davidmoodychess ([info]davidmoodychess) wrote,
@ 2006-09-05 22:20:00
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Scotch Gambit
The scotch Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4) has been my major weapon against 1...e5. Theoretically, Black doesn't have a lot of problems after either 4...Nf6 (heading for the Two Knights or Max Lange) or 4...Bc5. However, sometimes even good players respond in a stereotypical manner and get into trouble.

Moody,David (1826) - Carlin,Alfred (2110) [C55]
Monday Swiss #2 Atlanta, Ga. (1), 11.08.1980

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.0-0 d5?!

Out of place here, since White can put immediate pressure on the e-file.

6.exd5 Nxd5 7.Re1+ Be7 8.Nxd4 Kf8

I think he was planning to play 8...0-0, but noticed the trap in time: 9.Bxd5 Qxd5 (9...Nxd4 10.Qxd4 c6 11.Qe4) 10.Nxc6 and White wins a piece, or more if Black tries 10...Qxd1 11.Nxe7+. I've caught more than one person with this one.

9.Nc3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 Na5?

Pretty bad. I guess he was trying to chase the bishop off the diagonal so he could play ...f6 and ...Kf7. Being a nice guy, I try to help him play the latter move.

11.Bxf7! c5

11...Kxf7 12.Qh5+ is a long fork.

12.Ne6+ Bxe6 13.Bxe6 Qxd1 14.Rxd1

This is not easy for Black, as he isn't going to be able to develop his KR for some time. But he just collapses completely.

14...Rd8 15.Be3 b6 16.Rxd8+ Bxd8 17.Rd1 Ke7 18.Bh3 Nc6 19.Rd7+ Kf8?

No better is 19...Kf6? 20.Rd6+. But 19...Ke8 might have given him a ghost of a chance.

20.Rd6 1-0

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[info]davidmoodychess
2006-09-09 08:40 pm UTC (link)
Gambits tend to be all-or-nothing chess, so I wouldn't be surprised if those games are shorter than normal. But it's also possible that perception is somewhat skewed because the gambit games which get published are the short, flashy ones.

I don't know of any actual studies on the topic. I just looked up the King's Gambit in my big database, and found these figures.

White wins: 35 moves
Black wins: 37 moves
Draws: 55 moves

When you look at all the games, the average is 41 moves, no I don't know how significant this is.

By the way,, Tim says Hi! Last weekend, he tied for first in the Michigan Open. Bethel did quite well too. Here's the crosstable:

http://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?200609045841.0-12541033

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(Anonymous)
2006-09-11 03:40 pm UTC (link)
Yes, clan McGrew really cleaned up. :-) I gather they didn't pillage any rating points from you....How come I didn't see your name on the crosstable? Are you playing incognito these days? ;-) Or just doing the chess journalist thing? And to keep this thread on the subject of gambits, Tim just told me Bethel had a "lovely win as black with the Albin" over a higher-rated player. So, if you're stuck for a game with the Albin in this little gambit series, you know where to look. ;-)

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(Anonymous)
2006-09-11 04:21 pm UTC (link)
One of the consequences of taking anti-rejection drugs after the transplant is that I need to avoid large crowds because of the possibility of infection. The good news is that I don't have to sit through Commencement ceremonies any more. The bad news is that chess tournaments are also out for now. Even small crowds have to be avoided.

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