π

The 4th Champions Showdown: Chess 9LX (a.k.a. Fischerandom chess), scheduled in Saint Louis from September 7–10, 2021, announces itself as one of the strongest chess960 tournaments ever held due to its impressive ensemble casting — in alphabetical order: Levon Grigori Aronian, Fabiano Caruana, Leinier Domínguez Pérez, Garry Kimovich Kasparov (13th World Champion), Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Hikaru Nakamura, Samuel L. Shankland, Wesley So (1st Fischerandom World Champion), Pyotr Veniaminovich Svidler, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. The format is a 9-round round-robin with time control 20 minutes plus 5 seconds per move. No spectator will be allowed due to local COVID-19 restrictions, but live coverage will be broadcasted on Saint Louis Chess Club’s YouTube Channel. For further details, click here.

Long Way Back

After last year’s online-only celebration, the 4th Champions Showdown: Chess 9LX (a.k.a. Fischerandom chess) is back in Saint Louis, where a 10-player round-robin, featuring the world’s top Grandmasters including 13th World Chess Champion Garry Kimovich Kasparov, will be held from September 7–10, 2021. The time control is 20 minutes plus 5 seconds per move, and the prize fund is $150,000. No spectator will be allowed due to local COVID-19 restrictions, but live coverage will be broadcasted on Saint Louis Chess Club’s YouTube Channel. For further details, click here.

By Monday

The award ceremony of the 2nd Cairns Cup took place February 17, 2020 at the World Chess Hall of Fame (WCHOF) in Saint Louis, Missouri, United States. Seated, from left, second row are: Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno, Dronavalli Harika, Nana Dzagnidze, 叶诗雯 (Carissa Yip), and Irina Borisivna Krush; seated, from left, first row are: 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk, Humpy Koneru, Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk, and Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina. Photo: Austin Fuller/Saint Louis Chess Club.

Firewall Art

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
2nd Cairns Cup; Saint Louis, February 16, 2020
Spanish Game C67

lt was a game Kosteniuk had to win just to hope to tie and eventually force a tie-breaker. But her nerves were as taut as violin strings, and, quite inevitably, she ended up crashing into 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)’s wall. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. 0-0 Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Rd1+ Ke8 10. Nc3 Bd7 11. b3 Be7 12. Bb2 Rd8 13. Ne4!? A novelty in place of 13. h3 h5 14. Kf1 b6 15. a4 a5 16. Ne2 c5 17. Nc3 Bc6 18. Nb5 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Bd8! 20. Bc1 Rg8 which was fine (or, at least, it should have to be fine) for Black in Savchenko – Romanov, 64th Russian Chess Championship (Higher League), Taganrog 2011. 13. ... h5 14. Rd2 Bc8 15. Re2 c5 16. Rae1 Rh6 17. c4 Kf8 18. Rd2 Rxd2 19. Nexd2 Ra6 20. a4 g5 21. Ne4 g4 22. Nfd2 Nd4 23. Nc3 c6 24. Nce4 b5 25. Nd6 Be6 26. cxb5 cxb5 27. axb5? This cannot be good, but Kosteniuk proudly refuses to “settle for half” with 27. Bxd4 cxd4 28. Nxb5 Bb4 29. Rd1 Bxd2 30. Rxd2 Bxb3 31. Nxd4 Bxa4= — as they say, “it’s better to have tried and failed than not to have tried at all”. 27. ... Ra2 28. Bxd4 cxd4 29. N2c4? Thus the situation goes from bad to worse. On the other hand, 29. Rd1 (probably best) 29. ... h4! is likewise very unpleasant for White. 29. ... h4 30. Kf1 h3! 31. gxh3 gxh3 32. Re2 (32. Rd1 Bg4!+−) 32. ... Ra1+! 33. Re1 Rxe1+ 34. Kxe1 Bg5 35. Ne4 Bf4 36. Ng3 d3! Black has a Pawn less, but the powerful passer on d3 coupled with the formidable Bishop pair is more than enough for 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) to win easily, if impressively.

37. Nf1 Ke8 38. Nb2 Bf5 39. Ng3. 39. Nd1 Bd7 is no better. 39. ... d2+ 40. Kd1 Bg4+ 41. Kc2 Bxe5 42. Nd1 Bf4 43. Nf1 Be2 44. Ng3 Bf3 45. Nf1 Be4+ 46. Kc3 Bg2 47. Ng3 Bf3 48. Kc2 Kd7 49. Nc3 Kc7 50. Nf1 Kb7 51. b4 Kb6 52. Nxd2 Bg2 53. Nde4. 53. Nf1 Bxf1 54. Nd5+ Kxb5 55. Nxf4 Kxb4 is equally hopeless for White. 53. ... Bxh2 54. Nd5+ Kxb5 55. Nec3+ Kc6 56. b5+ Kb7 0 : 1. A powerful display by 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), who took second place, half a point behind Humpy Koneru.

There’s never only one reason why one wins and another loses, but as for this game specifically, probably one is that Kosteniuk lacked the serenity of her opponent. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club.

