A Sense of Duty

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk – 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě)

1st IMSA World Masters Women’s Rapid Chess Championship (15+10); 衡水 (Héngshuǐ), May 16, 2019

Alekhine Defence B03

At the end of the 1st IMSA World Masters Women’s Rapid Chess Championship Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk tied for third place with 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí), but actually finished third by the Sonnenborg-Berger points. Her ninth round win against 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) made many things happen that otherwise never would have ended that way. 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 c6 5. c4 Nb6 6. exd6 exd6 7. Bd3 Be7 8. h3!? d5 9. c5 N6d7 10. 0-0 b6 11. cxb6. On 11. b4 a5 would be Black’s most natural rejoinder. 11. ... axb6 12. Re1 0-0 13. Nc3 Nf6 14. Ne5 c5. Not 14. ... Nfd7? on account of 15. Qh5! g6 16. Bxg6! with devastating attack. 15. Bg5↑ Bb7 16. Bc2 Nbd7. 16. ... Nc6 17. Nxc6 Bxc6 18. Qd3 g6 19. Qf3 was not appealing at all either. 17. Qd3 c4 18. Qf3 Ra5. That looks very artificial, but it’s hard to give Black good advices. 19. Re3 Nxe5 20. Rxe5 Bc8? 20. ... h6 21. Bh4 Qd7 (clearing the d8-square for the Bishop) seems the only way to go on, at least until it lasts. 21. Rae1 Be6. Probably due to time pressure they both now appear to take a breath: 22. Bf5? (22. Qg3!+−) 22. ... Nd7? (22. ... h6!) 23. Bxe7 Qxe7 24. R5e3 Qh4? Losing by force. However, if 24. ... Nc5 25. dxc5 d4 then 26. Nd5 Qxc5 27. Nf6+! Kh8 28. Re5 winning very easily. Comparatively best was 24. ... Qf6 25. Rxe6! fxe6 26. Bxe6+ Qxe6! 27. Rxe6 Rxf3 28. gxf3 leaving White with only a Pawn up and the better ending.

25. Rxe6! fxe6 26. Bxe6+ Kh8 27. Bxd7 Raa8 28. Qe3 Qf6 29. Re2 Rad8 30. Bg4 h6 31. Bf3 Qf7 32. Qe6 Qf4 33. Qe5 Qc1+ 34. Kh2 Rde8 35. Qxe8 Rxe8 36. Rxe8+ Kh7 37. Nxd5 Qxb2 38. Be4+ g6 39. Re7+ Kg8 40. Nf4 1 : 0.

15th Women’s World Chess Champion Muzychuk playing with 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě). Photo: 樊璐璐 (Fán Lùlù).

The Queens’s Gambit

16th Women’s World Chess Champion 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí). On the International Women’s Day, she was awarded the 重庆 (Chóngqìng) “March 8” Red-Banner Pacesetters title. Photo: cca.imsa.cn.

Grandmaster and Challenger in next year’s Women’s World Chess Championship match 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn). Photo: cca.imsa.cn.

International Master and Woman Grandmaster 郭琦 (Guō Qí). Photo: cca.imsa.cn.

Grandmaster 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě). Photo: cca.imsa.cn.

Slam

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě)
Women’s Grand Prix; 4th stage; 成都 (Chéngdū), July 12, 2016
Nimzo-Indian Defence E20

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 Nc6 6. d5 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Na5 8. Qd3 b6 9. Bf4. Also 9. Bg2 Ba6 10. Nd2 exd5 11. Qe3+ Qe7 12. Qxe7+ Kxe7 13. cxd5 Rae8 seems a bit more comfortable for Black, Barsov – Bologan, 28th Rapid Open, Aubervilliers 2003. 9. ... Ba6 10. dxe6 fxe6 11. Nd2 d5. 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) must already have felt some regret for her opening choice. 12. Qe3 Kf7 13. Bh3 Re8 14. Nf3 Ne4 15. Ne5+ Kg8 16. f3 Nf6 17. g4 Nd7! 18. g5 Nxe5 19. Bxe5 Nxc4. 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) cashed in a Pawn without concede any compensation. What follows is a vain ordeal by White to invent something. 20. Qf4 Qd7 21. Kf2 Rad8 22. Rad1 Nxe5 23. Qxe5 Qd6 24. Qxd6 Rxd6 25. e3 Bb5 26. Rd2 Ba4 27. Re1 Kf7 28. f4 Red8 29. Bg4 Ke7 30. h4 Be8 31. h5 h6 32. Kg3 b5 33. Rb1 Ra6 34. Be2 Ra5 35. Kf2 a6 36. Rg1 Kf8 37. Bf3 Ra3. Black aims to gain another Pawn. 38. e4. This “counterstroke” will turn out to be bad, but also other moves were probably not much better. 38. ... Rxc3 39. exd5 exd5 40. gxh6 gxh6 41. Bxd5

41. ... Bf7! A pretty refutation. Black elegantly wins her second Pawn and the game as well. 42. Rgd1 Bxh5! 43. Rh1 Bf7! 44. Rhd1 Ra3 0 : 1.

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
Photo: 樊璐璐 (Fán Lùlù)/sports.sina.com.cn

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě)
Photo: 樊璐璐 (Fán Lùlù)/sports.sina.com.cn

Waging Peace

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) – Mariya Muzychuk
Women’s Grand Prix; 4th stage; 成都 (Chéngdū), July 7, 2016
Queen’s Gambit Declined D30

