Italian Game Evans Gambit Accepted

CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAVIES EVANS vs. ALEXANDER MCDONNELL
London, England, 1929

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bc4, Bc5
4. b4, Bxb4
5. c3, Bc5
6. 0-0, Nf6
7. d4, exd4
8. cxd4, Bb6
9. e5, d5
10. exf6, dxc4
11. Re1+, Kf8
12. d5, Na5
13. Be7! ....

White begins to dislodge the Black Queen from the back rank.

13. .... Qd7
14. fxg7, Kxg7
15. Qd2, Qg4

Black prevents White's check by Queen at g5.

16. Qc3+!, Kg8
17. Qxh8+!! ....

An unexpected Queen sacrifice!

17. .... Kxh8
18. Bf6+, Qg7
19. Re8 mate

Simply amazing!

Spanish Game, Bird Variation

GARRY KASPAROV vs. KHALIFMAN
FIDE Moscow Grand Prix, 2002

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bb5, Nd4

The Bird Variation of Ruy Lopez Opening.

4. Nxd4, exd4
5. 0-0, c6
6. Bc4, d5
7. exd5, cxd5
8. Bb5, Bd7
9. Re1, Nd7
10. c4, a6
11. Bxd7, Qxd7
12. d3, 0-0-0
13. Nd2, Kb8
14. b4, dxc4
15. dxc4, Nc6
16. b5, axb5
17. cxb5, Nb4
18. Nc, Qf5

Black threatens Nc2.

19. Re5, Qc2
20. Bf4 ! ....

Attacking the opponent King and defending the Queen at the same time.

20. .... Qxd1
21. Rxd1, Ka8

If 21....Nxa2, then 22. Re2+ and White wins a piece.

22. a3!, f6
23. axb4, Resigns

Black has no defense against 24. Ra1+.  If 23.....fxe5, then 24. Ra1+ Kb8, 25. Bxe5+ Kc8, 26. Nb6 mate.

Philidor Defense, Exchange Variation

JOHN COCHRANE vs. BONNERJEE MOHISHUNDER
Unknown Location, 1854

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, d6
3. d4, exd4
4. Qxd4, Nc6
5. Bb5, Bd7
6. Bxc6, Bxc6
7. Bg5, f6
8. Bf4, Qe7
9. Nc3, Qe6
10. 0-0, Ne7
11. Rfe1, h6
12. Nd5!, Qd7
13. Nh4 ....

White sets a trap.  If 13....g5, then 14. Nxf6 winning Black's Queen.

If 13.....Bxd5, 14. exd5 g5, 15. Ng6 Rg8, 16. Rxe7 Bxe7, 17. Re1 with a good pin.

13. .... Kf7
14. c4, Bxd5
15. exd5, g5
16. Re6, Bg7
17. Rae1, Rhe8
18. Qe4, gxf4
19. Qh7, c6
20. R1e4, cxd5

21. Rxf6+!!, Kxf6

Black has no other choice.

22. Rxf4+!!, Ke6

If 22....Ke5 or Kg5, then 23. Qxg7+ Kxf4, 24. Qg3+ Ke4, 25. Qe3 mate.

23. Qxg7, Qc6
24. Qg4+, Nf5

Black is hoping for 25. Qxf5+ Ke7, 26. Qf6+ Kd7, and the Black King escapes.

25. Nxf5 ....

Black resigns.  White threatens 26. Nd4+ or Ne3+ with a good attack.

Italian Game, Evans Gambit Morphy Attack

HERMANN CLEMENZ vs. EISENSCHMIDT
Dorpat, 1890

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bc4, Bc5
4. b4 ....

The Evans Gambit.  White sacrifices a pawn to establish control of the center.

4. .... Bxc4
5. c3, Bc5
6. d4, exd4
7. cxd4, Bc6
8. 0-0, d6
9. Nc3 ....

The Evans Gambit, Morphy Attack.

9. .... Bd7
10. e5!, dxe5
11. Re1, Nge7

It would be futile to defend the e5 pawn.

12. Ng5, Be6

If 12....0-0, then 13. Nxf7 Rxf7, 14. Qf3 White has a strong attack.

