Ein Gambit in der "Twilight Zone"

Experimental play in chess should always be applauded. The innovator lays himself open to ridicule, because new ideas rarely succeed immediately. Mike Surtees is always looking for something new,although whether he will find it with 1...c6 and 2...f6 is doubtful.Occasionaly he comes out with a real gem and this is one such game. 1.e4 c6 2.Se2 d5 3.e5 c5 4.b4!? Already the game has entered the twilight zone,although I was watching and Houska took the pawn right away.White's idea has a sound positional basis. By getting rid of the pawn on c5 he can take over the centre.

4...cxb4 [Off the top of my head,I wonder whether 4...b6 is a good move.] 5.d4 Sc6 6.a3 e6 [An earlier Surtees game went 6...bxa3 7.c3 e6 8.Sf4 Sge7 9.Lxa3 Sg6 10.Sh5 Ld7 11.Ld3 Lxa3 12.Sxa3 0–0 13.0–0 f6 14.exf6 gxf6 15.Db1! f5 16.Dxb7 (16.Te1! keeping up the pressure,may well have been better.) 16...Tb8 17.Da6 Tb6 18.Da4 Dg5 19.Dd1 f4 20.Le2 Sh4 21.Lg4 Surtees,M-Arkell,K/Bradford 2002 when 21...f3! is very good for Black.] 7.axb4 Lxb4+ 8.c3 La5?!N The computer engines hsow good for Black,but I do not like this move at all,which loses touch with the kingside dark squares [Thus 8...Le7 9.Sg3 Ld7 10.h4 f5 11.Ld3 a6 12.Sd2 Sh6 13.Sf3 Sf7³ Richmond,P-Lee,G/England 1999 ; or even 8...Lf8 were better]

9.Sg3 Sge7 10.Sh5! This is in many ways the winning move.I was watching: Houska started to look very uncomfortable. You know if you lose such a game it is probably going to be published,as White's opening play is remarkably original. 10...0–0 11.Lg5 Dc7 12.Txa5!! Dxa5 13.Sxg7! The shock effect continues with a breathtaking double sacrifice,exposing the Black King. 13...f5 [13...Kxg7 14.Lf6+ Kg8 15.Dg4+! (15.Dh5 Td8 16.Ld3 Kf8 17.Dxh7 Ke8) 15...Sg6 16.Dg5! is the main point. You will not find a defence here for Black 16...Sxd4 (16...Db6 17.Ld3 Scxe5 18.dxe5+-) 17.Ld3! Da2 18.cxd4+-] 14.Sh5 Sg6 15.Sf6+± White's compensation is enormous.

15...Kh8 [Taking the Knight hardly solves Houska's problems,but may at least have enabled some counterplay: 15...Txf6 16.Lxf6! b5!? 17.Dc1 Tb8 18.h4 b4 19.Th3 (19.h5) 19...bxc3 20.Sxc3 White retains a massive attack.] 16.Sxh7! Man on fire. What lurks beneath that hat? 16...Dc7 [16...Kxh7 17.Dh5+ Kg7 18.Dh6+ Kf7 19.Dh7+ Ke8 20.Dxg6+ Tf7 21.Le2 Se7 22.Lxe7 Kxe7 23.Lh5 is just lost for Black.] 17.Sxf8 Sxf8 18.Lf6++- Kg8 19.g4 Ripping open the last defences of the Black King. 19...f4 20.Ld3 b5 21.g5 b4 22.Dh5 Se7 23.g6 In every respect, a worthy winner of game of the day. 1–0

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