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qb3 Nd7 8. e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 Qf4 10. Bd3 e5?! “A risky move that has to be followed with a precise play. [Reuben] Fine believed that 10. ... Nf6 would give an easy equality” Grandmaster Lubomir Kavalek wrote in his notes to the game Mamedyarov – Topalov, M-Tel Masters, Sofia 2007 for The Whashington Post, May 21, 2007. 11. 0-0! “Inviting Black to win a piece, but Fine knew already in 1938 that black cannot afford the reckless 11. ... f5 12. Ng3 e4 because of 13. Rfe1! Kd8! 14. Nxe4! fxe4 15. Rxe4 with a powerful attack for White. His judgment seems correct, although some recent computer games ended with mixed results”, writes Kavalek. 11. ... exd4? “[Black] neglects to develop his dark Bishop. He should have played 11. ... Be7 first and only after 12. Rfe1 exd4! as did Fine against Euwe”, writes Kavalek. 12. Nxd4 Nc5. “It is too late for 12. ... Be7 because of 13. Nf5!, and 12. ... Ne5 13. Bc2 Be7 loses to 14. g3! Qg4 15. f4 Ng6 16. f5 as in the game Tartakower – Cunillera, Barcelona 1934”, says Kavalek. 13. Nxc5 Qxd4. A novelty, but not a good one. On the other hand, the reference book wasn’t encouraging at all: 13. ... Bxc5 14. Rae1+ Kf8 15. Re4! Qf6 16. Qc3! a5 17. Rfe1 Bd7 18. R1e3 Bb4 19. Qc2 Qd6 20. Rf3 h5 21. c5! Bxc5 22. Bc4 f6 23. Ne6+ Bxe6 24. Rxe6 Qd7 25. Qf5 Qd4 26. Re4 Qd1+ 27. Bf1 Bd6 28. Rd3 Bxh2+ 29. Kxh2 Qxf1 30. Rd7 1 : 0 Mamedyarov – Topalov, M-Tel Masters, Sofia 2007. 14. Rae1+ Be7

15. Na4? 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) totally misses the point. After 15. Rxe7+! Kxe7 16. Re1+ Kd8 (both 16. ... Kf6? 17. Re4! and 16. ... Kf8? 17. Qa3! would be disastrous) 17. Nxb7+ Kc7 18. Na5 White’s dynamic compensation is nearly overwhelming. 15. ... Qd8 16. h4!? Not the most natural, but 16. Qa3 Kf8 leads nowhere. 16. ... 0-0 17. h5 Rb8 18. c5 b5 19. cxb6 axb6 20. Qc4 Bg5. If 20. ... b5 then 21. Qe4 f5 22. Qxe7 bxa4 23. Qa7 and White stands better. 21. Rd1 Qc7. Not 21. ... b5 because of 22. Qe4 g6 (22. ... f5?? loses trivially to 23. Bc4+) 23. hxg6 Qf6 24. gxf7+ Rxf7 25. Nc5 with a crushing advantage. 22. Bc2 Bf5!? A pretty tactical escamotage. After 22. ... b5 23. Qd3 f5 24. Nc5 Black stands badly. 23. Bxf5 b5 24. Qc5 bxa4 25. Bc2 Qc8. Prevents Qc5-f5. 26. Qd4 Qe6 27. Qd3 f5 28. Bxa4 Qxa2 29. b3 Kh8 30. Qc4 f4 31. Rfe1 f3 32. g3 Bd8 33. Qc3 Bf6 34. Qc5 Qb2 35. Rd3 Rfd8 36. Rxd8+ Rxd8 37. Qxc6

37. ... Qe2! Finally Muzychuk starts to show signs of herself again! 38. Qc1? 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) gets upset and goes wrong. 38. Qe4 was clearly called for. 38. ... Bg5! 39. Qb1 Be3! Fast and Furious. 40. Rxe2 fxe2 41. Qe1 Rd1 42. fxe3 Rxe1+ 43. Kf2 Rh1 44. Kxe2 Rxh5. Black is now the Exchange ahead, but a Pawn minus. 45. b4 Rg5 46. Kf3 Kg8 47. b5 Rg6 48. e4 Kf7 49. Bb3+ Ke7 50. e5 h5 51. Bd5 Rg5 52. b6 Rxe5 53. b7 Rf5+ 54. Ke4 Rf8 55. Ke5 Kd7 56. Bf7 Kc7 57. Bxh5 Kxb7 58. Ke6 Rf6+ 59. Ke7 Kc6 60. Bf7 Kc5 61. g4? It looks like a fatal mistake. Correct was 61. Kf8 g5 62. Kg7 Rf3 63. Bh5 Rxg3 64. Kg6 then “dooming” the g5-Pawn with Kg6-f5 followed by Bh5-g4. 61. ... Kd4 62. g5 Rf5 63. Bg6 Rxg5? Blunder for blunder! 63. ... Ke5! would have won elegantly and quite easily. 64. Kf7 Ke5 65. Kxg7 Ke6 66. Kh7 Kf6 67. Bc2 Rg3 68. Kh8 Kf7 69. Bb1 Rg2 70. Bd3 Rb2 71. Bc4+ Kf6 72. Bg8 Kg6 73. Bh7+ Kh6 74. Bg8 Rb7 75. Bd5 Rh7+ 76. Kg8 Rd7 77. Be6 Re7 78. Bc4 Kg6 79. Bd3+ Kf6 80. Bb1 Rc7 81. Kh8 Rc1 82. Be4 Rd1 83. Bc2 Rd2 84. Bh7 Kf7 85. Bg8+ Kf8 86. Bh7 Rb2 87. Bg8 Rb8 88. Bc4 Rb4 89. Bg8 Rg4 90. Bh7 ½ : ½.

