Friday, July 23, 2010

Another From's Gambit trap

Here's another From's Gambit miniature. I first saw this game many years ago in Irving Chernev's classic 1000 Best Short Games of Chess. I actually managed to win the same game, move for move, in an offhand game in 1974 or so. Note that after 3...Bxd6, Black threatens immediate mate with 4...Qh4+ 5.g3 Qxg3+! 6.hxg3 Bxg3#. White's 4.Nf3! is the only good response. After 4...g5!? (the more solid 4...Nf6!? is another line), White's only decent responses are 5.g3 g4 6.Nh4 and 5.d4 g4 6.Ne5! (6.Ng5?! is interesting but unsound). As Bier demonstrates, 5.e4? is a lemon, losing material (or White's king) by force.

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