Miniatures 47

IN this occasional series I am going through my decisive games of 20 moves or fewer.

Spanton (164 BCF) - Paul Stimpson (154 BCF)

Hastings Challengers 1992-3

Scotch Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4

This scores two percentage points higher than 4.Nxd4 in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database.

4...Be7

This position also arises from the Hungarian Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.d4 exd4

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 d6 7.0-0 a6!? 8.a4 Bd7 9.Bg5 Qc8?

This appears to be a novelty - the move still does not appear in Mega26 - and not a good one. Known moves are 9...h6 and 9...0-0.

10.f4

Even stronger, according to Stockfish18 and Dragon1, is 10.Nd5!?

10...Bg4?

The bishop becomes a target here. The engines suggest 10...0-0, but agree White is better.

11.Qd2 h6?! 12.Nxc6

The engines prefer 12.e5 or 12.Bxf6, and if the latter is met by 12...Bxf6, then 13.e5.

12...bxc6 13.Bxf6!? gxf6?! 14.f5!? d5!? 15.exd5 Bxf5 16.dxc6 Rg8

The engines suggest 16...Be6, but Black's position cannot be saved, eg 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.Qxd5 Qe6!? 19.Rad1!? Qxd5 20.Rxd5 Rd8 21.Rfd1 Rxd5 22.Rxd5 Bd6 23.Bxa6, when opposite-coloured bishops are not enough to rescue Black's game.

17.Kh1 Rg5 18.Rae1 Kf8?! 19.Nd5 Bd6 20.Nxf6 1-0

Black is 'only' two pawns down, but the engines reckon White's advantage is worth at least +7.50.

LESSON: in sharp, open games, it is dangerous to fall behind in development.