Counter Gambits

1 DYNAMIC COUNTERPLAY

There is more than one possible reason for offering a gambit or counter-gambit. Disregarding ‘external’ motivations such as the desire to surprise the opponent or unsettle him with complications, the gambiteer may hope for an attack, a strong centre, a lead in development or just for positional compensation in the form of weak pawns or a fairly long-term dis-coordination in the adversary’s game. All these varieties will find their illustration in this book. Whatever the particular justification is for offering a certain gambit, one point is likely to remain the same. Black is not content to play second fiddle. He wants to win the game, and so he seeks dynamic counterplay. Counter-gambitting is one of the main ways of going about this.

How much advantage does White have by virtue of moving first? This is still a controversial question, and a player’s beliefs on the matter are liable to influence his views on the correct way of playing with Black. It does not appear that many players in the early centuries of chess gave much thought to the advantage of the move. They wrote and played as if White and Black were equals. Counter-gambits were offered freely and Black’s intention in doing so was essentially the same as White’s in offering his gambits: to force an early tactical decision by obtaining open lines and threatening the enemy king. The leading exponents of this way of playing chess were Greco, the Italian school of the 18th Century and ultimately Adolf Anderssen (1818-1879).

A typical Anderssen sacrifice is this played in Berlin in 1851: Falkbeer was White but soon found himself defending a King’s Gambit!: 1 e4, e5; 2 Nc3, f5?!; 3 exf5, Nf6; 4 g4, Bc5; 5 g5, O-O; 6 gxf6, Qxf6; 7 Qf3 and Anderssen was unable to justify his reversed Muzio. However such caprices were often successful before Morphy, Steinitz and the evolution of good defensive technique. The almost incredible 1 e4, e5; 2 Bc4, b5?! won a game in the Dundee tournament of 1867; this reversed Evans had also been pioneered by Anderssen.

Following the propagation of Steinitz’s ideas and their elaboration by the next generation of grandmasters (Tarrasch, Lasker, Rubinstein etc.) there followed a decline in both gambits and counter-gambits that lasted approximately from 1890 to 1945. Frivolous sacrificing would now be punished by accurate defence, and players anyway wished to learn and add to the new positional theory. A phobia for weaknesses sprang up, now that ways of exploiting, for example, doubled pawns were known. Moreover level material became the rule rather than the exception. Many gambits were abandoned without ever being refuted by specific tactical variations (the Evans is the prime example); it was just felt that they involved self-weakening moves that could be exploited by a timely return of the pawn to stifle the gambiteer’s initiative. A big shift to closed openings took place.

The classical philosophy of play with Black was now paramount. On this widely-held view, Black has to recognize that his opponent, by virtue of moving first, has an initiative of considerable but not decisive value. White, playing correctly, will be able to convert this initiative into threats that Black in his turn must counter without making permanent positional concessions. If Black succeeds in this task of patiently neutralising White’s prerogative, then his reward is the draw. One plays to win with White, but with Black a draw is the goal. If White over-reaches, then perhaps Black can win in the second or third session of play. New opening lines were developed to fit these theories: the Chigorin Defence to the Lopez, Lasker’s Defence to the Evans, the classical French and Caro-Kann, the Lasker and Tartakover Defences to the Queen’s Gambit. These attitudes prevailed until well after the Second World War.

Then, primarily under the influence of the Soviet school of chess, a new philosophy for Black gained favour: that of the dynamic counterplay. The Soviet players, led by Botvinnik, saw the opening not as a distinct phase of a solely preparatory nature but rather ‘as the threshold of the middle-game’. Kotov and Yudovich wrote (1958): ‘... A tense creative struggle began to take shape from the very first moves; general views on the opening that had been held for many decades were changed completely ... Soviet masters are constantly finding new possibilities in the opening as they strive to introduce elements of a tense, acute struggle beginning with the earliest moves.’

In consequence of this attitude, there occurred the discovery — and rediscovery — of various assymetric defences (e.g. the Dutch, for a long time a favourite of Botvinnik’s, and the Sicilian) and of provocative systems. The aim of the latter was to induce White to set up a pawn centre that could then be counter-attacked (e.g. the King’s Indian, the Pirc-Ufimtsev and the Alekhine’s defences, all pioneered by Soviet players). No longer could White count on stereotyped position play to maintain control of the position; a Capablanca or Rubinstein would find it harder to reach their favourite simple positions quickly against these modern openings. A rich strategic and tactical middle-game struggle was now virtually guaranteed Black, and with it the chance of winning the game. A sterility had crept into pre-war chess. The desire to play for a win with Black from the start returned a richness to the international game that it seemed destined to have lost forever.

