TIME BANDITS

Have you got time on your side? At the start of a game of chess TIME is vitally important. You shouldn't start an attack until you've got all your pieces out - or more pieces than your opponent. In OPEN GAMES - the ones you are learning on this course, RAPID DEVELOPMENT is ESSENTIAL.

In some openings one player, usually White, gives up MATERIAL in order to gain an advantage in TIME. In this lesson we'll look at one of them.

It's called the DANISH GAMBIT and starts like this.

White: G Schnitzler Black: A Alexandre

Paris 1879

1. e2-e4 e7-e5

2. d2-d4 e5xd4

3. c2-c3 d4xc3

4. Bf1-c4 c3xb2

5. Bc1xb2 (Diagram)

What's going on here? White has SACRIFICED two Pawns but just look at his Bishops. You'll see from the games just how strong they are. Just as a taster, what would White play now after Bf8-c5? Yes, Bb2xg7, SNARING the Rook in the corner. Is White's lead in development worth two pawns? Nobody knows for certain. White must play for the attack and try to avoid exchanges. Otherwise he'll just be two pawns behind and lose the ENDING. Black must try to catch up in DEVELOPMENT while meeting White's THREATS.

Let's see what happened in the game between Schnitzler and Alexandre.

5... Qd8-g5?

DON'T BRING YOUR QUEEN OUT TOO SOON!

6. Ng1-f3 Qg5xg2 (Diagram)

Black greedily eats another pawn. What should White do next?

If you think CCT the first move you look at will be Bc4xf7+. If you know about EXPLOSIONS ON f7 the first move you look at will also be Bc4xf7+. Which just happens to be the right answer. The point is that if Black takes the Bishop, Rh1-g1 will win the Queen, because Qg2-h3 allows the KNIGHT FORK Nf3-g5+. If you played Rh1-g1, intending to meet Qg2-h3 with Bc4xf7+, that's just as good.

7. Bc4xf7+ Ke8-d8

Black sees what's coming and declines the offer.

8. Rh1-g1 Bf8-b4+

9. Nb1-c3 Qg2-h3

10. Rg1-g3 Qh3-h6

11. Qd1-b3

This is a QUEEN FORK, THREATENING the Bishop on b4 and the Knight on g8. Black can get out of it, but, behind in DEVELOPMENT and with his King stuck in the centre, he's not going to survive.

11... Bb4xc3+

12. Qb3xc3 Ng8-f6 (Diagram)

White's attack consists of five pieces: Queen, Rook, two Bishops and Knight. Black's defence comprises just two pieces: a Queen and a Knight. A five-man attack will always beat a two-man defence, but can you find the win? CCT!

In fact the best way to win is Bb2-c1 (a hard move to see), THREATENING the Queen, which has no good squares. And if Black tries 12... Nf6xe4, White has 13. Bc1xh6 Ne4xc3 14. Bh6-g5#!

But in the game White preferred something flashier but not quite as good.

13. Rg3-g6!?

SACRIFICING a Rook! Black could play Nf6xe4 here, when he should still lose, but instead he took the Rook, falling for the trap.

13... h7xg6 (Diagram)

Think CCT and you'll discover the reason for the Rook Sacrifice.

14. Qc3xf6+

That's right: now a QUEEN SACRIFICE forces mate.

14... g7xf6

15. Bb2xf6#

Let's try another game. Can you remember the first five moves?

White: Hans Lindehn Black: Ladislas Maczuski

Paris 1863

1. e2-e4 e7-e5

2. d2-d4 e5xd4

3. c2-c3 d4xc3

4. Bf1-c4 c3xb2

5. Bc1xb2 Ng8-f6

A natural developing move, but perhaps not best. White could now play e4-e5, THREATENING the Knight, but prefers a developing move.

6. Nb1-c3 Bf8-b4

Black PINS the Knight, hoping to exchange some pieces.

7. Ng1-e2 Nf6xe4

Now Black's THREE pawns ahead.

8. 0-0 Ne4xc3

9. Ne2xc3 Bb4xc3

10. Bb2xc3

What would you play if Black castled here, giving the diagram on your right?

White wins by going for the KISS OF DEATH on g7. 11. Qd1-g4 (but not Qd1-d4 at once because of Qd8-f6) 11... g7-g6 12. Qg4-d4 followed by mate on g7 or h8. Can't Black defend with 12... f7-f6? NO - the f-pawn is PINNED by the Bishop on c4.

But in our game Black played...

10... Qd8-g5

11. Rf1-e1+ Ke8-d8

12. f2-f4 Qg5xf4

13. Bc3xg7 Rh8-g8 (Diagram)

White wants to play Bg7-f6# but first he needs to drive the Black Queen away. How can he do it?

Our mating pieces are the Bishop on g7 and the Rook on e1. We can afford to SACRIFICE the Queen so the move is...

14. Qd1-g4

Now if Black takes the Queen, Bg7-f6 is mate. Black can continue to defend f6 by playing Qf4-d6? What happens then? CCT!

White mates in two moves with 15. Bg7-f6+ Qd6xf6 16. Qg4xg8#. So Black resigned.

So, is White winning in this opening. Perhaps not, if Black plays the best defence, but it's not so easy over the board. This opening, more than any other, teaches you how to attack. Practice it and see how you get on.

Let's take a look at how Black can defuse the attack. Do you still remember the first five moves?

1. e2-e4 e7-e5

2. d2-d4 e5xd4

3. c2-c3 d4xc3

4. Bf1-c4 c3xb2

5. Bc1xb2 d7-d5

Black gives back one of his extra pawns to get his pieces out.

6. Bc4xd5

Taking with the Pawn is possible but blocks in the Bishop.

6... Ng8-f6 (Diagram)

If you know about EXPLOSIONS ON f7 you'll probably see what looks like a good move for White here. Can you find it?

7. Bd5xf7+ Ke8xf7

8. Qd1xd8 (Diagram)

Oh dear! Black's lost his Queen. What can he do about it?

8... Bf8-b4+

A DISCOVERED ATTACK wins the Queen back.

9. Qd8-d2

If he plays anything else he ends up a piece down.

9... Bb4xd2+

10. Nb1xd2

And the position is about equal.

An even easier way for Black to defuse the Danish Gambit is to play:

1. e2-e4 e7-e5

2. d2-d4 e5xd4

3. c2-c3 d7-d5

when the game might continue 4. e4xd5 Qd8xd5 5. Nb1-c3 Bf8-b4 (PIN!) and Black can develop his pieces actively.

1. In OPEN POSITIONS a lead in development can be worth a pawn or two.

2. If you have an advantage in TIME try to use THREATS to stop your opponent catching up in DEVELOPMENT. Try to avoid exchanges if you can.

3. If you have an advantage in MATERIAL don't try to be too greedy. Try to catch up in DEVELOPMENT while meeting your opponent's THREATS. It's often worth giving some MATERIAL back to help you do this.

4. If you have a Bishop on c4 look for EXPLOSIONS ON f7.

5. As always, think CCT all the time.