc6 16. Rxc6 Rb8 17. Qxb5 Qxd4 18. Nb3 the a5-Pawn is doomed (sacrificed by Black) for little or no compensation, Giri – Fridman, 3rd HMC Calder Élite, Rosmalen 2014. 15. Nd3 Rfc8 16. Nb3 Ba6 17. Nbc5 Nxc5 18. Nxc5 h6 19. e3 Ra7 20. Qb3 Nd7 21. f4 Nxc5 22. Rxc5 Rd7 23. Rac1 Rd6 24. g4 b4 25. a4 Qd8 26. Bf3 Kh8 27. Kg2 f6 28. h4!? Aleksandra Yuryevna is pushing for the win too hard... 29. ... e5! Natalia Andreevna thematically launches her straight counter-attack in the centre! 29. fxe5 fxe5 30. Rxe5 Qxh4 31. Rh1 Qd8 32. g5? c5! 33. dxc5?

33. ... Rd2+? Amazingly, Pogonina inverts the order of moves and misses an easy win! The right order was 33. ... Rxc5! 34. Rxc5 Rd2+ 35. Kh3 (neither 35. Kg1 Qd6 nor 35. Kg3 Qd6+ would avoid the disaster) 35. ... Qf8! and White is overwhelmed with too many (deadly) threats. 34. Kg3 Rxc5 35. Qe6 Rxe5 36. Qxe5 Kg8 37. Qe6+ Kh8 38. Qe5 Kg8 39. Qe6+ Kh8 40. Qe5 Kg8 41. Qe6+ ½ : ½.

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
Photo: ruchess.ru

A Song of Ice and Fire

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina – 沈阳 (Shěn Yáng)
China – Russia Match; 宁波市 (Níngbō), July 20, 2015
Grünfeld Defence D94

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 g6. Karl Schlechter’s heritage. 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Be2 0-0 7. 0-0 dxc4 8. Bxc4 Bg4 9. Be2 Nbd7 10. e4 Ne8 11. Bg5 Nb6 12. e5. For 12. Qd2 Nc7 13. Rad1 Ne6 14. Be3 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Nc4 see 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) – 沈阳 (Shěn Yáng), Chinese Team Chess Championship, 江门 (Jiāngmén) 2014. 12. ... Nc7 13. h3 Be6 14. Qc1 Bd5 15. Nxd5 Nbxd5 16. Rd1 Ne6 17. Bh6 Qb6 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Bc4 Rad8 20. Qd2 Rd7 21. a4 Rc8 22. a5 Qd8 23. b4 b6 24. Qb2 Rb8 25. Qa3 Ndc7 26. axb6 axb6

27. Qb3. 27. Qb2 Nd5 is passive, but might give better chances to survive. 27. ... b5 28. Be2. Pogonina decides to sacrifice a Pawn, but she will get no reliable compensation. She would perhaps have considered 28. Bxe6 Nxe6 29. Qc3 which is slightly passive but quite playable. 28. ... Nxd4 29. Nxd4 Rxd4 30. Bf3. After 30. Qc3 Ne6 31. Qxc6 h5 the game is materially balanced, but Black still keeps somewhat better chances. 30. ... Ne6 31. Qc3. If 31. Bxc6 then 31. ... Qc7 and the White e-Pawn will fall. 31. ... Qb6 32. Rac1. Obviously not 32. Bxc6?? because of 32. ... Rc8 and wins. Her last chance was 32. Qxc6 Qxc6 33. Bxc6 Rxb4 34. Rd7 Rd4 35. Rxe7 b4 36. Be8 Nd8 37. Rd7 Rxd7 38. Bxd7 Nb7! with a (much) more comfortable ending for Black. 32. ... Rbd8 33. Rxd4 Qxd4 34. Qe1 Qf4 35. Rxc6. If, instead, 35. Bxc6 then 35. ... Nd4! with devastating effect. 35. ... Rd4! The pointe is the deadly infiltration of the Rook to the fourth rank. 36. Bg4 Re4 37. Qa1. Indirectly defending the e-Pawn, but now comes the decisive blow: 37. ... Nd4! Mamma mia! 38. g3 Qxe5 39. Rc1 h5 40. Bd1. The last mistake, but even after 40. f4 Qf6 the game does not last much longer. 40. ... Re1+ 41. Kh2 Qe4 42. Bf3 Rxc1 0 : 1.

