Thinky Thoughts

朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 14, 2026
5rk1/2p3p1/2Nqb1Pp/1P2R3/2PP4/p4P2/Q4K2/8 b - - 7 51

Position after 51. Re4-e5

With her last move, 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr), who wanted to win at all costs, went seriously overboard, and Goryachkina didn’t let the opportunity slip away.
51. ... Kh8! A brilliant example of attacking prophylaxis, in the best style of Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov. Now Black actually threatens ... Be6-g4, with no longer fear of a check after c4-c5.
52. Ke3. Suddenly the White King finds itself in a sea of trouble. Needless to say, the text is not a good one, but 52. Kg2 Rf6! is not cheerful either.
52. ... Bd7! 53. Re4 Bxc6 54. bxc6 Qg3 55. Qf2 Qxg6 56. d5 Qf6 57. Qe2

57. ... a2! 0–1. For if 58. Qxa2 then 58. ... Qc3+! 59. Ke2 Qxf3+ winning the Rook.

It is always too late — when one understands that half a point is better than none. Photo: Michał Walusza/FIDE.

朱锦尔来了！

Rameshbabu Vaishali – 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr)
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 12, 2026
4kn1Q/1q2bp2/p3p1r1/3nP3/P2B3p/1p3N2/5PP1/1RN4K b - - 1 36

Position after 36. Ne2-c1

White’ last move was a bad mistake, as it allows her opponent to unleash a killer attack:
36. ... h3! 37. Nxb3 (37. Qxh3 Nf4−+)
37. ... hxg2+ 38. Kh2 (38. Kg1 Nf4−+)
38. ... g1=Q+! 39. Nxg1 Nc3! 0–1.

朱锦尔来了！ Photo: Niki Riga/FIDE.

At Sea

朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) – Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 8, 2026
English Opening A13

1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. b3 c5 4. Bb2 e6 5. Be2 Nc6 6. 0-0 Bd6 7. d4 b6 8. c4 Bb7 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Nc3 0-0 11. Rc1 Re8 12. exd4 12. Nb5 Bf8 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Bd3 Ne5 16. Re1 Qd7 17. Nc3 Qg4 18. Nxe5 Qxd1 19. Rexd1 fxe5 20. e4 dxe4 21. Bxe4 Bxe4 22. Nxe4 Red8 23. Kf1

23. ... Rxd1+? The decisive mistake, which loses a Pawn and the game. After 23. ... Rd4! 24. Re1 Rc8 Black appears to hold her own in the endgame.
24. Rxd1 a5 25. Rd5 a4 26. Rxe5 axb3 27. axb3 Rb8 28. Rg5+ Kh8 29. Rg3 h6 30. Ke2 Rb4 31. Nd2 Bd6 32. Rd3 Be5 33. Nc4 Bg7 34. Nd6 Kg8 35. Rg3 Kh7 36. Nxf7 Rb6 37. f4 Re6+ 38. Re3 Rf6 39. Nd8 Rxf4 40. Re7 Rb4 41. Ne6 Kg6. Desperation, but 41. ... Rg4 42. Rxg7+! Rxg7 43. Nxg7 Kxg7 44. Kd3 is an elementary win for White.
42. Nxg7 Rxb3 43. Ne8 c4 44. Rg7+ Kf5 45. Nd6+ Kf6 46. Rc7 1–0.

朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) took advantage with an irreproachable technique of the only major mistake Lagno made in the endgame. Photo: Michał Walusza/FIDE.

Forma mentis

“The one disadvantage of the catenaccio is that with its ultradefensive mentality, the game can degenerate into an incredibly boring game, particularly if both teams employ the same system”. Jaime Orejan, Football/Soccer. History and Tactics, McFarland & Company, Inc., Jefferson, North Carolina, United States, 2011, p. 106.

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr)
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 5, 2026
Spanish Game C80

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Nxe4 6. d4 Be7 7. Re1 b5 8. Rxe4 d5 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. Rxe5 bxa4 11. b3 0-0 12. Ba3 Bxa3 13. Nxa3 Re8 14. Rxe8+ Qxe8 15. Nb1 Qc6 16. Qd2 axb3 17. cxb3 Bd7 18. Nc3 Re8 19. h3 h6 20. Re1 Rxe1+ 21. Qxe1 Qd6 22. Qe3 (22. Qd2 a5 23. Ne2 Qa3 24. Nf4 c6 25. Nd3 Bf5 26. Ne5 c5 27. dxc5 Qxc5 28. Nf3 Be4 29. Nd4 Bb1 30. Qb2 Qb4 31. Nf3 Be4 32. a3 Qe7 33. Nd4 Qg5 34. f3 Qe3+ 35. Kh2 Bg6 36. b4 Qe5+ 37. g3 axb4 38. axb4 Bd3 39. Qf2 Qe8 40. Qd2 Bc4 41. Kg2 h5 42. h4 Qb8 43. Kf2 Qb6 44. Kg2 Qb8 45. Kf2 Qb6 46. Kg2 ½–½ McShane – L. Costa, 51st Schachbundesliga, Deizisau 2025)
22. ... a5 23. h4 Kh8 24. Ne2 Qa3 25. Qd2 c5 26. dxc5 Qxc5 27. Nd4 Kg8 28. Kh2 Qd6+ 29. g3 Qc5 30. Kg2 Kh8 31. f3 Kg8 32. g4 Qc7 33. Qe3 Qd6 34. g5 hxg5 35. hxg5 g6 36. Ne2 Bb5 37. Nc3 Bc6 38. Qb6 Qd7 39. Ne2 Qe7 40. Kf2 Be8

