Momentaneamente altrove

Chóngqìng, 3 agosto 2012
Foto: Isadora Duncan

A very clever girl (reloaded)

Il Delta della Luna Channel

A very clever girl

Hángzhōu, 27 luglio 2012

Who’s Who

— If we ask other players “How do you envision the world champion?”... in this case, we’ll ask you what character traits would you like to change in yourself? — Actually I’m satisfied with who I am right now. Maybe in my future growth, I will find some traits I’d like to revise. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) Jermuk, Russia, Sunday, 22 July 2012

Think Twice

Tatiana Anatolyevna Kosintseva – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
1st 杭州 (Hángzhōu) WGM Chess Tournament, 杭州 (Hángzhōu), July 18, 2011
Sicilian Defence B42

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. 0-0 e5 7. Bg5 h6. Of course after 7. ... exd4 8. e5 White wins back the piece with interest. 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Nf5 d5? Very unsound. 9. ... g6! 10. Ne3 Bc5 seems to be good. 10. Nc3 d4 11. Nd5 Qd8

12. Bc4!TN (12. Ng3 g6 13. f4 exf4 14. Nxf4 Nc6 15. Bc4 Ne5 16. Bb3 Bg7 17. Nge2 Bg4 18. h3 Bxe2 19. Qxe2 0-0 20. Rad1 Kh7 21. Nd3 ½ : ½ Vallejo Pons – Kunte, 11th Bagnkok Chess Club Thailand Open, Pattaya, April 14, 2011) 12. ... Nc6 (12. ... g6? 13. Nxd4! exd4? 14. Qxd4+−) 13. f4 Na5 14. Qd3 Bxf5 15. exf5 Rc8 16. Bb3 Nxb3 17. Qxb3 Bc5 18. fxe5 O-O 19. Kh1 Qd7

20. f6 g5 21. Qf3 Kh7 22. c4 dxc3 23. Nxc3 Rfd8 24. Rad1 Qe6 25. Qxb7. White has two Pawns ahead and also a crushing advantage. 25. ... Kg8 26. Qe4 Bf8 27. h3 Rb8 28. b3 Re8 29. Rd5 Rb4 30. Qd3 Rh4 31. Ne4 Rc8 32. Nd6 Rc3 33. Qxc3 Qxd5 34. Nf5 Re4 35. Qc8 Qb5 36. Ne7+ Kh7 37. Rg1 Bxe7 38. Qf5+ 1 : 0.

Such an outcome may suggest that perhaps it is time for 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) to rethink her theory. Photo courtesy of Chess-News.ru.

四 (Sì)

The 5th stage of FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2011–12 has kicked off on July 16 in Jermuk, a most attractive spa town in southern Armenia. No question, Asian Queen 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) must have crossed her fingers after grabbing number four at the drawing of lots! Photos: FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2011–12.

洪星 (Hóng Xīng) has a sad face, I would like to tell him that he does not have to grieve for me, but I cannot, and then I am irritated with him, for the other day he told me that in Chinese there is the same word for “death” and for the number “four”. The same word: Sì. The white-haired girl glues to the wall the paper figurines which her lover cut out with scissors for her, for the New Years’s festival. 谢娥 (Xiè’é) sings: “the north wind blows, the snow falls”. She has a high-pitched voice, but there is a secret pain in the voice of every Chinese girl, in the joy of every Chinese girl. No girl, no young people forgot the long, terrible misery, the long hunger, the long struggle, no one, not even the boy who studied geometry under the lamppost in front of the hospital door, the son of the poor soy milk vendor, a glass of soy milk costs only two cents of 元 (yuán), only five lire, it is the poor people’s milk. Workers going to work in the morning stop in front of the stand of the soy milk vendor. Soy milk vendors are amongst the poorest people in the world, but today they can send their son to middle school, and then to university. There are no longer closed doors to the poors, in China, no way is barred, there are no closed roads. A same word to say “death” and to say “four”. The word “sì”. Pronounced with sweetness, leaning the tip of the tongue against the teeth, as if the “ì” were mute. Curzio Malaparte, “Io, in Russia e in Cina”

In a Far Away Place

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 阮露斐 (Ruǎn Lùfěi)
FIDE Women's Grand Prix 2011–12; 5th stage; Jermuk, July 25, 2012
Spanish Game C77

