Here is a copy of an informal 30/30 game that I played against former chess master Robert (1.Na3) Durkin. I have learned that a sacrifice is usually needed to obtain an early checkmate. Here, there is just a passive sacrifice on move 18 when I allow Bob to take my knight while I proceed with my checkmating attack. The defense I used here against the Center Game is not from a book, but entirely of my own contrivance.
Nancy Schaef
Hammonton, NJ
Robert T. Durkin (USCF 2169) - Nancy Schaef (USCF 1420)
1.e4
Since this is only a skittles game, Durkin forgoes the opening 1.Na3 that bears his name. A recent example* of the Durkin Attack, from last December's Hamilton Quads, is as follows:
Robert T. Durkin (candidate master) - Jim West (national master), Hamilton Quad 12/1987
1.Na3 c5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.e4 Nc6 5.Ne2 e6 6.O-O Nge7 7.f4 d6 8.c3 O-O 9.d3 Rb8 10.Be3 b5 11.Qd2 b4 12.Nc4 d5 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.fxe5 bxc3 15.bxc3 Qc7 16.d4 Ba6 17.Rf2 dxe4 18.Bxe4 Nf5 19.Bxf5 exf5 20.Nf4 Bb7 21.e6 cxd4 22.cxd4 fxe6 23.Nxe6 Qc6 24.d5 Qxd5 25.Qxd5 Bxd5 26.Nxg7 Kxg7 27.Bxa7 Rb7 28.Bd4+ Kg8 29.a4 Rfb8 30.a5 Rb1+ 31.Rf1 Be4 32.Bb6 Rb2 33.Rf2 Rxf2 34.Kxf2 Kf7 35.Ke3 Ke6 36.Kd4 Kd7 37.Bc5 Kc6
38.a6?? Rd8+ 39.Kc4 Bd5+ 40.Kd4 Bg8+ 41.Ke3 Kxc5 42.a7, and White resigns. [West]
1...e5 2.d4 Nc6
Better is 2...exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6, developing a piece with tempo. [West]
3.d5
Instead 3.Nf3 would transpose into the Scotch Opening. [West]
3...Nce7 4.f4 d6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.fxe5 Ng6 7.Qd4 c5 8.Qc3 Qc7 9.exd6 Bxd6 10.Nbd2
If 10.Qxg7??, then 10...f6 followed by 11...Bf8 snares the queen. [West]
10...O-O-O 11.Nc4 Re8 12.Nxd6+ Qxd6 13.Bd3 Nf6 14.Ng5 Nxd5 15.Qxg7 Ne5 16.O-O Rhg8 17.Nxf7 Nxf7 18.Qxf7 Bh3 19.Qxd5??
Or 19.g3? Rxg3+!. Best would have been 19.Rf2; and if 19...Nf6, then simply 20.Bf4 (but not 20.Qxf6?? Rxg2+!). [West]
19...Rxg2+ 20.Kh1 Qxh2#.
*{This article originally appeared in Atlantic Chess News in 1988}