41. Qe3 Kf8 42. Nf4 Bc6 43. Nd3 d4 44. Qf4 Bb5 45. Ne5 Kg8 46. Qf6 Qc7 47. Ng4 d3 48. Qd4 Kf8 49. a4 Bd7 50. Qh8+ Ke7 51. Qf6+ Kf8 52. Qh8+ Ke7 53. Qe5+ Kd8 54. Qxc7+ Kxc7 55. Ne5 Be6 56. Nc4 Kc6 57. Nxa5+ Kc5 58. Nc4 Kb4 59. Nd2 Bxb3 60. a5 Bd5 61. a6 Kc3 62. Ke3 Ba8 63. a7 Kc2 64. Ne4 Bc6 65. f4 Ba8 66. Nd2 Bc6 67. Nc4 Ba8 68. Nd2 Bc6 69. Nf1 Ba8 70. Nd2 ½–½.

So far, Goryachkina drew seven games out of seven — something for her (and her mentors) to think about. Photo: Yoav Nis (Eugene Nisenbaum)/FIDE.

Raw Data

朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) – Anna Olehivna Muzychuk
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 4, 2026
Giuoco Piano C50

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Be3 Bxe3 6. fxe3 d6 7. Qd2 a6 8. Bb3 Be6 9. Nc3 Bxb3 10. axb3 d5 11. exd5 Nxd5 12. 0-0 0-0 13. Ne4 Qe7 14. Ng3 g6!? Finally, she turns the page and starts a new story. Vintage theory said 14. ... f5 15. e4 fxe4 16. Nxe4 Nd4 17. Nxd4 exd4 18. Qg5 Qxg5 19. Rxf8+ Rxf8 20. Nxg5 Ne3 21. Rc1 Rf6 22. Nf3 c5 23. c3 Rg6 24. g3 Rf6 25. Nd2 dxc3 26. Ne4 Rf5 27. bxc3 Rd5 28. c4 Re5 29. Ra1 Nc2 30. Ra5 Nb4 31. Rxc5 Nxd3 32. Rxe5 Nxe5 33. Nc5 b5 34. Nxa6 bxc4 ½–½ Lipiniks – Maderna, 25th Argentine Chess Championship, Buenos Aires 1946.
15. e4 Nf6 16. Kh1 Nd7 17. Ne2 Rad8 18. Rf2 Nc5 19. Nc3 Nb4 20. Raf1 f6 21. h4?! (21. Qh6 Ne6)
21. ... Ne6 22. Nh2?! (22. h5 f5)

22. ... Nd4! 23. Qd1 f5 24. g3. If 24. h5 then 24. ... f4! 25. Nb1 Ne6 26. Qg4 g5 with better prospects for Black.
24. ... f4 25. gxf4 Rxf4 26. h5 Ndxc2! 27. Rxc2 Rxf1+ 28. Nxf1 Nxc2 29. Qxc2 Qh4+ 30. Nh2 Rf8 31. Nd1 Qxh5

We have a most unbalanced situation, with two Knights against Rook and two Pawns, but, alas for White, her hippogriffs are too uncoordinated to be of great help for the defence from her opponent’s heavy battery.
32. Ne3 c6? A hesitation, which could cost her dearly. 32. ... Qh3! at once would preserve Black’s initiative similarly to the game.
33. Qc4+ Kg7 34. Ng4? White first ought to play 34. Qc5!, preventing Black’s next move, and only then Ne3-g4.
34. ... Qh3! Threatening ... Rf8-f1#.
35. Qc1 Qxd3 36. Qe1 Rf4 37. Nf2 Qg3 0–1.

Muzychuk proved to be better prepared for the Giuoco Piano than her opponent. Photo: Yoav Nis (Eugene Nisenbaum)/FIDE.