The new philosophy of dynamic counterplay undoubtedly stemmed in part from ‘hypermodern’ ideas, in that they showed how Black could avoid those openings that afforded White the opportunity of early exchanges and quiet pressure. Also important was a new appreciation of the relative value of tactics in the game, together with the concept of the ‘positional sacrifice’.

The quest for dynamic counterplay led to the resurrection of many old counter-gambits (which, below master level, had perhaps never died) and the development of new ones (e.g. Volga Gambit, French poisoned pawn) which were more suited to the new ideas in chess. Counter-gambits from the old motive still sometimes appear (as do ideas best classified as ‘fantasy’) but the positional sacrifice has added a new direction. Numerous opening lines have been discovered in which Black offers material (usually a pawn, but sometimes the exchange or even more) for strategic reasons. These are opening variations in which early tactical play is invited not in the primary hope of quick mate, but rather to create unbalanced middle-games (e.g. the mutual destruction of the flanks in the French poisoned pawn) and/or to cut across the opponent’s plan of development. The epitome of the new philosophy is surely the Volga Gambit in which, after offering a pawn, Black develops his pieces for ten moves or more before producing any threats at all of a tactical nature. This is nonetheless one of the soundest gambits.

It is notable that in the last 10 or 15 years an opposing trend, initiated by White, has grown stronger - to postpone the weight of the struggle to the middle-game again. White avoids 1 e4 and 1 d4 which are committal and allow Black splendid opportunities of complicating the position from the outset. Instead one sees 1 c4, 1 Nf3. 1 g3 or 1 b3: all moves which reserve a lot of White’s options and make it harder for Black to come to grips. All these openings are good, but surely not objectively stronger than the old ones. The popularity of flank openings is partly fashion, partly a desire to innovate, and in great measure a tribute to the philosophy of dynamic counterplay in the modern opening. Perhaps it will not be long before the counter-gambit ideas are found in these openings too ...

Now it is time to proceed to the detailed discussion of the counter-gambits themselves. Black does not win all the illustrative games of course, but I think a little bias in his favour is forgivable, in view of the theme of the book.

2 COUNTER-GAMBITS IN OPEN GAMES

Until about 1880 most chess games began 1 e4, e5 and the play was largely tactical in nature, due to the rapid opening of central lines and swift piece development characteristic of the Scotch Opening, Evans and King’s Gambits and the forms of the Ruy Lopez that were popular then. Each player strove to get his sacrifice in first, and then follow it up with a searing attack on the enemy king. Gambits by both players abound in the theory of the ancient openings — the ‘open games’ — that commence 1 e4, e5, and in most cases they have been very deeply analysed.

Counter-gambits in the open games usually involve the sacrifice of a pawn by an early ..., d5 or ..., f5, although other themes will also be seen. The move ..., d5 opens lines for Black’s queen and queen’s bishop and can interfere with his opponent’s threats against f7. By contrast, ..., f5 is primarily a deflecting move, seeking to obtain a strong pawn centre at the cost of weakening the king’s position.

Many of these counter-gambits are naive and unsound, although this does not mean that they are innocuous, while others, albeit suspect, are resistant to attempts to deal them the final theoretical death-blow. The Queen’s Pawn’s Counter-Gambit (2 Nf3, d5?!) and the Latvian Counter-Gambit (2 Nf3, f5!?) illustrate these categories. However where White has offended against principle (e.g. by playing 4 Ng5 against the Two Knights Defence) then a timely counter-gambit can be very effective.

The openings in this chapter are most easily to be located by consulting the alphabetical index at the back of the book. The order in which they appear is bound to be somewhat arbitrary; I have chosen the following: 2 f4; 2 Bc4; 2 Nc3; 2 Nf3 and if then 2 ..., Nc6, the order is 3 Bc4, 3 Nc3, 3 Bb5. ‘Fantasy’ ideas, for which there are no illustrative games, are discussed at the end of the chapter.

FALKBEER COUNTER-GAMBIT (1 e4, e5; 2 f4, d5)

The King’s Gambit, it cannot be denied, holds a unique place in chess history and aesthetics. Not only is it one of the oldest recorded chess openings, but also it typically gives rise to sacrificial tactical play characteristic of the romantic movement. As such it holds a strong attraction even for modern grandmasters, having been practised by such as Bronstein, Keres, Korchnoy, Spassky and Fischer — although in the latter case it is perhaps for nostalgic reasons only, as the World Champion has claimed that the gambit is unsound.

