Melnikova’s Game Against Dede Liu, KL Open 2010

Here is an interesting game between WGM Melnikova of Russia and IM Dede Liu of Indonesia in the second round of the Kuala Lumpur Chess Open 2010 held in the Olympic Sports Hotel, Kuala Lumpur from  6th-13th April 2010.

Pix 1. WGM Melnikova Yana, Russia.

Melnikova played a brilliant game against Dede. Both White and Black had their attacking chances during the game. Melnikova finished the game in 34 moves with a mate attack on black.

The Sicilian Kan opening transpired during the opening of this exciting chess game between two strong chess players. This has got to be one of Melnikova’s best game.

[Event "Kuala Lumpur Chess Open 2010, KL, Msia"]
[Site "Olympic Sports Hotel, Kuala Lumpur"]
[Date "2010.04.07"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Melnikova, Yana"]
[Black "Dede, Liu"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B42"]

{B42: Sicilian: Kan Variation: 5 Bd3} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6
5. Bd3 g6 6. c4 Bg7 7. Nf3 Nc6 {last book move}

Pix 2. Black played 7….Nc6.

8. Nc3 d6 {Consolidates e5} 9.O-O Ne5 (9... Nf6 !? {must be considered}) 10. Nxe5 $16 dxe5 11. Be3 Ne7 12. Na4 Nc6 (12... O-O 13. Qd2 $16) 13. Bc5 (13. Bb6 Qf6 14. Bc5 ±)

13... Nd4 (13... Rb8 14. Qb3 ±) 14. f4 (14. Nb6 ± {White has the better game} Rb8
15. Qa4+ Bd7 16. Qa3 ±) 14... exf4 ± 15. Rxf4 b5 16. cxb5 axb5 17. Nb6 {White threatens to win material: Nb6xa8} Qc7 {Black threatens to win material:Qc7xf4} (17... Rb8 18. Nxc8 Rxc8 19. b4 =) 18. Qc1 ± {White has a king attack}

Pix 3. White’s 18.Qc1, begins white’s king attack.

18…Rb8 {Black threatens to win material: Rb8xb6} 19. Kh1 (19. e5 $142 $5 {is the best option White has} Nc6 20. Qe3 ±) 19... Ba6 (black has sl adv) 20. Na4 {White has a king attack} Qc6 21. e5 Bh6 {Black threatens to win material: Bh6xf4}

22.Be4 {White threatens to win material: Be4xc6} Qc7 (22... Qc8 !? {is interesting} 23. Nb6 Rxb6 (23... Bxf4 {is no comparison} 24. Nxc8 Bxc1 25. Nd6+ Kd7 26. Rxc1 ±) 24. Bxb6 Qxc1+ 25. Rxc1 Bxf4 black has slight advantage) 23. Rxf7 $14 (23. Bxd4 Qxc1+ 24. Rxc1 bxa4 -+)

23... Qxf7 24. Qxh6 bxa4 25. Bxd4 {Black wins the exchange} Rc8 26. Be3 Rf8 27. h3 (27. Qh3 Bc4 =) 27... Bb7 28. Bd3 Qd7 29. Rd1 Rf5 {Black threatens to win material: Rf5xe5} (29... Be4 ! {and Black could well hope to play on} 30. Be2 Bd5 =+)

30. Qh4 ± Qc6 {Black has a mate threat} (30... Rxe5 {allows the opponent a nice mating combination}

Pix 4. After 30…Qc6 black has a mate threat, 31…. Qxg2#.

31.Bxg6+ {Deflection: h7} Kf8 32. Rxd7 Rc1+ 33. Bxc1 Re1+ 34. Qxe1 Bxg2+ 35. Kxg2
hxg6 36. Qxe6 a3 37. Bh6#) 31. Qg4 (31. Rd2 $5 Rf7 32. Qb4 Qc1+ 33. Kh2 $16)
31... Rd8 $11 32. Rd2 Rf7 ?? (32... Rxd3 {is just about the only chance}
33. Rxd3 Qe4 34. Qxe4 Bxe4 =) 33. Bb5 !! +- {Mate attack} Qxb5 (33... Qxb5
34. Qxe6+ {Mate attack}) (33... -- 34. Qxe6+ {Mate threat})

Pix 5. White played 34.Qxe6+ and black resigned, as white has a mate threat.

34. Qxe6+ (34.Qxe6+ Kf8 35. Bh6+ Kg8 36. Rxd8+ Qe8 37. Rxe8#) 1-0

Fantastic play from Melnikova. Hope that she will continue to do well in this tournament in Kuala Lumpur.