非定常系統 (Rheonomous)

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī)
52nd Chinese Chess Championship; 兴化 (Xīnghuà), May 15, 2021
Two Knights Defence C55

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. Nc3 d6 6. a4 0-0 7. h3 Be6 8. 0-0 Nxe4!? This may be a novelty, though a very natural reply. 9. Nxe4 d5 10. Neg5 dxc4 11. Nxe6 fxe6 12. dxc4 Qxd1 13. Rxd1 Bc5 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. fxe3 h6 16. Rd7 Rf7 17. Rxf7. Likewise after 17. Rad1 Raf8 the game would tend towards a draw. 17. ... Kxf7 18. Rf1 Ke8 19. Kf2 Ke7 20. Ke2 Rf8 21. Rb1 a5 22. c3 b6 23. Kd3

23. ... Nb8! A temporary Pawn sacrifice which should equalise for Black. 24. Nxe5 Rf2 25. c5 bxc5. Also worth considering was 25. ... Rxg2 26. b4 Rg5 with a very drawish position. 26. g4

26. ... Nd7? This is the move that loses the game. Best was 26. ... Rh2 27. Rf1 (27. h4 is also answered by 27. ... Ke8) 27. ... Ke8 28. Rf7 Nc6! with a drawish Knight ending. 27. Nc6+ Kd6 28. Nxa5 Nb6 29. Nc4+ Kc6. 29. ... Nxc4 40. Kxc4 Kc6 41. a5 transposes to the game.

30. a5! Nxc4. Of course the Rook endgame is hopeless for Black, but 30. ... Nc8 31. a6 does not offer any hope either. 31. Kxc4 Re2 32. a6 Kb6 33. Ra1 Ka7 34. Ra5 Rxb2 35. Rxc5 Kb6 (35. ... Kxa6 36. Rxc7+−) 36. Re5 Kxa6 37. Rxe6+ Kb7 38. h4 Ra2 39. Kd3 Rf2 40. Rg6 Rf7 41. e4 c6 42. e5 Kb6 43. Ke4 Kc5 44. h5 Kb5 45. Rd6 Kc5 46. Rd8 Re7 47. Rd4 Kb5 48. Kf5 c5 49. Rd1 Rf7+ 50. Ke6 Ra7 51. Kd6 Kc4 52. e6 Ra6+ 53. Kd7 Ra7+ 54. Ke8 Kxc3 55. e7 Ra2 56. Kd7 1 : 0.

By winning her last-round game against 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī), three-time Women’s World Chess Champion 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) succeeded in gaining rating points, yet without depriving her opponent of his second title in a row. Photo: Chinese Chess Association.

From the Easy Chair

余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
51st Chinese Chess Championship; 兴化 (Xīnghuà), December 23, 2020
English Opening A28

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. a3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Qc2 Be7 7. e3 a6 8. Nxd5 Qxd5 9. Bd3 Be6 10. Be4 Qd6 11. b4 Bd5 12. Bb2 Rd8 13. Rc1 Qe6!?TN (13. ... Bxe4 14. Qxe4 Qe6 15. h3 f6 16. d4 f5 17. Rxc6 bxc6 18. Qxe5 Qb3 19. Qxg7 Rf8 20. Qxh7 Qxb2 ½ : ½ Dahlström – Isigkeit, 60yearsBdF-WSSF02, by correspondence, 2009) 14. Bf5 Qd6 15. 0-0 g6. Black could win a Pawn with 15. ... Bxf3 16. gxf3 Qxd2, but after 17. Qb1!? Qd5 18. Be4 Qe6 19. Kg2 White should get enough compensation for it — or else win it back. 16. e4 Ba2 17. Bh3 0-0 18. Bc3 Bc4 19. Rfe1 b5 20. Qb2 f6 21. g3 a5! Black has fully equalised.

What follows is the predictable outcome of a game correctly played by both sides: 22. Bf1 Bxf1 23. Kxf1 axb4 24. Bxb4 Nxb4 25. axb4 Qxb4 26. Qa2+ Rf7 27. Rxc7 Qa3 28. Qxa3 Bxa3 29. Rc6 Rb8 30. Rb1 Bf8 31. d3 b4 32. Nd2 Kg7 33. Ke2 Ra7 34. Rb2 h5 35. h4 Rb5 36. Nb3 Kf7 37. Rbc2 Rbb7 38. f4

38. ... Ra3 39. Rb2 Rba7 40. Ke3 Ra2 41. Rxa2 Rxa2 42. Nd2 Bh6 43. Nc4 Rh2 44. Rc7+ Kg8 45. Rc8+ Kf7 46. Rc7+ Kg8 47. Rc8+ ½ : ½.

