How to Play the Scotch Gambit

How to play the Scotch Gambit

Erick Schiller

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Dour To Play The

Seoteh Gambit

Erie Schiller

How to Play the Scotch Gambit I

by Eric Schiller Chess Enterprises Coraopolis PA 1992

Chess Enterprises, Coraopolis PA 15108 Copyright © 1992 by Eric Schiller All rights reserved. Published 1992

Printed in the United States of America

95 94 93 92 5 4 3 2 1

ISBN:

0-945470-24-X

Editor: B.G. Dudley Proofreader: Thomas Magar Typesetting: M.L. Rantala for Chessworks Unlimited Set in Palatino and Avant Garde by Adobe; and Reykjavik Laserfont designed by Eric Schiller for Chess Laboratories, P.O. Box 3541, South Pasadena CA 91030. . The manuscript was prepared using NisuS™ 3.0 and Microsoft Word™ running on a Macintosh SEe ChessBasc 3.0 was employed in the preparation of the data. Manuscript completed October 31, 1991. Revisions completed March 3 1992.

Contents

(")reface.............................................................................................1

Part One: Black does not play 4 ... Nf6!

Chapter 1: Chapter 2: Chapter 3: Chapter 4: Chapter 5:

4 ... Miscellaneous Replies by Black ...................3 4...d6 ...................................................................... 14 4 ... Bb4+ ................................................................. 22 4 ... 'Bc5 .................................................................... 33 4 ... BcS S.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 ...................37

Part Two: Black plays 4 ... Nf6!

Chapter 6: Chapter 7: Chapter 8: Chapter 9: Chapter 10: Chapter 11:

S.eS N g4 ................................................................ 52 S.eS N e4 ................................................................ 67 S.eS N e4 6.0-0 d5 .................................................71 S.eS d5 ................................................................... 73 S.eS d5 6.BbS Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 .......................... 76 S.eS d5 6. BbS Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bc5 ......................... 102

Preface The Scotch Gambit (1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4!?) is a grand old opening which has faded from popularity with the rise of the Spanish Game (3.BbS). Nevertheless, it remains an attractive opening at the club and amateur level, since it provides good attacking chances and practically guarantees a small positional edge as well. In the 19th Century, it was a successful weapon for Anderssen, Bird, Charousek, Morphy and Steinitz, among others, and as the century turned Breyer, Marshall, Schlechter, and Spielmann were among its practitioners. It was so thoroughly analyzed that it fell from favor for many years, until Yakov Estrin resurrected it in correspondence play, and his Soviet colleague Evgeny Sveshnikov reintroduced it to regular grandmaster praxis. Tim Harding, in his 1991 revision of a book on the Evans Gambit-which includes a Scotch Gambit system against the Two Knights Defense-has helped to revitalize the opening by discovering many improvements for White, many original, and some buried in the literature. I have tried to expand upon his analysis, and have subjected it to critical review. As a result, I believe that I have found additional resources for White. In addition, this book surveys lines where Black does not transpose to the Two Knights. But the most important aspect of the Scotch Gambit is its clarity of ideas, which makes it an opening which is especially useful to intermediate level players who need a sound opening with good winning prospects which does not involve a great deal of memorizing theoretical variations. This book helps to keep the opening simple by 1

2

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

choosing only the lines for White which fit into the same conceptual scheme, where recurring positional themes make it easy to absorb the fundamentals of the opening. I also happen to think that these lines are the best that White has in the Scotch Gambit. This book is designed for players rated 1400 to 1800. I have tried to include a great deal of explanation and have extended previously analyzed lines to the point where the evaluation should be clear to the reader. Many diagrams are provided to aid the reader in following lines, and I have tried to avoid extensive embedding wherever possible. The material in this book is available on disk in ChessBase and Access format from ChessBase USA, 2153 Highway 35, Sea Girt NJ 08750.

Chapter 1 Miscellaneous Replies by Black Maroczy-Porges Nurnberg 1896 1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Qf6?!

These early queen deployments never succeed in the Scotch Gambit, because White is too well-developed. 4... Qe7 5.0-0 QcS 6.Qd3 g6 is another attempt to hang on to the pawn, but it doesn't work. 7.c3! Bg7 8.cxd4 Nxd4 9.Nxd4 Qxd4 lO.Qb3! Nh6 11.Bxh6 Bxh6 12.Bxf7+ was effective in Bonch Osmolovsky-Alatortsev, USSR 1962. 5~c3!?

Maroczy's notes indicate that simple castling would have been better, so that the e-pawn could have advanced, using the potential pin on the e-file. 5... BcS 6.0-0 Maroczy gives 6.eS!, but that seems a bit speculative. 6... d6 7.Nxd4 Nxd4 8.cxd4 Bxd4 3

4

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

9.Qb3 Bb6 lO.a4 White has compensation for his pawn, but only if he keeps the initiative. An alternative plan would be to continue development, and make use of dS. 10.Nc3! Ne7 11.Be3 0-0 (11 ... Bxe3? 12.fxe3 drops the pawn at £7.) 12.Bxb6 axb6 13.Nb5! with win of material. 13 ... c6 14.Nc7 Ra5 15.Qxb6 RcS 16.Bd3 and although the knight is trapped, there is no way to get at it, and the Black attack is nothing to worry about. 16 ... Ng6 (to stop f2-f4) 17.Rfcl Rxcl+ 18.Rxcl Nf4 19.Bf1 Ne6 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.a4 with a slight edge for White. 10... Ne7 11.Khl Nc6 12.Bd2 0-0 12... aS!? might have been a useful interpolation. 13.a5 Bd4

14.Nc3 Bxc3 Practically forced, because of the weakness at dS. 15.Bxc3 Qe7 16.Bd5 Nd8 Or 16... Bd717.a6 bxa618.Rxa6 I{ab8 19.Qa3! 17.eS c6 17 ... dxeS?! 18.Rfel Nc6 19.a6!

Chapter 1: Miscellaneous Replies by Black

5

18.exd6 Qxd6 19.Be4 Be6 20.Qa4 Although White is still a pawn down his bishop pair and active pieces give him sufficient compensation. 20... f5 21.Bf3 Qc7 22. Rfel ReB 23.BhS! Re7 24.Qh4 Kf8 Black can't bring his defensive forces closer to the king, so he tries to bring the king closer to his pieces! 25.BeS Qd7 26.Qg3 g6 At least there is no pin on the g-pawn, part of the point of Kf8. 27.Radl! Qe8 28.Be2 Nf7 29.Bd4?! The bishop should have retreated to c3. 29... KgB 30.BhS f4 To avoid the destructive sacrifice at g6. 31.Qh4 Not 31.Qxf4? Bb3! 31... Rd8 32.Qf6 Rxd4! That's why the bishop should have been posted at c3 instead of d4. 33.Rxd4 gxhS 34.IQ:f4 N d8 3S.Rf3 Rf7

6

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

36.Rg3+

37.Qh8+ 38.Rg8 Or 38 ... Qd7 39.Rxd8! Qxd8 winning the queen. 39.Qxh7+ 40.Rg7 41.Qxh5 42.Rg6

Kf8

Ke7 Rf8 40.Rxe6+ Kd7 41.Rd6+ Kd6 Rf7 Qe7 Kd7

43.f3

Black's king is surrounded by pieces and White cannot win by direct attack. 43... Qf8 44.RgS Qd6 45. RgeS Threatening Rxe6! 45... BdS 46.Re8 Qf6 47.R8e5 Kc7 48.Qg4 a6 49.Qg3 Ke8 50.Qg4+ Kc7

51.Qg3 52.Qg5

Kc8

Chapter 1: Miscellaneous Replies by Black

7

The repetition was probably due to time pressure, as White has every reason to play for a win. 52... QxgS 53.Rxg5 Kd7 54.Rg4 Ne6 55.Kg1 Nf4

The endgame favors White because he already has passed pawns. 56.Re3 Kd6 57.b4 cS S8.bxc5+ Kxc5 Ne6 59.g3 NfB 60.Rg6 Kd4 61.RgS Rd7 62. Ree5 Black did not fall for 62 ... Bxf3? 63.Ref5! 63.Rel Ne6 64.Rg4+ Kc3 65.Re3+ Kd2 66.Kf2 Rc7 67.Rb4 ReS Rxa5 68.h4 69.f4 ReS

How

to Play

the Scotch Gambit

70.f5 as 71.Ra4 b5 72.Raa3! The threat of Re2+ is worth more than the pawn at as. 72... Nf4 What else? 73.gxf4 74. ReS 7S.RxaS 76.Rac5 77.Rxc5

78.f6 79.f7 80.f8Q 81.Qf6+

82.Qd4+

Bc4 Rc7

b4 RxcS Kc3 b3 b2 blQ Kd2 1-0

Owens & Staunton-Horwitz & Loewenthal London 1856 1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Be7?!

This move is too slow, but it does not deserve the lack of recognition it has been subject to in the literature. S.O-O

5.c3 is an excellent alternative, since Black cannot

Chapter 1: Miscellaneous Replies by Black

9

capture at c3: S... dxc3 6.Qd5! forced Black's resignation in DeVisser-Jennings, New York 1922. 5... d6 6.Nxd4 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 Bf6 This is Black's idea-to develop the bishop with tempo and keep control of eS while planning to develop the knight via e7. 8.QdS 8.Qd3 was seen in a game between Cunningham and Staunton as White and a team including Loewenthal as Black, but the queen is not well placed there. Notes by Staunton indicate that 8.Qe3 is best, but there is nothing wrong with QdS. 8... Qd7 9.f4!

White gains further space, while there is no need to worry about the a7-g1 diagonal. because neither the queen nor bishop is in a position to exploit it. 9... c6 9 ... Nh6 IO.eS! dxeS 11.Qxd7+ Bxd7 12.fxe5 Bxe5 13.Bxh6 gxh6 14.Bxf7+ Kd8 15.c3 will be uncomfortable for Black, though the bishop pair provides some relief. 10.Qdl Nh6 11.c3

Black has finally developed, but there is now a major

10

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

weakness at d6. White must not allow Black to release the pressure with d6-d5 (12.£5?! d5!). Qe7 12.Na3 13.Bd3! The c4 square will be more useful for a knight which will pressure d6 and keep an eye on e5. 13... g6 14.f5 Bg5 A major strategic concession which will lead to the loss of the pawn at d6, but there were no attractive alternatives. 15.£6 Qe5 16.Nc4 QcS+ 17.Khl Bxcl 18.Qxcl!

The attack at h6 deflects the queen and the d-pawn falls. 18... Qh5 18 ... Ng4 19.Be2 N£2+ 20.Rxf2 (20.Kg1 Nh3+ 20.Khl Qgl+ 21.Rxg1 Nf2#) 20 ... Qxf2 21.Qg5 h6! 22.Qxh6 Qxf6 and Black is better. White could play 19.Qd2 keeping all threats open-Magar. 19.Nxd6 Rd8 20.Qf4 Bg4 21.Bc4 b5

Chapter 1: Miscellaneous Replies by Black

22.Bb3 23.Rf2 24.Rd2 25.Rd5!

11

Rd7 Rad8 c5 Qh4

Black's pinned and overworked pieces are no match for the invaders. 26.Nxf7! Nxf7 27.Rxd7 c4 27... Rxd7 28.Qb8+ Rd8 29.Qxd8+ 28.I{xd8+ N xd8 29.Rfl Ne6 29... cxb3 30.f7+ Kf8 31.Qd6+ Qe7 32.Qxe7+ Kxe7 33.f8Q+ 30.Qb8+ Kf7 31.Qxa7+ KgB 32.Qb8+ Kf7 KgB 33.Qb7+ 34.Qc8+ 1-0

Sfeinifz-Lang Vienna 1860 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Qe7

12

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

This is less risky than 4 ...Qf6?!, but is also inadequate, not because of the entombed Bf8, but rather because Black has conceded control of the center. 5.0-0 Ne5 5 ... QcS 6.Qd3 g6 is another attempt to hang on to the pawn, but it doesn't work. 7.c3! Bg7 8.cxd4 Nxd4 9.Nxd4 Qxd4 lO.Qb3! Nh6 11.Bxh6 Bxh6 12.13xf7+ was effective in Bonch Osmolovsky-Alatortsev, USSR 1962. 6.NxeS Qxe5 7.c3! Black is behind in development, and now White takes control of the entire center. Black never gets time to bring his pieces into the game. . 7... c5 7... dxc3 8.Nxc3 Bb4 9.Bxf7+! Kxf7 lO.Qb3+ Ke8 11.Qxb4 intending f4. 8.f4 Qf6 9.eS Qb6 10.Khl A good prophylactic move, taking away any possible counterplay on the diagonal. 10... Be7 11.f5 d5 Black must do something to free his game. If 11 ... d6, then 12.e6! is very strong. 12.BxdS Nh6

Chapter 1: Miscellaneous Replies by Black

13.f6

13

Bf8

14.Bxh6 gxh6 lS.Bxf7+! White's advanced pawns are all the queen needs to carry out the attack. 15... Kxf7 16.Qh5+ Ke6 17.Qe8+ KdS 18.cxd4 Be6 18 ... cxd4 19.Nc3+ dxc3 20.Radl+ Kc5 21.b4+ Qxb4 (21 ... Kxb4 22.Rhl+ KaS 23.Rxb6 axb6 24.Rf4 b5 25.a4) 22.Qd8 also looks very good for White. 19.Nc3+ Kc4

White's queen isn't really a major part of the attack now-in fact, it is completely superfluous! 19 ... Kxd4 20.Qxa8 Bg7 21.Radl+ Kxe5 22.Rdel+ Kd6 23.Qxa7 Qxa7 24.Nb5+ 20.d5!! Rxe8 21.Rf4+ Kd3 Kc2 22.Rdl+ 22...Ke3 23.Rf3+ 23.Rf2#

1-0

Chapter 2 4 ... d6 Charousek-Exner Budapest IMatch 1896 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 d6?!

This move is so obscure that it isn't even in the books, although it might be seen in amateur games. Black gets a bad version of the Philidor or Hungarian J?efense. 5.Nxd4 White should capture immediately: 5.0-0 Bg4! 6.Bb5 Qf6 7.Bxc6+ bxc6 8.Qxd4 Bxf3 9.Qxf6 Nxf6 10.gxf3 h6=+ Rousseau-Stanley, New Orleans (m/2) 1845. 5... Nf6 The alternatives are not a whole lot better:5 ... Nxd4 6.Qxd4 Be6 is relatively best, though after castling White retains his developmental and spatial advantage.5 ... Ne5?! 6.Bb3 c5 7.Nf3 Nxf3+ 8.Qxf3 Nf6 9.Bg5 Be7 lO.Nc3 0-0 11.0-0 Be6 12.NdS!+= BxdS 13.Bxf6 Bxe4 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Qe3 Qe8! 16.Rfel Bc6 17.QgS with a slight initiative for White in Rousseau-Stanley, New Orleans (m/8) 1845. 6.Nc3 Be7 14

Chapter 2: 4 .. .d4

15

7.0-0 0-0 8.£3 Since Black cannot get his bishop to the a7-g1 diagonal, there is no weakness associated with this move. 8... 9.Be3

ReB BfB?!

