How to play
the Scotch
Gambit
Erick Schiller
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Dour To Play The
Seoteh
Gambit
Erie Schiller
How to Play the
Scotch Gambit
I
by Eric Schiller
Chess Enterprises
Coraopolis PA
1992
Chess Enterprises, Coraopolis PA 15108
Copyright © 1992 by Eric Schiller
All rights reserved.
Published 1992
Printed in the United States of America
95 94 93 92 5 4 3 2 1
ISBN:
0-945470-24-X
Editor: B.G. Dudley
Proofreader: Thomas Magar
Typesetting: M.L. Rantala for Chessworks Unlimited
Set in Palatino and Avant Garde by Adobe; and Reykjavik Laserfont
designed by Eric Schiller for Chess Laboratories, P.O. Box 3541, South
Pasadena CA 91030.
.
The manuscript was prepared using NisuS™ 3.0 and Microsoft Word™
running on a Macintosh SEe ChessBasc 3.0 was employed in the
preparation of the data.
Manuscript completed October 31, 1991.
Revisions completed March 3 1992.
Contents
(")reface.............................................................................................1
Part One: Black does not play 4 ... Nf6!
Chapter 1:
Chapter 2:
Chapter 3:
Chapter 4:
Chapter 5:
4 ... Miscellaneous Replies by Black ...................3
4...d6 ...................................................................... 14
4 ... Bb4+ ................................................................. 22
4 ... 'Bc5 .................................................................... 33
4 ... BcS S.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 ...................37
Part Two: Black plays 4 ... Nf6!
Chapter 6:
Chapter 7:
Chapter 8:
Chapter 9:
Chapter 10:
Chapter 11:
S.eS N g4 ................................................................ 52
S.eS N e4 ................................................................ 67
S.eS N e4 6.0-0 d5 .................................................71
S.eS d5 ................................................................... 73
S.eS d5 6.BbS Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 .......................... 76
S.eS d5 6. BbS Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bc5 ......................... 102
Preface
The Scotch Gambit (1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4!?)
is a grand old opening which has faded from popularity
with the rise of the Spanish Game (3.BbS). Nevertheless, it
remains an attractive opening at the club and amateur
level, since it provides good attacking chances and
practically guarantees a small positional edge as well.
In the 19th Century, it was a successful weapon for
Anderssen, Bird, Charousek, Morphy and Steinitz, among
others, and as the century turned Breyer, Marshall,
Schlechter, and Spielmann were among its practitioners.
It was so thoroughly analyzed that it fell from favor for
many years, until Yakov Estrin resurrected it in
correspondence play, and his Soviet colleague Evgeny
Sveshnikov reintroduced it to regular grandmaster praxis.
Tim Harding, in his 1991 revision of a book on the
Evans Gambit-which includes a Scotch Gambit system
against the Two Knights Defense-has helped to
revitalize the opening by discovering many improvements for White, many original, and some buried in the
literature. I have tried to expand upon his analysis, and
have subjected it to critical review. As a result, I believe
that I have found additional resources for White. In
addition, this book surveys lines where Black does not
transpose to the Two Knights.
But the most important aspect of the Scotch Gambit is
its clarity of ideas, which makes it an opening which is
especially useful to intermediate level players who need a
sound opening with good winning prospects which does
not involve a great deal of memorizing theoretical
variations. This book helps to keep the opening simple by
1
2
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
choosing only the lines for White which fit into the same
conceptual scheme, where recurring positional themes
make it easy to absorb the fundamentals of the opening. I
also happen to think that these lines are the best that
White has in the Scotch Gambit.
This book is designed for players rated 1400 to 1800. I
have tried to include a great deal of explanation and have
extended previously analyzed lines to the point where the
evaluation should be clear to the reader. Many diagrams
are provided to aid the reader in following lines, and I
have tried to avoid extensive embedding wherever
possible.
The material in this book is available on disk in
ChessBase and Access format from ChessBase USA, 2153
Highway 35, Sea Girt NJ 08750.
Chapter 1
Miscellaneous Replies by Black
Maroczy-Porges
Nurnberg 1896
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Qf6?!
These early queen deployments never succeed in the
Scotch Gambit, because White is too well-developed.
4... Qe7 5.0-0 QcS 6.Qd3 g6 is another attempt to hang on
to the pawn, but it doesn't work. 7.c3! Bg7 8.cxd4 Nxd4
9.Nxd4 Qxd4 lO.Qb3! Nh6 11.Bxh6 Bxh6 12.Bxf7+ was
effective in Bonch Osmolovsky-Alatortsev, USSR 1962.
5~c3!?
Maroczy's notes indicate that simple castling would
have been better, so that the e-pawn could have advanced,
using the potential pin on the e-file.
5...
BcS
6.0-0
Maroczy gives 6.eS!, but that seems a bit speculative.
6...
d6
7.Nxd4
Nxd4
8.cxd4
Bxd4
3
4
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
9.Qb3
Bb6
lO.a4
White has compensation for his pawn, but only if he
keeps the initiative. An alternative plan would be to
continue development, and make use of dS. 10.Nc3! Ne7
11.Be3 0-0 (11 ... Bxe3? 12.fxe3 drops the pawn at £7.) 12.Bxb6
axb6 13.Nb5! with win of material. 13 ... c6 14.Nc7 Ra5
15.Qxb6 RcS 16.Bd3 and although the knight is trapped,
there is no way to get at it, and the Black attack is nothing
to worry about. 16 ... Ng6 (to stop f2-f4) 17.Rfcl Rxcl+
18.Rxcl Nf4 19.Bf1 Ne6 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.a4 with a slight
edge for White.
10...
Ne7
11.Khl
Nc6
12.Bd2
0-0
12... aS!? might have been a useful interpolation.
13.a5
Bd4
14.Nc3
Bxc3
Practically forced, because of the weakness at dS.
15.Bxc3
Qe7
16.Bd5
Nd8
Or 16... Bd717.a6 bxa618.Rxa6 I{ab8 19.Qa3!
17.eS
c6
17 ... dxeS?! 18.Rfel Nc6 19.a6!
Chapter 1: Miscellaneous Replies by Black
5
18.exd6
Qxd6
19.Be4
Be6
20.Qa4
Although White is still a pawn down his bishop pair
and active pieces give him sufficient compensation.
20...
f5
21.Bf3
Qc7
22. Rfel
ReB
23.BhS!
Re7
24.Qh4
Kf8
Black can't bring his defensive forces closer to the king,
so he tries to bring the king closer to his pieces!
25.BeS
Qd7
26.Qg3
g6
At least there is no pin on the g-pawn, part of the point
of Kf8.
27.Radl!
Qe8
28.Be2
Nf7
29.Bd4?!
The bishop should have retreated to c3.
29...
KgB
30.BhS
f4
To avoid the destructive sacrifice at g6.
31.Qh4
Not 31.Qxf4? Bb3!
31...
Rd8
32.Qf6
Rxd4!
That's why the bishop should have been posted at c3
instead of d4.
33.Rxd4
gxhS
34.IQ:f4
N d8
3S.Rf3
Rf7
6
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
36.Rg3+
37.Qh8+
38.Rg8
Or 38 ... Qd7 39.Rxd8! Qxd8
winning the queen.
39.Qxh7+
40.Rg7
41.Qxh5
42.Rg6
Kf8
Ke7
Rf8
40.Rxe6+ Kd7 41.Rd6+
Kd6
Rf7
Qe7
Kd7
43.f3
Black's king is surrounded by pieces and White cannot
win by direct attack.
43...
Qf8
44.RgS
Qd6
45. RgeS
Threatening Rxe6!
45...
BdS
46.Re8
Qf6
47.R8e5
Kc7
48.Qg4
a6
49.Qg3
Ke8
50.Qg4+
Kc7
51.Qg3
52.Qg5
Kc8
Chapter 1: Miscellaneous Replies by Black
7
The repetition was probably due to time pressure, as
White has every reason to play for a win.
52...
QxgS
53.Rxg5
Kd7
54.Rg4
Ne6
55.Kg1
Nf4
The endgame favors White because he already has
passed pawns.
56.Re3
Kd6
57.b4
cS
S8.bxc5+
Kxc5
Ne6
59.g3
NfB
60.Rg6
Kd4
61.RgS
Rd7
62. Ree5
Black did not fall for 62 ... Bxf3? 63.Ref5!
63.Rel
Ne6
64.Rg4+
Kc3
65.Re3+
Kd2
66.Kf2
Rc7
67.Rb4
ReS
Rxa5
68.h4
69.f4
ReS
How
to Play
the Scotch Gambit
70.f5
as
71.Ra4
b5
72.Raa3!
The threat of Re2+ is worth more than the pawn at as.
72...
Nf4
What else?
73.gxf4
74. ReS
7S.RxaS
76.Rac5
77.Rxc5
78.f6
79.f7
80.f8Q
81.Qf6+
82.Qd4+
Bc4
Rc7
b4
RxcS
Kc3
b3
b2
blQ
Kd2
1-0
Owens & Staunton-Horwitz & Loewenthal
London 1856
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Be7?!
This move is too slow, but it does not deserve the lack
of recognition it has been subject to in the literature.
S.O-O
5.c3 is an excellent alternative, since Black cannot
Chapter 1: Miscellaneous Replies by Black
9
capture at c3: S... dxc3 6.Qd5! forced Black's resignation in
DeVisser-Jennings, New York 1922.
5...
d6
6.Nxd4
Nxd4
7. Qxd4
Bf6
This is Black's idea-to develop the bishop with tempo
and keep control of eS while planning to develop the
knight via e7.
8.QdS
8.Qd3 was seen in a game between Cunningham and
Staunton as White and a team including Loewenthal as
Black, but the queen is not well placed there. Notes by
Staunton indicate that 8.Qe3 is best, but there is nothing
wrong with QdS.
8...
Qd7
9.f4!
White gains further space, while there is no need to
worry about the a7-g1 diagonal. because neither the queen
nor bishop is in a position to exploit it.
9...
c6
9 ... Nh6 IO.eS! dxeS 11.Qxd7+ Bxd7 12.fxe5 Bxe5 13.Bxh6
gxh6 14.Bxf7+ Kd8 15.c3 will be uncomfortable for Black,
though the bishop pair provides some relief.
10.Qdl
Nh6
11.c3
Black has finally developed, but there is now a major
10
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
weakness at d6. White must not allow Black to release the
pressure with d6-d5 (12.£5?! d5!).
Qe7
12.Na3
13.Bd3!
The c4 square will be more useful for a knight which
will pressure d6 and keep an eye on e5.
13...
g6
14.f5
Bg5
A major strategic concession which will lead to the loss
of the pawn at d6, but there were no attractive
alternatives.
15.£6
Qe5
16.Nc4
QcS+
17.Khl
Bxcl
18.Qxcl!
The attack at h6 deflects the queen and the d-pawn
falls.
18...
Qh5
18 ... Ng4 19.Be2 N£2+ 20.Rxf2 (20.Kg1 Nh3+ 20.Khl
Qgl+ 21.Rxg1 Nf2#) 20 ... Qxf2 21.Qg5 h6! 22.Qxh6 Qxf6 and
Black is better. White could play 19.Qd2 keeping all threats
open-Magar.
19.Nxd6
Rd8
20.Qf4
Bg4
21.Bc4
b5
Chapter 1: Miscellaneous Replies by Black
22.Bb3
23.Rf2
24.Rd2
25.Rd5!
11
Rd7
Rad8
c5
Qh4
Black's pinned and overworked pieces are no match
for the invaders.
26.Nxf7!
Nxf7
27.Rxd7
c4
27... Rxd7 28.Qb8+ Rd8 29.Qxd8+
28.I{xd8+ N xd8
29.Rfl
Ne6
29... cxb3 30.f7+ Kf8 31.Qd6+ Qe7 32.Qxe7+ Kxe7 33.f8Q+
30.Qb8+
Kf7
31.Qxa7+
KgB
32.Qb8+
Kf7
KgB
33.Qb7+
34.Qc8+
1-0
Sfeinifz-Lang
Vienna 1860
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Qe7
12
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
This is less risky than 4 ...Qf6?!, but is also inadequate,
not because of the entombed Bf8, but rather because Black
has conceded control of the center.
5.0-0
Ne5
5 ... QcS 6.Qd3 g6 is another attempt to hang on to the
pawn, but it doesn't work. 7.c3! Bg7 8.cxd4 Nxd4 9.Nxd4
Qxd4 lO.Qb3! Nh6 11.Bxh6 Bxh6 12.13xf7+ was effective in
Bonch Osmolovsky-Alatortsev, USSR 1962.
6.NxeS
Qxe5
7.c3!
Black is behind in development, and now White takes
control of the entire center. Black never gets time to bring
his pieces into the game.
.
7...
c5
7... dxc3 8.Nxc3 Bb4 9.Bxf7+! Kxf7 lO.Qb3+ Ke8 11.Qxb4
intending f4.
8.f4
Qf6
9.eS
Qb6
10.Khl
A good prophylactic move, taking away any possible
counterplay on the diagonal.
10...
Be7
11.f5
d5
Black must do something to free his game. If 11 ... d6,
then 12.e6! is very strong.
12.BxdS
Nh6
Chapter 1: Miscellaneous Replies by Black
13.f6
13
Bf8
14.Bxh6
gxh6
lS.Bxf7+!
White's advanced pawns are all the queen needs to
carry out the attack.
15...
Kxf7
16.Qh5+
Ke6
17.Qe8+
KdS
18.cxd4
Be6
18 ... cxd4 19.Nc3+ dxc3 20.Radl+ Kc5 21.b4+ Qxb4
(21 ... Kxb4 22.Rhl+ KaS 23.Rxb6 axb6 24.Rf4 b5 25.a4) 22.Qd8
also looks very good for White.
19.Nc3+
Kc4
White's queen isn't really a major part of the attack
now-in fact, it is completely superfluous!
19 ... Kxd4 20.Qxa8 Bg7 21.Radl+ Kxe5 22.Rdel+ Kd6
23.Qxa7 Qxa7 24.Nb5+
20.d5!!
Rxe8
21.Rf4+
Kd3
Kc2
22.Rdl+
22...Ke3 23.Rf3+
23.Rf2#
1-0
Chapter 2
4 ... d6
Charousek-Exner
Budapest IMatch 1896
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 d6?!
This move is so obscure that it isn't even in the books,
although it might be seen in amateur games. Black gets a
bad version of the Philidor or Hungarian J?efense.
5.Nxd4
White should capture immediately: 5.0-0 Bg4! 6.Bb5
Qf6 7.Bxc6+ bxc6 8.Qxd4 Bxf3 9.Qxf6 Nxf6 10.gxf3 h6=+
Rousseau-Stanley, New Orleans (m/2) 1845.
5...
Nf6
The alternatives are not a whole lot better:5 ... Nxd4
6.Qxd4 Be6 is relatively best, though after castling White
retains his developmental and spatial advantage.5 ... Ne5?!
6.Bb3 c5 7.Nf3 Nxf3+ 8.Qxf3 Nf6 9.Bg5 Be7 lO.Nc3 0-0 11.0-0
Be6 12.NdS!+= BxdS 13.Bxf6 Bxe4 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Qe3 Qe8!
16.Rfel Bc6 17.QgS with a slight initiative for White in
Rousseau-Stanley, New Orleans (m/8) 1845.
