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Gambit
Janos Flesch
1 e4c52d4cd3c3
The Sicilian Defence has a reputation for being the
most dynamic defence to 1 e4 and ways of seizing the
initiative for White are constantly being explored.
The Morra Gambit, 1 e4 c5 2 d4 cd 3 c3, offers a pawn for
lasting pressure and sets Black the problem of a difficult
and long-term defence.
The author has not only provided the first
comprehensive survey in English of this opening; he has
also been careful to explain the strategy prevailing in
each line. The average club player will thus be able to
meet the Sicilian with confidence or, as Black, know the
pitfalls to be avoided when meeting this sharp gambit.
Janos Flesch became a Grandmaster in November last
year by sharing first prize in a strong tournament at Pecs
in Hungary. He is the author of a number of chess books
in Hungarian and German including Das Mitte/spiel im
Schach.
This opening is known in the US as the Smith-Morra Gambit
in recognition of the contribution by the Texan master Ken
Smith, who popularised the variation.
Adviser: R.G.Wade,O.B.E.
Technical Editor: P.Lamford
Contents
Symbols iv
Preface v
Introduction ix
1 Layout: Gambit Accepted 1
2 The 3 ~f3 line 7
34th Move Divergences 11
4 The 5 ~c4 line 15
5 The 5 e6 line 20
6 The 5 g6 line 29
7 The 6 ~f6 line 46
8 The 6 a6 line 51
9 The 7 .a.f4 line 57
10 The 7 ~ge7line 61
11 The 7 .a.e7 line 67
12 The 8 a6 Ii ne 88
13 9th Move Alternatives 113
14 The 10 !le3 line 121
15 11 th Move Alternatives 125
16 The 11 ... a61ine 130
17 Main Line: 12th Move Alternatives 132
18 The Morra Gambit Declined 139
Conclusion 146
Index of Players 148
Index of Variations 149
Symbols
+ Check
Balanced position
i Slight advantage for White
~ Slight advantage for Black
± Clear advantage for White
+ Clear advantage for Black
±± Winning advantage for White
++ Winning advantage for Black
! Good move
!? Interesting move, deserving attention
?! Dubious move
? Weak move
?? Blunder
1:0 Black resigned
0:1 White resigned
Y2:Y2 Draw agreed
Ch Championship
Corres Correspondence game
OL Olympiad
C Candidates
L League
IZ Interzonal
Z Zonal
F Final
Y2F Semi-final
%F Quarter-final
Wor B beside each diagram indicates the player to move.
iv
Preface
v
The credit for this should be given dictates the most modern opening
to the 'trade literature'. vogue through their very popular
At first it dawned only on the series edited by R. G. Wade.
leading chess-nations that their Obviously this contributes to the
successes were due to their advanced fact that the most dynamic
chess literature. Now it is well developments of our age have been
known all over the world that shown by the English chess school.
whether it is a matter of chess for I am sure that my opinion will be
the masses or of individual attain- vindicated in the foreseeable future
ments, these must be based on a by the international successes of
developed chess literature. Each the young English players and all
individual nation's approach to those following their school.
play, its mode of fighting, its Although I have already put
predilection for a particular style, behind me, as author or editor,
in short its 'school of chess' have thousands of pages of chess
become known internationally, literature, nevertheless I was filled
through the printed word. with a special sense of respons-
The most extensive and best ibility when I undertook to 'cut'
known 'chess schools' are the the suit of the Morra Gambit to fit
English, American, Dutch, German, the Batsford series. I found final
Yugoslav, Russian and the encouragement from an experience
Hungarian. These have also of a shopping expedition for
influenced each other. They have English clothes. In my suit, which is
clashed in the battles of tournament the 'height of English fashion' and
practice and refined their art, yet has earned similar compliments
preserved their individuality. All back in Hungary, I later found a tag
over the world hundreds of which informed me that the suit
thousands of chess players follow was made far from Britain ...
the publications of these 'fashion- Indeed, why should I not be able
houses' - just like readers of fashion to write a book cut to the English
journals. fashion from Budapest?
Nowadays everybody can have I have tried, to the best of my
access to the various encyclopaedias, ability, to take into account the
chess annuals, 'Informators', books achievements of the English chess
on opening theory, instruction literature, especially that contained
manuals and tournament bulletins. in the Batsford opening series,
Yet the choice of openings is still without radically changing my
influenced everywhere by the methods and creative individuality,
current fashion. In the view of which was fashioned by the
Hungarian chess circles it is the Hungarian school. Thanks to the
Batsford 'fashion house' that excellent translation into English
vi
by my friend John Reti of London, player Morra drew attention to this
I was spared language difficulties. mode of play and therefore the
I must mention a few behind-the- gambit was named after him in his
scenes secrets. It is in the nature of day. Ever since then many a well-
such books on the opening theory known grandmaster and corres-
that these are usually based on pondence player has employed the
existing tournament practice and system. But as the child has already
draw on previous volumes which got a 'name' there is no point in re-
are then re-shaped, selected, naming him. The Morra Gambit did
polished, adjudged and pontificated not attract much attention as a
upon. weapon for attack, as long as Black
The Morra Gambit however is a had difficulty in defending against
large blank patoh on the maps of attacks where the knight was centr-
opening theory. The majority of my ally placed on 'd4', and while
knowledgeable friends have tried to White's percentage of wins in
dissuade me from undertaking this world tournaments came up to
work, telling me that this opening expectation.
is an impenetrable jungle where After the second world war how-
the variations proliferate like the ever the Sicilian defence reached
festooning Iiana of tropical forests. such perfection that the attacker
Before I could even attempt to was confronted with virtual strong-
create this first book on the Morra holds. This has re-awakened the
Gambit that is organised method- interest of tacticallyminded players
ically in the modern manner as part in the Morra Gambit and the Gambit
of a larger survey, I first had to map has once more reared its head in
this primaeval forest and cut tournament play, causing some
through it 'sight-paths' by sorting surprises. It was also at this juncture
out all available material which that the need to analyse scientif-
then had to be methodically ically became apparent among chess
appraised. players and th is was met by the
The Morra Gambit is theoretically increasing flood of chess literature.
very important and has a reasonably In this respect the Morra lags
independent profile. Its date of behind: in vain was there a wish for
origin and the name of its 'inventor' an active gambit while there was no
are lost in obscurity but, at any comprehensive literature available
rate, it was first recorded as played on the Morra which was consistent
in the Kieseritzky-Vitzhum game in with modern methods of preparat-
Paris in 1846 but without it being ion. The young contestants could
regarded as a novelty by contemp- not undertake to spend years of
orary sources. More than likely the research on a single gambit
gambit is as old as the Sicilian especially on one which has never
defence. The French-born chess been analysed in book form
vii
according to the standards of today 's first modern book on this subject.
requirements. This has come about not through
Therefore the interest shifted me but through the frequent
towards systems which had been encouragement received from Peter
analysed and demanded less time Kemmis Betty, Batsford's managing
for preparation and this is basically director, through the help given me
the position today. The publications by R. G. Wade and through the
that have appeared hitherto are quick and accurate translation of
scanty and they do not give binding my friend Joh n Reti who now lives
jurisdiction either on major theore- in London.
tical questions nor on the minor I would like to thank them here
matters so important in the prepar- for all their help.
ations of a tournament player, such Here I also wish to thank all those
as the appraisal of the simplification who sent me games and individual
to a difficult end-game. analyses. I would be also grateful to
Prior to 1960, when I set up the readers who could help me in the
world record in blindfold simul- compiling of further and improved
taneous chess of 52 boards, and material for the second edition and
which I repeated in many West would be pleased to receive the
European exhibitions, I added the letters in English or in any other
Morra to my armoury of many European language.
'sharp lines'. Since then for my own I am convinced that the present
amusement, I have read all the work, based on two decades of
material appearing in Swedish, experience and researches, will be
Yugoslav, Russian, English, German of benefit to all those whose style
and French newspapers and bullet- and personality indicate that they
ins and have been collecting related should play the Morra.
games.
It never occurred to me then Janos Flesch
that one day I should write the Hungary 1980
viii
rntroduction
The Morra Gambit parts from the sacrificed material the speedily
Sicilian defence as early as the attacking side becomes menacing,
second move and is a comprehens- while the underdeveloped Black's
ive system, with a very rich tactical position is vulnerable.
and strategical content, abounding It is characteristic of the set-up of
in beautiful variations. the White camp, that the king's
It is quite separate from systems knight remains on f3. The attacker
such as the Najdorf, Neo-Paulsen, foregoes the usual advantages of
Scheveningen, 'Dragon', etc, which having a base on d4, but has
arise out of further moves in the sufficient compensation; the 'd' file
Sicilian. is bequeathed to the rook, which
The Morra starts from the moves mercilessly pounds on the backward
1 e4 cS Black cd' pawn. The knight helps
2 d4 cd even here by supporting the e4-eS
3 c3 breakth rough.
White offers the sacrifice of the The White bishops stand splendid-
'c' pawn for a significant gain in lyon the open diagonals, while the
development, in order to open lines queen gets to e2 and there could be
and diagonals and finally to occupy no better place for her. In other
more space. systems of the Sicilian defence the
The real Morra Gambit comes rooks do not appear so early on the
into being when Black accepts the central files, and this makes the
offered pawn. The 'Morra Gambit task of the underdeveloped defence
Accepted' is discussed in 17 chapters especially difficult. This is a perma-
of our book with all the necessary nent problem to prevent a break-
facts for a professional preparation. through on the 'c' and 'd' files.
One of the substantial differences This gambit robs the defence of
that separate the Morra from syst- one of the main advantages of the
ems of the Sicilian defence will be Sicil ian, namely the queen 's freedom
found in the characteristics of a of movement, which in other
Gambit itself. In exchange for the systems causes much worry to the
ix
attacker's set up. Here the problems cannot avoid. This is an advantage
of the defence are increased by the for the play will proceed on lines
fact that the queen can hardly find which the prepared player under-
a safe place and because of her stands thoroughly.
exposed position the usual defensive The practical side of the matter is
maneouvres fail against the Morra, equally important: One need not
or at least are ineffectual. study all the available material that
White can speedily and un- now fills a library arising out of
expectedly bring about a surplus of subsequent moves which branch
strength on the wings, for he out into lines and variations in
securely controls the central battle- order to prepare oneself against
field. The re-grouping of the de- every actuality of the Sicilian
fensive forces is difficult in the defence.
cramped position. To this can be added the great
Black is not forced to accept the saving of time by the contestants in
sacrificed pawn; should he refrain, gathering together the latest
the Morra Gambit Declined comes information. If one only needs to
into being, and the variations collect and study in the chess
arising here are substantially journals the games relating to the
different from the Gambit Accepted Morra Gambit and the 2 c3 Sicilian
A characteristic of all the then our time spent on them is
variations in the 'Declined' is that about one twentieth of that which
they transpose into Alapin's Line, would be absolutely necessary if we
the 2 c3 system of the Sicilian were to leave the choice of defence
defence, by a change in the order of to Black in the Sicilian.
the moves. This is a still developing In tournament chess, however,
opening which is quite in favour the battles are not fought by
recently. concrete systems and positions
Here I must refer to some import- themselves; these are merely the
ant matters which usually go weapons with which people fight.
unmentioned in books of opening Therefore we must take into
theory, the points concerning account matters of tournament
preparation, chess psychology and psychology and tactics during our
tournament tactics. course of preparation. So we can
I start with a point on preparation. conclude that the Morra Gambit
If White studies thoroughly both is a dangerous weapon in the
the Morra Gambit Accepted and hands of an enterprising and
the 2 c3 system of the Sicilian healthily optimistic chess-player.
defence then he will be in Obviously the gambit is little
possession of an armoury which the suited to those who play chess
player of the Sicilian defence timidly.
x
1 Layout: Gambit Accepted
~:!.A',~,:~ 7
example! This is the 4 ... a6 line
(see page 11 ).
5 oilf3
/ 4 )' • An interesting offshoot is discussed
in the 5 .Ilc4 line (see page 15) in
1!. which the king's knight is irregularly
,.M.. ,j developed on e2.
5 d6
l1!.~~. ; .1!.,J' a) The 5 e6 line (see page 20)
. r:.... "'.:M., ~,... t1 I shuts off at once the menacing
~~ ~ ~t;;l'~ p .W ~.---J
.Ilc4's diagonal, sheltering the weak
Black has now irrevocably f7 field. At the same time he
entered the Morra Gambit Aec.epted prepares the development of .Ilf8.
and is in possession of gained b) The 5 ... g6 line (see page, 29 )
material with the intention of develops the bishop on the long
putting up a stubborn defence. diagonal. This is a very entertaining
Taking the gambit pawn is not chapter, rich in tactical surprises.
obligatory - different replies bring Its study must not be neglected.
about the Morra Gambit Declined 6 1k4
Layout: Gambit Accepted 3
This is the bishop's main 'battle a) Many maintain that this knight
station' in the Morra Gambit move still holds dangers for Black;
Accepted, and it would be futile to some are worried by the ~5 pin,
search for anything better. others fear the break-through by
6 ... e6 (3) the 'e' pawn. The 7 ... ~ge7 line
(see page 61) discusses another
3 method of developing the king's
W knight.
b) The 7 ... ~7Iine's (see page 67)
defensive plan is to place the king's
knight on the f6 base, but Black
wishes to prepare for this
thoroughly. The most characteristic
motif of this chapter is the queen's
attempt to move from her base
position, partly to escape the rook
on d1 and also because she wishes
A degree of caution is necessary, to assist and direct the defence in
for the sacrifice of the pawn is the forecourt of the centre. This
rewarded by a vehement attack. It rather lengthy chapter is full of
is advisable to defend the weakest beautiful combinations. Its detailed
square, the f7 field. study is absolutely essential and
a) The 6 ... oilf6 line (see page 46). will provide much aesthetic
Here Black 'nods on duty', for the pleasure.
knight can only expect harrassment 8 li'e2(4)
from the bayonet-charging Ie'
pawn. Very interesting close fighting 4
characterises this chapter. B
b) In the 6 ... a6 line Black learns
from the dangers of line a) and first
safeguards the vulnerable b5 break-
through point and delays the ~f6
move. In the a) and b) sub-variations
Black would like to achieve the ~g4
pin. But excruciating tactical blows
fall upon him for omitting the e6
move.