Black is attempting to play pure defense, but after White pins the Nf6 the bishop will have to return to e7, so the immediate 9 ... NeS would have been better, though after lO.Bb3 White would still have a clear advantage. 10.Qd2 Ne7 11.Radl Bd7 12.Bg5! By threatening to cripple tIle Bl·.1ck pawns, White forces his opponent to waste two moves to break the pin. 12... Ng6 13.NdS Be7

Now White can eliminate the important defender and maintain the pin. 14.Nxe7+ Qxe7 IS.Rfel! Both sides are fully developed but Black's pieces are ineffective while White has placed every piece on an optimal square. 15... Qd8

16

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

16.Bb5!

Charousek understands the value of a knight outpost at f5. To obtain this, he will have to eliminate the enemy bishop. The text cannot be met by 16 ... c6, because that would critically weaken the pawn at d6. 16... 17.Nxb5

Bxb5

Now Black must finally accept doubled pawns on the kingside, because after 18.Bxf6 the queen must remain at d8 to guard c7. 17... ReS 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Nd4! Headed for the key square f5. 19... Qf8 20.Nf5 21.Qc3!

Rae8

The point of this move is not only to attack c7, but more importantly, to create a pin on the ReS. Perhaps Black should have accepted the inevitable here and played 21 ... RcS. 21... d5 22.Rxd5 RxdS 23.exd5 Rxe1+ 24.Qxel

Chapter 2: 4.. .d4

17

The endgame is winning for White, not so much because of the extra pawn at d5 but rather because the kingside is so weak. 24... QcS+ 25.Qe3 Qxe3+ 25... Qxd5?? 26.Qe8+ Nf8 27.Ne7+; 25 ...Qxc2 26.Qe8+ NfB 27.Nh6+ Kg7 28.Qxf7+ Kxh6 29.Qxf8+ Kg6 30.Qe8+ Kg7 31.Qe7+ KgB (31 ... Kg6 32.Qe4+.) 32.Qxf6 Qdl+ 33.Kf2 Qxd5 34.a3 and White can win by advancing the h-pawn. 26.Nxe3 I W~i, ~f~J~ !~~n '~fI

* ~i 1i~: ~~l~~ff~i ;ICj.~

r-~IT---'''''''''

-."1I: .... r~- ••

~J"r"

This endgame is a technical win-and Charousek demonstrates that he has the necessary skills. 26... Kf8 27.Kf2 Ke7 28.Nf5+ Kd7 29.Ke3 Black's king is rendered harmless by the combination of knight and PdS. 29... NeS 30.b3 c6 31.Ke4 cxdS+ 32.KxdS Ng6 33.g3 The king has taken over for the pawn at d5, and the Black knight is limited in scope.

18

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

33... Ne5 34.Ke4 Nc6 35.Nd4 Now the monarch heads for the kingside. Obviously Black cannot exchange knights. Ne7 35 ... 36.c4 b6 37.b4

a6

38.a3 NcB A clever move, inviting 39.Kf5? when 39 ... Nd6+ eats up the queenside pawns. 39.Nf5 Ke6 Na7 40.h4 41.Nd4+ Kd6 42.Kf5

Now it is safe. 42 ...

Ke7

43.a4

NcB

44.c5 45.bxc5 46.h5 47.h6

bxcS Na7

as 1-0

Breyer-Fahrni Baden 1914

1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 d6 5.Nxd4 g6

19

This plan makes a little more sense than Exner's 5 ... Nf6, but it is not enough for equality. 6.0-0 A logical move, but to reach the modern lines of the Philidor, White might have delayed this move and played 6.Nc3, keeping open the option of castling queenside. 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 Nf6 8.Qd2 0-0 9.Nxc6! bxc6 10.Bh6 Bxh6 11.Qxh6 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 ReB (12 ... d5 13.NgS and White wins.) 13.Bxf7+ Kxf7 14.Qxh7+ Kf8 15.Qxg6 Qe7 16.f3 d5 17.0-0 dxe4 18.fxe4+ 6 ... Bg7 7.Be3 Nf6 B.Nc3 0-0 9.Qd2 ReB 10.Rael NeS 11.Bb3

White has organized his pieces well, and Black is behind in development and must be concerned about the advance of the f-pawn.

20

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

c5?! A sign of desperation early in the game. 11 ... Neg4!? might have been wiser. 12.Ndb5 c4 13.f4! Neg4 14.Bxc4 Nxe3 15.Rxe3 Ng4 16.Rd3 Not only has White won one pawn, but he has another one coming. 16... Qb6+ 17.Khl Bxc3 18.Nxc3 Be6 19.Bxe6 fxc6 20.h3 Nf6 11...

This has been pretty much forced, and now the two extra pawns are easily converted int() an endgame victory. 21... Rad8

21 ...Qxb2 22.eS Nh5 23.g4 Ng7 24.Ne4 Re7 25.Nf6+ Kh8 26.Rd8+ Rxd8 27.QxdB+ ReB 28.Nxe8 22.Rxb6

Rxd2

23.Rxb7 24.Rdl

Nh5 RedB

25.Rxd2

Rxd2

Chapter 2: 4 .. .d4

26.Rxa7 27.Rb7 And the a-pawn flies. 27 ...

28.a4 29.Rb3 30.NbS 31.Kh2 32.Kgl 33.Kf2 34.Ke3 3S.Kd3

Nxf4

Nxg2 Nh4 Rxc2 Rcl+ Rc2+ Rcl+ Re2+ e5

ReB I{a8

36.aS Ng2 37.Ra3 Nf4+ 38.a6 Ne6 39.Ke3 Kf7 40.a7 Ke7 41.h4 Kd7 42.Ra6 Ke7 43.Rd6+ 44.Rxe6+! Kxe6 Kd7 45.Nc7+ 1-0 46.Nxa8

21

Chapter 3 4 ... Bb4+ Charousek-Porges Nuremberg 1896 1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bb4+

White can respond to this with a strong, if typical, pawn sacrifice. 5.c3 dxc3 6.0-0 c2 Black returns the pawn in the hopes of blunting White's attack, but he remains too far behind in developmen t. 7.Qxc2 Nge7 7 ... d6 8.a3 BaS 9.b4 Bb6 lO.Bb2 Nf6 of Staunton-Popert, London (m/ 3) 1842 saw White gain the upper hand after a decisive advance in the center: 11.eS! dxe5 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.BxeS 0-0 14.Nc3 Ng4 15.Bg3 QgS 16.Rael BfS 17.Qb3 Nf6 18.Re7 with compensation. 8.a3

BaS

9.b4 10.Bb2+/-

Bb6 f6

10... 0-0 11.Qc3 22

Chapter 3: 4 .. .Bh4+

23

11.Nc3 d6 12.NdS NxdS 13.Bxd5 Ne7 13 ... Bd7 intending Qe7, 0-0-0 was suggested by Tarrasch, but as in the game, the queenside is hardly a safe haven. c6 14.Rfel 15.Bb3 Bg4 16.Nd4 Qd7 17.Qc4! The light squares are simply too weak. 17... Rf8 17... 0-0-0 18.Qf7!? intending 19.h3. 18... BhS 19.Ne6. 18.h3 Bxd4 19.Bxd4 Bh5 20.Qc3 Bf7

Black has beaten back the initial attack, but his development is hideous and his king is stuck in the center. 21.Bc2 Be6 22.f4 23.Bf2

b6

0-0-0 The king escapes, but to territory which is every bit as dangerous as the land he has fled. 24.a4! Kb7 25.Qe3 Kb8

24

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

25...Nc8 26.a5 c5 27.axb6 axb6 28.Qa3+NcB 26.bS 26 ... c5 27.a5 NcB 28.axb6 axb6 (28 ... Nxb6 29.e5 gives White more than enough compensation.) 29.e5 fxeS 30.Bh4! Rde8 31.Be4 dS 32.Bxh7 Rh8 33.Qxe5+ Qd6 (33 ... Nd6 34.Bg6 Rxh4 35.Bxe8) 34.Qxd6+ Nxd6 3S.fS Rxh7 36.Bg3+/-.

dxe4? Not 29 ... Bd7 30.exd5 QxdS 31.Bg3+ Nd6 32.13e4!+- but 29 ... Bf7!? would have held out a little longer. 30.BbS Qd5 31.fxe6 Qxe6 32.a5 Black has three pawns for t11e piece, but his king is still under fire. 29.f51

f5 33.axb6 Nxb6 Ka8 34.Bg3+ 35.Bc7! Rb8 36.Qc5 Rfc8 According to Sergeant, Charousek actually announced 32 ...

the mate in 5 here. 37.Qc6+

Qxc6

Chapter 3; 4 .. .Bb4+

38. Bxc6+

25

Rb7

Now Black gets everything his position deserves! 39.Rxa7+!! Kxa7

40.Ral+ 41.Rxa4+

Na4 1-0

Kirste-Knorr Correspondence 1990 1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bb4+ S.c3 dxc3 6.0-0 Qe7?! 7.a3 BcS 8.Nxc3 Nf6

A classical example of development conlpensating for a missing pawn. 9.Bg5!

The pin allows White to occupy dS. 9... 0-0 IO.b4 11.Nd5

Bb6 Qxe4

26

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

11 ...Qd6 12.Nxf6+ gxf6 13.Qxd6 cxd6 14.Bxf6 ReB 15.Rfel would not have been much fun, with the development of the Be8 virtually impossible to achieve. 12.Nxf6+ gxf6 13.Bd3

It doesn't take much to see that the attack is going to be brutal. 13.H

Qg4

14.Bxf6

Qf4 Qd6 h6

15.BgS 16.Qc2 17.Radl! This is the kind of move one hates to encounter. The queen is bound and gagged and waiting for the executioner-and her mate has a similar fate! 17... Nd4 18.Nxd4 hxg5 19.Nf5 Qf6 20.Rfel d6 Finally, the bishop can join the game, but it is too late. Kh8 21.Ne7+ 22.Nd5 Qh6 23.Nxc7 RbB 23 ... Bxc7 24.Qxc7 Bg4 25.f3 BhS 26.Qxb7 Bg6 27.Qd5 Bxd3 28.Rxd3 Rad8 29.Re7 Qf6 30.Qd4 Qxd4+ 31.Rxd4+-

Chapter 3: 4 .. .Bh4+

24.Qc3+ 25.Qxg7+

27

Qg7

and Black abandoned the game, because after 25 ... Kxg7 26.Ne8+ the endgame is hopeless. 1-0 Kirste-Plath Correspondence 1990 1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bb4+ 5.c3 dxc3 6.0-0 cxb2 7.Bxb2 f6? 8.a3 BaS

*

··i·~@~~~j t -..,.:.~. ~~ . .•.•. . ..U~ ~~fl;;;fi1Ji1j .....-P ................. ~:::=.J;...

l:···"" .:~: .::;:::::. ;.:.;;:.;(;:,::::{A:~:f'~:'

lj§i~ 11 mi~l.fl.1tm~i~L~j~~ _

9.Nl14! Opening up a path to h5, and effectively ending the

game. 9... d6 9... g6 was necessary, though even then it isn't pretty. 10.QdS Nh6 11.e5 fxeS 12.BxeS Rf8 13.Bg7+10.Qh5+ Kf8 11.Qf7+# 1-0 Hopfer-Troester Correspondence 1988-1989 1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bb4+ S.c3 dxc3 6.0-0 cxb2 7.Bxb2 Nf6

28

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

"

This seemingly solid position is also unfavorable for Black. 8.Ng5 0-0 9.e5 Nxe5! 9... d5?! 10.exf6 dxc411.QhS h6 12.fxg7 Re813.Qxh6 +/9 ... h610.exf6 hxg511.fxg7 ReB 12.Qh5 +/9 ... NdS 10.QhS h6 11.Nxf7 l~xf7 12.Bxd5 Qe7 13.Bxf7+ Hopfer. 13 ...Qxf7 14.Qxf7+ Kxf7 15.a3 + / - -Analysis. 10.BxeS d6 The problem with this move is that the pawn occupies a square which might otherwise be used by tile bish<.)p. If lO ... dS!, then: a) 11.Bd3 Ng4 12.Nf3 NxeS 13.Nxe5 Qf6 14.f4 c5!? (14 ... Bc5+ lS.Kh1 g6 16.Be2=-Steinitz.) IS.a3 BaS 16.Qc2 + / - -Analysis.; or b) 11.Be2! This move was suggested by Steinitz. It guards the important g4 square. 11 ... I3e6 12.Qc2 g6 13.Qb2 Be714.Qxb7+= cS 15.Nc3 h6 16.Nf3 +/- -Analysis. 11.Bc3 Bxc3 11 ... Bc5 12.Nd2 Ng413.Nde4+/12.Nxc3 Ng4 13.Qd2! Ne5 14.Bb3 h6 15.Nge4 BfS 16.Rfdl+=

Chapter 3: 4 .. .Bh4+

29

Black's three pawns are not being used, and White's pieces enjoy plenty of scope. Therefore White's chances must be preferred. 16... Qe7?! 16 ... Qd7!? 17.NdS Qd8

cxdS

30

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

22.Rd3! Nxd3 23.Bh7+ Kh8 24. Bg6+ This is why the knight had to be deflected from e5. 24... KgB 25. Qh7+ Kf8 26.Qxf7+# 1-0 Schlechter-Nyholm Baden 1914 1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 BcS

This obvious developing move is met by a gambit continuation which insures an initiative for White. 5.c3! d3 6.b4! Bb6 7.a4 as 7 ... a6 8.Qb3 Qf6 9.aS Ba7 10.0-0 d6. Necessary, since 10... NeS fails to Il.Nxe5 and 12.Bxf7+. 11.b5 a) 11 ... axb5 12.a6! bxa6 I3.BdS Bb7 (13 ... Nge7 14.Bg5+/-) 14.Rxa6! Bxf2+ 15.Rxf2 Rxa6 16.Ng5 with an unstoppable attack; b) 11 ... Ne5 12.Nxe5 dxe5 13.bxa6 bxa6 14.Qa4+! (A fine move which disrupts the Black position, since the bishop belongs at b7, not d7.) 14 ... Bd7 I5.Qdl Ne7 16.Qxd3+= Sveshnikov-A.Petrosian, USSR 1974.

