Шәк-шәк (Çäkçäk)

Stefan Bromberger – Zhansaya Daniyarqyzy Abdumalik
2nd Qatar Masters Open; Doha, December 21, 2015
Giuoco Piano C53

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. 0-0 0-0 7. Bb3 d6 8. Re1 Bb6 9. h3 Be6 10. Bc2 h6 11 d4. This seems a bit committal. 11. Nbd2 Ne7 12. Nf1 Ng6 transposes into the game Yankovsky – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), Chigorin Memorial Open, Saint Petersburg 2009. 11. ... exd4 12. cxd4 Nb4 13. d5. Herr Bromberger decides to give up his Bishop pair in order to gain a space advantage in the centre. It’s difficult to approve for someone born in the twentieth century! In any event, after 13. Bb3 Bxb3 14. Qxb3 Nc6 White doesn’t seem to have any significant advantage. 13. ... Nxc2 14. Qxc2 Bd7 15. Bf4 Re8 16. Nc3 Qc8 17. Rad1

17. ... Bxh3! Bold play on the part of the young Abdumalik, who sacrifices her Bishop on purely intuitive grounds. 18. gxh3 Qxh3 19. Nd4 Nh5. With two Pawns for the Bishop and a vehement attack on the enemy King, Zhansaya Daniyarqyzy can look to the future with optimism. 20. Re3 Qg4+ 21. Bg3 f5 22. Qe2. It is probably not the best move. After 22. Nxf5 Rf8 Black should have to demonstrate the correctness of her speculation. 22. ... Qg5 23. Nxf5 Bxe3 24. Qxe3 Qxf5 25. exf5 Rxe3 26. fxe3 Nxg3. After all, Black emerged from the scuffle a clear Pawn ahead and still with a definite dynamic advantage. Miss Abdumalik confidently converts it into a win. 27. e4 Nh5 28. Rd4 Nf6 29. Rb4 Rb8 30. Ne2 a5 31. Rc4 c5 32. dxc6 bxc6 33. Rxc6 Nxe4 34. Nc3 Nxc3 35. bxc3 Rf8 36. Rxd6 Rxf5 37. Rd2 Rc5 38. Rc2 Kf7 39. c4 Ke6 40. Kf2 g5 41. Ke3 Ke5 42. Rh2 Rxc4 43. Rxh6 Rc3+ 44. Kf2 Ra3 45. Rc6 Rxa2+ 46. Kf3 Ra4 47. Rc5+ Kf6 48. Kg3 Kg6 49. Rc8 Rb4 50. Rg8+ Kh6 51. Rh8+ Kg7 52. Ra8 a4 53. Ra6 Kf7 54. Kf3 g4+ 55. Ke2 Ke7 56. Rg6 a3 0 : 1.

Zhansaya Daniyarqyzy Abdumalik in Reykjavík last March
Photo: Tengrinews.kz

À l’ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs

Closing ceremony of the 13èmes Rencontres d’Échecs du Cap d’Agde. All the participants were on stage, including the four flowering girls. Photo: CapÉchecs (Facebook).

Les Fleurs Animées

Europe Échecs (@EuropeEchecs)

The shark who scared a fisher

Laurent Fressinet – Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; tie-break game 2 (3+2); Cap d’Agde, October 31, 2015
English Opening A29

After two draws in the rapid games (25+10), Anatoly Yevgenyevich has undeservedly lost the first tie-break blitz game. No wonder he just played all out in the second one: 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bc5 5. Bg2 d6 6. 0-0 0-0 7. e3 Re8 8. d4 exd4 9. exd4 Bb6 10. h3 Bf5 11. g4 Bg6 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 Be4 14. Nxe4 Rxe4 15. d5 Nd4 16. Nxd4 Rxd4 17. Qc2 g5 18. Bg3 Nd7 19. b4 a5 20. a3 Qf6 21. Rad1 axb4 22. axb4 Ra3 23. Kh2 Kg7 24. Rde1

24. ... Rf4! Fantastic! So far, Tolya has displayed the lucidity and simplicity with which he used to play in his prime! 25. Re2. 25. Bxf4 gxf4 gives Black excellent compensation for the Exchange, but probably nothing more. It’s not easy, however, to handle such positions in a blitz game. 25. ... Rc3! 26. Qa4 Ne5 27. c5 Bxc5 28. Re4 Rxf2? A grave miscalculation, which throws away a well-deserved win. Both 28. ... Rxe4 29. Bxe4 Rxg3 30. bxc5 (or 30. fxg3 Qxf1 31. bxc5 Qf2+ 32. Kh1 Qxg3) 30. ... Rc3 and 28. ... Rxg3! 29. bxc5 Rxf2 30. Kxg3 Rxf1 31. Bxf1? Qf3+! 32. Kh2 Qf2+! would have easily won the game. 29. Bxf2 Bxf2 30. Qa2? But Fressinet gives his opponent a second chance! White should have played 30. Kh1! and if 30. ... Rg3 (threat: ... Rg3xg2) then 31. Qd1 Nd3 32. Qc2 followed by Re4-e2, winning two pieces for a Rook. 30. ... Nf3+? The decisive mistake! Instead, after 30. ... Bg3+ 31. Kh1 Bf4 followed by ... Ne5-g6-h4 Black would have kept excellent winning chances. 31. Kh1 Nh4 32. Qxf2 1 : 0.

