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.
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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
