Unorthodox Openings Newsletter

Unorthodox Openings Newsletter

Issue N. ° 2 – Christmas 2000

Dear Chessfriends,

We’re back again with this Christmas issue. There have been a few changes since the last issue, according to some suggestions I received: there will be some diagrams, annotated games and a few columns. Some chessfriends asked me why the Newsletter is free. My answer is that I do it for fun. I publish it whenever I want, I have no obligations at all with anyone. I consider it as a service to the chess community.

If any of you would like to receive the past issue please e-mail me at rozzoni@libero.it NIMZO.PGN

At last, I wish to express my gratitude to:

My family (see picture attached) for their love and support;

My Dad, a strong corr. Chess candidate master) because he taught me how to play chess and not only that…

Maurizio Sampieri because he gave me the opportunity to publish this newsletter at ASIGC (Italian Corr.Chess Association) web site at www.asigc.it

Giorgio Ruggeri Laderchi for his support and suggestions. I love his chess web site & Association: www.gambitchess.com/semi

Giorgio Codazza for his friendship & support and because they’re willing to annotate a game for us.

Mauro Graziani for his annotated Elephant game;

Paul Valle for his long and detailed article on the "Fegatello Attack"

Alberto Benussi because he sent me very large unorthodox openings databases;

Hugh Myers: I printed the last newsletter and I sent him a copy. He gave me some interesting suggestions. BTW now he’s almost finished writing a new book and it will probably be published very soon. In June 1999 he worked on "The Nimzovich Defense (1.e4 Nc6) Ultimate CD, by Pickard & Son Publisher (www.ChessCentral.com). Restarting the MOB depends on making money with the new book. His health, although not perfect, is not bad. He also told me that MOB issues are available, not all of the 1979-1988 issues, but most for $ 2,50 each plus postage; all of the larger New MOB’s – N°1-8 are $7.00 each including airmail postage. N° 9 would have to be reprinted. I do not sell MOB but if you are interested in them (and I do strongly recommend it to every "Unorthodox" Player!) pls. write Hugh at his address: 1605 E. 12^th St – Davenport, IA 52803-3801 USA

.To all Unorthodox Openings Chessfriends around the world as I didn’t even imagine that this home-made Newsletter would be received with such enthusiasm! Thanks to all the subscribers for your encouragement & support. Often I receive long e-mail where some subscribers ask me specific questions on unorthodox openings. I apologize in advance because it usually takes quite a long time to answer. I’m very, very busy with my family, job and corr. Games so…pls. be patient with me.

Last thought…just before sending this issue I got news from Rainer Schlenker that, after a long break, Randspringer is supposed to be continued, but not any more in Magazine shape in favour of some kind of yearbook. Such a manuscript, of approximately 160 pages is half finished and should be completed at least in the near future. Thanks to Rainer too because he sent some games too! Happy New Year! Davide Rozzoni

News Section

I’m grateful to ICCF I.M. G. Hjorth because he sent me the following score:

20) Lars Wålinder-Gunnar Hjorth (played Febr. 7th 1999 in "Division 2" in the Swedish Team Ch. system [Fagerviks SK-Järfälla SK, 1st table]) [B06]

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.e5 Nh5 (see diagram)

4.Nf3 d6 5.Bc4 Nc6 6.Ng5 e6 7.Qf3 Qe7 8.exd6 cxd6 9.c3 h6 10.Nh3 d5 11.Bb5 Bd7 12.Bxc6 Bxc6 13.0-0 Qf6 14.Nf4 Nxf4 15.Qxf4 Qxf4 16.Bxf4 f6 17.Re1 Kd7 18.Nd2 g5 19.Bg3 Bd6 20.Nb3 b6 21.a4 a5 22.Nc1 Bb7 23.Bxd6 Kxd6 24.Nd3 Ba6 25.Re3 Rhe8 26.Rae1 h5 27.h4 Bxd3 28.Rxd3 g4 29.f4 Re7 30.Kf2 Rc8 31.R1e3 Rc4 32.b3 Rc8 33.Ke2 Rb7 34.Rd2 b5 35.axb5 Rxb5 36.Ra2 Rxb3 37.Rxa5 Rbxc3 38.Ra6+ R8c6 39.Rxc3 Rxa6 40.g3 Ra2+ 41.Kf1 Rd2 42.Ra3 Rxd4 43.Ra6+ Ke7 44.Ra7+ Kf8 45.Rh8 Kg8 46.Rxh5 Re4 47.Kf2 Kg7 48.Kf1 Re3 49.Kf2 Rf3+ 50.Kg2 Ra3 51.Kf2 Ra8 0-1

