DDG and Tarrasch Defence, Marshall Gambit


Aaro Jalas sent this amazing game, which transposes to the DDG. It was included in Seltene Gambits ("Rare Gambits") by Anatoli Mazukewitsch.

Junejew - Shimarjow, 1978

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5

This is the Tarrasch Defence, Marshall Gambit.

4.cxd5 exd5 5.e4 dxe4 6.d5

Now this has transposed to a well-known DDG position: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.c4 dxe4 4.Nc3 c5 5.d5 exd5 6.cxd5.

6...f5!? 7.Bf4








7.Bb5+ Bd7 8.Bxd7+ Qxd7 9.Nh3 Bd6 10.Ng5 Na6 11.O-O Nf6 12.f3 O-O 13.Ne6 Rf7 14.fxe4? Nxe4 15.Nxe4 fxe4 and Black has advantage, Marshall-Spielmann 1908. 14.Bg5!? would have been a natural way to create initiative, according to Mazukewitsch.

7...Bd6 8.Bb5+ Kf7 9.Nh3 Nf6

Maybe 9...a6 could be an improvement: White should find a new square for the bishop, because 10.Bc4 b5 would give Black an important tempo in the queenside.

10.Bc4

10.Ng5+ Kg6 11.Qd2?! Bxf4 12.Qxf4 Nh5 13.Qe5 Qxg5 14.h4 has been played, but 14...Qf4 15.Be8+ Kh6 16.g4 Qxg4 is good for Black.

10...a6

Black wants to prevent 11.Nb5.

11.Ng5+!?

11.a4 h6 12.f3 Re8 13.O-O e3 14.Qd3 Bxf4 15.d6+ Kf8 16.Nxf4 g5 17.Ng6+ Kg7 18.Ne7 Rxe7 19.dxe7 Qxd3 20.Bxd3 f4?! (20...Kf7) 21.Nd5 Ne8? (21...Bd7 22.Nb6 Ra7 23.Bc4 +/-; 21...Nbd7? 22.Nc7 +-) 22.Nb6 1-0, Heikkinen - Davies, corr. 1996.

See games with 11.a4 Te8 and 11...h6.

11...Kg6 12.Ne2








12...h6

12...Bxf4 13.Nxf4+ Kxg5 (14.Qd2 e3) wins according to Fritz!

13.Ne6 Qe7 14.Qb3 Kh7 15.Qg3 Bxf4 16.N2xf4 g5

This is risky, leaving Black's king in an open position.

17.d6

Space for the light-squared bishop, but 17.Nxg5+! hxg5 18.Qh3+ Kg7 19.Qxh8+! Kxh8 20.Ng6+ wins according to Fritz.

17...Qxd6








17...gxf4 18.Qh4 wins.

18.Nxg5+

Editor's note: Incredible 18.h4!! looks like a winning move: 18...g4 19.Ng5+ or 18...Bxe6 19.hxg5 or 18...Nh5 19.Nxg5+ hxg5 20.hxg5. Fritz agrees that it is the best move, giving assessment +2.3.

18...hxg5 19.Qxg5 Ne8

After 19...Rhg8!? 20.Bxg8+ Nxg8, Black gets a knight and bishop for the rook, but queenside is still undeveloped and the king's position is uncertain. Besides, instead of 20.Bxg8+, White can continue the attack with 20.Qh4+ Kg7 21.Rd1, and Black's queen can hardly beat all the threats.

20.Be6 Qxe6!?

White's advantage is decisive; Fritz assesses +1.6.


DDG News 3, Jyrki Heikkinen (ed.)