Ordinarily I would not post a victory against an eight-year-old kid. But when he later becomes America's
youngest grandmaster, I make an exception. This Philidor Counter Gambit was played at the
Marshall Chess Club. The time control was game/60.
Fabiano Caruana (USCF 1780) - Jim West (USCF 2228), Marshall Chess Club 3/25/2001
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 f5 4.d4 Nc6 5.Ng5 Nh6 6.d5 Nb8
In light of White's next move, it may have been better for Black to interpolate
6...f4 before retreating with
7...Nb8.
7.f4! fxe4 8.O-O Bg4?!
Worthy of consideration is
8...Ng4!?.
9.Qd2 Nf5 10.h3 e3 11.Qd3 e2 12.Re1 h6 13.hxg4 hxg5 14.Qxf5 c6 15.dxc6??
White wins easily after
15.Qg6+.
15...Qb6+, White resigns.
This forgettable game makes both players look bad: me, for getting outplayed in my favorite defense; and Caruana, for allowing a swindle in a winning position.
