[Event "FIDE Womens Candidates Final 2022-23"] [Site "Chongqing"] [Date "2023.03.29"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Tan, Zhongyi"] [Black "Lei, Tingjie"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A20"] [WhiteElo "2526"] [BlackElo "2545"] [Annotator "3700"] [PlyCount "75"] [EventDate "2023.03.29"] [EventType "match"] [EventCountry "CHN"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] {[%evp 0,75,31,-21,-21,-46,-9,-15,-5,-5,6,-10,6,10,15,17,49,42,53,45,55,12,4,17,17,17,17,0,0,0,0,-35,-35,-72,-49,-49,-31,-21,-42,-42,-42,-46,-37,-51,-40,-51,-51,-50,-54,-49,-49,-49,-70,-85,-85,-80,-80,-120,-117,-51,-76,-114,337,361,392,153,202,224,238,238,238,0,0,0,349,340,395,304]} 1. c4 e5 2. d3 Bb4+ 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 (4. g3 Nc6 5. Bg2 Nge7 6. Ngf3 O-O 7. O-O {½-½ Grischuk,A (2777)-Giri,A (2764) Chessable Masters INT rapid 2020} Ba5 8. Nb3 (8. Qc2 d6 9. a3 h6 10. e3 Bf5 11. Rb1 {1-0 Bocharov,D (2524)-Bluebaum,M (2660) Titled Tuesday INT blitz 2020}) 8... Bb6 9. Ne1 d5 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Nc2 Be6 {½-½ Lutsko,A (2392)-Vrolijk,L (2464) Dortmund NRW Cup U20 2022}) 4... Nc6 5. g3 d6 (5... f5 6. Bg2 Nf6 7. O-O Ba5 8. a3 O-O 9. b4 Bc7 10. bxc5 Qe8 11. Bb2 b6 12. Nh4 f4 13. cxb6 axb6 14. e3 Kh8 15. exf4 exf4 16. Re1 Qf7 17. Ndf3 Ra5 18. Nd4 Nxd4 19. Bxd4 d5 20. cxd5 Nxd5 21. Rc1 Bb7 22. Qg4 Bd8 23. Nf5 Nf6 24. Nd6 Qg8 25. Bxf6 Bxg2 26. Bxd8 Rxd8 27. Nc4 h5 28. Qg6 {1-0 Supi,L (2608)-Roebers,E (2361) Tata Steel-B Wijk aan Zee 2023}) 6. Bg2 Nge7 7. O-O Bxd2 8. Bxd2 h6 9. a3 a5 10. b4 axb4 11. axb4 Rxa1 12. Qxa1 Nxb4 13. Bxb4 cxb4 14. Rb1 Nc6 15. d4 $5 Bf5 16. Rc1 $6 (16. Rb3 O-O 17. d5 Nb8 18. Rxb4) 16... O-O 17. d5 Nb8 18. c5 dxc5 19. Nxe5 (19. Rxc5 Na6 20. Rc1 e4 21. Nd4 Qxd5) 19... f6 $5 20. Nc4 Nd7 21. Ne3 Bg6 22. d6 Kh7 $5 (22... Qb6 $5) 23. Nd5 $5 (23. Qa4 $5) (23. Bxb7 Qb6 24. Bg2 Ne5) 23... Qa8 24. Qb2 (24. Qxa8 $2 Rxa8) 24... Qa6 25. Nf4 Qxd6 26. Nxg6 Kxg6 27. Qc2+ f5 28. Rd1 Qe7 29. Bh3 Ne5 30. Rd5 $6 (30. f4 b3 31. Qxb3 Nc6) 30... Qe6 $4 (30... c4 $1) 31. Qxc5 Nd7 32. Rxd7 (32. Qd4 $1 Rf6 33. Rxd7 Qxe2 34. Rxb7) 32... Qxd7 33. Qxf8 Qd1+ 34. Bf1 b3 35. Qe8+ $2 (35. e4 $1) 35... Kh7 36. Qb5 f4 $2 (36... Qb1 $1) 37. e3 fxe3 38. Qd3+ 1-0 [Event "FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament 2022-"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2023.03.29"] [Round "3"] [White "Tan, Zhongyi"] [Black "Lei, Tingjie"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A20"] [WhiteElo "2526"] [BlackElo "2545"] [Annotator "pigle"] [PlyCount "75"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] {[%evp 0,75,19,-12,-27,-51,-15,-30,-20,-5,-5,1,11,11,21,21,46,45,42,48,35,-4,4,9,-9,37,38,2,-3,4,5,-12,-14,-70,-55,-43,-15,-37,-28,-60,-59,-52,-52,-41,-42,-49,-23,-106,-47,-46,-43,-81,-95,-83,-98,-98,-94,-102,-117,-199,-6,-14,168,252,345,217,225,225,119,160,192,0,0,0,207,325,334,280]} 1. c4 e5 2. d3 {With his opening choice, Tan shows a desire to play a simple Sicilian with reversed colors rather than engage in a theoretical battle.} Bb4+ {By the same logic, the Sicilian with the check on b5 has been a headache for Black, so why not try it with reversed colors $2 I promise to stop making these comparisons from now on, otherwise, this analysis may be harder to understand than the movie \"Inception.\" Judging who gets the better of inverted color openings is very difficult in chess.} 3. Nd2 c5 {A creative move. Black gains control in the center but seals the bishop's fate on b4.} 4. Ngf3 Nc6 5. g3 d6 {A novelty on move five. I love when this happens in high-level games, as it shows everyone that chess is more than over-preparing openings.} (5... f5 $6 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] led to trouble for Black in a recent game.} 6. Bg2 Nf6 7. O-O Ba5 8. a3 O-O $6 {[%c_effect g8;square;g8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (8... d6) 9. b4 $1 {[%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 1-0 Supi,L (2608)-Roebers,E (2361) Tata Steel-B 85th Wijk aan Zee 2023 (11) with a clear advantage for White in Supi-Roebers, Wijk aan Zee 2023.}) 6. Bg2 Nge7 7. O-O Bxd2 {Black has to play this as soon as the pin on the d2-knight is undone.} 8. Bxd2 h6 {I believe Lei wanted to speed up the Be6-Qd7 plan, and that's why she made this move, avoiding the knight jump on g5. Of course, castling is almost never bad, and in this position, this is no exception.} (8... O-O {is the most natural.}) 9. a3 a5 10. b4 $5 {[%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;Interesting;persistent;true] An interesting pawn sacrifice to speed up the attack on the queenside.} (10. b3 {Setting up Rb1 and then b4 is possible, although it seems a bit slow.}) (10. Rb1 a4 11. b4 axb3 12. Qxb3 O-O {This is a natural sequence. The position is balanced.}) 10... axb4 11. axb4 Rxa1 12. Qxa1 Nxb4 13. Bxb4 cxb4 14. Rb1 Nc6 {The previous moves were pretty straightforward, but now White has a choice.} 15. d4 $6 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (15. Ne1 {is a classic plan, taking the knight to c2. Black needs to play with precision.} O-O (15... h5 $6 {[%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] is too optimistic.} 16. Nc2 h4 17. Nxb4 {Black's attack is not strong.}) (15... Be6 16. Nc2 d5 17. cxd5 Bxd5 18. Nxb4 {This is the dream position for White, with the better pawn structure.}) 16. Nc2 Bg4 $1 {[%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The right move to achieve equality.} 17. e3 Bf5 18. Nxb4 Nxb4 19. Rxb4 Bxd3 20. Bd5 Qc8 {The position is roughly even.}) 15... Bf5 16. Rc1 $6 {[%c_effect c1;square;c1;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (16. Rb3 {is better, to regain the pawn on b4. But White has no advantage after} O-O 17. d5 Nb8 18. Rxb4 Qc7) 16... O-O 17. d5 (17. dxe5 $2 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] doesn't work:} dxe5 18. Nxe5 b3 {The b-pawn is very strong.} (18... Nxe5 {is also good.} 19. Qxe5 Qd2)) 17... Nb8 18. c5 $1 {[%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] White needs to act quickly.} dxc5 $1 {[%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 19. Nxe5 (19. Rxc5 Na6 {leads to a clear advantage for Black.}) 19... f6 {Not the most accurate, according to the machine. The position is very complicated, and it's hard to evaluate if White's compensation for the pawn is enough.} (19... Na6 20. e4) (19... Qf6 20. e4 Bc8 21. Nc4 Qxa1 22. Rxa1 b5 23. Nd6 Ba6 {Black is somewhat better with the dangerous pawns on the queenside.}) (19... Qe7 {is also good for Black after} 20. e4 Bh7) 20. Nc4 (20. Nd3 $1 {[%c_effect d3;square;d3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is better, as the knight has a brighter future on f4.} b6 21. e4 {with compensation for the pawn.}) 20... Nd7 (20... Bd7 {is more accurate: the bishop supports the b5 advance and is safe from a pawn or knight attack.}) 21. Ne3 $1 {[%c_effect e3;square;e3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} (21. e4 $6 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] This move is not good because the central advance is not so simple, and the e4-pawn can be attacked.} Bg6 22. f4 $2 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} b5) 21... Bg6 {It's hard to say whether the bishop is better on g6 or h7. To me, the move played is the most natural.} (21... Bh7) 22. d6 $6 {[%c_effect d6;square;d6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (22. Qa4 $1 {[%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The queen comes to the game, and White has enough compensation.}) 22... Kh7 $6 {[%c_effect h7;square;h7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (22... Qb6 $1 {[%c_effect b6;square;b6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is the right path to the advantage.} 23. Bd5+ Kh7 24. Nc4 Qb5) 23. Nd5 (23. Qa4 $1 {[%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Again, this queen move is the best option.}) 23... Qa8 (23... Qb8 {is also possible:} 24. Nc7 Rd8 {with a slight advantage for Black.