Showing posts with label Closed Games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Closed Games. Show all posts

Sunday, April 23, 2023

London System Attack Ding Liren

London System is as strong or weak as the players involved in the game. In this 2023 World Championship match Ding Liren outplays Ian Nepomniachtchi with a clash of plans. Black obtained a passed a-pawn which seemed destined to become a queen. But before that could happen, White weaved a mating net on the kingside.

Ding Liren (2788) – Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2795), WCh 2023 Astana KAZ, 16.04.2023 begins 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 [This is more dynamic than 4.c3 cxd4 5.cxd4, which transposes to a more drawish Slav Defense Exchange Variation.] 4...Nc6 5.Nbd2 cxd4 6.exd4 Bf5 [Both players develop the queenside bishop in a similar manner.] 7.c3 e6 8.Bb5 Bd6 9.Bxd6 Qxd6 10.0–0 0–0 11.Re1 h6 12.Ne5 Ne7 13.a4 a6 14.Bf1 Nd7 15.Nxd7 Qxd7 16.a5 Qc7 17.Qf3 Rfc8 18.Ra3 Bg6 19.Nb3 Nc6 20.Qg3 Qe7 21.h4 Re8 22.Nc5 e5 [Black attacks the pawn that defends White's knight.] 23.Rb3 Nxa5 24.Rxe5 Qf6 25.Ra3 Nc4 26.Bxc4 dxc4 27.h5 Bc2 28.Nxb7 [White has won a pawn.] 28...Qb6 29.Nd6 Rxe5 30.Qxe5 Qxb2 [Black regains the pawn and prepares to push the passed a-pawn.] 31.Ra5 Kh7 32.Rc5 Qc1+ 33.Kh2 f6 34.Qg3 a5 35.Nxc4 a4 36.Ne3 Bb1 [White takes deadly aim at mate on g7.] 37.Rc7 Rg8 38.Nd5 [The threat is 39.Nxf6+.] 38...Kh8 39.Ra7 a3 40.Ne7 Rf8 41.d5
[This pawn covers the escape square e6. Black is in a mating net.] 41...a2 42.Qc7 Kh7 43.Ng6 Rg8 44.Qf7 [The threat is 45.Qxg8+ Kxg8 46.Ra8+ Kf7 47.Rf8 mate] 1–0
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Sunday, March 5, 2023

London Morris Countergambit

The London System has a gambit variation that I have studied from time to time in recent years. Morris Countergambit has been the subject of one of my Quick Chess Lessons. Sometimes this countergambit has similarities with the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit.

Try my London Morris Gambit: Quick Chess Lessons book.

Kisic (2303) – Makaraci (2296), ECTCC Open 2023 Tornelo, 29.01.2023 begins 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 [Accelerated London System] 2...c5 [Steinitz Countergambit] 3.e4 [The Morris Countergambit] 3...dxe4 4.d5 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Qe2 Bg7 7.0–0–0 0–0 8.f3 [White employs Blackmar's idea.] 8...exf3 9.Nxf3 Na6 10.h3 Nh5 11.Be5 Bxe5 12.Qxe5 Qd6 13.Bxa6 bxa6 14.Ne4 Qxe5 15.Nxe5 Bf5 [Better is 15...Nf4 16.Rd2] 16.Nxc5 Rac8 17.g4 [If 17.Nc6 White is winning.] 17...Rxc5 [Or 17...Bxc2] 18.gxf5 Ng3 19.Rhe1 Rfc8 20.c4 Nxf5 21.b3 Kg7 22.Kb2 a5 23.Nc6 Rc7 24.Kc3 h5 25.a3 R5xc6 [25...Nd6] 26.dxc6 Rxc6 27.b4 axb4+ 28.axb4 g5 29.b5 Rc7 30.Kb4 g4 31.hxg4 hxg4 32.c5 Kf6 33.c6 g3 34.Rd7 [White's queenside pawns cannot be stopped.]
34...Rc8 35.Rxa7 g2 36.Kc5 Ng3 37.Raa1 e5 38.b6 [Black resigns] 1–0
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Sunday, February 5, 2023

Herrstrom Gambit Lev Zilbermintz

One of the best ways to defeat a grandmaster is to make threats. When you have Black, sometimes it's worth trying a gambit, especially if you know it.
Lev Zilbermintz sent me the following note:
“Happy New Year, Tim! Here is a game with the Herrstrom Gambit. I defeated a Grandmaster with it today on Internet Chess Club." Lev Zilbermintz

[Note: I'm not on Facebook at the moment. My email is below.]