Today 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) scored another draw. She drew four of her first five games so far. Photo: Chinese Chess Association.

Hierarchy in International Relations

丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) – 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī)
8th Chess World Cup; tie-break game 2 (25+10); Khanty-Mansiysk, September 28, 2019
English Opening A21

First seed 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén), ranked number three in the world, beat fellow Chinese 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) in the second tie-break game to win the semifinal and go through to the final of the Chess World Cup 2019. 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Nd5 a5 4. Nf3 d6 5. a3 Bc5 6. e3 Nf6 7. d4 Nxd5 8. cxd5 exd4 9. exd4 Bb6 10. Bg5 f6 11. Be3 0-0 12. Bd3 f5 13. Qc2 Nd7!? 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) throws down his cards with a novelty that does imply an interesting Exchange sacrifice. A relatively recent game continued: 13. ... h6 14. 0-0 f4 15. Bd2 Bg4 with complex play and chances for both colours, Cheparinov – 李师龙 (Lǐ Shīlóng), 14th “映美杯” (“Yìngměi Cup”) Chinese Chess League, 深圳 (Shēnzhèn) 2018. 14. Bxf5 Nf6 15. Bd3 h6 16. Nh4 Nxd5 17. Bh7+ Kh8 18. Ng6+ Kxh7 19. Nxf8+ Kg8 20. Ng6 Qf6. Black’s volatile initiative compensates enough for the sacrificed Exchange. 21. Qe4 Be6 22. 0-0 Re8 23. Nh4 Bf7 24. Qg4

24. ... h5! 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) is not interested in offering a draw by repetition with 24. ... Be6 (25. Qh5 Bf7=). 25. Qg3 Re4!↑ 26. Bg5!? 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén), even though feeling uncomfortable under Black’s initiative, boldly chooses not to hide himself. 26. ... Qe6. Who knows, maybe the crude 26. ... Qxd4 would have been better. 27. h3 Bxd4 28. Nf3 Bxb2 29. Rab1 Re2 30. Bd2 Qf6 31. Bxa5 Nf4! Black keeps attacking as much as possible. 32. Bxc7 Rc2∞ 33. Kh2 h4? 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) finally puts himself too much forward. After the zwischenzug 33. ... Nxg2! 34. Kxg2 Rxc7 the game would have been pretty equal. 34. Qg5± Rxc7?? “Who says A must say B”. 35. Rxb2+− Qxg5 (35. ... Qxb2 36. Qd8++−) 36. Nxg5 Bc4 37. Re1 g6 38. Re4 Nd3 39. Rc2 Rc5 40. Rcxc4 Rxg5 41. Re7 Nc5 42. Rxh4 Rf5 43. f3 1 : 0.

余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) made all the play, but in the end, quite unluckily, lost the “derby” with 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén), thus avoiding any responsibility for a diplomatic “accident” in the Chinese camp. Photo: FIDE World Cup 2019.

Too Little, Too Much, Just Right

余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) – 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén)

"读特杯" (“Dú Tè Cup”) 龙岗 (Lónggǎng) Chess Masters; 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), March 23, 2017

