(1) Van der Merwe,C (2062) - Koneru,H (2513) [B43]
FIDE WCh Women KO Elista RUS (1.1), 22.05.2004



1.e4 c5
The Sicilian Defense

2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6
The Kan

5.Nc3 Qc7
Many transposition are possible here. The Qc7 is immune from attack from a knight because the black a- and e-pawns control b5 and d5

6.Bd3 Nf6
Another natural move pair. The Qc7 prevents the e4-e5 advance

7.0-0 Be7 8.Qe2
idea e4-e5

8...d6 9.Bg5 Nbd7
Playable because with the white king on the kingside, white is less likely to aim for f3 and g4-g5

10.Kh1
idea f4

10...b5
Justified because white has not played a4 or c4, and after 11.a4, black can push through safely with b5-b4

11.a4 b4 12.Na2
How to defend b4?

12...Bb7
[12...a5? opening up the b5-square]

13.Bd2
[13.Nxb4 Qc5! With three white pieces hanging]

13...Nc5
Three attacks on e4, one on a4

14.f3 0-0 15.a5
[15.Nxb4 a5 16.Na2 Nxa4 ]

15...Nxd3 16.cxd3 Qxa5 17.Bxb4 Qb6 18.Qf2
idea Nf5

18...a5 19.Ba3 Nd7
Anchoring the Qb6

20.Nc3 Ba6
targeting the backward d3-pawn

21.Na4 Qb7 22.Qe3 Rfd8
Preparing Nc5

23.Rac1 Nc5 24.Nxc5 dxc5 25.Bxc5 Bxc5 26.Rxc5 Qxb2 27.Nc6 Rxd3 28.Qc1 Qb6 29.Nxa5 h6 30.Nc6
Black is active here, but the pawn structure offers few winning chances

30...Rb3 31.Rd1 Be2 32.Re1 Bd3 33.Ne5 Rb1?!
[33...Rd8= ]

34.Rc8+ Kh7 35.Rxa8 Rxc1 36.Rxc1 Ba6 37.Nxf7
And white may be winning here

37...Qb2 38.Rd1 Be2 39.Rda1 Qf6
idea Bxf3=

40.Nd6 Qf4 41.R8a2 Bxf3 42.gxf3 Qxd6 43.Rg1 Qd3 44.Rf2 Qe3 45.Kg2 g5 46.h3 Kg6 47.Rd1 Qf4 48.Rd3
Diagram

48...h5!
aiming for h4 and Qg3+

49.Rc3
[49.Rd1 h4 50.Rh1~~ ]

49...h4 50.Kg1 Qg3+ 51.Kf1 Qxh3+ 52.Ke2 g4
Nicely played, idea g4

53.Rc1 g3 54.Rg1 Kf6 55.Rfg2 Kg5 56.Ke3 e5
idea Qd6 or Qc8

57.Rd2 Qe6
threat Qb6+ winning the Rg1 [57...Qc8 also wins easily]

58.Rd5
[58.Rb1 h3-+ ]

58...Qb6+ 0-1