Into the Wild

朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) – Rameshbabu Vaishali
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 3, 2026
Two Knights Defence C55

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 h6 5. 0-0 d6 6. a4 g6 7. a5 Bg7 8. a6 b6 9. Bb5 Bd7 10. c4 0-0 11. Nc3 Nd4. The alternative 11. ... Nb4 12. Bxd7 Nxd7 13. Ra4 c5 14. Nb5 Nf6 seems to be perfectly reasonable and sound, 孟奕涵 (Mèng Yìhán) – 戴常人 (Dài Chángrén), 56th Chinese Chess Championship, 兴化 (Xīnghuà) 2025.
12. Nxd4 exd4 13. Bxd7 Nxd7

14. Ne2 (14. Nb5⩲)
14. ... c6 15. f4 f5 16. Ng3 Nc5 17. b4 Ne6 18. Bd2 Qd7 19. h4 d5? In the post-game press conference, Vaishali seriously questioned the soundness of this advance, which ultimately will cost her the d-Pawn.
20. cxd5 cxd5 21. e5 h5 22. Ne2 Qb5

Black felt alright here, but...
23. Ra3! Rfc8 24. Qa1! “But I completely missed Ra1-a3 and Qd1-a1”, Vaishali said.
24. ... Rc2 25. Rd1 Kf7 26. Nxd4 Nxd4 27. Qxd4 Ke6 28. Rc3 Rc8 29. Rxc8 Rxc8 30. Qe3! White has an extra Pawn, but in order to make it count for much, she must breakthrough her opponent’s pseudo-blockade. As first thing, she concentrates her attentions on the g6-Pawn.
30. ... Bf8 (30. ... Qxa6? 31. Qg3 Kf7 32. e6+!+−)
31. Qg3 Qe8 32. b5 Be7 33. Rb1 Rc2 34. Be3 Rc3 35. Bd4 Rc2 36. Kh2 Bd8 37. Ra1 Qf7 38. Be3 Qe8 39. Kh3 Qf7

40. Bc1! The winning idea. After the exchange of Bishops, White obtains an overwhelming preponderance on the black-coloured squares.
40. ... Be7 41. Ba3! Bxa3. This was the last thing she wanted to do, but 41. ... Bf8 42. Bd6 was equally unbearable.
42. Rxa3 Rc8 43. Qg5 Kd7 44. d4 Rg8 45. Rc3 Re8 46. Kh2 Re6 47. Qg3! From East to West. Black has too many weaknesses to hold everything.
47. ... Kd8 48. Qe1 Qe7 49. Kh3 Qe8 50. Qc1 Qd7 51. Qc2 Re7 52. Qb3 Re6 53. Qb4 Ke8 54. Rc2 Qd8 55. Qc3 Kd7 56. Rc1 Qb8 57. Qb3 Qa8 58. Kg3 Ke8 59. Rc7 Re7 60. Rc6 Rd7 61. Qc2 Rd8 62. Rxg6 1–0.

朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) broke forth with the force of a volcano. Photo: Yoav Nis (Eugene Nisenabum)/FIDE.

UTC+08:00

Divya Deshmukh – 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr)
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 1, 2026
English Opening A21

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. h4? It doesn’t seem like a good idea, or at least makes little sense given White’s policy of Kingside development. The usual 12. Bd3 f5 13. Qc2 was the proper continuation.
12. ... f5 13. g3 Qe8 14. Bd3 Nd7 15. 0-0 h6 16. Ne1 Nf6 17. Ng2 Nxd5 18. Bc4 Be6 19. Re1 Qf7 20. Bd2 c6 21. Qb3 Kh7

22. a4? White is down material without any appreciable return for it. Alas for her! she cannot play 22. Bxd5? Bxd5 23. Qxb6?? because of 21. ... Ra6 trapping the Queen. White’s best was probably 22. Rxe6, although after 22. ... a4! (not 22. ... Qxe6? on account of 23. Qxb6 Nxb6 24. Bxe6 d5 25. h5 with a strong bind) 23. Rxh6+ gxh6 24. Qd3 Rae8 she has little or nothing — or anyway not enough — for the Exchange.
22. ... Bxd4 23. Re2 Be5 24. Rae1

24. ... Nf4! 25. gxf4 Bxc4 26. Qg3 Bf6 27. Re3 d5 28. Qh3 d4 29. Rg3 Qh5 30. b4 axb4 31. Bxb4 Rfe8 32. Rc1 Bd5 33. Ne1 Rxa4 34. Bd6 Kh8 35. Be5 Bxe5 36. fxe5 d3 0–1. For after 37. Nxd3 Rxh4 it’s all over.

Today 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) gave a telling demonstration of her strong potentialities. Photo: Yoav Nis (Eugene Nisenabum)/FIDE.

