Games
[Event "Women's Grand Prix"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2016.11.24"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Batsiashvili, Nino"]
[Black "Skripchenko, Almira"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A41"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2456"]
[Annotator "Jovi"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[WhiteTeam "Georgia"]
[BlackTeam "France"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GEO"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]
[WhiteClock "0:24:36"]
[BlackClock "0:13:12"]
1. d4 d6 2. c4 e5 3. d5 {In the press conference, Batsiashvili admitted that
this rare opening did not come as a surprise, and she showed she had just the
weapon to defeat it.} f5 4. e4 {a rare choice and one that shocked Skripchenko
as she told the audience that all she knew was 4... Nf6. Batsiashvili, on the
other hand, was confidently in her preparation.} Nf6 5. exf5 Bxf5 6. Nc3 Nbd7 (
6... Na6 7. Nge2 c6 8. Ng3 Bd7 9. Be2 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Be3 Qc7 12. f4 {
White had a very pleasant position in (62) Ward,C (2422)-Rudd,J (2278)
Aberystwyth WLS 2014}) 7. Nge2 a5 {In light of what happened, this move is
simply too slow.} ({Even the most natural move on the board} 7... Be7 {can
give White a dangerous initiative} 8. Ng3 $1 Bg6 9. h4 $1 O-O 10. h5 Bf7 11.
Nf5 c6 12. Qf3 Kh8 13. Qg3 Rg8 14. h6 g6 15. Nxe7 Qxe7 16. Bg5 {looks very
uncomfortable.}) (7... Bg4 8. h3 Bh5 9. g4 Bf7 10. Bg2 Be7 {I didn't find this
to be satisfactory either.}) 8. Ng3 $1 Bg6 9. h4 Nc5 10. h5 Bf7 11. Be3 Nfd7
12. Nce4 Nxe4 13. Nxe4 Be7 14. Qg4 {By playing very natural moves, White has
accrued a very large advantage, but now White has the amazing sequence:} g6 15.
hxg6 Bxg6 16. Rxh7 $3 {a beautiful tactic.} Rxh7 (16... Bxh7 17. Qh5+ Kf8 18.
Bh6+ {leads to checkmate.}) 17. Qxg6+ Rf7 18. Be2 $3 {Very precise! Black is
stuck for a move!} Nf8 19. Qh5 Bf6 (19... Qd7 20. Bg4 Qa4 21. Be6 Qb4+ 22. Bd2
{gives no respite.}) 20. Bg4 (20. c5 Qe7 21. Bb5+ Nd7 22. Rc1 {Black is
getting suffocated.}) 20... Qe7 21. Ng5 c5 (21... c6 {doesn't provide any
relief as White has the stunning} 22. c5 $1 Rd8 23. Rd1 cxd5 24. Rxd5 dxc5 25.
Bxc5 {is devastating.}) 22. Be6 Bxg5 23. Bxg5 Qc7 24. a4 b6 25. Ra3 {with
zugwang. Funnily enough this sequence of moves was all predicted by
commentator Evgeny Miroshnichenko! Definitely a line to add to the white
repertoire!} 1-0
[Event "Women's Grand Prix"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2016.11.20"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kosteniuk, Alexandra"]
[Black "Khademalsharieh, Sarasadat"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2537"]
[BlackElo "2439"]
[Annotator "Jovi"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Iran"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "IRI"]
[WhiteClock "0:03:02"]
[BlackClock "0:01:40"]
{The King Hunt:} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5
7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 exd4 12. cxd4 Nd7 13. Rb1 {
This is one of those mysterious rook moves Nimzowitsch wrote about, but the
plan will become clear later.} Bf6 14. Nf1 Na5 15. Bc2 c5 16. b4 $5 {The point
of the mysterious rook move is revealed, and true to Alexandra's attacking
style, she plays to get the maximum out of the position. I am personally
unsure about such a direct approach. I would be hesitant to allow Black such a
great square on c4!} ({White can close the position and seize central space
with} 16. d5 {when the position takes on a Benoni character. Black has an
active queenside pawn structure, but the bishop on b7 is bad, and White's
central space can give an edge. It's all a matter of taste really!} Nc4 17. b3
Nce5 18. N3h2 $1 Ng6 19. Ng3 Bc3 20. Bd2 Bxd2 21. Qxd2 a5 22. Ng4 Nf6 {and
here I would play} 23. Ne3 {planning to deposit a knight on f5.}) 16... cxb4 ({
I have to say I prefer} 16... Nc4 {maintaining the tension a little bit more}
17. bxc5 (17. e5 Bxf3 $1) 17... dxc5 18. e5 (18. d5 Bc3 19. N1d2 Nde5) 18...
