Say Anything...

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī)
42nd Chinese Chess Championship; 兴化 (Xīnghuà), April 4, 2011
Sicilian Defence B30

Comments in quotation marks by Grandmaster Jan Timman, New In Chess, 6/2011, pp. 100–101.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 g6 5. h3 Bg7 6. e5 Ng8 7. Bxc6 dxc6 8. d3 Nh6 9. g4. “This is what 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) had played earlier against Vallejo in Wijk aan Zee 2009. White keeps the Knight away from f5 and is going to castle Queenside — ingredients for a sharp battle”.

9. ... 0-0. “Vallejo played 9. ... f5, after which 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) secured an advantage with 10. exf6 exf6 11. Qe2+ Kf7 12. Be3, and ended up winning in style.”.
10. Qe2 f6 11. Be3. If, instead, 11. Bf4 then 11. ... Nf7 12. 0-0-0 fxe5 13. Bg3 Be6 14. Nxe5 Bd5 15. Nxf7 Rxf7 16. Nxd5 cxd5 17. Be5 Bxe5 18. Qxe5 ½–½ Karpov – Chiburdanidze, International Tournament, Bilbao 1987.
11. ... Nf7 12. 0-0-0. “The circumstances being different, White does not swap on f6. She sacrifices the e-Pawn, confifent that White will have sufficient compensation”.
12. ... fxe5 13. Nd2 b6 14. h4 h6 15. Nde4 Be6 16. Rdg1 a5 17. Kb1 a4 18. a3 Ra7 19. Qd2 Kh8 20. f3. “A position has arisen in which neither player seems to have much chance of undertaking anything. But precisely at this point the fireworks start”.
20. ... c4. “This advance indicates that Black wants to open the d-file”.

21. Ng5!? “Judit would probably not have been able to resist the temptation of this Knight sacrifice either. Objectively speaking, taking on c4 would have been sligthly better”.
21. ... hxg5 22. Qh2. 22. hxg5+ Kg8 23. Qh2 Nh8 transposes into the game.
22. ... Kg8 23. hxg5

23. ... Nh8! “The best defence. Black locks his Knight into the corner, and the g-Pawn is now solidly protected”.
24. Qh7+ Kf7. A heartbreaking situation: White must keep high the rhythm of her initiative, or otherwise Black will easily take advantage of his extra piece.
25. f4. “Again the sharpest continuation”.
25. ... cxd3. “And the best reply. Both Kings are exposed now”.
26. f5 dxc2+ 27. Kc1

27. ... Bc4! “余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) playes excellently here. With the text he takes control of the crucial f1-square”.
28. Rh2 Rg8. “It would have taken a superhuman effort to find the move that yields Black an advantage here. 28. ... Bb3! was a strong move. With hindsight, you can see the reasoning behind this computer find. With one of the White Rooks gone from the back rank, White’s King is in greater danger, and if Black manages to direct a major piece to d1, there is a potential mate threat. A sample variation would be 29. f6 exf6 30. gxf6 Rd7! 31. Qxg7+ Ke6 and Black wins. The text, by the way, is the beginning of a safe route to the draw”.

29. f6! “The Pawn that, nine moves ago, took a cautious step forward, has made great progress”.
29. ... exf6 30. gxf6 Ke8. “The point of the previous moves. The Black King is reasonably safe, and the position is dynamically balanced”.
The tactical pointe of 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s 29th move was 30. ... Kxf6?? 31. Bg5+! Kxg5 32. Qh4+ Kf4 33. Qf2+ Kg5 34. Ne4#.
31. Rd2 Qxf6 32. Ne4 Qe6 33. Nd6+ Kf8. “In time-trouble, it becomes incredibly difficult to handle the position perfectly. Stronger was 33. ... Ke7, and after 34. Qh4+ Bf6 35. Qh7+ the game might have ended in a draw”.
34. Nxc4 Nf7

35. Bxb6. “Obvious but not good, even though it will win White the game. 35. Nxb6 e4 36. Nxa4 would have yielded White a large, probably winning advantage”.
35. ... Qxc4

“After this move 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) exceeded his time-limit. After 36. Rxc2 the position would have reverted to a dynamic balance. But White couldn’t capture the Rook, since Black would win after 36. Bxa7 Bh6 37. g5 Rg7!”.
1–0.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (right) vs. 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) (left). Photo: qipai.org.cn.

