Happy Halloween!

Published: Thu, 10/31/13

Happy Halloween!
Halloween Gambit Tactic! 
Halloween Gambit, White to Move
Happy Halloween ! 

Here is a position from the opening known as the "Halloween Gambit".

White to Move.

Answer Below
Brian Wall Podcast
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Before the Denver Open I did a podcast interview with Life Master Brian Wall.

Brian is a legend in Colorado Chess with multiple titles to his name.  He has won all of the strongest tournaments in Colorado over the years including the Colorado Open, Denver Open, Colorado Closed, etc.

Brian is a prolific writer, and has his own free chess email list, where he annotates games, and sends out stories, and anything related to chess.  You can sign up here: http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/BrianWallChess/

Brian and I talked about

  • The Denver Open
  • The upcoming GM Timur Gareev Blindfold Simul
  • Writing Positional Attacks with Joel Johnson in Arizona
  • Tactics Time eBooks
  • Chess Improvement
  • the Michael de la Maza seven circles program
  • Brian's best move ever
  • and much more!

Listen to it now!
Here is the complete game:

[Event "gics rated lightning game"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Brause"]
[Black "Pfiffigunde"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2270"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Nxe5 Nxe5 5. d4 Ng6 6. e5 Ng8 7. Bc4 c6 8.
Qf3 f6 9. O-O d5 10. exd6 Bxd6 11. Ne4 N8e7 12. Qxf6 gxf6 13. Nxf6+ Kf8 14.
Bh6# 1-0


You can play through this game here: http://www.viewchess.com/cbreader/2013/10/27/Game479226959.html

Answer:

12. Qxf6!! is a scary move for Black!  It threatens the mate 13.Bf7+ Kf8 14.Bxg6+ gxf6 15.Bh6+ Kg8 16.Nxf6#  and adds a second attacker to the Black Bishop on d6. 

Black cannot capture the White Queen because of the mate 12...gxf6 13. Nxf6 Kf8 14.Bh6#, which is what happened in the game.

Tim Brennan
Happy Tactics and Happy Halloween!

Your friend,
Tim Brennan
tim@tacticstime.com