Laurent Fressinet (right) vs. Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov (left). Photo © CapÉ/Europe Échecs.

Иремель (Iremel)

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov – Romain Édouard
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 30, 2015
Nimzo-Indian Defence E35

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. Qxc3 0-0 10. e3 c6 11. Nf3 Bg4 12. Be2 Nd7 13. 0-0 Qe7 14. b4 a6 15. a4 Rac8 16. Rfc1 Rfe8 17. h3 Bh5 18. Ra2 Nf6 19. Qc5 Qd8 20. b5. The minority attack on the Queenside “is thematic”, Grandmaster Laurent Fressinet said. 20. ... Ne4 21. Qa3 cxb5 22. axb5 Rxc1+ 23. Qxc1 a5. The creation of a passed Pawn on the a-file can be considered as a “typical reaction”, says Fressinet. “The position is unbalanced and hard to evaluate, but there is plenty of play on both sides, perhaps slightly favourable to Black”. 24. Qa3 Qc8 25. Ne5 Bxe2 26. Rxe2 f6 27. Nd3 Qc4 28. b6 Rc8 29. Rb2 Kh7 30. Kh2 a4 31. Nf4? A slip by Karpov. Correct was 31. f3 Qc3 with fairly even chances. 31. ... Qc1? But Édouard misses 31. ... Qf1! with the deadly threat of ... Rc8-c1. 32. f3 Nc3

33. Qe7! When all seems lost, Anatoly Yevgenyevich launches a brilliant attack against the enemy King! 33. ... Qxb2 34. Nh5 Rg8 35. Nxf6+ Kh8 36. Nxg8 Kxg8 37. Qxb7 a3. White is now a Knight down, while the a3-Pawn quickly runs toward the promotion square. But Karpov has calculated very accurately that the only possible outcome is a draw by perpetual check. 38. Qc8+ Kh7 39. Qf5+ Kh8 40. Qc8+ Kh7 ½ : ½.

Romain Édouard congratulates Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov
Photo © Pierre Textoris/CapÉchecs

Into Eternity

Europe Échecs (@EuropeEchecs)

The Reach

Marie Rachel Sebag – Laurent Fressinet
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 29, 2015
Modern Defence B06

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bd3 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nxe4 6. Bxe4 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8. dxc5 Qa5+ 9. c3 Qxc5 10. 0-0 0-0 11. Be3 Qc7 12. Re1 Nd7 13. Bc2 b6 14. Be4 Rb8 15. Nd4 Nc5 16. Bf3 Bd7 17. a4 a6 18. b4 Ne6 19. Ne2 Rfd8 20. Qb3 Bc6 21. Bxc6 Qxc6 22. Rad1 b5 23. a5 h5 24. h3 Bf6 25. Bb6 Rxd1 26. Rxd1 Rc8 27. Qd5 Qxd5 28. Rxd5 Bxc3 29. Nxc3 Rxc3 30. Rd7 Rc4 31. Ra7 Rxb4 32. Rxa6

32. ... Rb1+ 33. Kh2 b4 34. Ra8+ Kh7 35. a6 b3 36. a7 b2 37. Rb8 Ra1 38. Be3 f5 39. Rxb2 f4 40. Bb6 Nf8 41. Rd2 1 : 0.

Marie Rachel Sebag vs. Laurent Fressinet
Photo © Europe Échecs/CapÉchecs

Shining Through

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov – Anna Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 29, 2015
Nimzo-Indian Defence E35

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 c5 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. e3 0-0 11. Nf3 c4 12. Be2 Nc6 13. 0-0 Bf5 14. Qb2 b6 15. Nd2 Rad8 16. Rfe1 Rfe8 17. g3 Qg6 18. Bf3 Bd3 19. Bg2 h5 20. h4 Rd6 21. Qb5 Kf8 22. Ra2 Qg4 23. Nf3 Be4 24. Nd2 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Qg6 26. Qb1 Qg4 27. Rb2 Ne7 28. Qd1 Nf5 29. Qxg4 hxg4 30. a4 Nxd4 31. cxd4 c3 32. Rb5 cxd2 33. Rd1 Rc8 34. Rxd2 Ke7 35. a5 a6 36. Rxb6 Rxb6 37. axb6 Rb8 38. Rb2 Kd6 39. f3 f5 40. fxg4 fxg4 41. Rf2 Rxb6 42. Rf4 Rb2+ 43. Kf1 a5 44. Rxg4 a4 45. Rg6+ Kc7 46. Ra6 Ra2 47. h5 Kb7 48. Ra5 Kb6 49. Ra8 Kb5 50. g4

50. ... a3? Black can easily draw with the immediate 50. ... Rh2!, e.g. 51. Ra7 Rh4 52. Rxg7 a3 53. Kg2 Kb6 54. Rg8 Kb7=. But Anna needed to win... 51. g5 Rh2 52. h6! gxh6 53. g6 Rh5 54. g7 Rg5 55. g8=Q Rxg8 56. Rxg8 Kc4 57. Rc8+ Kb3 58. Ra8 a2 59. e4 dxe4 60. d5 1 : 0. Never mind. The two sisters are together again!

