Mike Splane (2205) – Randolph Moore (1640)

Kolty Chess Club April 17, 2008

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Bc5 ?

I’ve never seen this before. Randolph told me after the game that he invented this gambit, and had been playing it for thirty years, without any loses. I thought for about 7 minutes before I was convinced that taking the pawn was ok.

I looked this position up in Chesslab.com after the game. I was shocked to find 52! games. White won 40 and Black won 10. White did not capture the pawn in 30 games!!!

3. Ne5 Qh4

I was expecting this move. If there are any traps they must be based on the double attack on e4 and f2. Simple development with Nf6 may be better.

4. d4 !

It looks logical to hold onto the extra pawn with Qe2 or Qf3 but If there are any traps they would be based on something like 4 … d6 and 5 … Bg4 to take advantage of the awkward location of my queen. My choice, d4 is a safe and logical move, returning the pawn to gain tempos for development.

4. … Qe4+ 5. Be3 Be7 6. Nd2

If 6. Nc3 Bb4 and his queen is relatively safe in the center.

6. … Qd5 7. Qg4

I looked at 7. Bc4 Qg2 8. Bf7+ Kf8 9. Qf3 Qf3 10. N2f3 d6 but I didn’t see any advantage for White here. I also briefly looked at 7. c4 grabbing space. This is a good positional line, but by now I was looking for more. I want to play something sharp to take advantage of my lead in development.

7. … Nf6

I also considered 7. … Qe6 8. Qg7 Bf6 9. Qg3 and thought I was up a safe extra pawn.

8. Qg7 Rg8 9. Qh6 d6 10. Bc4

Sacrificing a piece for rapid development. Retreating the knight lets him get back in the game, he’ll develop with threats to my queen.

10. … Qg2 11. Bf7+ Kd8 12. 0-0-0 de

After 12. … Rg7 my plan is to exploit the open g file with Nf3 and Rhg1. Curiously either knight can move to f3. During the game I thought that 13. N2f3 de 14. de+ was winning, but missed 14. … N6d7 15. Rhg1 Qf3 1. Rg7. After the game I found 13. N5f3! Rf7 14. Rhg1 Qh3 15. Ng5! Qh6 16. Nf7+ any 17. Nh6 winning the exchange.

13. de

This is stronger than 13. Bg8 ed

13. … Rg6?

I expected 13. … Ng4 14. Qh7 Rf8. I am clearly better but I didn’t see any forced winning sequence.

14. Bg6 Qg6 15. ef Qf6 ?

He was also losing after 15. … Qh6 16. fe+ or 15. …. Bf6 16.Qf8+ or 15. … Bd6 16. Rhg1

16. Ne4+ 1-0