Code cleanup

Pia Cramling – Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk

1st Women’s World Chess Cup; match game 1; Krasnaya Polyana, July 18, 2021
Queen’s Gambit Declined D38

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qa4+ Nc6 8. e3 0-0 9. Rc1. Another continuation is 9. Be2 Bd7 10. Qc2 dxc4 11. 0-0 Bd6 12. Bxc4 e5 13. Nd5 Qd8 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Rad1 c6 17. Nf4 Qc7 18. Ng6 Rfe8 19. Nxe5 Rxe5 20. Rd4 c5 21. Rd2 Bc6 22. Rfd1 b5 23. Bd5 Rxd5 24. Rxd5 Bxd5 25. Rxd5 Rd8 26. e4 Rxd5 27. exd5 Qe5 28. Qd2 Kf8 29. d6 Ke8 30. d7+ Kd8 31. Qa5+ Kxd7 32. Qxb5+ Kc7 33. Qa5+ Kb7 34. Qb5+ Kc7 35. Qa5+ Kb7 36. Qb5+ Kc7 ½ : ½ Harika – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 18th European Women’s Chess Club Cup, Rhodes 2013. 9. ... Rd8 10. Be2 dxc4. 10. ... Bd7 11. Qc2 dxc4 12. Bxc4 e5?! (⌓ 12. ... Na5!? 13. Be2 c5) 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qxe5 15. Bxf7+! left Black with the burden to prove her compensation for the Pawn, Čmilytė – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 2nd SportAccord World Mind Games, Women’s Blindfold Tournament, 北京 (Běijīng) 2012. 11. Bxc4 e5 12. dxe5 Qg6! A good novelty, even better than 12. ... Bxc3+ 13. Rxc3 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qxe5 which was not bad either: 15. Qb3 Qg5 16. Bxf7+ Kh8 17. 0-0 c5 18. e4 b6 19. Bd5 Rb8 20. Rd1 Qe7 21. Rcd3 b5 22. h3 Rb6 23. Qc3 Be6 24. Bxe6 Rxd3 25. Rxd3 Qxe6 26. Rd8+ Kh7 27. Qc2 Qc4 28. Qxc4 bxc4 29. Rd2 Ra6 30. a3 c3 31. bxc3 Rxa3 32. c4 Ra4 33. f3 a5 34. e5 Kg6 35. Rd6+ Kf5 36. e6 Kf6 37. Ra6 Rxc4 38. Rxa5 Kxe6 39. Ra7 Kf6 40. Rc7 Rc2 41. h4 c4 42. Kh2 c3 43. Kg3 Rc1 44. Kf4 c2 45. Rc6+ Kf7 46. h5 Rh1 ½ : ½ Houska – Dorrington, 21st Four Nations Chess League — Division 1, Hinckley 2014. 13. 0-0 Bh3. The tactical corollary of the previous move.

14. Ne1?! It does not make a good impression, but 15. Nh4 Qg4 16. Ne2 Nxe5 is not too appealing either. 14. ... Nxe5 15. Be2. Not 15. Qxb4?? on account of 15. ... Nf3+! winning a piece. 15. ... c5. The obvious 15. ... Bxc3 16. Rxc3 Rd2 was worth considering as well. 16. Qc2 Qxc2 17. Rxc2 Bf5 18. e4 Be6 19. Nf3 Nc6 20. a3 Ba5 21. Nd1 Nd4 22. Nxd4 cxd4. Black has now a clear advantage in position, by virtue of her passed d-Pawn and her powerful Bishop pair.

23. Bd3 Bb3. Black goes hunting the White Rook, but it was probably more profitable for her to play at once 23. ... Rac8 similarly to the game. 24. Rc5 b6? Perhaps the only major mistake of Kosteniuk in the game. Consistent was 24. ... Bb6 25. Rb5 Ba4 26. Rb4 Bc6 with great advantage. 25. Rc6? Cramling’s penultimate mistake. 25. Rb5 Ba4 26. b4 Bxb5 27. Bxb5 a6 28. Bd3 b5 29. bxa5 Rac8 was not an easy matter. 25. ... Rac8! Now Black dominates the board. 26. Rxc8 Rxc8 27. f3 Bd2! 28. Kf2 Bc1 29. Ke2 a6! 30. Rf2 b5 31. f4 Re8

32. Rf3? The last mistake, losing a Pawn and the game. 32. ... Bd5 33. Kf2 Bxe4 34. Bxe4 Rxe4 35. g3 f5 36. h4 Kf7 37. a4 bxa4 38. Ra3 a5 39. Rxa4 Bd2 40. Kf3 Bb4 41. g4 Re1 42. Ra1 fxg4+ 43. Kxg4 d3 44. h5 d2 45. Kf5 Be7 0 : 1.

Kosteniuk meditates with deep concentration searching for her best moves. Photo © Eric Rosen.

The Sudden Star

Luca Moroni – Pia Cramling
16th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival; Catalan Bay, January 31, 2018
Catalan Opening E01

Swedish Grandmaster Pia Cramling, 54, wrote today one of her most memorable chess pages by winning undefeated the prize for the best woman in the 16th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival. The newly Italian Chess Champion, Luca Moroni, may therefore feel himself proud of having given (just yesterday) his personal contribution to Pia’s brilliant achievement. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bd6 6. Nc3 0-0 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Nxd5 Nxd5 9. Bxd5 Be7!? Cramling’s sensible improvement over 9. ... Bxg3(?) 10. Qb3 Bd6 11. Nf3 c6 12. Bc4 Bf5 13. Ng5 Qe7 14. Qf3 Bg6 15. h4 Bb4 16. 0-0-0 Bxd2+ 17. Rxd2 h5 18. Rg1 which gave White a dream position, So – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 80th Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 2018. However, I still keep thinking that 9. ... Ba3(!) might be very interesting. 10. Be4 Qxd4 11. Qc2 h6 12. Nf3 Qb6 13. 0-0 Nd7 14. Rfc1 c6 15. Be3 Qc7 16. Nd4 Nf6 17. Bg2 Bd7 18. h3 a5 19. Rd1 Rfe8 20. Rac1. Strangely White’s Knight won’t never jump on f5: 20. Nf5 Bf8 21. Bd4 Nh7 22. h4 with a promising position. 20. ... a4 21. Bf4 Qc8 22. h4 Be6 23. a3. 23. Nxe6 Qxe6 24. Qc4 seemed like a good ending for White. 23. ... Bg4 24. Qc4 Bf8 25. Re1 Qd7 26. e4 b5 27. Qc3 c5. White played quite erratically, and Cramling did not hesitate in seizing her opportunity to assume the initiative. 28. Nc2 Rad8 29. Ne3. A strange Pawn pseudo-sac that could even work. Not 29. Bxh6? on account of 29. ... b4! and Black hits back with interest. 29. ... Nxe4 30. Qa5 Nf6 31. f3?? White should absolutely have gotten rid of Black’s light-squared Bishop with 31. Nxg4, still with the possibility to somehow hold his position together. The reason will soon become obvious. 31. ... Be6! 32. Rcd1 Qc8 33. Qxb5. Material equality is restored, but Black dominates the board. 33. ... Bb3! 34. Rxd8 Qxd8 35. Re2 Qd4! White is in Zugzwang.