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov vs. Anna Muzychuk
Photo © Europe Échecs/CapÉchecs

Lucky Strike

Zhansaya Daniyarqyzy Abdumalik – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 28, 2015
Sicilian Defence B43

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Qc7 6. Bd3 Nf6 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. Nb3 b5 9. f4 d6 10. Be3 Bb7 11. Qf3 Be7 12. Qh3 Nb4 13. a3 Nxd3 14. cxd3 e5 15. Qg3. For 15. Rac1 Qd8 16. Nd2 (for 16. g4 h5 see Tukmakov – Csom, Zagreb 1971) 16. ... 0-0 17. d4 see Frolov – Shmuter, Zonal Tournament, Nikolaev 1993. 15. ... exf4 16. Qxf4 0-0 17. Nd4 Bc8 18. Rac1 Qb7 19. Qg3 Kh8 20. Kh1 Be6 21. Nf5 Bxf5 22. Rxf5 b4 23. axb4 Qxb4 24. Rcf1 Rac8 25. R1f2

25. ... Rxc3? A very hazardous Exchange sacrifice – to put it euphemistically. The thematic advance 25. ... d5! 26. exd5 (or 26. e5 Ng4) 26. ... Ng4 looks much more to the point. 26. bxc3 Qxc3 27. Bd2 Qd4 28. h3 Rb8 29. Qe3 Qxe3 30. Bxe3 Rb3 31. Rc2 h6 32. Rc7 Rxd3 33. Bf4 g6 34. Ra5 Ng8 35. Rxa6 Rd4 36. Ra8 Rxe4 37. Bxh6 Kh7 38. Bd2 d5 39. Rcc8. White probably missed a quick win on several occasions before. Also here, for instance, 39. Rd7 looks very strong, since after 39. ... d4 40. Re8 Black is in Zugzwang. 39. ... Rd4 40. Bc1 Rd1+ 41. Kh2 Bd6+ 42. g3 Ne7 43. Rh8+ Kg7 44. Bh6+ Kf6 45. Ra6 Nf5 46. Bf8? Also 46. Bf4? Kg7! leads nowhere. Abdumalik’s last chance to try to win was by 46. Re8. 46. ... Rd2+ 47. Kg1 Ke5 48. g4 Bxf8 49. Rxf8 Nd6 50. Rd8 Ne4 51. Ra5 Ng5 52. h4 Nf3+ 53. Kf1 Nxh4 54. Rf8 f5 55. gxf5 Nxf5 56. Ke1 Rg2 57. Rd8 Ne3 58. Re8+ Kf4 59. Ra4+ Kf3 60. Rf8+ Nf5 61. Kd1 Kg3 62. Ra3+ Kg4 63. Rg8 Kf4 64. Rd8 d4 65. Ra6 Kf3 66. Rb6?? A tragic blunder. White should have been able to draw by 66. Kc1. 66. ... Ne3+ 67. Kc1 Rg1+ 68. Kb2. On 68. Kd2 Rd1 it’s mate! 68. ... Nc4+ 69. Kb3 Nxb6 70. Rxd4 g5 71. Rd6 Nc8 72. Rf6+ Kg3 73. Kc3 Rd1 74. Rf8 Nd6 75. Kc2 Rd5 0 : 1. “I took a look at this game, and at first it seemed to be favourable to White”, Grandmaster Romain Édouard said. “Eventually I thought it would have ended in a draw, but the Women’s World Champion managed to wear the young Kazakhstani down and win”.

Run to the Hills

Laurent Fressinet – Anna Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 28, 2015
Dutch Defence A80

1. d4 f5 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bg5 g6 4. e3 Bg7 5. h4 c6 6. Bf4 Nd7 7. Nf3 Ngf6 8. Ng5!? 8. Ne5 Qb6 9. Rb1 Ne4 transposes into the game Vaisser – Grétarsson, 9th International Open, Cappelle-la-Grande 1993. 8. ... Nf8 9. Be5 h6 10. Nf3 Be6 11. Bd3. After 11. h5 g5 Black stands well. 11. ... Rg8 12. Ne2 Ng4 13. Bxg7 Rxg7 14. c3 Qd6 15. Qc2 Nf6 16. 0-0-0 N8d7 17. Nf4 Ne4 18. Rhg1 g5 19. hxg5 hxg5 20. Nxe6 Qxe6 21. c4 g4 22. Nh4 Qf6 23. Rh1 Rh7 24. g3 e6 25. Ng2 Rxh1 26. Rxh1 0-0-0 27. Nf4 Kb8 28. Kb1 e5! 29. dxe5 Nxe5 30. Bxe4 dxe4 31. Qc3 Qe7 32. a3

