6 rounds have been played in the Women's World Team Chess Championship that is taking place from September 2 to September 12 in Ningbo, China. Tomorrow, September 8 will be a free day and then we will witness the 3 last and most important rounds. Right now the team of Poland is leading the event with 9 points and it's being followed by 4 teams - Ukraine, China-1, Georgia and Russia, all with 7 points. All of these teams have high chances of winning the gold medal of the World Women's Team Championship.
All results of the tournament can be found here. The live transmission of the games can be seen here.
Very interesting Pawn Endgame
On the diagram above is the position from the match of the second round between the teams of Ukraine and China-1. White is Muzychuk Maria playing for Ukraine, Black is Ju Wenjun playing for China-1. Black just played 51. ... g5, it's White to move. What would you play here as White?
Posted by: Alexandra Kosteniuk
Women's World Chess Champion
Poland is going to have a hard time to keep the lead they still have to play Georgia, Russia and China1, the toughest teams!
ReplyDeleteSo the gold in the championship is open to all those teams + Ukraine.
Yeah, today they played terribly against Armenia, but it's still better to be on the top of the list rather than below it... I keep my fingers crossed for Polish girls! One day of break should help them get back in shape.
ReplyDeleteI would try to play defensive on the right side as white and push my pawns heavy on the left. B3 to B4 would be my next move
ReplyDeleteI only saw plans to play for a draw.
ReplyDelete1b4 axb4 2axb4 gxh4
If 2...g4 3Kd3 f5 4Ke3 f4+ 5gxf4+ Kf5 6b5! (6c5?? dxc5 7bxc5 bxc5 0-1)7...Kg6
(7...g3? 7Kf3 g2 8Kxg2 Kxf4 9c5 and white wins) 8Ke4 Kf6 I think this will be a draw.
3gxh4 f5 4Kf3 f4 5b5 Kd4(the king will never be able to occupy other agressive squares such as e4 or g4 because of tthe c5 threat) 6Kxf4 Kxc4 7Kg5 Kxd5 8Kxh5 this leads to an equal queen endgame and I think it should be a draw.
Well I'm anxious to see which is the correct plan for white here.
Thanks for posting such an interesting pawn endgame!
Daniel
Hi Alexandra!
ReplyDeleteI think this is wining for white. I think 1.g4! is the only move to win here.
a)1... gxh4 2.gxh5 f5 3.h6 Kf6 and b4-c5.
b)1...hxg4 2.h5 f5 3.h6 and again the same plan with b4 and c5.
In both cases the white king can stop the pawns, whereas the black king can't.
I like this key positions of real games, they are very estimulating!
I love your blog and your blitz games!
Greetings from Spain.
Óscar