7 0-0 White also develops the heavy
The 7 .a.f4 line (see page 57 I pieces. This is the White queen's
commits the bishop too early. normal post in the Morra Gambit
7 ... ~f6 Accepted. Other moves have also
4 Layout: Gambit Accepted
been played but they are meaning- for the d5 point is surrendered too
less and we shall not discuss them early. Because of the weakened
in a separate chapter. pawn structure, even in the long
8 ~7 term the defence can only strive for
The 8 a6 line (see page 88 ) is a draw. To be restricted to one's
characterised by Black's efforts to own half of the field is dis-
build a defensible base for the advantageous psychologically, for
queen. In this, the longest chapter, according to experience such
brilliant combinations underline wretched conditions without
White's advance in development. realistic prospect of success usually
Advanced Studies in Tactics! produce an above average number
9 Eld1 of mistakes.
It would be difficult to find a Once Black has reached this
better plan than the attack on the position we cannot advise any other
Cd' file. move, for all other side lines have
9 ... e5 (5) led to failure in tournament
Most theoretical publications re- practice. However, we cannot
gard this move as a decisive neglect a thorough examination of
refutation. In practice however, it them.
finds few followers. This is not a) The 9 ... a6 line (see page 113)
mere chance. The move itself fits contains a preparatory move
in, but it is no 'miracle cure'. enabling him to remove the queen
Should Black, on the advice of from the cd' file, but it comes too
'trade journals', put too much faith late.
in this move, he will be bitterly b) In the 9 ... 0-0 line (see page 113)
disappointed. Black has not yet Black puts the king in safety,
equalised and must prepare himself hoping that this will bring nothing
circumspectly for a lengthy siege. worse than the return of the
material he gained. White's attempt
5 to break-through the centre,
W however, looks promising.
c) In the 9 ... 'fIc7 line (see page
115) Black removes the queen from
the cd' file, accepting the risks of
the <£lb5 move. However, trouble
comes from another source.
d) The 9 ... .I1d7 line. Here he builds
a seemingly stubborn bulwark. But
the attack against the king and
queen stranded in the centre sweeps
It is also disliked in master practice all before it (see page 116).
Layout: Gambit Accepted 5
a) The 12 ~e6 line (see page 132) The clearest explanation is that
where White wishes to exploit the chess is a game of war. Very many
doubled 'e' pawns. small factors contribute to
b) The 12 .Qb5line (see page 133) determine the movement of armies,
is an interesting experiment which both in the history of war and in
shows that new ideas are still chess, the routes they use and the
plentiful; and many ideas are still to place and time of the confrontations
be discovered in this variation. and battles. The history of war and
c) In the 12 §ac1 line (see page the game of chess both conform to
135) according to the present certain laws. To give an example,
state of my researches White can Napoleon would still have been in a
retain the initiative right to the losing position even if he had won
endgame, but I do not maintain at Waterloo!
that the defence is hopeless. Here In the Morra Gambit Accepted
both camps can make substantial the armies of the two camps - if
improvements, and there is a large they play the best moves • are
area for research. obliged to proceed on paths
Now that we have reached the determined by the structure of the
end of our preliminary survey, I opening.
shall try to answer a question which The defence can also provoke
I am frequently asked: Why do earlier battles, these are in fact
competitors follow the main lines discussed as seperate 'lines'. I hope
of the various openings? What the reader will derive great benefit
induces them to do so in tourna- from a deep analysis of this
ment practice? material.
2 The 3 ttJf3 Line
Because of this the weak f7 field .axf6 11 'fIh5 ~g5 12 ~g5 'fIb6
is a target for attack: 13 !::lad 1 ± Because of the threat of
4 c3 de 14 Etd3 Black's position is hopeless.
5 ~c3 c2) 7 ... Axc3 8 bc d6 9 ~3 .Q.g4 (9
It is futile to experiment with yet ... rJJe7 10 ~gS ~h6 11 'fIdS Etf8 12
another pawn sacrifice instead of Etad1 ±!:) 10 Etab1 b6 (10 ... 'fId7
continuing the preparations for the 11 h3 ~h5 12 Etb2 ~f6 13 'ltb1 b6
attack on the weak f7 square. 14 !::ld1 ~f3 lS Etxd6 'fIc7 16
Examples after 5 .Qc4? cb 6 .axb2: Etxc6 ±!:) 11 ~d6 ~f6 12 ~bS
a) 6 ... ~c6 7 0-0 d6 8 {)c3 ~e6 9 Etc8 13 Ete1! .axf3 14 gf 'fId7 lS
4Jd5 ~f6 10 ite2 Jle7 11 ~g5 ~d7? Etb2 ~g8 16 Etd2 ~ge7 17 ~e7
(11 ... fud5 12 Cill<e6 ~f4! 13 fuf4 'fIxe7 18 Etd6 ±± Gereben-Sallay,
ef 14 ~g7 Etg8 15 ~b2 ~f6:o; 11 Budapest 1954.
... itd7!?) 12 Cill<e6 fe 13 ~f4 ef 14 6 ~4 ~c6 (TO)
~g7 <fXIe5 15 .axh8 (15 ith5+ a) 6 ... h6 7 ~f7+!! '!ixf7 8 ~e5+
&'d716 ~e6+'\tlc7! +i=) 15 f3:o '!ie 7 9 4JdS+ '!ie6 10 'fIgS+ \tIxeS
b) 6 ... d6 7 Cill<eS 'tta5+ (7 de?? 11 ~f4+ \tld4 (11 ... \tIxe4 12 ~3+
8 ~f7+ '!ie7 9 ~3+ ±!:) 8 ~c3 '<&d4 13 Jle3+ rJJe5 14 ~d4 mate)
'ltc5 9 ~f7+ '$Je7 10 itb3 ~h6 11 12 .Q.e3+ \tieS 13 itf4+ '!ie6 14 'fIfS
~4 ~6 12 ~d3 itg5 13 ~d2 ± mate Krogius-Ojanen, Helsinki
Andreasyek-GobeI1919. 1951.
c) 6 ... .Ilb4+! 7 ~3 ~c3 8 ~c3 b) 6 .,. .11e6 7 ~e6 fe 8 itb3 'fId7 9
~6 9 itb3 'fIe7 10 0-0 ~f6. Black ~g5 '$Je7 10 ~e6 ±!:.
hopes that his development will
slowly righten itself, whilst he 1O~'~'~~~';~ :~/
retains some of his material w .:t' .t. ~d: .:t
advantage and can assert this in the c.~~~_~
end. The 'b' pawn sacrifice does - •
Y0~
~./."0' 't~.
~
__ /.
not further the attack and should , . W;r:di __ io/fl'
c_'10 05;';'
be dismissed as too risky. [ _~/~;;if.
S ..• d6 ~,/j~ ttJ
5 ... ~6 6 ~c4 and Black does
not escape here either: Iif. . fC" it
a) 6 ... ~7?? 7 itdS itc7 8 itxf7+ rL
,=_=:a...::::,---"""",,,---~
.d8 9 itxg7 ~f6 10 'ttf8 mate.
Crackthorpe-Maddox, Australia 7 ~5 ~h6
1933. 8 0-0 ~4
b) 6 ." .a.cS? 7 ~f7+ ±. 9 .Q.xf7+ ~xf7
c) 6 ... .Ilb4 7 0-0 10 itxg4 ~xgS
c1) 7 ." ~f6 8 ~d5 ~e7 9 ~gS 0-0 11 Axg5 ~7
(9 ... fud5 10 'fIxd5 ±!:) 10 fuf6+ 12 Axe7 itxe7
The 3 CiJf3 line 9
<f:ld2 €Ib4 18 ~e 7 €lec6 19 4X4 1:0 itxg7 €Ig6 18 ~fe1+ ~e719 ~f7+
Bialas-Hofmeister, 1958. 1:0 Sapi-Szabadi, Hungary 1954.
9 Ab3 Ab4 12 ed 0-0
10 Ac1 fi)ge7 (12) 13 dc ~c6
14 ~g5 h6
15 ~f7 !txf7
16 itd5 ±±
The B sub-section has nothing
good to offer the defender.
Conclusion:
The 3 €If3 line is based on a trap
into which Black must not fall.
Instead the defence can choose
between two good plans:
a) He can transpose the game into
the Morra Gambit Declined by the
11 ~d5! change of moves: 3 ... ~6 4 c3 dc
This typical knight sacrifice in the 5fuc3.
Morra Gambit is a proof of the b) More awkward for White is the 3
failure of Black's defensive plans. ... d6! reply. Here he either avoids
Both the king and queen are in the Morra Gambit or after 4 c3
trouble! ~f6! Black forces a transposition to
11 ... ed a favourable variation in the Morra
11 ... ~a 7 12 a3 ~a3 13 ba ed Gambit Declined.
14 ed 'M'xa3 (14 ... 0-015 dcfuc6 Taking everything into account
16 ~d6 ~e8 17 ~f7+ ~xf7 18 the deployment of the 3 ~f3 line is
€lg5+ ~6 19 itd3+ ~xg5 20 ~c5+ not advisable should White really
±±) 15 dc dc 16 itd4! ~d7 17 want to play the Morra Gambit.
3 4ID Move Divergences
131kB ·~.,~§,.<t!J.'.'~'~1
b) 6 ... ita5+ 7 'tibd2 'tif6 80-0 4Jc6
9 .ab3 ~h5? 10 e5 'tig4 11 4Jc4 b6
w ~/ .1:__ .1: "t ..1: ~ ..1:
"'/1
I
12 lcld6+ ~d6 13 'ltxd6 .ab7 14
,-~, ?7
lafdl lad8 15 ,aa4 'tih6 16 .aa3 'tif5
17 ~c7 .aa8 18 Elxd7 laxd7 19
./~ 'it~ .! 'ltc8+ 1 :0 Hellgren-Soderlung,
:~<p~~ . ~ ~.,l Uppsala 1967.
c) 6 ... .I1b4+! (This development
40
8
,4
•.
~
~j:;
/..~ 40 ~ '.. ~.'. '
.u...l~~' with a gain of tempo is even more
. ,ttJ ~~ j ~r- ~1 appropriate as it blocks the al-h8
diagonal as White's knight is forced
4 Cilxc3 to c3.) 7 'tic3 4Je 7! Th is mom entary
The audacious 4 'tif3, sacrifici ng a 'interruption of service' on the long
further pawn, lacks the basic diagonal is sufficient nevertheless
requirements which usually ensure for Black to secure his king's safety.
a gambit's success. Black's position Naturally White obtains the
is reasonably secure and by using initiative in the opening stages but
his great material superiority he can he is not fully compensated for his
flexibly respond to the gambit's loss of material. The attack stops,
requirements, 4 ... cb 5 ~b2 e6! but the pressing material dis-
(This move protects the weak f7 advantage remains and slowly but
field against tactical thrusts.) 6 .ac4 surely proves decisive. The 4 'tif3
and now: line is no more than an irresponsible
a) 6 '" b6 7 0-0 .Q.a6 8 'tibd2 ~c4 adventure for White.
9 fuc4 'tif6 10 ~f6 ~xf6? (10 ... 4 ... a6 (14)
gf is obviously better) 11 e5 'itf4 12 Black starts a counter-action in
lacl 'tic6 13 4Jd6+ ~d6 14 'itxd6 the early stages of the opening. In
lad8 (14 ... 'itb4 15 laxc6! :tt) 15 advancing his queenside with a gain
lafdl 'ite4 16 4Jd4 fud4 17 Elxd4 of tempo he hopes to have found
12 4th Move Divergences
the right remedy against the interest. (As in the 6 ... a6 line or in
strongly placed .Qc4. the 8 ... a6 line.)
5 e6
6 cilf3 bS
7 ~3 .Q.b7
The threat is b5-b4 and the
destruction of the e4 pawn. White
can choose between the sharp
tactical skirmish 'A' and the safer
defence of the pawn 'B':
A 80-0
B 8lte2
A
13 Ue1 ~8
After 13 ... 4Jf6 Black is in a
strait-jacket and has no useful
reply to i:te2 and Ud1-d3.
14 41d4 g6
15 Uc1 .1lg5
There is nothing better. The
threat is i:tf3.
16 .Q.xg5 'ltxg5
17 Uc7 Axd5 (J6)
l
'11:
f
dv'v1J "/
,d0Jg~~£
1t
on the queenside has delayed
making the king's position safe.
This can no longer be ignored as the
18 *t3! "hb3 two following warning examples
19 !lxf7+! .Q.xf7 illustrate:
20 41e6+ 1:0 a) 8 ... 'i'c7 9 0-0 ~c6 10 E!d1 d6
Tatarinchev-Shemcov, USSR 1966. 11 ~f44Jf612 E!ac1 fie7134Jd5!
In the A section both sides can ed 14 ed 0-0 15 dc fic8 16 E!e1 E!a7
improve their position. However 17 ~e3 E!a8 18 fid4 fid8 19 4Jg5
the lesson of the miniature game is h6 (19 ... d5 20 ~5 E!e8 21 i:txe8+
indisputable: Black is under- ±!:) 20 4Jxf7 E!xf7 21 .Q.xf6 .Q.xf6
developed and is tactically 22 -tWe8+ ±!: Lazarevich-Hrasovec,
vulnerable because of the wasted Zombor 1956.
tempi of his queenside adventure. b) 8 .,. ~4 9 0-0 .Q.xc3 10 bc ~7
B 11 &3 4Jbc6 12 E!fd1 -tWaS 13 i:t'b2
8 'i'e2 (J7) E!d8 14 Cild4 4Je5 (14 ... 4Jxd4 15
White avoids risks involved in cd .Q.xe4 16 d5 ed 17 ~d5 .Q.xd5
sacrificing the knight. He defends 18 E!xd5 4Jxd5 19 i:t'e5+ ±!:) 15 f4
the pawn on the ground that the Cilg4 16 fib4 i:tb6 17 -tWa3 4Jc6 18
queen's place is on the e2 field .Q.c5 i:t'a5 19 i:tb2 d6 20 ~3 4Jxd4
anyway. 21 E!xd4 i:t'b6 22 \t'h 1 .Q.xe4 23
Therefore, he delays the tactical i:t'e2 fif5 24 h3 Cilf6 25 g4 -tWc6+ 26
14 4th Move Divergences
Conclusion
Naturally, in the 4 ... a6 line there
can be further branches besides the
ones discussed here. But the two
illustrated examples in the A and
B sections show that the early
initiative on the queenside has left
Black with a considerable dis-
15 4)xbSI advantage and White is well ahead
Other branches: both tactically and strategically.
4 The 5 ~c4 Line
E
'i",-: ('
""
A 1 main variation. It is true that
two tempi are needed but one tempo
is returned by chasing the ~4.