Bxf3 19. gxf3 Be7 20. Ne3 Nxe3 21. Bxe3 Rc8 {and White's pawn cannot advance.})
17. Rxb4 Rc8 (17... Nb6 $1 18. Ng3 g6) 18. a4 $1 ({This is an improvement over
} 18. Rb1 Qc7 19. Re2 Nb6 20. N1h2 Nd5 {and Black stood better in (36) Dragnev,
V (2430)-Gledura,B (2574) Celje SLO 2016}) 18... Qc7 19. Ne3 $1 Bxe4 20. Bxe4
Rxe4 21. axb5 axb5 22. Rxb5 (22. Qd3 $5 Ree8 23. Qxb5 Rb8 24. Qa4 Rxb4 25. Qxb4
{and White's better coordination gives her a slight niggle.}) 22... Nc4 23. Qd3
$6 {With hindsight, this is a waste of time.} ({Better was} 23. Qb3 $1 Qc6 (
23... Bxd4 {is impossible} 24. Nxd4 Rxd4 25. Nf5 $1) 24. Rd1 Ndb6 25. Bd2)
23... Qc6 24. Qb3 h6 25. Rf1 Ndb6 26. Ng4 Bxd4 27. Nxd4 Rxd4 28. Nxh6+ $5 {
the start of Black's troubles} Kf8 $4 {Nerves!} ({Of course, Black needs to
have confidence and grab the material.} 28... gxh6 29. Qg3+ $1 Kf8 {Forced:
Otherwise the black king gets caught on the h-file. In fact, the king is
safest right in the center.} 30. Bxh6+ Ke8 (30... Ke7 31. Rf5 $1) 31. Qg8+ (31.
Rf5 {looks very scary, and presumably this is why Sarasadat rejected capturing
the bishop.} Qe4 $1 32. Qg8+ Kd7 33. Rxf7+ Kc6 {and the black monarch should
be safe.}) 31... Ke7 32. Re1+ Re4 33. Qg5+ Ke8 34. Qg8+ {with a repetition})
29. Rf5 $5 {This is a gutsy try by Alexandra.} ({Objectively the very calm} 29.
Nf5 {would have been much stronger.}) 29... gxh6 30. Qc3 Re4 $4 {This should
be the losing blunder. Ironically the computer points to the defence} (30...
Qe4 31. Bxh6+ Ke8 32. Rf4 Qxf4 33. Bxf4 Rxf4 {but I feel on a practical level
this should be winning for White.}) 31. Bxh6+ Ke8 (31... Ke7 32. Bg5+ Ke8 33.
Qg7 {wins on the spot.}) 32. Qh8+ Kd7 33. Rxf7+ Ke6 34. Qh7 Kd5 35. Rc1 $2 {
White puts pressure on the black king in anticipation of a king hunt, but
there was a direct and materialistic win with} (35. Rf5+ Ne5 (35... Re5 36. Bf4
Kc5 (36... Rxf5 37. Qxf5+) 37. Bxe5 {and when the material balance is level,
it will be an easy win for White.}) (35... Kd4 36. Bg7+ (36. Qg7+ Re5 37. Rd1+
Kc3) 36... Kd3 37. Rf3+ Kc2 38. Rc3+ {and Black will get checkmated.}) 36. f4)
(35. f3 Re5 36. Bf4 {leads to the same thing.}) 35... Qe8 $1 36. Qf5+ Qe5 37.