6.Nc3
Be7
14
Chapter 2: 4 .. .d4
15
7.0-0
0-0
8.£3
Since Black cannot get his bishop to the a7-g1 diagonal,
there is no weakness associated with this move.
8...
9.Be3
ReB
BfB?!
Black is attempting to play pure defense, but after
White pins the Nf6 the bishop will have to return to e7,
so the immediate 9 ... NeS would have been better, though
after lO.Bb3 White would still have a clear advantage.
10.Qd2
Ne7
11.Radl
Bd7
12.Bg5!
By threatening to cripple tIle Bl·.1ck pawns, White
forces his opponent to waste two moves to break the pin.
12...
Ng6
13.NdS
Be7
Now White can eliminate the important defender and
maintain the pin.
14.Nxe7+ Qxe7
IS.Rfel!
Both sides are fully developed but Black's pieces are
ineffective while White has placed every piece on an
optimal square.
15...
Qd8
16
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
16.Bb5!
Charousek understands the value of a knight outpost
at f5. To obtain this, he will have to eliminate the enemy
bishop. The text cannot be met by 16 ... c6, because that
would critically weaken the pawn at d6.
16...
17.Nxb5
Bxb5
Now Black must finally accept doubled pawns on the
kingside, because after 18.Bxf6 the queen must remain at
d8 to guard c7.
17...
ReS
18.Bxf6
gxf6
19.Nd4!
Headed for the key square f5.
19...
Qf8
20.Nf5
21.Qc3!
Rae8
The point of this move is not only to attack c7, but
more importantly, to create a pin on the ReS. Perhaps
Black should have accepted the inevitable here and played
21 ... RcS.
21...
d5
22.Rxd5
RxdS
23.exd5 Rxe1+
24.Qxel
Chapter 2: 4.. .d4
17
The endgame is winning for White, not so much
because of the extra pawn at d5 but rather because the
kingside is so weak.
24...
QcS+
25.Qe3
Qxe3+
25... Qxd5?? 26.Qe8+ Nf8 27.Ne7+; 25 ...Qxc2 26.Qe8+ NfB
27.Nh6+ Kg7 28.Qxf7+ Kxh6 29.Qxf8+ Kg6 30.Qe8+ Kg7
31.Qe7+ KgB (31 ... Kg6 32.Qe4+.) 32.Qxf6 Qdl+ 33.Kf2 Qxd5
34.a3 and White can win by advancing the h-pawn.
26.Nxe3
I W~i, ~f~J~ !~~n '~fI
*
~i 1i~: ~~l~~ff~i ;ICj.~
r-~IT---'''''''''
-."1I: .... r~- ••
~J"r"
This endgame is a technical win-and Charousek
demonstrates that he has the necessary skills.
26...
Kf8
27.Kf2
Ke7
28.Nf5+
Kd7
29.Ke3
Black's king is rendered harmless by the combination
of knight and PdS.
29...
NeS
30.b3
c6
31.Ke4
cxdS+
32.KxdS
Ng6
33.g3
The king has taken over for the pawn at d5, and the
Black knight is limited in scope.
18
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
33...
Ne5
34.Ke4
Nc6
35.Nd4
Now the monarch heads for the kingside. Obviously
Black cannot exchange knights.
Ne7
35 ...
36.c4
b6
37.b4
a6
38.a3
NcB
A clever move, inviting 39.Kf5? when 39 ... Nd6+ eats
up the queenside pawns.
39.Nf5
Ke6
Na7
40.h4
41.Nd4+
Kd6
42.Kf5
Now it is safe.
42 ...
Ke7
43.a4
NcB
44.c5
45.bxc5
46.h5
47.h6
bxcS
Na7
as
1-0
Breyer-Fahrni
Baden 1914
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 d6 5.Nxd4 g6
19
This plan makes a little more sense than Exner's
5 ... Nf6, but it is not enough for equality.
6.0-0
A logical move, but to reach the modern lines of the
Philidor, White might have delayed this move and played
6.Nc3, keeping open the option of castling queenside.
6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 Nf6 8.Qd2 0-0 9.Nxc6! bxc6 10.Bh6 Bxh6
11.Qxh6 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 ReB (12 ... d5 13.NgS and White
wins.) 13.Bxf7+ Kxf7 14.Qxh7+ Kf8 15.Qxg6 Qe7 16.f3 d5
17.0-0 dxe4 18.fxe4+
6 ...
Bg7
7.Be3
Nf6
B.Nc3
0-0
9.Qd2
ReB
10.Rael
NeS
11.Bb3
White has organized his pieces well, and Black is
behind in development and must be concerned about the
advance of the f-pawn.
20
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
c5?!
A sign of desperation early in the game. 11 ... Neg4!?
might have been wiser.
12.Ndb5
c4
13.f4!
Neg4
14.Bxc4
Nxe3
15.Rxe3
Ng4
16.Rd3
Not only has White won one pawn, but he has
another one coming.
16...
Qb6+
17.Khl
Bxc3
18.Nxc3
Be6
19.Bxe6
fxc6
20.h3
Nf6
11...
This has been pretty much forced, and now the two
extra pawns are easily converted int() an endgame victory.
21...
Rad8
21 ...Qxb2 22.eS Nh5 23.g4 Ng7 24.Ne4 Re7 25.Nf6+ Kh8
26.Rd8+ Rxd8 27.QxdB+ ReB 28.Nxe8
22.Rxb6
Rxd2
23.Rxb7
24.Rdl
Nh5
RedB
25.Rxd2
Rxd2
Chapter 2: 4 .. .d4
26.Rxa7
27.Rb7
And the a-pawn flies.
27 ...
28.a4
29.Rb3
30.NbS
31.Kh2
32.Kgl
33.Kf2
34.Ke3
3S.Kd3
Nxf4
Nxg2
Nh4
Rxc2
Rcl+
Rc2+
Rcl+
Re2+
e5
ReB
I{a8
36.aS
Ng2
37.Ra3
Nf4+
38.a6
Ne6
39.Ke3
Kf7
40.a7
Ke7
41.h4
Kd7
42.Ra6
Ke7
43.Rd6+
44.Rxe6+! Kxe6
Kd7
45.Nc7+
1-0
46.Nxa8
21
Chapter 3
4 ... Bb4+
Charousek-Porges
Nuremberg 1896
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bb4+
White can respond to this with a strong, if typical,
pawn sacrifice.
5.c3
dxc3
6.0-0
c2
Black returns the pawn in the hopes of blunting
White's attack, but he remains too far behind in
developmen t.
7.Qxc2
Nge7
7 ... d6 8.a3 BaS 9.b4 Bb6 lO.Bb2 Nf6 of Staunton-Popert,
London (m/ 3) 1842 saw White gain the upper hand after
a decisive advance in the center: 11.eS! dxe5 12.Nxe5 Nxe5
13.BxeS 0-0 14.Nc3 Ng4 15.Bg3 QgS 16.Rael BfS 17.Qb3 Nf6
18.Re7 with compensation.
8.a3
BaS
9.b4
10.Bb2+/-
Bb6
f6
10... 0-0 11.Qc3
22
Chapter 3: 4 .. .Bh4+
23
11.Nc3
d6
12.NdS
NxdS
13.Bxd5
Ne7
13 ... Bd7 intending Qe7, 0-0-0 was suggested by Tarrasch,
but as in the game, the queenside is hardly a safe haven.
c6
14.Rfel
15.Bb3
Bg4
16.Nd4
Qd7
17.Qc4!
The light squares are simply too weak.
17...
Rf8
17... 0-0-0 18.Qf7!? intending 19.h3. 18... BhS 19.Ne6.
18.h3
Bxd4
19.Bxd4
Bh5
20.Qc3
Bf7
Black has beaten back the initial attack, but his
development is hideous and his king is stuck in the
center.
21.Bc2
Be6
22.f4
23.Bf2
b6
0-0-0
The king escapes, but to territory which is every bit as
dangerous as the land he has fled.
24.a4!
Kb7
25.Qe3
Kb8
24
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
25...Nc8 26.a5 c5 27.axb6 axb6 28.Qa3+NcB
26.bS
26 ... c5 27.a5 NcB 28.axb6 axb6 (28 ... Nxb6 29.e5 gives
White more than enough compensation.) 29.e5 fxeS
30.Bh4! Rde8 31.Be4 dS 32.Bxh7 Rh8 33.Qxe5+ Qd6
(33 ... Nd6 34.Bg6 Rxh4 35.Bxe8) 34.Qxd6+ Nxd6 3S.fS Rxh7
36.Bg3+/-.
dxe4?
Not 29 ... Bd7 30.exd5 QxdS 31.Bg3+ Nd6 32.13e4!+- but
29 ... Bf7!? would have held out a little longer.
30.BbS
Qd5
31.fxe6
Qxe6
32.a5
Black has three pawns for t11e piece, but his king is still
under fire.
29.f51
f5
33.axb6
Nxb6
Ka8
34.Bg3+
35.Bc7!
Rb8
36.Qc5
Rfc8
According to Sergeant, Charousek actually announced
32 ...
the mate in 5 here.
37.Qc6+
Qxc6
Chapter 3; 4 .. .Bb4+
38. Bxc6+
25
Rb7
Now Black gets everything his position deserves!
39.Rxa7+!! Kxa7
40.Ral+
41.Rxa4+
Na4
1-0
Kirste-Knorr
Correspondence 1990
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bb4+ S.c3 dxc3 6.0-0 Qe7?!
7.a3 BcS 8.Nxc3 Nf6
A classical example of development conlpensating for
a missing pawn.
9.Bg5!
The pin allows White to occupy dS.
9...
0-0
IO.b4
11.Nd5
Bb6
Qxe4
26
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
11 ...Qd6 12.Nxf6+ gxf6 13.Qxd6 cxd6 14.Bxf6 ReB 15.Rfel
would not have been much fun, with the development of
the Be8 virtually impossible to achieve.
12.Nxf6+
gxf6
13.Bd3
It doesn't take much to see that the attack is going to be
brutal.
13.H
Qg4
14.Bxf6
Qf4
Qd6
h6
15.BgS
16.Qc2
17.Radl!
This is the kind of move one hates to encounter. The
queen is bound and gagged and waiting for the
executioner-and her mate has a similar fate!
17...
Nd4
18.Nxd4
hxg5
19.Nf5
Qf6
20.Rfel
d6
Finally, the bishop can join the game, but it is too late.
Kh8
21.Ne7+
22.Nd5
Qh6
23.Nxc7
RbB
23 ... Bxc7 24.Qxc7 Bg4 25.f3 BhS 26.Qxb7 Bg6 27.Qd5 Bxd3
28.Rxd3 Rad8 29.Re7 Qf6 30.Qd4 Qxd4+ 31.Rxd4+-
Chapter 3: 4 .. .Bh4+
24.Qc3+
25.Qxg7+
27
Qg7
and Black abandoned the game, because after 25 ... Kxg7
26.Ne8+ the endgame is hopeless. 1-0
Kirste-Plath
Correspondence 1990
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bb4+ 5.c3 dxc3 6.0-0 cxb2
7.Bxb2 f6? 8.a3 BaS
*
··i·~@~~~j
t -..,.:.~.
~~ . .•.•. . ..U~
~~fl;;;fi1Ji1j
.....-P .................
~:::=.J;...
l:···"" .:~: .::;:::::. ;.:.;;:.;(;:,::::{A:~:f'~:'
lj§i~ 11 mi~l.fl.1tm~i~L~j~~ _
9.Nl14!
Opening up a path to h5, and effectively ending the
game.
9...
d6
9... g6 was necessary, though even then it isn't pretty.
10.QdS Nh6 11.e5 fxeS 12.BxeS Rf8 13.Bg7+10.Qh5+
Kf8
11.Qf7+#
1-0
Hopfer-Troester
Correspondence 1988-1989
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bb4+ S.c3 dxc3 6.0-0 cxb2
7.Bxb2 Nf6
28
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
"
This seemingly solid position is also unfavorable for
Black.
8.Ng5
0-0
9.e5
Nxe5!
9... d5?! 10.exf6 dxc411.QhS h6 12.fxg7 Re813.Qxh6 +/9 ... h610.exf6 hxg511.fxg7 ReB 12.Qh5 +/9 ... NdS 10.QhS h6 11.Nxf7 l~xf7 12.Bxd5 Qe7 13.Bxf7+
Hopfer. 13 ...Qxf7 14.Qxf7+ Kxf7 15.a3 + / - -Analysis.
10.BxeS
d6
The problem with this move is that the pawn occupies
a square which might otherwise be used by tile bish<.)p.
If lO ... dS!, then:
a) 11.Bd3 Ng4 12.Nf3 NxeS 13.Nxe5 Qf6 14.f4 c5!?
(14 ... Bc5+ lS.Kh1 g6 16.Be2=-Steinitz.) IS.a3 BaS 16.Qc2
+ / - -Analysis.; or
b) 11.Be2! This move was suggested by Steinitz. It
guards the important g4 square. 11 ... I3e6 12.Qc2 g6 13.Qb2
Be714.Qxb7+= cS 15.Nc3 h6 16.Nf3 +/- -Analysis.
11.Bc3
Bxc3
11 ... Bc5 12.Nd2 Ng413.Nde4+/12.Nxc3
Ng4
13.Qd2!
Ne5
14.Bb3
h6
15.Nge4
BfS
16.Rfdl+=
Chapter 3: 4 .. .Bh4+
29
Black's three pawns are not being used, and White's
pieces enjoy plenty of scope. Therefore White's chances
must be preferred.
16...
Qe7?!
16 ... Qd7!?
17.NdS
Qd8
cxdS
30
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
22.Rd3!
Nxd3
23.Bh7+
Kh8
24. Bg6+
This is why the knight had to be deflected from e5.
24...
KgB
25. Qh7+
Kf8
26.Qxf7+#
1-0
Schlechter-Nyholm
Baden 1914
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 BcS
This obvious developing move is met by a gambit
continuation which insures an initiative for White.
5.c3!
d3
6.b4!
Bb6
7.a4
as
7 ... a6 8.Qb3 Qf6 9.aS Ba7 10.0-0 d6. Necessary, since
10... NeS fails to Il.Nxe5 and 12.Bxf7+. 11.b5
a) 11 ... axb5 12.a6! bxa6 I3.BdS Bb7 (13 ... Nge7
14.Bg5+/-) 14.Rxa6! Bxf2+ 15.Rxf2 Rxa6 16.Ng5 with an
unstoppable attack;
b) 11 ... Ne5 12.Nxe5 dxe5 13.bxa6 bxa6 14.Qa4+! (A
fine move which disrupts the Black position, since the
bishop belongs at b7, not d7.) 14 ... Bd7 I5.Qdl Ne7
16.Qxd3+= Sveshnikov-A.Petrosian, USSR 1974.
Chapter 3: 4 .. . Bb4+
31
B.b5
Qe7
8 ... Nce7 9.NeS dS lO.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxf7 Kxf7 12.Qf3+
Ke6 13.Qe4++ / - and White recovers his piece with
interest.
9.0-0
White is better developed with control of the center
and more space.
9 ...
Nd8
10.Nd4!
Headed for f5.
10...
d6
Qf6
11.NfS
11 ... BxfS 12.exfS Qf6 13.Qxd3 Ne7 14.Rel 0-0 15.Qe4 ReB
16.g4 and Black cannot escape the pin on the e-file. 16 ... h6
17.Ra2+/ - intending Ra2-e2.