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. c3 d6 8. 0-0 h6 9. Be3 0-0 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. h3 Rb8. Varying from 11. ... Bb6 which yet brought 阮露斐 (Ruǎn Lùfěi) good luck in a previous game against the same opponent: 12. d4 Bb7 13. d5 Ne7 14. Bxb6 cxb6 15. Bc2 Qd7 16. Re1 Ng6 17. Nf1 Nf4 18. Ne3 Kh7 19. h4 Bc8 20. Nh2 Rg8 21. g3 g5 22. Kh1 Qh3 23. Rg1 N4h5 24. hxg5 Rxg5 25. Qf1 Ng4 26. Nexg4 Bxg4 27. Qxh3 Bxh3 28. Nf3 Rgg8 29. a4 Nf6 30. Rge1 bxa4 31. Rxa4 a5 32. Raa1 b5 33. Bd3 Rgb8 34. Nd2 Nd7 35. b4 axb4 36. cxb4 Nb6 37. Ra5 Rxa5 38. bxa5 Na4 39. Rb1 Bd7 40. Nb3 Rc8 41. Kg2 Kg7 42. Rc1 Nc5 43. Nxc5 dxc5 44. a6 c4 45. Be2 Ra8 46. Ra1 Ra7 47. Ra5 Kf8 48. Kf3 Ke7 49. Ke3 Kd6 50. Kd2 Kc5 51. Kc3 Kb6 52. Kb4 f6 53. Bh5 Rxa6 54. Rxa6+ Kxa6 55. f4 Kb6 56. f5 Bc8 57. Be8 c3 58. Kxc3 Kc5 59. Bc6 Ba6 60. Kb3 b4 61. Kc2 b3+ 62. Kxb3 Bd3 63. Kc3 Bxe4 64. Bd7 Kxd5 65. Be6+ Kc5 66. Bc8 Bf3 67. Kd3 e4+ 68. Ke3 Kd5 69. Kf4 Kd4 70. Bb7 Bh1 71. Ba6 e3 72. Be2 Be4 73. Bd1 Bd3 74. Kf3 Bxf5 75. Ba4 Bg4+ 76. Kg2 Kd3 77. Bb5+ Kd2 0 : 1 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 阮露斐 (Ruǎn Lùfěi), 4th Torch Real Estate Chinese Chess League, 温州 (Wēnzhōu) 2008. 12. d4 Bb6 13. Bc2 Bd7 14. Re1 Qc8 15. a3 Na5 16. b4 exd4 17. Bxd4 Bxd4 18. cxd4 Nc4 19. Nxc4 bxc4 20. Nd2 Bb5 21. Qf3 Qe6 22. Rab1 d5 23. e5 Nh7 24. Nf1 Ng5 25. Qc3 f5

26. h4. Much stronger seems 26. f4 Ne4 27. Bxe4 fxe4 (idem to say 27. ... dxe4 28. Ne3) 28. Ne3 with an overwhelming bind. 26. ... Ne4 27. Qh3 Bd7 28. Rbc1 Qf7 29. Qe3 Nf6 30. Qf3

30. ... Ng4? Black self-traps her Knight. 30. ... Ne4 was called for, and if 31. Qf4 Black can reply 31. ... a5! 32. bxa5 c5 33. f3 cxd4! 34. fxe4 fxe4!∞ with a powerful dynamic compensation for the sacrificed Knight. 31. Qf4+− (Δ f2-f3) 31. ... h5 32. Ng3 Rf8 33. f3 Nh6 34. Qg5 Be8 35. e6 Qg6 36. Re5 c6 37. Ne2 Kh7 38. Nf4 Qxg5 39. hxg5 Ng8 40. e7 1 : 0.

Just a replica of the Women’s World Chess Championship 2010. Photo: Alexandra Kosteniuk’s www.chessblog.com.

A League of Her Own

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 万云国 (Wàn Yúnguó)
8th “弈诚杯” (“Yìchéng Cup” Chinese Chess League; 泰州 (Tàizhōu), June 29, 2012

Sicilian Defence B23

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. Be3 b6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8. Bh6 Bxh6 9. Qxh6 Ng4. If 8. ... e5 then (by transposition) 9. h3⩲ Chernikov – W. Rosen, 11th World Senior Chess Championship, Arco 2001. 10. Qd2 e5 11. h3 Nf6 12. f4 exf4. Or similarly 12. ... Qe7 13. Nf3 exf4 14. Qxf4 Nh5 15. Qh6 f5? (⌓ 15. ... Ng3 16. Rg1 Nf5 17. Qf4 Nd4 18. 0-0-0⩲) 16. 0-0 f4 17. Ne2 Bd7 18. Nxf4 0-0-0 19. Qg5 Qe8 20. Nxh5 gxh5 21. Qe5 Qg8 22. Qxh5 Qg7 23. Qe5 Qh6 24. Qg5 Qd6 25. Qe5 Qh6 26. Qg5 Qd6 27. e5 Qd5 28. Kh2 Rhg8 29. Qe3 Rde8 30. Qe4 Qe6 31. Nd2 Qh6 32. Nc4 Re7 33. Rf6 Qg5 34. Qf3 Kc7 35. Re1 Be6 36. Ne3 Kb7 37. Qf4 Qh5 38. Nf5 Bxf5 39. Qxf5 Qh4 40. Re3 Qd4 41. Qe4 Qd7 42. e6 Qe8 43. Rf7 Rg7 44. Rxg7 Rxg7 45. e7 Rf7 46. Qe6 a6 47. Qxf7 1 : 0 Šolak – Pap, 1st Serbia and Montenegro Team Chess Championship, Budva 2003. 13. Qxf4 Be6 14. Nf3 Nd7. 14. ... Nh5 seems a little better, but after 15. Qe5 0-0 16. g4 Ng7 17. 0-0-0 White keeps a pleasant edge. 15. 0-0-0 0-0 (15. ... Qf6 16. Qd6)