High Note

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Marie Rachel Sebag
1st 杭州 (Hángzhōu) WGM Chess Tournament; 杭州 (Hángzhōu), July 15, 2011
Sicilian Defence B53

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Bg5 e6 9. Qd3 Be7 10. Nd4 Qa5 11. Bd2 Qc7 12. 0-0-0 0-0 13. f4 Rab8TN (13. ... Rfc8)
14. f5 Bd7 15. g4 Rfc8 [15. ... Nxg4 16. Qg3 (16. Rhg1!?) 16. ... Nf6 17. Bh6 g6□ (17. ... Ne8 18. e5! dxe5 19. Bxg7 Nxg7 20. Rhg1 Bf6 21. Ne4+−) 18. Bxf8 Rxf8 19. fxe6 fxe6 20. Rhf1⩲ (Goran Arsović)]
16. g5 Ng4 17. Rhf1⩲ Qc4 18. Qh3

18. ... Ne5 (18. ... Qxd4 19. Qxg4 exf5 20. Qf4 Qc4∞)
19. Nf3? (19. Bf4)

19. ... b5? Luckily for 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), Sebag misses 19. ... Nd3+!! 20. Kb1 (20. cxd3 Qxa2−+) 20. ... Nxb2! 21. Kxb2 Qb4+! 22. Ka1 Rxc3! 23. f6 Qa3! 24. Bxc3 Qxc3+ 25. Kb1 Rc8 with vehement attack.
20. f6 Bf8? (20. ... Ng6 21. fxe7 b4)

21. g6!! fxg6 (21. ... Nxg6 22. Ng5 h6 23. fxg7 Bxg7 24. Nxf7+−)
22. Nxe5 dxe5 23. f7+ Kh8 24. Rf3 h6 25. Bxh6! gxh6 26. Qg4 g5 27. Qh5 Kg7 28. Rh3 Kf6 29. Rxd7 b4

30. Qxh6+! Bxh6 31. Rxh6+ Kg7 32. f8=Q+ 1 : 0. As mate follows, Black resigned.

A vigorous game by 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). Photo: 聂峰 (Niè Fēng).

Odd Girl Out

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Fabiano Caruana
1st Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chess Tournament; New Delhi, June 24, 2011
Spanish Game C78

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. c3 d6 8. d4 Bb6 9. a4 Rb8 10. axb5 axb5 11. Na3 0-0 12. Nxb5 Bg4 13. Re1 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Nh5 15. Kh1 Qf6 16. Rg1 Nf4 (16. ... exd4 17. Bg5 Qe5 18. Bd5 dxc3 19. Bxc6 cxb2 20. Rb1 Bxf2 21. Rg2 Rb6 22. Rxf2 Qxg5 23. Rc2± Lékó – Caruana, 72nd Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 2010)

