Chess (August): Wang Hao sqeeks by Magnus to win Biel

[Jack Rabbit]

22. Pogonina - Zhao Xue, Women's Group/Standard Time Control, Round 3

Zhao Xue lost her round 2 game to former world women's champion Alexandra Kosteniuk (see below), then won her next three games in a row.
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Zhao Xue
[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Leigh Atkins in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhao_Xue Wikipedia (Public Domain)
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Natalia Pogonina - Zhao Xue
Team Match, Standard Time Control/Women's Group, Round 3
St Petersburg, 4 July 2012

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Kasparov Opening

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a4 Bd7

• [font color="red"]8...Bb7 9.Nc3 b4 10.Ne2 Na5 11.Ba2 0-0 12.Re1 c5[/font] is a position arising in [font color="red"]Kissinger-Andresen, Corres, 1998[/font] in the notes to White's eighth move in Hou Yifan-A. Muzychuk, Grand Prix 1112W, Rostov-on-Don, 2011.

9.Bd2 b4 10.a5 (N)

• If [font color="red"]10.c3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]10...0-0 11.h3 Rb8 12.Bc4 Qc8 13.Re1 Be6 14.Bxe6 Qxe6[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Anand-Leko, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).
• If [font color="darkred"]10...Rb8 11.Re1 0-0 12.h3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12...Qc8 13.a5 bxc3 14.bxc3 Be6 15.Bxe6 Qxe6[/font] is equal (Kobalia-Harikrishna, Euro Club Cup, Kallithea, Greece, 2008).
• [font color="magenta"]12...bxc3 13.Bxc3 Nb4 14.d4 exd4 15.Nxd4 c5[/font] is equal (Kobalia-Inatkiev, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).

10...0-0

• The game is equal.

11.Be3 Kh8!?

• The King gets out of the Bishop's line of fire.
• [font color="red"]11...Ng4 12.Bc1 Be6 13.Bxe6 fxe6 14.h3 Nf6[/font] remains equal. Black has a solid center and an open f-file for taking on the burden of doubled e-pawns.

12.h3!

• White has a small advantage in space.

12...Be8!?

• This is a bid timid. Better is to challenge the Bishop on b3/
• [font color="red"]12...Be6 13.Nbd2 Qc8 14.Qb1 h6 15.Nc4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

13.Nbd2!

• White has a fair advantage in space.

13...h6 14.Nc4 Nh7

• Black moves her Knight offside apparently with the idea of focusing on g4. On the downside, this move takes the attack off of e4.
• [font color="red"]14...Qc8 15.Re1 Qb7 16.Bd2 Bd7 17.Ne3 Be6 18.Nf5[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Zhao Xue[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Natalia Pogonina[/center][center]Position after 14...Nf6h7[/center]

15.d4!

• Nature abhors a vaccuum and the pawn rushes up to the center. The e-pawn is momentarily hanging.

15...f5!

• Black continues her plan of regrouping on the kingside by bringing the pawn up to pressue e4.
• If [font color="red"]15...exd4 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.Qxd4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]17...Bf6 18.e5 dxe5 19.Qxd8 Rxd8 20.Bc5 Rg8 21.Rfe1[/font] leaves White threatening two different pawns.
• If [font color="darkred"]17...Ng5 18.Rfd1[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]18...Ne6 19.Qd3 Bc6 20.Ba4 Qe8 21.Bxc6 Qxc6 22.Qd5[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage.
• [font color="magenta"]18...Bf6?! 19.e5! dxe5 20.Qxd8 Bxd8 21.Nxe5 Bf6 22.Nd3[/font] leaves Black with a loose pawn at b4 that may be more costly to save than to just let go.

16.exf5!?

• White blinks and takes with the hanging e-pawn.
• Better is [font color="red"]16.dxe5 fxe4 17.Nd4 Nxd4 18.Qxd4 d5 19.Nd2 Bf7[/font] leaving White with a better center and a slight advantage in space.

16...e4!

• Black has established herself in the center.

17.Nh2 d5 18.Ne5 Rxf5 19.Qg4?!

• White should cover her centralized Knight.
• If [font color="red"]19.Nhg4! Qd6 20.f4 Nf8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]21.Nxc6 Qxc6 22.Ne5 Qb7 23.Qg4 Rf6 24.f5[/font] gives White a significant advantage in space and more freedom.
• If [font color="darkred"]21.Bc1!? Bh5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]22.Qd2[/font] then White wins a pawn after [font color="darkred"]22...Ng6 23.Nxc6 Qxc6 24.Ne5 Nxe5 25.dxe5.[/font]
• If [font color="magenta"]22.c4?! dxc4 23.Bc2[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]23...Rd8! 24.Bxe4 Bxg4 25.hxg4 Nxe5 26.Bxf5[/font] leaves White with only a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkorange"]23...Qd5?[/font] then after [font color="darkorange"]24.Nxc6! Qxc6 25.Qe1 Bxg4 26.Bxe4[/font] White wins the exchange

19...Rf6?!