Ne6
12.Bxd3
Ne7
13.Qc2
14.Nd2
Bd7
15.Nc4!
Bc5
15 ... Nc816.Ba3 0-0 17.eS!+/16.Be3
b6
16 ... Bxe3 17.fxe3 Qg5 18.Ncxd6+ cxd6 19.Nxd6+ KfB
(19 ... Kd8 20.Nxf7++-) 20.Rxf7+ Kg8 21.Qf2 with compen-
sation.
17.f4!
Bxe3+
32
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
18.Ncxe3
ReB
White's domination of the center and superior
development are decisive here.
19.eS!
Nxf5
20.exf6
N xe3
21.Qe2
1-0
Chapter 4
4 ... Bc5
Sveshnikov-Kupreichik
Hastings 1984-5
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 S.c3 dxc3
If Black takes up the challenge, then White can react in
Romantic style.
6.Bxf7+!? Kxf7
7.Qd5+
Kf8
8.QxcS+
d6
8 ... Qe7 9.Qxc3 Qxe4+ 10.Be3 is well known to theory,
which holds that White has compensation whether Black
advances his d-pawn to d6 or dS. Unfortunately, few
players have dared to face this line over the board!
9.Qc4!?
White plays positionally, taking control of the lightsquares.
Bg4
9...
10.Nxc3
Bxf3
Is it really wise for Black to give up a tempo and his
developed piece? White also gains the g-file for the attack.
11.gxf3
Qf6
33
34
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
12.£4!
Qf7
Black would obviously like to exchange queens, but
White does not oblige.
13.Qb5
Nd4
14.Qd3
Ne6
IS.fS!
The dance continues, with each side gaining a little
initiative only to be beaten back. But already one must like
the White position, with more active pieces and a secure
position for his king.
15...
NcS
Qc4
Nf6
18...
ReB
19.f3+=
Black has gained time for development by targeting the
e-pawn, but now that square is under White's control and
Black has not solved the problem of his rook.
19...
Ncd7
20.Rd4
Qc6
21.Khl
Re7
22.Qe2
Ne5
23.Bg5!
The Black kingside is defended by knights, both of
Chapter 4: 4 .. .8c5
35
which are under attack.
23...
Qc5
24.Rhdl
Nc6
25.Rc4
Qe5
26.Nd5!
The pin allows White to bring his pieces to more
effective squares.
26...
Rf7
Black breaks the pin, but it will cost significant
material, because d6 is under fire, protected primarily by
the pawn at c7, and that pawn is about to make a hasty
exit.
28.Nxc7!
Rxc7
Re7
29.Bxd6+
30.e5!
Nd7
31.f4
White is in no rush. His position is overwhelming,
and he is still effectively a rook ahead because the Rh8 is
out of play. Black tries to remedy this, but it is already too
late.
31...
h5
32.Qd3
Rh6
33.Bxe7+! Kxe7
33 ... Qxe7 34.Qxd7 Qxd7 3S.Rxd7+-
36
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
34.Qa3+
Kf7
Rxe6
3S.e6+
3S ... Kf6 36.Rxd7 intending Rc3.
36.fxe6+
Qxe6
Nf6
37.Qd3
38.f5
QeS
The double exchange advantage is simply too much.
39.Rc2
KgB
40.Re2
QcS
41.a3
Kh7
42.Rg2
NeS
43.Qc2
Qe3
44.Rdgl
Neg4
and Black resigned, presumably during adj()urnment
1-0
ChapterS
4 ... Bc5 5.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2
Aviles-Elzagheir
Novi Sad 01 1990
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 BcS 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+
7.Bd2 Qe7?! 8.0-0 Bxd2 9.Nbxd2 d6
~~ ~~ ~~j~~rf~~\.•~;:[If~ ~~i~
~; .:.:.,." ':.1:'' ' ' '
J.~ '~!f
:[1
'.:.:. .:.: ':lII',' ,.:.,.:.:.
.®.:}~
~i ~::~.:)~}'~1:~: 1 ~~: ilIiri~~ :~:
:'g:'
(.
=::
This position is also much too passive, though Black
could have put up better resistance than in the game.
IO.Rel
11.Qb3
Bg4
Rb8?
11 ... 0-0 12.Qxb7+/12.e5
13.NxeS
dxeS
1-0
Analysis based on Greco
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+
7.Bd2
37
.\H
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
7... Nxe4
7... d5 8.exdS Bxd2+ 9.Qxd2 NxdSl0.0-0 0-0 11.Nc3+=
Nxb4
8.Bxb4
9.Bxf7+!
Kxf7
d5
10.Qb3+
11.Ne5+! KgB?!
11 ... Kf6? 12.£3 cS 13.fxe4 dxe414.0-0++11 ... Ke6 12.Qxb4 c5 13.Qa3! Suggested by Keres, but
Ravinsky later showed that the position is by no means
clear. 13 ... cxd4 14.Nf3 Qb6 15.0-0 Kf7 16.NeS+!+=Zagorovsky. (16.Rdl d3 17.NeS+ Kf6 18.Nxd3 Bg4 19.Rel
Qd4 unclear-Ravinsky.)
12.Qxb4
Qf6
13.0-0
c5
14.Qb5
b6
QfB
lS.Qe8+
16.Qc6
Ba6
17.QxdS+
Qf7
18.Qxf7#
1-0
Bastian-Eng
West Germany 1984
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 BcS 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+
7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 dS 9.exd5 Nxd510.Qb3 Nce7
11.0-0 0-0 12.Rfel Nb6?!
Chapter 5: 4.. .Bc5 S.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2
39
13.Bd3
BfS
14.Rxe7!
Bxd3
IS.Rae1
Bg6
IS ... BfS 16.NgS (16.Nh4!) Bg6 I7.Ngf3 was equal in
Leonhardt-Suchting, Vienna 1908, but one senses that the
players were not in the mood for a fight.
16.Nh4
NcB
17.N xg6
hxg6
IB.R7e5+/-
19.Nf3
Black seems to have consolidated, but White's active
pieces are more than enough compensation for the pawn.
21.Qb4!
f6
21 ... RaeB 22.Qh4!
40
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
22.Re7
QbS
23.Rxg7+!! J<xg7
24.Re7+
Rf7
2S.Rxf7+ Nxf7
26.Ne6+
1-0
Nun-Sarwinski
Naleczow 1987
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 BcS 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+
7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 dS 9.exdS NxdS 10.Qb3 Nce7
11.0-0 0-0 12.Rfel Nb6?! 13.Bd3 NedS
13 ... Nc6 14.Racl Kh8 lS.Bbl!+:::: with strong pressure on
the kingside.
14.Ne4
BfS
15.NcS
Bxd3
16.Qxd3
.....
".-.-
_..
White controls more space and has an annoying threat
at b7. Black's blockade at dS is useful, but the threat of a4as can weaken his control.
16...
Rb8
17.NeS
Nf6
17... c6 18.a4 Nb4 19.Qh3 as (Or else a4-aS and a knight
will enter at d7; if 19 ... Qxd4 20.Ned7 Nxd7 21.Nxd7 Nc2
22.Nxf8 Nxel 23.Qxh7+ Kxf8 24.Qh8+ Ke7 25.Rxel+ Kd7
26.Qxb8+-) 20.Re4+=
Chapter 5: 4 ... 8c5 S.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2
41
18.Radl
Qd5
19.a4
A queen is rarely a good blockader, and White not only
controls the dark squares in the center, but also has a good
grip on the light squares thanks to the more active
knights.
19...
Nbd7
20.Qc3!
c6
20 ... Nxc5 21.dxc5 Qa2 (21 ...Qe6 22.Nd7 Qxel+ 23.Qxel+-)
22.b3 Rbd8 23.Qc4 Rxdl 24.Rxdl Qb2 25.Nxf7! Rxf7
26.Rd8++21.b4
Rfe8
White exploits the overworked knight to retain the
initiative.
24...
2S.N xb7
26.Qb3!
27.Nd6+
White's advantage is not
structure, but also his pressure
file with a better endgame.
27...
RfB
Qxd4
Qb6
only his superior pawn
at f7 and control of the ec5
42
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
28.Qdl!
White makes no attempt to hang on to his b-pawn, but
counts on the endgame to bring him success.
cxb4
28...
Qd8
29.Re7!
30.Qel
Nf6
31.NfS
32.h3
33.Qe5!
35.Qg3
Nh5
36.Nh6+!
Kh8
37.Nxf7+
KgB
38.Nh6+
Kh8
39.Qg5
Qc6
Now 40.QxhS fails to 40 ... Qd6+ 41.Qe5 QxeS+ 42.Rxe5
RxeS, but there is a killer move which deflects the Black
queen from the defense of e8.
40.Qd5!!
Qg6
41.Nf7+
1-0
Buckle-Anderssen
London 1851
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 BcS 4.c3 Nf6 S.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+
7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 dS 9.exd5 NxdS 10.Qb3 Nce7
Chapter 5: 4 .. .BcS S.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2
43
11.0-0 0-0 12.Rfel
This is the key position in the variation where Black
exchanges at d2. The best move is 12... c6, and others can
meet wi th disas ter.
12...
Nf4
13.Re4!
14.Rael
15.Ne5!
I
,.:!.•.-:.~.l.._._.';I:T.'.J"":"_._ J
Black seems to be attacking, but the pressure at £7 is
much more important.
16.Bxf7+! Kh8
16...Rxf7 17.Qxf7+ Kh8 18.Qe8+
17.Nxg6+ hxg6
18.Qg3!
Qxg3
19.hxg3
Rxf7
20.Rxf4
Rxf4
Kh7
21.Re8+
22.gxf4
44
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
Black is powerless against 23.Nf3, 24.NgS, 25.Rh8. 1-0
Rossolimo-Riceman
Puerto Rico 1967
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+
7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 dS 9.exd5 Nxd510.Qb3 Nce7
11.0-0 c6 12.Rfel 0-0 13.a4 b6?!
This weakens the queenside pawn structure and Black
never gets time to consolidate.
14.Ne5!
Bb7
ReB
IS.aS!
16.Ne4
Qe7
Black's pieces have been driven back, and now the
kingside attack can begin.
18.Qh3!
Nf4
19.Qg4 NedS?!
Chapter 5: 4 .. .Bc5 5.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2
45
Black is moving his defensive forces away from the
king-not a good idea.
19 ... Nfg6 20.Nxf7 Rxf7 21.Bxf7+ Kxf7 22.NgS+ KgB
23.Qe6+ Kh8 24.Nf7+ KgB 2S.Nd6+; 19 ... Neg6 20.Nxf7 Rxf7
21.Bxf7+ Kxf7 22.NgS+ KgB though ugly, was relatively
best.
20.Ra3!
Ne6
21.BxdS
cxdS
22.Nf6+
Kh8
And now for one of the most picturesque finishes in
all of chess history:
23.Qg6!!
Qc2
23 ... hxg6 24.Rh3+23 ... fxg6 24.Nxg6+ hxg6 25.Rh3+
24.Rh3
1-0
Sutterer-Hylkema
Baden-Baden 1987
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 BcS 4.c3 Nf6 S.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+
7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 d5 9.exdS NxdS 10.Qb3 Nce711.0-0
0-0 12.Rfel c6 13.a4 Rb8?!
46
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
This move frees the Be8 from its defensive chores, but
with b5 under control of the White pieces it will not work.
14.aS!
a6?
Missing the point.
15.Bxa6
b6
16.Bxc8
Qxc8
17.a6
Qg4
18.Ne5!
The invasion of the knight brings threats of many
forks, and a pawn is a small price to pay for the initiative.
18...
Qxd4
19.Ndf3!
Qb4
20.Qxb4
Nxb4
21.Nd7
22.N xb8
23.a7
Rxb8
1-0
Chapter 5: 4 .. . BcS S.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2
47
Schlechter-Breyer
Baden 1914
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 S.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+
7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 dS
8 ... Nxe4 9.Nxe4 dS 10.Qe2! 0-0 11.0-0-0 Bg4 12.h3 Bxf3
13.gxf3 dxc4 14.Qxc4 Qh4 15.Kbl!+ ' was seen in MednisFischer, USA ch 1964. Although Fischer eventually
outplayed his opponent, the position is objectively better
for White who owns the center and has a kingside attack,
while his own monarch is safe.
9.exd5
NxdS
10.Qb3
Nce7
11.0-0
0-0
12.Rfel
13.a4
The old move is the best move! Black defends the
queenside without creating any weaknesses.
14.Racl
Qf4
15.Ne4
15.Re4 might be an interesting alternative, as the rook
might be effective on the h-file.
BfS
15 ...
16.Nc5
b6
17.Nd3
Bxd3
18.Bxd3
1~ad8
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
48
This position is balanced, but the evaluation of full
equality seems a bit generous for Black, although it is hard
for White to make progress.
19.Rc2
Qd6
20. Rce2
Ng6
Qb4
21.g3
22.Qc2
22.Qxb4 Nxb4 23.Bbl was worth considering, intending
h2-h4.
22...
Qd6
23. Bxg6
Qxg6
24.Ne5
This leads to a general liquidation of pieces and a dead
draw.
24 ...
Qxc2
25.Rxc2
Nb4
26.Rc4
as
27.Nxc6
Nxc6
28.Rxc6
Rxd4
I{xa4
29.Rxb6
1/2-1/2
Sufferer-AI Awadhi
West Germany vs. Kuwait 1987
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 BcS 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4
Chapter 5: 4 .. .Bc5 5.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2
49
t
We have now reached a position from the Italian
Game, where Black has good chances for equality, if he
plays very carefully.
6...
Bb4+
6 ... Bb6?! 7.dS Ne7 B.eS Ng4 9.d6!+ / - was proposed by
Keres.
7.Bd2
Bxd2+
This capture is the standard move, as recommended by
most opening books ..
8.Nbxd2
d6?!
This is too passive. 8 ... d5! is the best defense.
9.d5
Ne7
10.0-0
Bg4
11.Qb3!
A standard reply, when the enemy bishop abandons
his queenside post.
11...
Bxf3
12.Qxf3
0-0
13.Qb3!
50
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
13...
Qd7
14.Rfel !
14.Qxb7 RfbS 15.Qa6 I~b2=+
14...
Ng6
15.g3
Ne5
16.Bfl
I{fe8
17.f4
Neg4
If Black could get to the a7-g1 diagonal he might be able
to do some damage, but this feeble attack is easily
repulsed.
18.h3
Nh6
19.Bg2
b6
20.g4+ / - Nhxg4
21.hxg4
Qxg4
22.Qf3
Qh4
23.Qf2
Qg4
24.Re3
Now White will have the better kings ide attack, as
well as the material.
24...
25.Rg3
Re7
Qd7
Ne8
QbS
26.e5
27.e6!
27...fxe6 28.dxe6 Qxe6 29.Bxa8
28.Qd4
Qe2
Chapter 5: 4 .. .Bc5 S.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2
51
29.Bf3
(2b5
30.Ne4
and Black resigned because of the threat of 31.Nf6+
Nxf632.(2xf6. 1-0
Chapter 6
5.e5 Ng4
IIlescas-Sanz
Leon 1989
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS Ng4 6.Qe2 Qe7
7.Bf4 f6 8.exf6 Nxf6
~1~~~~I:l~\lt~~
~]~:~:lt'j\:'~ 1~:!.:)~j1I~: : i
~il~;t.:)fl~~::::::JI:j~~:~))*t::.::::J
~.ltl1lil.~. .Mntl'1·fn~I))j@~l
~§~~t 1) fii~jIj
~OIi
m~lt} t\ ~
Gligoric gave his seal of approval to this m()ve in ECO,
but as we shall see the resulting variatil)nS are clearly in
White's favor.