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) – Mariya Muzychuk
Photo: qipai.org.cn

Crazy Girl

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) – Antoaneta Stefanova
Women’s Grand Prix; 4th stage; 成都 (Chéngdū), July 4, 2016
Slav Defence D15

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. a4 e6 6. g3 Bb4 7. Bg2 Nbd7 8. 0-0 0-0 9. Qc2 a5 10. Bf4 dxc4 11. e4 b6 12. Rfd1. The turning point. For 12. Rad1 Bb7 13. h4 Re8 14. Ng5 h6 15. Nf3 b5 see Javakhishvili – Stefanova, 12th European Women’s Individual Chess Championship, Tbilisi 2011. 12. ... Re8 13. h3 Bf8 14. g4 Ba6 15. g5 Nh5 16. Bh2 Qe7 17. h4 f6 18. Bh3 g6 19. gxf6 Ndxf6 20. Ne5 Qb7 21. b3 c5

22. d5!! A fantastic Pawn sacrifice by 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě), which surely deserved better luck. 22. ... exd5 23. exd5 cxb3 24. Qxb3 Bd6 25. Be6+ Kg7 26. Rab1 Rab8 27. Qb2! Qc7 28. Re1! c4!? 29. Kf1?? A move so incoherent that it’s hard to understand. No doubt it is tactically faulty. Her best was probably 29. Rbc1! with the terrible threat of Nc3-e4. 29. ... Nxd5! 30. Nxd5? From bad to worse. The lesser evil was 30. Bxd5 Rxe5! when Black will remain with exuberant compensation for the Exchange (two extra Pawns and the Bishop pair). 30... c3+ 31. Kg2? No peace for the White King! However, after 31. Kg1 cxb2 32. Nxc7 Bxc7 33. Bd7 Re7 34. Rxb2 Rd8 (or 34. ... Rf8) Black must win anyway. 31. ... Bb7! Of course Stefanova doesn't miss her chance! 32. Qb3 Rxe6 33. Kg1 0 : 1. 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) resigns without waiting for her opponent’s answer. After 33. ... Bxd5 34. Qxd5 Rbe8 Black remains with two Pawns more and a crushing advantage.

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) vs. Antoaneta Stefanova
Photo: qipai.org.cn

Pootharekulu

Humpy Koneru – 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě)
Women’s Grand Prix; 4th stage; 成都 (Chéngdū), July 3, 2016
Queen’s Gambit Declined D38

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 0-0 8. Rc1 Qd8 9. Qb3. Another try (evidently improvable on the Black’s part) is 9. a3 Be7 10. Qc2 a6 11. Bd3 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nd7 13. Ba2 Bd6 14. Bb1 g6 15. h4 with a powerful attack, Melkumyan – Lenič, 1st Austrian Bundesliga 2013/2014, Wolfsberg 2014. 9. ...Ba5 10. Bd3 c6 11. 0-0 Nd7 12. Rfd1 Qe7. 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) suggested afterwards 12. ... f5 (intending ... Qf8-f6 followed by ... g7-g5) as “a very entertaining idea”. 13. a3 Nf6 14. Qc2 Bc7 15. h3 Bd7 16. Ne5 Rad8 17. Qe2 Bc8 18. Bb1 c5 19. cxd5 exd5 20. f4 a6 21. Qf3 Rfe8 22. Ba2 cxd4. This is a questionable decision, even though maybe it’s not so bad. The strategic alternative was 22. ... c4 23. Bb1 (Koneru gives 23. b3 b5 24. Nc6 Qxa3 as a line “where Black can complicate matters”) 23. ... Qf8 in order to answer 24. g4 by 24. ... b5 with a very double-edged position. 23. exd4 Bb6 24. Bxd5. Instead, 24. Nxd5 Nxd5 25. Rxc8 Rxc8 26. Bxd5 Rf8 27. Ng6 Qf6 28. Nxf8 Bxd4+ 29. Kh1 Rxf8 does not seem to offer any significant advantage. 24. ... Be6 25. Bxb7 Rxd4 26. Kh1

26. ... Rxf4? This seems a serious error in judgment: Black sacrifices the Exchange in order to regain the Pawn (for no other material compensation), evidently overestimating the strength of her Bishop pair. 27. Qxf4 Qxb7 28. Qf3. For a refined positional player such as Koneru, it’s not too hard to convert her plusses into a win. 28. ... Qc7 29. Nd3 Qb8 30. Nf4 Bb3 31. Re1 Rd8 32. Ne4 Nxe4 33. Rxe4 Ba5 34. Re3 Ba4 35. b4 Bb6 36. Rd3 Re8 37. Nd5 Bb5 38. Rd2 Bd8 39. Rf2 Bh4? The last mistake, by now in desperate position. After 39. ... Rf8 40. Rfc2 White would have won more prosaically, if anything else. 40. Qxf7+ Kh8 41. Rc7. Black could well resign here. 41. ... Re1+. Or 41. ... Rg8 42. Nf6 and wins. 42. Kh2 Be7 43. g3 Be8 44. Qf4 1 : 0.

Humpy Koneru vs. 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě)
Photo: qipai.org.cn

In the Shadow of the Crown

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) – Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
Women’s Grand Prix; third stage; Batumi, May 2, 2016
Larsen’s Opening A01

1. b3 d5 2. Bb2 c5 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bb5 Qb6 6. Na3. This is a very dubious idea since White’s “bulk” development on the Queenside is of any use in respect to her aggressive intentions on the Kingside. For 6. Bxc6+ Qxc6 7. d3 g6 8. Nbd2 Bg7 9. Qe2 0-0 see Nimzowitsch – Kashdan, Frankfurt am Main 1930. 6. ... a6 7. Ba4 e6 8. 0-0 Be7 9. Ne5 0-0 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. c4 a5 12. Qc2 Ne8 13. f4 f6 14. Nd3 Ba6 15. Rf3 a4 16. Rh3. With the “threat” of Nd3-e5 which, however, Black parries very easily, consolidating her superiority. 16. ... g6 17. Nc1 Nd6 18. d3 Bc8 19. Rf3 axb3 20. axb3. If 20. Nxb3 there might follow 20. ... e5 and Black stands better. 20. ... Nf7 21. Rf1 Bd7 22. Nb1. White’s convolute play on the Queenside undoubtedly constitutes the sad leitmotiv in today’s drama of 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě). 22. ... Rxa1 23. Bxa1 e5. Kosteniuk would never have dreamt of starting over the game from such a position. 24. Nc3 Be6 25. Na4 Qa7! The most inspired move of the whole game. Kosteniuk is preparing for the assault. 26. Bb2 Bd6 27. Ne2 d4 28. fxe5 Nxe5 29. exd4? The last true mistake. 29. h3 was the lesser evil, although after 29. ... dxe3 30. d4 cxd4 31. Bxd4 Qb8 32. Bxe3 Bf5 Black keeps the upper hand.