18 The 5 Ik4/ine
8 a3 bS
9 ~2 Ab7
The queen needs this field!
Anyhow, later on Black will make
the move d7-d6. It would be better
to make the move now. The bishop
can be developed to d7, reserving
the b7 square for the queen.
10 ~f4 ~7
11 41g3
11 e5? 4Jh5! 12 'ttd2 4J.xf4 13
'ttxf4 'ttb8! ++.
11 ... d6 Summary:
A necessary safeguard, for 11 Black has extricated himself.
0-0 12 e5 gives too much space for White must fight tooth and nail to
White. gain compensation for his sacrificed
12 i6'e2 0-0 pawn. In the A2 main variation
13 Alfd 1 i6'b8 Black halts White's attack and, with
14 Ald2 41eS circumspect care, can take over the
1S Alad1 i6'c7? initiative.
15 ... Etd8! was necessary. B
16 ~g5 Alfd8 S ... d6
17 f4 41c4 Black, despite the possibility of
18 Ald3 Elac8 4Jge2, does not deviate from the
19 fS customary defensive strategy against
The critical position. The "f' the Morra Gambit: the d6-e6
pawn's bayonet-eharge has been formation.
carried through. Up to this stage 6 41ge2 e6
the course of this game is identical 7 0-0 ~7
with Basman-Corden, England 8 4)g3 4)f6
1972. 9 i6'e2 a6
19 ... i6'b6+ (23) 10 ae3 bS! (24)
a) In the above mentioned Basman- The 4Je2-4Jg3 manoeuvre caused a
Corden game 19 ... as? 20 Wh 1 .\la6 loss of time. Moreover, the knight
21 fe fe 22 e5!? de 23 ~f6 ~f6 on the g3 base is somewhat distant
24 4Jge4 took place, an interesting from the main theatre: the centre.
but double-edged continuation. Black uses the breathing space in
b) 19 ... eS 20 ~f6 ~f6 21 the pressure for a tempo-gaining
4Jh5 ±. counter-action.
20 'lfh1 b4 The mechanical 4Je5 manoeuvre
21 ab i6'xb4~ fails here: 10 ... 4Je5 11 ~b3 b5 12
The 5 :U4line 19
24~ :A~.~~m
W ~~ A :.t & :.t
l:.t .~ ~:.t~.A. .
i 1":.t ,
k~,.ft --'i7
~ ~ ~ Gb~
.ftit1. :_~~ ~ft:i~
,~!J 'l .§. ~.
""t==------'_ 'i't
27
H !AJ:
-J.
therefore 6 !l.f4 is to be dismissed.
~·~'w.
,~c
J:
...'. ~'"
• ':~'~.'~
:1:0l.J:
~l
c) 7 ... a6 8 0-0 leads to the D sub-
division.
8 .Qe3
9 0-0
~g6
~7
.~
10 ite2
.. J: . j 10 .Q.b3 was tried in the Basman-
Burgener, Orebro 1966, game but
1~~A.ft_ ,. '1 both sides played badly in the
m ttJ
!1;t' ~,~m/, ,,~~ t..,~~",_,;
continuation: 10 ... 0-0 11 a3 '.!'ih8
12 ~h1 ih5 13 {ld2 *d8 14 f4
~e8 15 *h5 b6 16 as !l.a6 17
/ '~_:.M, &it _ _-'%' '-'
IS ~w 0 ~g3 ±.
We cannot take our standard
Now - depending on Black's from this weakly conducted game
reply - we shall discuss the following that finished in a draw after 40
variations: moves, but it is obvious that the
A 6 {lge7 move 10 !l.b3 is feeble.
B 6 !l.b4 10 0-0
C 6 !l.c5 11 §fd1
o 6 a6 Up to here identical with the
6 ... d6 7 0-0 merge with games game Rosenberg-Krancev, USSR
which will be discussed in later 1969.
chapters. 11 .. , ita5
A a) 11 a6? 12 !l.xe6+ ±!: .
6 oilge7 b) 11 ite8? 12{lb5 ±.
The thinking behind this move 12 a3
originates from the period when 12 {ld2 {lge5 13 .llb3 b6 14 ith5
Black most feared the -'1f4 - 'lWd2 - !l.a615 f4~4! =t.
~d1 formation. Namely, after 7 12 ... oilge5
.llf4 the {lg6 move gains a tempo. 12 ... 4Xe5 13 fue5 fe 14 b4 ifl'c7
In practice, however, to omit the 15 {lb5 *b8 16 E:tac1 a6 17 4X7
22 The 5 ... e6 line
.Q.d7 mechanically.
ite5± (29) 7 0-0
7 e5 will prove to be too early:
a) 7 ... ~ge7? 8 <ile4 ~4+ 9 ~1
<ilg6 10 .llg5 with a sharp position.
b) 7 ... d5! +.
7 ••. <ilge7
a) 7 ~f6 8 e5 <ilg4 9 <ile4 ±.
b) 7 d6 appears a solid move. In
practice it does not work, for after
the ite2, Iad1 attacking formation
there is no harmonious defensive
plan.
8 .Q.f4
White has simplified to a won A suggestion by the author. Other
ending, Flesch-Kozma, blindfold possibilities:
simultaneous tournament, Hungary a) 8 e5? <ilg6 9 ite2? <ild4! +.
1956. b) 8 a3 a69 b4.lla7 10 e5 <ilg611
The exchange of the black- lae1 itc7 12 .llb3! 0-0 (12 ... 41xb4?
squared bishop for i£lc3 has fatally 13 <ile4 ±) 13 .llb2<ilgxe5? 1441xe5
weakened his control of the black fue5 15 <ild5 ed 16 Iaxe5 d6 17
fields. Black has difficulty in ~d 5 .Q.e6 18 Iag5 g6 19 itf3 :!±.
unfolding his position because of The 8 a3 move needs further exam-
White's pair of bishops and freer ination.
play. Tournament practice points c) 8 ite2
to White's advantage in the 'B' c1) 8 ... ~g6 9 Iad1 (9 e5? 4Jd4! +)
section. 9 ... a6 10 a4? 0-0 11 .llg5 *b6 and
c Black won on the 19th move in
6 .I1c5 Ravinet-Halberstadt, Paris 1954,
In tournament practice this but this low level encounter cannot
defence has been tried out only in be the last word.
unimportant games. c2) 8 ... d5?! 9 ed (9 Iad1 0-0 10 ed
However, the aim here is logical: ed 11 fud5 fud5 12 ~d5 ite7 =)
Black first develops the bishop and 9 ... ed 10 fud5 0-011 .Q.g5 ~.
only afterwards makes the <ilge7 8 ... a6
move. Here the A section's crippling 8 ... d5? fails because of the
move is not so effective. The bishop manoeuvre <ilb5-4X7+.
plays a useful part on the a7-g1 9 e5
diagonal. Because the defensive set- 9 ite2 is also playable, followed
up has changed considerably the by Iafd1.
attack cannot be rattled off 9 ... ~g6
24 The 5 ... e6 line
14 ~dS 'ltcS
15 Uac1 'lta7 32
16 cilxe7+ ~cxe7 B
17 .Qd6 Af7
18 Ad3 Ag7
19 h4 eS
20 .Q.c4+ ~h8 (31)
31
W
~.'~
/%. _ ~' ~
shield the 'c' file and it is in the
.. - .. w . '"2.J way of the White rook's occupation
jt /.)';' jt I of the seventh rank.
,~
~-=.~
, . ~'~ ..ii. 8 White however, must not over-
estimate his chances. This is
a) 6 .., Qf6 7 h5! ~h5 8 ~h5! gh illustrated by the failure of this
9 ~g5 e6 10 'ltxhS lise7 11 ~b5 d6 violent attempt 7 axf7+?? '3Jxf7 8
12 af4 eS 13 <£lxf7 'ltxf7 14 <tlc7+ 'ltd4 ~f6! (8 ... ag7?? 9· ~S+ '3Jf8
*e7 15 ag5+ lisf6 16 <fJdS+! ±± 10 ~e6+ 1 :0 Kurtes-Berta, Hungary
b) 6 ... ag7 7 h5 d6 8 ac4 ae6 9 1958) 9 eS ~8 10 e6+ ~g8 and
<fJd5! (9 axe6? fe 10 hg hg 11 Black wins.
~h8 axh8 12 <tlgS <fJd4! 13 ae3 The position after 6 ... 41l5?! (37)
e5 f.) 9 ... gh? (9 ... <tlf6 :D) 10~g5
and the attack continues, Leonidov-
Ignatjev, 1962.
c) Against the Leonidov attack
many have suggested - amongst
them Soviet Masters E.Gik and S.
Rosenberg - the idea that 6 h4 can
be answered by 6 '" h5?! In the
author's opinion this defence is of
doubtful value, because on the g5
square the white knight (or bishop)
is able to build a threatening out-
post. To give just one cautionary 7 'ltd4! ensures White's
The 5 ... g6/ine 31
41
B
by returning home the knight stuck hits at the es advance guard. For
on the side of the board, once he example: 13 ... 4:'Ias? 14 ~2 f6 15
can no longer maintain it there. ~s! (Because of ef and the
8 ••• O.() consequent ac7 threat the
8 d6? would be a serious error, decentralised knight is worrying for
for after 9 af4 O-O? 10 'lWd2 the the defence.) 15 ... fe 16 axeS d6
knight is lost. 17 axg7+ ralxg7 18 b4 ~6 19 bs
9 l1f4 ~8! <£laS 20 itc3+ <ilf6 21 <ilc7 ~b8 22
Makes room for the knight. There 'lWxas and White wins.
is no point in trying actions on the 14 ef 41xf6!
queenside: 9 ... ~s? 10 ae2 <MI8 If 14 ... ef then 15 <fJbs! is very
11 'lWd2 <ilg8 12 ~fd1 a6 13 ~S! awkward.
(Stronger than in the Stolyar- 15 Ibd1! (47)
Kilesso, 1953 game where there White must not engage in
followed: 13 ~ac1) 13 ... d6 14 adventures as can be seen in
~e3! ~61s ~b6'lWd716 ~ac1 ± variations beginning with 15 4:'lgs?:
10 '/td2 41g8 a) 15 ... es? (too obstinately
11 4lgS 4lh6! holding on to material advantage!)
Other attempts: 16 ae3 ite7 17 <£IdS! <&xds 18
a) To 11 ... '/te8? 12 ~s is the 'lWxds 4:'Ib4 19 itcs af6 204:'1£1+ :!±
reply. b) 15 ... ds! 16 <ilxds (16 axds
b) Serious strategical mistake would <ilxds 17 <&xds ~f4! ++) 16 ...
be 11 ... es? because 12 ~e3 'lWe7 <&xds 17 axds ~f4! 18 itxf4
(12 ... ite8? or 12 ... 4:'Ih6 both fail itxds 19 ~d1 ~4! ++
to the thrust 13 acs) 13 4:'lbs! ±
and it is difficult to defend Black's 47 !!.y,•... ~.
position. B ~. 1:~ .1:
c) Black is also ruined if he replies
11 ... 00. In the game Gik- .til
Tretyakov, 1962, 11 ... e6 12 ad6
4:'Ige7 13 4:'Ibs made sure of White's
superiority.
12 41f3 41g8
It is apparent that by repeating
moves White can force the draw if
he so wishes. However, he can hope
for more than half a point from this Because of pressure exerted on
position. the central files and the harmonious
13 eS f6! accord of his minor and major:
Black falters if he first chases pieces, his gain in space and the
away the ac4 and only afterwards exposed position of Black's king,
38 The 5 ... g6 line
491
=Af~~~
.=. " /i .a. .~~ _~
~
~
w ~-1: ~1:
1: ~~/~ "4-1: :/h
,1:
~
~~
The most potent weapon against
the 5 ... g6 line. The advancing
king's pawn prevents the Black
18 Qe5!! knights development on f6.
Mate cannot be avoided! 1:0 Its best quality is however, that it
Flesch-Kadar, Theme Tournament, pre-empts Black's proven defence 7
Hungary 1979. ... d6 in the C2 line.
Conclusion: In this line many We consider therefore:
40 The 5 ... g6 line
56
,~"' ~~ W
H ~! .§.. "_~.
Conclusion: The weakness of the
black squares in the D12 line is
fatal.
D2
7 ... d6? (55)
An attempt by Black to release
the pressure in the centre by
exchanging the king's pawn. Its
drawback is that the f7 square can Many Soviet theoreticians .
immediately be attacked and this amongst them IGM Gufeld . believe
can only be parried by fatal that this move enables Black to
weakening of the position. build an elastic defence.
55 fa, y; A ,-",,"~ Black may castle, then by 'i!i>h8 he
makes room for the errant knight.
w~z ' The knight once 'at home' assists in
t' : .~ the freeing move f6.
On the strength of his latest
, researches the author doubts the
:
.7f
soundness of this defence. This is
illustrated by the following text:
8 l1f4 0-0
9 0-0 ~8
10 J:le1! a6
42 The 5 ... g6 line
58
needed if he is to succeed by
tactical means.
8 O.() 4lxe5
The threat is <$lxh7. The game 9 4lxeS Qxe5
transposes into the C3 system 9 ... ~xe5 is answered by 10
where the position favours White. ~5!±±.
(See page 36) In the Flesch-Kadar 10 ~S
game (also see page 39) 13 ... ef}g4 Interesting and worthy of study is
14 ~h3 ~e5 15 <$lxh7! d5 16 the10~e1Iine:
~h4 <$lxc4 17 ~f6+ ~h6 18 ~e5! a) 10 .., Qxc3? 11 bc iirxc3 12 l'te2
ends with a clear win for White. iirxa1 13 ~b2 l'txe1+ 14 l'txe1 f6
Conclusion: A careful study of 15 .a.xg8 ~g8 16 .a.xf6 e6 17 l'tb4
the annotated variations in the C3 and there is no defence against
system is essential. See page 36! mate.
There proof is given that the 03 b) 10 ... l1xh2+ 11 'iftxh2 'ltc7+ 12
line also is not good enough to 'iftg1 l'txc413 ~5 e614 b3 ±±
reach equality. c) 10 ... d6 11 ~5+! or 11 ~5,
04 transposing into the 042 variation.
7 ... .as (58) Now two branches are discussed:
The defence plans to win at all 04110 e6
costs that irksome 'centre forward' 042 10 ef}f6
the e5 king's pawn. 041
Then being two pawns ahead he 10 e6
trusts to be able to weather the 11 J::le1 f6
attack. 12 .Qb3
White in exchange for his loss of If at once 12 f4 then follows 12
the second pawn gains another .., l'tc5+ 13 ~h1 l'txc414fel'txd5
tempo.