4k3/1p2ppbp/p5p1/2n5/5P2/P3PN2/1P3P1P/3N1K2 w - - 0 31

Position after 30. ... Ne6xc5

余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) played a bit too passively, and 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) took his chance to question his own volatile initiative: 31. Ke2 Kd7! 32. Ng5 f6 33. Nf3. Of course, after 33. Nxh7 Ke6 the White Knight would end up being trapped in its corner grave. Curiously enough, within a few moves, the Black Knight will be faced by the same dilemma – but under more favourable conditions. 33. ... f5 34. b4 Ne4 35. Kd3 Bf6 36. a4 Kd6 37. Nd4 Bxd4 38. Kxd4 Nd2 39. Kd3! On the verge of serious trouble, 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) defends with inspired precision. 39. ... Nf3 40. Ke2 Nxh2! The only practical try for a win. Black sacrifices his Knight for a (temporary) couple of Pawns, hoping for a speedy march of the a-Pawn. 41. f3! Kd5 42. Nb2 b6 43. Kf2 a5 44. bxa5 bxa5 45. Kg2 Kc5 46. Nd3+ Kc4 47. Ne5+ Kb4 48. Kxh2 Kxa4 49. Nc6 Kb5 50. Nxe7 a4 51. Nd5 a3 52. Nc3+ Kc4 53. Na2 Kb3. Most likely 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) was now expecting something like 54. Nc1+? Kb2 55. Nd3+ Kc3 56. Nc1 Kd2 57. Na2 Kxe3 with quite an easy win, instead... 54. e4! This extreme countermeasure actually transforms the endgame in the most radical way. The e-Pawn also aims at a crown, as the ensuing Queen ending will not be winnable – even though 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) took quite a little time for persuading himself. It should be noted that 54. e4! would have worked even if Black had played 53. ... Kd3 (instead of 53. ... Kb3). 56. ... Kxa2 55. e5 Kb1 56. e6 a2 57. e7 a1=Q 58. e8=Q Qd4 59. Kg3 h5 60. Qe1+ Kc2 61. Qe2+ Qd2 62. Qc4+ Kd1 63. Qb3+ Ke1 64. Qb1+ Qd1 65. Qb6 h4+ 66. Kxh4 Qxf3 67. Qg1+ Ke2 68. Kg5 Qh5+ 69. Kf6 Kf3 70. Qf1+ Kg3 71. Qc1 Qg4 72. Ke5 Qf3 73. Qg1+ Qg2 74. Qe1+ Qf2 75. Qc1 Kg4 76. Qd1+ Kh3 77. Qh1+ Kg3 78. Qc1 Qb6 79. Qe1+ Kg2 80. Qc1 Kh2 81. Qd2+ Kh3 82. Qc1 Qb5+ 83. Kf6 Kg4 84. Kxg6 Qb6+ 85. Kf7 Qd4 86. Ke6 Qxf4 87. Qg1+ Kh4 88. Qg6 ½ : ½.

余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) (R.) vs. 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén)
Photo: cca.imsa.cn

A Day with Aeroflot

余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) – Denis Rimovich Khismatullin
15th Aeroflot Open; Moscow, February 24, 2017
Sicilian Defence B23

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 a6 3. g3 b5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. d3 e6 6. Nh3 b4 7. Ne2 d5 8. e5 Nc6 9. f4 Nh6. Very similar consequences may arise from 9. ... Nge7 10. 0-0 Nf5 11. g4 Nh4 12. Ng3 Nxg2 13. Kxg2 Qd7 14. Qe1 0-0-0 15. a3 a5 16. axb4 axb4 17. Kg1 f6 18. c3 d4 19. c4 Re8 20. Qe2 f5 21. Bd2 g6 22. Kf2 Be7 23. Ke1 Kc7 24. Kf2 Ra8 25. Ng1 Na5 26. h3 h5 27. gxh5 gxh5 28. Nf3 h4 29. Nh1 Nb3 30. Rab1 Qc6 31. Kg2 Rag8+ 32. Kh2 Rg6 33. Ng5 Rhg8 34. Rg1 Bxg5 35. Rxg5 Qf3 36. Re1 Rxg5 37. fxg5 Qxe2+ 38. Rxe2 Nxd2 39. Rxd2 Rxg5 40. b3 Kd7 0 : 1 Mack – Hillarp Persson, 35th Guernsey International Chess Festival, Guernsey 2009. 10. Nf2 Nf5 11. 0-0 Qb6 12. c3 Be7 13. g4? Nh4⩱ 14. Bh1 h5! 15. g5 f6. Grandmaster Rafael Duailibe Leitão much prefers 15. ... g6⩱, apparently not too convinced by Black’s following Pawn sacrifice. 16. exf6 gxf6 17. Ng3 fxg5 18. fxg5 0-0-0! 19. Qe2. As a matter of fact, it seems a loss of time. After 19. Re1! (Leitão) 19. ... e5 20. Nxh5 Kb8 21. Qg4 Ng6 the same position of the actual game occurs, but with the difference that the White Rook is on e1 (White has magically gained a move!). 19. ... e5 20. Nxh5 Kb8 21. Qg4 Ng6. Black’s attacking prospects more than compensate for the Pawn. 22. Nf6 e4! Leitão recommends 22. ... Bc8!∓, but, indeed, Black’s second positional Pawn sacrifice appears very powerful. 23. dxe4 Nce5 24. Qg3 Bd6 25. h3 Qc7 26. Rd1 Nd7! 27. Qf3 Nxf6 28. gxf6 dxe4 29. Qg4 Rhg8 30. Kf1 Nf4 31. Qf5

31. ... e3! Another convincing line is 31. ... Rg1+!? 32. Kg1 Ne2+ 33. Kg2 e3+ 34. Ne4 Ng3−+ (Leitão’s analysis). 32. Bxe3 Bxh1? Black misses the most forcing 32. ... Rg1+! 33. Kxg1 Ne2+ 34. Kf1 Ng3+ winning heavy material. 33. f7? Returning the favour. Best was 33. Rxd6 Bg2+ 34. Ke1 Qxd6 35. Qxf4 Qxf4 35. Bxf4+ Kc8∓ (Leitão’s analysis). 33. ... Bg2+ 34. Ke1 Qe7! 35. Ng4 Rxg4! 0 : 1.