Qf3 Kc6 38. Bf4 (38. Bg7 $1 Qe6 (38... Qd5 39. Rf5 Qe6 40. Be5 $1) 39. Bd4 Rc7
40. Rf6 Qd5 41. Bxb6 Kxb6 {and the three pawns should be stronger than the
knight.}) 38... Qd5 39. Bxd6 $4 {is a terrible blunder right at a critical
moment. How does such a move occur? Well, it all stems from imposing your will
and desires on the position. The king is out there in the open so White feels
that there should be something concrete. The clock is ticking and with a hot
head one looks at the most natural captures....} ({Of course} 39. Rf6 Kb7 40.
Rd1 {still maintains the advantage. It will be very difficult to stop the
white h-pawn from advancing.}) 39... Kxd6 40. Rd1 Rd4 $1 41. Qf6+ Kc5 {and
this is the defence.The black king is perfectly safe with the knights helping
form some sort of shell.} 42. Qe7+ Qd6 43. Rxd4 Kxd4 44. Qg5 Re8 45. Qg7+ Kd5
46. f4 Nd2 47. Rf5+ Kc6 48. Qa1 Nb3 49. Qc3+ Nc5 50. Rf6 Re6 51. Rxe6 Qxe6 52.
Qe5 Qf7 53. f5 Nc4 54. Qg3 Qd5 55. f6 Ne4 56. Qb8 Qd4+ 57. Kh1 Nxf6 58. Qc8+
Kd5 59. Qd8+ Nd6 60. g4 Qf2 61. Qa8+ Ke6 62. Qg2 Qe1+ 63. Qg1 Qc3 64. g5 Qxh3+
65. Qh2 Qf3+ 66. Qg2 Qh5+ 67. Kg1 Ng4 68. Qa2+ Kf5 $4 {Karma strikes again!
White's blunder is repaid just as Black was nearing victory!} (68... Ke7 69.
Qa7+ Kf8 70. Qb8+ Ne8 71. Qf4+ Kg8 72. Kg2 Ng7 {is a long slog, but it should
be winning}) 69. Qd5+ Ne5 70. Qxd6 Qg4+ 71. Kf1 Qf4+ 72. Ke2 Qf3+ 73. Ke1 Qc3+
74. Kd1 Ke4 75. Qd2 1/2-1/2
[Event "Women's Grand Prix"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2016.11.20"]
[Round "2.5"]
[White "Javakhishvili, Lela"]
[Black "Ju, Wenjun"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2461"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[Annotator "Jovi"]
[PlyCount "192"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[WhiteTeam "Georgia"]
[BlackTeam "China"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GEO"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CHN"]
[WhiteClock "0:06:54"]
[BlackClock "0:09:33"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bf4 Ne4 7. Rc1 g5 {
The stereotype surrounding Chinese chess players is that not only are they
extremely well prepared, but they are also fearsome calculators. Ju Wenjun
perhaps inadvertently plays up to this stereotype by deliberately ramping up a
solid variation. In order not to be "bullied" into submission, one needs to
have strong nerves and a calm self-confidence. I must admit this is not as
easy as it sounds, especially against a stronger opponent and especially if
you think you may have stumbled into some prep.} (7... Nc6 {is more mainstream
and worked out very successfully for Jon Ludvig Hammer.} 8. g3 Bf5 9. Qb3 a5
10. a3 a4 11. Qa2 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Na5 13. Nd2 Nxd2 14. Bxd2 Nb3 15. Rd1 O-O 16.
Bg2 Re8 17. Bf4 Ra6 18. O-O Rae6 19. Rfe1 b5 20. f3 c6 21. h4 h6 22. h5 Na5 23.
e4 dxe4 24. d5 cxd5 25. Rxd5 Qb6+ 26. Be3 exf3 27. Bxb6 Rxe1+ 28. Kf2 fxg2 29.