Quick and accurate blows are 12 .,. rax7 (59)
The 5 ... g6 line 43
A1 8 f6
A2 8 .Qxe6
A1
8 ... f6
Black trusts that in the closed
position his advantage in develop-
ment will prevent his collapse and
that the advanced king's pawn can
be gained later.
Only with precise play can White
counter Black's plans.
9 a.f4!
a) Examples after 9 O~:
a1) 9 ... ~eS? 10 ~e5 .f1xe5? 11
'ikh5+ g6 12 'ikxe5!! de 13 .Qb5+
a.d7 14 .Qxd7+ 1:0 S ... a.xe6 (70)
a2) 9 .., g6! and White's advantage Black is trying to relieve the
has slightly decreased. situation by exchanging material.
b) Brutal attempts also come to
nothing. Example: 9 .nh4? tf:Ige5! 70[l!V B~.,.
b1) 10 f4 ~c4 11 'ikh5+ g6 12
~g6'ika5
W ~Y/-~ .i _~
,~
A i i i;
b11) 13 fS hg 14 'ikxh8 'lte5+ 15 /"7 //Ld ~
c~ ~
~d1 'ikxf516 .Qh6'ikh5+i+.
b12) 13 .aeS+ ~d8 14 tf:If7+ ~7 i I
15 'ikxa5 tf:I6xa5 16 .f1xh8 .Qxe6 i+
b2) 10 a.dS tf:Ib4 11 'ika4+ tf:Iec6 12 ~~ ttJ J
a.c4'ika5 =t'
9 '" g6 IE r~ ~ f".ft iol
~,~,}i ~----'_ ~
9 ... <£Ie5 10 .Qxe5 fe 11 tf:Ig5 ±±
10 4ld4 ~eS 9 !he6 fe
11 !heS de 10 ~S 4lf6
a) 11 fe? 12'ikf3 ±± 11 0.0 'ltd7
b) 11 .axeS 12 a.b5+ ±± 12 ~1 eS
12 .axc6 'ltxd1+ 13 'ikb3 .adS
12 ... bc 13 'ika4 'ikc7 14 tf:Id5 13 ... tf:Id4 14 'ikf7+ ~d8 15 ae3
'ikb7 (14 ... 'ikd6 15 tf:Ib6 ±±) 15 h6 (15 '" ~2 16 <£Ie6+ ±±) 16
.Qa6!! ±± .Qxd4 hg 17 axeS 'lte8 18 'ikb3 ±
13 Jhd1 bc (69) 14 f4 h6
14 4lbS! ±± 15 fe hg
48 The 6 ... ~6 line
16 ef gf Matulovic-Vincenti, 1954.
17 cikJS ~6 The Bl defence is doomed to
18 .{}xe7!! !be7 failure, because of the king's fatal
19 *g8 mate position.
In the A2 variation the defence is B2
hopeless as his position is riddled 8 .{}xd8
with holes. 9 4}bS l:!b8
B 10 .{}xeS 00 (72)
7 ... de 10 ... ~6 is obviously worse.
8 *xd8+ Examples:
Two continuations are discussed: a) 11 4lxa 7? ~ 7? 1·2 .Q.xe6 fe 13
Bl 8 'i!i>xd8 ~f4 ~a814~b5 ~a5154:lc7+'i!i>d8
B2 8 fu:d8 16 ~f7 mate. Taylor-Broyles, USA
B1 1971.
8 ... ~xd8 b) 11 Ae3 a6 12 r::Idl g6 13 4:lc7+
Black would like to keep the c6 tflxc7 14!bf7 mate.
knight active and of course the e5 c) 11 !boo!
pawn as well. However, the king's cl) 11 ... !bOO 12 4k7+ ~d8 13
position is critical and can be tflxe6+ fe 14 ~f7+ ±:!:
exploited in a quick attack. c2) 11 ... fe 12 4:lc7+ ~d8 13 ~f7+
9 ~ '8Jc7 '!1xc7 14 ~f4+ ±:!: Flesch-N.N.,
10 4)xf7 1Jg8 simul. 1980.
11 4lbS+ ~8 (71)
11 ... 'i!i>b6?? 12 ~e3+ 'i!i>aS 13 a3 72
e6 14 b4+ tflxb4 15 ab+ ~xb4 16 W
tflxe5 ~dS 17 ~d4 1:0 Zaitseva-
Ushakova, 1970.
..-
time limit he may not be taken by
.~,.~-=
....~ ].. ;.T.~
surprise.
. . . -. '. j
Naturally - all things considered -
this section has to be awarded to
c· :.; ~ : : White.
8 The 6...a6 Line
1970) There is no particular reason d2) After 7 ... e6! 8 .llg5 't'tc7 9 ed
for moving the piece once again. A .Qxd6 White will quickly run out of
further disadvantage of the move is ammunition. The 7 e5 move is
that it takes away the b3 field from weak because there is now no
the queen. On top of that, because possibility for a breakthrough as
of the loss of tempo, the bishop can the b5 field is protected.
easily be attacked here: 7 ." ~f6 (76)
a1) 7 ... <'£la5 8 ilc2 .llg4 9 h3 ~f3 =
a2) 7 ." ~f6 8 e5 (80-0 .Q.g4 ~ or 8
h3 g6 ~) 8 ... de 9 't'txd8+ ~d8 (9
... \tlxd8? 10 tt1g5 ±) 10 ~e5 e6 ~
b) 7 'ite2 tt1f6 8 0-0 .llg4 9 h3 ~f3
(9 ... tt1d4? 10 .Qxf7+! \tlxf7 11
't'tc4+ ±) 10 itxf3 ttle5 +
c) 7 a4. This continuation also
misunderstands the defensive tenets
of the 6 ... a6 line. It is unnecessary
to prevent the b5 move. Black has
for the moment no intention to
move b5 for he does not aim to Now we annotate the two main
develop his bishop on b7 but on g4. branches:
After the aimless 7 a4, Black can A 8a3
hold on to his plan of developing B 8.Q.g5
his bishop on g4 with 7 ... tt1f6, e.g.: 8 ite2 is less successful as it does
cl) 8 O~ .Q.g4! 9 l'tb3 e6 10 l'txb7 not take into account the defence's
ttla5! (10 ... itc8?? 11 .Q.xa6! ±) 11 aspirations in the 6 ... a6 line, e.g.
itb4 d5! +F 8 ... .Q.g4 9 ~dl :
c2) 8 h3 e6! and Black is aiming to a) 9 ... 'itc8? 10 .Q.f4 g6 11 ~acl
set up the defensive position as .Q.g7 12 tt1d5 ± Stockl-Martin, 1950.
discussed in the 8 ... a6 line. This is b) 9 ... e6 10 .Q.f4 itc7 11 ~cl
now very advantageous to Black, 4)d7 12 ilb3 itb8 13 h3 .Q.h5? (13
because important tempi have been ... .Qxf3! ~) 14 g4 .Q.g6 15 e5 4)cxe5
lost by White's two outside pawns. 16 ttlxe5 de (16 ... ~e5 17 ~e5
d) continuations after 7 e5: de 18 .Q.a4+ b5 19 ttlxb5 ab 20
dl) 7 ... de? 8 itxd8+ ~d8 (8 ... ~b5+ rtle7 21 ~d7+ rtlf6 22 itf3+
\tlxd8? 9 ttlg5 ~6 10 .Qxf7) 94)d5 \tlg5 23 ite3+ rtlf6 24 g5+ 'it'f5 25
ttle6 10 4)b6 ~b8 11 ~e5 tt1f6 12 .lld3+ :!±) 17 l:Xxd7 rtlxd7 18 .Q.xe5
4)xf7 \tlxf7 13 .Q.f4:!± This is a 't'ta7 19 'ltd2+ 1:0 (19 ... \tle8 20
very attractive sub-variation, but it ~4+ :!±) Devault-Ludvik, corres
is faulty as is proven by the 'b' 1968.
branch: c) 9 .,. .llxf3 10 itxf3 4)e5 11 ite2
The 6 ... a6/ine 53
the attacker's side is somewhat off ation, in the game Smith-Evans, San
t,lrget. Antonio 1972 it resulted in an
II advantage to Black: 10 ... g5 11
8 iagS ag3 4Jh5 12 J;Ud1 ~g3 13 fg? g4
The natural developing move, 144)e1 41e5. Obviously White could
which with the ensuing 'pin' rolls play better. Thorough analysis is
,Ill obstacle in the path of defensive called for so that the right
plans. strategical and tactical plan can
Now Black can choose between be chosen in this position.
lwo schemes: The B1 system in real ity abandons
131 8 e6 the original aim of the 6 ... a6 line
132 8 .Qg4 and transposes into other systems.
81 B2
8 ... e6 8 .•. Qg4
The defence can no longer keep The defence stubbornly keeps
open the c8-g4 diagonal. I nstead he faith with the concepts of 6 ... a6
can transpose to ·any of the systems and according to the A2 system
where the a6 move is useful. The intends to put in operation the pin
'A1' system has provided sufficient and exchange of the strong f3
warning that the weakness of the knight.
b6 point necessitates due caution in The vital difference is that in the
the choice of a defensive set-up. B2 system White has developed a
Probably the forced acceptance of piece (8 .Qg5) instead" of a pawn (8
complications in the 8 ... a6 line is a3) as in the A2 line. Additionally,
a direct result of the 'B1 ' the pin by the White bishop
continuation. restricts the defence.
9 ite2 h6 9 itb3! e6
Black hopes to free his position 10 'C»'xb7 &5
by choosing a sub-division, but 10 ... itc8? 11 .Qxa6 4)a7 12
changing the move order. The 9 ... itxc8 41xc8 13 .Qxc8 (13 .Qb5+ ±!:)
h6 move is such an experiment by 13 ... .Qxf3?? 14 .Qb7 ~b8 15 .Qc6+
which Black hopes to cause :!:!:
confusion. 11 itb4 ~c4
10 .Qf4 a) 11 .,. d5? 12ita4+ ±
The game transposes into vari- b) 11 ... .Qxf3? 12 ita4+ itd7 13
ations of the 8 ... a6 line and so 'ltxa5 ~e414 ab5!:!:!:
does the 10 ae3 continuation 12 itxc4 .Qxf3?
recommended by the Hungarian Other moves are only marginally
master, Papp. better than this as without the
10 ah4?! needs further examin- exchange the .Qg4 is shut out of the
56 The 6 ... o6/ine
Conclusion:
In the B2 variation, the attempt
The 'pin' has completely bound by the defence fails in its efforts to
up the defence. White has two create sufficient counterplay by the
winning possibilities: ag4 pin in accordance with the
a) 14 gf. This looks simplest! original strategic tenets of the 6 ...
a1) 14 ... h6 a6 line. Therefore the 6 ... a6 line
all) 15 e5?? hg 16 ed+ 'ltxd6 17 is merely an interesting side-road
'ltxa8 'ltxh2 mate. , in the theory of the Morra Gambit,
a12) 15 ~5+!! ed 16 ed 'ltcB217 where the defence is forced to re-
lafe1+ '3;d8 18 lae8 mate. direct his steps, by transposition of
a2) 14 ... 'ltc815'lta4 ± moves, to the main avenues as
b) 14 ~5+!? ed 15 ed also leads to subsequently discussed.
9 The 7 ~f4 Line
Vidmar, 1956.
b2) 8 ... ~7 9 0-0
b21) 9 ... gS?! 10 ag3 h5 11 h3
'ltc7 12 acl ± Szasz-Turi, corres
1959-60. Black's attempt to start a
second front whilst generally under-
developed asks for trouble.
b22) 9 ... 4lf6 10 'lte2 0-0 11 Ilfdl
'ltc7 transposes into the 8 ... a6
line.
b23) 9 ... eS 10 ~e3 ~f6 =
possible. Castling is postponed. 8 ... a.e7
Contrary to the spirit of the system 9 l::!d1
are the moves 8 0-0 and 8 a4 which Prevents e6-e5 and threatens
transpose to other lines - by a immediate tactical action on the 'd'
change in the move sequence: file.
a) Examples after 8 0-0 a.e7: 9 ... 4lf6
al) 9 Ik1 ~f610'lte2 e511 afdl The theorists are wrong in their
a.g4 12 a.g54Jd4 13 'lte3 .Qxf3 14 assessment of the 9 ... b5 move: 9
gf~4! ± Albano-Matulovic, 1968 ... b5 10 a.b3 ab7 11 .Qxd6 .Qxd6
a2) 9 'ltd2 ~f6 10 fHdl 12 e5 ~e5 13 ~e5 ~6 (because
a21) 10 ... 0-011 .Qxd6 b5? 11 e5 of~f7!)
± Carlsson-Nilsson, corres 1958-61. a) 14 O-O? 0-0 15 <tJe4 .Qxe4 16
a22) 10 ... eS 11 ae3.a.g4 + 'ltxe4 'lte7 17 ad3 .Qxe5 18 'ltxe5
a3) 9'lte2 'ltf6 19 'ltxf6 gf 20 afdl Y2:Y2
a31) 9 Qf6 10 afdl Yhc7 leads to Raud-Goransson, Uppsala 1957.
the 8 a6 line by transposition of b) 14 4lxf7!! This move is the
moves. refutation of the variation (Flesch).
a32) 9 ... eS 10 a.e3 ~f6 11 <£leiS bl) 14 ... 4lxf7 15 'ltxe6+ 'lte7 16
and owing to the weakness of the axd6±
b6 point the chances are equal. b2) 14 ... ~xf7 15 'ltxe6+ ~f8 16
b) Developments after 8 a4 do not O-O! ± (16 axd6? 'ltg5 ::0)
justify pushing the outside pawn 10 eS 4lhS (84)
forward: 11 ~3!
bl) 8 ... 4lf6 9 'ltd2 .a.e7 10 adl A decisive improvement!
b11) 10 ... ibs 11 .Qxd6 .Qxd6 12 11 .acl? allows an escape route
'ltxd6 ~e4 13 'lta3 ~c3 14 bc for after 11 ... d5 12 g4! *a5 13
Yhc7 15 0-0 ~e 7 + Tartakower- a.b3 'ltb4 14 gh d4 15 ~2 dc 16
Najdorf, Saltjobaden 1948. .Qxc3 'ltg4 17 ag1 'ltxh5 18 axg7
b12) 10 ... eS 11 .a.g5 a.g412 .Qxf6 ~d7 White's initiative comes to a
.Qxf6 13 'ltxd6 ~4 + Kozomara- halt. Examples:
The 7 £Jf4/ine 59
B
84 7 .,. <Df6 (85)
W
Black does not weaken the b6
field, as in the A section, but
responds with a piece development.