9.Nbd2
d6
lO.Nb3
Bg4
11.Qxe7+ Bxe7
12.Nfxd4 Nxd4
13.Nxd4
White already stands better, according to Zagorovsky.
The center is balanced, with the Pd6 supporting the e5
square, but the Be7 lacks scope and the Nd4 is well placed
for action on either side of the board.
13...
0-0-0
52
53
13 ... d5! is preferred by Harding. 14.Bd3 c6 (14... 0-0-0 is
no better here than at the last move. 15.h3 Bh5 16.Nf5 BfB
17.Ng3 Bf7 gives White a slight advantage in mobility and
space, although I cannot agree with Sveshnikov.l who
considers the position after 15.h3 significantly better for
White; 14... c5 15.Bb5+ Bd7 16.Bxd7+ Kxd7 17.NfS is given
by Sveshnikov. 17 ... BfB 18.0-0-0 Kc6 19.Rhel gives White a
clear advantage, e.g., 19 ... Re8 20.Rxe8 Nxe8 21.Rel Nd6
22.Re6 Kd7 23.Rxd6+ Bxd6 24.Nxd6 RfB 25.Bg3+/-) 15.h3
Bd7 ( 15... Bh5 16.Nf5 BfB 17.Nd6+ Bxd6 18.Bxd6 Kd7 19.BcS
Rae8+ 20.Kd2 Ne4+ 21.Bxe4 l{xe4 22.Bxa7+=) 16.Nf5 BxfS
17.Bxf5 0-0 18.Be3 and the bishop pair gave White the
advantage in Sveshnikov-Berkovicll, Moscow Championship 1983.
14.f3
Sveshnikov prefers 14.h3 followed by Ne6, which is
also a good plan.
14...
Bd7
15.0-0-0
15.Ne6 Bxe6 16.Bxe6+ Kb8 is also better for White, but
there is no rush to obtain the bishop pair.
15...
Rde8
16.Rhel
d5
17.Bd3
Bd8
Black's lack of mobility forces him into passivity .
17... Bc5 18.Nb3 Bf2 19.Rxe8+ Rxe8 20.Rfl ReI + 21.Rxel
54
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
Bxel 22. Be3! creates a nasty threat of g2-g3, trapping the
bishop. If Black runs away, then White can safely go
pawn-grabbing on the queenside: 22 ... Bh4 23.Bxa7 b6
24.Ba6+ Kd8 25.g3 Bg5+ 26.£4 Bh6 27.Nd4 g5 28.fxgS Bxg5+
29.I<bl Ng4 30.h4 Bf6 31.Nf3+=
18.Be5
F:P
19.Re2
Rhf8
20.Rdel
*
White completely dominates the center, and can
operate on either wing.
20 ...
a6
21.b4
Ne4
Black attempts to introduce tactical complications to
compensate for his positional disadvantages, but they do
not work.
22.Bg7
Nc3
23.Rxe8
24.Rxe8
25.Kd2!
Rxe8
Bxe8
A powerful pawn sacrifice which traps the Black
knight on the edge of the board.
25...
Nxa2
26.c3
Bg5+
27.Kc2
Ncl
28.Bfl!
55
Black may have thought that his knight was going to
escape, but this move puts paid to that plan.
28...
Ba4+
29.Kb2
Bdl
30.Be5
Bd2
31.g3
32.Nc2!
Be3
Bd2
33.Bf4!
Bxf4
34.gxf4
Ne2
Finally the knight escapes, but Black pays a very high
.
prIce.
Nxc3
35,Ne3!
36.Kxc3
Bxf3
37.Bh3+
Kd8
38.Kd4
Black's pawns are no match for White's active pieces.
38...
c6
39.Ke5
b6
40.Kd6
as
41.Nc2
axb4
42.Nd4
1-0
56
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
Estrin-Boey
10th World Correspondence Championship 1978
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS Ng4 6.Qe2 Qe7
7.Bf4 f6 8.exf6 Qxe2+ 9.Kxe2!
I·~:::::::;:
""~~
*
1 :::::::x
:::::.-::!
j,
. ::'I'-'~
._ ~li1i .... ~: ~ __. ~
IJI, !~~, tim ~t:;~ ~i! mi7
. """r·· .·.w.· _ ..
·.WO.".
11.
" N• ••••
til
:Jll!~ :iJI :::~! :;fr!;~
;d~~1(il@~t ·51:@~I·i·\~w~
w~tflfl ,; ; : ~~:@tj~:rtlJ
9...
Nxf6
9 ... gxf6 IO.Bxc7
a) IO ... d6 II.BbS Bd7 12.Bxc6 Bxc6 I-larding gives
only I2 ... bxc6 13.Nxd4 with insufficient compensation.
13.Nxd4 Kd7 14.BaS (14.Nxc6 bxc6 IS.Ba5+=) Bxg2 I5.Rgl
Re8+ 16.Kd2 Bh6+ 17.Kc3 Nxf2 18.Rxg2 Ne4+ +/-;
b) 10 ... NgeS is suggested by Harding, who provides
the following analysis: 11.Bxe5! fxe5 (11 ... Nxe5 12.Nbd2
intending RhI-el, Ke2-fl.) 12.c3 dxc3 13.Nxc3+/- Harding
comments that even though the pawns are no longer
doubled, White has a lead in devel<.)pment and control of
dS. I consider the position a crush, because Black's pawns
are weak and he cannot develop confortably.
10.Rel
d6
11.Kfl+
Be7
12.Nbd2
Chapter 6: 5.e5 Ng4
57
12...
a6
12... Bd7 13.Nb3 h6 14.Nbxd4 g5 15.Bd2+= GeorgadzeKatalimov, USSR 1975. Black has significant weaknesses
at e6 and f5.
13.Nb3
bS
14.Bd3
Bd7
14 ... Bb715.NgS+/- Nd8 16.Nxd4 Be8 17.13f5
15.Nbxd4 Nxd4
16.Nxd4
Kf7
17.c4!
I ~~ . ~Ij~f --'-'il~t . . ill
:Z~:; ~:~l~':::.::i
..,......-.. . . . . . D. . . . . .,ll . .w.T....
l::I ~:;~:@i§·:i~~ :.·11Itl
17...
Rhb8
Estrin provided the following analysis in Fernsehach:
17...b4 I8.cS! dxc5 19.Be4+ Kf8 20.Ne6+ Bxe6 21.Rxe6+/17... e5 18.Nf5 Bxf5 19.BxfS bxc4 20.Be6+ Kf8 21.Radl+/17 ... bxc4 18.Bxc4+ dS 19.Bb3 c5 20.Nf3 c4 21.NeS+ Kf8
22.Bc2+/18.Rael
bxc4
19.Bxc4+
dS
58
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
20.Bb3
Rb4
21.BeS
White controls most of the critical squares in the
center, and now seeks to complete his domination by
undermining the support of d5.
21...
c5
22.Nc2!
22.Bxf6 Kxf6 23.Bxd5 cxd4 24.Bxa8 Rxb2 is unclear
~~...
c:4
23.Bxf6
Kxf6
23 ... Bxf6 24.Nxb4 cxb3 25.Nxd5 Bxb2 26.Rbl Be6 ~7.Rxb2
(~7.Rxe6? Kxe6 ~8.Nc7+ Kd7 29.Nxa8 bxa2!-/ +) Bxd5
28.axb3+~4.Rxe7!
Kxe7
2S.Nxb4
cxb3
26.NxdS+ Kd6
27.Rdl
BbS+
27...bxa2 28.Nb6++28.Ke 1
bxa2!?
28... Re8+ 29.Ne3+ Kc:5 30.Rcl+ Kb4 31.a3+ Ka4 32.Rc7!
Rg8 33.Rf7 intending Rf7-f4-b4 and the b-pawn falls.
29.Nb6+
KcS
30.Nxa8
Kb4
31.Nc:7
Kb3
32.Kd2!
Chapter 6: S.eS Ng4
59
White cannot save the b-pawn, so he brings his king
over to help with the defense. It doesn't matter whether
Black captures immediately, so he tries to help out his
kingside pawns.
32...
g5
33.Ne6
g4
34.f4
gxf3
35.gxf3
Kxb2
t.,.,,,..•f
[~~W~;!
.,.,.,.,.,. C...,.,.,.,.:/. . . ·,·,·,·>:·t '!'1
~;t~;~;~ b1 tt~~~j ftl_,
Now White c()mes up with a brilliant idea, based on
the fact that his f-pawn can be guided to the queening
square by the knight on its own.
36.Ral!!
Bc4
36 ... Kxal 37.Kc1 and the f-pawn flies.
37.Nd4
as
38.f4
and Black resigned. Harding gives further: 38 ... a4
(38 ... Kxal 39.Kcl a4 40.Nc2#) 39.f5 a3 40.Nc2 Bb3 41.f6 Bf7
42.Rel Bg6 43.Re7? but now he has the incomprehesible
43 ... Bxc2 44.Rxa2+, which is clearly illegal. 43.Nal! is the
correct path to tIle win. 43 ... Bbl 44.f7 Kxal 45.Kc3 h5 46.f8Q
h4 47.Qf6 h3 48.Kb3#.
Sveshnikov-Kuzmin
Tashkent 1980
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS Ng4
6.Qe2 Qe7 7.Bf4 d6
hO
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
7... b5 8.Bb3! Suggested by Otto Hardy, but the analysis
needs to be extended. 8 ...Qb4+ 9.Bd2 QcS IO.O-O! Ngxe5?
11.NxeS Nxe5 (11 ... Qxe5!? Given a ? by Harding, perhaps
unfairly. 12.QxeS+ Harding stops here with lIetc." I but it
isn't quite that simple. 12... NxeS 13.Rel d6 14.Bd5 Rb8 15.f4
f6 Black will have three pawns for the piece, but White
can retain a small edge. 16.fxeS dxe5 17.h4+= intending c3.)
12.Rel d6 13.f4 d3+ 14.Qf2 Harding stops here. 14 ... Qxf2+
IS.Kxf2 dxc2 16.Bxc2 f617.Nc3 c6 18.fxeS dxe519.Be4+/8.cxd6
Qxe2+
9.Bxe2
Bxd6
cxd6
lO.Bxd6
1] .Na3
wrtr t
r··i rrml!····ri;t····';:;"l···r
r
f ;:;;>
~~ff~~
~~~I""'j
:1
nt]S'~¥M:;<~':}:t~;'llf~
Black has tried a number of moves in this position.
11...
BfS
Alternatives are considered in the game Hug-Gorla.
12.NbS!
0-0-0
13.Nbxd4 Nxd4
14.Nxd4
Bd7
15.Bxg4!
This forcing sequence has established a positional
advantage for White, since the knight is an effective
blockader of the isolated pawn, and there is often the
threat of NbS, attacking a7 and d6.
15...
Bxg4
16.f3
Bd7
Chapter 6: S.eS Ng4
61
17.Kf2
Rhe8
18.Rhdl!
White does not want to exchange rooks yet. Even
though the knight is clearly better than the bishop, the
rooks are still needed to put pressure on d6.
18...
ReS
19.Rd2
Rde8
20.Radl
Kc7
21.Ne2!
Now the knight begins its journey to d5, which will be
reinforced by the advance of the c-pawn.
21...
Bc6
1{8e6
22.b3
23.c4
as
24.h3
Rf6
25.Nc3
g5
26.a3
More preliminaries-Whi te advances his a- and b-
pawns.
26 ...
27.b4
28.Nd5+!
h5
g4
62
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
28...
BxdS
29.RxdS
The rook ending is much better for White.
29...
axb4
30.axb4
gxf3
31.gxf3
Rfe6
32.Rld4
Rg6
33.f4!+/- RxdS
h4
34.Rxd5
35.Rg5!
Re6
35... Rxg5 36.fxgS Kc6 37.Ke3 dS 38.c5 b6 39.Kd4+36.Kf3
Rel
37.RfS
Rgl
37... Re7 38.Kg4+-
38.Rxf7+
Kc6
39.b5+
Kb6
40.f5!
Rg3+
41.Kf4
Rxh3
42.Rd7
Rhl
43.Rxd6+
Kc5
44.Rd7
Kxc4
h3
45.Rxb7
46.Kg3
h2
47.Rf7
Kxb5
Chapter 6: S.e5 Ng4
48.Kg2
49.Kxh2
50.Kh3
51.Re7
52.Re5+
53.Kh4!
54.Re2+5S.KhS
56.Kh6
63
Rgl+
RgB
KcS
RgS
Kd6
Rgl
Kd7
RgB
1-0
Hug-Gorla
Bad Rogaz 1991
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS Ng4 6.Qe2 Qe7
7.Bf4 d6 8.exd6 Qxe2+ 9.Bxe2 Bxd610.Bxd6 cxd611.Na3
11...
NgeS
11 ... a6 12.Nc4 Ke713.Nb6 Rb8 14.Rdl Nge5 15.Nxd4 Be6
16.0-0+= Nesterenko-Zimmerman, Correspondence 1963.
11 ... Be612.NbS 0-0-0 13.Nfxd4 Rhe814.0-0 Nf61S.Radl+==
d6 is a weak square, Hromada-Adams, Correspondence
1977.
12.Nb5 Nxf3+
This is an attempt to improve on a previous game
which saw White obtain an easy ending after:12 ... d3
13.Nxe5
a) 13... dxe2
h,1
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
al) 14.Nxd6+! Ke7 15.Nxc6+ Kxd6 (15 ... bxc6
16.Nxc8+ Raxc8 17.Kxe2+/-) 16.Nd4 ReS 17.Nxe2 BfS
18.0-0-0++ /-;
a2) 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Nc7+ Kd7 16.Nxa8 Ba6 17.b3
d5 18.Rel RxaB 19.c4 dxc4 20.bxc4 ReB 21.Rc2 Re4 22.Rxe2
Rxe2+ 23.Kxe2 Bxc4+ 24.Ke3 Bxa2 25.Ral BdS 26.Rxa7++=;
b) 13 ... dxeS 14.Bxd3 0-0 15.0-0-0+== LebovichUmansky, Kaluga 1968.
13.Bxf3
Ke7
14.0-0-0!+ /fi-{¥@? i f~~i~~!-' --ti~~~fJ --"Ti~1
f'ii.: ff.J~:::: .t:i~:)ll~:'!'.l
There is no rush to reclaim the pawn. White's superior
pawn structure guarantees his positional advantage.
14...
NeS
15.Rhel
f6
16.Rxd4
Rd8
17.Be4!
Bd7
18.Nc3
Now Black decides to part with a pawn to relieve the
pressure and establish some counterplay, but the
investment does not payoff.
18...
Kf7
19.Bxb7
Rab8
20.BdS+
Kf8
21.Bb3
The White king has more than enough protection.
Chapter 6: S.eS Ng4
21...
22. Red 1
23.h3
24.f4!
25.NdS
65
BfS
Rb6
h5
Ng6
Even if White didn't have an extra pawn, his complete
control of the center and powerful outpost at d5 gives him
a tremendous game.