Sliding Doors

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 叶诗雯 (Carissa Yip)
2nd Cairns Cup; Saint Louis, February 15, 2020
Spanish Game C70

In a certain sense, it’s like when Peter Pan defeated Captain Hook just in time to save Tiger Lily. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 g6 5. d4 exd4 6. c3 Bg7 7. cxd4 b5 8. Bb3 Nge7 9. d5 Na5 10. Bd2 Nxb3 11. Qxb3 c5 12. Bc3 f6 13. a3 d6 14. h4!? From a theoretical standpoint, this seems to be a new idea. 14. ... 0-0 15. Nbd2 Qe8 16. 0-0 Bd7 17. Qc2 Rc8 18. b3 h6 19. a4 Ra8 20. axb5 axb5 21. Rxa8 Qxa8 22. Ra1 Qb7 23. Qa2? 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) pursues an aimless strategy, which will soon cause her to cope with a very uncomfortable position. 23. b4! would have given White good prospects. 23. ... Nc8 24. Ne1 b4 25. Bb2 Bb5 26. Nc2 Bd3 27. Ne3. After 27. Ne1 Be2 Black’s game is just a little easier to play. 27. ... Qe7. Maybe Black should have gone for the 27. ... f5! break. 28. Re1 Nb6 29. Qa1 Ra8 30. Qc1 h5 31. Nec4? This only makes things much more difficult for White. 31. g3 Ra2 32. Ng2 Bh6 33. Nf4 Bb5 was also uneasy, but not yet overly so. 31. ... Nxc4 32. Nxc4 Ra2 33. g3 Kh7. 33. ... Qd7! at once was stronger: 34. Kg2 (34. Ba1 Bxc4 35. bxc4 Qa4−+) 34. ... Kh7−+ winning easily. 34. Nd2? And now 34. Re3 was White’s most stubborn defence; then there might follow: 34. ... Bh6 (maybe, Black can do better by interpolating ... Bd3xc4) 35. f4 Bxe4 36. Qb1! Bxb1 37. Rxe7+ Kg8 38. Bxf6 Bf8 39. Re8 Kf7 40. Re6 with a likely draw. 34. ... Bh6 35. f4 Qa7 36. Nc4 Qd7 37. Re3 Bxc4 38. bxc4 Qg4 39. Kh1

39. ... Bxf4! “Simple, elegant, yet bold”, as she says. 40. gxf4 Qxh4+ 41. Kg1 Qg4+ 42. Kh1 Qxf4 43. Qb1 Rxb2 44. Qxb2 Qxe3 45. Qxf6 Qxe4+ 46. Kh2 b3 47. Qf7+ Kh6 48. Qf8+ Kg5 49. Qd8+ Kf5 50. Qd7+ Ke5 51. Qg7+ Kf4 52. Qf6+ Kg4 53. Qe6+ Qf5 54. Qxd6 Qf2+ 55. Kh1 Qf3+ 56. Kh2 Qh3+ 57. Kg1 Qg3+ 0 : 1.

With today’s win, 叶诗雯 (Carissa Yip) made her own history and that of the Cairns Cup a matter of record. Photo: Austin Fuller/Saint Louis Chess Club.

Episodic memory

Humpy Koneru – Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina
2nd Cairns Cup; Saint Louis, February 15, 2020
Semi-Slav Defence D48

Gunina, the winner of last year’s inaugural Cairns Cup, this year has for some mysterious reason decided to throw away a game after another. And fairly enough, she did not make an exception for Koneru. 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. 0-0 a6 10. e4 c5 11. d5 c4 12. Bc2 Qc7 13. dxe6 fxe6 14. Ng5 Qc6?! This is well known to be a very doubtful line. Best is 14. ... Nc5! 15. e5! Qxe5 16. Re1 Qd6 17. Qxd6 Bxd6 18. Be3 0-0 19. Rad1 Be7 20. Bxc5 Bxc5 21. Nxe6 Rfc8 22. h3! Bf8?! (22. ... Rab8 23. g4 Bf3 24. Rd2 b4 25. Na4 Ba7 26. g5 Nd5 27. Re5 Rb5 with a draw agreed to at move 41, Topalov – Lautier, 6th Torneo Ciudad de Dos Hermanas, Dos Hermanas 1994) 23. g4 h6 24. f4 Bf3 25. Rd2 Bc6 26. g5 hxg5 27. fxg5 Nd7 28. Nxf8 Nxf8 29. Rd6 b4 30. Ne4 Be8?! 31. Ng3! Rd8 32. Nf5 Rxd6 33. Nxd6 Bg6 34. Bxg6 Nxg6 35. Nxc4 Rd8 36. Re4 b3 37. axb3 Rd3 38. Kg2 Rxb3 39. h4 Nf8 40. Re8 1 : 0 Karpov – Kramnik, 12th Torneo Internacional de Ajedrez Ciudad de Linares, Linares 1994. 15. Qf3! h6. 15. ... Bc5 16. Qh3 Ke7 17. Nf3 b4 18. Ne2 Nxe4 19. Ned4 Qb6 20. Bxe4 Bxe4 21. Qg4 Bxd4 22. Qxe4 Bf6 23. Qxc4 didn’t work out in Black’s favour either, Gligorić – Ljubojević, 3rd Torneo Internacional de Ajedrez Ciudad de Linares, Linares 1981. 16. Qh3 hxg5. So far Koneru only had to recall her memories: 16. ... Nc5 17. Be3 Bc8 18. e5! hxg5 19. Qxh8 Bb7 20. f3 Nfd7 21. Bxg5 Nxe5 22. Rad1 Nf7 23. Bg6 Nd3 24. Qh5 Ne5 25. Be4 Qc5+ 26. Kh1 g6 27. Qh4 Bc6 28. Bxc6+ Qxc6 29. Ne4 Bg7 30. Bf6 Kf8 31. Bxg7+ Kxg7 32. Qf6+ Kg8 33. Rd4 Rf8 34. Rfd1 Kh7 35. Ng5+ Kg8 36. Nxe6 1 : 0 Koneru – Karpov, 7th Cap d’Agde Rapid Chess Tournament, Cap d’Agde 2006. 17. Qxh8 Ne5? Gunina’s “theoretical novelty” tellingly shows that she had prepared nothing for today. 17. ... g4 18. Bg5 Kf7 (18. ... 0-0-0 is probably a little better, though not much: White would likewise continue with 19. Qh4) 19. Qh4 gave White a huge advantage, Maksimenko – Bjerring, 16th Politiken Cup, Copenhagen 1994. 18. Bxg5+− Nf7 19. Qh4 Be7 20. Rad1 Qc5

