Blocking a key diagonal can be defensive, offensive – and elegant.
David Janowski White
Emil Schallopp Black
Nuremberg 1896
Queen’s Gambit Accepted D21
1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 ♘f3 c5 4 e3 cxd4 5 exd4 ♗g4
Black can rarely hold onto his extra pawn in a Queen’s Gambit (5...b5? 6 a4! favors White). But he can usually return it and approach equality, as with 5...♗e6! (6 ♘a3 ♘c6 7 ♗xc4 ♗xc4).
6 ♗xc4 e6 7 ♕a4+ ♘c6
Black seems to be doing well (8 ♗e3 ♗xf3 or 8 ♘bd2 ♗xf3 9 ♘xf3 ♗b4+).
8 ♘e5! ♕xd4?
He gets a better version of the game after 8...♗b4+! and 9 ♘c3 ♕xd4.
9 ♘xc6 ♕e4+ 10 ♗e3 bxc6 11 ♘c3
Much better than 11 ♘d2 ♕xg2!.
11...♕xg2
12 ♗d5!!
On any other move, Black would be close to winning.
12...exd5 13 ♕xc6+ ♔d8 14 ♕xa8+ ♔d7
Another fast finish follows 14...♗c8 15 0-0-0!. For instance 15…♘f6 16 ♘xd5 ♗d6 17 ♕c6.
15 ♕b7+ ♔e6 16 ♕c6+ ♗d6
Or 16...♔f5 17 ♔d2 and ♖hg1.
17 ♗f4! resigns.
Question 23: Find the forced mates after 17...♕xh1+ 18 ♔d2 ♕xa1.
Alexander Baburin White
Joseph Ryan Black
Kilkenny 1996
1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 ♘f3 c5 4 e3 cxd4 5 ♗xc4 ♕c7 6 ♕b3 e6 7 exd4 ♘f6 8 ♘c3 a6 9 ♗g5 ♗e7 10 d5 exd5 11 ♗xd5 0-0 12 0-0 ♘c6 13 ♖fe1 ♗f5 14 ♖ac1 ♘a5? 15 ♕a4 ♘c6 16 ♗xc6 bxc6 17 ♘d4! ♘g4 18 ♘xf5! ♕xh2+ 19 ♔f1 ♗xg5 20 ♕xg4 ♕h1+ 21 ♔e2 ♖ae8+ 22 ♔f3 (or 22 ♘e4) ♖xe1 23 ♕xg5 g6 24 ♕h6! resigns.
White will be at least a knight ahead.