29. ... Ng4! 30. Nf4 Bf5 31. Rf3 cxd4 32. c5 Re8! Kosteniuk concludes the attack with a series of brilliant blows. 33. Qc1 Qa5 34. Rf1 Be5 35. Qc4+ Kg7 36. Bxd4 Qd2! 37. h3 Bxf4 38. hxg4 Re1 39. gxf5 Be3+ 40. Kh2 Rxf1 41. Bxf6+ Kxf6 42. Qe6+ Kg5 43. Qe7+ Kg4 0 : 1. For if 44. Qe4+ then 44. ... Bf4+ and mate in two moves. So far Women’s Grand Prix circuit never brought Alexandra Konstantinovna any luck, but in Batumi, after a bad start, she was able to turn the tables. Maybe it is only the beginning.

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk
Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě)
Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

盲點

Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina – 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě)
Women’s Grand Prix; third stage; Batumi, May 1, 2016
Bogo-Indian Defence E11

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 c5 5. Bxb4 cxb4 6. g3 0-0 7. Bg2 d6 8. 0-0 Qb6 9. Qd3!? For 9. a3 Nc6 10. axb4 Qxb4 11. b3 e5 12. d5 Nb8 13. Ne1 see Shimanov – Fluviá Poyatos, Spanish Team Chess Championship Honour Division, León 2012. 9. ... Rd8 10. Nbd2 e5 11. Ne4 Nbd7 12. Rad1 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Re8 14. Qc2 h6 15. dxe5 dxe5 16. Rd5 e4!?? With her typical style, 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) plays on the razor’s edge and doesn’t hesitate to offer quite a controversial Pawn sacrifice. 17. Nd4 Nf6 18. Rb5. The Knight sacrifice is mere appearance, for after 18. ... Qxd4?? 19. Rd1 Her Majesty would be trapped. 18. ... Qc7. This is the consistent corollary of her previous 16. ... e4. In fact, if 18. ... Qd6 19. Rd1 Qe7 then 20. c5 a5 21. c6! with very pleasant perspectives for White. 19. Rxb4 Bd7 20. c5 Rac8 21. Rc1 a5 22. Rc4. Not 22. Rb6? Re5 and the c-Pawn falls. 22. ... b5! 23. cxb6 Qxb6 24. Qb3

24. ... Qxd4! 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě)’s Queen sacrifice for Rook and Knight is undoubtedly her best practical chance since now all three outcomes are possible! 25. Rxd4 Rxc1+ 26. Bf1 Rec8. 26. ... Bh3? is met by 27. Rd1 winning instantly. 27. Kg2. Clearly not 27. Rd1?? on account of 27. ... a4 and Black wins. 27. ... Re1?? 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) is just getting too excited and chases a mirage – the text threatens ... Rc8-c1, but she overlooked a detail of some importance. Europe Échecs’ editor-in-chief Grandmaster Bachar Kouatly recommends: “First, she should have attacked the Queen by 27. ... Be6 for not leaving her own Bishop undefended, and after 28. Qb7 Rb1! in order to take on b2 at the end of the variation: 29. Qxc8+ Bxc8 30. Rd8+ Kh7 31. Rxc8 Rxb2 with equality”. 28. Rxd7! A very easy refutation. 28. ... Nxd7 29. Qb7 Nb6. 29. ... Rcc1 30. Qxd7 Rxf1 31. Qe8+ Kh7 32. Qxe4+ g6 33. Qe7 makes no difference as White will equally win the a5-Pawn, getting two (deadly) united passed Pawns. 30. Qxb6 Rcc1 31. Qxa5 1 : 0.

Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina vs. 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě)
Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Run to Earth

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě)
Women’s Grand Prix; third stage; Batumi, April 28, 2016
Giuoco Piano C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 Bb6 6. a4 d6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 a6 9. Nbd2 Be6 10. b4 Ne7!? Another try is 10. ... 0-0 11. 0-0 Qe7 12. Re1 Ba7 13. a5 Nb8 14. d4 Nbd7 15. h3 c6 16. Qb3 Rfe8 17. Rad1 g5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Nxe5 dxe5 20. Bg3 Rad8 21. Bxe6 Qxe6 22. Qxe6 Rxe6 23. Nc4 Rxd1 24. Rxd1 Nxe4 25. Rd8+ Kh7 26. Rd7 Nxg3 27. Rxf7+ Kg6 28. Rxb7 Bxf2+ 29. Kxf2 Ne4+ 30. Ke1 Nxc3 31. Rb6 Nd5 32. Rxa6 Kf5 33. Ra8 Nxb4 34. a6 Re7 35. a7 Ke6 36. Na5 c5 37. Nb7 Nc6 38. Nxc5+ Kd5 39. Rd8+ Nxd8 40. a8=Q+ Nc6 41. Nb7 e4 42. Qa6 1 : 0 韦奕 (Wéi Yì) – 周唯奇 (Zhōu Wéiqí), Chinese Team Chess Championship (Division A), 江门 (Jiāngmén) 2014. 11. Qb3 Qd7 12. d4 exd4 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Nxd4 Bxd4 15. cxd4 d5 16. exd5 Bxd5 17. 0-0 Rg8 18. g3 0-0-0. 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) aims for a sharp game with opposite castling. 19. b5 a5

20. Rac1. The choice between this and the most direct 20. b6! was not easy. 20. ... b6 21. Rfe1 Qh3 22. Bxd5 Nxd5 23. Nc4 Qg4 24. Qc2 Qd7 25. Ne3 Rge8 26. Qc6 Qxc6 27. Rxc6. Europe Échecs’ editor-in-chief Grandmaster Bachar Kouatly writes: “The game is equal and would have remained thus if 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) had played 27. ... Nxe3 28. Rxe3 Re6!. Instead, due to serious Zeitnot, she blundered with:” 27. ... Nb4? Kouatly: “which eventually costed her a Pawn after:” 28. Rxf6 Rxd4 29. Rxf7 Nd3 30. Rd1! Kouatly: “Anna Muzychuk then transposed into an absolutely won Knight ending with an extra Pawn, ending up with two connected passed Pawns on the Kingside”. 30. ... Ne5 31. Rxd4 Nxf7 32. g4 Re6 33. Nf5 c5 34. bxc6 Ne5 35. Kg2 Nxc6 36. Rd6 Rxd6 37. Nxd6+ Kc7 38. Nb5+ Kd7 39. f4 Ke6 40. Kf3 Nb4 41. h4 Nd3 42. Nc7+ Kd6 43. g5 hxg5 44. hxg5 Nb4 45. Nb5+ Kd5 46. Kg4 1 : 0.

