Reply #10: Kosteniuk - Koneru, Women's Grand Prix, Rostov-on-Don, 2011 (Main Line: Breyer Defense)

[Jack Rabbit]

Koneru Humpy
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Alexandria Kosteniuk - Koneru Humpy
FIDE Women's Grand Prix, First Leg, Round 5
Rostov-on-Don, 7 August 2011

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Main Line (Breyer Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7

• This move is conventionally called the Closed Defense, but when used in the Italian Royal Game it is called the Hungarian Defense. That is what we shall call it.
• 5...Nxe4 is the Gothic Defense, also called the Open Defense. See Fier-A. Vovk, Op, Dieren, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.

6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3

• For the Marsahll Gambit and Anti-Marshall Lines, see Hou Yifan-A. Muzychuk, Grand Prix W, Rostov-on-Don, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.

8...0-0 9.h3

• This is the the Main Line. It was introduced the Monte Carlo International Tournament in 1902 by Dr. Tarrasch in a game againt Schlechter.
• For other deviations up to here, see van den Doel-Nikolic, Op, Leiden, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.

9...Nb8

BLACK



WHITE

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Main Line (Breyer Defense)
Position after 9...Nc6b8

• It's something of a mystery why this is called the Breyer Defense. Hungerian master Gyula Breyer (1893-1921), never played nor analyzed the move 9...Nb8, which did not appear in master play until over 30 years after his death.
• The move was the pet line of former world champion Boris Spassky.
• 9...Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 is the Chigorin Defense. See Corrales Jiménez-J. Polgar, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.
• 9...Bb7 is the Zaitsev Defense. See A. Vovk-Nijboer, Dutch Op, Dieren, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.
• Other ninth moves for Black are treated in Bodnaruk-Kovanova, Russian ChW Higher League, Taganrog, Russia, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.

10.d4 Nbd7

• This, of course, is the idea of 9...Nb8. White redeploys the Knight to d7, where it makes a strong point of the pawn at e5.

