Coulsdon Autumn Daytime Round 13

PLAYED yesterday afternoon.

Spanton (2044 ECF/1829 Fide) - Garry Wimble (1083 ECF/1018 Fide)

King's Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.f4 d6!?

2...Bc5 is a much better-known way to decline the King's Gambit, but the text is also popular with grandmasters.

3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Bc4 Qf6?!

Not a great square for the queen, considering White's reply.

5.Nc3!?

This appears to be a good novelty - certainly Stockfish14.1 and Komodo12.1.1 prefer it to 5.0-0, after which they reckon 5...exf4 equalises.

5...Qxf4?! 6.0-0 Qf6 7.Nd5 Qd8 8.d4 c6 9.Ne3 Bxf3 10.Rxf3!?

This recapture is better than 10.Qxf6, according to the engines. It also sets a sort of trap.

10...Nf6?!

Protecting the f7 square with 10....Nh6 or 10...f6 is probably better, but in any case White is well on top.

How should White proceed?

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11.dxe5?

White is winning, according to the engines, after 11.Bxf7+! Kxf7 12.dxe5 etc, or 11...Ke7 12.Bb3. In the latter case material is even, but the engines reckon White's huge lead in development is decisive.

11...dxe5 12.Bxf7+ Kxf7??
Black is very much still in the game after 12...Ke7 as 13.Nf5+? loses to 13...Kxf7 14.Qxd8 Bx5+ etc.

13.Qxd8 1-0