17. Bxf4? International Master Malcom Pein call this “a positional blunder”, since now Black gains complete control of the dark squares. Theoretically critical is 17. Be3 Ne6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Rg3 Kh8 20. Qd3 exd4 21. cxd4 e5 22. d5 Ne7 23. Bxb6 Rxb6 24. Nxc7 Rxb2 25. Ne6 Rg8 26. Kg1 Ng6 27. Qa3 Rb6 28. Kh1 Nf4 29. Nxg7 Ne2 30. Nf5 Rgb8 31. Qd3 Rb2 32. Rf1 Ra8 33. Qc4 Nxg3+ 34. hxg3 Qd8 35. Qc1 Rb3 36. Kg2 Qf8 37. Qc7 1 : 0 Svidler – Shirov, 15th Torneo Internacional de Ajedrez Ciudad de Linares, Linares 1998. 17. ... Qxf4 18. Ba4 Ra8! 19. Na3. Not 19. Nxd6? on account of 19. ... cxd6 20. Bxc6 Rxa1 21. Qxa1 Qxf3+ 22. Rg2 exd4−+ (Pein’s analysis). 19. ... Nd8 20. Nc4 Ne6 21. d5 Ng5 22. Rg4 Qf6 23. Nxb6 cxb6 24. Rg3 Qf4 25. Rg4

25. ... Nh3! 26. Kg2. If 26. Rxf4 then 26. ... Nxf2+ 27. Kg2 Nxd1 winning at least the Exchange. 26. ... Qh6 27. Bd7 Nf4+ 28. Kh1

28. ... Nd3! 29. Kg2 (29. Rxa8 Nxf2+−+) 29. ... Rxa1 30. Qxa1 Qd2 31. Qf1 h5 32. Rg3 Ra8. “The Bishop on d7 might as well be in the box”, Pein says. 33. Bb5 Nf4+ 34. Kh1 Qxb2 35. Rg1 Qxc3 36. Be2 Ra2 37. Bd1 Qd4 0 : 1.

“It was a normal game. We played a Spanish opening and this variation was played long ago, I think by Shirov. I equalized and had no problems. Till a certain point it was equal and she had chances to draw. But she got over-ambitious at some point and I saw that I was much better”, Caruana eventually said.

Clarice Benini

Alessandra Innocenti & Lorenzo Barsi

Clarice Benini
Omaggio alla Campionessa di Scacchi

versione 0.1 (PDF)

Bobby Fischer as seen by Harry Benson

Photo © Harry Benson

Bobby Fischer as seen by Harry Benson

Photo © Harry Benson

Scacchi in Festa

Villa Demidoff (Pratolino), domenica 12 giugno

Scacchi in Festa

Villa Demidoff (Pratolino), domenica 12 giugno

Villa Demidoff

Villa Demidoff (Pratolino), domenica 12 giugno

Just Say Yes

Alfiere della Repubblica

Marina Brunello, 16, who a few days ago (May 11) was awarded by 11th President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano the Certificate of Honour “Alfiere della Repubblica” for her chess excellence, achieved an International Master norm at the 1st I International Open Alimini Village (May 21–28), where she beat, among others, Serbian Grandmaster Siniša Dražić in a breathtaking game:

Marina Brunello – Siniša Dražić
1st International Open Alimini Village; Otranto, May 26, 2011
Alekhine Defence B04