From left: Anastasiya Valeryevna Karlovich, Anna Olehivna Muzychuk, and 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) sharing their impressions after the game. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.

The Resurgence of the Hypermodern

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) – Bela Khotenashvili
Women’s Grand Prix; third stage; Batumi, April 27, 2016
English Opening A30

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. h4!? Nf6 4. b3 Bg7. For 4. ... d6 5. Bb2 e5 6. e3 Bg4 7. Be2 Bg7 8. d3 Nc6 9. Nbd2 0-0 10. a3 Re8 11. Qc2 Rc8 12. 0-0 Nh5 13. Rfe1 f5 see Bosboom – Iturrizaga Bonelli, 71st Corus Chess Tournament (C-Group), Wijk aan Zee 2009. 5. Bb2 h5. 5. ... d6 6. e3 0-0 7. Be2 Nc6 8. d3 e6 9. Nbd2 b6 10. Qc2 Bb7 transposes into M. I. Ivanov – Ljavdansky, White Nights Open, Saint Petersburg 1998 6. Nc3 d6 7. e3 Nc6 8. Be2 0-0 9. Ng5 a6 10. 0-0 Rb8 11. Rc1 Bf5 12. Ba1 Qa5 13. a4 Nb4 14. d3 Bd7 15. d4 cxd4 16. Qxd4 Bc6 17. Qd2 Qf5?? This is indeed a very bad mistake. Kotenashvili should have contented herself with 17. ... b6 18. e4 reducing her opponent’s edge to acceptable levels. 18. e4 Qd7 19. Nd5! Now Black is doomed to sad failure. 19. ... a5. If 19. ... Bxd5 then 20. cxd5 a5 21. Bd4 with crushing threats. 20. Nxb4 axb4 21. f3 Ne8 22. Bxg7 Nxg7 23. Qxb4. 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) stands a Pawn to the good and has an overwhelming advantage as well. 23. ... f6 24. Nh3 Ne6 25. Qd2 Kg7 26. Qe3 Qc7 27. f4 Qa5

28. c5! Nxc5. Also 28. ... dxc5 is met by 29. f5 Nd4 30. Nf4 and wins. 29. f5 Bxe4 30. Qg3 Bxf5 31. Rxf5 Ne4. Or 31. ... Qd2 32. Nf4 and wins. 32. Qxg6+ Kxg6 33. Rxa5 Nc5 34. Nf4+ Kh6 35. b4 b6 36. Rb5 1 : 0.

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě)
Photo: Anastasiya Valeryevna Karlovich

Stepping Out

Mariya Muzychuk – 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě)
Women’s Grand Prix; third stage; Batumi, April 23, 2016
Italian Game C54

1. e4. Starting over from the beginning. 1. ... e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxd2+ 8. Nbxd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. 0-0 0-0 11. Rc1. An old try is 11. Re1 Nf4!? 12. Ne4? Bg4! 13. Qd2! Nh3+! 14. gxh3 Bxf3 15. d5! Ne5 16. Qf4! (Dubois – Steinitz, London 1862, match game 5) and now 11th World Chess Champion Robert James Fischer recommends 16. ... Nxc4 17. Qxf3 Nd6 with equality. 11. ... Nf6!? There is nothing wrong with it, but 11. ... Nb6 12. Bb3 Bg4 appears to be strategically more consistent, Minić – L. Portisch, Zonal Tournament, Halle 1967. 12. Qa4 Ne7 13. Ne5 c6 14. Qb3 Ned5 15. Rfe1. The alternative 15. Qf3 Nb6 doesn’t worry Black at all, Heimann – Moor, 16th Neckar Open, Deizisau 2012. 15. ... Qb6 16. Qxb6 axb6 17. f3 Ra4

18. Ne4. Mariya offers a (temporary) positional Pawn sacrifice to keep Black bottled up. 18. ... b5 19. Bb3 Rxd4 20. Nd6 Rd2 21. Rcd1 Rxd1 22. Rxd1 h5 23. h4. White insists in capitalizing on her slight dynamic advantage as recovering the Pawn by 22. Nxb5 Re8 would lead to a more or less equal position. 22. ... h5 23. h4 g6 24. Rd4. Intending g2-g4-g5 followed by a Knight sacrifice on f7. 24. ... Kg7 25. g4 hxg4 26. fxg4 c5. That’s the saving clause and, of course, 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) didn’t miss it. Now there follows a massive liquidation leading to a draw. 27. Rxd5 Nxd5 28. Bxd5 f6 29. Nef7 Bxg4 30. Nxb7 Rxf7 31. Bxf7 Kxf7 32. Nxc5 Ke7 33. a4 Kd6 34. b4 bxa4 35. Nxa4 g5 ½ : ½.

