Playing with Black Pieces
in E-Pawn Opening Games

Continued

File in PGN format

First half in PGN format

Scotch Game Scotch Gambits Two Knights Example games

IV.C. 3. D4 Scotch Game and Gambits

t+lDjLsT
XxXx+xXx
-+s+-+-+
+-+-X-+-
-+-Pp+-+
+-+-+n+-
pPp+-PpP
RnBqKb+r
The old (1826) SCOTCH GAME is

3... exd4 4. Nxd4

People have recently found some new ideas in lines that had been abandoned, but I think interest is waning again as these ideas become better known. The natural move is

4...Bc5

when White has two natural moves:

[If 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Bd3 Ne7 7. O-O d5 should hold, but more accurate

IV.C.1. SCOTCH GAME with 5. Be3

t+lDj+sT
XxXx+xXx
-+s+-+-+
+-L-+-+-
-+-Np+-+
+-+-B-+-
pPp+-PpP
Rn+qKb+r
5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7

t+l+j+sT
XxXx+xXx
-+s+-D-+
+-L-+-+-
-+-Np+-+
+-P-B-+-
pP-+-PpP
Rn+qKb+r
7. Bc4

White has tried many moves in this position, but this Icelandic line is the most current.

t+-+-Tj+
Xx+-SxXx
-+x+-+d+
+-L-B-+-
q+-N-+l+
+-P-+-P-
pP-+-PbP
R-+-+rK-

-T-+-J-T
Xx+-Sx+x
-+s+l+-+
+-D-+-Xn
-+-+x+-+
+-P-P-P-
pP-+-+bP
Rn+q+rK-

t+l+j+-T
XxXxSxXx
-+s+-D-+
+-L-+-+-
-+bNp+-+
+-P-B-+-
pP-+-PpP
Rn+qK-+r
(Icelandic line)

After 7. Bc4 the equaliser used to be 7...Ne5 8. Be2 and 8...d6/8...Qg6 (see BCO2), but that has started to creak.

Will Black succeed in re-enforcing the line? Karpov has still happily played

7... O-O 8. O-O Bb6 9. Nc2

-+-T-+j+
XxXtSxX-
-L-+-D-X
+n+p+l+-
-+bP-+-+
+-+-Bq+-
pP-+-PpP
R-+-R-K-

t+l+-Tj+
XxXxSxXx
-Ls+-D-+
+-+-+-+-
-+bNp+-+
+-P-B-+-
pP-+-PpP
Rn+q+rK-

-+-Tt+j+
Xx+d+xXx
-SsX-+-+
+-+-+-+-
p+-P-B-+
+-N-+q+-
-P-+-PpP
R-+r+-K-

t+l+-Tj+
XxXxSxXx
-Ls+-D-+
+-+-+-+-
-+bNp+-+
+-P-B-+-
pP-+-PpP
Rn+q+rK-
9. Nc2 d6 10. Bxb6 axb6 11. f4

t+l+-Tj+
+xX-SxXx
-XsX-D-+
+-+-+-+-
-+b+pP-+
+-P-+-+-
pPn+-+pP
Rn+q+rK-
Now

leaves White with a small space advantage. In the game Kasparov - Short (Linares 1991) Black tried

11...g5!? 12. f5 Ne5 13. Be2 Bd7 14. c4

IV.C.2. SCOTCH GAME with 5. Nb3

t+lDj+sT
XxXx+xXx
-+s+-+-+
+-L-+-+-
-+-+p+-+
+n+-+-+-
pPp+-PpP
RnBqKb+r
You must retreat with

5... Bb6

Now White usually chases the Bishop with

6. a4 a6

Gary Lane reckons this gives White good chances, but one move order he doesn't consider is

7. Nc3 Nge7 8. Bg5 f6!

Now

9. Bh4 O-O

t+lD-Tj+
+xXxS-Xx
xLs+-X-+
+-+-+-+-
p+-+p+-B
+nN-+-+-
-Pp+-PpP
R-+qKb+r
and now

and according to ChessBase, Black has achieved a pleasant equality.

