Saturday, September 7, 2024

Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Septermber 2024

This month, we look at some recent games in which the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit was avoided or declined. Here, we use the move order 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e4, where the normal gambit accepted continuation is 3…dxe4 4.f3 exf3.

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e4 

Before we look at 3…Nxe4, check out this games after 3...dxe4:

4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.Be3 Nc6 7.Qd2 0–0 8.0–0–0 Bg4 9.Re1 Rb8 10.h3 Be6 11.Rd1 b5 12.d5

12...Nxd5 (12...b4 favors Black.) 13.Nxd5 and 1–0 in 29. Sala - Fieberg, chess.com 2024

4.f3 and now:

4...Bf5 5.fxe4 Nxe4 6.Qf3 Nxc3 7.bxc3 Qc8 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.cxd3 e6 10.Nh3 Be7 11.0–0 0–0 12.Nf4 Nd7 13.Nh5 Nf6 (Now comes a surprising sacrifice, giving White an advantage.)

14.Nxg7 Kxg7 15.Bg5 Qd8 16.Qg3 Kh8 17.Qe5 Rg8 18.Bxf6+ Bxf6 19.Rxf6 Rg7 20.Rxf7 Qg8 21.Raf1 Rc8 22.Re7 Rf8 23.Rxf8 Qxf8 24.Rxc7 Kg8 25.Qxe6+ Kh8 26.Qe5 1–0 Arslanov - Ismayil, chess.com 2024

4...e3 5.Bxe3 and now:

5...a6 6.Bd3 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Nf3 c5 9.Qe2 cxd4 10.Bxd4 Bc5 11.0–0–0 Bxd4 12.Nxd4 Qc7

13.Nxe6!? (13.f5 e5 14.g4 favors White.) 13...fxe6 14.Qxe6+ Kf8 15.Bc4 Ne5 16.Qxe5 Qxc4 17.Rd8+ Kf7 18.Rxh8 b5 19.Re1 b4 20.Ne4 Nxe4 Mate in three 21.Qe8+ Kf6 22.Rf8+ 1–0 Arslanov - Silva, chess.com 2024

5...Bf5 6.g4 Bg6 7.h4 h5 8.Nh3 e6 (Better is 8...hxg4 9.fxg4 Rxh4=) 9.Nf4 Bh7 10.g5 Nd5 11.Ncxd5 exd5 12.g6 Bxg6 13.Nxg6 fxg6 14.Qd3 Qf6 15.Bg5 Qf7 16.0–0–0 Bd6 17.Re1+ Kd7

18.Qb5+ (Even stronger is 18.Bh3+ Kc6 19.Qc3+ Kb6 20.Qb3+ Kc6 21.Be6) 18...Kc8 19.Bh3+ Nd7 20.Re7 Qxe7 21.Bxe7 c6 22.Bxd7+ Kxd7 23.Qxb7+ 1–0 Arslanov - Denis, chess.com 2024

5…e6 6.f4 Nd5 7.Bd2 Bd6 8.Qf3 0–0 9.Nh3 Nc6 10.0–0–0 Nxd4 11.Qe4 c5 White will temporarily regain the gambit pawn, but Black wins it back again by force.

12.Nxd5 exd5 13.Qxd5 Bxh3 14.gxh3 Bxf4 15.Qg2 Bxd2+ 16.Rxd2 Qh4 17.Bd3 b6 18.Rg1 g6 19.Qf1 Rae8 20.Rf2 Kg7 21.c3 Nc6 22.Bc4 Ne5 23.Bd5 Qxf2 24.Qxf2 Nd3+ 25.Kc2 Nxf2 0–1 Arslanov - Kamsky, chess.com 2024

Now, let's move on to 3...Nxe4 4.Nxe4 dxe4 and now:

5.Bc4 g6 6.Be3 (6.c3=) 6...Bg7 7.Qe2 c5

8.0–0–0 (8.dxc5 Bxb2 favors Black.) 8...cxd4 9.Bb5+ Nc6 10.Bxd4 Bxd4 11.c3 0–0 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Rxd4 Qa5 and 0–1 in 26. Crickmore - Prie, Leca da Palmeira POR 2024]

5.Be3 and now:

5...Bf5 6.g4 Bg6 7.Ne2 e6 8.h4 h6 9.Nf4 Bh7 10.Qe2 Bd6 11.Nh5 Rg8 12.Qb5+ Nd7 13.0–0–0 Qc8 14.d5 e5 15.g5 Bg6 16.Qe2 hxg5 17.hxg5 Qd8 18.Bh3 Qe7 19.Bg4 a6 20.c4 0–0–0

21.c5 (21.Ng3=) 21...Bxc5 and 0–1 in 30. Arslanov - Sarana, chess.com 2024

5...Nd7 6.f3 Nf6 7.fxe4 Nxe4 8.Bd3 Nd6 9.Qf3 g6 10.Ne2 Bg7 11.0–0–0 c6 12.c4 Bf5 13.Rhf1 0–0 14.b3 Qa5 15.Kb1 Bxd3+ 16.Rxd3 Qf5 17.Bf4 Qe4 18.Bxd6 Qxf3 19.Rdxf3 exd6 Black is up a pawn and 0–1 in 28. Arslanov - Norowitz, chess.com 2024

5...c6 6.f3 exf3 7.Nxf3 and now:

7...Bf5 8.Bc4 e6 9.0–0 Nd7 10.Ng5 h6

11.Nxf7! 1–0 Arslanov - Topalov, chess.com 2024

7…g6 8.Bc4 Bg7 9.0–0 0–0 10.Qe1 Nd7 11.Qh4 Nf6 12.Rae1 Bf5 13.c3 Nd5 14.Bh6 Bf6 15.Ng5 Re8 16.Rxf5 gxf5 17.Bg7 Bxg7 18.Qxh7+ Kf8 19.Qh5 Kg8 20.Qxf7+ Kh8 [Mate in four.]

21.Qh5+ Kg8 22.Qh7+ Kf8 23.Ne6+ Kf7 24.Qxg7# 1–0 [Arslanov - Kubicka, chess.com 2024]

Below are my Blackmar-Diemer Gambit ebook collections.

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Blackmar-Diemer Gambit August 2024

Blackmar-Diemer Gambit is a Double-Edged Sword that has given me thousands of wins and over a thousand losses. The BDG remains a captivating and controversial chess opening. This aggressive line has been praised for its attacking potential and criticized for its purported unsoundness. Its popularity among players of all levels speaks to its effectiveness as a practical weapon. These encounters demonstrate the double-edged nature of this opening. Here is a glimpse at some recent games. 

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3


Black has tried several move five options:

5...e6 6.Bg5 Be7 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.a3 Nd5

9.Bd2 (Or 9.Bxe7 Ncxe7 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.0–0) 9...Nxc3 10.bxc3 Bf6 11.0–0 0–0 12.Qe1 = 1–0 in 34. Arslanov - Pang, chess.com 2024

5...c5 6.d5 Bg4 7.h3 Bd7

8.Bg5 (Better is 8.Bf4 g6 9.Qd2 Bg7 10.0–0–0) 8...Qc7 9.d6 Qxd6 10.Qxd6 exd6 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Nd5 Kd8 13.Nxf6 Bg7 14.Ne4? Re8 0–1 Barash - Kalyani Sirin, chess.com 2024

5...c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.0–0 e6 8.Ng5 Bg6

9.Bxe6 fxe6 10.Nxe6 Qd7 11.Bg5 Na6 12.Qe2 Kf7 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Rxf6+ Kg8 15.Raf1 Bg7 16.Nxg7 Kxg7 17.Qe5 Kg8 18.Ne4 Qe8 19.Re6 1–0 Arslanov - Ghafourian, chess.com 2024

5...g6 6.Bg5 Bg7 7.Qd2 0–0 8.0–0–0 c6

9.h4 (9.h3 would prevent Bg4.) 9...Bg4 10.Be2 Nbd7 11.Bh6 Qa5 12.Kb1 b5 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.Ne5 Bxe2 15.Qxe2 b4 and 0–1 in 35. Efremova - Senthilkumar, chess.com 2024