25...
Rc6
26.Ne3
Be8
27.Nc4
Ke7
28.Ba4
Rc7
Now the d-pawn falls, and the rest is simple.
29.Nxd6
Kf8
30.Nxc8 Rdxc8
31.Rd8+
Rxd8
Ke7
32.Rxd8+
Nh4
33.Rd4
Nf3
34.g4
Kd6
3S.Re4+
Nd4
36.Re3
37.Rd3
Kc5
Kd6
38.Rc3+
39.Rxc7
Kxc7
40.Kd2
hxg4
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
41.hxg4
42.Ke3
43.g5
44.Bb5
45.Kf3
46.Bd3
47. Bc4+
48.Bf7
49.Ke2
50.BhS
Nf3+
Nh2
Kd6
Ng4+
f5
Ke6
Kd6
Nh2+
Ng4
1-0
Chapter 7
5.e5 Ne4
Kupreichik-Belyavsky
USSR Championship 1981
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS Ne4 6.0-0 Be7
6 ... Nc5!? is an interesting, and perhaps undervalued
alternative, since the knight can take up a solid position
on e6. 7.Nxd4
a) 7 ... Nxe5? 8.Rel;
b) 7 ... Ne6!? is suggested by Harding. 8.Nxe6 dxe6
(8 ... fxe6 9.Rel BcS 10.Qh5+ g6 11.Qh6 looks better for
White, since pressure at f2 can be eliminated by Bcl-e3.)
9.Qxd8+ Nxd8 lO.Nc3 a6 11.Be3 and White is way ahead in
development as space.;
c) 7 ... Nxd4 8.Qxd4 d6?! (8 ... Ne6 9.Qg4 d6 10.Rdl!?)
9.Bf4 d5
cl) 10.Bxd5! is stronger, as noted by Zagorovsky:
10 ... BfS (lO ... c6? 11.Bxf7+ Kxf712.Qxd8);
c2) 10.Qxd5 QxdS 11.BxdS Bf5 12.b4 c6 13.bxcS cxdS
14.Nc3 0-0-0 brought Black equality in KuzminRomanishin, Tallinn 1979.
7.c3
67
7...
dS
7... dxc3 8.Qd5 leads to immediate disaster.
8.Bb3
Nc5
8 ... dxc3 9.BxdS cxb2 lO.Bxb2 Nc5 11.Bxc6+ bxc6 12.Nd4 is
suggested by Harding. I think that White has
compensation for the pawns. 12 ... Bb7 (12 ... Bd7 13.Qf3 Rb8
14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Qxc6+ Qd7 16.Qxd7+ Nxd7 17.Bc3 and the
weak pawn at c7 will become a target . White will place his
knight at e4 and one or two rooks on the d-file.) 13.Qf3
Qd714.Rdl.
9.cxd4
Nxb3
10.Qxb3
Rb8
This is a typical idea introduced by Chigorin almost a
century ago. The rook acts as a defender of tlle pawn, and
can support a later advance. Now Bc8-e6 will be possible.
11.Nc3
Be6
12.Be3
13.Rad11+=
0-0
White is better here because he can olav
on
tho
Chapter 7: S.e5 Ne4
69
kingside, while Black has no source of effective
counterplay.
13...
NaS
14.Qc2
Bg4
15.Qe2
Nc4
It is not clear that Black achieves anything by sending
the knight on such a long journey to eliminate the Be3.
The plan is to eventually undermine the White center
with c7-cS, but it is very slow.
16.h3
Nxe3
17.Qxe3
Be6
18.Nh2!
£6
18...b619.f4 c5 20.f5 cxd4 21.Rxd4 Bc5 22.f6! Bxd423.Qxd4
g6 24.Qh4 h5 25.QgS+19.exf6
Rxf6
20.Nf3
Qd6
21.Rdel+/The control of the e-file, and especially the eS-square,
gives White a clear advantage.
21...
ReB
22.NeS
Bf8
23.f4
c5
24.Khl
Qb6
Black creates threats at d4 and b2, but the White attack
continues unabated.
25.Ng4
RfS
26.Qg3
70
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
White threatens 27.Nh6+.
26...
Kh8
27.Ne3
Now the d-pawn falls.
27...
Rf7
28.Nexd5
Qc6
29.dxc5
Bxd5
30.Rxe8 Bxg2+
30... Qxe8 31.Nxd5 and Black is just two pawns down.
31.Qxg2
QxeB
32.Ne4
Qd7
33.Qf3
The bishop has no scope and the rest is just a mopping
up operation.
33 ...
h6
34.Rdl
Qc6
Kh7
35.Rd8
Be7
36.Kh2
37.Rd3
Bxc5?
Qb6
38.Rc3
39.Rxc5 Qxb2+
Qd4
40.Kg3
1-0
41.Rc2
Chapter 8
S.eS Ne4 6.0-0 dS
Estrin-Sadomsky
5th World Correspondence Championship 1961
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS Ne4 6.0-0 d5
7.BbS Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.Nxd4 c5
;I~~ :::~\jj~!f~I[~/:f.\jJ.~l:~!.1
<t~I:.,,:·:·I·w,
:·:·>:·:·*·:&(:·,,, 1 .J
l§~~f 1.) t1Si~ rr fJm ~ llcl1...
.,.r••
J
This advance weakens the dS-square, and White can
take advantage of this quickly.
lO.Nb3
c6
11.c4!
dxc4
11 ... d4 12.f3 Ng5 13.f4 Nc4 (13 ... Ne6 14.£5 Nc7 lS.e6!Estrin.) 14.Rel BfS (14 ... f5 15.ex£6) 15.g4
12.N3d2 Nxd2
13.Nxd2
Be6
14.Qa4
Qb6
71
72
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
Now if 15.Nxc4 Black can achieve equality with
15 ... Qb5! But White is in no hurry to go after the weak
pawns, since the enemy king is exposed. 14... Bd5 15.Nxc4
Bxc4 16.Qxc6+! Ke717.Qxc5+ KeB 18.Qxc4
15.Qc2!
Qa6
Black should have developed his Bf8 and castled
instead of worrying about pawns.
16.Ne4
0-0-0
16 ... Be7 17.Be3 Qb5 IB.f4 DdS 19.Nc3 Qb4 20.f5 with a
strong initiative.
Qb5
Rd5
Now White finishes with a simple tactical trick.
19.Nxf7!
Bxf7
20.QfS+
1-0
Chapter 9
5.e5 d5
Tseitlin-Yuneyev
Leningrad Championship 1979
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS d5 6.BbS Nd7
This is simply too passive and White gets a good game
by straightforward means.
7.0-0
Be7
7... Bc5 8.BgS Be7 9.Bxc6 bxc6 (9 ... Bxg5 lO.Nxd4 bxc6
11.Nxc6 and the queen is trapped.) 10.Nxd4! Bb7 (10 ... Bxg5
11.Nxc6 as in the previous note.) 11.Bxe7 Qxe712.f4 with a
strong initiative for White. 7... Nb6 8.Nxd4 Bd7 9.e6!
creates many weaknesses in Black's position. 9 ... fxe6
10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.QhS+ g6 12.QeS Rg8 13.Nxe6 and the threat
of a double check leads to a win for White. (Analys:s by
Harding.)
8.Bxc6
bxc6
9.Nxd4
Nb8
9 ... Nxe5? 10.Bf4 Ng6 11.Nxc6 Qd7 12.Nxe7 Kxe7
13.Rel+ Kd8 14.Bg3 gives White a clear position, as he can
pry open the central files.
lO.Nc3
10.£4 cS (10 ... Ba6 II.ReI (with the threat of e5-e6) 11 ... cS
I2.NfS Bf8 13.Nc3 and White has a very strong game.)
73
74
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
11.Ne2 is considered better for White by Kasparov (BCa
II). 11 ... g6 12.Nbc3 c6 13.Ng3 and Black will be unable to
prevent the advance of the f-pawn, Salygo-Mizkevich,
Correspondence 1965.
10...
0-0
10... c5 11.Ndb5 c6 12.Nd6+ Bxd6 13.exd6 0-0 (13 ...Qxd6?
14.Rel+ Be6 15.Ne4 Qe716.BgS Qf8 17.c4! (playable because
of the mate threat at dB) 17... d4 18.b4 cxb4 19.Qxd4 Nd7
20.Nd6+#) 14.Bf4 Be6 15.Qd2 Nd7 16.Rfel Nb6 17.b3 NcB
18.Na4 and the pressure in the center gave White a clear
advantage in Barczay-Smejkal, Raach 1969.
11.Qf3
Qd7
12.h3
RdB
13.Rel
Na6
14.e6!
With the Black forces lying passively on the queenside,
a combinative finish is unleashed.
16.Nxg7!!
Rf8
16... Kxg7 17.QhS Rf8 18.Bh6+ KgB 19.Re3!
17.Qh5
Kxg7
18.Bg5
Bd6
19.Bh6+
Kh8
20.Bxf8
Bxf8
21.Re8
Bb7
Chapter 9: 5.eS d5
22.Rxa8
75
BxaB
Black's bishop is truly pathetic, and his king is still in a
desperate situation.
23.Rel
Bb7
24. ReB
KgB
25.Ne2
The threat is simply Ne2-g3-fS-h6.
25...
Qf7
26.QgS+
Qg6
26 ... Kh8 27.Qe5+ KgB 28.Ng3 NcS 29.NfS
Qd6
27.Qd8
28.Qg5+!
Kf7
29.I{d8
Qe7
30.QfS+
KgB
31.Rd7
Be8
32.Qg4+
Bg7
33.Rxe7
Bxg4
34.hxg4
1-0
Chapter 10
S.eS dS 6.BbS Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bd7
Malinin-Ibragimov
Voronezh 1991
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS dS 6.Bb5 Ne4
7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 Bxc6 9.0-0
9...
Bd7!?
9 ... Bc5 10.f3 Ng5 11.f4 Ne6 12.c3 Bb5 13.I~f2 Bxd4 14.cxd4
c5 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.Nc3 with a clear advantage for White
thanks to the weak Pd5, Vooremaa-Rozhdestvensky,
Estonia 1965.
10.f3
Ng5
11.Nc3
c6
12.f4?!
This seems to lead by force to a good game for Black.
12.BxgS Qxg5 13.f4!? would have maintained the
initaitive, though at the cost of the bishop pair.
12...
Ne6
13.Kh1
Because White no longer has the pawn advance c2-c3
to protect the d4-square, he is forced to allow exchanges
which benefit Black.
76
Chapter 10: S.eS d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7
13...
14.Qxd4
15.Be3
16.Rf2
77
Nxd4
Bf5
Qd7
h5
Be7
17.b4
White launches a minority attack as demanded by the
structure, but Black is attacking quickly on the other wing.
18.b5
h4
bxc6
h3
21...
O-O!
Black has delayed castling long enough to make it clear
in which direction the king must flee.
22.Kgl
Rfb8!
After serving its purpose on the h-file, the rook now
grabs the only open file on the queenside.
23.Nc5
Bxc5
24. QxcS
RbS
25.Qd6
Qb7
26.e6
Desperation.
26...
fxe6
27.Bd4
c5
28.g4
Bxg4
78
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
29.fS
30.Qxe6+
31.QeS
32.Qg3
33.Kfl
0-1
cxd4
Qf7
ReB
Re4
Qf6
Tamm-Niedermaier
Bundesliga 1984
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS d5 6.BbS Ne4
7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 Qh4
The Black queen is needed for defense, and there is no
real kingside attack against White's solid formation.
10.f3
NcS
11.Be3
11.£4 is a reasonable alternative. Estrin gives the
following line: 11 ... g6 12.Be3 Ne6 13.Nd2! intending N2f3
or N2b3. 13... Nxd4 14.Bxd4 cS 15.e6!
11...
g6
12.Nc3
White's idea is similar to that of the previous note
except that f3-f4 is delayed until the e4-square is covered.
12...
13.Nxe6
Ne6
Bxe6
Chapter 10: 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7
14.Qd2
15.f4
79
Bg7
The desired structure is achieved. White's Be3 is
actually better than the Bg7 and the critical squares d4 and
c5 are firmly under control.
0-0
15...
16.BcS
Rfe8
17.Rael
£6
Since the Ra8 is tied to the defense of the a-pawn, there
was no way to improve the position before taking this
decisive measure.
18. Bd4!
fxeS
19.Bxe5
BxeS
20. Rxe5
White keeps capturing with a piece, rather than with
the pawn, because he owns the e-file and wants to be able
to play f4-f5 later.
20...
Bf7
21.Rfel
Qf6
22.Na4!
Black is invited to exchange rooks, but White issues a
reminder tha t the knigh t is much stronger than the
bishop in any endgame.
22 ...
Rxe5
23.Rxe5
ReB
HO
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
24. Rxe8+
Bxe8
25.Qe3!
The endgame is clearly much better for White, who
dominates the only open file and has a much more
cohesive pawn structure.
25...
Kf7
26.Qxa7
Qxf4
27.Qf2
Now White has a passed pawn as well, and the minor
piece endgame is easy.
27...
Qxf2+
Ke7
28.Kxf2
29.Nc5
g5
30.a4
Kd8
31.aS
Kc8
32.Ke3
Bg6
33.c3
h5
34.Ne6
Kb7
c5
35.Nxg5
36.Ne6
Kc6
37.a6
Kb6
38.Nxc5
Kxc5
39.a7
Be4
The last trick fails, since 40 ... d4+ is met by 41.cxd4 with
check!
Chapter 10: S.eS d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7
40.a8Q
81
1-0
Bryson-Alarcon
Novi Sad Olympiad 1990
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS dS 6.BbS Ne4
7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 g6
10.f3
Nc5
11.£4
Ne6
12.b3
Black can rarely afford to weaken his position like this.
12.fS!? is also good: 12 ... Nxd4 13.Qxd4 Bxf5 14.e6! f6 15.Nc3
Bg7 16.Rel Qe7 17.Qa4 and White's more active pieces
give him a clear advantage, Shipov-Solintsev, Moscow
1964.
12...
Bc5
13.Be3
0-0
14.Nc3
Qe7
15.Qd2
Bb4
Otherwise White plays Na4 and c3.
82
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
16.a3!
Bxa3
fxe6
17.Nxe6
18.Na4
The Ba3 is a virtual prisoner.
18...
Rf7
19.c3
Bd6
White was preparing to play b4, after which the
execution would soon take place.
20.exd6
cxd6
._. [~Im~~~ ·tJ1HI~~
~~: 1~~ .1: ~Iri ~~~~~f!.:i
.
r-lf~IHI~I -·-·,rJ~~~
t~~I~~~~
1 f \l 1
tti~
1
~tt~
.,~,.,pJ . .,Jat.7..,ftJ .~~:
i~§l Jiltl.]f!~~ ij. ~~f . _J
21.Nb6!
Exploiting the pin and bringing the game to a rapid
conel usion.
21...
Rb8
Qd8
22.Rxa7
23.Rxd7
1-0
Chapter 10: S.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7
83
Okhotnik-Didishko
Eger open 1989
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.8c4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS d5 6.Bb5 Ne4
7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 Be710.f3 Nc5 11.£4 Qb8
A recent attempt to improve play for Black, but it does
not succeed if White reacts correctly on the queenside.
12.fS
Qb6
13.a4!
This gains important space on the queenside. Black
should probably limit the amount of territory allowed to
White by playing 13 ... a5.