11.Nbd2

• White continues with the Grand Spanish Knight maneuver to the kingside. With the Bishop on b3, 11.c4 is a good alternative.
• If 11.c4 c6 then:
• If 12.c5 Qc7 13.cxd6 Bxd6 then:
• If 14.Bg5 exd4 then:
• If 15.Bxf6 gxf6 then:
• If 16.Nxd4 Nc5 then:
• If 17.Nf5 Bxf5 18.exf5 Rad8 19.Qh5 then:
• 19...Be5 20.Nc3 Rd4 21.Re3 Bf4 22.Re2 Bd2 23.Nd1 Bg5 24.g3 gives White stronger pawns and a kingside initiative (Gligoric-Petrosian, IT, Los Angeles, 1963).
• 19...Bh2+ 20.Kh1 Nd3 21.Rf1 Be5 22.Nc3 Bxc3 23.bxc3 Qf4 gives Black some kingside initiative of his own to balance White's (Domnitz-Reshevsky, Netanya, 1973).
• 17.Nd2 Rd8 18.N2f3 Nxb3 19.Qxb3 c5 20.Nf5 Be6 21.Qc2 gives White a slight advantage (Gufeld-Stein, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1936).
• If 16.Qxd4 Ne5 17.Nbd2 then:
• 17...Rd8 18.Qe3 Nd3 19.Qh6 Bf4 20.Qxf6 Rd6 21.Qc3 Nxe1 22.Rxe1 Qd8 gives Black the exchange for a pawn (Fischer-Portisch, IT, Santa Monica, 1966).
• 17...Kh8 18.Nh4 Rg8 19.Nf5 Bxf5 20.exf5 Rad8 21.Kh1 gives Black a better center and a ready queenside majority (Robatsch-Averbakh, IT, Palma de Mallorca, 1972).
• 15.Qxd4 c5 16.Qe3 c4 17.Bc2 Re8 18.Bxf6 Nxf6 19.e5 Bb4 20.Nc3 Bb7 gives Black a slight advantage owing to the pin in the e-file (Stein-Pachman, IZT, Amsterdam, 1964).
• If 14.Nc3 exd4 then:
• If 15.Nxd4 Nc5 then:
• 16.Qf3!? Be5! 17.Nf5 Nxb3 18.axb3 Be6 gives Black stronger pawns and the Bishop pair (Klovans-Korchnoi, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1963).
• 16.Nf3! Nxb3 17.Qxb3 Nd7 18.Be3 Ne5 is equal.
• If 15.Qxd4 Ne5 16.Qe3 Re8 then:
• 17.Bd2 Bb7 18.Nxe5 Bxe5 19.f4 Bxc3 20.Bxc3 Rxe4 21.Qg3 is equal.
• 17.a3 Bb7 18.Nh4 c5 19.Nf5 Ng6 20.Nxd6 Qxd6 gives Black a slight advantage.
• If 12.cxb5 axb5 13.Nc3 then:
• If 13...Ba6 14.Bg5 h6 then:
• If 15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.Nxe5 dxe5 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Qh5 Qe7 19.Rad1 then:
• 19...Rad8 20.Ne2 Bg5 21.Ng3 Qf6 22.Rxd8 Rxd8 23.Rd1 gives Black a small advantage in space; White's Queen suddenly is of less use after Black's 20th move, a typical Karpov strategem (Geller-Karpov, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1971).
• 19...Bc8 20.Re3 Be6 21.Rg3 Kh8 22.Rgd3 Bxb3 23.axb3 Rad8 is equal (Geller-Unzicker, IT, Kislovodsk, 1972).
• 15.Bh4 Re8 16.a4 b4 17.Nb1 exd4 18.Nxd4 Ne5 is equal (Unzicker-Smejkal, IT, Bamberg, 1972).
• If 13...Bb7 14.Bg5 b4 15.Nb1 then:
• 15...Ne8 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Nbd2 Nc7 18.Nc4 Nb5 19.Rc1 Rfd8 20.Ne3 c5 21.dxc5 draw (Geller-Portisch, ITZ, Palma de Mallorca, 1970).
• 15...h6 16.Bh4 c5 17.dxe5 Nxe4 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.exd6 Qf6 (Fischer-Spassky, Match, Belgrade, 1992).

11...Bb7

• Black is playing a nexus between the Breyer Defense and the Zaitsev Defense, which is quite common and sensible. With the Knight at d7, this is the best way to develop the Bishop.

12.Bc2 Re8

• If 12...c5 13.d5 g6 14.Nf1 then:
• If 14...Nh5 15.Bh6 Re8 16.b3 then:
• 16...Bf8 17.Be3 Nb6 18.a4 bxa4 19.bxa4 Nc4 20.a5 is equal (Hou Yifan-Koneru, FIDE Knock Out W, Nalchik, 2008).
• 16...Bf6 17.a4 Bg7 18.Bg5 Qc7 19.g3 Nhf6 20.Qd2 is equal (Hartston-Gligoric, Euro ChT, Bath, 1973).
• If 14...Qc7 then:
• 15.Bh6 Rfb8 16.g4 Bf8 17.Qd2 Bxh6 18.Qxh6 Qd8 is equal (Kosteniuk-I. Sokolov, Rapid Op, Mainz, 2005).
• 15.Ng3 c4 16.Bh6 Rfb8 17.Qd2 Bf8 18.Be3 gives White the advantage in space (Cheparinov-I. Sokolov, Op, Amsterdam, 2005).