16. d4 cxd4 17. Nxd4 Rc8 18. e5 Qe7? Black — though far from solving all his difficuties — ought to play 18. ... Qc7 19. Rhe1 Bd5 preventing, at least for a while, Nc3-e4. 19. Ne4+− f5 20. exf6 Nxf6 21. Nd6

21. ... Ng4 22. Nxc8 Bxc8 23. Nxc6 Qc5 24. Rd8 Rxd8 25. Nxd8 Bf5 26. Qd2 Ne5 27. Re1 Bxc2 28. Ne6 Qc4 29. Qd8+ Kf7 30. Qf8+ 1 : 0.

Strictly

Clarice Benini at Semmering

Footage from the Women’s International Tournament at Semmering 1936 (July, 1–16), in which took part also Clarice Benini. Courtesy of Historical Archive of the Luce Institute. Clarice (centre, wearing a white dress).

Black on White

Alisa Mikhailovna Galliamova – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2011–12; 4th stage; Kazan, June 20, 2012
Modern Benoni A70

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. Nf3 0-0 9. Bd3 a6 10. a4 Nbd7 11. 0-0 Nh5 12. Bg5 Bf6 13. Be3 Re8 14. Nd2 Bd4 15. Bxd4 cxd4 16. Ne2 Ne5 17. Ra3

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) then praised this move, probably regretting not having played 16. ... Nc5 (instead of 16. ... Ne5).
17. ... Qb6 18. Qb3. By exchanging Queens, White content herself with very little.
18. ... Qxb3 19. Rxb3 Bd7 20. Ra1 b5 21. a5 Nf6 22. Nxd4 Nxd3 23. Rxd3 Nxe4 24. Nxe4 Rxe4 25. Rc1 Rc8 26. Rxc8+ Bxc8. The ending should be a draw, but White’s next move makes things decidedly more complex.

27. Re3?! 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) suggested afterwards 27. Nc2 so as to avoid the exchange of minor pieces.
27. ... Rxd4 28. Re8+ Kg7 29. Rxc8 Kf6 30. Rc6 Ke5 31. Rxa6 Rb4 32. Rb6 Kxd5

33. a6. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) then admitted that both her herself and Galliamova did not notice that 33. Rb8! would have still drawn.
33. ... Rxb2 34. a7? White was still in time for 34. Rb8! saving the day.
34. ... Rb1+ 35. Kh2 Ra1 36. Rxb5+ Kc6 37. Rb2 Rxa7 38. g4 d5 39. Kg3 Re7 40. Kf4 d4 41. Kg5 Kc5 42. f4 d3 43. f5 Rd7 44. Rb1 d2 45. Rd1 Kc4 46. f6 Kd3 47. Kh6 Ke2 48. Rxd2+ Kxd2 0 : 1.

Not all rook endings are drawn! Photo: Anastasia Valeryevna Karlovich.

Lonely Planet

Hóu Yìfán (侯逸凡), l’inesauribile Campionessa del Mondo di scacchi, è in giro come una trottola per le province del Celeste Impero in rappresentanza dello Jiángsū Tàizhōu Team nel Campionato Cinese a squadre, un itinerante, infinito tour della Cina (22 turni) con residenza di viaggio in sei città: Pechino (28 aprile-I maggio); Tàizhōu (27-29 giugno); Shànghăi (11-13 luglio); Shēnzhèn (14-17 settembre); Hángzhōu (6-9 ottobre) e Tiānjīn (19-22 dicembre). Ecco Yìfán all’opera contro la corrispondente scacchiera dell’Hébĕi Sports Lottery Team:

