Annotated chess game: Simultaneous Exhibition

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ANNOTATED GAME

Simultaneous Exhibition
Amateur vs. J. H. Blackburne
Annotated by: last_archimedean

(1564)
Chess opening: Blackburne shilling gambit (C50)

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Blackburne was one of the greatest masters of his day. Here, he easliy polishes off a victim in 7 quick moves.

1. e4	This amateur starts with a basic opening.



1... e5	Blackburne tries nothing esoteric, going with the Classical response.



2. Nf3	The best second move available in this position.



2... Nc6	Blackburne continues on standard lines.



3. Bc4	The "Quiet Game" -- but not this time.



3... Nd4	Now the sparks begin to fly.



4. Nxe5	White snatches the loose KP.
	1 comment ethansiegel (1986) on 03-Sep-10: Not necessarily a terrible move here, but 0-0 and c3, or even the simple Nxd4, are all more solid options; grabbing the pawn definitely overextends white here.


4... Qg5	Blackburne attacks the unprotected Knight and menaces the weak K-side with his Q.



5. Nxf7	A seemingly winning move, as the protected Knight forks Blackburne's Q and R.
	1 comment ethansiegel (1986) on 03-Sep-10: Bxf7+ is a much, much better move here. White can get a lot of pressure on the king and two pawns for his piece, but the capture with the knight gives white a very, very difficult game.


5... Qxg2	Blackburne retaliates by attacking the White KR. If 6 NxR, 6...QxR ch followed by 7... QxKP ch equalizes the material and gives Blackburne the initiative. Furthermore, White's Knight at R8 would be in danger of being trapped.



6. Rf1	White hastily moves his Rook out of danger. However, he has cut off a flight-square for his King in doing so.
	2 comments black_cat_hamlet (1531) on 03-Sep-10: retreating the bishop to the f1 square seems to be White's only chance at this point... EDIT; Wait, that makes no difference... nuntar (1702) on 27-Dec-10: The bishop retreat means White survives after 6... QxPch 7. B-K2 N-B6ch. Of course, Black can instead get a decisive advantage with 7... NxPch 8. QxN (K-B1? QxR mate) QxQ 9. NxR QxBch 10. B-Q1 QxNP.


6... Qxe4+	Decisive. 7 Q-K2 would be answered by 7... NxQ, with a winning advantage in material. So White plays instead...



7. Be2	...this move, which allows...
	2 comments last_archimedean (1564) on 04-Sep-10: After 7 Q-K2 Blackburne wouldn't play 7... QxQ, but 7... NxQ winning the White Queen. after 8 BxN KxB Black has a decisive material advantage. matepok (1200) on 05-Sep-10: After 6... Qxe4+ 7.Qe2 I can imagine a continuation like 7... Qxe2+ 8.Bxe2 Kxf7 (in order to prevent Nxh8) or if 8... Nxe2 Nxh8 9. Nd4 Nc3 and 10.Nc3 g6 (preparing Bg7 which wins White's knight, at least White has to exchange it for the g6 pawn, but after hxg6 Black's attacking White's pawn on h2. Anyway, White is going to be in a worse position... Why din't I include the 'or simply 7... Nxe2' variation??? I clearly remember I wanted to do that, too


7... Nf3#	...a delightful finish!
	3 comments ethansiegel (1986) on 03-Sep-10: ...and now this opening is deservedly known as the Blackburne-Shilling Gambit! last_archimedean (1564) on 03-Sep-10: I know who Blackburne is, but who's Shilling? It should be the "Blackburne Gambit", I would think. Someone with a better knowledge of 19th-century chess history will have to enlighten me. nuntar (1702) on 04-Sep-10: "Shilling" isn't the name of a chess player, just the word for an old British coin. The story is that Blackburn used this little trap repeatedly to win shillings from amateurs.