Monday, May 14, 2007

E-mail from Alejandro Melchor

Yesterday I received the following e-mail from Alejandro Melchor (FIDE 2132) of Barcelona, Spain. I have edited it slightly to conform with the algebraic notation that I use in my blog. And I have added some diagrams, as well.

This variation of the Philidor Counter Gambit occurs after the opening moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.Bc4 exd4 5.Ng5 Nh6 6.O-O.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Some notes on the May 8th article on Zemitis - Svendsen, correspondence 1998:

Besides the uncertain 6...Nc6 7.exf5 Bxf5 8.Re1+, etc.,

Black can choose two other interesting possibilities:

a) 6...Qf6 7.exf5 Bxf5 8.Re1+ Kd7 ( 8...Be7 is less clear, e.g. 9.Ne6 Bxe6 10.Rxe6 Qh4 11.Bxh6 gxh6, Owens - Perez, 1999 and now 12.g3 with advantage ) 9.Be6+ Bxe6 10.Nxe6 Nf5! 11.c3 ( 11.g4 was suggested in the very old Bilguer; the correct answer is 11...Nh4 ) 11...Nc6 12.Bg5 Qg6 13.cxd4 Ncxd4 14.Nxd4 Nxd4 15.Qxd4 Qxg5 16.Qe4 with a slight plus, according to Jonathan Mestel.


b) 6...f4!? 7.Bxf4 Qf6 and now:

b1) 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Re1 transposes to another well-known position that arises from 6...Nc6 7.Re1 f4 8.Bxf4 Qf6 9.Qd2; but in the correct way as, against 6...Nc6 directly, White moves 7.exf5, etc.


Other ideas in this variation ( instead of 8.Qd2 ) are:

b2) 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qh4; and now, instead of 9...Nc6 as in Reyna - Perez, correspondence Cuba, 1994/95, Black can play 9...Ng4!? 10.Bg3 (10.Qg3 Bh6 ) Be7 11.Ne6 ( or 11.Bf7+ Kd8 11.Ne6+ Bxe6 12.Qxf6 Nxf6 13.Bxe6 Nxe4 ) Bxe6 12.Qxf6 Nxf6 13.Bxe6 Nxe4 with a small advantage.


b3) 8.Bc1!? Nc6 9.f4 Bg4 10.Qd3 0-0-0 11.Bb5 Bd7 12.Nf3 Nb4 13.Bxd7+ Rxd7 14.Qd2 d5 15.e5 Qb6 16.Kh1 Bc5 17.Re1 Ng4 18.g3 Ne3 with the idea of ...Qg6 and Black has a very comfortable position, Zemitis - Melchor, correspondence, 1997/98.


I will continue researching your articles on the PCG. Probably I will find more ideas.

Best!

Alejandro Melchor

Barcelona, Spain