Nonetheless the defence of the gambit is by no means easy, and Black is probably well advised not to attempt to win the game on material. He can rather play the Falkbeer Counter-Gambit, thereby making his own bid for the initiative and putting in question the strategy behind White’s second move. At one time the Falkbeer (introduced in the 19th Century) was considered almost the positional refutation of the King’s Gambit, although a modern master will probably reserve his judgement on this difficult question.

The idea behind the continuation 2 .... d5; 3 exd5, e4 was best expressed by Reti:

‘What does Black gain by making this Pawn sacrifice? Above all it achieves the complete defeat of the aims inherent in White’s Gambit move. The opening of the f-file, as well as the intended establishment of a Pawn centre are thoroughly thwarted. The position of the Pawn on f4 seems now devoid of meaning.’

Let us begin our study of the Falkbeer Counter-Gambit with an example of Black successful, being (at the time of writing) the most recent grandmaster encounter in this opening.

Game 1

Planinc - Vasyukov (Wijk aan Zee 1973)

1 e2-e4, e7-e5

2 f2-f4, d7-d5

3 e4xd5

This is usual and best, but other moves must also be mentioned:

a)- 3 fxe5??, Qh4+ and Black should win.

b)- 3 Nf3, dxe4 (3 ..., exf4 is also good) 4 Nxe5, Nd7 (4 ..., Bd6; 5 Qe2, Nf6! is also strong) 5 d4 (or 5 Qe2, Ngf6; 6 Nc3, Nc5!) 5 ..., exd3; 6 Nxd3, Ngf6; 7 Nc3, Nb6!; 8 Be2, Bd6; 9 O-O, O-O; 10 Bf3, c6 was equal in Lutikov - Nikitin, Tiflis 1959. Black can try to bring pressure on f4.

c)- 3 d4?! allows 3 ..., exd4; 4 Qxd4, Nf6; 5 exd5, Qxd5; 6 Nf3, Nc6; 7 Qe3+, Qe4 with equality; Black can also try the thematic offer 4 ..., Nc6!?; 5 Qxd5, Qxd5; 6 exd5, Nb4.

d)- 3 Nc3, d4; 4 Nce2, Bg4; 5 d3, Bd6; 6 fxe5, Bxe5; 7 Qd2, Nc6; 8 Nf3, Bxf3; 9 gxf3, Qh4+; 10 Kd1, f5!; 11 Qg5, Qxg5; 12 Bxg5, h6 and Black has good play, White’s two bishops being of little account (Milner-Barry - Keres, Margate 1937)

3 ... e5-e4

The characteristic Falkbeer idea. Black closes the f-file, and his advanced pawn restricts White to some extent. Other moves:

a)- 3 ..., exf4 transposes to the King’s Gambit Accepted after 4 Nf3 (Modern Defence) or 4 Qf3! (Breyer Gambit).

b)- 3 ..., Qxd5?; 4 Nc3, Qe6; 5 fxe5, Qxe5+; 6 Be2, Bg4; 7 d4, Qe6; 8 Qd3 favours White (Tolush - Alatortsev, Moscow 1948).

c)- 3 ..., c6?! (the Nimzowitsch Variation) is only rarely seen, yet it is not clear that White can obtain any advantage against it:

c1)- 4 Qe2?, cxd5; 5 fxe5 (Not 5 Qxe5+?, Be7!) 5 ..., Nc6; 6 c3, d4; 7 Nf3, Nge7; 8 d3, Ng6; 9 Qe4, Bc5 with advantage to Black (Alekhine - Johner, Carlsbad 1911)

c2)- 4 dxc6?!, Nxc6; 5 d3 (Keres suggests 5 Nf3, exf4; 6 d4, Bd6 with a form of King’s Gambit Accepted) 5 ..., Bc5; 6 Nc3, Nf6; 7 Nf3, O-O; 8 fxe5, Nxe5; 9 Bg5 (Or 9 Nxe5, Re8; 10 Bf4, Ng4!; 11 Qe2, Nxe5; 12 Bxe5, Bd4; 13 O-O-O, Rxe5 with a winning attack) 9 ..., Re8 (Lazard - Tartakover, Paris 1929). Black stands to win, e.g. 10 Ne2, Nxf3+; 11 gxf3, Qd4 or 10 Ne4, Nxe4!; 11 Bxd8, Nc3! or 10 Nxe5, Rxe5+; 11 Ne4, Nxe4! etc.

c3)- 4 Qf3 (Keres also suggests the untried 4 d3!?) 4 ..., exf4 (4 ..., Bc5!?) 5 dxc6 (5 Nc3!? - Keres) 5 ..., Nxc6; 6 Bb5, Nf6; 7 d4!, Bd7 (Spielmann - Nimzowitsch, 1907) and now 8 c3! (Keres) is better than 8 Nge2, Qb6 as played. Nonetheless by the simple 8 ..., Be7; 9 Bxf4, O-O followed by ..., Re8 and ..., Nd5 Black may conjure up sufficient piece activity to compensate for his pawn.