Another very recent "Norwegian Defense":

21) Holzhaeuer,M (2362) - Paulsen,D (2431) [B06]

72nd ch-GER Seebad Heringsdorf GER (7), 23.11.2000

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.e5 Nh5 4.Bc4 d5 5.Be2 c5 6.dxc5 Nc6 7.Bxh5 gxh5 8.Qxh5 Rg8 9.Bf4 Qa5+ 10.Nd2 Nd4 11.Qd1 Bf5 12.Rc1 Qa4 13.c4 Nc2+ 14.Kf1 dxc4 15.Ne2 0-0-0 16.Nc3 Qc6 17.Qf3 Rxd2 18.Qxc6+ bxc6 19.Bxd2 Bd3+ 20.Ne2 Nd4 21.Re1 e6 22.Be3 Bxc5 23.Bxd4 Bxd4 24.f4 Kc7 25.b3 cxb3 26.axb3 Rb8 27.h4 Rxb3 28.Rh3 f6 29.exf6 Bxf6 30.Kg1 Bc4 31.Rxb3 Bxb3 32.Nc1 Bc4 33.Re4 Bd5 34.Ra4 Kb6 35.Kf1 a5 36.Nd3 Kb5 37.Ra3 a4 38.h5 Bc4 39.Ke1 Be7 40.Rc3 a3 41.Kd2 a2 42.Rc1 Bxd3 0-1

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A few days ago I drew an interesting 1.Nc3 game against the strong Corr. Master Lucio Mauro:

22) Rozzoni,D (2068) - Mauro,L (2361) [A00]

Cr Asigc OF/004, 2000

1.Nc3 d5 2.e4 d4 3.Nce2 e5 4.Ng3 Be6 5.Nf3 f6 6.Be2 Bc5 7.0-0 Ne7 8.b3 0-0 9.Bc4 Bxc4 10.bxc4 Nbc6 11.Rb1 Qd7 12.d3 a6 13.Nd2 b6 14.Nb3 Bb4 15.f4 exf4 16.Bxf4 b5 17.Qh5 Ne5 18.cxb5 axb5 19.Ne2 N7c6 20.Nbc1 Rfe8 21.Bg3 Ra4 22.Qf5 Qd8 23.Nf4 Ne7 24.Qe6+ Kh8 25.a3 Bxa3 26.Rxb5 c6 27.Rb7 Nd5 (See diagram)

28.exd5 Rxe6 29.Nxe6 Qa8 30.Rxg7 Bxc1 31.Rxc1 Ra1 32.Rf1 Rxf1+ 33.Kxf1 Qa1+ 34.Be1 cxd5 35.h3 Qb2 36.Rc7 h6 37.Bh4 Qc1+ 38.Ke2 Qe3+ 39.Kf1 Nd7 40.Rc6 Qc1+ 41.Ke2 ½-½

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In June 2000 Morozevich played 1.Nc3 against Kasparov…and he lost…

22) Morozevich,A (2748) - Kasparov,G (2851) [A00]

Fujitsu-Siemens Giants Frankfurt GER (10)

1.Nc3 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qh4 Nf6 5.Nf3 d5 6.Bg5 Qa5 7.0-0-0 Be6 8.Bd2 g6 9.e4 d4 10.e5 Ng4 11.Nxd4 Nxd4 12.h3 Bg7 13.hxg4 Bxe5 14.a3 Rc8 15.Bd3 Nb3+ 16.cxb3 Bxc3 17.Bxc3 Rxc3+ 18.Kb1 Rxb3 19.Qh2 Qc3 20.Qb8+ Bc8 21.Rd2 0-0 22.Qh2 h5 23.Rhd1 Bxg4 24.f3 Be6 25.g4 hxg4 26.fxg4 Bxg4 27.Rg1 Rxb2+ 28.Rxb2 Qxd3+ 29.Qc2 Qd7 30.Qd2 Qxd2 31.Rxd2 Bf3 32.Kb2 Bc6 33.Kc3 Kg7 34.Kb4 e5 35.a4 a6 36.a5 e4 37.Kc5 Re8 38.Re1 Re6 39.Kd4 f5 40.Rh2 Kf6 41.Rh8 Rd6+ 42.Kc5 Rd5+ 43.Kb6 Rb5+ 44.Kc7 Rxa5 0-1

