[Event "Gibraltar Masters 10th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2012.01.26"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2012.01.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 147"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Bd7 10. h3 h6 11. b3 c5 12. Nd5 g5 13. Bb2 Be6 14. Rad1
Kc8 15. c4 b6 16. Nd2 Bg7 17. Ne4 Kb7 18. Rd2 a5 19. f4 a4 20. g4 Nd4 21. b4 a3
22. Ba1 Ra4 23. bxc5 Rxc4 24. Nxc7 Kxc7 25. cxb6+ Kc6 26. Bxd4 Rd8 27. Rfd1 Bf8
28. f5 Bc8 29. Bf2 Rxd2 30. Nxd2 Rc3 31. Ne4 Rc2 32. Rd8 Bb7 33. Rxf8 Rxa2 34.
e6 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 10th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2012.01.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B46"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Hou,Yifan"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2012.01.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 147"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{I missed Gibraltar several times, finally I came for the 10th anniversary.
This year's festival attracted many strong players, particularly my opponent
in this round :) Ich hatte Gibraltar mehrere Male verpasst; schließlich
schaffte ich es, zum 10. Jubiläum zu kommen. In diesem Jahr zog das Festival
viele starke Spieler an, allen voran meine Gegnerin in dieser Runde :)} 1. e4
c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 Nge7 $5 {Dieser Zug ist
nicht Mainstream, was mich eine Zeitlang überraschte. Die Idee ist, auf d4 zu
nehmen und diesen anderen Springer nach c6 zu spielen.} ({Usually she plays
the main line such as the following: Gewöhnlich wendet sie das Hauptabspiel an,
z.B. wie folgt:} 6... Qc7 7. O-O Nf6) 7. Bf4 {Dies sieht normal aus. Ich will
das d6-Feld kontrollieren, welches nach ...Nge7 gerade ein bisschen schwach
geworden ist.} ({Another choice here is Eine andere Möglichkeit hier ist} 7.
Be3 Nxd4 8. Qxd4 b5 (8... Nc6 9. Qb6 $5) 9. O-O Nc6 10. Qd2 Be7) 7... Ng6 8.
Nxc6 {I was confused about this position - should I exchange her knight then
head into an ending which is not clear for me, or retain more pieces so as to
make the position complicated? After thinking for a long time, I decided to
choose the simple way. Bei dieser Stellung war ich verwirrt - sollte ich ihren
Sprigner tauschen und dann ein Endspiel anstreben, welches mir nicht klar war,
oder mehr Figuren behalten, um die Stellung komplizierter zu machen? Nach
langem Nachdenken beschloss ich, den einfachen Weg zu wählen.} (8. Bg3 Be7 9.
h4 {Interesting sacrifice! Interessantes Opfer!} (9. O-O O-O 10. Qd2 d6 11.
Rad1 Qc7) 9... Bxh4 (9... Nxh4 $5 {Keeping the dark-squared bishop does not
allow White to take control of a series of dark squares. Den schwarzfeldrigen
Läufer zu behalten, erlaubt Weiß nicht, eine Reihe dunkler Felder unter
Kontrolle zu nehmen.}) 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Bxh4 Nxh4 12. Qd4 (12. g3 Ng6 13. Qd6
Qe7 14. O-O-O Qxd6 15. Rxd6 Ke7) 12... O-O 13. e5 Ng6 14. Bd3 f5 {A
comfortable position for Black. Svidler,Peter - Volokitin,Andrei 2002 Eine
bequeme Stellung für Schwarz. Svidler,Peter - Volokitin,Andrei 2002}) 8... bxc6
9. Bd6 Bxd6 10. Qxd6 Qe7 11. O-O-O Qxd6 12. Rxd6 Ke7 13. Rhd1 $5 Nf4 14. Bf3
Rb8 ({At one point I was a little bit worried about An einer Stelle war ich
ein wenig besorgt wegen} 14... Nd5 15. exd5 Kxd6 16. dxc6+ Kc7 17. cxd7 Bb7 $1
{This I had missed when playing 9.Bd6 Dies hatte ich übersehen, als ich 9.Bd6
spielte.} 18. Bxb7 Kxb7 19. Ne4 Rhd8 (19... Kc6 $2 20. Nd6 $1 Rhf8 21. Ne8 Rd8
22. Rd6+ Kc5 23. a3) 20. Nc5+ Kc6 21. b4 a5 22. a3 axb4 23. axb4 Rab8 ({
Calculating until here, I thought this would totally comfortable for White, e.
g. Bis hierher rechnend, dachte ich, dass die Stellung total bequem für Weiß
ist, zum Beispiel} 23... Ra1+ 24. Kd2 Rxd1+ 25. Kxd1 Ra8 26. c4) 24. c3 Rb5 $1
25. Kc2 Rxc5 26. bxc5 Kxc5 {This is the easiest way for Black to get an equal
position: Just by waiting there. Dies ist der simpelste Weg für Schwarz, eine
gleiche Stellung zu erreichen: Einfach, indem er dort wartet.}) 15. R6d2 g5 $5
{An interesting move, pushing first before the knight goes back to g6. Black
wants to control the dark squares. Ein interessanter Zug, bevor der Springer
nach g6 zurückgeht, wird der Bauer vorstoßen. Schwarz will die dunklen Felder
kontrollieren.} (15... e5 {This looks normal and has been played a few times
before. The idea of this is to bring the knight back to the e6-square which is
a more active place than g6; in the meantime it can also stop White's idea of
e5. Dies sieht normal aus und wurde auch einige Mal zuvor gespielt. Die Idee
ist, den Springer auf das e6-Feld zurückzuführen, wo er aktiver steht als auf
g6; gleichzeitig wird auch die weiße Idee e5 unterbunden.} 16. Nb1 $5 {Pointed
out from the engine Von der Engine vorgeschlagen.} Ne6 17. Na3 f6 18. c3 {
The position is easy to play for White. Die Stellung ist für Weiß leicht zu
spielen.}) (15... d5 $6 16. g3 Ng6 17. Be2) 16. Na4 {[%cal Gc2c4] Planning c4,
that's why Judit played ...d5 immediately. Mit dem Plan c4, daher spielte
Judit sofort ...d5.} d5 17. g3 Ng6 18. Re1 Kf6 19. Bh5 ({During the game I was
confused between this move and b3. Actually the latter looks more natural, say
Während der Partie schwankte ich zwischem diesem Zug und b3. Tatsächlich wirkt
Letzteres natürlicher, z.B.} 19. b3 h5 20. Be2 h4 21. Nc5 a5 22. c4 {The
light-squared bishop is in a terrible place and it's not easy for her to get
it out. Der weißfeldrige Läufer steht auf einem schrecklichen Feld, und es
fällt ihr nicht leicht, ihn zu befreien.}) 19... Rb4 $1 {I missed this when I
played 19.Bh5! Dies hatte ich bei 19.Bh5 übersehen!} 20. Nc3 ({A solid choice
to keep a balanced position. If Eine solide Wahl, um eine ausgeglichene
Stellung zu bewahren. Nach} 20. Nc5 Rc4 21. Nd3 Rxe4 22. Rxe4 dxe4 23. Nc5 Ke5
$1 24. b4 f5 25. Be2 Ne7 26. Bxa6 e3 $1 27. fxe3 Bxa6 28. Nxa6 Nd5 {the king
on e5, the active knight and the central pawns offer enough compensation for
Black. bieten der König auf e5, der aktive Springer und die Zentralbauern
Schwarz genügend Kompensation.}) 20... d4 $2 {A dubious contination, I guess
maybe Judit missed my next move. Eine zweifelhafte Fortsetzung; ich schätze,
Judit hatte womöglich meinen nächsten Zug übersehen.} ({In view of the threat
to take on d5, Black should choose Angesichts der Drohung, auf d5 zu nehmen,
sollte Schwarz} 20... a5 $5 21. b3 Rf8 22. Kb2 {wählen}) (20... Rb7 21. f4 $5 {
During the game I calculated like this: Während der Partie rechnete ich
folgendermaßen:} gxf4 22. gxf4 Nxf4 23. Rf2 Kg5 $1 24. Rg1+ Kxh5 25. Rxf4 {
I thought this position is absolutely hazardous for Black so I stopped here,
but as I check the engine right now, it tells me this is totally equal! In
spite of this, I feel I still prefer to play White. Diese Stellung hielt ich
für superriskant für Schwarz, daher stoppte ich an dieser Stelle; aber als ich
jetzt gerade die Engine checke, sagt sie mir, dies ist absolut ausgeglichen!
Trotz all dem glaube ich, ich würde lieber mit Weiß spielen.}) 21. e5+ $1 Nxe5
22. Ne4+ Ke7 23. Nxg5 h6 $2 {A huge mistake leading to a lost position. Ein
Riesenfehler, der zu einer Verluststellung führt.} (23... f6 $8 24. f4 (24. Ne4
Rd8) (24. a3 Rb5) 24... fxg5 (24... Nc4 $6 25. Rxd4 fxg5 26. Be2 $1 (26. b3 c5
$1 27. Rxc4 Rxc4 28. bxc4 gxf4 29. gxf4 Rf8 $11)) 25. Rxe5 (25. fxe5 Rf8) 25...
gxf4 26. gxf4 d3 $1 27. Rxd3 Rxf4 {What a comfortable position for White:
Black has four isolated pawns with a bishop on its starting square, though I
do not have a clear plan to exploit this. Welch eine bequeme Stellung für Weiß:
Schwarz hat vier isolierte Bauern mit dem Läufer noch auf seinem Ausgangsfeld,
obwohl ich keinen klaren Plan habe, um dies ausnutzen.}) 24. Nxe6 $1 Bxe6 (
24... Kxe6 25. f4 f6 26. fxe5 fxe5 27. b3 $1 {[%cal Ga2a3] An intelligent
move! Ein intelligenter Zug!} (27. a3 Ra4 28. b3 Rxa3 29. Kb2 Ra5 30. Rxd4)
27... Kd6 28. c3 Rb5 29. cxd4 $18) 25. Rxe5 Rd8 26. f4 $6 ({I didn't seize the
immediate winning chance: Ich ergriff nicht die sofortige Gewinnchance:} 26.
Be2 $1 Rb6 27. b3 {Control of the 5th rank is really important! Die Kontrolle
der 5. Reihe ist wirklich wichtig!}) (26. Bf3 Rb5 $1) 26... Rb5 27. Rde2 Kf6
28. Bf3 c5 $6 ({A better choice here is Eine bessere Wahl ist hier} 28... Bc4
29. R2e4 $16) 29. a4 Rb4 30. Rxc5 Rxa4 31. b3 Rb4 32. Be4 $1 Bg4 33. Re1 Rd6
34. Bd3 {Hier steht Weiß definitiv auf Gewinn; d4 und a6 sind zwei schwache
Bauern, einer von ihnen wird in Zukunft verloren gehen.} Bd7 35. Ree5 Be6 36.
Kd2 Rbb6 37. Ra5 Rbc6 38. Ra4 Rb6 39. Re4 Bf5 40. Rexd4 Re6 41. Bc4 Rec6 42.
Ra5 Bc8 43. Bd3 Be6 44. Rd8 Bc8 45. Rad5 Be6 46. Rh5 Kg7 47. f5 {Thanks for
your attention :) Danke für Ihre Aufmerksamkeit :)} 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 10th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2012.01.31"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Le, Quang Liem"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2012.01.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 147"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f4 e6 {Black goes for
the Scheveningen.} ({The Najdorf move} 6... e5 {also has a good reputation,
but Le Quang possibly felt it's more difficult to retain sufficient tension in
the position after} 7. Nf3 Qc7 (7... Nbd7 8. a4 Be7 {is more usual, as the
active developing move} 9. Bc4 {is well met by} Qa5 $5 10. Qe2 O-O 11. O-O exf4
12. Bxf4 Ne5 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Be6 15. Bxe6 Nxf3+ 16. Qxf3 fxe6 17. Qb3
Qc5+ 18. Kh1 Qc8 19. Rad1 b5 20. axb5 axb5 21. Qxb5 Rb8 22. Qd3 Rxb2 23. Bxd6
Bxd6 24. Qxd6 Rxf1+ 25. Rxf1 Rxc2 26. h3 $11 {1/2,Leko,P (2694)-Kasparov,G 
(2812)/Sarajevo/1999/}) 8. a4 Nbd7 9. Bd3 Be7 10. O-O exf4 11. Kh1 (11. Bxf4
Ne5 $132 {and sooner or later White should move his king away anyway.}) 11...
Ne5 12. Bxf4 Be6 13. Nd4 O-O 14. Qd2 ({More usual is} 14. Qe1 Rfe8 15. Bg5 {
, but after} Nfg4 {Black has reasonable counterplay.}) 14... Rac8 15. a5 Rfe8
16. Bg5 ({The following exchanges suit Black.} 16. Na4 $142 $5 Nfd7 $11) 16...
Nfg4 17. h3 Bxg5 18. Qxg5 Qc5 $5 19. Nxe6 fxe6 20. hxg4 Nxd3 21. Qxc5 Nxc5 22.
Rad1 Rc6 23. Rd4 b5 24. axb6 Rb8 25. Ne2 $2 (25. b3 $132) 25... Rcxb6 26. b3 e5
27. Rc4 Rb4 28. Rxb4 Rxb4 $17 {[%csl Re4] Ponomariov,R (2723)-Naiditsch,A 
(2712)/EU-chT Porto Carras/2011/}) 7. Be2 {The World Champion goes for the
main line of the solid Classical Scheveningen.} ({Sharper, but also more
committal is} 7. Qf3 Qb6 8. Nb3 ({or} 8. a3 $5 $13 {, when White more often
than not strives for queenside castling and a double-edged fight.})) 7... Qc7
8. O-O Be7 9. Kh1 O-O 10. a4 Nc6 11. Be3 Re8 12. Bf3 Na5 $5 {This position was
extensively tested already on the highest level in Kasparov's matches for the
highest title agiainst Karpov (1985) and Anand (1995). Le Quang's choice is
only about No.4 in terms of popularity, but it seems to be a plausible attempt
to achieve an imbalanced position. With Black Kasparov has avoided this move
and tried all the more usual continuations} (12... Rb8) (12... Bd7 {and once
even}) (12... Bf8) 13. Bf2 {A slow approach, which shouldn't threaten Black's
setup.} ({Similar, but somewhat more popular is} 13. Bg1 e5 (13... Bf8 14. Qe1
(14. Nde2 Nd7 15. Qe1 b6 16. Rd1 Bb7 17. Qf2 Rac8 18. b3 Nc6 19. Rd2 Nb4 20.
Rfd1 d5 $5 $132 {Tiviakov,S (2628)-Sax,G (2511)/Chalkidiki/2002/}) 14... Rb8 (
14... e5 $5 15. Nde2 b6 16. Rd1 Bb7 17. Qh4 Be7 18. Qg3 Nc4 19. b3 Na3 20. Rc1
b5 21. Be3 bxa4 22. fxe5 dxe5 23. Bh6 g6 24. bxa4 Rad8 25. Bg5 Nc4 $15 {
Soereghy,J (2262)-Goze,T (2300)/corr/2006/}) 15. h3 $1 (15. Rd1 e5 16. Nde2 b5
$5 17. axb5 axb5 18. b4 Nc6 19. Nd5 Nxd5 20. exd5 e4 21. Bh5 Ne7 22. Nc3 Bf5
23. Be2 Bd7 24. Nxe4 Nxd5 25. Rxd5 Rxe4 26. Qd2 Bc6 27. Rd4 Ree8 28. f5 Be4 $13
29. Bd3 d5 $13 {/<=>,Dervishi,E (2535)-Kempinski,R (2553)/EU-ch Istanbul/2003/}
) 15... Nd7 16. Bh2 Nc6 17. Rd1 Nxd4 18. Rxd4 b5 19. axb5 axb5 20. e5 f5 21.
exd6 Bxd6 22. Nd5 Qa7 23. Rd1 b4 24. Bg1 Qa5 {Kasparov,G (2775)-Topalov,V 
(2700)/Dos Hermanas/1996/} 25. Rf2 $1 $36 {Kasparov}) 14. Nde2 Bd7 15. f5 b5
16. b4 Nc4 17. g4 {Galkin,A (2540)-Purtov,A (2455)/Tomsk/1997/} h6 $13) ({
The most aggressive idea is} 13. g4 {, but here both over-the-board and postal
players have shown Black can hold his own after} Nd7 14. Bg2 Bf8 15. Qe1 (15.
g5 b6 16. Rf3 (16. Qe1 Bb7 17. Rd1 g6 18. Nde2 Bg7 19. Qh4 Nc4 20. Bc1 Qc5 21.
Rd3 b5 22. Rh3 Nf8 23. Nd1 Nb6 24. c3 Nbd7 25. Ne3 f5 $1 $15 {Polzin,R (2517)
-Kempinski,R (2608)/Bundesliga/2005/}) 16... Bb7 17. Rh3 g6 18. Qg4 Bg7 19. Bg1
f5 20. exf5 gxf5 21. Qe2 Nf8 22. Rf1 Rac8 23. Rd3 Bxg2+ 24. Qxg2 Ng6 $13 {
/=/+,Fedorchuk,S (2645)-Kempinski,R (2596)/Bundesliga/2008/}) 15... b6 16. Rd1
Bb7 17. Qh4 Nc6 18. Nde2 (18. g5 Nxd4 19. Bxd4 e5 20. Be3 exf4 21. Qxf4 Ne5 22.
Bd4 Bc6 23. b3 b5 24. a5 b4 25. Bb6 Qd7 26. Nd5 Ng6 27. Qf2 Re5 28. Bd4 Rxg5
29. Nxb4 Bb7 $132 {Kostakiev,D (2498)-Romanov,S (2535)/corr/2000/}) 18... Nb4
19. Rd2 d5 $5 (19... Qd8 $143 20. g5 f6 21. Nd4 fxg5 22. fxg5 Nc6 23. Rdf2 Rc8
24. Nce2 Nc5 25. Nxc6 Bxc6 26. Nd4 Bd7 27. e5 dxe5 28. Nf3 Bc6 29. Nxe5 Bxg2+
30. Rxg2 $36 {Anand,V (2735)-Topalov,V (2750)/Dortmund/1996/}) 20. e5 Bc5 21.
Nd4 Nc6 22. Rf3 Bxd4 23. Bxd4 Nxd4 24. Rxd4 b5 25. Rh3 Nf8 26. Qf2 Rec8 27.
Rhd3 Qb6 28. Rd2 b4 29. Na2 a5 30. c3 bxc3 31. Nxc3 Nd7 32. Bf3 Ba6 $15 {
0-1 Lagerborg,K (2402)-Romanov,S (2535)/ICCF email 2000/Corr 2002 (75)}) (13.
Qe1 Nc4 14. Bc1 e5 $5 ({Black can even consider the more restrained} 14... Nd7
15. g4 b6 16. b3 Na5 17. g5 Bb7 18. Nde2 Bf8 19. Bg2 f5 $5 20. gxf6 Nxf6 21.
Bb2 Nc6 22. Rd1 Rad8 23. Rd2 d5 24. e5 Ng4 25. Qg3 Nh6 $36 {Cernousek,L (2436)
-Ftacnik,L (2544)/Rakovnik/2008/}) 15. Nde2 Qc5 16. Qg3 Bd7 17. fxe5 (17. b3
Ne3 18. Bxe3 Qxe3 19. fxe5 dxe5 20. Rad1 {Dalvi,P (2382)-Popov,A/corr/2001/}
Bd8 21. Nd5 Nxd5 22. Rxd5 Be6 $15 {[%csl Gd8,Ge6] Ftacnik}) 17... Nxe5 18. Nf4
Nxf3 19. Qxf3 Bc6 20. Nfd5 Bxd5 21. exd5 b5 22. Be3 Qb4 $132 {Glek,I (2635)
-Sutovsky,E (2545)/Haifa/1996/}) (13. Qd3 Nc4 (13... e5 14. Nde2 Be6 15. b3
Rac8 $5 16. f5 Bd7 17. Rfc1 Nc6 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. Qxd5 g6 $132 {Ftacnik}) 14.
Bc1 e5 15. Nde2 (15. Nf5 Bxf5 16. exf5 exf4 17. Bd5 Ne3 18. Bxe3 fxe3 19. Qxe3
Rab8 20. Qd3 Bf8 21. Rae1 Re5 22. Rxe5 dxe5 $11 {Panchenko,A (2460)
-Wojtkiewicz,A (2580)/Katowice/1993/}) 15... exf4 16. Nxf4 Ne5 17. Qd4 Be6 18.
