By Lev Zilbermints Editor: Gary Gifford - Asigc

UON 27An improvement over Zilbermints – Kopiecki, BDM II, game 12, where 12…g6?was played.13 Rae1 Bxc3 14 bxc3 Bd7 15 Re5 Rc8 16 Rg5 g6 17 Qh6 Qf8 18 Qh4 f5 19Bc4 Qf6 20 Qf4 Qxc3XABCDEFGHY8-+r+k+-tr(7zpp+l+-+p'6-+-+p+p+&5+-zp-+ptR-%4-+L+-wQ-+$3+-wq-+-+-#2P+P+-+PzP"1+-+-+R+K!xabcdefghyAfter 20. ... Qxc321 Rg3 Qd4 22 Qf3 Qc4 23 Re1 b5 24 Qe3 Qc2 25 Qe5 00 26 h4 Qa2 27 h5f4 28 Rg5 Qd5 29 hg Qxe5 30 gxh7+ Kxh7 31 Rexe5 c4 32 g3 f3 and Blackwent on to win 0 –1UON 27 Jan - May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 3

Zilbermints – Kopiecki, Blitz Discussion Match I, Game 1 (of the GambitAccepted) 4/4/1993, Marshall Chess Club, New York.UON 271 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 00!...XABCDEFGHY8r+lwqk+-tr(7zppzp-vlpzpp'6-+n+psn-+&5+-+-+-vL-%4-+-zP-+-+$3+-sNL+N+-#2PzPP+-+PzP"1tR-+Q+RmK-!xabcdefghyAfter 8. O-OEditor’s Note: Fritz 6 likes both 8.Bb5 and 8.Ne2 better than castling at this juncture.Perhaps these moves are worth looking into. - gkg8.... Nxd4 9 Kh1 c5 10 Bxf6 Bxf6 11 Ne4 b6? 12 Nxd4 Bxd4 13 Qf3! 0014 Nf6+ Qxf6 15 Qxa8 Qh6?!Editor’s Note: Fritz 6 prefers 15.... Qe7, threatening Bb7; Therefore the computer shows:15. ...Qe7 16. Qf3 Bxb2 17. Rab1 Bd4 maintaining a plus for Black, in the computer’s eyes. Butafter the move played Fritz sees the position as equal. – gkg16 Qf3 Bxb2 17 Rab1 Be5 18 h3 Bd7 19 Rbe1 f6? (Bd6 or Bd4 are fine – gkg) 20Rxe5! (Diagram)UON 27 Jan - May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 5

UON 27XABCDEFGHY8-+-+-trk+(7zp-+l+-zpp'6-zp-+pzp-wq&5+-zp-tR-+-%4-+-+-+-+$3+-+L+Q+P#2P+P+-+P+"1+-+-+R+K!xabcdefghyAfter 20. Rxe5...20…. Bc6 21 Qc6 fxe5 22 Rxf8 Kxf8 [missing in score 23. Qd6+ Kf7] 23Qd7+ Kf6 24 Qd7+ Kf6 25 Qd8+ Kf7 26 Be2! Qc1 27 Qd1 Qxd1+ 28 Bxd1Kf6 29 Kg1 e4 30 Kf2 Ke5 31 Ke3 c4 32 c3 b5 33 Bc2 a5 34 a3 g6 35Bxe4 b4 36 cb ab 37 ab c3 38 Bc2 Kd5 39 Kd3, 1- 0Zilbermints – Kopiecki, BDM I, Game 2, 4/4/1993, Marshall Chess Club, NewYork.1 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 00!Nxd4 9 Kh1 c5 10 Bxf6 Bxf6 10 Bxf6 Bxf6 11 Ne4 Bd7? 12 Nd4 Bxd4 13Nd6+ Ke7 14 Nxf7 Qc7 15 Nxh8 Rxh8 16 Qf3 Bf6 17 Rad1 Bc6 18 Be4Be4 19 Qe4 Be5 20 Rfe1! Bxh2 21 Qxe6+, Black resigns 1-0Zilbermints – Kopiecki, Blitz – Discussion – Match II, 2001/2002, Marshall CC,New York, 5/26/2002, Game 52/58.1 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 00!Nxd4 9 Kh1 c5 10 Bxf6 Bxf6 10 Bxf6 Bxf6 11 Ne4 Be7 12 Nd4 Qd4 13Qh5 g6 14 Qh6 Bd7 15 Rad1 c4 16 c3 Qe5 17 Bb1 000 18 Rf7?? Bc6! 19Re1 Be4! 0 – 1UON 27 Jan - May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 6

UON 27Zilbermints – Kopiecki, BDM II, 2001/2002,Marshall CC, New York, 5/26/2002, Game 53/581 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 00Nxd4 9 Kh1 c5 10 Bxf6 Bxf6 11 Ne4 Be7 12 Nd4 Qd4 13 Bb5+ Bd7 14Bd7 Qd7 15 Qd4 Kd7 16 Rf7 Rhf8 17 Rg7 Rf4 18 Nc5 Kd6 19 Nb7 Kd7and eventually 1 – 0UON 27 Jan - May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 7

UON 27Timothy Sawyer – Waxman (computer) , Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, 19931 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 00!Nxd4 9 Kh1 c5 10 Bxf6 Bxf6 11 Ne4 Be7 12 Ne5?!This is dubious, I think. Worth a try, though.12…00 13 Qh5 f5 14 c3 fxe4 15 Be4 Rf1 16 Rf1 Nf5 17 g4 Nh6 18 Nf7 Qd219 Ng6 Qh6 20 Qe8 Bf8 21 Qf8# 1-0Zilbermints – NM Mikhail Belorusov, G/10 Westfield Chess Club (New Jersey)Tournament, 1/11/1998.1 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 00!Nxd4 9 Kh1 c5 10 Nxd4 …This is the correct way to capture. The capture of the Knight eliminates the …Nf5lines as in the previous game.10…cxd4 11 Bb5+? A mistake. I forgot the analyses – did not play this for twoyears. Correct is 11 Bxf6. 11…Bd7 12 Bxd7 Qxd7 13 Ne2 Rd8 14 Qe1 h6 15Bf4 Nd5 16 Be5 Bf6 17 Rxf6?! gf6 18 Bxd4, and eventually 0 -1Zilbermints – GeordiLaWoog (1127) Internet Chess Club 3 0 rated blitz,3/20/2003.1 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 00!Nxd4 9 Kh1 c5 10 Nxd4 cxd4 11 Bf6 Bf6 12 Ne4 Bd7 13 Nxf6 gf6 14 Qf3Qe7 The trick is to open up the Black Kingside and attack mightily. 15 Qf6 Qf616 Rf6 e5 17 Rae1 Be6 18 Bh6 Rfe8 19 Rh7 Bd5 20 Re1 Rg8 21 Re5+ Be622 Bc4 Ke7 23 Rxe6+ Kd7 24 Rf7+ Kc8 25 Ree7 b6 26 Rc7+ Kb8 27 Rb7+Kc8 28 Rfc7+ Kd8 29 Bg8 Ke8 30 Bd5, 1-0UON 27 Jan - May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 8