沈阳 (Shěn Yáng)
Photo: photo.sina.com.cn

Gravity Falls

黄茜 (Huáng Qiàn) – Natalia Andreevna Pogonina
China – Russia Match; 宁波市 (Níngbō), July 15, 2015
Queen’s Gambit Declined D37

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bf4 0-0 6. e3 b6 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 c5 10. 0-0 Nc6 11. Rc1. Theoretically speaking, both 11. dxc5 bxc5 12. Rc1 Be6 13. Qa4 Nb4 14. Bb1 Bd7 15. Qd1 Be6 16. Ne5 Rc8 17. Qh5 g6 18. Nxg6 fxg6 19. Bxg6 Rf7 20. Bxh7+ Rxh7 21. Qg6+ Rg7 22. Qxe6+ Rf7 23. a3 Rc6 24. Qg4+ Rg7 25. Qe2 Na6 26. Rfd1 Nc7 27. b4 c4 28. e4 Re6 29. Bxc7 Qxc7 30. Rxd5 c3 31. e5 Bg5 32. Rc5 Bxc1 33. Rxc7 Rxc7 34. Qg4+ Kf7 35. Qf5+ Ke7 36. Qh7+ Kd8 37. Qg8+ Re8 38. Qd5+ Rd7 39. Qa5+ Rc7 ½ : ½ Malakhatko – Galinsky, Kiev 2004 and 11. Bb5 Bb7 12. Qa4 Qc8 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Rfd1 Rd8 15. Rac1 Qe6 16. Nd4 Nxd4 17. exd4 Qb6 18. dxc5 Bxc5 19. Bg3 ½ : ½ Grigoriants – Tregubov, 9th Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2010, represent more tried patterns. 11. ... c4 12. Bb1 b5 13. e4 Bg4 14. Qd2 Rc8 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 Be6 17. Qe3 Qd7 18. Bg3. Intending e4-e5. 18. ... dxe4 19. Bxe4 Rfe8 20. d5 Bf5 21. Bxf5 Qxf5 22. Qxa7? Very bad judgment: not all Pawns have equal value! 22. ... Qxd5 23. Rcd1 Qc6 24. Qd7 Bf6 25. Qxc6 Rxc6 26. Rd2 b4 27. h3 h6 28. Rb1. 28. Rc1 Ra8 29. a3 c3 is no better. 28. ... Ra8 29. b3. It doesn’t look like a panacea, but also 29. a3 is answered by 29. ... c3. 29. ... c3 30. Rc2 Rca6 31. Ra1

31. ... Ra3! Black is in Zugzwang. 32. Bd6 Rxb3 33. axb3 Rxa1+ 34. Kh2 Rb1 35. Bxb4 Be5+ 36. g3 Rb2 37. Rc1 Rxf2+ 38. Kg1 Bd4 39. Kh1. Or 39. Bxc3 Rc2+ 40. Bxd4 Rxc1+ 41. Kf2 Rb1 and wins. 39. ... c2 40. Re1 Bb2 0 : 1.

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina
Photo: qipai.org.cn

黄茜 (Huáng Qiàn)
Photo: qipai.org.cn

Attack on Titan

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina – Amina Sherif
5th Women’s World Chess Team Championship; 成都市 (Chéngdū), April 23, 2015
Old Indian Defence A53