13.Nf1

• White continues to bring his Knight around to e3 or g3, a typical Grand Spanish maneuver in several variations.
• If 13.b4 Bf8 14.a4 then:
• If 14...Nb6 15.a5 Nbd7 16.Bb2 then:
• If 16...Qb8 then:
• If 17.Rb1 c5 18.bxc5 dxc5 19.dxe5 Nxe5 then:
• If 20.Nxe5 Qxe5 21.c4 Qf4 22.Bxf6 Qxf6 23.cxb5 Red8 24.Qc1 then:
• 24...Qc3 25.Nf3 Qxa5 26.Bb3 axb5 27.Qf4 gives Black an extra pawn and White a fierce initiative (Fischer-Spassky, World Ch Match, Reykjavik, 1972).
• 24...axb5 25.Rxb5 Ba6 26.Rb6 Qc3 27.Nb3 g6 is equal since White cannot hold his extra pawn (Vasiukov-Smejkal, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1972).
• 20.c4 Nxf3+ 21.Qxf3 Qd8 22.Rbd1 Qxa5 23.Bxf6 gxf6 is equal (Thieman-O. Lie, Corres, 1977).
• 17.c4 bxc4 18.Ba4 c6 19.Nxc4 Qc7 20.Rc1 Rac8 21.dxe5 dxe5 22.Qb3 is equal (Savon-Mukhin, Soviet Ch, Moscow 1972).
• 16...Rb8 17.Rb1 Ba8 18.Ba1 g6 19.c4 exd4 20.cxb5 axb5 is equal (Planinc-Spassky, IT, Amsterdam, 1973).
• 14...a5 15.axb5 axb4 16.Bb2 bxc3 17.Bxc3 c6 draw (Kavalek-Portisch, IT, Wijk aan Zee 1969).
• If 13.a4 Bf8 14.Bd3 c6 then:
• 15.b3 g6 16.Qc2 Rc8 17.Ba3 Qb6 18.Bf1 is equal (Svidler-Harikrishna, Masters, Gibraltar, 2009).
• If 15.Nf1 then:
• If 15...d5 16.Bg5 dxe4 17.Rxe4 then:
• If 17...Be7 18.Re2 exd4 19.Nxd4 then:
• If 19...Bf8 20.Rd2 then:
• 20...Qc7 21.Bf5 c5 22.Nf3 Ne5 23.Nxe5 Rxe5 24.Ne3 is equal (Anand-Beliavsky, IT, Linares, 1992).
• If 20...c5 21.Nxb5 Qb6 22.Na3 Ne5 23.Nc4 Nxc4 24.Bxc4 gives White an extra pawn; Black's queenside is weak (van der Wiel-van der Sterren, Dutch Ch, Hilversum, 1990).
• If 19...g6 20.axb5 cxb5 21.Bc2 Nd5 22.Qd2 is equal (Svidler-Bacrot, FIDE Knock Out, New Delhi, 2000).
• If 17...h6 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 then:
• 19.N1h2 Qd6 20.Ng4 c5 21.dxe5 Qc7 22.e6 gives White the advantage in space; in this position with Black to move, Black must either weaken his kingside pawns (Lobron-Smejkal, IT, Ter Apel, Holland, 1987).
• 19.Qe2 c5 20.Nxe5 Nxe5 21.Rxe5 Rxe5 22.Qxe5 Qxe5 23.dxe5 gives White an extra pawn; Black has the Bishop pair (Zagrebelny-Vladimirov, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• 15...g6 16.Ng3 Bg7 17.Bg5 transposes into the text.
• If 13.d5 c6 14.c4 Qc7 15.b3 then:
• If 15...g6 then:
• If 16.a4 Qc7 17.Ba3 then:
• If 17...Rec8 18.Bd3 cxd5 19.cxd5 Qb6 20.b4 then:
• 20...Rc3 21.Nb1 Rcc8 22.Bc1 bxa4 23.Qxa4 Qd8 24.Bg5 gives White the advantage in space (Smyslov-Gligoric, IT, Bugojno, 1984).
• 20...Nh5 21.Nb3 Bh6 22.Na5 Rc7 23.axb5 axb5 24.Bc1 gives White the advantagge in space (Geller-Podgaets, Soviet Ch, Vilnius, 1980).
• If 17...bxc4 18.bxc4 a5 then:
• 19.Nb3 Qc7 17.Ba3 then:
• If 17...Rec8 Nb6 20.Bd3 Nxa4 21.Qd2 Nd7 22.Ra2 Rec8 is equal (A. Vovk-Kazhgalayev, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2010).
• 19.Bd3 Ba6 20.Nb3 draw (Matulovic-Hazai, IT, Vrnjacka Banja, 1985).
• If 16.Nf1 Qc7 17.Bg5 then:
• 17...Rec8 18.Rc1 cxd5 19.cxd5 Qa5 20.a4 b4 21.N3d2 gives White the advantage in space (Geller-Orlov, IT, Pancevo, 1987).
• 17...h6 18.Be3 a5 19.Ng3 Ba6 20.Rc1 Rec8 21.Qd2 gives White the advantage in space (Geller-Beliavsky, IT, Novi Sad, 1979).
• If 15...a5 then:
• If 16.dxc6 Bxc6 17.cxb5 Bxb5 18.Nc4 Na6 19.Bg5 Nb4 then:
• If 20.Bb1 Bxc4 21.bxc4 h6 22.Be3 Qc7 23.a3 Na6 24.Nd2 Nc5 25.Bc2 Reb8 26.Rb1 Qc6 then:
• 27.Qf3 Bg7 28.Rec1 Nfd7 29.Qd1 Kh7 30.Rxb8 Rxb8 is equal (Ljubojevic-Karpov, Euwe Mem, Amsterdam, 1991).
• 27.f3 h5 28.Rxb8 Rxb8 29.Qa1 Kh7 30.Rb1 is equal (Ljubojevic-Karpov, IT, Linares, 1991).
• 20.Ne3 Be7 21.Bxf6 Bxf6 22.a3 Nxc2 23.Qxc2 Bg7 24.Rad1 gives White the advantage in space (Anand-Kamsky, Candidates' ¼-final Match, Sanghi Nagar, 1994).
• 16.Nf1 Nbd7 17.Bg5 h6 18.Be3 b4 19.a3 h5 20.Qd2 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Adams-Nikolic, Bundesliga 0203, Germany, 2003).