Sino-Indian Rivalry

朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) – Divya Deshmukh
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024–25; 4th stage; Nicosia, March 22, 2025
French Defence C11

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qd2 a6 9. a3 0-0 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Bd3 f5 12. exf6 Nxd3+ 13. Qxd3 Bxf6 14. 0-0-0 b5 15. Ne2 Bd7 16. Bc5 $1 Rf7 17. h4 Qc7 18. Ng5 Bxg5 19. hxg5 g6 20. Be3 b4 21. a4 b3 22. Qxb3 Na5 23. Qb6 Bxa4 24. Nc3 Nc4 25. Qxc7 Rxc7 26. Bd4 Bc6 27. Rde1 Re8 28. b3 Na3 29. Be5 Rb7 30. Nd1 d4 31. Nf2 Bxg2

Black has gained a Pawn, but at the cost of conceding her opponent a dangerous initiative.
32. Ng4! Bxh1 33. Nf6+ Kf7? The losing move; she ought to play 33. ... Kf8! 34. Rxh1 Ree7 35. Bd6 Nb5! with better chances of defence.
34. Rxh1 h5 35. gxh6! Rc8 36. h7 Rxc2+ 37. Kd1 1–0. There could still follow 37. ... Rxb3 38. h8=N+! Ke7 (38. ... Kf8 39. Bd6+ Kg7 40. Rh7+ Kxf6 41. Rf7#) 39. Rh7+ Kf8 40. Nf7+ Kc8 41. Nd6+ Kb8 42. Nb5+ and mate will come in a few more moves.

Today 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) got the better of Divya Deshmukh. Photo: Mark Livshitz/FIDE.

Flaounes

朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) – Olga Sergeevna Badelka
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024–25; 4th stage; Nicosia, March 15, 2025
Spanish Game C65

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. 0-0 0-0 7. Nbd2 Re8!? By her own admission, 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr)’s theoretical knowings did not include this move.
8. b4. She also considered 8. d4, but wasn’t sure it worked.
8. ... Bb6 9. Nc4 a6 10. Nxb6 cxb6 11. Ba4 d5 12. Qe2 Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. Bg5 b5 15. Bb3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 d4

According to 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) this was the critical moment in the game. By her next move White takes the upper hand and holds it till the end of the game.
17. c4!± h6. If 17. ... Nxb4 then 18. cxb5 axb5 19. Qg3 (Δ f2-f4) with powerful compensation for the Pawn.
18. cxb5 axb5 19. Bd2 Qe7 20. h4 Nh7 21. Rac1 Nd8 22. Qg3 Kh8 23. Rc5 Ra6 24. h5 Nf6 25. Qh3 Ne6 26. Rxb5 Rc6 27. Qf5 Nd8 28. Rc1 Rxc1+ 29. Bxc1 b6 30. Bd2 Qc7 31. f4 exf4 32. Qxf4 Qc6 33. Rf5 Nh7 34. b5 Qc8 35. Qd6 Ne6 36. Qxb6 Nhg5 37. a4 Re7 38. Qd6 Rc7 39. Rf1 Nc5 40. Bxg5 hxg5 41. Rc1 Kh7 42. Bd5 Ne6 43. Rxc7 Nxc7 44. Bxf7 g4 45. Qg6+ Kh8 46. h6 Ne8 47. hxg7+ 1–0.

Moonshot

Anastasia Mikhailovna Bodnaruk – 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr)

9th Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Samarkand, December 27, 2023

Sicilian Defence B23

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4 4. Bc4 e6 5. Nge2 Qc7 6. d3 a6 7. Nxd4 cxd4 8. Ne2 b5 9. Bb3 Bc5. Less convincing is 9. ... Qb6 10. 0-0 Bb7 on account of 11. c3! dxc3 12. Be3 regaining the Pawn with the better game, Goryachkina – Osinenko, Titled Tuesday Blitz October 11 Early 2022, chess.com, October 11, 2022 (time control: 3 minutes plus 1 second per move).
10. c3 dxc3 11. bxc3 Ne7 12. 0-0 Bb7 13. d4 Bb6 14. Bc2 d6 15. Be3 0-0 16. Rc1 e5 17. Ng3 Rad8 18. Qh5 Ng6?! Better was 18. ... Kh8 19. Bb3 f6 with a solid defence.
19. Nf5. Intending Qh5-g4 followed by h2-h4-h5.
19. ... Rfe8 20. Qg4

20. ... Qxc3? Such greed cannot be condoned by a predestined elect. Comparatively better was still 20. ... Kh8, though now, after 21. h4 Rg8 22. Bb3 d5 23. h5 Ne7 24. Nh4! Bc8 25. Qg3 White’s initiative bites and stings.
21. Bb3 Qb4 22. dxe5 Bxe3. If 22. ... Bc5 then 23. Bd4! (Δ e5-e6) 23. ... Bxd4 (23. ... Bc8 24. Bc3! Qa3 25. exd6+−) 24. Bxf7+! Kxf7 25. Rc7+ Kf8 26. Nxd4! with irresistible attack.

23. Bxf7+! Kxf7 24. Rc7+ Kg8. Or 24. ... Kf8 25. fxe3! with a mating attack — one of the rare cases in which tripled Pawns serve.
25. Rxg7+ Kf8. If 25. ... Kh8 then 26. Rxh7+! Kxh7 27. Qh5+ with mate in two moves.
26. fxe3 Qxe4

27. Rxg6. Bodnaruk contents herself with a prosaic win rather than play for mate with 27. Rxh7; for, as they say, the end justifies the means.
27. ... Qxg4 28. Rxg4 Rxe5 29. Nxd6+ Ke7 30. Nxb7 Rd2 31. e4 h5 32. Rg7+ Ke6 33. Rgf7 Rg5 34. R7f2 Rd7 35. Rf6+ Ke5 36. Nc5 Rd2 37. Re6+ Kd4 38. Nb3+ 1 : 0.