36. Kf1 c4! 37. Qa5 c3! 38. bxc3 Qd3! Threatening both ... Bb3-c4 and ... Bb3-d1. 39. Kf2 Nd5 40. Bf1 Nxf4 41. gxf4 Qd6 42. Kg3 Qg6+ 43. Kf2 Qf6 44. Kg3 Qg6+ 45. Kf2 Qc6 46. Nf5 Bc5+ 47. Nd4 Ra8 0 : 1. White’s Queen ended up trapped.

Luca Moroni vs. Pia Cramling. Photo © Sophie Triay.

Pia Cramling. Photo © Sophie Triay.

Forkesch Tower

Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk – Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin
11th ROMGAZ Kings Rapid Tournament; Mediaș, November 27, 2017
Queen’s Gambit Declined D37

The Ukrainian duo constituted by Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk and Anna Muzychuk won respectively the men’s and women’s 11th ROMGAZ Kings Tournament in memoriam of Elisabeta Polihroniade held in Mediaș, Romania. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 0-0 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3 Nc6 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. 0-0-0 Ne4 11. Nb5 a6 12. Nc7 e5 13. Nxd5. The alternative 13. Rxd5!? (Kasparov – Vaganian, 10th European Team Chess Championship, Debrecen 1992) after 13. ... exf4! 14. Qxe4 Qxc7 15. Rxc5 fxe3 would lead to nothing special; for instance: 16. Bd3 g6 17. Qxe3 b6 18. Rh5!? Bg4 19. Rh4 Bxf3 20. gxf3! Ne5∞ with very unclear (but dynamically balanced) play.

13. ... exf4? Ivanchuk has caught his opponent unprepared. It would have been interesting to find out what he had in mind about 13. ... Nxf2! 14. Ng5 Bf5! 15. Qxf2 exf4 16. Qxf4 Ne7! 17. Nxe7+ Bxe7 18. Rd5 Qe1+ 19. Rd1 Qa5 20. Rd5 Qe1+ 21. Rd1 ½ : ½ Gelfand – Jussupow, 10th Torneo Internacional de Ajedrez Ciudad de Linares, Linares 1992. 14. Qxe4 fxe3 15. fxe3 h6. 15. ... b5!? may look a bit more tricky, but 16. Nd4! is much better for White anyway. 16. Nd4 Qd8 17. Bd3 f5 18. Qf4 Bd6 19. Qf2. White is a Pawn up and has a far superior position. That’s more than enough for Ivanchuk. 19. ... Be5 20. Bc2 Rf7 21. Rhe1 Qf8 22. Nf3 Be6 23. Nxe5 Nxe5 24. Qf4 Ng6 25. Qg3 Bxd5 26. Rxd5 Ne7 27. Rd6 Rc8 28. Kb1 Kh8 29. Red1 Nc6 30. Qf4 Re8 31. R1d5 Ne7 32. Re5 Nc6 33. Rxe8 Qxe8 34. Bxf5 Qf8 35. g4 Rf6 36. Rxf6 Qxf6 37. Qc7 g6 38. Qc8+ Kg7 39. Qxb7+ Kf8 40. Qc8+ Kf7 41. Qd7+ Ne7 42. Bd3 Qe5 43. Qd4 Qxh2 44. c5 h5 45. gxh5 gxh5 46. Bc4+ Ke8 47. Be6 1 : 0.

Golden Mediasch

Anna Muzychuk – Elisabeth Pähtz
11th ROMGAZ Kings Rapid Tournament; Mediaș, November 27, 2017
Sicilian Defence B29

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nc3 e6 5. Nxd5 exd5 6. d4 Nc6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qxd5 Qb6 9. Bc4 Bxf2+ 10. Ke2 0-0 11. Rf1 Bc5 12. Ng5 Nd4+ 13. Kd1 Ne6 14. Ne4 d6 15. exd6 Rd8 16. Bf4!? Possibly better is 16. Qh5! Bxd6 17. Bd3! f5 18. Rxf5!? with the initiative, Planinc – Dobrev, International Tournament, Varna 1970. Just keep in mind Albin Planinc was a genius! 16. ... Be3? Quite unluckily for Pähtz, her first move of her own is already a crucial mistake! Theory gives 16. ... Nxf4= 17. Qxf7+ Kh8 18. Rxf4? (correct is 18. Qxf4 Bxd6 with rough equality) 18. ... Bxd6 19. Nxd6 Be6!−+ Nozdrachev – Klyuev, 12th Memorial Tsiolkovsky, Kaluga 2013. 17. Bxe3 Qxe3 18. c3 Bd7 19. Qe5 (Δ Ne4-f6+) 19. ... Qh6 20. Kc2 Rac8 21. Bd3? Maybe Muzychuk did not yet have a clear idea of how to proceed, otherwise she would have preferred 21. Bd5(!) followed by Ra1-e1, similarly to the game. 21. ... Ba4+? Black apparently misses her fleeting chance: 21. ... f5! 22. Rxf5 Nd4+ 23. Qxd4 Bxf5 (Stockfish) seems quite unclear. 22. b3 Bc6 23. Rae1 Bxe4. Otherwise Ne4-g3-f5 would follow. 24. Bxe4 Rc5 25. Bd5! Qg6+ 26. Kb2 Qd3 27. Rd1 Qa6. Thus Pähtz subjects herself to a flashy ending, but 27. ... Qg6 doesn’t seem to me much better as after 28. c4(!) Black cannot escape the storm anyway.