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 dxe5 5. Nxe5 e6. If 5. ... Nd7 then 6. Nxf7!? with a bayonet assault. 6. Be2. The alternative is 6. Qf3! (the punctuation is by Danish Grandmaster Bent Larsen) 6. ... Qf6 7. Qg3 h6 8. Nc3 Nb4 9. Bb5+ c6 10. Ba4 Nd7 11. 0-0 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Qg6 13. Qf3 Qf5 14. Qe2 Be7 15. a3 Nd5 16. Nb5 cxb5 17. Qxb5+ Kd8 18. c4 Qxe5 19. cxd5 Bd6 20. g3 Qxd5 21. Qe2 Ke7 22. Rd1 Qa5 23. Qg4 Qf5 24. Qc4 Qc5 25. Qd3 Qd5 26. Qc3 Be5 27. Qe1 Qc5 28. Bd2 Kf6 29. Rac1 Qb6 30. Be3 Qa6 31. Qb4 b5 32. Bxb5 Qb7 33. f4 Bb8 34. Bc6 1 : 0 Tal – B. Larsen, Candidates Semifinal, Bled 1965, match game 6. 6. ... Nd7 7. 0-0 Nxe5 8. dxe5 Bd7 9. Bf3 Bc6 10. Qe2 Qh4 11. a3 a5 12. Nd2 0-0-0? Dražić “must” win and plays too daringly to expect him not to lose! 12. ... Qa4! was good enough to keep sitting still. 13. Ne4! Threatening to trap the Queen by Bc1-g5. 13. Nb3 was also strong. 13. ... h6. Also after 13. ... Nf4 14. Qe1! Black stands badly enough. 14. g3 Qe7 15. c4 Nb6 16. Be3!? (16. b4!+−) 16. ... Nd7 17. b4!? Brunello not being fully convinced that 17. Bd4 f5 (idem to say 17. ... f6) 18. exf6 gxf6 19. b4 e5 eventually followed by ... f6-f5 does not hide bad surprises, goes for a more controversial Pawn sacrifice. 17. ... Nxe5 18. b5 Nxf3+ 19. Qxf3 Bxe4 20. Qxe4 Qf6!? Audentes fortuna iuvat. 20. ... f5! 21. Qb1! g5! 22. b6! Bg7!∞ was unclear but roughly balanced. 21. c5! (Δ Qe4-a4) 21. ... Qf5 22. Qc4 Rd5?! Safer was 22. ... Be7 in order to reply to 23. Rac1 with 23. ... Bg5. 23. Rac1 h5

24. b6? Too hasty! Consistent and very strong was 24. Qc3! Kb8 25. h4! (preventing ... h5-h4) with an imposing position for White. 24. ... c6 25. Qc3? (25. h4!? g5!?) 25. ... Qd3? Luckily for Brunello, Dražić misses 25. ... h4! (threatening both ... Df5-h3 and ... h4xg3) 26. Qxa5 Bd6!−+ which would give Black an irresistible attack. 26. Qxa5 Qa6? 26. ... Bd6(!) was still good enough to stay alive, though after 27. Rfd1 followed by the exchange of Rooks there is no doubting White’s clear advantage. 27. Qxa6. 27. Qb4!+− (Δ Db4-f4) seems even stronger. 27. ... bxa6 28. Rfd1 Be7 29. Rxd5 exd5 30. Bd4 Bf6? After this White will easily win the ending. More tenacious is 30. ... Rh6!? (giving up a Pawn in order to activate the Rook) 31. Bxg7 Re6, although after 32. Bd4 Re4 33. Rd1 Re2 34. Rd3 it’s hard to think that Black can save the endgame. 31. Bxf6 gxf6 32. Re1 d4 33. Re7 Rd8 34. Kf1 d3 35. Ke1 Kb8 36. Rc7 Re8+ 37. Kd2 Re2+ 38. Kxd3 Rxf2 39. Rxc6 Rxh2 40. Rxf6 Rh3 41. Rxf7 Rxg3+ 42. Kd4 Rg6 43. Rh7 Rg4+ 44. Kd5 Rg5+ 45. Kc6 Rg6+ 46. Kd7 Rg8 47. c6 h4 48. Rxh4 Rg7+ 49. Kd6 Rg6+ 50. Kc5 Rg5+ 51. Kc4 Rg8 52. Re4 Rh8 53. Kc5 a5 54. Kb5 a4 55. Ka6 1 : 0.

Marina Brunello. Photo: AliminiScacchi.

Scacchi in Festa

Parco del Neto, domenica 29 maggio

Scacchi in Festa

Parco del Neto, domenica 29 maggio

Parco del Neto

Scacchi in Festa

Parco del Neto, domenica 29 maggio

Scacchi in Festa

Parco del Neto, domenica 29 maggio

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.

Scacchi in Festa

Domenica 29 maggio saremo presenti con uno stand di scacchi (classici e 960) alla VII edizione della Festa dello Sport presso il Parco del Neto a Calenzano (10,00-19,00).