Be2 Rac8 19. Qe3 Qc6 (19... Bc4 20. Bxc4 Qxc4 21. Bd2 Neg4 22. Qf3 Ne5 23. Qe3
Qc5 $132 {1/2,Grinwis,J (1870)-Sveinsson,J (1966)/corr/2004/}) 20. Nxe6 fxe6
21. Qh3 Bd8 22. Bd3 Rc7 23. Bf4 Qc5 24. Qe3 Qxe3 25. Bxe3 Rc6 $11 {/=/+,Karpov,
A (2720)-Martinovic,S (2460)/Amsterdam/1985/}) (13. Nde2 Nd7 (13... Bd7 14. b3
e5 15. Qe1 Rac8 16. Qf2 Bd8 17. Rad1 b5 18. fxe5 dxe5 19. Bg5 Bc6 20. axb5 axb5
21. Ng3 Kh8 $2 (21... b4 $142 $13) 22. Nf5 Ng8 23. Be3 $16 {Azarov,S (2625)
-Ftacnik,L (2532)/EU-ch Ohrid/2009/}) 14. b3 b6 15. Bc1 (15. e5 Bb7 16. exd6
Bxd6 17. Bxb7 Nxb7 18. Qe1 Bc5 19. Bxc5 Nbxc5 20. Ng3 {Narciso Dublan,M (2511)
-Bruzon Batista,L (2226)/Ayamonte/2006/} Nf6 $15) 15... Bb7 16. Bb2 Nc6 17. Qd2
Rad8 18. Rad1 Nf6 19. Qe1 Bf8 20. Qh4 Ne7 21. Rd3 b5 22. axb5 axb5 23. Rfd1 Qb6
24. Qg5 d5 25. exd5 Nfxd5 26. Nxd5 Bxd5 27. Bxd5 Rxd5 28. Rxd5 Nxd5 $15 {
Kim,A (2443)-Brandenburg,D (2340)/Heraklio/2004/}) 13... Nd7 (13... Nc4 $143
14. b3 Ne3 15. Bxe3 Qxc3 16. Bg1 d5 $2 (16... Bd7 $142) (16... e5 $5) 17. Ne2
Qc7 18. e5 Ne4 19. c4 $36 Rd8 20. cxd5 exd5 21. a5 Qd7 22. Bb6 Re8 23. Ng3 f5
24. Nxf5 $1 $18 {Andriasian,Z (2616)-Brandenburg,D (2538)/Shenzhen/2011/}) (
13... Bf8 14. Qe1 Nd7 15. Rd1 Rb8 16. e5 dxe5 17. fxe5 Nc4 18. Bg3 Bb4 19. Bh5
g6 20. Qf2 Rf8 21. Ne4 $1 Be7 (21... gxh5 22. Qe2 $40) 22. Nf6+ Kh8 23. Bxg6
fxg6 24. Nxe6 Qb6 25. Qxb6 Ncxb6 26. Nxf8 Nxf8 27. e6 Ra8 28. Be5 Nc4 29. Bc3 {
1-0,Sethuraman,S (2547)-Maksimenko,A (2540)/Legnica/2010/}) (13... e5 14. Nde2
exf4 15. Nxf4 Be6 16. Bd4 Nc4 $132 17. Ncd5 Bxd5 18. Nxd5 $2 (18. Bxf6 Be6 $11)
18... Nxd5 19. exd5 Bg5 20. b3 Ne3 21. Bxe3 Rxe3 22. Be2 Rae8 23. Bd3 g6 $17 {
Benjamin,J (2591)-Kempinski,R (2528)/ICC 5'/2000/}) 14. Qe1 (14. Bg3 Bf6 15.
Re1 Rb8 16. Qd3 Nc5 17. Qd1 Nd7 18. Qd3 Nc6 19. Nb3 b6 20. Rad1 Be7 21. Qc4 Nc5
22. f5 Ne5 23. Bxe5 dxe5 24. fxe6 Nxe6 25. Be2 Qb7 26. Nd5 Bg5 27. a5 b5 28.
Qc3 Nf4 29. Nc5 Qc6 30. Bf3 b4 31. Nxb4 Qb5 32. Nbd3 Nxd3 33. Nxd3 Be6 $44 34.
Nc5 Qxb2 35. Qxb2 Rxb2 36. Nxe6 Rxe6 37. Rb1 $11 {1/2-1/2 Ponomariov,R (2764)
-Le Quang,L (2715)/Dortmund 2011/CBM 144 (49)}) (14. Qe2 b6 15. e5 Bb7 16. Bxb7
Qxb7 (16... Nxb7 17. Bg3 $14 (17. f5 dxe5 18. fxe6 fxe6 19. Nxe6 Qc6 $132)) 17.
Bg3 Bf8 18. Rad1 Rac8 19. Rd3 Nc5 20. Rdf3 Nc6 21. Bf2 Qc7 (21... Nb4 $5 $13 {
[%cal Yb4d5]}) 22. Nxc6 Qxc6 23. Bxc5 bxc5 24. Ne4 $40 Kh8 $2 (24... d5 25.
Nf6+ gxf6 26. Rg3+ Kh8 27. Qh5 $18) (24... Be7 $5 25. Rg3 $36) 25. Ng5 Qb7 26.
Nxh7 $18 {Zozulia,A (2376)-Grandelius,N (2491)/Palau/2009/}) 14... b6 15. e5
Bb7 16. Bg3 $146 (16. Bxb7 Nxb7 (16... Qxb7 $5 $11) 17. Bg3 (17. f5 dxe5 18.
fxe6 fxe6 19. Nxe6 Qc4 20. Qe4 Qxe4 21. Nxe4 Rac8 22. c3 Nd6 $11) 17... dxe5
18. fxe5 Bb4 19. Qf2 {1/2,Adams,M (2729)-Kempinski,R (2596)/EU Cup Kemer/2007/}
Rf8 (19... Ndc5 $2 20. Nd5 $1 exd5 21. e6 $18) 20. Ne4 $14 {/\} Nxe5 $6 21. Qe2
$1 $16 {[%cal Re2h5]}) 16... dxe5 {It seems to me Black shouldn't hurry with
opening the f-file.} (16... Bxf3 $142 17. Rxf3 Nc4 18. b3 (18. exd6 Qxd6 $5 19.
f5 Qxd4 20. Rd1 Qc5 21. Rxd7 exf5 22. Qf1 Nd6 $1 {/\} 23. Rd3 Ne4 24. Nd5 Bf8
25. Nc7 Qc6 26. Nxe8 Rxe8 $36 {[%cal Re4g3,Rc6h6,Rc6c2]}) 18... dxe5 19. f5 (
19. fxe5 Ncxe5 20. Re3 Bb4 $15) 19... Bc5 $1 20. fxe6 fxe6 21. Rd1 Qb7 22. Nxe6
Rxe6 23. bxc4 e4 $15) 17. fxe5 (17. Bxb7 Qxb7 $5 (17... exd4 18. Bxa8 dxc3 19.
b4 $13) 18. fxe5 Bb4 19. Qf2 Nc5 $1 $15 {[%cal Rb4c3,Rc5e4]}) 17... Rac8 (17...
Bxf3 18. Rxf3 Nc4 19. Nd5 $5 Qc5 $1 (19... exd5 $2 20. e6 $18) 20. Nxe7+ Rxe7
21. Nb3 Qd5 22. Rd1 Qb7 23. Rd4 b5 $13) (17... Bb4 18. Qf2 (18. Ncb5 axb5 19.
Qxb4 bxa4 $11) 18... Rf8 19. Ne4 {is dangerous for Black, the knight is aiming
for f6 (d6) and taking the central pawn is fraught with danger:} Nxe5 20. Bf4 {
[%cal Rf2g3]} Bxe4 21. Bxe4 Rae8 (21... Rac8 22. Qh4 g6 23. Bd3 $1 {[%csl Ra6]}
(23. Qf6 Nd7 $1) 23... Bd6 24. Bxa6 $18 {[%cal Rd4b5]}) 22. Qh4 h6 (22... f5
23. Nxe6 Rxe6 24. Bd5 Qd7 25. Bxe6+ Qxe6 26. Bxe5 $16 {[%cal Rh4b4]}) (22... g6
23. Qf6 $18) 23. Bxh6 $1 (23. Qg3 $6 Bd6 24. Bxh6 f5 $13) 23... f5 (23... gxh6
$2 24. Qg3+ Kh8 25. Rf6 Bd2 26. Nf3 $18) 24. Nxe6 Rxe6 25. Bd5 Qd6 26. Bxe6+
Qxe6 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28. Qxb4 $16) 18. Rd1 $5 (18. Bxb7 Qxb7 19. Qf2 Rf8 20. Qe2
{[%cal Yc3e4]} Rfd8 21. Qf2 (21. Ne4 $6 Nc5 $36) 21... Rf8 $11) (18. Qf2 Rf8
19. Ne4 Nxe5 {is unconvincing in comparison with the previous note:} 20. Rae1 (
20. Bf4 Nd3 $1 $19) 20... Bxe4 21. Bxe4 Bd6 $15) 18... Bb4 {[%mdl 64]
Initiates a complex tactical sequence.} (18... Bxf3 19. Rxf3 {[%csl Rf7][%cal
Rc3e4,Gf2f7,Gf1f7] seems pleasant for White.}) 19. Qf2 {Hou accepts the
challenge.} (19. Ncb5 Bxe1 20. Nxc7 Rxc7 21. Rfxe1 Bxf3 22. gxf3 Nb8 $11 {
is rather boring.}) 19... Rf8 20. Ne4 $1 Nxe5 21. Bf4 (21. Qe2 $5 {[%cal Re4g5]
} h6 $5 (21... Be7 22. Nc3 (22. c3 $5 $44) 22... Bxf3 23. Nxf3 f6 24. Nxe5 fxe5
25. Rxf8+ Rxf8 26. Bxe5 $14) 22. c3 Be7 {and White probably doesn't have
anything immediate:} 23. Nf2 Bd6 24. Bxb7 Nxb7 25. Ne4 (25. Qxa6 Nc4 26. Nb5
Qc6 27. Na7 Ra8 28. Nxc6 Rxa6 $11) 25... Nc4 26. Nxd6 Ncxd6 (26... Nbxd6 $2 27.
b3) 27. Qxa6 (27. Be5 $5 Rfd8 28. Rf4 $44) 27... Nc5 28. Qe2 Qe7 $14 {/=})
21... Bxe4 22. Bxe4 Bd6 (22... Bc5 23. Qe2 $1 Bxd4 24. Rxd4 f6 25. Rfd1 $36 (
25. Qxa6 $14)) 23. Nf3 {Now Black staves off the immediate danger and it will
be White, who has to to play accurately to create sufficient counterchances.
More promising continuations were:} (23. Qh4 g6 (23... h6 $2 24. Bxh6 Ng6 25.
Qg4 $40) 24. b3 $5 (24. Qg3 Nec4 25. Bxg6 fxg6 (25... hxg6 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27.
Qxg6+ Qg7 $8 28. Qxe6+ Qf7 (28... Kh7 $2 29. Rd3 $18) 29. Qg4+ Qg7 $11) 26.
Nxe6 Qf7 27. Qh3 $1 Qd7 28. Nxf8 Qxh3 29. gxh3 Bxf8 30. b3 Na3 31. Bd6 $11)
24... Rfe8 $13) (23. Qe2 Nac4 24. b3 Ng6 $5 25. Bc1 Nce5 26. Qxa6 Bc5 $13) (23.
b3 $5 Rcd8 24. Qe2 $44) 23... f5 24. Bxe5 $1 {[] White hardly wanted to give
up the dangerous pin, but she has no choice and the text is the only move to
stay in the game.} (24. Nd4 fxe4 25. Nxe6 Qc6 26. Nxf8 (26. Qg3 Ng6 $1 27. Nxf8
(27. Bxd6 Rxf1+ 28. Rxf1 Qc4 $19) 27... Bxf8 $19) 26... Rxf8 27. Qd4 Nac4 28.
b3 Ng4 $1 29. Bxd6 Rxf1+ 30. Rxf1 Nxd6 $17) (24. Ng5 fxe4 25. Nxe6 {-24.Nd4})
24... Bxe5 25. Bd3 Bxb2 $5 (25... Bf6 26. Bxa6 Rcd8 27. Qe2 Qe7 28. b4 Nc6 29.
Bc4 $11) 26. Rb1 Bc3 27. Ng5 (27. Rxb6 e5 28. Ng5 $5 {/\} (28. Bxa6 Rcd8 29.
Rb5 Rf6 30. Rc5 Qb6 31. Rxc3 Qxf2 32. Rxf2 Rxa6 $15) 28... Bd4 29. Qh4 h6 30.
Rxh6 gxh6 31. Qxh6 e4 (31... Qg7 $2 32. Qe6+ Kh8 33. Rxf5 $16) 32. Bxe4 fxe4
33. Qg6+ Qg7 34. Qe6+ Kh8 35. Qh3+ $11) 27... Qe7 28. Qe3 {[%csl Ra5,Ra6,Rb6,
Re6] Although currently White is 2 pawns down, she can hold the balance -
Black's pawns are weak and his pieces rather uncoordinated.} Nc4 29. Bxc4 Rxc4
30. Rxb6 Bd4 31. Qd3 $1 (31. Qb3 Rc3 $1 32. Qxe6+ Qxe6 33. Rxe6 a5 $15) 31...
Rxa4 (31... Bxb6 32. Qxc4 Re8 (32... Qxg5 33. Qxe6+ Rf7 34. Qxb6 $11) 33. Rxf5
$11) 32. Rxe6 Qa3 {Black must tread carefully to avoid all the tactical traps.}
(32... Qb4 $2 33. c3 $1 Bxc3 (33... Qxc3 34. Qxf5 $3 Rxf5 35. Re8+ $18) 34. Re8
$1 $18) (32... Qxg5 $2 33. Qb3 $18) (32... Qd7 33. Rb6 $1 (33. Rxa6 $11) 33...
Qd5 $5 34. Ne6 (34. c3 Qd8 35. Rxa6 Rxa6 36. Qxa6 Qxg5 $11) 34... Re8 35. Nc7
Qc4 36. Nxe8 Qxd3 37. Nf6+ Kf7 38. Rb7+ Kxf6 39. cxd3 Ke6 $44 {/=}) 33. Qe2
$132 {[%cal Re6e8]} h6 (33... Bf6 34. Re8 $1 (34. Rxf6 gxf6 35. Qe6+ Kh8 36.
Nf7+ (36. Qxf5 Qe7) 36... Kg7 37. Nd6 Rf4 38. Rg1 Kg6 (38... Qc5 39. Qe7+ Kg8
40. Qe6+ Kh8 41. Qe7 $11) 39. Qe7 Rd4 $8 40. Qxf8 Qxd6 $15) 34... Bxg5 35. Qe6+
Kh8 36. Qf7 Be7 37. Rxf8+ (37. Qxe7 Qxe7 38. Rxe7 $15) 37... Bxf8 38. Rxf5 (38.
Qxf5 h6 39. Qxf8+ Qxf8 40. Rxf8+ Kh7 41. Kg1 $11) 38... h6 39. Qxf8+ Kh7 (39...
Qxf8 40. Rxf8+ {-37.Qxf5}) 40. Qxa3 Rxa3 41. Kg1 $11) 34. Rxh6 $1 gxh6 35. Qe6+
Kg7 $8 36. Qd7+ Kg6 $8 37. Ne6 {[%csl Ra4][%cal Re6f8]} Bc5 $2 {[%mdl 8192] A
major tactical error, possibly in time trouble.} (37... Ra5 $2 38. Nf4+ Kf6 (
38... Kg5 39. Qxd4 Rf7 40. h4+ Kxh4 41. Qb6 $18) 39. Qxd4+ Re5 40. Nd3 Qe7 41.
g4 $1 $18) (37... Rf7 $8 38. Nf4+ (38. Qe8 $2 Bf6 39. Qg8+ Bg7 40. Nxg7 Rf8 $19
) 38... Kg7 (38... Kf6 $2 39. Nh5+ Kg6 (39... Ke5 40. Re1+ Be3 41. Qxf7 $18 {->
}) 40. Qe6+ Rf6 41. Nxf6 $18) 39. Nh5+ (39. Ne6+ Kf6 40. Qc6 $44) 39... Kg8 $8
(39... Kg6 $2 40. Qe6+) 40. Qe8+ Rf8 (40... Qf8 41. Qxa4 $14 {[%cal Ra4a6,
Ra4d4]}) 41. Qg6+ Kh8 42. Qxh6+ Kg8 43. Qg6+ $11 {In the game Black sure
manages to avoid a draw, but only at the highest possible cost.}) 38. Qg7+ $18
{Traps Black's king in a mating net.} Kh5 39. Nxf8 Bxf8 (39... Rg4 40. Rxf5+
Rg5 41. Qf7+ Kh4 42. Rf4+ Rg4 43. Ng6+ Kh5 44. Ne5+ $18) 40. Qf7+ (40. Rxf5+
Kh4 41. g3+ Kh3 42. Rh5+ $18) (40. Qf7+ Kh4 (40... Kg4 41. Qg6+ Kh4 42. g3+)
41. Qf6+ Kg4 42. Qg6+ Kh4 43. g3+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 10th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2012.02.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B97"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "Let's Check"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2012.01.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 147"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. Qd2
Qxb2 9. Rb1 Qa3 10. e5 h6 11. Bh4 dxe5 12. fxe5 Nd5 13. Nxd5 exd5 14. e6 Bxe6
15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Be2 Be7 17. Bh5+ Kd8 18. Bxe7+ Qxe7 19. O-O Nd7 20. Rxb7 Qc5+
21. Kh1 Rb8 22. Rxb8+ Nxb8 23. Qe2 Qb5 24. Qxb5 axb5 25. Rf7 Nc6 26. Rxg7 Rf8
27. Kg1 Nb4 28. Rb7 Nxc2 29. Rxb5 Ke7 30. a4 Ra8 31. Rb2 Ne3 32. Kf2 Nc4 33.
Rb7+ Kd6 34. Bd1 e5 35. Rh7 Nb2 36. Rxh6+ Kc5 37. Bc2 Nxa4 38. h4 Nc3 39. Bf5
Ra2+ 40. Kf1 $2 (40. Kg3 Ne2+ 41. Kg4) 40... Ra1+ $2 (40... e4 41. g3 e3) 41.
Kf2 $19 Ra2+ 42. Kf1 $2 (42. Kg3 Ne2+ 43. Kg4) 42... Nd1 43. g4 Ne3+ 44. Ke1
Kd4 45. Bc8 Ng2+ 46. Kd1 e4 47. h5 e3 48. Ba6 Nf4 49. Rb6 Nd3 50. Bxd3 Kxd3 51.
Rb3+ Ke4 52. h6 d4 53. h7 Rh2 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 75th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2013.01.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2720"]
[BlackElo "2603"]
[PlyCount "170"]
[EventDate "2013.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 153"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. g3 Nc6 7. Nde2 Bd7 8.
Bg2 Qc8 9. h3 Bg7 10. a4 O-O 11. Bg5 Re8 12. Qd2 Ne5 13. b3 Rb8 14. Ra2 Nc6 15.
Nd5 a5 16. c3 b5 17. axb5 Rxb5 18. Qd1 Qb8 19. Ra3 Nxd5 20. exd5 Ne5 21. O-O a4
22. Nd4 Rxb3 23. Nxb3 Nc4 24. Nc5 dxc5 25. Ra1 Qe5 26. Bf4 Qxc3 27. Qe2 Na5 28.
Rac1 Qb4 29. Bd2 Qb6 30. Bc3 Nb3 31. Qb2 a3 32. Qxa3 Nxc1 33. Rxc1 Bxc3 34.
Qxc3 Rc8 35. Qe3 Qd6 36. Re1 Re8 37. Rc1 Rc8 38. Re1 e6 39. dxe6 Bxe6 40. Bf1
c4 41. Qc3 Qf8 42. Rxe6 fxe6 43. Bxc4 Rc6 44. Qd4 Qc8 45. Be2 Rc1+ 46. Kg2 Rc2
47. Qe4 Qc6 48. Qxc6 Rxc6 49. f4 Kg7 50. h4 Rc2 51. Kf3 Rc3+ 52. Kf2 Kf6 53.
Bg4 Rc5 54. Bh3 Rc2+ 55. Ke3 Ke7 56. Bg4 Kd6 57. Bf3 Rc3+ 58. Kf2 Rc5 59. Be4
Ra5 60. Bb7 Kc5 61. Ke3 Ra3+ 62. Kf2 Kd4 63. Bc6 Ra7 64. Ke2 Rc7 65. Ba8 h6 66.
Kf2 g5 67. fxg5 hxg5 68. Kf3 gxh4 69. gxh4 Ke5 70. h5 Rh7 71. Kg4 Rg7+ 72. Kh4
Kf5 73. h6 Rg8 74. Bf3 e5 75. Bd5 Rd8 76. h7 Rh8 77. Bg8 e4 78. Kg3 Ke5 79. Kf2
Kd4 80. Ke2 e3 81. Ke1 Kd3 82. Be6 e2 83. Bg4 Ke3 84. Bxe2 Rxh7 85. Kf1 Rf7+
0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 75th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2013.01.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2698"]
[BlackElo "2603"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2013.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 153"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. g4 h6 7. h4 e5 {The
openings are handled very differently these days. Black is trying to lure the
opponent into the enticing check on b5 with the hope f speeding up the
development of his pieces and possibly weakening the light squares. It is
remarkable, that 8.Bb5+ might not be the best move.} 8. Nf5 (8. Bb5+ Bd7 (8...