Chapter 3: 4 .. . Bb4+

31

B.b5 Qe7 8 ... Nce7 9.NeS dS lO.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxf7 Kxf7 12.Qf3+ Ke6 13.Qe4++ / - and White recovers his piece with

interest. 9.0-0

White is better developed with control of the center and more space. 9 ... Nd8 10.Nd4! Headed for f5. 10... d6 Qf6 11.NfS 11 ... BxfS 12.exfS Qf6 13.Qxd3 Ne7 14.Rel 0-0 15.Qe4 ReB 16.g4 and Black cannot escape the pin on the e-file. 16 ... h6 17.Ra2+/ - intending Ra2-e2. Ne6 12.Bxd3 Ne7 13.Qc2 14.Nd2 Bd7 15.Nc4! Bc5 15 ... Nc816.Ba3 0-0 17.eS!+/16.Be3 b6 16 ... Bxe3 17.fxe3 Qg5 18.Ncxd6+ cxd6 19.Nxd6+ KfB (19 ... Kd8 20.Nxf7++-) 20.Rxf7+ Kg8 21.Qf2 with compen-

sation. 17.f4!

Bxe3+

32

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

18.Ncxe3

ReB

White's domination of the center and superior development are decisive here. 19.eS! Nxf5 20.exf6 N xe3 21.Qe2 1-0

Chapter 4 4 ... Bc5 Sveshnikov-Kupreichik Hastings 1984-5 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 S.c3 dxc3

If Black takes up the challenge, then White can react in Romantic style. 6.Bxf7+!? Kxf7 7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.QxcS+ d6 8 ... Qe7 9.Qxc3 Qxe4+ 10.Be3 is well known to theory, which holds that White has compensation whether Black advances his d-pawn to d6 or dS. Unfortunately, few players have dared to face this line over the board! 9.Qc4!? White plays positionally, taking control of the lightsquares. Bg4 9... 10.Nxc3 Bxf3 Is it really wise for Black to give up a tempo and his developed piece? White also gains the g-file for the attack. 11.gxf3 Qf6 33

34

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

12.£4! Qf7 Black would obviously like to exchange queens, but White does not oblige. 13.Qb5 Nd4 14.Qd3 Ne6 IS.fS! The dance continues, with each side gaining a little initiative only to be beaten back. But already one must like the White position, with more active pieces and a secure position for his king. 15... NcS Qc4 Nf6

18... ReB 19.f3+= Black has gained time for development by targeting the

e-pawn, but now that square is under White's control and Black has not solved the problem of his rook. 19... Ncd7 20.Rd4 Qc6 21.Khl Re7 22.Qe2 Ne5 23.Bg5! The Black kingside is defended by knights, both of

Chapter 4: 4 .. .8c5

35

which are under attack. 23... Qc5 24.Rhdl Nc6 25.Rc4 Qe5 26.Nd5! The pin allows White to bring his pieces to more effective squares. 26... Rf7 Black breaks the pin, but it will cost significant material, because d6 is under fire, protected primarily by the pawn at c7, and that pawn is about to make a hasty exit.

28.Nxc7! Rxc7 Re7 29.Bxd6+ 30.e5! Nd7 31.f4 White is in no rush. His position is overwhelming, and he is still effectively a rook ahead because the Rh8 is out of play. Black tries to remedy this, but it is already too late. 31... h5 32.Qd3 Rh6 33.Bxe7+! Kxe7 33 ... Qxe7 34.Qxd7 Qxd7 3S.Rxd7+-

36

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

34.Qa3+ Kf7 Rxe6 3S.e6+ 3S ... Kf6 36.Rxd7 intending Rc3. 36.fxe6+ Qxe6 Nf6 37.Qd3 38.f5 QeS The double exchange advantage is simply too much. 39.Rc2 KgB 40.Re2 QcS 41.a3 Kh7 42.Rg2 NeS 43.Qc2 Qe3 44.Rdgl Neg4 and Black resigned, presumably during adj()urnment 1-0

ChapterS 4 ... Bc5 5.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Aviles-Elzagheir Novi Sad 01 1990

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 BcS 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Qe7?! 8.0-0 Bxd2 9.Nbxd2 d6

~~ ~~ ~~j~~rf~~\.•~;:[If~ ~~i~ ~; .:.:.,." ':.1:'' ' ' '

J.~ '~!f

:[1

'.:.:. .:.: ':lII',' ,.:.,.:.:.

.®.:}~

~i ~::~.:)~}'~1:~: 1 ~~: ilIiri~~ :~:

:'g:'

(.

=::

This position is also much too passive, though Black could have put up better resistance than in the game. IO.Rel 11.Qb3

Bg4 Rb8?

11 ... 0-0 12.Qxb7+/12.e5 13.NxeS

dxeS 1-0

Analysis based on Greco 1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2

37

.\H

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

7... Nxe4 7... d5 8.exdS Bxd2+ 9.Qxd2 NxdSl0.0-0 0-0 11.Nc3+= Nxb4 8.Bxb4 9.Bxf7+! Kxf7 d5 10.Qb3+ 11.Ne5+! KgB?! 11 ... Kf6? 12.£3 cS 13.fxe4 dxe414.0-0++11 ... Ke6 12.Qxb4 c5 13.Qa3! Suggested by Keres, but Ravinsky later showed that the position is by no means clear. 13 ... cxd4 14.Nf3 Qb6 15.0-0 Kf7 16.NeS+!+=Zagorovsky. (16.Rdl d3 17.NeS+ Kf6 18.Nxd3 Bg4 19.Rel Qd4 unclear-Ravinsky.) 12.Qxb4 Qf6 13.0-0 c5 14.Qb5 b6 QfB lS.Qe8+ 16.Qc6 Ba6 17.QxdS+ Qf7 18.Qxf7# 1-0

Bastian-Eng West Germany 1984 1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 BcS 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 dS 9.exd5 Nxd510.Qb3 Nce7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rfel Nb6?!

Chapter 5: 4.. .Bc5 S.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2

39

13.Bd3 BfS 14.Rxe7! Bxd3 IS.Rae1 Bg6 IS ... BfS 16.NgS (16.Nh4!) Bg6 I7.Ngf3 was equal in Leonhardt-Suchting, Vienna 1908, but one senses that the players were not in the mood for a fight. 16.Nh4 NcB 17.N xg6 hxg6

IB.R7e5+/-

19.Nf3

Black seems to have consolidated, but White's active pieces are more than enough compensation for the pawn. 21.Qb4! f6 21 ... RaeB 22.Qh4!

40

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

22.Re7 QbS 23.Rxg7+!! J<xg7 24.Re7+ Rf7 2S.Rxf7+ Nxf7 26.Ne6+ 1-0 Nun-Sarwinski Naleczow 1987

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 BcS 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 dS 9.exdS NxdS 10.Qb3 Nce7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rfel Nb6?! 13.Bd3 NedS 13 ... Nc6 14.Racl Kh8 lS.Bbl!+:::: with strong pressure on the kingside. 14.Ne4 BfS 15.NcS Bxd3 16.Qxd3 ..... ".-.-

_..

White controls more space and has an annoying threat at b7. Black's blockade at dS is useful, but the threat of a4as can weaken his control. 16... Rb8 17.NeS Nf6 17... c6 18.a4 Nb4 19.Qh3 as (Or else a4-aS and a knight will enter at d7; if 19 ... Qxd4 20.Ned7 Nxd7 21.Nxd7 Nc2 22.Nxf8 Nxel 23.Qxh7+ Kxf8 24.Qh8+ Ke7 25.Rxel+ Kd7 26.Qxb8+-) 20.Re4+=

Chapter 5: 4 ... 8c5 S.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2

41

18.Radl Qd5 19.a4 A queen is rarely a good blockader, and White not only controls the dark squares in the center, but also has a good grip on the light squares thanks to the more active knights. 19... Nbd7 20.Qc3! c6 20 ... Nxc5 21.dxc5 Qa2 (21 ...Qe6 22.Nd7 Qxel+ 23.Qxel+-) 22.b3 Rbd8 23.Qc4 Rxdl 24.Rxdl Qb2 25.Nxf7! Rxf7 26.Rd8++21.b4 Rfe8

White exploits the overworked knight to retain the initiative. 24...

2S.N xb7 26.Qb3! 27.Nd6+ White's advantage is not structure, but also his pressure file with a better endgame. 27...

RfB

Qxd4 Qb6 only his superior pawn at f7 and control of the ec5

42

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

28.Qdl! White makes no attempt to hang on to his b-pawn, but counts on the endgame to bring him success. cxb4 28... Qd8 29.Re7! 30.Qel Nf6 31.NfS 32.h3 33.Qe5!

35.Qg3 Nh5 36.Nh6+! Kh8 37.Nxf7+ KgB 38.Nh6+ Kh8 39.Qg5 Qc6 Now 40.QxhS fails to 40 ... Qd6+ 41.Qe5 QxeS+ 42.Rxe5 RxeS, but there is a killer move which deflects the Black queen from the defense of e8. 40.Qd5!! Qg6 41.Nf7+ 1-0

Buckle-Anderssen London 1851 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 BcS 4.c3 Nf6 S.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 dS 9.exd5 NxdS 10.Qb3 Nce7

Chapter 5: 4 .. .BcS S.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2

43

11.0-0 0-0 12.Rfel

This is the key position in the variation where Black exchanges at d2. The best move is 12... c6, and others can meet wi th disas ter. 12... Nf4 13.Re4! 14.Rael 15.Ne5!

I

,.:!.•.-:.~.l.._._.';I:T.'.J"":"_._ J

Black seems to be attacking, but the pressure at £7 is much more important. 16.Bxf7+! Kh8 16...Rxf7 17.Qxf7+ Kh8 18.Qe8+ 17.Nxg6+ hxg6 18.Qg3! Qxg3 19.hxg3 Rxf7 20.Rxf4 Rxf4 Kh7 21.Re8+ 22.gxf4

44

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

Black is powerless against 23.Nf3, 24.NgS, 25.Rh8. 1-0

Rossolimo-Riceman Puerto Rico 1967 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 dS 9.exd5 Nxd510.Qb3 Nce7 11.0-0 c6 12.Rfel 0-0 13.a4 b6?!

This weakens the queenside pawn structure and Black never gets time to consolidate. 14.Ne5! Bb7 ReB IS.aS! 16.Ne4 Qe7

Black's pieces have been driven back, and now the kingside attack can begin. 18.Qh3! Nf4 19.Qg4 NedS?!

Chapter 5: 4 .. .Bc5 5.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2

45

Black is moving his defensive forces away from the king-not a good idea. 19 ... Nfg6 20.Nxf7 Rxf7 21.Bxf7+ Kxf7 22.NgS+ KgB 23.Qe6+ Kh8 24.Nf7+ KgB 2S.Nd6+; 19 ... Neg6 20.Nxf7 Rxf7 21.Bxf7+ Kxf7 22.NgS+ KgB though ugly, was relatively best. 20.Ra3! Ne6 21.BxdS cxdS 22.Nf6+ Kh8

And now for one of the most picturesque finishes in all of chess history: 23.Qg6!! Qc2 23 ... hxg6 24.Rh3+23 ... fxg6 24.Nxg6+ hxg6 25.Rh3+ 24.Rh3 1-0

Sutterer-Hylkema Baden-Baden 1987 1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 BcS 4.c3 Nf6 S.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 d5 9.exdS NxdS 10.Qb3 Nce711.0-0 0-0 12.Rfel c6 13.a4 Rb8?!

46

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

This move frees the Be8 from its defensive chores, but with b5 under control of the White pieces it will not work. 14.aS! a6? Missing the point. 15.Bxa6 b6 16.Bxc8 Qxc8 17.a6 Qg4 18.Ne5! The invasion of the knight brings threats of many forks, and a pawn is a small price to pay for the initiative. 18... Qxd4 19.Ndf3! Qb4 20.Qxb4 Nxb4 21.Nd7

22.N xb8 23.a7

Rxb8 1-0

Chapter 5: 4 .. . BcS S.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2

47

Schlechter-Breyer Baden 1914 1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 S.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 dS 8 ... Nxe4 9.Nxe4 dS 10.Qe2! 0-0 11.0-0-0 Bg4 12.h3 Bxf3 13.gxf3 dxc4 14.Qxc4 Qh4 15.Kbl!+ ' was seen in MednisFischer, USA ch 1964. Although Fischer eventually outplayed his opponent, the position is objectively better for White who owns the center and has a kingside attack, while his own monarch is safe. 9.exd5 NxdS 10.Qb3 Nce7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rfel 13.a4

The old move is the best move! Black defends the queenside without creating any weaknesses. 14.Racl Qf4 15.Ne4 15.Re4 might be an interesting alternative, as the rook might be effective on the h-file. BfS 15 ... 16.Nc5 b6 17.Nd3 Bxd3 18.Bxd3 1~ad8

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

48

This position is balanced, but the evaluation of full equality seems a bit generous for Black, although it is hard for White to make progress. 19.Rc2 Qd6 20. Rce2 Ng6 Qb4 21.g3 22.Qc2

22.Qxb4 Nxb4 23.Bbl was worth considering, intending

h2-h4. 22... Qd6 23. Bxg6 Qxg6 24.Ne5 This leads to a general liquidation of pieces and a dead draw. 24 ... Qxc2 25.Rxc2 Nb4 26.Rc4 as 27.Nxc6 Nxc6 28.Rxc6 Rxd4 I{xa4 29.Rxb6

1/2-1/2 Sufferer-AI Awadhi West Germany vs. Kuwait 1987 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 BcS 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4

Chapter 5: 4 .. .Bc5 5.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2

49

t

We have now reached a position from the Italian Game, where Black has good chances for equality, if he plays very carefully. 6... Bb4+ 6 ... Bb6?! 7.dS Ne7 B.eS Ng4 9.d6!+ / - was proposed by Keres. 7.Bd2 Bxd2+ This capture is the standard move, as recommended by most opening books .. 8.Nbxd2 d6?! This is too passive. 8 ... d5! is the best defense. 9.d5 Ne7 10.0-0 Bg4 11.Qb3! A standard reply, when the enemy bishop abandons his queenside post. 11... Bxf3 12.Qxf3 0-0 13.Qb3!

