Further, imagine it is a defence played by the likes of Paul Keres, Rudolf Spielmann, Kurt Richter and Emil Diemer.
Add to this the fact that Alexander Alekhine was among those Whites who on occasion failed to beat the defence (he was once significantly worse against an amateur after just seven moves), and you might think it is indeed worth giving it an outing.
Because it is a gambit, it can be especially effective at relatively fast time limits, and as a surprise weapon (which it almost always will be).
The defence is the Englund Gambit, which arises when Black meets 1.d4 with 1...e5!?
Here is the game where a future world champion struggled to show his superior talent.
Alekhine - V Lifschitz
Bern (Switzerland) Simul 1922
1.d4 e5!? 2.dxe5 d5!?
Overwhelmingly most popular is 2...Nc6, which makes 2...d5!? a surprise move in what is already a surprise defence. But probably a better way of implementing this idea is 2...d6!?
3.exd6!?
This is White's usual response, at least in ChessBase's 2020 Mega database, but the analysis engines Stockfish10 and Komodo10 reckon White is much better off with a move such as 3.e4, which is less good after 2...d6!?
3...Bxd6
For his pawn, Black has opened diagonals for both bishops and has a developed piece, while White has merely opened a diagonal for one of his bishops.
4.Nc3 Nf6 5.e4 0-0 6.Bg5?!
This natural-looking move may be a mistake. The engines give 6.Bd3 with advantage to White.
6...Re8 7.Bd3?!
Better is the engines' 7.Qf3.
 |
| How should Black proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
7...Nc6
Strong is 7...Nxe4!, one point being that 8.Bxd8?? loses to 8...Nxc3+, eg 9.Ne2 Nxd1 10.Bxc7 Nxf2 11.Bxd6 Nxd3+ 12.cxd3 Bg4 etc. Better is 8.Nxe4, but 8...Qxg5 9.Nge2 Nd7 is very good for Black.
8.Nge2 h6 9.Bh4 Bg4 10.h3 Bxe2 11.Nxe2 g5 12.Bg3 Nxe4 13.Bxe4 Rxe4 14.0-0
White gets his king to safety, but meanwhile Black has won back his pawn and has fully equalised (½–½, 27 moves).
(to be continued)
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