Return

IV.C.3. SCOTCH And GORING Gambits
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4

White may try

4. c3
t+lDjLsT
XxXx+xXx
-+s+-+-+
+-+-+-+-
-+-Xp+-+
+-P-+n+-
pP-+-PpP
RnBqKb+r

Black can equalise with

4... d5

t+lDjLsT
XxX-+xXx
-+sX-+-+
+-+-+-+-
-+-+p+-+
+-Pb+n+-
pP-+-PpP
RnBqK-+r
is OK after:

t+lDjLsT
XxX-+xXx
-+s+-+-+
+-+x+-+-
-+-Xp+-+
+-P-+n+-
pP-+-PpP
RnBqKb+r
5. exd5 Qxd5 6. cxd4 Bg4 7. Be2 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 Qc4

t+-+j+sT
XxX-+xXx
-+s+-+-+
+-+-+-+-
-LdP-+-+
+-N-+b+-
pP-+-PpP
R-BqK-+r
10. Qb3

Neither:

t+-+j+-T
XxX-SxXx
-+s+-+-+
+-+-+-+-
-D-P-+-+
+-+-Bb+-
-+-+-PpP
+-Rq+-Kr

t+-+j+sT
XxX-+xXx
-+s+-+-+
+-+-+-+-
-LdP-+-+
+qN-+b+-
pP-+-PpP
R-B-K-+r
10... Qxb3 11. axb3 Nge7 12. O-O a6 =

t+-+j+-T
+xX-SxXx
x+s+-+-+
+-+-+-+-
-L-P-+-+
+pN-+b+-
-P-+-PpP
R-B-+rK-

Lastly, but most importantly, we must consider how you should reply to:

IV.D. 3. Bc4

You can defend the GIUOCO PIANO, which is OK, except you cannot rely on White to play an interesting open game. The best way to get a good game going is:

IV.E. Two Knights Defence, 3... Nf6

t+lDjL-T
XxXx+xXx
-+s+-S-+
+-+-X-+-
-+b+p+-+
+-+-+n+-
pPpP-PpP
RnBqK-+r
White has several tries here:

IV.E.1. The MAX LANGE Attack 4. d4
t+lDjL-T
XxXx+xXx
-+s+-S-+
+-+-X-+-
-+bPp+-+
+-+-+n+-
pPp+-PpP
RnBqK-+r
After 4. d4 Black must reply:

4... exd4

The alternatives are unattractive:

t+lDj+-T
XxXxLxXx
-+s+-+-+
+-S-P-+-
-+b+-+-+
+-N-+n+-
pPp+-PpP
R-Bq+rK-

t+lDjL-T
XxXx+xXx
-+s+-S-+
+-+-X-+-
-+bPp+-+
+-+-+n+-
pPp+-PpP
RnBqK-+r

  • [4... Nxd4 5. Bxf7+ Kxf7 6. Nxe5+ Ke8 7. Qxd4+-]
  • [4... d6 5. Ng5 Nxe4

    6. Bxf7+ Ke7 7. Bb3 +-]

    Now

    5. O-O

    t+lDjL-T
    XxXx+xXx
    -+s+-S-+
    +-+-+-+-
    -+bXp+-+
    +-+-+n+-
    pPp+-PpP
    RnBq+rK-

    t+lDjL-T
    XxXx+xXx
    -+s+-S-+
    +-+-P-+-
    -+bX-+-+
    +-+-+n+-
    pPp+-PpP
    RnBqK-+r

    t+-+-+-T
    X-XjD-Xx
    -+x+l+-+
    +-Lx+-+q
    -+-Ns+-+
    +-+-B-+-
    pPp+-+pP
    Rn+-+rK-

    t+lDjL-T
    XxXx+xXx
    -+s+-S-+
    +-+-+-+-
    -+bXp+-+
    +-+-+n+-
    pPp+-PpP
    RnBq+rK-
    Black now has a choice:

    I include analysis of both lines in case you fancy playing this as White.

    IV.E.1.a) MAX LANGE with 5... Nxe4

    (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.0-0)

    5...Nxe4

    t+lDjL-T
    XxXx+xXx
    -+s+-+-+
    +-+-+-+-
    -+bXs+-+
    +-+-+n+-
    pPp+-PpP
    RnBq+rK-
    This is the most complex line.

    6. Re1 d5

    Now White has two important attacking alternatives:

    Although, both lines are tricky and sacrificial!

