Democratic Underground - Danielian - Chiburdanidze, Round 2

Elina Danielian
Photo by Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)

Elina Danielian - Maia Chiburdanidze
Women's Grand Prix, Sixth Leg, Round 2
Doha, 23 February 2011

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.e3 b6 4.b3 Bb7 5.Bb2 d5 6.Nc3 a6 7.d4

The game has transposed into a Queen's Indian.

7...Nbd7 8.Bd3 Bd6 9.0-0 0-0

9...dxc4 10.bxc4 0-0 11.Nd2 c5 12.Nde4 Nxe4 13.Bxe4 Bxe4 14.Nxe4 Bxh2+ 15.Kxh2 Qh4+ 16.Kg1 Qxe4 gives Black an extra pawn (Biliskov-Kurajica, Croatian Cup, Sibenik, 2005).

10.Rc1

If 10.Qe2 Ne4 11.Rad1 Qe7 then:

If 12.Qc2 f5 13.Ne2 dxc4 then:

14.Bxc4 b5 15.Bd3 c5 16.Ne5 cxd4 17.exd4 Rac8 18.Qb1 Nxe5 19.dxe5 Bc5 give Black a comfortable advantage in space (Rodríguez-Smyslov, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 1967).
14.bxc4 Rad8 15.Ng3 Nxg3 16.hxg3 Nf6 17.Qb3 Ba8 18.Ng5 Ng4 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Pushkov-Savon, Op, Orel, 1992).

12.Nb1 f5 13.Ne5 Bxe5 14.dxe5 Nec5 15.Bc2 dxc4 16.bxc4 b5 17.Ba3 Nxe5 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Donner-Timman, IBM, Amsterdam, 1971).

10...Qe7 11.cxd5

If 11.Na4 dxc4 12.bxc4 Ne4 then:

If 13.c5 bxc5 14.Ne5 Rfd8 15.Nxd7 Rxd7 then:

If 16.dxc5 Nxc5 17.Nxc5 Bxc5 18.Bxh7+ Kxh7 19.Qh5+ Kg8 then:

20.Rxc5 Rd5 21.Rxd5 Bxd5 22.Qg4 f6 23.a3 Rb8 24.Qe2 c5 is equal (Z. Franco-Bruzón, Ol, Torino, 2006).
20.Qxc5 Qxc5 21.Rxc5 f6 22.f3 Rb8 23.Bc3 Bd5 24.a4 Bb3 is equal (Portisch-Dautov, IT, Ter Appel, 1994).

16.Bxe4 Bxe4 17.Nxc5 Bxc5 18.Rxc5 Qxc5 19.dxc5 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 f6 21.Bc3 Rb8 22.Ba5 Rb5 23.Bxc7 Rxc5 24.Rd8+ Kf7 25.Rd7+ Ke8 draw (Jussupow-Khalifman, Bundesliga 9394, Germany, 1994).

13.Qe2 f5 14.Rfd1 Rfd8 15.Rb1 b5 16.Ba1 is equal (Portisch-Nikolic, IT, Tunisien, 1985).

11...exd5 12.Qc2

If 12.Rc2 Ne4 13.Ne2 f5 then:

If 14.Ng3 Rf7 then:

15.Re1 g5 16.Nd2 Raf8 17.Qe2 g4 18.Bxe4 fxe4 19.Qxg4+ Kh8 20.f4 Bc8 21.Qg5 Qxg5 22.fxg5 Rg7 23.Rec1 Kg8 24.Nb1 b5 25.Nc3 Nb6 26.Nce2 Rxg5 draw (Bruzón-Kramnik, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2005).
15.Qe2 g6 16.Rfc1 c6 17.Ne1 a5 18.Nf1 Re8 19.f4 g5 20.g3 Rg7 gives Black the advantage in space (Z. Mamedyarova-Chiburdanidze, OlW, Calvia, 2004).

If 14.Qa1 Rae8 15.Ne5 Bxe5 16.dxe5 Nec5 then:

17.e6 Nxe6 18.Nd4 Ndc5 19.Ba3 Qf6 20.Nxe6 Qxa1 21.Rxa1 Rxe6 22.Bxc5 bxc5 23.Rxc5 gives White more space and a slight initiative (Arutinian-Olszewski, Voivoda Cup, Legnica, 2009).
17.Nf4 Nxe5 18.Be2 g5 19.Nh5 a5 20.Bd4 f4 21.Rfc1 Rf7 gives Black the advantage in space and an extra pawn (Volkov-Bocharov, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).

