Below are 10 games played in the past few years that I have not analyzed previously. Each game includes one or both players rated 2200 or above.
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
1.d4 d5 [This is the Queen's Pawn Opening, a very common and classical choice. Both players are fighting for control of the center.]
2.e4 [White deviates from the usual Queen's Gambit lines, playing the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit. This move challenges Black's central pawn immediately.]
2...dxe4 [Black accepts the gambit, taking the pawn. This opens up lines for both players.]
3.Nc3 [White develops a knight, targeting the e4 pawn and preparing to regain material while developing pieces. This is Diemer's improvement over Blackmar's 3.f3.]
3...Nf6 [Black develops a knight, defending the pawn on e4. This is a common and solid developmental move.]
4...exf3 [Black decides to exchange the pawn and thereby remain a pawn ahead.]
5.Nxf3 [White recaptures with the knight, keeping a strong presence in the center and preparing for kingside castle. 5.Qxf3 is very tricky, but objectively, it is better to take on f3 with the knight.]
5...e6 [Black solidifies their pawn structure and opens lines for the bishop to develop, potentially to d6 or e7.]
[Now, both 6.Bg5 and 6.Bd3 has its own strategic merits and sets the stage for a dynamic middle game. I'll deal with 6.Bd3 first and 6.Bg5 second.]
6.Bd3 [This move develops the bishop to a strong central square, eyeing the h7 pawn. This is more about building up a strong central presence and preparing for a possible kingside attack.
6...b6
7.0–0 Bb7 8.Be3 (White protects d4 since the Nf3 is under fire) 8...Be7 9.Qe1 Nbd7 10.Qg3 Nh5 11.Qg4 Ndf6 12.Qh4 g6 13.Ng5 Qd7 14.Bb5 c6 15.Bc4 h6 16.Nxf7 Kxf7 17.Ne4 Kg7 18.Ng3 Nxg3 19.Qxg3 Rae8 20.Bd3 g5 21.Bxg5 hxg5 22.Qxg5+ Kf8 23.Rxf6+ Bxf6 24.Qxf6+ Kg8 25.Qg6+ Qg7 26.Qxe8+ 1–0 Christensen - Popov, chess.com 2020
6...c6
7.0–0 Be7 8.Ne2 (This seems slow. Better is 8.Qe1!?) 8...Nbd7 9.c3 0–0 10.Ng3 (Again, 10.Qe1 looks good.) 10...c5 Black stands slightly better and 0–1 in 42. Knoll - Morgunov, PlayChess 2020
8...Nbd7
[Note that 8...Nc6 appears to favor Black.] 9.Qh4 Re8 10.Ng5 (Better is 10.Ne5=) 10...h6 11.Nxe6 fxe6 12.Bxh6 gxh6 13.Qxh6 Bf8 favors Black and 0–1 in 65. Argandona Riveiro - Ilinca Ilinca, Linares ESP 2022
8...c5
9.dxc5 (Or 9.Qh4 cxd4 10.Bg5=) 9...Bxc5+ 10.Kh1 Qc7 11.Qh4 Be7 (11...Nbd7) 12.Bg5 (Or 12.Nb5) 12...h6 13.Bxh6 Qc5 14.Bg5 Nbd7 15.Rae1 Qb4 16.Re4 Qxb2 17.Rf4 g6 18.Rxf6 Qxc3 19.Bxg6 fxg6 20.Rxg6+ Kf7 21.Qh7+ Ke8 22.Qxe7# 1–0 Christensen - Rodchenkov, chess.com
2021
6...c5 and now:
7.Be3
7...Nc6 8.dxc5 Qa5 9.a3 Nd5 10.Bd2 Qxc5 11.Qe2 Be7 12.0–0–0 0–0 The players castled on opposite sides with equal chances and 1–0 in 37. Pert - Lowinger, chess.com 2023
7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Bg5 and now:
8...0–0
9.Qd2 (9.Qe2=) 9...Nbd7 10.0–0–0 Qa5 11.Qf4 Bb4 12.Ne4 Nd5 13.Qh4 f5 and 0–1 in 28. Christensen - Thipsay, chess.com 2020
8...Nc6
9.Qd2 Be7 10.0–0 0–0 11.Qf4 Nd5 12.Qh4 g6 13.Qh6 f6 14.Bxg6 hxg6 15.Qxg6+ Kh8 16.Qh6+ Kg8 17.Qg6+ Kh8 18.Qh6+ Kg8 19.Qg6+ Perpetual check. ½–½. Christensen - Heinemann, chess.com 2021
And now for the more popular 6.Bg5 (and my personal favorite.)
6.Bg5 [This move pins Black's knight to the queen, adding pressure on Black's position. It's an aggressive move, aiming to control the knights and create potential threats against Black's king.]
6...Be7 7.Bd3 and now:
7...h6 and now:
8.Bh4
8...Nd5!? 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Qd2 Nc6 11.0–0 0–0= and 0–1 in 52. Glazyrin - Grebnev, Cheboksary RUS 2021
8.Bf4
8...a6 9.Qd2 Nc6 10.a3 Nd5!? 11.Nxd5 exd5 12.0–0 Be6= and 0–1 in 53. Arslanov - Filippova, chess.com 2023]
7...Nbd7 8.0–0 and now:
8...c6
9.Qe1 Nb6 10.Qh4 Nbd5 11.Ne5 h5 12.Rae1 Bd7 13.Kh1 Qc7 14.Nxd5 cxd5 15.Rxf6 gxf6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Qxf6 0–0 18.Qg5+ 1–0 Arslanov-Senft, chess.com 2023
8...0-0
9.Qe2 b6 10.Rad1 Bb7 11.Ne5 Nd5 12.Bxh7+ Kxh7 13.Qh5+ Kg8 14.Nxf7 Rxf7 15.Qxf7+ Kh8
16.Qh5+ Kg8 17.Qf7+ Kh8 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.Nxd5 Qg5 20.Rd3 Nf6 21.Rh3+ Nh7 22.Qf8+
Rxf8 23.Rxf8# [Black is checkmated.] 1–0 [Sarkar-Senft, Titled Tuesday blitz 05.12.2023]