    IV.E.1.a)(1) SACRIFICIAL 7. Nc3

    t+lDjL-T
    XxX-+xXx
    -+s+-+-+
    +-+x+-+-
    -+bXs+-+
    +-N-+n+-
    pPp+-PpP
    R-BqR-K-
    7. Nc3 dxc3

    t+l+-Tj+
    X-X-+-Xx
    -+xL-+-+
    +-+-+x+-
    -+r+-+-+
    +-N-+-+-
    pPp+-PpP
    R-B-+-K-

    t+lDjL-T
    XxX-+xXx
    -+s+-+-+
    +-+x+-+-
    -+b+s+-+
    +-X-+n+-
    pPp+-PpP
    R-BqR-K-
    8. Bxd5 Be6

    9. Bxe4 Bb4 10. b3 Qxd1 11. Rxd1

    t+-+j+-T
    XxX-+xXx
    -+s+l+-+
    +-+-+-+-
    -L-+b+-+
    +pX-+n+-
    p+p+-PpP
    R-Br+-K-
    11... Rd8 12. Be3 a6

    Black has an extra pawn which is hard to keep and harder to make use of. The storm has blown itself out.

    Return

    So let's look at the alternative

    IV.E.1.a)(2) TRICKY 7. Bxd5

    Example Games

    7. Bxd5 Qxd5 8. Nc3
    t+l+jL-T
    XxX-+xXx
    -+s+-+-+
    +-+d+-+-
    -+-Xs+-+
    +-N-+n+-
    pPp+-PpP
    R-BqR-K-
    Another surprising Knight move. This is a terribly well-analysed position, so whoever knows most about it should win. One line goes:

    8... Qa5

    9. Nxe4 Be6 10. Neg5 O-O-O 11. Nxe6 fxe6 12. Rxe6 Bd6

    13. Qe2 Qh5 14. h3 Rde8 15. Bd2 Ne5

    -+j+t+-T
    XxX-+-Xx
    -+-Lr+-+
    +-+-S-+d
    -+-X-+-+
    +-+-+n+p
    pPpBqPp+
    R-+-+-K-
    And again White's attack has blown out.

    Return

    IV.E.1.b) MAX LANGE with 5... Bc5

    (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.0-0)

    5...Bc5

    t+lDj+-T
    XxXx+xXx
    -+s+-S-+
    +-L-+-+-
    -+bXp+-+
    +-+-+n+-
    pPp+-PpP
    RnBq+rK-
    6. e5

    Black has only one good move here:

    6...d5

    To see why:

    t+lD-Tj+
    XxXx+x+x
    -+s+-+-X
    +-L-P-+-
    -+bX-+-+
    +-P-+n+p
    pP-+-Pp+
    Rn+q+rK-

    t+lDj+-T
    XxXx+xXx
    -+s+-S-+
    +-L-P-+-
    -+bX-+-+
    +-+-+n+-
    pPp+-PpP
    RnBq+rK-

    t+lDj+-T
    XxXx+-Xx
    -+s+-S-+
    +-Lb+-B-
    -+-X-+-+
    +-+-+n+-
    pPp+-PpP
    Rn+q+rK-

    Now the main line of analysis goes:

    t+lDj+-T
    XxX-+xXx
    -+s+-S-+
    +-LxP-+-
    -+bX-+-+
    +-+-+n+-
    pPp+-PpP
    RnBq+rK-
    (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.0-0 Bc5
    6.e5 d5)

    7. exf6 dxc4 8. Re1+ Be6 9. Ng5 Qd5 10. Nc3 Qf5 11. Nce4 O-O-O

    -+jT-+-T
    XxX-+xXx
    -+s+lP-+
    +-L-+dN-
    -+xXn+-+
    +-+-+-+-
    pPp+-PpP
    R-BqR-K-
    This is exciting stuff! White has a strong K-side attack and control of the e-file. But Black has an extra pawn, good central hold and has sent the King off into safer territory. Black can even think about a K-side counter-attack. For example:

    12. Nxe6 fxe6 13. fxg7 Rhg8 14. Bg5 Rd7 15. Nf6 Qxg5 16. Nxd7 Rxg7

    and White has run out of steam...

    Now, you can research this lot for yourselves, but there's a lot to it. For example, if you check this line in the Levy/Keene book, they give 12. g4!

    t+lDj+-T
    XxX-+xXx
    -+s+-P-+
    +-L-+-+-
    -+xX-+-+
    +-+-+n+-
    pPp+-PpP
    RnBqR-K-
    They also say Black's 8...Be6 is "more or less forced, since on

    So I don't know how many recent books you need, although Andrew Soltis (who seems to be going for the world record of chess books published) has written a repertoire book from White's point of view about the MOLLER and the MAX LANGE.