Hóu Yìfán – Wàn Yúnguó

Tàizhōu, 29 giugno 2012

Siciliana B23

1. e4 c5 2. Cc3 Cc6 3. Ab5 g6 4. Axc6 dxc6 5. d3 Ag7 6. Ae3 b6 7. Dd2 Cf6 8. Ah6 (8. h3) 8. ... Axh6 (se 8. ... 0-0 allora 9. Axg7 Rxg7 10. f4 Dc7 11. Cf3 Aa6 12. b3 Tad8 13. De3 con preferenza per il Bianco, Solak – Charbonneau, XXXIV Olimpiade, Istanbul 2000) 9. Dxh6 Cg4 10. Dd2 (10. Dg7 Dd4= Scopetani – Lucci, Firenze, I aprile 2012) 10. ... e5 11. h3 Cf6 12. f4 (12. Dh6 Cg8 Δ 13. Dg7 Df6) 12. ... exf4 (comunque dopo 12. ... De7 13. Cf3 exf4 14. Dxf4 Ch5 15. Dh6 il Bianco serba l’iniziativa, Solak – Pap, Budva 2003) 13. Dxf4 Ae6 14. Cf3 Cd7 15. 0-0-0 0-0 16. d4! (Yìfán profitta dell’iniziativa con timing esemplare) 16. ... cxd4 17. Cxd4 Tc8 18. e5 De7? Fuori strada. Dopo 18. ... Dc7! 19. The1 il vantaggio del Bianco è più circoscritto. 19. Ce4 f5? Un altro metro sottoterra, ma la situazione del Nero era probabilmente già compromessa. Per esempio: 19. ... c5 20. Cf6+ Rg7 (20. ... Rh8? 21. Cc6!! Txc6 22. Txd7! Axd7 23. Dh6 Txf6 24. exf6+-) 21. Cxe6+ fxe6 22. Txd7 Dxd7 23. Td1 Db7 24. Dh4 Txf6 25. Dxf6+ Rh6 (25. ... Rg8? 26. Dxe6+ Rh8 27. Td7+-) 26. g4 con attacco irresistibile. 19. ... Axa2? è vieppiù confutata da 20. Cf6+! con una pointe elegante: 20. ... Rh8 21. Dh6 Cxf6 22. Cf5!+-.20. exf6 Cxf6 21. Cd6+- Cg4 (disperazione, ma né 21. ... Tc7 22. The1 Cd5 23. Dg3 Tf6 24. Cxe6 Txe6 25. Txe6 Dxe6 26. Te1+- né 21. ... Cd5 22. De5+- sovvertivano l’esito) 22. Cxc8 Axc8 23. Cxc6 Dc5 24. Td8 Txd8 25. Cxd8 Af5 (25. ... Cf2 26. Df7+ Rh8 27. Df6+ Rg8 28. Cc6!+-) 26. Dd2 Ce5 (26. ... Ce3 27. Cb7+-) 27. Te1 Axc2 (27. ... Cd3+ 28. Dxd3! Axd3 29. Te8+ Rg7 30. Ce6++-) 28. Ce6 (28. Dxc2?? Cd3+) 28. ... Dc4 (28. ... Cd3+ 29. Dxd3! Axd3+ 30. Cxc5 bxc5 31. Te7+-) 29. Dd8+ Rf7 30. Df8+ il Nero abbandona.

Hóu Yìfán

Too Much, to Little

Maria Nikolaeva Velcheva – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
37th Women’s Chess Olympiad; Turin, May 28, 2006
Sicilian Defence B58

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nf3 h6 8. 0-0 Be7 9. Re1 0-0 10. h3 Be6 11. Bf1 Nb8 12. b3 a6 13. a4 Nbd7 14. Bb2 Rc8 15. Nd2 Qc7 16. Nc4 Qc6 17. Qf3 Rfe8 18. Ne3 Bf8 19. Ncd5 Bxd5 20. exd5 Qc7 21. a5 g6 22. Nc4 Rcd8 23. Rad1 Bg7 24. Qe3 Nh5 25. Ba3 Bf8 26. g3 f5 27. Bg2 Kh7 28. Bf3 Nhf6 29. Qd2 Nc5 30. Qe3 Ncd7 31. Qd2 Nc5 32. Qe3 Nce4 33. Bg2 Qf7 34. Qd3 Be7 35. Re2 h5 36. Kh2

36. ... h4 37. gxh4? (37. g4!) 37. ... Nh5 38. Bc1 Nc5 39. Qd2 Nf4 40. Ree1 Bxh4 41. b4 Ne4 42. Bxe4 fxe4 43. Rxe4 Qf5 44. Qe3

44. ... Bxf2 (44. ... Bg3+! 45. Qxg3 Qxe4−+) 45. Qf3 Nxd5 46. Qxf5 gxf5 47. Re2 Nc3 48. Rxf2 Nxd1 49. Rxf5 Rc8 50. Nxd6 Rxc2+ 51. Kg3

