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Instead of Re8, he should have played 48...Qe3+ 49.Kh2 Qxf4+ 50.Kh3 Qg4+ 51.Kh2 Qh4+ 52.Kg1 Rc1+ 53.Be1 Rxe1 #

Then she missed a mate in 6 when Lautier played 48...Re8??

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Instead of 49.Qb2?? she should have played 49.Qxg6+ kh8 50.Qxe8+ Kg7 51.Bf8+ Kh8 52.Bd6+ Kg7 53.Be5+ Kh7 54.Qf7 #

I'm actually very surprised that she did not at least see that 49.Qxg6+ at least wins the rook!

Unfortunately the horror doesn't stop there, she actually missed an opportunity to draw:

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Here she played 51.Kh2?? Instead she could have forced a draw with 51.Qf6 and black must now resort to perpetual checks otherwise he would get mated. 51...Qe1+ 52.Kh2 Qg3+ 53.Kh1 Qe1+ 54.Kh2 Qg3+ etc 1/2 1/2.

It doesn't stop there, she actually missed a mate in 7 in move 53 when Lautier errored with 52...Qe4??

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Same pattern as before, again she should have at least seen the extremely simple combination that wins the rook, Qxg6+.

Almira does it again on move 55, for some reason she refuses to take the damn rook:

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In the next move she misses a mate in 11. In move 63 she plays the incromprehensive Bd6?? It's like she's refusing to win and wants her ex to beat her.

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But it seems he doesn't want to beat her because he doesn't play the simple mate in 2 63...Qg3+ 64.Kg1 Rc1 # and instead plays the horrendous 63...Qe4?? It allows a mate in 8, but of course Almira doesn't want to beat him and instead gives up her queen with Qg8+???? making sure everyone knows that she's giving him a free win.

<[Event "NATIONALE TOP 16"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2006.05.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "IM Skripchenko, Almira(FRA)"]
[Black "GM Lautier, Joel(FRA)"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2423"]
[BlackElo "2682"]
[Annotator "Gary_Suffield"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2006.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 d6 7. a3 Nc6 8. Bd3 dxe5 9. dxe5 g6 10. O-O Bg7 11. Qe2 O-O 12. Bd2 Nce7 13. h4 Nf5 14. Bxf5 exf5 15. Nc3 Be6 16. Rfd1 Qb6 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Bb4 Rfd8 19. Bd6 Bb3 20. Rd4 a5 21. Rc1 Rdc8 22. Qe3 Be6 23. b4 axb4 24. axb4 h6 25. Bc5 Qc6 26. Rcd1 Re8 27. Qd3 Qa4 28. Qd2 Qb5 29. Qf4 b6 30. Bd6 Rac8 31. R4d3 Rc4 32. Nd4 Qd5 33. Qg3 Qb7 34. f4 h5 35. Nf3 Bh6 36. Ng5 Rc2 37. b5 Bc4 38. Rc3 Rxc3 39. Qxc3 Bxb5 40. Qb3 Bc6 41. Rd2 Bxg5 42. hxg5 Bd7 43. e6 Bxe6 44. Qb2 Qe4 45. Re2 Qd3 46. Bb4 Rc8 47. Rxe6 fxe6 48. Qf6 Re8 49. Qb2 Qe4 50. Bd6 h4 51. Kh2 Qe1 52. Qf6 Qe4 53. Qb2 Rd8 54. Qxb6 Rf8 55. Qb2 Re8 56. Bb4 Qd3 57. Bd6 Rc8 58. Bb4 Re8 59. Qf6 Rc8 60. Qxg6+ Kh8 61. Qh5+ Kg8 62. Qg6+ Kh8 63. Bd6 Qe4 64. Qg8+ Kxg8 65. Bb4 Re8 0-1>

Muzychuk,A (2456) - Skripchenko,A (2421) [B44]
Accentus Ladies Biel SUI (9), 02.08.2006

1.e4 c5
The Sicilian Defense.

2.Nf3 e6

By playing this move she can rapidly complete her kingside development.

3.c4

It is slightly unusual to play this move at this point of the game.Muzychuk makes it more difficult for Skripchenko to play the pawn break ...d5. A pawn break is the gaining of space (and thus more freedom of movement) by the advance of a pawn.

3...Nc6

Muzychuk, by playing this move returns to the main line,attacking in the center. [Analysis:According to my database it is much more common for White to continue in this position by playing the move 4.Nc3 and then play usually continues: 4...Nf6 5.Be2 d5 6.exd5 exd5 7.d4 Be6 8.Be3 dxc4 9.0-0 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Be7© And White has compensation for the pawn.] Play in the game now continued:

4...cxd4

The only move Black plays in this position in my database.