13...Bf8 14.Ng3 g6 15.a4

• White disrupts Black's queenside.
• If 15.b3 then:
• If 15...Bg7 16.d5 then:
• If 16...Rc8 17.c4 c6 then:
• If 18.Be3 Nb6 then:
• If 19.Rb1 Qc7 20.dxc6 Bxc6 then:
• 21.Bxb6 Qxb6 22.Qxd6 Rcd8 23.Qb4 Bf8 is equal (Hou Yifan-Koneru, FIDE Knock Out W, Nalchik, 2008).
• If 19.Qe2 cxd5 20.cxd5 then:
• If 20...Nbxd5!! 21.exd5 Nxd5 then:
• 22.Be4 Nc3 23.Bxb7 Nxe2+ 24.Nxe2 d5 25.Bxc8 Qxc8 gives Black a moble center pawn duo and a very slight material edge (Kamsky-van der Sterren, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1994).
• 22.Rac1 Nc3 23.Qd2 Nxa2 24.Ra1 Nc3 25.b4 gives White a small advantage in space; Black has a mobile center duo, command of the e4 square and the Bishop pair (Nakamura-Golod, Masters, Gibraltar, 2009).
• 21.Bd3 bxc4 22.bxc4 Na4 23.Qc2 Nc5 24.Nd2 Nfd7 is equal (Kamsky-Harikrishna, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).
• 20...Nfd7?! 21.Rac1! Rf8 22.Qd2 Kh8 23.Qb4 Nc5 24.Qa5 gives White more activity and space.
• If 18.Bg5 h6 19.Be3 Nb6 20.Rb1 then:
• 20...cxd5 21.cxd5 Nbxd5 22.exd5 Nxd5 23.Bd2 f5 24.Nxf5 gxf5 25.Bxf5 is equal (Kasimdzhanov-Short, IT, Skanderborg, 2003).
• 20...Qc7 21.Qd2 cxd5 22.Bxh6 Bh8 23.exd5 bxc4 24.bxc4 Nxc4 gives Black a fierce initiative (Arakhamia-T. Kosintseva, Euro ChW, Rijeka, 2010).
• If 17.Rb116...Nb6 then:
• If 17...c6 18.c4 Qc7 19.Bd3 Nfd7 20.Be3 Nc5 21.Bf1 then:
• 21...bxc4 22.bxc4 Nbd7 23.Qd2 Rab8 24.Bh6 Bxh6 25.Qxh6 is equal (Leko-Beliavsky, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• 21...cxd5 22.cxd5 Rec8 23.Qd2 Nbd7 24.Bh6 Qd8 25.a4 is equal (Del Rio Angelis-Hebden, Masters, Gibraltar, 2004).
• 17...Rc8 18.Bd3 c6 19.c4 Nfd7 20.Bd2 Nc5 21.Ba5 gives White a narrow edge in space (Efimenko-B. Socko, Euro ChT, Plovdiv, 2003).
• If 15...c6 16.Bg5 Bg7 17.Qd2 then:
• If 17...Qe7 18.a4 Qf8 19.Rad1 then:
• If 19...Rac8 20.Bd3 then:
• 20...h6 21.Be3 Rcd8 22.Qa2 Ra8 23.Bc1 Re6 24.Qd2 Qb8 25.c4 bxa4 26.bxa4 Re8 27.Bb2 draw (Motylev-Grigoriants, Russian Ch ½-final, Tomsk, 2006).
• 20...Rc7 21.Kh1 bxa4 22.bxa4 c5 23.dxe5 dxe5 24.Qa2 gives White the advantage in space (Negi-Sasikiran, IT, New Delhi, 2011).
• 19...Rad8 20.Be3 h6 21.Qc1 Kh7 22.b4 Re6 23.Qb1 gives White a slight advantage in space (Carlsen-Pruijssers, Euro Club Cip, Antalya, 2007).
• 17...Nf8 18.a4 Qc7 19.b4 N6d7 20.Bb3 c5 21.bxc5 dxc5 22.d5 gives White a passed pawn and more space (Svidler-Chong Liang, TM, Shanghai, 2001).