28. Rxf7! Rxd6. If 28. ... Kxf7 then 29. Qxe6+ and mate next move. 29. Rxg7+! 1 : 0. Mate in two follows.

Transylvania

Anna Muzychuk – Corina-Isabela Peptan
11th ROMGAZ Kings Rapid Tournament; Mediaș, November 26, 2017
Sicilian Defence B41

The 11th ROMGAZ Kings Tournament in memoriam of Elisabeta Polihroniade has started, with Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin, Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk, 韦奕 (Wéi Yì), Bogdan-Daniel Deac starring as Kings, and Anna Muzychuk, Pia Cramling, Elisabeth Pähtz, Corina-Isabela Peptan starring as Queens. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Qd3 Qc7. 7. ... d5!? is an interesting other way. 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. Qxc3 Nxe4. Very risky. 9. ... 0-0 10. Bd3 d6 11. 0-0 e5 seems quite playable, Codenotti – Caruana, 71st Italian Chess Championship, Perugia 2011. 10. Nb5! That’s the reason why. 10. ... axb5 11. Qxg7 Rf8 12. Bh6 Qc5 13. f3! bxc4. 13. ... b4 doesn’t seem any better: 14. fxe4 Nc6 15. Qxf8+ Qxf8 16. Bxf8 Kxf8 17. Bd3 bxa3 18. Rxa3 Rxa3 19. bxa3 d6 20. Kd2 Ne5 21. Be2 Bd7 22. Ke3 Bc6 23. Rc1 Nd7 24. h4 h6 25. Bf3 e5 26. Bg4 Nc5 27. Bf5 Kg7 28. Rb1 Kf6 29. g4 Kg7 30. Rg1 f6 31. Rd1 1 : 0 Nepomniachtchi – Svidler, World Blitz Chess Championship, Dubai 2014. 14. Bxc4 Nf6. 14. ... d5? 15. Bb5+ Bd7? 16. Rc1 is just a disaster, A. Kovačević – Kontić, 2nd Memorial Danilo Dajo Batrićević, Cetinje 2009. 15. Qxf6 Rg8 16. Bd3 Qe7 17. Bg7 Qxf6 18. Bxf6 Rxg2 19. 0-0-0! This is a new, and much better move than 19. Rd1 Nc6 20. Kf1 Rg6 21. Bxg6 fxg6 22. Kf2 which gives White much less chances for success, Shi Diwen – Deac, World Youth U16 Chess Olympiad, Győr 2014. 19. ... Nc6 20. Rdg1 Rxg1+? Now, after 20. ... Rg6(!) 21. Rxg6 fxg6 White, thanks to her long castling, could have played for a more tangible advantage with 22. Rg4 followed by Rg4-h4 and Rh1-g1. 21. Rxg1 Ne7 22. Bxh7 Ra4 23. Bc2 Ra5

24. h4! b6 25. f4? Muzychuk apparently misses the much stronger 25. Bg5! followed by the advance of the h-Pawn. 25. ... Rh5! 26. Bd1 Rc5+ 27. Kd2 Bb7? 27. ... Rf5! seems much tougher to deal with. 28. Rg5 Rxg5? Black shouldn’t have done this for nothing in the world! 29. fxg5 Be4 30. h5 Nd5 31. h6 Bf5. 31. ... Kf8 would be met by the same move (32. Bc2!). 32. Bc2 Bxc2 33. Kxc2 1 : 0.

Rook to Queen’s square

The 11th ROMGAZ Kings Tournament in memoriam of Elisabeta Polihroniade will take place in Mediaș, Romania from 24 to 28 November 2017, and will feature two round-robin quadrangular tournaments. In the men’s tournament it is announced the participation of Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin, Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk, 韦奕 (Wéi Yì), plus one who will be named by the Romanian Chess Federation. Instead, Anna Muzychuk, Pia Cramling, Elisabeth Pähtz, plus one who will be named the by Romanian Chess Federation, will take part in the women’s tournament. 12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov will attend the opening ceremony on November 24.

Photo © winkliii

The Lady of the Renaissance

David Llada (‏@davidllada)

In the Cool of the Day

Humpy Koneru – Pia Cramling
Women’s Grand Prix; 4th stage; 成都 (Chéngdū), July 10, 2016
Queen’s Gambit Accepted D25

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 b5 5. a4 b4 6. Bxc4 e6 7. 0-0 Be7 8. Qe2 Bb7 9. a5. For 9. Rd1 0-0 10. Nbd2 c5 see Girya – P. Cramling, Women’s Grand Prix, 4th stage, 成都 (Chéngdū) 2016. 9. ... a6 10. Nbd2 0-0. For 10. ... c5 11. dxc5 Qc7 12. b3 0-0 13. Bb2 Nbd7 14. e4 Nxc5 15. e5 Nd5 16. Rfc1 Rfc8 see Socko – P. Cramling, 2nd SportAccord World Mind Games, Women’s Blindfold Event, 北京 (Beijīng) 2013. 11. e4. If 11. Rd1 there might follow 11. ... Nbd7 12. e4 c5 13. e5 Nd5 14. Ne4 Qc7 15. Ng3 Rfc8 16. h4 h6 17. h5 Kh8 18. Nf1 cxd4 19. Rxd4 Bc5 20. Rg4 f5 21. Rh4 Be7 22. Rd4 Bc5 23. Rh4 Be7 24. Rd4 Bc5 ½ : ½ Bacrot – van Kampen, Schachbundensliga 2013/2014, Hockenheim 2014. 11. ... c5 12. e5 Nd5. The alternative 12. ... Nfd7 13. Nb3 Nc6 14. Rd1 Qc7 is worth considering, Kekelidze – Azarov, 3rd Washington International, Rockville 2014. 13. Nb3. It does not promise anything more 13. dxc5 Nd7 14. Nb3 Nxc5 15. Nxc5 Bxc5 16. Bd2 Qe7 17. Rfc1 h6 18. Bd3 Nc7 19. Rc2 Rac8 20. Rac1 Ba7 21. Be4 ½ : ½ Varga – Holm, Kecskemét 2014. 13. ... Nd7 14. Bd3 cxd4 15. h4 Qc7 16. Re1 Rfc8 17. Bd2 Qd8 18. Ng5 Nf8 19. Qh5 Bxg5 20. Bxg5 Qe8 21. Qg4 Kh8 22. Qxd4 h6 23. Bd2 Rd8 24. Qg4 Ne7

“In the position of the diagram White stands clearly better. The e5-Pawn keeps a tight grip on the Black position, the Bishop pair aims at Black’s castle, the White Queen is aggressively posted, and, finally, a Rook is readly to quickly reach the third rank”, says Grandmaster Bachar Kouatly in his commentary for Europe Échecs. 25. Re3. Stockfish strongly advocates 25. Nc5, but I guess that after 25. ... Nf5! (all the same!) 26. Qxb4 Rab8 27. Qa3 Qe7! Black may be fine. 25. ... Nf5!! The best and, indeed, the only reliable defence at cost of a couple of Pawns. 26. Bxf5 exf5 27. Qxf5 Bd5 28. Be1!? “If there is a flaw in Humpy’s play, it lies in her difficulty in playing under time pressure”, argues Kouatly. But indeed also after 28. Bxb4 Rab8 29. Bxf8 Qxf8 Black will soon win back one of her Pawns reducing to a minimum the risk of losing the game. 28... Ne6 29. Qg4 Qb5 30. Nc1 Rab8 31. Ne2 Ba8 32. f4 Rbc8 33. f5 Rc4 34. Qh5 Nf4 35. Nxf4 Rxf4 36. Qe2 Qxe2 37. Rxe2 Rxf5 38. Bxb4 Rd4 39. Bd6 Bc6 40. Rc2 Bb5. Time control reached, the game is dynamically even by now. 41. Rc5 Be2 42. b4 Rdf4 43. Ra2 Re4 44. Rc1 Bb5 45. h5 Rxh5 46. Rf2 Reh4 47. Rfc2 ½ : ½. Wonderful defence by Cramling.

