Play Chess Openings: Herrstrom Gambit Lev Zilbermintz

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