英法海底隧道 (Channel Tunnel)

余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
15th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival; Catalan Bay, February 2, 2017
French Defence C02

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 Bd7 7. Be2 Nge7 8. dxc5 Qxc5!? It doesn’t look any better than 8. ... Qc7 9. 0-0 Nxe5 10. Nxe5 Qxe5 11. Nd2 Qc7 12. b4 g6 13. c4 Bg7 14. Rb1 0-0 15. cxd5 Nxd5 16. Bb2 Bxb2 17. Rxb2 Nc3 18. Qe1 Nxe2+ 19. Qxe2 Bc6 20. Rc1 Rfd8 21. Nf1 a6 22. Ne3 Rd4 23. Rd1 ½ : ½ Romanishin – O. Foişor, Tbilisi 1986. 9. b4 Qb6 10. c4 Qc7 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bb2 Nf4 13. 0-0 Ne7 14. Nc3 Neg6 15. Rc1 Nxe2+ 16. Qxe2 Qb6 17. Rfd1 Be7 18. g3 Bc6 19. Nd4 0-0 20. Nxc6 bxc6 21. h4 Rfd8 22. h5 Nf8 23. h6 g6 24. Ne4. White acquired a dominant position by quite simple means. 24. ... Rd5 25. Qf3 Nd7

26. Nd6! Now White’s dark-squared Bishop vehemently takes part in action. 26. ... Rf8. If 26. ... Bxd6 then 27. Rxd5! exd5 (else 27. ... exd5 28. exd6 followed by Qf3-c3) 28. exd6 Qxd6 29. b5 followed by Rc1-c6 with a crushing advantage. 27. Rxd5 exd5. Or 27. ... cxd5 28. Nc8 Qd8 29. Nxe7+ Qxe7 30. Rc7 and wins. 28. Qg4 Qc7 29. Qd4. Threatening Qd4xd5. 29. ... Nb6 30. b5 Nc4 31. e6 f6 32. Nxc4 dxc4 33. Qxc4 c5 34. Rd1 Rd8 35. Rd7! Rxd7 36. exd7+ Kf8 37. Qd5 Qb6 38. a4 1 : 0. A convincing victory for 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) that, however, didn’t stop the irresistible hunt of 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) to the top women’s prize of £15,000 pounds sterlins!

余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) vs. 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
Photo: John Saunders

Solid Rock

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī)

7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”; 儋州 (Dānzhōu), July 16, 2016

Sicilian Defence B92

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. 0-0 0-0 9. Be3 Be6 10. Qd2 Nbd7 11. a4 Rc8 12. a5 Qc7 13. Rfd1 Rfd8. For 13. ... Rfe8 14. Qe1 Qc6 15. Bf3 h6 16. Nc1 Qc7 17. h3 Nf8 18. Nd3 Ng6 19. Nb4 Qd7 20. Na4 Bd8 21. Nc5 Qe7 see Kovchan – Korobov, 83rd Ukrainian Chess Championship, Lviv 2014. 14. Qe1 Qc6 15. Bf3 h6 16. Nc1 Qc7 17. h3. For 17. Nd3 d5 18. exd5 Bf5 see Zaw Win Lay – J. Polgár, Japfa Classic Chess Tournament, Denpasar 2000. 17. ... Re8. For 17. ... d5 18. exd5 Bf5 19. Nd3 Bd6 20. Ra4 Re8 21. Be2 e4 22. Nc1 Ne5 23. Nb3 Qd7 24. Rad4 Bxh3 see Kovchan – Borovikov, 77th Ukrainian Chess Championship, Poltava 2008. 18. Nb3 Qb8. For 18. ... Nf8 19. Bb6 Qb8 20. Nd2 N8h7 21. Be3 Ng5 see Kovchan – Areshchenko, 80th Ukrainian Chess Championship, Kiev 2011. 19. Rac1 Bd8 20. Ra1 Rc4 21. Nd2 Rc6 22. Nf1 Qc8 23. Rd2 b5 24. axb6 Nxb6 25. Rd3 Nc4 26. Bc1 Ba5 27. Qd1. White is forced into a general liquidation of material which leads very quickly to a draw. Since also 27. b3 Na3 leads nowhere, she must eventually look for improvement before.