5.Nxd4

The only move Black plays in this position in my database.

5...Nxd4

A rarely played idea.Skripchenko decides to simply the position and forces the White queen to recapture. [Analysis:The main line continuation is: 5...Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.Bd3 e5 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bd2 Be7]Play in the game now continued:

6.Qxd4 Ne7

The only move Black plays in this position in my database. Skripchenko intends to transfer this knight to c6 to hit the White queen.

7.Be3

She develops another minor piece.This is the only move I found White had played in this position in my database.

7...Nc6

This move may be a theoretical novelty for this position.Skripchenko decides to blunt the mobility of the White dark-squared bishop. [In my database the only move Black had played in thos position was 8...d6 in two games:Ferraro-Rago and Piesina-Zaksaite. 9.Nc3 Be7 10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0 a6 (11...b6) 12.Rfd1 (12.f4) ] Returning to the Muzychuk-Skripchenko game which continued:

9.Nc3

Developing another minor piece and making it more difficult for Skripchenko to play the pawn break ...d7-d5 in the future.

9...Bc5

Skripchenko completes her kingside development and in the process offers to exchange dark-squared bishops. [Analysis:Fritz 8: 9...Bb4 10.Bf4 d6 11.0-0-0 e5 12.Bg5 Qd7 13.Be3 Bb7 ]

10.f4

Gaining space on the kingside. [Analysis:Fritz 8: 10.0-0-0 0-0 11.f4 Rb8 12.Nb5 d5 13.exd5 exd5 14.Bxc5 bxc5 15.Qxd5 Qb6© with compensation for the pawn.]

10...0-0

11.Bd3
She develops her last minor piece and prepares to castle on the kingside. [Analysis:Fritz 8: 11.0-0-0 Rb8 12.Nb5 d5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.Bxc5 bxc5 15.exd5 Nb4 16.a3 Na2+ 17.Kb1 Bd7 18.Nxa7 Qb6 19.Kxa2 Ba4 20.Rc1 Qxa7 with compensation for the pawns.] The next move in the game was:

11...Ba6

Skripchenko develops her last minor piece,which ties down the White bishop to the defense of the White c-pawn. [Analysis:Fritz 8: 11...d6 12.0-0 Bb7 13.Rf3 Nb4 14.Rd1 Nxd3 15.Qxd3 Qh4 16.Bxc5 dxc5 =]

12.0-0

[Analysis:Fritz 8: 12.0-0-0 d6 13.e5 Nb4 14.Bxc5 bxc5 15.exd6 Rb8 16.Rhe1 Qb6 and Black would not have sufficient compensation for the pawn.]

12...Qe7

Skripchenko gives herself the option of recapturing on c5 with her queen if Muzychuk were to play Bxc5. [Analysis:Fritz 8: 12...d6 13.Rad1 Qh4 14.Qf2 Bxe3 15.Qxe3 Rac8 16.Qf2 Qh6 ]

13.Rae1

Centralizing her rook. [Analysis:Fritz 8: 13.Rf3 d6 14.Rh3 Rad8 15.Bxc5 bxc5 16.Qe3 Nb4 17.Rf1 Bb7 ]

13...f6

Skripchenko contests the e5 square in case Muzychuk had intentions of playing e4-e5. [Analysis:Fritz 8: 13...Nb4 14.Rf3 Rac8 15.b3 Bb7 16.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 17.Qf2 f5 18.a3 Nxd3 19.Rxd3 Qxa3 20.Nb5 Qb4 21.e5 Be4 22.Rg3 d5© And White has sufficient compensation for the pawn.]Returning to the moves played in the game:

14.b3

Giving further support to her c-pawn.

14...Rac8

Breaking the pin against her bishop.

15...Bb4

Pinning the white knight. [Analysis:Fritz 8: 15...d6 16.a3 Na5 17.Qb2 Bb7 18.Qa2 Bxe3 19.Rxe3 Nc6 ] The game now continued:

16.Re2 Na5

Now the Black rook and bishop pressure the White knight on c3.

17.Qb2

Breaking the pin against her knight.