}) 24. Qb2 Qa6 (24... Qa3 {is not enough for an advantage in the endgame:} 25. Qxa3 bxa3 26. Ra1 Ra8 (26... b5 27. Rxa3 b4 28. Ra7 Rd8 {this is also even.}) 27. Nc3) 25. Nf4 $1 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] White surrenders the pride of her position, the d6 pawn, but Black's king is surprisingly unsafe after the exchange on g6.} Qxd6 26. Nxg6 Kxg6 27. Qc2+ f5 (27... Kf7 $2 {[%c_effect f7;square;f7;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 28. Rd1 {the attack on the light squares is very strong.}) 28. Rd1 (28. e4 {is also interesting.}) 28... Qe7 (28... Qe6 29. e4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] with good counterplay.}) 29. Bh3 {We have reached the climax of the game. Many beautiful and difficult variations can be found from now on. With both players in serious time trouble, mistakes are to be expected.} Ne5 (29... Nb6 30. Bxf5+ $1 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This is an important idea in many variations.} Rxf5 (30... Kf6 $2 {[%c_effect f6;square;f6;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 31. Bh7 $18) 31. g4 Qg5 $1 {[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Now White has to find the only saving move.} 32. Kh1 $1 {[%c_effect h1;square;h1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Black's pawns are a key factor now.} (32. Qxf5+ Qxf5 33. gxf5+ Kxf5 {with a winning endgame.}) (32. Rd6+ Kh7 33. Qxf5+ (33. Rxb6 Qxg4+) 33... Qxf5 34. gxf5 Nc4 {Black wins.}) 32... Qxg4 33. Rg1 {This is the point.} Qxg1+ 34. Kxg1 c4 {The pawns are dangerous, but a queen is a queen. The game ends in perpetual check.} 35. Qe4 b3 36. Qe8+ Rf7 37. Qe4+ Rf5) (29... b3 $5 {[%c_effect b3;square;b3;type;Interesting;persistent;true] This is a recurring theme. The pawn can be sacrificed to distract the queen from the attack.} 30. Qxb3 Nf6 {The knight goes to e4, but White retains compensation for the missing pawn.}) 30. Rd5 $2 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} (30. f4 $1 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is the best move.} b3 $1 {[%c_effect b3;square;b3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} (30... Nc6 31. Bxf5+ $1 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Again, this idea.} Rxf5 32. g4 Qe3+ 33. Kh1 (33. Kg2 Kh7 $1 {[%c_effect h7;square;h7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 34. Qxf5+ Kh8 35. Qf8+ Kh7 {with perpetual check.}) 33... Qxf4 $1 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} (33... Kh7 $2 {[%c_effect h7;square;h7;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Now this move doesn't work.} 34. Qxf5+ Kh8 35. Rd7 {White is able to bring the rook to the attack since the pawn cannot be captured with check on e2.}) 34. gxf5+ Kf7 $1 {[%c_effect f7;square;f7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] and the game remains complicated.} (34... Qxf5 $2 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This loses in a pretty way.} 35. Rd6+ Kg5 36. h4+ Kg4 (36... Kf4 37. e3+ Ke5 (37... Kg4 38. Rg6+) 38. Qxc5+ Ke4 39. Qc2+ Ke5 40. Rd5+ {winning the queen.}) 37. Rg6+ Kf4 38. Qd2+ Ke5 (38... Ke4 39. Qd3+ Kf4 40. Qg3+ Ke4 41. Rg4+ Kd5 42. e4+ $18) 39. Qd6+ Ke4 40. Re6+ Ne5 41. Rxe5+ $3 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;Brilliant;persistent;true]} Qxe5 42. Qd3+ Kf4 43. Qf3# {A nice king hunt $1})) 31. Qxb3 Nc6 {Black has a small advantage.}) 30... Qe6 $2 {[%c_effect e6;square;e6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A blunder in time trouble.} (30... c4 $1 {[%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] leads to a win.} 31. Bxf5+ Rxf5 32. g4 Qg5 $1 {[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Again, the same pattern.} 33. Qxf5+ Qxf5 34. gxf5+ Kf6 $1 {[%c_effect f6;square;f6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] An accurate move.} (34... Kxf5 $6 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] is not good, as the knight is now pinned. We can see the difference after} 35. Kf1 c3 36. Ke1 {Now, Black can even lose if she continues pushing the pawns.} b3 $2 {[%c_effect b3;square;b3;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 37. Rb5 b2 38. Kd1 {The move Ne5-c4 is not available.}) 35. Kf1 c3 36. Ke1 b3 37. Kd1 Nc4 {and the pawns march forward.}) 31. Qxc5 {The knight and the rook are threatened, and White can also play Rd6 to win the queen. Black's position collapses, but the fight is not over.} Nd7 (31... Re8 32. Rd6 {wins the queen.}) 32. Rxd7 (32. Qd4 {is a precise computer move, threatening the knight and also 33.Rd6. But the move played is good enough.}) 32... Qxd7 33. Qxf8 Qd1+ 34. Bf1 b3 {White still needs to be careful about the advance of the b-pawn.} 35. Qe8+ $2 {[%c_effect e8;square;e8;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Both 35.e4 and 35.g4 are winning.} (35. e4 fxe4 36. Qe8+ Kf6 (36... Kf5 37. Qf7+ Ke5 38. Qxg7+ Kf5 39. Qxb7 {White is able to control the pawn. The game might continue:} Qc2 40. Qd5+ Kf6 41. Bc4 $1 {[%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} b2 42. Qe6+ Kg7 (42... Kg5 43. h4+ Kh5 44. Qf5#) 43. Qf7+ Kh8 44. Qg8#) 37. Qa4 {The queen comes back and the b-pawn is controlled.}) (35. g4 {has similar ideas:} fxg4 36. e4 h5 37. Qf5+ Kh6 38. Qb5 {White wins.}) 35... Kh7 36. Qb5 f4 $2 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] The last mistake.} (36... Qb1 $1 {[%c_effect b1;square;b1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is enough for a draw since White is not in time to bring the bishop to the game.} 37. e4 (37. e3 b2 38. Qd3 Qc1 39. Qxf5+ Kh8 {with a draw.}) 37... b2 38. Qxf5+ Kh8 {White has nothing more than a perpetual check.}) 37. e3 fxe3 38. Qd3+ {The queens are exchanged, and the game is over. A thrilling battle to start the match.} (38. Qd3+ Qxd3 39. Bxd3+ Kg8 40. fxe3) 1-0 [Event "FIDE Womens Candidates Final 2022-23"] [Site "Chongqing"] [Date "2023.03.30"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Lei, Tingjie"] [Black "Tan, Zhongyi"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D31"] [WhiteElo "2545"] [BlackElo "2526"] [PlyCount "157"] [EventDate "2023.03.29"] [EventType "match"] [EventCountry "CHN"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] {[%evp 0,151,19,31,43,-16,-10,-10,46,20,20,20,-1,0,2,12,66,-6,31,-9,40,-17,60,60,49,46,28,28,52,36,34,24,35,40,57,47,55,55,108,25,165,104,132,73,75,111,100,100,100,86,86,86,210,98,87,104,113,124,124,96,102,104,61,54,69,73,64,73,74,71,71,68,68,83,83,57,79,74,71,76,81,79,80,76,99,81,73,81,95,89,138,119,143,144,159,155,154,145,140,128,141,140,173,146,143,134,159,149,153,153,143,147,149,146,142,150,147,140,137,137,150,135,150,115,100,120,117,109,118,111,124,111,129,137,137,118,130,133,148,148,147,149,149,147,169,165,158,226,302,348,416,470,962,1090] Apparemment, comme hier, les deux joueuses ont décidé d'éviter les grandes lignes théoriques. Ainsi, aujourd'hui, après} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 dxc4 4. e4 b5 5. a4 c6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Bd2 Qb6 $5 {au lieu du plus connu 7...a5, les deux Chinoises étaient livrées à elles-mêmes.} 8. Be2 Ne7 {1h18-1h09, dans cette position hybride entre un gambit Dame accepté et une semi-Slave, dans laquelle les Noirs s'accrochent au pion du gambit.} 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. b3 $1 {Il est temps de s'attaquer à la chaîne de pions noirs.} cxb3 11. Qxb3 a5 {En effet, ce coup qui n'a pas été joué au 7e coup, s'avère nécessaire, même si les Noirs doivent rendre le pion.} 12. axb5 cxb5 {Tan Zhongyi a pris 8 minutes avant de reprendre.} 13. Bxb5+ {Le pion a été repris et les Blancs restent avec une prédominance centrale face au pion passé, bien qu'un peu seul, des Noirs sur l'aile-Dame.} Bc6 {1h13-0h54.} 14. Bd3 Nd7 15. O-O O-O 16. Rab1 Rfb8 $6 {Douteux à cause de} 17. Bf4 $1 {Soit les Noirs reconnaissent que leur dernier coup n'était pas bon et rejouent la Tour ailleurs sur la huitième rangée, soit ils placent la Tour en b7, mais alors la poussée blanche 18.d5! met le feu à la position !} Rd8 $5 {Comme cela a dû être difficile à jouer.