| Jan-09-23 | | generror: Another early miniature with a nice trap in the beloved King's Gambit. What's especially nice is that the trap actually is totally accurate (except that Stockfish considers the King's Gambit itself to be dubious). In fact, White isn't even aiming for a trap, Black brings it upon itself by playing the pretty logical <4...f6?> (of course, with some more experience, you'll think twice about moving the f-pawn and play <4...h6> (or, better still, <4...d5>). However, this game shows that this actually does nothing but weaken your kingside. After <5.Nxg5!>, the best thing for Black is <5...h5 6.Nf3 d5 7.Nxf4 dxe4>, and he's only a pawn down, completely undeveloped, with a messed-up kingside (D). 
click for larger viewBut even <5...fxg5?> still doesn't quite lose the game. Black can still avoid the worst with <7...Nf6 8.e5 Kf7 9.exf6 Qxf6 10.Bc4+ Ke7 11.Qxf6+ Kxf6 12.Nc3> (D). The material is even, but if White doesn't mess it up, that king will have a hard time getting safe. <d4>, probably <Bxf4>, <0-0-0>... this does actually make me want to try the King's Gambit just for fun :) 
click for larger view<7...Ke8??> is the final nail in the coffin. It's still only forced mate after <10...Kg6??>, but even after <10...d5 11.Bxd5+ Qxd5 12.Qxd5+ Be6 13.Qxb7> and <14.Qxa8> he's down 11 points of material. The cherry on top is, of course, that wonderful ending. Black's queen seems to have saved her king, then White nonchalantly pushes the d-pawn, discovering check of the undeveloped bishop, and it's game over. It's stuff like this why chess is the gift that keeps giving :D Definitively one of the funnest early games I've seen so far! |
Kibitzing
sac: 5.Nxg5