c4)- 4 Nc3, exf4!; 5 Nf3, Nf6; 6 d4, Bd6!; 7 Qe2+ (Or 7 dxc6, Nxc6; 8 Bd3, O-O) 7 ..., Kf8!? (It is also possible to dispute Keres’ assessment of 7 ..., Qe7; 8 Qxe7+, Kxe7; 9 Ne5 as being slightly in White’s favour; the potential weakness of the Black d-pawn after 9 ..., Nxd5; 10 Nxd5+, cxd5; 11 Bxf4, f6 did not appear significant in the game Tannenbaum - Estrin, Moscow 1959) 8 Ne5, cxd5; 9 Nb5, Be7; 10 Bxf4, Nc6; 11 Nc7, Rb8; 12 c3, Bd7; 13 g4, Rc8; 14 Nxd7+, Qxd7; 15 g5, Ng8 (Cheremisin - Estrin, Moscow 1959) 16 Nxd5 (In the game 16 Bg2, Rxc7! favoured Black) 16 ..., Qxd5; 17 Bg2, Qe6; 18 d5 (Or 18 Qxe6, fxe6; 19 O-O, Ke8; 20 Rae1, h6!) 18 ..., Qxe2+; 19 Kxe2, Na5; 20 d6, Bd8 and it is not clear how White can justify his sacrifice (Hildebrand in his Swedish monograph Falkbeers Motgambit). The critical continuation is 21 d7, Ra8, but not 21 ..., Rc4?!; 22 Bd6+, Ne7; 23 Kd3 followed by 24 Rael and 25 Rxe7!. So the Nimzowitsch Variation appears to merit further attention!

1

4 Nb1-c3

A rather unusual continuation which, according to Keres, offers White little hope of obtaining an opening advantage. For other 4th moves, see the later games in this chapter.

4 ..., Ng8-f6; 5 Qd1-e2

Nor are other moves dangerous:

a)- 5 Bb5+, c6! (Hildebrand).

b)- 5 Bc4, Bc5; 6 d4 (Or 6 Nge2, O-O transposing) 6 ..., exd3; 7 Qxd3, O-O; 8 Nge2 (Or 8 h3, c6; 9 Nge2, Qc7) 8 ..., Ng4 (Or 8 ..., c6, but inferior is 8 ..., Re8) 9 Qf3 (Better than 9 Nd1, Re8; 10 h3, Nh6; 11 Ne3, c6 with the initiative for Black.) 9 ..., Re8; 10 h3, Ne3; 11 Bxe3, Rxe3+; 12 Qf1, Qh4+; 13 Kd2, Re8 (Spassky - Tumurbator, Leipzig 1960) and in Keres’ opinion Black has the value of his pawn.

c)- 5 d3, Bb4; 6 Bd2 (To Black’s advantage is 6 dxe4, Nxe4; 7 Qd4, Qe7; 8 Be2, O-O; 9 Bd2, Nxd2; 10 Qxd2, Bg4 Gunsberg - Marco, Hastings 1895.) 6 ..., e3; 7 Bxe3, O-O; 8 Bd2, Bxc3; 9 bxc3, Re8+; 10 Be2, Bg4 (Schulten - Morphy, New York 1857) 11 Kf2! = (New here is 6 ..., O-O!?; 7 Nxe4, Re8; 8 Bxb4, Nxe4; 9 dxe4, Rxe4+; 10 Be2 with some advantage to White (Spassky - Bronstein, Moscow 1971)

5 ..., Bf8-e7

The modern continuation. Others:

a)- 5 ..., Bd6?; 6 d3!, O-O; 7 dxe4, Nxe4; 8 Nxe4, Re8; 9 Qf3, f5; 10 Be3, fxe4; 11 Qf2 with advantage to White (Rubinstein).

b)- 5 ..., Bf5; 6 Nxe4 (Zak analysed the sharp 6 h3, h5; 7 g3, c6; 8 d3, cxd5; 9 dxe4, dxe4; 10 Bd2, Nc6; 11 O-O-O.) 6 ..., Nxe4; 7 d3, Qh4+!; 8 Kd1, Qe7; 9 dxe4, Bxe4 = (Keres)

6 Nc3xe4

A major alternative is 6 d3 (Or 6 b3!? — Keres) e.g.:

a)- 6 ..., exd3; 7 Qxd3, Na6; 8 a3 (8 Be3! — Keres) 8 ..., Nc5; 9 Qd4, O-O; 10 Be2 with a slight advantage to White (Keres).