See my Quick Chess Lesson collection of six Chess Gambits for Black.

Zuckertort (2143) – Zilbermintz (2130), Internet Chess Club, 01.01.2023 begins 1.Nf3 g5 2.Nxg5 e5 3.d4 h6 4.Nf3 e4 5.Nfd2 Nf6 6.e3 Rg8 7.c4 c6 8.Nc3 d5
9.f3 [White employs the Blackmar idea of f3. An alternative is 9.Qa4 which also favors White due to the extra pawn, but Black's open lines could prove dangerous.] 9...exf3 10.Qxf3 Bg4 11.Qf2 Nbd7 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Bb5 a6 14.Bxd7+ Bxd7 15.0–0 Rg6 [Safer is 15...Be7 16.Nxd5 Bc6 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Nf3] 16.Nxd5 Bg7 17.Ne4 Bh3 18.Ndxf6+ [If 18.Nexf6+ Kf8 19.b3 White is winning.] 18...Kf8 19.Nh7+ Kg8 20.Ng3 Be6 21.e4 Kxh7 [21...Qxd4!?] 22.d5 Bd7 23.Qxf7 Bb5 24.Rf2 Qb6 25.Nf5 Rf8 26.Qe7 Re8 27.Qh4 [If 27.Qa3 White keeps the advantage.] 27...Bd4 28.Nxd4 Qxd4 29.Bf4 Rxe4 30.g3 [30.Kh1=] 30...Re2 [Black is winning due to the pin on f2.] 31.Raf1 Re4 32.Rc1 Bd7 33.h3 Qxd5 34.Rd2 Rd4 [If 34...Qxd2 35.Bxd2 Rxh4 Black wins.] 35.Rxd4 Qxd4+ 36.Kh2 Qf2+ 37.Kh1 Qf3+ 38.Kg1 Bc6 39.Rxc6 Qxc6 40.Qe7+ Kg8 41.Qd8+ Kh7 42.Qe7+ Rg7 43.Qe2 Qc5+ 44.Kh2 Qe7 45.Qd3+ Rg6 46.Qd2 [46.h4=] 46...Re6 47.h4 Re2+ [Black wins the queen. White resigns] 0–1



email: sawyerte@yahoo.com
Copyright 2011-2024
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Sunday, January 22, 2023

Bird's Opening Stonewall Haines

Ray Haines transposed to the Bird’s Opening Stonewall Attack after 1.d4, 2.e3, and 4.f4. Black prematurely opened the center [16…e5]. White’s pieces were poised to assault the kingside. After some exchanges, Black had no defense. Ray Haines applied checkmate.

For 6 gambits, see my Quick Chess Lesson collection Chess Gambits for Black.

Haines – Bhavishya224 (1561), Live Chess Chess.com, 30.12.2022 begins 1.d4 Nf6 2.e3 d5 3.Bd3 Nc6 4.f4 Bg4 5.Nf3 e6 6.0–0 Bd6 7.c4 0–0 8.Nc3 Re8 9.c5 Be7 10.Qe1 [10.Bd2 would activate the bishop and connect the rooks.] 10...Bxf3 11.Rxf3 a6 12.Rh3 h6 13.Qe2 Qd7 14.g4 Nh7 15.Bd2 Bf6 16.g5 e5 [Better is to save the bishop with 16...Bd8] 17.Bxh7+ Kxh7 18.Qh5 exd4 [This loses, although 18...Be7 19.dxe5 favors White.] 19.gxf6 dxc3 20.Bxc3 d4 21.fxg7
21...Kxg7 [This falls for a mate in two, but after 21...Re6 22.f5 White is winning.] 22.Qxh6+ Kg8 23.Qh8# White breaks through Black's defense on the kingside. 1–0



email: sawyerte@yahoo.com
Copyright 2011-2024
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Sunday, May 1, 2022

Black Lion Defence Zilbermints

Lev Zilbermints sent me this game from the West Orange Chess Club Championship. Lev found himself playing Black in a must-win situation. This Old Indian Defence involved a popular version of the Black Lion (typically vs 1.e4). White had an expected space advantage, but Zilbermints developed enough counterplay to turn the tables and gain a winning advantage.