21. e5! Nxe5. 21. ... Qxe5 22. Bg6! is nonetheless catastrophic. 22. Bxf6 Bxf6 23. Qh5+ Ke7 24. Be4. Koneru’s move is most characteristic of her technical attitude, but also its “opposite” 24. Qh3! may be worth considering. 24. ... Bc6. The fact that Black had nothing better than 24. ... Nd3 25. Qxc5+ Nxc5 26. Bxb7 Nxb7 27. Rfe1 leaving White a clear Exchange up and a technically winning position is enough for Gunina to beg for a less exhausting ordeal. 25. Bxc6 Qxc6 26. Rfe1 Nd3 27. Nd5+ Kf8 28. Nxf6 gxf6 29. Qh8+ Kf7 30. Qh7+ Ke8 31. Re3 Nf4 32. Qg8+ Ke7 33. Qg7+ Ke8 34. Rd4 c3 35. bxc3 1 : 0.

Fourteen years after (no matter what), history almost repeated itself. Photo: Crystal Fuller/Saint Louis Chess Club.

Two Halves

Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
2nd Cairns Cup; Saint Louis, February 14, 2020
Sicilian Defence B30

Also this evening Gunina showed up in bad shape, and almost risked to get mated soon after the opening. Muzychuk did not dare such a thing, but maybe that was just what it took for her to restore her self-confidence. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. b3 Ne7 6. Bb2 d6 7. 0-0 e5 8. Nh4? An imprudent adventure. 8. c3 followed by d2-d4 was proper. 8. ... g5! 9. Nf3 Ng6 10. Ne1 Bg7 11. d3 0-0 12. Nd2 f5 13. exf5 Bxf5 14. Ne4 Nf4 15. g3? A further mistake in an already demoralising situation.

15. ... Ne6. Maybe there’s nothing wrong with it, but it’s hard to think that after 15. ... Nh3+ 16. Kg2 g4−+ White may survive another dozen moves. 16. Ng2 d5 17. Nd2 Qd6 18. Qh5 Bg6 19. Qe2 Rae8 20. Rae1 Nd4 21. Bxd4 cxd4 22. h4 h6? This gives White new life and energy, thereby letting her escape. 22. ... Qc5 23. Rc1 (or 23. Qd1 g4!) 23. ... e4 seems much stronger. 23. hxg5 hxg5 24. Qg4 Qf6 25. f4! gxf4 26. gxf4 e4 27. Nh4 Bh7 28. dxe4 Bxe4 (28. ... dxe4 29. f5 d3∞) 29. Nxe4 Rxe4 30. Ng6 Rfe8 31. Rxe4 Rxe4 32. Rf2 Qe6 33. Qxe6+ Rxe6 34. f5 Re1+ 35. Kg2 Kf7 36. Nf4 Re4 37. Ne6 Kf6 38. a3 Bh6 39. b4 Be3 40. Rf3 Rg4+ 41. Kh3 Rg1 42. Nc5 Rh1+ 43. Kg4 Rh7 44. Kg3 Rg7+ 45. Kh2 Rh7+ 46. Kg2 Rg7+ 47. Rg3 Rxg3+ 48. Kxg3 Kxf5 49. Kf3 Bc1 50. a4 Bd2 51. Nb3 Bc3 52. b5 cxb5 53. axb5 d3 54. cxd3 Ke5 55. Ke2 Kd6 56. Kf3 Be5 57. Kg4 Kc7 58. Nc5 Ba1 59. Na4 Bd4 60. Kf5 Kd6 61. Kf4 Ke6

62. Kf3? Gunina’s farewell to arms. 62. Kg4! (62. Kg5! also draws) 62. ... Ke5 63. Kf3 would have yielded the draw. 62. ... Ke5 63. Kg3 Bb6. Clearing the way for Black’s King. 64. Kf3 Kd4 65. Ke2 Ba5 66. Nb2 Kc5 67. Ke3? Kxb5 68. Kd4 Kc6 69. Na4 Bb4 70. Nb2 a5 71. Ke3 Bc3 72. Na4 d4+ 73. Ke2 Ba1 0 : 1.

After surviving a disastrous opening and somehow holding the middlegame, Gunina finally blundered an almost drawn endgame. Photo: Crystal Fuller/Saint Louis Chess Club.

Half of One Thing

Nana Dzagnidze – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
2nd Cairns Cup; Saint Louis, February 14, 2020
Trompowsky Attack D00