32. ... Nd3! Black has very convincingly equalized. 33. Rh8 Nxf4 34. exf4 Rxh8 35. Qxh8+ Kc7 36. Qd4 Qd6 37. Qxd6+ Kxd6 ½ : ½. “A draw with Black against Fressinet is a good result”, then Anna said. “I probably stood a little worse after the opening, but the time control doesn’t really allow us to evaluate everything. It was not easy to find the best way through. I got the idea 28. ... e5 that offered me counter-play. In my opinion, then, Black stands better, but I was short of time. I had only got two or three minutes left, and anything concrete. As for fourth place, first of all, I will try to play at my best. We’ll see if I can manage to qualify for the semifinals”.

Minding Tomorrow

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk – Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 28, 2015
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 Nbd7 9. c3 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Nf6 11. Qe2 Bd6 12. 0-0 Qc7 13. Bg5 Bf4 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. a4 h5 16. b4 h4 17. Rfe1 Kf8 18. Be4 f5 19. Bf3 Kg7 20. Qb2 Bg5

21. b5 Rhd8 22. Re5 Rab8 23. Qb3 Be7 24. Qc4 Rdc8 25. bxc6 bxc6 26. Ree1. A very strange move! Why not 26. Rae1? 26. ... Qf4 27. Rab1 Bd6 28. Qd3 c5 29. Rb5 a6 30. Rb7 cxd4 31. Qxd4+ Qxd4 32. cxd4 Rc4 33. Rxb8 Bxb8 34. d5 e5 35. Rb1 Bc7 36. Rb7?? A terrible oversight. 36. ... Rc1+ 37. Kh2 e4+ 0 : 1. “In the first portion of the game, the position was mostly equal but slightly in favor of White”, Grandmaster Christian Bauer said. “Mariya spent a lot of time thinking, but she proceeded with a plan not too promising, aimed to transfer the Queen to c4. She intended to exert pressure on the Queenside, but after having opened the b-file, she ended up having problems. Karpov was ready to pounce!”.

Mariya Muzychuk vs. Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov
Photo: Europe Échecs (@EuropeEchecs)

A Breath of Autumn

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 27, 2015
Russian Defence C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 0-0 8. Qd2 Qe8 9. Bd3 Nc6 10. 0-0-0. 9th Women’s World Chess Champion 诸宸 (Zhū Chén)’s husband, Grandmaster Mohammed Ahmed Al-Modiahki from Qatar, tried here 10. h4, but after 10. ... Ne5 11. Ng5 f5 12. 0-0-0 h6 White didn’t achieve anything, Al-Modiahki – Sandipan, FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship, Dubai 2014. 10. ... Ne5 11. Nxe5 dxe5 12. c4 Qa4 13. Kb1 Be6 14. Qc3 Bf6 15. Qb3 Qxb3 16. axb3 Be7 17. f3

17. ... a5! Mariya takes the opportunity to seize a volatile initiative, not sufficient, however, to secure her any significant advantage. 18. c3 a4 19. bxa4 Rxa4 20. b3 Ra3 21. Kb2 Rfa8 22. Ra1 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 Rxa1 24. Kxa1 f5 25. Kb2 b6 26. Kc2 g5 27. h3 h5 28. Kd2 Kg7 29. Ke2 Kf6 30. Bc2 Bd6 31. Bf2 Be7 32. Bb1 Bd6 33. Bc2 Be7 34. Bb1 Bd6 35. Bc2 Be7 ½ : ½. “It was an interesting game”, then Mariya said. “I decided to play the Russian Defence. For me it’s never easy to select an opening when I have to face my sister. We played each other so many times. Perhaps I stood a little better in the ending, but I couldn’t find any sort of winning plan. We arrived at the playing hall one after another, but just before we were together. We just needed ‘a breath of fresh air’ each on her own”.

Mariya Muzychuk
Photo © Pierre Textoris/CapÉchecs

The Girl Behind The Name

Marie Rachel Sebag – Anna Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 27, 2015
Sicilian Defence B33

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c4 b4 12. Nc2 0-0 13. g3 Bg5 14. Bg2 Qa5 15. 0-0 Qc5 16. b3 a5 17. Qd3. For 17. Kh1 a4 18. Qe2 Be6 19. Nc7 axb3 20. axb3 Rxa1 21. Rxa1 Na5 22. Na6 Qb6 23. Naxb4 Nxb3 see Caruana – Mamedov, Chess World Cup, Baku 2015, match game 2. 17. ... Be6 18. Rad1 Bxd5 19. Qxd5 Rfd8 20. h4 Bh6. This looks more natural than 20. ... Be7 21. Bh3 a4 22. Qd3 axb3 23. axb3 Ra2 24. Rd2 g6 25. Rfd1 Bf8 ½ : ½ P. Popović – Medvegy, Schachbundesliga 2010-2011, Baden-Baden 2010. 21. Kh2 Ne7 22. Qd3