UON 27Bernhard Riepe – Christian Koch / DESC email Tournament / Germany 20011 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 00!Nxd4 9 Kh1 c5 10 Bxf6 Bxf6 11 Ne4 00!?So far the game has gone over well-known theory. With his last move however,Black tries something new. The move 11…00!? is an attempt to get the King tosafety.12 Nxc5?!This move really hands Black the initiative. In the Zilbermints Gambit, you playeither to mate the opponent, or win, at the very least, a piece. If you cannot win thepiece, you must at least try to have enough piece activity and a pawn ascompensation. This is not the way to do it. Small surprise then, that White lost. Theconclusion was…12…Nf5 13 Bxf5 ef5 14 c3 Qb6 15 Nb3 Be6 16 Nfd4 Rad8 17 Qc2 g6 18Rad1 Bc4 19 Rfe1 Rfe8 20 Nd2 Rxe1 21 Rxe1 Bd5 22 N2f3 Bg7 23 a3 Bf824 Ng5 f6 25 Ng5-g3 Rc8 26 Qe2 Bc4 27 Qc2 Bf7 28 Qd2 Bc5 29 Rd1 Re830 b4 Bf8 31 a4 a6 32 a5 Qc7 33 Ne2 Bb3 34 Re1 Rd8 35 Qe3 Bf7 36 Rg1Re8 37 Qd2 Qc4 38 N2d4 Qa2 39 Qf4 Rc8 40 Qh4 Kg7 41 Qg3 Qd5 0 – 1.Instead of the lemon, 12 Nc5? White should have captured the Knight. Let meanalyze the position after 12 Nxd4!1 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc6 800! Nxd4 9 Kh1 c5 10 Bxf6 Bxf6 11 Ne4 00!? 12 Nxd4!Now the big question is: Which piece does Black capture the Nd4 with? There canfollow three branches: A 12…cxd4 ; B 12…Bxd4 ; C 12…Qxd4A 12…cxd4 leads to a forced win for White. There follows 13 Nxf6+ gf6 14Bxh7+! Kh7 15 Qh5+ Kg8 16 Rf3! ++-B 12…Bxd4 13 c3! Now the question is: How should Black play? There arefour possible answers: B1) 13…f5 ; B2) 13…Be3??; B3) 13…Bf6 ; B4) 13…Be5B1) 13…f5!? Attempts to strike back, but falls a bit short of the mark. Therefollows 14 cd4 fe4 15 Rf8 Qf8 16 Be4 and now:UON 27 Jan - May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 9

UON 27(1) 16…Qf4 17 dc5! Qe4 18 Qd8+ Kf7 19 Rf1+ Kg6 20 Qe8+ Kh6 21 Qf8Kg6 22 Qe8+ Kg5 23 Qe7+ Kg6 24 Qe8+ Kh6 25 Qf8 with a draw. If16…Qf4 17 Qd3 Qh6 18 dc5 +=/+-(2) 16…cxd4 17 Qh5! with at least a draw after 17…g6 18 Bxg6 hxg6 19Qxg6+. If Black does not capture the Bishop, a White win is possible.(3) 16…Bd7 17 dxc5 Rd8 18 Qc2 +=B2) 13…Be3?? 14 Nf6+! gxf6 15 Bxh7 Kxh7 16 Qh5+ Kg8 17 Rf3 e5 18Rxe3 Re8 19 Rd1 Qc7 20 Qh6 Bf5 21 Qxf6 Bg6 22 Rh3 Bh7 23 Rdd3 ++-B21) 13…Be3 14 Nf6 Kh8 15 Qh5! Bh6 16 Rad1 Qe7 17 Nxh7! ++-B3) 13…Bf6 14 Nf6 gf6 15 Bh7+ 16 Qh5+ Kg8 17 Rf3 Re8 18 Qh6 ++-B31) 13…Bf6 14 Nf6 Kh8 15 Qh5! Bh6 16 Rad1 Qe7 17 Nxh7! ++-B4) 13…Be5 14 Qc2! This move frees the d-file for the Rook, while making aQueen-and-Bishop battery on the b1-h7 diagonal. The other move, 11 Qf3!? isanalyzed later.C 12…Qxd4 again leads to a forced win for White. There follows 13 Nxf6+! gf614 Bxh7+! Kxh7 15 Qh5+ Kg8 16 Rf3! Re8 17 Qh6! and wins. If Black plays16…Rd8! then 17 Raf1 Kf8 18 Rxf6! wins again; 16 Rf3! Re8! 17 Raf1 e5 18Rxf6! Be6 19 Qg5+ Kf8 20 Re6 and White wins.The sub-variations after 12 Nxd4! clearly illustrate White’s practical chances. Ofcourse, you have to know the analyses. But hey, that is true about every chessopening.UON 27 Jan - May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 10

UON 27CHAPTER 7: Punting the Bishop, 9…h6The move 9…h6 may eventually transpose to other lines, including the ExchangeSub-Variation. When it does not, independent variations may arise. Basicallyspeaking, Black tries to punt the Bishop somewhere else. He hopes that Whitewill be forced to show his hand… after which the second player will play asneeded. While the theory may be good, in practice White has won most of thegames.Zilbermints – Kopiecki, Game 17a, 2 nd Blitz-Discussion-Match, New York,3/16/2002 :The original Game 17 score was never written down. Both of us decided tocount this game as the replacement, even though it was played a year later. Allthe 58 games of the Second Blitz-Discussion-Match were played at the famousMarshall Chess Club in New York City. The time control was 5 minutes for theentire game.1 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 00Nxd4 9 Kh1 h6 [Diagram]XABCDEFGHY8r+lwqk+-tr(7zppzp-vlpzp-'6-+-+psn-zp&5+-+-+-vL-%4-+-sn-+-+$3+-sNL+N+-#2PzPP+-+PzP"1tR-+Q+R+K!xabcdefghyHere White has a choice of moves. He can choose between A1 10 Bf4;A2 10 Bd2; A3 10 Bxf6 ; A4 10 Be3 ; B 10 Nxd4UON 27 Jan – May 2011 11

UON 27A1 10 Bf410 Bf4 c5 Transposing to a variation of the 9...c5 lines. 11 Nxd4 cxd412 Bb5+ Bd7 13 Qd4 Bb5 14 Qd8 Rd8 15 Nb5 Bc5 16 c3 a6 17 b4 ba 18cb Ne4 19 Bc7 Rd5 20 Bb6 Nc5 21 Rab1 Nd7 22 Ba5 b6 23 Bb4 Nc524 Rfd1 eventually 0 –1, Game 17a / 58, Zilbermints – Kopiecki, BDM II, 2002.10 Bf4 Nc6 11 Qd2 Nb4 12 Ne5 Nxd3 13 Nxd3 00 14 Rad1 Nd5 15 Ne5Nxf4 16 Qxf4 Qe8 17 Qg4 Bd6 18 Nc4 Qc6 19 Nxd6 cxd6 20 Rf6 Kh721 Ne4 Qxc2 22 Rf2 e5 23 Qf3 Qc6 24 Rxd6 Qc4 25 b3 Qb4 26 Rfd2 Be6 27Qd3 Kg8 28 Nf6+ gxf6 29 Rxf6 Rad8 0-1, Kuni, R. – Rohde, Matse, corresp.BDG Thematic, 2001.10 Bf4 Nxf3 Transposing to the Exchange Sub-Variation. 11 Qxf3 00 12 Rad1Bd6 13 Bg3? Better is 13 Bg5! pressuring the Nf6 and transposing to themainline of the Exchange Sub-Variation. The text move just allows Black toconsolidate his position. 13…Ne8! Now Black has solved his problems. 14 Nb5f5! 15 Bc4 Qe7 16 Rfe1 Bxg3 17 Qxg3 f4 18 Qb3 c6 19 Bxe6+ Bxe6 20Rxe6 Qf7 21 Kg1 Kh8 22 Nd4 Rd8 23 Qa3 Nf6 24 Re7 Qc4 25 Ree1 c5 26b3 Qc3 27 Nf3 Rxd1 28 Rxd1 Qe3+ 29 Kh1 Ne4 0-1, P. Leisebein – M. vonSaleski, DESC correspondence tournament, 2001.10 Bf4 Nxf3 11 Qxf3 00 12 Rad1 Bd6 13 Be3 Qe7 14 Bxh6 gh6 15 Qxf6 Qxf616 Rxf6 Kg7 17 Rf3 Bd7 18 Ne4 Be5 19 Nc5 Bc6 20 Be4 Rad8 21 Rfd3Rxd3 22 Nxd3 Bxe4 23 Nxe5 Rg8 24 Rd2 Kf6 25 Nd7+ Ke7 26 Nc5 Bc6 27Kg1 f5 28 Nd3 Kf6 29 g3 h5 30 Kf1 e5 31 Nb4 Be4 32 Nd5+ Bxd5 33Rxd5 h4 34 Kf2 Rh8 35 Kg2 hxg3 36 c4 hg3 37 hg3 Rg8 38 Kf3 Rg4 39 b3Rd4 40 Ra5 a6 41 Ke2 Kd6 42 Ra4 c5 43 Ra5 e4 44 Ke3 Rd3+ 45 Kf2Rd2+ 46 Kf1 e3 47 b4 Ke5 48 Rxc5+ Ke4 49 a4 b6 50 Rc6 Kf3 51 Ke1 Ra20-1, Wielans Belka – Marcel von Saleski, 9. Pokalturnier VWV, Dresden,Germany, 11/15/2001After losing Game 17a I decided to play 12 Ne2. I was moderately successfulwith it, scoring +2, -1, = 2. This shows that you better know the theory and be agood tactician! Or, if you want to emulate Herr Leisebein, good at positionalmaneuvering! See the game Leisebein – Fitzian, corres. 2001, elsewhere. Inthat game White maneuvered skillfully to get a draw.(Moves 1-11 as in Game 17a) 12 Ne2 Nd5 13 Nd4 Nf4 14 Rf4 e5 15 Rf7Kf7 16 Qh5?! Kg8 17 Bc4+ Kh7 18 Rf1?? Qd4! 19 Be3 e4! =++ , 20 Bd3Be6 0 –1, Z-K, BDM II, 2001/2002, 5/26/2002, Game 49/58.UON 27 Jan – May 2011 12

