(22) Hou Yifan (2557) - Kosteniuk,A (2510) [C90]

WCh-Women Nalchik RUS (6.1), 14.09.2008. Twic 723 22

[Dylan Loeb Mcclain, NYT, September 20, 2008]

1.e4 e5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 a6 4.¥a4 ¤f6 5.0–0 ¥e7 6.¦e1 b5 7.¥b3 0–0 8.a3 Diagram

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9p+n+-sn-+0
9+p+-zp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
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9-zPPzP-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
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 Hou played 8 a3 in order to avoid the Marshall Attack, which arises after 8 c3 d5. The problem with Hou’s move is that it is easy for Black to equalize 8...d6 9.c3 ¥g4 10.d3 ¤a5 11.¥c2 c5 12.h3 ¥d7 13.d4 £c7 14.d5 c4 15.¤bd2 ¤b7 16.¤f1 ¤c5 Diagram

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9p+-zp-sn-+0
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17.g4?  The position remained fairly balanced until Hou lashed out with 17 g4, an impetuous move;  [17.¤g3 would have been more circumspect] 17...h5!  Kosteniuk immediately took advantage, launching an attack with 17 ... h5. 18.¤3h2 hxg4 19.hxg4 £c8 20.f3 ¤h7 21.¤g3 ¥g5 22.¤f5 £d8 23.¢g2 g6 24.¤g3 ¢g7 25.¦h1 ¦h8 Diagram

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9p+-zp-+p+0
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26.¤hf1 £f6 27.¥e3 ¥xe3 28.¤xe3 ¤g5 29.£e2 ¦ag8 30.¦af1 £f4 31.¦xh8 ¦xh8 32.¦h1 ¦xh1 33.¤xh1 Diagram

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9-+-+-+-+0{
9+-+l+pmk-0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+psnPzp-sn-0
9-+p+PwqP+0
9zP-zP-sNP+-0
9-zPL+Q+K+0
9+-+-+-+N0
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33...¤d3 Hou managed to hold on until Kosteniuk broke through, first with 33 ... Nd3 and then 36 ... Nf3 and 37 ... Bg4. 34.¥xd3 cxd3 35.£f2 d2 36.¤g3 Diagram

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9+-+l+pmk-0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+p+Pzp-sn-0
9-+-+PwqP+0
9zP-zP-sNPsN-0
9-zP-zp-wQK+0
9+-+-+-+-0
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36...¤xf3 37.£xf3 ¥xg4 38.£f2 The point was that White could not play 38 Qg4 because of 38 ... Qg4 39 Ng4 d1/Q, while 38 Ng4 would lose to 38 ... Qf3 39 Kf3 d1/Q 38...d1£ 39.¤xd1 ¥xd1 40.£e1 ¥f3+ 41.¢g1 f5 42.exf5 gxf5 43.£f2 ¢g6 44.b3 e4 45.c4 bxc4 46.bxc4 £g5 47.c5 f4 48.cxd6 fxg3 Diagram

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9+-+P+-wq-0
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Hou resigned after 48 ... fg because she faced certain checkmate 0–1

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