5...Bf5 6.Ne5 e6 7.g4 Bg6 8.Bg2 Nbd7

9.Bxb7 (9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.g5) 9...Nxe5 10.dxe5 Qxd1+ 11.Nxd1 Rb8 12.Bc6+ Nd7 13.Be3 Bxc2 14.Bxa7 Rb4 15.a3 Be4 16.axb4 (Better is 16.Bxd7+ Kxd7 17.0–0=) 16...Bxb4+ 17.Nc3 Bxc6 Black has won a piece. 18.0–0 Nxe5 19.Bd4 Nf3+ 20.Rxf3 Bxf3 21.Kf2 Bc6 22.Ra7 Bd6 23.Bxg7 Rg8 24.Bf6 Rxg4 25.Ra6 Bb7 0–1 Arslanov - Xiong, chess.com 2024

5…Bg4 6.h3 Bh5

If 6...Bxf3 7.Qxf3 c6 8.g4

8...Nd5?! (8...e6=) 9.Bd3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 Qd5 11.Be4 Qc4 12.Rb1 Qa6 13.Bd3 Qxa2 14.Rxb7 Qe6+ 15.Be3 g6 16.0–0 and 1–0 in 31. Arslanov - Creanga, chess.com 2024

7.g4 Bg6 8.Ne5 e6

Or 8...Nbd7 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.Bc4 (10.g5) 10...e6 11.Be3 Nb6 12.Bb5+ c6 13.Bd3 Nbd5 14.Bg5

14...Qa5 (Black missed 14...Nxc3 15.bxc3 Qd5 attacking Bg5 and Rh1.) 15.Bd2 Nxc3 16.bxc3 but 1–0 in 33. Mkrtchyan - Paval, chess.com 2024

9.Bg2 c6 10.h4 h5

Or 10...Bb4 11.Bg5 Qa5 12.Bd2 Nbd7 13.a3 Bxc3 14.Bxc3 Qc7 15.Qe2 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Nd5 17.h5 Nxc3 18.bxc3 Bxc2 19.Qxc2 Qxe5+

20.Qe4 Qxc3+ 21.Kf2 0–0 and 0–1 in 37. Barash - Samunenkov, chess.com 2024

11.Nxg6 fxg6 12.g5 Ng4 13.Qd3 Kf7

Or 13...Qc7 14.Rf1 (14.Qxg6+! Qf7 15.Qxf7+ Kxf7 16.0–0+ favors White.) 14...Qh2 15.Bh3 Bd6 16.Ne4 Bc7 17.Bd2 Na6 18.0–0–0 0–0–0 19.Rh1 Nf2

20.Bxe6+ (20.Qf3 would trap Black's queen.) 20...Kb8 21.Nxf2 Qxf2 and 0–1 in 34 Arslanov - Materia, chess.com 2024

14.Rf1+ Kg8 15.Qxg6 [Strong is 15.Be4] 15...Qd7 16.Bd2 Na6 17.0–0–0 Bb4 18.d5 cxd5 19.Nxd5 exd5 20.Bxd5+ Qxd5 21.Bxb4 Qxa2 22.Rd7 Rh7 23.Rff7 Qa1+ 24.Kd2 Kh8

[White has a mate in four.] 25.Qxh7+ Kxh7 26.Rxg7+ Kh8 27.Rh7+ Kg8 28.Rdg7# [1–0 Arslanov - Mesquita, chess.com 2024] 1–0

Below are my Blackmar-Diemer Gambit ebook collections.

Sunday, July 7, 2024

Blackmar-Diemer Gambit June 2024

This month, I focus on ten recent games where Black either declined or avoided the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit. These lines give White good practical chances, although the Huebsch Gambit 3...Nxe4 allows Black to remain a pawn ahead. First, I cover 1.d4 Nf6 lines, and then I cover 1.d4 d5 lines.