22. ... a4 23. a3 Nc6 24. axb4 Nxb4 25. Nxb4 Qxb4 26. bxa4 Rxa4 27. f4? This seems wrong, as White’s position quickly falls apart, shifting the material balance in favour of Black. After 27. Rb1 Ra3 (or 27. ... Qxc4 28. Rxd6!) 28. Qd5 Qd2 chances are roughly equal. 27. ... exf4 28. gxf4 Qxc4 29. Qg3 g6 30. Kh1? White doesn’t have enough compensation for the Pawn, but surely the text makes things worse. 30. ... Qe6 31. e5 Qe7 32. Bc6 Rb4 33. Bd5 dxe5. Another Pawn falls with devastating effect on the Black King. 34. fxe5 Rxh4+ 35. Kg2 Rxd5 36. Rxd5 Rh5. “The rest is silence”. 37. Qf3 Rg5+ 38. Kh3 Rf5 39. Qd3 Rxf1 40. Rd8+ Kg7 0 : 1.

Anna Muzychuk
Photo © Europe Échecs/CapÉches

Under the Autumn Star

Mariya Muzychuk – Tigran Alexandrovich Gharamian
4th Trophée KARPOV; Cap d’Agde, October 26, 2015
Modern Defence B06

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 a6 4. Be3 d6 5. Qd2 b5 6. h4 Bb7 7. h5 b4 8. Nd5 a5 9. h6. For 9. f3 Nd7 10. 0-0-0 see Domínguez Pérez – Mamedyarov, 1st SportAccord World Mind Games; Rapid Event, 北京 (Beijīng) 2011. 9. ... Bf8 10. Bd3!? Miss Tactics prepares for a quite interesting Knight pseudo-sacrifice. 10. ... e6 11. Bg5 f6

12. Nxf6+ Nxf6 13. e5 Be7. If 13. ... dxe5 then 14. dxe5 Ne4 15. Bxd8 Nxd2 16. Bf6 Rg8 17. Kxd2 with a slight edge to White. 14. exf6 Bxf6 15. f4 Bxg5 16. fxg5 0-0 17. Nh3 Nd7 18. 0-0-0 e5 19. Bc4+ Kh8 20. Be6 Re8 21. Bf7 Rf8 22. dxe5 Nxe5 23. Bd5 Bxd5 24. Qxd5 Rf5 25. Rhf1 Qg8 26. Rxf5 gxf5 27. Nf4. Perhaps 27. Qb7 Qb8 28. Qxb8+ Rxb8 29. Rd5 would have offered better chances of securing an advantage. 27. ... Qxd5 28. Nxd5 Rg8 29. Nxc7 Rxg5 30. Rxd6 Rxg2 31. b3 f4 32. Nd5 f3 33. Ne3 Rg6 34. Rd5 Nf7 35. Rf5 Nxh6 36. Rxf3 Rg5 37. Rf8+ Kg7 38. Ra8 Nf7 39. Nc4 h5 40. Ra7 Rd5 41. Ne3 Rg5 42. Nc4 Rd5 43. Ne3 Rg5 44. Nc4 Rd5 ½ : ½.

Mariya Muzychuk vs. Tigran Alexandrovich Gharamian
Photo: Europe Échecs (@EuropeEchecs)

The Sound and the Fury

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – Zhansaya Daniyarqyzy Abdumalik
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 26, 2015
Bird’s Opening A03

1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. 0-0 0-0 6. d3 c5 7. Qe1 Nc6 8. e4 dxe4 9. dxe4 e5 10. c3 Re8 11. f5 gxf5 12. Nh4 fxe4. For 12. ... Nxe4 13. Nxf5 see Sale – Armanda, International Open, Zagreb 2009. 13. Nd2 Ne7 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Bxe4 Rf8 16. Bg5 f6 17. Rd1 Qb6 18. Be3 Bg4 19. Rd2 f5 20. Bg2 Qc7 21. Rdf2 Rad8 22. Qc1 f4 23. gxf4 Nd5 24. f5 Nxe3 25. Qxe3 Rf6 26. Qg5 Bd1 27. c4 Rd4 28. Bd5+ Kf8 29. Rg2 Qe7

