Monday, September 22, 2008

Blackmar's Second Gambit

I've always reserved a special place in my gambiteer's heart for the Staunton Gambit, given its affinity to the Blackmar-Diemer. You don't see it that often in "serious" play, but a nice little game turned up recently in the Michigan Senior Championships.

Santiago,Ray (2000) - Kitts,Gary (1931)
2008 Senior Championships, Michigan (2), 31.05.2008
Staunton Gambit [A82]

1.e4 d6 2.d4 f5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 Nc6 5.Bg5 e5 6.Bb5 Bd7 7.Nge2 Nxd4?! 





8.Nxd4 exd4 9.Qxd4 Bxb5 10.Nxb5 fxe4 11.0-0-0 Be7 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Qxe4+ Kf8 14.Rhe1 g6 15.Nd4 Qd7 16.Ne6+ Kf7 17.Nc5 Qf5 18.Qc4+ Kg7 19.Ne6+ Kh6 20.g4 Qxf3 21.Rd3 Qf2 22.Rh3+ Bh4 
 
23.Rxh4+! Qxh4 24.Qf4+ 1-0

Blackmar’s thematic f2-f3 is also found in a line in the Staunton Gambit against the Dutch Defense (1. d4 f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.f3). This 1ine, which often results in BDG-like positions, is referred to, appropriately enough, as Blackmar's second gambit. An example from Blackmar himself:

Blackmar,AE - Labry,A 
Staunton Gambit [A82]
(Game 0366 in BDG World)

1.d4 f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.f3 exf3 4.Nxf3 Nf6 5.Bd3 e6 6.Ng5 g6 7.Nxh7 Rxh7 8.Bxg6+ Rf7 9.Bg5 Be7 10.0-0 Kf8 11.Bxf7 Kxf7 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Qh5+ Kf8 14.Qh8+
and White wins.