13 ...
O-O-O?!
14.a5
Qa6
15.Nc3
I~he8
16.Qf3!
Black is suffocating here, with virtually no
counterplay.
16...
g6
16 ... Bf8 17.Bg5 Be7 18.Bxe7 Rxe7 19.Qg3 is very strong
for White.
17.Be3
Qc4
18.Bf2
White threatens to trap the wayward Black queen.
18...
Ne4
82
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
16.a3!
Bxa3
17.Nxe6
fxe6
18.Na4
The Ba3 is a virtual prisoner.
18...
Rf7
19.c3
Bd6
White was preparing to play b4, after which the
execution would soon take place.
20.exd6
cxd6
~~~ m'l~r~~l\;:':::~/'~I~T~[l
pi ",,:::(J~::":::::~l::::": ..... ::::::::::l
21.Nb6!
Exploiting the pin and bringing the game to a rapid
concl usion.
21...
Rb8
22.Rxa7
Qd8
23.Rxd7
1-0
Chapter 10: S.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7
83
Okhotnik-Didishko
Eger open 1989
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS d5 6.Bb5 Ne4
7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 Be710.f3 Nc511.f4 Qb8
:'~.f,,-.-..-..-,,",
*
A recent attempt to improve play for Black, but it does
not succeed if White reacts correctly on the queenside.
12.f5
Qb6
13.a4!
This gains important space on the queenside. Black
should probably limit the amount of territory allowed to
White by playing 13 ... a5.
13 ...
O-O-O?!
Qa6
14.aS
15.Nc3
Rhe8
16.Qf3!
Black is suffocating here, with virtually no
counterplay.
16...
g6
16... Bf8 17.Bg5 Be7 18.Bxe7 I{xe7 19.Qg3 is very strong
for White.
17.Be3
Qc4
I8.Bf2
White threatens to trap the wayward Black queen.
18...
Ne4
84
18... Bf819.Ncb5! cxb5 20.b3 Qb4 21.c3
19.e6!
fxe6
20.fxe6
Bc5
21.exd7+ Rxd7
22.Radl!
This leads to a queen sacrifice which results in a
material advantage for White.
22 ...
Nxf2
I{f8
Bxf8
23.Qxf2
24.Qxf8+
25.I{xf8+
Kb7
25 ... Rd8 26.I{xd8+ Kxd8 27.Kh 1 WOllld be a fairly easy
win for White.
26.Ne6!
This sets up Na4, since Qxa4 will be met by Nc5+.
Therefore White will be able to establish a knight at the
strong square c5.
26...
c5
27.Na4
Rd6
28.NaxcS+ Kc6
It was perhaps worth a pawn to gain some space for the
king, but since the Rd6 has nowwhere to go Black is still
lost.
29.Rc8
Forced.
Rxe6
Chapter 10: 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7
30.Nxe6
Kd6
31.Rxc7!
Qe2
85
32.Rc6+!
KeS
Not 32... Kxc6? 33.Nd4+.
33.Ral ?!
33.I{xdS+! was the most efficient route to victory:
33... Ke4 (33 ... Kxd5 34.Nf4+ Kxc6 35.Nxe2) 34.Rc4+! Qxc4
(34 ... Kxd5 3S.Nf4+ Kxc4 36.Nxe2) 3S.Rd4+ Qxd4+ 36.Nxd4
Kxd4 37.c3+ Kc4 38.b4 Kxc3 39.bS+33...
h5
34.h4
Qe4
3S.Rfl
Qxh4
36.Nf4
Qg3
37.I~e6+
1-0
Carr-Horne
Guernsey 1987
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 S.eS dS 6.Bb5 Ne4
7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 Be710.f3 Nc5 11.f4 Ne4
86
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
Here Harding prefers 12.f5 as the main line, but I feel
confident that this developing move offers White
excellent chances at no risk.
12.Nc3
Nxc3
12... c5 13.Nb3 Nxc3 14.bxc3 c4 15.Nd4 cS 16.Ne2 Bc6
17.Be3 is better for White, since Black must devote all of
his attention to holding his precarious central pawns.
17... Qd7 I8.fS! d4 19.cxd4 QdS is only a chimera. There is
no real attack because Black can muster no force to add to
the battery of queen and bishop. 20.Nf4 Qe4 21.Qf3! cxd4
22.Qxe4 Bxe4 23.Bxd4 0-0-0 24.e3 Bxf5 25.Nh5 g6 26.Ng7!
Be6 27.Nxe6 fxe6 28.Bxa7 with an easy win in the endgame
in Biro-Zsinka, Budapest 1985. 12 ... fS!? was suggested by
Keres. Harding doesn't comment, but I don't see the reply
to the simple advance of the e-pawn. 13.e6 BeB 14.Nxc6
a) 14 ... Nxc3 15.bxc3 Qd6 16.Nxe7 Kxe7 17.Qd4 Rg8
18.a4! Qxe6 19.Ba3+ Kf7 20.Rael Qd7 21.Re7+ Qxe7 22.Bxe7
Kxe7 23.QxdS Bd7 (23 ... Be6 24.Rel) 24.Rel ++-;
b) 14... Qd6 15.Nxe7 Nxc3 16.Nxf5 Nxdl 17.Nxd6+
cxd618.f5! g6 19.Rxdl gxfS 20.Rxd5 Bxe6 21.Rxd6 Ke722.B£4
and the bishops of opposite colors can't save this one!
13.bxc3
c5
13 ... Bc5 also failed to bring equality in Stanciu-Kovacs,
Dublin 1969. 13 ... 0-0 transposes to previously games
analyzed above.
14.Ne2
Bb5
Chapter 10: 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7
87
*
Because Black has not yet castled, White can simply
continue his aggression on the e- and f-files.
d4
IS.fS!
16.cxd4
cxd4
17.Rf3
Avoiding 17.Qxd4? Bxe2.
17...
BcS
18.Khl
White eliminates Black's only threat, and despite the
seemingly active bishops Black is in deep trouble, because
his king is exposed and the d-pawn is weak.
18...
Bc6
19.Rg3
Qd5
Again we see this attacking theme-and again it is
useless because there is no way to increase the pressure.
20.Nf4!
Qe4
20 ... QxeS 21.Nd3 Qd6 22.Bf4 Qf8 23.Bxc7 Kd7 24.Be5 f6
25.Nxc5+ Qxc5 26.Rxg7++21.Nd3
Be7
22.Qfl!
White carefully guards all of his assets while preparing
to develop the Bel and play Ral-el.
22...
0-0-0
The Black king will never be safe in the center, nor on
the kingside. But now White can attack along the b-file.
88
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
23.Rbl
h5
24.h3
g5
25.f6!
Qh4
The bishop has no good retreat.
25 ... Bf8 26.Bxg5 Bh6 27.NcS! with Qa6+ to follow.
26.fxe7
Qxg3
27.exd8Q+ l<xd8
28.Kgl
Now White is simply a piece ahead.
28...
f6
29.NcS
Rd5
30.Qa6+
Kd8
31.Bf4
32. Qxc6
33.Khl
gxf4
Qe3+
1-0
Edelman-Vucic
Manhattan 1989
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 S.eS dS 6.BbS Ne4
7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 Be710.f3 Nc5 11.f4 0-0 12.fS
Ne4 13.Nc3 Nxc3 14.bxc3 cS 15.Nb3 c4 16.Nd4 f6
An attempt to improve on previous theory.
16 ... Re8 17.Qf3 cS 18.f6!
a) 18 ... gxf6 19.Bh6! I<h8 (19 ... Bf8 20.Bxf8 Kh8 21.exf6
Chapter 10: S.eS d5 6.BbS Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7
89
[even better is 21.BxcS-Magar1 cxd4 22.Qg3+-) 20.exf6 Bxf6
21.Qxf6+ Qxf6 22.Rxf6 cxd4 23.cxd4 Be6 24.Rf4 and White
retains a strong attack, according to Estrin.;
b) 18... cxd4 19.fxe7 Qxe7 20.cxd4 Be6 21.Qg3 and
White's superior bishop gave him the advantage in
Estrin-Polyak, 1954. 16 ... BcS 17.QhS £6 18.e6 Be8 19.Qh4
Qe7 20.Rf3 Rb8 (Cited by Harding as a game BerezinGoldberg) 21.Be3! (Suggested by Estrin) 21 ... Rb2 22.Rh3 h6
23. Bxh6!-Harding.
17.e6
Be8
18.Qg4
Black's plan has led to a disastrt)us position. The pawn
wedge ties down the pieces and the White knight has an
excellent post at d4. All that is needed now is a successful
kings ide attack.
18...
h5
19.Qg3
Bd6
20.B£4
Bxf4
21.Qxf4
c5
A major concession, as now the Pd5 is very weak.
22.Ne2
Qb8
23.Rabl
Qe5
The endgame after 23 ... Qxf4 would have been quite
hopeless for Black.
24.Qd2!
24.QxeS fxeS 2S.Rb7 d4 26.Rc7 d3 27.cxd3 cxd3 28.Ng3 h4
29.Ne4 BhS 30.RxcS Be2 31.Rf2 Rab8 provides some
counterplay.
24...
Bc6
2S.Rbel
Qd6
26.Nf4
White's play is logical-he takes control of the
important e-file and puts more pressure on dS. There is
90
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
no pOint in trying to save the doomed h-pawn.
26...
d4
27.NxhS
Rfe8
28.Rf4
Re7
29.Rg4
Threatening Nxf6+. The pin on the Pd4 paralyzes
Black.
Black thinks that he has avoided Nxf6+, but he hasn't!
30.Nxf6+! gxf6
31.Rh4+
KgB
32.Qh6
1-0
Okhotnik-Zaid
USSR 1978
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS d5 6.Bb5 Ne4
7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 BcS 10.f3 Ng511.f4
Chapter 10: S.eS d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7
91
*
11...
Bg4
11 ... Ne612.Be3
a) 12 ... f6 13.Kh1 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Bxd4 15.Qxd4 0-0
16.Nd2 Qe7 17.c4+=;
b) 12 ... Bxd4 13.Bxd4 0-0 Harding-W.Cummings,
Correspondence 1986. 14.a4+=;
c) 12 ... Bb6 13.a4 as Grobe-Turk, Correspondence
1984. 14.Nf5!-Harding. 14 ... 0-0 (14 ... Bxe3+ 15.Nxe3 0-0
16.c4+=) 15.Bxb6 cxb6 16.Nd6+==;
d) 12... 0-0 13.c3 f5 14.Nd2 Bb6 15.b4+= Bxd4? 16.Bxd4
Nxd4 17.cxd4+/- See Messere-Nyman for the conclusion.
12.Qxg4 Bxd4+
13.Khl
Ne4
··--lW;
~f~1 ·-··I~I···¥··~~~
I-Ilt
$""'
:"r.;;;;: ,.m..
,~t /.{.,.,.!:~ .~.,.,.,.:: :~
*
~. ·.R.·I~:[~r.i."l. l~ · . 'i\~1a
·~l
/~ ~~~ .fJ Hlt
~w
·Im]
,w,.•
.....
"f.).·.
n ...
,f~~tl b\ JJ@~i
J
14.Qxg7!?
14.Nd2 may be best. 14 ... Nf2+ 15.Rxf2 Bxf2 16.Qxg7 Rf8
17.Nf3 Qd7 18.Qg5 Sveshnikov-Barrera, Cienfuegos 1979.
The Black bishop will find it difficult to make a contribution and White can develop his remaining pieces quickly.
14...
Qh4
92
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
15.Nc3
0-0-0
16.Nxe4
dxe4
17.Qxf7?!
A bit too greedy. Zaid and Gufeld show that there was a
better way: 17.Qg5! QxgS 18.fxgS Bxe5 19.c3 Rd3 20.Bf4!
Although they do not provide an evaluation, the
weakness of the Black pawns makes it clear that Black has
an uphill struggle. The rook ending would be awful:
20 ... Bxf4 21.Rx£4 ReB 22.Rxf7 e3 23.Rel (23.Rxh7? e2 24.Rel
Rd1-+) e2 24.Kgl Rd1 2S.Kf2 Rd2 26.Rxh7 Rxb2 (26 ... Rf8+
27.Ke3+-) 27.Rf7 Kd8 28.g6 Rxa2 29.g7+Qg4-/ +
17...
*
Black has more than enough compensation for his
pawns.
18.f5
18.Qb3 Rhg8! 19.Qh3 Qxh3 20.gxh3 e3 21.Re1 e222.Bd2
Bxb2 23.Rabl Rxd2 24.Rxb2 Rd1 25.Rbl Rxbl 26.Rxb1 Rd8!+-Zaid and Gufeld.
18...
RhgB
19.Qe6+
Rd7
20.g3
Chapter 10; 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7
93
*
Now 20 ... Rg6! would have sealed the victory, but
instead Black blunders.
20...
e3??
21.Qxc6!
The mate threat at a8 is enough to turn the tide.
21...
Kb8
22.Bxe3
Bxe3
23.Rael
and now the pawns decide.
23...
Bd2
24.Re4
Qg7
Or 24...Qh3 25.QbS+ Ka8 26.Rh4+-.
as
25.c3
26.QbS+
1-0
Sveshnikov-Milos
Rio de Janeiro 1985
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Nf6 S.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4
7.Nxd4 Bd7 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 Bc5 lO.f3 Ng5
11.f4 Ne4 12.Be3 Bb6!
94
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
This is the critical variation.
13.Nd2
Nxd2
13 ... c5 14.N4b3 d4?! (14 ... Nxd2 transposes to the main
line.) 15.Nxe4 dxe3 16.c4! BfS is given by Harding, who
now gives the illegal 17.Nb3. He presumably means
17.Ng3. 17.Ng3 Qxdl 18.Raxdl Bc2 19.I{del Bxb3 20.axb3
0-0-0 21.Rxe3 Rd2 22.Re2 Rd3 23.Rf3 Rdl+ 24.Kf2+/c5
14.Qxd2
15.Ne2
d4
16.Bf2
Black's dark-squared bishop is a mere spectator and
although theory claims the positions lead to unclear play,
I think White has the better chances.
16...
0-0
16... Bc6 17.c4 Qc8 18.Qd3?! (18.h3!? makes more sense,
in view of what follows. White can continue with Bf2-el
and Nd2-g3, for example: 18 ... QfS 19.Bel Qe4 20.Ng3 Qg6
21.f5 Qh6 22.Qxh6 gxh6 23.NhS+/-) Qg4 19.Bg3 g6 20.h3 Qf5
21.QxfS gxfS unclear Fernandez-Westerinen, Alicante
Chapter 10: S.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7
95
1989.
17.c4
f5
The alternative 17... f6 is examined in FernandezBoudre.
18.a4
as
Harding indicates that this is an interesting move, but
it seems almost forced because the alternative weakens
the d6-square.18 ... c6 19.a5 Bc7 20.b4 cxb4 (20 ... Qe7 21.bxc5
QxcS 22.Qxd4+/-) 21.Qxb4 Rb8 22.Qc5+=
19.h3
Bc6
20.Kh2
Qd7
21.b3
Rae8
22.Bh4!
"-' ......
.Of ..•...• -,.... .
.~
'~"'"i'''
@~ r.;$ ~n~[!:rli'!. r~t ~
."""'...." .,11. ..·.·r'' '·· ..... <It····
rlJ ~~ fA: ~:~~t@~ ~~ ilr::::~
,~ ~~ ~i1 :jt :~)I* l!~ ~ifJ:nt
-JY~'
•••
......
