Italian Game, Scotch Gambit Anderssen Attack

WILLIAM HENRY KRAUSE POLLOCK vs. ALLIES
Buffalo, New York, 1893

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bc4, Nf6
4. d4, exd4
5. 0-0, Nxe4
6. Re1, d5
7. Bxd5!, Qxd5
8. Nc3!! ....

The Scotch Gambit Anderssen Attack.  White takes advantage of the pins.

8. .... Qf5
9. Nxe4, Be6
10. Nxd4, Nxd4
11. Qxd4, h6
12. b3 ....

White opens the long diagonal....

12. .... a6
13. Bb2, a5
14. Rad1, f6
15. Qd7+!! ....

An unexpected attack.  Black has no choice but to capture the Queen.

15. .... Bxd7
16. Nd6+!!, Kd8
17. Nf7+ ....

Rather than capture the opponent Queen, White keeps the pressure....

17. .... Kc8
18. Re8+!!, Bxe8
19. Rd8 mate

A magnificently executed attack, made even more beautiful by a Queen sacrifice.

Modern Defense, Two Knights Suttles Variation Tal Gambit

MIKHAIL TAL vs. GEORGI TRINGOV
Amsterdam, 1964

1. e4, g6
2. d4, Bg7
3. Nc3, g6
4. Nf3 ....

The Two Knights Variation of the Modern Defense.

4. .... c6

The Suttles Variation.

5. Bg5, Qb6
6. Qd2, Qxb2

The Tal Gambit variation.

7. Rb1, Qb3
8. Bc4, Qa5
9. 0-0, e6
10. Rfe1, a6
11. Bf4, f5
12. dxe5, dxe5
13. Qd6!! ....

Part of a deep-seated foresight.  White sets a trap and webs a mating net.

13. .... Qxc3
14. Red1, Nd7
15. Bxf7+!! ....

A surprise attack!

15. .... Kxf7

Black's other option is equally grim. If 15.....Kd8, then 16. Ng5 and White mates after 17. Ne6.

16. Ng5+, Ke8
17. Qe6+, Resigns

Black cannot escape mate.  If 17.....Kd8, then 18. Nf7+ Kc7, 19. Qd6 mate.

If 17....Ne7, then 18. Qf7+ Kd8, 19. Ne6 mate.

Modern Defense, Three Pawns Attack

ARTHUR BISGUIER vs. BENT LARSEN
Zagreb, 1965

1. d4, g6
2. e4, Bg7
3. f4 ....

The Three Pawns Attack.

3. .... d6
4. Nf3, Nf6
5. Bd3, 0-0
6. 0-0, Nbd7
7. e5!, Ne8
8. Qe1, c5
9. f5, dxe5
10. fxg6, hxg6
11. Qh4, exd4
12. Bh6, Nef6
13. Ng5, Ne5

Black attacks the d3 Bishop, but actually is of no consequence.

14. Rxf6!!, Bh8

The Rook cannot be captured.  If 14....exf6, then 15. Bxg7 and White mates at h8 or h7.

If 14....Bxf6, then 15. Bg7 and same mate follows.

15. Rf1, Re8
16. Bf8, Bf6
17. Rxf6, exf6
18. Qh6!! ....

A terrific brilliancy.  White poses a mating threat at g7.

18. .... Rxf8
19. Qh7!!

A picture-perfect mate.

French Defense, Tarrasch Variation Modern System

EFIM GELLER vs. ALEXEY DREEV
1990

1. e4, e6
2. d4, d5
3. Nd2, a6
4. Ngf3, c5
5. exd5, exd5
6. Be2, c4
7. 0-0, Bd6
8. b3, b5
9. a4, Bb7
10. bxc4, bxc4
11. Bxc4! ....

The first in a series of attacks.

11. ..... dxc4
12. Nxc4 ....

This Knight attack on d6 cannot be underestimated.  If 12.....Ne7, then 13. Nxd6 Qxd6, 14. Ba3 Qd7, 15. Re1 Ng6,  Black would not be able to castle anymore.

12. ..... Be7
13. Re1, Qc7
14. Rb1, Qxc4
15. Rxb7, Nc6
16. Nd2, Qxd4
17. Bb2, Qxa4
18. Re4, Qa2
19. Bxg7, 0-0-0
20. Rb3, Bf6

Black thinks he has solved the problem posed by the g7 Bishop.  He is terribly mistaken.

21. Qg4+!!, Kc7

If 21.....Rd7, then 22. Rd3 Ne5, 23. Rxe5 and White wins.

22. Qf4+, Kc8
23. Bxf6, Nxf6
24. Qxf6, Qxc2
25. Qf5+ ....

Black resigns.  He will lose his Queen after 25....Rd7, 26. Re8+ Rxe8, 27. Qxc2.

