The new book by David Smerdon advocating a universal panacea against White’s most popular first move 1 e4 is so important that I am devoting a second article to lines where White tries to hold the gambit pawn with c4. A key point of Smerdon’s treatise is that his special line is easy to learn. Smerdon’s Scandinavian is published by Everyman Chess.
White: Andrei Sokolov. Black: Jonathan Speelman. Madrid 1988. Scandinavian Defence.
1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Nf6 3 c4 e6 4 dxe6 Bxe6 This is the Icelandic Gambit. 5 d4 Bb4+ 6 Bd2 Qe7 7 Bxb4 Qxb4+ 8 Nd2 Nc6 Black must have no fear in the Icelandic, and be willing to sacrifice a piece on d5 in several lines. 9 Ngf3 0-0-0 10 d5 Bg4 Black could have finished the contest immediately: 10 ... Nxd5!! 11 cxd5 Bxd5 is extremely powerful, intending ... Bxf3, ... Rhe8, and a likely occupation of d4 by the knight. 11 Be2 11 dxc6! Rhe8+ 12 Be2 Nh5! gives Black dangerous play for the piece. 11 ... Bxf3 12 Bxf3 Rhe8+ 13 Kf1 Nd4 14 Qc1 Nxf3 15 Nxf3 Re4 16 b3 Rde8 17 h3 Nh5 18 g3 Nxg3+ Black’s second knight sacrifice. 19 fxg3 Re3 20 Ng1 Black’s attack certainly looks menacing after 20 Kg2 Re2+, but in the cold light of computer analysis it appears that White can survive with 21 Kf1 Qb6 22 Rh2. 20 ... Qd6 The queen makes a deadly switch to the kingside. White’s position is indefensible. 21 Rh2 Rxg3 22 Qb2 Qg6 23 Kf2 Ree3 24 Ne2 Rgf3+ 25 Ke1 Qg1+ 26 Kd2 Qxh2 27 Re1 Qf2 White resigns
Spot the Move 973: Black to move
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This position is from Sergeev-Saulin, Tula 2005. White’s king is horribly exposed. Can you spot the key tactic to finish the game?
Send your solution (first move only), to Sunday Times Spot the Move 973, The Sunday Times, 1 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9GF, or email to puzzle.entries@sunday-times.co.uk. The first correct answer drawn after next Saturday wins £20.
Solution to Spot the Move 971: 1 Rh7+! leads to 1 ... Kxh7 2 Qe7+ Kh8 3 Qg7 mate.
Winner
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Chess 970
Simon Foale, Weybridge, Surrey