•••••
.. ..... u
•••• ) ..........
;~~t~~~
~~ ..........
f)_......
~~~~r~~ R ?'~~
_i..J:.:
~.
~tt~
Jf~~~~! § t~~t~!
22...
Qf7
Bb7
Qg6
Kh8
.••-:.",' .... a ••••••_••••
;~ !;~
u
••••••••••
23.Ng3
24.Radl
25.Qe2
26.Rd3
The position is very complex. But White's advantages
are of a more permanent nature, involving the pawn
structure. Given the blockades, though/ it is difficult to see
a clear plan to make progress.
26...
Qc6
27.NhS
Re6
28.Rg3
Rg6
96
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
29. ReI
Rxg3
30.Nxg3
Qe6
31.Rdl
Bc6
32.Rd3
Be8
This takes away the entry square at h5.
33.Nhl!?
The intention is presumably to station this knight at
d3.
Bc6
33...
Bb7
34.Bel
Bc6
35.Rg3
Bd7
36.Bd2
Qf7
37.Rg5
Be6?!
38.Nf2
Not good, because it allows the White queen to take
command of the a8-h 1 diagonal.
39.Nd3
Qe8
Bd7
Qe7
White cannot make any progress this way, so he tries
another tack.
42.Qel
Ra8
43.Bcl
ReB
44.Bd2
Ra8
39...
40.Qf3!
41.Qg3
Chapter 10: S.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7
97
Having pinned down the Black rook to the defense of
the pawn, White can now launch a kingside attack.
4S.g4!
Qf7
46.gxf5
Bxf5
I{b8
47.Qe2
48.Rg3
Qe7
49.Nf2
Rf8
SO.Ne4
Qd8
51.Ng5
Qe7
51 ... h6!? 52.Qh5?! (S2.Nf3 and White can try the same
plan as in the game.) Qe8 53.Qh4 c6 and White cannot
make progress.
52.Qel
h6
53.Nf3
54.Rg2
Rb8
Qf7
55.Nh4!
Now White zeroes in on the weakness at g6.
55...
Bh7
98
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
56.Qg3
ReB
57.f5!
c6
57... Bxf5?? 58.NxfS Qxf5 59.Qxg7#
58.e6
Qf8
1-0
59.Bxh6!
Fernandez-Boudre
Pau 1988
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.8c4 Nf6 S.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4
7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 BcS 10.f3 Ng5 11.f4 Ne4
12.Be3 Bb6 13.Nd2 Nxd2 14.Qxd2 c5 15.Ne2 d4
16.Bf20-0 17.c4 f6?!
This plan is logical, but leads to disaster.
18.Bh4!
g5
Or else exf6 will be very strong.
19.fxg5
fxeS
20.Ng3
intending Ng3-hS-f6.
20...
Be8
21.Rxf8+
Kxf8
22.Rfl+
KgB
23.Ne4!
There is another path to f6!
23...
Bg6
Chapter 10: S.eS d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7
99
24.Nf6+
Kh8
2S.Bg3
Black resigned, since the e-pawn falls, or if 2S... e4, then
26.Be5 creates too many potential threats, as the Black king
cannot get away from the diagonal. 1-0
Mansurov-Sagalchik
Roslavl 1989
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS dS 6.BbS Ne4
7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 Bc5 10.f3 NgS
11.f4 Ne4 12.Be3 0-0
White has a good game, if he can just eliminate the
threats along the a7-g1 diagonal and finish his
development.
13.Nd2
f6
Alternatives are examined in Kijk-Bokan.
14.N xe4
dxe4
15.Qe2
Qe7
15... Bg4! is better, but White still manages to obtain a
superior position. 16.Qf2
a) 16 ... QdS? 17.Nxc6! Ba3 (17 ... Bxe3 18.Ne7+ Kh8
19.Qxe3 Qd7 20.QcS fxeS 21.fxeS intending Ng6+.) 18.exf6
Rxf6 19.NeS Qxe5 20.fxe5 Rxf2 21.Bxf2 Bxb2 22.Rael Bf5
23.BcS g6 was played in Sveshnikov-Keres, USSR
Championship 1973. Now with 24.g4! Bxg4 25.Rxe4 BfS
tOO
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
26.Re3 White would have obtained a clear advantage.;
b) 16... Qe8 17.Nb3 Bb6 (17... Be7?! 18.Bd4 as 19.Qe3 £5
20.NcS! Bxc5 21.Bxc5 Rf7 22.Qb3+= Keffler-Gibbs, Correspondence 1978.) 18.c4 Bxe3 19.Qxe3 Qg6 (19 ... fxeS 20.Qxe4
exf4 21.Rxf4 Qxe4 22.Rxe4 Bf5 23.Re7 Rf7 24.Rxf7 Kxf7
2S.Nd4+=) 20.Rael fxeS 21.Qxe4 exf4 This position, from
Bredewout-Karaklajic, Beverwijk 1967, has been evaluated as even, but Harding is correct in his analysis which
shows an that in the endgame White will stand better:
22.Qxg6 hxg6 23.Re7 Rac8 24.NcS reducing the scope of the
Bg4 and threatening h2-h3. 24 ... g5 25.Rfel+=
16.Qc4+
16.Nb3!? suggested by Estrin, also gives White a good
game.
16...
Kh8
17.Rael
ExeS
18.Nxc6! Bxe3+
19.I{xe3
Bxc6
20. Qxc6
Qb4
21.b3
Once again White's better pawn structure gives him
the better game.
21 ...
Rad8
22.Rxe4
Qd2
Rd4?!
23.f5!
24.QcS!
RfdS
Chapter 10: 5.e5 dS 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7
25.Qxe5
Rxe4
26.Qxe4+/- h6
27.h3
1-0
101
Chapter 11
5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bc5
Kijk-Bokan
Tallinn 1989
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 S.eS dS 6.BbS Ne4
7.Nxd4 Bc5 8.0-0 Bd7 9.Bxc6 bxc6 lO.f3 Ng5
11.f4 Ne4 12.Be3 0-0 13.Nd2
13...
Nxd2
13... f5 14.Nxe4 fxe4 (14 ... dxe4 15.Qe2 and Black has no
compensation for the doubled pawns.) 15.Qd2 Qe7
(15 ... Bb6 16.Nb3 as 17.a4 Qe7 18.Kh1 += Vistaneckis-Uusi,
Vilnius 1960.) 16.Nb3 Bb6 17.Qc3+ / - with control of c5,
Okhotnik-S.Sokolov, USSR 1981. 13 ... Qe7 14.Nxe4! dxe4
15.Qel Bb6 16.Nb3 c5 17.Qf2 c4 18.NcS+=-Harding.
14.Qxd2
f6
14 ... Qe7 15.Nb3 Bb6 16.Rae1 BfS (16 ... f6? 17.e6! Bxe6
18.Bxb6 axb6 19.f5) 17.Qe3 and again White controls c5 and
thereby gains the upper hand, e.g., 17 ... Qd7 18.Bc5 Rab8
19.Rf2! Rfd8 20.Rd2+= Adorjan-Kluger, Hungarian
Championship 1966.
15.Nf3!?
IS.Rfel is also good: 15 ... fxeS 16.fxe5 Bb6 17.e6 Be8
102
Chapter 11: 5.eS d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bc5
103
18.Nxc6 Qd6 was played in Belinkov-Donchenko,
Moscow 1963. Here Estrin points out that White can win a
pawn. 19.Qxd5! Bxe6 (19 ... Qxd5 20.Ne7+ Kh8 21.Nxd5 Bxe6
22.Bxb6 Bxd5 23.Bxc7 Rac8 24.Re7 Rf7 25.Rael Rxe726.Rxe7
Bxa2 27.Be5+/-) 20.Qxd6 cxd6 21.Bxb6+15...
Bb6
16.Rael
fxeS
17.NxeS
:'J(JIf··:·~·Jll1.ji~~
1:¥£Y
~:l/i.jil:~:l~ M~:~:~::fjli\~l~~
@Jit:;~~'l
Iiill~' ;'@~~Fl~~ ffj]F~~;:
,··tt" _. ~: : : : l
z§> -,.' ::::::::::
~~!:!
~~fl
:
~mll:
f
!
~
j
.
,
.
:
~
i
\ni] fi1§ :. ·"'~~11 'r j~j ~. ,.~
It
:.:.;a. __
.loU
-I""~"_ M~1"
White has a dominating position in the center and can
work against the weak pawns.
17...
Be8
18.c3
c5
19.Rdl
c6
20.Qf2
Qd6
I{f6
21.a4!
21 ... aS?! 22.b4!
22.a5
Bxa5
Qb8
23.Bxc5
With Black's forces in disarray and far from the White
can now go on the attack.
24.Ng4!
Rf7
25.Qg3
Kh8
26.NeS
Rf6
27.h4
Bb6
104
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
2B.Qe3
29. QxcS
30.Rd4
31.bxcS
BxcS
Qb6
QxcS
Despite the passed pawn, it is simply a matter of good
knight vs. bad bishop here.
31...
Re6
32.Ral
33.g3
34.gxf4
3S.Kf2
36.Rda4
37.Ke3
gS
gxf4
Bg6
as
Rf6
The key to White's advantage is his ability to use the
dark squares in the center.
37...
Raf8
38.Rfl
38.Rxa5?! Rxf4 39.Nxc6 Re4+ 40.Kd2 Rf2+ 41.Kdl BhS+
42.Kcl Rel+
38...
RaB
39.Rf2
Be4
40.Rfa2
Kg7
40 ... Raf8 41.RxaS Rxf4 42.Nxc6 Rf3+ 43.Kd4 Rd3+
44.KeS Rxc3 45.Ne7 ReB 46.Kd6+ / -
41.Rxa5
Rxa5
Chapter 11: S.eS dS 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bc5
42.Rxa5
43.Ra7+
44.Kd4
45. Ra8+
46. Ra7+
47.Rc7
48.Nxc6
49.Ra7
50.Ke5
51.Ne7+
S2.c6
53.c7
54.NfS
S5.Kf6
56.Rb7
S7.Rb8
58.Nd6!
105
Rh6
KgB
Rf6
Kg7
KgB
Rxf4
Rf2
Rd2+
Rc2
Kf8
Bg2
Bh3
Re2+
ReB
Bfl
Ba6
1-0
Messere-Nyman
5th World Correspondence Championship 1965
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS d5 6.Bb5 Ne4
7.Nxd4 BcS 8.0-0 Bd7 9.Bxc6 bxc6 10.Be3 0-0 11.f3 Ng5
12.f4 Ne6 13.c3 f5 14.Nd2 Bb6 15.b4 Bxd4
16.Bxd4 Nxd417.cxd4 Qe7
106
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
18.Nb3!
A very strong positional pawn sacrifice which achieves
the goal that runs thematically throughout the games in
this section-the control of c5.
18...
Rfb8
18... Qxb4 19.Nc5 Be8 20.I{bl Qa5 21.Rb7 Qxa2 22.Rxc7
Rf7 23.Rxf7 Bxf7 24.e6 Be8 25.Qd3 g6 26.g4! fxg4 27.£5+ /19.a3
Rb6
20.Rf3
Be8
21.Qc2
g6
22.Rc3
White's game almost plays itself.
22...
Ra6
23.Qd3
Rb6
24.Racl
RabB
25.NaS
1- rll--l~~~~~~ -. PW{• f~~~1
~{f:t~i~~;;ff.~·~
[1!~r~~/Uili~t§if~lti\~~i~flmM@~
1mirlff[~mill:'~:lQf~
,Siiipt@ii~M"~{t.i;~~'lI(;
,w·'.fg,t··-·..¥.};:~:······"'IX;\'t·····t·:·>:·l
And the pressure pays off.
25...
Qe6
Chapter 11: 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bc5
107
26.Qc2
Ra6
27.Nxc6
Rbb6
c6
28.Na5
29. ReS
h6
30.Qd3
Qd7
31.Qh3
Qg7
Black is completely immobilized, and his rooks cannot
get back to the kingside so White goes for the jugular.
32.g4
fxg4
33.Qxg4
Bd7
34.Qh4
g5
35.fxg5
hxg5
36.QhS+ / g4
37.Rfl
Rb8
38.Rf6
1-0
Estrin-Brglez
7th World Correspondence Championship 1972
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS d5 6.Bb5 Ne4
7.Nxd4 BcS 8.Be3 Bxd4
IIfr
1~~fI5'l~l~11~l/l~~
I
. . . '" ..
~
"'""ii~
.... . . . . . . . . "-"'. .,
~,
H~~~~i ~:@I~l.l ~~f: l~M m~! ~l@ll
:::~~I! ~
;~/I ::~::l~~·
:::::i~t u:· .:: ::::::::;:: ~...!
:: ::: ZJ
9.Qxd4
9.Bxd4!? 0-0 (9 ... Bd7!? may be stronger.) 10.Bxc6 bxc6
11.Nd2 Qg5!? A bit fancy. Perhaps Black should simply
capture at d2. 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Qd2 Qxd2+ (13 ... Qxg2
108
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
14.0-0-0+/-) 14.Kxd2+= as suggested by Shneider and V.
Gurevich.
9...
0-0
10.Bxc6
bxc6
11.Nc3
NgS
11 ... BfS 12.Nxe4 Bxe4 13.0-0 is suggested by Harding,
who notes that the most important positional factor is
White's control of c5. 13... Qd7 (13 ... Bxc2?! is the only move
considered by Harding. 14.Rfcl+/-) 14.c4 Rfd8 15.f3 Bf5
16.Rfdl+= (Analysis). 11 ... Nxc3 12.Qxc3 Qd7 13.0-0-0 Ba6
14.h4+= White's attack was more effective in EspigWalter, GDR Championship 1973.
12.Qa4
Bd7
White's control of the dark squares makes it safe for
him to castle queenside and then concentrate his efforts in
the center.
13.0-0-0!
N e6
14.Qa3!
£6
14... Re8 lS.f4 Qe7 16.Qa5!+ /15.exf6
Qxf6
16.Ne4!
This takes advantage of a pin to secure total control of
c5, after which Black has no counterplay.
16...
Qg6
17.Nc5
NxcS
18.Bxc5
Rf4
Chapter 11: 5.e5 d5 6_BbS Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bc5
109
18 ... Rfe8 19.Rhel Qxg2 20.Rgl Qe4 21.Qg3 is clearly
better for White because of the weakness at c7.
ReB
19.Bd4
19...Qxg2?! 20.Rhgl"Qe4 21.Rxg7+
Rfe4
20.g3
21.Qc3
BfS
22.b3
Re2
23.Rd2
Rxd2
24.Qxd2
c5
Desperation.
Qc6
25.Bxc5
26.Bd4
Qe6
27.Kb2
a6
28.Rdl
h6
29.Qc3
c6
30.Bxg7
cS
31.Bxh6!
and Black resigned, since if he takes the bishop, he
loses the remaining pawns. 1-0
Honfi-Perenyi
Hungarian Championship '1974
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS dS 6.Bb5 Ne4
7.Nxd4 BcS B.Be3 0-0
110
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
Castling is a natural move, but White can trade off
pieces and disrupt Black's pawn structure.