My English Tactics book (1.c4) has 500 combinations and checkmates.
My Checkmate Tactics book has the best 500 chess opening mates.
My Combination Tactics book has the best 500 ways to win material.

Radomskyj – Zilbermints, West Orange CC Ch g/60, 26.04.2022 begins 1.c4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.e4 e5 5.Be2 [Most players choose 5.Nf3 to take on d4 with the knight. White enjoys a space advantage.] 5...exd4 6.Qxd4 c6 [Reasonable alternatives are 6...Nc5; or 6...Be7.] 7.Be3 [Again 7.Nf3 is a good move, but White has a different setup in mind.] 7...Nc5 8.f3 a5 9.g4 Be7 10.h4 h6 11.Nh3 Ne6 12.Qd2 Qc7 13.0–0–0
[This is typical of a postion I might play as White.] 13...Nc5 14.Nf2 Nfd7 15.f4 b6 16.Bd4 Rg8 17.g5 hxg5 18.hxg5 Ne6 19.Be3 Bb7 20.Rh7 [Or 20.Bg4 and White stands better.] 20...Ndf8 21.Rh3 0–0–0 22.f5 Nc5 23.Bd4 Nfd7 24.Qf4 f6 25.gxf6 [25.g6 is tempting.] 25...gxf6 26.Kb1 Ne5 27.Rh7 Rh8 28.Rdh1 Rxh7 29.Rxh7 Rd7 30.Qh6 [White might try 30.Ng4] 30...Bd8 31.Rh8 [31.Rxd7 with equal chances avoids the knight fork on f7.] 31...Nf7 32.Qxf6 Nxh8 33.Qxh8 Rh7 34.Qf8 [Maybe 34.Qg8] 34...Qe7 35.Qxe7 Bxe7 36.f6 Bf8 37.Bg4+ Kc7 38.Bf5 Rh2 39.e5 Bc8 40.Bxc8 Kxc8 41.Ng4 [Or 41.exd6 Bxd6 and Black stands better.] 41...Rh1+ 42.Kc2 Rh4 43.Bxc5 bxc5 44.Ne3 dxe5 45.Kd3 Rd4+ 46.Ke2 Kd7 47.Kf3 Rf4+ [Black is up the Exchange and wears down his opponent.] 48.Ke2 Ke6 49.b3 Kxf6 50.Na4 Rh4 51.Ng2 Rh1 52.Nc3 Ke6 53.Ne1 Be7 54.Nd3 Rh2+ 55.Kf3 Rc2 56.Ne4 Rxa2 57.Nexc5+ Bxc5 58.Nxc5+ Kf5 59.Ke3 Ra3 60.Kd2 e4 61.Kc3 Ra1 62.Kd4 Rd1+ 63.Ke3 Re1+ 64.Kd2 Rh1 65.Ke3 Rh3+ 66.Ke2 Ke5 67.Nb7 Kd4 68.Nxa5 Rh2+ 69.Ke1 Ke3 70.Kd1 Kd3 71.Kc1 e3 72.Nxc6 Rc2+ 73.Kb1 Rh2 74.Nb4+ Kc3 75.Nd5+ Kxb3 76.Nxe3 Rh1+ 0–1



email: sawyerte@yahoo.com
Copyright 2011-2024
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Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Medusa Gambit 2.c4 g5 Cavicchi

The Indian Defense Medusa Gambit is audacious and tricky due to its rarity. Francesco Cavicchi has won several games with it as Black after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g5. If White avoids doubled e-pawns by 5.Bxe5 (5.dxe5 is better), Black gains play against White’s king.

