CHESS PIECE
Afew columns ago I was writing about the need to vary your chess style when playing under different time controls, i.e., standard, rapid or blitz conditions. Specifically, it is a good idea to have a more aggressive opening repertoire for the faster games. England’s GM Michael Adams, who won a big share of rapid tournaments in the 90s and early 2000s, has always preached that in quickplay your goal is not prophylaxis or solidity — the correct way is to keep your pieces active at all times. The mistakes are going to come, and to have a chance to finish on top your pieces have to have scope.
Back when we were learning the moves of chess one of the opening principles we were taught was that the queen shouldn’t be brought out too early as it might become the target of the enemy pieces, allowing your opponent to gain time by continuously attacking it. Under faster time controls that rule might not be valid — from my experience gained from tens of thousands of blitz and bullet games on the online servers bringing the queen out early is a good idea — it can harass the enemy forces and force your opponent to waste precious seconds facing up to the threats. Just make sure you don’t lose your queen in the process.
Now this is where I trot out my pet line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Ng5!?
According to GM Krikor Mekhitarian this is “called the Sarratt Variation, that is located inside the Haxo Gambit, itself located inside the Scotch Gambit! What a mix! Jacob Henry Sarratt was a leading English player from the late 18th century and early 19th century, and the first professional player to teach in England. He used this move in 1818 against an unknown player and quickly won the game. Sarratt was also known for his studies in the Muzio Gambit (inside the King ’s Gambit).”
I have a very healthy plus score with the “Sarratt” in fast time controls — and that includes victories over titled players including grandmasters. “Caveman” aggression can take down a lot of players in 1-minute games because they do not have the luxury of time, but you should think twice before using it in a standard time control game.
Most of my opponents on encountering the line for the first time would do a double-take and then, after a few seconds, play the most obvious defense 5...Ne5, but it is a mistake, and after 6.Nxf7 Nxf7 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qxc5 White has a big advantage, some would say even winning. Material is currently equal but Black’s king is exposed and his pieces undeveloped.
I looked up the position after 8.Qh5+ in the Chessbase Megabase, which supposedly includes all available tournament games since the beginning of time and saw that it has occurred 116 times and White scored 77% with 82 wins 16 draws and 18 losses, with most of the games ending in drastic fashion:
Ladanyi, Zsolt (2155) — Nemeth, Andras (1868) [C44] HUN-chT2 Charousek 0809 Hungary (2), 02.11.2008 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Ng5 Ne5 6.Bxf7+ Nxf7 7.Nxf7 Kxf7 8.Qh5+ Kf8 9.Qxc5+ Qe7 10.Qxd4 Nf6 11.Nc3 d6 12.Bg5 Be6 13.0–0–0 Kf7 14.f4 Rhb8 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 c5 17.exf6 cxd4 18.fxe7 dxc3 19.Rd8 1–0
Of course, your opponents would have bruised egos from the bad loss and some of them might even do a little research and analysis, and next time you play they already know what is the best line of defense against the Sarratt Variation. Chernov, Alexander — Oplackin [C44] USSR 1972 USSR