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Italian Corr. Master Aurelio Napoli Costa is currently playing the ICCF Thematic Grob Final. He’s promised to send me the game scores as the games will be finished and I’m publishing them in the Newsletter. I’m also playing a friendly corr. Grob match (4 games) with Aurelio. Our games are hard fought…you’ll see them soon…!

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Have you ever thought of playing the Hippopotamus or the Crazy Cat? I’m working on some material for the next issue. Ok…I guess you wish an anticipation…here it is:

23) Meulemans,S (1975) - Rozzoni,D (2095) [B00]

WCH2 SEMI email, 1998

1.e4 Nh6 2.Nc3 f6 3.d4 g6 4.Nf3 Nf7 5.Bc4 e6 6.0-0 Bg7 7.Be3 d6 8.a3 0-0 9.Qe2 Re8 10.Rad1 Nd7 11.Rfe1 Nf8 12.Bb3 c6 13.Bf4 b6 14.e5 fxe5 15.dxe5 d5 16.Ne4 Nd7 17.Nd6 Nxd6 18.exd6 Qf6 19.Be5 Nxe5 20.Nxe5 Qxe5 21.Qxe5 Bxe5 22.Rxe5 Rd8 23.g4 Rxd6 24.h4 Rd8 25.Kh2 Rf8 26.Kg3 Bd7 27.c4 Rf7 28.f4 Raf8 29.Rd4 Kg7 30.cxd5 exd5 31.h5 Bc8 32.Bc2 Bb7 33.hxg6 hxg6 34.Rg5 Rf6 35.f5 c5 36.Rd2 d4 37.Re2 c4 38.Re7+ R8f7 39.Rxf7+ Kxf7 40.fxg6+ Kg8 41.Re5 d3 42.Ba4 Bc6 43.Bxc6 Rxc6 0-1

Has anyone of you ever played this system? If positive would you please send me your own games (pgn, cbf, cbh) just to include them in the next article? Thanks in advance!

If you want to know more about these openings you can look at MOB Vol. 2 Number 2 (N° 14) February - March 1981.

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24) Graziani,M - Codazza,G (2200) [C40]

Cr. 2^ C.A.Silli, 1993

( Note di Mauro Graziani)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 Bd6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bb5+ c6 6.dxc6 bxc6 7.Bc4 Bg4 8.d3 0-0 9.0-0 Nbd7 10.Bg5 Qc7 11.h3 Bh5 12.Ne4?! (see diagram)

[¹12.Bxf6 Nxf6 13.Ne4] 12...Nxe4 13.dxe4 Nc5 14.Qe2 Rab8 15.b3 Kh8 16.Bd2 f5 17.Bd3 [17.exf5? e4 18.g4 exf3 19.Qxf3 Bf7-+] 17...fxe4 18.Bxe4 Nxe4 19.Qxe4 Bxf3 20.gxf3 Rf6 21.Rae1 L' altra R serve per difendere il Pf2 21...Rbf8 22.f4 Credo che solo restituendo il P il B possa sperare di cavarsela [22.Re3 Rf4 23.Qd3 R8f5 24.Rfe1 Rg5+ 25.Kf1 Rh4] 22...exf4 23.Bc3 Rg6+ 24.Kh1 [24.Kh2? f3+ 25.Be5 Rg2+ (25...Bxe5+ 26.Qxe5 Rg2+ 27.Kh1 Qxe5 28.Rxe5) 26.Kh1 Qd7] 24...Qd7 25.Qf3 Rg3! [25...Rh6 26.Kh2;

