CHESS
Scandinavian
Raymond Keene
The search for a perfect defence to 1 e4 is rather like the quest for the Holy Grail. Probably it does not exist, but recently there has been a move by grandmasters Bent Larsen, Ian Rogers, Jon Speelman, Michael Adams and Julian Hodgson to prove that 1 e4 d5 may be it. This has been variously titled the Scandinavian or the Centre Counter.
I have never trusted the lines going 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 since Black loses so much time with his queen. After 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Nf6 I believe that Black is okay after 3 Bb5+ while 3 c4 runs into the very dangerous Icelandic Gambit 3 . . . e6, which has scored notable successes for both Speelman and Hodgson. The line which has always made me feel uncomfort- able for Black is 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Nf6 3 d4, but a discovery by the Belgian master Jadoul, namely 3 . . . Bg4, may put an entirely different complexion on this evaluation. For those of you plagued by defending against 1 e4 I offer examination of this week's games as a fascinating field for discussion.
Lanka — Hauchard: Torcy Open 1991; Scandinavian/Centre Counter.
1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Nf6 3 d4 Bg4 4 f3 Bf5 5 Bb5+ Nbd7 6 c4 a6 An interesting alternative is 6. . . e6 7 dxe6 fxe6 8 Nc3 c6 9 Ba4 e5. 7 Bxd7+ 7 Ba4 b5 8 cxb5 Nb6 gives good counterplay for Black. 7 . . . Qxd7 8 Ne2 e6 9 dxe6 Qxe6 10 b3 0-0-0 Black's lead in development compensates for the missing pawn. 11 0-0 Bc5 12 Khl Bxd4 A temporary piece sacrifice which ultimately establishes material equilibrium. 13 Nxd4 Qd7 14 Bb2 c5 15 b4 cxd4 16 b5 (Diagram) 16 . . . axb5 So far Black has played well, but this capture is crazy and merely opens up lines for Position after 16 b5 White. Black should complete his development by means of 16. . . Rhe8. 17 Na3 bxc4 18 Nxc4 Kb8 19 Ba3 Qd5 20 Rd l Rhe,8 21 Qd2 The key factor in the position now is the exposure of Black's king.. 21. . . Re6 22 Na5 Qb5 23 Bc5 Ka8 24 a4 Qa6 25 Nb3 Bd3 26 Rgl Re2 27 Qb4 Nh5. With the threat of . . . Ng3+ followed by . . . Qh6 which White hastens to prevent. 28 Bb6 Rde8 29 Nc5 R8e5 A last gasp, renewing the threat of. . . Ng3+ and . . . Rh5 mate. White's next move dispels the illusion and Black has nothing better than to resign. 30 Rgdl Black resigns.
Burovic — Monange: Torcy Open 1991; Scandinavian/Centre Counter.
1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Nf6 3 d4 Bg4 4 f3 Bf5 5 c4 e6 Detonating an amazing gambit which spreads terror and confusion in the white ranks. 6 dxe6 Nc6 Inviting 7 exf7+ Kxf7 when a black rook would swiftly reach e8 with devastating effect. 7 Ne2 7 d5 Nb4 8 Na3 is better. 7. . . NM 8 Ng3 Nc2+ 9 Kf2 Bg6 10 Be3 Bc5 11 Na3 Nxe3 12 1Cxe3 Ng4+ 13 fxg4 Qg5+ (Diagram) 14 Kf3 If 14 Kf2 Qf4+ 15 Qf3 Qxd4+ 16 Kel Bb4+ 17 Ke2 Qxb2+ 14. . . fxe6 15 Bd3 0-0+ 16 Nf5 exf5
Position after 13. . . Qg5+ 17 dxc5 fxg4+ 18 Kg3 h5 19 h3 If 19 Bxg6 19. . . h4+ 20 Kh2 g3+ 21 Kg! Qe3 mate This looks like a riot from the 19th century rather than a modern game.
Bus-Fierens: Antwerp 1992; Scandinavian' Centre Counter.
1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Nf6 3 d4 Bg4 4 NO With this move White relies on simple development and makes no attempt to refute the black idea directly. 4 . . . Qxd5 5 Be2 e6 This is inconsistent. Black s concept lies chiefly in speedy piece development combined with pressure against White's centre. Correct, therefore, is 5 . . . Nc6 6 c4 Qd7 7 d5 Bx13 8 Bxf3 Ne5 9 Be2 e6 10 Qb3 Bc5 11 Be3,. Bxe3 12 Qxe3 Ng6 13 Nc3 0-0 14 dxe6 Qxe6 1) Qxe6 fxe6, as occurred in the game Okhotnil.c- Jadoul, Cappelle-la-Grande 1989. This may, In fact, have been the stem game of the variation. 6 0-0 Nc6 7 c4 Qd7 8 Be3 Be7 9 Qb3 0-0 10 Rdl Rfd8 11 a3 Na5 Inaugurating a crazy plan which decentralises several important black pieces for no good reason. 12 Qc3 Qa4 13 Nbd2 b5 14 cxb5 Nd5 15 Qcl Bxf3 16 gxf3 Nxe3 17 fxe3 Bg5 18 Qc3 c5 19 dxc5 Black resigns Black has no compensation for his material deficit.
Winning with the Scandinavian by Ron Harman and Shaun Taulbut has just been published by Batsford, price £12.99.
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