King's Gambit
For a lazy Sunday afternoon, here's something a bit less serious:
Lassila, T. - N.N (C34 - King's Gambit)
1. e4 e5
2. f4 exf4
3. Nf3 Nf6
I believe this is the first King's Gambit game I've annotated here, which seems odd given the name of the site. It's true I don't play it often (other than against computers). I do believe this opening should occasionally be dusted off by every chessplayer to feed their "inner beast". Despite the Schallop Defense being a less critical defense, a violent tactical encounter will soon develop. Pay special attention to the pins being effected - they play a crucial part in the game.
4. e5 Qe7
Pin #1. 4...Ng4 5. d4 g5 6. h4! Ne3 7. Bxe3 fxe3 8. Nxg5 and White has an easy game.
5. d4 Nd5
6. Nc3 Nxc3
The knight on d5 is too strong and must be traded. White remains a pawn down, but Black must devastate his own kingside to keep it.
7. bxc3 d6
8. Be2 dxe5
Otherwise 8. Bxf4!? dxe5 9. dxe5 Qa3 and the attack is falling apart rapidly.
9. Nxe5 c5?
A weak attempt. Much better was 9...Qh4+ 10. Kf1 Bd6.
10. Bxf4!? f6
Or 10. O-O with idea Re1 and Bb5. We will return to this attacking plan shortly.
11. Nf3 g5
12. Bc1 Bg4
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Pin #2. Getting the king to safety looks like a priority, but not very promising is 12...Bg7 13. O-O O-O 14. Bc4+ Kh8 15. Re1 Qd6 16. Ba3 Nd7 17. Nd2 +/-.
13. O-O cxd4?
Releasing the floodgates. From here on Black is lost.
14. Bb5+ Nc6
Pin #3. Or 14. Re1 Kd8 15. Qxd4+ Bd7 16. Bxg5 +-.
15. Re1 Be6
Pins #3 and #4.
16. Nxd4 O-O-O
Pin #5.
17. Bxc6 bxc6
18. Qe2! Bd7
Pin #6, also menacing a6.
19. Qa6+ Kb8
20. Rxe7 Bxe7
21. Rb1+ Kc7
22. Qxa7+ Kd6
Or 22. Rb7+ Kd6 23. Rxd7+ Rxd7 24. Qxc6+ Ke5 25. Qe6#.
23. Ba3+ 1-0
Ironically it ends, not with a pin, but with a skewer.
2 Comments:
It's funny, I find the King's Gambit one of the hardest openings to face. My success rate against it is abysmal. Why do you not play it more?
By 
BlueEyedRook, at
2:03 PM
That's a good question. There are a couple of reasons:
I play mostly correspondence and there's no reason to believe that my opponent is not equipped with the same databases that I am. This means that there's little chance of getting an opportunity straight out of the opening because of a blunder or known inferior line. What there is are well-known lines that go into positions where White has relatively little advantage, e.g. the Fischer Defense. Unless Black allows the Muzio or something as crazy the wild attack just won't come so easily.
Secondly, it's a repertoire choice. Against 1...e5 I usually play the Evans or Two Knights, which seem more natural to me.
Thirdly, most people don't seem to want to play 1...e5. Go figure.
I don't really enjoy playing against the KG either, but at least you learn to defend the hard way.
Serious chess. Serious fun!