Pia Cramling
Photo: sports.sina.com.cn

Bricks and Tiles

Mariya Muzychuk – Pia Cramling
Women’s Grand Prix; 4th stage; 成都 (Chéngdū), July 8, 2016
Giuoco Piano C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. a4 Ba7 7. 0-0 d6 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 0-0. For 10. ... Bg4 11. Nbd2 Nh5 12. Kh1 Nf4 13. b4 0-0 14. b5 axb5 15. axb5 Ne7 16. Qc2 Neg6 17. Bxf4 Nxf4 18. g3 Nh3 19. Kg2 Bb6 20. Rxa8 Qxa8 21. d4 see Andreikin – Nyback, 3rd Chess World Cup, Khanty Mansyisk 2009. 11. Na3 Kg7. For 11. ... Bg4 12. Nc2 d5 see Dragun – Gajewski, 73rd Polish Chess Championship, Poznań 2016. 12. Nc2 Be6 13. Ba2 b5 14. Ne3 Ne7 15. Bb1 Bxe3 16. fxe3 Nd7 17. d4 f6 18. Bd3 c6 19. Nd2 Bf7 20. b4 Qc7

21. c4 bxa4 22. c5 a5 23. cxd6 Qxd6 24. bxa5 Rxa5 25. Rxa4 Rxa4 26. Qxa4 c5. Apparently Cramling is not happy with her position and, aiming for more activity, first sacrifices a Pawn and then another one. 27. Bb5 Rd8 28. Qa5 Qb6 29. Qxb6 Nxb6 30. dxe5 Rxd2 31. exf6+ Kf8 32. fxe7+ Kxe7 33. Rc1 Nd7 34. Bxd7. After long thought Muzychuk decides to cash in her second Pawn. 34. ... Rxd7 35. Rxc5 Rd1+ 36. Kf2 Bg6 37. h4 Rd2+ 38. Kg1 Kf6 39. hxg5+ hxg5 40. Rc6+ Kf7 41. Rc4. The time control reached, White will gradually begin to capitalize on her material advantage. 41. ... Rd3 42. e5 Bf5 43. Kf2 Be6 44. Rc7+ Rd7 45. Rc2 Kg6 46. Rc6 Kf7 47. Ke2 Bg4+ 48. Kf1 Be6 49. Be1 Rd5 50. Bc3 Rd8 51. Bd4 Rc8. Vainly seeking salvation in Bishops of opposite colours ending. 52. Rd6 Rc2 53. Kg1 Ke7 54. Bb6 Rc8 55. Kf2 Rf8+ 56. Kg3 Rc8 57. Ba5 Rc4 58. Bd8+ Kf7 59. Bf6 g4 60. Bg5 Rc2 61. Rd4 Kg6 62. Bf4 Kf7 63. Rb4 Bd5 64. e4 Bc6 65. Bg5 Ke6 66. Bf6 Re2 67. Rb6 Rc2 68. Kf4 Kf7 69. g3 Bd7 70. Rb7 Ke6 71. Kxg4 Rc4 72. Kf3 Rc3+ 73. Kf4 Rd3 74. g4 Rd1 75. g5 Rg1 76. Rb6+ Kf7 77. e6+ Bxe6 78. Rb7+ Kf8 79. Ke5 Ba2 80. Kf5 Rf1+ 81. Kg6 Ke8 82. Re7+ 1 : 0.

Mariya Muzychuk vs. Pia Cramling
Photo: qipai.org.cn

Squibble-Squabble

Pia Cramling – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
Women’s Grand Prix; 4th stage; 成都 (Chéngdū), July 5, 2016
English Opening A30

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 c5 5. 0-0 e6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4 0-0 9. Rd1 d6 10. b3 Nbd7 11. Ba3 Nc5 12. Qe3 a6 13. h3 Qc7 14. Rac1 Rfe8. The alternative is 14. ... Rac8 15. Bb2 Rfe8 16. Nd4 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Bf8 ½ : ½ Șubă – L. Portisch, King’s Tournament, Bazna 2008. 15. Nd4 Rac8 16. Bxb7 Qxb7 17. Qf3 For 17. Bb2 Nfe4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Qf3 Bf6 see Epishin – Beliavsky, 34th New Year’s tournament, Reggio Emilia 1991/1992. 17... Nce4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Nc2 b5 20. Ne3 f5 21. Rc2 Rf8 22. Bb2 Bg5 23. Ng2 d5 24. Nf4 Rfe8

25. Nxe6? Pia makes a faulty combination. Deserving consideration was 25. c5!? Nxc5 26. Rxc5! Rxc5 27. Qh5 Qe7 28. Ba3 leaving matters unclear. 25. ... Rxe6 26. Qxf5 Rd6 27. c5 g6 28. Qf3 Nxc5. White has only a Pawn for the Knight given up and no other factors contributing to compensate for it. 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) will have no particular difficulty winning the game. 29. h4 Be7 30. Qg4 h5 31. Qf4 d4 32. Rxd4 Rf6 33. Qe3 Rcf8 34. Rf4 Rxf4 35. gxf4 Qe4 36. Qxe4 Nxe4 37. Rc6 Kf7 38. f3 Ng3 39. e4 Ne2+ 40. Kf2 Nxf4 41. Kg3 Nd3 42. Bc3 Nc1 43. Bb2 Nd3 44. Bc3 Ra8 45. Rc7 Ke6 46. e5 b4 47. Ba1 a5 48. Rc6+ Kf5 49. Rc7 Re8 50. Ra7 g5 51. hxg5 Bxg5 52. Rxa5 h4+ 53. Kg2 Nf4+ 54. Kf2 h3 55. e6+ Kg6 56. Kg3 Bh4+ 57. Kh2 Rd8 0 : 1.