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d5 3. e3 c5 4. Nd2 cxd4 5. exd4 Qb6 6. Ngf3 Nc6 7. Nb3 Ne4 8. Be3. The alternative is 8. Bf4, which the World Champion used to prefer: 8. ... Bg4 9. Be2 e6 (or 9. ... a5 10. a4 e6 11. 0-0 Bd6 12. Ne5 Bxe2 13. Qxe2 Qc7 with a draw agreed to at move 77, Stefanova – Carlsen, Smartfish Chess Masters 2004/2005, Drammen 2005) 10. 0-0 Be7 11. c3 0-0 12. a4 a6 13. a5 Qd8 14. Nfd2 Bxe2 15. Qxe2 Nxd2 16. Qxd2 Rc8 17. Rfe1 Re8 18. Re3 Bd6 19. Bxd6 Qxd6 20. Nc5 Rc7 21. b4 Ne7 22. Rae1 Nf5 23. Re5 Qd8 24. Qf4 Rce7 25. R1e2 Kh8? (25. ... Nd6) 26. Nxb7! Rxb7 27. Qxf5+− Rc7 28. Qd3 Qc8 29. R5e3 Rc6 30. Rh3 h6 31. Qd2 Kh7 32. Re5 Re7 33. Reh5 Qf8 34. f4 f5 35. Re3 Qf7 36. Rhh3 Rec7 37. Re5 Qf8 38. Rd3 Qc8 39. Ree3 Rc4 40. h3 Qf8 41. Rxe6 1 : 0 Carlsen – 韦奕 (Wéi Yì), 5th Grand Chess Tour, 1st stage, Côte d’Ivoire Blitz, Abidjan 2019. 8. ... g6!?TN (8. ... Bg4 9. Be2 e6 10. 0-0 Bd6 11. h3 Bh5 12. c4 Qc7 13. Nc5 Nf6 14. Rc1 dxc4 15. Rxc4 0-0 16. a3 Nd5 17. b4 Bxc5 18. Rxc5 Qd6 19. Ng5 Bxe2 20. Qxe2 Nce7 21. Rfc1 Nf5 22. Nf3 Rfd8 ½ : ½ Berkes – Bok, 15th Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2017) 9. c4 Qd8 10. cxd5 Qxd5 11. Rc1 Bg7 12. Bc4 Qd6 13. d5 Ne5 14. Bb5+? That seems a strange way to put it, involving an unclear Pawn sacrifice. Simple and strong was 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. Qe2 with excellent prospects for White. 14. ... Bd7 15. Bxd7+ Qxd7 16. Nxe5 Bxe5 17. 0-0 Bxb2 18. Bd4? White just cannot afford such bravery. 18. Rc4 Nd6 19. Nc5 Qb5 20. Rc2 was probably good enough for avoiding worst-case scenarios: 20. ... Bg7 21. Bd4 Bxd4 22. Qxd4 0-0 23. Rb2 regaining the Pawn with fine drawing chances. 18. ... Bxd4. 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) plays it safe without taking any risks. 19. Qxd4 Nf6 20. Rfd1 b6! 21. d6 0-0 22. Qe5 Rfe8 23. h3 Nh5! 24. Rc7 exd6 25. Qc3? Nothing good can come from this — with two Pawns down White is now doomed. Comparatively best was 25. Rxd6! Qa4! (25. ... Qxc7? 26. Rxg6+ is what Black shouldn’t do) 26. Qc3 Qe4 leaving Black only a Pawn ahead with a safe advantage. 25. ... Qe6 26. Qf3 Qf6 27. Qc6 d5! 28. Nd4 Kg7 29. a4 Nf4 30. Qxf6+ Kxf6 31. Nb5 Re7 32. Rc6+ Kg7 33. g3 Nxh3+ 34. Kg2 Ng5 35. Rxd5 Ne6 36. Rdd6 Rd8 37. a5 bxa5 38. Rxd8 Nxd8 39. Ra6 Re5 40. Nd4 Ne6 41. Nb3 Nd8 42. Nxa5 Re7 43. Nc4 h5 44. Ne3 Ne6 45. Ra2 Rd7 46. Ra5 Nd4 47. Ra2 Nb3 48. Ra3 Rb7 49. Ra6 Nc5 50. Ra5 Nd3 51. Ra3 Nb4 52. Nc4 a6 53. Ra4 Rb8 54. Ne3 Kf8 55. Kf3 Rb5 56. Ke4 a5 57. Ra1 Nc6 58. Kd3 Rc5 59. f4 Ke7 60. Nc4 g5 61. Ne3 gxf4 62. gxf4 Kf6 63. Rb1 Nb4+ 64. Ke4 h4 65. Rd1 Rh5 66. Rd6+ Ke7 67. Rd2

Now Black has three or four easy wins at her disposal (64. ... a4, 67. ... Ke6, 67. ... Kf6, and so on) — but 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), quite incredibly, succeeds in finding a way to draw! 67. ... h3?? 68. Nf5+ Rxf5. Otherwise it is either mate or a Knight fork to King and Rook. 69. Kxf5 a4 70. Re2+ Kd6 71. Rd2+ Ke7 72. Re2+ Kd7 73. Rd2+ Ke7 74. Re2+ ½ : ½.

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) actually demonstrated that one of the most difficult things in chess is to win a won game. Photo: Crystal Fuller/Saint Louis Chess Club.

Mixed Up

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
2nd Cairns Cup; Saint Louis, February 11, 2020
Spanish Game C80

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. a4. This seems to have been a lucky choice, which caught Muzychuk by surprise. 9. ... b4 10. Nbd2 Nc5. It may also be worth considering an alternative approach: 10. ... Bc5 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Bxe6 Qxd1 13. Rxd1 fxe6 14. Ng5 0-0 15. Nxe4 Bd4 16. c3 bxc3 17. bxc3 Bb6 18. Kf1 Rf5 19. Ke2 Rxe5 20. f3 Rd5 21. Bf4 Rf8 22. Be3 Na5 23. Bxb6 ½ : ½ Milos – Flear, 14th Torneo Open Internacional de Ajedrez “Corte Inglés”, Las Palmas 1993. 11. c3 Qd7?! Muzychuk gives a very confused treatment of the opening, only to soon wind up literally crushed. Best was 11. ... Be7! 12. Nd4 Nxb3 13. Nxc6 Qd7 14. Nxb3 Qxc6 15. cxb4 Bxb4 16. Be3 0-0 17. f4 Qd7 18. Bc5 Rfb8 19. Bxb4 Rxb4 20. Nc5 Qe7 21. Nd3 Rd4 22. f5 Bd7 23. Qf3 f6 24. Rfe1 Rf8 25. Rac1 fxe5 26. Nxe5 Rxf5 27. Nxd7 Qxd7 28. Rxc7 Rxf3 29. Rxd7 Rf7 30. Rd8+ Rf8 31. Rd7 Rf7 ½ : ½ Gashimov – Caruana, 3rd Chess World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk 2009, match game 1. 12. Nd4 Nxd4 13. cxd4 Nxb3 14. Nxb3 Be7 15. Qd3 0-0

