GM-elect Hou (2557) – GM Kosteniuk (2510) [C88]
WWC – Nalchik Internet Chess Club, 14.09.2008
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0–0 8.h3 Bb7 9.d3 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxe5 Nd4 12.Nd2 Re8 13.c3 Nxb3 14.Nxb3 c5 15.Qh5 g6 16.Qf3 f6 17.Nxg6 hxg6 18.c4 Qd7 19.cxd5 Bxd5 20.Qg3 g5 21.Be3 Rac8 22.Qg4 Qxg4 23.hxg4 Bd6 24.Rec1 Kf7 25.Ne2 The position is roughly even.
25…Be5 26.Rc2
Black is a pawn down but with the power of the Bishop pair and White’s vulnerable pawn structure, this position is about even. However, seeing all the ups and downs in the endgame yesterday, there is still a lot of play left in this game.
26… Be6 27. Ne4 In this position, I would have preferred to double up the Rooks on the c file.
27…c4 28. dxc4 I think 28.d4 is stronger. The problem with this move is the b2 pawn will become a target later on.
28…Rxc4 29. Rxc4 bxc4 30. Rd1 Black is now clearly better with the Bishop pair.
30….Rb8 -/+ 31.b3 I see White having no chance to score a victory in this position. In fact, she has to work just to have a draw. It seems that Kosteniuk is better prepared in the opening phase and she also handles complicated (non-tactical) middlegame positions better.
31…cxb3 32.axb3 Rxb3 33.Bd4 The strongest reply for Black here is 33..Bxg4. I think White “should” be able to hold this game. But this is not the result one would want with the last White game.
33…Bxg4 34.f3 Bxd4 35.Rxd4 =+ Be6 36.Rd6 If Kosteniuk wants to secure a draw heading into tomorrow, this is one way: 36…Ra3 37. Nc5 Bc4 38. Ne4 Be6 39. Nc5 =
36…a5 37.Nc5 Rb1+ 38. Kf2 Bf5 39. Ra6 In this position, 39.g4 is also playable.
39…Rb5 40.Ne4 Bxe4 41.fxe4 Rb2+ There is still a lot of work to do but White “should” be able to hold this.
42.Kf3 Ra2 43. Kg3 a4 44. Kf3 a3 This is NOT the way to hold on for a draw. Now White is in big trouble.
45.Kg3 A horrendous series of moves by Hou. Now Black has chances. The idea is after a2 then to get the Black King to f4. If Black succeeds in accomplishing this then it’s over. I am sure if computer software can understand this plan.
45…Ra1 Kh2 46.Kh2 a2 47.Kg3 Ke7 The idea is keep moving the King up and eventually try to get to the f4 square. However, the timing has to be perfect. Black has to try to avoid the line where White can play g4 and block the pawns from advancing. It looks like there is a chance that Kosteniuk will be crowned today as the next Women’s World Champion.
48. Kh2 Kd7 49. Kg3 Kc7 50. Kh2 Kb7 51. Ra3 Kb6 52. Ra8 Kb5 53.Rb8+ Kc4 54. Ra8 Kd4 55. Ra4+ Kd3 56. Kg3 Ke3 -+ 57.Kh2 Kf4 58.e5+ Kxe5 59.g4 Kd5 60. Kg2 Kc5 61. Ra8 Kb4 62. Ra6 I find it interesting that when Hou is in trouble, she fights back harder and does better. She held yesterday in a hopeless position and may do it again today. The key idea for Black is to get the King to the c3 square. Then in order for White to hold, she must keeps her Rook on the 6th rank. Everything else would lose.
62…Ra6 Kc4 63. Ra3 Kd4 64. Ra6 Ke5 65. Ra4 Ke6 66.Ra8 Ke5 67. Ra4 Re1 68. Rxa2 Kf4 69. Rf2+ Kxg4 70. Rxf6 Re2+ 71. Kg1 Kg3 72.Rf1 1/2-1/2 A nice save by Yifan and another nice effort by Alexandra.
Another endgame is coming soon… who will play the best tune?! 😉
But this chess is too exciting…
Rui leprechaun
(…in the true spirit of fighting! :))
Is the equal sign a draw offer or an evaluation?
Thanks for posting the game. This is the only site where I can watch the game at work.
Rui, I have to agree with you.
The chess that is shown here is really exciting – of course we mustn’t forget that this is a match and Hou ‘has’ to win today – I have seen to many such positions given draw as both players were not brave enough to fight out.
It’s always nice to see such interesting positions fought out and I am sure they will do.
Maybe women are the better fighters in chess?
@#2: equal sign is an evaluation by Susan. I think Susan writes 1/2 if the result is a draw.
Watchout – those brian pullers on Hou’s head are gonna make her blunder and lose the match TODAY. You heard it here first folks.
Susan, too bad you are inactive cause you would kick all they butts.
Anon 8:40, been there, done that. After what FIDE did in 1999, I am done with the WWC. I am now at the next chapter of my life. There is much more I would like to accomplish in chess world. Playing is only one part of it.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
Kosteniuk can be crowned today… she’s getting the best play!
But for both of them… Hooray!…
Rui leprechaun
(…this is a great chess day !:))
Susan, I am anon 8:40. I appreciate the repsonse and the perspective. (And the fact that you let my gentle teasing of the young Chinese (future) superstar stand).
I am a fan of what you are doing, and find myself very disappointed that so many folks would prefer to dredge up obstacles in apparent attempts to cling to USCF power.