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Bf5 4. g3 e5 5. Bg2 c6 6. e4 exd4 7. Qxd4 Be6 8. Nge2 Nbd7 9. b3 Qb6 10. Qd1. A brilliant “precedent” is 10. Bf4 Be7 11. Rd1 Qxd4 12. Nxd4 Ne5 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14. c5 g5 15. Bxg5 dxc5 16. f4 Neg4 17. Ke2 h6 18. Bh4 h5 19. Bf3 Nd7 20. Bxe7 Kxe7 21. e5 Nb6 22. h3 Nh6 23. Ne4 Nf5 24. Kf2 Raf8 25. h4 c4 26. bxc4 Nxc4 27. Nc5 b6 28. Rd7+ Ke8 29. Rxa7 Nd4 30. Nxe6 Nxf3 31. Kxf3 Nxe5+ 32. Ke4 Ng4 33. Rd1 Nf2+ 34. Ke5 Nxd1 35. Kd6 1 : 0 Shirov – Grigore, 29th World Junior Chess Championship, Santiago 1990. 10. ... Rd8 11. 0-0 Be7 12. h3 0-0 13. Be3 Qc7 14. f4 Nb6. We’d dismiss Sherif’s strategy as bad judgment. After 14. ... Nc5 15. Qc2 h6 Black can still hope to consolidate. 15. Bd4 d5? Amina breaks up the centre at the wrong time... 16. cxd5 cxd5 17. e5 Ne4 18. f5. ... Only to find herself in a nightmare position. 18. ... Nxc3 19. Nxc3 Bc8 20. Nb5 Qb8 21. f6! As they say, White’s attack plays itself. 21. ... gxf6 22. exf6 Bd6 23. Qh5 Kh8 24. Nxd6 Qxd6 25. Rf4 Qe6 26. Raf1 Qc6

27. Be4! A pretty interference. After 27. Rh4 Qc2 the game continues for a few more moves. 1 : 0. For if 27. ... dxe4 then 28. Rh4 and mate in three moves.

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina
Photo: Anastasiya Karlovich

До свидания...

Fabrika (Фабрика) – “Не виноватая я” (It’s not my fault)

Krasnaya Polyana, April 6, 2015: Last press conference
Photo: Vladimir Barsky

Women’s World Chess (‏@worldwomenchess)

Language of Flowers

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina (@Pogonina)

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina (@Pogonina)

Double octave

Fifteenth Women’s World Chess Champion Mariya Muzychuk
Photo: Chess-News.ru (@Chess_News)

Krasnaya Polyana, April 6, 2015: Award ceremony
Photo: worldwomenchess (Instagram)

Mariya Muzychuk & Anastasiya Karlovich
Photo: worldwomenchess (Instagram)

Dronavalli Harika (@HarikaDronavali)

New Way to Be Woman

Russian Chess Federation (@ruchess_eng)

Queen of Hearts

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina & Mariya Muzychuk
Photo: Natalia Andreevna Pogonina (‏@Pogonina)

“First of all, I’d like to say many thanks to my sister Anna who hasn’t left after her own defeat but stayed here to assist me. She was solving all my problems related to chess and not only chess. Now the understanding comes of how difficult it would be had she went back home, so I’m really glad that she stayed. I’m also enormously thankful to my parents (who have done so much for me), and to my greatest supporters – my grandfather and my aunt, who were watching all the games online. Besides, I’d like to thank all my fans who have sent me a great number of encouraging emails and SMS messages during the tournament. As for the chess part, Alexander Beliavsky was helping me every day via the Internet. In the final match, Evgeny Miroshnichenko joined in. I’m grateful to them”. [Read more]. Mariya Muzychuk

• Fifteenth!, Chess-News.ru, April 5, 2015
• Russian Chess Federation (RCF), Mariya Muzychuk becomes the World Champion, April 5, 2015

The Portrait of a Lady

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina
Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina (@Pogonina)

Long Live the Queen

Mariya Muzychuk – Natalia Andreevna Pogonina
Women’s World Chess Championship; match game 4; Krasnaya Polyana, April 5, 2015
Four Knights C47