} ({Meilleur que} 17... Rb7 $6 18. d5 Nc5 19. dxc6 Nxb3 20. cxb7 Qxb7 21. Rxb3 {avec Tour, Fou et Cavalier contre Dame et un pion. Reconnaître l'erreur a coûté du temps à Tan Zhongyi : 1h00-0h34.}) 18. Na2 Nf6 19. Bg5 {Défend indirectement son pion e4.} Rab8 $6 {Défend la Dame et menace à nouveau le pion e4, mais les Noirs ne semblent pas avoir pris conscience du danger de la poussée d5.} 20. d5 $1 {Boum !} Be8 (20... exd5 $4 21. e5 $1 $18) 21. Qb2 $5 {La machine préférait prendre en b4, mais Lei Tingjie conserve toutefois l'avantage.} Ng6 22. Rfc1 $5 h6 {Le meilleur selon Stockfish, qui juge la position équilibrée. 0h23-0h14.} 23. Be3 Qb7 24. Nxb4 axb4 25. Ra1 {Avec la menace 26.?a7 et 1-0, la Dame noire n'ayant aucune case de fuite.} Rbc8 $6 (25... exd5 26. Ra7 $18) (25... Ra8 $1) 26. Rxc8 Qxc8 (26... Rxc8 $4 27. Ba6 $18) 27. Qxb4 exd5 28. e5 Ne4 29. Rc1 Qe6 {Attaque le pion e5. 0h13-0h09.} 30. Qa5 {Attaque la Tour et gagne le temps, après} Rb8 31. Qc7 {de défendre le pion e5.} Ra8 {0h09-0h06.} 32. h3 {De l'air, demandait le Roi blanc.} Qe7 {Proposer l'échange des Dames face à la paire de Fous et avec un pion isolé en d4 a dû être une décision difficile à prendre.} 33. Qxe7 Nxe7 34. Nd4 Ng6 35. e6 $5 {Nous pensions que 34.Cd4 était pour supporter le pion e5 par 35.f4.} (35. f4 $5) 35... fxe6 36. Nxe6 Bf7 {Comme hier, après avoir possédé une grande avance à la pendule, Lei Tingjie se retrouve avec moins de temps que Tan Zhongyi.} 37. Nc7 {avec 3 minutes.} Rd8 {avec 4 minutes.} 38. Bd4 Nf4 39. Ba6 {avec 2 minutes.} Ng5 {avec 4 minutes.} 40. Be5 Ng6 ({À noter que le tentant} 40... Nfxh3+ $4 {est réfuté par} 41. Kf1 $1 (41. gxh3 $2 Nf3+)) 41. Bd4 Nf4 {Tan Zhongyi n'aurait rien contre une répétition de la position.} 42. h4 {Lei Tingjie n'est pas d'accord avec sa paire de Fous et le pion isolé noir en d5, que l'on peut aussi considérer comme passé. La suite s'annonce longue.} Nge6 43. Nxe6 Nxe6 44. Be5 h5 45. Bd3 Re8 46. f4 Rd8 47. Kf2 {A tempo !} Nf8 48. Rc6 {Pour empêcher 48...Cg6.} Ra8 49. Bf5 Nh7 50. Ke3 Ra3+ $6 51. Bc3 Ra8 52. Rd6 Re8+ 53. Be5 Nf6 {Ça manœuvre de chaque côté, et si l'avantage blanc est relativement léger, il est bien réel.} 54. Ra6 Ne4 $5 {Tan Zhongyi est prête à donner un pion pour obtenir des Fous de couleur opposée.} 55. Kd4 (55. Bxe4 dxe4 56. Kxe4 $11) 55... Ng3 {Le bras de fer se poursuit et la pendule entre à nouveau en jeu. 10 minutes pour Lei, 8 minutes pour Tan.} 56. Bd3 Ne4 57. Ra7 Rc8 58. Bc7 Re8 59. Be5 Rc8 {Intelligemment, Tan Zhongyi accélère le rythme de ses coups et c'est Lei Tingjie qui se retrouve avec moins de temps.} 60. Ra3 Kf8 61. Rb3 Ra8 {Il n'y a pas de rajout de temps après le 60e coup.} 62. Rb8+ Rxb8 63. Bxb8 g6 64. Ke5 Kg7 65. Ba7 {Avec 1 minute et 47 secondes.} Ng3 {Avec 4 minutes.} 66. Bd4 {Même si les Noirs perdaient un pion ils ne perdraient pas la partie.} Kf8 67. Kd6 Nf5+ 68. Bxf5 gxf5 69. Ke5 Be8 70. Kxf5 Bd7+ 71. Kg5 Bg4 $4 {La gaffe qui rodait au-dessus de l'échiquier depuis un moment !} (71... Be8 $1 $11) 72. Kg6 $1 $18 Be2 73. f5 Bd3 74. g3 Kg8 75. Kxh5 Bxf5 76. g4 Bd3 77. Kh6 {Malgré des Fous de couleur opposée, les deux pions passés et liés font la différence.} Kf7 78. h5 Ke6 79. Kg7 1-0 [Event "FIDE Womens Candidates Final 2022-23"] [Site "Chongqing"] [Date "2023.03.31"] [Round "3.1"] [White "Tan, Zhongyi"] [Black "Lei, Tingjie"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D32"] [WhiteElo "2526"] [BlackElo "2545"] [PlyCount "80"] [EventDate "2023.03.29"] [EventType "match"] [EventCountry "CHN"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 $1 {Un coup très important pour les Noirs qui peuvent ainsi répondre à 6.dxc5 par 6...d4!.} 6. dxc5 (6. g3 {Ce coup a été employé pour la première fois dons la partie Schlechter-Dous-Khotimirsky (Prague 1908). En développant leur Fou en fianchetto, les Blancs exercent une pression sur le pion d5 qu'ils sont prêts à isoler. De cette manière, ils contrôlent efficacement la case d4.}) 6... d4 7. Na4 Bxc5 {La pointe tactique.} 8. Nxc5 Qa5+ 9. Bd2 Qxc5 10. b4 $5 Qb6 11. Qa4 a6 12. e3 dxe3 13. fxe3 Rb8 (13... Bd7 14. b5 Nd8 15. Qa3 Ne7 16. Bb4 Nd5 17. Bd2 Ra7 18. bxa6 bxa6 19. Bc4 Be6 20. e4 Nb4 21. Bxb4 Bxc4 22. Bc5 Qg6 23. Bxa7 Qxg2 24. O-O-O {1-0 Demuth,A (2517)-Leconte,M (2246) FRA-chT Top 12 Brest 2019 (10.3)}) 14. b5 axb5 15. Qxb5 Qxb5 16. Bxb5 Nf6 (16... Bd7 17. Bc3 Nf6 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. O-O Ke7 20. a4 Rhc8 21. Nd2 Ne5 22. Ne4 Bxb5 23. axb5 Nd7 24. Rad1 Rc2 25. Rf4 Ra8 26. Nd6 Raa2 27. Nf5+ Kd8 28. Rg4 Kc7 29. Ne7 Kb6 30. Rg7 Ne5 31. Nd5+ Kxb5 32. Rb1+ Kc5 33. Nxf6 Ng6 34. Rxh7 Rxg2+ 35. Kh1 Rgc2 36. Ng4 Rg2 37. Nf6 Rgc2 38. Ng4 Rg2 39. h3 f5 40. Rh5 Nh4 41. Rxh4 fxg4 42. hxg4 b5 43. Rh5+ Kc4 44. Rbxb5 Rxg4 45. Rb1 Re2 46. Ra1 Re4 47. Rc1+ Kd3 {½-½ Shevchenko,K (2654)-Song,J (2391) 55th Biel Master Open Biel SUI 2022 (7.16)}) 17. Ne5 O-O $1 {Lei Tingjie prend alors 11 minutes, et fidèle à son style, offre un pion. La situation est la suivante : les Blancs possèdent la paire de Fous, mais ont 3 îlots de pions et un Roi au centre. Tan a deux façons d'accepter le cadeaux ; en gardant la paire de Fous, ou pas.} 18. Nxc6 (18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Nxc6 Rb2) 18... bxc6 19. Bxc6 Ba6 20. Bf3 {Pour se débarrasser du Fou noir en a6. À nouveau, c'est Lei Tingjie qui s'est emparée de l'initiative.} Rfe8 21. Kf2 Rb2 22. Rhd1 Ne4+ {Si les Blancs échangent en e4, ils perdront l'avantage de la paire de Fous et il reste des Fous de couleur opposée. Mais ont-ils le choix ?} 23. Bxe4 Rxe4 24. Rab1 {Exploite la faiblesse de la huitième rangée.} Reb4 25. Rxb2 ({La machine souhaitait aplanir la position avec} 25. Ke1 Rxb1 26. Bxb4 Rxd1+ 27. Kxd1 {et les joueuses pouvaient se serrer la main.}) 25... Rxb2 26. a4 {Cela-dit, cette partie ne va pas aller très loin non plus.} f5 27. Ke1 Bd3 28. a5 {Ce pion n'est pas très dangereux, la case de promotion étant contôlée par le Fou des Noirs. Rappelons que les joueuses ne peuvent pas faire match nul d'un commun accord avant le 40e coup des Noirs.} g5 29. Ra1 {Permet aux Noirs d'échanger les Tours en b1 et de se diriger plus rapidement vers le match nul.} Rb1+ 30. Rxb1 Bxb1 31. Bb4 Be4 32. g3 g4 33. Kd2 Kf7 34. Kc3 Ke6 35. Kd4 Kd7 36. a6 ({Le Roi blanc ne peut même pas aller chercher le pion h7. Car si} 36. Ke5 Kc6 37. Kf6 Kb5 38. Bd2 Kc5 39. Kg7 Kb5 40. Kxh7 f4+ {l'échec à la découverte gagne.}) 36... Kc6 37. Bc5 Kb5 38. a7 Ka6 39. Ke5 Kb7 40. Kd6 Bd3 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament 2022-23"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2023.03.30"] [Round "4"] [White "Lei, Tingjie"] [Black "Tan, Zhongyi"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D31"] [WhiteElo "2545"] [BlackElo "2526"] [Annotator "pigle"] [PlyCount "157"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] {[%evp 0,55,26,26,26,6,4,4,29,8,8,4,4,3,4,3,3,3,25,-1,41,-14,27,34,34,36,36,36,36,38,38,38,33,19,32,34,47,47,47,47,121,121,121,100,99,74,77,85,85,82,85,85,104,94,94,102,108,108]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 dxc4 4. e4 (4. e3 {is more popular and solid, heading for the main line of the Queen's Gambit Accepted. The move played in the game leads to sharper positions.}) 4... b5 5. a4 c6 6. Nc3 {A rare move, but the game will quickly transpose to a well-known position.} (6. axb5 cxb5 7. b3 Bb7 {This position was played in a great game from Kasparov's last tournament before announcing his retirement.} (7... Nf6 {is also possible.}) 8. bxc4 Bxe4 9. cxb5 Nf6 {Vallejo Pons-Kasparov, Linares 2005.}) 6... Bb4 {Now we're back to a position with more than a thousand games played. It makes sense for Black to try to exploit White's move order with the move 6...b4. Considering the time spent, it's likely Tan didn't expect this opening and was improvising from this moment on.} (6... b4) 7. Bd2 Qb6 {Another rare move, this time leading to truly unexplored positions already on move eight, something we also saw in the first game of the match.} (7... a5) (7... Nf6) 8. Be2 Ne7 {A new move. It makes sense to develop the knight here, to escape from the move e4-e5.