JOIN USThe queen is the most powerful piece on the chess board but at times it can be the most vulnerable one! This is more so when you commit a wrong move and the opponent becomes intent on hunting the queen rather than the King to clear the path to victory.
In the game which follows, Black queen infiltrates deep into enemy territory but this solo sojourn proves fatal as the White King seeks shelter on the queenside and the Black queen finds herself stranded with all escape routes blocked!
White: Alexey Dreev (2670) – Black: Eric Lobron (2590)
Nussloch, 1996
Modern Benoni
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0–0 6.Bg5
White can think about 6.Be3
6. ..c5 7.d5 a6. If 7...e6 8.Qd2 exd5 9.cxd5 h6 10.Be3 Re8
8.a4. White can develop 8.Nh3
8. ..h6
A lot of pawn moves have been made. Black can play 8. ..Qb6 or 8. ..Nbd7
9.Be3 e6
Going for a break at the centre. He could still have played 9. ..Qb6 or 9. ..Qa5
10.Qd2 exd5 11.cxd5 Re8 12.Nge2 Nbd7 13.Nc1
White had an interesting continuation 13.Bxh6 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 Qh4+ 15.g3 Qxh6 16.Qxh6 Bxh6 17.Nxd6 Re3 18.f4 Nb6
13...Ne5
If 13...Nh5 14.Be2 Qh4+ 15.Bf2 Qg5 16.g3 Qxd2+ 17.Kxd2 Rb8
14.Be2 Nh5
Black played a novelty here. If 14...h5 15.0–0 Rb8 16.Rb1 Qa5 17.N1a2 c4 18.b3 cxb3 19.Rxb3
15.Bxh6
White tries to makes things more interesting but he has overlooked the fact that his king is still on the original square, without the safety of the castle! If 15.0–0 g5 16.Rb1 Qf6
15...Qh4+ 16.Kd1
If 16.g3 Nxg3 And if 16.Kf1 Ng3+
16...Bxh6
If 16...Ng3 17.Qe1 ( 17.Bg5 Qh8) And if 17.Bxg7 Kxg7
17.Qxh6. The white queen is misplaced only temporarily, moreover on h6 it can play a role in White's attack. Also White's King is now quite safe in the middle.
17...Qf2
Black queen invades the enemy territory but it was better to play 17...Qf6 18.Kc2 Nf4 19.Bf1
18.g4 Nf6 19.Rf1
Diagram 1
19. …Qd4+
Intent on hunting the King! Better appears 19...Qg2 20.Qh4 Kg7 21.g5 Nh5 (21...Nh7 22.Qg3) 22.Rf2 Qh3 23.Qxh3 Bxh3 24.f4
20.Kc2. The King has found a safe place! If 20.Qd2 Qxd2+ 21.Kxd2 g5 White avoids the black-square blockade and plays for the attack
20...Bd7
The bishop comes into play but too late!
21.Rd1 Qf2 22.Nd3! Nxd3 23.Rxd3 Bxa4+
In a desperate bid to gain some counter-play, Black sacrifices a bishop but he has plenty of problems as his queen which has infiltrated deep into enemy territory faces the risk of getting trapped. If 23...c4 24.Rd2 Qc5 25.a5 b5 26.axb6 Qxb6 27.h4 And if 23...b5 24.Rf1 Qg2 25.Rd2
24.Rxa4 b5 25.Ra1 b4 26.Rf1 Qg2
Trying to escape but all routes are blocked!
27.Qh4 c4
If 27...bxc3 28.Rf2 Qg1 29.Rd1
28.Rd4. If 28.Rdd1 Nxe4 29.fxe4 bxc3
28...Nxe4. If 28...bxc3 29.Rf2
29.fxe4 bxc3 30.Qf2
Forcing the exchange of queens to clear the path for victory. If 30.Rf2 Qh1
1–0
Diagram 2
White to play and win
New game
1.f4+ gxf4+
If 1...exf3 2.Nxf3 checkmate
2.gxf4 checkmate.