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bc5 6. Be3 Bb4!? “I liked my position in the opening a lot. Natasha started to think already on the move 3. She probably did not expect 3. Nc3. Then she decided to go for a little-known line 5. ... Bc5 6. Be3 Bb4. I anticipated only the most common 6. ... Bb6”, then Mariya Muzychuk said. 7. Bd3!? For 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Qd4 Qe7 9. 0-0-0 0-0 see Potapov – Ponkratov, FIDE World Rapid Championship, Khanty-Mansiysk 2013. 7. ... Ne5!? 8. 0-0 0-0 9. Nd5 Nxd5 10. exd5 Re8 11. Be2 Bf8 12. Qd2 d6 13. h3 h6 14. Rae1 a6 15. f4 Nd7 16. Bf3 Nc5 17. Bf2 Rxe1 18. Rxe1 Bd7 19. g4!? “Maybe I should not have played 19. g4. Now I dislike this move, and before it my position was very good”, Muzychuk said. Alternatively, 19. c4 followed by Bf3-d1-c2 looks interesting. 19. ... Be7 20. Kg2 Bh4 21. Bxh4 Qxh4 22. Qf2 Qf6 23. Kg3 a5 24. Qd2 g5 25. Bg2 b5 26. b3 Qg6 27. a3 gxf4+ 28. Qxf4 b4 29. axb4 axb4 30. Qd2. Grandmaster Evgeny Miroshnichenko and International Master Elisabeth Pähtz recommend 30. Be4. 30. ... h5 31. Bf3 hxg4 32. hxg4 Rf8 33. Nc6 Bxc6 34. dxc6 Ne6 35. Qxb4 Qxc2 36. Qc4 Qb2 37. Bd5 Ng5. A questionable decision. 37. ... Kg7! seems a safer course. 38. Qf4 Qg7 39. Re7 Ra8 40. Qe3. “Honestly, I wasn’t playing for a draw. I did not plan to exchange everything, my plan was to fight. However, later Black created some counterplay, while I was very short on time. I am not sure about 40. Qe3, because I could not see how to proceed after the possible 40. ... Kf8”, Muzychuk said. Indeed, 40. b4 might give White greater chances for an advantage. 40. ... Qh6 41. Bxf7+. “This move is very demanding, but I usually trust my calculation, so I played it”, Muzychuk said. 41. ... Nxf7 42. Qxh6 Nxh6 43. Rxc7 Nf7 44. b4 Ne5 45. b5 Rb8 46. Rb7 Rc8 47. Kf4

47. ... Nd3+? Black evidently is not interested in a draw, even though there was nothing more (47. ... Nxc6 48. bxc6 Rxc6). 48. Ke4? Instead, Mariya would be content with a draw. After 48. Kf5 Nc5 49. Ra7 White plays for the win. But “For the same reason – I calculated everything and it was a clear draw”, Muzychuk said. 48. ... Nc5+ 49. Kd5 Nxb7 50. cxb7 Rd8. Also 50. ... Rc5+ 51. Kxd6 Rxb5 52. Kc7 Kf7 53. b8=Q Rxb8 54. Kxb8 Kg6 is a drawn game. 51. b6 Kf7 52. Kc6 Ke7 53. Kc7 Rd7+ 54. Kc6 Rd8 55. Kc7 Rd7+ 56. Kc6 Rd8 ½ : ½. “I started playing for a draw after 41. Bxf7+”, Muzychuk said. Congratulations to the new Women’s World Chess Champion!

Mariya Muzychuk
Photo: Anastasiya Karlovich

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina
Photo: Anastasiya Karlovich

Castle Crushers

Mariya Muzychuk – Natalia Andreevna Pogonina
Women’s World Chess Championship; match game 2; Krasnaya Polyana, April 3, 2015
Spanish C95

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 d6 8. c3 0-0 9. h3 Nb8. The Breyer Variation. 10. d4 Nbd7 11. a4 Bb7 12. Nbd2 c5 13. d5 c4 14. Bc2 Nc5 15. Nf1 Re8. The aternative was 15. ... Qc7 16. Ng3 Rfb8 17. Nh2 Bc8 18. Ng4 Qd8 with dynamic equality, Kozlitin – Kuljasevic, 15th European Individual Championship, Yerevan 2014. 16. Ng3 g6 17. Be3 Qc7 18. Nd2. If 18. Qd2 might follow 18. ... Bf8 19. Ra3 Nfd7 20. Nh2 h5 as in the game Timoshenko – Galdunts, Kherson 1991. 18. ... Bf8 19. Qe2 Nfd7 20. f3 Nb6 21. a5 Nbd7 22. Nh1. Reminiscent of the famous Nimzowitsch’s Knight retreat. After 22. h4 Black can answer 22. ... h5 closing the door. 22. ... Be7 23. g4 Qd8 24. Qf2 Bh4 25. Ng3 Rc8 26. Kg2 Nf8 27. Rf1 Bg5. Mariya considered Black taking extraordinary measures with 27. ... g5, to be followed by ... Nf8-g6 and ... Bh4xg3, “but I didn’t think Natalia was ready to part with her dark-square Bishop. If anything, I could sacrifice a Pawn on h4, and weakness of the dark squares is not that noticeable”, then Mariya Muzychuk said. 28. f4. “The key move for me was the f3-f4 break. I could not dare playing it for a while as it weakens many important squares. However, it opens up the game, and, if anything, there are finally some variations to calculate”, Muzychuk said. 28. ... exf4 29. Bxf4 Rc7. With the double effect of defending f7 and freeing c8 for the Bb7. 30. Bxg5 Qxg5 31. Nf3 Qe7