UON 2710…c6 11 Nxd4 Qxd4 12 Qe1 Nd5 13 Qg3 Bd7 14 Nxd5 cxd5 15 Bc3 Qc516 Qxg7 00 17 Rxf7 Bd6 18 Bd4 Qc7 19 Qf6 Bxh2 20 Bb5 a6 21 Bd7+Rd7 22 Qh8+ Rd8 23 Rxc7+ 1-0, Zilbermints-guest880, ICC, 8/29/2003.10…c5 11 Nxd4 cxd4 12 Ne4 Ne4 13 Be4 00 14 Qh5 Bf6 ?? (14…Bg5 !holds) 15 Bh6 ! gh6 16 Qh6 Re8 17 Bh7+ 1-0, Zilbermints-toro5 (1856) ICC 5-minute blitz,1/21/2003.10…Nc6 11 Bb5 Bd7 12 Qe1 a6 13 Bc4 Bd6 14 Rd1 Qe7 15 a3 000 16b4 Na7 17 Qf2 Kb8 18 h3 Bc6 19 Be3 Nb5 20 Bxb5 ab 21 a4 ba4 22 b5Bc6 23 Qxf3 a3 24 b4 c6 25 Rfe1 Bb4 26 Bf4+ Kc8 27 Ra1 Qc5 ? 28 Na4Qd5 29 Qe2 Be130 Qe1 Qc4 31 Qe5 Nd5 32 Bh2 Qxa4 33 Rd1 Rd7 ?? 34 Qb8 mate,Zilbermints – Eric D’Agostino, G/30 Polgar Chess Authority tournament, NewYork, 10/23/1997.A4 10 Be3 This move is another way to regroup the White pieces for an attackon the Black Kingside. 10…c5 11 Nxd4 cxd4 12 Bb5+ Kf8 13 Bxd4 a6 14 Be2Bb4 15 Bxf6 Qxd1 16 Bxg7 Kxg7 17 Raxd1 Bxc3 18 bxc3 b5 19 Bf3 Ra720 Be4 Bb7 21 Rd7 Rb8 1-0, Zilbermints-GeordiLaForge (1207) , InternetChess Club 2 12 unrated blitz, 4/4/2003.B 10 Nxd4 A rarely-used line. Perhaps not the best, as it allows the h-file to beopened. 10…hg5 11 Nce2 Qd6 12 g3 Bd7 13 Qd2 00 14 b4 Qd5+ 15 Kg1Ne4 16 Qe3 f5 17 c4 Qe5 18 c5 g4 19 c6 bc6 20 Nf5 ef5 21 Qa7 Be6 22Nf4 Bxb4 23 Ne6 Qe6 24 Ba6+ Kd7 25 Qd4+ Qd6 26 Qxg7, Black forfeits.Zilbermints-Kopiecki, Friday Rapids, New York, Marshall Chess Club, October12, 2001. This game score lay unnoticed at the Marshall Chess Club websiteuntil I looked more carefully. I do not know what happened to the original scoresheet.Perhaps it is among my countless papers, perhaps not…10 Bf4 Nc6 11 Ne5 Bd6 12 Nxc6 bxc6 13 Qf3 Bxf4 14 Qxf4 Qd6 15 Qf3 0016 Rad1 Nd5 17 Ne4 Qe4 18 c4 Nb4 19 Bb1 e5 20 Ng3 Rb8 21 Qe4 g6 22Qe3 Kg7 23 a3 Na6 24 b4 Rb7 25 Qe4 f5 26 Qxc6 Rb6 27 Qa4 c5 28 b5Nb8 29 Qb3 Be6 30 Qc3 Nd7 31 a4 Rd6 32 a5 Rd4 33 Bd3 Kh7 34 Ne2 e435 Nxd4 cxd4 36 Qxd4 exd3 37 Rxd3 Nc5 38 Qd6 DRAW, AlfonsinoLannaoli - Joe Schipman, EM/M ICCF e-mail, 1998.UON 27 Jan – May 2011 15

UON 2710 Bf4 Nc6 11 Qd2? Perhaps 11 Ne5 is better ? Nb4! This is what White needsto avoid: trading pieces. If you want to know the Zilbermints Gambit in the EuweDefense to the BDG, you better know the analyses! 12 Ne5 Too late! Nxd3 13Nxd3 00 14 Rad1 Nd5 15 Ne5 Nxf4 16 Qxf4 Qe8 17 Qg4 Bd6 18 Nc4 Qc619 Nxd6 cxd6 20 Rf6 Kh7 21 Ne4 Qxc2 22 Rf2 e5 23 Qf3 Qc6 24 Rxd6 Qc425 b3 Qb4 26 Rfd2 Be6 27 Qd3 Kg8 28 Nf6+ gxf6 29 Rxf6 Rad8, 0-1, R.Kuni – Matse Rohde, BDG04 correspondence, Germany 2001.UON 27 Jan – May 2011 16

