[Event "45th FIDE Women's Chess Olympiad 2024"] [Site "Budapest"] [Date "2024.09.18"] [Round "07"] [White "Mkrtchian, Lilit"] [Black "Tokhirjonova, Gulrukhbegim"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2366"] [BlackElo "2380"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B13"] [Opening "Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [StudyName "45th FIDE Olympiad"] [ChapterName "Mkrtchian, Lilit - Tokhirjonova, Gulrukhbegim"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/y8ExkpJx/NBKyOZf1"] [Orientation "white"] 1. c4 { [%clk 1:30:47] } 1... c6 { [%clk 1:30:50] } 2. e4 { [%clk 1:28:33] } 2... d5 { [%clk 1:31:09] } 3. exd5 { [%clk 1:28:54] } 3... cxd5 { [%clk 1:31:30] } 4. d4 { We have reached a Panov against the Caro-Kann by transposition. } { [%clk 1:29:01] } 4... Nf6 { [%clk 1:31:39] } 5. Nf3 { [%clk 1:29:23] } 5... Nc6 { [%clk 1:31:39] } 6. h3!? { A subtle waiting move instead of the usual 6. Nc3, likely designed to take Black out of her preparation. } { [%clk 1:29:37] } 6... a6 { [%clk 1:27:55] } 7. Nc3 { [%clk 1:24:43] } 7... e6 { [%clk 1:25:57] } 8. c5 $146 { A common idea in the Panov, but not exactly in this position. The question is whether Black wants to undermine with ... b7-b6 after already committing to queenside pawn movement with ... a7-a6. } { [%clk 1:21:07] } 8... Ne4!? { [%clk 1:22:11] } (8... b6! 9. cxb6 Qxb6 10. a3 Bd6 11. b4 O-O 12. Na4 Qb8 13. Bd3 Bd7 $14 { is roughly equal. }) 9. Bd3 { [%clk 1:18:09] } 9... Nxc3 { [%clk 1:14:45] } (9... f5 { would be the stodgier way to play this position, but was not what Tokhirjonova had in mind. }) 10. bxc3 { [%clk 1:18:34] } 10... e5 { Black's point to undermine the center, using a threat of ... e5-e4 to force a decision from White. } { [%clk 1:14:40] } 11. dxe5 { [%clk 0:58:16] } 11... Bxc5 { [%clk 1:14:21] } 12. O-O { [%clk 0:58:42] } 12... h6!? { Perhaps unnecessary. } { [%clk 1:11:11] } (12... O-O { was fine: } 13. Bxh7+? Kxh7 14. Ng5+ Kg8! 15. Qh5 (15. Qd3 g6 16. e6 Ne5! $17) 15... Bf5 { is a thematic refutation of the intended Greek Gift. }) 13. Re1 { [%clk 0:50:05] } 13... Be6 { [%clk 0:59:43] } 14. Be3 { [%clk 0:42:16] } 14... Bxe3 { [%clk 0:42:34] } 15. Rxe3 { [%clk 0:42:39] } 15... O-O { [%clk 0:39:09] } 16. Bc2 { [%clk 0:41:36] } 16... Rc8 { [%clk 0:36:00] } 17. h4 { [%clk 0:38:27] } 17... Re8!? { Black again overestimates White's attack. } { [%clk 0:26:39] } (17... Qa5 { could create counterplay against White's weak queenside pawns. } 18. Qd3 (18. Rc1 Qxa2! 19. Qd3 g6 { is a bold way to play, as White had prepared } 20. h5 { for this moment. But } 20... Qc4 21. Qxc4 dxc4 22. hxg6 fxg6 23. Bxg6 b5 24. Be4 $14 { will still force White to play a lot of chess to convert this position. }) 18... g6 { and it looks like Black is on the ropes, but } 19. h5 Bf5 $10 { is just in time. }) 18. h5 { [%clk 0:32:27] } 18... Kf8 { [%clk 0:15:00] } (18... d4!? 