White: Heather Richards
Black: Carolin Umpfenbach
Round 8
French Defence C16
(Notes by WFM Heather Richards and GM Peter Wells)

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e5 Ne7 5 f4 c5 6 Bd2 Bd7!? 7 Nf3 Nf5 8 dxc5 Bxc5 9 Bd3 Nd4 10 Nxd4 Bxd4 11 Qg4 g6 12 f5!?
The instinct to open up the position is an excellent one, although whether this particular sacrifice is absolutely sound is open to debate, the assessment depending upon the note to Black's 14th. 12 0-0-0 Nc6 13 Nb5 Bc5 14 Nd6+ is another interesting idea with the same motivation.
12...Bxc3
12...Bxe5 13 fxg6 hxg6 14 g3!.
13 Bxc3 exf5 14 Qf4 0-0
14...Be6! 15 0-0-0 Nc6 16 Bc4 0-0 17 h4 restricts White's attacking chances, although she still clearly has compensation.
15 Qh6?!
Perhaps better is 15 e6 Re8 16 0-0-0 Bxe6 17 g4 (17 Qh6 d4 18 Bb5 dxc3 19 Rxd8 cxb2+ 20 Kxb2 Rxd8 21 h4 is unclear) 17...d4 (17...fxg4? 18 Bf6) 18 Bb5!?.
15...Be6 16 0-0 Nc6 17 Rf3 f6?
17...Qc7! 18 Rh3 f6 gains time for Black's defence, since White's pieces will be more committed to the kingside at the time when the centre blows open.
18 exf6 Rf7 19 Re1 Qd7 20 Rfe3 Re8 21 R3e2 d4 22 Bd2 Rxf6 23 Bg5 Rff8 24 Rxe6! Rxe6 25 Bc4 Rfe8 26 Bf6! Nd8 27 Bxd8 d3 28 Bf6! d2 29 Rxe6 d1R+ 30 Re1+ 1-0