Charleshouse,G (2330) - Wittman,J (2192) [C63]
NWEagles v Wessex Rd01-Birmingham (1.5), 23.09.2000
[Charlie Kennaugh]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 The Schliemann Gambit, one of black's most aggressive responses to the Ruy Lopez 4.Nc3 fxe4 5.Nxe4 Nf6 The main alternative to the sharp main line 5...d5. With 5...Nf6 black is happy to gambit a pawn in the hope that the bishop pair and good development will offer sufficient compensation. 6.Nxf6+ 6.Qe2 is the main alternative 6...Qxf6 7.Qe2 Be7 8.Bxc6 dxc6 9.Nxe5 Bf5 10.0-0!?
A rather unusual move recommended by John Emms. Normal is 10.d3 0-0 11.0-0 Rae8 12.Nc4 Qg6 with some compensation for the pawn. 10...Bxc2!? This has to be the critical response, but I cannot find a single practical example. In the few games I've found with 10.0-0 black has played simply 10...0-0. Castling long must also be an option. 11.d3 0-0-0!? [11...0-0? 12.Nf3 Qg6 13.Ne1 loses a piece; 11...Rd8 12.Re1 Ba4 13.Ng4±] 12.Re1! A strong move which forces black into a speculative sacrificial line 12.Qg4+ Kb8 13.Nd7+ Rxd7 14.Qxd7 Rd8 with compensation for the exchange. 12...Bd6 13.Qg4+ Kb8 14.Bg5 14...Bxe5! Probably black's best practical chance is to give the queen up for two bishops. Black would no longer get any compensation for the exchange. 14...h5 15.Qh4 Qf8 16.Bxd8 Qxd8 17.Qxd8+ Rxd8 18.Nf7 Rf8 19.Nxd6 cxd6 20.Re3+- 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Rac1 Bxd3 17.Qg3?! White prefers to activate his pieces rather than hold the b-pawn. However, I would have preferred to hold the b-pawn with 17.b4 or Qb4, believing that white must have long-term winning chances based on his kingside pawn majority. 17...Bxb2 18.Re7 Rc8 19.Rce1 19.Rxc6!? (Dale J's suggestion) 19...bxc6 20.Qxd3 Rcd8 21.Qb3+ Kc8 does not look entirely clear. 19...Bg6 20.Rd7 Rhd8 21.Rxd8 21.Ree7 Rxd7 22.Rxd7 may be better 21...Rxd8 22.Qb3 Bd4 23.h3 c5 24.g3 White could have considered 24.Kf1 ]24...a6 25.Kg2 Be8 26.Re7?! Better would have been 26.g4 Bc6+ 27.Kg3 26...Bc6+ 27.Kf1 c4 28.Qc2 Bf6 29.Re1 c3! 30.Rd1 30.Qxh7?! Rd2 would have given black a strong initiative. 30...Bb5+ 31.Kg2 Re8 32.Qxh7 Else Bc6+ followed by Bf3 with active play for black. 32...Re2?! Stronger was 32...Bc6+ 33.Rc1?! 33.Kf3! was more accurate. Having played 33.Rc1, agreeing a draw was a reasonable decision because after 33...Bc6+ 34.Kf1 Rd2 or Bb5 black is very active and it would probably be too risky to play for a win. A very interesting game nevertheless! 1/2-1/2