15...Bg7

• With the idea that the d-pawn will remain at d6, White redeploys his Bishop to the flank.
• If 15...c5 16.d5 c4 17.Bg5 h6 18.Be3 Nc5 19.Qd2 then:
• If 19...h5 then:
• If 20.Ra3 Nfd7 21.Rea1 then:
• 21...Rb8 22.axb5 axb5 23.Qd1 Bc8 24.Ra7! gives White clear supremacy (Kosteniuk-Lahno, Euro ChTW, Novi Sad, 2009).
• 21...Qc7 22.Bh6 Be7 23.Rf1 Nb6 24.axb5 axb5 25.Rxa8 Rxa8 is equal (Kosteniuk-T. Kosintseva, FIDE Knock Out W, Nalchick, 2008).
• 20.Bg5 Be7 21.Ra3 Rb8 22.Kh1 Nh7 23.Be3 Bf6 24.Rea1 Bg7 25.Qe2 Bc8 26.Nf1 gives White a fine game (Inarkiev-Kamsky, Grand Prix, Baku, 2008).
• 19...Bc8 20.b3 Re7 21.Bg5 Bg7 22.Qe3 Qf8 23.Qd3 Nh7 24.bxc4 Rb7 draw (Balashov-Smejkal, IT, Leningrad, 1977).

16.Bd3 c6 17.Bg5 Nf8

• If 17...h6 18.Bd2 then:
• If 18...Qc7 19.Qc1 h5 20.Bh6 then:
• 20...Nh7 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Qd2 Ndf8 23.Bc2 Rad8 24.b4 gives White the advantage in space (Cheparinov-B. Socko, Anabal Op, Linares, 2003).
• 20...Bh8 21.Qb1 Nh7 22.b4 Ndf8 23.Ra2 Ne6 24.Be3 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (DeFirmian-Prasad, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• 18...Kh7 19.Qc2 d5 20.exd5 Nxd5 21.h4 exd4 22.h5 gives White the advantage in space (Karpov-Kavalek, IT, Tilburg, 1979).