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e4 Nxe4 4.Nxe4 dxe4

5.Be3 Bf5 6.g4 Bg6 7.Ne2 Nc6 8.h4 h6 9.Nf4 Bh7

10.Qe2 (Maybe 10.d5!?) 10...e6 11.0–0–0 Bd6= but 0–1 in 29. Arslanov - Vokhidov, chess.com 2024

5.Bc4 Nc6 6.Bb5 Bd7 7.d5

7...Ne5 (7...Nb4 favors Black.) 8.Bxd7+ Qxd7 9.Qd4 Nc6 10.Qxe4 0–0–0 11.c4 e6 12.Bg5 exd5 13.Qxd5 Qe8+ 14.Ne2 Rxd5 15.cxd5 Nd4 0–1 Nies - Labruyere, Helmond NED 2024

5.f3 and now:

5...exf3 6.Nxf3 g6 7.Bc4 Bg7 8.0–0 0–0 9.Ne5

9...e6 (If 9...Bxe5 10.dxe5 Qxd1 11.Rxd1 Nc6) 10.c3 c5 and 0–1 in 51. Khodzhamkuliev - Lantini, chess.com 2024

5...e5 6.d5 Bc5 7.Bb5+ (Or 7.Qe2 Qxd5 and Black is better.) 7...c6 8.dxc6 Qa5+ 9.c3 Qxb5 10.c7 Nc6 11.fxe4 Be6 12.Nf3 Qb6 13.Qe2 Qxc7 14.Bd2 0–0–0 15.Ng5 Qd7 16.Nxe6 Qxe6 17.0–0–0 Qxa2 0–1 Gallego Bergada - Bettalli, chess.com 2024

 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 and now:

3.f3 e5 

4.d5 (Or 4.dxe5 Qxd1+ 5.Kxd1 exf3 6.Nxf3 Nc6 and Black has easier development.) 4...exf3 5.Nxf3 e4 6.Qe2 f5 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Bg5 Be7 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.0–0–0 Bxc3 11.bxc3 0–0 12.Ng5 Qxg5+ 0–1 Burke - Novak, chess.com 2024]

3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 and now:

4...e5 5.dxe5 Qxd1+ 6.Kxd1 Nfd7 7.Nd5

[White will win two pawns.] 7...Kd8 8.Bg5+ f6 9.exf6 gxf6 10.Nxf6 Be7 11.Nxe4 Bxg5 12.Nxg5 and 1–0 in 33. Arslanov - Sargissyan, chess.com 2024

4...c5 5.d5 e6 6.fxe4 exd5 7.exd5 Be7

8.Nf3 (8.Bb5+! favors White.) 8...0–0 9.Be2 and 1–0 in Mkrtchyan - Diao, chess.com 2024

4...Bf5 5.fxe4 Nxe4 6.Qf3 Nxc3 7.bxc3 Bc8


8.Bc4 (I prefer 8.Nh3) 8...e6 9.Nh3 Nd7 10.0–0 Nf6 11.Bg5 Be7 12.Nf4 c6 13.Nh5 b5 14.Nxg7+ Kd7 15.Bxe6+ fxe6 16.Nxe6 Kxe6 17.Qxc6+ Kf7 18.Qxa8 Be6 19.Qxa7 Qa8 20.Rxf6+ Kg7 21.Qxe7+ 1–0 Arslanov - Arutla, chess.com 2024

4...e3 5.Bxe3 and now:

5...c6 6.Bd3 g6 7.Qd2 Bg7 8.0–0–0 Be6 9.Nge2 Nd5 10.Bh6 Bf6 11.Ne4 Nd7 12.c4 N5b6 13.Qc2 a5 14.Nf4 Bf5 15.Nxf6+ Nxf6 16.Bxf5 gxf5 17.Bg7 Rg8 18.Bxf6 exf6

Black has tripled f-pawns. 19.d5 Qd6 20.Rhe1+ Kf8 21.g3 Qc5 22.Qxf5 Nxc4 23.Kb1 Ne3 24.Qxf6 Nxd1 25.Ne6+ Ke8 26.Nxc5+ Kf8 27.Nd7# 1–0 Arslanov - Panda, chess.com 2024

5...Bf5 6.g4 Bg6 7.h4 h5 8.Nh3 hxg4 9.fxg4 Rxh4 10.Bg5 Rh8 11.Qf3 c6 12.0–0–0 Qa5 13.d5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 cxd5 15.Rxd5 Qc7 16.Bb5+ Nc6 17.Rhd1 f6 18.Rd7 Qb6

19.Rxb7 [The best move!] 19...Rxh3 20.Bxc6+ Kf7 21.Qd5# [1–0 Arslanov - Klukin, chess.com 2024] 1–0

Below are my Blackmar-Diemer Gambit ebook collections.