50

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

13... Qd7 14.Rfel ! 14.Qxb7 RfbS 15.Qa6 I~b2=+ 14... Ng6 15.g3 Ne5 16.Bfl I{fe8 17.f4 Neg4 If Black could get to the a7-g1 diagonal he might be able to do some damage, but this feeble attack is easily repulsed. 18.h3 Nh6 19.Bg2 b6 20.g4+ / - Nhxg4 21.hxg4 Qxg4 22.Qf3 Qh4 23.Qf2 Qg4 24.Re3

Now White will have the better kings ide attack, as well as the material. 24... 25.Rg3

Re7 Qd7 Ne8 QbS

26.e5 27.e6! 27...fxe6 28.dxe6 Qxe6 29.Bxa8 28.Qd4 Qe2

Chapter 5: 4 .. .Bc5 S.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2

51

29.Bf3 (2b5 30.Ne4 and Black resigned because of the threat of 31.Nf6+ Nxf632.(2xf6. 1-0

Chapter 6 5.e5 Ng4 IIlescas-Sanz Leon 1989 1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS Ng4 6.Qe2 Qe7 7.Bf4 f6 8.exf6 Nxf6

~1~~~~I:l~\lt~~

~]~:~:lt'j\:'~ 1~:!.:)~j1I~: : i

~il~;t.:)fl~~::::::JI:j~~:~))*t::.::::J ~.ltl1lil.~. .Mntl'1·fn~I))j@~l ~§~~t 1) fii~jIj

~OIi

m~lt} t\ ~

Gligoric gave his seal of approval to this m()ve in ECO, but as we shall see the resulting variatil)nS are clearly in White's favor. 9.Nbd2 d6 lO.Nb3 Bg4 11.Qxe7+ Bxe7 12.Nfxd4 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 White already stands better, according to Zagorovsky. The center is balanced, with the Pd6 supporting the e5 square, but the Be7 lacks scope and the Nd4 is well placed for action on either side of the board. 13... 0-0-0

52

53

13 ... d5! is preferred by Harding. 14.Bd3 c6 (14... 0-0-0 is no better here than at the last move. 15.h3 Bh5 16.Nf5 BfB 17.Ng3 Bf7 gives White a slight advantage in mobility and space, although I cannot agree with Sveshnikov.l who considers the position after 15.h3 significantly better for White; 14... c5 15.Bb5+ Bd7 16.Bxd7+ Kxd7 17.NfS is given by Sveshnikov. 17 ... BfB 18.0-0-0 Kc6 19.Rhel gives White a clear advantage, e.g., 19 ... Re8 20.Rxe8 Nxe8 21.Rel Nd6 22.Re6 Kd7 23.Rxd6+ Bxd6 24.Nxd6 RfB 25.Bg3+/-) 15.h3 Bd7 ( 15... Bh5 16.Nf5 BfB 17.Nd6+ Bxd6 18.Bxd6 Kd7 19.BcS Rae8+ 20.Kd2 Ne4+ 21.Bxe4 l{xe4 22.Bxa7+=) 16.Nf5 BxfS 17.Bxf5 0-0 18.Be3 and the bishop pair gave White the advantage in Sveshnikov-Berkovicll, Moscow Championship 1983. 14.f3 Sveshnikov prefers 14.h3 followed by Ne6, which is also a good plan. 14... Bd7 15.0-0-0 15.Ne6 Bxe6 16.Bxe6+ Kb8 is also better for White, but there is no rush to obtain the bishop pair. 15... Rde8 16.Rhel d5 17.Bd3 Bd8 Black's lack of mobility forces him into passivity . 17... Bc5 18.Nb3 Bf2 19.Rxe8+ Rxe8 20.Rfl ReI + 21.Rxel

54

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

Bxel 22. Be3! creates a nasty threat of g2-g3, trapping the bishop. If Black runs away, then White can safely go pawn-grabbing on the queenside: 22 ... Bh4 23.Bxa7 b6 24.Ba6+ Kd8 25.g3 Bg5+ 26.£4 Bh6 27.Nd4 g5 28.fxgS Bxg5+ 29.I
*

White completely dominates the center, and can operate on either wing. 20 ... a6 21.b4 Ne4 Black attempts to introduce tactical complications to compensate for his positional disadvantages, but they do not work. 22.Bg7 Nc3 23.Rxe8 24.Rxe8 25.Kd2!

Rxe8 Bxe8

A powerful pawn sacrifice which traps the Black knight on the edge of the board. 25... Nxa2 26.c3 Bg5+ 27.Kc2 Ncl 28.Bfl!

55

Black may have thought that his knight was going to escape, but this move puts paid to that plan. 28... Ba4+ 29.Kb2 Bdl 30.Be5

Bd2

31.g3 32.Nc2!

Be3 Bd2

33.Bf4!

Bxf4

34.gxf4 Ne2 Finally the knight escapes, but Black pays a very high . prIce. Nxc3 35,Ne3! 36.Kxc3

Bxf3

37.Bh3+ Kd8 38.Kd4 Black's pawns are no match for White's active pieces. 38... c6 39.Ke5 b6 40.Kd6 as 41.Nc2 axb4 42.Nd4 1-0

56

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

Estrin-Boey 10th World Correspondence Championship 1978 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS Ng4 6.Qe2 Qe7 7.Bf4 f6 8.exf6 Qxe2+ 9.Kxe2! I·~:::::::;:

""~~

*

1 :::::::x

:::::.-::!

j,

. ::'I'-'~

._ ~li1i .... ~: ~ __. ~

IJI, !~~, tim ~t:;~ ~i! mi7

. """r·· .·.w.· _ ..

·.WO.".

11.

" N• ••••

til

:Jll!~ :iJI :::~! :;fr!;~ ;d~~1(il@~t ·51:@~I·i·\~w~

w~tflfl ,; ; : ~~:@tj~:rtlJ

9...

Nxf6

9 ... gxf6 IO.Bxc7 a) IO ... d6 II.BbS Bd7 12.Bxc6 Bxc6 I-larding gives only I2 ... bxc6 13.Nxd4 with insufficient compensation. 13.Nxd4 Kd7 14.BaS (14.Nxc6 bxc6 IS.Ba5+=) Bxg2 I5.Rgl Re8+ 16.Kd2 Bh6+ 17.Kc3 Nxf2 18.Rxg2 Ne4+ +/-; b) 10 ... NgeS is suggested by Harding, who provides the following analysis: 11.Bxe5! fxe5 (11 ... Nxe5 12.Nbd2 intending RhI-el, Ke2-fl.) 12.c3 dxc3 13.Nxc3+/- Harding comments that even though the pawns are no longer doubled, White has a lead in devel<.)pment and control of dS. I consider the position a crush, because Black's pawns are weak and he cannot develop confortably. 10.Rel d6 11.Kfl+ Be7 12.Nbd2

Chapter 6: 5.e5 Ng4

57

12... a6 12... Bd7 13.Nb3 h6 14.Nbxd4 g5 15.Bd2+= GeorgadzeKatalimov, USSR 1975. Black has significant weaknesses at e6 and f5. 13.Nb3 bS 14.Bd3 Bd7 14 ... Bb715.NgS+/- Nd8 16.Nxd4 Be8 17.13f5 15.Nbxd4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Kf7 17.c4! I ~~ . ~Ij~f --'-'il~t . . ill

:Z~:; ~:~l~':::.::i

..,......-.. . . . . . D. . . . . .,ll . .w.T....

l::I ~:;~:@i§·:i~~ :.·11Itl

17... Rhb8 Estrin provided the following analysis in Fernsehach: 17...b4 I8.cS! dxc5 19.Be4+ Kf8 20.Ne6+ Bxe6 21.Rxe6+/17... e5 18.Nf5 Bxf5 19.BxfS bxc4 20.Be6+ Kf8 21.Radl+/17 ... bxc4 18.Bxc4+ dS 19.Bb3 c5 20.Nf3 c4 21.NeS+ Kf8 22.Bc2+/18.Rael bxc4 19.Bxc4+ dS

58

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

20.Bb3

Rb4

21.BeS

White controls most of the critical squares in the center, and now seeks to complete his domination by undermining the support of d5. 21... c5 22.Nc2! 22.Bxf6 Kxf6 23.Bxd5 cxd4 24.Bxa8 Rxb2 is unclear ~~... c:4 23.Bxf6

Kxf6

23 ... Bxf6 24.Nxb4 cxb3 25.Nxd5 Bxb2 26.Rbl Be6 ~7.Rxb2 (~7.Rxe6? Kxe6 ~8.Nc7+ Kd7 29.Nxa8 bxa2!-/ +) Bxd5 28.axb3+~4.Rxe7! Kxe7 2S.Nxb4 cxb3 26.NxdS+ Kd6 27.Rdl BbS+ 27...bxa2 28.Nb6++28.Ke 1 bxa2!? 28... Re8+ 29.Ne3+ Kc:5 30.Rcl+ Kb4 31.a3+ Ka4 32.Rc7! Rg8 33.Rf7 intending Rf7-f4-b4 and the b-pawn falls. 29.Nb6+ KcS 30.Nxa8 Kb4 31.Nc:7 Kb3 32.Kd2!

Chapter 6: S.eS Ng4

59

White cannot save the b-pawn, so he brings his king over to help with the defense. It doesn't matter whether Black captures immediately, so he tries to help out his kingside pawns. 32... g5 33.Ne6 g4 34.f4 gxf3 35.gxf3 Kxb2

t.,.,,,..•f [~~W~;!

.,.,.,.,.,. C...,.,.,.,.:/. . . ·,·,·,·>:·t '!'1 ~;t~;~;~ b1 tt~~~j ftl_,

Now White c()mes up with a brilliant idea, based on the fact that his f-pawn can be guided to the queening square by the knight on its own. 36.Ral!! Bc4 36 ... Kxal 37.Kc1 and the f-pawn flies. 37.Nd4 as 38.f4 and Black resigned. Harding gives further: 38 ... a4 (38 ... Kxal 39.Kcl a4 40.Nc2#) 39.f5 a3 40.Nc2 Bb3 41.f6 Bf7 42.Rel Bg6 43.Re7? but now he has the incomprehesible 43 ... Bxc2 44.Rxa2+, which is clearly illegal. 43.Nal! is the correct path to tIle win. 43 ... Bbl 44.f7 Kxal 45.Kc3 h5 46.f8Q h4 47.Qf6 h3 48.Kb3#.

Sveshnikov-Kuzmin

Tashkent 1980 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS Ng4 6.Qe2 Qe7 7.Bf4 d6

hO

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

7... b5 8.Bb3! Suggested by Otto Hardy, but the analysis needs to be extended. 8 ...Qb4+ 9.Bd2 QcS IO.O-O! Ngxe5? 11.NxeS Nxe5 (11 ... Qxe5!? Given a ? by Harding, perhaps unfairly. 12.QxeS+ Harding stops here with lIetc." I but it isn't quite that simple. 12... NxeS 13.Rel d6 14.Bd5 Rb8 15.f4 f6 Black will have three pawns for the piece, but White can retain a small edge. 16.fxeS dxe5 17.h4+= intending c3.) 12.Rel d6 13.f4 d3+ 14.Qf2 Harding stops here. 14 ... Qxf2+ IS.Kxf2 dxc2 16.Bxc2 f617.Nc3 c6 18.fxeS dxe519.Be4+/8.cxd6 Qxe2+ 9.Bxe2 Bxd6 cxd6 lO.Bxd6 1] .Na3

