At various points I have mentioned the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, which gives me the opportunity to answer a question by Cesar Riquelme (Panama). He wanted to know some more about this opening that has a legion of fans that like to give away their pawns! In the following encounter, an English International Master tries his luck with the swashbuckling opening.

Miroslav Houska - Suzanne Connolly  British Chess League (4NCL) 2001

1 d4 d5 2 e4 dxe4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 The pawn is offered in the knowledge that if taken White will have a lead in development and it will open the f-file ready for castling kingside. In general, Black can waste a lot of time trying to work out how to respond to this relatively little known opening. It is worth noting that the position can also be reached upon 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d4 3 e4 dxe4 4 f3. 4...exf3 Nxf3 5 Bg4

The pin of the Knight is a sensible way to treat the position, which is known as the Teichmann Defence 6 h3 Bh5 It is also perfectly possible to play 6...Bxf3 to eliminate a potential attacking piece. For instance: 7 Qxf3 c6 8 Qf2 (an odd little line called the Ciesielski Variation but 8 Be3 is the standard continuation) 8...e6 9 Bg5 (9 g5 Nd5 10 Bd3 is worth further study for devotees) 9...Be7 10 Bd3 Nbd7 11 Rf1 (11 0-0 looks a logical response) 11...Qa5 12 Bd2 0-0 13 0-0-0 Nd5 14 Nxd5 Qxd5 15 c4 Qh5?! The Queen quickly runs out of decent squares on the kingside, which indicates that, the superior 15...Ne5! would have been better for Black) 6 Be2 Qg6 17 Qe3 Bd6 18 Bd3 Qh5 19 g4 Qh4 20 g5 c5 21 Be1 ½-½ W.Szenetra-V.Chuchelov, Boeblingen 1988. An impressive performance considered that Black is one of the strongest grandmasters on the European tournament circuit. 7 g4 Bg6 8 Ne5 Nbd7 9 Qf3 c6 10 Bc4

Miroslav is relying on his active pieces and space advantage to give him attacking opportunities. I think a computer would hate being a pawn down but the practical chances over the board are good. 10...e6 11 Nxg6 hxg6 12 O-O Nb6 13 Bb3 Qd7
Connolly is worried about g5 deflecting the Knight and revealing an attack on f7. Against a gambit player there is a need to limit the onslaught otherwise one might grab the pawn with 13...Qxd4+ and after 14 Be3 Qd7 15 Rad1 hope to hang on to the extra material. 14 Be3 Bd6 15 Ne2 O-O 16 c4 The obvious threat is 17 c5 but it also emphasises White's space advantage. I know that Miroslav has consistently played the opening but I suspect Black would have little experience with this sort of position. 16...Bc7 17 Rad1 Rad8 18 Bg5 Qd6 19 Rf2 c5? Connolly is an experienced Irish international but here she misses the best way to continue with 19...Nbd7 to defend the Knight on f6 when 20 Bf4 (20 c5 Qe7 is uncomfortable but playable) 20...e5! 21 dxe5 Nxe5 is better for Black. 20 Qxb7 White is now on equal terms in terms of material and also has the more active pieces. 20...cxd4 21 Rxd4 Qc5 22 Be3 Qe7 23 Kg2 Rxd4 24 Bxd4 e5 25 Be3 Qd7 26 Nc3 Houska continuously improves his pieces. 26...Rb8 27 Qf3 Rf8 28 c5 Nc8 29 Ne4 Nxe4 30 Qxe4 Qe7 Or 30...Kh7 31 Rd2 when the strong passed pawn and centralized pieces give White the advantage. 31 Qxg6 e4 32 Bd4 1 - 0


Gary Lane