Danish Dismantled

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Danish Dismantled
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White: John P. Pratt
Black: David Pratt
Date: 5 Jun 1994
Location: Orem, Utah

The Danish Gambit is my favorite opening, but my nephew had seen it many times. He systematically and patiently dismantled its power.

1. e2-e4, e7-e5.

2. d2-d4, e5xd4.

3. c2-c3, d4xc3.

4. Bf1-c4, c3xb2.

5. Bc1xb2, c7-c5. This game including White's move here is the Danish Gambit accepted. Probably White's favorite opening. Look at White's development. But if Black is cautious, his two pawn advantage should win for him. Black is familiar with common mistakes like 5. ... Bf8-c5 or b4; 6 Bb2xg7 winning a rook. He's content to leave his king bishop undeveloped as long as needed.

6. Ng1-f3, Nb8-c6.

7. Qd1-d5, Qd8-e7. White threatens checkmate immediately.

8. Nf3-g5, Nc6-b4. Black's move takes all the fun out of Qd5xf7+ because Black's knight can fork White's king and rook. White needs to keep up an attack and not lose his development advantage.

9. Qd5-d2, b7-b6. White was forced to back off a premature attack.

10. 0-0, Bc8-b7. Black has a triple attack on White's weak king pawn, and also aims his bishop's cannon at the White castle.

11. Rf1-e1, Qe7-d6. Black avoids a future pinning of his queen.

12. Bc4-b3, Nb4-d3. White is losing his edge. He defends against the knight fork at c2. So Black forks the bishop and rook instead!

13. Re1-e3, Nd3xb2. White defends his rook, but his attack is being totally dismantled as his trusty fianchettoed bishop dies.

14. Qd2xb2, c5-c4. It looks safe for White to take the knight, because his remainiing bishop guards against 14. ... Qd6-d1+. But that attack emboldens a mere pawn to attack that bishop! What's happened to White's powerful attack?

15. Ng5xf7, Ke8xf7. White decides that sacrificing a knight is a good idea. Why I don't know. Perhaps he is thinking that Black still has not developed several pieces, so something might work out. But it better be soon.

16. Bb3xc4+, Kf7-e8.

17. Nb1-d2, Qd6-b4. Now it is to Black's advantage to trade off pieces.

18. Qb2-e5+, Ng8-e7. Black defends with the knight to protect his king knight pawn and rook.

19. Re3-d3, Bb7-c6. White's rook plays offense and also defends the knight.

20. Bc4-d5, Bc6-b5. If Bc6xd5, Qe5xd5 threatens checkmate. So Black offers to trade rooks.

21. Ra1-c1, d7-d6. White threatens checkmate if Black trades rooks. Black gives his king breathing room while attacking the annoying white queen. Both players are balancing offense and defense well.

22. Bd5-c6+, Bb5xc6. White sacrifices another bishop. That nullifies the fact that Black's king bishop has remained undeveloped.

23. Rd3xd6, Ra8-c8. Black doesn't see the point of the sacrifice and neither do I.

24. Rd6xc6?, Rc8xc6. This isn't going well for White.

25. Resigns. White had expected 25. Rc1xc6, but hadn't noticed the reply Qb4xd2. Black is now down too many pieces and sees no chance to win. His attack was successfully entirely dismantled.

1. e2-e4, e7-e5.
2. d2-d4, e5xd4.
3. c2-c3, d4xc3.
4. Bf1-c4, c3xb2.
5. Bc1xb2, c7-c5.	This game including White's move here is the Danish Gambit accepted. Probably White's favorite opening. Look at White's development. But if Black is cautious, his two pawn advantage should win for him. Black is familiar with common mistakes like 5. ... Bf8-c5 or b4; 6 Bb2xg7 winning a rook. He's content to leave his king bishop undeveloped as long as needed.
6. Ng1-f3, Nb8-c6.
7. Qd1-d5, Qd8-e7.	White threatens checkmate immediately.
8. Nf3-g5, Nc6-b4.	Black's move takes all the fun out of Qd5xf7+ because Black's knight can fork White's king and rook. White needs to keep up an attack and not lose his development advantage.
9. Qd5-d2, b7-b6.	White was forced to back off a premature attack.
10. 0-0, Bc8-b7.	Black has a triple attack on White's weak king pawn, and also aims his bishop's cannon at the White castle.
11. Rf1-e1, Qe7-d6.	Black avoids a future pinning of his queen.
12. Bc4-b3, Nb4-d3.	White is losing his edge. He defends against the knight fork at c2. So Black forks the bishop and rook instead!
13. Re1-e3, Nd3xb2.	White defends his rook, but his attack is being totally dismantled as his trusty fianchettoed bishop dies.
14. Qd2xb2, c5-c4.	It looks safe for White to take the knight, because his remainiing bishop guards against 14. ... Qd6-d1+. But that attack emboldens a mere pawn to attack that bishop! What's happened to White's powerful attack?
15. Ng5xf7, Ke8xf7.	White decides that sacrificing a knight is a good idea. Why I don't know. Perhaps he is thinking that Black still has not developed several pieces, so something might work out. But it better be soon.
16. Bb3xc4+, Kf7-e8.
17. Nb1-d2, Qd6-b4.	Now it is to Black's advantage to trade off pieces.
18. Qb2-e5+, Ng8-e7.	Black defends with the knight to protect his king knight pawn and rook.
19. Re3-d3, Bb7-c6.	White's rook plays offense and also defends the knight.
20. Bc4-d5, Bc6-b5.	If Bc6xd5, Qe5xd5 threatens checkmate. So Black offers to trade rooks.
21. Ra1-c1, d7-d6.	White threatens checkmate if Black trades rooks. Black gives his king breathing room while attacking the annoying white queen. Both players are balancing offense and defense well.
22. Bd5-c6+, Bb5xc6.	White sacrifices another bishop. That nullifies the fact that Black's king bishop has remained undeveloped.
23. Rd3xd6, Ra8-c8.	Black doesn't see the point of the sacrifice and neither do I.
24. Rd6xc6?, Rc8xc6.	This isn't going well for White.
25. Resigns.	White had expected 25. Rc1xc6, but hadn't noticed the reply Qb4xd2. Black is now down too many pieces and sees no chance to win. His attack was successfully entirely dismantled.