wrtr t r··i rrml!····ri;t····';:;"l···r r

f ;:;;>

~~ff~~

~~~I""'j

:1

nt]S'~¥M:;<~':}:t~;'llf~ Black has tried a number of moves in this position. 11... BfS Alternatives are considered in the game Hug-Gorla. 12.NbS! 0-0-0 13.Nbxd4 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Bd7 15.Bxg4!

This forcing sequence has established a positional advantage for White, since the knight is an effective blockader of the isolated pawn, and there is often the threat of NbS, attacking a7 and d6. 15... Bxg4 16.f3 Bd7

Chapter 6: S.eS Ng4

61

17.Kf2 Rhe8 18.Rhdl! White does not want to exchange rooks yet. Even though the knight is clearly better than the bishop, the rooks are still needed to put pressure on d6. 18... ReS 19.Rd2 Rde8 20.Radl Kc7

21.Ne2! Now the knight begins its journey to d5, which will be reinforced by the advance of the c-pawn. 21... Bc6 1{8e6 22.b3 23.c4

as

24.h3 Rf6 25.Nc3 g5 26.a3 More preliminaries-Whi te advances his a- and b-

pawns. 26 ... 27.b4 28.Nd5+!

h5

g4

62

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

28... BxdS 29.RxdS The rook ending is much better for White. 29... axb4 30.axb4 gxf3 31.gxf3 Rfe6 32.Rld4 Rg6 33.f4!+/- RxdS h4 34.Rxd5 35.Rg5! Re6 35... Rxg5 36.fxgS Kc6 37.Ke3 dS 38.c5 b6 39.Kd4+36.Kf3 Rel 37.RfS Rgl 37... Re7 38.Kg4+-

38.Rxf7+ Kc6 39.b5+ Kb6 40.f5! Rg3+ 41.Kf4 Rxh3 42.Rd7 Rhl 43.Rxd6+ Kc5 44.Rd7 Kxc4 h3 45.Rxb7

46.Kg3

h2

47.Rf7

Kxb5

Chapter 6: S.e5 Ng4

48.Kg2 49.Kxh2 50.Kh3 51.Re7 52.Re5+ 53.Kh4! 54.Re2+5S.KhS 56.Kh6

63

Rgl+ RgB KcS RgS Kd6

Rgl Kd7

RgB 1-0

Hug-Gorla Bad Rogaz 1991 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS Ng4 6.Qe2 Qe7 7.Bf4 d6 8.exd6 Qxe2+ 9.Bxe2 Bxd610.Bxd6 cxd611.Na3

11... NgeS 11 ... a6 12.Nc4 Ke713.Nb6 Rb8 14.Rdl Nge5 15.Nxd4 Be6 16.0-0+= Nesterenko-Zimmerman, Correspondence 1963. 11 ... Be612.NbS 0-0-0 13.Nfxd4 Rhe814.0-0 Nf61S.Radl+== d6 is a weak square, Hromada-Adams, Correspondence 1977. 12.Nb5 Nxf3+ This is an attempt to improve on a previous game which saw White obtain an easy ending after:12 ... d3

13.Nxe5 a) 13... dxe2

h,1

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

al) 14.Nxd6+! Ke7 15.Nxc6+ Kxd6 (15 ... bxc6 16.Nxc8+ Raxc8 17.Kxe2+/-) 16.Nd4 ReS 17.Nxe2 BfS 18.0-0-0++ /-;

a2) 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Nc7+ Kd7 16.Nxa8 Ba6 17.b3 d5 18.Rel RxaB 19.c4 dxc4 20.bxc4 ReB 21.Rc2 Re4 22.Rxe2 Rxe2+ 23.Kxe2 Bxc4+ 24.Ke3 Bxa2 25.Ral BdS 26.Rxa7++=; b) 13 ... dxeS 14.Bxd3 0-0 15.0-0-0+== LebovichUmansky, Kaluga 1968. 13.Bxf3 Ke7 14.0-0-0!+ /fi-{¥@? i f~~i~~!-' --ti~~~fJ --"Ti~1

f'ii.: ff.J~:::: .t:i~:)ll~:'!'.l

There is no rush to reclaim the pawn. White's superior pawn structure guarantees his positional advantage. 14... NeS 15.Rhel f6 16.Rxd4 Rd8 17.Be4!

Bd7

18.Nc3 Now Black decides to part with a pawn to relieve the pressure and establish some counterplay, but the investment does not payoff. 18... Kf7 19.Bxb7 Rab8 20.BdS+ Kf8 21.Bb3 The White king has more than enough protection.

Chapter 6: S.eS Ng4

21... 22. Red 1 23.h3 24.f4! 25.NdS

65

BfS Rb6 h5 Ng6

Even if White didn't have an extra pawn, his complete control of the center and powerful outpost at d5 gives him a tremendous game. 25... Rc6 26.Ne3 Be8 27.Nc4 Ke7 28.Ba4 Rc7 Now the d-pawn falls, and the rest is simple. 29.Nxd6 Kf8 30.Nxc8 Rdxc8 31.Rd8+ Rxd8 Ke7 32.Rxd8+ Nh4 33.Rd4 Nf3 34.g4 Kd6 3S.Re4+ Nd4 36.Re3 37.Rd3 Kc5 Kd6 38.Rc3+ 39.Rxc7 Kxc7 40.Kd2 hxg4

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

41.hxg4 42.Ke3

43.g5 44.Bb5 45.Kf3 46.Bd3 47. Bc4+ 48.Bf7 49.Ke2 50.BhS

Nf3+ Nh2 Kd6 Ng4+ f5 Ke6

Kd6 Nh2+ Ng4 1-0

Chapter 7 5.e5 Ne4 Kupreichik-Belyavsky USSR Championship 1981 1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS Ne4 6.0-0 Be7 6 ... Nc5!? is an interesting, and perhaps undervalued alternative, since the knight can take up a solid position on e6. 7.Nxd4 a) 7 ... Nxe5? 8.Rel; b) 7 ... Ne6!? is suggested by Harding. 8.Nxe6 dxe6 (8 ... fxe6 9.Rel BcS 10.Qh5+ g6 11.Qh6 looks better for White, since pressure at f2 can be eliminated by Bcl-e3.) 9.Qxd8+ Nxd8 lO.Nc3 a6 11.Be3 and White is way ahead in development as space.; c) 7 ... Nxd4 8.Qxd4 d6?! (8 ... Ne6 9.Qg4 d6 10.Rdl!?) 9.Bf4 d5

cl) 10.Bxd5! is stronger, as noted by Zagorovsky: 10 ... BfS (lO ... c6? 11.Bxf7+ Kxf712.Qxd8); c2) 10.Qxd5 QxdS 11.BxdS Bf5 12.b4 c6 13.bxcS cxdS 14.Nc3 0-0-0 brought Black equality in KuzminRomanishin, Tallinn 1979. 7.c3

67

7... dS 7... dxc3 8.Qd5 leads to immediate disaster. 8.Bb3 Nc5 8 ... dxc3 9.BxdS cxb2 lO.Bxb2 Nc5 11.Bxc6+ bxc6 12.Nd4 is suggested by Harding. I think that White has compensation for the pawns. 12 ... Bb7 (12 ... Bd7 13.Qf3 Rb8 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Qxc6+ Qd7 16.Qxd7+ Nxd7 17.Bc3 and the weak pawn at c7 will become a target . White will place his knight at e4 and one or two rooks on the d-file.) 13.Qf3 Qd714.Rdl. 9.cxd4 Nxb3 10.Qxb3 Rb8 This is a typical idea introduced by Chigorin almost a century ago. The rook acts as a defender of tlle pawn, and can support a later advance. Now Bc8-e6 will be possible. 11.Nc3 Be6 12.Be3 13.Rad11+=

0-0

White is better here because he can olav

on

tho

Chapter 7: S.e5 Ne4

69

kingside, while Black has no source of effective counterplay. 13... NaS 14.Qc2 Bg4 15.Qe2 Nc4 It is not clear that Black achieves anything by sending the knight on such a long journey to eliminate the Be3. The plan is to eventually undermine the White center with c7-cS, but it is very slow. 16.h3 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 Be6 18.Nh2! £6 18...b619.f4 c5 20.f5 cxd4 21.Rxd4 Bc5 22.f6! Bxd423.Qxd4 g6 24.Qh4 h5 25.QgS+19.exf6 Rxf6 20.Nf3 Qd6 21.Rdel+/The control of the e-file, and especially the eS-square, gives White a clear advantage. 21...

ReB

22.NeS Bf8 23.f4 c5 24.Khl Qb6 Black creates threats at d4 and b2, but the White attack continues unabated. 25.Ng4 RfS 26.Qg3

70

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

White threatens 27.Nh6+. 26... Kh8 27.Ne3 Now the d-pawn falls. 27... Rf7 28.Nexd5 Qc6 29.dxc5 Bxd5 30.Rxe8 Bxg2+ 30... Qxe8 31.Nxd5 and Black is just two pawns down. 31.Qxg2 QxeB 32.Ne4 Qd7 33.Qf3 The bishop has no scope and the rest is just a mopping up operation. 33 ... h6 34.Rdl Qc6 Kh7 35.Rd8 Be7 36.Kh2 37.Rd3 Bxc5? Qb6 38.Rc3 39.Rxc5 Qxb2+ Qd4 40.Kg3 1-0 41.Rc2

Chapter 8 S.eS Ne4 6.0-0 dS Estrin-Sadomsky 5th World Correspondence Championship 1961 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS Ne4 6.0-0 d5 7.BbS Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.Nxd4 c5

;I~~ :::~\jj~!f~I[~/:f.\jJ.~l:~!.1

:·:·*·:&(:·,,, 1 .J l§~~f 1.) t1Si~ rr fJm ~ llcl1...

.,.r••

J

This advance weakens the dS-square, and White can take advantage of this quickly. lO.Nb3 c6 11.c4! dxc4 11 ... d4 12.f3 Ng5 13.f4 Nc4 (13 ... Ne6 14.£5 Nc7 lS.e6!Estrin.) 14.Rel BfS (14 ... f5 15.ex£6) 15.g4 12.N3d2 Nxd2 13.Nxd2 Be6 14.Qa4 Qb6

71

72

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

Now if 15.Nxc4 Black can achieve equality with 15 ... Qb5! But White is in no hurry to go after the weak pawns, since the enemy king is exposed. 14... Bd5 15.Nxc4 Bxc4 16.Qxc6+! Ke717.Qxc5+ KeB 18.Qxc4 15.Qc2! Qa6 Black should have developed his Bf8 and castled instead of worrying about pawns. 16.Ne4 0-0-0 16 ... Be7 17.Be3 Qb5 IB.f4 DdS 19.Nc3 Qb4 20.f5 with a strong initiative. Qb5 Rd5

Now White finishes with a simple tactical trick. 19.Nxf7! Bxf7 20.QfS+ 1-0

Chapter 9

5.e5 d5 Tseitlin-Yuneyev Leningrad Championship 1979 1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS d5 6.BbS Nd7

This is simply too passive and White gets a good game by straightforward means. 7.0-0 Be7 7... Bc5 8.BgS Be7 9.Bxc6 bxc6 (9 ... Bxg5 lO.Nxd4 bxc6 11.Nxc6 and the queen is trapped.) 10.Nxd4! Bb7 (10 ... Bxg5 11.Nxc6 as in the previous note.) 11.Bxe7 Qxe712.f4 with a strong initiative for White. 7... Nb6 8.Nxd4 Bd7 9.e6! creates many weaknesses in Black's position. 9 ... fxe6 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.QhS+ g6 12.QeS Rg8 13.Nxe6 and the threat of a double check leads to a win for White. (Analys:s by Harding.) 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.Nxd4 Nb8 9 ... Nxe5? 10.Bf4 Ng6 11.Nxc6 Qd7 12.Nxe7 Kxe7 13.Rel+ Kd8 14.Bg3 gives White a clear position, as he can pry open the central files. lO.Nc3 10.£4 cS (10 ... Ba6 II.ReI (with the threat of e5-e6) 11 ... cS I2.NfS Bf8 13.Nc3 and White has a very strong game.) 73

74

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

11.Ne2 is considered better for White by Kasparov (BCa II). 11 ... g6 12.Nbc3 c6 13.Ng3 and Black will be unable to prevent the advance of the f-pawn, Salygo-Mizkevich, Correspondence 1965. 10... 0-0 10... c5 11.Ndb5 c6 12.Nd6+ Bxd6 13.exd6 0-0 (13 ...Qxd6? 14.Rel+ Be6 15.Ne4 Qe716.BgS Qf8 17.c4! (playable because of the mate threat at dB) 17... d4 18.b4 cxb4 19.Qxd4 Nd7 20.Nd6+#) 14.Bf4 Be6 15.Qd2 Nd7 16.Rfel Nb6 17.b3 NcB 18.Na4 and the pressure in the center gave White a clear advantage in Barczay-Smejkal, Raach 1969. 11.Qf3 Qd7 12.h3 RdB 13.Rel Na6 14.e6!

With the Black forces lying passively on the queenside, a combinative finish is unleashed. 16.Nxg7!! Rf8 16... Kxg7 17.QhS Rf8 18.Bh6+ KgB 19.Re3! 17.Qh5 Kxg7 18.Bg5 Bd6 19.Bh6+ Kh8 20.Bxf8 Bxf8 21.Re8 Bb7

Chapter 9: 5.eS d5 22.Rxa8

75

BxaB

Black's bishop is truly pathetic, and his king is still in a desperate situation. 23.Rel Bb7 24. ReB

KgB

25.Ne2 The threat is simply Ne2-g3-fS-h6. 25... Qf7 26.QgS+ Qg6 26 ... Kh8 27.Qe5+ KgB 28.Ng3 NcS 29.NfS Qd6 27.Qd8 28.Qg5+! Kf7 29.I{d8 Qe7 30.QfS+ KgB 31.Rd7

Be8

32.Qg4+

Bg7

33.Rxe7

Bxg4

34.hxg4

1-0

Chapter 10 S.eS dS 6.BbS Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 Malinin-Ibragimov Voronezh 1991 1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS dS 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 Bxc6 9.0-0

9... Bd7!? 9 ... Bc5 10.f3 Ng5 11.f4 Ne6 12.c3 Bb5 13.I~f2 Bxd4 14.cxd4 c5 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.Nc3 with a clear advantage for White thanks to the weak Pd5, Vooremaa-Rozhdestvensky, Estonia 1965. 10.f3 Ng5 11.Nc3 c6 12.f4?! This seems to lead by force to a good game for Black. 12.BxgS Qxg5 13.f4!? would have maintained the initaitive, though at the cost of the bishop pair. 12... Ne6 13.Kh1 Because White no longer has the pawn advance c2-c3 to protect the d4-square, he is forced to allow exchanges which benefit Black. 76

Chapter 10: S.eS d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7

13... 14.Qxd4 15.Be3 16.Rf2

77

Nxd4 Bf5 Qd7 h5 Be7

17.b4 White launches a minority attack as demanded by the structure, but Black is attacking quickly on the other wing. 18.b5 h4 bxc6 h3

21...

O-O!

Black has delayed castling long enough to make it clear in which direction the king must flee. 22.Kgl Rfb8! After serving its purpose on the h-file, the rook now grabs the only open file on the queenside. 23.Nc5 Bxc5 24. QxcS RbS 25.Qd6 Qb7 26.e6 Desperation. 26... fxe6 27.Bd4 c5 28.g4 Bxg4

78

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

29.fS 30.Qxe6+ 31.QeS 32.Qg3 33.Kfl 0-1

cxd4 Qf7 ReB Re4 Qf6

Tamm-Niedermaier Bundesliga 1984 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS d5 6.BbS Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 Qh4

The Black queen is needed for defense, and there is no real kingside attack against White's solid formation. 10.f3 NcS 11.Be3 11.£4 is a reasonable alternative. Estrin gives the following line: 11 ... g6 12.Be3 Ne6 13.Nd2! intending N2f3 or N2b3. 13... Nxd4 14.Bxd4 cS 15.e6! 11... g6 12.Nc3 White's idea is similar to that of the previous note except that f3-f4 is delayed until the e4-square is covered.

12... 13.Nxe6

Ne6 Bxe6

Chapter 10: 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7

14.Qd2 15.f4

79

Bg7

The desired structure is achieved. White's Be3 is actually better than the Bg7 and the critical squares d4 and c5 are firmly under control. 0-0 15... 16.BcS

Rfe8

17.Rael £6 Since the Ra8 is tied to the defense of the a-pawn, there was no way to improve the position before taking this decisive measure. 18. Bd4! fxeS 19.Bxe5 BxeS 20. Rxe5 White keeps capturing with a piece, rather than with the pawn, because he owns the e-file and wants to be able to play f4-f5 later. 20... Bf7 21.Rfel Qf6 22.Na4! Black is invited to exchange rooks, but White issues a reminder tha t the knigh t is much stronger than the bishop in any endgame. 22 ... Rxe5 23.Rxe5 ReB

HO

How to Play the Scotch Gambit 24. Rxe8+

Bxe8

25.Qe3!

The endgame is clearly much better for White, who dominates the only open file and has a much more cohesive pawn structure. 25... Kf7 26.Qxa7 Qxf4 27.Qf2 Now White has a passed pawn as well, and the minor piece endgame is easy. 27... Qxf2+ Ke7 28.Kxf2 29.Nc5 g5 30.a4 Kd8 31.aS Kc8 32.Ke3

Bg6

33.c3 h5 34.Ne6 Kb7 c5 35.Nxg5 36.Ne6 Kc6 37.a6 Kb6 38.Nxc5 Kxc5 39.a7 Be4 The last trick fails, since 40 ... d4+ is met by 41.cxd4 with check!

Chapter 10: S.eS d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7

40.a8Q

81

1-0

Bryson-Alarcon Novi Sad Olympiad 1990 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS dS 6.BbS Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 g6

10.f3 Nc5 11.£4 Ne6 12.b3 Black can rarely afford to weaken his position like this. 12.fS!? is also good: 12 ... Nxd4 13.Qxd4 Bxf5 14.e6! f6 15.Nc3 Bg7 16.Rel Qe7 17.Qa4 and White's more active pieces give him a clear advantage, Shipov-Solintsev, Moscow 1964. 12... Bc5 13.Be3 0-0 14.Nc3 Qe7 15.Qd2 Bb4 Otherwise White plays Na4 and c3.

82

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

16.a3! Bxa3 fxe6 17.Nxe6 18.Na4 The Ba3 is a virtual prisoner. 18... Rf7 19.c3 Bd6 White was preparing to play b4, after which the execution would soon take place. 20.exd6 cxd6

._. [~Im~~~ ·tJ1HI~~ ~~: 1~~ .1: ~Iri ~~~~~f!.:i .

r-lf~IHI~I -·-·,rJ~~~ t~~I~~~~

1 f \l 1

tti~

1

~tt~

.,~,.,pJ . .,Jat.7..,ftJ .~~:

i~§l Jiltl.]f!~~ ij. ~~f . _J 21.Nb6!

Exploiting the pin and bringing the game to a rapid conel usion. 21... Rb8 Qd8 22.Rxa7 23.Rxd7 1-0

Chapter 10: S.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7

83

Okhotnik-Didishko Eger open 1989 1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.8c4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS d5 6.Bb5 Ne4

7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 Be710.f3 Nc5 11.£4 Qb8

A recent attempt to improve play for Black, but it does not succeed if White reacts correctly on the queenside. 12.fS Qb6 13.a4! This gains important space on the queenside. Black should probably limit the amount of territory allowed to White by playing 13 ... a5. 13 ... O-O-O?! 14.a5 Qa6 15.Nc3 I~he8 16.Qf3! Black is suffocating here, with virtually no counterplay. 16... g6 16 ... Bf8 17.Bg5 Be7 18.Bxe7 Rxe7 19.Qg3 is very strong for White. 17.Be3 Qc4 18.Bf2 White threatens to trap the wayward Black queen. 18... Ne4

82

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

16.a3! Bxa3 17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.Na4 The Ba3 is a virtual prisoner. 18... Rf7 19.c3 Bd6 White was preparing to play b4, after which the execution would soon take place. 20.exd6 cxd6