The last 13-14 months on the USCF EB is most disappointing. I now understand why the USCF has failed so miserably for years. Instead of doing things for the best interest of chess, the same people would do anything to maintain their pseudo power.
What’s even more disappointing is some people who I thought were friends made up their minds with bogus information instead of fairly looking at the facts. Some people think it is cool or funny to destroy people’s lives and reputation based on lies and innuendos.
It does not really matter now. I will continue to do everything I can for chess. These people will not stop me no matter what disgusting tactic they use.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
Kosteniuk was the vice champion before- looks like she will win the cup this time- 80%+ chance.
Liz, I’m gonna tell the principal you’re web-surfing during school hours.
Another rook ending… this thrill is unending!!!
But Kosteniuk surely deserves the title, she has played better than Hou in all 3 games!
Will the Russian lady win today…
Rui leprechaun
(…or a 4th game is on the way? :))
Susan, it’s unfortunate that the USCF governance is intractable, even with your professional skills. Larry Evans made a comment many years ago to the effect that the federation was run by amateurs who didn’t have any better claim to fame. I’ve seen a number of nonprofits with the same dynamic. It’s the sort of thing that makes prudent people think twice about volunteering.
GM Larry Evans is correct. GM Seirawan also gave up after trying so hard. The USCF will not get better as long as the same people are in power.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
If Kosteniuk win today, will they have to play tomorrow?
If K wins then it is over. No game tomorrow.
Ugh. Hou is in effect still learning simple endgame lessons in a
Championship Match. She doesn’t know how to defending the a-pawn/h-pawn with rook on queening square setup.
I really get the impression Hou has never studied this common endgame setup in a formal way.
No, no. The young commie studied this a lot in training camp. It’s the brain pullers, I tell ya.
Having watched Hou’s games, I do get the impression she’s learning beginners’ lessons from 2300-2600 players. She’s very inexperienced and it shows.
anon 10:14 – Very astute observation. Certainly not worthy of world chess champ. Not yet. Back to training camp.
Actually, to me this is an indicator of a weakness in Chinese chess. Soviet training techniques would not have left a promising 14 year old so unprepared, n’est pas?
if Kosteniuk wins today the title will be “Kosteniuk is the new women champion” or “Hou is the new vice champion” lol 😉
+- means that white is winning according to the laws of chess talk. Still hoping, are you?
Suz, the end-game gm was RIGHT – the King went to f4!!!!!!!! Wow!!!!!
Hou Yifan may ultimately rewrite the record books as a female chess player, but it is clear that at this point in time, Kosteniuk is the better competitor. She has had a big edge in all three games, has demonstrated better preparation, energy and nerves.
‘Is the equal sign a draw offer or an evaluation?’
C’mon, even the arbiters don’t know the answer to that one.
How did Veroci stay Main Arbiter after her decisin was humiliated by the Appeals Committee?? Tehy wait for more mistakes or what?? Can someone explain, thank you.
Draw!!!!!!!!!!!
Hou is liek a rock that cannot be broken into more than two pieces!!
Kosteniuk will pay dearly for not winning with 5 extra pawns. It may just be the end of her chess carreer after a shock loss in round 4 and tiebreak collapse to come.
Hou is clearly the better endgame player, so I don’t understand much anyways.
lol, “training campers” 🙂
second time in a row How saves a hopeless position. Tomorrow Kostenjuk goes mad and How wins 🙂
Somehow it is good Yifan loses- it shows her she has LOTS of work to do in terms of opening knowledge and endgame technique. Talent and brilliant tactical skills are not enough to reach the top.
Well, and then it seems like she couldn’t deal with the pressure, hope this will change with experience.
Great result by her anyway, eliminating Koneru was an achievement.
WHAT? She’s saving this while I typed my last comment?
Tzk…
🙂
Kf4 was probably a mistake by Kostenjuk. whatever the “plan” was
Kf2 and moving g pawn should have won 🙁
Let me clear it up for you then:
1. push f5 change pawn
2. push pawn to g3
3. play rh1 then when black takes pawn play rh2 check and win the rook
4. checkmate easily
Am I missing something?
How about King x rook
That would be bad for black, I am guessing.
Why is it so, people have good (great ideas – Rh2 check), but it turns out to be a blunder. Is that bad then?
yes, I think you missed that white has Kxh1
… just flatlined to 0.00!
Anon 10:38. If we want to talk about USCF parochialism here, we will. My suggestion would be to slink back to USCF forum and repeat the same non-productive crap over again.
In position with white pawn on g4, this plan seems to win for black: K to b6, then play f6-f5, after g4xf5 play Kb6-b7 (with white rook on a8), then after rook move play Kb7-c7-d7 to stop the pawn. K on f8, then g5-g4-g3 wins!
A thought had just crossed my chess mind. Does anyone know a person who couldn’t learn how to play chess, after being taught and taught?
ardjan, why does this plan win?
After (f5 gxf5) g4-g3 white replies Rg2
Susan – keep up your good spirits – you are a good example of how people should lead there lives –
be encouraged – thank you
The policy of this blog is no troll and stupid chess politicians allowed. If you don’t like it then go elsewhere to spam. hahahahaha
Susan, I am glad you are smart enough to realize that it’s not the USCF, but, the people who are running it.
Of course it’s the people running it. It’s run by amateurs who didn’t have any better claim to fame as GM Evans said.
Hou is good at holding draws in worse rook endgames. This is her method to draw bad games I see.
For me the USCF should be run by people who already live here for decades.
If you hold these endings as an ‘inexperienced’ player as some of you name her, I ‘m curious about the opnion on the experienced Kosteniuk who fails to win those!