Mariya Muzychuk (R.) vs. 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) (L.)
Photo: Anastasiya Valeryevna Karlovich

Luau

Olga Alexandrovna Girya – 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě)
Women’s Grand Prix; third stage; Batumi, April 21, 2016
Nimzo-Indian Defence E32

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d6 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Nbd7 7. f3 e5 8. e4 c5!? 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Ne2 a5 11. Be3 Qe7 12. g4 Nb8 13. Ng3 0-0 14. 0-0-0 Nc6 15. g5 Ne8 16. Rd5 b6 17. f4 Nc7 18. Bg2 exf4 19. Bxf4 Nd4

20. Rxd4! White finally succeeds in sacrificing the Exchange. 20. ... cxd4 21. Qxd4 Ne6 22. Nf5 Qc5 23. Qxc5 bxc5 24. Bd6 Rd8? After 24. ... Re8 White seems to have nothing better than 25. Ne7+ Kh8 26. e5 Ra7 27. Nc6 Ra6 28. Ne7 offering a draw by repetition. 25. Ne7+ Kh8 26. e5. The difference is clear: now Black must give back the Exchange 26. ... Ba6 27. Bxa8 Rxa8 28. h4 Bxc4 29. Kd2. In spite of material equality, White’s ending is certainly more pleasant. 29. ... Bb5 30. Ke3 Ra7 31. Rc1 Rb7. 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) falls into a tactical mirage, apparently oblivious of the weakness of her own back rank. 32. Bxc5 Ba6 33. b4 h6. Not 33. ... Nxc5? 34. Nd5 and wins. 34. gxh6 Nxc5 35. hxg7+ Kxg7 36. Nf5+ Kg6 37. Nd6 Nb3 38. Rc6. Even stronger would seem 38. Rg1+ followed by Nd6xb7. 38. ... Re7 39. Rxa6 Rxe5+ 40. Kf4 Re6 41. bxa5 Nxa5 42. h5+ Kh7 43. Rxa5 Rxd6 44. Ke4 Kh6 45. a4 Rd1 46. Rf5 Kg7 47. a5 Rd2 48. Rd5 Rf2 49. a6 Re2+. This loses a valuable tempo, but the immediate 49. ... Ra2 50. Rd6 is hardly better; for instance: 50. ... Ra4+ 51. Ke5 Ra5+ 52. Kd4 Rxh5? (52. ... f6 53. Kc4 leaves scarce hope anyway) 53. Rd5! winning easily. 50. Kd4 Ra2 51. Rd6 Ra5 52. h6+ Kh7 53. Rf6 Kg8 54. Kc4 Kf8 55. Kb4 Ra1 56. h7 Kg7 57. Rxf7+ Kh8 58. Rf6 Kxh7 59. Kb5 Kg7 60. Rf4 Kg6 61. Ra4 Rb1+ 62. Rb4 Ra1 63. Kb6 Rf1 64. a7 1 : 0.

Olga Alexandrovna Girya vs. 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě)
Photo: Anastasiya Valeryevna Karlovich

Meditation

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) – Natalia Oleksandrivna Zhukova
Women’s Grand Prix 2015–2016; 2nd stage; Tehran, February 14, 2016
Queen’s Gambit Declined D12

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. b3 Bg4 4. d4 Nf6 5. e3 e6 6. Nbd2 Ne4. For 6. ... Nbd7 7. Bb2 a5 8. Bd3 a4 9. 0-0 see Karpov – Prie, European Blitz Championship, Ajaccio 2007. 7. h3 Bxf3 8. gxf3 Nxd2 9. Bxd2 Bd6 10. Rg1 0-0 11. f4 f5. Zhukova transposes her Queen’s Gambit Declined into a Dutch Stonewall. 12. Qc2 a5 13. a3 Nd7 14. Bc3 Qe7 15. Bb2 Nf6 16. Bd3 Rfc8 17. Qe2 Rf8 18. Qf3 Rf7 19. Ke2 Qd8 20. Bc3 Bf8 21. Rgc1 Qb6. Black undoubtedly got a satisfactory game. 22. Rcb1 Ne4 23. Be1 c5 24. cxd5 exd5 25. dxc5 Bxc5. Taking with the Knight was interesting as well and possibly stronger. 26. b4 axb4 27. axb4 Rxa1 28. Rxa1 Bf8 29. Ra5 Qe6 30. Kf1 Rc7. With the deadly threat of ... Rc7-c1. 31. Qd1 h6 32. Bc2 b6? A serious mistake, which exposes the Black Queen and King to be skewered by White’s Bishop. The immediate 32. ... Kh7 was called for, in order to answer 33. Bb3 by 33. ... Nf6.

33. Bb3! Kh7. Not 33. ... Nf6 34. Rxd5! and wins. 34. Rxd5 Qf6 35. Re5 Qh4 36. Qf3? To parry the threat of ... Bf8xb4, but much stronger was 36. Kg2! and if 36. ... Bxb4 then 37. Rxf5 Bxe1 38. Qxe1 retaining excellent winning chances. 36. ... Rc1?? A grave blunder which allows White a mating “White Square Symphony”. Zhukova should have played 36. ... g6 37. Kg2 Qd8 keeping cool. 37. Rxe4! fxe4 38. Qxe4+ Kh8 39. Qe6 Rxe1+ 40. Kg2 Kh7 41. Qf5+ Kh8 42. Qxf8+ Kh7 43. Bg8+ 1 : 0.

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) vs. Natalia Oleksandrivna Zhukova. Photo: Alina l’Ami.

鹊华秋色

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) – Nino Batsiashvili
Women’s Grand Prix Series 2015-2016; Tehran, February 13, 2016
Queen’s Gambit Accepted D24

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bxc4 Nxe4 7. 0-0 Nxc3 8. bxc3 Bd6 9. Ng5 h6 10. Qh5 0-0 11. Ne4 Nd7 12. Bxh6 gxh6 13. Qxh6 Re8 14. Qh5. Not 14. Rae1? Bf8 and White’s attack vanishes, Mamedyarov – Morozevich, World Blitz Championship, Moscow 2009. 14. ... Nf8? A fatal mistake of judgement. Correct was 14. ... Kg7 15. Qg4+ Kf8 16. Qh5 Kg7 aiming for a draw by repetition. 15. f4! Ng6 16. f5 Qh4. Not 16. ... exf5?? 17. Qxg6+ and wins. 17. Qxh4 Nxh4 18. Nf6+ Kf8 19. Nxe8 Kxe8 20. Rae1 Be7 21. fxe6 fxe6 22. d5!? Of course 22. Bxe6 was also good, but 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) aims for the domination of the Black Knight. 22. ... exd5 23. Bd3 Bd7 24. Rf4 Kd8 25. g3 Bh3 26. gxh4 Kd7 27. Rf7. Black could well resign here. 27. ... Re8 28. h5 Be6 29. Rg7 Rf8 30. h6 Kd6 31. h7 Bf6 32. Rg6 Be5 33. Bf5 Rxf5 34. Rxe6+! 1 : 0. For if 34. ... Kxe6 there follows 35. h8=Q.

