chessgames.com

Yifan Hou vs Viktor Laznicka
Aeroflot Open 2008  ·  Spanish Game: Berlin Defense. l'Hermet Variation Berlin Wall Defense (C67)  ·  1-0


explore this opening
find similar games 1 more Yifan Hou/V Laznicka game
PGN: download | view Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: Premium members can see a list of all games that they have seen recently at their Game History Page.

Java Viewer:  What is this?
For help with the default chess viewer, please see the Chess Viewer Deluxe Quickstart Guide.

Kibitzer's Corner
Feb-15-08   ghyanoki: Excelent Game by Hou Yifan
Feb-15-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  Wild Bill: This is a genuine masterpiece by the young lady.

Laznicka was a worthy opponent. The game is somewhere between equal and unclear until Black makes his fatal error with <28...Be7?>. This allows White time to build her attack. Black's better option is <28..Bb4!?> disrupting White's position. Now:

A. <29.Nd6+ Kf8 30.g6 Rxf4 31.Rxf4+ Kg8 32.Re8+ Rxe8 33.Nxe8> is unclear: Black has a bit more space but White has an exchange for a pawn.

B. <29.c3 Be7> and now: . . B1. <30.30.h4 a3 31.g6 Rf5 32.Ng3 Rd5> gives Black an extra pawn. . . B2. <30.Bxc7? a3! a3! 31.Nf6+ Kf8 32.Nd7+ Kg8 33.Rxf7 Kxf7> and Black wins.

Yifan stayed very cool as the a-pawn approached the end zone, without flinching from her mission. She made no effort to stop the pawn after it broke from the chain, but rather she played <30.g6!> concerning herself with pushing her own passed pawns. Finally, when the a-pawn queened, Yifan played <34.Rxe7+!!> This provided more cover to the approching g-pawn and confined the King to the back rank, in turn imprisoning the Black Rook to the queenside. It would take Black three moves to release the Rook (K-d8-c8-b7), and White only needs two to promote the g-pawn. Altogether, Yifan allowed Black to play a Queen to the good for five moves, yet had calculated that she had won the game throughout.

Rather than play <36...Qd5+>, Black might have gotten a more stubborn defense from <36...Qd2+ 37.Kh3 Qxe1>, but after <38.Rxe1 Kd7 h5> the outcome is not in doubt. In this line, it would be a mistake to paly <38.g8Q??>, for Black should win after <38...Kxe7! 39.Qxa8 Qe6+>.

From the final position, White wins by simply pushing her pawns and using her pieces to protect them as they advance.

Feb-15-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  Gilmoy: <Wild Bill: a Queen to the good for five moves> Only Q for R. In compensation, White's doubled Rs beats a Q, so the position reduces to Black's R vs. White's g7-pawn, and Black's K is in the way (and in fact is getting mated), so White is clearly winning that duel. Black has no mate threats, as its R+N are too far. So Black's Q is in the sad position of being a <blockader without the blockade>. White must have calculated that 37.Kh3 snuffs any perpetual, and 38.R1e6 collects the Q.
Feb-15-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  notyetagm: <Finally, when the a-pawn queened, Yifan played <34.Rxe7+!!> This provided more cover to the approching g-pawn and confined the King to the back rank, in turn imprisoning the Black Rook to the queenside. It would take Black three moves to release the Rook (K-d8-c8-b7), and White only needs two to promote the g-pawn. Altogether, Yifan allowed Black to play a Queen to the good for five moves, yet had calculated that she had won the game throughout.>

Wow, that was brilliant play by Hou Yifan. Magnificent calculcation.

Feb-17-08   MarkThornton: I suspect that <22...Rf7>, giving up the h6 pawn, was a mistake. After the alternative, <22...Ke7>, White has

A) <23. Bc5+> Bxc5 24. Nxc5 b6 25. Rxb2 bxc5 Black has a very poor pawn structure, but it does include 2 extra pawns.

B) <23. f4!?> with unclear play.

Mar-08-08   Yuri Y: This game is annotated by Jonathan Berry in The Globe And Mail - Sunday, March 8, 2008
May-06-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  parmetd: strange game defies alot of the current Berling theory attempting to keep your bishops as long as possible while black throws them away like a rotten apple.
Oct-03-08   GrahamClayton: Black could have held the position with 37...Kc8 38. g8(Q)+ Qg8 39. Re8+ Kb7 40. Rg8 Rg8 41. h5

Source: Anna Burtosova & Harald Fietz "Young Guns Dictate in Boomtown Moscow", "CHESS", May 2008


Secrets of Opening Surprises
NOTE: You need to pick a username and password to post a reply. Getting your account takes less than a minute, totally anonymous, and 100% free--plus, it entitles you to features otherwise unavailable. Pick your username now and join the chessgames community!
If you already have an account, you should login now.
Please observe our posting guidelines:
  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, or duplicating posts.
  3. No personal attacks against other users.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
Blow the Whistle See something which violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform an administrator.


NOTE: Keep all discussion on the topic of this page. This forum is for this specific game and nothing else. If you want to discuss chess in general, or this site, you might try the Kibitzer's Café.
Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
Spot an error? Please submit a correction slip and help us eliminate database mistakes!
This game is type: CLASSICAL (Disagree? Please submit a correction slip.)

Featured in the Following Game Collections [what is this?]
A simply brilliant game by 13(!)-year old Hou Yifan
from Chinese Chess by notyetagm
38 Re1-e6! Black has no other way to defend g8-promotion square
from Loose is -not(!)- safe by notyetagm
Girl meets boy
by englishplus
Berlin
by parmetd
middle game magic
by dclester
38 Re1-e6! blocks Black d5-queen from defending g8-promotion sq
from Interference/Line-closing: blocking GUARD line by notyetagm


home | about | login | logout | F.A.Q. | your profile | preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | new kibitzing | chessforums | new games | Player Directory | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Little ChessPartner | privacy notice | contact us
Copyright 2001-2009, Chessgames.com
Web design & database development by 20/20 Technologies