Bodnaruk was not among the favourites to win a gold medal. Much to everyone’s surprise, however, she won. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili/Chess Federation of Russia.

Theory for a Dead End

Mariam Mkrtchyan – 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr)

9th Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Samarkand, December 26, 2023

Catalan Opening E04

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 7. Qc2 Bxd2+ 8. Qxd2 c6 9. a4 b5 10. axb5 cxb5 11. Qg5 0-0 12. Qxb5 Ba6 13. Qa4 Qb6 14. Nbd2 Bb5 15. Qc2 Nc6

16. Nxc4? A theoretical black hole which means material loss. White ought to castle: 16. 0-0 Rac8 17. Rfc1 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Qxd4 19. Rxa5 c3 20. bxc3 Qb6 21. Raa1 Bxe2 22. Ne4 Bc4 23. Nxf6+ gxf6 24. Qd2 Qc5 25. h4 Kg7 26. Ra4 Rfd8 27. Qf4 Bd5 28. Rd4 Bxg2 29. Rxd8 Rxd8 30. Kxg2 h6 31. Qf3 Qc4 32. Rb1 Rd3 33. Rb4 Qd5 34. Qxd5 exd5 35. Rg4+ Kf8 36. Rd4 Rxc3 ½ : ½ V. Nielsen – Hacker, Øbro & CXU International 2023, Copenhagen 2023.
16. ... Nb4 17. Qxh7+ Kxh7 18. Nxb6 Rab8 19. Na4 Nc2+ 20. Kd2 Nxa1 21. Nc5? From bad to worse. Comparatively best is 21. Rxa1, although after 21. ... Bxa4 22. Rxa4 Rxb2+ 23. Kd3 Ng4 Black has the Exchange ahead in return for a Pawn.
21. ... Bxe2 22. Ng5+ Kg6

23. Nh3? Falling into a mating net. However, 23. Rxa1 Rxb2+ 24. Kc3 Rb5 leaves Black with an overwhelming advantage.
23. ... Rxb2+ 24. Ke3 Ng4+ 25. Kf4 Nb3 26. Na4

26. ... Rd2 27. Nc3 Rxd4+ 28. Be4+ f5 0 : 1. There may follow: 29. Nxe2 Nd2! 30. Nxd4 e5#.

Kulfi

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina (pictured centre) won the third stage of FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2022–23 in New Delhi, India, with the score of 6 points out of 10, same as Bibisara Erkhanovna Assaubayeva (left) and 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) (right), but three-time Russian Women’s Chess Champion was declared the winner due to superior tie-break. Assaubayeva was second and 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) third. The fourth and last stage of Women’s Grand Prix will be held from May 15–28, 2023 in Nicosia, Cyprus. Photo: Ismael Nieto/FIDE.

Something, Somewhere

朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) – Rameshbabu Vaishali
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2022–23; 3rd stage; New Delhi, March 31, 2023
King’s Indian Defence E60

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. e3 0-0 5. Be2 c5 6. d5 e6 7. Nc3 d6 8. 0-0 Re8 9. e4 exd5 10. exd5 Ne4 11. Nxe4 Rxe4 12. Bd3 Re8 13. Bg5 Bf6 14. Qd2 Nd7 15. h4!? Just a new move in an old game:
a) 15. Qf4 Bxg5 16. Nxg5 Qf6 17. Qh4 h5 18. Qg3 Ne5 19. Ne4 Qe7 20. Bc2 Bf5 21. Rae1 Nxc4 22. Qc3 Ne5 23. f4 Nd7 24. Ng3 Qf6 25. Bxf5 gxf5 26. Nxh5 Qxc3 27. bxc3 Kh7 28. Rb1 Rab8 29. Rfe1 Rxe1+ 30. Rxe1 Kg6 31. Ng3 Nb6 32. h4 Nxd5 33. Rd1 Nxf4 34. Rxd6+ Ne6 35. h5+ Kg5 36. Rd5 Kg4 ½ : ½ Gutman – Polugaevsky, 8th Soviet Team Chess Cup, Moscow 1974;
b) 15. Rfe1 Ne5 16. h4 Nxf3+ 17. gxf3 Bd7 18. Rxe8+ Bxe8 19. Qf4 Bxg5 20. hxg5 h6 21. gxh6 Qe7 22. a3 a5 23. Rc1 Bd7 24. Rc3 Re8 25. Kg2 Qd8 26. Rb3 Bc8 27. Bc2 Re5 28. Re3 Rh5 29. Ba4 Bd7 30. Bxd7 Qxd7 31. Kf1 Qd8 32. Ke2 Rh4 33. h7+ Kg7 34. h8=B+ Rxh8 35. Re4 ½ : ½ Nakamura – Svidler, FIDE Grand Prix 2017, 2nd stage, Moscow 2017.
15... b5!? In Benkö Counter-Gambit style.
16. b3 bxc4 17. bxc4

