His only King's Gambit in Mega25, for example, began 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Qf6!?, while three of the four times he faced the Scotch, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4, he continued 4...Qh4!?
What particularly interested me was the one time he faced the Exchange Variation of the Spanish, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6, when he continued 4...bxc6!?
All three lines are playable as surprise weapons, at least at club level, but when White has plenty of time to prepare, it is another matter.
Our game proceeded down the Spanish line give above, when the commonest moves in Mega25 are 5.0-0 and 5.Nxe5!?
However Stockfish17 is not impressed, preferring 5.d4 and 5.Nc3!?
I played the latter as it is rarer, and was immediately rewarded when Black replied 5...d6, the most popular move in Mega25.
After the further 6.d4 exd4, Stockfish17 and Dragon1 reckon 7.Qxd4!? would already have given me the upper hand.
Instead I played 7.Nxd4, which the engines agree gives White a slight edge, and just two moves later I had what the engines reckon was a won game.
LESSON: in these days of databases it is unwise to make yourself a sitting target by repeating risky lines when the opponent has time to prepare.
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