~~~ m'l~r~~l\;:':::~/'~I~T~[l

pi ",,:::(J~::":::::~l::::": ..... ::::::::::l

21.Nb6! Exploiting the pin and bringing the game to a rapid concl usion. 21... Rb8 22.Rxa7 Qd8 23.Rxd7 1-0

Chapter 10: S.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7

83

Okhotnik-Didishko Eger open 1989 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 Be710.f3 Nc511.f4 Qb8 :'~.f,,-.-..-..-,,",

*

A recent attempt to improve play for Black, but it does not succeed if White reacts correctly on the queenside. 12.f5 Qb6 13.a4! This gains important space on the queenside. Black should probably limit the amount of territory allowed to White by playing 13 ... a5. 13 ... O-O-O?! Qa6 14.aS 15.Nc3 Rhe8 16.Qf3! Black is suffocating here, with virtually no counterplay. 16... g6 16... Bf8 17.Bg5 Be7 18.Bxe7 I{xe7 19.Qg3 is very strong for White. 17.Be3 Qc4 I8.Bf2 White threatens to trap the wayward Black queen. 18... Ne4

84

18... Bf819.Ncb5! cxb5 20.b3 Qb4 21.c3 19.e6! fxe6 20.fxe6 Bc5 21.exd7+ Rxd7 22.Radl! This leads to a queen sacrifice which results in a material advantage for White. 22 ...

Nxf2 I{f8 Bxf8

23.Qxf2 24.Qxf8+ 25.I{xf8+ Kb7 25 ... Rd8 26.I{xd8+ Kxd8 27.Kh 1 WOllld be a fairly easy win for White. 26.Ne6! This sets up Na4, since Qxa4 will be met by Nc5+. Therefore White will be able to establish a knight at the

strong square c5. 26... c5 27.Na4 Rd6 28.NaxcS+ Kc6 It was perhaps worth a pawn to gain some space for the king, but since the Rd6 has nowwhere to go Black is still

lost. 29.Rc8 Forced.

Rxe6

Chapter 10: 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7

30.Nxe6

Kd6

31.Rxc7!

Qe2

85

32.Rc6+! KeS Not 32... Kxc6? 33.Nd4+. 33.Ral ?! 33.I{xdS+! was the most efficient route to victory: 33... Ke4 (33 ... Kxd5 34.Nf4+ Kxc6 35.Nxe2) 34.Rc4+! Qxc4 (34 ... Kxd5 3S.Nf4+ Kxc4 36.Nxe2) 3S.Rd4+ Qxd4+ 36.Nxd4 Kxd4 37.c3+ Kc4 38.b4 Kxc3 39.bS+33... h5 34.h4 Qe4 3S.Rfl Qxh4 36.Nf4 Qg3 37.I~e6+ 1-0

Carr-Horne Guernsey 1987 1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 S.eS dS 6.Bb5 Ne4

7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 Be710.f3 Nc5 11.f4 Ne4

86

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

Here Harding prefers 12.f5 as the main line, but I feel confident that this developing move offers White excellent chances at no risk. 12.Nc3 Nxc3 12... c5 13.Nb3 Nxc3 14.bxc3 c4 15.Nd4 cS 16.Ne2 Bc6 17.Be3 is better for White, since Black must devote all of his attention to holding his precarious central pawns. 17... Qd7 I8.fS! d4 19.cxd4 QdS is only a chimera. There is no real attack because Black can muster no force to add to the battery of queen and bishop. 20.Nf4 Qe4 21.Qf3! cxd4 22.Qxe4 Bxe4 23.Bxd4 0-0-0 24.e3 Bxf5 25.Nh5 g6 26.Ng7! Be6 27.Nxe6 fxe6 28.Bxa7 with an easy win in the endgame in Biro-Zsinka, Budapest 1985. 12 ... fS!? was suggested by Keres. Harding doesn't comment, but I don't see the reply to the simple advance of the e-pawn. 13.e6 BeB 14.Nxc6 a) 14 ... Nxc3 15.bxc3 Qd6 16.Nxe7 Kxe7 17.Qd4 Rg8 18.a4! Qxe6 19.Ba3+ Kf7 20.Rael Qd7 21.Re7+ Qxe7 22.Bxe7 Kxe7 23.QxdS Bd7 (23 ... Be6 24.Rel) 24.Rel ++-; b) 14... Qd6 15.Nxe7 Nxc3 16.Nxf5 Nxdl 17.Nxd6+ cxd618.f5! g6 19.Rxdl gxfS 20.Rxd5 Bxe6 21.Rxd6 Ke722.B£4 and the bishops of opposite colors can't save this one! 13.bxc3 c5 13 ... Bc5 also failed to bring equality in Stanciu-Kovacs, Dublin 1969. 13 ... 0-0 transposes to previously games analyzed above. 14.Ne2 Bb5

Chapter 10: 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7

87

*

Because Black has not yet castled, White can simply continue his aggression on the e- and f-files. d4 IS.fS! 16.cxd4 cxd4 17.Rf3 Avoiding 17.Qxd4? Bxe2. 17... BcS 18.Khl White eliminates Black's only threat, and despite the seemingly active bishops Black is in deep trouble, because his king is exposed and the d-pawn is weak. 18... Bc6 19.Rg3 Qd5 Again we see this attacking theme-and again it is useless because there is no way to increase the pressure. 20.Nf4! Qe4 20 ... QxeS 21.Nd3 Qd6 22.Bf4 Qf8 23.Bxc7 Kd7 24.Be5 f6 25.Nxc5+ Qxc5 26.Rxg7++21.Nd3 Be7 22.Qfl! White carefully guards all of his assets while preparing to develop the Bel and play Ral-el. 22... 0-0-0 The Black king will never be safe in the center, nor on the kingside. But now White can attack along the b-file.

88

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

23.Rbl h5 24.h3 g5 25.f6! Qh4 The bishop has no good retreat. 25 ... Bf8 26.Bxg5 Bh6 27.NcS! with Qa6+ to follow. 26.fxe7 Qxg3 27.exd8Q+ l<xd8 28.Kgl Now White is simply a piece ahead. 28... f6 29.NcS Rd5 30.Qa6+ Kd8 31.Bf4 32. Qxc6 33.Khl

gxf4

Qe3+ 1-0

Edelman-Vucic Manhattan 1989 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 S.eS dS 6.BbS Ne4

7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 Be710.f3 Nc5 11.f4 0-0 12.fS Ne4 13.Nc3 Nxc3 14.bxc3 cS 15.Nb3 c4 16.Nd4 f6

An attempt to improve on previous theory. 16 ... Re8 17.Qf3 cS 18.f6! a) 18 ... gxf6 19.Bh6! I
Chapter 10: S.eS d5 6.BbS Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7

89

[even better is 21.BxcS-Magar1 cxd4 22.Qg3+-) 20.exf6 Bxf6 21.Qxf6+ Qxf6 22.Rxf6 cxd4 23.cxd4 Be6 24.Rf4 and White retains a strong attack, according to Estrin.; b) 18... cxd4 19.fxe7 Qxe7 20.cxd4 Be6 21.Qg3 and White's superior bishop gave him the advantage in Estrin-Polyak, 1954. 16 ... BcS 17.QhS £6 18.e6 Be8 19.Qh4 Qe7 20.Rf3 Rb8 (Cited by Harding as a game BerezinGoldberg) 21.Be3! (Suggested by Estrin) 21 ... Rb2 22.Rh3 h6 23. Bxh6!-Harding. 17.e6 Be8 18.Qg4 Black's plan has led to a disastrt)us position. The pawn wedge ties down the pieces and the White knight has an excellent post at d4. All that is needed now is a successful kings ide attack. 18... h5 19.Qg3 Bd6 20.B£4

Bxf4

21.Qxf4 c5 A major concession, as now the Pd5 is very weak. 22.Ne2 Qb8 23.Rabl Qe5 The endgame after 23 ... Qxf4 would have been quite hopeless for Black. 24.Qd2! 24.QxeS fxeS 2S.Rb7 d4 26.Rc7 d3 27.cxd3 cxd3 28.Ng3 h4 29.Ne4 BhS 30.RxcS Be2 31.Rf2 Rab8 provides some counterplay. 24... Bc6 2S.Rbel Qd6 26.Nf4 White's play is logical-he takes control of the important e-file and puts more pressure on dS. There is

90

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

no pOint in trying to save the doomed h-pawn. 26... d4 27.NxhS Rfe8 28.Rf4 Re7 29.Rg4 Threatening Nxf6+. The pin on the Pd4 paralyzes Black.

Black thinks that he has avoided Nxf6+, but he hasn't! 30.Nxf6+! gxf6 31.Rh4+ KgB 32.Qh6 1-0 Okhotnik-Zaid USSR 1978 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 BcS 10.f3 Ng511.f4

Chapter 10: S.eS d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7

91

*

11...

Bg4

11 ... Ne612.Be3 a) 12 ... f6 13.Kh1 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Bxd4 15.Qxd4 0-0 16.Nd2 Qe7 17.c4+=; b) 12 ... Bxd4 13.Bxd4 0-0 Harding-W.Cummings, Correspondence 1986. 14.a4+=; c) 12 ... Bb6 13.a4 as Grobe-Turk, Correspondence 1984. 14.Nf5!-Harding. 14 ... 0-0 (14 ... Bxe3+ 15.Nxe3 0-0 16.c4+=) 15.Bxb6 cxb6 16.Nd6+==; d) 12... 0-0 13.c3 f5 14.Nd2 Bb6 15.b4+= Bxd4? 16.Bxd4 Nxd4 17.cxd4+/- See Messere-Nyman for the conclusion. 12.Qxg4 Bxd4+ 13.Khl Ne4 ··--lW; ~f~1 ·-··I~I···¥··~~~ I-Ilt $""' :"r.;;;;: ,.m.. ,~t /.{.,.,.!:~ .~.,.,.,.:: :~

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14.Qxg7!? 14.Nd2 may be best. 14 ... Nf2+ 15.Rxf2 Bxf2 16.Qxg7 Rf8 17.Nf3 Qd7 18.Qg5 Sveshnikov-Barrera, Cienfuegos 1979. The Black bishop will find it difficult to make a contribution and White can develop his remaining pieces quickly. 14... Qh4

92

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

15.Nc3 0-0-0 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Qxf7?! A bit too greedy. Zaid and Gufeld show that there was a better way: 17.Qg5! QxgS 18.fxgS Bxe5 19.c3 Rd3 20.Bf4! Although they do not provide an evaluation, the weakness of the Black pawns makes it clear that Black has an uphill struggle. The rook ending would be awful: 20 ... Bxf4 21.Rx£4 ReB 22.Rxf7 e3 23.Rel (23.Rxh7? e2 24.Rel Rd1-+) e2 24.Kgl Rd1 2S.Kf2 Rd2 26.Rxh7 Rxb2 (26 ... Rf8+ 27.Ke3+-) 27.Rf7 Kd8 28.g6 Rxa2 29.g7+Qg4-/ + 17...

*

Black has more than enough compensation for his pawns. 18.f5

18.Qb3 Rhg8! 19.Qh3 Qxh3 20.gxh3 e3 21.Re1 e222.Bd2 Bxb2 23.Rabl Rxd2 24.Rxb2 Rd1 25.Rbl Rxbl 26.Rxb1 Rd8!+-Zaid and Gufeld. 18... RhgB 19.Qe6+ Rd7 20.g3

Chapter 10; 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7

93

*

Now 20 ... Rg6! would have sealed the victory, but instead Black blunders. 20... e3?? 21.Qxc6! The mate threat at a8 is enough to turn the tide. 21... Kb8 22.Bxe3 Bxe3 23.Rael and now the pawns decide. 23... Bd2 24.Re4 Qg7 Or 24...Qh3 25.QbS+ Ka8 26.Rh4+-. as 25.c3 26.QbS+ 1-0

Sveshnikov-Milos Rio de Janeiro 1985 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Nf6 S.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 Bc5 lO.f3 Ng5 11.f4 Ne4 12.Be3 Bb6!

94

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

This is the critical variation. 13.Nd2 Nxd2 13 ... c5 14.N4b3 d4?! (14 ... Nxd2 transposes to the main line.) 15.Nxe4 dxe3 16.c4! BfS is given by Harding, who now gives the illegal 17.Nb3. He presumably means 17.Ng3. 17.Ng3 Qxdl 18.Raxdl Bc2 19.I{del Bxb3 20.axb3 0-0-0 21.Rxe3 Rd2 22.Re2 Rd3 23.Rf3 Rdl+ 24.Kf2+/c5 14.Qxd2 15.Ne2 d4 16.Bf2

Black's dark-squared bishop is a mere spectator and although theory claims the positions lead to unclear play, I think White has the better chances. 16... 0-0 16... Bc6 17.c4 Qc8 18.Qd3?! (18.h3!? makes more sense, in view of what follows. White can continue with Bf2-el and Nd2-g3, for example: 18 ... QfS 19.Bel Qe4 20.Ng3 Qg6 21.f5 Qh6 22.Qxh6 gxh6 23.NhS+/-) Qg4 19.Bg3 g6 20.h3 Qf5 21.QxfS gxfS unclear Fernandez-Westerinen, Alicante

Chapter 10: S.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7

95

1989.

