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CORNERED!

gm   Kryvoruchko, Yuriy

gm  Nepomniachtchi, Ian

From today’s round at the World Team Championships in Turkey.  Position after White’s 40th move (40.Kg2)  Black must make his move to reach time control.  There is no doubt that Black is suffering, but White still does not have a knock-out blow and so all is not lost.  Queen and double-Rook endings are notoriously difficult to play, both for the defender and attacker.  Here Black should content himself to play a waiting game, something like retreating the Queen to e7, patiently biding his time.  Let White worry about exploiting his small but clear positional edge…

Nepomniachtchi  playing against Kryvoruchko , still in the opening phase of the Russia vs Ukraine match.  Russia won this match, overtaking the Ukraine, Nepo’s victory being key. Team Russia now leads with one round left.

INSTEAD, Black chose to activate his Queen behind enemy lines:

40…Qa1?

Not such a bad idea, but in this position the decisive mistake that White was hoping for

HOW CAN WHITE PUNISH BLACK?

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SOLUTION

Nepomniachtchi, Ian–Kryvoruchko, Yuriy:   41.Rc3!  The Queen is cut off!  All of a sudden Black is dead lost!  The game continued 41…Rde8?! ( Black should get desperate, but there is little that can be recommended:  41…Rg6 42.Qc2 Qe1 43.f4 Re6 ( 43…Re8 44.e5 ) 44.e5 with a huge advantage. Little better is 41…a5 as either 42.Rxa5 or (even better) 42.Pxa5 does not solve much ) 42.Qc2! 1-0   Only now Black realizes that he  loses his Queen to the coming Rd1

Nepo showing his game afterwards. Photo’s courtesy of organizers