IM Jay Whitehead has been a frequent and strong competitor in U.S. tournaments. Not competing for several years, he infrequently enters LERA tournaments taking not only 1st prize but usually capturing the brilliancy prize as well.
LERA Sunnyvale, Ca
Round 3 9/24/95
L. Davis (NM 2352)
J. Whitehead (IM 2550)
Blackmar Diemer Gambit
1. d4 Nf6
2. Nc3 d5
3. e4 Nxe4 The Hubsch Gambit
4. Nxe4 dxe4
5. Bc4 Nc6
6. c3 e5
7. d5 Nb8 Or 7...Ne7. But 7. .... Na5 is probably not worth the trouble of rescuing the knight after Be2 with a threat of 'b4'.
8. Qe2 Qh4 8...Bf5 appears more natural.
9. g3 Qg4
10. f3 exf3
11. Qxe5+ Be7
12. Qf4? .... With 12. Bf4, threats to the 'c' pawn, Kf2, Nf3, centralizing Rooks, and the hanging Bishop on e7, it is doubtful if Black's path should be repeated. The text was chosen due to the relationship of the black Queen and white Bishop on 'c4'. But should the need arise, this could be instantly severed with a timely 'h3'.
12. .... Qxf4
13. Bxf4 .... This seals the '?' of the previous move. After 'gf', White will capture the pawn on 'f3' with the makings of a good fight.
13. .... g5! Excellent. For all practical purposes, Black will be up a piece.
14. Be5 f6
15. Bxc7 g4 Entombed! If Black plays correctly, the King side is sealed and White's Rook unable to reach the 7th rank.
16. h3 Bc5? Despite the tactical motivation of winning a piece, this lets the cat out of the bag; better is an immediate 'f5'.
17. Kf1 Na6
18. Bf4 f5
19. hxg4 fxg4
20. Be5 Rf8
21. Rxh7 .... With the white King still on 'e1', this would not be possible due to an 'f' Pawn fork.
21. .... Bd7
22. Bg7 Bf5
23. Rh5 Rf7 Initiating a fine exchange sacrifice.
24. Rh8+ Kd7
25. Rxa8 Rxg7
26. Rh8 .... Preventing Black from playing Rh7 and Rh1.
26. .... Nc7 If 26. .... Bd6, White plays
27. Re1 Bg3 28. R1e8 Bc7 29. Ref8 Be4 (best) 30. Rfg8, Rxg8 31. Rxg8. As Bf5 is now met by Rg5, Black plays 31. .... g3. Now we can see why Black's Bishop is best placed on 'e4'. Without it, White captures 'f3'. Now however, the 'd5' Pawn complements White playing 32. Bb5+, leaving Black in a dilemma. 32. .... Kd6 allows 33. Rg3, Kc5 34. Rg4, Bf5 35. Rg5, while 32. .... Ke7 drops a Bishop to Re8+.
27. Rd1 .... Exchanging the 'f5' Bishop weakens Black's hold on the King side.
27. .... Be4
28. Bd3 Bxd5 Better practical chances were offered by 28. .... Bxd3 29. Rxd3 Bd6 30. Nf3 when there ensues a battle of a Rook and two Pawns versus two minor pieces. This capture leads to a lost Rook and Pawn ending.
29. Be4 Kc6 29... Ke6 is answered the same way.
30. Rh6+ Bd6
31. Bxd5+ Nxd5
32. Rxd6+ Kxd6
33. c4 Kc5 If Rg5, then Kf2, exchanging Rooks, and Nf3 leads to a winning King and Pawn ending with a passed 'g' Pawn.
34. cxd5 Kd6 Here Black offered a draw.
35. Kf2 Rh7
36. Nxf3 gxf3
37. Rd2 .... The primary reason for refusing the draw. 37. Kf3, Rh2 grants Black counterplay. But now 37. .... Rh2+ 38. Ke3 leads to the previous King and Pawn ending or Black down two Pawns.
37. .... Rf7
38. Rd3 Rf5
39. Rxf3 Rxd5
40. Re3 .... Simultaneously cutting off the King and finding a home on 'e2'.
40. .... Rf5+
41. Kg2 Rb5
42. Re2 Kd5
43. g4 Kd4
44. Kf3 Ra5
45. a3 Kd5
46. Kf4 Kd6
47. g5 Rc5 Activating the Rook behind the passed Pawn.
48. g6 Rc1
49. Kg5 Rg1+
50. Kf6 Rf1+
51. Kg7 Rg1
52. Kf7 Rf1+
53. Kg8 Rg1
54. g7 a5 If 54. ..... Rh1, then 55. Re4; Lucena position.
55. Rh2 Ke6
56. Kh7 Kf7
57. g8=Q+ Rxg8
58. Rf2+ resigns