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1. e4
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In this exciting encounter, White goes for the 'Full Danish' Gambit - you'll see what 'full' implies - and played throughout as he began, full of fight. Rather unwisely (and unnecessarily), I played an attacking line that was far riskier than I had calculated upon. Though far behind in material, White's active pieces came within an ace of turning the tables. Here's the plot. |
 
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1... e5 2. d4
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The Centre Game. In my view it is really only worth playing this if you are going to play the Scotch Game, or a gambit. I believe White knew exactly what he wanted to play the moment he saw my first move. |
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2... exd4
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Best. There really is no better move than this capture. |
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3. c3
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The beginning of a complex of gambit lines that could include the Scotch Gambit, the Goring, and, of course, the Danish in various forms. |
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3... dxc3
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Black could play safe, here, but I was prepared to live a little dangerously. |
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4. Bc4
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Far out! The real deal, the 'full' Danish! |
1 comment
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4... cxb2 5. Bxb2
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I recall seeing this for the first time as a schoolboy. The line seemed so fraught with possibilities, the way those bishops raked down towards Black's undeveloped position. As it turns out, Black's lack of development leaves him a position flexible in defence. |
1 comment
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5... Nc6
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!? It is hard to know what's best here. This seemed safe enough. I was within an ace of playing the 'Schlechter Antidote' here, and possibly my opponent was hoping I would try it on. After 5...d5!? 6.Bxd5 Nf6 7.Bxf7ch! Kxf7 8.Qxd8 ... Has White won Black's Queen? Not... quite: 8...Bb4ch 9.Qd2 Bxd2 10.Nxd2 c5. The game becomes a battle between Black's 3-1 majority on the Q-side and White's 4-2 majority on the K-side. My copy of MCO10 indicates Black would have the better of it, but I'm not so sure. |
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6. Qf3
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Seeking immediate attack in return for the material invested. Time is of the essence. |
1 comment
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6... Nf6
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Blocks this attack. If now 7.e5, ...Qe7 is a fine response, and 7...Bb4ch has its points as well. |
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7. Qb3
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Taking up the attack from a fresh angle. In response to 7.e5 I had prepared this reply: 7...Bb5ch!? with the idea [A] 8.Nd2 Qe7 or [B] 8.Kf1 d5! 9.exf6 dxc4 10.fxg7 Rg8 11.Nc3 Rxg7. |
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7... Bb4+
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A tempo gainer. After 8.Bc3 Bxc3ch or 8.Kf1 0-0, but instead... |
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8. Nc3 Qe7
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Even better than castling. White's exiguous centre comes under heavy pressure from Black's pieces. |
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9. Nge2
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Partly to block the e-file, and partly to protect c3 whist he castled, I expect. But this turns out to be a serious error, on account of the extra protection now given the Black Bishop on b4. Better would have been 9.Bd3. |
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9... Na5
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[!] Black will now win a piece. Already two pawns down, this further loss is serious for White. |
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10. Bxf7+
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[!] His best response to contain the damage. Black's game suffers some disruption. Though Black has now a winning game, White does his best to make it difficult. |
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10... Kf8
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[!] Not 10...Qxf7? 11.Qxb4ch etc. but now the White Queen can no longer maintain its guard over the bishop. |
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11. Qc2
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Instead 11.Qa4 was worth a look. |
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11... Kxf7
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Takes with the King the sooner the rook can be hoiked out of the corner - castling 'long hand'. |
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12. O-O Re8 13. a3 Bd6
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After a build-up phase, White's game does look the better developed. But that +4 edge that Black has is hard to go past. |
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(2334)