Nbd7 9. Nf5 a6 10. Bxd7+ (10. Be2 Nc5 11. Bf3 g6 12. Ng3 Be6 13. Be3 Rc8 14. a4
Be7 15. h5 gxh5 16. Nxh5 Rg8 17. Bxh6 Nxh5 18. gxh5 {1-0 (72) Kostenko,P (2482)
-Dzhumabayev,R (2287) Astana 2012} Qb6 19. Qc1 $14) 10... Qxd7 {Practice is
proving, that White can not get very far without the light squared bishop.} 11.
f3 (11. Qf3 h5 12. gxh5 Nxh5 13. Nd5 Qc6 14. Be3 Be6 15. O-O-O Rc8 16. c3 Bxd5
17. Rxd5 Nf6 18. Rxd6 Bxd6 19. Nxg7+ Ke7 20. Bg5 Bc7 $17 {0-1 (56) Gallagher,J
(2499)-Le Quang,L (2705) Caleta 2013}) 11... b5 12. a3 (12. Ne3 Be7 13. Qd3 Qd8
14. a3 Nd7 15. h5 Nc5 16. Qe2 Bh4+ 17. Kf1 Bg5 18. Nf5 {1-0 (37) Dvoirys,S 
(2485)-Meister,J (2200) Barnaul 1984} O-O 19. Bxg5 Qxg5 20. Rd1 Na4 21. Nxa4
Bxf5 22. gxf5 bxa4 $11) 12... Bb7 13. g5 hxg5 14. Bxg5 Nh5 15. Nd5 f6 16. Nb6
Qd8 17. Be3 g6 18. Nxa8 Bxa8 19. Nd4 exd4 20. Qxd4 Be7 $11 {0-1 (48) Antal,G 
(2545)-Doros,R (2278) Aix-les-Bains 2011}) 9. Bxd7+ Qxd7 {Exchanging the
bishops is more risky for the Black player, even though he might be able to
hold equality due to the ideas of timely d6-d5 counterblow.} 10. Nf5 Nc6 11.
Rg1 (11. f3 O-O-O 12. Ne3 d5 (12... Ne7 13. Rh2 d5 14. Ncxd5 Nexd5 15. Nxd5
Nxd5 16. exd5 Bc5 17. c4 e4 18. Kd2 Qd6 $15 {0-1 (39) Canda,D (2340)-Armas,J 
(2385) Sagua la Grande 1989}) 13. Ncxd5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5 Nb4 15. c4 Bc5 16. Qe2 g6
17. a3 Nc6 18. Be3 $14 {1-0 (51) Biolek,R (2415)-Cernin,R Prerov 1995}) 11...
O-O-O 12. Ne3 d5 13. exd5 Nb4 {1/2 (13) Hjartarson,J (2505)-Adorjan,A (2535)
Esbjerg 1985}) 8... Nc6 9. Bg2 g6 10. Ne3 Be6 {Hou is very well informed about
the intricacies of the system, so she avoids the confrontation after the more
passive 10...Be7.} (10... Be7 11. Ncd5 (11. g5 hxg5 12. hxg5 Rxh1+ 13. Bxh1 Nh7
14. Nc4 Be6 15. Nd5 Bxg5 16. Bxg5 Qxg5 17. Nc7+ Kf8 18. Nxe6+ (18. Nxa8 Bxc4
19. b3 Ba6 20. Nc7 Nd4 21. Nxa6 bxa6 22. Rb1 Qg1+ 23. Kd2 Qxf2+ 24. Kc1 Nf6 $11
) 18... fxe6 $11 {1-0 (37) Koller,J (2245)-Zude,E (2395) Germany 2009} 19.
Qxd6+ Kg7 20. Rd1 (20. Qd7+ Kh8 21. Qxb7 Rf8 $17) 20... Rf8 21. Qd7+ Rf7 22.
Qd3 Nb4 $17) 11... Be6 12. c3 Qd7 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Nd5 Bg7 15. g5 hxg5 (15...
h5 16. Be3 O-O 17. Qd3 $14) 16. Bxg5 Bxd5 17. Qxd5 Ne7 18. Qd2 Qc6 19. O-O-O
$14 {1-0 (44) Santos Latasa,J (2309)-Doros,R (2338) Albena 2011}) 11. Ncd5 $1 {
Both players are rising to the challenge of demonstrating possibly the most
precise way of handling the position. The defender can handle the g-pawn
advance 11.g5 with well known counterplay against the g5-pawn.} (11. g5 hxg5
12. hxg5 Rxh1+ 13. Bxh1 Nd7 14. Ned5 Be7 15. Be3 (15. Nxe7 Kxe7 16. Be3 Qh8 17.
Bg2 Nd4 $11) 15... Bxg5 16. Bxg5 Qxg5 17. Nc7+ Ke7 18. Nxa8 Qg1+ 19. Kd2 (19.
Ke2 Bc4+ 20. Kd2 Qg5+ 21. Ke1 Qg1+ $11) 19... Qg5+ 20. Ke1 $11) 11... Bxd5 {
It is very difficult to fully evaluate this decision. White enjoys some
advantage when Black continues normal development. Black transfroms the pawn
structure, but it comes at the cost of the light squared bishop.} (11... Bg7
12. h5 O-O 13. c3 $14) 12. exd5 (12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 (13. Qxd5 $2 Nd4 $15)
13... Ne7 14. h5 $14) 12... Ne7 13. Qe2 (13. h5 gxh5 14. gxh5 Rg8 $11) 13...
Bg7 14. Qb5+ {White is eager to exchange queens in the hope that he will
benefit from his advantage of having the bishop pair without his opponent
having any counterplay. The modest 14.Bd2 was also quite challengeing for
Black.} (14. Bd2 Rc8 15. h5 O-O 16. O-O-O $14) 14... Qd7 15. Qxd7+ (15. a4 O-O
16. Bd2 Qc7 17. h5 $14) 15... Nxd7 16. Bd2 {Harikrishna began sleeping on his
laurels and in two moves will lose all his advantage.} (16. Nc4 $1 Nc8 17. a4
h5 18. g5 Ndb6 19. Na3 Ne7 20. a5 Nbxd5 21. a6 bxa6 22. c4 Nc7 23. Bxa8 Nxa8
24. Nc2 $14) 16... Rc8 17. Bb4 $6 (17. h5 O-O 18. b3 $14) 17... Nc5 18. O-O-O (
18. h5 Bf6 $11) (18. Nc4 Kd7 19. Ne3 e4 20. Rb1 Bd4 $11) 18... O-O 19. h5 Bf6
$1 {Probably this move came as a slight shock for White. Hou will improve the
bishop to the active square g5 and get enough counterplay in all lines.} 20.
Kb1 (20. hxg6 fxg6 21. Rxh6 $2 Bg5 $17) 20... Kg7 (20... Bg5 21. Nc4 Rfd8 22.
hxg6 fxg6 23. Nxe5 dxe5 24. d6 Na6 25. Ba5 b6 26. dxe7 Rxd1+ 27. Rxd1 bxa5 28.
Bb7 Re8 29. Bxa6 Rxe7 $11) 21. Nf1 {The relocation of the knight to g3 lends a
very academic feeling to the whole manoeuvre. White has run out of ideas how
to improve his position that used to be so promising.} (21. Nc4 Rfd8 22. Na5
Rd7 $11) 21... Bg5 22. Ng3 (22. Bxc5 Rxc5 23. Ng3 f5 24. hxg6 fxg4 25. Ne4 Rxd5
26. Rxd5 Nxd5 27. Nxg5 Nf4 28. Nh7 Rb8 29. Be4 d5 30. Bf5 Nxg6 $11) 22... b6 {
Black is playing very carefully as if not to provoke the dangerous tiger. More
enterprising solutions were at hand, but the chosen strategy is sound enough.}
(22... f5 23. Bf3 (23. hxg6 fxg4 24. Rdf1 Kxg6 $11) 23... Rc7 24. hxg6 fxg4 25.
Bxg4 Rxf2 26. Bxc5 Rxc5 27. Ne4 Rcxc2 28. Nxf2 Rxf2 $11) 23. Bxc5 bxc5 (23...
Rxc5 24. Ne4 Rxd5 25. Nxg5 (25. Nxd6 Rxd1+ 26. Rxd1 f5 27. gxf5 Nxf5 $11) (25.
Rxd5 Nxd5 26. Nxg5 Nf4 27. Ne4 Nxg2 28. Nxd6 Nf4 $11) 25... Rxd1+ 26. Rxd1 hxg5
27. Rxd6 gxh5 28. gxh5 g4 $11) 24. Ne4 Rcd8 25. hxg6 {Harikrishna was geting
tired of watching for the possibility of f7-f5 at any given moment. The
downside of the exchange is the activation of the rook on f8.} (25. Rd3 f5 26.
Nxg5 hxg5 27. Ra3 Ra8 28. Ra6 fxg4 29. Rxd6 Rxf2 30. Re6 (30. Rd7 Kf6 $15)
30... Kf7 31. Be4 gxh5 32. Rxe5 Rh8 $11) 25... fxg6 26. Rh3 (26. Rd3 Ng8 27.
Ra3 Rd7 28. Ra6 (28. Nxg5 hxg5 29. Rah3 Nf6 30. Be4 Rb7 31. f3 $11) 28... Rf4
29. Nxd6 Rxf2 30. Be4 Nf6 $11) 26... Rf4 27. Ra3 {White is hoping to get at
least an even position with an attack against the a7-pawn, since the passive
strategy might have already been painful for him.} (27. f3 Ng8 28. Bf1 Nf6 29.
Bd3 a5 $15) 27... Rxg4 28. Bf3 Rf4 29. Rxa7 {White is gradually sliding
towards an endgame which is very risky for him.} (29. Rg1 Bf6 30. c4 h5 $15)
29... Rxf3 30. Nxg5 hxg5 31. Rxe7+ Kf6 32. Re6+ {[%mdl 4096] White feels
obliged to defend the f2-pawn, otherwise the black passed pawn on the g-file
would be very dangerous for him.} (32. Rb7 Rxf2 33. a4 g4 34. Rg1 Kg5 35. a5
Ra8 36. Rb6 Rxa5 37. Rxd6 c4 $17) 32... Kf5 33. Rd2 g4 34. c3 $2 {The position
was already difficult for White and there was no way he could afford a second
rate solution. The modest move of the c-pawn should have lost by force.} (34.
a4 $1 c4 35. Re2 (35. a5 c3 36. bxc3 Rxc3 $15) 35... Rh3 36. Kc1 c3 37. bxc3
Rxc3 $15) 34... Kg5 {The lady world champion has missed the best move in 34...
Rh8!, but she deserves credit for finding an alternative solution in
exploiting the f-file.} (34... Rh8 $1 35. Rxd6 (35. Re7 Kg5 36. Rd1 Rxf2 37.
Rg1 Rhf8 $19) 35... Rh2 36. Kc2 (36. a4 Rfxf2 37. Rxf2+ Rxf2 38. Rd8 g3 39. Ka2
Kg5 $19) 36... Rfxf2 37. Rxf2+ Rxf2+ 38. Kd1 g3 39. Ke1 Rf4 $19) 35. Re2 (35.
a4 Rdf8 36. Rxd6 Rxf2 37. Rd3 (37. Rxf2 Rxf2 38. Re6 g3 39. Rxe5+ Kf4 40. Re6
g5 41. Ka2 g2 $19) 37... Rb8 $19) 35... Rdf8 (35... c4 36. Kc1 Rd3 37. Kc2 Rxd5
$17) 36. Rxd6 Rxf2 $2 {The approach of the cursed 40th move has influenced too
many games in the history of chess. Black could have forced the way to victory
by defending the e5-pawn first.} (36... R8f5 $1 37. Ra6 (37. Rd8 Rxf2 38. Rxf2
Rxf2 39. d6 g3 $19) (37. a4 Rxf2 38. Re3 Kf4 39. Re1 g5 $19) (37. Re6 Rxf2 38.
Rxf2 Rxf2 39. Rxe5+ Kf4 40. Re6 g3 41. Rxg6 g2 $19) 37... Rxf2 38. Re3 R2f3 39.
Re2 g3 40. a4 Rf2 $19) 37. Rxe5+ R8f5 (37... Kf4 38. Ree6 g3 39. Rxg6 g2 40. a4
Rf1+ 41. Ka2 g1=Q 42. Rxg1 Rxg1 $17) 38. Re3 (38. Ree6 Rf6 39. Re5+ R2f5 $17)
38... R5f3 39. Re5+ Rf5 40. Re3 R2f3 {It would be too much to expect the less
standard continuation 40...Rf1+ on the last move before the control. Black
will get her position with excellent chances.} (40... Rf1+ 41. Kc2 c4 $5 42.
Rde6 Rxd5 43. b4 Rf2+ 44. Re2 g3 45. R6e3 Kg4 46. a4 g2 47. Rxf2 g1=Q $19) 41.
Ree6 Rf6 42. Re5+ R3f5 43. Rxf6 (43. Rxf5+ Kxf5 44. Rd7 g3 $19) 43... Rxe5 (
43... Kxf6 44. Re1 Rxd5 45. Kc2 c4 46. b4 $11) 44. Rf1 Rxd5 {The result of the
previous phase of the game could have satisfied Hariskrishna, if his position
did not remain so very precarious.} 45. Kc2 (45. b4 cxb4 46. cxb4 Rd4 $1 47. a3
(47. b5 Rb4+ 48. Kc2 Rxb5 49. a4 Rc5+ 50. Kd2 g3 $19) 47... g3 48. Kc2 Kg4 49.
b5 g2 50. Rg1 Kf3 51. Kc3 Rf4 52. b6 Rf6 $19) 45... Rf5 {Home analysis proves
that Black could have won with the immediate advance of the g-pawn. The line
is long and it would require very good play from the stronger side.} (45... g3
46. b4 cxb4 47. cxb4 Kg4 48. Rg1 Kh3 49. a4 Rd4 50. Kc3 Rf4 51. a5 (51. b5 Rxa4
52. Rh1+ Kg4 53. Rg1 Ra3+ 54. Kc4 Ra2 55. b6 Rb2 56. Kc5 g2 $19) 51... g2 52.
a6 Rf3+ 53. Kc4 (53. Kb2 Rf6 54. b5 Rb6 $19) 53... Rf1 54. Rxg2 Kxg2 55. b5 Ra1
56. Kc5 g5 57. Kb6 g4 58. Ka7 g3 59. b6 Kf1 60. b7 g2 61. b8=Q g1=Q+ 62. Qb6
Qg5 $19) 46. Rg1 c4 47. Kd2 {White's position is beyond hope, but it was more
sensible to try for counterplay with the pawn advance 47.b4.} (47. b4 cxb3+ 48.
axb3 (48. Kxb3 Kf4 49. c4 g3 50. a4 Kf3 51. c5 Kf2 52. Rd1 g2 $19) 48... Kh4
49. c4 g3 50. Kd3 (50. b4 Kh3 51. Rh1+ Kg2 52. Rh6 Rf6 53. c5 Kf3 54. Rh1 g2
55. Re1 Kg3 56. Re5 Rf4 $19) 50... Kh3 51. Rh1+ Kg2 52. Rh6 Rf6 53. Ke4 Kf2 54.
Ke5 Rc6 55. Kd5 g2 56. Kxc6 g1=Q $19) 47... Rf2+ $1 (47... Kf4 48. b4 cxb3 49.
axb3 Kf3 50. c4 g3 51. Rf1+ Kg2 52. Rxf5 gxf5 53. c5 f4 54. c6 f3 55. c7 f2 56.
c8=Q f1=Q $17) 48. Ke3 Rxb2 {The fight is over and White's attempt at
resisting will prove to be futile.} 49. Ra1 (49. a3 Rh2 50. a4 (50. Rb1 g3 51.
a4 Kg4 52. Rb4 g2 53. Kf2 Kh3 $19) 50... Ra2 51. Rb1 Rxa4 52. Rb5+ Kh4 $19)
49... g3 50. Kf3 g2 51. Kg3 (51. Rg1 Rxa2 52. Kg3 Kf5 53. Kf3 g5 54. Kg3 Ke4
55. Rd1 g4 56. Kxg4 Rd2 57. Re1+ Kd3 $19) (51. a4 Kh4 52. a5 Ra2 53. Rxa2 g1=Q
$19) 51... Rxa2 52. Rb1 Kf5 {It is enough for the black king to get closer to
the c3-pawn. The rest of the game is a painful finish for White.} 53. Kh2 (53.
Kf3 Rc2 54. Rb5+ Kf6 55. Rb1 g5 $19) 53... Ke4 54. Rd1 Kf3 55. Rd6 Ra5 $1 {
The rook endgame has proven to be very dangerous for White.} (55... Ra5 $1 56.
Rf6+ Rf5 $19) 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.13"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B77"]
[WhiteElo "2609"]
[BlackElo "2696"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nge2 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Bb3 d6 9. f3 Bd7 10. Qd2 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. a4 bxa4 13. Bxa4 a5 14. O-O Qc7
15. Rfd1 Rfb8 16. Bxd7 Qxd7 17. b3 Rb4 18. Ne2 Qb7 19. Kh1 Nd7 20. Bxg7 Kxg7
21. Nf4 Nf6 22. Nd3 Rb5 23. Ra4 Rc8 24. Rda1 Qc7 25. Ne1 d5 26. Rxa5 Rxa5 27.
Qxa5 dxe4 28. Qxc7 Rxc7 29. Kg1 exf3 30. gxf3 Nd5 31. c4 Nb4 32. Kf2 e5 33. Ke3
Kf6 34. Ra4 Rb7 35. Kd2 Kf5 36. Kc3 Nc6 37. b4 e4 38. fxe4+ Kxe4 39. Nd3 Ke3
40. Ra8 Re7 41. b5 Nd4 42. Nc5 Re5 43. Rc8 Nf5 44. b6 1-0

[Event "CHN-ch"]
[Site "Xinghua"]
[Date "2014.03.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2629"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2014.03.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nb3 Bb6 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. Qf3 d6 8.
Bg5 h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Qxf6 gxf6 11. Nd5 f5 12. a4 Kd8 13. a5 Bd4 14. Nxd4
Nxd4 15. O-O-O Nc6 16. exf5 Bxf5 17. a6 bxa6 18. Bxa6 Rb8 19. Bc4 Ne5 20. Be2
Be4 21. f3 Bxd5 22. Rxd5 Re8 23. g3 Nd7 24. Re1 Re6 25. b3 Nc5 26. Rf5 Ke7 27.
Kd2 c6 28. Rf4 d5 29. Bf1 a5 30. Ra1 Nb7 31. Ba6 Nc5 32. Bf1 Rb4 33. Rxb4 axb4
34. Ra7+ Kf8 35. Rc7 Rf6 36. Be2 Kg7 37. Rc8 Nd7 38. Rd8 Nb6 39. f4 c5 40. Bf3
d4 41. Bd5 h5 42. Be4 h4 43. Ke2 hxg3 44. hxg3 Re6 45. Kf3 Re7 46. g4 Rc7 47.
g5 Nc8 48. Bd3 f6 49. g6 f5 50. Bxf5 Ne7 51. Rd7 Rxd7 52. Bxd7 Nxg6 53. Ke4 Kf6
54. Bf5 c4 55. Bxg6 d3 56. Ke3 Kxg6 57. bxc4 dxc2 58. Kd2 Kf5 59. Kxc2 Kxf4 60.
Kb3 Ke5 61. Kxb4 Kd6 62. Kb5 1-0

[Event "Biel Suri Memorial"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "2014.07.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2629"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2014.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 a6 6. Be2 {A very strange
move; Hou Yifan continues employing the unusual openings that have brought her
success in the women events.} Ngf6 7. O-O e5 8. Qe3 d5 $6 {This move is
somewhat strange. Opening the position doesn't make sense as long as Black is
underdeveloped.} 9. exd5 Bc5 $2 {Giri goes for some kind of bold sacrifice.
However where exactly his compensation is is very unclear.} (9... Nxd5 10. Qd2
N5f6 11. Nc3 $14) 10. Qd2 O-O 11. c4 e4 (11... Ne4 12. Qc2 Ndf6 13. Nc3 Nxc3
14. Qxc3 $16) 12. Nd4 Ne5 (12... Qb6 13. Nb3 Bd6 14. Nc3 $16 {This is simply a
pawn up for White.}) 13. b4 {White takes advantage of her position to grab as
much space as possible. She does not fall into passive play as there are no
threats to take care of yet.} Ba7 14. Nc3 Bg4 15. c5 $1 {A very powerful move.
White is using her extra material to shut down Black's bishop on a7 and with
that preventing any kind of counterplay. The threat of installing a powerful
passed pawn on d6 is very real.} a5 16. a3 Nxd5 $6 {Not a good move, but
Black's position was already bad.} 17. Nxe4 Bb8 18. f3 $1 {Very precise. The
Light-squared bishop does not have a good retreat.} Nf4 $2 {Some kind of
attempt to muddy the waters, but Hou Yifan has everything under control.} 19.
Nd6 $1 {This well calculated move nets a piece.} (19. Qxf4 Nxf3+ 20. Nxf3 Bxf4
21. Bxf4 axb4 {turns the tables. White cannot recapture on b4 and the three
pieces dont have the necessary coordination yet.}) 19... Bxd6 20. cxd6 Nxe2+
21. Qxe2 {This is the point. Now both e5 and g4 are hanging.} Qxd6 22. Nb5 {
And now it is the Queen and the Bishop.} Qf6 23. fxg4 $1 (23. Bb2 Bd7 24. Bxe5
Qb6+ 25. Nd4 Rfe8 {probably wins somehow but it is not as clear.}) 23... Nf3+
24. Qxf3 Qxa1 25. Be3 (25. Bf4 {with the idea of Bd6 was also game over.})
25... Qf6 26. Qxf6 gxf6 27. Nc7 Rac8 28. Nd5 {White is up a significant amount
of material and Black has nothing to show for it. An amazing demolition of a
2750 player.} 1-0

[Event "Biel Suri Memorial"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "2014.07.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Motylev, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B18"]
[WhiteElo "2629"]
[BlackElo "2698"]
[Annotator "Sumets,A"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2014.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. N1e2 Nf6 {The most
reliable line. Black gives his opponent the bishop pair.} (6... e6 7. Nf4 Bd6 (
7... Qc7 8. c3 Nf6 9. h4 Bd6 10. Qf3 Nbd7 11. h5 Bc2 12. h6 gxh6 $5 (12... g6
13. Bd3 Bxd3 14. Nxd3 Qa5 $13) 13. Bd3 Bxd3 14. Nxd3 Rg8 15. Nh5 Ng4 16. Bd2
O-O-O 17. Qxf7 (17. O-O-O $5) 17... c5 $6 (17... Rdf8 18. Qxh7 Qd8 19. Qe4 e5
$13) 18. Qxh7 Qc6 19. f3 Nh2 20. O-O-O Rxg2 21. dxc5 $6 (21. Bf4 c4 (21... Qa4
$2 22. Ne1 $18) 22. Bxd6 Qxd6 $8 23. Nhf4 Rg5 24. Qxh6 Nxf3 25. Ne5 $16) 21...
