Queen Takes f6

(He played 1.c4?)

All night, Karina prepared only for his 1. e4 repertoire.

She is playing a master, someone rated 2240 USCF.

How devastated she was by this, no one but her really knew.

Karina had just gotten to 1905 USCF, a strong A-player's rating.

She is 10 years old.

Inspired by Beth Harmon, she decided to pursue the skills bestowed upon her by her father, who was an active GM for decades and retired recently.

She could not convey her knowledge to classmates, teachers, or her mother.

Her father would not speak to her "until she was worthy of the master title".

This did not imply that he would speak to her when she hit 2200 USCF.

He said "when you understand every little stage of the game, you'll know".

Her father wasn't a pessimist, nor a judgmental person in any capacity.

His face initially lit up with bliss when he learned about her talents.

"Will you become the next Vera Menchik?"

She didn't mind the comment, but personally, she really liked Alexandra Kosteniuk and Alisa Melekhina. She wished she could be like them.

"I hope so, dad."

Karina was a top performer in her class. The problem is, she hated school.

She would spend hours teaching the local club about opening theory.

She would aspire to learn many classic games, developing a strong liking for Capablanca, Fischer, and Magnus. She liked their great sense of 'objectivity'.

She had Nf6-g6-Bg7 planned for her opponent's c4- the King's Indian.

So the game began 1. c4 Nf6 2. d4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7.

There was a surprise now, with f3.

(Is he for real? He's delaying e4?)

She thought it was kind of slow.

She castled and began fighting on the kingside.

You would think a master is prepared for generic stuff like Ne8 and f5.

Somehow, he was somewhat uncomfortable.

When the 35th move was reached, Karina had more time on the clock.

She began pushing g5, g4, h5, h4, and she fully embraced the attack.

(This is such a Tal game.)

It is not that Karina played brilliantly.

It's that she got the master off-guard.

She was 2/3 in the Open section, and this win would give her clear second.

She ultimately just wanted to get to 2200, which is a master's rating.

Boom, Nh3 check!

Kh1.

(HE DIDN'T TAKE MY KNIGHT!?)

Fine.

Everything seems guarded. If the knight were taken, a rook would eat up the kingside and the black queen would sweep onto the weak light squares.

But she didn't give up. Karina spent 15 minutes on the move g3!!, again sacrificing the knight or attempting to take on f2 with check.

(He HAS to take the knight now, or he may find himself very irritated.)

But gxh3!? would leave our friend exposed to two lines of fire.

By moving the king, he concedes that his position is awful.

Holy hell, what is this?

(He's got so much pressure on the queenside.)

This thought was irrational, since Karina was several moves from mate.

She saw Qh4, but there was Nf1.

(Wrong, wrong, wrong.)

The Beth Harmon in her played Qh4 anyway.

Behold, the master, with 3 minutes and 25 seconds, resigned.

She was overjoyed to have 2nd place.

Then something remarkable happened.

Beth, who was 2750 FIDE at this time, visited Karina at the event.

She said only a few words.

"Wow, I never saw that g3 sacrifice before."

(SHE never saw it?)

"I-I-I came up with it after seeing some books on the King's Indian."

Then Beth's attention perked up, and she observed Karina.

"Do you want to play at a bigger tournament?"

Karina was overwhelmed.

"Can I find an opponent to play Qxf6 against?"

Beth laughed heartily.

"Yes, and Nezhmetdinov's soul would happily embrace it."

Incidentally, he was Tal's teacher.

Karina then worked up the spirit to ask a good question.

"Do you want to play blitz?"

Beth gave her 30 seconds to 5 minutes.

Karina plays white.

(Holy shit, she's so fast!!!)

1. e4 c5 (Beth's favorite) 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6...

But by the endgame, she realized she was doing very well.

Like in the old Pokemon, where you defeat Red, Karina felt the advantage.

Her fianchettoed bishops were steadfast.

Her knights were centralized.

Her pawns were strongly advanced.

But Beth, in her infinite wisdom, found a perpetual check.

(NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!)

But, having shaken her hand, Beth congratulated and hugged Karina.

There was no doubt that Karina was playing at a 2400+ level.

And that, my friends, is how this story ends.