12...Ne4 13.Ne2 Rac8 14.Nf4 (N)

14.Ng3 f5 15.Qe2 Ra8 16.Qc2 Rf7 17.Rcd1 Re8 18.Qe2 b5 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Solozhenkin-Norri, Finnish ChT, Finland, 2005).

14...g5

Black has a small advantage in space.

15.Ne2 f5 16.Ng3

If 16.a3 g4 17.Nd2 Bxa3 18.Bxa3 Qxa3 then:

19.Ra1 Qb4 20.Nxe4 fxe4 21.Bxa6 Bxa6 22.Rxa6 is equal.
19.Nf4 c5 20.Ra1 Qb4 21.Nxe4 fxe4 22.Bxa6 Bxa6 23.Rxa6 gives White a slim advantage in space.

16.Nd2 Nxd2 17.Qxd2 f4 18.exf4 gxf4 19.Nc3 f3 gives Black a small advantage in space.

16...g4 17.Nd2 Qh4 18.f4?!

This weakens White's grip on the e4 square and will give her problems for the next twenty moves or so.
Much better is 18.Rfd1 when:

18...c5 19.dxc5 Rxc5 20.Qb1 Rxc1 21.Qxc1 Rc8 22.Qb1 remains equal.
18...Nxg3 19.hxg3 Qh5 20.a4 Rce8 21.b4 remains equal.

BLACK: Maia Chiburdanidze

WHITE: Elina Danielian
Position after 18.f2f4

18...Nxg3!

To add insult to injury, Black opens the h-file, where the Black Queens stalks like a hungry lioness.

19.hxg3 Qf6

Also good 19...Qxg3 20.Rfe1 Rce8 21.Nf1 Qh4 22.Bxf5 Nf6.

20.Kf2 Rce8 21.Rh1 Qg6!?

The Queen should fall back to the second rank to better defend the h-pawn.
If 21...Bc8 22.Rce1 Qf7 23.Rh6 Nf6 24.Reh1 Qd7 doesn't stop Black from taking the h-file, but after moving a Rook to her second rank Black will have an easier time fighting back.

22.Rh4!

White claims the h-file for her own.

22...Bc8 23.Rch1 Nf6!

The Knight positions itself to move into e4.

24.Nf1!?

The Knight should remain at d2 in order to keep watch over the weak e4 square.
If 24.Rh6 Qg7 25.Qc5! (forcing the Knight from d2) 25...Qe7 26.Nf1 Rf7 27.Kg1 Ne4! gives Black a fair advantage in space.

24...h5!?

Black opens a door for Whit to equalize.
If 24...Qf7 25.Kg1 Qd7 26.Qc1 then:

26...b5 27.Ba3 b4 28.Bb2 Qe7 gives Black a small advantage in space.
26...Re7 27.Ba3 Ne4 28.Bxd6 Qxd6 29.Qb2 a5 gives Black a slight advantage in space.

25.Nd2!

White returns the Knight to where it belongs. The game is equal.

25...Re7 26.a3 Rfe8 27.Re1 Kg7

Black now has a slight edge in space.

28.b4 Qf7 29.Nb3?!

Whit should not remove the Knight from the protection of the weak e4 square.
If 29.Qc6 Kg8 then:

30.Qa4 b5 31.Qc2 Kg7 32.Bc1 Qg6 is equal and not very interesting.
30.Qc1 Qg7 31.Qc2 Qh7 32.Qc6 Qg6 leaves the position lifeless.

29...Kg6!?

Black seems to think there is something to be gained waiting to play ...Ne4+. With White's Knight out of position, this is the tim e to go gor it.
If 29...Ne4+! 30.Bxe4 fxe4 31.Reh1 Rh8 32.Kg1 Qf5 leaves White badly cramped in spite of command of two semi-open files.

30.Nc5!

The game remains equal.

30...Qf8

30...Ne4+ 31.Nxe4 fxe4 32.Be2 Rh8 33.Reh1 Kg7 remains equal with neither side able to whip up initiative.
30...bxc5?! 31.dxc5 Bxc5 32.Qxc5 Ne4+ 33.Bxe4 Rxe4 34.Bd4 ties the Black Queen to the defense of the d-pawn.

31.Bc3 Rg7 32.Nb3 Rh7 33.Bd2?!

White should overprotect the e4 square to better dissuade Black from playing ...Ne4+.
33.Nd2 Rhe7 34.a4 Rf7 35.Qb3 Bb7 36.b5 remains equal.

BLACK: Maia Chiburdanidze

WHITE: Elina Danielian
Position after 33.Bc3d2

33...Bd7!?