25...Qf5 26.Rg1] 26.fxg3 Qxh3+ 27.Kg1 Bc5+ 28.Rf2 [28.Re3 Bxe3+ 29.Qxe3 Qxf1+! 30.Kxf1 fxe3+ 31.Ke2 Rf2+ 32.Kxe3 (32.Kd3 Rg2 33.Be1) 32...Rxc2] 28...Qxg3+ 29.Kf1 [29.Qxg3? fxg3 30.Ref1 (30.Kf1 Rxf2+ 31.Kg1 Rxc2+) 30...Rxf2] 29...Bxf2 30.Bxg7+ Per recuperare un P 30...Kxg7 31.Qxf2 Qh3+ 32.Qg2+ Qxg2+ 33.Kxg2 Kg6 34.Kf3 Patta su proposta del B ½-½

Now an annotated game by G. Codazza:

25) Codazza- Salvadori 642° torneo cr. Coppa G.Lucidi 1987

1.d4,Nf6 2.Nc3,d5 3.e4!? (Si presenta sulla scacchiera il quasi dimenticato e certo maltrattato dalla teoria ufficiale Gambetto Blackmar Diemer, che si può avere anche nell’ordine di mosse 1.d4,d5 2.e4!? Forse non è preso in considerazione per il fatto che dopo 2…e6 o 2…c6 il nero rientra in una Francese o in una Caro Kann. E’ da vedere se il nero ha nel suo repertorio queste due difese. Non è facile neppure per corrispondenza giocare cose mai prese in considerazione nel proprio bagaglio teorico) 3…N:e4 (molto più giocato è il seguito 3…de4 4.f3 ecc…Il seguito 3…N:e4 prende il nome di gambetto Hubsch) 4.N:e4, d:e4 5.Bc4,Nc6!? (è stato sperimentato anche 5…Bf5, sono giocabili i tratti 5…e6, 5…Qd6, 5…Bd7, 5…e5 5…c6, 5…c5) 6.c3, Bf5?! (penso che se non un errore questa mossa sia perlomeno dubbia erano da preferirsi : 6…e5 o 6…e6 limitando l’azione dell’alfiere in c4) 7.Qb3, Qd7 (dopo solo sette mosse la posizione del nero appare compromessa. Per corrispondenza, come a tavolino le sorprese disorientano l’avversario e possono metterlo in difficoltà in un campo a lui sconosciuto) 8.B:f7, Kd8 9.Bg5! (il bianco da adesso giocherà per mobilitare le sue forze al massimo. Era inutile il tratto 9. Q:b7, Rb8 che avrebbe concesso al nero contro gioco) 9…Kc8 (per giocare e6 e prendere un po’ di fiato) 10.Ne2, e6 11.d5! (Anche se si cambieranno le donne, dopo questa mossa il vantaggio di sviluppo e di posizione, permetterà al bianco di dilagare) 11…ed 12.Q:d5, Bd6 13.Ng3, B:g3 14.hg3, Q:d5 15. B:d5, Ne5 (Il nero si era illuso d’avere superato il peggio, oppure non ha considerato le prossime risposte del bianco)

16. 0-0, c6 17. Bb3, Nd3 18. f3! (Adesso, se il cavallo prende in b2, l’apertura della colonna f, la coppia degli alfieri, la debolezza della 7^traversa, decidono rapidamente in favore del bianco) 18…e:f3 19.Rf3, g6 20. g4!, Be4 21.Re3, Nc5 22. Rae1 (Il nero non può giocare 22…N:b3 23.R:e4 per la minaccia Re8+ rimanendo con il cavallo in presa) 22…Kc7 (Un tentativo disperato) 23. Be7! (se 23…N:b3 24.R:e4 e se 24…Na5 25. b4 ancora se 24…Nd2 25.Rd4) 23…Nd3 24.Ref1 il nero abbandona.

An interesting Line in the Nimzovich Defense

By Davide Rozzoni

In the last few years a few interesting works on 1. e4 Nc6 have been published:

In 1993 Hugh Myers published "Nimzovich Defense to 1.e4". This work has been updated in 1995. I have a copy of the 1993 book.
In 1995 Schlenker & Keilhack wrote: "1…Nc6…aus allen Lagen".
In 1996 Keene and Jacobs wrote: „A complete defense for Black" where they suggest 1...Nc6 against almost every white’s first move.