16. Qg3! (Δ Bc1-h6) 16. ... f6 17. Bf4 fxe5 18. Bxe5 Bd6 19. Rfc1. Here the question is whether this is the right (or wrong) Rook. 19. ... Bf5 20. Na5. Why on the rim? Simpler and stronger was 20. Nc5 Qe7 21. Re1! a5 22. Rac1 with a powerful advantage. 20. ... Rf6 21. Qb3 Bxe5 22. dxe5 Re6 23. Qxb4 Rxe5 24. f3?! Here there seems to have been a miscalculation — or something like that. White ought to play 24. Nc6 Re4 25. Nd4 retaining a distinct edge. 24. ... Rae8?! But Muzychuk misses her only major chance of disputing her opponent’s bind: 24. ... Re2! (Δ ... Bf5-h3) 26. Re1 Rae8 and, if Rooks are exchanged, Black may approach the ending from a position of strength due to the passed d-Pawn. 25. Nc6 R5e6. 25. ... Re3 is probably a little better, but then 26. Qf4 Bg6 27. b4, followed sooner or later by Nc6-d4, would imply something similar to the game — White takes up the stage. 26. Nd4 Rb6 27. Qd2 Bg6 28. a5 Rf6 29. Rc5 Qd6 30. Rac1 Qe5 31. Nc6 Qe2 32. Rxd5 Rfe6 33. b4 h6 34. Qxe2 Rxe2 35. Rd7 Kf8 36. Nd4 Rb2 37. h3 Rxb4 38. Rcxc7 Bh5 39. Nf5 Rb5 40. Nxg7 1 : 0. Muzychuk eventually overstepped the time limit, but her game was resignable.

Predictably, the Slav derby was, in some ways, a nervous affair. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club.

Once a Pawn a Board

Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
2nd Cairns Cup; Saint Louis, February 11, 2020
Sicilian Defence B22

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Bg4 6. Be2 cxd4 7. cxd4 e6 8. Nc3 Bb4 9. 0-0 Qa5 10. Be3. Here is a game which combines genius and novelty: 10. a3!! Nf6 11. d5! exd5 12. axb4 Qxa1 13. Nd2! Bxe2 14. Qxe2+ Ne7 15. Re1! 0-0 16. Nb3 Qa6 17. Qxa6 bxa6 18. Rxe7 Rab8 19. b5 axb5 20. Rxa7 b4 21. Ne2 Rfc8 22. f3 Ra8 23. Rxa8 Rxa8 24. Kf2 Nd7 25. Nf4 Nb6 26. Ke3 Rc8 27. Kd3 g5 28. Nh5 1 : 0 Alekhine – Podgorný, Prague 1943. The punctuation — probably a little dated — is by Alekhine himself. 10. ... Bxc3 11. bxc3 Qxc3? Maybe it’s psychology: 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) takes a deliberate gamble which could well cost her the game! 11. ... Nge7 12. Qb3 0-0 was a normal way to proceed.

12. d5! exd5 13. Qxd5. Maybe, not wrong, but it is certainly not in Alekhine’s style! Very convincing seems to be 13. Bd4! Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Bxe2 (14. ... Bd7 15. Bb5!+−) 15. Qxe2+ Kf8 (not 15. ... Kd8?? because of 16. Rfe1! with a mating attack) 16. Qe5 and it is a nightmare for Black. 13. ... Nge7 14. Qb5 0-0 15. Qxb7 Rfb8 16. Qa6 Rb2 17. Rac1 Qf6 18. Rfe1 h6 19. a3 Rab8 20. h3 Bc8 21. Qc4 Be6 22. Qc5. Doubtless Lagno let her chances pass. The nemesis is inevitable: 22. ... Bxh3! 23. gxh3. The engines doubt Black’s compensation after 23. Bd2! Qg6 24. Nh4 Qf6 25. Bc3 Qxh4 26. Bxb2 Rxb2 27. Rc4 Qf6 28. gxh3 — but who can tell? 23. ... Rxe2! 24. Rxe2 Qxf3 25. Rec2 Qxh3 26. Qd6? Rd8. Now, certainly Black has powerful compensation. 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)’s final crescendo is impressive and elegant: 27. Qg3 Qe6 28. Rc5 Nd4 29. Bxd4 Rxd4 30. Re5 Qd7 31. Qf3 Ng6 32. Re3 Rg4+ 33. Kf1 Qb5+ 34. Ke1 Rg1+ 35. Kd2 Qb2+ 36. Rc2 Qd4+ 37. Rd3 Qa1 38. Re3 Rf1 39. Re8+ Kh7 40. Re4 f6 41. Qf5 Rg1 42. Re3

42. ... Rd1+ 43. Ke2 Rd5! 0 : 1.

Maybe they were thinking that they have met very often in the last few years. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club.