18.Qd2 Ne6 19.Bh6 (N)

• If 19.Be3 Nd7 then:
• If 20.Bf1 Qc7 then:
• If 21.b4 Nb6 22.a5 then:
• 22...exd4 23.cxd4 Nc4 24.Bxc4 bxc4 25.Bh6 Bh8 26.d5 Nf8 is equal (Harikrishna-Bologan, IT, Foros, 2006).
• 22...Nd7 23.Rac1 d5 24.exd5 cxd5 25.dxe5 Nxe5 26.Nxe5 Bxe5 is equal (And. Volokitin-Sasikiran, Ol. Torino, 2006).
• 21.Red1 Rad8 22.Qc2 Nb6 23.a5 Nd7 24.b4 Rc8 25.Rac1 gives White the advantage in space (Charbonneau-Sasikiran, IT, La-Roche-sur-Yon, 2006).
• 20.b4 Qc7 21.Rec1 Red8 22.Bf1 Rac8 23.axb5 axb5 24.d5 gives White a small advantage in space (Hou Yifan-Sasikiran, IT, New Delhi, 2011).

19...Nd7

• White has the advantage in space.
• 19...Bxh6 20.Qxh6 Nd7 21.Ne2 Qf6 22.b4 also gives White the advantage in space.

20.Bxg7 Kxg7 21.Bc2 Qf6 22.Red1

• If 22.b4 Nb6 then:
• 23.Bb3 bxa4 24.Bxa4 a5 25.Reb1 axb4 26.Rxb4 Nxa4 27.Rxb7 gives White a Rook on the seventh.
• If 23.a5 then:
• 23...Nc4 24.Qd1 c5 25.d5 Nf4 26.bxc5 dxc5 27.Nd2 Nd6 is equal.
• 23...Nd7 24.Rad1 Rad8 25.Qe3 c5 26.bxc5 dxc5 27.d5 is equal.

22...Rad8 23.axb5

• 23.b4 Nb6 24.Bb3 exd4 25.cxd4 then:
• 25...Nf4 26.Kh2 bxa4 27.Bxa4 Nxa4 28.Rxa4 gives White a well-fortified center pawn duo; Black has an active Knight and Queen..
• 25...Nxa4 26.Bxa4 bxa4 27.Rxa4 leaves White a pawn to the good.

23...cxb5 24.d5 Nf4 25.Qe3 Rc8 26.Nd2!?

• White overprotects her base pawn at e4, but the Knight has few good prospects on the queenside.
• If 26.Nf1 h6 27.Kh2 Rc7 28.g3 Nh5 29.Kg2 gives White a small advantage in space.
• If 26.Ne2 Nxe2+ 27.Qxe2 then:
• 27...Rc7 28.Nd2 Rec8 29.Bb1 Nc5 30.Qg4 gives White a small advantage.
• 27...Qf4 28.g3 Qh6 29.Nh4 is equal.

BLACK: Koneru Humpy



WHITE: Alexandra Kosteniuk
Position after 26.Nf3d2

26...h5

• The game is equal.
• If 26...Rc7! then:
• 27.Nb3 (JR) 27...Bc8 28.Na5 Qg5 29.Qf3 is equal.
• 27.Ra5 (Fritz) 27...Rec8 28.Ne2 Nxe2+ 29.Qxe2 Qf4 30.Re1 is equal.

27.Rdc1 Rc7 28.Bd1

• 28.b4!? h4 29.Ne2 Nxe2+ 30.Qxe2 Rxc3 gives Black an extra pawn.

28...Nc5 29.Nf3 h4

• 29...Nfd3 30.b4 Qf4 31.bxc5 Qxe3 32.fxe3 Nxc1 33.Rxc1 Rxc5 remains equal.

30.Nf1?!

• White will do better to eliminate one of Black's attacking pieces.
• If 30.Ne2 then:
• 30...Nxe2+ 31.Qxe2 Qf4 32.Bc2 f5 33.exf5 Bxd5 34.fxg6 remains equal.
• If 30...Rec8?! 31.Rcb1 Nxe2+ 32.Qxe2 then:
• 32...Qe7 33.Bc2 f5 34.exf5 gxf5 35.Qd2 Qf6 36.Rd1 remains equal.
• 32...Qf4 33.Bc2 f5 34.exf5 gxf5 35.Rd1 is equal.