Yas

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 周唯奇 (Zhōu Wéiqí)

2nd 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament, 儋州 (Dānzhōu), May 15, 2011

French Defence C03

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 a6 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 c5 6. e5 Nfd7 7. c3 Nc6 8. 0-0 Be7 9. Re1 c4?! A committal line.
10. Bc2 b5 11. Nf1. 11. b3 Nb6 12. bxc4 Nxc4 13. Nxc4 bxc4 14. h4!? also gives White a strong inititative, Ghizdavu – Padevsky, 20th Chess Olympiad, Skopje 1972.
11. ... Bb7. 11. ... Nb6 eventually yielded Black a draw, but most by virtue of his higher rating: 12. h3 Bd7 13. N3h2 h5 14. f4 Qc7 15. Nf3 0-0-0 16. Be3 Kb7 17. Bf2 Ra8 18. Bh4 a5 19. Bxe7 Nxe7 20. Ng5 Raf8 21. Qf3 f6 22. exf6 Rxf6 ½ : ½ Wessendorf – Eingorn, 11th OIBM Open, Bad Wiessee 2007.

12. h3! 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) plays quietly and strongly. Many years earlier, a game from the British Chess Championship continued 12. b3 Nb6 13. Ng3 Kd7 14. Rb1 h5 15. bxc4 Nxc4 16. Nd2 Nxd2 17. Bxd2 h4 18. Nh5 g6 19. Nf6+ Bxf6 20. exf6 Qxf6 21. Qg4 Rh5 22. a4 Na7 23. Re3 Bc6 24. Rf3 Qe7 25. h3 Rg8 26. Qf4 f5 27. Re1 Qd6 28. Qe3 g5 29. Qe2 Rh6 30. Re3 Rf8 31. Re5 Rg6 32. Qh5 Rfg8 33. Rxe6 Rxe6 34. Bxf5 Rge8 35. Rxe6 1 : 0 Crawley – Lund, 75th British Chess Championship, Blackpool 1988. Furthermore, 12. h4!? was also interesting, since after 12. ... Bxh4 13. Nxh4 Qxh4 14. Re3 White’s attack more than compensates for the Pawn.
12. ... h6 13. N3h2 Qb6 14. Qh5. 14. Qg4!? is almost a “dual”, possibly transposing to the game.
14. ... g6?! That is an irresistible invitation for the White Bishop to immolate itself, but Black has no particularly better way to go. 14. ... 0-0?? 15. Bxh6! is simply disastrous, whilst after 14. ... b4 15. f4 Nf8 16. f5 White comes first anyway.

15. Bxg6! fxg6 16. Qxg6+ Kd8 17. Qxe6.

White has three Pawns for the Bishop, plus the Black King at the mercy of her attack. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) does not need anything more.
17. ... Na7 18. Qf7 Nf8 19. f4 Rh7 20. Qh5 Qg6 21. Qxg6 Nxg6 22. f5 Nh4 23. f6 Bf8 24. e6 Bd6 25. Ng4 Kc7 26. Nxh6+−

26. ... Rah8 27. Bg5 Nc8 28. Bxh4 Rg8 (28. ... Rxh6 29. Bg5+−)
29. Nf7 Rxh4 30. Nxd6 Kxd6 31. e7 Nxe7 32. Rxe7 Bc8 33. Rg7 Rf8 34. f7 Rf4 35. Ne3 R8xf7 36. Rxf7 Rxf7 37. Rf1 Rg7 38. Rf6+ 1 : 0.

More or Less

Pia Cramling – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
12th European Women’s Chess Club Cup, Kemer, October 8, 2007
Bogo-Indian Defence E11

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 0-0 5. a3 Be7 6. e4 d5 7. e5 Nfd7 8. b4 a5 9. b5 c5 10. Bb2 cxd4 11. Bxd4 Nc5 12. Be2 Nbd7 13. 0-0 b6 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Bb2. Inconclusive is 15. Re1 Bb7 16. Qb1 Re8 17. Bd1 Bf8 18. Bc2 g6 19. a4 Rc8 20. Qb2 Ne6 21. Bb3 Bg7 22. Re3 Bh6 23. Rd3 Ndc5∓ 周健超 (Zhōu Jiànchāo) – Bocharov, 6th Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2007. 15. ... Bb7 16. Re1 Re8 17. Nf1 Ne6 18. Ne3 Ndc5 19. Nf5 Bf8 20. Bf1 Rc8 21. N3d4 g6.