~
I :J.~~'i'j -.
~ :&::&: ~'''"z, ' iLltt~:1
_-; 41 Lt /11-: .i1i
b
a) 19 <Dg5? 'lth6 20 4Jxf7 'ltxg7 21 ~. 1l:J.~_: '
&h8 O-O-o!! +F
b) 19~2'ltxh2
'n~t2.J: .~, I
itiit : : :ir.!.ft'lfl
b1) 20 'lW3 4Jxe5 21 'ltxb7 ~c6 22 f----+--~··-····~----·i-·- _·_-r .1- /u
Conclusion:
In the A section Black exposes
himself to tactical dangers. He can
reach equality in the B section,
whereas in the C section using the
method of play recommended by
the author he holds the advantage.
The balance tips decidedly: the 7
~f4 line is an out-moded weapon in
White's armoury.
10 The h ..l£Jge7 Line
~~"lji.!<ln . •. r ft ,i
In later chapters of the Morra -~1. 1t-'~"-o
._~:.~~--- .. -.Jcc
Gambit, a recurring problem is the
development of the g8 knight. The ml
reason for this is that to put the
knight on f6 as in the 'normal'
Sicilian defence is not as safe in the
lsC ';g;t- .·ii~Tn. :'
j
Morra Gambit where White This ties down the defence
frequently uses the knight's completely. It is superfluous to
position to initiate a dangerous search for anything better than this
attack by the e4-e5 advance. The obviously excellent move. The
value of the 7 ... 4Jge7 line is that following powerless attempts are
from the g6 vantage point the proof of this:
knight can control the important e5 a) 8 Qf44Jg6 9 ag3 Qe7 10 ite2 a6
field and should .af4 be played the 11 lafd1 *c7 12 laac1 0-0 13 .ab3
knight can reach his base with a lad814 4Jd5 ed 15 ed
gain of tempo. Naturally we must a1) 15 ... ~7 16 dc bc 17 1£kl4 c5
62 The 7 ... lclge7/ine
'" ~.
/0
. . .
_ ze :
f".".•/~
l-:/.
f
j
,
file. Therefore 8 ... *d7 has to be
dismissed.
9 'lte2
··!)i~t-r
The best move! Other paths are
less recommended:
['~"~-'-.c--·f· ''':-''r~ a) 9 a4. White considers that the
A 12 ~5 13 .Qxe6
B 12 ~d4 Many are of the opinion that it is
Other roads are practically a pity to give up the bishop-pair
impassable, e.g.: 12 '" b5 13 ~b3 just to regain the material balance.
b4? Therefore they advocate 13 ~3
a) 14 f4!? ~d4 15 1hd4 bc 16 f5 instead:
~b517'ltf2 a) 13 Qe714 f4 0-015 'lth5 ±
a1) 17 ... .Qf4? 18 'ltxf4 'ltg5 19 fe b) 13 ~5 14.Qb1 CZJec4 15 ~1
'ltxf4 20 l:lxf4 fe 21 1he6 cb 22 b5! 16 b3~6
.Qxb2 h5 23 e5 ~h6 24 ~f7+ ~d7 b1) 17 .Qa3 I;lc8 18 ~4 tclb7! =
25 ~5 ~c8 26 e6+ 1:0 M.J. b2) 17 ~2 ~c8 18 ~b2 ;!;
Conroy-J .steedman, England 1974. b3) 17 ~2 b418ofid1 ;!;
a2) 17 .,. !btl 18 fg! (18 l:lxn The 13 .Qd3 variation requires
'lth4!) 18 ... fg 19 axn 'ltd7 20 further detailed analysis before a
.Qa4!! 'ltxa4 21 'ltf7+ ~d8 22 .Qb6+ considered opinion on it can be
±t. This line needs to be analysed given.
thoroughly. It is not Ii kely that the 13 •.. fe
12 ... b5 variation is capable of 14 'l&h5 ~
rehabilitation! 15 f4 ~4
b) 14,ga4! ± 15 ... 'lth4?? 16 'ltxa5 ±t
A 16 1lf2
12 .. , &5 (93) 16 ~1?? 'lth4 ++
Generally, this move is criticised. 16 ... 1:k8
Not without reason! Black de- a) 16 'ltf6 17 e5 ±t
centralises his knight from a good b) 16 lle8 17 ~e6 ~xe6?? 18
position, thus using up two tempi 'ltf5+ ~e7 19 ~5 mate.
just like his colleague on g6. White's 17 f5
advance in development is further Many recommend the manoeuvre
increased. 17 ~d3-~g3, but to this the 17 ...
The 7 ... ~ge 7 line 65
100 [ !l~'
~ 'T"
'~~
, .
i=r'
"~
B ie' ..:t A l ..:t i .t
[ '.
~*jl
~.:t A >'
, v .ft i/ ",;x\Y;%;.'" ~
r ~w~P~\~.1. t:. .
~ ~ •. ,,~ttJ
He wants to exploit the queen's
l~Bs~~.:··. t~·
move from d8 by exchanging the
rB,~ ~~ ~
bishop and thus weakening the d6 White's plan is simple: he wants
pawn. to double rooks on the 'd' file. The
10 ... ~f6 defending side has a difficult choice
After another possible continu- to make.
ation, 10 ... .QxgS 11 4"JxgS, White 11 ... a6
gains a dangerous tactical superiority There is no other useful move!
shown by the following variations: a) 11 ... 0-07 would be quite
a) 11 ... ~f6? 124::lbS!:!± unwary and would lose to 12 eS!
b) 11 ... h6? 12 ithS (Amazing de?? 13 .Qxf6 fJ.xf6 14 Elxd71£xl4
moves follow the seemingly lS 4"Jxd4 ed 16 4::le4.
plausible 12 4::lbS: 12 ... hg! 13 b) 11 ... h6 12 fJ.xf6 .Qxf6 13 as
70 The 7 ... ~e7line
22 §ad1 Ac6
0:1 Tolyak-Bandza, USSR 1976.
The 14 h3 move in the A21
variation proves a loss of time.
White can improve on the 14th
move but cannot gain the advantage.
A22
._ _ ~,~_~Mt,
10 Af4 1:t::
108 .:::;, lilt.
/ . .ii. v ~'.
''tJ? "g'
""\" ,
.....
17 ~f3 b6 14 ~xe5 ab
18 ~d4 itxa2 15 ~a4!! 'lta5
19 ~4 'lta5 15 .., ba?? 16 Etxc8+! Etxc8 17
20 ~xe6+ ~e8 4Jd7+ ±!:.
21 ~xg7+! ~8 16 ~b6!! 'ltxb6
21 ... ~xd7 22 ~e6+! ~d8 23 17 !!xc8+ Axc8
itd3+ leads to mate. 18 ~d7+:!::!:
22 ~e6+ ~8 The 812 variation offers no
23 ~5 defence.
We have been following the game 813
Sternina-Lim, 1972.
23 ~7
24 ith5+ ~e6
25 'ltd5+ mate.
In this section also there is no
hope of escape.
812
~f6? 1'9 gd8+ ±t) 19 'itxe5 ~f6 problems for Black such as:
(19 ... .Qf6 20 'itxf6+ fuf6 21 (i) a passive king's position
gd8+ ±t) 20 gd8+ .Qxd8 21 'itd6+ (ii) undeveloped and inharmonious
±t. position of his pieces
b12) 17 ... g6! 18 gd8+ ~g7! 19 (iii) badly placed pawns, and
~g8+ <;t>xg8! 20 ~e7 'itcH 21 (iv) White's 'outside' pawn on the
'itfl i!\"xfl 22 'i!i'xfl fe ++ . 'a' file.
b2) 17 oilc4 i!\"a7 (17 ... i!\"xb4 18 White can continue in two ways:
~b6 ±t or 17 ... l'txa2 18 l'txa2 e21) 20 *xb7 ~8! (20 ... gd8? 21
~a2 19 ~b6 ±t) 18 ~6 .Qxd619 ~d8+ .Qxd8 22 'itb8~7 23 a4 ±t)
~d6 ~e7 20 gd8!! <;t>xd8 21 This gives most chances for the
l'td3+~e7 22 ~7+ ±t. defence. According to an analysis
c) 16 ... itxa2?? 17 'itxa2 ~a2 18 by Hungarian Master Dr. Perecz
~b6 ±t. after 21 gd7 ~f6 22 gc7 W 23
d) 16 ... itb6?? 17 ~c8+ ~c8 18 h3 (or g3) 23 ... ~f8 24 a4 C2g8
~d7+ ±t. (now the rooks are free at last, ~8
e) 16 itxb4 17 gc4! will see to the defence of .Qe7) 25
el) 17 ita3 18 '&h5 g6 19 ~g6+ 'itb2 ~6 26 f4 .Qd6 27 ~6 the
hg 20 '&xh8 '&a5 (20 ... '&xa2 21 problems remain owing to the
~7 '&b3 22 ~8+ .Qxd8 23 'itg7 exposed position of the king, e.g.
mate) 21 .Qe8 ~xe8 22 'itxg8+ .Qf8 27 ... lad8?? 28 Elxd6! ±t. Never-
23 '&xg6+ ~e7 24 ~7+ 'itxc7 25 theless the e21 variation's endgame
'&h7+ ±t. needs further thorough analysis to
e2) 17 ... *xb5?! 18 ~c8+ ~c8 discover if there is a rescue for
19'&xb5fe (179) Black.
The most important variation e22) 20 *xeS <M7 21 '&f4+ ~8
which is worthy of further research. (21 ... ~6 22 ~7 ±t).
Now White can choose among 22
e5, 22 gbl and the similarly active
22 g4!?
It must be mentioned however,
that to win this endgame is not
child's play even if Black plays 21
... ~f6 instead of 21 ... ~8.
Admittedly 22 e5 wins a piece, but
White is only ahead by the quality
of the exchange in a very rare
composition indeed: queen and
rook against two rooks and a
An interesting endgame takes bishop.
shape here which contains several White's job is made easier because
82 The 7 ... .l1e 7 line
23 1L::7+!! 'itxc7
24 flh7+ 1:0
Kadar-Koszorus, Theme Tourna-
ment, Hungary 1979.
It is too early for a final verdict,
but this much is already certain -
17 flhs that in the B141 variation White's
It is possible that another com in- attack is extremely menacing. Black
ation will also be successful: 17 can narrowly escape into an end-
Etc7!? fe (17 ... 'ttb6? loses instantly game, but even that is risky to
to 18 Etd8+! ,Q,xd8 19 Etf7 mate!) undertake in master praxis.
18 ~h5 g6 (18 ... ~f6 19 ~d8+! B142
~d8 20 'itJf7 mate) 19 'iD'xe5 ~f6 15 1L::4!?
(19 ... 'iD'b6 20 Etd8+ axd8 21 ~g7 This continuation arises out of an
mate or 19 ... Jlf6 20 ~xf6+! ttixf6 analysis by the Hungarian Master
21 Etd8+ ~8 22 Etxe8 mate) 20 Ozsvath and has been known for
Etd8+! axd8 21 'iD'd6+ and here the past two decades in Hungary
also mate cannot be avoided. (and certainly in other places as
17 g6 well).
18 4lxg6+ hg That it has not been tried out in
19 'ltxh8 'itb6 practice is possibly due to the fact
19 ... flxa2 20 ac7 flb3 21 ~d8+ that 15 ~xe5 was in favour until
.l1xd8 22 .g7 mate. the Soviet analysts with their 15 ...
20 .Q.e8 *xe8 f6 reply called in question the
20 ... 1ha2 21 ~f1 and now the strength of the attack.
troubles multiply, for the c8 bishop To the best of our knowledge the
is also unprotected. 15 ac4 move was first pUblished in
21 flxg8+ .Q.f8 an article by the American K.Smith
The 7 ... .1le7line 83
in 1970.
lS f6
There is nothing better, for after
15 ... iDf6 16 iDxeS foil ows and
Black's position collapses.
16 b3!
16 1ll4? *xa4! 1 7 .1lxa4 lha4
and Black gains much material· but
White need not hurry with the 1114
move.
16 ... 'ltb6
17 !idc1 ±:!:
We can only rely on analysis but
on that score we deem Black's abounds in attractive combinations
position undefendable in the B142 the following main lines are
variation. described:
B21 12 ab
Conclusion: B22 12 ~8
The B1 system even with the best B21
defence is problematical for Black. 12 ... ab
Admittedly, in some variations he is The chief test of a sacrifice is
able to escape into an endgame whether it is accepted. Therefore
which lasts a bit longer but the we shall first examine what happens
result is just as wretched. if Black takes the checking bishop.
As these variations lead into an 13 4:lxbS (T 23)
endgame those who either dislike or
are unable to play the endgame
with sufficient energy will probably
choose the following B2 system in
which the events of battle flow
faster.
B2
12 abS+ (T 22)
'Strike the iron, while it is hot'·
goes the proverb in Hungarian as
well as in English. It is also the
most appropriate motto for this
main variation. After he is checked Black can choose between two
Black is forced to accept the defensive plans:
wildest complications. B211 13 *as
From this battle position which B21 2 13 *"8
84 The 7 ... £Le7/ine
15 b6
Now that the Black king is out of An interesting attempt to free the
check a new task is set for White. bishop. Important branches here:
13 Elac1 a) 15 ... f6? 16 lhc8+! ~xc8 17
Now Black is forced to remove <tld7+ ~e8 18 ith5+ g6 19 <tld6+
his queen from the open 'c' file ~d6 20 itxa5 ~d7 21 e5! fe 22
because of the <tld5 threat. itxe5 ±:!:
We shall discuss the following b) 15 ... I£lffi 16 ~c7 (16 b4 has not
86 The 7 ... ~e7line
127
W
18 Ud8!! ±:!:
White's victory is incontestable in
the B22 variation.