I loved these 3 books and you can imagine my surprise when I realized that the following line was not covered in neither of the above mentioned books:

1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.d5 Ne5 5.f4 (see diagram)

of course if black plays 5. exf3 we go back to the main book lines, but what does it happen if black plays 5…Nd7 or 5….Ng6 ? Attached as pgn file you can see all the games I could find. Pgn files can be read with Microsoft word program.

I suggest that white players should study carefully Game 9) of the Database: Codazza – Dubini as 7…Nh4 deserves serious consideration.

Cr. Master Fiorentini wrote an article on the above mentioned variation in L’italia Scacchistica Dicembre 1986 issue.

According to the games contained in the attached database, it seems that Kurt Richter was the first player to play 5.f4 in this variation of the Nimzovich, so I suggest to name the variation 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.d5 Ne5 5.f4 The Richter variation.

If you have any new games on this subject pls. e-mail them to me (I can read pgn, cbh, cbf) and I’m putting them in the next newsletter. Thanks in advance.

The Fegatello Attack

By Paul Valle

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.ed Nxd5 6.Nxf7!?

Chapters:

Black does not capture the Knight
Miscellaneous moves for black, after 6…Kxf7 7.Qf3+

7…Ke6 8.Nc3 and 8…Nd4?

"Fegatello de Polerio" 8…Ne7

Introduction to the "Fegatello de Domenico" 8...Nb4!

"Fagatello de Domenico" with 9.a3 Nxc2 10.Kd1 Nxa1

"Fegatello de Domenico" with 9.a3 Nxc2 10.Kd1 Nd4

Conclusion

Chapter 1

The move 6…Kxf7 is practically forced, since both the queen and the rook are hanging. Creativity at this stage of the opening has not paid off:

6…Qf6? 7.Bxd5 and now 7…Nd4 8.Nxh8 Bc5 9.0-0 +- got played in Terminova-Tweddel. Moscow. 1994.

7…Be6 8.Be6 Qxe6 9.0-0 and white only had to

make eight more moves before black resigned in Arebo-Mosacula. Guipuzcoa-Segovita TA. 1992.

7...Bc5 8.0-0 Rf8 9.d4 Rf8 10.Bxf7+ Qxf7 11.dc +-

Amaro,H-Catrin,L. Santiago Arais. 1992.

6…Qh4?

7.Bxd5 Bg4 8.Bf3 Bc5 9.g3 (9.0-0 0-0 10.Bxg4 Kxf7 11.Nxc3 Kg6 12.g3 Bxf2+ 13.Rxf2 Rxf2 14.gh Raf8 15.Bh5+ 1-0 Moston,M.-Lewin,H. IECC. 1997.) 9…Qf6 10.Bxc6+ bc 11.Qxg4 Bxf2+ 12.Ke2 Qxf7 13.Rf1 0-0 14.d3 1-0 Capkunaj,J.-Donni,O. Huy op. 1993.

7.Nxh8 Qxc4 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qxh7 Nf4 10.d3 Qd5 11.Bxf4 ef

12.0-0 Ne7 13.Nc3 Qf5 14.Rfe1 Be6 15.Qh3 0-0-0 16.Rxe6 Qxh3

17.gh 1-0 Franke-Holzhaeuer. Schmiden. 1978.

Chapter 2

After 7.Qf3+ black needs to defend his knight with the king, or white will capture and will be a pawn up in a superior position. Black has tried:

7…Kg8?? 8.Bxd5+ 1-0 (mate in two) was played in Shirley,D.-Ellena,B. Dayton OH. 1981.

7…Qf6? 8.Bxd5+ Be6 (8…Ke8 9.Bxc6+ bc 10.Qxf6 +-. Homeister,J.-Engel, M. Kassel. 1994). 9.Bxc6 bc (9…Qxf3 10.Bxf3 1-0. Gilmore,J.-Bringer,P. Dayton OH. 1982). 10.Qxc6 Bd6 11.Nc3 and black is two pawns down.

7…Ke8? 8.Bxd5 and the rest is self evident, but just to take up space I’m going to mention the following:

A) 8…Ne7?

B) 8…Qe7? 9.Bxc6 1-0. Wall,B.-Bell,T. North California. 1979.

C) 8…Qd7? 9.Bxc6 Qxc6 10.Qxc6 bc 11.0-0 and white went on to win in Watson,P.R.-Matyn. Aalborg. 1987.