    Return

    IV.E.2. MAIN Line TWO KNIGHTS with 4. Ng5
    t+lDjL-T
    XxXx+xXx
    -+s+-S-+
    +-+-X-N-
    -+b+p+-+
    +-+-+-+-
    pPpP-PpP
    RnBqK-+r
    The MAIN line, which I recommend, goes:

    4... d5

    But there is an alternative: the WILKES-BARRE Variation or TRAXLER Counterattack.

    t+lD-T-+
    XxX-J-Xx
    -+sX-S-+
    +-L-X-N-
    -+-+p+-+
    +bN-+-+-
    pPpP-PpP
    R-Bq+rK-
    when I don't see how Black can justify both the pawn deficit and poor King position.

    But it's worth a look, and I include some examples in the games section. Even if you don't ever play the variation, you might learn from some of the tactical ideas.]

    After 4. Ng5 d5, White should try

    5. exd5
    t+lDjL-T
    XxX-+xXx
    -+s+-S-+
    +-+pX-N-
    -+b+-+-+
    +-+-+-+-
    pPpP-PpP
    RnBqK-+r
    Now the best move here is probably

    5... Na5
    Although

    t+lDjL-T
    XxX-+xXx
    -+s+-+-+
    +-+sX-N-
    -+b+-+-+
    +-+-+-+-
    pPpP-PpP
    RnBqK-+r

    t+lDjL-T
    XxX-+nXx
    -+s+-+-+
    +-+sX-+-
    -+b+-+-+
    +-+-+-+-
    pPpP-PpP
    RnBqK-+r

    t+lD-L-T
    Xx+-S-Xx
    -+x+j+-+
    +-+sX-+-
    -+bP-+-+
    +-N-+q+-
    pPp+-PpP
    R-B-K-+r

    t+lDjL-T
    XxX-+xXx
    -+s+-+-+
    +-+sX-N-
    -+bP-+-+
    +-+-+-+-
    pPp+-PpP
    RnBqK-+r

    t+lDjL-T
    XxX-+xXx
    -+-+-S-+
    S-+pX-N-
    -+b+-+-+
    +-+-+-+-
    pPpP-PpP
    RnBqK-+r

    Return

    After 5...Na5, play usually goes

    6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6

    t+lDjL-T
    X-+-+xXx
    -+x+-S-+
    Sb+-X-N-
    -+-+-+-+
    +-+-+-+-
    pPpP-PpP
    RnBqK-+r
    When there are two well-known gambit lines

    -TlDjL-T
    X-+s+xXx
    -+q+-+-+
    +-+-X-N-
    -+-+-+-+
    +-+-+-+-
    pPpP-PpP
    RnB-K-+r
    Black has some prospects of attack for the material; I enclose a game in each line below.

    Return

    IV.E.3. CLOSED VARIATION with 4. d3

    t+lDjL-T
    XxXx+xXx
    -+s+-S-+
    +-+-X-+-
    -+b+p+-+
    +-+p+n+-
    pPp+-PpP
    RnBqK-+r

    The idea is that in the slow CLOSED MORPHY Variation (5...Be7) of the RUY LOPEZ, Black often re-organises with ...O-O, ...Rfe8, ...Bf8, ...g6 and ...Bg7. Now with 4. d3, White has said that they plan to play it slow, so you might as well put the B on g7 straight away. The only way to take advantage of this apparent waste of time is to break open the centre with d3-d4, but this is also a loss of time (d2-d3 then d3-d4), and Black can adjust.

    5. O-O

    t+lD-T-+
    XxX-+xLj
    -SsX-+xX
    +-+-X-+-
    -+b+p+p+
    P-NpBn+p
    -PpQ-P-+
    R-+-K-R-

    t+lDjL-T
    XxXx+xX-
    -+s+-S-X
    +-+-X-+-
    -+b+p+-+
    +-+p+n+-
    pPp+-PpP
    RnBq+rK-
    5... d6 6. c3 g6 7. d4 Qe7 8. Nbd2 Bg7 9. Re1 O-O 10. h3 Bd7 11. Nf1 Rae8 =

    -+-+tTj+
    XxXlDxL-
    -+sX-SxX
    +-+-X-+-
    -+bPp+-+
    +-P-+n+p
    pP-+-Pp+
    R-BqRnK-
    Nunn - Spassky, 82

    with equality, BCO2

    Return

    IV.E.4. TWO KNIGHTS with 4. Nc3

    t+lDjL-T
    XxXx+xXx
    -+s+-S-+
    +-+-X-+-
    -+b+p+-+
    +-N-+n+-
    pPpP-PpP
    R-BqK-+r
    4... Nxe4 5. Nxe4

    t+lDjL-T
    XxXx+xXx
    -+s+-+-+
    +-+-X-+-
    -+b+s+-+
    +-N-+n+-
    pPpP-PpP
    R-Bq+rK-

    t+lDjL-T
    XxXx+xXx
    -+s+-+-+
    +-+-X-+-
    -+b+n+-+
    +-+-+n+-
    pPpP-PpP
    R-BqK-+r
    (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nxe4 5. Nxe4)
    5... d5 6. Bd3 dxe4 7. Bxe4 Bd6

    with equality.