Monday (Or Something Like It)

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina
2nd Cairns Cup; Saint Louis, February 10, 2020
Spanish Game C70

The just re-confirmed Women’s World Chess Champion 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) must feel quite tired these days due to her intense routine, and yet she does not stir from her throne! Maybe today, in the opening and early middlegame, she wasnt’t able to do much other than survive the best she could, but then, once again, her strong nerves and fingers made the difference. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nge7 5. c3 g6 6. d4 exd4 7. cxd4 Bg7 8. d5 Na5 9. 0-0. An interesting continuation is 9. Bd2 c5 (9. ... Bxb2 10. Bxa5 Bxa1 11. Nc3!) 10. Bc3⩲ Wachinger – Gharibyan, 39th World Youth Chess Championship U-16, Mumbai 2019. 9. ... b5 10. Bb3 d6 11. Bd2 c5 12. dxc6 Nxb3 13. Qxb3!? An “uncultured” novelty instead of retaking with the Pawn: 13. axb3(!) Nxc6 14. Bg5⩲ Mamedov – Abdulov, 65th Azerbaijani Chess Championship, Baku 2011. 13. ... Nxc6 14. Bc3 Be6 15. Qd1 Ne5 16. Nbd2 0-0 17. Nd4 Bg4 18. Qb3 Rb8 19. a3 Qb6 20. h3 Bd7 21. N2f3 a5 22. Rfd1 b4 23. axb4 axb4 24. Bd2 Qb7 25. Nxe5 dxe5 26. Nc2

26. ... Rfc8. As a consequence of 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)’s erratic and uninspired play, Gunina could (and should) have tried her luck with 26. ... Qxe4 27. Nxb4 Bc6! 28. f3 Qd4+ 29. Kh1 Ba8! firmly holding the upper hand. 27. Be1 Be6 28. Qd3 Bc4 29. Qf3 Qb5 30. Rd2 Bh6 31. Ne3 Be6 32. Rdd1 Bg5? As the clock tick-tocks, Gunina gets nervous and loses the thread completely. Good was 32. ... Bf8! 33. Nd5 Rc2 and if 34. Qf6 then 34. ... Bg7 with a draw in sight. 33. Nd5! Rc2? It’s just another step into the abyss, and now, furthermore, Gunina has only one minute left for her remaining 7 moves! Comparatively better was 33. ... Rd8 34. Qg3 Bh6 though after 35. Qxe5± White comes out a Pawn ahead and the better position. 34. Qg3! Bf4. 34. ... f6 35. h4 makes no difference. 35. Nxf4 exf4 36. Qxf4 Rxb2? 37. Bd2 h5 38. Qf6 Rxd2. A sad necessity, for if 38. ... Kf8 then 39. Qh8+ Ke7 40. Bg5+! Qxg5 41. Ra7+ with mate in two. 39. Rxd2 Kh7 40. Rad1. Now it’s only a game of cat and mouse. 40. ... Rg8 41. Rd8 Qe2 42. Kh2 Rg7 43. Ra1 Ba2 44. Rc1 Be6 45. Ra1 Ba2 46. Ra8 Be6 47. Rb8 Ba2 48. Rxb4 Qc2 49. Rb2 Qc7+ 50. g3 Be6 51. Ra8 Bc8 52. Rbb8 Rg8 53. e5 Kh6 54. Qf4+ Kg7 55. e6 Qc5 56. Qxf7+ Kh6 57. Rxc8 Rxc8 58. Rxc8 Qxc8 59. e7 1 : 0.

Luckily for herself 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) awoke before it was too late. Photo: Austin Fuller/Saint Louis Chess Club.

Eye in the Sky

• Leonard Barden, Chess: can you find the winning move a former US champion missed?, Financial Times, February 10, 2020

Now there is the women’s Cairns Cup, derived from Jeanne Sinquefield’s maiden name, which is in its second year and can be watched free and live online from 7pm GMT daily until February 17. The entry includes China’s reigning world champion 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) and India’s world No3 Humpy Koneru, and yet to really take off as a must-watch event it needs to aim still higher. The retired but still legendary Judit Polgár, the current No1 and Oxford student 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), and the rising star Aleksandra Goryachkina are the trio who could make the Cairns Cup a historic landmark. [Read more].

Chiron and Achilles

Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
2nd Cairns Cup; Saint Louis, February 9, 2020
Russian Defence C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6. It’s the third time in a row that the Russian Defence has appeared on Muzychuk’s board! 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. 0-0 0-0 8. c4 c6 9. Re1 Bf5 10. Qb3 Nd7!? Apparently a novelty — but don’t call it a novelty! The most usual is 10. ... Na6 (indirectly defending the b-Pawn as 11. Qxb7 is met by 11. ... Nb4) 11. cxd5 cxd5 with tons of theory. 11. cxd5 Ndc5. That’s the (consistent) corollary of Muzychuk’s previous nuance. Now White must sacrifice Queen and Pawn for two Knights and a Bishop — no doubt a satisfying compensation. 12. dxc5 Nxc5 13. Bxf5 Nxb3 14. axb3 cxd5 15. Nc3 Qb6 16. Be3 Qxb3. All this already occurred in a game from one of the engines testing matches organised by the Swedish Chess Computer Association (SSDF), which continued: 17. Rec1 Rfe8 18. Bc2 Qxb2 19. Ra2 Qb4 20. Ra4 Qb2 21. Ra2 Qb4 22. Ra4 Qb2 23. Ra2 ½ : ½ Deep Hiarcs – Chiron, Sundsvall 2016, match game 2. So White’s next may actually be the first new move of the game! 17. Nd4!? Qc4 18. Ra4 Qc7 19. g3 Qd8. After 19. ... Bc5 20. Bf4 Qd8 21. Rd1 the isolated d5-Pawn is probably doomed anyway. 20. Rd1 Re8 (20. ... Bc5? 21. Ne6!) 21. Nf3. White has no hurry to cash in the Pawn, as after 21. Nxd5 Re5! 22. Nc3 Qe8 Black’s defence would be notably easier. 21. ... Qf6 22. Rxd5 Be5. Muzychuk has to clutch at straws to defend her case. 23. Nxe5 Qxf5 24. Rf4 Qc2 25. Nxf7. From a material standpoint, after 25. Rd2 Qc1+ 26. Kg2 Rxe5 27. Rd8+ Rxd8 28. Bxc1 White, with Bishop and Knight against Rook and Pawn, should stand slightly better — but Lagno apparently hopes not to spend too much time sitting here. 25. ... Qxb2. Maybe Black ought first to play 25. ... Rxe3! 26. fxe3 Qxb2∞ in order to mobilise as soon as possible her Queenside united passed Pawns; an indicative variation is: 27. Rc5 Qc1+ 28. Kg2 a5 29. Ne4 Qb2+ 30. Rf2 Qb3 31. Rc7 a4 32. Nh6+ gxh6 33. Nf6+ Kf8 34. Nxh7+ Kg8 35. Nf6+ drawing by perpetual check.