UON 27CHAPTER 8: Waiting Out, 9…c6In this chapter I take a look at Black’s attempt to chicken out of all the fun aftercapturing the pawns and playing 9…c6. To be more precise, the Black player istrying to ensure that there are no weaknesses which White can exploit. While intheory this is a good approach, in practice Black’s passive nature can often leadto him making horrible blunders. However, White should not underestimate thisdefense, as it can be very resilient. Much skill is needed by White to pry theBlack player of the shell he has built around himself.1 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 exf3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc68 00 Nxd4 9 Kh1 c6 [Diagram]XABCDEFGHY8r+lwqk+-tr(7zpp+-vlpzpp'6-+p+psn-+&5+-+-+-vL-%4-+-sn-+-+$3+-sNL+N+-#2PzPP+-+PzP"1tR-+Q+R+K!xabcdefghyZilbermints – Kopiecki, First Blitz-Discussion Match (BDM I), 24 April1993. This inaugural game continued 10 Bxf6 Bxf6 11 Ne4 Be7 12 Ne5 Nf5 13g4 Qd514 Nf7 Kf7 15 gf5 ef5 16 Qf3 Rf8 17 b3 Kg8? 18 Bc4! fe 19 Bxd5 cd520 Qe3 Bg4 21 c4 Rac8 22 h3 Bc5 23 Qg3 Rf3 24 Kh2 Rcd8 25 Qg5 d4??26 Qc5 d3 27 Qe3 d2 28 Rad1 Bxd1 29 Rxd1, Black overstepped on time.Zilbermints – Theodore Vialet, off-hand blitz, New York, 08.23.1998,continued 10 Nxd4 Nxd4 11 Bxf6 Bxf6 12 Ne4 Ke7? 13 Qf3 Bd7 14 Rad1 Qe515 Rde1 Qd4 16 c3 Qe5 17 Nxf6 Qxf6 18 Qh5 g6 19 Qc5+, 1- 0.Zilbermints – Theodore Vialet, Game 2 (Moves 1-13 as in previous gamewith Vialet) continued 13…Rf8 14 c3 Qe5 15 Rae1 Qd5 16 Qf4 Qxd3 17Nxf6+ gf6 18 Qxf6+ Ke8 19 Rd1 Qxd1 20 Rxd1 Bd7 21 Qg7, 1-0.UON 27 Jan – May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 17

UON 27Peter Leisebein – Baer, correspondence, Germany 2000:10 Nxd4 Qxd4 11 Qe1 Qb4 12 a3 Qg4 13 Bh4 Qh5 14 Qg3 Rf8 15 Rad1Qg4 16 Qf2 g5 17 Bg3 Qh5 18 Qd4 Nd5 19 Nxd5 ed5 20 Qe5 f6 21 Qc7Qg4 22 Bh7 Qd7 23 Bg6+ Rf7 24 Qa5 Kf8 25 Bf7 Kf7 26 c4 b6 27 Qd2Kg7 28 Bf2 Ba6 29 Bd4 Kg6 30 Qc2+ f5 31 g4 Rf8 32 gf5+ Rxf5 33 Rde1Bf6 34 Bxf6 Bxf6 35 Qd3 Rxf1 36 Rxf1, 1- 0.Peter Leisebein – Matse Rohde, BDG 04-09, DVC, 2000, corres.10 Nxd4 Qxd4 11 Qe1 Qc5 12 Qh4 Qb6?? 13 Rxf6!! A great tactical shot thatwins in all lines! Of course, in correspondence chess, you can do anything youwant. 13…gf6 14 Bxf6 Bxf6 15 Qxf6 Rf8 16 Bxh7, Black resigns1 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 exf3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc68 00 Nxd4 9 Kh1 c6 [Diagram]XABCDEFGHY8r+lwqk+-tr(7zpp+-vlpzpp'6-+p+psn-+&5+-+-+-vL-%4-+-sn-+-+$3+-sNL+N+-#2PzPP+-+PzP"1tR-+Q+R+K!xabcdefghyPeter Leisebein – H. Fitzian, correspondence, Germany 2000:10 Nxd4 Qxd4 11 Qe1 Qc5 12 Qh4 h6 13 Ne4?? Nxe4 14 Bxe7 Qxe715 Qxe4 f6 16 Qd4 00 -+. Black has a real advantage here and stands to win.However, Leisebein is resourceful and manages to draw the game. Theremaining moves were 17 Rae1 e5 18 a3 g5 19 Qe3 Bg6 20 Rd1 a6 21 Rde1Rad8 22 b4 Rd6 23 Rf2 Rfd8 24 Ref1 Bc8 25 Kg1 Kg7 26 Qf3 Re8 27 Qg3b5 28 c3 Qa7 29 Kh1 c5 30 Be4 c4 31 Re2 Red8 32 Bc2 Qd7 33 Kg1 Qc634 h3 Bb7 35 Rfe1 Rd2 36 Qf2 Rxe2 37 Rxe2 Bc8 38 Re1 Rd6 39 Kh2 Qd740 Re2 Bb7 41 Qc5 Rd5 42 Qf2 Qc7 43 Kg1 a5 44 Re1 Bc8 45 Rf1 Rd646 Qf3 Qd7 47 Be4 Qa7+ 48 Kh2 a4 49 Bc6 Qb6 50 Be4 Bd7 51 Bb1 Qc6UON 27 Jan – May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 18

UON 2752 Be4 Qc8 53 Qf2 f5 54 Qg3 f4 55 Qf2 Qf8 56 Qa7 Qf6 57 Bc6 Qf758 Bf3 Be8 59 Qc5 Qe7 60 Bd5 Kf6 61 Be4 Rd2 62 Qc8 Bd7 63 Qh8+Draw ½ - ½Leisebein used positional maneuvering to compensate for his 2-pawn deficit. Avery instructive game.Nico Vandenbroucke – R. Osthus, correspondence, Germany, DiemerMemorial Tournament, 2003:10 Nxd4 Qxd4 11 Qe1 Qc5 12 Qh4 h6 13Ne4 Nxe4 14 Bxe7 Qxe7 15 Qxe4 f6 16 Rad1 e5 Here, Leisebein – Fitzian,correspondence, Germany 2000, saw 16 Qd4 00 17 Rae1 e5 with a hard-foughtdraw on move 63. In this game, the end comes early. 17 Rfe1 Be6 0 – 1.White prematurely resigned. He could still play on, like Leisebein did, and try tosave the game.Zilbermints – Theodore Vialet, Marshall Chess Club Friday Rapids, 7May 1999: 10 Nxd4 Qxd4 11 Bxf6 Bxf6 12 Ne4 Bd7 13 Qf3 000 14 Rad1Qe5 15 Rde1 Qd5 16 Rd1 Qe5 17 c3 Kb8 18 Rfe1 Qc7 19 Nxf6 gf6 20Qxf6 Bc8 21 Rf1 Rhf8 22 Bxh7 e5 23 Rxd8 Rxd8 24 Re1 Rd7 25 Qh8 Re7 26Bf5 a5 27 Rd1 e4 28 Rd8 e3 29 Rxc8+, Black resigns.Next are two games that I played on the Internet Club.Zilbermints – TimDC, 3 0 unrated blitz, Internet Chess Club, 21 March2003:1 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 exf3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc6 800 Nxd4 9 Kh1 c6 Reaching our key position for this line….XABCDEFGHY8r+lwqk+-tr(7zpp+-vlpzpp'6-+p+psn-+&5+-+-+-vL-%4-+-sn-+-+$3+-sNL+N+-#2PzPP+-+PzP"1tR-+Q+R+K!xabcdefghyUON 27 Jan – May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 19