Black has more than equalised by sound strategic means. Now White decides to sacrifice a Pawn for the sake of her pair of Bishops. 22. Nd6 Bxd6 23. exd6 Qxd6 24. g3 Ng7 25. Rxe8+ Rxe8 26. Bg2 Ne4 27. Rc1 f6 28. Qc2 Rc8

29. Qxc8+? A mirage! Simply 29. Qd1 retained reasonable compensation. 29. ... Bxc8 30. Rxc8+ Kf7 31. Rc6

31. ... Qd8. 31. ... Qe5! is even stronger with the threat of ... Ne4-d2 followed by a Queen check on e1. 32. h4 Nc5 33. Bh3 f5? Again Black should have seized command of the open e-file by 33. ... Qe7! with excellent winning chances. 34. Nf3 Nge6 35. Bf1 Ke8 36. Nd4! Nf8 37. Bc1! Ne4 38. Be3 Kf7 39. Nf3 Nd7 40. Bf4 Qe7 41. Rc7 Kf8 42. Rc8+ Kf7 43. Rc7 Kf8 44. Rc8+ Kg7 45. Rc7 Kf8 ½ : ½.

Lagno and Koneru are seated in the first row and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and Cramling at the back. Photo: Turkish Chess Federation.

预告片 (Trailer)

李师龙 (Lǐ Shīlóng) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
42nd Chinese Chess Championship; 兴化 (Xīnghuà), April 9, 2011
Queen’s Gambit Declined D38

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 d5 5. g3 0-0 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. a3 Be7 9. e4 Na5 10. Bf4 Nb3 11. Rb1 c5 12. dxc5 (12. Nb5? a6 13. Nc7 Ra7 14. d5 Nh5 15. Be5 Bd6−+ Vernay – Caruana, Budapest 2007) 12. ... Nxc5 13. Ne5 Bd7 14. Nxc4 Bc6 15. e5 Nd5 16. Nxd5 exd5 17. Nd6 Bxd6 18. exd6 Ne4 19. Qb3 Qf6 20. Rbd1 Rad8 21. Qb4 a6 22. Rd3 Nxd6 23. Bxd5 Bb5 24. Bxd6 Bxd3 25. Bxf8 Rxd5 26. Re1 h6 27. Be7 Qf3 28. Qf4 Qh5 29. Bb4 Kh7 30. Bc3 Bb5 31. g4 Rg5! 32. f3 f5

33. Re5?? (33. Qxf5+! Rxf5 34. gxh5 Kg8 35. Re7 Rf7=) 33. ... Qh3 (Δ ... Qh3-f1 mate) 34. Re1 fxg4 35. Qe4+ Kh8 36. Kf2 gxf3 37. Ke3 (37. Qxf3 Qxh2+ 38. Ke3 Rg3−+) 37. ... f2+! 38. Kxf2 Rf5+ 0 : 1.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). Photo: sports.sina.com.cn.