You might like my 100 recent wins in 10 moves or less:

sigvedyrhovden (1975) – Cavicchi (2045), Rated Correspondence lichess.org, 06.03.2022 begins 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g5 3.Bxg5 [3.Nc3 is good.] 3...Ne4 4.Bf4 e5 5.Bxe5 [Risky. Safer is 5.dxe5 Bb4+ 6.Nd2 f6 7.Ngf3. Black regains only one of the two gambit pawns. White should beat back the attack.] 5...Bb4+ 6.Nc3 Nxc3 7.Qb3 Nd5+ 8.Kd1 Nf6 9.Qxb4 Nc6 10.Qc3 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Ne4 12.Qd4 d5 13.cxd5 [Correct is 13.exd6 Qxd6 14.Qxd6 Nxd6 15.e3 when White's two extra pawns compensate for not being able to castle.] 13...Nxf2+ 14.Qxf2 Qxd5+ 15.Kc1 Qc4+ 16.Kb1 [This loses. Better is 16.Kd2 Qd5+ 17.Kc3 Qc6+ 18.Kd3 Qb5+ 19.Kc2 Qc4+ 20.Kd1=]
16...Qe4+ 17.Kc1 Bf5 18.e3 0–0–0 19.Nf3 Qc6+ [White resigns.] 0–1



email: sawyerte@yahoo.com
Copyright 2011-2024
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Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Herrstrom Gambit Zilbermints

Lev Zilbermints enjoys surprising opponents with offbeat or unorthodox gambits. In the Zukertort Opening Herrstrom Gambit, White took the surprise gambit pawn on move two. Then Lev moves a second pawn (all eyes on the pawn) while at the same time attacking a knight with the queen (no eyes on the queen). Knowing one should play an early e4 or d4, White chose the wrong one this time. Winning material in blitz doesn’t immediately win. One still must play well. Black does in this game. Based on his experience Lev Zilbermints said, “People do not expect the Herrstrom to be better than its reputation.”

My Checkmate Tactics book has the best 500 chess opening mates.
My Combination Tactics book has the best 500 ways to win material.

Peter333 (2307) – Zilbermints (2370), Rated Blitz game lichess.org, 06.09.2021 begins 1.Nf3 g5 2.Nxg5 e5
3.e4 [White blunders a piece. Much stronger is 3.d4 usually retreating the knight to f3 next move and followed by a general consolidation to win with the extra pawn. That's easier said than done vs a strong blitz opponent familiar with the opening.] 3...Qxg5 [Black has won a knight.] 4.d4 Qg7 5.dxe5 Qxe5 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.f4 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Qxe4+ 9.Kf2 Ne7 10.Bd3 Qa4 11.Re1 Nbc6 12.Qh5 d6 13.Re4 Qa5 14.Qh6 [If 14.Qxa5 Nxa5 White has nothing for the lost piece.] 14...Bf5 15.Qf6 0–0–0 16.Rxe7 Nxe7 17.Qxe7 Bxd3 18.cxd3 [Or 18.Qe1 Rhe8 19.Be3 Bxc2 20.Qd2 Be4 and Black is up a rook.] 18...Qxc3 [White resigns.] 0–1

Chess Training Repertoire Moves 4 or Click Here
See also Chess Word Puzzles (Names, Places, Openings)
Copyright 2011-2024 / Author Page / sawyerte@yahoo.com
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Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Polish Opening 1.b4 Cavicchi

Francesco Cavicchi combines Polish Opening 1.b4 with Bird’s Opening 1.f4 to build up a promising attack on the kingside. White quickly brought three pieces and a queen into the action while Black moves only pawns and a king. Once things got going, it was just a matter of time before White would win big material or apply a checkmate.

My Checkmate Tactics book has the best 500 chess opening mates.
My Combination Tactics book has the best 500 ways to win material.

Cavicchi (1998) - Russia-Volgograd1975 (2057), Rated Blitz game lichess.org, 14.07.2021 begins 1.b4 d5 2.a3 e5 3.Bb2 f6 [This is natural but a passive move. More active are 3...Qd6, 3...Bd6, or 3...Nd7.] 4.f4 d4 [4...exf4 might pressure White as least a little bit.] 5.e3 dxe3 6.Bd3 exf4 7.Qh5+ Ke7 8.Nf3 
8...Be6 9.Nd4 Bf7 10.Nf5+ Kd7 11.Qxf7+ Ne7 12.Nxg7 Bxg7 13.Qxg7 [White has a mate in four with 13.Bf5+ Kc6 14.Qc4+ Kb6 15.Qc5+ Ka6 16.Qa5 mate] 13...Kc8 14.Bxf6 Black resigns. 1–0

Chess Training Repertoire Moves 4 or Click Here
See also Chess Word Puzzles (Names, Places, Openings)
Copyright 2011-2024 / Author Page / sawyerte@yahoo.com
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