51. ... Rg8+ (51. ... Re6−+) 52. Bg5 Rg6 53. Ne4 Rcc6? (53. ... Nc3!−+) 54. Rxe5! Rce6 55. Rxe6 Rxe6 56. Nc5 Rg6 57. Kf4 Nf2 58. h4 Nh3+ 59. Kf5 Nxg5 60. hxg5 Rg7 61. Ne6 Rf7+ 62. Ke5 Kg6 63. Kd6 Rf5 64. Nc5 Rf4 65. Nxb7 Rxb4 66. Nc5 Rb5 67. Nxa6 Rxa5 68. Nc5 Kxg5 69. Kd5 Kf5 70. Kd4 Ra8 71. Kd5 Rd8+ 72. Kc4 Ke5 73. Nd3+ Ke4 74. Nc5+ Ke3 75. Kc3 Rd4 76. Nb3 Rh4 77. Nc5 Rg4 78. Nb3 Ke4 79. Kc4 Ke5+ 80. Kc5 Rg2 81. Kc4 Rc2+ 82. Kd3 Rh2 83. Kc4 Rh4+ 84. Kc5 Rh8 85. Kc4 Rc8+ 86. Kd3 Kd5 87. Nd2 Ra8 88. Nb3 Ra4 89. Kc3 Rh4 90. Nd2 Rh3+ 91. Kc2 Kc5 92. Nb3+ Kb4 93. Nd2 Re3 94. Nb1 Rb3 95. Nd2 Rc3+ 96. Kd1 Rd3 97. Kc2 Rd4 98. Nb1 Rh4 99. Nd2 Rh3 100. Nb1 Rg3 101. Nd2 Rc3+ 102. Kd1 Rc8 103. Ke2 Kc3 104. Ke3 Re8+ 105. Ne4+ Kc4 106. Kf4 Kd4 107. Nd6 Re1 108. Nf5+ Kd5 109. Ne3+ Kd4 110. Nf5+ Kd5 ½ . ½.

Much work for little recompense. Photo: Jay Nikki Yongwei Jiang.

肢体语言 (Body language)

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk

Women’s Grand Prix 2011–12; 4th stage; Kazan, June 18, 2012
Vienna Game C26

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bb4 4. Bg2 c6 5. d4 d6 6. Ne2 0-0 7. h3 Nbd7. Kosteniuk deviates from 7. ... exd4 8. Qxd4 Bc5 9. Qd1 Re8 10. 0-0 Na6 11. g4 Be6 12. Bg5 Qe7 13. Qc1 h6 14. Bh4 Bc4 15. Re1 d5? (15. ... Bxe2 16. Rxe2 g5 17. Bg3 Nc7) 16. exd5 cxd5 17. Qd2 Qd6 (Black also stands very badly after 17. ... Ne4 18. Nxe4 Qxh4 19. Nxc5 Nxc5 20. Nf4) 18. Ng3 Qb6 19. b3 Bb4 20. a3 Ba5 21. b4 Nxb4 22. axb4 Bxb4 23. Reb1 a5 24. Na4 Qc6 25. c3 Be7 26. Nb6 Rad8 27. Nxc4 Qxc4 28. Nf5 Bc5 29. Re1 1 : 0 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí), 1st China Women Masters Tournament, 无锡 (Wúxī) 2011. 8. 0-0 Re8 9. Be3 Ba5 10. a4 a6 11. g4 Nf8 12. Ng3 Ng6 13. f4 exf4 14. Bxf4 Nxf4 15. Rxf4 Nd7 16. Qd3 Qb6 17. Rb1 Ne5 18. Qd1 Ng6 19. Rf2 Qd8 20. Nce2 Bc7 21. Qd2 d5?! 21. ... c5 22. c3 cxd4 23. cxd4 f6 24. Nh5 d5 25. exd5 Nh4 seems good for Black. 22. e5 Be6 23. Rbf1 c5 24. c3 cxd4 25. cxd4 Rf8 (25. ... Bb6 26. Kh1 Rc8 27. Nh5→) 26. Nh5 Qh4 27. Neg3 f6

28. Nxg7! “I was satisfied with the position I’ve got after the opening but then I started to make moves which I could not really explain and got into a trouble. I think 28. Nxg7 simply wins in that position”, Kosteniuk eventually said. However, there was at least a “dual”: 28. Rxf6! gxf6 29. Qh6 Rf7 30. Nf5+− winning easily. 28. ... Kxg7 29. Nh5+ Kh8 30. Qh6 Rg8 31. Rxf6 (31. exf6+−) 31. ... Rae8. “I was not sure actually about 28. Nxg7 because I think Black could have defended more precisely by playing 31. ... Bb6. There are some chances to give a perpetual check there”, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) said afterwards. This sounds like a very strange comment, because after 31. ... Bb6 32. Kh1! White wins in all lines.

32. Rf7! Bxf7 33. Rxf7 Nf8 34. Rxc7 Rg6 35. Rxh7+! Nxh7 36. Qxg6 Rg8 37. Qf7 Qg5 38. Qxd5 Nf8 39. Kh2 Qd2 40. Qd6 Nh7 41. e6 Qe3 42. d5 b5 43. axb5 axb5 44. Qf4 Qxf4+ 45. Nxf4 Kg7 46. Nh5+ Kh6 47. d6 1 : 0.

Put simply, body language speaks louder than words! Photo: Anastasiya Karlovich.