9.Nxc6
bxc6
NxcS
lO.BxcS
11.Bxc6
!jlr;~~ 1'I~t ···-·IIfl·····I~
~
t-·-·-.. .;.· .•.
••-:••r ••
*filIl
J:.......'. . .,.: ". .·.,. . J~-·-···. .-1
r ••••••
fll,. .~.~ ~)l:\. . WJlll. ~jXl.!. ·
7.".
~1@r !.f.:l~~i n~jfj~~ @r~m~
r:~~l~ '~lftr~~tt=:tl~I~i~i~!j
~,~.::~ i~:i~1~
Now if Black moves the rook, he can get into trouble
quickly.
11...
Ba6
11 ... Rb8 12.0-0! (12.Nc3 d4 gave Black a good game in
Malinin-Yuravin, USSR 1991. White should delay the
development of the knight.) Rxb2 13.Bxd5 Qe7 (13 ... Bf5
14.Qd4 Rxc2 15.Na3 c6 16.Nxc2+/- ) 14.Rel Rd8 15.Nc3 c6
16.Qcl! Rb617.Bf3+/- Analysis by Otto Hardy.
12.Nc3
12.Qxd5? Qg5 13.Nc3 Rad8! 14.h4 Rxd5 15.hxgS RxeS+
16.Kd2 Rd8+ 17.Kcl RxgS-/ +
12...
Rb8
The alternatives require a bit of analysis. 12 ... QgS
13.Qd4 Rab8 (13 ...Qxg2 14.0-0-0!-Harding; 13 ... Ne6 14.Qe3
Chapter 11: 5.eS d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Be5
111
Qxg2 lS.0-0-0-Harding; I3 ... Rae8 14.Bxe8 Rxe8 15.f4 Qg4
16.h3 Qg3+ 17.Qf2+- Barden-Janetschek, Clare Benedict
Teams 1960.) 14.QxcS QxeS+ lS.Qe3+- Khenkin-Vasyukov,
Leningrad 1954.1 2... d4 13.Bxa8 dxc3 (13 ... Qxa8 14.Qxd4 Rd8
15.Qg4+/- intending Rdl-Keres.) 14.Qxd8 Rxd8 15.b4!
Ne6 16.Bc6 Bc4 (16 ... Nd4 I7.Ba4!+/- Maciejewski-Bielczyk,
Dublin 1974.) 17.Rdl! Nd4 18.Ba4! Harding's important
improvement which guarantees a big advantage for
White. The analysis which follows is all from Harding
(1991). 18... gS (18 ... Bxa2 19.Rd3; 18 ... f6 19.f4) 19.Bb3 Bxb3
20.cxb3
a) 20 ... Nc2+ 21.Ke2 Rxdl (21 ... Nd4+ 22.Ke3 Nc2+
23.Ke4) 22.Rxd1 Nxb4 23.Rd8+ Kg7 24.Kd1 Nc6 (24 ... Nxa2
25.Kc2) 2S.Rd7 Nxe5 26.Rxc7+-;
b) 20 ... c2 21.Rcl
bI) 21 ... Rd5 22.f3! Kg7 (22 ... Rxe5+ 23.Kd2 intending
Rhel.) 23.Kf2 Rxe5 24.Rhel Rb5 25.a3 cS 26.Re5 cxb4
27.RxbS NxbS 28.axb4 Nd4 29.Ke3+-;
b2) 21 ... Rb8 Harding stops here, but it is clear that
White is better, as the following line shows. 22.Kd2 Rxb4
23.Kc3 c5 24.Rhel Kg7 25.g3 f6 26.f4 gxf4 27.gxf4 NbS+
28.Kb2 Rxf4 29.exf6+ Rxf6 30.Rxc2+ /13.Qd4
I3.QxdS is also good: 13 ... Qxd5 14.Bxd5 Rxb2 15.0-0-0
Rb4 16.Rhel Rfb8 17.Bb3+/- Estrin-Gurevich, Moscow
1972.
Ne6
13...
14.Qa4!
NcS
15.Qa3
d4
lS ... Ne6?? 16.Qxa6 15... Qe7 16.0-0-0+ /16.QxcS
dxc3
17.Qxc3
112
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
White can't castle, but that isn't worth two pawns!
17...
Rb6
18.£4
Qe7
18...Qb8 19.0-0-0+ / 19.0-0-0
RfbB
20.1{d7!
Qe6
21.Rhd 1 !
RfB
21 ... Rxc6? 22.Rd8+ Qe8 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.Qxc6+22.Rxc7
Qxa2
23.Qa3
24.bxa3
25.Rd6
Qxa3
Be2
1-0
Kurajica-SmekjaJ
Novi Sad 1982
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 S.eS dS 6.Bb5 Ne4
7.Nxd4 BcS 8.Be3 Bd7 9.Bxc6 bxc6 lO.Nd2 Qh4
Chapter 11: S.eS d5 6.BbS Nd4 7.Nxd4 BeS
113
~*
This piece of pseudo-aggression should lead to a good
game for White, if properly played. lI.N4f3 Bxe3!!
12.Nxh4 Bxd2+ 13.KfI BaS 14.Qe2 gS l5.Nf3 Bb6 l6.c3 Nxf2
unclear Kotronias-Barbero, Budapest 1988. There is no
need to enter into this mess!
ll.N xe4
Qxe4
12.0-0
0-0
12 ... Bb6 was suggested by Kurajica, but I-farding refutes
it. 13.ReI 0-0 (13 ... QxeS 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 I5.Bxb6+-) 14.Nxc6
Qh4 l5.Bxb6 axb6 16.Nd4; 12... Qg6 13.f4 0-0 14.f5-Analysis.
13.Rel
Qg6
r--onTnf-'" nuoj .. r.... _....'..
~·
~
I~:I\~:'~~~ -.-Lm
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;'R~Jf: ~:.~~ttS. .~~~!j.:::.:.!I:m:1\'ll.. :::.:.:J
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14.Ne6!
Bxe6
15.Bxc5
Rfb8
IS ... Rfd8!? comes into consideration.
16.b3
Bh3
16... BfS allows a powerful pawn sacrifice. 17.Re3! Bxc2
18.Qd4 intending Rg3.
BfS
17.Qf3
114
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
17... Bg4 18.Qg3 Bf5 19.Qxg6 hxg6 (19 ... Bxg6 20.e6! Bxc2
21.exf7+ Kxf7 22.Re7+ KgB 23.Bd4 g6 24.Rg7+ Kf8
2S.Rxh7+/-) 20.Re2 intending f2-f3, g2-g4.
18.Qc3!
Be4
18 ... Bxc2 19.e6! fxe6 20.Bd4 and Black has too many
pawn weaknesses, while the threat of Re1-e3-g3 is also
very
inti~idating.
19.f3
20.e6!
21.Racl ?!
21.Bd4!+/- would have been stronger, with ideas
similar to that of the previous note, save that the rook
will move to eS, followed by doubling on tIle e-filc.
21...
BfS
22.Bd4
e5!
I{e8
23.Rxe5
and Black is able to relieve the pressure, leading to a
drawn game.
24.Ree1
24.Qxe6 Qxc6 25.Rxc6 RxeS 26.BxeS ReB 27.Bxc7 ReB
28.Rcl Kf7 29.Bf4 Rxcl+ 30.Bxcl Bbl 31.a3 J3a2 32.b4 d4=
24...
Rxe5
25.Rxe5
ReB
26.Bxa7
Ra8!
27.Qd4
Bh3!
Chapter 11: 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bc5
115
28.Re2
28 ...
29.Rxg2
30.Kf2
31.Kfl
32.Kf2
Bxg2!
Qbl+
Qxa2+
Qbl+
Qa2+
1/2-1/2
Spiriev-Lengyel
Budapest 1989
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 S.eS dS 6.Bb5 Ne4
7.Nxd4 Bc5 8.Be3 Bd7 9.Bxc6 bxc6 lO.Nd2 Nxd2 11.Qxd2
Originally evaluated as better for White by Kurajica,
and his opinion has stood the test of time. White will get
rid of the Black dark-squared bishop. 11 ... 0-0 12.0-0 f6?!
(Better 12... Qe7, transposing back to the text.) 13.Nxc6! Bxc6
(13 ... Bxe3 14.QxdS++-) 14.BxcS ReB 15.exf6 Qxf6 16.Bd4+/Romero Holmes-Campos, Leon 1989.
116
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
11...
Qe7
12.0-0
Bb6
0-0
13.Nb3
14.Qc3!
White now has control of the central dark squares.
14...
Rfe8
14 ... Rae8 15.Bc5! Bxc5 16.Nxc5 Bf5 17.Rael+= The
knight is better than the bishop. Black pawns are weak and
his pieces lack mobility. Krebs-Binder, Correspondence
1983 saw White obtain a very good game in a few more
moves: 17... f6 18.exf6 Qxf619.Qxf6 gxf6 20.c3+/15.f4
f6
This allows White to win queen for rook and Black
never gets his attack going.17 ... Qh4 18.Nd2 d4 19.Qa3
intending Nf3-Harding, who notes that Black dare not
take the pawn: 19 ... Rxe5 20.Bxb6 cxb6 21.Nf3
18.Rf8+!
RxfB
19.QxeS
Rae8
20.Qg3
Rf6
21.Rfl
Rg6
22.Qf3
Rf6
23.Qd3
Rxf1 +
24.Kxfl
Re4
Chapter 11: S.eS dS 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 Bc5
117
h6
Kh7
cxb6
Bg4
1-0
25.Qf3
26.Qf8+
27. Bxb6
2B.Qf7
29.Qxa7
Van Wijgerden-Lengyel
Amsterdam 1983
l.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 S.eS d5 6.Bb5 Ne4
7.Nxd4 BcS 8.Be3 Bd7 9.Bxc6 bxc6 10.Nd2 Qe7 11.Nxe4 dxe4
..
-':'U~l --~'r~~~r :~tl@t~. J]I.~·
~~ 11_ _ wJ_
~iml¥1 ~.e..~.s.._l~ .3··l@~·J·
L,
..•
J:_''''''':i1_:.
White now plays a dynamic pawn sacrifice.
12.e6!
Bxe6?!
The superior move 12 ... fxe6! is examined in
Dzhindzhichashvili-Garcia.
13.Nxe6
Bxe3
13 ... fxe6? 14.Qh5+ g6 15.QxcS+Kf8
14.Nxg7+
15.Nf5!
Bxf2+
15 ... Qb4+ 16.c3 Bxf2+ 17.Kxf2 Qxb2+ IB.Qe2 Qxc3
19.Rhfl RgB 20.Kgl+- ReB 21.QhS Re6 22.Radl Qf623.Nh6
Qg6 24.QcS+ 1-0, Van der Werf-Van der Weij, Dieren
1990.
16.Kxf2
Qg5
Rd8
17.Ne3
118
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
18.Qe2
Qf6+
19.Kgl+/White has a locked-in rook, but Black has insufficient
material compensation and his pawns are very weak.
19...
Qxb2
20.Rd1
Rd6
21.g3
h5
22.Kg2
h4
23.Rhfl
Rh7
24.Rbl!
Black now sacrifices his queen. It is a temporary
sacrifice, but when the smoke clears llis position is hopeless.
24...
hxg3
25.Rxb2 Rxh2+
26.Kxg3
Rxe2
27. Rb8+
Ke7
28.Nf5++- Ke6
29.Nxd6
30.Rf2
cxd6
1-0
Dzhindzhichashvili-Gil. Garcia
New York Open 1988
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 S.eS d5 6.Bb5 Ne4
7.Nxd4 Bc5 8.Be3 Bd7 9.Bxc6 bxc6 lO.Nd2 Qe7
Chapter 11: 5.eS d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 BcS
119
11.Nxe4 dxe4 12.e6! fxe6!
This is Black's best continuation, but White can now
force a small advantage.
13.Nxc6! Bb4+
13... Bxc614.Qh5+ g615.QxcS+/- and Black's pawns are a
mess.
14.Nxb4 Qxb4+
15.Qd2 Qxb2?!
15... Qxd2+ 16.Kxd2+= was the better choice for Black,
but I would hate to have to face Dzindzi over the board in
this position, even though he might draw it as Black
against me!
16.0-0
Qb5
16 ... Bc6 17.Bd4 QbS 18.Bxg7 RgB 19.Qh6 e3 20.Rael!+/or 16... 0-0-0 17.Rfhl Qf6 18.Bxa7+17.Rfd1!
The pressure on the d-file severely limits Black's
options.
How to Play the Scotch Gambit
120
17...
18.Rabl
19.Bc5
as
Qa4
intending Qg5.
19...
0-0-0
20. Be7!
Rde8
21.Qe2!
Qc6
21 ...Rxe7? 22.Qa6+ Kd8 23.Rb8# (or 23.Qa8#).
22.Qe3
intending Qa7. Now Black really has to grovel.
22...
Qa8
23.QcS
Bc6
Black is facing an attack on three files, and the Be7
limits his activity. White will now swing a rook to c3. In
the end, Black has to give up the queen for a rook &
bishop in order to survive, and then it is just a matter of
technique.
24.Rb3
25.fxe3
26.Rc3!
27.QeS!
e3
Bxg2
Qc6
27...
28.Rxc6
29.Qxa5
30.Qa6+
Rxe7
Bxc6
Rd7
Bb7
Chapter 11: 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Nd4 7.Nxd4 BcS
121
31.Qxe6
The pin is the final nail in the coffin.
31...
RhdB
Rxd7
32.Rxd7
33.QgS+
Rd8
34.Qxh7
Bd5
35.a4
Kb7
36.Qd3
Rd6
37.QbS+
Ke8
38.aS
Rg6+
39.Kfl
Bg2+
Kd8?
40.Kf2
41.Qd3+
and now if 41 ... Rd6, then 42.Qxd6+ cxd6 43.Kxg2 is an
easy win, so Black resigned. 1-0
Index of Games
Aviles-Elzaghcir 37
Bastian-Eng 38
Breycr-Fahrni 18
Bryson-Alarcon 81
Buckle-Anderssen 42
Carr-Horne 8S
Charousek-Exncr 14
Charousek-Porges 22
Dzhindzhichashvili-Gil. Garcia 118
Edelman-Vucic 88
Estrin-Boey 56
Estrin-Brglez 107
Estrin-Sad om sky 71
Fernandez-Boudrc 98
Honfi-Percnyi 109
Malinin-lbragirnov 76
Mansurov-Sagalchik 99
Maroczy-Porges 3
Messere-Nyman 105
Nun-Sarwinski 40
Okhotnik-Didishko 83
Okhotnik-Zaid 90
Owens & Staunton-I-Jorwitz
Loewenthal 8
Rossolimo-Riceman 44
Schlechter-Breyer 47
Schlechter-Nyholm 30
Spiricv-Lcngycl 115
Stcinitz-Lang 11
Suttercr-·Al Awadhi 48
Suttcrcr--Hylkcma 45
Hopfer-Troester 27
Hug-Gorla 63
Illescas-Sanz 52
Kijk-Bokan 102
Kirste-Knorr 25
Tamm-Nicdcrmaier 78
Kirste-Plat h 27
Kupreichik-Belyavsky 67
Tscitlin-Yuncycv 73
Van Wijgcrden-Lcngycl 117
Svcshnikov-Kuprcichik 33
Svcshnikov-Kuzmin 59
Sveshnikov-MiIos 93
Kurajica-Smekjal 112
122
&
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