Spice & Ice

Irene Kharisma Sukandar – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

16th Asian Games — Women’s Individual Rapid Chess; time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; 广州 (Guǎngzhōu), November 14, 2010

Sicilian Defence B67

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. 0-0-0 Bd7 9. f3 Be7 10. h4 b5 11. Nxc6 Bxc6 12. Ne2 h6 13. Be3 Bb7 (13. ... h5 14. Bg5 Qb6 15. Kb1 Rd8 16. Nf4 Rd7 17. Qe1 Bb7 18. Be2 Rc7 19. Bd3 Qc5 20. Nh3 e5 21. Be3 Qc6 22. Ng5 Nd7 23. c3 Nc5 24. Bc2 Bc8 25. Qe2 f6 26. Nh3 Be6 27. Nf2 Na4 28. Bb3 Bc4 29. Qc2 Rd7 30. Rd5 Bd8 31. Nd1 Bb6 32. Rd2 Nc5 33. Bxc5 Bxc5 34. Re1 Ke7 35. Ne3 Bxe3 36. Rxe3 Rb8 37. Qd1 a5 38. a3 Qc5 39. Re1 Bxb3 40. Qxb3 Qc4 41. Qxc4 bxc4 42. Rd5 Rdb7 43. Re2 Rb5 44. Red2 a4 ½ : ½ Landa – Zabotin, 62nd Russian Championship Higher League, Ulan Ude 2009)
14. Nd4 Nd7 15. g3 Rc8 16. Bh3. With the obvious threat of Bh3xe6.
16. ... Bf6

17. Nb3?! White begins to lose the thread. More solid was 17. Kb1 Ne5 18. b3 with more or less even chances.
17. ... Ne5

18. Na5? Consistent and wrong. Comparatively best was 18. Qf2 Nc4 19. Bd4 0-0 with an easier game for Black.
18. ... Ba8 19. Bg2 Qc7

20. Kb1?? This loses quickly. 20. f4 Ng4∓ was a lesser evil.
20. ... b4! Black wins material.
21. f4 (21. Nb3 Nc4−+)
21. ... Ng4 22. e5 (22. Nb3 Nxe3−+)
22. ... Bxg2 23. exd6 Qd7 24. Rhe1 Bf3 25. Rc1 0-0 0 : 1.

The Hunger of Time

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Walter Arencibia Rodríguez
6th World Team Chess Championship, Beersheba, November 2, 2005
Sicilian Defence B42

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Ba7 7. 0-0 Ne7 8. c4 d6 9. Nc3 0-0 10. Qe2 Nbc6 11. Be3 e5 12. Nd5. The following year 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s got better luck with 12. Rfd1 Be6 13. Rac1 Ng6 14. Bxa7 Rxa7 15. Qe3 Qb8 16. Qb6 Rd8 17. Bf1 Nf8 18. Nd5 Nd7 19. Qc7 a5 20. Qxb8 Ncxb8 21. Nc7 a4 22. Na1 Nc5 23. f3 Kf8 24. Nc2 Ke7 25. Rd2 Nc6 26. Nb5 Ra6 27. Rcd1 Na5 28. Ne3 Rc6 29. Nc3 Na6? (⌓ 29. ... g6) 30. Nxa4 Nxc4 31. Bxc4! Bxc4 32. Nf5+ Kf8 33. b3 Be6 34. Nxd6+− 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – N. A. Kosintseva, Women’s World Chess Championship Knockout Tournament, Yekaterinburg 2006, match game 1. 12. ... a5! 13. a4 Bxe3 14. fxe3?! This is a strategically committal path with no return in terms of tactics. 14. ... Nxd5 15. exd5 Nb4

16. Bf5 Qb6 17. Nc1 Bxf5 18. Rxf5 Rac8 19. b3 e4 20. Qd2 Na6 21. Ra3 Nc5

22. Ne2? Leaving the b3-Pawn to its doom. It was wise to temporise with 22. h3(!), remaining only slightly inferior. 22. ... Qb4! 23. Qxb4 axb4 24. Ra2 Nxb3 25. Rb2 Na5 26. Rxb4 Rxc4 27. Rb6 Rxa4 28. Rxd6 Nc4 29. Rd7 Nxe3 30. Rg5 h6 31. Rg3 Ra1+ 32. Kf2 Nd1+ 33. Ke1 e3 0 : 1.

Her time not yet come. Photo: Yitzchak Levi.