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) vs. Nino Batsiashvili
Photo: Alina l’Ami

The Garden of Forking Paths

Mariya Muzychuk – 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě)
40th Women’s Chess Olympiad; Istanbul, August 30, 2012
Four Knights Game C47

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8. exd5 cxd5 9. 0-0 0-0 10. h3 Re8 11. Qf3 c6 12. Bf4 Be6 13. Ne2 Bd6 14. Rfe1 c5 15. Rad1 Qb6. For 15. ... h6 16. b3 a5 17. Ng3 Bxf4 18. Qxf4 Qb8 19. Qf3 see Nepomniachtchi – Smirnov, Siberian Bank Cup, Novosibirsk 2012. 16. Bxd6 Qxd6 17. Nf4 Rab8 18. b3 Qb6 19. Re5 Qd6

20. Rg5. This move – in the style of the great Emanuel Lasker – is at least consistent with the previous Rook lift. 20. ... Rbd8? Black is fatally oblivious to the impending danger. Instead, the critical line seems to be 20. ... h6! 21. Rxg7+!? Kxg7 22. Qg3+ Bg4! (Miss Tactics may well have overlooked this interference) with a very unclear position. 21. Qg3. Now Black is in very bad trouble. 21. ... Qf8. If 21. ... g6 then 22. Bxg6! hxg6 23. Rxg6+ fxg6 24. Qxg6+ Kf8 (idem to say 24. ... Kh8) 25. Qxf6+ Kg8 (else 25. ... Bf7 26. Ng6+ Kg8 27. Qh8 mate) 26. Rd3 with a deadly attack. 22. Nh5 Nxh5 23. Bxh7+ Kh8. Not 23. ... Kxh7 24. Rxh5+ Kg8 25. Qh4 f6 26. Rh8+ and White wins the Queen. 24. Rxh5. The threat is 25. Be4+ Kg8 26. Rh8+ Kxh8 27. Qh4+ Kg8 28. Qh7 mate. 24. ... Qe7 25. Be4+. White is content with what she gets, coming out two Pawns to the good. 25. ... Kg8 26. Bxd5 Qf6 27. c4 Bf5 28. Qg5 Bg6 29. Qxf6 gxf6 30. Rh4 Rd6?? This is a flagrant blunder, but also against other moves White would win, anyway, in the long run. 31. Bxf7+ 1 : 0.

Mariya Muzychuk
Photo: ChessBase GmbH

Replay

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) – Natalia Andreevna Pogonina

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

Benkö Counter-Gambit A58

“In the first game she once again allowed me to play the Benkö gambit and went for a sideline, which gave me a good game”, then Natalia Andreevna Pogonina said. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. g3 0-0 8. Bg2 d6 9. Nf3 Nxa6 10. 0-0 Qb6 11. Nd2. “If I decided to repeat the Benkö in her shoes, I would play the most principled lines. I guess she thought I used the gambit only as a one-time desperate attempt, and did not even prepare for it for today” Pogonina said. Yesterday 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) preferred 11. Re1. 11. ... Nc7 12. Nc4 Qb4 13. Ne3 Ba6 14. Rb1 Nb5 15. Bd2 Nd4 16. Re1 Rfb8 17. b3 Nd7 18. Qc1 Qb7 19. Nc4 Ne5 20. Nxe5 Bxe5 21. e3 Nb5 22. Nd1 Bg7 23. a4 Nc7 24. Bc3. “Very quickly Pogonina got a nice position, but at one point White could have escaped, by playing 24. b4 instead of 24. Bc3”, Grandmaster Evgeny Miroshnichenko writes. 24. ... Bxc3 25. Nxc3 Bd3 26. Rb2 Qb4 27. Rd1 Ba6 28. Rdd2 Ra7 29. Na2 Qa3 30. Qc2 Rab7 31. Nc1 Qb4 32. Ra2 Qa5 33. Qd1 Rb4 34. h4 h5 35. Kh2 Ne8! Natalia Andreevna repositions the Knight to more effective squares. 36. e4 Nf6 37. f3 c4! Black breaks – ans cracks – White’s Queenside. 38. bxc4 Bxc4 39. Ra1 Rb2 40. Rxb2 Rxb2

41. Qd4? White’s position was bad and perhaps lost in any case, but the text move makes matters much worse. After 41. Nd3 Rd2 42. Qe1 Bxd3 43. Rd1 Rxg2+ 44. Kxg2 Qa6 Black stands better, but the game it’s not over yet. 41. ... Rc2! The end is inevitable. 42. Qe3 Qb4 43. Nd3 Bxd3 44. Qxd3 Rxg2+ 45. Kxg2 Qb2+ 46. Kh3 Qxa1 47. Kg2 Qxa4 48. Qc3 Qa2+ 49. Kh3 Qf2 0 : 1.

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina
Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

赵雪：加油！

Natalia Andreevna Pogonina – 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě)
Women’s World Chess Championship; Krasnaya Polyana, March 26, 2015
Catalan Opening E06

