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MOVE 4 ALTERNATIVES

Since 4.Be2 doesn’t seem to get the job done, let’s look at White alternatives on move four.

V Lipman – J Sarkar (2385)
Foxwoods Open 2003

A further recent game now, where White goes right over the top. 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qe5+ 4.Nge2!?

A move which has to be given respec’. One adds the “t” according to one’s age. White plans d4 and Bf4 to be followed by g3 and Bg2, an eminently sensible development plan.

Another, less impressive, way to block the check is 4.Qe2.

WHITE GIVES UP HIS MANHOOD

A loss of face, almost a pathetic move. Maybe some might see the Queen exchange as a drawback, but after 4...Qxe2+ 5.Bxe2 c6 Black is completely equal and against any decent player one should be satisfied with that on move five. Young and promising Sarah Hegarty demonstrates a good way to carry on the fight: 6.Nf3 Nf6 7.0–0 Bf5 8.d3 e6 9.Bf4 Nbd7 10.Rfe1 Bb4 =, M Sarquis-S Hegarty, Oropesa del Mar 2001.

Back now to 4 Nge2.

4...c6

In the early days I was trying to make this move work but we’ll see that it adds fuel to the flames and Black has to carry on with his provocative Queen adventure. Now I think 4...Nf6! is safer, with Black returning to a ...Qa5 position with White’s pieces perhaps not ideally placed, e.g. 5.d4 Qa5 6.g3 c6 7.Bg2 Bf5 8.0–0 Nbd7 (8...e6) 9.Rb1 (9.Re1 e6 10.Bd2 Qc7 =) 9...e6 =. Once again, all new stuff.

5.d4 Qc7 6.Bf4 Qb6 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.g3 Bg4!?

Those with a taste for danger can try 8...Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.Bg2

ANYBODY FOR A BIT OF GREED?

which of course was my original intention. However there is a significant chance that Black will get wiped from the board before he gets the opportunity to enjoy his extra pawn. “TREAD BOLDLY” is the motto, but this one looks too risky. Sarkar isn’t over concerned. He’s not interested in the pawn and shows another way.

9.Bg2 e6 10.0–0 Nbd7 11.Nc1

There’s the admission that the Knight on e2 wasn’t very well placed. When playing against the PATZER, White will have to confront himself like this all the time.

11...Be7 12.Nb3 Bf5 13.Rfe1 h6 14.Qe2 0–0

BLACK’S OKAY

I think most masters would recognize that Black is fine here. Generally, in this type of position, White needs the pawn lever b2-b4-b5 to make his position work. Currently this seems a long way off.

15.Ne4 Nxe4 16.Bxe4 Bxe4 17.Qxe4

Simplification hasn’t helped. The Knight on b3 is poor and the d4-pawn can be undermined. White is engaged in outplaying himself!

17...a5 18.a4 Bb4 19.Re2 Qa6 20.Rd1 b5

Black takes over the initiative in a light squared strike so typical of the Modern Scandinavian. It would be wonderful to put a Black Knight on d5.

21.axb5 cxb5 22.Qf3 a4 23.Nc1 Bd6 24.Nd3 b4 25.Ne5 Nxe5 26.dxe5 Bc5 27.Re4 Rfd8 28.Rxd8+ Rxd8 29.Bxh6

He is getting more than a bit panicky about ...a4-a3, establishing a winning outside passed pawn.

29...gxh6 30.Qh5 Kf8! 31.Qxh6+ Ke8

Just running away.

32.Kg2 Rd1 33.Qh8+ Kd7 34.Qb8 Qf1+

The PATZER strikes back!

35.Kf3 Qxf2+ 36.Kg4 Qf5+, 0-1.

It could be that the PATZER variation represents a very important new addition to the armory of the Scandinavian. I perhaps have played it more often than anyone, admittedly only on ICC, but against Grandmasters, Masters and all comers, with extremely good results. Even the stronger players have difficulty orientating themselves in the subtly different positions that arise, usually because of that Bishop on e2. I suspect that a route to a clear advantage for White will eventually be discovered but I haven’t found it yet! So, publish and be damned and let’s see if someone else can help out. If not, then a new horizon opens up and to me, that’s what chess is all about.

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