Once again, Black can play 33...Ne4+ immedioately to good effect.
If 33...Ne4+! 34.Bxe4 then:

34...fxe4! 35.Reh1 Bd7 36.Nc1 Qf5 37.Ne2 Rf8 leaves White unable to move forward; she is virtually out of reserve pawn tempi at this point.
34...Rxe4?! 35.Reh1! Qf7 36.Nc1 Bb7 37.Nd3 is again equal.

34.Rc1

White tries to stir up counterplay on the c-file, but every square is too well covered by Black.
If 34.Kg1 (a simple prophylactic move) 34...Ne4 35.Bxa6 Qe7 then:

36.Bc1 Nxg3 37.Rh2 h4 38.Rd1 Ne4 39.Rh1 Ba4 leaves White tied in knots.
If 36.Bd3 Nxd2 37.Qxd2 Bxf4!! then:

If 38.Kf2 Bg5 then:

If 39.Rhh1 Qe6 40.Na1 h4 41.Nc2 hxg3+ then:

42.Ke2 Rh2 43.Kd1 Bxe3 44.Nxe3 Rxh1 45.Rxh1 Qxe3 leaves Black up by two pawns.
If 42.Kxg3 then after 42...Rxh1 43.Rxh1 Bxe3 White is toast.

If 39.Rh2 then after 39...h4 40.gxh4 g3+ 41.Kxg3 Bxe3! Black wins.

38.exf4 Qxe1+ 39.Qxe1 Rxe1+ wins for Black.
38.gxf4 Qxh4 39.Kf1 Rhe7 40.b5 Qh2 also wins.

34...Ra8 35.Qb1 Qc8

If 35...Ne4+ then:

36.Kg1 36...Qe7 37.Be1 Bb5 38.Kh1 Kg7 39.Bc2 Qd7 gives Black a fair advantage in space and a little more freedom.
36.Bxe4 fxe4 37.Qc2 Qf5 38.Rch1 Kf7 39.Bc3 Rf8 gives Black more space and freedom.

36.Rc3!?

This is the wrong place for the Rook.
If 36.Be1 Bb5 37.Nd2 Qd7 then:

38.Kg1 Re7 39.Nf1 Bxd3 40.Qxd3 Kf7 gives Black more space and freedom.
38.Nf1 Ne4+ 39.Kg1 Be7 40.Rh2 Rh6 leaves White with few good moves.

36...Bb5?!

36...Ne4+! 37.Bxe4 fxe4 38.Qc2 Ba4 39.Qb2 Qf5 leaves White with no pawn moves.

37.Bc2

White preserves her Bishop in case Black plays her Knight to e4.

37...Qd7

37...Ne4+ is till the best move.

38.Kg1

This move is prophylactic; White expects Black to play the Knight to e4, but now White won't lose time by having to move the King out of check.

38...Be7?!

Black's idea is to play 39..Ne4 whioch would simultaneously attack each of White's Rooks, thus winning the exchange.
Nevertheless, best is still 38...Ne4 39.Bxe4 fxe4 40.Kf2 Rah8 giving Black more space and much more freedom.

BLACK: Maia Chiburdanidze

WHITE: Elina Danielian
Position after 38...Bd6e7

39.Rxc7!!

The sacrifice is a sham to deflect the Queen from the pawn at f5.

39...Qxc7 40.Bxf5+!

White wins the exchange and nets three pawns for the piece.

40...Kg7 41.Bxh7 Nxh7 42.Rxh5 Nf8

Black still has the advantage, but it is sinking into the mire.
If 42...Nf6 43.Rg5+ Kf8 44.Qg6 then:

44...Qd6 45.Qg7+ Ke8 46.Re5 Nd7 47.Qh8+ Nf8 gives Black only a small advantage in space.
44...Rd8!? 45.e4! dxe4 46.d5 Rd6 is equal.

43.Qd1 Qd7 44.f5 Kf7!?

If 44...Bc4! 45.Qxg4+ Kf7 46.e4 dxe4 47.Rh7+ then:

47...Ke8 48.Qxe4 Nxh7 49.Qxa8+ Kf7 50.Qf3 Nf6gives Black the initiative.
If 47...Nxh7?? 48.Qg6+! then 48...Kf8 49.Bh6#.

45.Qxg4

The game is equal.

45...Rc8

45...Bf6 46.Rh6 Bc4 47.Qh5+ Ke7 48.e4 dxe4 49.Bg5 is equal.
45...Bc4!? 46.Rh6! Bf6 47.Nc1 Qe7 48.Ne2 Ke8 49.Nf4 gives White a small advantage with an attack on the kingside.