Nxf3 (21... Nxc5 22. Nxc5 Qxc5 23. Qxh6 Nxf3 24. Qxe6+ Kb8 $44) 22. cxd6 Rxd2
23. Qxh6 Qxd6 24. Rxd2 Nxd2 25. Nhf4 $16 {Socko,B (2622)-Berkes,F (2665)
Budapest HUN 2014 1/2-1/2 (55)}) (7... Qh4 8. Be3 Nd7 9. Qd2 Be7 10. Be2 Ngf6
11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. Bg5 Qh7 13. O-O-O Bd6 14. Bf3 O-O-O 15. h4 $14 {Brunello,S 
(2593)-Erenburg,S (2615) Helsingor 2013 1-0 (52)}) 8. Ngh5 Bxh5 9. Nxh5 g6 10.
Ng3 Nf6 11. c3 Nbd7 12. Bc4 Qc7 13. Qf3 O-O 14. Bg5 Kg7 15. O-O h6 16. Be3 c5
17. Bb3 cxd4 18. cxd4 $5 (18. Bxd4 Bc5 19. Bxc5 Nxc5 20. Bc2 Rfd8 $11) 18...
Rac8 19. Rad1 h5 20. h3 Nb6 21. Ne4 Nxe4 22. Qxe4 Qd7 $11 {Andriasian,Z (2600)
-Navara,D (2700) Yerevan ARM 2014 0-1 (62)}) 7. Nf4 (7. c3 $5 e6 8. Nf4 Bd6 9.
h4 Bxf4 $6 (9... Qc7 {Leads to the line, which we saw in the above mentioned
game B, Sochko - F, Berkes.}) 10. Bxf4 h6 11. h5 Bh7 12. Qb3 Qe7 13. Be2 O-O
14. O-O Nd5 15. Bd2 $14 {with a comfortable edge for White. Fedorchuk,S (2603)
-Sumets,A (2545) Warsaw 2008 (48)}) 7... e5 8. Nxg6 hxg6 9. dxe5 Qa5+ 10. Bd2
Qxe5+ 11. Qe2 Nbd7 12. O-O-O ({Much more popular is} 12. Qxe5+ Nxe5 13. f4 (13.
Bc3 Ned7 14. O-O-O Bc5 15. Bd4 Rh4 $1 16. Bxc5 Nxc5 17. Be2 Kf8 18. h3 Re8 19.
Bf3 Nh7 20. Rhe1 Rxe1 21. Rxe1 Ng5 22. Re3 f5 23. Ne2 Kf7 $15 {with a slightly
better position for Black; Pavlidis,A (2479)- Nisipeanu,L (2686) Pardubice CZE
2014 1/2-1/2 (59)}) 13... Ned7 14. O-O-O Bd6 (14... Bc5 {Seems to be more
precise move than 14....Bd6} 15. Re1+ Kf8 16. Bd3 Bf2 17. Ref1 Bc5 18. Re1 (18.
Ne4 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 f5 20. Bd3 Nf6 21. h3 Re8 22. Re1 Kf7 23. Bc4+ Nd5 $11) 18...
Bf2 19. Ref1 Bc5 20. Re1 Bf2 {1/2-1/2 (20) Cornette,M (2533) -Bacrot,E (2720)
Nimes FRA 2014}) 15. Bc4 Rh4 $6 {an useless move.} (15... Nb6 16. Bb3 Nbd5 17.
f5 O-O-O 18. fxg6 fxg6 19. Rde1 Bf4 $11) 16. Ne2 Bc5 17. g3 Rh8 18. Nc3 Nb6 19.
Rde1+ Kf8 20. Bd3 Re8 21. Rxe8+ Kxe8 22. f5 $6 gxf5 23. Bxf5 Bf2 $11 {Djukic,N
(2545)-Sumets,A (2620) Skopje 2013 1/2 (33)}) 12... O-O-O 13. Qxe5 ({White has
nothing after} 13. Qc4 Nd5 $1 14. Bd3 $6 (14. Re1 Qc7 15. h4 (15. Ne4 $5 Rxh2
16. Rxh2 Qxh2 17. Ng5 $11) 15... Bc5 16. Ne4 Bb6 17. f4 $2 (17. Re2 Nf4 18.
Nd6+ Qxd6 19. Qxf4 Qxf4 20. Bxf4 Rde8 21. f3 Bc7 $11) 17... Rhe8 18. g3 f5 19.
Nc3 N7f6 $6 (19... Be3 $1 20. Bxe3 Nxe3 21. Qe2 Qb6 $17) 20. Rxe8 Rxe8 21. Nxd5
cxd5 22. Qxc7+ Kxc7 $11 {Vedder,H (2367)-Dreev,A (2679) Rhodes 2013 1/2-1/2 
(70)}) 14... Nc5 (14... f5 $5 15. Kb1 Bc5 {with better chances}) 15. Be2 Be7
16. Rde1 Qc7 17. Bf3 Rh4 18. Qe2 Bf6 19. Ne4 {1/2-1/2 (19) Hracek,Z (2605)
-Schlosser,P (2550) Germany 1998  Probably the draw agreement was a bit
premature. After} Nxe4 20. Bxe4 Nf4 $1 {White is in trouble} 21. Qf3 (21. Qe3
Bg5 $17) 21... Bxb2+ 22. Kxb2 Rxd2 23. g3 Qb6+ 24. Kc1 Rxf2 25. Qd1 Rh8 $1 26.
gxf4 Rd8 $40) 13... Nxe5 14. h3 {Preventing ...Ng4.} Bc5 15. f4 Ned7 16. Bc4
Bf2 17. Nf1 $146 ({Leads to a draw} 17. Be1 Be3+ 18. Bd2 $8 Bf2) 17... Rhf8 18.
Bb4 Bc5 19. Bxc5 Nxc5 $11 20. Ng3 b5 21. Rxd8+ Kxd8 22. Be2 Kc7 {The position
is roughly equal. Black's nights are well-placed, that compensates double
pawns.} 23. Rd1 $6 {An useless move.} Nd5 24. Rf1 f5 $1 $15 {Now Black is
slightly better.} 25. Bf3 Nxf4 26. Bxc6 Nfd3+ {Now the game is equal. The
d-pawn controls the center and can be a passed pawn in the future.} (26... Kxc6
$1 27. Rxf4 Re8 28. Kd2 Na4 29. b3 Rd8+ 30. Kc1 Nc3 $15 {Probably Black's
advantage is not enough to win but he could try his chances.}) 27. cxd3 Kxc6
28. Kc2 Re8 29. Kd2 Rd8 30. Rf3 $11 Nb7 $6 {A strange maneuver, the knight is
well placed on c5.} (30... Kd6 31. Ne2 Ke7 32. Kc3 Ne6 $11) 31. Ne2 Nd6 $2 {
A blunder. Black loses a pawn.} 32. Nf4 Nc4+ (32... g5 33. Ne6 Rd7 34. Nd4+ Kd5
35. Nxf5 $16 {It would be very difficult for Black to save the game.}) 33. Kc2
(33. Kc3 $142 Ne5 34. Re3 Kd6 35. Rg3 $16) 33... Ne5 34. Re3 $1 $16 (34. Rg3
Rd6 35. Re3 g5 $1 36. Rxe5 gxf4 37. Rxf5 Rg6 38. Rxf4 Rxg2+ 39. Kc3 a5 {
With good chances to draw.}) 34... Kd6 35. Rg3 Rf8 $2 {Black loses 2 pawns.} (
35... Rc8+ 36. Kd2 a5 37. Nxg6 $6 Nc6 38. Nf4 Ke5 39. Ke3 Rc7 $16 {With one
pawn down Black has small chances to a draw.}) 36. d4 $1 $18 Rc8+ 37. Kd1 Nd7
38. Rxg6+ Nf6 39. Rxg7 Rc4 40. Ne2 Ra4 41. a3 b4 42. axb4 Rxb4 43. Kc2 Nd5 44.
g3 (44. h4 $1 Ne3+ 45. Kd3 Nd5 46. h5 Rxb2 47. h6 $18) 44... Ne3+ 45. Kd3 Nd1
46. b3 $1 Nf2+ (46... Rxb3+ 47. Kc2 $18) 47. Kc3 a5 48. Ra7 Nd1+ 49. Kd2 Nf2
50. Kc2 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 77th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2015.01.23"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Jobava, Baadur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B15"]
[WhiteElo "2673"]
[BlackElo "2727"]
[Annotator "Gormally,D"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2015.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 6. c3 Qd5 {As usual
Jobava tries to get out of well known theoretical paths as quickly as possible.
The idea behind this queen sally seems to me to be a prophylatic one. Black
wants to interfere with White's normal setup of Bd3, Qc2 and Ne2, which would
not now be possible as the pawn on g2 would be en prise. Jobava had a terrible
result at Wijk Aan Zee, but good, bad or indifferent his games are always
watchable. He is known as an entertainer in chess, but I wonder if he is
trying to play up to this reputation a little bit too much and his results are
suffering as a result. The problem is: when you play the very best players in
the world, if you avoid the main-lines then you are often just playing dubious
openings.} (6... Bd6 {is much more normal. The main attraction of this opening
is that Black's position is very solid and easy to play. He puts the rook on
the e-file, the knight on d7 and the queen on c7. You can play all these moves
with your eyes closed.} 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Ne2 Nd7 9. Qc2 h6 10. O-O Re8 11. Be3 Nf8
12. Rfe1 Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. Nf4 Bxf4 15. Bxf4 Bg6 {was a typical continuation
in Swiercz,D (2654)-Zvjaginsev,V (2659) Tromso 2013. Black's position is
rather passive but remains difficult to break down.}) 7. Nf3 (7. Ne2 $1 {
looks very logical. If he puts the queen on d5, why not attack it as quickly
as possible?} Bd6 8. Nf4 Qe4+ 9. Qe2 Qxe2+ 10. Bxe2 O-O 11. Be3 Re8 12. Kd2 {
with a slight but enduring edge in Aagaard,J (2411)-Motwani,P (2552) Hamilton
2004.}) (7. Qf3 Qxf3 {this seems rather forced;} (7... Bd6 $6 8. Qxd5 cxd5 9.
Bd3 {and the isolated d-pawn will become a target for White in the endgame}) 8.
Nxf3 Nd7 9. Bc4 b5 10. Bb3 Nb6 11. O-O {1/2-1/2 (11) Gurevich,V (2481)-Ivanov,
M (2367) Germany 2012. Of course there is no reason to agree a draw here.
Karsten Müller or Magnus would just be getting going!}) 7... Bd6 8. Be2 (8. Bd3
O-O 9. O-O Bg4 $1 {is awkward.} 10. Qc2 $2 Bxf3 11. Bxh7+ Kh8 12. gxf3 g6 13.
Bxg6 Rg8 $19) 8... O-O 9. O-O Bc7 10. h3 Bf5 $1 {But now the bishop finds an
excellent diagonal, so Black should be fine.} 11. Re1 ({The immediate} 11. c4
$6 {was possible but this gives Black the opportunity to create useful
counterplay.} Qd7 $5 {This would be similar to another game of Jobava's
against Karajakin where he sacrificed on h3 and scored a stunning victory.} (
11... Qd6 {is also not bad, with a threat of ...Be4xf3 and Qh2 mate}) (11...
Qe4 12. Be3 Qc2 13. Qxc2 Bxc2 14. Rac1 {however looks rather good for White,
who is starting to build up quite a lead in development.})) 11... Nd7 12. Nh4 (
12. Qb3 Nb6 $1 13. c4 (13. Qxd5 Nxd5 {and the knight is heading for f4}) 13...
Qd7 14. Bf1 Rfe8 15. Be3 Re7 {and I don't see any problems for Black.}) 12...
Be4 {This is somewhat forced as if White were to take on f5 he would be
clearly better, but now the game is rather double-edged.  That's because for
the time being the bishop is well-placed here but it's not anchored in the
centre, so Black has to be careful. He cannot ever play ...f5 for example, as
the reply f3 would win a piece.} 13. g3 Rfe8 14. c4 Qa5 15. Bd2 Qb6 16. Bc3
Rad8 17. Bg4 Nf8 18. Re3 c5 $6 {Jobava is trying to provoke the pawn into
advancing to d5, which in turn will gain him a useful square for his pieces on
e5. This is typical of his double-edged style, always seeking to disrupt the
balance of the position and gain counter-chances for himself, but I think in
this case it was unwarranted. Especially as from White's point of view this
move must have come as something of a relief - the pawn seems cumbersome on d4
and difficult to defend.} ({Black had a much stronger possibility in} 18... g6
$1 {But this demands very precise calculation - in many lines Black stands on
the precipice.} 19. Qe1 $5 {is also rather testing.} (19. f3 $2 {is bad for
many reasons, not least of which is simply} Bc2 $1 20. Qd2 Rxe3 21. Qxe3 Bxg3
$19) (19. Qe2 $1 {would have course been the first line he looked at and
perhaps the reason he rejected this continuation. White gains rather strong
threats;} f5 20. Bf3 Qa6 $1 (20... Bxf3 21. Nxf3 Rxe3 22. Qxe3 Ne6 23. Qh6 $1 {
and Black is in big trouble as ...Bd6 now drops a piece to the simple c5}) (
20... Rxd4 $5 {might be the best practical try, trying to wrest the initiative.
} 21. Bxd4 Qxd4 22. Rd1 Qe5 23. Bxe4 fxe4 24. Nf3 Qe7 $13 {and there is still
everything to play for.}) 21. b3 Bxf3 22. Nxf3 Rxe3 23. Qxe3 Ne6 24. Qh6 Ba5
25. Bb2 Bb4 26. Ng5 $1 (26. d5 Bf8 27. Qh4 cxd5 {and White is running out of
ideas}) 26... Nxg5 27. Qxg5 Re8 (27... Qa5 28. d5 cxd5 29. cxd5 Rxd5 30. Qf6 {
with a big attack.}) 28. Qf6 Re6 29. Qd8+ Bf8 {which is unpleasant but perhaps
defensible.}) 19... f5 20. Bf3 (20. c5 Qa6 21. Be2 b5 22. a4 Qb7 {is rather
unclear}) 20... Rxd4 $1 {but now this is really working} 21. Bxd4 Qxd4 {
with excellent compensation for a small material investment.}) 19. d5 Bg6 20.
Qe2 Rxe3 21. Qxe3 $16 Bd6 22. f4 Qc7 23. a4 $6 (23. Kg2 {with the threat of f5,
trapping the bishop was certainly possible.} Bc2 $1 24. Rc1 $1 (24. b3 Ng6 $1)
24... Ba4 25. Nf5 {looks highly unpleasant for Black.}) (23. Qe2 $1 {was very
strong, as this would have prevented the later "escape" of the bishop via c2.
Black is virtually move bound.}) 23... Qb8 24. Re1 Bc2 25. Bd1 Bxd1 26. Rxd1
Qc8 27. Kg2 Re8 28. Qd3 Ng6 $1 {Now Black doesn't stand too badly, as the
white king is fairly exposed.} 29. Nxg6 (29. Nf5 $5 Bxf4 30. d6 Qc6+ (30... Qd7
$4 31. Ne7+ $1) 31. Kh2 {was one possible line where the d-pawn looks
extremely strong, but of course this was quite a committal line.}) 29... fxg6
30. b3 Kf7 31. Re1 h5 32. Rxe8 Qxe8 33. Bd2 b6 34. a5 bxa5 35. Qe3 Qd7 36. Bxa5
Qf5 37. Be1 h4 38. g4 Qc2+ 39. Kf1 Kg8 $2 {Presumably Jobava thought that
there might be a perpetual if White grabs the bishop, but he was wrong.} (39...
Kf8 $1 40. Bxh4 a5 41. Bf2 a4 42. Qe6 {was the correct way to play. But here
Black really can sacrifice the bishop-} axb3 43. Qc8+ (43. Qxd6+ $4 Kg8 {
When the b-pawn can't be stopped}) 43... Ke7 44. Qe6+ Kf8 $11) 40. Qe6+ Kh7 41.
Qxd6 Qxb3 (41... Qd3+ 42. Kg2 $1 Qe4+ 43. Kf2 Qh1 44. Qxc5 Qh2+ 45. Ke3 Qxh3+
46. Kd2 Qxg4 47. Qf2 {and White will have no problem stopping the pawns.}) 42.
Kg2 Qxc4 43. Qe6 a5 44. f5 gxf5 45. Qxf5+ g6 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 13th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2015.02.04"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Rapport, Richard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2673"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[Annotator "Hou,Yifan"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2015.01.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This was my second time in Gibraltar after a fantastic performance in 2012.
Although we always hope to do better than in previous events, considering my
not very good play in Wijk aan Zee I didn't really have high expectations here.
I just wanted to enjoy some interesting positions. In round nine I was facing
a strong and talented player from Hungary and this was the first game between
us. Let's have a look now:)} 1. e4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. d4 a6 4. f4 $5 {Another
setup. In earlier rounds Richard played same structure with Spanish GM Vazquez
and was fortunate to win. So this time I decided to choose a more aggressive
line which allows White more space.} d5 $5 ({To fix the centre and look
forward for a long battle. Another option here is} 4... b5 5. Nf3 Bb7 6. Bd3 d6
{leading to the main line and probably it's not what my opponent preferred.})
5. e5 h5 {Preventing g4 and sometimes planning to move the knight via h6 to f5
followed by h4. An ideal plan for Black!} 6. Nf3 Bg4 {A well-known plan to
exchange the "bad" bishop. According to the pawn structure, if Black keeps the
light-squared bishop on the board it might be the "French" one.} (6... Nh6 {
is also possible. Because here White has to play} 7. Be3 {(before Black's
knight goes to f5, in that case d4&h4 square will be out of control.)} (7. h3
Nf5 $1)) 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 e6 9. g3 $1 {Slowly developing my position.
Without allowing Black to push h4 White's position will be more flexible,
which gives White more possibilities to enhance the advantage on the kingside.}
Ne7 10. Be3 Nbc6 11. g4 ({I thought about this for a long time: this move
seems like a bit premature, but meanwhile it might save some time. Because now
Black threatens ...Nf5, if} 11. Bf2 Qd7 12. a3 {intending to create some
attacks after Black castles long but it's too slow:} O-O-O 13. b4 f6 $1 {
Breaking the centre, suddenly the position turns in favour of Black.}) 11...
Qd7 12. O-O-O O-O-O 13. Bd3 ({A natural move played by hand. Here it's worth
paying attention to} 13. Na4 {The unavoidable Nc5 will bring White a promising
position since Black cannot open the centre with f6, then the g7-bishop is
unactive.}) 13... hxg4 14. hxg4 f6 15. exf6 ({Although it's better to keep the
pawn structure which can block the dark-squared bishop, that is really
difficult. Now Black wants to break the pawn chain with ...g5, the other
option which came to my mind was} 15. Rxh8 Rxh8 16. Na4 {Now I found this plan,
but already a bit late} Nxd4 (16... fxe5 17. Nc5 e4 18. Qf1 Qd6 19. Bxa6 Nd8 $1
{not pleasant for White}) 17. Nb6+ $1 (17. Bxd4 Qxa4 18. exf6 Qxd4) 17... cxb6
18. Bxd4 fxe5 19. Bxe5 Bxe5 20. fxe5 {The weakness on the dark squares and the
doubled b-pawn offer White some compensation in a double-edged position.})
15... Bxf6 16. Qf2 Qd6 17. a3 {Preventing ...Nb4.} Kb8 18. Kb1 Rdf8 19. Ne2 Na5
20. Bd2 Nac6 21. Bc1 $6 ({Starting from this point somehow I became puzzled
with my position, could not find a clear plan to develop the pieces. Later on
I realised that the knight on e2 is out of work, it should be moved to a more
active place. Then there are two option: f3/b3. Before doing that we should
first defend the d4-pawn:} 21. Rxh8 Rxh8 22. Qe3 Rh2 23. Bc3 $1 {[%cal Ge2c1,
Gc1b3,Gb3c5]}) 21... Bg7 22. Qe3 Na5 23. Rhe1 Nac6 $1 ({A wise choice, it
cannot move to c4 immediately:} 23... Nc4 24. Bxc4 dxc4 25. Qe4 {the pair of
rooks on the d- and e-files give White some pressure} (25. Nc3 Nd5 26. Nxd5
exd5 27. Qe6 Qxe6 28. Rxe6 Rf6 $11)) 24. Rh1 ({Still I didn't find the right
plan which is to activate the e2-knight! It's the key point in this game.} 24.
c3 $1 Bh6 (24... Rh4 25. Ng1 {[%csl Re6]}) 25. Bc2 {The h6-bishop covers the
open file of the rook. White is obviously much better but it's still not easy
to win the game.}) 24... Na5 25. Bd2 $2 ({The last mistake, letting all his
advantages slip away.} 25. Rxh8 Rxh8 26. Qf3 {keeps the structure with a pair
of bishop and will definitely favour White.}) 25... Nc4 $1 {Seizing the right
time to move there! I guess my opponent must have been waiting this chance for
the whole game, it seems like the only promising way to level the position.}
26. Bxc4 dxc4 ({Precise move order. If} 26... Rxh1 27. Rxh1 dxc4 28. Rh7 $1 Nd5
29. Qe4 Nf6 (29... c3 30. Bxc3 Nxc3+ 31. bxc3 {makes no sense}) 30. Qxg6 $1
Nxh7 31. Qxg7 $18) 27. Rxh8 Rxh8 28. Re1 {A calm choice.} ({Actually my first
intention was to play} 28. Bb4 Nd5 29. Qe4 Nxb4 30. axb4 Qxb4 31. c3 $1 (31.