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
Photo: qipai.org.cn

Our Day Will Come

Pia Cramling – Nana Dzagnidze
Women’s Grand Prix Series 2015-2016; Tehran, February 21, 2016
Queen’s Gambit Accepted D27

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. e3 a6 6. a4 c5 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. 0-0 cxd4 9. exd4 Be7 10. Bg5 0-0 11. Qd2 Qa5. Another try is 11. ... Nb4 12. Ne5 Bd7 13. Rad1 Bc6 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Ne4 Be7 17. b3 a5 18. Rfe1 Qb6 19. Re3 Rfd8 20. Rg3 g6 21. Rh3 Nd5 22. Qh6 Nf6 23. Nxf6+ Bxf6 24. Qxh7+ Kf8 25. Bxe6 fxe6 26. Rf3 Ra7 27. Rxf6+ Ke8 28. Rxe6+ Kf8 29. Qh8+ Kf7 30. Rf6+ Ke7 31. Qg7+ Ke8 32. Rf8 mate, M. Muzychuk – Krush, Women’s World Blitz Chess Champioship, Moscow 2010. 12. Rfd1 Rd8 13. Rac1 Bd7. Without committing big mistakes Black will inexorably slip down into a totally lost position. Here, it could be interesting 13. ... h6 and if 14. Bh4 then 14. ... Qb4!? 15. Qe2 Nd5 with a more balanced game. 14. Qe2 Be8. And here 14. ... Re8(!) looks sounder as after 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Ne4 White has hardly more than a slight advantage. 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. d5 exd5 17. Nxd5 Rd6 18. b3 h6 19. h3 Rad8 20. Nxf6+ Rxf6 21. Rxd8 Qxd8 22. Rd1 Qc8

23. Ne5 Nxe5 24. Qxe5 Kf8 25. Re1 Qd8 26. Qe4 g6 27. Qxb7 Kg7 28. Qe7 Qxe7 29. Rxe7 Kf8 30. Ra7 Rd6 31. Rxa6 Rd1+ 32. Kh2 h5 33. Ra7 h4 34. a5 Rd2 35. f3 f5 36. Rc7 g5 37. a6 Bh5 38. Kg1 1 : 0.

Pia Cramling vs. Nana Dzagnidze
Photo: Alina l’Ami

As a Lady Would Say

Natalia Oleksandrivna Zhukova – Pia Cramling
Women’s Grand Prix Series 2015-2016; Tehran, February 19, 2016
English Opening A29

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. g3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bg2 0-0 6. 0-0 h6 7. Nd5 Bd6. For 8. ... Re8 9. Nd2 Bf8 see Vachier-Lagrave – Miroshnichenko, 1st Al Ain Chess Classic, Al-Ain 2012. 8. d3 Nxd5 9. cxd5 Nd4 10. Nd2 c6 11. Nc4 Bb8 12. b3 cxd5 13. Bxd5 d6 14. Bb2 Nc6 15. d4 Bh3 16. Re1 Qd7 17. Qd2 Bc7 18. Rac1 Rac8 19. Bxc6 Qxc6 20. e4 Qb5 21. Qe2 d5 22. exd5 Qxd5 23. Ne3 Qd7 24. dxe5 Bb6 25. Rcd1 Qc6 26. Nd5 Rfe8 27. Nf4 Bf5 28. Rd6 Qc2 29. Rd2 Qc6

30. Rd6. Zhukova repeats moves in order to gain time on the clock. 30. ... Qc2 31. Rd2 Qc6 32. b4 Qa4 33. a3 Qb3 34. Nd5 Rc2 35. Rxc2 Bxc2 36. Nxb6 axb6 37. Bd4 Bf5 38. Qb5 Re6 39. Kg2 Rc6 40. Re3 Qd1 41. Bc3 Qc2 42. Be1 Qb1 43. Qd5 Rc1 44. Qd2 Be4+ 45. Kg1 Bc6 46. Qe2 Bd5 47. Qd2 Rd1 48. Qc3 b5 49. Re2 Qf5 50. e6 fxe6 51. Qe3?? A terrible blunder. 51. Re3 was called for. 51. ... Bc4. 51. ... Rd3! 52. Qf4 Qh3 53. Re4 Rd4!! was a much faster and more elegant solution. 52. Rb2 Qh3. And here 52. ... Qf3! was a pretty finish. 53. Re2 Bxe2 54. Qxe2 Rb1 55. f3 Qf5 56. Kg2 Rb3 57. Bf2 Rxa3 58. f4 Qd5+ 59. Kh3 Ra2 60. Qe3 Rb2 61. Qe1 Kf7 62. g4 Qf3+ 63. Bg3 h5 0 : 1.

Natalia Oleksandrivna Zhukova vs. Pia Cramling
Photo: Alina l’Ami

War and Peace

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina – Pia Cramling
Women’s Grand Prix Series 2015-2016; Tehran, February 12, 2016
Sicilian Defence B83

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 Nf6 7. 0-0 Be7 8. Kh1 Bd7 9. Nb3 0-0 10. f4 a5 11. a4 Nb4 12. Bf3 e5 13. Be3 Qc7 14. Rf2 Rfc8 15. Rd2 b6 16. Qe2 Qb7 17. f5. Pogonina’s (new?) move is not a great idea. For 17. Rad1 Bc6 18. fxe5 dxe5 19. Bg5 h6 20. Bh4 Ne8 21. Bxe7 Qxe7 22. Qe3 Rab8 see Paoli – Plachetka, Odessa 1976. 17. ... Bc6 18. Bg5 Ne8 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. Rad1 Rd8 21. Nc1 Nf6 22. Nd3 Na6 23. Nf2 Nc5 24. b3 Rab8 25. Kg1 Qc7 26. h3 Rd7 27. Ng4 Qd8 28. Qe3 Nxg4 29. Bxg4 Qf6 30. Be2 Rbd8. 30. ... Bb7 31. Bb5 Rdd8 32. g4 h6 seems a bit better. 31. Bb5 Bxb5 32. axb5 Qh4

33. g3! Qh5. On 33. ... Qxh3?? 34. Rh2 Qg4 35. Rh4 traps Her Majesty. 34. Kg2 f6 35. Nd5 Rb7 36. Qf3. Even stronger looks 36. Nxb6! Nxe4 (not 36. ... Rxb6?? 37. Qxc5! and wins) 37. g4! Qe8 38. Qxe4 Rxb6 39. c4 with an imposing position. 36. ... Qe8 37. Qe2 Rc8 38. g4 Kh8 39. h4 h6 40. Rh1 Kg8 41. Rh3 Ra8 42. Rd1 Qd8 43. Rg3 Nd7 44. g5. Finally! 44. ... Kh7 45. gxh6 Kxh6 46. Rg6+ Kh7 47. Qh5+ Kg8 48. Rd3. Or 48. Rxg7+! Kxg7 49. Qg6+ Kf8 50. Kf3 followed by Rd1-g1 soon mating. 48. ... Nf8 49. Rdg3 1 : 0.

