1.e4
e5
2.Nf3
Nc6
3.Bb5
Nf6
4.0-0
Nxe4
5.d4
Nd6
Having found no games with Koneru playing the Berlin, it seems this is a first for her as black.
6.Bxc6
dxc6
7.dxe5
Nf5
8.Qxd8+
Kxd8
9.Nc3
Ke8
10.Ne2
Be7
11.b3
a5
12.a4
Be6
13.Bb2
[13.Nf4
Rd8
14.Bb2
h5
15.Rad1
Rxd1
16.Rxd1
g5
17.Nxe6
fxe6
18.Bc1
Rg8
19.Kf1
g4
20.Nd2
Kf7
21.Ne4
Rd8
22.Rxd8
Bxd8
23.Bg5
Bxg5
24.Nxg5+
Ke7
25.c3
1/2-1/2 Sokolov,A-Salov,V/Bukhara 1981/EXT 2002 (66)]
13...h5
14.Nfd4
Nxd4
15.Nxd4
Rd8
16.Nxe6
fxe6
17.Rad1
Kf7
18.g3
Bb4
19.Kg2
Bd2
20.Kf3
Rd5
21.Ke2
Rhd8
22.c4
R5d7
23.Bc1
Bc3
24.Rxd7+
Rxd7
25.f4
25...g6?!
A strange decision since the black king's only route to join the battle was via g6-f5. Now this avenue is closed.
26.Rf3
Bb4
27.Rd3
Rxd3
28.Kxd3
This is a grim ending to have to defend with black, as many a player of the Ruy Lopez Exchange can attest to. Even if it is defensible, the task is arduous and unpleasant.
28...Be7
29.Be3
c5
30.Ke4
b6
31.Kf3
Bf8
32.g4
Be7
33.Kg3
c6
34.Kh3
Bd8
35.Bf2
Bc7
36.Bh4
hxg4+
37.Kxg4
Kg7
38.Bf6+
Kf7
39.Bh4
Kg7
40.Bf6+
Kf7
41.Kg5
b5
42.Kh6
bxa4
43.bxa4
Bb6
44.Be7??
This tempting and aesthetically pleasing move is in fact a blunder and would allow Black to draw. The idea is correct, but it had to be prepared first. [44.h4
Bc7
45.Bg5
A small triangulation to force zugzwang. The immediate Be7 is strong, but this way it is even stronger. 45...Bb6
46.Be7
Bc7
(46...Kxe7
47.Kxg6
The difference between the game's blunder and here is that now the h-pawn is already on h4 and can just zip ahead. Now Black lacks the time to bring the bishop around. 47...Kf8
48.h5
Bd8
49.h6
Kg8
50.h7+
Kh8
51.Kf7
Kxh7
52.Kxe6
Kg7
53.Kd7
Bh4
54.f5+-
) 47.Bxc5
Bd8
48.h5
gxh5
49.Kxh5
Kg7
50.Ba7!
Kf7
51.c5!
Kg7
52.Bb6+-
]
44...Bc7??
One of those cases of mutual blindness. [The saving move was 44...Kxe7!
45.Kxg6
Bd8
and the bishop not only controls the entry to f6 but also the h4 square. 46.h4
(46.Kg7
Ke8
) 46...Kf8
47.h5
Kg8
48.h6
(48.f5
exf5
49.Kxf5
Kg7
50.Ke6
Bc7
) 48...Bh4
49.h7+
Kh8
50.Kf7
Kxh7
51.Kxe6
Kg7
52.Kd7
Kf8
53.Kxc6
Bg3
54.Kxc5
Bxf4=
]
45.Bxc5
Bd8
46.Bf2
Be7
47.c5
Bf8+
48.Kg5
Be7+
49.Kg4
Ke8
50.Be1
Bxc5
51.Bxa5
Be7
52.Kf3
Kd7
53.Ke4
c5
54.Kd3
Kc6
55.Kc4
Bh4
56.Bd2
Bf2
57.h3
[57.a5!
Bh4
58.a6
Be7
59.a7
Kb7
60.Be3!
Bf8
61.Bxc5
]
57...Bg1
58.Bc1
Bf2
59.Bd2
Bg1
60.Kd3
Bf2
61.Be3
Be1
62.Kc4
Bb4
63.Bf2
Kb6
64.Be3
Kc6
65.Bg1
Kb6
66.Bf2
Kc6
67.Bh4
Bd2
68.Bg5
Be1
69.Be7
Bf2
70.a5
Be3
71.Bg5
Bf2
72.h4
Bg3
73.a6
Bf2
74.h5
gxh5
75.f5
exf5
76.e6
Bg3
77.e7
Kd7
78.a7
1-0