The 7 ... J1e7line 87
9 ad1
The rook's move is logical and
best serves the gambit's strategic
aim. It is obvious that the massing
of the rooks on the 'c-d' files lays
the foundation for the subsequent
play of the minor pieces.
a) The 9 a4 move has no distin-
guishing thought behind it. True, it
hinders a possible b7-b5 pawn
advance but in modern tournament
practice Black does not play that
anyway: 9 a4 ~e7 10 ~1 'i!Jc7 11
~f4 and now:
a1) 11 .,. 0-0 12 e5 de 13 4Jxe5
Black protects his position from a fue5 14 axeS 'i!Ja5 15 I!d3 b5! 16
possible attack by 4)b5 and later he 'i!Jd2? bc 17 4Jd5 when
can move his queen to a safe all) 17 ... itcs 18 b4 cd 19 bc
vantage point. 4Jxd5 20 Rc1 = (20 'i!Jxd3? ~c5 ~
The present battle formation is Lundquist-Hogborg, 1956).
very similar to the main position a12) 17 ... ~xds! 18'i!Jxa5 (18~6
discussed in the B section of the 7 f6 19 I!g3 I!f7 ++) 18 ... .Q.b4 19
... fJ.e7 line, with this difference, Etxd5 .Q.xa5 20 Etxa5 .Q.b7!
that here on the seventh move the b) 9 ..l.f4 e5! is to Black's advantage:
knight (4Jf6) is developed instead of b1) 10 ~gs? ef 11 4Jxf7 (11 axf7+
the black bishop (~e7). Because of ~e7 12 4Jd5+ 4:lxd5 13 ed uS ++)
this great similarity many variations 11 ... itJe7 12 fuh8 .Q.e6 ++
are transposed (by changing the b2) 10 ~g5 h6! 11 .Q.xf6 itJxf6 12
move sequence) from one system to 4Jd5 itJd8 13 h3 (otherwise Black
the other. It quickly becomes will pin the knight with .Q.g4) 13 ...
apparent that the two systems ~e6 f.
should be studied together. As in the 7 ... .Q.e7 line so in the
The 8 ... 06 line 89
". , ~
follows:
All 11 c£le5
A12 11 0-0
We will not discuss the obviously
weak moves 11 ... h6 and 11 ...
~d7, which can only worsen the
defence's position.
All
11 ... FiJe5~(132)
132fB]~' A~% CI'~." __ •
w ~., i"A. A:.t .ra .:.t1 After 12 ... gf 13 Eld3 White
:.t' , ';:.tA "W attacks strongly. Therefore one
'" :. ," ~ .J must retake with the bishop leaving
~
,A. ,'= the d6 pawn unprotected. By
~ ft : returning the material the Black
'(7 .•~. 'ltJ_~ king gains an escape route and the
# 11 : ~8 is secure.
~ _.~.;§ ._J~i
..
~ Mt
In the bulletin issued by the
ft ~~.
. K.Smith wrongly asserts that with
the regaining of the pawn White is
better off in the end-game, as he
American K.Smith this is the move does not take into account Black's
that starts the defence's main line pair of bishops.
but as we shall see later the move is 13 Ahd6 gd8
misguided. 14 Acdl
12 FiJxe5 de 14 Elxd8+ .Qxd8! 15 e5 ~7!1++.
After 12 ... '&xe5 13 f4 itc5+ 14 14 Ahd6
~hl Black stands badly: because of 15 Ahd6 ~7
the critical position of the queen a 16 ad2 b5
tactical blow is a possibility. 17 .Qb3 .Qb7
13 Ad2 0-0 18 Eld7 ~8
13 ... itc7 14~b5!itb8154Jc7+ 19 ad2 .Qb7
itxc716 .Q.b5+~d817 -'1a5+:!:±. 20 Dd7 ~8
14 FiJd5 'ltd8 Y2:Y2, Kadar-Koszorus, Hungary
15 FiJxf6+ Axf6 1978.
15 ... gf?? 16 .Q.h6 :!:±. In the A1 main variation White
16 .Qb4:!:± gains the advantage if the defender
The All variation loses for Black. stubbornly holds on to his extra
A12 pawn. This is proved by the All
11 0-01 variation. It is better to return the
12 Axf6 Axf6!(T33) pawn as Black did in the A12
The 8 ... a6/ine 91
variation where it is an important the 7 ... $le7 line here one must
consideration that White is forced exchange with the knight on e5.
to part with his bishop pair. 11 .,. de
The A1 variation leads to equal 12 .Qd2! itc7
chances. a) 12 .,. ~7? 13 4Jd5 "«td8 14
A2 fuf6+ ~f6 (14 ... gf? 15 J1h6 :l±)
10 M4 (734) 1 5 .Q.b4 :l±.
b) 12 ... itb6? 13 4Ja4! "«tc7 (13 ...
~34[K:?£Y'~:f .~ "«ta7 14 ~e3 :!±) 14 lhc1 ++.
[i".~J:.~J
13 Elac 1 Ad 7
K.Smith gives this a question
~
mark 'Safe is 13 ... ile7! 14 ~b3
J
... ' . / r itb8 as in Lebegeyev-Estrin, USSR
~' d,ft ;;. 1961 ' he comments.
,. J.. iiJ -, j Contrary to K.Smith's excla-
~ . ,7 . mation mark, 13 ... $le7 is worthy
ir. If'
~~, J/ 1';. 6Y.. ?I.'d!
~~ ,ft~.
' of at least two question marks as
~ ----.i 113. 1 _J ; the move produces complete ruin:
Paths after 13 ... .Q.e7?? 144Jb5!:
K.Smith overestimates the a) 14 ... ab 15 axb5+ 'itld8 16
strength of the A1 system. Here, in ~a5+! ±±.
the A2 variation he publishes b) 14 ... 'ltb8 15 01;7+ ~8 (15 ...
another mistake. He marks the 10 itxc7 16 .Q.b5+ ~8 17 ~5+ :l±)
.Q.f4 move with the '?!' sign. 16 fua8 "«txa8 17 .Q.b4 ~b4 18
'Incorrect', he writes in his bulletin. Eld8+ 4Je8 19 .Q.b5 ab 20 "«txb5 :l±.
It will soon be apparent on which Therefore we have to dismiss K.
analyses he has based his false Smith's suggestion. We can see that
conclusion. 13 ... .Q.e7?? is not safe at all but, to
10 .Q.d2 took place in the coin a phrase, 'chess hara-kiri'.
Muratov-Arulaid game, USSR 1959. 14 Axa6! (735)
Black can play 10 ... ith5 or
after 10 .., itc7 11 .Q.f4 he can 135
B
follow the lines discussed in the
'B' chapter.
10 .Q.f4! is the move that brings
advantage to White! It is therefore
superfluous to seek less trodden
paths which provide less advantage.
10 .,. ~e5
11 ~xe5!
Now contrary to the 'B' system in
92 The 8 ... 06 line
defences: 822
B21 10 ~d7 10 ... ~7
B22 10 Jle7 11 J;lac1
B23 10 4:ld7 It is logical that White should
B24 10 e5 decide to place one of the rooks on
B25 10 .., 4:le5 the 'c' file.
As 10 ... 'l6'b8 merges wi th the 11 e5 is too early, which can be
above variations we do not discuss shown by the following variations:
it seperately. a) 11 de 12 4:lxe5 4:lxe5 13 Jlxe5
821 al) 13 itc6
10 ... A.d7 all) 14 aac1 0-0 15 Jld3 *b6 16
Black attempts to bring in the a8 4:la4 "«ra5 17 b3 Jld7 18 ~c4 .Q.c6 =
rook to defend the centre. The (18 ... .Ilxa4? 19 lha4 ~ Uppstrom-
defence is willing to return the Gustavsson, Boras 1958).
extra pawn in the hope of achieving a12) 14 .{:IbSI 0-0 15 4:lc7 ~b8 16
equality. The correct plan for the .Q.b3! (164:lxa6? ba 17 axb8 .Q.b7!
attacker is not to regain the pawn 18 f3 lhb8 1++) 16 ... 'l6'b6 17
but to try the advantageous break- 4:ld5 ±±.
through e4-e5. a2) 13 itaS 14 ~d4 ~
11 J;lac1 J;lad8 b) 11 .{:Ih5
12 eS de b1) 12 ed 4:lxf4 13 dc 4:lxe2+ 14
12 ... d5? 13 ef "«rxf4 14 4:lxd5 ±± axe2 .Q.d7 15 ~cl ~c8 16 ~4
13 .{:Ixe5 itc8 lhc7 17 ~e5 f6 18 ~d7lhd7 19
13 ... 4:lxe5 14 axe5 "«ra5 15 4:ld5 ~el 4:ld4 ++ Gik-Gasparian, USSR
~d516lhd5 ++. 1963.
14 .{:IdS! .{:Ixd5 b2) 12~S
14 ... ed 15 4:lxd7+ 'i!txd7 (15 ... b21) 12 ... de 13 axe7 'i!txe7 14
Jle7 16 4:lxf6+ gf 17 axd5 ±±) 16 ite3 f6 15 'l6'c5+ W 16 ~d6 with
Jlxd5 ±to a double-edged game which led to a
15 AxdS fU7 draw after 31 moves in Zaitsev-
16 .{:Ic4! bS Bebchuk, USSR 1967.
Otherwise 4:lb6 wins the queen. b22) 12 ... Axg5
17 Axc6 Axc6 b221) 13 .{:Ixg5 4:lf4 14 'l!W3 de 15
18 .{:Ia5 Ibd1+ g34:ld4 16 lhd4 ed 17 ~ce4 h6 ++
19 itxd1 itd7 b222) 13 .{:IdS? "«rd8! 14 4:lxg5
20 .{:Ixc6 1:0 "«rxg5 15 4:lc7+ 'i!tf8 16 ~a8 4:lf4
Wendel-Sandin, Boras 1958. In the 17 *f1 4:lxe5 ++.
B21 variation the Black king is 11 ... 0·01 (744)
stranded in the centre. 10 ... Jld7 is a) 11 '" itb8 branches:
quite unsuitable in the defence's al) 12 .{:IdS (Pachmann) 12 ed!
armoury. 13 ed 4:la5 14 ~el O-O! (14 4:lg8
The 8 ... o6/ine 99
144
W
82211
12 §es
Prepares for the temporary
sacrifice of a piece so as to gain
active counter-play in possession of
the opened "e' file.
13 cild5 ed
14 ed .Q.fS
Returning to the text, there have 15 ii"c2 .I1g4
been many disputes as to how 16 dc .Q.xf3
White should continue. Our book 17 gf §acs
discusses the following main 17 ... bc 18 'l*xc6 ~xc6 19 ~xc6
variations: simplification leaves White with the
8221 12 ab3 advantages of the bishop-pair at;d a
8222 12 e5 queenside pawn,majority.
8223 12 ad3 lS ii"d3 lied8
8224 12 h3 18 ... bc 19 ii"xa6 ±±.
8221 19 .I1g5 ~7
12 All3 (J45)1 20 Axf7+!!
In possession of the 'c' file White 20 ... <Jixf7 21 ii"b3+ 'it>f8 22 cb
endeavours to increase the pressure. and Black resigned, Sokolov-
We are illustrating this battle 8rajovic, 1964.
position, which has been well tried The move 12 ... ~e8 does not
out in tournament practice, by the justify hopes attached to it.
following variations: 82212
82211 12 ~e8 12 lid8
82212 12 ~8 13 ~d5 ed
82213 12 e5 14 ed h6
82214 12 ii"b8 Gets ready for the opening of the
100 The 8 ... 06 line
13 .Q.e3 b5?!
In the Morra gambit one finds in
practice that the move ~6 plays a
key role in defence of the cc ' file.
Any action, however temporary,
which results in making the knight's
position unsafe is advantageous to
the attack.
14 .Q.d5! .Qb7
15 "hc6 i6'xc6
15 ... ~c6 16 o[jd5 i6'b7 17 Etxc6
:!:±. The exchange sacri fice is the
19 f5 only available plan for the defence
20 itg5+ '\ths as with an extra pawn and the
21 Ad3 ±:t bishop-pair he is not without hopes.
Mate is unavoidable. 16 ~d5 ite8
Black fails in this variation if he 17 ~c7 itb8
allows the e4-e5 breakthrough. If 18 ~xa8 itxa8!
he accepts the weakness of the d5 18 .,. -'has? 19 i1g5 i1xe4 20
field his prospect for a successful ~xe5 ~g2 21 ~f6 gf 22 i6'g4+
defence is better. 'i!1h8 23 ~xf7+ 1 :0 as happened in
8224 Van Hoolandt-Ballay, Val-Thorens
12 h3 1979, proving that taking with the
A waiting move but useful, for it bishop is the wrong choice.
rules out a pin by ~g4. 19 ~h4! (749)
12 ... e5
a) 12 ... l:leS 13 i1b3 b5 14 o[jd5
i6'b7 15 o[jxe7+ ~e7 16 -'hd6 o[jg6
17 e5 o[jf4 18 ite3 o[jfd5 19 ~d5
~d5 20 i6'e4 h6 as it occurred in
Lonnblad-Korling, Helsinki 1957,
where White played 21 h4. 21 o[jd4
would have increased his advantage.
b) 12 ... Ad8 13 ~b3 i6'b8 14 ~4
1ZJd7 15 .Q.g5 ~g5 16 ~xg5 h6 17
~f7! ~xf7 18 i!\'h5+ :!:± with a
penetrating attack.
c) 12 ... itb8 The game has reached the simpli-
c1) 13 Ab3 o[je5 changes to the fication stage which according to
B2214 line, see page 101. Hungarian analysis promises White
c2) 13 e5 :!:±. a better game after 19 ... ~e4 (19
704 The 8 ... 06 line
... ~xe4? 20 ~f5 ~f6 21 f3 ±±) 20 declining the sacrifice has not paid
f3 ~g6 21 §c7 ~d8 22lh7 *b8 23 off, therefore more recently many
~g6. advocate taking the pawn.
It would be to early to reach a
final verdict on the B224 line intro-
duced by 12 h3, as there are many
variations which await thorough
analysis.
823
10 ~d7
A path advocated by Soviet
analysis.
11 !:lac 1 'ltb8
Variations after 11 ... ~de5 12
~xe5:
a) 12 ... ~xe5 13 axeS de 14 ~b5 We shall study two important
*"8 15 ~c7+ ±±. main lines:
b) 12 ... de 13 ~d5! i*b8 (13 ... B231 12 ~b4
*d8? 14 ~g5! ++) 14 S1g3 .Q.c5 15 B232 12 ~e5
~3 ~716*h5 No other move comes into serious
b1) 16 ... 0-0 17 ~f6+!! gf 18 ~h4! consideration: 12 ... e5?? 13 ~f7+
:!±. 'Ilxf7 14 *c4+ 'i!te8 15 ~g5 ~8 16
b2) 16 ... ed 17 ed 0-018 dc bc 19 ~5~617~7+±±.