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bg2 0-0 6. 0-0 dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Nc3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 c6 14. e3 a5 15. Qb3. For 15. h4 see Markus – Cornette, 17th European Team Chess Championship, Novi Sad 2009. And for 15. b4 axb4 16. Qxb4 Ra7 see Akopian – Ganguly, 8th World Team Chess Championship, 宁波 (Níngbō) 2011. 15. ... Qc7 16. Rac1 Ra6 17. Rfd1 Rd8 18. Bg2 Qb6 19. Qa2 Ra8 20. Ne4 Be7 21. Nd2 Nd7 22. h4 Bb4 23. Ne4 Nf6 24. Nxf6+ gxf6 25. Qc4 Bf8 26. Qe2 Rd7 27. Rc4 Rad8 28. Rdc1 Bg7 29. g4 e5. “Regarding the [...] game, I am completely at a loss. The game was peacefully proceeding to a draw. Then [Natalia Andreevna] overlooked 29. ... е5 – this move looks anti-positional, but White must continue with caution. Intuitively, such positions should clearly be played with Queens on the board, because you always have a chance to give the perpetual regardless on your material losses”, Grandmaster Evgeny Miroshnichenko said. 30. dxe5 Rd2 31. Qf3 fxe5 32. R1c2 Qb3 33. Qe4 Rxc2 34. Rxc2 Rd3 35. Qc4 Qxc4 36. Rxc4 Bf8 37. Rc3 Rd2 38. Rb3 Bb4 39. Be4 Rd1+ 40. Kg2 Ra1 41. Rd3 Rxa4 42. Kf3 Bf8 43. Rb3 Bb4 44. Rd3 Ra2 45. Rd7 b6 46. b3 Be1 47. Bxc6 Rxf2+ 48. Ke4 Rf6 49. Bd5 Bxh4 50. Kxe5 Kg7 51. Ke4 Bg3 52. Bc4 Kg6 53. Rd5 Bd6 54. Rf5? Pogonina is too hasty to change Rooks and seek salvation in an ending with Bishops of opposite colours. She grossly underestimated the strength of the passed h6-Pawn. White should have just shuffled her Rook along the fifth rank. Alternatively, 54. Kd3 was worth considering. “After White exchanged the Rooks on f5, her defensive task became much harder. If there was a draw, it would take a chess composer to find it”, Miroshnichenko said. 54. ... Rxf5 55. gxf5+ Kf6 56. Kd5 Bc5

57. e4?! Probably the final error. Now Black is helpless. She should have played 57. Ke4 heading to f3. 57. ... Kg5 58. Bd3 h5 59. e5 Kf4 60. e6 fxe6+ 61. fxe6 h4 62. Kc6 h3 63. Bc4 h2 64. Bd5 Ke3 65. Kd7 Kf2 66. e7 Bxe7 67. Kxe7 b5 68. Kd6 a4 0 : 1.

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě)
Photo: Anastasiya Karlovich

赵雪：加油！

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) – Bela Khotenashvili
Women’s World Chess Championship; Krasnaya Polyana, March 23, 2015
Queen’s Gambit Declined D37

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bf4 0-0 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Qc2 c5 8. Rd1 cxd4 9. exd4 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nb6 11. Bb3 Nbd5 12. Be5. For 12. Bg5 b6 13. 0-0 Bb7 see Caoili – Mkrtchian, 35th Women’s Chess Olympiad, Bled 2002. 12. ... h6. A superfluous prophylaxis, as White wasn’t threatening Nf3-g5. Just keep developing by 12. ... b6 or 12. ... Bd7 was called for. 13. 0-0 b6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Ne5 Qd6 17. Rfe1 Be6 18. Qd3 Bxe5 19. Rxe5 Rfe8 20. Ba4 Bd7 21. Bc2 g6 22. Qe3 Rxe5 23. dxe5 Qe6 24. h3 Rc8 25. Bb3 Rc5 26. Qd4 Bc6 27. a3 a5 28. Ba2 a4 29. Kh2 Qf5 30. Bb1 Qe6 31. Re1 Bb5 32. Qd2 Kg7 33. f4 Rc4 34. Qf2 Bd7 35. Bd3 Rc5 36. Qg3 Kf8 37. Qh4 Kg7 38. Re3 d4? The losing move! Anyway, after the comparatively best 38. ... Rc8 39. g4 White retains a very powerful bind.

39. f5! gxf5. On 39. ... Qe8 40. Qxd4 wins, whereas if 39. ... Qc6 there follows 40. f6+ Kh7 41. Bxg6+! fxg6 42. f7 winning. 40. Qxd4? White misses an easy continuation leading to an immediate win: 40. Rg3+! Kf8 (else 40. ... Kh7 41. Qg4! Qg6 42. Qxd4 and wins) 41. Bxf5! Qxf5 42. Qd8+ Be8 43. Qd6 mate. 40. ... Rd5 41. Qf4 Rc5? Relatively best was 41. ... Qc6, although after 42. Rg3+ Kf8 43. Bc4 Rc5 44. Ba2 White maintains her dominating position. 42. Rg3+ Kh7. Or 42. ... Kf8 43. Bxf5!+- Δ 43. ... Qxf5?? 44. Qxh6+ Ke7 45. Qd6+ Re8 46. Rg8 mate. 43. Qg4! Qg6 44. Qd4 Qe6 45. Bxf5+! Qxf5 46. e6! Qe5 47. Qd3+ 1 : 0. A well played game by 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě). She is the only Chinese player left.

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) vs. Bela Khotenashvili
Photo: Anastasiya Karlovich

Großmeister-Remis

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) – David Wei Liang Howell
New Zealand Open; Devonport, January 4, 2015
Grünfeld Defence D71

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 d5 5. e3 Bg7 6. Ne2 0-0 7. 0-0 a5. For 7. ... b6 8. b3 a5 9. Nf4 Ba6 see Topalov – Kamsky, Thessaloníki 2013. 8. cxd5 cxd5 9. Nbc3 e6 10. b3 Bd7 11. Ba3 Re8 12. Qd3 Na6 13. Rfc1 Nb4 14. Qd2 Bc6 15. Nf4 e5! 16. Nfe2. If 16. dxe5 then 16. ... Ne4 regaining the Pawn with interest. 16. ... e4

17. Rd1! Making room for the Knight. 17. ... Qd7 18. Nc1 Bf8 19. Bb2 Rec8 20. a3 Na6 21. f3 exf3 22. Bxf3 Bh6 23. Nd3 Ng4 24. Nf4 Nf6 25. Nd3 Ng4 26. Nf4 Nf6 27. Nd3 ½ : ½.

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě)

红旗

北京 (Beijīng), December 17, 2014. Prizes, medals and awards. From the left: Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě). Photos: sports.sina.com.cn.

Photo: World Mind Games