b)- 6 ..., Bg4!?; 7 Qe3, exd3; 8 Qxd3, O-O (8 ..., Na6!?) 9 Be2, Re8; 10 h3? (Critical is 10 Bd2 to meet 10 ..., Na6 by 11 O-O-O.) 10 ..., Bxe2; 11 Ngxe2, Na6; 12 a3, Bc5; 13 Bd2, Qd6; 14 Rd1? (Better is 14 O-O-O, suggested in ‘Revista de Sah’ since 14 ..., Bxa3? fails to 15 Nb5.) 14 ..., Rad8; 15 Bc1, Re7; 16 Qf3, Rde8; 17 g3, Bb6 and Black had ample compensation for her pawn through control of the king file and the insecurity of the White king (Nicolau - Polihroniade, Rumanian Ladies’ Championship, 1970).

6 ..., O-O

An innovation. Also good is 6 ..., Nxd5; 7 d3, O-O; 8 Bd2, f5; 9 Nc3!?, Bh4+; 10 Kd1, Re8; 11 Qf3, Be6; 12 Nge2, c5 and Black stands well (Suttles - Lengyel, Belgrade 1969).

7 Ne4xf6+, Be7xf6; 8 Qe2-f3,

Rf8-e8+; 9 Kel-d1!?

Avoiding self-pins, which would leave him very passively placed.

9 ..., c7-c6; 10 Bf1-c4, b7-b5; 11 Bc4-b3, Bc8-b7; 12 Ng1-e2, a7-a5; 13 a2-a3, c6-c5; 14 d2-d3, a5-a4; 15 Bb3-a2, Nb8-d7; 16 Ne2-c3, b5-b4; 17 Nc3-e4, b4-b3!; 18 Ne4-d6,

The variation 18 cxb3?, Bxd5 would be swiftly won by Black. It is evident that Vasyukov’s strategy of advancing pawns to expose the White king has underlined the risk taken by White on his 9th move.

18 ..., b3xa2; 19 Nd6xe8;

19 Nxb7?, Qb6; 20 d6, Bxb2 is out of the question for White.

19 ..., Qd8xe8; 20 Ra1xa2, Nd7-b6;

21 c2-c4, Qe8-d7; 22 Ra2-a1

2

22 ..., Nb6xd5!

This further sacrifice, which White cannot decline (23 Qf1, Nb6; 24 Kc2, Nxc4!), puts White’s King in a wretched situation.

23 c4xd5, Bb7xd5; 24 Qf3-g3, Bd5-b3+; 25 Kd1-d2, Ra8-d8; 26 Rh1-e1, c5-c4; 27 Re1-e3, Qd7-c7;

With a new threat: 28 ..., c3+. 28 d3-d4, Bf6xd4; 29 Kd2-e2, Bb3-c2;

With the equalisation of material by 29 ..., Bxe3?; 30 Qxe3! some of Black’s advantage would disappear. The two bishops are strong.

30 Qg3-h4, h7-h6; 31 Qh4-e7, Qc7-b8; 32 Bc1-d2, Bd4-f6; 33 Qe7-b4, Qb8xf4; 34 g2-g3, Bc2-d3 +; 35 Ke2-d1, Qf4-f1+; 36 Re3-e1, Qf1-f3+;37 Kd1-c1,Bd3-f5

Now Black threatens 38 ..., Qd3 and if 38 Re3 there comes 38 .., Qf1+; 39 Be1 (39 Re1, Qd3) 39 ..., Bg5; 40 Qc3, Rd3 and wins.

38 Qb4xa4, Bf6xb2+; 39 Kc1xb2, Rd8xd2+; 40 Kb2-c1, Qf3-c3+; White resigns.

Of course White has stronger methods of play against the Falkbeer:

Game 2

Zuckerman - Reshevsky (Netanya 1971)

1 e2-e4, e7-e5; 2 f2-f4, d7-d5; 3 e4xd5, e5-e4; 4 d2-d3!

The most dangerous continuation. Others:

a)- 4 Nc3 see Game 1.

b)- 4 Bb5+, c6; 5 dxc6, Nxc6!; 6 d3, Nf6; 7 Nc3, Bb4; 8 Bd2, Bg4; 9 Nge2, O-O!; 10 a3 (best) 10 ..., exd3; 11 Bxd3, Bxc3; 12 Bxc3 (Or 12 bxc3) 12 ..., Nd5; 13 Qd2 (analysis of Keres). The chances after 13 ..., Re8 are in Black’s favour.

