Yifan Hou vs David W Howell (2008)

Yifan Hou vs David W Howell
World Junior Championship 2008 · Spanish Game: Closed Variations. Closed Defense (C96) · 1/2-1/2

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Aug-08-08		luzhin: A remarkable escape by Howell. Yifan Hou repeatedly spurned the chance to play the technically winning Rxe2, for example on moves 50,51 and 53. Even then, she could probably have won by playing 57.Bc5+ followed by Bf2. Earlier there was a weird double blunder when Howell played 43..Ba4?: it's surprising that such an excellent tactician as Hou didn't play 44.Bxh6 (with the point that after 44..gxh6 45.Rxe4+ picks up the loose Bishop on a4).

Aug-08-08		Udit Narayan: Maybe young Yifan Hou was distracted by her good looking opponent...

Aug-10-08		notyetagm: <luzhin: A remarkable escape by Howell. Yifan Hou repeatedly spurned the chance to play the technically winning Rxe2, for example on moves 50,51 and 53.> White to play: 50 ? click for larger view (VAR) Position after 50 e1xe2+ d1xe2 51 f2xe2 click for larger view click for larger view Why in the world did Hou Yifan spurn this endgame? My goodness, Black cannot win it even if White loses all three of her pawns! She even has the right rook pawn! Wow, this is impossible to understand. Hou Yifan would be tied for first now with her compatriot Li Chao B if she had won this winning position! Damn it!

Aug-10-08		notyetagm: Black has just played 43 ... c6-a4?. White to play: 44 ? click for larger view <luzhin: ... Earlier there was a weird double blunder when Howell played 43..Ba4?: it's surprising that such an excellent tactician as Hou didn't play 44.Bxh6 (with the point that after 44..gxh6 45.Rxe4+ picks up the loose Bishop on a4).> (VAR) Position after 44 e3xh6! <clearance> g7xh6 45 e2xe4+ <fork> click for larger view click for larger view Damn, it really looks like Hou Yifan just did not really _WANT_ to beat Howell in this game. An excellent tactician like Hou Yifan should definitely spot such an easy cheapo. The beauty of this variation is that it gets rid of the <OPPOSITE-COLORED BISHOPS> (44 ... g7xh6, 46 e4xa4), leaving Black with a dead lost rook ending.

Mar-13-09		Ladolcevita: <Udit Narayan: Maybe young Yifan Hou was distracted by her good looking opponent...> Well,maybe Howell is Yifan's type??---Since he has got some chinese blood whilst not as boring as the pure Chinese....

Mar-13-09		Ladolcevita: I heard that Yifan would take part in Juniors World Championship again??So..really hope she can do better this time!!Not really dare to expect a gold medal,since she doesnt rank very high in Juniors List,but just give a shot,right?

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Featured in the Following Game Collections [what is this?]

44 Be3xh6! vacates the e-file for the rook fork 45 Re2xe4+
from Clearance by notyetagm

45 Re2xe4+ forks the undefended Black a4-bishop, Black e6-king
from Double attacks by notyetagm

43 ... Bc6-a4? undef a4-bishop makes e4-square a tactical base
from Lookout for undefended pieces! Tactical targets! by notyetagm