UON 2710 Bxf6 Bxf6 11 Nd4 Qd4 12 Ne4 Be5 A theoretical novelty. Previously seen was12…Bd7 13 Qh5 g6 14 Qh4 Bg7 15 Qf4 00 16 Qg3 e5 17 Rd1 Qb6 18 Nf6+Kh8 19 Qh4 h6 20 g4 c5 21 Be4 g5 22 Qf2 Bf6 23 Qf6 Qf6 24 Rf6 Kg7 25Rdd6 Bg4 26 Kg2 Be6 27 Rf1 Rad8 28 Rd8 Rd8 29 Rf2 b6 30 b3 Rd4 31 Kf3f5 32 Bb7 Bd5+ 33 Bd5 Rd5 34 Ke3 Kf6 35 Rf3 Ke6 36 Rh3 f4+ 37 Ke2 e438 Rh6 Ke5 39 Rh8 e3 40 Re8+ Kf5 41 Rf8+ Kg4 42 Rf7 Rd2+ 43 Ke1 f3 44Ra7 f2+ 44 Ra7 f2+ 45 Kf1 Rd1 46 Ke2 f1/Q, White resigns.Here is the second game between the same opponents. The game-score doesnot seem to be accurate though:Zilbermints – TimDC, 3 0 unrated blitz, Internet Chess Club, 21 March2003: 10 Bxf6 Bxf6 11 Ne4 Be7 So far as in Zilbermints-Kopiecki, 1 BDM,1993.04.23 12 Nd4 This deviates from 12 Ne5 in the original Z-K game. 12…Qd413 Qh5 g6 14 Qh6 Bd7 15 Rad1 Qb6 16 Qg7 00 17 Qf7 Rde8 18 b3 Rhf8 19Qg7 Rg8 20 Qh7 Rgf8 21 Qg7 Rc8 22 g3 c5 … The rest of the game-scoredoes not seem to accurate. Eventually 0-1, 50. Both sides had 0.00 remaining onthe clock, but White’s flag fell first.Zilbermints – Capabonker (2010), Internet Chess Club, 3 0 rated blitz,29 August 2004. 10 Bxf6 gf6 This is the alternative to 10…Bxf6. Theproblem is that it weakens the Kingside and gives Black doubled pawns. 11Nxd4 Qxd4 12 Qh5 f5 13 Be2 Qe5 14 Rae1 Qg7 15 Qh3 Bd7 16 Qe3 h517 Bf3 h4 18 Bd1 00 19 g3 h3 20 g4 hg4 21 Bxg4 c5 22 Rg1 Kh8 23Qxh3 Qh7 24 Qe3 Bc6+ 25 Bf3 Bxf3 26 Qxf3 Qh7 27 Rg3 b6 28 Rh3 Rg829 Rxh7+ Kxh7 30 Qxf7 Rg7 31 Qh5 Kg8 32 Qe5 Kf7 33 Qxb8 Rg6 34 Rf1+Rf6 35 Rxf6 Kxf6 36 Qf4+ Kg7 37 Ne4 a6 38 Qe5+ Kf7 39 Ng5+ Bxg5 40Qxg5 b5 41 h4 c4 42 h5, 1- 0,And now, some games on how not to play the Zilbermints Gambit:J. Kainz - Peter Leisebein, BDG 04-03 DVC, 2001,Email corr. Germany, 20011 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 00 Nxd4 9Kh1 c6 10 Ne5? This move is dubious. White should try to open up files byplaying 10 Nxd4 Qxd4 11 Qe1. 10...h6 11 Bxf6 Bxf6 12 Qh5 00 13 Ng4 Bg5 14Ne4 Nf5 15 Rad1 Qe7 16 Rfe1 Kh8 17 Re2 Nd4! 18 Nxg5 Qxg5 19 Qxg5 hg5 20Red2 Nf5 21 Kg1 f6 22 Bc4 Kg8 23 Kf2 Re8 24 Rd8 Kf7 25 R8d2 Kf8 26 a4 Ke727 c3 e5 28 h3 Nh6 29 Nxh6 gh6 30 Kf3 Rb8 31 Ke4 g4 32 h4 b5 33 axb5 cxb534 Bb3 a5 35 g3 a4 36 Ba2 Rb6 37 Kd5 b4, White resigns. Leisbein gives thefollowing analyses: 38 Kc5 Rb7 39 Bd5 bxc3 40 bxc3 Rc7 41 Bc6 Bf5 -+ 10 a4?This is unnecessary. 10…. h6 11 Bf4 Nxf3 12 Qxf3 00 13 Ne4 Nxe4 14 Qxe4 f515 Qe2 Bg5 16 Be5 Bf5 17 Bc4 Bxe5 18 Qxe5 Qf6 19 Rae1 Qxe5 20 Rxe5 g6 21Bxe6+ Bxe6 22 Rxe6 Kf7, 0-1,UON 27 Jan – May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 20

UON 27Richard Kuni - Hans-Juergen Schulz, correspondence tournament, T16- 03.64 Germany, 2002 10 Bxf6 Bxf6 11 Ne4? What is wrong? I always saidthat 11 Nxd4 is best! Analyze! 11….Nf5 12 Nxf6 Qxf6 13 Qe2 00 14 c3 Qh6 15Bxf5 ef5 16 Qe7 Qe6 17 Rfe1 Qxe7 18 Rxe7 Rb8 19 Rae1 Be6 20 Nd4 Bxa2 21Nxf5 Rfd8 22 Nd6 h5 23 Nxb7 Rd2 24 b4 Bd5 25 h4 Bxg2+ 26 Kg1 Bd5 27 Nc5Rg2+ 28 Kf1 Rh2 29 Ra7 Rh4 30 Nd7 Rd8 31 Re3 Be6 32 Ne5 Rd2 33 Kg1 Rhh234 c4 Rdg2+ 35 Kf1 h4 , 0-1Having shown what mistakes White needs to avoid in the previous three games,I now will show games where White won or drew:Peter Leisebein – Peter Schuster, email correspondence, Remote-Schach, Germany 2004. Note: RemoteSchach is the official Internet server ofthe German Correspondence Chess Union. 10 Nxd4 Qxd4 11 Qe1 h6 12 Bf4 0013 Rd1 Qb4 14 Be5 Nd7 15 Bf4 Qc5 16 Rh3 h5 17 a3 Qb6 18 Bh6 Nf6 19Bg5 Rg8 20 Ne4, 1- 0The next game involves an interesting sacrificial attack by White that is acommon theme in the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit.Horst E. Acker – Hans Schulz, DESC T0115 email tournament, Germany2004. 1 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 00Nxd4 9 Kh1 c6 10 Nxd4 Qxd4 11 Qe1 h6 12 Bf4 00 13 Be5… A new move.Previously seen was 13 Rd1 in Leisebein – Schuster, email correspondence,Germany 2004. 13…Qg4 14 Rf4 Qg5 15 h5 Qh5 16 Bxf6 Bxf6 17 Qe4 Rd8 18Raf1 Kf8 20 Rxf6! Ke7 21 Be2 Qc5 22 Rxf7+ Kxf7 23 Qh7+ Ke8 24 Ne4 Rd125 Bxd1 Qe5 26 Bf3 Qf4 27 Qh8+ Kd7 28 Qg7+ Kd8 29 h5 a5 30 c4 a4 31c5 a3 32 b3 Ra7 33 Nd6 Bd7 34 Ne4 Kc7 35 Nf6 Qh4+ Draw ½ - ½UON 27 Jan – May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 21

UON 27Chapter 9: Transpositions, Zilbermints Gambit DelayedIntroductionThis chapter took longer to write, as various things got in the way. Thus, it wasnot until March 2009 that I started typing this chapter up, even though thematerial was already there. This month and year happen to be the sixteenthanniversary of the invention of the Zilbermints Gambit in the Euwe Defense, butthat is just a coincidence. I happened to have some free time, with a one-weekvacation from school.The other chapters were already written years earlier. Chapter 2 was originallywritten in 1995, as a series for Blackmar-Diemer Gambit World magazine, issues69 and 70. Back then, I had to use a typewriter to type up all the material. Fromthis, 13.5 years ago, was born the book on the Zilbermints Gambit in the EuweDefense to the BDG.For those who are interested in history, here is some information. Chapters 1, 3,4 and 10 were typed up in 2004; Chapters 5,6,7, in 2005; Chapters 8, 11 and 12were typed up in 2007. The reason for the delay was simple: The theory of theZilbermints Gambit developed slowly. Even with Internet Chess Club, only alimited amount of games were played. For example, the whole of 2004 saw onlyseven (!) games with the Zilbermints Gambit in the Euwe (Avoided, Delayed,Accepted) Defense played! Small wonder then, that new games were hard tocome by!Now, some will say that blitz games do not mean much. I disagree, for thesedays, even respected chess periodicals such as New In Chess cite blitz games as asource of information. Also, when you talk about a rare or unorthodox line, youcannot afford to be choosy. Rather, you must take all the games available withthis particular variation and incorporate it into the theory.Another argument that I hear often is that a computer will find improvements forBlack, proving that or that line unsound. Objectively speaking, that might be true,for computers are very good at tactics. In practice, however, my gambit isexcellent for over-the-board games, where a man cannot use a computer to helphim analyze. I am not so sure about postal chess, which I tend to distrust, as thereis no way to prevent computer assistance. However, as Peter Leisebein ofGermany and Patrick Schoupal of the Czech Republic have proved, it is possibleto win in postal chess even in age of computers. You just have to own a goodUON 27 Jan – May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 23