*xf7+ §Xf7 20 ~d8 mate. Sazet- 8231
Semachev, USSR 1961. 12 ... oilxb4
12 b4(750) The test of the sacrifice is in its
The 12 *d2? side-road aims at acceptance.
regaining the pawn as soon as 13 e5!
possible - this is contrary to the Many theorists advocate taking
spirit of the gambit: 12 i*d2? Jle7 the pawn as they count on the
13 axd6 ~d6 14 *xd6 *xd6 15 reply 13 ~e6? when 13 ... fe 14
§Xd6 rtJe 7 16 lkd1 *c4 ~6 (14 ... d5 15 ed ±±) 15
a) 16 '" &17 17 ~e2 ~b8? t_ *xe6+ Qe7 and now the ~d7
Kokkoris-Koral, Tel AvivOL 1964. parries the threats in all variations
b) 16 ..• oilde5! 17 ~e5 ~e518 and retains the material advantage.
~e2 g5! 19 ~4 Jld7 20~b6lhd8 13 ... d5
13 de 14~xe5.
After 12 b4 Black's choice is a) 14 'f1a7?? 15 ~xf7! ++
critical. Theorists are divided in b) 14 .Q.d6 15 ~f7! ilxf416
their judgement of the position. *xe6+ 'M8 17 ~d6 ++.
In Soviet tournament practice c) 14 ... oilxe5 15 axeS *a7 16
The 8 ... a6/ine 105
~.l~",<; n ,.
/~"
11 ... ~7
Other answers: A/;~;; - , j]: ltJ:/
;; I
a) 11 ... b5? 12 adS! -",;' J .
al) 12 ... b4 13 ihc4 ab7 14 ~4! j]: " _ ~f~ .j]:.£
:!±. =:i ,~;g ~~
a2) 12 ... Ab713 ~c1 :!±.
a3) 12 ... ~7 13 ~ac1 ad7 14 Lines of the dangerous h2-b8
-'lxc6 .Q.xc6 15 <tld 5 fib 7 16 I:txc6 diagonal and the open 'c' file meet
'l!\'xc6 17 ~1 'l!\'b7 18 ~c7 ihb819 on the c7 square where the queen is
I:txe7+ ~8 20 <tlxe5! <tlxd5 (20 ... standing.
de 21 fuf6! <:3;xe7 22 .Q.c5+!! leads The bishop is already on the
to mate) 21 I:txf7+ (21 ... <:3;e8 22 diagonal and the a1 rook is preparing
I:txg7 :!±} 1:0 Jonsson-Kvist, corres to leave forcl.
1968. Here White's arrangement of the
b) 11 !lg412 ~ac1 pieces is based on a geometric
b1) 12 ~7134Jd5:!± design. Black tries to hinder White's
b2) 12 itd8 13 <tld5 :!± progress with his undeveloped
c) 11 ~ 12 axe6 fe 13 ~4 pieces by using the knight as a
<tld 7 14 'ltc4 <:3;e7 15 <tlg5 :!±. barrier. But in chess after any
12 Ihcl 0-0 closure or barrier another line or
13 ~a4! ~d7 diagonal opens somewhere.
14 b4:!± Although the bishop's diagonal is
Analysis by the Hungarian master, closed, the knight's move has the
P.Koszorus. failing that it frees the 'c' file.
The system introduced by 11 .Q.e3 White modifies his plans accordingly
ensures harmonious play for White in the first discussed B251 variation,
108 The 8 ... o6/ine
13 ~xe5
13 ile3 b5 14 h3 is also a known
route:
a) 14 ... ~t3+ 15 *xf3 *b7 16
ilg5 £Le7 17 ~f6 ilxf6 18 ~5
!ld8 19 e5 \!X8 20 !iX7 *xf3 21 gf
§a7 22 laxd6 rtJe7 23 l£)xa6 ;t
Gragger-Djurasevic, Belgrade 1951.
b) 14 ... Ae 7 15 ~4 0-0 16 f4 l£)c4
17 ilxc4 bc 18 *xc4 ~fc8 =.
13 ... de
14 Ag5 ~7
14 .•. £Lc6? 15 ~f6! gf 16 *h5
a) 16 ....c8 i7l£)d5
a1) 17 '" ed 18 ed *c7 19 dc bc 20
laxc6 ±:!:.
a2) 17 ...•d8 18l£)f4! ±:!:.
b) 16 ... *e7 17 {'rl5+! ed 18 ed
ile8 19 d6+ rtJd8 20 d7 ~d7 21
*xf7 !le7 22 .Q.e6 1 :0 Meleghegyi-
Forgacs, Budapest 1960.
15 Axf6 ..Q.xf6
16 ith5 .Qc8!
a) 16 '" g6? 17 *f3 ~e7 18 laxd7
.xd719*xf7 ±:!:.
b) 16 ... ~? 17 ~e6 g6 18 *f3
±:!:.
17 ~a4 b5
18 Axc8 itxc8
19 ~b6 .c6
MihaljClJin-Filep, Hungary 1968. 20 ~xa8 O-O!
Black has difficulty in orchest- Black can reach equality in this
rating his pieces. The f7 point is variation.
weak. White has proved his B252
superiority in the game annotated 11 .Q.xe5 (155)
above. A perceptive decision! The
B2512 attacker does not retain the bishop-
11 ... i1d7 pair. He institutes dangerous attacks
This bishop's move has been a through the open I C' and Cd' files on
success in tournament practice. the king stranded in the centre. The
12 J:hc1 itb8 exchange of the knight which has
lJO The 8 ... o6/ine
~~~1
B2521
12 .Q.d7
T ~
13 !be6! Axe6
i,j: t, 13 ... fe 14 <£IdS <£Ixd5 15 ed itb8
.. ~~". I 16 <£!xeS and the defence's problems
. iI~/:
j~i"~
. ".
I
are unsolvable.
14 ~d5
15 ~c7+ *e7 16 itd2 ~e8 17
*'>8
13 ~5+! Ad7
a) 13 .., ab 14 ~xb5 ~7 15 ~c7+
~8 16 ~xa8 frxa8 17 frc4!
a1) 17 ... g6 18 "«txc8+ ++ .
a2) 17 ... .Qd7 18 !:hd7 1:0
(Schmidt-Gackstetter, Krumpa
1967)
a21) 18 ... g619 §c7 ±:!:
a22) 18 '.' ~xd7 19 "iWc8+ ±:!:
b) 13 ... 4)d7 transposes to note c1) In the Flesch-Bodnar game (simul-
to 11 axeS on page 110. taneous blindfold display, Budapest
14 .4xd7+ ~xd7 1960) the ending was as follows: 19
15 etlg5! ... l3e8 20 ti:Jl:,7 13d8 21 ~d8 J1xd8
15 ~b5 ab 16 !:hd7 ~xd7 17 22 ti:Jl:,a8! !:has 23 fua8 'ltxa8 24
"«txb5+ ~7 18 ~xe5 after a itc81 :0.
succession of sacrifices reached a 15 ~g5 is a logical move, because
complicated position and won in of this the B2522 variation reaches
the end. The text-move is not so a convincing positional advantage.
risky and is more certain of success. In the B251 line the knight by
15 ~f6 getting to e5 forces the loss of time
Both 15 J1e7? and 15 ... h6? 11 ~b3.
lose to the blow fun. The B252 system is more in
16 itc4 ~7 keeping: White exchanges his
16 ... h6? 17 fue6! fe 18 "«txe6+ bishop for the knight and gains
J1e 7 19 ~d5 ~xd5 20 !:hd5 I3f8 a tempo. 11 J1xe5 is not just
112 The 8 ... o6/ine
'-=:J~>
Now he cannot play it with , "',§.
._,:_,_,.!¥ !
E
impunity for both his queen and his
king are stranded in the centre. Black risks a lot: he underrates
114 9th Move Alternatives
the pressure on the 'd' file and a3) 10 .., .aeS 11 4Jb5 (11 1:lac1?
virtually provokes White's attack in lacks power as is shown in the game
the hope that by the return of his Galia-Folthys, Vienna 1949)
pawn surplus he will be able to a31) 11 ... ild7? 12 fud6 ± Galia-
weather the storm and to reach Platt, Vienna 1949.
equality. Indeed, making use of a32) 11 •.. f6! 12 itd2 a6 13 fud6
Black's passivity is not as easy as it fud6 14 ~d6 ~d6 15 "fIxd6
appears. Therefore it is absolutely itxd6 16 ~d6 'tJf7 17 ~d1 'tJe7
necessary to study the chapter. and Black is almost equal.
10 eS b) 10 ~S e5 11 h3, by a change in
Other experiments are not so the order of moves, transposes into
convincing: the 11 ,Q,g5 line.
a) 10 fJ.f4(161) 10 ...
162 S. ~ ~
1611B .I' w ~ '" ~
B '.~ ~ ~'''''''
=);<" ' 4 '
~~,
~r~.Q it~'
~ ,ttJ.
4 ,,' 'ffi' ',' it . 1
rt~ '.~~CJ
a1) 10 .,. "fIc7 11 .£)b5 itb6 12
~d6 fJ.xd6 13 4Jxd6 e5 14 fJ.xf7+
~f7 15 itc4 4Jd8 16 4Jg5 4Jg4 17
4)cJxf7 ,Q,e6 18 ~d8+ ~d8 19 "fIe7
'l6"xe6 ibe6 20 ~e6 1:ld2 21 4Jfd8
~f2 22 1:lf1 1:0 Ingre-Tornell,
corres 1958-61.
a2) 10 ... .ahS 11 fJ.xd6! ~d6 12
e5 ~e5 13 fue5 4Jf4 14 ite4 4Jd5
15 fud5 ed 16 itxd5 ilc7 17 itc5
ilb6 18 fJ.xf7+ ~8 19 itb4 ,Q,d7
20 ~d7 itf6 21 ite7 'l6'xf2+ 22
~1 I!ae8 23 itxe8! ~e8 24 fJ.xe8
'l6"xb2 25 I!f1 Jlc5 26 I!d8 g5 27
4Jf7+ 1:0 Ciocaltea-Menas,
Bucharest 1955.
9th Move Alternatives 115
15 &c1 b6 f( J./'
ft '~, t} .,[% ft t
15 ... a616.ac5 ±±
16 !1.b3 !1.b7 (764)
~ ~o:
~-,... ~
""t
--~-~--'
~4~l!'f
~.
.:~~ j:
-, ".~~ £
Frequently this system transposes
into either the 8 ." a6 line or to
methods based on the e6-e5 pawn
• ·:.tdl move; or a mixture of both.
I tb ,A 10 ... llf4
a) 10 !1g5 was played in the well-
known Fischer-Korchnoi game,
.Ii "tb
,1~L, I
Buenos Aires 1960. There the game
\ft ~ ,tf.;Cft ~ transposed into the 8 ... a6line.
'----_1Z"'A , _~ b) 10 <ilb5 (in K.Smith's opinion
White's best reply) 10 ... 'ltb8
17 ac5! bc b1) 11 !1.f4 4Je5 12 <£lxd6! ~d6 13
18 !1.xe6+ ~h8 axd6 ± In this variation White's
19 I!d7 1:0 superiority is indisputable, although
Kiffmeyer-Candmeyer, 1970 obviously Black could play better:
Conclusion: b2) 11 ... e5 12 .Qg5 O-O! 13 !1.xf6
The 9 ... 0-0 line is too passive. !1.xf6! 14 4lxd6 .Qg4! and by
White's energetic attack on the 'd' returning the pawn Black gains
file will force a win. control of the d4 field and
C approaches equality.
9 "itc7(765) Weighing the chances of 10 4Jb5
In the 9 'ltc7line Black removes we notice that Black's queen
his queen from the 'd' file trying to reaches a better square while the
omit the a7-a6 move (see 8 ... a6 White knight is further away from
line) or at least he is willing to use the weak d5 field. Therefore 10
that move only if he can make 4Jb5 cannot be recommended.
some small but certain gains in 10 .,. e5
116 9th Move Alternatives
.i
,
~xc7
!1\,~
19 I!xc7
I j 20 ltd3 as
21 itxd4 ~6
ft, A~
~"
.,
p~, 1.: ft' ~ . I
. § , m , ¥' I
22 ita4 §has
"-_~ __ ~~1~
23 .11c4 l:k6
24 ab5 &5
12 ~c1! 25 .Q.e3 ~5
Playing on the 'c' file results in a 26 itc4+ 1:0
powerful attack because of the 26 ... '<%8 27 .Q.b6 :l:::I:
exposed position of the Black M.J .Conroy-D.Everett, England
queen. Therefore it would have 1977.
been futile to prevent the .Q.g4 'pin' Conclusion:
by 12 h3. If White steadfastly continues his
12 ... ag4 attack, the 9 ... itc7 line will not
13 h3 ~4 (767) justify Black's expectations.
After 13 ... ~f3 14 itxf3 the D
weakness of the d5 and f7 points
will prove fatal. (Example: 14 '.'
~d4? 15l:hd4! ed 16 ~5 ±).
Now, however, the sacrifice of
quality wins.
I
1671.a:
w
"'~ '~~
.1:-,~._~, :t ~' :t
:t' ~'I'.
,Q. ft I.' .
1\ :,'~ <'t~~~ it1 As we have seen in the previously
:._-1\",
" ','1 ~.,,-~~.
d,
i'
R_
'J discussed 9 ... a6, 9 ... 0-0 lines the
e4-e5 breakthrough must not be
9th Move Alternatives 117
••
b1) 17 ... ab 18 ltxbS+ ~f8 19
~eS with a dangerous attack.
b2) 17 ... O.() 180£7 Eta719 ~eS
±
16 &cl O.()! (172)
16 ... a6 would still be too risky:
after 17 ltxbS+ ~8 18 {)xeS the
threat is gd7.
16 eS!
Unnecessary elaboration would
be 16 fuf7 'tlxf7 17 Elxd7
The most logical continuation a) 17 ... Ihd7?? 18 .Qxe6+ ~xe6 19
which ties down the bishop for the -{lJc4+ :!±
defence of both d6 and f6. b) 17 ... ctxd7!! 18 laxd7 laxd7 19
10 ... O~ 4lh4 4ld4! and White has mis-
11 flxf6 managed the venture, as there is no
Interesting try is 11 lad2 which sign of a win...
led to White's victory in the game 16
Fleissig-Banet, Vienna 1889, after 17?lxe8
11 ... a612laad1 -{lJc7?? 13 e5! 18 ~7
11 ... gf
11 ... flxf6 12 laxd6 .Qxc3 12
laad1 with superiority to White.
12 <Bb5
12 lad3 4la5! sows confusion
amongst the attackers.