Kxg2 Bb1 30. Qd2 Nb3 {0-1 (30) Glud,J (2531)-Hammer,J (2677) Helsingor DEN 2015
}) 8. Be3 ({I would have retreated the bishop to} 8. Bd2 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 {and I
think the aggressive pawn lunge will prove to be a weakness}) 8... f5 9. g3 Rf8
10. Bd2 Bxc3 11. Bxc3 Nc6 12. e3 $2 {This is the source of White's troubles.
Much better would have been to concentrate on development with} (12. Bg2 Be6 (
12... f4 {may be asking too much from the position.} 13. O-O g4 14. Nd2 {
White stands well, and the air around Black's king will start to show.}) (12...
g4 13. Ne5 $1) 13. Qb3 Qd6 14. Qxb7 {The black king must stay in the center.}
Rb8 15. Qa6 f4 16. O-O g4 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. Qxd6 cxd6 19. Bxe4 dxe4 20. dxe5 {
is better for White.}) 12... f4 $1 {Of course! Now the knight on e4 has a
great purpose.} 13. exf4 Qe7 $6 (13... gxf4 $1) 14. Be2 $2 {The game is fast
spiralling out of control so Lela tries to concentrate on hotfooting the king
out of the firing line. However, this plan is too slow.} ({More to the point is
} 14. Ne5 Nxe5 (14... gxf4 15. Bb5 $1) 15. dxe5 c6 {with a crazy position} 16.
Qh5+ Rf7) 14... gxf4 15. O-O Bh3 16. Re1 fxg3 17. fxg3 O-O-O {Now that the
black king has castled, the dangerous?rooks on the f-line will start to show
their power.} 18. Bf1 Qd7 19. Re3 Rf6 20. Bb5 Qf5 21. Be1 Rdf8 22. Be2 Qh5 ({
Black had a wonderful move in} 22... Qg5 23. Bd2 (23. Qd3 Rxf3 24. Bxf3 Rxf3
25. Rxf3 Qxc1 26. Rf8+ Kd7 {and White has to return material in order to
survive.}) 23... Qg7 24. Be1 h5) 23. b4 Ng5 24. Rcc3 Qg4 25. Rcd3 a6 26. a4
Nxd4 $1 {This is a great tactical blow that liquidates into a winning
opposite-color bishop endgame.} 27. Rxd4 Nxf3+ 28. Rxf3 Qxf3 29. Bxf3 Rxf3 30.
Qxf3 (30. Rf4 Rf1+) (30. Bf2 Rxf2 31. Rf4 R2xf4 32. gxf4 Rxf4 {and the White
king cannot escape.}) 30... Rxf3 31. Rf4 Rxf4 32. gxf4 b6 33. Kf2 Kd7 34. Ke3
Kd6 35. Bh4 Bd7 36. Bg3 Bf5 37. Bh4 c5 38. Bd8 d4+ 39. Kd2 Kc6 40. a5 cxb4 (
40... c4 $1 41. axb6 (41. Bxb6 c3+ 42. Kc1 d3 {and the two pawns cannot be
stopped.}) 41... c3+ 42. Kd1 d3 43. Bc7 Bg4+ {would have finished the game
earlier.}) 41. axb6 b3 42. Kc1 d3 43. b7 Kxb7 44. Ba5 Kc6 45. Kb2 Kb5 46. Bd2
Kc4 47. h4 h5 48. Ba5 Kd4 49. Bd2 Ke4 50. Kxb3 Kf3 51. Kb2 Kg3 52. Be1+ Kxf4
53. Kc1 Ke4 54. Kb2 Kd4 55. Bd2 Kc4 56. Be1 Kb5 57. Kc3 a5 58. Bd2 a4 59. Bc1
Kc5 60. Ba3+ Kd5 61. Be7 Ke4 62. Bc5 Bg6 63. Kd2 Kd5 64. Ba3 Kc4 65. Be7 Kb3
66. Bf6 a3 67. Kc1 Ka2 68. Bg5 Bf7 69. Bh6 Be6 70. Bg5 Kb3 71. Bf6 Bf5 72. Bg7
Bd7 73. Bf6 Ka2 74. Bg5 Bb5 75. Bh6 Kb3 76. Bg7 Kc4 77. Kd2 Kd5 78. Ke3 Ke6 79.
