Amateur V. Master Continues

Ok, I am certainly not a world champion, but I do operate a computer program that beat one. And with the last game out of Euwe's book Chess Master v. Chess Amateur, I simply have to continue.
I had been playing gambits against my son in order to sharpen up the games and give him more to think about. This has also made my game more aggressive as I beat the 1700 player at the mall (heh). So what better game to look at then then game 17. Where he demonstrates the power of the gambit in the right hands.

And right away it is another Scandinavian. And not only that, an odd and what looks like a totally busted version of the Scandinavian. This version looks like it ought to have a name, better than center counter gambit. So if anyone can find one, let me know.

Interestingly enough, the win here for the Master, has nothing to do with the gambit. And the master continuously suffers from wish chess. Hopefully, this is not the lesson that we should be learning. Even with white following the wish chess line, in the online databases the amateur side has 100% success (with 3 games played), and he is a huge favorite with the stronge lines (about 88%). Simply, if you were a master, you should not be playing this gambit. So you amateurs out there don't do it!

This does turn out to be a game about aggression, and white apparently doesn't have any. But have fun!

[Event "Chess Master V Chess Amateur"]
[Site "Euwes Book"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Amateur"]
[Black "Master"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B01"]
[Annotator "Hisbestfriend"]


1. e4 d5
2. exd5 c6
3. dxc6 Nxc6
{No idea what this is called, other than a mistake. Does not have good results at all for Black Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne Gambit -- Takchess. Thanks!}

4. Bb5
{Euwes Amateur plays this in order to uspset the Queenside pawns and to simplify the position, so that his advantages are greater. This is OK, but the truth of most K-side games is that black *must* solve the f-pawn problem, and that most gains can be had, trying to take advantage of that. It must be VERY compelling to not do so. In this case, Nf3 or Bc4 both flexibly develop and can be utilized against the Fpawn. Experience is on my side too. According to the Sheebar.ctg NF3 and Bc4 are both huge winning moves. 88% and 67% respectfully. This is another example where the Master must depend on wish chess, and hope the Amateur screws up. Fundamentally, I would expect sounder Master play, and the Amateur having reasons to screw up in the face of good play.}

4. ... e5 ?!

{Both engines think this is a mistake, and just provides a target for white. This is only OK, if white continues with his weak plan. This stinks of "wish chess". But the Master should play better chess and not depend on the Amateur's inability to come up with better plans. For the book, to come up with a better play that e5, he should have considered Nf6. In real
life he can take whatever life out of the position that white is developing with Qd5. Which helps cements black lead in development, and forces the loss of one of the Fpawn attackers the white bishop.}

5. Bxc6+
{Continuing with plan, which would be an amateurish continuation. The threat remains, there is no reason to be forced to complete it, he should develop more pieces and more threats against the opponent, and seriously consider attacking the pawn on e5.}
5. ... bxc6
{Euwe believes that he has recieved ample compensation for the pawn in this position. Maybe. Fritz and Rybka, love gambits. They love piece mobility that comes from them. They both think that white is ahead slightly, but they recognize the freedom that black has here as good.}
6. Nc3
{Euwe's Amateur dismisses Nf3 because of e5. Even though that after e5, Qe7 creates a good deal of development for white. Unfortunately, white has not been punishing black for his gambit, and has been letting black set the agenda. But, he is the Amateur. For folks reading at home. Remember: Aggression!}
(6.Nf3 e4 7. Qe2 Qe7 8. Nd4 Bb7 9. Nc3 Nf6 10. O-O)
6... Nf6
7. d3
{Continues passive play. But there is a hidden plus to this move. Bg5.}
7. ... Bb4
{Here is another slight misstep by the Master. Euwe believes that the game is about the e4 square, though Fritz and Rybka both think that the game is about tempo, and mobility, and that to trade off your wonderful black bishop is too much to ask. Or it can be forced away and lose tempo. Neither very good. There are just better moves here.}
8. Bd2
{White has now squandered any advantage he may have had by the e4 push, and allowed black to build indevelopment and mobility. This is why he is an Amateur. In the rest of the game you will find that white suffers from a lack of aggression, and a lack of plan. Not so much that black played a gambit, which is what Euwe was claiming for this chapter. Fundamentally, Euwe's master created targets that would have allowed the Amateur to counter and develop, making his gambit not worthwhile. But, white went passive and allowed black to become more powerful. Ultimately losing.}
8. ... O-O
9. Nf3 Re8
10. O-O Bg4
11. Re1 Re6 !

{This of all the masters move, is the best move, and the best explanation. The software here sort of founders, without a plan, and has lots of things it might *try*.The problem with the move is that it doesn't quite work, and requires white to play a little unusually in the next few moves. I still like it, because it showed the inkling of a plan going forward. It would have been interesting to see what might of happened had white played better.}
12. Ne4 ?
{Now white gets active. Sheesh. He needed to release some pressure on the K-side. h3 would have been a normal move, but this is wow. Even though Euwe calls this
"correct", it is wrong. And ultimately probably losing}
12. ...Nxe4
13. Rxe4 Bxf3!
14. gxf3
{And all of the sudden, the problem with Ne4, and what was good about Re6. This structure here around the K is a good one to remember for taking out your opponent, and should be raising major major red flags. So long as the major pieces are on board, white's king is in major danger. Black has a clear target and plans going forward. White can move his rook from e4 to g4 and then g2 which would probably save the day, but...}
14. ... Bxd2
15. Qxd2 f5!
{This is the kind of play you want to see from your Master. He his starting to take aways the hopes from white. He is no longer able to block the gfile.}
16. Re2 ??
{The chapterending move. It is not clear why white should move here. But the Amateur does. He unfortunately does not see that it is important to keep the rook mobile, in the game and more importantly keep an eye on the h4 square.}
16. ...Qh4 !!
{This is the point, and the game is essentially over here. This game had nothing to do with a gambit, and blacks gambit is really poor. But wishes do come true!}
17. f4 Qg4+ !
{Re6+ is doesn't work, because f2-f3 opens the 2nd rank for protection. And while black is ahead, it isn't over. This is important because of the ability of the Queen to park on f3, and in Seattle chess, a battery headed by a Queen is called leading with your head, and tends to be more powerful.}
(17... Rg6+ 18. Kh1 Qh3 19. f3 Qxf3+ 20. Rg2 exf4 21. Qe2)
18. Kf1
(18. Kh1 Qf3+ 19. Kg1 Rg6+ 20. Kf1 Qh1#)
18... Rg6
19. Ree1 exf4
{Euwe does not show you how the game ends, and sort of claims that it will end in a mate in two moves. This isn't true, but the below variation will show you how it results in all the major pieces coming off the board, and black a rook up. Hardly over when Euwe finished the game, and the Amateur surely couldn't see the coup de grace. Black did have a way to go wrong. Oh well.}
(20. Qb4 Qg1+ 21. Ke2 Re8+ 22. Kd1 Rxe1+ 23. Qxe1 Qxe1+ 24. Kxe1 Rg1+ 25. Kd2 Rxa1)
0-1