} (8... Nf6 9. e5 (9. Qc2 {was Gromovs-Zimina, Campobasso op 2007.}) 9... Nd5 10. Ne4 {and White has the typical compensation for the pawn.}) 9. Qc2 {By protecting the knight, White prepares the thematic break on b3.} (9. b3 {is premature due to} Bxc3 10. Bxc3 b4 $1 {[%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 9... Bb7 (9... a5 $5 {[%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] Accelerating play on the queenside makes sense. Black is better prepared to face 10.b3 now.} 10. b3 {This move is not forced, but it illustrates Black's idea.} cxb3 11. Qxb3 Ba6 $1 {[%c_effect a6;square;a6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] with a good position.}) 10. b3 $1 {[%c_effect b3;square;b3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} cxb3 (10... Bxc3 $6 {[%c_effect c3;square;c3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 11. Qxc3 {This is the point, now the b5-b4 push is not available.}) 11. Qxb3 a5 $1 {[%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] It's necessary to return the pawn. Exchanging the dark-squared bishop would be positional suicide.} (11... Bxc3 $2 {[%c_effect c3;square;c3;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 12. Bxc3) (11... bxa4 $6 {[%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] This spoils the pawn structure.} 12. Nxa4 Bxd2+ 13. Nxd2 Qxb3 (13... Qxd4 $2 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 14. Qxb7 $1 {[%c_effect b7;square;b7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Qxa1+ 15. Bd1 {White wins material.}) 14. Nxb3 {With a clear positional advantage for White.}) 12. axb5 cxb5 13. Bxb5+ Bc6 14. Bd3 {Keeping the bishops gives more chances for an advantage.} (14. Bxc6+ Nbxc6 15. d5 exd5 16. exd5 Nd4 $1 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 17. Qa4+ Kf8 {Black has a good position despite the king on f8.}) 14... Nd7 15. O-O O-O 16. Rab1 (16. d5 {is usually not good because the d7-knight can jump to c5.} Nc5 $1 {[%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 16... Rfb8 $2 {[%c_effect b8;square;b8;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This move puts Black in trouble.} (16... Rfc8 {is better: the queen can go to d8 next, so the b4-bishop is not pinned anymore. The position is balanced.}) 17. Bf4 $1 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This is the problem—the bishop attacks the rook, and White gains precious time to prepare Na2.} Rd8 18. Na2 $1 {[%c_effect a2;square;a2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This bishop cannot move, and White is much better.} Nf6 19. Bg5 $6 {[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (19. Rfe1 $1 {[%c_effect e1;square;e1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is more accurate. White will capture the bishop on b4 and win a pawn, with not enough compensation for Black.}) 19... Rab8 $2 {[%c_effect b8;square;b8;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} (19... h6 $1 {[%c_effect h6;square;h6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This difficult move is the best defense. The point appears after the natural continuation:} 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. Nxb4 axb4 22. Qxb4 Qxb4 23. Rxb4 f5 $1 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] with enough counterplay for a draw.} 24. exf5 Bxf3 25. gxf3 Nc6) 20. d5 $1 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The thematic central advance is possible thanks to a tactical detail.} Be8 (20... exd5 21. e5 $1 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] White wins a piece.}) (20... Nexd5 {is a desperate measure, but the compensation for the piece is not adequate after} 21. exd5 Bxd5 22. Bc4) 21. Qb2 $6 {[%c_effect b2;square;b2;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] White has many tempting moves, and it's hard to pick the most accurate. This has always been a flaw in my game: being an indecisive person by nature, I find it difficult to choose just one of several tempting moves. Of course, many other chess players also suffer from this.} (21. Nxb4 {seems to be the simpler road to a nearly winning position.} Qxb4 {This is probably the best chance.} (21... axb4 22. Be3 $1 {[%c_effect e3;square;e3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Qb7 23. dxe6 fxe6 24. Ng5 {The e6-pawn falls and White has a winning advantage.}) 22. Qa2 (22. Qc2 {is also very good.}) 22... Qa4 (22... Qc3 {meets a beautiful refutation:} 23. dxe6 $3 {[%c_effect e6;square;e6;type;Brilliant;persistent;true]} Qxd3 24. Ne5 {with a decisive double attack on the queen and the pawn on f7.}) 23. Qxa4 Bxa4 24. Rxb8 Rxb8 25. Ra1 Be8 26. dxe6 fxe6 27. Rxa5 {With an extra pawn (even though the structure is all on the same flank) and the bishop pair, White has a technically won position.}) 21... Ng6 22. Rfc1 $6 {[%c_effect c1;square;c1;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Again, White has many interesting moves, and this is not the most impressive.} (22. e5 Nxd5 23. Bxd8 Qxd8 {This is Black's idea: sacrifice the exchange to get active play.}) (22. Nxb4 axb4 23. Rfe1 $5 {[%c_effect e1;square;e1;type;Interesting;persistent;true] White keeps a dangerous initiative with calm play.}) 22... h6 $1 {[%c_effect h6;square;h6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 23. Be3 (23. Bxf6 gxf6 24. Nxb4 (24. Qxf6 exd5) 24... axb4 {Here, the advantage is not so clear anymore, although I still prefer White.}) 23... Qb7 24. Nxb4 axb4 25. Ra1 Rbc8 {This move is criticized by the computer, although its suggested refutation is not so clear to my eyes.} (25... Ra8 26. Rxa8 Qxa8 27. Qxb4 exd5 28. e5 Ne4 {This is similar to what will happen in the game.}) 26. Rxc8 Qxc8 (26... Rxc8 $2 {[%c_effect c8;square;c8;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 27. Ba6) 27. Qxb4 (27. Bb6 $1 {[%c_effect b6;square;b6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The computer is very happy with this move, but let's examine it more closely:} Rd7 $1 {[%c_effect d7;square;d7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Forced.} (27... Rd6 $2 {[%c_effect d6;square;d6;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 28. Qxb4 {is very bad for Black.}) 28. Bb5 $1 {[%c_effect b5;square;b5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Rd6 (28... Rb7 $2 {[%c_effect b7;square;b7;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 29. Ba6) 29. Rc1 $1 {[%c_effect c1;square;c1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This is the machine's idea. The bishop will go to c7, and White wins the exchange. But I think Black has good practical compensation after} Qa8 30. Bc7 Bxb5 31. Bxd6 Nxe4 32. Qxb4 Qxd5 33. Bg3 {My engine evaluates this as a clear advantage for White, but with active pieces, a pawn for the exchange, and all pawns on the same flank, I think Black has realistic drawing chances. But no doubt, long suffering lies ahead.}) 27... exd5 28. e5 Ne4 (28... d4 $5 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;Interesting;persistent;true] is an interesting sacrifice to activate the pieces.} 29. Bxd4 (29. exf6 {Black is saved by a miracle in this line:} dxe3 30. Bxg6 exf2+ 31. Kxf2 fxg6 {and Black escapes with equality.}) 29... Nd5) 29. Rc1 Qe6 {White has some advantage, but not enough for a win. This evaluation will not change for a long time.} 30. Qa5 Rb8 31. Qc7 Ra8 32. h3 Qe7 33. Qxe7 Nxe7 34. Nd4 Ng6 35. e6 (35. f4 {is also possible, but Black is still defending.} Bd7 (35... Ra3 $2 {[%c_effect a3;square;a3;type;Mistake;persistent;true] It's important to note that this natural move loses after} 36. Bxe4 dxe4 37. Rc8 Rxe3 38. Rxe8+ Kh7 39. f5 $1 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Nf4 40. e6 {The e-pawn marches to victory.}) 36. Rc7 Nf8) 35... fxe6 36. Nxe6 Bf7 37. Nc7 Rd8 38. Bd4 Nf4 39. Ba6 Ng5 40. Be5 Ng6 41. Bd4 Nf4 42. h4 Nge6 43. Nxe6 Nxe6 {For now, Tan is defending very well.} 44. Be5 h5 (44... Bg6 {is also possible, not committing the pawn structure.