Game 4 through the eyes of the players

Game 4 through the eyes of the players

The press-conference after the 4th game included a lot of chess questions. Hou Yifan and Humpy Koneru answered showing variations from the game at the computer that was connected to the large screen so all the guests of the press-center could see the analyses. Here you can find the key moments of the game through the eyes of the players.

Hou,Yifan (2578) – Koneru,Humpy (2600)

[C83]

Women’s World Chess Championship 2011 Tirana/Albania (4), 18.11.2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.Nbd2 Nc5 10.c3 Be7 11.Bc2 d4 12.Nb3 d3 13.Nxc5 dxc2 14.Qxd8+ Rxd8 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.Be3 Rd5 17.c4 bxc4 18.Rac1 Nb4

Hou Yifan: I remembered that I played this line before, but could not recall the game.

19.a3 Nd3 20.Rxc2 Kd7 21.Bd4 Rb8 22.Bc3 c5

Humpy Koneru: I was also thinking about another move here which is 22…Bc5 23.g3 Rf8 24.Kg2 – it was also possible to play this;

22…Rf8 was also possible here.

23.Nd2 Nxe5 24.f4

Humpy Koneru: After this move I think White is better in the endgame. I have weak pawns. But the question is how to convert it into a win. It was a tough game, I had to defend a lot.

24…Ng4 25.Nxc4 Bf6 26.Re1 Bd4+ 27.Bxd4 Rxd4 28.h3 Nf6 29.Ne5+ Kd6 30.Nf7+ Kd7 31.Ne5+ Kd6 32.Nf7+ Kd7 33.Rxc5 Rxb2 34.Ne5+ Ke8 35.Nf3

Humpy Koneru: I think White could have tried 35.Rc7 – this would have been better for White than the actual game.

35…Re4 36.Rxe4

Hou Yifan: I think I could play better. Maybe I missed some good chance today. For example if I played 36.Rd1 here, I don’t know what would happen, but it could be a better continuation.

36…Nxe4 37.Re5 Nc3

Is there any difference if Black would play 37…Ng3? Humpy Koneru: When the knight is on c3, it also controls the “a” pawn, so I think it is better.

38.Rxe6+ Kf8 39.Rxa6

The commentators of the tournament asked if Hou Yifan considered to play 39.Kh2 here with the possible line 39…Ne2 40.Re4, and the game continues. Hou Yifan: Yes, I missed this line, I could be better to play it. Humpy Koneru: Of course it was better for White to try this out.

39…Ne2+ 40.Kh2 Nxf4

Hou Yifan: After we passed the time-control on the 40th move, the position was already a draw

41.Kg3 Nxg2 42.Re6 h6 43.Ne5 Ra2 44.a4 g5 45.Rxh6 Ne1 46.Rf6+ Kg7 47.Rg6+ Kh7 48.Rxg5 Rxa4 49.h4 Ra3+ 50.Kg4 Ng2 51.h5 Ne3+ 52.Kf4 Nd5+ 53.Kf5 Ra5 54.Rg1 Ra2 55.Ng4 Ra5 56.Ke4 Nc3+ 57.Kd3 Nd5 58.Ke4

Draw agreed

Official website: http://www.wwcc2011tirana.com