    Return

    V. Example Games

    V.A. Max Lange Attack

    V.A.1. Euwe - Reti (Amsterdam) 1920
    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O Nxe4 6. Re1 d5 7. Bxd5 Qxd5 8. Nc3 Qa5 9. Nxd4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 f5 11. Bg5 Qc5
    t+l+jL-T
    XxX-+-Xx
    -+-+-+-+
    +-D-+xB-
    -+-Qs+-+
    +-N-+-+-
    pPp+-PpP
    R-+-R-K-

    12. Qd8+ Kf7 13. Nxe4 fxe4 14. Rad1 Bd6 15. Qxh8 Qxg5 16. f4 Qh4 17. Rxe4

    t+l+-+-Q
    XxX-+jXx
    -+-L-+-+
    +-+-+-+-
    -+-+rP-D
    +-+-+-+-
    pPp+-+pP
    +-+r+-K-

    17... Bh3 18. Qxa8 Bc5+ 19. Kh1 Bxg2+ 20. Kxg2 Qg4+

    q+-+-+-+
    XxX-+jXx
    -+-+-+-+
    +-L-+-+-
    -+-+rPd+
    +-+-+-+-
    pPp+-+kP
    +-+r+-+-
    21. Kf1 Qf3+ 22. Ke1 Qf2 # 0-1.

    V.A.2. Estrin - Riskin (Moscow) 1963
    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O Nxe4 6. Re1 d5 7. Bxd5 Qxd5 8. Nc3 Qa5 9. Nxe4 Be6 10. Bd2 Qf5 11. Bg5
    t+-+jL-T
    XxX-+xXx
    -+s+l+-+
    +-+-+dB-
    -+-Xn+-+
    +-+-+n+-
    pPp+-PpP
    R-+qR-K-
    11... h6 12. Bh4 g5 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 gxh4 15. Nf6+ Ke7 16. Nd5+

    t+-+-L-T
    XxX-Jx+-
    -+-+l+-X
    +-+n+d+-
    -+-Q-+-X
    +-+-+-+-
    pPp+-PpP
    R-+-R-K-
    1-0.

    V.B. Main Line Two Knights Defence

    V.B.1. Bibikov - Neishtadt (USSR) 1946
    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6
    t+lDjL-T
    X-+-+xXx
    -+x+-S-+
    Sb+-X-N-
    -+-+-+-+
    +-+-+-+-
    pPpP-PpP
    RnBqK-+r
    8. Be2 h6 9. Nf3 e4 10. Ne5 Bd6 11. f4 exf3 12. Nxf3 Qc7 13. d4 Ng4

    t+l+j+-T
    X-D-+xX-
    -+xL-+-X
    S-+-+-+-
    -+-P-+s+
    +-+-+n+-
    pPp+b+pP
    RnBqK-+r
    14. Nc3 Bxh2 15. Nxh2 Qg3+ 16. Kd2 Nc4+ 17. Bxc4 Qe3 #.

    V.B.2. Hoffer - Unknown, 1913
    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6

    8. Qf3

    Black chooses an unusual reply which goes badly wrong.

    8... Qb6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. d3 h6 11. Be3 Qc7 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. Qxf7+ Kd8
    t+lJ-+-T
    X-D-LqX-
    -+x+-+-X
    Sb+sX-N-
    -+-+-+-+
    +-+pB-+-
    pPp+-PpP
    R-+-K-+r
    14. Qxd5+ cxd5 15. Nf7 #.

    V.C. Wilkes-Barre Variation

    WARNING

    These games contain uncut scenes of chess violence. Do not play through them late at night, or in the presence of sensitive adults.

    V.C.1. Neikirch - Halir (Corr) 1969
    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 5. Nxf7 Bxf2+ 6. Kxf2 Nxe4+

    7. Kg1
    t+lDj+-T
    XxXx+nXx
    -+s+-+-+
    +-+-X-+-
    -+b+s+-+
    +-+-+-+-
    pPpP-+pP
    RnBq+-Kr
    7... Qh4 8. g3 Nxg3

    t+l+j+-T
    XxXx+nXx
    -+s+-+-+
    +-+-X-+-
    -+b+-+-D
    +-+-+-S-
    pPpP-+-P
    RnBq+-Kr

    9. Nxh8 d5 10. Bxd5 Bh3 11. c3 Nd4 12. Bf3 O-O-O 13. Nf7 Rf8

    -+j+-T-+
    XxX-+nXx
    -+-+-+-+
    +-+-X-+-
    -+-S-+-D
    +-P-+bSl
    pP-P-+-P
    RnBq+-Kr
    0-1.