}) 45. Bd3 Re8 46. f4 Rd8 47. Kf2 Nf8 48. Rc6 Ra8 49. Bf5 Nh7 50. Ke3 Ra3+ (50... Nf8) 51. Bc3 (51. Bd3 {is more dangerous:} Ra8 52. f5 {with some pressure.}) 51... Ra8 52. Rd6 Re8+ 53. Be5 Nf6 54. Ra6 Ne4 {Sacrificing a pawn to arrive in a position with opposite colored bishops, where drawing chances are usually very high.} 55. Kd4 {White declines the offer.} (55. Bxe4 dxe4 56. Kxe4 {This endgame should be a draw without much trouble.}) 55... Ng3 56. Bd3 Ne4 57. Ra7 Rc8 58. Bc7 Re8 59. Be5 Rc8 60. Ra3 Kf8 61. Rb3 Ra8 62. Rb8+ {With this move, White practically accepts that there's no way to avoid a draw. But there's still a surprise to come.} Rxb8 63. Bxb8 g6 64. Ke5 Kg7 (64... Nf2 65. Be2 d4 $1 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 66. Kxd4 Be6 {This is an easy draw since Black can set up a fortress on the light squares.}) 65. Ba7 Ng3 66. Bd4 Kf8 67. Kd6 Nf5+ 68. Bxf5 gxf5 69. Ke5 Be8 70. Kxf5 Bd7+ 71. Kg5 Bg4 $4 {[%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;Blunder;persistent;true] Chess is a cruel game sometimes. After conducting a difficult defense for many moves, Tan blunders, and now the game is lost.} (71... Be8 $1 {[%c_effect e8;square;e8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] White can't make progress, for instance:} 72. f5 Kg8 73. g4 hxg4 74. Kxg4 Bf7 75. Kg5 Be8 76. h5 Bf7 77. h6 Be8 78. Kf6 Kh7 79. Ke7 Bh5 {with a draw.}) 72. Kg6 $1 {[%c_effect g6;square;g6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Be2 73. f5 Bd3 {The bishop needs to prevent the advance of the f-pawn, but now White captures on h5, and the pawns decide the game.} 74. g3 Kg8 75. Kxh5 Bxf5 76. g4 Bd3 77. Kh6 Kf7 78. h5 Ke6 79. Kg7 {Another great fighting game. The match started in the best possible way for the spectators.} 1-0 [Event "Chess.com"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2023.03.31"] [Round "3"] [White "Tan, Zhongyi"] [Black "Lei, Tingjie"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D32"] [WhiteElo "2526"] [BlackElo "2545"] [Annotator "Rafael"] [PlyCount "80"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] {[%evp 0,80,24,27,24,13,22,13,41,41,41,35,35,41,41,41,43,41,41,41,41,41,32,24,24,22,40,40,36,47,47,61,52,63,53,-6,-8,-15,-15,-14,-14,-14,22,26,26,25,30,30,30,23,23,31,36,36,56,39,46,29,72,54,86,83,91,78,78,80,124,123,123,123,128,128,130,50,50,80,80,80,80,80,80,80,80]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. dxc5 (6. g3 {is by far the main move and leads to the main line of the Tarrasch Defense.}) 6... d4 7. Na4 Bxc5 8. Nxc5 Qa5+ 9. Bd2 Qxc5 10. b4 (10. Rc1 {is the most popular move.}) 10... Qb6 {A solid move, but Black has other interesting choices.} (10... Qf5 11. Rc1 Nf6 12. Rc5 {was played in Ding-Bai, Hangzhou 2022.}) (10... Nxb4 $5 {[%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;Interesting;persistent;true] This seems risky, but White has been unable to prove an advantage.} 11. Rc1 Qd6 (11... Qe7 12. Qa4+ Nc6 13. Nxd4 Qe4 14. e3 Bd7 {This position was played in some correspondence games, all of them ended in a draw.}) 12. e3 $1 {[%c_effect e3;square;e3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Ne7 (12... dxe3 {Even this move, which apparently walks right into a trap, is possible.} 13. Bc3 $1 {[%c_effect c3;square;c3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Qxd1+ 14. Kxd1 {The knight and the pawn on g7 are attacked, but the fight is not over.} Nxa2 15. Bxg7 Nxc1 16. Kxc1 Bd7 17. fxe3 Rc8+ 18. Kd2 f6 19. Bxh8 Kf7 20. Bd3 Ne7 {After this crazy sequence, the bishop is trapped, and Black has good drawing chances.}) 13. Nxd4 O-O {Black's advantage in development compensates White's bishop pair.}) 11. Qa4 a6 12. e3 dxe3 13. fxe3 Rb8 14. b5 axb5 15. Qxb5 Qxb5 16. Bxb5 Nf6 {All of this was played quickly, so I suppose both players were still on preparation territory.} (16... Bd7 17. Bc3 Nf6 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. O-O Ke7 {Black held his higher-rated opponent to a draw in Shevchenko-Song, Biel 2015.}) 17. Ne5 {A new move.} (17. Bc3 {was played in some correspondence games. The most recent continued:} O-O 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. a4 Be6 {with the inevitable draw in Susla-Martin, email 2019.}) 17... O-O $1 {[%c_effect g8;square;g8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Played after some thought. This is an excellent pawn sacrifice that gives Black good compensation.} (17... Bd7 $6 {[%c_effect d7;square;d7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Trying to hold the pawn is worse. White has a positional advantage, with a pair of bishops against a pair of knights.} 18. Nxd7 Nxd7 19. Ke2) 18. Nxc6 {Tan took a long time before playing this move. She was certainly considering whether to take on c6 with the knight or with the bishop.} (18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Nxc6 Rb2 $1 {[%c_effect b2;square;b2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This is the clearest path to equality.} 20. Bc3 Rxg2 21. Ne7+ Kh8 22. Bxf6 gxf6 23. Nxc8 Rxc8 24. a4 Rcc2 25. a5 {The rooks execute a perpetual check, and the game ends in a draw.}) 18... bxc6 19. Bxc6 Ba6 (19... Rb2 {is also good:} 20. Bc3 Rc2 21. Bxf6 Rxc6 22. Bd4 {Black has enough compensation for a draw. This is similar to what will happen later in the game.}) 20. Bf3 {A good defensive move.} (20. Kf2 Rb2 {with excellent compensation.}) 20... Rfe8 (20... Rb2 {Again this move is possible:} 21. Bc3 Rc2 {with an equal position.}) 21. Kf2 Rb2 22. Rhd1 Ne4+ 23. Bxe4 {It's better to capture the knight immediately.} (23. Ke1 f5 {Black is very active and prepares f5-f4 next.} (23... Nxd2 24. Rxd2 Rxe3+ 25. Kd1 Rb8 {This also ends in a draw.}) (23... Nc3 {is not so good after} 24. Rdc1)) 23... Rxe4 24. Rab1 Reb4 $1 {[%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 25. Rxb2 Rxb2 26. a4 {White is a pawn up, but with an active rook and the presence of opposite-colored bishops, Black has an easy draw.} f5 27. Ke1 Bd3 28. a5 g5 29. Ra1 (29. Rc1 {doesn't change much. Black can exchange rooks or simply play 29...Ra2, with a draw in both cases.} Ra2 (29... Rb1)) 29... Rb1+ {The simplest. In endgames with opposite-colored bishops, one of the players tries to build a fortress while the other tries to break it. The game becomes schematic, and it's possible to calculate many moves ahead until reaching a mathematical conclusion. Of course, this isn't always easy to do, especially with little time left on the clock, as we saw in the dramatic second game of the match.} 30. Rxb1 Bxb1 31. Bb4 Be4 32. g3 g4 33. Kd2 Kf7 34. Kc3 Ke6 35. Kd4 Kd7 {A curious move. The result doesn't change, but normally the simplest plan is to follow the white king without letting it penetrate the position, for example:} (35... Bf3 36. a6 Be4 37. a7 Bf3 38. Kc5 Kd7 {with a simple fortress.}) 36. a6 Kc6 37. Bc5 Kb5 38. a7 Ka6 39. Ke5 Kb7 {White has no winning plan available since the h7-pawn cannot be captured.} 40. Kd6 (40. Kf6 Ka8 41. Kg7 Kb7 42. Kxh7 $4 {[%c_effect h7;square;h7;type;Blunder;persistent;true] This even loses after} f4+ 43. Kh6 f3) 40... Bd3 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE Womens Candidates Final 2022-23"] [Site "Chongqing"] [Date "2023.04.02"] [Round "4.1"] [White "Lei, Tingjie"] [Black "Tan, Zhongyi"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E05"] [WhiteElo "2545"] [BlackElo "2526"] [Annotator "3700"] [PlyCount "115"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] {[%evp 0,115,19,31,43,-16,-10,-10,4,-25,3,10,25,4,17,-5,-17,-6,0,-10,-12,-54,-7,-25,-2,-9,4,24,39,47,35,33,33,10,54,63,60,63,62,46,76,65,65,59,70,35,62,-1,23,20,40,60,58,23,23,-6,18,-135,7,36,46,29,49,50,55,32,47,36,39,44,78,66,88,92,8,26,25,30,23,-17,58,1,6,0,0,-28,-27,0,263,264,324,375,348,345,346,340,423,424,418,325,325,336,415,298,365,515,515,424,477,478,509,535,547,567,567,567,571,571]} 1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:14]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 4. g3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 5. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:23]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:08]} 6. O-O {[%emt 0:00:22]} dxc4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 7. Qa4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 8. Qxc4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 9. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 10. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Be4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 11. Qc1 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 12. Be3 {[%emt 0:02:29]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 13. Rd1 {[%emt 0:03:27] E05: Open Catalan: 5 Nf3 Be7.} Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:33]} 14. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:05:49]} Nxe3 {[%emt 0:01:05]} 15. fxe3 {[%emt 0:00:04] The position is equal.} Bxf3 {[%emt 0:00:38]} 16. exf3 {[%emt 0:01:01] [#]} Nb4 $146 {[%emt 0:12:46] ...c5 would be deadly.} ({Predecessor:} 16... Na5 $5 {[%CAl Rc7c5]} 17. Ne4 f5 18. Nc3 Qd6 19. e4 c5 20. e5 Qxd4+ 21. Rxd4 cxd4 22. Qe1 dxc3 23. bxc3) 17. a3 {[%emt 0:11:44] Prevents c5} Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:51]} 18. Nb3 {[%emt 0:01:06]} f5 {[%emt 0:00:45]} 19. Rd3 {[%emt 0:07:23]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:10:21]} (19... Qd7 $14 {was preferrable.}) 20. Qc6 {[%emt 0:07:21]} Nb6 {[%emt 0:02:10]} 21. Na5 {[%emt 0:08:02]} (21. Qxe6 $2 Rf6 $19) (21. f4 $16) 21... e5 $14 {[%emt 0:03:01]} 22. Rc1 {[%emt 0:08:19]} Bf6 {[%emt 0:07:33]} 23. Bh3 {[%emt 0:07:25]} g6 {[%emt 0:00:43]} 24. d5 {[%emt 0:02:08]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:08:25]} ({Better is} 24... e4 $11 25. fxe4 Bxb2) 25. e4 $1 {[%emt 0:01:42]} Qg5 {[%emt 0:00:34]} 26. Qc2 {[%emt 0:05:11] Prevents Nc4} Rf7 {[%emt 0:01:04]} 27. Rf1 {[%emt 0:04:07]} (27. Re1 $14) 27... Rcf8 $11 {[%emt 0:01:34]} 28. b3 {[%emt 0:01:32]} (28. Re1 $11) 28... Nc8 {[%emt 0:04:03]} (28... fxe4 $17 29. fxe4 Rxf1+ {[%mdl 64] Remove Defender} 30. Bxf1 Nxd5) 29. Nb7 {[%emt 0:02:50]} fxe4 {[%emt 0:16:25]} 30. fxe4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Rxf1+ {[%emt 0:00:05] Remove Defender} 31. Bxf1 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Qf6 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 32. Bh3 {[%emt 0:03:23] Active counter play!} Qb6+ $1 {[%emt 0:03:11] Black is weak on the light squares} 33. Nc5 {[%emt 0:00:04] Black must now prevent Kg2.} Nd6 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 34. Kh1 {[%emt 0:03:52]} Rf7 {[%emt 0:01:18]} 35. Be6 {[%emt 0:02:46]} Rf1+ {[%emt 0:01:57]} (35... Rf8 $14 {is superior.}) 36. Kg2 $16 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Ra1 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 37. Qf2 {[%emt 0:03:08]} Rxa3 {[%emt 0:08:24]} 38. Rf3 $1 {[%emt 0:00:08] Threatening mate with Rf8+!} Qb8 {[%emt 0:00:15] Repels Rf8+} (38... h5 $16) 39. Bd7 {[%emt 0:06:25]} (39. Nd7 $18 Qe8 40. Nxe5 Nxe4 41. Qb2) 39... h6 {[%emt 0:03:37]} (39... b4 $16) 40. Ne6 $1 $18 {[%emt 0:01:16]} Qb6 $2 {[%emt 0:03:15] [#]} (40... Nxe4 $2 41. Qb2 Ng5 42. Qxa3 $18) (40... Qg8 {is more resistant.}) 41. Qb2 $2 {[%emt 0:34:48]} (41. Qf1 $1 $18 {and the rest is easy.}) 41... Qa5 $16 {[%emt 0:33:02] [#] Hoping for ...Ra2.} 42. Rf2 $1 $36 {[%emt 0:00:00] Nxg7 is the strong threat. White is really pushing.} ({Don't blunder} 42. Nxg7 $2 Ra2 $19) 42... Nxe4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (42... Qb4 $16) 43. Qc2 $18 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qe1 {[%emt 0:00:00] Black cannot hold the game after this.} (43... Nxf2 $2 {gets mated.} 44. Qxg6) (43... Qb4 $16 44. Re2 (44. Rf7 $2 Rxb3 45. Kh3 Rc3 $19) 44... Nf6) 44. Re2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (44... Qb4 45. Qxe4 Qxe4+ 46. Rxe4 Rxb3 47. Nxc7 Ra3) 45. Qxe4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rxb3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 46. Qxg6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qf3+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 47. Kh3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qf1+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 48. Rg2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qf6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 49. Qxf6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bxf6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 50. Rf2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 51. Kg4 {[%emt 0:01:58] White wants to mate with Rf8+.} e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 52. Rf8+ {[%emt 0:01:30]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 53. h4 {[%emt 0:00:25]} (53. Nxc7 $142 Rf3 54. Bf5+ Rxf5 55. Kxf5 Be3 56. Ne6 Bg1 57. Rf7+ Kg8 58. Kg6 Bc5 59. Nxc5 b4 60. Ne6 Kh8 61. Rf8#) 53... Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:00] White is clearly winning.} 54. Nd4 {[%emt 0:01:00] White threatens Bf5+ and mate.} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:00] Repels Bf5} 55. Nxb3 {[%emt 0:00:24]} Kxf8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 56. Nxd2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} e3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 57. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:03] Strongly threatening Kf4.} Ke7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 58. Bc6 {[%emt 0:00:11] Artfully played by Lei. Weighted Error Value: White=0.30/Black=0.53} 1-0 [Event "FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament 2022-"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2023.04.02"] [Round "6"] [White "Lei, Tingjie"] [Black "Tan, Zhongyi"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E05"] [WhiteElo "2545"] [BlackElo "2526"] [Annotator "rafael"] [PlyCount "115"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] {[%evp 0,115,31,14,29,3,-3,8,16,-24,-1,5,14,14,-4,-21,0,0,-7,-7,-2,-23,-12,-16,-15,2,12,16,51,43,30,37,27,28,74,51,47,49,49,53,71,68,68,59,47,34,33,35,26,32,68,71,69,34,27,-5,-5,-88,35,38,38,55,58,40,47,51,59,59,59,44,75,59,103,92,87,24,15,20,20,0,61,51,30,0,0,-7,0,0,252,238,418,509,463,463,472,349,464,461,472,331,343,345,620,304,637,666,666,428,458,458,501,517,521,522,534,529,546,566]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qa4 {7.Qc2 is the most popular move. The idea of the move played is to avoid 7...b5.} (7. Qc2 b5 $5 {[%c_effect b5;square;b5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] This is a currently fashionable move.}) 7... a6 {The downside is that now White cannot play 8.a4, an option that is possible when the queen is on c2.} 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Be4 11. Qc1 {One of the most important positions in the Catalan Opening, with thousands of games.} Nc6 (11... c6 {Nowadays this is the move most often played in the elite. The idea is to develop the knight on d7 and then prepare the thematic c5 break. 11...Nbd7 immediately is also possible, but Black has to deal with the annoying reply 12.Ba5 $1}) (11... Nbd7 12. Ba5 $1 {[%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 12. Be3 {Defending the d-pawn and preparing to develop the knight on d2.} Rc8 {The idea is to get the rook off the unpleasant diagonal and support the future c7-c5 push.} 13. Rd1 Nd5 14. Nbd2 $1 {[%c_effect d2;square;d2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Accepting a change in the pawn structure.} Nxe3 15. fxe3 Bxf3 16. exf3 $1 {[%c_effect f3;square;f3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The most accurate way of recapturing.} (16. Nxf3 {Black proved adequate counterplay in some correspondence games after} Nb4 17. a3 Nd5 18. e4 Nb6 19. b4 c6 20. e3 a5 $1 {[%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 16... Nb4 {This new move was played after some thought; maybe Tan's preparation was over at this point.} (16... Na5 {is the critical move.} 17. Ne4 f5 18. Nc5 (18. Nc3 Qd6 19. e4 c5 {with a good position for Black in Eljanov-Van Foreest, Wijk aan Zee 2020.}) 18... Bxc5 19. dxc5 Qf6 {with a lot of draws in several correspondence games.