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina vs. Pia Cramling
Photo: Alina l’Ami

Wonder Woman

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina – Pia Cramling

Women’s World Chess Championship; playoff game 2; Krasnaya Polyana, March 31, 2015

Sicilian Defence B49

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 Nf6 7. Be3 a6 8. 0-0 Bb4 9. Na4 0-0 10. c4 Be7. For 10. ... Bd6 11. g3 Nxe4 see Swiercz – Volodin, 49th World Junior Chess Championship, Chotowa 2010. 11. Nc3 d6 12. Rc1 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 Nd7. For 13. ... Bd7 14. Rfd1 Rac8 15. b4 Qb8 16. a4 see Grischuk – J. Polgár, FIDE Grand Prix, Moscow 2002. 14. Rfd1 b6 15. b4 Rd8 16. Na4 Rb8 17. a3 Qc6 18. Nc3 Bb7 19. f3 Ba8 20. Kh1 Nf6 21. Bf1 h6 22. Qd2 Nd7 23. Qf2 Rdc8 24. Qg3. Now, and for the next three moves, White misses the straightforward 24. b5! axb5 25. Nxb5 Rd8 26. Qg3 threatening both Nb5xd6 and Be3xh6. 24. ... Kf8 25. Bd4 g6 26. Be3 Kg7 27. Qh3 h5 28. Qg3 h4 29. Qf2 Ne5 30. h3 Qe8 31. Nb1 Rc6 32. Bd4 Kg8 33. f4 Nd7 34. Nd2 e5 35. Be3 exf4 36. Bxf4 Ne5 37. Nf3 Nxf3 38. Qxf3 Rbc8 39. Qd3 Bf8 40. Re1 b5. “At one point I played 40. ... b5, but I don’t think I should play that. She went 40. Re1. This position was playable for me. But I played 40. ... b5... The problem was the time. It was difficult position plus I had much less time” then Pia Cramling said. 41. cxb5 Rxc1 42. Bxc1 axb5 43. Bb2 Kh7

44. e5!?? Objectively, it would have been much stronger 44. Qd4! Bh6 45. Qf6, dominating the long diagonal. 44. ... d5? Not a good move. After 44. ... Bg7! 45. Qxd6 Rc2 Black has some positional compensation for her Pawn. 45. e6! fxe6 46. Qd4 Bh6 47. Qxh4 Qf7. If, instead, 47. ... Bc6 then 48. Bd3 Bd7 49. Qf6 and Black is helpless against the Rook maneuver Re1-e3-g3 (Rublevsky’s analysis). Now, one would expect White to play 48. Bd3, then Re1-f1 with an overwhelming attack. Instead... 48. Bxb5 Rc2 49. Bd4 e5 50. Rxe5. 50. Bd3 would have won on the spot, as 50. ... Rd2 is met by 51. Rxe5. 50. ... Rc1+ 51. Bg1 Qf8?? 51. ... Qf4 was the only way to struggle on. 52. Re8?? 52. Re7+ Kg8 53. Re8 was an elementary win for White. 52. ... Qf4 53. Qxf4 Bxf4 54. g3 Be3 55. Rxa8 Rxg1+ 56. Kh2 d4 57. Rd8 Rb1 58. Kg2 Rb3 59. Be2 Rxa3 60. b5 Rb3 61. Rd6 Rb2 62. Kf3 Rb3 63. Ke4 Bf2 64. Bd3 Bxg3 65. Rxd4 Be1 66. Rd6 Bg3 67. Rc6 Kg7? Thus Black gives up her last Pawn. 67. ... Bf2 was called for. 68. Kd4 g5 69. Rg6+ Kf8 70. Rxg5. After all, the game might be still a draw. 70. ... Bh2 71. h4 Rb4+ 72. Bc4 Rb1 73. h5 Rg1 74. Rf5+ Kg7 75. Kc5 Rc1 76. Rd5 Kh6 77. Kb4 Rb1+ 78. Kc3 Rc1+ 79. Kb3 Bf4 80. Rf5 Be3 81. Be2 Re1 82. Bf3 Bg5 83. Kc4 Re6 84. Rd5 Rf6 85. Rd3 Bh4 86. Kd5 Bg3 87. Rb3 Bf2 88. Ke5 Rb6 89. Bc6 Rb8 90. Rf3 Bc5 91. Kd5 Bg1 92. Rf5 Rd8+? Correct was 92. ... Rg8! followed by ... Rg8-g5. 93. Ke6. Even though this position may be theoretically tenable, now Black is being inexorably squeezed out of the game. 93. ... Rd2 94. Bf3 Bd4 95. Rd5 Be3 96. Re5 Bd4 97. Rf5 Rf2 98. Kd5 Rd2 99. Ke4 Bc3 100. b6 Rd4+ 101. Ke3 Rb4 102. b7 Kg7 103. Kd3 Be1 104. Bc6 Kh6 105. Bb5 Bg3 106. Kc3 Rh4 107. Be2 Rh1 108. Rf6+ Kh7 109. Rf7+ Kg8 110. Rd7 Rb1 111. Bc4+ Kh8 112. h6 Be5+ 113. Kc2 Rb4 114. Bd3 Kg8 115. h7+ Kf8 116. h8=Q+ 1 : 0. For after 116. ... Bxh8 117. Rd8+ Ke7 118. Rxh8 Rxb7 119. Rh7+ White wins. “Es triste tener que salir del mundial de esta forma pero tanto Anna como yo estamos muy orgullosos del comportamiento de Pia”, Pia’s husband, Grandmaster Juan Manuel Bellón López tweeted.