现在完成式 (Present perfect)

Two-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) enjoying the sun and sea at Santa Giulia Bay, Porto-Vecchio, southern Corsica on May 22, 2012. Photo collage courtesy of her herself.

Through Barriers

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Martin Voigt
12th Bangkok Chess Club Open; Bangkok, April 16, 2012
Caro-Kann Defence B18

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. Nh3 e6 7. Nf4 Bd6 8. c3 Nf6 9. h4 Qc7 10. Qf3. The vintage theory reference is 10. h5 Bxf4 11. Bxf4 Qxf4 12. hxg6 fxg6 13. Qd2 Qxd2+ 14. Kxd2 Nbd7 15. Re1 Kf7 16. Bc4 Rae8 17. Bb3 c5 18. Ne4 Nxe4+ 19. Rxe4 Nf6 20. Re5 cxd4 21. cxd4 Re7 22. Rhe1 Rhe8 23. Kd3 h6 24. f4 ½–½ Boleslavsky – T. V. Petrosian, Candidates Tournament, Zürich 1953.
10. ... Nbd7 11. h5 Bc2 12. h6 gxh6 13. Bd3. 13. Ngh5 Nxh5 14. Rxh5 0-0-0 15. Bd3 Bxd3 16. Nxd3⩲ looks a little more promising.
13. ... Bxd3 14. Nxd3 Bxg3 15. fxg3 Rg8 16. Bf4 Qa5 17. 0-0? A bit too speculative. Best seems 17. Rxh6 0-0-0∞ eventually followed by ... Rg8-g6 as played in the game Fedorchuk – Lenič, 31st German Schach Bundesliga, Mülheim an der Ruhr 2011.
17. ... Qh5 18. Bc7 Qxf3 19. Rxf3 Ne4 20. Re1 f5 21. c4? White’s central breakthrough will prove to be literally catastrophic. She should try to hold on by 21. Nf2 followed by the exchange of Knights.
21. ... Ndf6 22. Be5 Ng4 23. d5 0-0-0! 24. dxc6 Rxd3 25. cxb7+ Kxb7 26. Rxd3 Nxe5−+ 27. Rb3+ Kc6 28. Ra3 Kb6 29. c5+ Kb7 30. b4 a6 31. Rb3 h5 32. a4 Nc6 33. Rd1 Kc7 34. b5 axb5 35. axb5 Ne5 36. Rc1 Nxg3? (36. ... Nd7 37. c6 Ndc5−+)
37. Ra1! Ne2+ 38. Kf1 Nd4 39. Rb4? (39. Rb2!=)
39. ... Rg4!−+ 40. g3 Nc2? The fatal 40th move throws away any Black’s advantage. After 40. ... Nd3 41. b6+ Kb8 White could well resign.
41. Rxg4 hxg4 42. Ra7+ Kb8 43. Rxh7 Nd4 44. Re7 Kc8 45. b6 Nec6 46. Rc7+ Kb8 47. Kf2 e5 48. Ke3 Nb4 49. Rf7 Nd5+ 50. Kd3 Nb4+ 51. Kc4 Nbc6 52. Kd5 e4 53. Rf8+ Kb7

54. Rf7+ Ka6?? Harakiri in the most dramatic style! Any other King’s move would have given a draw.
55. b7 Ka7 56. Rc7 e3 57. Rxc6 Nc2. Both 57. ... e2 58. Rb6 and 57. ... Nxc6 58. Kxc6 e2 59. Kc7 also lose on the spot.
58. Rb6 Kb8 59. c6 1–0.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) walking through barriers. Photo: Bangkok Chess Club.

我偶然，你必然 (I accidentally, you absolutely)

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Yrjö Aukusti Rantanen
12th Bangkok Chess Club Open; Bangkok, April 18, 2012
r5Q1/1ppk1p1r/p2pbq2/2b1pN2/4Pp2/2PP3P/PP3P2/R3K1R1 w Q - 0 1

Position after ... Ke8-d7

White to move and gain the Exchange, but 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) stands before a dilemma: which Rook to take?
1. Qxa8? And what if it’s the wrong one? After the correct 1. Qxh7 Rh8 2. Qg7 Qxg7 3. Nxg7 Rxh3 4. Nxe6 fxe6! Black has only a Pawn for the Exchange, but his nut is hard to crack.
1. ... Bxf5? What a difference an inversion of moves makes! 1. ... Bxf2+! would have left White without resource.
2. Rg8! Threatening Qa8-e8#. 2. exf5?? Bxf2+! could transpose to the line given in the previous note.
2. ... Bxf2+! 3. Kd2. Not 3. Kxf2?? on account of 3. ... Qh4+ 4. Ke2 Bg4+!! and Black wins in all variations.
3. ... Kc6 4. exf5 Rxh3? (⌓ 4. ... Qxf5 5. Rb8 Qxh3 6. Qxb7+ Kd7=)
5. Rb8 Bb6? 6. Qxb7+ Kd7 7. Qc8+ Kc6 8. Qe8+ Kd5

