Robert Ris: Playing with four queens on the board!

by Robert Ris
6/15/2023 – The Cairns Cup is the strongest privately organized women’s tournament in the world. The third edition of the event came to an end on Monday, with Anna Zatonskih stunning the chess world by winning the closed competition with a round to spare. Alexandra Kosteniuk finished in second place, after grabbing three wins in a row in the final rounds. On Sunday, she defeated Bella Khotenashvili in a game that featured four queens on the board amid a fantastic tactical struggle. | Robert Ris analysed the formidable encounter.
Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

When getting two queens first is not enough

It was the penultimate round of the Cairns Cup. Anna Zatonskih entered the round leading the standings with 4½ points. Bella Khotenashvili, who had lost her first two encounters, came from winning four games in a row and stood a half point behind in sole second place. Alexandra Kosteniuk had just lost against Nana Dzagnidze and seemed to be out of contention for the top spots, as she had 3 points to her name.

Zatonskih had white against an out-of-form Zhansaya Abdumalik. Kosteniuk had white against a Khotenashvili on fire.

Once all was said and done, both Zatonskih and Kosteniuk scored full points. While the eventual champion made the most of a small edge in an endgame, Kosteniuk prevailed in an incredibly sharp tactical struggle.

Already in a winning position, the Swiss grandmaster promoted her b-pawn to a (second) queen — on the other side of the board, it had been four moves since Khotenashvili’s own queen pair had stood powerless near the white king.

Kosteniuk vs. Khotenashvili

Black could not give mate along the first rank since the queen on b6 is ready to defend from g1. Now White is simply a rook up, and Kosteniuk only needed three more moves to force her opponent’s resignation.

But the game was not as straightforward as the final sequence shown above. Kosteniuk, in fact, misplayed her superior position a couple of times. Well-known author and trainer Robert Ris looked at all the details and shared it with his YouTube audience.

Full analysis by Robert Ris

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 3 e5 11 2.Nf3 6 Nc6 10 3.Bb5 5 a6 10 4.Ba4 6 Nf6 11 5.0-0 11 Nxe4 11 6.d4 12 b5 14 7.Bb3 12 d5 24 8.dxe5 18 Be6 5 9.Nbd2 21 Be7 49 10.c3 54 0-0 20 11.Bc2 25 f5 17 12.Nb3 1:42 Qd7 1:42 13.Nfd4 39 Nxd4 8 14.Nxd4 5 c5 9 15.Nxe6 32 Qxe6 3 16.f3 2:04 C83: Open Ruy Lopez: 9 c3 Be7. Ng5 14 17.Bf4 16 Rad8 11:53 18.Kh1 2:04
White is slightly better. 18...Qc8N 32:38 Predecessor: 18...Kh8 19.Qd2 h6 20.h4 Nh7 21.Bg3 d4 22.cxd4 Rxd4 23.Qe1 h5 24.Bf2 Rd5 ½-½ Shankland,S (2712)-Sevian,S (2684) USA-ch Saint Louis 2022 (7) 19.Bxg5 9:33 Bxg5 28 20.f4 13 Be7 6 21.a4 8:21 d4 4:50 21...c4= 22.axb5 2:54 axb5 12:07 23.Ra7! 7:21       White has some pressure. dxc3! 17:28 24.Qb1 17:47 24.Qf3!? Rd2 25.Qxc3 24...Bh4 5:38 Black is now going downhill. 24...Qe6= 25.bxc3± 1:20 b4 5:50 25...Qc6± 26.cxb4+- 1:00 26.g3? Qc6+ 27.Kg1 Qb6 26...c4 2:44 27.b5 14:11 Black must now prevent b6. Rd2 34 28.Rd1 1:59 c3 2:48
28...Qd8 is tougher. 29.Rxd2 Qxd2 29.b6 10:24 Qc5 1 30.Rd7? 9:15 30.Bxf5 Qxb6 31.Rd7 31.Bxh7+ Kh8= 31...Qxb1 32.Be6+ Kh8 33.Rxb1 c2= 30.Qa2++- Kh8 31.Ra8 30...Qf2? 1:17       30...Rxg2!= 31.R7d4 31.Kxg2 Qf2+ 32.Kh1 Qf3+ 33.Kg1 Bf2+ 34.Kf1 Bxb6+       Discovered Attack 35.Ke1 Qf2# 31...Re2 32.Qb3+ 32.Bxf5? c2-+ 32...Kh8 31.R7xd2 2:39 31.Bxf5? Qxg2# 31.R1xd2 cxd2 32.g3 32.Bxf5? Qe1+       Back Rank 32.Bb3+? Kh8-+ 32...Qe1+ 33.Kg2 Qe2+ 34.Kh3 Qg4+ 35.Kg2 Qe2+ 36.Kg1 Qe1+ 37.Kg2 Qe2+= 31...cxd2 2 32.Rf1 1:46 32.Bxf5? Qe1+-+ 32...Qe2 1:57 33.Bd3 3:04 33.Bxf5? Be1 34.Qb3+ 34.Bxh7+? Kh8-+ 34...Kh8-+ 33...Qe1 33 34.b7 2:23 34.Bxf5? Rd8 35.Bxh7+ Kh8-+ 34...Rb8 22 35.Qa2+ 34 35.Bxf5 Qxb1 36.Rxb1 36.Be6+ Kf8 36...Rxb7 35.Bc4++- Kh8 36.Bd5 36.Qxf5? d1Q-+ 35...Kf8? 18       35...Kh8± 36.Qb3 36.Qa8 Qxf1+ 37.Bxf1 d1Q= 36...g6 36.Qa8? 1:18 36.Qa7+- Rd8 37.b8Q 37.b8R Qxf1+ 38.Bxf1 d1Q± 37...Qxf1+ 38.Bxf1 36...d1Q?? 43      
36...Rd8± 37.Qa1 37.b8R Qxf1+ 38.Bxf1 d1Q± 37...Qxa1 38.Rxa1 Bf2 37.Qxb8+ 3 White mates. Kf7 3 38.Qc7+ 24 38.Rxe1? gets mated. Qxe1+ 38...Kg6 9 39.Qb6+ 11 39.b8B? leads to mate. Qxf1+ 40.Bxf1 Qxf1# 39...Kh5 34 40.b8Q 51 Not 40.b8R Qxf1+ 41.Bxf1 Qxf1+ 42.Qg1 Qxf4+- 40...Qxf1+ 1:32 41.Bxf1 30:05 Qxf1+ 30:08 42.Qg1 4 Qxf4 22 43.Qd1+ 20 Artfully played by Kosteniuk. Weighted Error Value: White=0.54/Black=0.56 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Kosteniuk,A2535Khotenashvili,B24781–02023Cairns Cup 20238.4

In this video course, twenty-nine examples with multiple questions are presented in the interactive format, which is ideal for a range of playing strengths. Step by step you will be taken through the complex positions.

Links

Robert is an International Master who mostly spends his time training and coaching talented youngsters. On the PlayChess server The Fast and the Furious is a popular show where he explains sharp opening lines for a wider audience. He is also a well-known ChessBase author who produced numerous DVDs and regularly contributes to ChessBase Magazine as well. Since 2015 he is the organizer of the Dutch Rapid Championships in his home town Amstelveen. He has started a YouTube channel with chess analysis as well.
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.