27. ... Nxb2 28. Bxb2 Bxc3 29. Rxc3 Rxc3 30. Bxc3 Qxc3 31. Rxa6 Rc8 32. Rxd6 Qxc2 33. Rd8+ Kh7 34. Rxc8 Qxc8 35. Ne3 Qc5 36. h4 g6 37. g3 Kg7 38. Bg2 Qb4 39. Qa1 Qc5 40. Qd1 Qb4 41. Qa1 Qc5 42. Qd1 Qb4 ½ : ½.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) vs. 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī)
Photo: cmsa.cn

Too Much of Nothing

丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) – 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī)

7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”; 儋州 (Dānzhōu), July 15, 2016

Queen’s Gambit Declined D44

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. g3 Bb7 12. Bg2 Qb6 13. exf6 0-0-0 14. 0-0 c5 15. d5 b4 16. Na4 Qb5 17. a3 Nb8 18. axb4 cxb4 19. Qg4 Bxd5 20. Rfc1 Nc6 21. Bxd5 Rxd5 22. Rxc4 Rxg5 23. Qd4 Kb8 24. Rxc6 Rxg3+ 25. fxg3 Qxc6 26. Rd1 Qc7. Just a memory: 26. ... Bh6 27. Nc5 Ka8 28. Qe4 Qxe4 29. Nxe4 a5 30. Ra1 Be3+ 31. Kg2 Rh5 32. g4 Rd5 33. b3 Kb7 34. h4 Kb6 35. Re1 Bf4 36. Kf3 Be5 37. g5 a4 38. bxa4 b3 39. g6 fxg6 40. Rb1 b2 41. f7 ½ : ½ Jussupow – Tukmakov, Leningrad 1987. 27. b3 Kc8 28. Qe4. The Matrix (nearly) Reloaded is 28. Qd3 Bc5+ 29. Nxc5 Qxc5+ 30. Kf1 Qc3 31. Qxc3+ bxc3 32. h4 e5 33. Ke2 c2 34. Rc1 Kd7 35. Rxc2 Ke6 36. Rc6+ Kf5 37. Kf3 e4+ 38. Ke3 Rb8 39. Rc5+ Kxf6 40. Kxe4 Rxb3 41. Ra5 Rxg3 42. Kf4 Rg1 43. Rxa7 Kg7 ½ : ½ Kramnik – Anand, 7th London Chess Classic, London 2014. 28. ... Kb8 29. Qd4 Kc8 30. Qe4 Kb8 31. Qd3 Bc5+ 32. Nxc5 Qxc5+ 33. Qd4 Qc3 34. Qf4+ Ka8 35. Qe4+ Kb8 36. Rd4 Qc1+ 37. Kg2 Qb2+ 38. Kf3 Qc3+! Not 38. ... Qxb3+?? 39. Kf4 a5 40. Qe5+ Kc8 41. Qc5+ Kb8 42. Rd7 and wins (Kouatly’s analysis). 39. Kg4 Rg8+ 40. Kh4 Rh8+ 41. Kg5 Qc1+? Everything was better than to allow a trade of Queens, since in the ensuing Rook ending, in spite of material equality, Black appears to be helpless. Correct was 41. ... Qc5+ 42. Kg4 Rg8+ 43. Kf3 a5 with an unclear balance. 42. Qf4+ Qxf4+ 43. Kxf4 Rxh2 44. Rxb4+ Kc7 45. Kg5 Rh8 46. g4 Rg8+ 47. Kf4 Rd8 48. Ra4 Kb6 49. Ra1 a5 50. Rh1 Kc5 51. Rh7 Rd7 52. g5 Kd6 53. Rh3 e5+ 54. Kf5 e4 55. Kxe4 Ke6 56. Rh8 Rb7 57. Re8+ Kd6 58. Kf5 Rb5+ 59. Kg4 Rb4+ 60. Kh5 Rxb3 61. Re7 Rh3+ 62. Kg4 Rh7 63. Ra7 Ke6 64. Ra6+ Kd7

65. g6! And finally the pointe. 1 : 0. We may suspect that 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) has fallen into a computer “black hole”. Of course, unwillingly.

丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) vs. 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī)
Photo: cca.cmsa.cn

Blind man’s buff

余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) – Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi

7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”; 儋州 (Dānzhōu), July 9, 2016

8/3n1rk1/3Q1p1r/2p2qp1/1pRPp3/1P2P1P1/P4PB1/4R1K1 w - - 9 47

In the position of the diagram (after 48. ... Rh8-h6) White is a clear Pawn to the good and stands much better. His next (hasty) move, however, is a big mistake that gives his opponent an unexpected way to complicate matters: 47. Qc6? Re7? But Nepo completely overlooks it, and, as things go, falls for it! After 47. ... Ne5! 48. dxe5 fxe5 49. Qxh6+ Kxh6 50. Rf1! Black’s task is not easy anyway, since the e4-Pawn is doomed, but he could still hope for last-minute salvation. 48. dxc5. Now Black’s Pawns fall like rotten pears. The rest is very easy. 48. ... g4 49. Qd6 Rf7 50. Qf4 Qh5 51. Rxe4 Ne5 52. Rd1 Rh8 53. Rxb4 Qh7 54. Qe4 Qh5 55. Rb7 Re8 56. Rxf7+ Qxf7 57. c6 Nf3+ 58. Bxf3 Rxe4 59. Bxe4 Kh6 60. Rc1 Qc7 61. b4 1 : 0.