Friday, June 7, 2024

Blackmar-Diemer Gambit 5.Nxf3

This month I have a collection of recent Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Accepted games. As usual, I try to publish on the 7th of the month. The BDG remains a tricky opening that works well in blitz when White is prepared with some opening knowledge tactical skills, and an eager search for targets of opportunity.

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3

5...c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.0–0 e6 8.Ng5 Bg6
9.Bxe6!? (White sacrifices a piece for two pawns. 9.Ne2 intending 10.Nf4 is a more cautious approach.) 9...fxe6 (Or 9...h6) 10.Nxe6 Qd7 11. Kf7 (Maybe 11...Qxe6 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Re1 regains the material) 12.d5! cxd5 13.Nxd5 (The critical line is 13.Bxf6 Qxe6 14.Bxg7+ Kxg7 15.Qd4+ Kh6=) 13...Qxe6 (13...Kxe6 favors Black, but it sure looks risky in blitz.) 14.Nxf6 Bc5+ 15.Kh1 gxf6 16.Rxf6+ Qxf6 17.Qd5+ Qe6 18.Rf1+ Bf5 19.Rxf5+ 1–0 Arslanov - Li, chess.com 2024

5...g6 6.Bc4 Bg7 7.0–0 0–0 8.Qe1 e6 9.Qh4 Nbd7 10.Bg5 c5 11.d5 Nb6
12.Ne5 (12.Ne4! Nxc4 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Bxf6 wins the queen or the king.) 12...exd5 13.Rxf6 dxc4 14.Rd1 Qc7 15.Rdd6? Bf5 (15...Bxf6! favors Black.) 16.Nb5 Qb8 17.Bh6 Nc8 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Nxf7 Nxd6 20.Nbxd6 Qxd6 21.Rxd6 Rxf7 22.Qxc4 b6 23.Qc3+ Kg8 24.Rf6 Re7 25.h3 Rae8 26.Qg3 Bxc2 27.b4 cxb4 28.h4 a5 29.h5 Re6 30.Rxe6 Rxe6 31.h6 Bf5 32.Qc7! a4 33.Qg7# 1–0 Boraso - Mihajlovskij, Titled Tue 2024

5...e6 6.Bd3 c5 7.Be3 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bb4 9.0–0 Nc6 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Qf3 Bb7 12.Rad1 Qe7 13.Bg5 Qc5+ 14.Be3 Qh5 15.Qg3
15...Bc5 (15...0–0=) 16.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 17.Kh1 Qe7 18.Qxg7 1–0 Arslanov - Shtivelband, chess.com 2024

5...Bf5 6.Ne5 and now:

6...c6 7.g4 Be4 8.Nxe4 Nxe4 9.Bc4 Nd6
10.Qf3 (10.0–0 favors White.) 10...f6 11.0–0 Nxc4 12.Nxc4 Qxd4+ 13.Ne3 Nd7 14.Rd1 Ne5 15.Qf2 Qe4 16.b4 e6 17.Bb2 Nxg4 18.Nxg4 Qxg4+ 19.Kh1 Qe4+ 20.Kg1 Bxb4 21.Rd4 Qg6+ 22.Kf1 Bc5 23.Re1 0–0 24.Rxe6 Bxd4 25.Bxd4 Rfe8 26.Qe2 Qf7 27.Re7 Rxe7 0–1 Arslanov - Csonka, chess.com 2024

6…e6 7.g4 Bg6 8.Bg2 c6 9.h4 Bb4 10.0–0 Bxc2 11.Qd2 Be4
12.Bxe4 (Or 12.Nxf7! Kxf7 13.Bxe4 favors White.) 12...Nxe4 13.Qf4 Qxd4+ 14.Kg2 f6 15.Nf3 Qd6 16.Qxe4 Nd7 17.Be3 0–0–0 18.Rad1 Qe7 19.Bxa7 Nc5 20.Qxb4 1–0 Arslanov - Babiy, chess.com 2024

5…Bg4 and now:

