Thursday, August 20, 2009

His Gambit Yes, Blackmar No

Chess Sparks, the 1895 book by J. H. Ellis, included one game by A. E. Blackmar among its 400 miniatures, but it was not a Blackmar Gambit (see Blackmar Yes, His Gambit No). However, the book did include one:
  
Fazan,W. S. - M.
Played at Oliphant's about 1891
Blackmar Gambit Accepted

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.f3 exf3

game_170

[The Blackmar Gambit accepted. In a later game Mr. Fazan was instructed in the gambit's principal defect when 3...e5 was played against him. I'll save that for another post.]

4.Nxf3 Nf6 5.Bd3 Bg4 6.c3 e6 7.0-0 Bd6
 
game_171

8.Qe1 Bxf3 9.Rxf3 c6 10.Bg5 Be7 11.Qh4

game_172

11...Nbd7 12.Nd2 Nd5 13.Ne4 f6 14.Raf1
 
game_173

14...fxg5?? Now mate is forced. 15.Qh5+ g6

game_174

16.Qxg6+ 

[16.Nd6+ gets it done one move sooner. 16...Bxd6 17.Bxg6+ Ke7 (17...hxg6 18.Qxg6+ Ke7 19.Qf7#) 18.Rf7+ Ke8 19.Rxh7#]

16...hxg6 17.Nd6+ Bxd6 18.Bxg6+ Ke7 19.Rf7+ Ke8 20.Rh7# 1-0

game_175

Play through the game and download PGN here.