余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) vs. Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi
Photo: sports.sina.com.cn

The Future Eve

儋州市 (Dānzhōu City), July 7, 2016. PTV (TV.people.com.cn)’s interview with 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī), 卜祥志 (Bǔ Xiángzhì), and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) on the eve of the 7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”.

The Great Gatsby

余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) – Magnus Carlsen
2nd Qatar Masters Open; playoff tie-break game 2 (5+3); Doha, December 29, 2015
Nimzo-Indian Defence E43

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. e3 Bb7 6. Bd3 0-0 7. 0-0 c5 8. Na4 cxd4 9. exd4 Re8 10. a3 Bf8 11. Bf4 Bxf3!? If there’s no improvisation it’s not chess. For 11. ... d6 12. Re1 Nbd7 13. Rc1 e5 see Carlsen – Karjakin, 5th Kings Tournament, Mediaș 2011. 12. Qxf3 Nc6 13. d5!? A bold advance which is probably a bit premature. 13. Qh3 deserves consideration. 13. ... exd5 14. cxd5 Ne5

15. Qd1?? 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) doesn’t hold the tension and committs a colossal blunder. Or maybe the Qatari Emir would not have appreciated any loss of innocence. Whatever it is, now Black wins a clear piece. 15. ... Nxd3 16. Qxd3 Re4 0 : 1.

Qatar Masters Open (@Qatar_Masters)

一次方程

余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) – Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik
Qatar Masters; Doha, December 4, 2014
Spanish C65

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 Be6 7. 0-0 Nd7 8. Nb3 Bb6 9. Ng5 Bxb3 10. axb3 f6 11. Nf3. For the alternative 11. Nh3 h5 12. Kh1 g5 13. Ng1 Nf8 14. Ne2 h4 15. Be3 Ne6 16. b4 Qd6 see the game Naiditsch – Alekseev, 28th European Club Cup, Eilat 2012. 11. ... Nf8 12. Nd2 Ne6 13. Qh5+ g6 14. Qd1 Bc5 15. Nc4 b5 16. Na5 Qd7 17. Be3 Bb6 18. b4 0-0 19. Qd2 f5!?? Kramnik’s Pawn sacrifice is of doubtful value, as Black could play, without any inconvenience, 19. ... c5! with dynamic equality. 20. exf5 gxf5? The most natural move on the board, but also the wrong one. Correct was 20. ... Rxf5! 21. Qc3 Raf8! with fairly even prospects.

21. Qc3 f4. Also 21. ... Bxa5 22. Rxa5 f4 23. Bxa7 Nd4 was worth considering. 22. Bxb6 cxb6 23. Nxc6 Qd6? The decisive mistake. More chances of survival arise, not paradoxically, from 23. ... Nd4! 24. Nxd4 (24. Nxe5? Qd5!) 24. ... exd4 25. Qd2, although Black have to prove his compensation for the Pawn. 24. Rxa7 Rxa7 25. Nxa7 f3 26. Qc6 Qe7 27. Nxb5 Kh8 28. g3 Qf7 29. Ra1 Ng5 30. Ra8 Qe7 31. h4 Nh3+ 32. Kf1 e4 33. Qxe4 1 : 0.

余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī)
Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova

Pallas and the Centaur

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī)
45th Chinese Chess Championship, 兴化 (Xīnghuà), March 20, 2014
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 Nxe4 9. Qxe4 Nd7 10. Bf4. If 10. c3 then 10. ... Nf6 11. Qe2 Bd6 (11. ... Qd5) 12. 0-0 Bc7 13. Re1 0-0 14. Bd2 Re8 15. Rad1 e5= Short – Karpov, 2nd “Melody Amber” Blitz Chess Tournament, Monte Carlo 1993. 10. ... Nf6 11. Qe5 Qd5 12. Qc7 Qd7. 12. ... Qxd4 13. Qxb7 Bb4+ 14. c3 0-0 15. Bxh7+ Kxh7 16. Qxb4 Qxb4 17. cxb4 Nd5 18. Bd2 Rfb8 19. 0-0-0 Nxb4 20. Bxb4 Rxb4 21. Rhe1 leaves White with a microscopic edge. 13. Qxd7+ Kxd7 14. c4 Bd6 15. Be3 Rhd8 16. g4 Ke8 17. Ke2 e5 18. Rad1 h6 19. Kf3 Kf8. Finally Black has almost... castled!