Qxg6 {A few moves earlier I had calculated until now, but before making up my
mind on move 28 I surprisely found a brilliant idea for Black:} c3 $1 32. Nxc3
Bxd4 $17) 31... Qb3 32. Re1 {The computer shows equality but as a human I
prefer Black.}) 28... Qc6 29. Bc1 {A passive move again!} (29. f5 $5 {can
still create some difficulties for Black:} gxf5 30. Qg5 Bh6 31. Qf6 Bxd2 32.
Qxh8+ Ka7 $44) 29... Rh4 30. f5 $6 ({Unfortunately I picked the same idea at
the wrong moment:( The accurate one is} 30. Qg3 Rh1 31. Rxh1 Qxh1 32. Qe3 Qc6
33. f5 gxf5 34. Qg5 {with a series of only moves following it will lead to a
drawish ending.}) 30... Rxg4 31. fxe6 Re4 $6 ({A confident move made by
Richard. I guess he might have missed my next move or didn't pay enough
attention to it. Otherwise the simple} 31... Nd5 {will bring some winning
chances for Black} 32. Qf2 Re4 {Losing the only hope on e6 White will be
suffering for rest of the game.}) 32. Qf3 $1 Rxe6 ({Now both of us wre in time
trouble but still my opponent made the right choice. If} 32... Qxe6 33. Nf4
Rxf4 34. Qh1 $1 {Probably this is the move Richard missed?} Qf6 35. Bxf4 Qxf4
36. Rxe7 Qxd4 37. Qc1 $1 {The only move to keep some hopes} (37. c3 Qd3+ 38.
Ka2 Bxc3 $1 39. Re8+ $1 {( avoid a3 check to capture the rook)} Ka7 40. bxc3
Qc2+ $11)) 33. Qf7 Nd5 $2 ({A blunder resulting from strong pressure. Frankly
speaking it's not easy to find the continuations over the board:} 33... Bf6 34.
d5 $1 Nxd5 35. Nd4 Rxe1 $1 36. Nxc6+ bxc6 37. Qxg6 {A weird position. White
can use perpetual to save the c1-bishop. With accurate defence the game will
end in a draw.}) 34. Qxg7 $18 Ka7 ({If} 34... Qe8 {immediately, White will
exploit its position on the 8th rank to play} 35. Rh1 $1) 35. Qf8 $1 {Although
a piece up White still needs to play carefully.} ({If} 35. Bd2 Qe8) 35... c3
36. Qc5+ {Avoiding the last trap.} ({If} 36. Qf3 $2 cxb2 37. Bxb2 Re3 $44)
36... Qxc5 37. dxc5 c6 38. Bg5 $1 {With the clear plan Bh4.} (38. Ka2 {makes
the position more complicated:} a5 39. Kb3 a4+ $1 40. Kc4 (40. Kxa4 $2 cxb2 41.
Bxb2 g5 $11) 40... cxb2 41. Bxb2 Nf4 42. Nxf4 Rxe1 43. Nxg6 {A technically
winning position but you may need many moves to achieve the win. Compared to
the previous position it's not at all necessary.}) 38... Re5 39. Bh4 cxb2 40.
Kxb2 Re4 {A piece down, first time limit past, with hopeless position Black
resigned.} 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.13"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Leitao, Rafael Duailibe"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2671"]
[BlackElo "2632"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Nd7 6. O-O h6 7. Nbd2 Ne7 8. Nb3
Nc8 9. a4 Be7 10. a5 a6 11. Be3 Na7 12. Ne1 c5 13. f4 c4 14. Nd2 Nc6 15. b3 c3
16. Nb1 Bb4 17. Bd3 g6 18. Bxf5 gxf5 19. Qd3 Rc8 20. Nxc3 Ncxe5 21. fxe5 Bxc3
22. Ra2 Bxa5 23. Nf3 Bc3 24. Kh1 Qe7 25. Ng1 Qh4 26. Bf4 Qd8 27. Ne2 Qc7 28.
Qe3 h5 29. Qg3 Nf8 30. Bg5 Ng6 31. Bf6 Rg8 32. Qf3 Bb4 33. Qxh5 Be7 34. Bxe7
Qxe7 35. g3 Rh8 36. Qf3 Kf8 37. Qe3 Kg7 38. c3 Rh6 39. Nc1 Rch8 40. Raf2 Rh5
41. Nd3 Qg5 42. Qxg5 Rxg5 43. Kg1 Rc8 44. Rc2 Rg4 45. Rff2 b6 46. Kg2 a5 47.
Kf3 Rg5 48. h4 Rh5 49. c4 dxc4 50. bxc4 Rhh8 51. Ke3 Rhd8 52. Nb2 Ne7 53. Na4
Rc6 54. Rc3 Rd7 55. Rb2 f4+ 56. Ke4 Nf5 57. d5 Rcc7 58. Kxf4 Nd4 59. Nxb6 Rd8
60. Ke4 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 78th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2016.01.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Navara, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2673"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Sumets,A"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2016.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Nd7 6. O-O Bg6 7. Nbd2 Nh6 8. Nb3
Nf5 9. Bd2 Be7 10. g4 {The main line, Black has to choose between 10...Nh6 and
10...Nh4.} (10. c4 dxc4 11. Na5 Qc7 12. Nxc4 Bh5 (12... Nb6 13. Ba5 O-O 14. Qb3
Bd8 15. h3 $14) 13. Ba5 b6 14. Bc3 O-O 15. h3 b5 $6 16. Ba5 Nb6 17. Ncd2 Bg6
18. Nb3 Qd7 19. g4 $14 {Oleksienko,M (2543)-Rapport,R (2401) 1/2 (57) Budapest
2009}) (10. a4 O-O (10... a6 11. Ne1 (11. g4 Nh6 12. h3) 11... c5 12. Nxc5 Nxd4
13. Nxd7 Nxe2+ 14. Qxe2 Qxd7 15. Nd3 Rc8 16. Rfc1 Rc4 $17 {0-1 (37) Kosteniuk,
A (2541)-Mamedyarov,S (2757) Sochi RUS 2014}) 11. a5 (11. g4 Nh4 12. Nxh4 Bxh4
13. f4 f6 14. exf6 Bxf6 15. g5 Be7 16. Bg4 Bf5 17. Qe2 Kh8 $11) 11... c5 (11...
Qc7 12. g4 Nh6 13. h3 Kh8 (13... c5 14. dxc5 Nxc5 15. Nbd4 a6 16. c4 dxc4 17.
Rc1 Nd3 $6 18. Bxh6 Nxc1 19. Bxc1 $16) 14. Ne1 Ng8 15. f4 f6 16. Bd3 Bxd3 17.
cxd3 fxe5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. fxe5 Qxe5 20. Ng2 Qg3 21. Bf4 Qxh3 22. d4 (22. Qe2
$1 $14) 22... Nh6 23. Qf3 Qxf3 24. Rxf3 Nxg4 $13 {Bulmaga,I (2371)-Bergez,L 
(2420) Barbera del Valles 2012 1-0 (62)}) 12. c3 c4 (12... a6 13. g4 Nh6 ({
This seems to be a little dangerous} 13... Nh4 $6 14. Nxh4 Bxh4 15. f4 c4 (
15... f6 $6 16. exf6 Qxf6 (16... Bxf6 $5 17. Nxc5 Nxc5 18. dxc5 e5 19. Be3 {
and Black doesn't have much compensation}) 17. Be3 c4 18. Nd2 $16) 16. f5 (16.
Nc1 $6 f6 17. Bf3 fxe5 18. dxe5 Qc7 $11) 16... cxb3 17. fxg6 hxg6 18. Qxb3 Rb8
19. Kh1 $14) 14. h3 c4 15. Nc1 Kh8 16. Nh2 f6 17. exf6 Bxf6 18. f4 Be7 19. b3
Bd6 20. bxc4 Qc7 21. cxd5 (21. g5 Ng8 22. cxd5 exd5 23. Nd3 Bxd3 24. Bxd3 Bxf4
25. Bxf4 Rxf4 26. Qe1 $13) 21... exd5 22. Nd3 (22. g5 Ng8 23. Nd3) 22... Bxd3
23. Bxd3 Bxf4 24. Bxf4 Rxf4 25. g5 Rxf1+ 26. Nxf1 Nf7 27. Qh5 $6 (27. Qd2 $11)
27... g6 28. Bxg6 Nxg5 $40 {Grekh, A (2396)-Mozharov,M (2540) Pardubice 2014
0-1 (53)}) 13. Nc1 b5 14. b4 {White wants to close the queenside and then to
launch an attack.} cxb3 {Sabino doesn't want to play a passive position.} 15.
Nxb3 a6 16. Ne1 Rc8 (16... f6 $5 17. Nd3 fxe5 18. dxe5 Rc8 $132) 17. Nd3 Nh4 ({
now 17.... f6 is a little dangerous due to} 17... f6 18. exf6 Bxf6 19. Nb4 Ra8
20. Re1 $14) 18. Nf4 Bg5 19. Nxg6 fxg6 $6 {a dubious decision, the e6-pawn is
a weakness now} (19... hxg6 20. g3 Nf5 21. Re1 Bxd2 22. Qxd2 Rc6 {with an
equal position}) 20. f4 Be7 21. Bd3 $16 Rf7 (21... Qe8 22. g3 Nf5 23. g4 Nh4
24. Be1 Bd8 25. Qd2 $16) 22. g3 Nf5 23. g4 Nh4 {On h4 Black's knight has no
squares to escape to but the other option is even more dangerous.} (23... Nh6
24. f5 gxf5 25. Bxh6 gxh6 26. gxf5 exf5 27. Bxf5 $16) 24. Be1 Nf8 (24... Qf8
25. Qd2 $16) 25. Ra2 Qe8 26. Rc2 Bd8 27. Bxh4 Bxh4 28. g5 h5 $2 (28... h6 $8
29. Qg4 hxg5 30. fxg5 Rxf1+ 31. Bxf1 Be1 32. Nc5 $16) 29. Kg2 $18 Qd8 30. Qc1 {
Nepomniachtchi,I (2730)-Brunello,S (2568) Bergamo 2014 1-0 (30)}) 10... Nh4 (
10... Nh6 $5 {This move is coming into fashion. Despite the fact that Black
has good statistics here, I think that this line is a little bit suspicious.}
11. Bxh6 $2 {A strange move. White's dark-squared bishop is important, the
opponent can undouble his pawns after ...h5.} (11. Ne1 O-O (11... c5 12. dxc5
Nxc5 13. Nxc5 (13. Bb5+ $1 Kf8 14. Be3 Qc7 15. c3 a6 16. Be2 $14) 13... Bxc5
14. Bb5+ Kf8 15. Ng2 (15. Be2 Ng8 16. Nd3 Bb6 17. Nf4 Ne7 18. c4 $13) 15... Ng8
16. Nf4 Ne7 17. Qf3 Kg8 18. Bd3 Bd4 $15 {Bartel,M (2641)-Navara,D (2751)1/2 
(65) Poland POL 2015}) 12. Ng2 (12. f4 $5 Be4 $8 13. Nd3 Rc8 14. Be3 (14. Nf2
$5 Bg6 15. Bd3 $14) 14... f6 15. Nf2 Bg6 16. c4 $14) 12... c5 13. c3 c4 14. Nc1
f6 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. f4 Qb6 17. a4 Be7 18. b3 cxb3 19. Nxb3 Be4 $15 {Motylev,A
(2649)-Navara,D (2734) 0-1 (69) Berlin GER 2015}) (11. h3 Ng8 {this looks more
substantial than 11...0-0} (11... O-O 12. Be3 Rc8 (12... Kh8 13. Ne1 f6 14.
exf6 Bxf6 15. f4 Be7 16. Nd3 Bd6 17. Ne5 $14 {Berkes,F (2663)-Lauber,A (2517)
1-0 (56) Germany 2010}) 13. c3 c5 14. Nxc5 Nxc5 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. Bxc5 Rxc5 17.
Nd4 $14 {Paravyan,D (2478)-Alekseev, E (2651) 1/2 (47) Kaliningrad RUS 2015})
12. Ne1 {Now ...h5 is connected with a pawn sacrifice. It should be said that
after the possible Bd3 Bxd3 White doesn't need to damage his pawn structure.} (
12. Bd3 $6 Bxd3 13. cxd3 h5 {Now Black is OK and he can try to fight for an
advantage.} 14. Kg2 Nh6 15. Rh1 Nf8 16. Na5 Qb6 17. Qb3 Qxb3 (17... O-O-O $5
18. Qxb6 axb6 19. Nb3 Ng6 $15) 18. Nxb3 $11 {Kamsky,G (2665)-Jacobson,A (2293)
1/2 (41)New York USA 2015}) 12... h5 13. gxh5 Be4 14. Bd3 Bxd3 15. Nxd3 Nh6 16.
Bxh6 Rxh6 17. Kh2 Qc7 18. Qg4 g6 19. hxg6 Rxg6 20. Qe2 (20. Qf4 $1 Rg5 (20...
O-O-O $2 21. Qxf7 $18) (20... Rf6 $5 {It is nice but I'm afraid it doesn't
work.} 21. exf6 Bd6 22. Ne5 Nxe5 23. Kh1 Ng6 24. Qe3 O-O-O 25. Rg1 $16) 21. Rg1
Rf5 22. Rg8+ Nf8 23. Qg3 O-O-O 24. Rg1 $14) 20... O-O-O 21. f4 $6 (21. Rg1 Rh6
22. Rg3 Rdh8 23. Rag1 $14) 21... Rh8 22. Rg1 Rgh6 23. Rg3 Nf8 $44 {Sevian,S 
(2553)-Kamsky,G (2670) 1/2 (36)Rockville USA 2015}) 11... gxh6 12. Qd2 h5 13.
gxh5 Bxh5 14. Kh1 Bxf3+ $6 (14... Qc7 15. Rg1 O-O-O $40) 15. Bxf3 Bg5 16. Qa5
$11 {Gharamian,T (2611)-Lauber,A (2517) 1/2 (30)Germany 2010}) 11. Nxh4 Bxh4
12. f4 f5 {This is the main continuation. Other moves are dangerous for Black
as well.} (12... h6 13. f5 Bh7 14. Bd3 O-O {This position is difficult for
Black. White has many options to get an advantage.} 15. Qe2 (15. Qf3 $5 c5 $6 (
15... a5 $5 16. a4 Bg5 17. Bxg5 Qxg5 18. Qg3 $14) 16. Nxc5 Nxc5 17. dxc5 f6 18.
fxe6 ({White could have got a huge advantage after} 18. Bf4 $1 exf5 19. gxf5
fxe5 20. Bxe5 $16) 18... fxe5 19. Qxf8+ Qxf8 20. Rxf8+ Rxf8 21. Bxh7+ Kxh7 $11
{Zhigalko,S (2689)-Jobava,B (2713) 1/2 (37) Martuni 2011}) (15. f6 $1 Bxd3 16.
cxd3 gxf6 17. Bxh6 Bg5 18. Bxg5 fxg5 19. Qd2 $40) 15... Qe7 16. Be1 Bxe1 17.
Raxe1 Qg5 18. Kh1 Rae8 19. Nd2 f6 20. fxe6 $6 Bxd3 21. Qxd3 Rxe6 $11 {
Frolyanov,D (2556)-Matlakov,M (2673)1/2 (77) Khanty-Mansiysk 2012}) ({Black
couldn't have solved his problems after} 12... f6 13. f5 Bf7 14. g5 $5 (14. Bd3
$5) 14... exf5 15. Bd3 Bxg5 16. Bxg5 fxg5 17. Bxf5 Bg6 18. Qg4 $6 $13 {
Rublevsky,S (2652)-Jobava,B (2601) 1/2 (36) Khanty-Mansiysk 2005} (18. Bxg6+ $1
hxg6 19. Qd3 Nf8 20. Rf2 Rh4 21. Raf1 $16)) (12... Be4 $6 13. Be3 $1 Qe7 {
Maybe Black should have tried 13...h6; of course Black couldn't have got an
equal game.} (13... h6 14. Nd2 Bh7 15. c4 O-O 16. Rc1 $14) 14. Nd2 f5 15. Nxe4
fxe4 16. g5 (16. c4 $1 $16) 16... O-O-O 17. Bg4 h6 18. g6 Rdf8 19. Bh3 Nb6 20.
b3 h5 21. Qe2 Kb8 22. Qg2 Qd7 $2 23. f5 exf5 24. Rf4 Qd8 $4 25. Rxh4 {1-0 (25)
Wang Hao (2710)-Lan,Z (2147) Taizhou CHN 2014}) 13. c4 (13. exf6 Qxf6 (13...
Bxf6 14. g5 Be7 15. Bg4 Bf5 (15... Nf8 $6 16. Qe2 Qd7 $2 17. Rae1 $2 {It was
an excellent tournament for Maxim, but what would have happened if Niklas had
played 17.f5!?} (17. f5 $1 exf5 18. Nc5 Qd8 19. Bxf5 Bxf5 20. Rxf5 b6 21. Nd3
$18) 17... O-O-O 18. Bxe6 $2 (18. c4 $40) 18... Nxe6 19. Qxe6 Be4 $44 {
Huschenbeth,N (2521)-Turov,M (2630) 0-1 (53) Haarlem 2011}) 16. Re1 O-O 17.
Rxe6 Bxe6 18. Bxe6+ $40 Kh8 19. Qh5 (19. Qg4 Nb6 20. Rf1 Nc4 21. Bc1 Nd6 $2 (
21... g6 22. h4 Qc7 23. Kg2 $44) 22. Nc5 g6 23. Nd7 Rf5 (23... Re8 24. f5 gxf5
25. Qg3 $18) 24. Ne5 Qe8 25. b3 $16 {Caruana,F (2721)-Fernandez Romero,E (2453)
1-0 (46) Caleta 2011}) 19... g6 20. Qh6 Bd6 21. f5 gxf5 22. Re1 $2 (22. g6 $1
Qe7 23. Re1 Nf6 24. Bxf5 Ne4 (24... Qg7 25. Re6 Ng8 26. Qh3 $16) 25. Bxe4 dxe4
26. d5 Kg8 27. Rxe4 Qg7 28. Re6 Qxh6 29. Bxh6 $14) 22... Qc7 23. Re3 Nb6 $15 {
Efimenko,Z (2683)-Parligras,M (2601) 0-1 (54)Germany 2011}) 14. g5 Qf7 15. Na5
Nb6 ({It is too dangerous for Black to play} 15... O-O-O 16. c4 $1 {I haven't
found a forced win for White but I'm sure that it is impossible for Black to
remember all the computer lines.} (16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Ba6+ Kb8 18. Qg4 Nf6 19.
Qxh4 Ne4 20. Ba5 Rde8 21. Rf3 Ka8 22. Rb3 Rb8 $44) 16... Bf5 17. Rc1 Nb6 18. c5
Nc4 19. Bxc4 $1 (19. Nxc4 dxc4 20. Rxc4 h6 21. Qa4 Kb8 22. Rb4 Be4 $44) 19...
dxc4 20. Nxc4 Bh3 21. Rf3 Bg4 22. Ne5 (22. Qa4 $1 Bxf3 (22... Kb8 $4 23. Ne5
Qf5 24. Nxc6+ $18) 23. Qxa7 Qh5 24. h3 $1 (24. Ne5 Bf2+ 25. Kxf2 Qxh2+ 26. Kxf3
Qxd2 27. Rc3 $11) 24... Bd1 25. Qa8+ Kd7 26. Qxb7+ Ke8 27. Ne5 $1 Kf8 28. g6
Qf5 29. Rxd1 hxg6 30. Nxc6 Kg8 31. Nxd8 Bxd8 $11 32. Qb8 Kf7 33. Qb7+ Kg8 $11)
22... Qf5 23. Qa4 Rxd4 $8 (23... Bxf3 24. Qxa7 $18) 24. Qxa7 (24. Qxd4 $6 Bxf3
25. Qd7+ Kb8 26. Qxg7 Rd8 27. Ba5 Rc8 28. Qf6 Qh3 29. Rc2 Bd5 $40) 24... Rxd2
25. Qa8+ Kc7 26. Qa5+ Kb8 $4 (26... Kc8 $11) 27. Nxc6+ {1-0 (27) Sjugirov,S 
(2635)-Dreev,A (2679) Rhodes 2013} Kc8 (27... bxc6 28. Rb3+ Kc8 29. Qa8+ Kd7
30. Rb7#) 28. Ne7+) 16. Bd3 Bh5 ({White has a comfortable advantage after} 
16... Bf5 17. Bxf5 $6 (17. Nxb7 $1 Qxb7 18. Qh5+ Qf7 19. Qxh4 $16) 17... exf5
18. Be1 (18. Nxb7 Qxb7 19. Qh5+ g6 20. Qxh4 Nc4 21. Rae1+ Kd7 $44) 18... Bxe1
19. Qxe1+ Kd8 20. Qe5 Nc8 $2 (20... Qd7 $1 21. Rae1 Rc8 22. Rf3 Rc7 {Black has
good chances to equalise.}) 21. Rae1 $16 {Bartel,M (2611)-Solak,D (2598) 1/2 
(48) Kavala 2011}) 17. Nxb7 Nc8 18. Be2 Bxe2 19. Qxe2 Qxb7 20. Qh5+ Qf7 21.
