Women’s world title at stake

MANILA, Philippines — The women’s world championship match between reigning Chinese world champion Ju Wenjun and Russian challenger Aleksandra Goryachkina,  is in full swing in Shanghai, China.

As the whole chess world now knows, Wenjun, 28, exploited a microscopic Q + P ending advantage and beat the 21-year-old Goryachkina in Game four (after three consecutive draws), to take a  2.5-1.5 lead in the 12-game world title series, which offers a whopping  500,000 euro prize fund, the biggest in women’s world championship. history.

Time control is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes to finish the game, with 30 seconds per move increment. Draw offer before 40 moves is not allowed.    Game five is underway as we go to press, and after Game six, there will be a two-day break before the series’ second half moves from Shanghai to the Russian city of Vladivostok.

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The minority attack is the normal method of rendering a half-open file fully open. It is directed against the enemy Pawn which is the characteristic feature of a half-open file. It is most often applicable in positions arising in the Queen’s Gambit Declined Exchange Variation in which Black’s c6 Pawn is on the third rank.

In the game below, the world champion, after suitable preparations, advances his b-Pawn, resulting in the weakening of Black’s Q-side Pawn formation, which he subsequently exploits.

World Rapid Championship 2019

W) M. Carlsen (Nor)

B) S. Mamedyarov (Aze)

Queen’s Gambit Declined

1. Nf3    Nf6

2. c4                       e6

3. Nc3                    d5

4. d4                      Nbd7

4....h6 is an interesting non-theoretical alternative.

5. cxd5                  exd5

6. Bg5                    Be7

Another system of development is 6....h6 and after 7. Bh4 Bb4, the opening is rich in possibilities.

7. e3                      c6

8. Qc2                    O-O

9. Bd3                    Re8

10. Bf4                  Nf8

11. h3                    Bd6

12. Bxd6               Qxd6

13. O-O                 Ng6

14. Rab1               Bd7

15. b4!                  ....

White starts a Pawn roller on the Q-side, known as the minority attack.

15....                      Rac8

16. Rfc1                Qe7

17. b5                    cxb5

Not a good choice as it weakens Black’s d Pawn and Q-side Pawns as well.17. ..Ne4 should have been tried.

18. Bxb5               Bxb5

19. Rxb5               Ne4?!

A dubious reply. 19....Rc7 still holds the position. Now it’s the isolated d Pawn that will be picked up.

20. Qb2                 Nd6

After 20....Nxc3 21. Rxc3 b6 22. Rxd5, White obtains the upper hand, e.g., 22....Qe6 23. Rb5 Rxc3 24. Qxc3 Qxa2 25. d5 Qa6 26. Nd4 Qc8 27. Qa3 Qd7 28. Nc6, etc.

21. Nxd5              Rxc1ch

22. Qxc1               Qe6

23. Rc5                  ....

After all the labors, White emerges one Pawn up plus a positional edge.

23....                      Rd8

24. Nc3                 h6

25. Qa3                 a6

26. Qa5                 Qe8

27. Qb6                 Kh7

Black has run out of reasonable moves. If 27....Nf8 28. Rd5 Qe7 29. Qb4 Nh7 30. Re5 Qd7 31. Nd5, White enjoys tremendous pressure.

28. Rd5                 Rc8

With his pieces in trouble and  White closing in fast, Black decides it is time to quit struggling. But it only leads to a quick finish.

29. Rxd6               Rxc3

30. Qxb7              Rc1ch

31. Kh2                 Rc2

32. Rd7                 Kg8

33. Rc7!                1-0

After 33....Rxc7 34. Qxc7, White’s material advantage prevails..

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Solution to last week puzzle

Black to move and win.

White=Kg2, Be4, Pa6

Black=Kg5, Be3, Pf2, Pf4, Pg4

1....        f1Q!

1....f3ch 2. Kf1! Kf4 3. Bxf3! 4. Kxf3/gxf3 a7 5. Bxa7 stalemate.

2. Kxf1                  f3

0-1

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Black to play and win.