26. Nh6+. Lagno is content with a draw by perpetual check. Naturally, she was still in time to enjoy the slight material edge of two pieces against Rook and Pawn with 26. Bd4 (Δ Rd5-g5) 26. ... Qc1+ 27. Kg2 Qxf4 28. gxf4 Kxf7 29. Nb5 — it felt safe and risk-free, yes. But that was not what she wanted. 26. ... gxh6 27. Rg4+ Kf7 28. Rf4+ Kg8 29. Rg4+ Kf7 30. Rf4+ Kg8 ½ : ½.

Despite the drawn result, the game between Lagno and Muzychuk presented a penetrating theoretical challenge to the justification of White’s positional Queen sacrifice. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club.

Pink and Mate

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk – Humpy Koneru
2nd Cairns Cup; Saint Louis, February 8, 2020
Russian Defence C43

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nc3 Nxc3 7. bxc3 Bd6. Another line is 7. ... Nxe5 8. dxe5 Bc5 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Qh5 g6 11. Qh6 Re8 12. Bg5 Be7 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Rae1 c5 15. c4 dxc4 16. Bxc4 Bf5 17. c3 Rad8 18. Re3 Qf8 19. Qg5 Qe7 20. Qh6 Qf8 21. Qg5 Qe7 22. Qh6 Qf8 ½ : ½ Kosteniuk – Koneru, 1st Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship, Batumi 2012. 8. 0-0 0-0 9. Re1 Bxe5 10. dxe5 Nc5 11. Rb1 Nxd3 12. cxd3 b6 13. Rb4 Bf5!? Things change as time passes, though not always for better and not always for worse. Anyway, also after 13. ... f5 14. exf6 Qxf6 15. Rf4 Bf5 16. Bd2 Qd6 17. Qf3 Bd7 Black’s position proved to be solid enough to eventually achieve a draw at move 80, A. Y. Sokolov – Schandorff, 20th SchachBundesliga, Bremen 2001. 14. Qf3 c5 15. Rf4 Bg6 16. h4 h5

17. g4!? Muzychuk boldly sacrifices a Pawn for complications. 17. ... Qxh4 18. Qg2 Qe7? A terrible mistake after which White’s attack is unstoppable. Even worse would be 18. ... Bxd3?? on account of 19. g5 winning the Queen, but 18. ... Qg5! was probably good enough to hold everything together (19. e6 Rfe8∞). 19. gxh5 Bxh5 20. Re3!→ Rfe8 21. Qh2. 21. e6! is probably the most disruptive move on the board, but Muzychuk doesn’t need to be in hurry as the opportunity for such a climax will not slip away. 21. ... g6 22. Rf5! Once again, White could play at once 22. e6! fxe6 23. Rg3 winning as in the game. 22. ... Bg4. The Rook is taboo: 22. ... gxf5?? 23. Qxh5 f4 24. Qg4+ Kf8 25. Qxf4 with irresistible attack (25. ... Qe6 26. Qh4+−). 23. Rf4 Bh5 24. e6! Finally! 24. ... fxe6 25. Rg3 Kh7. Queen and King may trade squares by 25. ... Qh7 26. Rh4 Kf7, but after 27. Rg5 the result cannot change. 26. Rh4 Qf7 27. Rg5 Rg8 28. Kf1! Qf3

29. Rhxh5+! gxh5 30. Qc7+! She who says A must say B too! Curiously enough, in his live commentary, four-time U.S. Chess Champion Yasser Seirawan predicted 30. Rxh5+ that after 30. ... Kg6 no matter what White does it’s a draw! 30. ... Kh8 31. Qe5+ Kh7 32. Rxh5+ Kg6. Koneru chivalrously allows her opponent to mate. 33. Qg5+ Kf7 34. Rh7+ 1 : 0.

In today’s game, Muzychuk displayed all her tactical mastery. Photo: Crystal Fuller/Saint Louis Chess Club.

Patience and Confidence

Humpy Koneru – 叶诗雯 (Carissa Yip)
2nd Cairns Cup; Saint Louis, February 7, 2020
King’s Indian Defence E73

