More Correspondence Chess

Alan Ruffle (1371) - Spanton (2330)

British Correspondence Chess Championship Reserves Section D

Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.0-0!?

This gambit goes back to at least 1801.

How should Black respond?

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5...Nxe4!?

In practice, at least over the board, the pawn is normally declined, but Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 agree the text is best.
6.d4 d5!?

This scores a fabulous 69% in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, but the engines fluctuate between it and the more popular 6...exd4.

7.Re1?!

Normal is 7.dxc5 or 7.Bb5, while the engines like Viktor Kupreichik's 7.Nxe5!?

7...Bb6 8.Bb3?!

The engines suggest 8.Bb5 or 8.Bd3.

8...0-0 9.Nbd2 Nxd2 10.Bxd2 e4 11.Ng5

With the centre closed, it is hard to see White getting any compensation for being a pawn dawn

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11...Na5 12.Qh5 Bf5

An only-move (12...h6? loses to 13.Nxf7! Rxf7 14.Bxd5 Qf6 15.Rxe4, with a strong attack), but it is a complete answer to White's kingside ambitions.

13.Re3 Nxb3 14.axb3 Bg6 15.Qg4 f5 16.Qh4 f4 17.Rh3 Qf6 18.g3 f3

White is losing a significant amount of material.

19.Qf4 h6 20.Qxf6 Rxf6 0-1