[Event "World Women-ch02"] [Site "Hamburg"] [Date "1930.07.??"] [White "Henschel, Walli"] [Black "Menchik, Vera"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "mistr"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "E94"] [Opening "King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Positional Defense"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/bsWXYmmo/g1iWSUZH"] [Orientation "white"] { Given her dominant triumph in the 1927 Women's World Chess Championship AND the fact that she had since competed in top open tournaments against the World's very best (Paris 1929, Karlsbad 1929, Hastings 1929/1930), it is not surprising that Vera Menchik was considered as the main favourite to win the 1930 edition of the Women's World Championship, as well. --- And even though she did justify the pre-tournament expectations by winning the event, she did lose one game to the eventual 3rd place winner, Walli Henschel. This was definitely a major upset at a time, so we will naturally look at this game here. } 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. e4 d6 { Given that Menchik was considered to be a "positional" player, the choice of the King's Indian might be surprising. But back in the day, these openings were far less explored compared to today. Besides, you could make an argument that King's Indian is actually much more strategic in its nature than people think. Although that is a very debatable statement. } 6. Be2 Nbd7 { One of the two most popular moves in this position. } 7. O-O e5 8. Bg5 { This move is playable, but it is a question whether White wants to place the bishop on g5 and provoke h6 or not. } (8. Be3 { Placing the bishop on e3 seems more logical to me, although then you have to consider the knight jump to g4: } 8... Ng4 9. Bg5 { And this is actually more annoying for Black than it looks at first glance. }) 8... h6 9. dxe5? { But this move is just a bad decision which allows Black to capture the bishop on g5 and dominate the dark squares. } 9... dxe5? { Missing the chance. } (9... hxg5 { Taking the bishop was very strong, since after } 10. exf6 Bxf6 { Black's dark-squared bishop is extremely strong and Black dominates the dark-squares, which more than compensates for the slightly comrpomised pawn structure. }) 10. Bh4?! { Again, it is a bit questionable whether the bishop is doing anything on h4. } (10. Be3 { Going to e3 and planning to influence the events on the queenside in the future, seems more logical. }) 10... c6 11. Qd2 Re8 12. Rfd1 Qb6 { Not a bad spot for the queen, but c7 or e7 are probably preferable. } 13. Bf1 { A bit of an aimless move, allowing Black to keep improving the position. } (13. Rab1 Nh5 14. b4 { Next White plays c5, grabs some space on the queenside and emphasises the drawbacks of the Qb6 move. This is a much better version of the events compared to the game. }) 13... Nh5! 14. b3 Nf4?! { It turns out that this move is a bit premature. As they say, the threat is stronger than the execution. } (14... g5 { Perhaps going for the g5 push and intending to bring the rest of the queenside pieces was preferable. Say, after } 15. Bg3 Nf8 16. Na4 Qc7 17. c5 f5 { White is quite hurt by the bishop's placement on g3 and Black has a big initiative on the kingside. Nf4 will eventually come anyway, although Black also retains the option of taking on g3, e.g. after } 18. exf5 Nxg3 19. hxg3 Bxf5 $17) 15. Na4 Qc7 16. Rac1 { Another "routine" move which doesn't really improve White's position. } (16. c5 { Gaining some space on the queenside, preparing some Qd6 ideas and freeing the c4 square, was preferable. }) 16... Ne6 { Aiming at the d4 and c5 squares - but this is the wrong plan in this position - this knight was already quite good on f4 and it was time to improve other pieces. } (16... Nf8 { Intending to bring the other knight to e6 (or g6) was preferable, for example. Although there are many other moves. }) 17. Nc3?! { Also a move in the wrong direction, since the knight now relinquishes control over the very c5 and d4 squares that Black is fighting for. } (17. c5 { Trying to clamp down on the queenside was once again better. }) (17. h3 { Making some space for the bishop on h4, was also preferable. }) 17... Nd4 { The knight is quite strong and comfortable on d4 now. } 18. Ne1 Nf8 { A good move, opening up the bishop and potentially eyeing the e6 square. } 19. f3 { Also a good move, intending to get the bishop back into the game. } 19... Be6?! { But this move is a bit imprecise as now the knight on d4 can be dislodged! } (19... Nfe6 { There are many possible continuations, but it seems logical to put the knight on e6 and reinforce the one on d4. }) 20. Nc2 Kh7? { But this is a bad mistake, overlooking a thematic tactical shot! But also from the strategic viewpoint, as now White is able to take on d4, divert the pawn on e5 and obtain a strong kingside majority. } (20... Nxc2 { Simply exchanging the knight and playing that position, was probably sufficient for equality. }) (20... g5 21. Bf2 Rad8 { Is the engine suggestion. The point is that now after } 22. Nxd4 exd4 23. Nd5 Qd7 { There aren't any knight jumps to f6 and the situation is quite unclear. }) 21. Nxd4 { Of course! } 21... exd4 22. Ne2 { A decent move, hitting the d4 pawn and forcing the reply. But there was an even stronger alternative! } (22. Nd5 { This tactical shot was quite strong. After } 22... cxd5 (22... Qd7 { is met with } 23. Nf6+ { This is why it was a smart idea for Black to maybe include the g5 push! }) 23. cxd5 Qb6 24. dxe6 