Back toBasics Blitzed! By GMLev Alburt


In blitz, even dubious gambits oftenwork. So by allmeans, play chancy gambits. But—most importantly—study basic tactics, too.


The winner of thismonth’s award, Sam Merlock, is an unorthodox player, espe- cially in the opening—and very happy and enthusiastic in his unorthodoxy. What he lacks is consistency; some of his moves (and comments) are excellent, and some—very bad. And Tactics 101 is clearly needed! (My future comments are in italics). Hello, Mr. Alburt, my name is Sam Merlock, an upcoming chessplayer from Waukegan, Illinois. I have only been play- ing chess for a couple of years, but I absolutely love it. I am known for my unorthodox style and openings. One player played against me in a slow game and lost in eightmoves. “That was wrong,” he said. I have also beaten some master level players (2200+) with my ludicrous openings.My latest one was with a Phili- dor Counterattack. He resigned in a losing endgame. He was quite alarmed, and did- n’t know what to say. This was a recent Internet blitz game.


My opponent was one of the top-rated players on the site, so I was slightly nerv- ous. But I do what I always do against high-rated players—surprise them!


Englund Gambit (A40) “MasterEd” (2019) Sam Merlock (1423)


1. d4 e5?! Don’t laugh—this is the Englund Gam-


bit. I either play this or the Fajorowics [variation of the Budapest Gambit—L.A.] against 1. d4, both with favorable re- sults. The idea is to get counterplay with a quick ... Qe7 and ... Qb4+, and you would be surprised howmany people lose pieces to that trick. Although great in blitz, I would not recommend it in a slow game.


52 Chess Life — July 2011


2. dxe5 Nc6 3. Nf3 Qe7


r+l+klnr ppppqppp +n+ + +


+ + P + + + + +


+ + +N+ PPP+PPPP RNLQKL+R


After 3. ... Qe7


4. a3?! The best line goes 4. Bf4, but he was obviously trying to prevent ... Qb4+. I’ll take it, as I win the pawn back with a favorable game. White has here twomoveswhich lead to


a real edge: 4. Qd5 f6 5. exf6 Nxf6 6. Qb3 d5, with only partial (50%?) compensa- tion for a pawn, and 4. Bf4 Qb4+ 5. Bd2 Qxb2 6. Nc3 (not falling into Sam’s trap: 6. Bc3 Bb4 7. Qd2 Bxc3 8. Qxc3 Qc1 check- mate), and now 6. ... Bb4 is Black’s best chance, as the alternative 6. ... Nb4 7. Nd4 or 6. ... Kd8 (to meet the looming 7. Rb1 Qa3 8. Nb5) are clearly unappealing.


4. ... Nxe5 5. Nxe5 Qxe5 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. h3?! Anothermistake. You should notmake


wasted pawn moves in the openings (for example: a3, h3) unless absolutely nec- essary. My opponent has lost so much time, I am allowed to easily overrun the center.


7. ... d5 (see diagramtop of next column)


8. Be3?!


r+l+kl r ppp +ppp + + n +


+ +pq + + + + +


P N + +P PP+PPP+ R LQKL+R


After 7. ... d5 Surprisingly best according to my


engine, but allowsme to pushmy pawn- swith tempo. Mr.Merlock’s comments tomoves 4 and


7 are excellent! And he should have asked his engine what it has in mind versus the natural 8. ... c5 (the game).


8. ... c5 9. Bd2 (9. g3!—L.A.) 9. ... d4 10. Na4


r+l+kl r pp+ +ppp + + n +


+ p q + N+ p + + P + + +P PPLPPP+ R +QKL+R


After 10. Na4


10. ... Bd6 Amazingly, both players missed (and


Mr. Merlock missed when analyzing, too) the archetypical, and elementary, 10. ... b5, winning the knight.


11. g3 (11. b3!—L.A.) 11. ... Nh5!? uschess.org


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