30. h3. Also 30. Kh1! (threatening Rf1-g1) deserves serious consideration. 30. ... Qc7 31. Nf3. Much stronger looks 31. Re1! (threatening Re1xe5), e.g. 31. ... Ba4 32. Nf3 Rd1 33. Rxd1 Bxd1 34. Nxe5 Qe7 35. Qxf6+! and wins. 31. ... Bxf3 32. Rxf3 h6 33. Qc1 Ke8 34. Rfg3 Bf8. The worst is over, and Zhansaya Daniyarqyzy, after having survived the middle game, will be able to hold her own in the ending too. 35. Be6 Qd6 36. Qc2 a6 37. Qe2 e4 38. h4 Kd8 39. Kh2 Kc7 40. Kh3 Kb6 41. Bd5 Qe5 42. Rb3+ Kc7 43. Rxb7+ Kc8 44. Rb3 Qxf5+ 45. Qg4 Qxg4+ 46. Rxg4 Rd3+ 47. Rxd3 exd3 48. Rg3 Rf2 49. Rxd3 Rxb2 50. Ra3 Rb6 51. Kg4 Be7 52. h5 Kd7 53. Kf5 Rf6+ 54. Ke5 Rb6 55. Rf3 Bd6+ 56. Ke4 Be7 57. Rf7 Rf6 58. Rh7 Rb6 59. Ke5 a5 60. Be4 Kd8 61. Bf5 Ra6 62. Rh8+ Kc7 63. Rh7 Kd8 64. a4 Rb6 65. Be6 Bg5 66. Kd5 Rb4 67. Kxc5 Rxa4 68. Kc6 Ra1 69. c5 a4 70. Ra7 a3 71. Bd5 Be3 72. Kd6 Bf4+ 73. Ke6 Be3 74. Kd6 Bf4+ 75. Ke6 Be3 76. Kd6 Bf4+ 77. Ke6 Be3 78. Kd6 Bf4+ 79. Ke6 Be3 ½ : ½.

Flirting with Disaster

Laurent Fressinet – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 26, 2015
Sicilian Defence B40

1. Nf3 c5 2. e4 e6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. 0-0 Be7 7. Re1 e5 8. c3 0-0 9. Nbd2 Be6. Instead of 9. ... Re8 10. a4 Bf8 11. Nc4 h6 12. Rb1 Qc7 13. Ne3 Be6 14. Nh4 Qd8 15. Nd5 g6 16. f4 exf4 17. Nxf4 Bg4 as in Skripchenko – A. Muzychuk, 1st SportAccord World Mind Games; Women’s Rapid Event, 北京 (Beijīng) 2011. 10. Nf1 h6 11. Ne3 b5 12. Nh4 Re8 13. Nd5 Qd7 14. Bd2 Rab8 15. a3 Bh3 16. Nf5 Bxf5 17. exf5 Rec8 18. Nxe7+ Nxe7 19. g4 c4 20. d4 exd4 21. cxd4 Nc6 22. h4 d5 23. Bf4 Rb6 24. Be5 b4 25. Bxf6 gxf6 26. Qd2 Kg7 27. Qf4 bxa3 28. Rxa3 Qc7. Black does not dare to take the b-Pawn: if 28. ... Rxb2 then 29. g5 Rb3 30. Re3 with a powerful attack. 29. Qd2 Qd6 30. g5! hxg5 31. hxg5 Rb3 32. Re3 Rxa3. Here 32. ... Qf4! looks strong, bringing Black very close to equality. 33. Rxa3 Rb8? The Rook on the wrong file! Black’s best defence was 33. ... Rh8 in order to effectively answer 34. Rg3 by 34. ... Kf8. 34. Rg3. White’s attack is now overwhelming. 34. ... Kf8

35. g6! fxg6 36. Qh6+ Ke7 37. Rxg6? Laurent’s blind spot on the way to win. After 37. Qh7+ Kd8 38. fxg6 Black could well have resigned. 37. ... Rf8 38. Rg7+ Rf7 39. Qe3+ Kf8 40. Rg3 Ne7? A very grave error, probably due to time shortage. Correct was 40. ... Rh7! 41. Rh3 Rxh3 42. Bxh3 Ne7 with equality. 41. Qh6+ Ke8 42. Qh5. Threat: Rg3-g7. 42. ... Qc7 43. Rg7 Nc6 44. Qh8+ 1 : 0.

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk. Photo © Pierre Textoris/CapÉchecs.

The 11th Hour

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 26, 2015
Caro-Kann B19

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 e6 8. Ne5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Nf6 11. Bd2 Nbd7