In this line White can also try 6 Qe2, Nf6; 7 Nc3 (7 d3, Qa5+; 8 Nc3, Bb4) 7 ..., Bc5; 8 Nxe4, O-O; 9 Bxc6, bxc6; 10 d3, Re8; 11 Bd2, Nxe4; 12 dxe4, Bf5 with a strong attack for Black (Rosanes - Anderssen, 1862) or 6 d4, Nf6 (Also good is 6 ..., Qa5+) 7 h3, Qa5+; 8 Nc3, Bb4; 9 Bd2 (Better 9 Bxc6+, bxc6; 10 Ne2) 9 ..., e3! is again excellent for Black (Anderssen - Zukertort, Berlin 1868). Other moves (6 Bxc6+, 6 Nc3, 6 Ne2) also leave Black well placed.

c)- 4 d4, Nf6 (Better than 4 ..., Qxd5; 5 Be3, Nf6; 6 Nc3, Bb4; 7 Nge2, O-O; 8 a3 of Farley Dilworth, Birmingham 1973) 5 c4 (Or 5 Nc3, Bb4; 6 Bd2, Bxc3 and 7 ..., Nxd5) 5 ..., Be7; 6 Ne2, O-O; 7 Ng3, c6; 8 dxc6, Nxc6; 10 d5, Nb4 and Black stands well (Benzinger - Henning, Bad Ems 1932).

d) 4 c4, c6; 5 Nc3, Nf6; 6 d4, cxd5; 7 Qb3, Be7; 8 cxd5, O-O; 9 Nge2, Nbd7; 10 Ng3, Nb6 (Tartakover - Reti, Vienna 1922). White’s advanced pawns are weak.

e)- 4 Qe2, Nf6 is not of independent significance.

f)- 4 Bc4, Nf6; 5 Nc3, Bc5; 6 Nge2, O-O; 7 d4, exd3; 8 Qxd3, Ng4! (Hildebrand)

4 ..., Ng8-f6!

(See Diagram 3)

5 d3xe4!

At present, this appears to be White’s best chance of getting an advantage out of the opening. Others:

a)- 5 Nd2 see Game 3

3

b)- 5 Nc3, Bb4; 6 Bd2 see Game 1, note c to White’s 5th move.

c)- 5 Qe2, Bg4!; 6 Nf3 (Too risky is 6 Qe3?! on account of Persitz’s sacrifice 6 ..., Bb4+!; 7 Bd2?, O-O!; 8 Bxb4, Nxd5; 9 Qc5, Re8 with a strong attack; or 7 c3, O-O; 8 cxb4, Nxd5; 9 Qg3, exd3 or again 8 dxe4, Ba5.) 6 ..., Bb4+ (Or Hildebrand’s untried suggestion 6 ..., Qe7!?; 7 dxe4, Nxe4 but not 6 ..., Qxd5; 7 Nbd2, Bf5??; 8 dxe4, Bxe4; 9 Ng5, Bb4; 10 c3 and White wins) 7 c3, O-O; 8 dxe4, Re8; 9 e5, Ba5; 10 Na3! (Filzer - Shishov, Moscow 1958) Black wins back one pawn with an unclear position resulting: will White’s centre pawns prove strong or weak? (Also worth further investigation is the line 5 ..., Bf5; 6 dxe4, Nxe4; 7 Nc3, Qe7; 8 Nb5!?, Qd7; 9 g4!? (9 Nf3! — Keres, but not 9 Nd4, Bc5) 9 ..., Bc5; 10 gxf5, O-O; 11 Be3, Re8; 12 O-O-O, Nf2 with complications (Nei - Kondratiev, Tallinn 1948).

5 ..., Nf6xe4; 6 Ng1-f3!

The young American master Zuckerman can be relied upon to find the straight and narrow way through a morass of theoretical complications. Other moves give Black fewer problems:

a)- 6 Be3, Qh4+; 7 g3, Nxg3 and now:

a1)- 8 hxg3, Qxh1; 9 Qe2, Bb4+!; 10 c3, Bd6; 11 Bg2, Qh6; 12 Bd4+ (12 Nd2!? — Ta1) 12 ..., Kd8; 13 Nf3, Bg4; 14 Qf2, Re8+; 15 Kf1, Nd7; 16 Nbd2, Qg6; 17 Kg1, f6!; 18 Rc1, b6; 19 b4, a5!; 20 Nh4?, Qd3; 21 Ndf3, Re2; 22 Qf1, axb4; 23 Rd1, Rxg2+; 24 Kxg2, Rxa2+; 25 Kg1, Qxf1+; 26 Kxf1, g5; 27 Resigns (Tal - Trifunovic, Havana 1963).