17...Qd6

Attacking the undefended White bishop on d3 winning a tempo. [Analysis:Fritz 8: 17...Bb7 18.Nb5 Nc6 19.a3 Bc5 20.b4 Bxe3 21.Rxe3 d6 ] Going back to the moves played in the game:

18.Rd1

The lost tempo. [Analysis:Fritz 8: 18.Rd2 Qe7 19.Rf3 d6 20.Rh3 h6 21.f5 Nc6 22.Rg3 Kh8 23.a3 Bc5 24.Bxc5 dxc5 ]

18...Qb8

Skripchenko moves her queen before Muzychuk can launch a discovered attack against the piece. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 18...Qe7 19.e5 f5 20.Bc2 Ba3 21.Qb1 Rfd8 22.Bf2 Nc6 23.Qa1 Bc5 ]

19.Bd2

Overprotecting her knight and giving her e-pawn more support. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 19.Rf2 Bb7 20.Nb5 d6 21.Qc2 Bc5 22.Bxc5 dxc5 23.e5 f5 ] Returning to the game:

19...Nc6

20.Nb5

Muzychuk offers to exchange bishops on d2.

20...Rcd8

[Analysis:Shredder 8: 20...Bxd2 21.Qxd2 e5 22.a4 Bxb5 23.cxb5 Nd4 24.Rf2 d6 ] The players now played these moves:

21.Bc1 Bb7
22.a3

Attacking the Black bishop winning a tempo.

22...Be7

The lost tempo.

23.Bb1

Muzychuk prevents Skripchenko from playing ...d5. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 23.b4 a6 24.Nc3 a5 25.bxa5 bxa5 26.Be3 Ba6 27.Qa2 Qc8 28.Red2 d6 ] Play in the game now continued:

23...e5=

Creating a double-attack against the White pawn,threatening to win it.

24.f5

[Analysis:Shredder 8: 24.Qd2 a6 25.Qd5+ Kh8 26.Nd6 Nd4 27.Nxb7 Nxe2 28.Nxd8 Rxd8 29.Qf7 Bd6 30.Bd2 Bxa3 31.Qh5 Nd4 32.Bc3 Nc6 And White has some compensation for the pawn.] For her next move in the game Skripchenko played:

24...a6

Attacking the knight forcing it back to c3.

Centralizing the knight to a beautiful square and winning a tempo.

26.Re3

The lost tempo. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 26.Ree1 Rfe8 27.Nd5 Bf8 28.b4 b5 29.Ba2 Bxd5 30.cxd5 Rc8 ] Returning to the moves played in the game:

26...g5!?

Skripchenko offers to exchange pawns on g6. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 26...b5 27.Nd5 Rfe8 28.Bd3 Bd6 29.Rh3 Rc8 30.Be3 Bxd5 31.cxd5 Qc7 ] Play in the game continued:

27.fxg6 hxg6
28.Rg3

Attacking the undefended Black g-pawn winning a tempo. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 28.Nd5 Qd6 29.Rg3 Kf7 30.Nxe7 Qxe7 31.Be3 Bc6 32.Bxd4 exd4 33.Qxd4 Qc5 34.Qc3 Qe5 35.Qxe5 fxe5 And Black would have insufficent compensation for the pawn.] Skripchenko's next move was:

28...Kg7

The lost tempo. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 28...Kf7 29.Nd5 Bxd5 30.exd5 f5 31.Be3 Rh8 32.Rf1 Rh5 33.h3 Rdh8 34.Bd3 Bh4 35.Rg4 Bf6 36.Bxd4 exd4 (36...fxg4 37.Qf2 Qd6 38.Bxb6 Qe7 39.Qc2 R8h6 40.Be2 Rf5 41.Rxf5 gxf5 42.Qxf5 gxh3 43.gxh3 Kg7 ) 37.Rgf4] Returning to the moves played in the game:

29.Nd5

Attacking Skripchenko's bishop winning a tempo unless Skripchenkp plays ...Bxd5.

29...Bxd5

30.exd5

Now Skripchenko's g-pawn is double-attacked so she must play:

30...f5

31.Be3

Creating a double-attack against Skripchenko's knight.

31...Kf7

[Analysis:Shredder 8: 31...Rh8 32.Bxd4 exd4 33.Qxd4+ Bf6 34.Qf2 Kf7 35.d6 Rh5 36.Re3 Rdh8 37.h3 Qb7 38.Rd5 b5 And Black would not have sufficient compensation for the pawn.]

Returning to the moves played in the game for her next move Muzychuk played:

32.Rf1

Creating pressure against the Black f-pawn.