12. Ng6 Nc5. Karpov prefers to avoid 12. ... fxg6 13. Qxg6+ Ke7 14. Bb4+ c5 15. dxc5 Qc7 with very unclear consequences, Belotti – Garcia Palermo, 54th Italian Chess Championship, Reggio Emilia 1994/1995. 13. dxc5. For 13. Qe3 fxg6 14. dxc5 Qd5 see Areshchenko – Pantsulaia, International Youth Sports Games M16, Moscow 2002, while for 13. Qe2 fxg6 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15. Qxe6+ Qe7 see Kovalev – Shyam, FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship, Dubai 2014. 13. ... Qxd3 14. cxd3 fxg6 15. d4 Rd8 16. Be3 Kf7 17. Ke2 Rd5 18. f4 Be7 19. b4 Rhd8 20. Rad1 R5d7 21. a3 a5 22. Rb1 axb4 23. axb4 Ra8 24. Rb3 Ra2+ 25. Kf3 Nd5 26. Ne2 b5 27. cxb6 Rb7 28. Nc1 Ra1 29. Rg1 Nxe3 30. Kxe3 Rxb6 31. Ne2 Ra4 32. Rgb1 Raxb4 33. Rxb4 Rxb4 34. Rxb4 Bxb4. The temporary Black’s extra Pawn is quite meaningless. 35. Ng1 Be1 36. Nf3 Bg3 37. Ne5+ Kf6 38. Kf3 Be1 39. g3 h5 40. Nxc6 Kf5 41. Na7 Bc3 42. Nb5 Bb4 43. Na7 Be7 44. Nc6 Bd6 45. Ne5 Bb4 46. Nc4 Kf6 47. Ne3 Bd2 48. Ke4 Be1 49. Kf3 Ke7 50. Nc4 Bc3 51. Ke4 Kf6 52. Ne3 ½ : ½. “My play during all first round was disastrous”, Anna admitted. “I lost my first game against Abdumalik. I had chances of winning, but I made a mistake. I was very disappointed, and perhaps that bad result may have affected me more than I would have expected. Against my sister, the ending was equal, but we both were playing to win, and I lost again (round three). Usually I’m not ‘lucky’, but I don’t believe much in luck. I rely more on my own chess skills. I’m far from 4th place (2/7). I will fight. Who knows? Maybe I will succeed to move up the rankings!”.

Anna Muzychuk vs. Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov
Photo: Europe Échecs (@EuropeEchecs)

Overclocking

Mariya Muzychuk – Romain Édouard
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 26, 2015
Sicilian Defence B53

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 a6 5. h3 Nc6 6. Qe3 g6 7. c4 Bh6 8. Qc3 Qa5 9. Qxa5 Nxa5 10. Bxh6 Nxh6 11. Nc3 Be6 12. b3. For 12. Nd5 Rc8 13. b3 f6 14. Be2 Nc6 15. Nb6 Rc7 16. 0-0 Nf7 17. Rac1 Nfe5 18. c5 see Dvirnyy – Burnoiu, 2nd Limpedea Cup, Baia Sprie 2010. 12. ... 0-0 13. Nd4 Nc6 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15. Be2 Kg7 16. 0-0 e5 17. Rad1 Rab8 18. Rd2 Nf7 19. g3 Ng5 20. Kg2 Ne6 21. Nd5 Ned4 22. f4 e6 23. Nb6 Rbd8 24. fxe5 dxe5 25. Rxf8 Kxf8 26. c5 Ke7 27. Bf1 a5 28. Nc4 Rc8 29. Rf2 Nd8 30. Nxe5 Rxc5 31. Nd3 Rc3 32. e5 N8c6 33. Rd2 Nc2 34. Kf2 N2b4 35. Nxb4 axb4 36. Bg2 Nxe5 37. Bxb7 Nd3+ 38. Kg2 e5 39. h4 Nc5 40. Bd5 h6 41. Rf2 g5 42. hxg5 hxg5 43. Kh3 Nd3 44. Rf7+ Kd6

45. Bh1? The final error. After 45. Be4 Nc5 46. Bf5 e4 Black stands clearly better, but the war is not yet won. 45. ... Rc2 46. Rf6+ Ke7 47. Rf5 Ke6 48. g4. A blunder by Mariya, but neither 48. Rxg5 Nf2+ 49. Kg2 Ne4+ nor 48. Rf8 e4 would have been of any avail to her. 43. ... Nf2+ 49. Kg2 Nxg4+ 0 : 1. “I thought too much and I got in time trouble”, then Mariya said. “It was an unusual position and I had gone wrong in my calculations. I will have to analyze it, that’s sure! There are still seven rounds. It’s too early to draw conclusions about my performance in the tournament. I don’t know if the scenario will be the same as in 2013 (I qualified for the semifinals after starting with two defeats and two draws). From now on till the end, every victory will be of paramount importance”.

Mariya Muzychuk vs. Romain Edouard
Photo © Europe Échecs (@EuropeEchecs)

Le Malade imaginaire

Tigran Alexandrovich Gharamian – Anna Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Trophée KARPOV; Cap d’Agde, October 25, 2015
Sicilian Defence B50

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Nc6 5. c3 g6 6. h3 Bg7 7. 0-0 0-0 8. Bb3 b6 9. Re1 Bb7 10. d4 e5 11. dxc5 dxc5 12. Qe2 Qc7 13. Bg5 Na5 14. Bc2 c4 15. Nbd2 h6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Nf1 Rad8 18. Ne3 b5 19. Rad1 Rfe8 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. Rxd5 Rxd5 22. exd5 Qd7 23. Rd1 Nb7 24. Qe3

