Lessons From Bischofsgrün

IN round one of the senior (55+) championship of Upper Franconia, my opponent, Hartmut Kumeth (1784), laid down his marker as early as move two when he followed 1.Nf3 c5 with 2.c3!?

As I pointed out in my notes to the game, 2.c3!? is not extremely rare (the position occurs 1,577 times in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database) and the move has been played by many top grandmasters.

It is also true that White can afford more leeway in the opening than Black before falling into serious trouble.

But by move seven, the following position had been reached.

White has just played 7.Be2, and is yet to advance anything to the fourth rank

Indeed, by playing 7...e4, I was first to occupy White's fourth rank.

It was not until move 12 that White finally, if briefly, reached his fourth rank by playing 12.dxe4.

I recaptured with the d pawn, so again White had nothing beyond the third rank

It was not until move 18 that White actually established something on the fourth.

White has just played 18.c3-c4

I do not think many players will be surprised to learn that Stockfish18 and Dragon1 reckon Black has a won game.

Indeed White only lasted another four moves.

LESSON: space in chess is important. If you are cramped, and have no compensation, such as pressure against the opponent's centre, you may well be lost.