UON 27chess computer yourself! Call me old-fashioned, but I have always believed inusing your own brains to make the chess decisions for you, not a computer!If I use a computer, it is to look up games, never to help me analyze. I considerthat cheating. What came first, the man or the computer? Of course man camefirst! Then it stands to reason that man has to stop over-depending oncomputers to analyze chess positions. The reason for that, I say, is because overdependingon computers makes man use his own head less. Already I hearpeople say, Fritz7 said this, Rybka said that. Yes, both Fritz and Rybka arepowerful chess engines, but they are not infallible. More to the point, if you wantto make it to master strength, you should learn to use your head more than thecomputer!I wonder if we are becoming a society that depends too much on computers andless on our own heads and brains.UON 27 Jan – May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 24

UON 27Theory and PracticeIn the Zilbermints Gambit Delayed, Black captures the d4-pawn, not on the eighthmove, but a move or two later. By comparison, a transposition comes aroundwhen Black plays an unusual eighth move which later can transpose to the mainlines.The reason why there aren’t too many transpositions (or delayed games) is thatmost Black players either capture the d4-pawn with the c6 knight or chicken outwith Nb4. I hope that will change as time goes on.Zilbermints – IM Mikhail Zlotnikov; New Jersey Invitational Blitz ChampionshipWestfield, NJ, 19941 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 00 h69 Bh4 [Diagram] See Note 1.XABCDEFGHY8r+lwqk+-tr(7zppzp-vlpzp-'6-+n+psn-zp&5+-+-+-+-%4-+-zP-+-vL$3+-sNL+N+-#2PzPP+-+PzP"1tR-+Q+RmK-!xabcdefghy9… Nd4 10 Kh1 Nf5 11 Bf6 Bf6 12 Qe1 00 13 Rd1 Qe7 14 Ne4 Bb2 15 c3! Ba316 Ne5 Nd6 17 Nf6! gf6 18 Qg3+ Kh8 19 Qh4+ Kg7 20 Qg3+, draw.Note 1: Instead of 9. Bh4, (as in the diagram for the preceding game) 9 Bd2 wasthe new move I played against Dan Raynor, as follows in blitz games 4 of 6 and6 of 6. The Exchange Variation is generally favorable for White, due to betterpiece development.UON 27 Jan – May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 25

UON 27Zilbermints-Raynor, 3-minute blitz, Newark, 8/20/2003, game 4 of 6.(First eight moves as in preceding game) 9 Bd2 Nxd4 10 Kh1 Nxf3 11 Qxf3 Bd712 Qxb7 (12 Rad1?! led to only a draw on time in Zilbermints-Dan Raynor,Newark, New Jersey, 8/20/2003, game 2 of 6) 00 13 Qg3 Bd6 14 Qh4 Qe7 15Bh6 Nd5 16 Bg5! 1-0,Zilbermints-Raynor, Newark, New Jersey, 3-minute blitz, game 6 of 6.(First eight moves as in preceding game) 9 Bd2 Nxd4 10 Kh1 Nxf3 then 11 Qxf3c6 12 Rad1 Bd7 13 Ne4 Nxe4?? 14 Qxf7 mate!, 1-0,In addition to 8 00, the line 8 a3, under certain circumstances, can give a form ofthe Zilbermints Gambit Delayed.Sawyer-O’Connell, USCF correspondence 1989:1 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 a3 h6 9Bd2!? 00 10 00?! Here O’Connell recommended 10 Qe2 and 11 000 with adangerous attack – Sawyer: BDG Keybook I, 1992, page 74. 11 Qe1 b612 Qh4 Bc5 13 Kh1 Bb7 14 Bxh6?! Nxf3! 15 gf3 Qd4 16 Be4 Nxe4 17 fxe4 f5! 18Rg1 Rf7 19 Rg2 fxe4 0-1. This game proves that you better know the analysesand be an excellent tactician if you want to play the Zilbermints Gambit in theEuwe.And here is how I myself play the Gambit Delayed:Zilbermints-cinnamon, Internet Chess Club Game/5 minutes ratedblitz28 June 2003(Moves 1-7 same as above) 8 00 00 9 a3 b6 The same position, by a slightlydifferent move order. 10 Bd2 Nxd4 11 Nxd4 Qxd4+ 12 Kh1 c5 13 Nb5 Qd8?Here 13…Qh4! Is best. 14 Qc1 a6 15 Bxh6 axb5 16 Bxg7 Kxg7 17 Qg5+ Kh8 18Qh6+ Kg8 19 Rxf6! 1-0.UON 27 Jan – May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 26

UON 27UON 27 Jan – May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 27

UON 27So far I have dealt with transpositions. But now, let me examine the actualZilbermints Gambit Delayed:Zilbermints – Andrew Westney 4 Rated Games TonightNew York 19961 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc68 00 Ng4!? A new move, never seen previously.XABCDEFGHY8r+lwqk+-tr(7zppzp-vlpzpp'6-+n+p+-+&5+-+-+-vL-%4-+-zP-+n+$3+-sNL+N+-#2PzPP+-+PzP"1tR-+Q+RmK-!xabcdefghy.9 Bc1!? Trying to transpose into the Zilbermints Gambit and succeeding?!!9…Nxd4 10 Kh1! Nxf3 11 Qxf3 Here we have the Exchange Variation, whichgives White the most chances. 11…Nf6? 12 Bg5! c6 13 Rad1 Bd7 14 Ne4 h6 15Bh4 Rf8 16 Bxf6 gxf6 17 Nxf6 Bxf6 18 Qxf6 Qxf6 19 Rxf6 00 20 Rxh6 c5, = but1-0/33.The rest of the game score was lost together with the 1996 scorebook. Thesetwenty moves are only here because I wrote them down elsewhere. As I recall, Idefeated Westney in the endgame.Zilbermints – Guggenheim; Thursday 4 Rated Games TonightMarshall Chess Club; New York 19961 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 00 00 9Kh1 Nxd4?? Black falls for the trap. 10 Nxd4! Qxd4?? 11 Bxh7+! Nxh7 12 Qxd4++- 1-0/39.UON 27 Jan – May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 28