Bc3 Kf5 80. Kf3 a2 81. Ke3 Kg4 82. Bf6 Kg3 83. Kd2 Kf3 84. Bc3 Kg4 85. Bf6 a1=Q
86. Bxa1 Kxh4 87. Ke3 Kg4 88. Bc3 h4 89. Bb4 Ba6 90. Ba5 h3 91. Bc7 Kf5 92. Bh2
Ke6 93. Bg3 Kd5 94. Bh2 Kc4 95. Be5 Bb5 96. Kf2 Kb3 0-1
[Event "Women's Grand Prix"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2016.11.22"]
[Round "4.6"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli"]
[Black "Zhukova, Natalia"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C03"]
[WhiteElo "2528"]
[BlackElo "2464"]
[Annotator "Jovi"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[WhiteTeam "India"]
[BlackTeam "Ukraine"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "IND"]
[BlackTeamCountry "UKR"]
[WhiteClock "0:07:33"]
[BlackClock "0:00:33"]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Be7 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bd3 c5 7. c3 b6 {
Harika criticised this variation during the press conference, saying that she
had studied Michael Adam's games, and things were not as visually fine as they
appeared for black.} 8. O-O Ba6 9. Ne1 Bxd3 10. Nxd3 Nc6 11. Qg4 g6 (11... O-O
{is a very risky way of playing, but the onus is on White to prove something.
Play might continue} 12. Nf3 Kh8 13. Nf4 Rc8 14. Be3 {and Black's position is
not very easy. The problem is that the d7-knight is misplaced on d7. It should
really be on b6 heading to c4. Black should be careful not to get squashed on
the kingside. For example} b5 15. h4 h6 16. Rac1 {with a tense position.}) 12.
Nf3 h5 13. Qg3 Qc7 ({We can also see how Mickey handled the closing of the
position so after} 13... c4 14. Nde1 h4 15. Qg4 Rh5 16. h3 b5 17. Nc2 Nb6 18.
Qf4 Rf5 19. Qe3 Rh5 20. Qf4 Rf5 21. Qe3 Rh5 22. b3 a6 23. Bd2 Kd7 24. Qe2 Na5
25. Rfb1 Kc7 26. Ne3 {and White ground it out in Adams,M (2694)-Lemos,D (2556)
Caleta ENG 2010}) 14. Bd2 (14. Bg5 O-O-O 15. b4 c4 16. Nf4 Rde8 17. b5 Nd8 18.
Bxe7 Rxe7 19. Rfe1 Ree8 20. Ng5 {also gave White a very nice edge in Adams,M
(2735)-Paehtz,E (2459) Barcelo Hotel, Hinckley Island 2012}) 14... O-O-O 15.
Rac1 ({White can also try to force matters like Michael Adams with} 15. b4 c4
16. Nde1 Rde8 17. b5 Na5 18. Ng5 {followed by Nc2.}) 15... Kb7 16. h4 Rc8 17.
Rfd1 {It is apparent here that Natalia was unsure of how to wait in a
constructive manner.} Ka8 (17... c4 18. Nf4 Bd8 $5 {Being a Caro player, I was
rather frustrated by the black position. I wanted a knight on f5, but it
became apparent that there needs to be a bishop keeping an eye on the
g5-square. Hence I came upon the idea of 18...Bd8!} 19. Qh3 {preventing my
planned Ne7-f5} b5 20. Rb1 Ka8 21. g3 Nb6 22. Qf1 Ne7 23. Ng5 Nf5 {and Black
is very much holding on.}) 18. Be3 cxd4 $2 {This is an instructive strategical
mistake and probably the decisive blunder. Black opens up another avenue for
White to attack. There are too many lines and squares to enter the black
fortress. Harika shows how it's done in an almost zen-like way.} 19. cxd4 Qb7
20. Bg5 $1 Bxg5 21. Qxg5 Rc7 22. Rc3 Rhc8 23. Rdc1 a5 24. Kh2 $1 {a beautiful
move. White mobilises the king in anticipation for an endgame.} Ka7 25. a3 b5
26. Kh3 Nb6 27. b3 Ne7 $2 {compounding the error.} (27... Nd7 {was necessary}
28. Qf4 Nd8 {but its a real grovel.}) 28. Nc5 Qb8 29. R3c2 $1 {Very neat. Now
Harika threatens to play Qd2 winning the a5-pawn} Na8 30. Qd2 Qb6 31. Ng5 Nf5
32. Qd3 Qb8 33. a4 Qb6 34. axb5 {with Ra2 coming, Natalia throws in the towel.
Afterwards in the commentary, Natalia gave a rueful smile and muttered,
"Stupid opening!"} 1-0