17. ... Ba6? Black just cannot afford such digressions. 17. ... Ne5! was here in order, with a perfectly playable game.
18. Rae1 Rxe1 19. Rxe1 Bxg5 20. hxg5 Nb6? Black insists on concentrating on the Queenside.
21. Qc3. Not only Black has achieved nothing on the Queenside, but is now in serious trouble on the Kingside.
21. ... Qf8

22. Nd2! Heading for f6.
22. ... Qg7 23. Qa3 Qd4 24. Re4! Qa1+ 25. Bf1 Qd1 26. Qc3 Na4 27. Qe3 Rf8 28. Re8 Nb2

29. Ne4! Now comes the final mating attack.
29. ... Nxc4. Or 30. ... Bxc4 31. Nf6+ Kg7 32. Qe7 Qxf1+ 33. Kh2 with forced mate in four moves more.
30. Nf6+ Kg7 31. Qe7 1 : 0.

When interviewed afterwards, Vaishali couldn’t help but say that something in the opening has gone terribly wrong for her. Photo © Ismael Nieto/FIDE.

Under the Volcano

朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) – Nana Dzagnidze
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2022–23; 3rd stage; New Delhi, March 31, 2023
Sicilian Defence B96

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 h6 8. Bh4 Nbd7 9. Bc4 Qc7. Many years ago, Samuel Reshevsky managed to achieve a laborious draw after 9. ... e5 10. fxe5 Nxe5 11. Bb3 Be7 12. 0-0 0-0 13. Nf5 Bxf5 14. Rxf5 Nfd7 15. Bg3 Rc8 16. Kh1 g6 17. Rf1 b5 18. Qd4 Rc5 19. Nd5 Bh4 20. Bxh4 Qxh4 21. Rf4 Qd8 22. Raf1 Nc4 23. Nf6+ Nxf6 24. Rxf6 Qe7 25. c3 Re5 26. Bxc4 bxc4 27. Qxc4 Rxe4 28. Qxa6 Re2 29. Qc4 d5 ½ : ½ van der Sterren – Reshevsky, 8th Louis D. Statham Tournament, Lone Pine 1978, but it’s quite evident that White might have aimed for more.
10. Qe2! 10. Bxe6!? at once was also possible.
10. ... b5

11. Bb3!? Of course there’s nothing wrong with it, but most consistent was 11. Bxe6! fxe6 12. Nxe6 Qc6 13. 0-0-0→ with a vehement attack, Kuindzhy – Bukhman, “Zenit” Championship, Moscow 1971.
11. ... Nc5. Not 11. ... Bb7 12. 0-0-0 b4? by reason of 13. Nd5! with a crushing initiative. But 11. ... b4 12. Na4 Bb7 was worth consideration, since 13. 0-0 Bxe4 (not 13. ... Nxe4? 14. Nxe6! fxe6?? because of 15. Qh5+ followed by mate) 14. f5!? (14. c3! gives some compensation) 14. ... e5 (14. ... exf5? 15. Rxf5!) 15. Ne6!? fxe6 16. fxe6 Ne5 17. Rxf6!? gxf6 18. Qh5+ Kd8 19. Bxf6+ Be7 20. Bxe7+ Qxe7 21. Nxc5 Bc6! (21. ... dxc5? 22. Qxe5+−) 22. Rd1 Kc7 leads nowhere for White.
12. e5! dxe5 (12. ... b4 13. Nd5!↑)
13. fxe5 Nh7 (13. ... Nfd7? 14. Nxe6! Nxe6 15. Bxe6+−)
14. 0-0-0 Ng5 15. Bxg5 hxg5 16. Ne4 Nxb3+? As it will become soon clear, Black needed her Knight more than White needed her Bishop. Black could not play 16. ... Qxe5? on account of 17. Nc6! (17. ... Qxe4?? 18. Rd8#), but 16. ... Be7! might have avoided the worst, at least for a while.
17. axb3 Be7 18. Nd6+!? Not bad. 18. Rhf1, however, seems even stronger, for if 18. ... 0-0? then 19. Nf6+! with an irresistible attack.
18. ... Bxd6 19. exd6 Qxd6

20. Nxe6? A miscalculation, which dissipates White’s advantage. Simple and strong was 20. Nxb5 Qf4+ 21. Kb1 0-0 (owing to her erroneous 16th move, Black cannot parry the check at b5 by interposing her Knight after 21. ... axb5 22. Qxb5+ Ke7 23. Qc5+ Kf6 24. Rhf1+−) 22. Nd6 with an overwhelming advantage.
20. ... Qxe6 21. Qf3. Probably 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) still believed she was winning, because of the double threat of Qf3xa8 and Rh1-e1.