D) 8…Qe7? 9.Bxc6 1-0. Wall,B.-Bell,T. North California. 1979.

E) 8…Qf6??+ gets the same treatment as in D).

F) 8…Be7?? Leads to mate after 9.Bf7+

G) 8…Nd4?? 9.Qf7# Dubois-Mapelle. Val. 1989.

H) 8…Nb4?? 9.Qf7# Baron,J.-Weber,R. Bellheim. 1994.

I) 8…Bd7?? 9.Qf7# Dedier,R.-Harrison,R. IECG. 1995.

J) 8…Bd6?? 9.Qf7# Alan-AlexPopa. ICS. 1994.

K) 8…Bc5?? 9.Qf7# Weijers,R-Wever,D. Hengelo. 1995.

Chapter 3

If 7…Ke6 8.Nc3 (other moves like 8.d4 and 8.0-0 have been tried, but the text move is the most aggressive). 8…Nd4? (8…Bc5?? 9.Bxd5+ Ke7 10.Qf7+ Kd6 11.Nb5# Wall,B.-Osgood,D. Palo Alto. 1991.) And white wins after 9.Bxd5+ Kd6 (9…Ke7 10.Qf7+ Kd6 11.Ne4# Weir,D.-Messenger,J. England. 1951. Or 9…Qxd5 10.Qxd5 11.Ne4+ 1-0 Dodgen,B.-Boyd,D. Aiken SC. 1981.) 10.Qd3! or as in Paul Morphy-Amateur. 1858: 10.Qf7 Be6 11.Bxe6 Nxe6 12.Nxe4+ Kd5 13.c4+ Kxe4 14.Qxe6 Qd4 15.Qg4+ Kd3 16.Qqe2+ Kc2 17.d3#

Chapter 4

After 8…Ne7 9.d4 (9.0-0!?) white should win with accurate play:

9…ed 10.Qe4+ Kf7 11.Nxd5 Be6 12.Qf4+ Kg8 13.Nf6+ gf 14.Bxe6+ 1-0 Knuiman,J.-Zwetsloot. Arnhem. 1998.

9…Qd6 10.0-0 Kd7 11.de Qxe5 12.Bxd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 and black made four more moves before resigning in Ramos,M.-Cubas,S. Guarapuava, Brazil. 1995.

9…g6 10.Bg5 c6 (10...Qd6 11.0-0-0 Bg7 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Qxd5+ Kf6 14.de+ Qxe5 15.Qf7+ 1-0 Luber,R.-Lipecki,A. Bad Ragaz. 1992.) 11.0-0-0 Bg7 12.de Qf8 13.Nxd5 Qxf3 14.Nc7+! Kf5 15.gf Kxg5 16.Nxa8 Bx5 17.Rhe1 +- Schmidt,R. –Solace,R. Germany. 1993.

9…b6 10.Bg5 Bb7 11.0-0-0 c6 12.Rhe1 Kd6 13.Bxe7+ Qxe7 14.Rxe5 Qd8 15.Nxd5 cd 16.Bxd5 Kc7 17.Bxb7 1-0 Bentz,C.-Christ,M. Eisenberg. 1993.

9…b5 10.Nxb5 c6 11.Nc3 Qb6 12.de Bb7 13.Ne4 Qb4+ 14.Bb2 Qxc4 15.Qg4+ Kxe5 16.f4+ Kd4 17.c3+ Nxc3 18.Bxc3+ Kxe4 19.f5+ Kd5

20.0-0-0+ Kc5 21.b4+ Kb5 22.a4+ 1-0 Von der Lasa-Mayet. Berlin. 1839.

9…c6 this is the critical line in the "Fegatello de Polerio", and after 10.Bg5 (10.de, 10.0-0-0, 10.Re1, 10.Bf4, 10.Ne4 and 10.Qe4 has been played with success, but they are not as forcing as the text move), black can now choose from the following moves:

A) 10…Kd7 11.de Ke8 12.0-0-0 Be6 13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.Rxd5! cd 15.Bb5+ wins

according to Cook.