BLACK: Koneru Humpy



WHITE: Alexandra Kosteniuk
Position after 30.Ng3f1

30...Qe7!

• Black assumes the advantage in space.
• Also good is 30...Qd8 31.b4 Ncd3 32.Rc2 f5 33.N1d2 Rf8 when Black is pushing back on the kingside.

31.Bc2 f5 32.exf5 Nxd5 33.Qe1 gxf5!?

• Black fails to see a key prophylactic move.
• Black continues to gain strength on the kingside after 33...Nf4! 34.Qd1 e4 35.Ne1 gxf5 36.Ne3 Qg5.

34.Ne3?!

• White fails to see it, too.
• White can gain time for counterplay with 34.b4! Ne6 35.Bxf5 Nef4 36.Ne3 Nxc3.

34...Nxe3!

• Black wins a pawn.

35.fxe3 Bxf3 36.gxf3 e4 37.Qd2

• White loses more ground after 37.f4?! Nd3 38.Bxd3 exd3 39.Kf2 Qe4 40.Qd2 Rg8 whrn Black threatens to penetrate on White's undefeded kingside.

37...exf3 38.Qd4+?!

• This leaves the e-pawn inadequately protected.
• Better is 38.Kf2 Qe5 39.Rg1+ Kh8 when:
• 40.Qd4 Qxd4 41.exd4 Re2+ 42.Kxf3 Rxc2 43.dxc5 gives Black an extra pawn.
• If 40.Kxf3 Ne4! then:
• 41.Qd4 then White is toast after 41...Qxd4 42.exd4 Nxc3!! 43.bxc3 Rxc3+ Black's extra pawns have the advantage ove White's Bishop.
• If 41.Qe2? then Black wins after 41...b4! 42.Rxa6 bxc3 43.b4 Rc4 44.Ra5 Nd2+.

38...Kf7!?

• Stronger is 38...Qf6 39.Kf1 b4 40.cxb4 Qxd4 41.exd4 Ne4 when Black has an extra pawn and the more active minor piece; if White exchanges on e4, the Black two connected passers triumph.

39.Bxf5?!

• After this, White has little hope of salvaging anything from the game,
• Better is 39.Kf2 Qe5 40.Qxe5 dxe5 41.b4 Ne4+ leaving Black a pawn to the good and White with fighting changes to hold the game.

BLACK: Koneru Humpy



WHITE: Alexandra Kostiniuk
Position after 39.Bc2f5:p

39...Qg5+!

• White is a pawn down and is forced to choose between exchanging Queens, simply losing her Queen or submitting to immediate mate.

40.Qg4

• If 40.Bg4 Re4 then:
• 41.Rf1 Rxd4 42.Rxf3+ Kg7 leaves Black up by a whole Queen.
• 41.Qd2 Rxg4+ 42.hxg4 Ne4 43.Qd4 Qxg4+ 44.Kf1 Qg2+ 45.Ke1 Qe2#.

40...Qxg4+ 41.Bxg4 Rxe3

• Black remains two pawns up.

42.Rf1

• White will try to get at least one pawn back.

42...Na4 43.Bxf3 Kg7

• White stands far better, but White is going to make a fight of it. It now behooves Black not to slavishly hold to a material.
• If 43...Nxb2 44.Rxa6 Rcxc3 maintains White's two pawn advntage, but after 45.Bd5+ Kg7 46.Rf7+ White has a strong initiative.

44.Kf2 Rd3 45.Rg1+ Kf8 46.Be4?

• After a difficult struggle, White falls into the abyss.
• If 46.Rxa4 bxa4 47.Ke2 then:
• If 47...Rxf3 48.Kxf3 a3! 49.Rb1 then:
• 49...axb2! 50.Rxb2 Rxc3+ 51.Kg2 d5 leaves Black two pawns to the good with a more active Rook.
• 49...a2? 50.Ra1! Rg7 51.Rxa2 Rg3+ 52.Kf4 Rxh3 is equal.
• 47...Rdxc3!? 48.bxc3 Rxc3 49.Rg4 a3 50.Rxh4 Rc2+ leaves White far better, in spite of a material deficit.