21. ... Bb7! However strange it may seem, 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) must have overlooked this when she played 20. Nxe6.
22. Qxb7 0-0! An escape worthy of Houdini: now White is left empty-handed!
23. Rhe1 Qh6 24. Kb1 g4 25. Qd7 Qh5 26. Rd5 Qh4 27. g3 Qxh2 28. Qxg4 Rae8 29. Red1 Qe2 30. Qh3 Re6 31. R5d2 Qe3 32. Rd3 Qe2 33. R3d2 Qe3 34. Rd3 Qe2 ½ : ½.

朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) went astray for a moment and was not able to reap the fruit of her powerful initiative. Photo © Ismael Nieto/FIDE.

Thrills and Chills

朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) – Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2022–23; 3rd stage; New Delhi, March 30, 2023
Sicilian Defence B84

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Be2 Nf6 8. a3 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. 0-0 0-0 11. Kh1 Bd7 12. Qe1 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Bc6 14. Qg3 b5 15. e5 dxe5 16. Bxe5 Qb7 17. f5 exf5 18. Rxf5 Ne8 19. Bd3 (19. Bd4 g6 20. Rf2 Rd8 21. Be3 Ng7 22. Re1 f5 ½ : ½ Polugaevsky – Matulović, 17th Chess Olympiad, Havana 1966)
19. ... g6. All theory so far.
20. Rff1!? The Rook usually goes to f2, so as not to exclude to double on the f-file.
20. ... Rd8 21. Rae1 Bd6 (21. ... f6!?)
22. Be4 Bxe5 23. Qxe5 Bxe4 24. Nxe4 Qc6 25. Ng5 Rd2 26. Rf3 Rd5 27. Qf4 Nd6? Lagno is a little too anxious to defend f7, which was in no real danger (Black could play 27. ... Qc4, 27. ... Qd7, and even 27. ... f6), while overlooking other troubles.

28. Nxh7! Kxh7 29. Rh3+ Rh5 30. Rxh5+ gxh5 31. Re5

31. ... Ne8? Black’s only chance lay in 31. ... Ne4! 32. Rxe4 Qd5 33. h3± leaving White a Pawn ahead in a heavy pieces ending.
32. Rxh5+ Kg8 33. Qf5 Qg6 34. Rg5 Ng7 35. Rxg6 fxg6 36. Qd5+ Kh7 37. h3 Nh5 38. Kh2 Rf6 39. Qd4 Re6 40. Qd7+ Ng7 41. b3 1 : 0.

朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) played powerfully, with sharp style and thrilling moves. Photo: Ismael Nieto/FIDE.

Indian Nocturne

朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2022–23; 3rd stage; New Delhi, March 26, 2023
Spanish Game C67

The 3rd stage of FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2022–23 would be a psychodrama worth a Bollywood movie, if it weren’t a serious matter. In any case, it is a kind of “world record” that four players eligible to participate withdrew before the tournament began!

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. Nc3 Ke8 10. h3 h5 11. Bf4 Be7 12. Rad1 Nh4 13. Nd4 Nf5 14. Nce2 g5 15. Bh2 Rh6 16. Rfe1. If 16. Nxf5 then 16. ... Bxf5 17. Nd4 Bd7 18. f4 gxf4 19. Bxf4 Rg6 20. e6 Bxe6 21. Nxe6 fxe6 22. Bxc7 Rc8 23. Be5 Rd8 24. Rxd8+ Bxd8 25. Bd4 a6 26. Bc5 Be7 27. Bxe7 Kxe7 28. Rf4 Rg5 29. Kf2 Rb5 30. b3 Ra5 31. a4 Rc5 32. Rc4 Rf5+ 33. Ke3 Re5+ 34. Re4 Rg5 35. g4 hxg4 36. hxg4 Kf6 37. Rf4+ Ke7 38. Kf3 e5 39. Re4 Ke6 40. Re2 Rg7 41. Rg2 a5 42. Ke4 Rg5 43. Kf3 ½ : ½ A. O. Muzychuk – Goryachkina, 14th European Women’s Team Chess Championship, Terme Čatež 2021.
16. ... Bd8 17. Rd2 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 c5 19. Nb5 Be6 20. Nc3 Be7 21. Nb5 Bd8 22. f4 gxf4 23. Bxf4 Rg6 24. Kh2 a6 25. Nc3 Be7 26. Nd5 Bxd5 27. Rxd5 Rd8 28. c4 c6 29. Rxd8+ Bxd8 30. Bg3 Bc7 31. Rf1 Ke7 32. Rf5 Rh6 33. Rf6 Rg6 34. b3 b5 35. Rf5 Rh6 36. Rf6 Rg6 37. Rf5 Rh6 38. Bf4. White disdains the draw by repetition — but after Black’s reply, her claim is or rather should be objectively baseless.

