Zhenya, Zhenechka and .. unrealized opportunities (part one)

Having had a good game and having won the ending, Eugene could not make the exact last move.

The gain was achieved by a simple attack: 1. 35-49! and for any answer from black, white easily gets an absolute two points in the table.

а) 1. …. 43-48 2. 27-21! 16:38 3. 49:4  48:31 4. 4:36 x

б) 1. … 26-31 2. 37:26  43-48 3. 27-21  16:38 4. 49:18 x

In the game , it followed: 1. 32-28?? 43-48 2. 17-11 16:07 3. 28-22 48 : 16 4. 22:18 and black easily achieved a draw. .

It seems that the monolithic position of White, even despite the weakened flank, gives some advantage. But only at first glance. one move and the whole structure collapses.

It was necessary to play 1. 41-37 and try to balance. but ..followed by1. 45-40??

And the combination was not long in coming:

1. …..  27-31!  2. 36:27 17-22 2. 28:17  12:32  3. 23:03 13-18 4. 38:27 18-23  5. 29:18  20:36  6. 3:20  25:14 x 

It is mentioned many times that the 6×6, 7×7. 8×8 positions in international draughts are very dangerous and tend to turn over. Here, too, on the diagram, it seems to be a simple position, but it is necessary to be careful! Black instead of move 1 ….. 18-23 with maneuver 13-18, 6-11 with exchanges and a draw position, made a “template” move 6-11, and then 11-16, and unexpectedly got into a lost position.

So:

1.  …  6-11??  2. 37-32  18-23  3. 42-37 11-16?? and black’s position is hopeless! Here is an approximate continuation:

а)  3. …  11-16??  4. 39-34!  29:40 5. 35:44 24-29 6. 44-40  13-18  7. 40-35 29-34 8. 38-33! 23-29  9. 33:22  and white must win.

In the game, Eugene did not notice the best move and made the move 27-22??, after which Black easily reached a draw with his advantage.

In an absolutely lost position, Black, having made the move 12-17, apparently no longer expected to be able to get at least one point in this game. But… the opponent surprised with his further moves.

1.  …. 12-17  2.  48-42??  17-22  3. 28:17 21:12 4. 27-22?? 18:27 5. 32:21 16:27  6. 33-29  24:44  7. 43-39  44:33  8. 38 :7 and in the future, Black made the desired draw.

From the white side, everything was more prosaic and simpler.

1.  …  12-17  2. 28-22!! 17:28  3.  33:22  and white must win.

The top three in the women’s championship should have been completely different if Varvara had used all the chances in the games against her rivals. In the second round, on the completely illogical move of Black 12-17??, White did not hold a standard combination. And as a result, we also lost this position.

1. …  12-17??? 2. 25-20! 24:15  3. 30-24 19:30  4. 28:19  13:24  5. 27-21  17:28  6. 33:4 x  

And in the first round, Varvara passed by the standard victim of draughts. White’s attack of 39-33 had to be answered by 12-17, followed by 17-21 and the position won. Unfortunately. black went 6-11 and swapped two for two. The game ended in a draw.