    V.C.2. Estrin - Zaitsev, 1969
    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5

    5. Bxf7+ Ke7 6. Bd5
    t+lD-+-T
    XxXxJ-Xx
    -+s+-S-+
    +-LbX-N-
    -+-+p+-+
    +-+-+-+-
    pPpP-PpP
    RnBqK-+r
    6... d6 7. c3 Rf8 8. d4 exd4

    9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. O-O dxc3 11. Nxc3 h6

    t+lD-T-+
    X-X-J-X-
    -+xX-S-X
    +-L-+-N-
    -+-+p+-+
    +-N-+-+-
    pP-+-PpP
    R-Bq+rK-

    12. Qe2 Bg4 13. Nf3 Nd7 14. h3 Bxf3 15. gxf3 g5 16. Be3 Ne5 17. Bxc5 dxc5 18. Kg2 Rxf3 19. Rh1 Qg8

    t+-+-+d+
    X-X-J-+-
    -+x+-+-X
    +-X-S-X-
    -+-+p+-+
    +-N-+t+p
    pP-+qPk+
    R-+-+-+r
    White resigned, seeing no way to stop the threats of ...Raf8 and ...g4, combined with perhaps ...c4-c3 and ...Nd3. Estrin was world correspondence champion, and has published a book on the WILKES-BARRE Variation!

    V.C.3. Estrin - Weiss,1972
    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 5. Bxf7+ Ke7 6. Bd5 Nb4 7. d4 exd4 8. O-O Nbxd5 9. exd5 Re8 10. Qd3 h6 11. Qg6 hxg5 12. Qxg7+ Kd6 13. Bxg5 Rf8 14. c4 dxc3 15. Nxc3

    t+lD-T-+
    XxXx+-Q-
    -+-J-S-+
    +-Lp+-B-
    -+-+-+-+
    +-N-+-+-
    pP-+-PpP
    R-+-+rK-
    Black resigns, for if 15... Bd4 16. Nb5+ Kxd5 17. Nxd4, and the King will die in the centre of the arena.

    V.C.4. Kunz - Hentzgen, Corr.1973
    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 5. Nxf7 Bxf2+ 6. Kf1 Qe7 7. Nxh8 d5 8. exd5 Bg4 9. Be2 Bxe2+ 10. Qxe2 Nd4 11. Qxf2 O-O-O 12. Ke1 Ne4 13. Qf7 Qh4+ 14. Kf1

    -+jT-+-N
    XxX-+qXx
    -+-+-+-+
    +-+pX-+-
    -+-Ss+-D
    +-+-+-+-
    pPpP-+pP
    RnB-+k+r
    14... Qg4

    White resigns.

    V.C.5. Wirtz - Fahnenschmidt (Marburg) 1955
    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5

    5. Nxf7 Bxf2+

    6. Kxf2 Nxe4+
    t+lDj+-T
    XxXx+nXx
    -+s+-+-+
    +-+-X-+-
    -+b+s+-+
    +-+-+-+-
    pPpP-KpP
    RnBq+-+r

    7. Ke3 Qe7 8. Kxe4 d5+ 9. Bxd5 Qh4+ 10. g4 Bxg4 11. Bxc6+

    t+-+j+-T
    XxX-+nXx
    -+b+-+-+
    +-+-X-+-
    -+-+k+lD
    +-+-+-+-
    pPpP-+-P
    RnBq+-+r

    11... Bd7+ 12. Ke3 Qd4+ 13. Ke2 bxc6 14. Rg1 Bg4+ 15. Rxg4 Qxg4+ 16. Ke1 Qh4+ 17. Kf1 O-O 18. Qe2 Rxf7+ 19. Kg1 Raf8 20. d3 Rf2

    -+-+-Tj+
    X-X-+-Xx
    -+x+-+-+
    +-+-X-+-
    -+-+-+-D
    +-+p+-+-
    pPp+qT-P
    RnB-+-K-
    White resigns.


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    This document (black_e4.html) was last modified on Feb 8 1996 by

    Dr. Dave