Qxh4 Nd6 22. Bb4 (22. Qh3 Qf5 (22... a5 $5) 23. Qxf5 exf5 24. Rf3 Kd7 25. Re1
Ne4 26. Bb4 a5 27. Bc5 h6 $44 {Wei Yi (2675)-Gunina,V (2538) 1-0 (64) Wijk aan
Zee NED 2015}) 22... Ne4 23. c4 a5 24. Ba3 Qf5 25. cxd5 cxd5 26. Rac1 Kd7 $1
27. Qh5 Rhc8 28. Qe2 Ke8 $11 {Khalifman,A (2614)-Sjugirov,S (2654) 1/2 (40)
Legnica 2013}) (13. Bd3 Be7 14. Be3 O-O 15. Kh1 Qe8 16. h3 fxg4 17. hxg4 Bxd3
18. Qxd3 h5 $11 {Grischuk,A (2783)-Wang,H (2735) 1/2 (34)Beijing 2013}) 13...
a5 $6 (13... Be7 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. Rc1 O-O 16. Bd3 a5 17. a4 fxg4 $2 (17... Nb8
18. Qe2 Nc6 19. g5 Qb6 20. Bb5 Rfc8 $11) 18. Bxg6 hxg6 19. Qxg4 $16 {Mortensen,
E (2450) -Rasmussen,K (2466) 0-1 (41) Denmark 2008}) 14. a4 {I think that 13...
a5 14.a4 is in White's favour.} O-O 15. g5 $1 h6 (15... dxc4 $6 16. Bxc4 Bf7
17. Qf3 {The opponnent's dark-squared bishop is stuck on h4 and Black will
have to pay a high price to free it.} Nb6 18. Be2 h6 19. gxh6 g6 20. Bxa5 $16)
16. gxh6 gxh6 17. Kh1 {White has many options and I'm not sure that Huo Yifan
has chosen the best one.} (17. Bh5 Bh7 (17... Qe8 18. Bxg6 Qxg6+ 19. Kh1 Kh7
20. Nxa5 $16) 18. c5 b6 $6 (18... Kh8 19. Kh1 Rg8 20. Qf3 $16) 19. Kh1 Kh8 20.
Rc1 Be7 21. cxb6 Qxb6 22. Bxa5 Rxa5 23. Nxa5 Qxa5 24. Rxc6 Bg8 25. Rg1 $18)
17... Kh7 18. cxd5 cxd5 19. Rc1 b6 (19... Rg8 $1 20. Rc3 Be8 21. Rh3 Be7 $14 {
Black has chances to survive.}) 20. Rc6 Rc8 $6 {The following exchange
sacrifice is very dangerous to Black, David should have played 20...Bf7.} (
20... Bf7 21. Qc2 (21. Rc3 $5 Rc8 22. Rh3 Be7 23. Be3 Rg8 24. Nd2 $40) 21...
Rc8 22. Bb5 Nb8 $14 {and Black has good chances to make a draw.}) 21. Rxe6 Bf7
22. Rd6 Be7 $8 {White's rook is trapped but Black will pay a high price for
the exchange.} 23. Bd3 $16 Bxd6 24. Bxf5+ Kh8 25. Qg4 $1 Rc7 ({Black should
have tried} 25... h5 $5 26. Qh3 Nf6 $1 {but it means that White can regain the
exchange, so Black should have admitted his mistake 20...Rc8. The subsequent
position is very complicated and the following computer lines are very
difficult to calculate.} 27. Bxc8 $1 ({It seems to me that Black is more or
less OK after} 27. exd6 $6 Rc6 28. d7 Qe7 29. Re1 Ne4 30. Bxe4 dxe4 31. d5 Rd6
32. Nd4 Qxd7 33. Ne6 Rxe6 34. Bc3+ Kh7 35. Qf5+ Bg6 36. Qxe6 (36. Qxf8 Re8 37.
Qf6 e3 38. Rxe3 Qxd5+ 39. Kg1 Qd1+ 40. Kf2 Qc2+ $11) 36... Qxe6 37. dxe6 Rxf4
$11) 27... Qxc8 28. f5 Qc2 (28... Be7 29. exf6 Bxf6 30. Qe3 $16) (28... Ne4 $5
29. exd6 Bg6 $1 30. Qe3 Bh7 31. Qh6 Rf6 32. Qxh5 Rxf5 33. Rxf5 Qxf5 34. Qxf5
Bxf5 35. Be1 Nxd6 {with good chances to make a draw}) 29. exd6 Qe4+ 30. Qf3 $16
) 26. Qh3 h5 27. exd6 Ra7 {In comparison with the line 25...h5 26.Qh3 Nf6
Black has lost a tempo.} 28. Be6 Nf6 ({Black can't solve his problems by
playing} 28... Qe8 29. Re1 Nf6 30. f5 Ne4 31. Rxe4 $1 dxe4 32. d5 e3 (32... Kh7
33. Qe3 $18) 33. Bxe3 Kh7 34. Qf3 Qxa4 35. Bd4 $18) 29. f5 Qxd6 30. Bf4 Qd8 (
30... Qe7 {the last chance was} 31. Be5 Kh7 32. Nd2 $1 ({White doesn't get
much after} 32. Rg1 Rg8 33. Rxg8 Kxg8 34. Qg3+ Kh7 35. Qg5 Ne8) 32... Rg8 33.
Nf3 Ng4 34. Bf4 $16) 31. Be5 Bg8 (31... Kh7 32. Nd2 Rg8 33. Nf3 {and if} Ng4 {
then} 34. Bxf7 $18) 32. Qxh5+ $18 {White's dark-squared bishop is stronger
than Black's rook. Black hasn't any reasonable moves.} Rh7 33. Qg5 Qe7 34. Nc1
$1 {White's knight is out of play, so it goes on g6 and the game is over.} Qg7
35. Qxg7+ Rxg7 36. Nd3 Rg4 37. Nf4 Kh7 38. h3 Rg3 39. Ng6 Rxh3+ 40. Kg2 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess Qualifier"]
[Site "Fagernes"]
[Date "2016.03.26"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Hammer, Jon Ludvig"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C26"]
[WhiteElo "2667"]
[BlackElo "2701"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2016.03.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. exd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bc5 7. Ne2 O-O 8.
O-O Nc6 9. d3 Re8 10. Be3 Qd6 11. Rb1 Bb6 12. Qd2 Be6 13. c4 Rad8 14. Qc1 Nd4
15. Nxd4 exd4 16. Bf4 Qd7 17. Qa3 c5 18. Rfe1 Bh3 19. Bxh3 Qxh3 20. Qa4 Re6 21.
Bd2 Kf8 22. Rxe6 Qxe6 23. Ba5 Rd6 24. Qa3 Qc8 25. Bxb6 Rxb6 26. Rb5 Rxb5 27.
cxb5 a6 28. bxa6 bxa6 29. Qa5 g5 30. Qb6 Kg7 31. a4 h5 32. a5 h4 33. Qd6 Qf5
34. Qc6 h3 35. Kf1 g4 36. f4 Kh7 37. Qd6 Kg7 38. Qc6 Kh7 39. Ke2 Qe6+ 40. Qxe6
fxe6 41. Kd2 Kg6 42. c3 Kf5 43. cxd4 cxd4 44. Kc2 e5 45. fxe5 Kxe5 46. Kb3 Kd5
47. Kb4 Kd6 48. Kc4 Kc6 49. Kxd4 Kb5 50. Kd5 Kxa5 51. Kc5 1-0

[Event "Danzhou 7th"]
[Site "Danzhou"]
[Date "2016.07.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Wang, Hao"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2734"]
[BlackElo "2653"]
[Annotator "Sadorra,J"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2016.07.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Ne5 $5 {
This move is becoming a more popular choice among Catalan practicioners as
Black is recently finding ways to equalize in the mainline 7.Qc2.} Nc6 8. Bxc6
bxc6 9. Nxc6 Qe8 10. Nxe7+ Qxe7 11. Qc2 $1 {This move came into the limelight
after Kramnik used it against Carlsen in the 2013 World Candidates
Championship.} c5 (11... e5 12. Rd1 $1 {the point, which won't be possible if
White had played 11.Qa4.} exd4 13. Rxd4 {with good chances to obtain an edge.
As of writing/annotating, the most recent game here goes:} Be6 14. Nc3 h6 15.
Be3 a6 16. Rad1 Rfd8 17. f3 Rxd4 18. Bxd4 Rd8 19. e4 $16 {1-0 (38) Levin,F 
(2511)-Naumkin,I (2431) Llucmajor ESP 2016}) 12. Qxc4 cxd4 13. Qxd4 e5 14. Qh4
Rb8 ({The most recent attempt here is} 14... Qb7 $5 $146 15. Nc3 Be6 16. Bg5
Ng4 $1 17. h3 Qxb2 $11 {0-1 (41) So,W (2770)-Kramnik,V (2812) Leuven BEL 2016.
Black has fully equalized and even won in the end.}) 15. b3 Qe6 16. Na3 $146 {
I have a hunch that this novelty was created otb, but if it was prepared, I
doubt it'll be repeated as it doesn't give Black any problems equalizing.} ({
Other moves tried here are} 16. Bg5 Nd5 17. e4 Nb4 18. Be7 Re8 19. Bxb4 Rxb4
20. Nc3 Bb7 $44 {1/2-1/2 (54) Lubbe,N (2490)-Antonsen,M (2469) Kolding DEN
2016, and Black's activity and White's slightly weakened king give Black
enough compensation for the pawn.}) (16. Qc4 Qd7 (16... Qxc4 17. bxc4 Ba6 18.
Na3 Rb4 (18... Rfc8 19. Be3 $14) 19. Rd1 $14) 17. Na3 Bb7 18. f3 Rfc8 19. Qd3
Qe6 $44 {1/2-1/2 (41) Tomashevsky,E (2747)-Jakovenko,D (2759) Chita RUS 2015})
16... Rd8 ({Even the natural} 16... Ba6 {works:} 17. Bb2 (17. Nc4 $2 Rfc8) (17.
Re1 h6 18. Bb2 Rfd8 $11) 17... Rfd8 (17... Bxe2 $2 18. Rfe1) 18. Rfe1 Rd2 19.
Bc3 Rxe2 20. Rxe2 Bxe2 21. Re1 Ba6 22. Rxe5 (22. Bxe5 Ng4 23. Bc3 Qf5 $36)
22... Qc6 23. Re3 Bb7 24. f3 Nd5 25. Rd3 Re8 $44) 17. Qc4 (17. Nc4 Ba6 18. Be3
Rd7 19. Rfd1 Nd5 (19... Rbd8 20. Rxd7 Rxd7 21. Rc1 h6 22. f3 e4 $1 $44 (22...
Nd5 23. Bf2)) 20. Bd2 Rc8 21. Rac1 h6 22. Be1 e4 $44) (17. Bb2 Ba6 $1 $44 {
transposes to note from move 16} (17... Rd2 $2 18. Rfd1)) (17. Be3 Ba6 18. Nc4
Rd7 {transposes to note from move 17.}) 17... Qh3 {Black clearly has enough
compensation for the pawn, as in Tomashevsky-Jakovenko game from move 16. It
is easier to play Black from a practical point of view as White always have to
watch out for threats at his weak kingside.} 18. f3 $8 Bb7 $6 (18... e4 $1 19.
Bg5 (19. fxe4 $2 Ba6 $1 (19... Ng4 $4 20. Qxf7+ Kh8 21. Qf8+) 20. Qxa6 Ng4 $19)
19... Be6 20. Qc2 Qf5 $1 21. Bxf6 Qxf6 22. Qxe4 Re8 23. Qc2 (23. Qd3 Rbd8 24.
Qc2 Qd4+ 25. Kg2 Rc8 $11) 23... Rbc8 24. Nc4 Bxc4 25. bxc4 Qd4+ 26. Kg2 Rxc4
$11) 19. Qc2 $2 ({I'm not sure why White didn't play the natural} 19. Bg5 {
maybe he was concerned of the tactical ideas after} Nd5 (19... Rbc8 20. Qh4 $1)
20. e4 $1 {I'm sure Wang Hao saw this possibility but he must have missed or
misassessed something in the line:} (20. Bxd8 $4 Ne3 $19) 20... Nf4 {this
seems to be more concerning} (20... Rdc8 21. Qe2 Nc3 22. Qe1 Ba6 23. Rf2 {
[%csl Rc3]} Nb5 (23... Rc7 24. Nc4 $1 Bxc4 25. Qxc3 $18) 24. Nxb5 Bxb5 25. Rd1
$16 {and White can make his extra pawn count in the end, but there are still
technical difficulties, of course.}) 21. Qc2 $1 {this cold-blooded defense can
be easily missed} (21. Bxf4 exf4 22. gxf4 Rd2) (21. gxf4 Rd2 22. Rf2 Rxf2 23.
Kxf2 Qxh2+ 24. Ke3 Rc8 $13 {and it's hard to assess this type of position
during play}) 21... Rbc8 22. Nc4 {All Black's pieces are active but there's no
way to breakthrough, and White eliminates the f4-knight he will trade Rs on
the d-file.} f6 23. Bxf6 gxf6 $1 24. gxf4 exf4 25. Rad1 $16) 19... e4 $1 {
A timely break, opening up lines of attack while the rest of White's army on
the queenside are still sleeping.} 20. Nc4 (20. f4 e3 $19) (20. Bg5 Ng4 $1 21.
fxg4 e3 22. Rf3 Bxf3 23. exf3 Rd2 $19) 20... Rbc8 {[%cal Gc8c2,Gf6g4,Gb7g2,
Gh3g2,Gd8d2] Bringing the last piece to the party!} (20... Ng4 {doesn't work
yet} 21. fxg4 e3 22. Nxe3) 21. Rf2 {Preventing the ...Ng4-threat} (21. Bg5 Ng4
$1 22. fxg4 e3 23. Rf3 Bxf3 24. exf3 Rd2 $1) 21... Qh5 (21... h5 $5 22. Bg5 (
22. Bf4 h4 23. Raf1 Nh5 $40) 22... h4 $1 23. Bxh4 (23. g4) (23. gxh4 exf3 24.
exf3 Bxf3 $40) (23. Bxf6 e3 24. Rg2 Rd2 $17) 23... e3 $1 24. Rg2 Rd2 $19) 22.
Be3 $2 {This is the only blunder of the game, and it usually only takes one to
lose to a World Champion.} ({The best defense was} 22. Bb2 $1 e3 (22... exf3
23. exf3 Bxf3 24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. Raf1 Qc5 {[%cal Gh2h4,Gg1h2] it's still easier
to play Black but White has good chances to hold.}) 23. Rg2 Rd2 (23... Ng4 $6
24. Rd1 $1 $13 {another cold-blooded move that keeps White in the game} (24.
fxg4 Qh3 $19) (24. h4 $5)) 24. Qc3 Rxe2 25. Rf1 $1 Rxg2+ 26. Kxg2 Bd5 $44 {
White is still under pressure, but there's no forcing win for Black in sight.})
22... exf3 23. exf3 Bxf3 24. Bg5 (24. Raf1 Be4 25. Qc1 (25. Qb2 Bd3 26. Re1 Ng4
$19) 25... Bd3 26. Re1 Ng4 27. Rg2 Ne5 {and White will suffer huge material
loss.}) 24... Be4 25. Qc1 Ng4 26. Re2 (26. Rb2 Rd3 {[%cal Gd3g3,Gh5h1,Gh2g3]}
27. Qf4 Re8 $19 {and something will eventually give.}) 26... Bf3 {With more
Black pieces invading and material losses coming, White resigned. An
impressive dynamic play from the reigning Women's World Champion!} 0-1

[Event "Hoogeveen m1"]
[Site "Hoogeveen"]
[Date "2016.10.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C99"]
[WhiteElo "2649"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2016.10.16"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Bd7 14. Nf1 Rac8 15.
Re2 Rfe8 16. Ng3 Bd8 17. b3 Nc6 18. Bb2 Qa7 19. d5 Nb4 20. Bb1 a5 21. a3 Na6
22. b4 Qb7 23. Qd2 axb4 24. axb4 Nc7 25. Nh4 g6 26. Ra3 Na8 27. Rf3 Nb6 28. Qh6
Kh8 29. Rxf6 Bxf6 30. Nh5 gxh5 31. Qxf6+ Kg8 32. Re3 Bg4 33. Qg5+ Kh8 34. hxg4
Qe7 35. Qxh5 Na4 36. Rh3 Qf6 37. Rf3 Qg7 38. Rxf7 Qg8 39. Qf5 1-0

[Event "Grenke Chess Classic 4th"]
[Site "Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden"]
[Date "2017.04.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2649"]
[BlackElo "2817"]
[Annotator "Moradiabadi,E"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2017.04.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "60"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00] In this game, Fabiano kept his decisive-result streak by
losing to Hou Yifan. This is the second time a lady has beaten a 2800, if my
recollection of chess history is still working!} e5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. Nf3 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:
00] Fabiano opts for the solid Berlin. His Spanish adventure in the Breyer
went sour against Zherebukh in the US championship.} 4. O-O {[%emt 0:00:38]}
Nxe4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 5. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:28] Hou Yifan goes for an ultra solid
line. This is the problem with the Berlin these days. If White so decides, he
or she can kill all of Black's counterplay and reduce his winning chances to
zero!} Nd6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 6. Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 7.
Bf1 {[%emt 0:00:07]} O-O {[%emt 0:02:22]} 8. d4 {[%emt 0:01:35]} Nf5 {[%emt 0:
00:39]} 9. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 10. c3 {[%emt 0:00:43]} Bd6
{[%emt 0:02:58]} 11. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:00] A rare line after some thought.
Black hopes to achieve a setup with ...Qf6, ...h6 and Nc6-e7, but White is
planning to play Bd3 and Nd2-f1-Ng3 to kill all Black's activity on the
kingside. The tricky thing about this move is that it is hard to understand if
White wants to concede a draw or still has some ambition to play on in this
position.} Nce7 {[%emt 0:07:34]} 12. Qc2 $146 {[%emt 0:07:09]} c6 {[%emt 0:05:
30]} 13. Bd3 {[%emt 0:04:07] Transposes to Topalov-Nakamura.} g6 {[%emt 0:02:
12]} 14. Nf1 {[%emt 0:02:19]} f6 $6 {[%emt 0:08:40] I am not sure if I can be
a fan of this move. It certainly covers the e5-square but it damages Black's
king for the rest of the game and almost kills the idea of any breakthrough or
active plan for Black. Now White has a simple play: occupy the e-file and wait!
} (14... Ng7 15. Ng3 f6 16. Bh6 Re8 17. Nh4 Bxg3 18. hxg3 Nef5 19. Qd2 g5 20.
Rxe8+ Qxe8 21. Re1 Qd8 22. Nxf5 Nxf5 23. Bxf5 Bxf5 24. Qe2 Kf7 25. g4 Bd7 26.
f4 Kg6 27. fxg5 fxg5 28. Qe5 Qf6 29. Qh2 Bxg4 30. Re5 Bf5 31. g4 Bxg4 32. Rxg5+
Qxg5 33. Bxg5 Kxg5 34. Qxh7 b6 35. Qb7 Rc8 36. Qxa7 b5 37. b3 Kf4 38. Kf2 Bf5
39. a4 bxa4 40. bxa4 Ke4 41. a5 Rh8 42. Qc7 Kd3 43. a6 {1-0 (43) Topalov,V 
(2760)-Nakamura,H (2779) Saint Louis 2016}) 15. h3 {[%emt 0:01:59]} Rf7 {
[%emt 0:16:03]} 16. Bd2 {[%emt 0:07:09]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:14:10]} 17. Re2 {[%emt 0:
00:00]} c5 $2 {[%emt 0:05:11] A strange decision by Fabiano, which was made
too quickly. Black is already in a difficult situation and misses what turns
out to be a decisive moment. Caruana's choice does not really cause White any
trouble and only exacebrates his own tenuous situation.} ({Black needed to
prepare his ...c5 idea with} 17... b6 $1 {If White lashes out with} 18. c4 {
then Black plays} dxc4 19. Bxc4 Nd5 20. Rae1 Rc8 {and Black should be ok.}) 18.
dxc5 {[%emt 0:09:31]} Bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:04] Now Black is also saddled with an
isolated pawn with no obvious compensation.} 19. Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:21]} (19. Ne3
{is also annoying.}) 19... Rc8 {[%emt 0:07:46]} 20. Rae1 {[%emt 0:06:20]} g5 $6
{[%emt 0:14:37]} (20... b5 {followed by ...a5 would have been my choice in
this position. Nevetheless, the position remains really bad for Black. Caruana,
however decides to go for a 'make or break' direction in my opinion.}) 21. Ng3
$1 {[%emt 0:23:24] A very strong move after a long think. Hou Yifan eliminates
Black's only active piece and takes away all of Black's possible play, leaving
him with numerous weaknesses.} Nxg3 {[%emt 0:01:11]} 22. Bxg3 {[%emt 0:00:04]}
a5 $6 {[%emt 0:06:04] Although I could say this move is weakening, the truth
is that it is hard to suggest anything for Black. These pawn moves are more
aimed at stopping White than expanding for Black.} 23. Qd2 {[%emt 0:03:04]} a4
{[%emt 0:08:01]} 24. b4 {[%emt 0:02:12]} axb3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 25. axb3 {
[%emt 0:00:03] White's advantage is near decisive. h4, b4, or even c4 may lead
to opening the game into an uncomfortable situation for Black.} Ng6 {[%emt 0:
00:00]} 26. h4 {[%emt 0:07:03]} (26. b4 Bf8 27. Bc2 Bc6 (27... Bb5 28. Re3 f5
29. Re6 f4 30. Bxg6 hxg6 31. Bh2 {and White is almost attacking every single
pawn in Black's camp}) 28. Nd4 $18) 26... gxh4 {[%emt 0:00:39]} 27. Nxh4 {
[%emt 0:00:22]} Nxh4 {[%emt 0:00:57]} 28. Bxh4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Qf8 {[%emt 0:
00:00]} 29. Qf4 {[%emt 0:05:33]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 30. Qd4 {[%emt 0:00:17]
It is really hard to suggest a good move for Black!} Rd8 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 31.