32...Bf6

Saving her pawn if Muzychuk were to play 33.Bxd4. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 32...Qd6 33.Bxd4 exd4 34.Qxd4 Qxg3!? 35.hxg3 Rh8+ 36.Kg1 Bc5 37.Qxc5 bxc5 38.g4 f4 39.Rxf4+ Kg7 40.Re4 Rde8 41.Kf2 Kf6 42.Ke3 g5 43.Rxe8 Rxe8+ 44.Kd2 Ke5 ]

[Analysis:Shredder 8: 33.Bxd4 exd4 34.Bxf5!? gxf5 35.Rxf5 Rde8 36.Qf2 Qd8 37.Rxf6+ Qxf6 38.Rf3 Kg8 39.Rxf6 Rxf6 40.Qg3+ ]

33...Rh8

Shredder evaluates this position as =
Play in the game now continued:

34.Rxh8 Rxh8
35.g3

Muzychuk creates luft for her king. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 35.h3 Nf3!? 36.Qc1 (36.gxf3 Rxh3+ 37.Kg1 (37.Kg2? Rh2+ 38.Kxh2 e4+ 39.Kg2 exf3+ 40.Rxf3 Bxb2 ) 37...Rg3+ 38.Kf2 Rxf3+ 39.Ke2 (39.Kxf3? e4+ 40.Bxe4 Bxb2 ) ) 36...e4 37.Bf4 Be5 38.Bh6 Bf6 39.Bf4 Be5 40.Bh6 Rxh6 41.Rxf3 exf3 42.Qxh6 Bg7 43.Qe3 Qg3 ] Returning to the moves played in the game Skripchenko now played:

35...Nf3

Creating the threat of ...N or Rxh2.

36.Bg1?

A mistake. This move allows Skripchenko to support her knight with her e-pawn which she does next move. [Analysis:Shredder 8:Better was 36.Rxf3 e4 37.Rxf5 gxf5 38.Qf2 Qe5 39.Bxb6 (Hiarcs 8: 39.Kg2 b5 40.a4 bxc4 41.bxc4 d6 ) 39...Qa1 40.Qf1 Ke8 ] Returning to the moves played in the game, Skripchenko now played:

36...e4!

After this move Shredder gives Skripchenko almost a minor piece advantage in its evaluation.

37.Qg2 Be5

Creating the threat of ...Bxg3.

38.Qe2?

A mistake. [Analysis:Shredder 8:Better was 38.Rxf3 exf3 39.Qxf3 Bxg3 40.Bxf5 gxf5 41.Qxf5+ Ke8 42.Qg6+ Kd8 43.Qf6+ (43.Bxb6+ Kc8 44.Bg1 Qd6 45.Qxd6 Bxd6 46.c5 Bf4 ) 43...Kc7 44.Bxb6+ Kb7 45.Bg1 Bc7 ]

[Analysis:Hiarcs 8:Better was 38...Nxh2! 39.Kg2 Nxf1 40.Qxf1 Qg8 41.Qe2 Qh7 42.Kf1 Qh1 43.Qf2 Rh3 44.Qg2 Qxg2+ 45.Kxg2 Rxg3+ 46.Kf1 Rc3 ]

Muzychuk now blunders when she played

39.d6??

[Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 39.Rxf3 exf3 40.Qxf3 Qe5 41.Kg2 Bxh2 42.Bf2 Qb2 43.Bxf5 gxf5 44.Qxf5+ Ke8 45.Qg6+ Kd8 46.a4 Rf8 47.Qxb6+ Bc7 48.Qe3 Rg8+ ] For her next nove in the game Skripchenko played:

39...Bxh2

[Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 39...Nxg1 40.Qxe4 Qxd6 41.Rxf5+ gxf5 42.Qxf5+ Ke8 43.Qg6+ Kd8 44.Qxd6 Rxh2+ 45.Kxg1[] the only move 45...Bxd6 ] Play in the game continued:

40.Rxf3 Be5+

[Analysis:Hiarcs 8:Better was 40...exf3 41.Qxf3 Bxg1+ 42.Kxg1 Qxd6 43.Bd3 Qh2+ 44.Kf1 Rh3 45.Qd5+ Ke7 46.Be2 Qf4+ 47.Ke1 Qc1+ 48.Bd1 Qc3+ 49.Kf1 Rd3 ]

The players now made these moves in the game:

41.Kg2 exf3+ 42.Qxf3 Qxd6 43.Be4 Qd2+ 44.Kf1 Qc1+ 45.Kg2 Kf6

[Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 45...Ke7 46.Bb7 Rh4 47.b4 Rxc4 48.Be3 Rc2+ 49.Bf2 Bd4 50.a4 Qe1 51.Kh3 Bxf2 52.Ba8 Rc8 53.Qd3 Rh8+ 54.Kg2 Qg1+ 55.Kf3 Rh3+ 56.Kf4 Qc1+ 57.Qd2 Qxd2+ 58.Ke5 d6#]

The game concluded with these moves:

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