12 ... ctb8
13 ad3 a6
After 13 ... 4lb4 14lab3 flxb5 15
flxb5 as 16 4ld4 the king's position
is fatally weak.
14 ?lxd6 Ilfd8
120 9th Move Alternatives
~~~~r~;
A
179
w
' W
._. __ H..T-~~
,.t. .; r Aa.t.* r::>
.£4 ~;~"
.~
C
I
f ~.m~~~t:.•'~ ~
, I it it' __
J
187
W
11 .I1e6
Normal developing move, which
Conclusion: neutralises the strong c4 bishop.
The 11 b4 line is an interesting Other attempts are feeble:
highlight in the chapters following a) 11 ... a6?
9 ... e5. Therefore it is an essential a1) 12 aac1 h6
study not only because it contains a 11) 13 Axf6 ~f6 14 4ld5 ~e6 =
for both sides many variations yet Terexin-Vexler, 1967.
to be solved but also because of the a12) 13 .Qe3 ~e6 14 €)d5 t
similarity of tactical motifs in other a2) 12 Ad2! b5? 13 ~f6 ~f6 14
chapters. ~d5 ~b715 laad1 t
In the 11 b4 line Black has good The 11 ... a6 move weakens the
prospects for equality, but should b6 field.
he over-estimate his chances, he is b) 11 ... h6
sure to come a cropper. b1) 12 Ah4 a6 13 lad2 g5 ~
We rarely encounter the 9 ... e5 Mannrud-Eck, 1969
move in tournaments for it is bad b2) 12 Axf6 ~f6 13 4lb5 ~e7 14
sport-psychology to be defending lad2t
always in one's own half. So there 12 Axf6 .Q.xf6
are very few examples of the 11 b4 13 41b5 .Qe7
line. From such games as do exist 14 Axe6
we cannot yet draw a conclusion. 14 lad2 ~c4 15 'ltxc4 a6 16
The chances seem to weigh equal. 4lxd6 ~d6 17 lhd1 €)d4 18 €)Xd4
C ed 19 laxd4'ltc7! ++
11 ~5 (788) 14 fe
The 'pin' distracts the e7 bishop 15 'ltd3 'ltd7
from the defence of the weak d6 16 Ad2 aad8
pawn. Black cannot rigidly hold on 17 aad1 'ltc8
to his material advantage. 18 itb3 a6
11th Move Alternatives 129
of the b6 field.
In the 11 ... a6 line White's plan is
at hand: exploiting the time Black
has wasted on the a6 move, White
must continue the pressure in the
central files and turn to his own
advantage the weakness of the b6
field.
12 &c1
12 b4 can also be considered.
Another war-path which also occurs
in practice begins with 12 a4:
a) 12 ... tflc7? 131:hcl h6? 144Jd5!
4Jxd5 15 ed 4Jb8
al) 16 tfld2? tfld8 17 g4?
all) 17 ... e4? 184Jd4.Q.g519I3c3
A 'waiting' move of the kind happened in the Uppstrom-Platzack
which often crops up in variations 1970 game which was won by
after the main continuation 11 ... White after some colourless play oil
~e6. White however can so develop both sides.
that the a6 move has no significance a12) 17 ... h5!:;:
and will prove a loss of time. The a2) 16 ~a6! ±!:
move is obviously negative as the No conclusions can be drawn
required piece development (11 ... from the game illustrated in al
.Q.e6) is neglected in favour of a because of the weak standard of
pawn move of dubious value. In play. In the a2 variation the outside
appraising the a6 move we must pawn majority on the queen's side
take into account the experience and the advantage in space
of tournament practice which decisively favour White.
shows that in systems after 9 ... e5 b) 12 ... Ae6 13 ,Q,xe6 fe 14 i6'c4
Black must not allow the weakening bl) 14 ... tfld7 15 4Jg5 4Jd8 16 .Q.b6
The 17 ... a6/ine 131
•.
r W
.£lg5 h6 21 .:t1f3 ~5; 190[!!; ~~I"',
b22) 16 itb3 h6 with chances for B. ~ ~i&~~~
both sides.
12 a4 awaits further research. But ~ ..tIl ~,;i.!!
_. e _~.~
..",, , ~
it is already certain that this pawn
move, like 11 .., a6, is a 'waiting'
lb ~ 1t /Jd
~
move. To try and prevent the move
.,. b5 is basically naive. Black has
anyway no intention of risking the
further weakening of his queen's
side.
12 ... .!le6 17 .Qxg5
a) 12 ... b5?? 13 ~d5! .Ild7 14 18 acdl ei)cb8
axc6 ~c6 15 <£\xe5 ± 19 l3xe6 <!'h8
b) 12 ... ~713 a3 Etc8 14 b4 20 Axg6 hg
b1) 14 ... .!le6 15 axe6 fe 16 'lta2 21 ~g5 itxg5
itd7 17 <£la4! .Q.d8 18.£lc5 ±:!: 22 itc8+ ~7
b2) 14 ... h6? 23 itxb7:!::::!:
b21) 15 ei)h4?! ~ Hildebrand- - Analysis.
$oldmets, corres 1969-71
b22) 15 ei)d5 <£lxd5 16 axd5 t
b23) 15 'lIb2! ± White has Conclusion:
captured completely the a2-g8 In the Morra Gambit Accepted
diagonal. In both variations Black every tempo has an enhanced value.
takes on too high risks. Therefore the 11 ... a6 pawn move
13 .Qxe6 fe proves a dangerous waste of time
14 ei)a4! for the underdeveloped defence.
a) 14 ei)g5 'lWd7 15 <£la4 <£ld4! The attacker, by exploiting the
a1) 16 Axd4? ed 17 4Jb6 'ltb5 18 weakening of the b6 field, can very
'ltxb5 ab 19 ~a8 de 20 .:t1b6 ef+ profitably utilise the gained tempo.
21 ~f1 <£lh5 i+ To play the 11 ... a6 line is
a2) 16 .Q.xd4 'lWxa4 := unwarranted.
17 Main Line: 12ili Move Alternatives
0=113. -
B2
13 ~2 a6?! A quiet, developing move. White
14 .Q.xc6 be occupies the 'c' file before he
15 eild5 'ltd8 starts any action and in this way he
16 eilxf6+ tries to rule out Black's counter-
Recommended by the author. attack which is available to him in
Other paths: 16 ~5 itxa5 17 the 11 b4 and 12 ~e6 lines.
fue7+ ~h8 18 ~c6 (18 lhd6?? 12 ... -'bce4
'ltc7! =1+1) 18 ... 'ltb5 19 'ltxb5 ab a) 12 ... h6. Some Hungarian and
a) 20 eild2 ~fc8 21 41b4 fue4! 22 Yugoslav masters look to this move
fue4 ~c4! = to avoid later problems. In the
b) 20 &d6 fue4 21 ~dd1 ~a2 author's opinion White's best
22 41cxe5 = Richter-Zukerman, course is to transpose into a variation
Israel 1971. similar to the 12 ~5 line by the
16 ... ~f6 move 13 ~5. The difference is
16 ... gf 17 ~h6 ~e8 18 41h4 with that the interposed pair of moves
a dOUble-edged attack. ~ac1 h6 has substantially improved
136 Main Line: 12th Move Alternatives
The defender can side-step the roads which trail off into dis-
gambit in several ways: advantageous variations of different
a) by employing a counter-gambit. openings through attempts to avoid
b) by returning the material at an the Morra Gambit.
earl y stage. 1 e4 c5
c) by ignoring the offer of the pawn 2 d4 (797)
right from the start.
In the Morra Gambit the 'c'
method is the most 'passable' road.
A frequent method of declining the
Morra Gambit is for Black to
transpose into Alapin's line of the
Sicilian (2 c3), naturally through a
change in the order of moves. On
this subject in a separate book, by
Murray Chandler, is to appear in
the Batsford series. Therefore, in
the author's opinion, a detailed
exposition here would be super- 2 ... cd
fluous. But by way of introduction, a) Other variations after 2 ... e6:
we must emphasise, that in the al)3c3d5
Morra-Gambit-derived Alapin's line all) 4 e5 see French Defence
- because of the change in the order a12) 4 ed? 'ltxd5! and now Black·
of moves - the most effective through a blunder by White - has
continuation against the Sicilian 2 reached the most favourable
c3 is unavailable to Black. Never- position he can attain in Alapin's
theless, it is necessary here to line.
review in detail the various methods a2) 3 d5! This move ensures a
of declination that generally arise healthy space advantage for White.
from the Morra Gambit. Black cannot hope for a Benoni-
Similarly we shall also mark those tYpe counterplay, for White puts a
140 The Morro Gambit Declined
I
considers the early exchange of the
198!! .l ~ 41 'c' pawn to be disadvantageous for
~ ~~
Black.
c) 3 '" d5 4 ed l'txd5 5 cd (199)
)1:,. :it.
ttJ tt-. r 13:
We have already mentioned in the
Introduction to the Morra Gambit
Accepted that White cannot change
the order of moves with impunity.
Thus here 3 ~f3? d6 4 c3 tilf6!
leads to equality. Theorists consider it decisive that
3 ... d3 the 'c' pawns have been exchanged.
The most characteristic declination In the usual order of moves in the
which can only arise from the Alapin's Line the pawn remains on
Morra Gamb it. the c3 field which prevents the
The Morra Gambit Declined 141
6 ~7
The aim of this curious move is to 7 0-0 d6
lead the bishop also to the long S h3 ~f6
diagonal and so neutralise its 9 ~c3 ~d7
opposing number. 10 ~d5
6 ... ~7 Variations after 10 -'le3:
7 .Qc3 ~f6! a) 10 ... 0-0 11 ~e2 ~c5 12 ~d4
The exchange would place .Q.d7 13 Elc1 a6 14 '«rd2 ~d4 15
White's knight on a good spot. ~d4 ~d4 16 '«rxd4 -'lc6 Sokolov-
S ~f3 Pirc, Yugoslavia 1956. After 17
8 e5 ~h5 places the venturesome Elfd1 '«ra5 Black must conduct a
pawn in an awkward position. stubborn defence.
S d6 b) 10 ... ~de5 11 Elc1 '«ra5 12 ~e2
9 h3 0-0 ~xf3+ 13 ~f3 ~e6 14 ae2 0-015
10 0-0 b6 '«rd2 Elfc8 16 b3 f!ab8 17 §fd1 ..6
144 The Morro Gambit Declined
the other are more likely to end in tive. It also creates an enjoyable
disaster. tactical atmosphere, rich in surprises
The Morra Gambit also does not where an attacking player may feel
'win', especially not by 'itself'. in his element.
However, the Morra Gambit is
capable of producing the maximum For the study of the Morra
which can be expected from this or Gambit I wish the reader good
any other modern and popular health and patience and in its playa
opening: it ensures a steady initia- certain amount of luck.
Index of Variations
1 e4 e5
2d4ed 2 ... e6, 2 ... g6 139-140
3d 3.[1f3 7-10
3 ... de 3 ... g6, 3 ... e6, 3 ... d5, 3 ... .[If6, 3 ... d3 140-141
4cilxd 4.[1f3 11
4 ... cile6 4 ... a6 12-14
5cilf3 5~4 15-19
5 ... d6 5 e6 20-28
5 g6 29-45
6 Ac4 e6 6 .[If6 46-50
6 a6 51-56
70-0 7 af4 57-60
7 •.• cilf6 7 ~ge7 61-66
7 ae7 67-87
8.e2~7 8 a6 9 J;td1 *a51'1JIe7 88-112
9 J:ld1 e5 9 a6, 9 ... 0-0,9 ... *e7, 9 ... ad7 113-120
10h3 10~3 121-124
10 ... 0-0
11 ~3 11 b3, 11 b4, 11 ag5 125-129
11 ... ~6 11 ... a6 130-131
12 ihe6 132-133
12.Qb5 133-135
12 J:lae1 135-138
Index of Players
Andersson 32 Gackstetter 111
Apati 14 Gaudin 11
Applewhite 26 Giacomelli 84
Balasa 31 Goransson 58
Ballay 103 Grazdancev 92
Bandza 71 Guskov 35
Bejlin 106 Hardicsay 25
Berta 30 Hellgren 11
Bertok 26 Hodosz 105
Bialas 10 Hofmeister 10
Bodnar 111 Holdosi 14,66
Bolterauer 74 Ingre 114
Bondarevsky 9 Jacoby 142
Brajovic 99 Jonsson 107
Broyles 48 Kadar 39,70,82,90
Cackthorpe 8 Karlsson 105
Candmeyer 115 Kasparian 9
Churkin 35 Kieseritzky 25
Cibulka 120 Kiffmeyer 115
Ciocaltea 114 Kim 101
Conroy 64,116,124 Klemm 76,108
De Gency 11 Koblenz 62
Del Pezzo 34 Korchnoi 95
Devault 52 Koszorus 45,70,82,90
Dubeck 31 Kristiansson 49
Erker 49 Krogius 8
Everett 116 Kruse 49
Filip 108 Kurtes 30
Fischer 95 Kvist 107
Flesch 31,39,45,66,93,111 Lehmann 79
Forgacs 109 Ludvik 52
Fuchs 106 Maddox H
!=urstenau 74 Manzardo 113
150 Index of Players
Marie 26 Soderlung 11
Masnyikov 106 Sokolov 99
Matulovie 14,34,48, 110 Somogyi 75
Meleghegyi 109 Sos 93
Melzer 24 Steedman 64
Menas 114 Stieg 76, 108
Merkel 106 Swarley 95
N.N. 26,95 Szabadi 10
Negyesy 19 Szabo S. 59
Nei 62 Szazet 104
Neibult 109 Szemachev 104
Nerezov 102 Tal 109
Newhouse 124 Tarasov 63
Nilsson 106 Tatarinchev 13
Ojanen 8 Taylor 48
Ozsvath 19,34 Tilliete 84
Papp 75 Toljak 71
Petersson 67 Tomell 114
Popkov 102 Uppstrom 67
Purschwit 106 Usakova 48
Raud 58 Van Hoolandt 103
Reicher 59 Vegh 34
Resaz 113 Vincenti 48
Roberts 49 Vitzhum 25
Sahlmann 79 Vlagyimirov 74
Sallay 25 Waligora 79
Sandin 98 Weinstein 31
Sapi 10 Wendel 98
Schmidt 111 Westerinen 142
Wisluzil 24
Schuch 108 Zaitsev 74
Scocco 14 Zaitseva 48
Seger 32 Zajie 120
Segi 110 Zhukhov 101
Sestakov 63 Zickelbeim 79
Shemcov 13 Zsarkov 92
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