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 0-0 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Na6 8. h4 Nc5 9. Qc2 c6 10. h5 cxd5 11. cxd5 Qa5 12. Bd2 Bd7!? Probably safer is 12. ... Nxh5 13. a3 Qb6 14. b4 Nd7 15. Bxh5 gxh5 16. Rxh5 Nf6 17. Rh4 Ng4 18. Nh3 f5 19. Qd1 Qd4 20. Qe2 fxe4 21. Rc1 h5 22. Nb5 Qd3 23. Nxd6 Qxd5 24. Nxe4 Bf5 25. Nhg5 Rac8 26. Rxc8 Rxc8 27. f3 Nf6 28. Nxf6+ Bxf6 29. Rxh5 Rc4 30. Nh3 Bg6 31. Rh6 Kg7 32. Nf2 Rc2 33. Ne4 Bxe4 ½ : ½ Blübaum – Markos, 21st European Team Chess Championship, Hersonissos 2017. 13. h6! Bh8 14. Nh3 Qc7 15. Ng5 Rac8 16. Qd1 a5 17. 0-0 Qd8 18. Rb1 Ne8 19. b3. 19. a3? a4! leads nowhere. 19. ... f6?! (19. ... Bf6! 20. Nf3 Be7=) 20. Ne6! A positional Pawn sacrifice in order to dominate the light squares. 20. ... Nxe6 21. dxe6 Bxe6 22. Bc4! Nc7. If 22. ... Bxc4 then 23. bxc4 Rf7 (23. ... Rxc4? 24. Qb3+−) 24. Rb5 f5 25. Qb1 eventually regaining the Pawn with powerful interest. 23. Nb5 Qd7 24. Nxc7 Bxc4 25. bxc4 Qxc7 26. Qb3 Qxc4 27. Bxa5. 27. Qxb7! Qf7! 28. Bxa5 was probably Koneru’s best. The text apparently lets slip White’s grip on the game. 27. ... Qxb3 28. Rxb3 Rf7 29. Rfb1 Rb8? Black had to give back the Pawn with 29. ... f5! 30. Rxb7 Rxb7 31. Rxb7 Rc1+ 32. Kh2 Bf6 partially escaping from her confinement.

30. Bd2! f5 31. a4! Now Black gets in the grip of an inexorable paralysis. 31. ... fxe4 32. a5 Rbf8 33. Rxb7 Rxf2 34. Bb4 e3 35. Bxd6 Re8 36. Rb8 Rxb8 37. Rxb8+ Kf7 38. Rxh8 Rb2 39. Kf1 Ke6 40. Bc5 Kd5 1 : 0.

At her début in the Cairns Cup, Humpy Koneru showed the best of her positional style. Photo: Crystal Fuller/Saint Louis Chess Club.

Being and Time

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
2nd Cairns Cup; Saint Louis, February 7, 2020
Russian Defence C42

This is Muzychuk’s first time in Saint Louis, while instead 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) put her foot here three years ago to take part in the inaugural Fall Chess Classic. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Qd2 Be6 9. 0-0-0 Qd7 10. h3 h6 11. Kb1. If 11. b3 then 11. ... Bf6 12. g4 0-0-0 13. Bg2 Kb8 14. Rhe1 Rhe8 15. Kb2 a6 16. Re2 Qe7 17. Rde1 Qf8 18. Nd4 Nxd4 19. Bxd4 Bxd4 20. Qxd4 Bd7 21. f4 Rxe2 22. Rxe2 Re8 23. Rxe8+ Bxe8= Carlsen – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 2016. 11. ... 0-0-0 12. Nd4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Rhg8 14. Qe3!? A novelty. On the other hand, 14. Be2 c5 15. Be3 Qa4 16. b3 Qa3 17. Bg4 Bf6 18. Qd3 Rge8 19. Rhe1 d5 20. Bf4 Qa5 was quite balanced as well, McShane – Mastrovasilis, 17th European Rapid Chess Championship, Katowice 2017. 14. ... a6 15. c4 Kb8 16. Qc3 g6 17. Be2 Qc6 18. h4 h5. 18. ... Qxg2?? 19. Bf3 costs the Queen. 19. b3 Bg4 20. Bxg4 hxg4 21. g3 Rde8 22. h5 gxh5 23. Rxh5 Qe4 24. Be3 Rg6! 25. Re1

25. ... Bf6! That is the pointe of 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)’s previous move, for now after 26. Ba7+ Kxa7 27. Rxe4 Rxe4 28. Qd2 Bd4 Black would obtain an immediate and satisfying compensation for the Queen. 26. Qd3 Kc8 27. Kc1 Kd7 28. Kd2 Qxd3+ 29. cxd3 c5= 30. Reh1 Be5 31. Rh7 Re7 32. a4 Rge6 33. R7h6 Rxh6 34. Rxh6 f5 35. Rh5 Rf7 36. Rg5 Ke7 37. Ke2 Rf8 38. Rh5 Ke6 39. Rh6+ Ke7 40. Rh5 ½ : ½.

Here they are at the end of a long journey through the barricades. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club.

In It Together

Here is a group picture from yesterday’s gala opening ceremony of the 2nd Cairns Cup staged at the World Chess Hall of Fame (WCHOF) in Saint Louis, Missouri, United States. From left: Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk, Dronavalli Harika, Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk, Jeanne Sinquefield, 叶诗雯 (Carissa Yip), Nana Dzagnidze, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno, Humpy Koneru, Irina Borisivna Krush, 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), and Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina. Photo: Austin Fuller/Saint Louis Chess Club.

After the Crown

The 2nd edition of the invitational Cairns Cup, the all-female chess super-tournament hosted by the Saint Louis Chess Club and named after co-founder Jeanne Sinquefield (nee Cairns), is gonna start next Friday, February 7, 2020 featuring the début of three-time Women’s World Chess Champion 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), only a few days after her victorious Sino-Russian World Championship match. The other nine participants are (in alphabetic order): Nana Dzagnidze, Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina, Dronavalli Harika, Humpy Koneru, Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk, Irina Borisivna Krush, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno, Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk, and 叶诗雯 (Carissa Yip). Photo © Yuri Smityuk/TASS via Getty Images.

Contingency plan

Regardless of how her Women’s World Chess Championship match will end, 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) will take part, from February 6–17, in the invitational 2nd Cairns Cup, the all-female chess super-tournament hosted by the Saint Louis Chess Club and named after co-founder Jeanne Sinquefield (nee Cairns). Even this year, ten of the best female players in the world will compete in a nine-round classical tournament to share a record prize fund of $180,000. The participants are (in alphabetic order): Nana Dzagnidze, Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina, Dronavalli Harika, 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), Humpy Koneru, Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk, Irina Borisivna Krush, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno, Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk, and 叶诗雯 (Carissa Yip).