Nxe6 { And White should be better due to the bishop pair and a harmonious pawn structure - although a lot of play does remain! }) 22... c5 { Virtually forced, as there was no other convincing way of defending d4. But now the d5 square is exposed. } (22... g5 23. Bg3 { Wins a pawn for White. }) 23. Nf4 { The knight is aiming for the juicy d5 square. } 23... Be5 { A good move, trying to prevent the maneuver due to the pressure on the h2 square. } 24. Bg3 Qd6 25. Bd3 { Currently, a certain status quo is on the kingside, so White takes some time to improve the pieces. } 25... b6 26. Ne2 { A sound positional idea - exchange the dark-squared bishops and then play for f5-e5 etc. But Black can acctually fight against it. } (26. Rf1 { Trying to prepare this idea for the move was worth considering - as now White has some extra options associated with the f4 pawn push. }) (26. Nxe6 Nxe6 27. Bxe5 Qxe5 { is not as poweerful, as it is not easy to get in f4 pawn move, e.g. } 28. g3 g5 29. Rf1 Rg8 { When the situation is quite complex and unclear. You can see in all these variations how useful it is to have the rook on f1. }) 26... Bxg3? { Arguably the critical mistake in the game. The whole position revolves around White's ability to set the kingside pawn chain in the motion with f4-e5. This exchange plays right into that as Black gives up one of the defenders on bad terms, as it renders the future g5 advance unplayable. } (26... g5 { It was absolutely necessary to prevent the f4 pawn advance with this radical move. The point is that now after the exchange of the bishops, Black has fighting resources, e.g. } 27. Bxe5 Qxe5 28. Ng3 Ng6 { And the knight is just in time to nip everything in the bud. }) 27. Nxg3 { Now White will get in the f4 pawn advance, and the game plays itself. Black's main problem will be lack of any counterplay. } 27... a5 { Trying to get in a4 and obtain at least some activity. } (27... g5 28. e5+) 28. a4 { Nipping it in the bud. Perhaps it was not strictly necessary as it is a very debatable whether Black playing a4 and opening up the queenside is to their benefit or not. Maybe in the future, it will be worth for White to have another avenue for invasions open. } (28. f4 { Setting the pawn chain into motion immediately, was quite strong. } 28... a4 29. e5 Qe7 30. Rf1 { White has a major initiative and Black's counterplay is insignificant. f5, Ne4 or Nh5 are all in the air and the open a-file doesn't yield that much! }) 28... Bc8 { Getting the bishop out of the way, but where is it going? From the human standpoint, this is a nightmare position to defend as White's play is super easy and natural! Still, a modern grandmaster would have probably defended much more tenaciously. } (28... f6 { This move, as ugly as it is, was probably more resillient, as e5 is hindered and Black gets some room for the pieces on the kingside. Still, after } 29. f4 { White obviously has the initiative - but the position is much harder to crack than it looks at the first glance! }) 29. Rf1 { Bringing the rooks to the kingside before pushing the pawns. But it was not strictly necessary as it is not yet clear where the rooks actually belong. } 29... Ra7 30. Rce1 (30. f4 { Was now much stronger, say after } 30... Rae7 31. e5 Qd8 32. Ne4) 30... Rae7 31. f4 { Now this advance - surprisingly enough - comes with a less effect. But only if Black finds an accurate defensive move. } 31... Bb7? { A fatal mistake, basically losing on the spot. } (31... Qc6! { It was absolutely necessary to move the queen out of the way of the e5 pawn, in order to be able to have some f5 ideas in reply to the advance of the e-pawn. It turns out that this is surprisingly resillient. } 32. e5 { Not the only move. White should probably refrain from doing this and try to improve the position further. But this is by far the most consistent continuation, so let's see how and why this doesn't work as well as in the game. } 32... f5 { The whole point! White's pawns get blockaded and Black will play on the light-squares. Here you can see one of the issues with including a5-a4 - White can't really try to open up the queenside and infiltrate that side of the board, while breaking through on the kingside is much more difficult. Also note that taking en passant doesn't really yield anything: } 33. exf6 Rxe1 34. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 35. Qxe1 Qxf6 { This is why the queen went to c6 - to keep an eye on the f6 square. This position is dead equal. }) 32. e5 { Now Black simply gets steamrolled. } 32... Qb8 33. Nh5 { Not the only winning move, but quite a sufficient one. } 33... Nd7 34. f5 { Also quite powerful and energetic, breaking through on the kingside. } 34... Rf8 (34... Nxe5 35. Nf6+ { Loses at least an exchange, but it was probably better than the game continuation. }) 35. fxg6+ fxg6 36. e6 Ne5 { Losing a piece in a difficult position. } (36... Rxf1+ 37. Rxf1 Ne5 38. Rf6 { Doesn't really help, tho. Qf4 is coming next and Black is toast. }) 37. Rxf8 Qxf8 38. Rxe5 Bc8 39. Nf4 Qf6 40. Nxg6 Rg7 41. Rh5 { A very complicated, sharp and fighting game. After the misplayed opening, White found herself in a very unpleasant position. However, Menchik didn't handle her superior position in the best way, allowed her opponent a dangerous kingside pawn majority and then failed to find the best defensive resources in a difficult position. --- Thus, even though this was a major upset, Henschel's victory was not a coincidence of some "chance" or "luck" - but fully deserved! } 1-0