9. Rxb6? Both are short of time. Under better circumstances 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) would have never missed 9. Qa4!+− with threat of mate at c4.
9. ... Rh2+ 10. Kc1 Qxf5! This must have come as a cold shower to 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): Black sacrifices a whole Rook to launch a devastating attack! Perhaps she only counted on 10. ... cxb6?? 11. Qa8+ Kc5 12. b4+ Kb5 13. a4#.
11. Qa8+ Ke6 12. Qc8+ Kf6 13. Qxc7 Kg7 14. Qxd6 Qg5 15. Qc5 f3+ 16. Kb1 f2 17. a3 f1=Q+ 18. Ka2 Qf2 19. Qb4 Rh8. And here Rantanen offered a draw, which 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) very happily accepted!
½–½.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) staring at her opponent in open-mouthed surprise after the draw offer. Screenshot courtesy of Karpovsky Chess Wannabe.

Working Class Heroine

倪华 (Ní Huá) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

3rd 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Grandmaster Chess Tournament; 儋州 (Dānzhōu), June 6, 2012

Sicilian Defence B82

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 Be7 7. f4 0-0 8. Qf3 e5 9. Nf5 (9. fxe5 dxe5 10. Nf5 Bxf5 11. Qxf5 Nc6=)
9. ... Bxf5 10. exf5 Nbd7 11. 0-0-0 Rc8 12. Bb5 Rxc3 13. bxc3 d5!?TN (13. ... Qc7 14. Bxd7 Nxd7 15. fxe5 dxe5 16. Qd5 Qxc3 17. Qb3 Qc6 18. Qd5 Qc3 19. Qb3 Qc6 20. Qd5 ½–½ M. Hoffmann – Babula, 30th Schachbundesliga, Berlin 2008)
14. Rxd5 Ba3+ (14. ... e4!)
15. Kb1 Qa5 16. fxe5 Nxe5 17. Rxe5 Qxc3 18. Bc1 Qxe5 19. Bxa3 Ne4? 19. ... Qxb5+ 20. Qb3 Qxb3+ 21. axb3 Re8 was roughly level.
20. Bb4? A blind spot for 倪华 (Ní Huá). After 20. Qd3! Black is in trouble; for example: 20. ... Nc3+ 21. Ka1 Nxb5+ 22. Bb2 Qc5 23. c4 Nd6 24. Ba3 winning material.
20. ... Qxb5 21. Qxe4 Re8? Better was 21. ... a5! at once, in order to avoid the exchange of Queens.
22. Qd4 a5 23. a4! Transposing into a winning endgame.
23. ... Qxb4+ (23. ... Qxa4 24. Bc3+−)
24. Qxb4 axb4 25. Rd1 g6 26. f6 h5 27. Kb2 Re6 28. Rd8+ Kh7 29. Rd7 b6 30. Rxf7+ Kh6 31. Rf8 Kh7 (31. ... g5 32. f7 Kg7 33. Re8! Kxf7 34. Rxe6 Kxe6 35. Kb3+−)
32. h4 Rc6 33. Kb3 Rc3+ 34. Kxb4 Rxc2 35. Rb8 Rf2 (35. ... Rxg2?? 36. f7+−)
36. Rxb6 Rxg2 37. a5 g5 38. f7!! An elegant solution.
38. ... Kg7

39. Rf6! Morphy’s legacy. 39. ... Kf8 40. hxg5 Rxg5 41. a6 Rg1 42. a7 Ra1 43. Rh6! Only this way!
1–0. For if 43. ... Kg7 then 44. Rf8!+−, while if 43. ... Kxf7 then 44. Rxh5+− (Δ Th5-a5); finally, if 43. ... Rxa7 then 44. Rh8+ Kxf7 45. Rh7+−.

A lone woman in a man’s world.

Testamento di un poeta

In mortem Ei fu, io sono E sull’ermo colle D’alloro cinto All’ora fatale, prode, m’appresto Il timor mi fa vile Ma più ardito l’agognato plauso E se di lui l’umana gente Ebbe a dir gran lode E sperticato elogio Che dirà di me per cotanto canto? Ei fu ed io sono Ma sol nella morte il volgo il mito incarna Io sarò! Sia pur cocendo ne lo tormento eterno. Isadora Duncan

Alessandra & Lorenzo in the press!