17.c4 f5 The alternative 17... f6 is examined in FernandezBoudre. 18.a4 as Harding indicates that this is an interesting move, but it seems almost forced because the alternative weakens the d6-square.18 ... c6 19.a5 Bc7 20.b4 cxb4 (20 ... Qe7 21.bxc5 QxcS 22.Qxd4+/-) 21.Qxb4 Rb8 22.Qc5+= 19.h3 Bc6 20.Kh2 Qd7 21.b3 Rae8 22.Bh4! "-' ...... .Of ..•...• -,.... . .~

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Qf7 Bb7 Qg6 Kh8

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23.Ng3 24.Radl 25.Qe2 26.Rd3 The position is very complex. But White's advantages are of a more permanent nature, involving the pawn structure. Given the blockades, though/ it is difficult to see a clear plan to make progress. 26... Qc6 27.NhS Re6 28.Rg3

Rg6

96

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

29. ReI Rxg3 30.Nxg3 Qe6 31.Rdl Bc6 32.Rd3 Be8 This takes away the entry square at h5. 33.Nhl!? The intention is presumably to station this knight at d3. Bc6 33... Bb7 34.Bel Bc6 35.Rg3 Bd7 36.Bd2 Qf7 37.Rg5 Be6?! 38.Nf2 Not good, because it allows the White queen to take

command of the a8-h 1 diagonal. 39.Nd3

Qe8 Bd7 Qe7 White cannot make any progress this way, so he tries another tack. 42.Qel Ra8 43.Bcl ReB 44.Bd2 Ra8 39... 40.Qf3! 41.Qg3

Chapter 10: S.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7

97

Having pinned down the Black rook to the defense of the pawn, White can now launch a kingside attack. 4S.g4! Qf7 46.gxf5

Bxf5 I{b8

47.Qe2 48.Rg3 Qe7 49.Nf2 Rf8 SO.Ne4 Qd8 51.Ng5 Qe7 51 ... h6!? 52.Qh5?! (S2.Nf3 and White can try the same plan as in the game.) Qe8 53.Qh4 c6 and White cannot make progress. 52.Qel h6 53.Nf3

54.Rg2

Rb8 Qf7

55.Nh4! Now White zeroes in on the weakness at g6. 55... Bh7

98

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

56.Qg3 ReB 57.f5! c6 57... Bxf5?? 58.NxfS Qxf5 59.Qxg7# 58.e6 Qf8 1-0 59.Bxh6!

Fernandez-Boudre Pau 1988 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.8c4 Nf6 S.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 BcS 10.f3 Ng5 11.f4 Ne4 12.Be3 Bb6 13.Nd2 Nxd2 14.Qxd2 c5 15.Ne2 d4 16.Bf20-0 17.c4 f6?!

This plan is logical, but leads to disaster. 18.Bh4! g5 Or else exf6 will be very strong. 19.fxg5 fxeS 20.Ng3 intending Ng3-hS-f6. 20... Be8 21.Rxf8+ Kxf8 22.Rfl+ KgB 23.Ne4! There is another path to f6! 23... Bg6

Chapter 10: S.eS d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7

99

24.Nf6+ Kh8 2S.Bg3 Black resigned, since the e-pawn falls, or if 2S... e4, then 26.Be5 creates too many potential threats, as the Black king cannot get away from the diagonal. 1-0

Mansurov-Sagalchik Roslavl 1989

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS dS 6.BbS Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 Bc5 10.f3 NgS 11.f4 Ne4 12.Be3 0-0

White has a good game, if he can just eliminate the threats along the a7-g1 diagonal and finish his development. 13.Nd2 f6 Alternatives are examined in Kijk-Bokan. 14.N xe4 dxe4 15.Qe2 Qe7 15... Bg4! is better, but White still manages to obtain a superior position. 16.Qf2 a) 16 ... QdS? 17.Nxc6! Ba3 (17 ... Bxe3 18.Ne7+ Kh8 19.Qxe3 Qd7 20.QcS fxeS 21.fxeS intending Ng6+.) 18.exf6 Rxf6 19.NeS Qxe5 20.fxe5 Rxf2 21.Bxf2 Bxb2 22.Rael Bf5 23.BcS g6 was played in Sveshnikov-Keres, USSR Championship 1973. Now with 24.g4! Bxg4 25.Rxe4 BfS

tOO

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

26.Re3 White would have obtained a clear advantage.; b) 16... Qe8 17.Nb3 Bb6 (17... Be7?! 18.Bd4 as 19.Qe3 £5 20.NcS! Bxc5 21.Bxc5 Rf7 22.Qb3+= Keffler-Gibbs, Correspondence 1978.) 18.c4 Bxe3 19.Qxe3 Qg6 (19 ... fxeS 20.Qxe4 exf4 21.Rxf4 Qxe4 22.Rxe4 Bf5 23.Re7 Rf7 24.Rxf7 Kxf7 2S.Nd4+=) 20.Rael fxeS 21.Qxe4 exf4 This position, from Bredewout-Karaklajic, Beverwijk 1967, has been evaluated as even, but Harding is correct in his analysis which shows an that in the endgame White will stand better: 22.Qxg6 hxg6 23.Re7 Rac8 24.NcS reducing the scope of the Bg4 and threatening h2-h3. 24 ... g5 25.Rfel+= 16.Qc4+ 16.Nb3!? suggested by Estrin, also gives White a good game. 16... Kh8 17.Rael ExeS

18.Nxc6! Bxe3+ 19.I{xe3 Bxc6 20. Qxc6 Qb4 21.b3 Once again White's better pawn structure gives him the better game. 21 ... Rad8 22.Rxe4 Qd2 Rd4?! 23.f5! 24.QcS! RfdS

Chapter 10: 5.e5 dS 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7

25.Qxe5 Rxe4 26.Qxe4+/- h6 27.h3 1-0

101

Chapter 11 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bc5 Kijk-Bokan Tallinn 1989 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 S.eS dS 6.BbS Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bc5 8.0-0 Bd7 9.Bxc6 bxc6 lO.f3 Ng5 11.f4 Ne4 12.Be3 0-0 13.Nd2

13... Nxd2 13... f5 14.Nxe4 fxe4 (14 ... dxe4 15.Qe2 and Black has no compensation for the doubled pawns.) 15.Qd2 Qe7 (15 ... Bb6 16.Nb3 as 17.a4 Qe7 18.Kh1 += Vistaneckis-Uusi, Vilnius 1960.) 16.Nb3 Bb6 17.Qc3+ / - with control of c5, Okhotnik-S.Sokolov, USSR 1981. 13 ... Qe7 14.Nxe4! dxe4 15.Qel Bb6 16.Nb3 c5 17.Qf2 c4 18.NcS+=-Harding. 14.Qxd2 f6 14 ... Qe7 15.Nb3 Bb6 16.Rae1 BfS (16 ... f6? 17.e6! Bxe6 18.Bxb6 axb6 19.f5) 17.Qe3 and again White controls c5 and thereby gains the upper hand, e.g., 17 ... Qd7 18.Bc5 Rab8 19.Rf2! Rfd8 20.Rd2+= Adorjan-Kluger, Hungarian Championship 1966. 15.Nf3!? IS.Rfel is also good: 15 ... fxeS 16.fxe5 Bb6 17.e6 Be8 102

Chapter 11: 5.eS d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bc5

103

18.Nxc6 Qd6 was played in Belinkov-Donchenko, Moscow 1963. Here Estrin points out that White can win a pawn. 19.Qxd5! Bxe6 (19 ... Qxd5 20.Ne7+ Kh8 21.Nxd5 Bxe6 22.Bxb6 Bxd5 23.Bxc7 Rac8 24.Re7 Rf7 25.Rael Rxe726.Rxe7

Bxa2 27.Be5+/-) 20.Qxd6 cxd6 21.Bxb6+15... Bb6 16.Rael fxeS 17.NxeS

:'J(JIf··:·~·Jll1.ji~~ 1:¥£Y ~:l/i.jil:~:l~ M~:~:~::fjli\~l~~ @Jit:;~~'l Iiill~' ;'@~~Fl~~ ffj]F~~;: ,··tt" _. ~: : : : l z§> -,.' ::::::::::

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White has a dominating position in the center and can work against the weak pawns. 17... Be8 18.c3 c5 19.Rdl c6 20.Qf2 Qd6 I{f6 21.a4! 21 ... aS?! 22.b4! 22.a5 Bxa5 Qb8 23.Bxc5 With Black's forces in disarray and far from the White can now go on the attack. 24.Ng4! Rf7 25.Qg3 Kh8 26.NeS Rf6 27.h4 Bb6

104

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

2B.Qe3 29. QxcS 30.Rd4 31.bxcS

BxcS Qb6 QxcS

Despite the passed pawn, it is simply a matter of good knight vs. bad bishop here. 31... Re6 32.Ral 33.g3 34.gxf4 3S.Kf2 36.Rda4 37.Ke3

gS gxf4 Bg6

as Rf6

The key to White's advantage is his ability to use the dark squares in the center. 37... Raf8 38.Rfl 38.Rxa5?! Rxf4 39.Nxc6 Re4+ 40.Kd2 Rf2+ 41.Kdl BhS+ 42.Kcl Rel+ 38...

RaB

39.Rf2 Be4 40.Rfa2 Kg7 40 ... Raf8 41.RxaS Rxf4 42.Nxc6 Rf3+ 43.Kd4 Rd3+ 44.KeS Rxc3 45.Ne7 ReB 46.Kd6+ / -

41.Rxa5

Rxa5

Chapter 11: S.eS dS 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bc5

42.Rxa5 43.Ra7+ 44.Kd4 45. Ra8+ 46. Ra7+ 47.Rc7 48.Nxc6 49.Ra7 50.Ke5 51.Ne7+ S2.c6 53.c7 54.NfS S5.Kf6 56.Rb7 S7.Rb8 58.Nd6!

105

Rh6 KgB

Rf6 Kg7 KgB Rxf4

Rf2 Rd2+ Rc2 Kf8

Bg2 Bh3 Re2+ ReB Bfl Ba6 1-0

Messere-Nyman 5th World Correspondence Championship 1965 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 BcS 8.0-0 Bd7 9.Bxc6 bxc6 10.Be3 0-0 11.f3 Ng5 12.f4 Ne6 13.c3 f5 14.Nd2 Bb6 15.b4 Bxd4 16.Bxd4 Nxd417.cxd4 Qe7

106

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

18.Nb3! A very strong positional pawn sacrifice which achieves the goal that runs thematically throughout the games in this section-the control of c5. 18... Rfb8 18... Qxb4 19.Nc5 Be8 20.I{bl Qa5 21.Rb7 Qxa2 22.Rxc7 Rf7 23.Rxf7 Bxf7 24.e6 Be8 25.Qd3 g6 26.g4! fxg4 27.£5+ /19.a3 Rb6 20.Rf3 Be8 21.Qc2 g6 22.Rc3 White's game almost plays itself. 22... Ra6 23.Qd3 Rb6 24.Racl RabB 25.NaS

1- rll--l~~~~~~ -. PW{• f~~~1

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And the pressure pays off. 25...

Qe6

Chapter 11: 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bc5

107

26.Qc2 Ra6 27.Nxc6 Rbb6 c6 28.Na5 29. ReS h6 30.Qd3 Qd7 31.Qh3 Qg7 Black is completely immobilized, and his rooks cannot get back to the kingside so White goes for the jugular. 32.g4 fxg4 33.Qxg4 Bd7 34.Qh4 g5 35.fxg5 hxg5 36.QhS+ / g4 37.Rfl Rb8 38.Rf6 1-0

Estrin-Brglez 7th World Correspondence Championship 1972 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 BcS 8.Be3 Bxd4

IIfr 1~~fI5'l~l~11~l/l~~ I . . . '" .. ~

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9.Qxd4 9.Bxd4!? 0-0 (9 ... Bd7!? may be stronger.) 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Nd2 Qg5!? A bit fancy. Perhaps Black should simply capture at d2. 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Qd2 Qxd2+ (13 ... Qxg2

108

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

14.0-0-0+/-) 14.Kxd2+= as suggested by Shneider and V. Gurevich. 9... 0-0 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Nc3 NgS 11 ... BfS 12.Nxe4 Bxe4 13.0-0 is suggested by Harding, who notes that the most important positional factor is White's control of c5. 13... Qd7 (13 ... Bxc2?! is the only move considered by Harding. 14.Rfcl+/-) 14.c4 Rfd8 15.f3 Bf5 16.Rfdl+= (Analysis). 11 ... Nxc3 12.Qxc3 Qd7 13.0-0-0 Ba6 14.h4+= White's attack was more effective in EspigWalter, GDR Championship 1973. 12.Qa4 Bd7

White's control of the dark squares makes it safe for him to castle queenside and then concentrate his efforts in the center. 13.0-0-0! N e6 14.Qa3! £6 14... Re8 lS.f4 Qe7 16.Qa5!+ /15.exf6 Qxf6 16.Ne4! This takes advantage of a pin to secure total control of c5, after which Black has no counterplay. 16... Qg6 17.Nc5 NxcS 18.Bxc5 Rf4

Chapter 11: 5.e5 d5 6_BbS Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bc5

109

18 ... Rfe8 19.Rhel Qxg2 20.Rgl Qe4 21.Qg3 is clearly better for White because of the weakness at c7. ReB 19.Bd4 19...Qxg2?! 20.Rhgl"Qe4 21.Rxg7+ Rfe4 20.g3 21.Qc3 BfS 22.b3 Re2 23.Rd2 Rxd2 24.Qxd2 c5 Desperation. Qc6 25.Bxc5 26.Bd4 Qe6 27.Kb2 a6 28.Rdl h6 29.Qc3 c6 30.Bxg7

cS

31.Bxh6! and Black resigned, since if he takes the bishop, he loses the remaining pawns. 1-0

Honfi-Perenyi Hungarian Championship '1974 1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS dS 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 BcS B.Be3 0-0

110

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

Castling is a natural move, but White can trade off pieces and disrupt Black's pawn structure. 9.Nxc6 bxc6 NxcS lO.BxcS 11.Bxc6 !jlr;~~ 1'I~t ···-·IIfl·····I~

~

t-·-·-.. .;.· .•.

••-:••r ••

*filIl

J:.......'. . .,.: ". .·.,. . J~-·-···. .-1

r ••••••

fll,. .~.~ ~)l:\. . WJlll. ~jXl.!. · 7.".