UON 27Zilbermints-Zulfikar Ramzan;Casual blitz game;New YorkMarshall Chess Club, 8.25.19951 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 00 00 9Qe1 Nxd4 The Gambit Delayed. In the regular Gambit, Black plays 8…Nxd4instead of 8…00 . 10 Kh1 Nxf3 11 Rxf3 h6 12 Rad1?! Incorrect! Here I shouldhave played 12 Bxh6! winning the pawn. If 12…gh6 13 Qh4 Nh7 14 Qxh6 f5 15Qg6+ Kh8 16 Rh3 wins for White. The same position, after 13 Qh4 was seen inZilbermints-Della Selva, USATE 1993, and again I blundered. 12…Qe8? Weakmove. Instead, 12…hxg5! 13 Bxh7+ Nxh7 14 Rxd8 Bxd8 with compensation forthe Queen. 13 Bxf6 Bxf6 14 Rxf6?! Again a mistake, as 14 Qe4! wins on the spot.14…gxf6 15 Qh4 Kg7 16 Ne4 Qe7 17 Qg4+ Kh8 18 Qh4 Kg7 19 Qh4+ Kh8 20Qh4, drawn.Patrick Schoupal – “tpiko”www.sachy.sk Czech Internet Chess3 0 rated blitz 28 June 2003(Moves 1-9 as in Zilbermints-Ramzan) 10 Qh4 Bc5 11 Kh1 Nf5 12 Bxf5 exf5 13Rad1 Bd7 14 Nd5 Be7 15 Rfe1 Re8 16 Rxe7! Nxd5 17 Rxd5Rxe7 18 Bxe7 Qxe8 19 Re5 Qc8 20 Qg3 Be6 21 Bf6?Here 21 Bg5! would have kept the extra piece. Instead, the game continued:21…Qf8 22 Nd4 f4! 23 Qxf4 gf6 24 Qxf6 h6 25 Nxe6 fxe6 26 Qxe6 Kg7 27Qd7+ Kh8 28 Rf5 Qg7 29 Qxg7 Kxg7 30 g4 Re8 31 Kg2 Re2+32 Rf2 Re3 33 Rd2 Kf6 34 h4 a5 35 b3 Ke5 36 Rf2 Rc3 37 g5 hxg538 hxg5 Ke6 39 g6 Rc5 40 Kg1 Rg5+ 41 Rg2 Rxg2 42 Kxg2 Kf643 Kf3 Kxg6 44 Ke4 Kf6 45 Kd5 Ke7 46 Kc5 Kd7 47 Kb5 b6 48 c4 Kd6 49 a4Kd7 50 c5 , 1-0.Peter Leisebein – C. Bourgoin;IECC email, CL2-2003.27German Internet Chess, 20031 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 008 Qe2!?The Leisebein-Zilbermints Gambit!? Apparently, the critical test here is8…Qxd4! 9 Rd1 Qb4 with an unclear position. Black has the extra pawns, but hisQueen is exposed, and White has a lead in development.8…Nc6UON 27 Jan – May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 29

UON 27Bourgoin foregoes the complications, preferring to develop his Knight first. TheQueen is too valuable a piece to be allowed attacked endlessly.9 00 Nxd4Now we have a form of the Zilbermints Gambit Delayed. White’s Queen isactually well-placed, ready to attend either flank or the center at a moment’snotice.10 Nxd4! Qxd4+ 11 Kh1 Qb4An earlier game, Peter Leisebein – Hans-Jurgen Schulz, correspondence,Germany 2002, concluded 11…Re8 12 Rf4 Qd8 13 Rd1 Nd5 14 Bxh7+ Kh8 15Rxf7, 1-0.12 Bxf6 Bxf6 13 Rxf6! gxf6 14 Qh5 Rd8 15 Qh6 Rxd3 16 cxd3 Qf817 Qh4 h6 18 Ne4 f5 19 Nf6+ Kg7 20 d4 Qb4 21 Nh5+ Kh7 22 Qf6Qf8 23 Rc1 c6 24 Rc3 f4 25 Qxf4, 1-0.In the next game, Leisebein experiments with a form of the Zilbermints GambitDelayed.Peter Leisebein – R. Osthus SE035, Deutsche Schach, 20011 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc68 a3 h6 9 Bf4 g5 10 Bg3 a6So far we see a classic avoiding of the Zilbermints Gambit by White via the 8 a3maneuver. However, now Black gets a bit timid. Leisebein gives 10…Nh5 11 Be5Rf8 12 Be4 Nxe5 Nf6 =+ as favoring Black. The game followed a differentcourse, however…11 00?!Zilbermints Gambit Delayed. Unfortunately, at this late stage, 11…g4! appears togive Black the edge here.11…Nxd4 12 Kh1 c5 13 Qe1 c4 14 Nxd4 cxd3 15 Rd1 dxc2Here Leisebein gives 15…Qxd4 16 Rxd3 Qg4 17 Be5 Qh4 =+. He completelymissed 18 Qh4! gxh4 19 Rxf6! winning the Knight because of mate, i.e.19…Bxf6?? 20 Bxf6! ++=16 Nxc2 Nd7 17 Nd4 00 18 Nxe6! fxe6 19 Qxe6 Kg7 20 Nd5 Rxf1+ 21Rxf1 Nf6 22 Qxe7+ Qxe7 23 Nxe7 Be6 24 Be5 Rf8 25 g4 b6 26 Kg2a5 27 a4 Bd7 28 Kg1 Be6 29 Bd4 Bc4 30 Rf3 Be6 31 h3 Rf7 32 Nf5+1-0.UON 27 Jan – May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 30

UON 27Chapter 10 : Zilbermints Gambit AvoidedIn this chapter I analyze lines where Black totally chickens out of capturing thed4-pawn altogether. The line 8…Nb4 is actually more common with those Blackplayers who prefer to play conservatively. Other 8 th moves are also possible.After 1 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 00There are four reasonable replies from Black, as follows:A 8…Nb4B 8…Nd5C 8…h6D 8… 00A 8…Nb41 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 00 Nb4XABCDEFGHY8r+lwqk+-tr(7zppzp-vlpzpp'6-+-+psn-+&5+-+-+-vL-%4-sn-zP-+-+$3+-sNL+N+-#2PzPP+-+PzP"1tR-+Q+RmK-!xabcdefghyThe most common variation goes 8…Nb4 9 Bc4 00 10 a3 Nbd5 11 Bd3 c5In this line, Black tries to trade the Bd3, but White does not allow this. WhileUON 27 Jan – May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 30

UON 27Black tries to finish developing, White builds up an attack against his opponent’sKing. The following games illustrate White’s resources:(1) 12 dc5? Nxc3 13 bc3 Bc5+ 14 Kh1 Be7 15 Qe1 Nd5 16 Bxe7 Qxe717 Qe4 f5 18 Qe5 Bd7 19 Rae1 Rae8 20 Ne5 … eventually drawn,Zilbermints – Kopiecki, blitz – match, game 1 of 3, New York, 12/30/1995.(2) 12 Qe1! This shifts the White Queen to attack the Black Kingside. In the1995-1996 Zilbermints – Kopiecki blitz-games there occurred thefollowing continuations:12…cxd4 was the most often seen, with six games played.a) 13 Nxd5 Qxd5 14 Qh4 Rd8 15 Bf6 Bf6 16 Qh7 Kf8 17 Rae1 Bd7 18Kh1 Bc6 19 Qh3 Ke7 20 Be4 Qd6 21 Bc6 Rh8 22 Qg4 bc6 23 h3 Rh624 Ng5 Rah8 25 Ne4 Qd5 26 Nf6 gf6 27 Rd1 e5 =+ , 1-0, time,Zilbermints – Kopiecki, Game 1/3, New York, 4/30/1993.b) 13 Nd5 Qd5 14 Qh4 h6 15 Rae1 hg5 16 Nxg5 Rd8 17 Be4?! Nxe4??18 Qh7+ Kf8 19 Qh8 mate, Zilbermints – Kopiecki, New York,4/30/1993, Game 3/3.c) Moves 1-16 same as in Z-K, Game 1, above: 17 Be4!? Rd6 18 Rad1Ke7 19 c3 e5 20 cd4 ed4 21 Rfe1 Be6 22 Bb7 Rh8 23 Qe4 Rab8 24b4 g6 25 Qc6 Qf4 26 Qe4 Qe4 27 Be4 Rhd8 += , time, 1-0,Zilbermints – Kopiecki, Game 2/3, 4/30/1993, Marshall Chess Club, NewYork.d) 12 Qe1 cxd4 13 Nd5 Qd5 14 Ne5! Bd7 15 Qh4 Qxe5 16 Rae1 Qxe117 Rxe1 h6 18 Bxh6 gh6 19 Qxh6 Bc6 20 Rf1, Black forfeited,Zilbermints – Kopiecki, Game 3/3, Marshall CC, New York, 1995.e) Moves 1-14 as in previous game : 14…b6 15 Bf6 gf6 16 Qh4 f5 17Qe7 Qe5 18 Rf3 Qc5 19 Rg3, 1- 0, Zilbermints – Kopiecki, Game 2/3,1995, Marshall CC, New York.f) Moves 1-14 as in previous game: 14…b6 15 Bf6 Bf6 16 Rf6! gf6 17Qg3 Kh8 18 Qf6 Kg8 19 Raf1 Bb7 20 Rf3 f4 21 Bh7, 1-0, Zilbermints– Kopiecki, 1996, Game 1/3, Marshall Chess Club, New York.UON 27 Jan – May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 31