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina
Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Pia Cramling
Photo: Anastasiya Valeryevna Karlovich

Battle of Castle Black

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina – Pia Cramling
Women’s World Chess Championship; Krasnaya Polyana, March 30, 2015
Sicilian Defence B41

“Pogonina was in a must-win situation against Pia Cramling, and surprisingly Cramling helped her by playing a very sharp and provocative line of the Sicilian. Black's position was already difficult, but Cramling's 20th and 21st moves were practically suicidal. 20...Rc8 created tactical problems involving a possible Nd6, while 21...Qd8 guaranteed a swap of the dark-squared bishops. This exchange was massively in White's favor, and the rest of the game was just a demolition job. Pogonina's last move, 38.Nd7+, was a nice finishing touch, and now she has the psychological momentum going into the rapid tiebreaks”, Dennis Monokroussos writes.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. Be2 e6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. e5 Nd5 8. 0-0 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Be7. For 9. ... Bxc3 10. Ba3 Qa5 11. Bd6 see Giri – Vitiugov, Reggio Emilia 2012. 10. Bf4 0-0 11. Qd3 b6 12. Bf3 Ra7 13. Be4 g6 14. Rfd1 Bb7 15. Bxb7 Rxb7. “Aun a costa de quedar un poco peor la primera parte del plan se ha conseguido. Sacar a la rusa de la preparacion. Ahora toca llegar a un final”, Pia’s husband, Grandmaster Juan Manuel Bellón López tweeted. 16. Rab1. “En esta posicion solo me preocupa que Blancas consigan llevar la Toor a h3 y presione en esa columna. Peligroso”, Bellón López said. 16. ... Qc8 17. a4 Qc5. “My opponent went into a variation that is considered dangerous for Black – a strange choice in a situation when you need a draw to advance. We arrived at a complicated position with good attacking chances for White. My maneuvering was probably not ideal, but her 17. ... Qc5 gave me a tempo for 18. Nb3 and 19. Nd2, after which White should have a very comfortable edge”,, then Natalia Andreevna Pogonina said. 18. Nb3 Qc7 19. Nd2 Nc6 20. Qg3 Rc8 21. Ne4 Qd8 22. Bg5 Bxg5 23. Nxg5 Na5 24. Ne4 Nc4 25. Rd4 Kg7 26. Re1 h6 27. h4 Qc7 28. f4. “What about 28. Rxc4?”, Anastasia Karlovich asked after the game. “I looked into it, but not very deeply. Now I see that I don’t have to regain an Exchange after 28. ... Qxc4 29. Nd6, but can simply continue the attack. Looks good for White, too”, Pogonina answered. 28. ... b5 29. h5 Qd8 30. axb5 axb5 31. Qg4 Qe7 32. Rd3 Rg8 33. Nf6 Rh8 34. Rg3 d5 35. hxg6 fxg6 36. Qxg6+ Kf8 37. Ra1 Ra7. Also after 37. ... Nb6 38. Ne8! White wins.

38. Nd7+! 1 : 0. “No hay mas que felicitar a Pogonina por su victoria y esperar que haya suerte en los desempates mañana. Tiene merito la rusa remontando”, Bellón López said. Such a gentleman!

Natalia Andreevna looking for inspiration
Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina vs. Pia Cramling
Photo: Vladimir Barsky

Fountain of Youth

Pia Cramling – Natalia Andreevna Pogonina
Women’s World Chess Championship; Krasnaya Polyana, March 29, 2015
Queen’s Gambit Declined D56

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 0-0 7. e3 Ne4 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Rc1 c6 10. Qc2 Nd7 11. Be2. For 11. a3 Nxc3 12. Qxc3 dxc4 13. Bxc4 b6 14. 0-0 Bb7 15. Rfd1 Rfd8 16. Be2 Rac8 17. b4 c5 18. dxc5 bxc5 19. b5 see Gunina – Pogonina, 64th Russian Women’s Championship Superfinal, Kazan 2014. 11. ... Nxc3 12. Qxc3 dxc4 13. Qxc4 e5 14. 0-0 e4. A questionable novelty. It is wise for Black to strive for equality with 14. ... exd4 15. Nxd4 Nf6 as in the game Carlsen – Aronian, 2nd Sinquefield Cup, Saint Louis 2014. 15. Nd2 Nf6 16. Qc5 Qxc5 17. Rxc5 Be6

18. Ra5! “Pia Cramling I can only compare with Lasker and Kortschnoi, the greatest fighters in chess history”, Israel Gelfer said. 18. ... Rfd8 19. Bc4 Bxc4 20. Nxc4 a6? This move creates a “hole” at b6 with, soon or later, unpleasant consequences. After 20. ... Nd5 there is nothing special for White. 21. Nb6 Rab8 22. Rc1. White has still a possible minority attack on the Queenside and, on the whole, a more comfortable game. 22. ... Kf8 23. b4 Rd6 24. Re5 Re8 25. Rec5 Red8 26. a4 Re6 27. h3 Ke8 28. g4! In Ulf Andersson style! 28. ... Nd5 29. Nxd5 Rxd5 30. Rxd5 cxd5 31. Rc5! “Cramling's game vs. Pogonina is bringing back the pleasant reminescences of Deviatkin – Vaibhav, Mumbai 2012”, Grandmaster Andrey Deviatkin tweeted. 31. ... Rd6 32. a5 Kd7 33. b5! axb5 34. Rxb5 Kc6 35. Rc5+ Kd7 36. Kg2 g5 37. Kg3 Kd8 38. f3 exf3 39. Kxf3 Kd7 40. Kg3 Kd8 41. Kf2 Kd7 42. Ke2 Kd8 43. Kd2 Kd7 44. Kd3 Kd8 45. Ke2 Kd7 46. Kf1 Kd8 47. Kg2 Kd7 48. Kg3 Kd8 49. h4! Kd7. Black’s last chance was 49. ... gxh4+, “but then I could have a possibility to enter with my King to f4. And she would have to play ... f7-f6. But she has a danger to be in Zugzwang. I will go Kf4-f5. So, I think it was nice position for me“, then Pia Cramling pointed out. 50. h5! Kd8 51. Kf3 Kd7 52. Ke2 Kd8 53. Kd3 Kd7 54. Rb5 Kc7 55. e4! dxe4+ 56. Kxe4 Rf6 57. Rf5 Re6+ 58. Kd5 Rd6+ 59. Kc4 f6 60. Rb5 Re6 61. Kd5 Re3 62. Rb6 Rf3 63. Ke6 Rf4 64. d5 Re4+ 65. Kxf6 Rxg4 66. d6+ Kc8 67. Kg6 Rg1 68. Kxh6 g4 69. Kg7 g3 70. h6 Rh1 71. Rb2 Rh4 72. h7 Rg4+ 73. Kf6 Rh4 74. Kg6 Kd7 75. Rxb7+ Kxd6 76. Rb1 Ke5 77. a6 g2 78. Rg1 Rg4+ 79. Kh5 1 : 0. To everyone’s surprise, Pia played another superb game!

