Milan Simul 1923
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 c6!? 3.dxc6 Qc7?!
It is hard to believe Black can afford this extravagance.
4.cxb7 Bxb7
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| Black has a lead in development and open lines but, unlike with 3...Nxc6, is unlikely to get a central space advantage |
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5.d4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Nc6!? 7.Nf3
If 7.d5?! then 7...Rd8 or 7...0-0-0.
7...0-0-0!? 8.Bd3
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| How should Black proceed? |
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8...e5
Not 8...Nxd4? 9.Nxd4 Rxd4 10.Bf5+.
9.0-0!?
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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Black still has a handy lead in development, which gives practical chances, but remains two pawns down and has the less-safe king, despite there being a lot of black pieces in its vicinity. Stockfish15.1 and Komodo14.1 reckon White is winning.
9...exd4 10.Nb5
Not 10.Nxd4?? as the white knight is simply lost after 10...Nxd4.
10...Qd7 11.Bf4 Bc5 12.a3 Nh5
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| How should White continue? |
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13.Bg3?
This 'safety-first' move is a serious mistake. Best-play, according to the engines, runs 13.Ne5 Nxe5 and either Bxe5 or Qxh5!?, eg 14.Bxe5 Nf6 (14...Qd5 can be met by 15.Bf5+) 15.b4 Qd5 16.Bf5+ Nd7 17.Qg4, and if 17...Qxe5 then 18.Rfe1 h5 19.Qh3 Qd5, when both 20.c4 and 20.Be4 seem to give a huge attack. This is tricky stuff to find over-the-board, especially in a simul, but certainly not beyond the future world champion's abilities. Probably simpler, for White at least, is 14.Qxh5!? Qd5 15.Qh3+ Kb8 16.Bc4! Qe4 17.Qg3 f6 18.Rfe1 Qxg2+ 19.Qxg2 Bxg2 20.Bxe5+ fxe5 21.Rxe5! with a large advantage.
13...Nxg3 14.fxg3!
The engines agree this is best. After 14.hxg3 White does not have a good answer to 14...a6.
14...g6
If 14...a6?! then 15.Ng5 is strong. The text covers the sensitive f5 square.
15.b4 Bb6?!
The engines prefer 15...Bf8!?, removing the bishop from being a target for White's queenside pawns.
16.a4!? Nxb4
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| Black has won back both his sacrificed pawns, and even has the bishop-pair, but the black king is still the more-exposed, although the position remains chaotic |
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17.a5 Bc5 18.a6 Ba8
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| The white a pawn has charged down the board, but what should White play now? |
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19.Kh1?!
Another safety-first move, and probably another mistake. The engines reckon 19.Qd2 and 19.Rb1 retain an edge for White.
19...Rhe8 20.Qd2?!
The engines prefer 20.Qb1!? or 20.Na3!?
20...Nc6?
Missing a chance to cause White major problems by 20...Nxd3, eg 21.Qxd3 Bc6 22.Rab1 Re3 23.Qc4 Qd5 24.Qxd5 Rxd5, after which White's pieces have difficulties finding useful moves.
21.Rab1
Stronger seems to be the engines' 21.Ra4!?, after which Black has problems defending d4.
21...f6?!
Almost certainly too slow. The engines like 21...Ne5 or 21...Re3.
22.c3! dxc3 23.Qxc3 Bb6
Or 23...Qxd3 24.Qxc5 with what seems to be a decisive attack, eg 24...Rd7?! 25.Rfc1 Kd8 26.Nxa7! Rxa7 27.Rd1. Probably better is 24...Rd5 but 25.Nxa7+ Kd7 26.Qf2 looks very good for White.
24.Bc4 Re3?
White's advantage is much less clear after 24...Kb8.
25.Qc2?
The 'greedy' 25.Qxf6 wins a pawn and keeps the pressure on Black's position.
25...Kb8 26.Rfd1 Qe7 27.Bd5?
Walking into a combination. White maybe has a slight edge after 27.Rxd8+, according to the engines.
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| Black to play and win |
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27...Rxd5
Also winning is 27...Nb4.
28.Rxd5 Nb4 29.Rd7!?
Desperation, but White's position is beyond saving.
29...Qxd7 30.Rxb4 Rxf3!? 31.Rf4
Or 31.Rb1 Qxb5!
31...Qxb5 32.Rxf3 Bxf3 33.Qc1
If 33.gxf3 then 33...Qf1#.
33...Be4 34.Qf4+ Kc8 0-1
CONCLUSION: it is not surprising 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 c6!? attracts tactically minded grandmasters and other strong players, especially at fast time rates. Objectively the gambit must be borderline unsound, but if it is good enough to sometimes beat titled players, it is surely worth an outing at club level, particularly if you know your opponent likes a quiet, positional life.
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