Italian Game Scotch Gambit, Nakhmanson Gambit

VLADIMIR SOKOLOV vs. RUSHNIKOV
Corr-1, 1966

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bc4, Nf6
4. d4, exd4
5. 0-0, Nxe4
6. Nc3 ....

The Nakhmanson Gambit.  White sacrifices the Knight to achieve greater Queen mobility.

6. .... dxc3
7. Bxf7, Kxf7
8. Qd5, Ke8
9. Re1+, Be7
10. Rxe4, d6
11. Bg5, cxb2
12. Rae1!, Rf8
13. Bxe7, Nxe7
14. Qh5+ ....

If 14. Rxe7 Qxe7, 15. Rxe7 b1=Q mate.

14. .... Kd7

If 14....g6, then 5. Qxh7 Bf5, 16. Rxe7+ and White wins.

15. Nd4, c5
16. Qg4, Kc7
17. Rxe7+, Qxe7
18. Rxe7+, Kd8
19. Qg5!!, h6

If 19....b1=Q, then 20. Re1 dis chk Kc7, 21. Qe7+Kb6, 22. Rxb1+ with a mating attack.

20. Rxb7 dis chk

Black resigns.  He cannot avoid mate even if he captures the Queen.  If 20......hxg5, then 21. Nc6+ Ke8, 22. Re7 mate.

If after 20. Rxb7, Black moves Rf6, then 21. Nc6+ Ke8, 22. Re7+ Kf8, 23. Qxg7 mate.

A brilliant ending!  And Black has a pawn waiting for promotion.

Queen's Gambit Accepted, Mannheim Variation

MARK TAIMANOV vs. LEV POLUGAEVSKY
USSR Championship, 1960

1. d4, d5
2. c4, exd4
3. Nf3, Nf6
4. Qa4+ ....

The Mannheim Variation.

4. .... Nbd7
5. Nc3, e6
6. e4, c5
7. d5, exd5
8. e5, d4
9. Bxc4, dxc3
10. exf6, Qxf6
11. Bg5, Qc6
12. 0-0-0, cxb2+

If 12....Qxa4, then 13. Rhe1+ Be7, 14. Rxe7+ Kf8, (if 14....Kd8, then 15. Rxd7+ Ke8, 16. Rd8 mate.) 15. Rxf7+ with a mating attack.

13. Kxb2, Be7
14. Rhe1, f6
15. Bb5, Qb6
16. Kc1 ....

Removing the King to safety in case Black moves pawn to a6.

16. .... fxg5
17. Bxd7, Kf8
18. Rxe7!! ....

White sacrifices the Rook in order to expose the King.

18. .... Kxe7
19. Qe4+, Kd8
20. Bf5+, Kc7
21. Qe5+, Kc6
22. Rd6+, Kb5
23. Qb2+, Resigns

Black can only escape mate at the cost of materials, including his Queen.

Italian Game Classical Variation, Greco Gambit Moeller-Bayonet Attack

FREDERIC LAZARD vs. AMEDEE GIBAUD
Paris, 1909

1. e4, e5
2. d4, exd4
3. Nf3, Nc6
4. Bc4, Bc5
5. c3, Nf6
6. cxd4, Bb4+
7. Nc3, Nxe4
8. 0-0 ....

White intends to open-up the e-file.

8. .... Bxc3
9. d5 ....

White keeps the pressure mounting.

9. .... Bf6
10. Re1, Ne7
11. Rxe4, d6
12. g4 ....

The Greco Gambit, Moeller-Bayonet Attack.  An impressive variation of the Italian Game.

12. .... h6
13. h4, Kf8?

The only logical explanation for the latest Black move is that Black desired to take control of the h file, and at the same time remove the pin on his King.

14. h5, g5
15. Nd4, c6
16. Qf3, Nxd5
17. Bd2, Nc7
18. Rae1, d5
19. Bb4+, Kg7
20. Re7!!, dxc4

If 20....Bxe7, then 21. Bxe7 followed by 22, Bf6+ with a good attack on Black's king side.

21. Nxc6 ....

The move opens up the d file and would force the Black Queen to retreat.  If 21....bxc6, then 22. Rd1 Qd8, 23. Rxc7 ....

21. .... Qd3
22. Rxf7!! ....

A surprise move!  Black doesn't know what is coming.

22. .... Kxf7

White could win outright by 23. Ne5 double check, but he chooses a better plan....

23. Re7+, Kg8

Forced retreat.

24. Qxf6, Rh7
25. Re8+!!, Resigns

It would be useless to take the Rook because of White's threat 26. Qf8 mate.

An amazing finale.