32. Nd4 Qe5. Pogonina would be content with a draw by repetition (33. Nf3 Qe7). 33. h4 h6 34. Qd2 Bc8 35. Nc6 Qg7 36. Qf4. “[...] I could not calculate everything to the end. Say, 35. Qxh6 Bxg4 36. h5, and now 36. ... f5. Maybe White is good here, but I could not see it”, Muzychuk said. 36. ... Rd7 37. Rf2 Bb7 38. Nd4 Re5 39. Nf3 Re8 40. g5. Aleksander Delchev suggests 40. h5 Nh7 41. hxg6 fxg6 42. Rh1 as “very unpleasant” for Black. 40. ... h5 41. Nd4. Time control is finally reached. 41. ... Qe5 42. Qd2 Rc7 43. Raf1 Ree7? A bad mistake. 43. ... Nh7 was called for, although after 44. Rf4 White stands better. 44. Rf6! A powerful blow! The threat is Nd4-f3 trapping the Queen. 44. ... Red7 45. R6f4. It was the right time to strike! After 45. Ndf5! Nh7 (or 45. ... gxf5 46. R1xf5 Qe7 47. Rh6 winning) 46. Nh6+ Kg7 47. Nxh5+ gxh5 48. R6f5 White’s attack is overwhelming, e.g. 48. ... Qe8 49. Qd4+ f6 50. Kh2 Kh8 51. gxf6 Rf7 52. Nxf7+ Qxf7 53. e5 dxe5 54. Rxe5+- (Delchev’s analysis). “I looked at Knight sacrifices on h5 and f5, but it didn’t work out. I did not want to take big risks sacrificing a pieces with unclear compensation in such an important game”, Muzychuk said. 45. ... b4. Hoping to distract White from attacking. On 45. ... Rd8 46. Ndf5 gxf5 47. Rxf5 Qe7 48. Nxh5 White wins. 45. ... Nh7 was the stubborn defence, but again 46. Ndf5 gxf5 47. Rxf5 Qe8 48. Nxh5 f6 49. gxf6 is a win for White. 46. Nf3 Qg7 47. cxb4 Nd3 48. Rf6 Nh7 49. Nd4 Nxf6 50. gxf6 Qf8 51. Ba4 Ne5. After 51. ... Rd8 “I think she was worried about 52. Ne6, and White gets two very strong Pawns for a Rook”, Muzychuk said. 52. Bxd7 Rxd7 53. Nf3 Ng4 54. Nxh5! gxh5 55. Qg5+ Kh8 56. Qxh5+ Nh6. Or 56. ... Qh6 57. Qxg4 Rd8 58. Ng5 Rf8 59. Qd7 Qxh4 60. Rh1+- (Malcom Pein’s analysis). 57. Kh2 Qg8 58. Rg1 1 : 0.

Mariya Muzychuk vs. Natalia Andreevna Pogonina
Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Anna Muzychuk watching her sister’s game
Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Bullet time

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina – Mariya Muzychuk
Women’s World Chess Championship; match game 1; Krasnaya Polyana, April 2, 2015
Queen’s Gambit Declined D45

