Sunday, October 8, 2017

First Day of School

Olga Alexandrovna Girya – Cécile Haussernot
22nd European Women’s Chess Club Cup; Göynük, October 8, 2017
4r1k1/6np/1p1p4/1PqP1p1b/p1PNrP2/3R1NP1/Q5KP/2R5 w - - 5 39

Position after 38. ... Ra8-e8

With respect to the 22nd European Women’s Chess Club Cup, instead, the big surprise of the day was the defeat which Olga Alexandrovna Girya suffered by the hand of Cécile Haussernot. The position in the diagram shows the “epiphany” of their game, when Girya should have wisely aimed for a draw by repetition. 39. Rc2. The Pawn is taboo: 39. Qxa4?? Re2+ 40. Kh1 (or 40. Kf1 Bxf3 41. Rxf3 Qxd4 with irresistible attack) 40. ... Bxf3+ 41. Nxf3 Qf2 42. Rg1 Ra2! 43. Qb3 (or 43. Qd1 Ree2−+) 43. ... Re1! and wins. 39. ... Qb4 40. Rb2 Qc5 41. Rc2. Again, Girya prefers not to take the Pawn, and probably she is right. After 41. Qxa4 Bxf3+ 42. Nxf3 Re2+ 43. Rxe2 Rxe2+ 44. Kh3 Qf2 perhaps White can survive, but Black’s threats (... h7-h6 followed by ... Qf2-g2+ and Qg2xh2+) appear at least very annoying. 41. ... Qb4 42. Ng5? Girya’s nerves collapse, and by refusing to repeat moves (42. Rb2 Qc5), she irremediably takes her step of no return. 42. ... Qe1! Her Majesty enters with deadly intentions. 43. Nxe4. This is not good, but anything else would not be better; for instance: 43. Ngf3 Bxf3+ 44. Nxf3 (or 44. Kxf3 Rxf4+! 45. gxf4 Qf1+ 46. Kg3 Nh5+ 47. Kh4 Qxf4+ 48. Kxh5 Qg4+ and mate next move) 44. ... Re2+ 45. Kh3 Qf1+ 46. Kh4 Rf8!! 47. Rxe2 Rf6 48. Rg2 Qxd3−+ (Stockfish’s analysis). 43. ... Qxe4+ 44. Rf3 Qxd4 45. Rff2 Re1 46. Rf1 Bf3+!! A pretty finish. 47. Rxf3 Rg1+ 48. Kh3 Qf6! 0 : 1. The only way to parry the one-move mate threat (... Qf6-h6 mate) is 49. g4, but then the coup de grâce follows by 49. ... fxg4 mate.

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