a2)- 8 Nf3!, Qe7; 9 hxg3, Qxe3+; 10 Qe2, Qxe2+; 11 Bxe2, Bg4; 12 Nc3, Bb4 with an equal ending (Spassky - Matanovic, Belgrade 1964).

b)- 6 Qe2, Qxd5 (Also good is 6 ..., Bb4+) 7 Nbd2, f5; 8 Nh3 (If 8 g4?!, Nc6!; 9 c3, Be7; 10 Bg2, Qf7; 11 Nxe4, fxe4; 12 Bxe4, Bh4+; 13 Kf1, O-O or 8 g3, Bd7; 9 Bg2, Bc6; 10 Nh3, Nd7; 11 Nxe4, fxe4; 12 O-O, Bc5+.) 8 ..., Nc6; 9 c3, Be6; 10 Nxe4, fxe4; 11 Nf2, O-O-O; 12 g3, Bc5; 13 Bg2 and now in the game Janowski - Pillsbury, Vienna 1898, Black availed himself of the strong queen sacrifice 13 ..., e3!

6 ..., Bf8-c5

This is better than 6 ..., Bf5; 7 Be3, c6; 8 Bc4, b5; 9 Bb3, c5; 10 d6!, c4; 11 Qd5 (Alekhine - Tarrasch, Petersburg 1914) or 6 ..., Bg4; 7 Bd3, Bf5; 8 Qe2, Qxd5; 9 Nbd2 (Keres) or 6 ..., c6; 7 Nd2, Nxd2; 8 Bxd2 and 9 Bd3 (Hildebrand)

7 Qd1-e2, Qd8-e7?!

Reshevsky introduces a new move. However it is probably not good enough. Current theory shows an advantage to White in all lines here:

a)- 7 ..., Bf5!; 8 Nc3 (8 g4, O-O!) 8 ..., Qe7; 9 Be3, Bxe3 (Or 9 ..., Nxc3; 10 Bxc5, Nxe2; 11 Bxe7, Nxf4; 12 Ba3! (Bronstein - Tal, Riga 1968) or 12 Bg5 with Black under heavy pressure) 10 Qxe3, Nxc3; 11 Qxe7+ Kxe7; 12 bxc3, Be4 (better than 12 ... , Bxc2; 13 Kd2) 13 Ng5!, Bxd5; 14 0-0-0 when, according to Keres’ analysis, Black will have difficulty in equalising the position. A possible continuation is 14 ..., Bxa2; 15 c4, b5; 16 Kb2! (better than 16 cxb5, h6 followed by ..., a6 and Black holds) 16 ..., Bxc4; 17 Bxc4, bxc4; 18 Rhel+, Kf6 and now after 19 Rd4 or 19 Rd5 Black, despite his two extra pawns, is on the brink of defeat. Or 14 ..., Be6; 15 Nxe6, fxe6; 16 Bc4 with advantage to White (Krnic - Cortlever, Wijk aan Zee 1972).

b)- 7 ..., Bf2+; 8 Kd1, Qxd5+ (Or 8 ..., f5; 9 Nfd2, Bh4; 10 Nxe4, fxe4; 11 Qxe4+, Kf7; 12 Bd2) 9 Nfd2!, f5; 10 Nc3, Qd4; 11 Ncxe4, fxe4; 12 c3, Qe3 (12 ..., Qb6; 13 Nc4) 13 Qh45+! and White is winning (Reti - Breyer, Budapest 1917).

c)- 7 ..., Qxd5; 8 Nfd2, f5; 9 Nc3, Qd4; 10 Ncxe4, fxe4; 11 Nb3 favouring White (Napier - Blackburne, 1895).

d)- 7 ..., f5; 8 Be3! (8 Nc3, 0-0) 8 ..., Qxd5 (best) 9 Bxc5, Qxc5; 10 Nc3 (Spielmann - Wolf, Dusseldorf 1908). White stands better as in case of 10 ..., 0-0 he has the resource 11 Nxe4, fxe4; 12 Qxe4, Bf5; 13 Qc4+!.

e)- 7 ..., O-O; 8 Qxe4, Re8; 9 Ne5, f6; 10 Bd3 (Keres) e.g. 10 ..., g6; 11 Qc4, Na6; 12 b4!, Bxb4; 13 0-0, fxe5; 14 fxe5, Rxe5; 15 Bb2 and wins (analysis).

8 Bcl-e3!, Nb8-a6

Not of course 8 ..., Ng3?? because of 9 Bxc5.

9 Be3xc5

Zuckerman, in The Chess Player, claims also a slight advantage for White after 9 Nbd2, Nxd2; 10 Bxd2, Nb4, but the move he plays is better.

