Baltic Defense gambit variation 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Bf5 3.Qb3 e5

I like to say that after my chess teacher — who doesn’t like anything I do, and assigns homework — the 2nd-biggest buzzkill in chess is Stockfish, who merely doesn’t like anything I do. Modern chessplayers have grown accustomed to the feeling that they’ve done something right at the chessboard, only to have Fritz or Hiarcs say: Nope, you screwed up here. And here. And here. And also here.

[Event "Queen's Gambit Thematic Tournament - Round 3"][Site "Chess.com"][Date "2020.08.27"][Round "?"][White "Peryman"][Black "friscodelrosario"][Result "0-1"][ECO "D02"]{ Click or tap on a move in the game text for a popout display board.[#]}1.d4 d5 2. c4 Bf5 { I advise against the London System for White, because inexpert players have no idea where the queen bishop belongs this early. 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 is popular these days with masters, whose primary concern is getting their pieces out, while amateurs are slaves to master fashion. Then masters can work around the prematurely-developed bishop, while amateurs donk along as usual. So why did I move 2…Bf5, like in the London, but a tempo down? For Black, it’s more important to get the bishop outside the pawn chain before …e7-e6. } 3. Qb3 { Taking direct aim at b7, which has been left unguarded, and coordinating against d5. } 3... e5 { This is an Albin Countergambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5) with an extra move for each side. Black hopes White is wasting time on the queenside, making it an improved Albin. } 4. Qxb7 Nd7 { Forced. } 5. Nc3 exd4 { Pretty much forced, if Black wants to keep a pawn in the center, and restore some material balance. } 6. Nxd5 Bd6 7. Nf3 { Three moves have been played here: 7…c5 to shore up the d4-pawn, sensible; 7…Nb6 8. Nxb6 axb6 to free the queen rook, appealing; 7…Kf8, threatening to trap the queen (8…Nc5 9. Qb5 c6 10. Qxc6 [not check!] Rc8), unconventional. Stockfish, by the way, says: Why aren’t you humans developing your pieces with 7…Ngf6. } 7...Nc5 { A new move, with a tactical flaw. } 8. Qb5+ { As expected, but 8. Nxc7+! Bxc7 9. Qb5+ forks (the knight is pinned: 9…Nd7 10. Qxf5). } 8... Bd7 9. Qa5 { Only move. } 9... Ne6 { The idea behind 7…Nc5, watching d4 and c7, while opening the diagonal for …Bd6-b4+. } 10. Bg5 { Stockfish says 10. g3 or 10. e4 to develop the other bishop. } 10... Nxg5 { 10…Qb8 is the right move, hitting b2, and supporting a possible …Bd6-b4+. } 11. Nxg5 {[#]} Ne7 { } (11... Nf6 12. Nxf6+ Qxf6 13. Ne4 Qe6 14. Nxd6+ Qxd6 15. O-O-O O-O {results in a freer position, though Black would’ve preferred not to exchange two pieces. }) 12. Ne4 Be5 { Black should feel most uncomfortable about exposing the bishop to a discovered attack. } 13. O-O-O { 13. Nb4 f6 14. g3, and to which square can that bishop move that doesn’t enable White to trade pieces? } 13... O-O 14. g3 Nc6 15. Qd2 Rb8 { Having avoided 8. Nxc7+ and 12. Nb4, I felt like I was getting somewhere for the sacrificed pawn: Greater space in the center, slight lead in development, bishop pair. Stockfish agrees!, saying White is merely 9/10ths of a pawn ahead after 16. Bg2. } 16. b3 $2 { In games of opposite-side castling, said Purdy, sacrifice anything but time. 16. b3 neglects development, and brings the queenside contact one move closer. Suddenly, Black is ahead. } 16... Be6 17. f4 { Not as troublesome as it was earlier, because Black can recapture on d6 with a developing move. } 17... Bd6 Nxd6 Qxd6 19. Bg2 a5 20. e4 { Sacrifice anything but time: 20. f5 Bxf5 Rhf1. } 20... a4 { Stockfish thinks this position is resignable for White; that’s Stockfish for you. I wondered how much counterplay White might generate with f4-f5-f6. } 21. f5 Bxd5 22. exd5 Ne7 { 22…Ne5 is obvious, but I didn’t think the backward-going move lost time, because the knight comes back out to f5 and e3. } 23... Qxd4 axb3 24. axb3 Nxf5 25. Qc3 {[#]} Ne3 { I saw 26. Rd2? Qa3+ 27. Qb2 Qxb2+ 28. Kxb2 Nxc4+, but White doesn’t have to play 26. Rd2?. He can leave the bishop hanging on g2, for the knight is stranded after …Ne3xg2. } 26. Qxe3 $2 Qa3+ 27. Kd2 {[#]} Qb2+ $4 { } ({ Throws the whole thing away (White resigned instead of staying in the game with 28. Ke1 Rfe8 29. Be4 Rxb3 [or 29…f5 30. Rd2] 30. Rd3). b2 must be left open for the rook. White is helpless on } 27... Qa2 $1 28. Ke1 Rfe8 29. Be4 Rxb3 30. Rd3 Rb2 {threatening 31…Rxe4! }) 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.