From Ringwood A against University B

24.10.2017

M Clancy (164) v Max Marchenhern (ung) 1-0

Smith-Morra Gambit

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bc4 Bb4 7.0–0 Nge7 8.Bg5 0–0

…f6 is best but hard to find and play at the board.

9.Rc1 [9.Qe2 is normal.]

9…a6 [9…h6 is better.]

10.a3 Bc5N [black needs to swap the bishop off. 10…Bxc3 11.Rxc3 h6 is likely best and equal..]

11.b4 [this is to drive the bishop off the a3–f8 diagonal.]

11…Ba7 12.Qe2 [After e5 White also has enough for a pawn. An alternative approach is 12.Qd2 Bb8= which is also equal.]

12…b5 13.Ba2 Bb7 14.Rfd1 d6 15.e5= [engines give this as equal, but it is much easier to play as white.]

15…d5 [15…h6 16.Rxd6 Qb8 17.Bxh6 Nxe5 18.Qxe5=]

16.Ne4 [with two ideas – mating attack or a positional approach with Nc5.]

16…Qb8??

[best is to give up the queen ¹16…dxe4 I looked at 17.Rxd8 Raxd8 18.Qxe4 Rd7² after this white is a bit better but blacks pieces have at least joined the party. 19.Bb1 (I intended 19.Qg4 Ng6 but black can stay in the game by applying pressure to the pawn on e5 which has to be defended by a piece I’m trying to sac :-). 20.Bxe6 fxe6 21.Qxe6+ Rdf7 22.Rxc6 Bxc6 23.Qxc6 Nxe5) ]

17.Nf6+!! [“Boom!” as Mr Simon Williams says.]

17…gxf6 [17…Kh8 is the only chance. Once the bishop gets to f6 it is just too strong. 18.Bb1 Nf5+–]

18.Bxf6 Ng6 19.Qd2 Nce7

20.g4! and black resigned

1–0