许银川先胜张江

Today we are posting the following game, that of Xu Yinchuan (Guangdong) versus Zhang Jiang (Hebei), played on Wednesday the 5th of July 2006, in round 9th of the Qixin League. Red won the game.



象甲联赛第九轮，广东许银川先胜河北张江









And here is a short commentary by the author of Checkmate In Two.

1. 炮二平五(C2=5)  马８进７(N8+7)

We see the first two moves as a Central Cannon (中炮）versus Knight on the same side Opening.

2. 兵三进一(P3+1)

This move is not often seen in high level play. Red usually plays 2. N2+3，for quick development.

2. ...            车９平８(R9=8)    3. 马二进三(N2+3)  炮８平９(C8=9)
4. 马八进七(N8+7)  卒３进１(P3+1)    5. 炮八进四(C8+4)

Red is adopting the Flying Cannon (飞炮）variation of attack.

5. ...            马２进３(N2+3)    6. 炮八平七(C8=7)

Blocking the further advance of Black's Knight.

6. ...             车１平２(R1=2)    7. 车九平八(R9=8)  象３进５(B3+5)
8. 车八进四(R8+4)   车８进４(R8+4)    9. 车一平二(R1=2)  车８进５(R8+5)
10. 马三退二(N3-2)  炮２平１(C2=1)   11. 车八进五(R8+5)  马３退２(N3-2)

Very quickly the four Rooks have all gone. In game without Rooks, the Pawns are more than ever vital.

12. 炮七平三(C7=3)  马２进３(N2+3)   13. 马二进三(N2+3)  马３进４(N3+4)
14. 兵三进一(P3+1)  炮９退１(C9-1)

If 14. ... B5+7, Red can play 15. C3+3 with check and followed by 16. C3-4 capturing both Bishops.

15. 炮五平四(C5=4)

This is the Grandmaster's mysterious move ! Anyone who knows the rules can make such a move, but the crunch is when is it the right time to make that move? Here Xu's clear intention is to link both Bishops, protect the left-hand Knight from a surprise enemy attack.

15. ...            炮９平３(C9=3)   16. 相七进五(B7+5)  卒１进１(P1+1)
17. 兵三平四(P3=4)  士６进５(G6+5)   18. 炮四进一(C4+1)  炮１平２(C1=2)
19. 士六进五(G6+5)  炮３进１(C3+1)   20. 兵一进一(P1+1)  炮２进２(C2+2)
21. 马三进二(N3+2)  炮２进１(C2+1)   22. 马二退一(N2-1)  炮２退１(C2-1)
23. 马一进三(N1+3)

The safety of the 4th file Pawn is duely protected.

23. ...            马４进６(N4+6)   24. 兵五进一(P5+1)

Restricting the freedom of the advancing Knight.

24. ...            炮３进４(C3+4)   25. 炮四退二(C4-2)  炮３平４(C3=4)

Planning to advance the 3rd file Pawn by stationing a piece at the position of the Elephant Eye.

26. 士五进四(G5+4)  马６进８(N6+8)   27. 马七进六(N7+6)  炮２退２(C2-2)
28. 马六进七(N6+7)

The Knight started the damaging operation within Black's defensive area.

28. ...            炮４退２(C4-2)   29. 兵四进一(P4+1)  炮４进２(C4+2)
30. 马七退九(N7-9)

Now Red is one Pawn ahead.

30. ...            炮２平３(C2=3)   31. 士四进五(G4+5)  马８退７(N8-7)
32. 马九进八(N9+8)  卒３进１(P3+1)   33. 马八进九(N8+9)  卒３进１(P3+1)
34. 马九退七(N9-7)  炮４退５(C4-5)   35. 炮三平二(C3=2)  卒３平４(P3=4)
36. 兵四平三(P4=3)  后马退９(rN-9)   37. 炮二进二(C2+2)  士５退６(G5-6)
38. 马三进四(N3+4)  将５进１(K5+1)

This is desperation. But what else?

39. 马四进六(N4+6)  将５退１(K5-1)   40. 兵一进一(P1+1)  卒９进１(P9+1)
41. 炮四平一(C4=1)  马７进９(N7+9)   42. 炮一进四(C1+4)  前马退７(fN-7)
43. 兵五进一(P5+1) （1-0）