13. Bxf6, fxf6
14. Nxf6, Qd6
15. Nxg7, Kf8
16. Qg4, Bxd4?

Black could have fared batter if 16....Rg8, 17. Ne6+ Kf7, 18. Ng5+ Ke8, 19. Qh5+ Qg6.

17. Ne4, Qb4
18. Ne6+, Ke8
19. Nf6+, Kf7
20. Ng5+, Kf8

If 20....Kxf6, then White clinches victory with 21. Qe6+ Kg7, 22. Qf7+ Kh6, 23. Nf3+ with a mating attack.

21. Ba3 ....

Done to save the Rook at e1.

21. .... Qxa3
22. Qe6 ....

Threatens mate at f7.

22. .... Nd8

Black covers the threatened square.  So he thought.  Now comes a shocker....

23. Qf7+ ....

Black is caught flat-footed !

23. .... Nxf7
24. Ne6 mate.

Magnificent!

Sicilian Defense, Nimzowitch Advance Variation

PAUL KERES vs. WILLIAM WINTER
Warsaw, 1935

1. e4, c5
2. Nf3, Nf6
3. e5, Nd5
4. Nc3, e6
5. Nxd5, exd5
6. d4, d6
7. Bg5, Qa5+
8. c3, cxd4
9. Bd3 ....

If 9. Nxd4, then Black fortifies its center by dxe5.

9. .... dxc3
10. 0-0, cxb2
11. Rb1, dxe5
12. Nxe5, Bd6
13. Nxf7!, Kxf7
14. Qh5+ ....

Seeing an opening, White begins to attack.

14. .... g6
15. Bxg6+, hxg6
16. Qxh8, Bf5
17. Rfe1, Be4

If 17....Bxb1, then 18. Qf6+ Kg8 19. Re8+ and mate follows.

18. Rxe4, dxe4
19. Qf6+ ....

Black resigns.  White would be able to capture the other Black Bishop with a strong attack.

King's Gambit Accepted, Lolli Gambit

GIOACHINO GRECO vs. NN
Italy, 1620

1. e4, e5
2. f4, exf4
3. Nf3, g5
4. Bc4, g4
5. Bxf7 ....

The Lolli Gambit.  White sacrifices major pieces in order to bring the opponent King to the center of the board.

5. .... Kxf7
6. Ne5+, Ke6
7. Qxg4+, Kxe5
8. Qf5+, Kd6
9. d4!, Bg7
10. Bxf4+, Ke7
11. Bg5+, Bf6

If 11....Nf6, then 12. e5 pinning the Knight.

12. e5!, Bxg5
13. Qxg5, Ke8
14. Qh5+, Ke7
15. 0-0, Qe8
16. Qg5, Ke6
17. Rf6+! ....

 17. .... Nxf6
18.  Qxf6+, Kd5
19. Nc3, Kxd4
20. Qf4+, Kc5
21. b4+!! ....

Now, Black is doomed.  No matter his move, White clinches victory.

21. ....Kc6
22. Qc4, Kb6
23. Na4 mate.

White also mates by 23. Nd5.   A picture-perfect mate.

Slav Defense, Exchange Variation

LAGOS PORTISCH vs. TIGRAN VARTANOVICH PETROSIAN
Moscow, 1967

1. d4, d5
2. c4, c6
3. cxd5, cxd5
4. Nc3, Nf6
5. Nf3, Nc6
6. Bf4, e6
7. e3, Bd6
8. Bg3, 0-0
9. Bd3, Re8
10. Ne5, Be5
11. dxe5, Nd7
12. f4, Qb6
13. 0-0, Qxe3
14. Kh1, Qb6
15. Qh5, Nf8
16. Rf3, Ng6
17. Bf2, Qd8
18. Nb5, Nce7
19. Nd6, Bd7
20. Bh4, Qb6
21. Rh3 .....

Preparing for attack along the h-file.

21. .... h6
22. Bf6, Qxb2
23. Rf1, Nf5
24. Bxf5 ....

If 24.....exf5 then 25. Bxg7 followed by Qxh6 and mate follows.

If 24......gxf6, then 25. Bxg6 fxg6, 26. Qxf6+ and mate follows.

Black resigns.   Magnifico!!