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 0-0 8. 0-0 dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Be2 a6 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. e4 e5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. h3 Re8. The alternative was 14. ... h6 15. Be3 Nxf3+ 16. Bxf3 Bb7 17. g3 Rfe8 18. Bg2 Rad8 19. f4 Nd5 20. Bf2 Nxc3 21. Qxc3 c5 22. e5 ½ : ½ Sasikiran – Cheparinov, 9th Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2010. 15. Bg5 Nxf3+. Departing from 15. ... Qe7 16. Nd4 b4 17. Na4 c5 as in the game Morovic Fernández – Salgado López, 9th Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2010. 16. Bxf3 Be6 17. Rac1 Rad8 18. b3 Bh2+ 19. Kf1 Be5 20. Be3. “To be honest, I did not expect 20. Be3. Of course I repeated everything during my preparation, but there were so many variations, they all got mixed, and I could not recall the exact response”, then Mariya Muzychuk said. 20. ... h6 21. Ne2 Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1 Bc8 23. Kg1. “After Mariya retreated her Bishop to c8 on the move 22, White got an advantage. Natalia had a very interesting idea 23. Nc1, intending to bring the Knight to с5 and block the Black Pawns”, Grandmaster Sergey Rublevsky said. 23. ... Bb7 24. g3 Rd8 25. Rxd8+ Qxd8 26. Bg2 Bc7. More circumspect would be 26. ... Bd6 27. f4 Bf8 with fairly equal chances.

27. Nf4. “I was told I could play 27. Nd4 instead of 27. Nf4. I saw that move but evaluated the resulting position incorrectly”, Natalia Andreevna Pogonina said. “I was short on time. After 27. Nd4 I planned to play 27. ... Qd7, but cannot say I studied it deeply, because it was unclear what move Natalia chooses. My idea was to carry out ... Bc7-b6 and ... c6-с5”, Muzychuk pointed out. 27. ... Nd7 28. Nd3 Bb6 29. Nc5 Bc8 30. Nxd7 Bxd7 31. Bc5 Bxc5 32. Qxc5 Qa5. Preenting b3-b4. 33. a3 Be6. The game is now perfectly equal. 34. e5 Qe1+ 35. Kh2 Bxb3 36. Bxc6 Be6 37. Bg2 Qe2 38. Qb6 Qxe5 39. Qxa6 Qc5 40. Qa8+ Kh7 ½ : ½.

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina vs. Mariya Muzychuk
Photo: Anastasiya Karlovich

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina vs. Mariya Muzychuk
Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

鞑靼人

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk – Natalia Andreevna Pogonina
23th Women’s Russian Chess Championship; Kazan, December 1, 2014
Queen’s Gambit Declined D37

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 0-0 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 Nh5 8. b4 Nxf4 9. exf4 c6 10. Bd3 Qc7. The alternative is 10. ... b6 11. 0-0 a5 12. a3 Qc7 13. g3 Ba6 14. Bxa6 ½ : ½ Grischuk – Kramnik, World Championship Candidates, Kazan 2011. 11. g3 b6 12. 0-0 a5 13. a3 Ba6 14. Bxa6 Rxa6 15. Qe2 Ra7 16. f5 e5 17. dxe5 bxc5 18. bxc5 Re8 19. e6 Nxc5 20. exf7+ Kxf7 21. Rac1 Raa8 22. Qd1 Qd6. “Black seems OK in this position, but there is the nagging problem of his King being a bit exposed. Had Natalia’s King been on g8 then perhaps she would even stand better!”, Grandmaster Kevin Spraggett comments.

23. Na4! “A beautiful and deep concept, that hits the nail on the head! The former women’s World Champion finds the weak spot in Pogonina’s position”, Spraggett says. 23. ... Nxa4. “The point is that after 24. ... Nd7 [...] White has another shot: 24. Nb6!! Nxb6 25. Rxc6!! winning! After 25. ... Qd8 26. Rxb6! Qxb6 27. Ne5+! and mates or wins the Queen”, Spraggett says. 24. Rxc6! An inspired zwischenzug. 24. ... Qd8 Clearly not 24. ... Qxc6 on account of 25. Ne5+ with Queen and Pawn for Rook and Bishop. 25. Qxa4. “White has won an important Pawn while Black lacks coordination. The game continued sharply:”, Spraggett writes. 25. ... Bf6 26. Rd1 Re7 27. Rc5! Qd7 28. Qb3! Qxf5 29. Rdxd5 Qe6 30. Rc6! Rb8 (30. ... Qxc6 31. Rd6++-) 31. Ng5+! Bxg5 32. Qf3+ 1 : 0. A beautiful game!

Opening Ceremony of the 23th Women’s Russian Chess Championship. Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk wears a traditional Tartar hat. Photo: Etery Kublashvili.

Tsaritsa of Russia

From the left: Valentina Gunina, Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk, Natalia Andreevna Pogonina and Olga Girya.