MIKE, IS THIS DURKIN YOURS?

But if you’re like me and you desire a different class of opening altogether, then you have come to the right place. It’s time for some really ADULT entertainment: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5!?

THE “X-RATED” ALBIN

If ever an opening deserved an X certificate the Albin Counter-Gambit surely fits the bill. This reprehensible pawn sacrifice is frowned upon in every single theoretical manual available and yet Black continues to win a lot of games! Some very attractive effects are possible.

3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.g3

Undoubtedly the main line but Black has plenty of resources with the clock ticking and the element of surprise on his side.

5...f6!? 6.exf6 Nxf6 7.Bg2 Bf5

DOES THE FATE OF THE ALBIN DEPEND ON …Bf5

I believe that the revitalization of the Albin depends on ...Bc8-f5. The Bishop gazes into the heart of White’s position and the idea of ...Nb4 cannot be ignored, however crude it may seem.

8.0–0 Qd7 9.a3 Bh3

Cirabisi (playing Black) deserves the “Chess Psycho” title, as you will see. Wang up the h-pawn, strip out the Bishop and “mate the bastard” seems to be his motto. Not exactly a difficult method to master.

10.Nbd2 h5 11.Re1

11.b4 h4 12.b5 Ne7 13.Ne5 Qc8 14.Bxh3 Qxh3 15.Ndf3 hxg3 16.fxg3 Nf5 might have been better, but it is evident that Black has a very dangerous attack.

11...Bxg2 12.Kxg2 h4 White appears petrified by this lightning assault. He tries to get some central counterplay but it is already too late!

13.e3 d3!

FORWARD, EVER FORWARD!

The d-pawn is a bone in White’s throat – a theme underpinning the whole opening.

14.Nxh4 g5 15.Nhf3 Qh3+ 16.Kg1 g4 17.Nh4 Ne5!

The threat of mate looms, the process beginning with ...Rxh4.

18.f4 Rxh4!

Doesn’t matter.

19.gxh4 Nf3+ 20.Nxf3 gxf3 21.Qd2 Ne4!, 0-1.

A BRUTAL FINISH

For me a beautiful final position. Love it!

LET’S PLAY …Bf5 EVEN FASTER!

J Bellon Lopez - Cirabisi
Genua, 1989
Either Cirabisi was on fire in 1989 or he’d been taking the right kind of drugs. Here he is in action again, this time demolishing a Grandmaster.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.g3 Bf5!

A MORE RAPID FORM OF …Bf5

I think I’d prefer this to 5...f6, although you have seen that move can be lethal.

6.Bg2 Qd7

It’s not clear to me what’s going on after 6...Nb4 7.Na3 d3 8.0–0 dxe2 9.Qxe2 Bd3. White will get compensation, but it’s clear that this immediate Black strike has to be seriously considered.

7.0–0 Bh3 8.a3

8.Bxh3 Qxh3 9.Ng5 Qf5 10.f4 is assessed by Nunn’s Chess Openings as clearly better for White. Ward obviously doesn’t agree, considering 10...Be7 11.Nf3 0–0–0 12.Qd3 Qh3 13.a3 h5 14.Nbd2 h4 (14...Nh6 15.Ne4 h4 16.Nf2 Qd7 17.Bd2 hxg3 18.hxg3, unclear) 15.Nxh4 Bxh4 16.gxh4 Qxh4 17.Qf5+ Kb8 18.Nf3 Qh6 as unclear.

AN INTERESTING MESS

I would be surprised, nay shocked, to find one chess player in a thousand who knows this theory.

8...h5

SOUND THE BUGLE HORN!

9.b4 Bxg2

9...h4 must come into consideration.

10.Kxg2 0–0–0

10...h4 – Ditto.

11.b5 Nce7 12.h4

Bellon tries to put a stop to all this nonsense but the light squares are weakened considerably. Over the board, Black has all the fun. Nevertheless, 12.Qa4 Kb8 13.Rd1! makes a very strong case for an earlier ...h5-h4!

12...Ng6 13.Qd3 Nh6 14.e3 Qg4!

Black is closing in. The simple threat is ...Nf5.

15.exd4

15.e4 Be7 is easy enough for Black, who has a big lead in development and a big initiative to boot.

15...Nf5 16.Bg5

Development at last, but a useless move.

16...Be7 17.Qd2

17.Bxe7 Nf4+.

17...Bxg5 18.Nxg5 Rxd4

FEEL WHITE’S PAIN!

White players must beware!

19.Qc1 Ngxh4+ 20.Kh1 Nf3, 0-1.

What can one say about a rout such as this? Only that to choose the right place, the right time, and the right opponent is the most crucial element in the employment of the Albin.