Re3 {[%emt 0:08:17]} Bc8 {[%emt 0:02:23]} 32. b4 $1 {[%emt 0:03:24] World
women No. 1 player takes her time.} Kg7 {[%emt 0:01:29]} ({She sees that after
} 32... Be5 33. Rxe5 fxe5 34. Rxe5 Re8 35. Rxd5 {Her attack on Black's king is
decisive.}) 33. Bb5 {[%emt 0:01:17] Now Re8 is a threat that cannot be
prevented.} Bc7 {[%emt 0:00:39]} 34. Re8 {[%emt 0:02:07]} (34. Be8 {is simpler
and it also looks cute!}) 34... Qd6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 35. Bg3 {[%emt 0:03:54]}
Qb6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 36. Qd3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:01:10]} 37. Bxd7 {
[%emt 0:04:03]} Rdxd7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 38. Qf5 $1 {[%emt 0:00:11] The Chinese
star had seen through these lines when she played Qd3.} Bxg3 {[%emt 0:00:47]}
39. Qg4+ {[%emt 0:00:05]} Kh6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 40. Qh3+ {[%emt 0:00:00] A
great victory for Hou Yifan.} 1-0

[Event "Moscow FIDE GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2017.05.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2652"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2017.05.12"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Rb1 Be7 8.
Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bxd7+ Nxd7 10. Rxb7 cxd4 11. cxd4 Nb6 12. Qd2 Qc8 13. Rxe7+ Kxe7
14. Nf3 f6 15. O-O Kf7 16. e5 f5 17. g4 Rd8 18. Qg5 Kg8 19. Qh5 Rf8 20. Ba3 Qc6
21. Ng5 h6 22. Rc1 Qd7 23. Bxf8 Rxf8 24. Nh3 Qxd4 25. gxf5 Qxe5 26. Qg6 Rf6 27.
Qg4 Rxf5 28. Qg3 Qd4 29. Re1 Rf6 30. Qg2 Nd5 31. Kh1 Qd3 32. Rg1 Qf3 33. Rb1
Qf5 34. Rg1 Rf7 35. Re1 Rf6 36. Rg1 Qf3 37. Rb1 Qh5 38. Rg1 Rf7 39. Re1 Qf5 40.
Qg3 Rc7 41. Ng1 Nf4 42. Rd1 Kh7 43. Qf3 Rc2 44. a3 e5 45. Re1 Qg6 46. h3 Nd3
47. Rf1 Rc3 48. Qg4 Qxg4 49. hxg4 Rxa3 50. Nf3 Ra4 51. g5 h5 52. Kg2 Rg4+ 53.
Kh2 a5 54. Ra1 a4 55. Ra2 e4 56. Nd4 Rxg5 57. Rxa4 Nxf2 58. Ra7 Ng4+ 59. Kh3
Re5 60. Nc6 Rd5 0-1

[Event "Moscow FIDE GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2017.05.21"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Inarkiev, Ernesto"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2652"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2017.05.12"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. Re1 O-O 8. Bb3
h6 9. Nbd2 Ng4 10. Re2 Kh8 11. h3 f5 12. exf5 Nxf2 13. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 14. Kxf2 Bxf5
15. Qe2 d5 16. Kg1 Qd6 17. Bc2 Rf7 18. b4 a5 19. Bb2 axb4 20. cxb4 Nxb4 21.
Nxe5 Re7 22. Ndf3 Kg8 23. Qd2 Nxc2 24. Qxc2 c5 25. Qb3 Kh7 26. Kh1 d4 27. Bc1
Rxe5 28. Bf4 Qd5 29. Rb1 Qxb3 30. Rxb3 Rd5 31. Ne5 Rxa2 32. Rxb7 Re2 33. g4 Be6
34. Nc4 Rd8 0-1

[Event "Geneva FIDE GP"]
[Site "Geneva"]
[Date "2017.07.12"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Salem, AR Saleh"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2638"]
[BlackElo "2666"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2017.07.06"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Bg5 (6. O-O) ({and} 6.
Bb3 {are the other main lines.}) 6... Be7 {This is the reason why Black didn't
play ...d6 earlier.} (6... h6 7. Bh4 Be7 {is more popular.}) 7. a4 (7. Nbd2 {
is the most natural.}) 7... d6 8. Nbd2 h6 $146 {A logical novelty by Hou Yifan.
} (8... a5 9. O-O h6 10. Bh4 Nh7 (10... Nh5 $5) 11. Bg3 Ng5 12. h3 Ne6 13. Re1
Bg5 14. Nf1 Bf4 15. Ne3 $14 {Demchenko-N.Nestorovic, Sarajevo 2017, with a
comfortable position for White.}) 9. Bxf6 {White gives up the bishop pair and
he prepares for the Nf1-e3 manoeuvre.} (9. Bh4 {is the alternative,} Nh5 10.
Bxe7 Qxe7 (10... Nxe7 $2 {could have been met by} 11. Nxe5 $1) 11. O-O Nf4 $132
{and Black looks active on the kingside.}) 9... Bxf6 10. Nf1 Ne7 11. Ne3 c6 {
Black controls the d5-square with his pawn. Now his pawn structure is also
flexible.} 12. Qb3 Rb8 ({The immediate} 12... Ng6 {was more natural for me.})
13. Qa2 Ng6 14. Rd1 Bg5 {Black activates his bishop.} ({The straightforward} 
14... Nf4 $5 {was also possible.}) 15. O-O Bxe3 (15... Bf4 $5) 16. fxe3 Qe7 17.
d4 Kh8 {A useful move. The king moves out from the pin and sometimes Black can
play for ...f5.} 18. Qa3 {A smart move, White puts pressure on d6. However
it's not a big danger for Black.} (18. b4) 18... Bg4 19. Ba2 (19. dxe5 $2 {
could have been met by} Bxf3 $1 20. gxf3 (20. Rxf3 {loses, because of} Nxe5 $19
) 20... Nxe5 $17 {and Black is better.}) 19... Rbd8 20. h3 Bxf3 21. Rxf3 f5 $1
{Very ambitious play!} 22. dxe5 ({In case of} 22. exf5 Nh4 $1 $17) ({or} 22.
Rxf5 Nh4 $1 23. Rxf8+ Rxf8 $17 {with ...Qg5 threatening.}) 22... Qxe5 23. Qb4
f4 $1 {Another great reply!} 24. Qd4 (24. exf4 $6 {is dubious because of} Nxf4
$17 {with strong pressure.}) 24... Qg5 {Black avoids the exchange of queens,
because he wants to continue the attack on the kingside.} 25. exf4 Nxf4 26. Qd2
Rf6 27. Kh2 Rdf8 28. Rg3 $6 {A dubious move, as the R will be trouble on g3.} (
28. g3 {was the best to simplify the position,} Ne6 29. Rxf6 Rxf6 30. Bxe6
Qxd2+ 31. Rxd2 Rxe6 {with a nearly equal endgame.}) 28... Qe5 29. Qd4 {
Otherwise ...Nh5.} Qh5 $6 {An inaccuracy, which allows White's possible next
move.} (29... Ng6 $1 $15 {is the most precise move, because the knight also
controls the important e5-square.}) 30. Qd2 $4 {The decisive blunder in time
trouble!} (30. e5 $1 {was the correct reply,} Rg6 (30... Qxe5 31. Qxe5 dxe5 32.
Rd7 $14 {and White has a comfortable endgame.}) (30... dxe5 31. Qd7 $1 {
and suddenly White gains the initiative.}) 31. Rxg6 Qxg6 32. Rd2 d5 {with a
double-edged fight.}) 30... Ne2 $1 $19 {The right move! White loses
immediately, because he can't avoid ...Qe5.} 31. Rf3 (31. Rd3 Qe5+ $19) 31...
Rxf3 0-1

[Event "Biel GM 50th"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "2017.07.24"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C00"]
[WhiteElo "2675"]
[BlackElo "2666"]
[Annotator "Sumets,A"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2017.07.24"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. d3 O-O ({Another way is} 5... a5 $5
6. Nbd2 a4 7. a3 Nc6 8. e4 dxe4 9. dxe4 e5 10. b4 axb3 11. cxb3 Be6 12. Bb2 Nd7
13. b4 f6 14. Qc2 Nb6 15. Rfd1 Qb8 16. Rac1 Kf7 17. Bf1 (17. Nh4 Rd8 $11) 17...
Rd8 18. Bb5 Na7 19. Be2 $14 {Adly,A (2607)-Hesham,A (2400) Kampala UGA 2016
1-0 (29)}) 6. Nbd2 c5 7. e4 Nc6 8. Re1 Qc7 ({The main line is} 8... b5 9. e5 (
9. a4 $5 {I think that White should try} b4 10. exd5 {for example} Nxd5 (10...
exd5 11. d4 h6 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Nb3 Bb6 14. Be3 Bf5 15. Bxb6 Qxb6 16. a5 Qc7
17. Nfd4 $14 {Petrosian,T (2671)-Svetushkin,D (2592) Moscow 2015 1-0 (78)}) 11.
Nc4 Bb7 12. h4 h6 13. Bd2 Qc7 14. a5 Rad8 15. c3 Bf6 16. Qc2 Ba6 17. Nh2 Rfe8
18. Ng4 Be7 19. Nge5 (19. Qa4 $5 bxc3 20. bxc3 Qd7 21. Rac1 Rc8 22. Qa2 $13)
19... Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Bf6 21. Ng4 bxc3 22. bxc3 Be7 23. Ne5 Bf6 24. Ng4 Be7 25.
Ne5 Bf6 26. Ng4 {1/2 (26) Malakhov,V (2694)-Matlakov,M (2689) Berlin GER 2015})
9... Nd7 10. Nf1 a5 ({Against Nakamura Hou Yifan played} 10... Bb7 {and got an
equal position:} 11. h4 b4 12. Bf4 a5 13. N1h2 Ra6 $5 {A useful move. Black
can double pieces on the c-file or even prepare f6.} 14. c3 a4 15. a3 bxc3 16.
bxc3 Qa5 17. c4 Nd4 18. Nxd4 cxd4 19. h5 h6 20. Ng4 (20. Bd2 Qc7 21. cxd5 Bxd5
22. Bxd5 exd5 23. Nf3 Nc5 $11) 20... Kh7 21. Bd2 Qd8 22. Bb4 Nc5 $11 {Nakamura,
H (2786)-Hou Yifan (2652) Moscow RUS 2017 1/2 (50)}) 11. Bf4 b4 12. h4 a4 13.
N1h2 {Now Black can play 13...a3 and White will never play c4, that is an
important idea for this line:} ({The main line is} 13. a3 bxa3 14. bxa3 Ba6 15.
Ne3 (15. h5 Rc8 16. Ne3 Nd4 17. Nd2 (17. h6 $5 g6 (17... Nxf3+ 18. Qxf3 g5 19.
Nd1 Kh8 20. Bd2 $14) 18. c4 Nb6 19. cxd5 Nxd5 20. Nxd5 Qxd5 21. Bg5 Bxg5 (21...
Qd8 22. Bxe7 Nxf3+ 23. Bxf3 Qxe7 24. Qxa4 Bxd3 25. Qf4 $14) 22. Nxg5 Qd8 23.
Ne4 Qc7 24. Nd6 Rb8 25. Qxa4 Bxd3 $132) 17... Bg5 $1 18. Bxg5 Qxg5 19. c3 Nxe5
(19... Nb3 $5 20. Nxb3 axb3 21. c4 Nxe5 22. f4 Qxg3 23. fxe5 Rb8 24. Rb1 dxc4
25. Nxc4 Rfd8 26. Re3 Qg5 27. Qe1 Rd4 $44) 20. cxd4 cxd4 21. Nxd5 Nxd3 $13 {
Bachmann,A (2646)-Pichot,A (2556) Buenos Aires ARG 2017 0-1 (48)}) 15... Rb8
16. c4 dxc4 17. Nxc4 Nb6 18. Nd6 Nd5 19. Qxa4 Rb6 20. Rac1 Nxf4 21. Qxf4 Nxe5
22. Nxe5 Bxd6 $11 {Svidler,P (2756)-Karjakin,S (2772) Loo 2014 1/2 (28)}) 13...
a3 14. b3 Bb7 15. Bh3 (15. h5 Na7 16. h6 g6 17. Qd2 Nb5 $11) 15... Rc8 16. Rc1
(16. Ng5 Nd4 $1 (16... Qe8 $6 17. Ng4 Nd4 18. Ne3 Kh8 19. Bg2 Nxe5 $2 20. Bxe5
f6 21. Bxd4 cxd4 22. Nxe6 $16 {Firouzja,A (2372)-Neelotpal,D (2475) Doha QAT
2015 1-0 (59)}) 17. Rc1 h6 $17 18. Qh5 $2 hxg5 19. hxg5 g6 20. Qh6 Re8 $19)
16... Re8 17. Ng5 Bxg5 18. hxg5 (18. Bxg5 Qc7 19. Ng4 d4 20. Bg2 Ne7 $11) 18...
Nf8 19. Qh5 Nd4 20. Bg2 Re7 21. Ng4 c4 $6 (21... Ng6 22. Bd2 Qb6) 22. Nf6+ Kh8
23. dxc4 dxc4 24. Rcd1 cxb3 25. cxb3 $6 (25. Bxb7 $1 Rxb7 26. cxb3 gxf6 27.
gxf6 Ng6 28. Be3 $18) 25... Bxg2 26. Kxg2 Qb6 27. Re4 $2 (27. Ne4 Nf5 28. Nd6
$16) 27... Nf5 28. Ng4 Qb7 $19 {Duda,J (2707)-So,W (2810) Leon ESP 2017 0-1 
(40)}) 9. c3 (9. Qe2 b5 10. Nf1 dxe4 {I don't like this plan but according to
the computer's evaluation, Black is OK after 11.dxe4 b4.} 11. dxe4 e5 $6 12. c3
b4 13. Ne3 $1 bxc3 14. bxc3 Qa5 15. Nd5 Bd8 16. a4 Ba6 17. Qc2 Rc8 18. Bg5 $16
{Nisipeanu, L (2687)-Ragger,M (2700) Austria AUT 2016 1-0 (50)}) 9... b6 10. e5
(10. exd5 exd5 11. Nf1 h6 12. Bf4 Qd8 $6 (12... Bd6 13. Bxd6 Qxd6 14. d4 Be6 (
14... Bg4 15. Ne3 Bh5 16. Qd2 Rae8 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Nh4 $14) 15. Ne5 Rac8 16.
a3 Rfe8 {Black has good chances to equalise the game.}) 13. Ne5 Nxe5 14. Bxe5
Be6 15. Ne3 Qd7 16. d4 Rad8 17. Qe2 $14 Ng4 $2 18. Bxg7 Rfe8 (18... Kxg7 19.
Nxg4 Bxg4 20. Qxe7 $16) 19. Be5 $16 {Zvjaginsev,V (2679)-Shachar,E (2374)
Caleta ENG 2017 1-0 (31)}) 10... Nd7 11. Qe2 a5 (11... Ba6 12. Nf1 Rae8 13. Bf4
Qd8 14. Qd2 f6 $6 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. d4 Bxf1 17. Kxf1 Rf7 18. Re2 Nf8 19. Rae1
$16 {Titov,G (2490)-Beliavsky,A (2620) Debrecen 1992 1/2 (90)}) 12. Nf1 a4 13.
Bf4 Bb7 $146 {An interesting novelty, Black wants to play ...Rfc8, ...Qd8,
taking the g5-square under control, then Black can start counterplay on the
queenside.} (13... Rd8 14. h4 Nf8 15. h5 b5 16. N1h2 (16. h6 $1 g6 17. Ne3 Bb7
18. Ng4 $16) 16... h6 17. Ng4 Nh7 18. a3 b4 19. c4 (19. axb4 cxb4 20. Rec1 b3
21. c4 Qb7 $132) 19... b3 20. Qe3 (20. cxd5 $5 Rxd5 21. Ne3 Rd8 22. Nc4 Bb7 23.
Rac1 $14) 20... Bf8 21. cxd5 Rxd5 $11 {Markovic,M (2462)-Hjelmaas,L (2261)
Novi Sad SRB 2017 1-0 (51)}) 14. h4 Rfc8 15. Ne3 Qd8 16. h5 b5 17. Nxd5 $1 exd5
18. e6 Nf8 $1 {Probably Alexander counted on 18...fxe6, in this case White has
an advantage due to 22.Bxc8:} (18... fxe6 $6 19. Qxe6+ Kh8 20. Bh3 Nf8 (20...
Nb6 $2 21. h6 $1 {Black has no moves.} Qg8 (21... Bf6 22. Qf7 Rab8 23. Ng5 Qg8
24. Bxc8 $18) 22. Qxe7 $1 Nxe7 23. Rxe7 Rc6 24. Rxb7 Rxh6 $8 25. Bxh6 gxh6 26.
Rxb6 $18) 21. Qf7 Qe8 22. Bxc8 $1 {the point of Nxd5} Qxf7 (22... Rxc8 23. Qxe8
Rxe8 24. Bd6 $16) 23. Bxb7 {Black should find} Bd6 $1 (23... Qe8 24. Bxc6 Qxc6
25. Rxe7 d4 26. Ne5 Qf6 27. Bg5 $16) (23... Rd8 24. Bxc6 Ne6 25. Ne5 Qf5 26.
Bd7 Rxd7 $8 27. Nxd7 Kg8 28. Re2 Nxf4 (28... Qh3 29. Bd2 Bg5 30. Rae1 Bxd2 31.
Rxd2 Ng5 32. Ne5 Qxh5 33. d4 $16) 29. Rxe7 Qxh5 30. Rae1 $18) 24. Bxa8 Bxf4 25.
Bxc6 Bxg3 26. fxg3 Qxf3 27. Kh2 h6 28. Re8 Kh7 29. Rae1 Qxh5+ 30. Kg2 $14) 19.
exf7+ Kxf7 {The position which has arisen is very complicated. White has
enough compensation for the sacrificed material but he needs to play very
precisely.} 20. h6 $6 {Alexander had many options and I believe he should have
chosen between 20.Bh3 and 20.d4. Let's examine some of them:} (20. Bh3 Kg8 21.
Be6+ Nxe6 (21... Kh8 22. Bxc8 Qxc8 (22... Bxc8 23. Ne5 Nxe5 24. Bxe5 Bf6 25. h6
Ra7 26. hxg7+ Rxg7 27. Bxf6 Qxf6 28. Qe5 Qf7 29. Qe8 Bg4 $13) 23. d4 cxd4 24.
Nxd4 Bf6 25. Qxb5 Qd7 26. Re3 (26. Qb6 Nxd4 $1 (26... Ra6 27. Qb5 Ra8 28. Qb6
$11) 27. cxd4 Ra6 28. Qc7 Qxc7 29. Bxc7 Bxd4 30. Re8 Rf6 31. Be5 Bxe5 32. Rxe5
Rb6 $15) 26... Nxd4 27. Qxd7 Nxd7 28. cxd4 Bxd4 29. Re7 Bc6 30. Rc1 Bb5 31. Rc7
$11) 22. Qxe6+ Kh8 23. h6 $1 Bf6 24. hxg7+ Kxg7 (24... Bxg7 25. Ng5 Qf6 26. Qd7
$1 (26. Nf7+ $2 Kg8 27. Nh6+ Kh8 28. Nf7+ $11) 26... Ra7 (26... Na5 27. Qh3 $1
Qg6 28. Re6 Qxd3 29. Nf7+ Kg8 30. Ne5 Qc2 31. Re7 Ra6 32. Rxb7) 27. Re6 Ba6 28.
Qxd5 Ne7 29. Qh1 Qf5 30. Rae1 Ng8 (30... Bb7 31. Qh5 Bd5 32. Rxe7 Rxe7 33. Rxe7
Rf8 34. Qe2 $18) 31. Rxa6 $1 Rxa6 32. Qxh7+ Qxh7 33. Nf7#) 25. Qf5 $5 (25. Kg2
$5 d4 (25... Ra6 $6 26. Rh1 Qe7 27. Qf5 Kg8 28. Rae1 Qf7 29. Qg4+ Kh8 30. Ng5
Bxg5 31. Bxg5 d4 32. f3 Na5 (32... Qg7 33. Rxh7+ Kxh7 34. Qe6 $18) (32... b4
33. Rxh7+ Kxh7 34. Rh1+ Kg7 35. Bh6+ Kf6 36. Qf4+ Ke6 37. Re1+ $18) 33. Re7
Bxf3+ 34. Qxf3 Qxf3+ 35. Kxf3 Rf8+ 36. Ke4 $18) 26. Qf5 Kg8 (26... dxc3 $4 27.