B) 10…h6 11.Bxe7 Bxe7 12.0-0-0 Rf8 13.Qe4 Rxf2 14.de Bg5+ 15.Kb1 Rd2

(15…Kb1 Ke7 16.Bxd5 cd 17.Nxd5+ Kf8 18.h4 1-0 Akramov,E.-Vvvojvoda,M.

7PSRR. 1996.) 16.h4 Rxd1+ 17.Rxd1 Bxh4 18.Nxd5 cd 19.Rxd5 Qg5

20.Rd6+ Ke7 21.Rd5 1-0 Polerio-Domenico. Rome. Around 1600.

Chapter 5

8…Nb4! This move gives black some counter play, but he is still far from safe.

What the right move for white is in this position is hard to determine:

9.Qe4 (stopping black in hitting on c2) 9…c6 10.a3 (10.d4 Qd6 11.f4 b5 12.Bb3 Be7 13.fe Qd8 14.0-0 Bb7 15.Qg4# Robinnette-Randell. Dayton OH. 1981). 10…Na6 11.d4 Nc7 (11…Qf6 12.Nxd5 cd 13.Qxd5 13.Qxd5+ Ke7 14.de 1-0 Rodriguez,K-Resnick,S. Cr. 1991.) has the official name: "Leonhardt Variation". Here black gives up a pawn for active play: 12.Qxe4+ Kf7 13.0-0 Be6 looks rather good for black, so white should try12.Bf4 Kf7 (12…Bd6 13.0-0 and after 12…Kf7, white can exchange pieces and go for a rook-endgame with four pawns for his sacrificed knight: 14.Nxd5 cd 15.Bxd5+ Nxd5 16.Qxd5+ Be6 17.Qxb7+ Qc7 18.Qxc7+ Bxc7 19.Bxe5 Bxe5 20.de, with a clear advantage to white Liu,R.-Llaceur,J. IECG.) 13.de Be6 14.0-0-0 Nxc3 15.Qf5+ Ke8 16.Rxd8 Rxd8 17.Bxe6 1-0 Fischer,C.-Boisvert,J. Cr. 1971.

9.d4 c6 (9…Nxc2+ 10.Kd1 Nxa1 11.Bxd5+ Kd6 12.Nb5+ Kd7 13.Qf5+ 1-0 Balkany,A.-Longuski, J. Michigan. 1973.) 10.Qe4 Kf7 11.a3 Qa5 12.ab Qxa1 13.Nxd5 Qxc1+ 14.Ke2 Qxh1 15.Nxc7+ Ke7 16.Qxe5+ Kxd7 17.Nxa8 Qxg2 18.Qc7+ 1-0 Speelman,J.S.-Fletcher. England. 1969.

9.0-0 c6 10.d4 Nxc2 11.de Nxa1 12.Rd1 Bc5 13.Qg4+ Kf7 14.Qf3+ Ke6

15.Nxd5 cd 16.Bxd5+ Kxe5 1-0 Strejc,V.-Sipek,V. Czech Republic. 1994.

Chapter 6

9.a3 this move is more investigated than the moves in chapter 5.

9…Nxc2+ 10.Kd1 Nxa1 this is probably not sound, but black is likely to play it anyway…and this is the winning recipe:

11.Nxd5 (NCO gives this position as unclear, but…) 11…Kd6 (not

11…Bd7?? 12.Nc3+ Ke7 13.Qf7+ Kd6 14.Qd5+ Ke7 15.Qxe5+ Be6 16.Qxe6# Valle,P,-DeMarco,R. Intertrnett. 2000.

11…Bd6?? 12.Nb6+ 1-0 Horacio,R.-Gonzalo,O. Cr. 1992.

11…Kd7? 12.d4 a6 13.Re1 e4 14.Rrxe4 Kc6 15.Qc3 Kd7 16.b4 Bd6

17.b5 1-0 Corbat,P.-Nagley,T. 1999.)

12.d4 and now:

12…ed 13.Bf4+ Kc5 14.Ba2 (14.Be2 Bg4 15.b4+ Kc6 16.Qxg4 Qxd5 17.Bf3 +- Moston,M.-Williams,D. IECG email. 1998.) 14…a5 15.Bxc7 Qd7 16.Kd2 Nc2 17.Rc1 d3 18.Rxc2+ dc 19.Qc3+ Kb5 20.Qc4# Steiner,H.-Rosenberg,D. California. 1945.