20. Bc2 exd4 21. Bxd4 Nd7 22. Rhe1 Bb4 23. Re4 Nc5 24. Re3 Ne6 25. Red3 Nxd4+ 26. Rxd4 Ke7 27. Re4+ Kf8 28. Red4 Ke7 29. Rxd8 Rxd8 30. Rxd8 Kxd8 31. Ke4 ½ : ½.

Being wrapped in a soft light. Photos: Sina Sports.

The Powerpuff Girl

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī)
兴化 (Xīnghuà), 17 aprile 2013

兴化 (Xīnghuà), 17 aprile 2013:  侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
Foto: chess.sport.org.cn

兴化 (Xīnghuà), 16 aprile 2013:  侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
Foto: chess.sport.org.cn

Queen Rhapsody

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī)
44th Chinese Chess Championship; 兴化 (Xīnghuà), April 17, 2013
Sicilian Defence B60

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 Qb6 7. Nb3 e6 8. Bd3 Be7 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Qd2. An inspirational reference is 10. Kh1 a6 11. f4 h6 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Qh5 Qc7 14. Rae1 b5 15. Re3 b4 16. Nd1 Ne7 17. Rg3 Kh8 18. Nd2 Bb7 19. Nf3 Ng8 20. b3 a5 21. Ne3 a4 22. e5! dxe5 23. Nxe5 g6! 24. Qg4 h5?? (24. ... Ba6!=) 25. Rh3+− Nh6 26. Rxh5! gxh5 27. Qxh5 Kg7 28. N3g4! Rh8 29. Nxf6 Kf8 30. Nh7+ 1 : 0 R. E. Byrne – Fedorowicz, 25th U.S. Chess Championship, Mentor 1977. 10. ... a6 11. Rae1 Qc7 12. Re3 b5 13. Rg3 Ne5 14. f4 Nxd3 15. cxd3 Nh5 16. Rh3 Nf6 17. Qe2 e5 18. Rg3 Kh8? (18. ... Qd8 19. Bh6 Ne8 20. f5↑) 19. fxe5 dxe5

20. Rxf6! Bxf6 21. Nd5 Qd8 22. Bxf6 gxf6 23. Qh5 Rg8 24. Qxf7 Qf8? (24. ... Rxg3 25. hxg3 Qg8 26. Qxf6+ Qg7 27. Qd8+ Qg8 28. Qe7 Qxg3 29. Nc5+−) 25. Rxg8+ Qxg8 26. Qxf6+ Qg7 27. Qd8+ Qg8 28. Qe7 Bg4 29. Nf6 Qg6 30. Qxe5 Bd1 31. Nh5+ 1 : 0.

Once more 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) showed her amazing talent as an attacking player. Photos: chess.sport.org.cn.

Ctrl+Alt+Del

余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

2nd 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Grandmaster Chess Tournament; 儋州 (Dānzhōu), May 17, 2011