Rh1 Qh8 28. Bh6+ Kf7 29. Qd7+ Ne7 30. Qxb7 $18) 27. Re6 Ne7 28. Qxf6 Ng6 29.
cxd4 Qxf6 30. Rxf6 Rf8 $44) 25... Ne7 (25... Rc7 $6 26. Bxc7 Qxc7 27. Ng5 Bxg5
28. Qxg5+ Kh8 29. Re6 Rf8 30. Rae1 Qg7 31. Qxg7+ Kxg7 32. Rd6 $14 {Black needs
to fight for a draw.}) (25... Qg8 $2 26. Ne5 Nxe5 27. Bxe5 Qf7 28. Qg5+ $18)
26. Rxe7+ $1 Qxe7 27. Re1 Qf7 28. Ng5 Bxg5 (28... Qg6 $6 29. Qd7+ Kg8 30. Qxb7
Bxg5 31. Qxd5+ Qf7 32. Qxg5+ Qg6 33. Qd5+ Qf7 34. Re6 $16) 29. Qxg5+ Qg6 30.
Re7+ (30. Qe7+ Qf7 (30... Kg8 31. Qxb7 Qc6 32. Qe7 Re8 33. Qg5+ {and Black
needs to play precisely to avoid problems}) 31. Qg5+ $11) 30... Kg8 31. Qxg6+
hxg6 32. Rxb7 a3 33. Rxb5 axb2 34. Rxb2 Ra3 $15 {White must fight for a draw.})
(20. d4 {White wins the b5-pawn and in some lines he can even trade queens.}
Kg8 (20... c4 21. h6 Kg8 22. hxg7 Kxg7 23. Qe3 Qd7 24. Bh6+ Kh8 25. Ne5 Qe6 26.
Nxc4 bxc4 27. Qxe6 Nxe6 28. Rxe6 $44) (20... cxd4 $2 21. Qxb5 Na5 22. Rxe7+
Qxe7 23. Ng5+ Kg8 24. Bxd5+ Bxd5 25. Qxd5+ Kh8 26. Nf7+ Kg8 27. Nh6+ Kh8 28.
Qg8#) 21. dxc5 Bxc5 22. Qxb5 (22. h6 gxh6 23. Qxb5 Qb6 24. Qxb6 Bxb6 25. Nh4
Ra5 26. Nf5 Ng6 27. Nd6 Rb8 28. Bd2 Ba8 29. c4 $44) 22... Na5 (22... Qb6 23.
Qxb6 Bxb6 24. Nh4 Na5 25. Nf5 Re8 26. Rxe8 Rxe8 27. Nd6 Rd8 28. Nxb7 Nxb7 29.
c4 $44) 23. Bh3 d4 24. cxd4 Bxf3 25. Bxc8 Qxc8 26. Re3 Ne6 27. dxc5 Bd5 28. Qd3
Nxf4 29. gxf4 Qg4+ 30. Rg3 Qxh5 31. Rh3 Qg4+ 32. Rg3 Qh5 {All these lines are
too complicated and can't be found without a computer.}) 20... Bf6 21. Nh2 (21.
d4 $5 {To compare with the line 20.d4: after Qxb5 Black doesn't have ...Qb6.}
cxd4 $1 {the inclusion of the moves 20.h6 Bf6 allows Black to take on d4.} (
21... c4 22. Bh3 Kg8 23. hxg7 Kxg7 (23... Bxg7 24. Be6+ Nxe6 25. Qxe6+ Kh8 26.
Ng5 Qf6 27. Qd7 $18) 24. Qe3 Qe7 25. Bh6+ Kg8 26. Qf4 Qf7 27. Ng5 Bxg5 28.
Qxg5+ Kh8 29. Bxc8 Rxc8 30. Re3 $16) 22. Bh3 gxh6 23. Bxc8 (23. Bxh6 Rc7 24.
cxd4 Bc8 $17) 23... Rxc8 24. cxd4 Nxd4 25. Nxd4 Bxd4 26. Rac1 Qd7 $15 {The
position remains complicated but Black has better chances.}) (21. Bh3 gxh6 22.
Bxc8 Bxc8 23. Ne5+ Nxe5 24. Bxe5 Be6 25. d4 c4 26. Qh5+ Kg7 27. Bf4 Qe7 28.
Bxh6+ Kg8 $15) 21... Ne7 {Now White could have got good compensation for the
sacrificed material.} ({I think Hou Yifan should have preferred} 21... Kg8 $1
22. Qh5 (22. hxg7 Bxg7 23. Ng4 Ra6 24. Bh3 d4 $1 $17) 22... Ne7 23. Ng4 Nfg6
24. hxg7 Bxg7 25. Bg5 Rc7 26. Nf6+ Bxf6 27. Bxf6 Ra6 28. Qg5 Qf8 29. Be5 Rc8
$17) 22. Bh3 $6 {After this move White is in trouble, maybe Alexander has
forgotten that after 21...Ne7 Black's rook can go to c6.} (22. hxg7 Kxg7 23.
Ng4 Neg6 24. Bh6+ Kh8 25. f4 $1 Nd7 (25... Bg7 26. Bxg7+ Kxg7 27. f5 Qg5 28.
fxg6 Nxg6 29. Ne3 Rf8 30. Qg4 $11) 26. Qe6 Bg7 27. Bxd5 Bxd5 28. Qxd5 Qf8 $1
$15) 22... Rc6 $1 {Now Black shouldn't give up an exchange.} 23. Ng4 Neg6 ({
I think that} 23... Nfg6 $5 {would be even stronger:} 24. Bd2 Bc8 25. Bg2 Raa6
$17 {Black should win this game.}) 24. Bd2 d4 $1 25. hxg7 Kxg7 26. Qf3 $6 ({
The last chance was} 26. Nxf6 $5 Qxf6 27. cxd4 cxd4 28. f4 Rc2 29. Rac1 Rxc1 (
29... Qc6 $2 30. Bg2 Qxg2+ 31. Qxg2 Bxg2 32. Rxc2 Bh3 33. Rc5 $14) 30. Rxc1 Bc6
31. Qg4 Ra7 $17 {White still has practical chances.} 32. f5 (32. Rc5 Nd7 33.
Rh5 Qe7 $19) 32... h5 $1 33. Qxh5 Ne5 $19) 26... Rb6 $1 27. Qf5 Qd5 $1 $19 {
White must trade queens and he has no compensation for the sacrificed knight.}
28. Bh6+ Kf7 29. Qxd5+ Bxd5 30. Nxf6 Rxf6 31. cxd4 Nh4 $1 {Nice tactics,
depriving White of any hopes to save the game.} 32. gxh4 Rxh6 33. Re5 Rd8 34.
Rf5+ Rf6 35. dxc5 Ng6 36. c6 Bxc6 37. Rc1 Rdd6 0-1

[Event "Biel GM 50th"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "2017.07.28"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Navara, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2666"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2017.07.24"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bc1
$5 {An interesting idea, playing a normal Najdorf (if Black plays ...Nf6, for
example), with an additional ...h6 already played, that may prove harmful to
Black's position. My good friend and IM Diego Di Berardino suggested this idea
back in 2008, when we were playing tournaments in Europe, together with other
Brazilian friends. He played it twice with good results. Now they have finally
heard him and the line has become fashionable! :-D} Nc6 (8... Nf6 9. Bd3 $5 {
is one of the possible ways to try exploiting the ...h6-move} e5 10. Nde2 Be7
11. O-O O-O 12. Ng3 {Ideas connected with Nd5 look good now, because Black
should try to play with ...g6 after exchanging on d5, and with ...h6, that
becomes a problem suddenly} Nbd7 $6 13. a4 $1 Nc5 14. Be2 Be6 15. Bf3 Rc8 16.
Re1 Qd7 17. a5 Rfd8 18. Nd5 Bxd5 19. exd5 Re8 20. c4 $16 {1/2-1/2 (66)
Grischuk,A (2750)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2795) Moscow 2017}) 9. Nxc6 $5 (9. Be2 {
a move I played and with which I was able to achieve a better endgame after
some exchanges:} Qb6 (9... Nf6 10. Be3 e5 11. Nb3 Be6 12. O-O Be7 13. Nd5 O-O
14. Bf3 Bxd5 15. exd5 Nb8 16. a4 a5 17. Qd3 Nfd7 18. Qb5 Qc7 19. Be2 b6 20. Nd2
Nc5 21. c3 f5 22. b4 f4 23. Bxc5 dxc5 24. bxa5 Rxa5 25. Qb3 Bd6 26. Nc4 e4 27.
f3 Nd7 28. Nxa5 bxa5 29. Rab1 Ne5 30. Qc2 e3 31. Qe4 Qe7 32. Rb6 Rf6 33. Rfb1
Rg6 34. Qxf4 Rf6 35. Qe4 Qf8 36. Qxe3 c4 37. Kh1 Bc5 38. Rxf6 {1-0 (38) Di
Berardino,D (2502)-De Groote,E (2208) Hoogeveen 2008}) 10. Bxg4 Qxd4 11. O-O (
11. Qxd4 $1 {was even more precise} Nxd4 12. Bd1 $14 {followed by Nd5 or Na4})
11... Qxd1 $6 (11... Bxg4 $1 12. Qxg4 e6 {I felt I had a big development
advantage, but my c3-knight for example is not well placed, while Black has
free development} 13. Rd1 Qf6 $11 {with ...Be7 and 0-0 to follow}) 12. Bxd1 e6
13. Na4 $1 Be7 14. Nb6 $14 {which White guarantees a small advantage in the
endgame, getting the bishop pair soon} Rb8 15. c3 Ne5 16. Be2 Bd8 17. Be3 Bc7
18. a4 Nd7 19. Nxc8 Rxc8 20. Rfd1 $14 {1-0 (47) Mekhitarian,K (2542)-Fernandez,
L (2402) Medellin 2017}) 9... bxc6 10. Bc4 e5 11. b3 Be7 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Qe2
Nf6 (13... Qb6 14. O-O Nf6 15. Kh1 a5 16. Na4 Qc7 17. Rae1 Nd7 18. Qd3 Bb7 19.
Qg3 Bg5 20. Rd1 $14 {1-0 (38) Adams,M (2736)-Salem,A (2638) Geneve 2017}) 14.
O-O-O $5 {A new idea, that looks very interesting. The white king is safe on
c1, because without the b-pawn, Black has a hard time creating an attack.} Be6
15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. f4 $5 (16. Kb1 Nd7 17. Na4 $14 {was the positional way to
play it.}) 16... Nd7 (16... exf4 $1 {was an important move to avoid a worse
position} 17. e5 Nd5 18. Qg4 Rf5 $1 (18... Nxc3 19. Qxe6+ Kh7 20. Bxc3 d5 21.
Kb1 $14) 19. Nxd5 cxd5 20. Rxd5 Qf8 21. Rd3 d5 $13 {and things are
double-edged here.}) 17. f5 $5 Nb6 $6 (17... exf5 18. Qc4+ Rf7 19. Qxc6 Qc8 20.
Qxc8+ Rxc8 21. Rhe1 $14 {with a better structure in the endgame.}) 18. Rhf1 (
18. g4 $1 {would be a better move order, trying to reach the same position,
but without allowing exf5.}) 18... Qd7 $2 (18... exf5 $1 {was again necessary}
19. exf5 Qc7 {threatening ...d5} 20. Ne4 Nd5 $1 {stopping f6} 21. Kb1 $14 {
Black always has to be watching the central weaknesses, and also possible
attacking ideas against his king now (connected with f6).}) 19. g4 $1 {Now
Black has real problems, because of the lack of counterplay.} a5 20. a4 $1 {
This kind of move is possible here when there is no b-pawn for Black.} Rab8 21.
Kb1 d5 $6 {Trying something, but it makes White's life even easier.} (21...
Rfd8 22. Qe1 $1 $16 {preparing to increase the attack with h4 and g5.}) 22.
fxe6 Qxe6 23. Rxf8+ Bxf8 24. exd5 cxd5 25. Nb5 $1 {Forcing ...e4, and now all
the black pawns are weak, specially the a5 one.} e4 26. Qe3 Rb7 (26... Qxg4 {
wouldn't help much} 27. Rg1 Qe6 28. Qc3 {[%csl Ra5,Rg7]} Rb7 29. Qxa5 $18) 27.
h3 Rf7 28. Nd4 Bc5 29. Qd2 {Attacking a5.} Bxd4 30. Bxd4 $18 {Now the game is
basically over, with the blockaded central pawns, and a5 falling.} Nd7 31. Qxa5
Rf3 32. Qb5 e3 33. Re1 Rxh3 34. a5 Qxg4 35. Qxd5+ Kh7 36. a6 Rh5 37. Qd6 e2 38.
a7 Ra5 39. Kb2 Qh4 40. Qxd7 {With mate on g7 to follow, if Black takes on e1.
A great win from the World's Women Champion, that crowned a superb tournament
win from her in Biel!} 1-0

[Event "Biel GM 50th"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "2017.07.31"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2666"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Hou,Yifan"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2017.07.24"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. h3 Ne7 8. Re1
c6 9. Ba4 Ng6 10. d4 Bb6 11. Nbd2 Re8 12. Bc2 h6 {Checking the database after
the game I just realised Etienne had faced exactly the same position against
Ponomariov in the 2013 GP, but that game came from an Italian Game.} 13. a4 Bc7
14. Nf1 $1 {Right decision and I was hoping for ...d5 here as any other moves
will give White a typical comfortable position when the knight goes to g3, so
normally Black should be alert to catch the right moment to make some
counterplay in the centre before White stabilises.} d5 $6 {The most practical
decision as any other moves will allow Ng3 with comfortable play although
still the position is still far from clear.} 15. Nxe5 $1 (15. exd5 e4) (15.
dxe5 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 dxe4 17. Qxd8 Bxd8 18. Rxe4 Bc7 {both lines are making no
difficulties for Black.}) 15... Nxe5 {The most natural option but leads to a
forced line which allows White great attacking chances.} ({Here it is
difficult for humans to accept an ugly pawn chain:} 15... dxe4 16. Nxg6 fxg6 {
but somehow things turns out to be quite different as the e4-pawn is limiting
White's piece flexibility; in the meantime Black's own development is coming: .
..Bf5, ...Qd6, ...Rad8 etc.}) 16. dxe5 Bxe5 17. f4 Bc7 18. e5 Ne4 $1 {
Important! Otherwise White will easily exert pressure with the strong e5-pawn.
The position firstly looks pretty fine for Black to me as the light squares
have been blocked; even after White wins an extra pawn the weakness inside the
white position will secure enough compensation for Black. So the only way to
keep an advantage is to maintain the attack towards the king, but how can that
be done without the light-squared bishop?} 19. Bxe4 dxe4 20. Qh5 $1 {This is
the main idea of the whole plan, while exchanging on e5. Strangely enough the
pair of bishops simply cannot be powerful while the "obstacle" e4-pawn is
hanging here. The g3-square is an important square for both the knight and the
rook. White should always be alert to some ...f5/f6 breakthrough which would
solve Black's problems at once.} Be6 21. Ng3 {The key point is to understand
that preventing ...f5/f6 became crucial} (21. Be3 {looks the most natural but
will refuted by} f5 $1 22. Rad1 Qc8 {no continuous attacks}) (21. Rxe4 {
I did not consider this too much, but noticed a nice trick:} f6 $1 {
successfully opens the position which activates the bishop pair.} (21... g6 22.
Qxh6 Qd1 {seems attractive but...} 23. f5 $1 {[%cal Ge4h4] White wins}) 22. Ng3
Bd5 23. Re1 fxe5 24. fxe5 Qd7 $44) 21... Bb6+ (21... f6 {now doesn't work
because of} 22. Nxe4 fxe5 23. f5) 22. Be3 ({Another possibility that drew my
attention is} 22. Kh1 $6 Bf2 23. Rd1 Bxg3 $1 {the most direct way to refute
the line:} 24. Rxd8 Raxd8 25. Be3 Rd3 $44) 22... Qd3 {Obviously the idea of
the ...Bb6 check is to break White's attacking plan and make the game more
concrete.} (22... Qd2 $5 23. Bxb6 ({During the game I was planning to play} 23.
Qe2 {converting into an endgame with an extra pawn which is solid and better
for White. The concrete line goes} Bxe3+ 24. Qxe3 Qxb2 25. Rab1 Qc2 26. f5 Bd5
27. e6 $1 $40) 23... axb6 24. Nxe4 Qxf4 $6 ({somehow I missed the nice little
trap, of course} 24... Qxb2 {is very dangerous for Black}) 25. g3 $1 {the
queen has been trapped!} Qf5 26. Qxf5 Bxf5 27. Nd6 {Material up, with accuracy
White should win this but this is not relevant to us here.}) 23. Nf1 $1 {
Another key move which I found when playing Ng3 earlier.} ({If} 23. Qe2 {
tranposed to the variation of 22...Qd2, but here I already hoped for more then
a better endgame!}) 23... Rad8 24. f5 ({Here I spent for quite some time
trying to find the most accurate way as I felt it was the crucial moment. At
first} 24. Bxb6 $5 {looked attractive to me, but later on I realised there was}
axb6 25. Ne3 Kh7 $1 {-- I gave this exclamatory mark during the game from my
point of view} (25... Bc8 {the position will be vulnerable for Black as I
slowly retreat the queen by Rad1, then f5, Ng4, Re3-g3 and all the pieces are
going to join the fight while there's simply no counterplay for Black except
taking the useless a4-pawn.}) 26. Rad1 g6 $1 {intending ...Kh7} 27. Qh4 Qxe3+
28. Rxe3 Rxd1+ {Although it might be theoretically winning, somehow I decided
to avoid this technical position and went for another path.}) 24... Bb3 25. f6
$2 ({A much tronger move is} 25. e6 $1 fxe6 26. f6 {with a better version of
the breakthrough Black's kingside compared to the game.}) 25... Qd5 $1 {
Etienne calmly found the precise defensive way to come back to the fight.} 26.
Bxb6 axb6 27. fxg7 ({I was aming to go for} 27. Qg4 g6 28. Rxe4 {but just
realised later that Black simply takes on e5:} (28. Qxe4 {will lead to a
slightly better endgame but obviously not the thing I wanted when pushing f5})
28... Rxe5 {and in this position White is everywhere a short of being able to
utilise the f6-pawn to make threats.}) 27... Qxe5 28. Qxh6 Qxg7 29. Qh4 Rd3 $6
{Such a weird position! All the white pieces except the queen are on the back
rank, but in the meantime if the knight and rooks join the game via the 3rd
rank smoothly then the exposed black king will be difficult to defend. Another
important factor is the inactive b3-bishop; if we look at it more deeply it's
doing nothing there if White tries to keep the e4-pawn on the board.} (29...
Rd6 {can beconsidered to be more accurate as it turns out later that defending
along the 6th rank is the right path.} 30. Re3 Rg6 31. Ng3 Re5 32. Rf1 {
White still keeps attacking chances according to the comparison of knight vs.
bishop, but it's far from a clear judgement.}) 30. Re3 (30. Ne3 {is even
stronger but the move I played is also practical.}) 30... Re6 31. Rae1 $5 {
Maintain the pressure again and not get lured to take the e4-pawn.} (31. Rxd3
exd3 32. Qd8+ Qf8 33. Qxd3 Qc5+ {without the e4-pawn rook and bishop have
lines; even more is the wasted tempi let the black queen become powerful.})
31... Rh6 {It is difficult to suggest the best defence for Black.} ({Clearly
the main target will be exchanging queens, so probably the first step is to
bring the bishop back to the centre which could avoid some tempi/checks via e4
in specific positions.} 31... Bd5) 32. Qf4 Rxh3 $2 ({It is actually the last
crucial moment where my opponent needs to search out more tasks for White by} 
32... Rf6 33. Qxe4 $1 (33. Qb8+ Kh7 {successfully depriving the queen of
coordination.}) 33... Bd5 34. Qe8+ Kh7 35. g4 $1 {White needs to find this
move before Qxe4 in order to keep a clear advantage.}) 33. Rxd3 Rxd3 34. Rxe4
Be6 35. Ne3 {Finally this knight comes back to a key role after 12 moves. It
cuts the route of the d3-rook and the connection of three pieces is unstopable
now.} Rd8 $2 {Finally the mistake under time pressue.} ({A more stubborn try is
} 35... Rd7 {but will run into a brilliant idea} 36. a5 $1 {opening the a-file,
at the same time making the c5-square available for White's queen whenever
needed.} bxa5 37. Re5 Qh7 38. Rxa5 $18) 36. Re5 1-0

[Event "Salamanca Uni 9th"]
[Site "Salamanca"]
[Date "2019.11.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2659"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2019.11.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6
8. Qd2 Be6 9. O-O-O Qd7 10. Kb1 Bf6 11. Bg5 Bxg5 12. Nxg5 O-O-O 13. Nxe6 Qxe6
14. Bb5 Qd7 15. Rhe1 Rde8 16. f4 Rxe1 17. Rxe1 Re8 18. a3 a6 19. Bc4 Rxe1+ 20.
Qxe1 d5 21. Bd3 h6 22. Qg3 f6 23. h4 Kb8 24. h5 Qe7 25. Qg4 Qe1+ 26. Ka2 Qe7
27. Qf5 Qd6 28. g3 Nd8 29. c4 dxc4 30. Bxc4 Nc6 31. c3 Ka7 32. Qg4 Qe7 33. Bd5
Qc5 34. Be6 Qe7 35. b4 Qd6 36. Qe2 a5 37. Kb3 axb4 38. Qe3+ Kb8 0-1

