Transposing to the Rasa-Studier gambit

I had some blitz opponents defending the Rasa-Studier gambit lately after the moves 1.d4 d5 2.e4 c6 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.f3

The Rasa-Studier gambit often transposes to a regular Blackmar-Diemer, but there are some other lines.

a/ 4...e5 5.dxe5 Qxd1+ 6.Nxd1

The game is completely equal

b/ 4...exf3 5.Nxf3

This will often transpose into a Blackmar-Diemer, but there are some independant lines

...b1/ 5...Nf6 transposing to a Blackmar-Diemer
...b2/ 5...Bf5 and the attacker has various choices
...b3/ 5...Bg4 6.h3 seems like a Teichmann defense without Nf6
...b4/ 5...e6 6.Bd3 tranposing most likely into an Euwe defense
...b5/ 5...g6 6.Bc4 tranposing most likely into a Bogoljubow defense
...b6/ 5...Nd7 6.Bc4 making way for an Euwe or Bogoljubow

c/ 4...Nf6 5.Bc4 The O'Kelly defense

d/ 4...Bf5 5.fxe4 with white advantage

e/ 4...Nbd7 5.fxe4 with a white development lead


An interesting overview of the Rasa Stdier lines can be found here

In fact, the site hosts an important number of opening analyses, including some on the Blackmar Diemer - great information - check them all out !

Master analysis on Belka-Neumeyer lines

In a previous post ( New exciting Belka-Neumeyer line ) I discussed a line of the Belka-Neumeyer gambit, occuring after 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e4 dxe4 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 Bf5 6.Ne5 e6 7.g4 Be4 8.Nxf7 Kxf7 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 10.Qf3+ Nf6 11.Qxb7 Nxg4 12.Qf3+ Nf6 13.Qxa8 Nd5

I indicated that white could settle matters with 14.h4. I showed this move to an IM friend the other day. This master analysed the position for some time and indicated that black was better ! Of course, I was astonished, but my IM friend was formal - he would most likely draw this position with black in an over-the-board-game as he suggested 14...Qf6 or 14...Be7.

He explained to me that white has given away the initiative for the exchange in a wide open position and white will have to choose very precise defending move for the remainder of the game - not the kind of stratgey the Blackmar Diemer gambiteer likes.

Returning home after this bitter lesson, I realised my IM friend was more than right. The Blackmar Diemer gambiteer should strive for the initiative and force black in a difficult position, at the expense of material ! The suggested line just does the opposite !!!

It is really good to get some IM or GM reality check from time to time when analysing gambit lines !

What a great day

I am quite lucky lately as several of my over-the-board opponents are accepting my Blackmar Diemer gambits lately. So did my opponent last sunday in the Belgian teamcontest.

Guido De Bouver - Yves Cornille
1.d4 c6 2.e4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe5 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 Nf6 6.Bc4 e6

My opponent had ventured ( and won ) 6...Bf5 against me a couple of years ago.

But what should white do now ? The bishop on c4 is rather misplaced and actually belongs on d3.

7.Bg5 Be7 8.00 00 9.Qe1 Nbd7 10.Bd3
Pointing the bishop back onto h7.

10...Re8 11.Qh4 Nf8 12.Ne5 Qc7
A fatal mistake.

13.Nxf7 !!

I was feeling like Diemer himself when sacrificing this piece. At home I realise that 13.Bxf6 might even be stronger due to the bad placement of the black queen.

13...Kxf7 14.Qh5+ g6 15.Qh6 Qd8 16.Ne4 Qxd4+ 17.Kh1 e5
Desperately trying to make some escape room.

18.Nxf6 Bxf6 19.Rxf6+ Kg8 20.Bxg6 !!

Another critical move that settles matters. Black played on for another few moves before resigning. 1-0.


Interesting to note is that in the same match ( a team in the Belgiam competition consists of 8 players ), my teammember and friend also got a Blackmar-Diemer, also sacrificed on f7, and also won.

Thomas Schurins - Oleg Knyazkov
1.e4 d5 2.d4 e6 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 Nf6 6.Bc4 Be7 7.00 00 8.Qd3 Nbd7 9.Bf4 a6 10.a4 c5
11.d5

11...exd5 12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Nf6 14.Qxd8 Rxd8 15.Rae1 Bf8 16.Ng5 Nd5?? 17.Nxf7

Black wisely resigned here 1-0.

So two Blackmar-Diemer sacrifices on f7 in one single team contest - talking about an interesting day !

Solving Behting's study

I got a mail saying that the engine "Patzer" has been known to resolve Behting's study ?!

I could not find any weblocation on this engine. Anyone can help finding more details on this engine. Is it freeware ?

Behting's study

I loaded Behting's study today in my computer, wanting to see if any of my loaded chess engines would be able to find the solution of this famous problem.

For those who dont know this famous study - it dates from 1906 and was created by Karlis Betins ( Karl Behting in German ) from Latvia who worked a lot on the Latvian gambit.

White must try to secure a draw in this exciting position

Can you find the drawing move ?

If not, dont feel depressed - none of the chess engines could find it either...

But it is remarkable that the human mind could conceive this puzzle in 1906, and no computer is able to break it in 2011. Food for thought, no ?

Maybe we should all start playing the Latvian gambit, as the author ( Behting ) was the key contributor of this opening - as a sort of tribute, saying "I am playing an opening invented by a human that is smarter than any computer !".

If you, or your computer, can find the correct move ( without looking it up on the internet ), you are really a miracle man !