6.Bc4 e6 7.0–0 c6 8.Be3 Be7 9.h3 Bh5 10.Be2 Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bxe2 12.Qxe2 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Nd5 14.Rad1 Qa5 15.Ne4
15...0–0 (15...Nxe3! favors Black.) 16.Kh1 f5 17.exf6 Nxf6 18.Ng5 Rfe8 19.Nxe6 Bf8 20.Qc4 Kh8 21.Bg5 Rxe6 22.Qxe6 Qxg5 23.Rde1 Re8 24.Qxe8 h5 25.Qxf8+ Kh7 26.Rxf6 gxf6 27.Qf7+ Kh6 28.Rf1 f5 29.Qxf5 1–0 Klaus_Mikaelson_001 - neverplayfast1111, lichess.org 2024

6.Bg5 c6 7.Bc4 e6 8.0–0 Be7 9.Kh1 0–0 10.Qe1 h6 11.Bh4 Bxf3 12.Rxf3 Qxd4
13.Bd3 (Better is 13.Bxe6 fxe6 14.Qxe6+ Rf7 15.Bxf6=) 13...Nbd7 14.Rd1 Qe5 15.Re3 Qa5 16.a3 Rfe8 17.b4 Qd8 18.Rxe6 fxe6 19.Qxe6+ Kh8 20.Bg6 Nf8 21.Qf7 Qc7 22.Bg3 Qb6 23.Bf5 Qe3 0–1 Tymrakiewicz - Contreras Huaman, chess.com 2024

6.h3 and now:

6...Bxf3 7.Qxf3 c6 8.g4 e6 9.g5 Nd5 10.Bd3 Be7 11.h4 Nd7
12.Rf1 (Or 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Bd2 intending 14.0–0–0 with attacking chances.) 12...Rf8 (12...0–0!?) 13.Bd2 Qc7 14.0–0–0 0–0–0 15.Qh5 Nb4 16.Be4 f5 17.Bg2 Nb6 18.Qxh7 Rxd4 19.Qxg7 (19.Qg6=) 19...Rxh4 20.Kb1 Nc4 21.Bf4 e5 22.Bg3 Rg4 23.Bh3 Rxg3 24.Rxf5 Rd8 25.Rf8+ Kb8 26.Rfxd8+ Bxd8 27.Qf8 Nd5 28.Be6 Nce3 29.Nxd5 cxd5 30.Rc1 Rg2 31.Qf7 Rxc2 32.Re1 Qxf7 33.Bxf7 Rc7 0–1 Arslanov - Filindash, chess.com 2024

6...Bh5 7.g4 Bg6 and now:

8.Bg2 c6 9.Ne5 Nbd7 10.Qe2 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Nd5 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.e6 fxe6 14.Qxe6 Qd7
15.Qe2 (15.Qxd5 makes more sense to me.) 15...e6 16.0–0 0–0–0 17.Bf4 Bc5+ 18.Kh1 Rhf8 19.c4 d4 20.a3 Bd6 21.Bxd6 Qxd6 22.c5 d3 23.Qe3 Rxf1+ 24.Rxf1 Qd4 25.Qxe6+ Kb8 26.c6 d2 White must give must give material to stop this pawn. 27.Qe7 Qb6 28.Qe5+ Qc7 0–1 Capp - Tymrakiewicz, chess.com 2024

8.Ne5 Nbd7 9.Qf3 [9.Qe2!?]
9...Nxe5 [9...c6 protects b7.] 10.dxe5 Nd7 11.Qxb7 Nxe5 12.Bb5+! Nd7 13.Bxd7+ Kxd7 14.Qd5+ Ke8 15.Qc6+ Qd7 16.Qxa8+ Qd8 17.Qxd8+ Kxd8 18.Bf4 Bxc2 19.Rh2 Bg6 20.0–0–0+ Kc8 21.Rhd2 e6 22.Rd8+ Kb7 23.R1d7 Kc6 24.Rxc7+ Kb6 25.Rb8+ Ka6 26.Rc6+ Ka5 27.Rb5# 1–0 Graham -Yu, Peterborough ENG 2024

Below are my Blackmar-Diemer Gambit ebook collections.