9 ..., Na6xc5; 10 Nb1-d2, O-O; 11 O-O-O

Not 11 b4?? because of 11...,Qf6.

11 ..., Bc8-f5; 12 Nf3-d4, Qe7-f6; 13 Nd4xf5, Qf6xf5; 14 Nd2xe4,Nc5xe4 15 Qe2-f3, Ne4-d6!

Reshevsky defends well. He keeps the knight which will be useful for manoeuvring against the loose points in the White position (pawns on d5 and f4) and gradually steers the game into an ending which he is able to draw. Nonetheless his position cannot be considered adequate compensation for the lost pawn; perhaps Zuckerman misses a win later.

4

16 Bfl-d3, Qf5-d7; 17 f4-f5

Zuckerman mentions 17 g4!? in The Chess Player.

17 ..., Qd7-e7; 18 f5-f6, Qe7xf6; 19 Qf3xf6, g7xf6; 20 Rh1-f1, Kg8-g7; 21 Rf1-f3, Ra8-e8; 22 Rf3-g3+, Kg7-h8; 23 Rd1-f1, Rf8-g8; 24 Rg3xg8+, Kh8xg8; 25 Rf1xf6, b7-b5!

Else White could advance the queen-side pawns and dislodge the vital knight from his watchtower.

26 Rf6-h6, Re8-e5; 27 Rh6xh7, Re5xd5

If instead 27 ..., Nc4 (threatening mate) 28 c3, Rxd5; 29 Rh3 — Zuckerman.

28 Rh6-h4, c7-c5; 29 Bd3-e4, Rd5-e5; 30 Be4-f3, Kg8-g7; 31 c2-c3, a7-a5; 32 a2-a4

In order to keep at least one pawn on the queen-side. Also, to play 32 Rg4+, Kh6; 33 h4, b4 might lead to a blockade.

32 ..., b5-b4; 33 Kc1-d2, b4xc3+; 34 b2xc3, f7-f5; 35 Rh4-f4, Kg7-g6; 36 h2-h4!

After 36 g3, Kg5; 37 Rh4 White is in a tangle.

36 ..., Kg6-g7; 37 g2-g4, f5xg4; 38 Rf4xg4+, Kg7-h7

The king must not cut itself off from the passed pawn.

39 Rg4-f4, Kh7-g7; 40 Rf4-g4+, Kg7-h7; 41 Bf3-e2

Safety past the time control, White tries a new tack. Zuckerman also mentions the possible plan 41 Rg2, intending 42 h5, 43 Re2, 44 Re6.

41 ..., Kh7-h6; 42 Be2-d3, Kh6-h5; 43 Rg4-f4, Re5-e6; 44 c3-c4?

Zuckerman gives as correct 44 Be2+, Kh6; 45 h5. However after 45 ..., Kg5 the obstacles in the way of a White victory are probably insuperable.

44 ..., Re6-e8; 45 Bd3-e2+

If 45 Rf6 Black has 45 ..., Rd8!

45 ..., Kh5-g6; 46 Rf4-g4+, Kg6-f5; 47 Rg4-g5+, Kf5-f4; 48 Be2-d3, Re8-e5; 49 Rg5-g6

If 49 Rxe5, Kxe5; 50 Ke3, Nc8!; 51 Bc2, Nd6

49 ..., Nd6-e4+; 50 Bd3xe4, Re5xe4 51 Rg6-a6, Kf4-e5; Draw agreed.

White cannot keep his h-pawn, so Reshevsky only has to bring his king back to the queen-side to achieve a theoretical draw.

It can be seen from this game and the analysis at Black’s seventh move, that the fate of the Falkbeer is currently in the balance. The other critical line is Keres’ Variation, which we shall now examine.

Game 3

Sydor - Uitumen

(Poland 1971)

1 e2-e4, e7-e5; 2 f2-f4, d7-d5; 3 e4xd5, e5-e4; 4 d2-d3, Ng8-f6; 5 Nbl-d2, e4xd3!

Other moves here are not so good

a)- 5 ..., e3; 6 Nc4, Nxd5; 7 Nxe3, Nxf4; 8 g3, Ng6; 9 Bg2, Bd6; 10 Nf3, O-O; 11 O-O and White is rather better (Keres - Stalda, correspondence 1933).

b)- 5 ..., Qxd3; 6 dxe4, Nxe4; 7 Bc4, Qc5 (7 ..., Qa5; 8 Qe2) 8 Qe2, f5; 9 Nxe4, fxe4; 10 Qxe4+, Be7; 11 Nf3 is clearly better for White (Ketting - van Nuss, Rotterdam 1938).

c)- 5 ..., Bf5;