Press review

Bangkok Carousel

万云国 (Wàn Yúnguó) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
12th Bangkok Chess Club Open; Bangkok, April 15, 2012
Sicilian Defence B88

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Nf6 7. Bb3 a6 8. Be3 Qc7 9. f4 Na5 10. g4 Nc4 11. Bxc4 Qxc4

12. Qf3!? Not all the new is better than all the old. Better is 12. g5 Nd7 13. Rf1!↑ T. A. Kosintseva – Gara, 35th Women’s Chess Olympiad, Bled 2002. 12. ... Nd7 13. 0-0-0 b5 14. e5 Rb8 15. Qc6

15. ... Qxc6. International Master Oleg Vladimirovich Stetsko recommends 15. ... Bb7! 16. Qxc4 bxc4 17. Rhe1 dxe5 18. fxe5 Bb4⩱ — instead after the text the game moves rapidly towards a draw: 16. Nxc6 Ra8= 17. Rhf1 dxe5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. fxe5 Bb7 20. Rf4 Be7 21. Ne4 Bxe4 22. Rxe4 Rd8 23. Rxd8+ Kxd8 24. g5 Kd7 25. c4 Rb8 26. Rf4 Ke8 27. h4 bxc4 28. Rxc4 Rb5 29. Bd4 h6 30. gxh6 gxh6 31. Bc3 h5 32. Kd2 Kf8 33. Ra4 Rb6 34. Rc4 Kg7 35. a4 Kg6 36. Ke3 Kf5 37. Rf4+ Kg6 38. Rd4 Kf5 39. Rf4+ ½ : ½.

Dragon Ladies

On Wednesday, April 11, 2012 13th Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) gave a 30-board simultaneous exhibition in the Blue Room of Government House of Thailand in Bangkok, her most notable opponent being none other than 28th Prime Minister of Thailand, Yingluck Shinawatra. Photos: Salita Susing.

At Last

刘庆南 (Liú Qìngnán) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
43rd Chinese Chess Championship; 兴化 (Xīnghuà), March 29, 2012
Sicilian Defence B25

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4 4. Bc4 e6 5. Nge2 Nf6 6. 0-0 a6 7. d3 b5 8. Bb3 Nxb3 9. axb3 Bb7 10. Bg5 d6 11. f4 Be7 12. Ng3 h6 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. f5 (14. Qe2 b4 15. Nd1 0-0 16. Kh1 g6 17. e5 dxe5 18. fxe5 Bg7 19. Nf2 h5 20. Nh3 Qd4 21. Rae1 Qxb2 22. Ng5 Qd4 23. Nxh5 Qh4 24. Nxg7 Qxg5 25. Rf6 Kxg7 26. Qf2 Rae8 27. h3 Re7 28. Kg1 Rc8 29. h4 Qh5 30. Rf1 Rcc7 31. Qg3 Bc6 32. R1f4 Be8 33. Rg4 Rcd7 34. Rg5 Qd1+ 35. Kh2 Qxc2 36. Rf3 Rd4 37. h5 Qd2 38. Rf6 Rxd3 39. hxg6 fxg6 40. Rgxg6+ Kh8 41. Rh6+ 1 : 0 Degraeve – Roser, 23th Cappelle-la-Grande Open, Cappelle-la-Grande 2007) 14. ... Bd4+ 15. Kh1 Qg5 16. Nge2 Be5 17. fxe6 fxe6 18. Ng1 Qg6

Now Black might pay the price for her failure to castle: 19. Nxb5! d5! The best reply. If 19. ... axb5? then 20. Rxa8+ Bxa8 21. Qa1! Bc6 (or 21. ... Bb7 22. Qa7 Bc8 23. Qc7+−) 22. Qa6 Kd7 23. Qa7+ Kc8 24. Rf7+− winning at once. 20. Nc3 Bxc3 21. bxc3 dxe4 22. dxe4 Qxe4 23. Rf2 Qd5 24. Rd2 Qg5 25. Rf2 Rf8 26. Rxf8+ Kxf8 27. Qd6+ Kg8 28. Qxe6+ Kh7 29. Nf3 Qh5 30. Qe2 Re8 31. Qf2 Qf5 32. Rf1 Re6 33. Kg1 Bxf3 34. gxf3 Qg5+ 35. Kh1 Re3 36. c4 Qe5 37. Qg3 Qf5 38. Rf2 Re1+ 39. Kg2 Re6 40. Qh4 Qe5 41. Qe4+ Qxe4 42. fxe4 Rxe4 43. Kf3 Re6 44. Rd2 Kg6 45. Rd8 Kf5 46. Rc8 Ke5 47. Rxc5+ Kd4 48. Rd5+ Kc3

49. Rd3+ Kxc2? After defending wonderfully, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) finally misses her best opportunity: 49. ... Kb4! 50. Re3 Rf6+ 51. Ke4 Re6+ 52. Kd3 Rd6+ 53. Ke2 a5 with a likely draw. 50. Re3 Rb6 51. Ke4 a5 52. c5 Rb8 53. Kd5 Rd8+ 54. Kc4 Rd2 55. h3 Kb2 56. Kb5 Rc2 57. c6 g5 58. Kb6 Ka3 59. c7 1 : 0.

Dance on stage