• Black miss a chance to level the game.
• If [font color="red"]19...Qc8! 20.Qd1 Qe6 21.f3 Nxe5 22.dxe5 Qxe5 23.Ng4[/font] is equal.

20.f4?!

• The game is equal. Black has a passed pawn.
• [font color="red"]20.Rfd1! h5 21.Qe2 Rf5 22.f4 Nxe5 23.dxe5[/font] also gives White a fair advantage.

20...Rb8?!

• Black takes protection off the a-pawn, which is easily attacked.
• [font color="red"]20...Rf8! 21.Qd1 Qd6 22.Neg4 Nf6 23.Ne5[/font] is equal.

21.Qd1!?

• White doesn't attack the a-pawn, giving her time to regroup into a more defensive position.
• If [font color="red"]21.Qe2! h5 22.Rfd1 Ra8 23.Nf1 h4 24.Ba4[/font] gives White more freedom and a fair advantage in space.

21...Rf8 22.Nhg4 Qd6 23.Kh1?!

• This move is passive.
• More active is [font color="red"]23.Ba4 Nxe5 24.Nxe5 Kg8 25.Bxe8 Rbxe8 26.Qe2[/font] gives White a comfortable game with a beautifull, centralized Knight on a splendid outpost and a small advantage in space; Black has a passed pawn that White currently blockades.

[center]BLACK: Zhao Xue[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Natalia Pogonina[/center][center]Position after 23.Kg1h1[/center]

23...Nf6!

• The game is equal.

24.Nxf6 Bxf6 25.g4

• If [font color="red"]25.Ba4! Ne7 26.Bxe8 Rbxe8 27.Qg4 Kg8 28.Bd2 Rb8[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]26...Nf5?![/font] then after [font color="darkred"]27.Qe1! Rbxe8 28.Ng6+[/font] White wins the exchange.

25...Bh4 26.Kg2 Rd8!?

• The Rook is more useful where he is than at d8.
• If [font color="red"]26...Kh7 27.Qc1 Rb7 28.Ba4 Ne7 29.Bxe8 Rxe8[/font] remains equal.

27.Qd2!?

• The game remains equal.
• [font color="red"]27.Qe2 Ra8 28.Ba4 Kg8 29.c4 bxc3 30.bxc3[/font] gives White a small advantage.

27...Qe7 28.Nxc6!?

• The centralized Knight is keeping Black's centralized heavy pieces from coming to life. Even if taken by Black's Knight, it would be replaced by a pawn leaving the center locked.
• If [font color="red"]28.c4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]28...dxc4 29.Bxc4 Nxe5 30.fxe5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]30...Rf3 31.Rxf3 exf3+ 32.Kxf3 c5[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="burgundy"]30...Rxf1 31.Rxf1 c5 32.b3 cxd4 33.Bxd4 Bc6 34.Kg1[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]28...bxc3!?[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]29.Qxc3! Nb4 30.Ba4 c6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]31.Bd1 Rb8 32.Be2 Bf6 33.Rfc1 Qc7 34.Ra3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="darkorange"]31.f5!? Bf6 32.Rad1 Kh7 33.Bd2 Rb8 34.Bf4 Rc8[/font] is equal.
• [font color="magenta"]29.bxc3?! Nxe5! 30.dxe5 Bb5 31.Rfb1 c5 32.Rb2 Bd3[/font] gives White a substantial advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Zhao Xue[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Natalia Pogonina[/center][center]Position after 28.Ne5c6:N[/center]

28...Bxc6!

• Black strengthens her center. She has a small advantage in space.

29.Ba4

• [font color="red"]29.f5 Bb5 30.Rg1 c6 31.Ba4 Rc8 32.Kh1 Bg5[/font] continuues to give Black a small advantage.

29...Bxa4 30.Rxa4 Rb8 31.Qe2 Qe6 32.Raa1 Bf6 33.f5 Qc6 34.h4?!

• White inexplicably drops a pawn and puts herself in a deep hole.
• If [font color="red"]34.Qd2 Kg8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]35.Rfc1 Qb5 36.Bf4 Rf7 37.c3 Re7 38.Kg3 Ree8[/font] gives Black a protected passed pawn and a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkred"]35.Rfd1!? Rf7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]36.Rf1 Qb5 37.Kg3 c6 38.Rfe1 Re8 39.c3 Bd8[/font] gives Black a passed pawn and more space.
• [font color="magenta"]36.Bf4?! Qb5 37.Qf2 Kh7 38.Qd2 Rc8 39.Be3 c5[/font] gives Black a substantial advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Zhao Xue[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Natalia Pogonina[/center][center]Position after 34.h3h4[/center]

34...Bxh4!

• Black has a passed pawn and a fair advantage in space.