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Bogoljubow

The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Bogoljubow variation 5.Nxf3 g6 resembles the Grunfeld Defence. The main difference is that White has an open f-file and Black has an extra pawn. Ultimately, White looks to attack points near the king such as f7 and h7. Usually, Black will pressure the d4 pawn. I used to be an avid Gruenfeld player. Thus, when I first faced a BDG in December 1980, I played 5...g6. Although I won that game as Black, I realized that if my opponent Glenn Snyder had put more pressure on me, I might have been in trouble. Years later, remembering that game, I started playing the BDG as White!

My latest chess book is Checkmate the Bot: Tips for Outplaying Chess Engines

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 g6


6.Bc4 to aim at f7 is the traditional main line. First, we consider 6.Bd3 and 6.Bf4.

6.Bd3 Bg7 7.0–0 0–0 8.Qe1 Nc6 9.Qh4 and now:

9...Nb4 

10.Bh6 Nxd3 11.cxd3 Ng4 12.Bxg7 Kxg7= although 1–0 in 21. Christensen - Bogumil, chess.com 2021

9...Bg4 

10.Ne2 Bxf3 11.Rxf3 e5 12.Bg5 e4 13.Rxf6 exd3 14.Rxc6 Qd7 and 0–1 in 42. Christensen - Robles Aguilar, chess.com 2021

6.Bf4 Bg7 7.Qd2 0–0 8.0–0–0 [the long Bogo] and now:

8...Bg4 

9.Be2 c6 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 e6 12.g4= and 1–0 in 33. Arslanov - Korley, chess.com 2024

8...Nd5 

9.Be5 Nxc3 10.Qxc3 Nd7 11.Bxg7 Kxg7 12.g4 Nf6 13.g5 Nd5 Black stands a little better but 1–0 in 34. Arslanov - Silva Lucena, chess.com 2024

 6.Bc4 Bg7 [the main line]

6...e6 

7.0–0 Bg7 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Ne4 Bg7 11.Ne5 0–0= and 1–0 in 40. Palczert - Jaque Gutierrez, chess.com 2024]

7.0–0 [the short Bogo]. Alternatives are 7.h4 and 7.Bg5.

7.h4 0–0 8.h5 

8...Bg4 (8...Nxh5!?) 9.hxg6 hxg6 10.Bh6 Bxh6 11.Rxh6 Kg7 12.Qd2 Bxf3 13.gxf3 Nc6 14.0–0–0 Qxd4 and 0–1 in 22. Arslanov - Davidson, chess.com 2023

7.Bg5 0–0 8.Qd2 

8...Bg4 9.Ne5 Bf5 10.0–0–0 Nbd7 11.Qe2= and 1–0 in 27. Pert - Smietanska, chess.com 2023

7...0–0 8.Bg5 [Alternatives are 8.Ne5 and 8.Qe1]

8.Ne5 Nc6 9.Nxc6 bxc6 

10.h3 Nd5 11.Ne2 Be6 12.Bb3 ½–½ Mordiglia - Kirszenberg, Acqui Terme ITA 2023

8.Qe1 Bg4 9.Qh4 Nc6 

10.Ne2 Qd7 11.h3 (11.c3!?) 11...Bxf3 12.Rxf3 Rad8 13.c3 Na5 14.Bd3 c5 15.dxc5 Nc6 and ½–½ in 47. Arslanov - Kolmagorov, chess.com 2024]

8...c6

8...c5 

9.d5 (If 9.dxc5 Qa5 10.Qe2=) 9...Bg4 10.Qd2 (Or 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Qxf3=) 10...Bxf3 11.Rxf3 Nbd7 12.Re1= and 0–1 in 49.) Karapetyan - Samusenko, Sochi RUS 2021

9.Qd2 b5 10.Bb3 a5 11.a4 b4 12.Ne2 Re8 13.Bh6 Bh8 14.Bxf7+?! [14.Ne5! favors White.]

14...Kxf7 15.Ne5+ Kg8 16.c3 c5 17.Qg5 Ba6? [17...Ne4! 18.Qf4 Bf5 favors Black.]

18.Nxg6! Qd5 19.Ne5+ [with mate next move. 1–0 Helin - Fantini, lichess.org 2021] 1–0

For an expanded look at the 50 games (105 diagrams) I did last year, see my new book Chess Chronicles: Blackmar-Diemer Gambit and Other Chess Games

Below are my Blackmar-Diemer Gambit ebook collections.

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