~1@r !.f.:l~~i n~jfj~~ @r~m~

r:~~l~ '~lftr~~tt=:tl~I~i~i~!j

~,~.::~ i~:i~1~ Now if Black moves the rook, he can get into trouble quickly. 11... Ba6 11 ... Rb8 12.0-0! (12.Nc3 d4 gave Black a good game in Malinin-Yuravin, USSR 1991. White should delay the development of the knight.) Rxb2 13.Bxd5 Qe7 (13 ... Bf5 14.Qd4 Rxc2 15.Na3 c6 16.Nxc2+/- ) 14.Rel Rd8 15.Nc3 c6 16.Qcl! Rb617.Bf3+/- Analysis by Otto Hardy. 12.Nc3 12.Qxd5? Qg5 13.Nc3 Rad8! 14.h4 Rxd5 15.hxgS RxeS+ 16.Kd2 Rd8+ 17.Kcl RxgS-/ + 12... Rb8 The alternatives require a bit of analysis. 12 ... QgS 13.Qd4 Rab8 (13 ...Qxg2 14.0-0-0!-Harding; 13 ... Ne6 14.Qe3

Chapter 11: 5.eS d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Be5

111

Qxg2 lS.0-0-0-Harding; I3 ... Rae8 14.Bxe8 Rxe8 15.f4 Qg4 16.h3 Qg3+ 17.Qf2+- Barden-Janetschek, Clare Benedict Teams 1960.) 14.QxcS QxeS+ lS.Qe3+- Khenkin-Vasyukov, Leningrad 1954.1 2... d4 13.Bxa8 dxc3 (13 ... Qxa8 14.Qxd4 Rd8 15.Qg4+/- intending Rdl-Keres.) 14.Qxd8 Rxd8 15.b4! Ne6 16.Bc6 Bc4 (16 ... Nd4 I7.Ba4!+/- Maciejewski-Bielczyk, Dublin 1974.) 17.Rdl! Nd4 18.Ba4! Harding's important improvement which guarantees a big advantage for White. The analysis which follows is all from Harding (1991). 18... gS (18 ... Bxa2 19.Rd3; 18 ... f6 19.f4) 19.Bb3 Bxb3 20.cxb3 a) 20 ... Nc2+ 21.Ke2 Rxdl (21 ... Nd4+ 22.Ke3 Nc2+ 23.Ke4) 22.Rxd1 Nxb4 23.Rd8+ Kg7 24.Kd1 Nc6 (24 ... Nxa2 25.Kc2) 2S.Rd7 Nxe5 26.Rxc7+-; b) 20 ... c2 21.Rcl bI) 21 ... Rd5 22.f3! Kg7 (22 ... Rxe5+ 23.Kd2 intending Rhel.) 23.Kf2 Rxe5 24.Rhel Rb5 25.a3 cS 26.Re5 cxb4 27.RxbS NxbS 28.axb4 Nd4 29.Ke3+-; b2) 21 ... Rb8 Harding stops here, but it is clear that White is better, as the following line shows. 22.Kd2 Rxb4 23.Kc3 c5 24.Rhel Kg7 25.g3 f6 26.f4 gxf4 27.gxf4 NbS+ 28.Kb2 Rxf4 29.exf6+ Rxf6 30.Rxc2+ /13.Qd4 I3.QxdS is also good: 13 ... Qxd5 14.Bxd5 Rxb2 15.0-0-0 Rb4 16.Rhel Rfb8 17.Bb3+/- Estrin-Gurevich, Moscow 1972. Ne6 13... 14.Qa4! NcS 15.Qa3 d4 lS ... Ne6?? 16.Qxa6 15... Qe7 16.0-0-0+ /16.QxcS dxc3 17.Qxc3

112

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

White can't castle, but that isn't worth two pawns! 17... Rb6 18.£4 Qe7 18...Qb8 19.0-0-0+ / 19.0-0-0 RfbB 20.1{d7! Qe6 21.Rhd 1 ! RfB 21 ... Rxc6? 22.Rd8+ Qe8 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.Qxc6+22.Rxc7 Qxa2

23.Qa3 24.bxa3 25.Rd6

Qxa3 Be2

1-0

Kurajica-SmekjaJ Novi Sad 1982 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS dS 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 BcS 8.Be3 Bd7 9.Bxc6 bxc6 lO.Nd2 Qh4

Chapter 11: S.eS d5 6.BbS Nd4 7.Nxd4 BeS

113

~*

This piece of pseudo-aggression should lead to a good game for White, if properly played. lI.N4f3 Bxe3!! 12.Nxh4 Bxd2+ 13.KfI BaS 14.Qe2 gS l5.Nf3 Bb6 l6.c3 Nxf2 unclear Kotronias-Barbero, Budapest 1988. There is no need to enter into this mess! ll.N xe4 Qxe4 12.0-0 0-0 12 ... Bb6 was suggested by Kurajica, but I-farding refutes it. 13.ReI 0-0 (13 ... QxeS 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 I5.Bxb6+-) 14.Nxc6 Qh4 l5.Bxb6 axb6 16.Nd4; 12... Qg6 13.f4 0-0 14.f5-Analysis. 13.Rel Qg6 r--onTnf-'" nuoj .. r.... _....'.. ~·

~

I~:I\~:'~~~ -.-Lm : '1.1~ ~.j:.j.t.l'r.:.e~. .~.:'.:..1 .-•.,.,.,.,. •• -

?oW.

j~l~ ~ jf@~ ~I: r'li®:~11~i~i[fa'~~~f:

;'R~Jf: ~:.~~ttS. .~~~!j.:::.:.!I:m:1\'ll.. :::.:.:J

,

Jff:~~:

..·.·.·.·.f·~~ ...¥:"•••

t~~t

u

f~~~ff:l~ ~~:(?t~ ········:-~f~:t& .·.:..·.·.·f·:(·~·l

••••

§ili '" mtm nt@~~J . it'll. . . 14.Ne6!

Bxe6

15.Bxc5 Rfb8 IS ... Rfd8!? comes into consideration.

16.b3 Bh3 16... BfS allows a powerful pawn sacrifice. 17.Re3! Bxc2 18.Qd4 intending Rg3. BfS 17.Qf3

114

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

17... Bg4 18.Qg3 Bf5 19.Qxg6 hxg6 (19 ... Bxg6 20.e6! Bxc2 21.exf7+ Kxf7 22.Re7+ KgB 23.Bd4 g6 24.Rg7+ Kf8 2S.Rxh7+/-) 20.Re2 intending f2-f3, g2-g4. 18.Qc3! Be4 18 ... Bxc2 19.e6! fxe6 20.Bd4 and Black has too many pawn weaknesses, while the threat of Re1-e3-g3 is also

very

inti~idating.

19.f3 20.e6!

21.Racl ?! 21.Bd4!+/- would have been stronger, with ideas similar to that of the previous note, save that the rook will move to eS, followed by doubling on tIle e-filc. 21... BfS 22.Bd4 e5! I{e8 23.Rxe5 and Black is able to relieve the pressure, leading to a drawn game. 24.Ree1 24.Qxe6 Qxc6 25.Rxc6 RxeS 26.BxeS ReB 27.Bxc7 ReB 28.Rcl Kf7 29.Bf4 Rxcl+ 30.Bxcl Bbl 31.a3 J3a2 32.b4 d4= 24... Rxe5 25.Rxe5 ReB 26.Bxa7 Ra8! 27.Qd4 Bh3!

Chapter 11: 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bc5

115

28.Re2

28 ...

29.Rxg2 30.Kf2 31.Kfl 32.Kf2

Bxg2! Qbl+ Qxa2+ Qbl+ Qa2+

1/2-1/2

Spiriev-Lengyel Budapest 1989 1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 S.eS dS 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bc5 8.Be3 Bd7 9.Bxc6 bxc6 lO.Nd2 Nxd2 11.Qxd2

Originally evaluated as better for White by Kurajica, and his opinion has stood the test of time. White will get rid of the Black dark-squared bishop. 11 ... 0-0 12.0-0 f6?! (Better 12... Qe7, transposing back to the text.) 13.Nxc6! Bxc6 (13 ... Bxe3 14.QxdS++-) 14.BxcS ReB 15.exf6 Qxf6 16.Bd4+/Romero Holmes-Campos, Leon 1989.

116

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

11... Qe7 12.0-0 Bb6 0-0 13.Nb3 14.Qc3! White now has control of the central dark squares. 14... Rfe8 14 ... Rae8 15.Bc5! Bxc5 16.Nxc5 Bf5 17.Rael+= The knight is better than the bishop. Black pawns are weak and his pieces lack mobility. Krebs-Binder, Correspondence 1983 saw White obtain a very good game in a few more moves: 17... f6 18.exf6 Qxf619.Qxf6 gxf6 20.c3+/15.f4 f6

This allows White to win queen for rook and Black never gets his attack going.17 ... Qh4 18.Nd2 d4 19.Qa3 intending Nf3-Harding, who notes that Black dare not take the pawn: 19 ... Rxe5 20.Bxb6 cxb6 21.Nf3 18.Rf8+! RxfB 19.QxeS Rae8 20.Qg3 Rf6 21.Rfl Rg6 22.Qf3 Rf6 23.Qd3 Rxf1 + 24.Kxfl Re4

Chapter 11: S.eS dS 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bc5

117

h6 Kh7 cxb6 Bg4 1-0

25.Qf3 26.Qf8+ 27. Bxb6 2B.Qf7

29.Qxa7

Van Wijgerden-Lengyel Amsterdam 1983 l.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 S.eS d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 BcS 8.Be3 Bd7 9.Bxc6 bxc6 10.Nd2 Qe7 11.Nxe4 dxe4

..

-':'U~l --~'r~~~r :~tl@t~. J]I.~·

~~ 11_ _ wJ_ ~iml¥1 ~.e..~.s.._l~ .3··l@~·J· L, ..•

J:_''''''':i1_:.

White now plays a dynamic pawn sacrifice. 12.e6! Bxe6?! The superior move 12 ... fxe6! is examined in Dzhindzhichashvili-Garcia. 13.Nxe6 Bxe3 13 ... fxe6? 14.Qh5+ g6 15.QxcS+Kf8 14.Nxg7+ 15.Nf5! Bxf2+ 15 ... Qb4+ 16.c3 Bxf2+ 17.Kxf2 Qxb2+ IB.Qe2 Qxc3 19.Rhfl RgB 20.Kgl+- ReB 21.QhS Re6 22.Radl Qf623.Nh6 Qg6 24.QcS+ 1-0, Van der Werf-Van der Weij, Dieren 1990. 16.Kxf2 Qg5 Rd8 17.Ne3

118

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

18.Qe2 Qf6+ 19.Kgl+/White has a locked-in rook, but Black has insufficient material compensation and his pawns are very weak. 19... Qxb2 20.Rd1 Rd6 21.g3 h5 22.Kg2 h4 23.Rhfl Rh7 24.Rbl!

Black now sacrifices his queen. It is a temporary sacrifice, but when the smoke clears llis position is hopeless. 24... hxg3 25.Rxb2 Rxh2+ 26.Kxg3 Rxe2 27. Rb8+ Ke7 28.Nf5++- Ke6

29.Nxd6 30.Rf2

cxd6 1-0

Dzhindzhichashvili-Gil. Garcia New York Open 1988 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 S.eS d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bc5 8.Be3 Bd7 9.Bxc6 bxc6 lO.Nd2 Qe7

Chapter 11: 5.eS d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 BcS

119

11.Nxe4 dxe4 12.e6! fxe6!

This is Black's best continuation, but White can now force a small advantage. 13.Nxc6! Bb4+ 13... Bxc614.Qh5+ g615.QxcS+/- and Black's pawns are a mess. 14.Nxb4 Qxb4+ 15.Qd2 Qxb2?! 15... Qxd2+ 16.Kxd2+= was the better choice for Black, but I would hate to have to face Dzindzi over the board in this position, even though he might draw it as Black against me! 16.0-0 Qb5 16 ... Bc6 17.Bd4 QbS 18.Bxg7 RgB 19.Qh6 e3 20.Rael!+/or 16... 0-0-0 17.Rfhl Qf6 18.Bxa7+17.Rfd1!

The pressure on the d-file severely limits Black's options.

How to Play the Scotch Gambit

120

17... 18.Rabl 19.Bc5

as Qa4

intending Qg5.

19...

0-0-0

20. Be7!

Rde8

21.Qe2! Qc6 21 ...Rxe7? 22.Qa6+ Kd8 23.Rb8# (or 23.Qa8#). 22.Qe3 intending Qa7. Now Black really has to grovel. 22... Qa8 23.QcS Bc6 Black is facing an attack on three files, and the Be7 limits his activity. White will now swing a rook to c3. In the end, Black has to give up the queen for a rook & bishop in order to survive, and then it is just a matter of

technique. 24.Rb3 25.fxe3 26.Rc3! 27.QeS!

e3 Bxg2 Qc6

27... 28.Rxc6 29.Qxa5 30.Qa6+

Rxe7 Bxc6 Rd7 Bb7

Chapter 11: 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 BcS

121

31.Qxe6 The pin is the final nail in the coffin. 31... RhdB Rxd7 32.Rxd7 33.QgS+ Rd8 34.Qxh7 Bd5 35.a4 Kb7 36.Qd3 Rd6 37.QbS+ Ke8 38.aS Rg6+ 39.Kfl Bg2+ Kd8? 40.Kf2 41.Qd3+ and now if 41 ... Rd6, then 42.Qxd6+ cxd6 43.Kxg2 is an easy win, so Black resigned. 1-0

Index of Games Aviles-Elzaghcir 37

Bastian-Eng 38 Breycr-Fahrni 18 Bryson-Alarcon 81 Buckle-Anderssen 42

Carr-Horne 8S Charousek-Exncr 14 Charousek-Porges 22 Dzhindzhichashvili-Gil. Garcia 118 Edelman-Vucic 88 Estrin-Boey 56 Estrin-Brglez 107 Estrin-Sad om sky 71 Fernandez-Boudrc 98

Honfi-Percnyi 109

Malinin-lbragirnov 76 Mansurov-Sagalchik 99

Maroczy-Porges 3 Messere-Nyman 105 Nun-Sarwinski 40 Okhotnik-Didishko 83

Okhotnik-Zaid 90 Owens & Staunton-I-Jorwitz Loewenthal 8 Rossolimo-Riceman 44 Schlechter-Breyer 47 Schlechter-Nyholm 30 Spiricv-Lcngycl 115 Stcinitz-Lang 11 Suttercr-·Al Awadhi 48 Suttcrcr--Hylkcma 45

Hopfer-Troester 27 Hug-Gorla 63 Illescas-Sanz 52 Kijk-Bokan 102 Kirste-Knorr 25

Tamm-Nicdcrmaier 78

Kirste-Plat h 27 Kupreichik-Belyavsky 67

Tscitlin-Yuncycv 73 Van Wijgcrden-Lcngycl 117

Svcshnikov-Kuprcichik 33 Svcshnikov-Kuzmin 59 Sveshnikov-MiIos 93

Kurajica-Smekjal 112

122

&