12…Qh4 13.de+ Kc5 14.Qd3! Black is "Hopeless" according to Sharansky.

12…c6 13.Bf4! ef 14.Qxf4+ Kd7 15.Re1 is given by Lisitsyn.

12…Be6 13.Qe4 (not 13.de+ Kd7 14.Qd3 Bxd5 15.Qxd5+ Ke8 -+ Marks,D.-Herker,C. IECG email. 1998) 13…Kd7 14.Qxe5 Bxd5 15.Bxd5 Kc8 16.Bg5 Bd6 17.Qqe6+ Qd7 18.Bxb7+ +- Colucci-Bongiovanni. Cr ITA. 1977.

Chapter 7

After 9.a3 Nxc2 10.Kd1 The best move for black is 10…Nd4 and after 11.Bxd5+, black can choose from:

11…Kd6

*12.Qf7 Qe7 13.Ne4+ Kd7 14.Nc5+Kd6 15.Nxb7+ Bxb7 16.Qxe7+ Bxe7 17.Bxb7 Rab8 18.Be4 Nb3 (with compensation according to ECO). 19.Rb1 Bg5 20.Bc2 c5 21.Bxb3 and white is better, Watson,J.

*12.Qg3 Bf5 13.d3 c6 14.Be4 Qf6 15.Be3 Kd7 16.Bxd4 ed 17.Bxf5+ Qxf5 18.Ne4 Be7 19.Qxg7 c5 20.Rc1 b6 21.Re1 Rhg8 22.Nxc5+ bc

23.Qxe7+ Kc6 24.Re6+ 1-0 Giordanengo,O.-Gehrke,R. Zurich. 1991.

B) 11…Kd7!

*12.Qf7+ Qe7 13.Re1 Qxf7 14.Bxf7 Bd6 and black is better, Watson,J.

*12.Qg3 Qf6 13.Ne4 Qf5 14.d3 c6 15.Ba2 Kc7 16.Be3 Qxg4+

17.Qxg4 Bxg4+ 18.f3 Bf5 and black has finally reached equality according to Watson,J.

Chapter 8

Ok, black can reach equality after 18 correct moves…but trust me, he wont. The reason why I’m so sure of this is:

There has hardly been any analyses of this attack since the sixteen hundreds.
And the opening books don’t seem to agree on what the correct moves are for either side.
I’ve played through over 200 games(!) in this opening, and white has won over 80% of them.
Black’s 5^th move is known by most players to be inferior, so if black go for 5…Nxd5, then he has probably never faced the Fegatello Attack

The conclusion is that black should not play 5…Nxd5, but 5…Na5.

White needs to be familiar with these lines:

5…Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dc bc 8.Be2 h6 9.Nf3 e4 10.Ne5 Bd6 11.d4 ed

12.Nd3 with an unclear position, NCO.

5…Nd4 6.c3 b5 7.Bf1 Nxd5 8.Ne4 Qh4 9.Nf3 Bg4 10.f3 e4 11.cd Bd6 12.Bxb5+ with a clear advantage for white, NCO.

4…Bc5 5.Bxf7+ (much better than hitting with the knight) 5…Ke7 6.Bb3! Rf8 7.0-0 d6 8.Nc3 Qe8 9.Nd5+ Kd8 10.c3 h6 11.d4 ed 12.Nxf6 Rxf6 with slight advantage to white, NCO.

3…Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 ed 6.cd Bb4+ 7.Bd2 (boring) Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 d5 9.ed Nxd5 10.Bb3 Na5! 11.Qa4+ Nc6 12.Bb5 Bd7 13.0-0 0-0 equal position, NCO.

A personal hint is playing the bishops opening, planning to transpose and avoiding 3…Bc5: 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 (if 3…Nxe4, then 4.Nc3, the so called "Boden-Kieseritsky Gambit" is fun to play). 4.Ng5

I should mention, that if the reader still doesn’t find the courage to hit on f7 on his 6^th move…or isn’t in the mood for Fried Liver, then 6.d4! also gives white a clear advantage.

Finally, I should mention that the writer is an amateur, and actually always play the King’s Gambit…

Note by Davide Rozzoni: Paul Valle would like to receive your comments about this article at his e-mail vallepaul@hotmail.com

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