46.e4 dxe4?!

This not only allows White to turn the game around, it puts her on the brink of winning.
Better is 46...Ke8 47.Rh8 then:

If 47...Bf6 48.Rh6 Bg7 49.Rxb6 Bc4 then:

50.e5 Bxb3 51.Rxa6 Bc2 52.Rd6 Qb7 53.f6 White wins by steamrolling her pawns over Black's kingside and center. In this analytical position, White has six pawns against two minor pieces.
50.Qh5+ Qf7 51.Qxf7+ Kxf7 52.e5 Bxb3 53.Rxa6 leaves White with four passed pawns.

47...dxe4 48.Bh6 Bc4 49.Qxe4 Kf7 50.Qg4 Ke8 51.Qh5+ puts the Black King in a mating attack.

BLACK: Maia Chiburdanidze

WHITE: Elina Danielian
Position after 46...de4:p

47.Rh7+! Ke8

If 47...Nxh7?? then 48.Qg6+! Kf8 49.Bh6#.

48.Rg7 Qc6 49.d5!?

White makes an inaccurate move that allows Black to fight on longer.
If 49.Qh5+ Kd8 50.Bg5 Rc7 51.Qf7 then:

51...Bxg5 52.Qxf8+ Qe8 53.Qd6+ Bd7 54.Rxg5 leaves White three pawns to the good.
If 51...Kc8? then after 52.Bxe7! Rxe7 53.Qxe7 Black is toast.

49...Qf6!

Black gets herself a repieve.
If 49...Qxd5? 50.f6! Bxf6 51.Qxc8+ Qd8 52.Qxd8+ Kxd8 53.Bg5 gives White a material advantage equal to a minor piece.

50.d6 Be2 51.Qxe4

Taking the pawn is a stronger move in this case than taking the Bishop.
Nevertheless, White should still win after 51.Qxe2 Qxg7 52.Qxa6 Rb8 53.dxe7 Qxe7 54.Bf4.

51...Qxg7 52.Qxe2 Rc2 53.dxe7 Qxe7 54.Qd3!

This is White's only move to keep Black from winning a piece.

54...Ra2?!

What White would like to do more than anything else is reduce this to an ending of Knight against pawns with White having pawns on both sides of the board. That will require getting Black to give up the exchange. This is a terrible move by Black in that it makes her Rook immobile.
54...Rb2 55.g4 Nd7 56.g5 b5 57.Qc3 Rb1+ 58.Kf2 when Black fights on and the Rook at an oppotune moment can escape through the h-file.

BLACK: Maia Chiburdanidze

WHITE: Elina Danielian
Position after 54...Rc2a2

55.Qxa6!

White has nothing but good moves.
55.Nc1! Ra1 56.Qc3 Rb1 57.Qc2 Ra1 58.Qb2 makes a desperado of the Rook.

55...Rxd2!?

Black is not forced into giving up her Rook yet and should resist giving up the exchange as long as possible.
If 55...Rb2 56.Qc8+ Qd8 57.Qxd8+ Kxd8 58.Bg5+ Kd7 59.Nd4 Ra2 is just good enough to keep Black in the game.

56.Nxd2 Qe3+

If 56...Qe1+? then White wins after 57.Nf1!.

57.Kh2 Qh6+ 58.Kg1 Qxd2 59.Qxb6

White has a clear advantage, not so so much because she has five pawns against a Knight, but because she has pawns on both wings against a Knight. It is therefore imparative for Black to keep he Queen on the board and wipe out all of White's pawns on one side or the other before exchanging Queens. With the Queens off the board, White has an easy win.

59...Qd1+ 60.Kf2 Qc2+ 61.Kg1 Qd1+ 62.Kf2 Qc2+ 63.Ke3 Qxf5 64.Qc6+ Kf7?

This allows White to force an exchange of Queens.
If 64...Kd8 65.Qd6+ Nd7 66.a4 Qg5+ 67.Ke2 Qg4+ 68.Kd2 Qe4 is good enough to keep Black in the game.

BLACK: Maia Chiburdanidze

WHITE: Elina Danielian
Position after 64...Ke8f7

65.Qf3!

The rest needs no comment.

65...Ke6 66.Qxf5+ Kxf5 67.Kd4 Ke6 68.a4 Kd6 69.g4 Ne6+ 70.Ke4 Nc7 71.g5 Na6 72.Kf5 Nxb4 73.Kf6 Nd5+ 74.Kf7 1-0

Former world women's champion Chiburdanidze resigns.

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