[Event "World Women-ch01"] [Site "London"] [Date "1927.??.??"] [White "Holloway, Edith Martha"] [Black "Menchik, Vera"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "mistr"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A06"] [Opening "Zukertort Opening: Old Indian Attack"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/Qpg3cJhA/y9abCnK2"] [Orientation "white"] { It is quite surprising - and to an extent disturbing - how difficult it is to track the games from the early Women's World Chess Championships Much more difficult than digging up some older games from the 19th century. After a thorough research on the Internet, in the Megadatabase and in books such as Tanner's "Vera Menchik: A Biography of the First Women's World Chess Champion, with 350 (!!) games", I was able to recover only two games from the very first one, held in London in 1927. In this article/pgn, we will analyze b oth of them. The first one will be Menchik's Black game against Holloway Edith Martha, who shared the 4th place in that tournament. } 1. Nf3 d5 2. d3 Nf6 3. h3 { Of course, White's opening play is a bit ridiculous from the modern day standard, as it violates basic opening principles (develop your pieces, don't move your pawns for no reason). But let's not be too harsh toward the pioneers and let's check how Menchik went on to punish this kind of extravagance early in the game. } 3... g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O h6 { Another pawn move that is not strictly necessary, as White wasn't really threatening to place a piece on g5. } (6... c5 { A move such as this one, placing a pawn in the center, was quite good and natural. }) (6... Re8 { Black could have also been a bit more sophisticated and tried preparing the move e5. In any case - when your opponents refrain to fight from the center early in the game, it is usually a good idea to try to do it yourself. }) 7. Nc3 { Another somewhat strange move. } (7. c4 { Trying to fight for the center and undermining the structure, was probably more sensible, although Black can achieve a pleasant position in more than one way, e.g. } 7... c6 (7... dxc4 8. dxc4 Qxd1 9. Rxd1 c6)) 7... Nbd7 { A bit of a strange move that allows White to justify the opening play with a strike in the center. } (7... d4 { Attacking the knight with a gain of tempo and gaining some space was quite reasonable, e.g. } 8. Na4 Nc6 9. c3 e5) (7... c5 { Is also better than the text move, because Black is now ready to advance the d4 pawn, e.g. } 8. e4 d4) 8. Bd2 { A bit of a passive move, even though it develops the piece. } (8. e4 { White could have gained some space in the center now that it is impossible for Black to advance the pawn to d4 (since White would simply capture it). } 8... dxe4 { The d5 pawn is under the attack and Black has to react. } (8... c6 { Black can't simply defend the pawn because after } 9. e5 Ne8 10. d4 { White manages to occupy the center and stiffle the bishop on g7. This position is much better for White. })) 8... c6 9. e4 { Now this advance comes under inferior circumstances since Bd2 turns out to be a wasted tempo. Still, the position is quite healthy and probably around equal. } 9... dxe4 (9... e5 { It was also possible to place the pawn on e5 since now the d5 pawn has been defended. }) 10. dxe4 Qc7 11. Ne1 { A fairly reasonable maneuver, intending to place the knight to d3. } (11. a4 { A more modern attempt would be to gain some space on the queenside with the advance of the flank move, e.g. } 11... a5 12. Be3 e5 13. Nd2 { And White will try to occupy the c4 square, while there are also f4 ideas in the air. }) 11... e5 12. Kh2 { This was not strictly necessary and it wastes a tempo. It might not be the most important tempo in the world, but it is a tempo nevertheless. } (12. Nd3 b6 13. f4 { Is significantly better. In this particular case, it is better to start active play rather than be too patient and make the king move. }) 12... Kh7 { Likewise - this move was not necessary at all. } (12... b6 { Intending to develop the light-squared bishop, was probably better. }) 13. Nd3 { Going back to the right track and preparing the strong f4 move. } 13... Ng8 { A bit too defensive. I am not sure what exactly was the idea behind this move. Perhaps opening up the bishop on g7? } 14. f4 { A logical follow up, although there were more patient alternatives. } 14... exf4 15. gxf4 Nb6 { A logical move, opening up the light-squared bishop and preparing Nc4. But it turns out this moves a piece away from the kingside and is, therefore, not optimal. } (15... b6 16. Qf3 Ba6 { Was much better. Next, the knight can potentially go to c5, the other knight to e7 and Black has a reasonable game. }) 16. Qf3 (16. b3 { Perhaps it was worth investing a move into preventing Nc4. }) 16... Nc4 17. Be1 { A very strong maneuvering play. Despite the suboptimal opening play, White shows some positional understanding by making this quiet move, simply retreating the bishop and intending to activate it later via g3 or even h4. Due to the pawns on e4 and f4 and Black's lack of coordination, White is somewhat better, although the position is quite complicated. } 17... Bd7 { Perhaps it is better to go to e6, although it is natural to fear some f5 pawn push at some point. } (17... Be6 { Is perfectly possible, tho, as it is not easy to prepare f5, e.g. } 18. Bg3 Nd2) 18. Rd1 Rae8 19. Bg3 { Very strong play by White over the course of the last few moves. Now the forces are very harmonious, although Black also remains quite solid. } 19... Bc8 { Also very nice and harmonious move, moving the bishop out of the way of potential harm. I recently had a few sessions with a GM coach and they told me they really love to put their bishops on the last ranks as they exert a lot of influence from there without hampering the rest of the pieces. The moves Be1 and Bc8 in this game are perfect examples. } 20. Rfe1?! { This is an inaccuracy. White loses an important tempo, and this makes a big difference in this position. } (20. e5 { Immediately, was much better. The point is that now } 20... f6 (20... Ne7 { Trying to cover the f5 square is better, but then } 21. Ne4 { And White has the initiative with the more active piecese, although after smth like } 21... Nf5 22. Rfe1 Rd8 { The game still continues and it is a battle. }) 21. b3 { Is very annoying as the knight on c3 is not under the attack. } 21... Nb6 22. f5! { Black is getting slaughtered on the kingside - especially since the queen on c7 is under the potential discovery from the bishop on g3. }) 20... Qa5 { A very strong move by Menchik, removing the queen away from any potential discoveries and also eyeing the c3 knight, thus preventing b3. } 21. e5 f6 { Another very strong move, undermining the center. Very powerful. } 22. Qe2 { An inaccuraccy in a complex position. However, it was very difficult to figure out White's best response. } (22. exf6 Nxf6 23. Rxe8 Rxe8 { IS very good for Black as the pieces are all active, f5 is not happening and Bf5 is coming next, activating the last piece. }) (22. Re4 { This strange move is thee computer's suggestion. The idea is to either force the knight to retreat or to force } 22... b5 { when after } 23. exf6 Nxf6 24. Rxe8 Rxe8 { The situation is different due to the weakness of the c6 pawn. }) (22. b4 Qa3 23. Ne4 { Is also suggested by the engine, with the point of } 23... fxe5 24. Nxe5 Qxf3 25. Nxf3 { With equality. Go figure. }) 22... Nxb2 { A neat combination, exploiting the fact that the knight on c3 is now unprotected and thus winning a pawn. } 23. Nxb2 Qxc3 24. Nc4 fxe5 25. fxe5 Ne7 { Nevertheless, the situation remains complex and White has some compensation for the pawn. } 26. Nd6 { A logical jump, threatening Nxe8. } 26... Nf5! { A powerful counterattacking move, gaining time by attacking the bishop on g3. } 27. Nxf5? { The losing mistake, very typical of club level, where people automatically make exchanges without ever wondering whether they are good for them or not. Here White decides to give up the strongest piece in the position - the knight on d6, which resolves all technical difficulties for Black and leads to a totally won position. } (27. Rd3 { due to } 27... Nxg3 { When Black wins. } 28. Qd1 Qc5 29. Nxe8 Bxe5) (27. Qd3 Qxd3 28. cxd3 Nxg3 29. Nxe8 Rxe8 30. Kxg3 Bxe5+ { And with the two pawns and a bishop pair for the exchange, Black is in the driver's seat - but the game is far from over. }) 27... Bxf5 28. Be4? { This drops even more material. } (28. Qd2 { Not giving up the e5 pawn so easily, was more resistant, although Black is technically winning. }) 28... Bxe5 { Sharply spotted. Now White is dead lost as there are threats to the g3 bishop and a deadly pin on the e-file. } 29. Qd3 Bxg3+ 30. Kxg3 Qe5+ 31. Kh4 Qf4# { 0-1 Black wins. } 0-1