Pia Cramling vs. Natalia Andreevna Pogonina
Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

妈妈和女儿

Anna Cramling Bellón, 11 year old daughter of Pia Cramling and Juan Manuel Bellón López. Photo & Tweet: Juan Manuel Bellón López (@Jmbellonlopez)

Pia Cramling
Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

• Are Walking & Reading the Secrets of Long Successful Chess Career?, Chess-News.ru, March 29, 2015

Second Youth

Anna Olegivna Muzychuk – Pia Cramling

Women’s World Chess Championship; playoff game 1; Krasnaya Polyana, March 28, 2015

Sicilian Defence B46

“In the first game I was very worried. My opponent had better after the opening. She could make strike directly but she played 21. c4, and I made 21. ... Be6 move, probably I should have taken Bf5 and go ... Nf8-e6 directly. I let her get the chance to triple on ‘f’ file. Then afterwards, when I let her take on f7, I think I had a little compensation. I played 28. ... Red8, and push my d-Pawn and I had a good Knight. But of course I was very lucky that I could win. Of course she had a Pawn up. But somehow my King was in a game, and I had more time. The game has changed completely”, then Pia Cramling said. 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. Qe2 Be7 10. b3 0-0 11. Bb2 Bb7 12. Rae1 Qc7 13. f4. For 13. e5 Nd7 14. f4 Nc5 15. f5 see Sutovsky – Movsesian, 11th European Individual Championships, Rijeka 2010. 13. ... Rfe8 14. e5 Nd7 15. f5 exf5 16. Bxf5 Bc5+ 17. Kh1 Nf8 18. Na4 Bb4 19. c3 Be7 20. Qg4 Bc8 21. c4 Be6 22. Rf3 Bxf5 23. Qxf5 Bb4 24. Ref1 Ne6 25. cxd5 cxd5 26. Qxf7+ Qxf7 27. Rxf7 Rac8 28. Rd7 Red8 29. Rxd8+ Rxd8 30. Rd1 d4 31. Nb6 Kf7 32. g3 Kg6 33. Kg2 Kf5 34. Kf3 Ng5+ 35. Ke2 Ke4

36. Rd3? Nh3! 37. Rd1 d3+ 38. Kf1 Rf8+ 39. Kg2 Nf2 40. Rf1 d2 41. a3 d1=Q 42. Rxd1 Nxd1 43. axb4 Nxb2 44. e6 Re8 45. Nd7 Nd3 0 : 1. “I was never hoping that I could survive. I was just playing. But then I put up my King. And all of a sudden, she played this 36. Rd3, and I got this 36. ... Nh3. Everything was finished, I think. It was not so easy, but I had more time and she went wrong. Of course this game was very difficult for me”, Cramling said.

Anna Olegivna Muzychuk vs. Pia Cramling
Photo: Anastasiya Karlovich

第三

Pia Cramling – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

4th SportAccord World Mind Games; Women’s Rapid Event; 北京 (Beijīng), December 11, 2014

English Opening A13

1. Nf3 e6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 f5 (4. ... c5!?) 5. 0-0 Nf6 6. b3 Be7 7. Bb2 0-0 8. Qc2. The alternative is 8. d4 Qc8 9. Nc3 Ne4 10. d5 Bf6 11. Nd4! as in the game Wl. Schmidt – Augustin, Halle 1976. 8. ... a5 9. Nc3 Na6 10. a3 Qe8 11. d3 Qh5 12. Ne5 Ng4 13. Nxg4 Bxg2 14. Nh6+ Qxh6 15. Kxg2 f4 16. d4 Rf5 17. g4. If 17. Bc1 then 17. ... g5 18. f3 Raf8 with consequences similar to those in the game. 17. ... Rf7 18. f3 Qh4 19. Qd2 Rd8 20. Qe1 Qh6 21. Rd1 d5 22. Bc1 Qg6 23. e4. A committal move. After 23. Qd2 c6 24. Qd3 Nc7 the game looks quite even. 23. ... fxe3 24. Qe2 Nb8 25. a4 Bg5 26. Nb5 h5 27. gxh5 Qh6 28. Rd3 c6 29. Na3 Na6 30. Nc2 e5 31. Bxe3 exd4 32. Bxd4 c5 33. Bf2 d4 34. Re1 Re7 35. Qf1 Rde8 36. Rdd1 Qxh5 37. Qd3 Bf4 38. Bg3? A blunder, but also after 38. h4 Be5! (intending ... Na6-c7-e6-f4+) White stands very badly.

38. ... Nb4! The winning move! 39. Nxb4 Bxg3 40. hxg3 Rxe1 41. Rxe1 Rxe1 0 : 1.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
Photo: blog.sina.com.cn

北京 (Beijīng), November 10, 2014. Opening Ceremony of the 4th SportAccord World Mind Games. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) posing as a princess. Photo: 谷笑冰 (Gǔ Xiàobīng).

Strawberry Fields Forever

Pia Cramling – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

2nd SportAccord World Mind Games; Women’s Blindfold Event; 北京 (Běijīng), December 18, 2012

Queen’s Gambit Declined D38

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. e3 c5 8. Qc2 Qa5 9. Bd3 c4 10. Bf5 0-0 11. 0-0 Re8 12. Nd2 g6 13. Bxd7 Nxd7 14. e4 Bxc3 15. Qxc3 Qxc3 16. bxc3 f6 17. Bf4. Curiously enough, only one day later, elsewhere in Croatia, a game with “eyes wide shut” continued: 17. Bh4 g5 18. Bg3 Nb6 19. f4 g4 20. e5 Na4 21. Rac1 b5 ½ : ½ Šarić – Brkić, 19th Open, Zadar 2012. 17. ... Nb6 18. f3 Bd7 19. Rab1 Bc6 20. Rfe1 Na4 21. Re3 g5 22. Bd6 Re6 23. Bb4 a5 24. Bc5 Rae8 25. Bb6 Ra8 26. g4 Kf7 27. Kf2 Ra6 28. Bc7 b5 29. a3 Ra7 30. Bg3 Rb7 31. exd5 Bxd5 32. Ne4 Kg6 33. h3. 33. h4! was much more to the point. 33. ... Rbe7 34. Rxb5? This leads to troublesome consequences; hence White ought to prefer 34. Bd6. 34. ... Bxe4 35. fxe4 Rxe4 36. Rxe4? Of course, after 36. Rf3 Re2+ 37. Kf1 R7e3 White’s game is anything but easy, but the text will cost even dearer. 36. ... Rxe4 37. Rxa5 Nxc3 38. Kf3 Rxd4 39. Rc5? This loses immediately.

39. ... Rd3+ 40. Kg2 Rxg3+! 41. Kh2 Na4 42. Rxc4 Rxa3 0 : 1.