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. cxd4 Re7 21. Qd3 Rec7 $16 { was another defensive resource. }) 19. Qd3 { [%clk 0:28:38] } 19... Ke7 { [%clk 0:06:53] } 20. Rd1 { [%clk 0:18:04] } 20... Qa5 { [%clk 0:05:35] } (20... Rh8 { anticipates White's Qd3-h5 idea but } 21. c4 $16 { simply rips open the center against an exposed King. }) 21. Bb3 { [%clk 0:18:02] } 21... Rcd8 { [%clk 0:03:58] } 22. Nd4 { [%clk 0:18:23] } 22... Nxd4 { [%clk 0:03:24] } 23. Qxd4 { [%clk 0:14:15] } 23... Kf8 { [%clk 0:01:05] } 24. Rg3!? { [%clk 0:12:34] } (24. Qd3 { , going back to the h7-square, was best. } 24... Ke7 25. Rg3) 24... Rc8?? { [%clk 0:01:00] } (24... Qc7 25. Qd3 Qxe5 { was the best prophylactic response. }) (24... Bf5!? { also addresses the threat. White still has an active position, of course. }) 25. Qd3! { [%clk 0:12:46] } 25... Rc5 { [%clk 0:00:33] } 26. Qh7 { The kingside blasts open and Black's king is never safe again. } { [%clk 0:12:45] } 26... Ke7 { [%clk 0:00:47] } 27. Qxg7 { [%clk 0:12:34] } 27... Kd7 { [%clk 0:00:39] } 28. Qxh6 { [%clk 0:10:35] } 28... Kc8 { [%clk 0:00:45] } 29. Qe3 { [%clk 0:08:36] } 29... Kb8 { [%clk 0:01:07] } 30. h6 { In the time it took Begim's king to reach safety, she has had to part with two pawns and had not created any compensation for it. } { [%clk 0:08:59] } 30... Rh8 { [%clk 0:01:04] } 31. Rd4 { [%clk 0:09:01] } 31... Qd8 { [%clk 0:00:52] } 32. Rf4 { [%clk 0:03:36] } 32... Rc8 { [%clk 0:00:43] } 33. Rf6 { [%clk 0:04:00] } 33... Qc7 { [%clk 0:00:57] } 34. Qd4 { Simple, solid chess. White is winning from here. } { [%clk 0:04:00] } 34... Qa5 { [%clk 0:00:55] } 35. f4 { [%clk 0:04:15] } 35... Qa3 { [%clk 0:00:41] } 36. f5 { [%clk 0:03:38] } 36... Bd7 { [%clk 0:00:48] } 37. Qf4 { [%clk 0:02:57] } 37... Ka8 { [%clk 0:00:50] } 38. Rxf7 { [%clk 0:02:53] } 38... Bc6 { [%clk 0:01:01] } 39. h7 { [%clk 0:02:26] } 39... d4 { [%clk 0:00:55] } 40. cxd4 { [%clk 0:02:29] } 40... Qb2 { [%clk 0:00:57] } 41. Rfg7 $18 { [%clk 0:28:08] } 41... Qb1+ { [%clk 0:28:29] } 42. Kh2 { [%clk 0:21:25] } 42... Be4 { [%clk 0:28:43] } 43. R3g5 { [%clk 0:06:21] } 43... Qe1 { [%clk 0:28:48] } 44. Rg4 { [%clk 0:01:17] } 44... Bc6 { [%clk 0:27:16] } 45. d5 { [%clk 0:01:26] } 45... Bb5 { [%clk 0:27:34] } 46. Qg3 { [%clk 0:00:41] } 46... Qb1 { [%clk 0:26:39] } 47. Qf2 { [%clk 0:00:44] } 47... Qa1 { [%clk 0:25:32] } 48. Qd4 { [%clk 0:00:55] } 48... Qe1 { [%clk 0:24:50] } 49. Re4 { [%clk 0:01:06] } 49... Qf1 { [%clk 0:24:08] } 50. a4 { [%clk 0:00:46] } 50... Bd3 { [%clk 0:23:41] } 51. Rf4 { [%clk 0:01:08] } 51... Qe2 { [%clk 0:23:36] } 52. d6 { [%clk 0:00:44] } 52... Bc2 { [%clk 0:06:03] } 53. Bd5 { [%clk 0:01:02] } 53... Rb8 { [%clk 0:06:10] } 54. Qb6 { [%clk 0:00:47] } 54... Qh5+ { [%clk 0:04:45] } 55. Kg3 { 1-0 White wins. } { [%clk 0:01:08] } 1-0