24. ... Nd6. “I’ve not achieved much in the opening, but the position was very complicated. I don’t know if she ‘blundered’ or deliberately sacrificed her h6-Pawn. I had to take it, even though I knew she would have got plenty of play for it!”, then Gharamian said. 25. Qxh6 e4 26. Ng5 Qf5 27. Nf3 Qd7 28. Nh2 Bg7 29. Qe3 Qc7 30. Nf1 Nf5 31. Qe2 Bh6 32. Qg4 Qe5 33. Re1 e3 34. fxe3 Nxe3 35. Nxe3 Bxe3+ 36. Kh1 Kg7 37. Qf3 f5 38. d6 f4 39. Qb7+ Kh6 40. Qf7. Miss Anna Muzychuk has got herself into trouble by trying too hard to win, but now she is lucky enough that Gharamian overlooks a simple way of winning by 40. d7 followed by Qb7-c6. 40. ... Qe6 41. Qxe6 Rxe6 42. d7 Rd6 43. Rd1 Rxd1+? It’s understandable that Black – a Pawn down – wants to liquidate into an ending with Bishops of opposite colour, but perhaps she should have done it by 43. ... Bd2! 44. Kg1 Rxd7 45. Kf1 Rd8 46. Ke2 f3+ 47. gxf3 (47. Kxf3 is comparatively the best and retains some winning chances) 47. ... Bg5 48. Rxd8 Bxd8 and, as the d7-Pawn disappears, the ending looks very drawish indeed. 44. Bxd1 Bb6 45. Bf3. Now, instead, “The ending with Bishops of opposite colour looks like a win for me. White can create various Zugzwang positions”, Gharamian said. 45. ... Kg5 46. Bc6 a6 47. Bb7 a5 48. Ba6 b4 49. cxb4 axb4 50. Bxc4 Kf6 51. h4 Kf5 52. Kh2 Kg4 53. Bd3 Kxh4 54. Bxg6 Kg5 55. Bc2 Kf6 56. a4 bxa3 57. bxa3 Ke7 58. Bf5 Kf6 59. Bd3 Kg5 60. Kh3 Ba5 61. a4 Bc7 62. Ba6 Bb6 63. Bb7 Bc7 64. Bc8 Bb6 65. g4 fxg3 66. Kxg3 Kf6 67. Kf4 Ke7 68. Ke5 Ba5 69. Kd5 Kd8 70. Kc6 Be1 71. Kb5 Kc7 72. a5 Bd2 73. a6 Be3 74. Kc4 Ba7 75. Kd5 Bb8 76. Kd4 Ba7+ 77. Kd5 Bb8 78. Ke6 Kd8 79. Bb7 Ba7 80. Kd6 Bd4 81. Kc6 1 : 0.

Tigran Alexandrovich Gharamian vs. Anna Muzychuk
Photo © Pierre Textoris/CapÉchecs

Dear Prudence

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk – Zhansaya Daniyarqyzy Abdumalik
4th Trophée KARPOV; Cap d’Agde, October 25, 2015
Grünfeld Defence D85

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8. Qd2 0-0 9. Nf3 cxd4 10. cxd4 Bg4 11. Be2 Nc6 12. Rd1 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 e5 14. d5 Nd4 15. Bxd4 exd4 16. 0-0 Qd6. If, nonchalantly, 16. ... Rc8 then 17. g3 Rc3 18. Bg2 Qc7 19. f4 Rc2 (this is only making things worse) 20. Qd3 Rc3 21. Qb1 b6 22. e5 and White’s position looks imposing, Shipov – Ilinčić, IKO Chess Tournament, Belgrade 1992. 17. 17. Rfe1. Improvisation? For 17. g3 f5 see Hareux – Vareille, French Chess Championship Accession Tournament, Vichy 2000. 17. ... Rac8 18. Bg4 Rc4 19. f4 Qc5 20. Rc1. Consideration deserves 20. Kh1 Rc2 21. Rc1 Rxd2 22. Rxc5 Rxa2 23. d6 with a very unclear position.

20. ... f5. Here 20. ... d3+ 21. Kh1 b5 could have been more promising. 21. Rxc4 Qxc4 22. Rc1 Qb5 23. Bf3 fxe4 24. Bxe4 Qd7 25. g3 Re8 26. Qd3 Qe7 27. Re1 Qb4 28. Re2 Rc8 29. Kg2 Rc3 30. Qd2 Qd6 31. Qd1 b5 32. Bf3. Much wiser was 32. Rd2 Re3 33. Re2 Rc3 repeating the position and earning a draw. 32. ... Qc5. The Exchange sacrifice by 32. ... Rxf3! 33. Kxf3 Qxd5+ appears very promising (even if it should not win), and in any case, Zhansaya Daniyarqyzy would have risked anything. 33. Qe1 Re3 34. Rxe3 dxe3 35. Qd1 Qd4. Black decides to force a drawish ending with Bishops of opposite colour. 36. Qxd4 Bxd4 37. Be2 b4 38. Kf3 a5 39. Ke4 Bb6 40. d6 a4 41. d7 Kf8 42. d8=Q+ Bxd8 43. Kxe3 b3 44. Bc4 Bb6+ 45. Kd2 bxa2 46. Bxa2 Bg1 47. Ke2 Ke7 48. h4 h5 49. Kf3 Kf6 50. g4 hxg4+ 51. Kxg4 Be3 52. Kf3 Bc1 53. Kg4 Bd2 ½ : ½.