35.Rh1 Qf6 36.Bf4 Bg5 37.Be5?!

• This just "forces" the Black Queen to move to a better square.
• [font color="red"]37.Bxc7 Rbc8 38.Bb6 Rc4 39.Bc5 Rc8[/font] continues to give Black a passed pawn and a comfortable advantage in space.

37...Qc6 38.Rh5 Kg8 39.Rah1

• The Rook in the h-file should retreat. After the text, the doubled Rooks are biting on granite.
• If [font color="red"]39.Rh3[/font] then after [font color="red"]39...Rb5 40.Rb3 Rfb8 41.Kh3 Bf6 42.Qd2 Rf8[/font] Black wins.

[center]BLACK: Zhao Xue[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Natalia Pogonina[/center][center]Position after 39.Ra1h1[/center]

39...Rbe8?!

• This inaccuracy may owe something to time trouble. Black wins by attacking the hanging a-pawn.
• If [font color="red"]39...Qb5![/font] then after [font color="red"]40.Qf1 Qxf1+ 41.Rxf1 Rb5 42.Rh3 Rxa5[/font] Black wins with two extra pawns.

40.Rxg5!

• The exchange sacrifice keeps White in the game.

40...hxg5 41.Kg3 Rf6 42.Qd2 e3

• Even stronger is [font color="red"]42...b3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]43.cxb3 Qb5 44.Bxf6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]44...gxf6 45.Qe3 Rb8 46.Kg2 Qxa5 47.Qh3 Qd2+[/font] leaves in position to make the passer an effective winning tool.
• [font color="magenta"]44...Qxb3+?! 45.Qc3! Qxc3+ 46.bxc3 gxf6 47.Kf2 Rb8[/font] gives White excellent chances to salvage a half point.
• [font color="darkred"]43.c3 Qc4 44.Kf2 Qd3 45.Qxg5 Rxe5 46.dxe5 Qf3+[/font] drives White's King back and readies the passed pawn for advance.

43.Qxe3 Qxc2 44.Rh2

• White must play carefully as she can still stumble into a lost position very easily.
• If [font color="red"]44.Qf3? c6!![/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]45.Bxf6[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]45...gxf6 46.Rh2 Qc4 47.Rd2 Re4.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]45.Qf2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]45...Qd3+ 46.Qf3 Qd2 47.Qf2 Qxf2+ 48.Kxf2 Rh6.[/font]

44...Qd1 45.Rd2?

• Black will still have chances if she chooses to level the material balance.
• If [font color="red"]45.Qxg5 Qg1+[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]46.Kf3 Qf1+ 47.Kg3 Qd3+ 48.Kf2 Ree6 49.Qe3 Qb1[/font] leaves Black with an extra pawn.
• If [font color="darkred"]46.Rg2? Qe1+! 47.Rf2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]47...Rf7! 48.Qd2 Qxd2 49.Rxd2 c5[/font] gives White an extra pawn and a moble majority.
• [font color="magenta"]47...Rxe5? 48.dxe5! Qxe5+ 49.Qf4 Qe7 50.Qd4 c6[/font] leaves White with only a small advantage.

45...Qf1!

• Black is winning again.

46.Qf3

• No better is [font color="red"]46.Qf2 Qh1 47.Re2 Rc6 48.Qf3 Qxf3+ 49.Kxf3 Rc4.[/font]

46...Qg1+ 47.Rg2

• If [font color="red"]47.Qg2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]47...Qe3+ 48.Qf3 Qxd2.[/font]

47...Qe1+ 48.Rf2

• [font color="red"]48.Kh2[/font] loses immediately to [font color="red"]48...Rh6+.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Zhao Xue[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Natalia Pogonina[/center][center]Position after 48.Rg2f2[/center]

48...Rxe5!!

• Black gives back the exchange in order to mobilize her pawns.

49.dxe5 Qxe5+ 50.Kg2 Rh6 51.Kg1

• [font color="red"]51.Kf1 Qd4 52.Qe2 Kf8 53.Ke1 c5[/font] still gives Black two extra pawns and her pieces are becoming more active by the move.

51...Rh4 52.Kf1 Kh7 53.f6 gxf6 54.Qxf6

• This is pure desperation, but there's nothing better.
• White goes quietly after [font color="red"]54.Qf5+ Qxf5 55.Rxf5 Rxg4.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Zhao Xue[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Natalia Pogonina[/center][center]Position after 54.Qf3f6:p[/center]

54...Rh1+!

• Black doesn't fall into the trap.
• If [font color="red"]54...Qxf6?! 55.Rxf6 Rxg4 56.Rxa6 Rc4[/font] still givs Black two extra pawns, but her position isn't as overwhelming as it was a second ago.

55.Kg2 Rh2+ 56.Kf1 Rxf2+ 57.Qxf2 Qf4 0-1

• Natalia Andreevna resigns.