38. ... Ke6! 39. Rxf7 Kxf7? A careless response, which precipitates Black into a totally lost Bishop ending. The correct move was 39. ... Bxe5! 40. Rf8 Bxf4+ 41. Rxf4 h4 with a drawish Rook endgame.
40. Bxh6 Bxe5+ 41. g3 Kg6 (41. ... h4 42. Bf4+−)

42. Bf4! The win for White is due to Black’s doubled Pawns, which in fact make the position an ending where White is one Pawn up.
42. ... Bg7. After 42. ... Kf5 43. Bxe5 Kxe5 44. g4 h4 45. Kg2 Ke4 46. Kf2 Kf4 47. a3 Black will very soon end up in zugzwang.
43. Kg2 Kf5 44. Kf3 Bf8 45. g4+ hxg4+ 46. hxg4+ Ke6 47. Ke4 Be7 48. Bh6 Bd6 49. Bg7 Be7 50. Kf4 Kf7 51. Be5 Kg6 52. Ke4 Kg5 53. Kf3 Kg6 54. Bf4 Kf6 55. Ke4 Ke6 56. Bd2 Bd6 57. Bc3 Bc7 58. g5 Bh2 59. g6 Bg1

60. Kf4?? An incredible error, which throws away the win; for example: 60. Be5! Ke7 61. Kf5 Bd4 62. g7 Kf7 63. g8=Q+! Kxg8 64. Ke6 raiding Black’s Queenside Pawns.
60. ... bxc4 61. bxc4 Bd4! 62. Be1. Or 62. Bxd4 cxd4 63. c5 Kf6 64. Ke4 Kxg6 65. Kxd4 Kf6 with a draw.
62. ... Kf6 63. g7 ½ : ½.

As they say, the show must go on. Photo: Ismael Nieto/FIDE.

At Last

朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2022–23; 2nd stage; Munich, February 5, 2023
Sicilian Defence B30

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. 0-0 Nge7 5. Bxc6 Nxc6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 d6 8. c4 Be7 9. Be3 0-0 10. Nc3 Bd7 11. Nxc6 Bxc6 12. Qd2 Bf6 13. Bd4 Bxd4 14. Qxd4 Qe7 15. Rad1 Rfd8 16. Rd2 b6 17. Rfd1 Rd7 18. Qe3 Rad8 19. Qg3 h6 20. h4 Kh7 21. a4 g6 22. b3⩲

22. ... f5. A strategic imperative, as otherwise White can easily enjoy her space advantage.
23. e5. Of course not 23. exf5? in view of 23. ... gxf5 when the opening of the g-file would be painful for White. Maybe 23. f3 might have been considered, though 23. ... e5 seems an adequate reply.
23. ... dxe5 24. Rxd7 Rxd7 25. Qxe5. Stronger than 25. Rxd7 Qxd7 26. Qxe5 because of 26. ... Qg7 27. Qe3 e5 (Muzychuk) and Black should be fine.
25. ... Rxd1+ 26. Nxd1 Kg8. His Majesty is called to the defence of the e6-Pawn.
27. Nc3 Kf7 28. Ne2 Bd7

29. Nf4!? Quite an interesting Pawn sacrifice, which actually gives White more than enough compensation. Quieter was 29. g3 to which Black could answer 29. ... Qc5 (Muzychuk) with an eye to an eventual ending.
29. ... Qxh4 30. Nd3. Pushing for something more than a fair compensation. On the other hand after 30. Qc7 Qe7 31. Qxa7 Qd6 (Muzychuk) Black has nothing to worry about.

30. ... Be8! Muzychuk defends herself skillfully. Who knows, maybe 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) had been hoping for 30. ... Qe7? 31. Qh8! winning material by force.

31. a5!? White goes all out for a win, giving up a second Pawn. 31. Qd6 seems good enough for dynamic equality.
31. ... bxa5 32. c5 Bb5

33. Nf4? This is the step of no return. Despite everything, 34. Qd6 (Muzychuk) should still provide sufficient compensation.
33. ... Qe7! Muzychuk didn’t miss her opportunity to consolidate.
34. Qc3 Qc7 35. g3 g5 36. Qh8 Qe7 37. Nh5? A little better may be 37. c6! gxf4 38. Qh7+ Kf6 39. Qxh6+ Ke5 40. c7 when White regains the piece, remaining two Pawns down in the Queen ending.
37. ... Kg6! 38. g4 fxg4 39. Ng3 Bc6 40. Qg8+ Kf6 41. Qh8+ Kf7 42. Qe5 Bd5 43. Qc3. After 43. Nf5 Qxc5 44. Qg7+ Ke8 45. Qg8+ Kd7 46. Qf7+ Kc6 47. Qe8+ Kb6 (Muzychuk) Black’s King escapes the checks and wins.
43. ... Qf6 44. Qxa5 Qf3 45. Qxa7+ Kg6 0 : 1.

It was not an easy win, but Muzychuk managed it. Photo: David Llada/FIDE.