Nimzo-Indian Defence E34

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 c5 7. dxc5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Ne4 10. e3 Qa5 11. Ne2 (11. Be5 0.0 12. Bd3 Nc6 13. Bxe4 Nxe5 14. Bxd5 Bg4 15. Nf3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Nxf3+ 17. gxf3 Rac8 18. 0-0 ½ : ½ Kasparov – Short, London 1993, PCA World Championship Chess Championship match game 5) 12. ... Bf5 12. Be5 0-0 13. Nd4 Nxc3 (13. ... Bg6? 14. Nb3 Nxc3 15. Bxc3! Bxc2 16. Nxa5 Bxc3+ 17. bxc3± b6 18. Kd2 bxa5 19. Kxc2 Rc8 20. h4 Nd7 21. hxg5 Nxc5 22. gxh6 Ne4 23. c4 Nxf2 24. Rh4 f5 25. Rd4 dxc4 26. Bxc4+ Kh7 27. Rf1 Ng4 28. Kd2 Rab8 29. Rxf5 Rb2+ 30. Kd3 Rxg2 31. Be6 Rc7 32. Rxa5 Nf2+ 33. Ke2 Rh2 34. Kf3 Nh1 35. Rd7+ Rxd7 36. Bxd7 Kxh6 37. Rxa7 Kg5 38. Ra5+ Kf6 39. Bc6 Rc2 40. Rf5+ Ke7 41. Bd5 Kd6 42. Rh5 Rd2 43. Rxh1 Rxd5 44. a4 Ra5 45. Ra1 Ke5 46. e4 Ke6 47. Ke3 Kd6 48. Kd4 Kd7 49. Kc4 Kc6 50. Kb4 Re5 51. Rc1+ Kb6 52. Rc4 1 : 0 Kasparov – Short, London 1993, PCA World Championship Chess match game 9) 14. Nxf5. The alternative 14. Qxf5 is very complex: 14. ... Ne4+ 15. Ke2!? Bxc5 16. Nb3 Qa6+ 17. Kd1 Qa4? (⌓ 17. ... Qe6! 18. Qxe6 Nxf2+ 19. Ke1 fxe6 20. Nxc5 Nxh1 21. Nxe6 Rf2 22. Nc7 Nd7 23. Bg3 Rxf1+ 24. Kxf1 Nxg3+ 25. hxg3 Rf8+ 26. Ke2 Rc8⩱) 18. f3 Nc6 (18. ... Nf2+? 19. Kd1 Nxh1 20. Bd3+−) 19. fxe4 Rfe8 20. Bc3 Bxe3 21. exd5 Nd4 22. Qf6 Re4 23. Bd3 Rf4 24. Qxh6 Rh4 25. Qf6 Rc8 26. Rf1 Qd7 27. Nxd4 Rxd4 28. Bxd4 1 : 0 Lautier – Cuchelov, 26th French Team Chess Championship, Mulhouse 2005. 14. ... Ne4+ 15. Kd1 Nc6 16. Bd6. 16. Bd4 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Rac8 18. c6 Bc5 19. cxb7 Rc7 20. Nb3 Qb6 21. Rc1 Bd6 22. Qe2 Qxb7 23. f3 Nf6 24. Qb5 Rxc1+ 25. Kxc1 Qe7 26. Qd3 Re8 27. Nd4 Qxe3+ 28. Qxe3 Rxe3 29. Bb5 Bf8 30. Kd2 Re7 31. Rc1 Ne8 32. Rc8 Nd6 33. Rb8 Kg7 34. b3 Rc7 35. Bc6 Be7 36. Bxd5 Rc5 37. Be4 Bf6 38. Ne2 Be5 39. Ra8 Ra5 40. a4 Bxh2 41. Bd3 Be5 42. Ke3 h5 43. Bb1 h4 44. f4 Bf6 45. fxg5 Rxg5 46. Kf2 a5 47. Rb8 Rd5 48. b4 Nc4 49. bxa5 Rxa5 50. Rb4 Nb2 51. Bc2 Rc5 52. Be4 Nd1+ 53. Kf3 Nc3 54. Nxc3 Rxc3+ 55. Kf2 Ra3 56. Rc4 Ra2+ 57. Kf3 Ra3+ 58. Kf2 ½ : ½ 沈陽 (Shěn Yáng) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2009–11, 1st stage, Istanbul 2009. 16. ... Bxc5. 16. ... Be1 is far less good for Black, although in the only instance known all eventually ended badly for White: 17. Nxh6+ Kh7 18. Bd3 Kxh6 19. Bxe4 dxe4 20. Rxe1 Rfd8 21. Qxe4?? (21. Re2+− Δ Re2-d2) 21. ... Qxc5−+ Richardson – S. K. Lalić, ̴“Agency” International Tournament, London 1997. 17. Bxc5 Nxc5 18. h4!? A novelty or, more precisely, a novel nuance. Theory gave 18. Nxh6+ Kh8 19. h4!? g4! 20. f3 d4 21. Qf5 dxe3 22. Qf6+ ½ : ½ Bareev – Carlsen, Chess World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk 2005, match game 1.

18. ... g4! 19. f3 d4! 20. e4 d3! 21. Qd2 Qa4+ 22. Ke1 Nxe4

23. Nxh6+ (23. Qxh6?? Qb4+ 25. Kd1 Nf2+ 26. Kc1 Qe1#) 23. ... Kh7?? A ruinous blunder that loses right off. 23. ... Kh8! 24. fxe4 Qxe4+ 25. Kd1 Rad8 is perfectly fine for Black. 24. Bxd3+− Rad8 25. Nxg4 f5 26. Qh6+ Kg8 27. Qg6+ Kh8 28. Qh6+ Kg8 29. Bxe4 fxe4 30. Qg6+ Kh8 31. Qh6+ Kg8 32. Nf6+ Rxf6 33. Qxf6 exf3 34. gxf3 Re8+ 35. Kf2 Qc2+ 36. Kg3 Rf8 37. Qg5+ Kh8 38. Qh5+ Kg8 39. Rhg1 1 : 0.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) handled the opening well enough, but just until she made a terrible mistake. Photo: Sina Sports.