}) 17. a3 {A good move, dispatching the knight. It's also possible to control the c5-square immediately.} (17. Nb3 c5 $1 {[%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Here Black equalizes.} 18. dxc5 (18. Nxc5 Qb6 {Black will capture on c5 before White can play a3-b4.}) 18... Qc7) (17. Ne4 Nd5 {leads to a complex positional game.}) 17... Nd5 18. Nb3 f5 $6 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Tan wants to make it difficult for the e-pawn to advance, but this move creates weaknesses.} (18... c5 {This is an interesting pawn sacrifice suggested by the machine, but it's hard to evaluate Black's compensation after} 19. Nxc5 e5 20. b4 exd4 21. exd4 Bf6) (18... c6 {is the most solid choice.} 19. e4 Nb6 {White's position is a bit more comfortable, but nothing special.}) 19. Rd3 (19. e4 $2 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This is the move that Black wanted to avoid.} fxe4 20. fxe4 Bg5 21. Qc6 Ne3 22. Qxe6+ Kh8 {with an active position and excellent compensation for the pawn.}) (19. Re1 {is another way of protecting the e3-pawn and freeing the queen.}) 19... Kh8 $6 {[%c_effect h8;square;h8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (19... c6 {is better, avoiding the next move.}) 20. Qc6 $1 {[%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The position becomes dangerous for Black.} Nb6 $1 {[%c_effect b6;square;b6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] An excellent move, preparing counterplay before the position becomes passive.} (20... Qd6 21. Na5 {And Black starts to get suffocated.}) 21. Na5 $6 {[%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (21. Qxe6 $4 {[%c_effect e6;square;e6;type;Blunder;persistent;true] loses the queen after} Rf6) (21. f4 $1 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is the most accurate move, avoiding the move e6-e5 forever. White has a clear advantage.}) 21... e5 $1 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Now the game becomes sharp.} 22. Rc1 $6 {[%c_effect c1;square;c1;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (22. Qc2 {is better, clearing the c6-square for the knight.} exd4 23. Nc6 Qd6 24. f4 {White will capture on d4 with the pawn and has some advantage due to the better pawn structure.}) 22... Bf6 23. Bh3 g6 24. d5 Bg7 $6 {[%c_effect g7;square;g7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (24... e4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is the way to go. The game becomes chaotic after} 25. fxe4 Bxb2) 25. e4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] White is better again since the center is stabilized and Black has many weaknesses.} Qg5 26. Qc2 (26. Rc2 {is also possible, but the move played is a natural human reaction, bringing the queen to the defense.}) 26... Rf7 27. Rf1 $6 {[%c_effect f1;square;f1;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] This is the wrong square for the rook.} (27. Re1 {And White can follow the plan of improving the a5-knight. The attack on the f-file is not dangerous for now.}) 27... Rcf8 28. b3 $2 {[%c_effect b3;square;b3;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This is a blunder that should lose the game.} (28. Qe2) 28... Nc8 $2 {[%c_effect c8;square;c8;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Black misses a golden opportunity.} (28... fxe4 29. fxe4 Rxf1+ 30. Bxf1 Nxd5 $1 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This nice tactical shot decides the game. If the knight is not captured, it's coming to the attack, and Black is a pawn up.} 31. exd5 (31. Rxd5 Qe3+ 32. Kg2 Qf3+ 33. Kg1 Qxf1#) 31... e4 {with a decisive attack.} 32. Rd1 Qe3+ 33. Kg2 (33. Kh1 Rf2) 33... Qf3+ 34. Kg1 (34. Kh3 Rf5) 34... Bd4+ $1 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 35. Rxd4 Qxf1#) 29. Nb7 $1 {[%c_effect b7;square;b7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The knight is heading to e6.} fxe4 30. fxe4 Rxf1+ 31. Bxf1 Qf6 32. Bh3 Qb6+ 33. Nc5 Nd6 34. Kh1 Rf7 35. Be6 Rf1+ $2 {[%c_effect f1;square;f1;type;Mistake;persistent;true] The last moves were quite logical, but this is a mistake. Black needs to play with precision to keep the balance.} (35... Rf8 $1 {[%c_effect f8;square;f8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 36. Kg2 (36. Nd7 $4 {[%c_effect d7;square;d7;type;Blunder;persistent;true] loses to} Rf1+ 37. Kg2 Qg1+ 38. Kh3 Rf2) 36... Nc4 $1 {[%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The game peters out to a draw after} 37. b4 (37. bxc4 Qxc5) 37... a5 38. Nd7 Ne3+ 39. Rxe3 Qxe3 40. Nxf8 Bxf8 41. bxa5 Bc5) 36. Kg2 Ra1 (36... Rf8 $2 {[%c_effect f8;square;f8;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This is not possible anymore.} 37. Nd7) 37. Qf2 (37. Rf3 $1 {[%c_effect f3;square;f3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is a more accurate way of controlling the open file.} Rxa3 38. Nd7 $1 {[%c_effect d7;square;d7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The point is that this move is possible now.} Qa7 39. Qb2 b4 40. Nxe5 {White threatens 41.Rf8+ and has a decisive attack.}) 37... Rxa3 38. Rf3 Qb8 $6 {[%c_effect b8;square;b8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (38... h5 $1 {[%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is the only way to defend, but it's a computer-like defense. No human wants to allow the check on f8.} 39. Rf8+ (39. g4 Qa5 $1 {[%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Black is in time to create counterplay.} 40. Kh3 Ra2 41. Qg3 Qd2 42. gxh5 Rc2 {with a total mess on board.}) (39. Kh3 $5 {[%c_effect h3;square;h3;type;Interesting;persistent;true] is a cunning prophylactic move.} Ra2 $1 {[%c_effect a2;square;a2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 40. Qxa2 Qxc5 {Black has some practical chances after the exchange sacrifice.}) 39... Kh7 40. Bg8+ Kh8 $1 {[%c_effect h8;square;h8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Surprisingly Black is not losing immediately.}) 39. Bd7 $6 {[%c_effect d7;square;d7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (39. Nd7 $1 {[%c_effect d7;square;d7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is a simpler way of winning.} Qe8 40. Nxe5) 39... h6 40. Ne6 Qb6 41. Qb2 $6 {[%c_effect b2;square;b2;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (41. Qf1 $1 {[%c_effect f1;square;f1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] leads to a study-like win after} Ra2+ 42. Kh3 Nxe4 43. Rf8+ Kh7 44. Qf7 Qxe6+ (44... Nf2+ 45. Kh4 $1 {[%c_effect h4;square;h4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} g5+ 46. Kh5 {The checks are over.}) 45. dxe6 $1 {[%c_effect e6;square;e6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Ng5+ 46. Kg4 Nxf7 47. Rxf7 {The passed pawn decides the game.}) 41... Qa5 42. Rf2 $1 {[%c_effect f2;square;f2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] It's necessary to avoid 42...Ra2.} Nxe4 (42... Qb4 {is probably a better chance, but White eventually wins after} 43. Nxg7 Rxb3 44. Qxe5 Qxe4+ 45. Qxe4 Nxe4 46. Rf7 Rb2+ 47. Kf1 $1 {[%c_effect f1;square;f1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The only square available. The endgame is winning after some accurate moves, for instance:} b4 48. Re7 $1 {[%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} b3 49. Rxe4 Rxh2 50. Ne6 b2 51. Rb4 b1=Q+ 52. Rxb1 Rh1+ 53. Ke2 Rxb1 54. Nxc7 {Black will be unable to stop the d-pawn.}) 43. Qc2 $1 {[%c_effect c2;square;c2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Qe1 (43... Nxf2 44. Qxg6 {leads to a winning attack.}) (43... Qb4 44. Re2 Nf6 45. Qxg6 Qe7 (45... Qg4 46. Qxg4 Nxg4 47. Nxc7 $1 {[%c_effect c7;square;c7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} (47. Nxg7 $2 {[%c_effect g7;square;g7;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Not this one.} Nf6 {Black regains the piece.}) 47... Nf6 48. Bf5 $1 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Followed by the advance of the d-pawn.}) 46. Rf2 $1 {[%c_effect f2;square;f2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Qxd7 (46... Nxd7 47. Rf7) 47. Rxf6 Bxf6 48. Qxf6+ Kg8 49. Qg6+ Kh8 50. Qxh6+ Kg8 51. Qg5+ Kh8 52. Qxe5+ Kg8 53. Qg5+ Kh8 54. Qh6+ Kg8 55. Qf8+ Kh7 56. Ng5+ Kg6 57. Qxa3 Kxg5 58. h4+ $18 {With a winning queen endgame.