BLACK: Koneru Humpy



WHITE: Alexandra Kostiniuk
Position after 46.Bf3e4

46...Rf7+

• Black takes over the initiative.
• A quicker win is 46...Rxh3! when after 47.Rgf1 Rf7+ 48.Kg2 Rg3+ 49.Kh2 Nxb2 leaves Black three pawns to the good with a won position.

47.Kg2 Rg3+ 48.Kh2 Rf2+ 49.Bg2

• No better is 49.Rg2 Rgxg2+ 50.Bxg2 Rxb2 51.c4 Rb4.

49...Rxb2

• If 49...d5 50.Rad1 then:
• 50...Nxb2 51.Rdf1 Rgf3 52.Rxf2 Rxf2 53.Kh1 Na4 54.Bxd5 Nxc3 is an easy win for Black
• If 50...Rxb2 51.Rxd5 Nxc3 then:
• 52.Rh5 a5 53.Rxh4 Rf3 54.Re1 Rff2 55.Rg1 a4 wins.
• If 52.Rd4 then Black wins after 52...Rf2 53.Rxh4 Ne2 54.Rh8+ Kg7.

50.Raf1+ Ke7 51.Rf4 Nxc3

• Black has three passed pawns.

52.Rxh4 Rg7 53.Re1+

• Two pawns down, White is not anxious to exchange material.
• If 53.Rg4 Rxg4 54.hxg4 a5 55.Rf1 Re2 56.g5 Re6 stops the pawn in its tracks.

53...Kd7 54.Rg4 Rxg4 55.hxg4 b4

• 55...Re2 could be played now.

56.g5 Re2 57.Rxe2

• White's best shot is exchanging Rooks and keeping the Knight as far away from the g-pawn as possible.
• If 57.Rg1 Ke7 58.Rf1 Re5 59.g6 then:
• If 59...d5 60.Rf7+ Kd6 then:
• 61.Rf6+ Kc5 62.Rxa6 b3 63.Ra3 Kc4 64.g7 Rg5 elimintes White's last pawn.
• If 61.Ra7 then Black wins after 61...b3 62.g7 Rg5 63.Rb7 Nb5 64.Bf1 b2.
• The main variation is more efficient than 59...Rg5 60.Rf7+ Ke6 61.Bh3+ Ke5 62.g7 Rg6.

57...Nxe2 58.Bf1 Nc1 59.Bxa6 b3!

• The remaining moves make a textbook example of winning by superior force. One pawn is enough.
• Also good is 59...d5 60.Kg3 b3 61.g6 Ke8 62.Bb7 d4 63.Bd5 Kf8 when Black has two advaning pawns and White's g-pawn can make no further progress.

60.g6 Ke7 61.Bb7

BLACK: Koneru Humpy



WHITE: Alexandra Kostiniuk
Position after 61.Ba6b7

61...b2!

• This move breaks Black's defense in half. There is no way to defend the g-pawn and stop the b-pawn, and Black still has another pawn in reserve.

62.Be4 Ne2

• The text is sufficient, but better is 62...d5!! 63.g7 dxe4 64.g8Q b1Q.

63.Bd3

• 63.Kh3 d5 64.Bb1 Nc3 65.Bd3 b1Q wins as in the text.

63...Nc3 64.Kg3 Kf6 65.Kf4 b1Q!

• Black sacrifices her advanced passer, forcing White, forcing White to give up her last piece.

66.Bxb1 Nxb1 67.Ke4 Nc3+ 68.Kd4 Nb5+ 0-1

• After 69.Kd5 Kxg6 70.Kc6 Kf6 71.Kxb5 d5 Black will bring her King and pawn forward without allowing White to take the opposition.
• 69.Kc4 Kxg6 70.Kxb5 Kf5 71.Kc6 Ke5 wins by the book.
• Alexandra Konstaninovna resigns.