}) 44. Re2 $1 {[%c_effect e2;square;e2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Qc3 45. Qxe4 {White has a material advantage and a mating attack.} Rxb3 46. Qxg6 Qf3+ 47. Kh3 Qf1+ 48. Rg2 Qf6 49. Qxf6 Bxf6 50. Rf2 Bg5 51. Kg4 e4 52. Rf8+ Kh7 53. h4 (53. d6 $5 {[%c_effect d6;square;d6;type;Interesting;persistent;true]} cxd6 54. Bc6 {Black will soon be mated.}) 53... Bd2 54. Nd4 Kg7 55. Nxb3 Kxf8 56. Nxd2 e3 57. Nf3 Ke7 58. Bc6 {What a fantastic match we're witnessing. All games so far have been hard-fought and interesting, some of them so complex that they need many hours of analysis to be understood. I can hardly wait for the next games.} 1-0 [Event "FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament 2022-"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2023.04.03"] [Round "5"] [White "Tan, Zhongyi"] [Black "Lei, Tingjie"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D05"] [WhiteElo "2526"] [BlackElo "2545"] [Annotator "Rafael"] [PlyCount "76"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] {[%evp 0,76,26,17,17,27,30,13,10,10,10,2,7,2,2,2,15,17,27,0,0,-32,-24,-32,-28,-28,-37,-37,-51,-24,-16,-38,-42,-56,-63,-68,-63,-93,-73,-111,-111,-111,-117,-109,-76,-93,-97,-99,-99,-99,-89,-89,-103,-85,-84,-113,-126,-132,-123,-143,-109,-134,-149,-134,-151,-301,-292,-674,-674,-1486,-1518,-2273,-2846,-29989,-1611,-1367,-1632,-1987,-2194]} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 c5 5. b3 {Many strategies are possible when you desperately need to win playing with the white pieces. One of them is to avoid a theoretical discussion in the opening and play something that keeps tension on the board. While this strategy will fail in today's example, it has been used many times successfully. Perhaps the most emblematic case is Kasparov's victory to save the 1987 match against Karpov in Seville.} Nc6 6. Bb2 cxd4 7. exd4 g6 $5 {[%c_effect g6;square;g6;type;Interesting;persistent;true] An interesting move, preparing the development of the bishop on g7, where it will be well placed if Black manages to castle. The conventional 7...Bd6 is the most popular move.} (7... Bd6) 8. O-O Bg7 9. Ba3 $1 {[%c_effect a3;square;a3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This is the only possible problem for Black's plan. If she wants to castle quickly, then the bishop needs to get back to f8. But a more aggressive plan is possible.} Ne4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 10. Re1 $6 {[%c_effect e1;square;e1;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] This is a new move, and I'm not sure it helps White very much, since Black wants to play f5 anyway, and the rook is not going to do anything particularly useful on e1.} (10. Bb5 Bd7 11. c4 a6 {Black was fine in Edouard-Cornette, Chartres 2019.} (11... Qb6 $5 {[%c_effect b6;square;b6;type;Interesting;persistent;true]})) (10. c3 {is too passive for my taste, although it was played by a legend.} f5 11. Bb5 Bd7 12. Qe2 Rc8 13. Bxc6 Rxc6 (13... Bxc6 {is better.}) 14. Qe3 Qb6 {with a good position for Black in Petrosian-Sunye Neto, Las Palmas 1982.}) (10. c4 $5 {[%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;Interesting;persistent;true] is my favorite move. Interestingly, it has never been tried before.} f5 (10... Nxd4 $2 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This is too greedy. White gets a decisive initiative.} 11. cxd5 $1 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Nxf3+ 12. Qxf3 exd5 (12... Bxa1 13. Bb5+ Bd7 14. dxe6 $1 {[%c_effect e6;square;e6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} fxe6 15. Qxe4 {with a winning attack.}) 13. Nd2 $1 {[%c_effect d2;square;d2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] White is winning in all lines.} Bxa1 (13... Nxd2 14. Rfe1+ Be6 15. Bb5+) 14. Nxe4 {Black will soon resign.}) 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Bb5 {with a complicated fight.}) 10... f5 11. c3 $6 {[%c_effect c3;square;c3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Petrosian's plan is tried in a slightly worse situation.} (11. Bb5 {is better. It's important to understand that this move is fundamental for White. It guarantees an active game and gives the possibility to capture the knight and then play Ne5. Without this plan, White runs the risk of becoming passive, which will happen in the game.} Bd7 12. c4 {with chances for both sides.}) 11... Bd7 (11... a6 $5 {[%c_effect a6;square;a6;type;Interesting;persistent;true] This move deserves consideration, avoiding Bb5 forever.}) 12. Qc2 $6 {[%c_effect c2;square;c2;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (12. Bb5 $1 {[%c_effect b5;square;b5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] again this is necessary.}) 12... Rc8 13. Qb2 g5 $1 {[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Black won the opening battle and has easy play on the kingside. White, on the other hand, is out of counterplay.} 14. Nfd2 g4 15. Nxe4 fxe4 16. Bf1 {Desperate situations call for desperate measures. Perhaps it was a case of changing the pattern of the game by sacrificing a piece. Is the compensation enough $2 Certainly not, but the position is much more fun to play.} (16. Bxe4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} dxe4 17. Nd2 Ne7 $1 {[%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Necessary in order to castle.} 18. Nxe4 O-O 19. Rad1 {White has some practical chances.}) 16... Qf6 (16... Ne7 {This is a good move, preparing to castle.}) 17. Qe2 (17. Nd2 {is better.}) 17... h5 18. Nd2 Bf8 {A good move, exchanging bishops in order to castle.} (18... Ne7 {also keeps a much better position.}) 19. Bb2 (19. Bxf8 {I'd rather exchange bishops, although it doesn't help much, as White is still without a plan after} Rxf8) 19... Bd6 20. Rad1 O-O (20... g3 $1 {[%c_effect g3;square;g3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is an immediate kill. Black sacrifices a pawn to create a decisive attack.} 21. f3 (21. hxg3 h4 {The h-file is deadly.}) (21. fxg3 h4 22. gxh4 (22. g4 Qf4 23. g3 hxg3 24. h3 O-O 25. Bg2 Qf2+ 26. Kh1 Ne7 {White is paralyzed.}) 22... Bxh2+ {The simplest, but anything wins.} 23. Kxh2 Qxh4+ 24. Kg1 Qh2+ 25. Kf2 O-O+ 26. Nf3 (26. Ke3 Qf4#) 26... Rxf3+ {winning the queen and the game.}) 21... e3 22. Qxe3 Bf4 23. Qd3 gxh2+ 24. Kh1 Ne7 $19) 21. g3 Nd8 $1 {[%c_effect d8;square;d8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A strong nice maneuver. Black improves her position while White can't do much.} 22. Bg2 (22. h4 {This is another desperate attempt.} gxh3 23. Bxh3 Nf7 {Now White can try to sacrifice a pawn with} 24. f4 $5 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;Interesting;persistent;true] but Black has a decisive advantage after} exf3 25. Nxf3 Bxg3 26. Rf1 Ng5 27. Nxg5 Qxg5) 22... Nf7 23. Nf1 Ng5 24. Ne3 Nf3+ 25. Bxf3 gxf3 26. Qf1 h4 27. g4 h3 $1 {[%c_effect h3;square;h3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} (27... Qf4 28. Qh3) 28. Kh1 (28. Qxh3 {loses after} Rf7 {Followed by placing the rook on the h-file.}) 28... Rf7 29. c4 Qh4 {The plan is to double rooks on the g-file and then capture the g4-pawn.} 30. Bc1 Rg7 31. Qg1 Kh7 32. cxd5 (32. Nf1 $1 {[%c_effect f1;square;f1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The only chance left is to try to defend sacrificing the g4-pawn and bringing the knight to g3.} Rxg4 33. Ng3 {Black certainly has a winning position, but there's no mating attack in the short term.}) 32... exd5 33. Nxd5 Rxg4 34. Rxe4 {One last attempt, but Lei settles the match with some precise moves.} Rxg1+ 35. Rxg1 Qxf2 {The only move, but another one is not necessary.} (35... Qxe4 $4 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;Blunder;persistent;true]} 36. Nf6+) 36. Bf4 (36. Nf6+ Kh8) 36... Qg2+ {A safe and good decision.} (36... Rc1 {is the quickest road to mate.} 37. Nf6+ (37. Rxc1 Qg2#) (37. Bxc1 Qxh2#) 37... Kh8) 37. Rxg2 hxg2+ 38. Kg1 Bxf4 {The rook is coming to c1. 0-} 0-1