UON 27And now, a tournament game between myself and Edward Kopiecki:Zilbermints – Kopiecki; Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Thematic TournamentJanuary 13 – 14, 1996; Marshall Chess Club, New YorkTime Control: 30 moves / 90 minutes; Sudden Death / 60 minutes1 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 00Nb4 Kopiecki does not want to enter the complicated Zilbermints Gambit with8…Nxd4 9 Kh1! 9 Bc4 00 10 a3 Nbd5 11 Bd3 c5 12 Qe1 cxd4 13 Nxd5Qxd5 14 Ne5 b6 15 Qh4 Perhaps 15 Bxf6 was better here. 15…Bb7 In our1995 game, Kopiecki played 15…Qxe5? and lost after 16 Rae1! Qxe1 17 Rxe1h6 18 Bxh6 gh6 19 Qxh6 Bc6 20 Rf1, 1-0. Here he improved. 16 Nf3? I errhere. h6 17 Bd2 Qh5 18 Qf4 Ng4 19 h3 Ne3 20 Bxe3 dxe3 21 Qc7 e2!Kopiecki has taken over the initiative... but watch what happens. 22 Rf2! Bf323 Qxe7! Qe5! 24 Bxe2! Bxe2 25 Re1! Qxb2 26 Ree2! Qc1+ 27 Rff1 Qg5 28Qb7 Qc5+ 29 Kh1 Qxa3 30 Ree1 Rab8 31 Qd7 a5 32 Rf3 Qc5 33 Ref1Qd5 34 Qa7?? A blunder which forces a Queen trade. Qb7! 35 Qxb7 Rxb7 36c4 Rc8 37 Rf4 e5 38 Re4 f6 39 Kh2 Rc5 40 Rb1 f5 41 Re2 e4 42 Ra2 Kf743 h4 Kf6 44 Kg3 Ke5 45 h5 f4+ 46 Kg4 e3 47 Kf3 Kf4 48 g4+ Kg5? Amistake. 49 R2b2! Rxc4 50 Rb5+ Kf6 51 Rf5+ Ke6 52 Rxa5 ba 53 Rxb7 Kf654 Rb5 a4 55 Ra5 e4?? This blunder loses Black the game. 56 Kxe4! e2 57Rf5+ Ke6 58 Re5 Kd6 59 Kxf4 e3 60 Rxe2 Kc5 61 Kf5, Black Resigns.Zilbermints – Kopiecki, game 2/3, 12/30/1995, Marshall Chess Club, New York.1 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 00Nb4 9 Bc4 00 10 a3 Nbd5 11 Bd3 c5 12 Qe1 Nd5 [An alternative to12…cxd4 ] 13 Nd5 Qd5 14 Qh4 Rd8 15 Rae1 h6 16 Re5 hg 17 Qg4 Nd718 Rd5 Bg5 19 Rg5 cd 20 Nf6 Nf6 21 Rf6 Rd4 22 Rf1, eventually drawn,UON 27 Jan – May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 32

UON 27Having dealt with 8…Nb4, I now turn my attention to the second move. Thereis but a single example:B 8…Nd51 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc68 00 Nd5XABCDEFGHY8r+lwqk+-tr(7zppzp-vlpzpp'6-+n+p+-+&5+-+n+-vL-%4-+-zP-+-+$3+-sNL+N+-#2PzPP+-+PzP"1tR-+Q+RmK-!xabcdefghyThe game Zilbermints – MellowJ (2220) , Internet Chess Club, 3 0 rated blitz,3/18/2003, continued 9 Be7 Qxe7 10 Qe1 Nxc3 11 bxc3 00 12 Qg3 Kh8 13Rae1 h6 14 Nh4 Qd6 15 Ng6+! fg6 16 Qxg6 Rf5 17 Rxf5 Nxd4 18 Rf8+,1-0.UON 27 Jan – May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 33

UON 27C8…h61 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc68 00 h6XABCDEFGHY8r+lwqk+-tr(7zppzp-vlpzp-'6-+n+psn-zp&5+-+-+-vL-%4-+-zP-+-+$3+-sNL+N+-#2PzPP+-+PzP"1tR-+Q+RmK-!xabcdefghyThe move 8…h6 is a flexible one. The two branches can either lead to theZilbermints Gambit Delayed (a later …Nxd4) or the Gambit Avoided ( < …Nd4altogether). In this section we deal primarily 8…h6 as it pertains to the GambitAvoided. The other branch, leading to the Zilbermints Gambit Delayed, iscovered elsewhere.9 Bd2 Nb4 10 Bc4 Nbd5 11 Qe1 a6 12 a4 b6 13 Kh1 Bb7 14 Ne5 00 15Bd3 Nb4 16 Qg3 Nxd3 17 cxd3 Nh5 18 Qh3 Nf6 19 Be3 Nd5 20 Nxd5Qxd5 21 Rf3 Qb3 22 Rg3 Bg5 23 Bxg5 hxg5 24 Rxg5 Qxb2 25 Rf1 Qxd426 Rh5 Bxg2 27 Kxg2 Qb2 28 Rf2, 1- 0 , Zilbermints – Guinness, 3 0r blitz, ICC, 9/14/2004.9 Bd2 00 10 c3 b6 11 Ne2 Bb7 12 Qc1 Re8 13 Bh6 gh6 14 Qh6 Bf8 15Qh4 Bg716 Ng5 Qd5 17 Be4 Qb5 18 Ng3 Kf8 19 Nf7+ Nxh7 20 Qxh7 Qg5 21 Nh5f522 Bxf5 Re7 23 Bg6, 1-0, Zilbermints – legba (2122) ICC, 3 0 r blitz, 2003.UON 27 Jan – May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 34

UON 279 Be3 Nb4 10 Bc4 Nbd5 11 Bf2 Nxc3 12 bxc3 00 13 Ne5 Qe8 14 Qf3Bd6 15 Rae1 Nh7 16 Bh4 Bxe5 17 Rxe5 Kh8 18 Bd3 g6 19 Bf6+ Nf620 Qxf6+ Kg8 21 Qh4 Kg7 22 Qf6+ Kg8 23 Qh4 Kg7 24 Rf3 Qd8 25 Qg4f5 26 Qg3 c6 27 Qe1 Bd7 28 Bc4 Re8 29 Rfe3 Kf7 30 Qe2 Qf6 31 g4f4 32 Rf3 g5 33 Rf5 Kg7 34 Rxf6 Kxf6 35 Qe5+ , 1-0, Weithoff – Chakis,US Amateur Team East, 1988.And now, the last, and the most frequent, response….D 8…001 d4 d5 2 e4 de4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 ef3 5 Nxf3 e6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Bd3 Nc68 00 00XABCDEFGHY8r+lwq-trk+(7zppzp-vlpzpp'6-+n+psn-+&5+-+-+-vL-%4-+-zP-+-+$3+-sNL+N+-#2PzPP+-+PzP"1tR-+Q+RmK-!xabcdefghyBy castling, Black hopes to ensure the safety of his King. He hopes to withstandWhite’s Kingside assault, yet this is by no means certain. The Queen Bishop isshut in, which means that, for the time being, Black is playing a piece down. Ittakes much skill to survive in this position. As the following six games showBlack’s undeveloped Queen Bishop is a liability in this position.White has four possible moves here. They are:D1) 9 Qe1D2) 9 Bb5D3) 9 Ne2D4) 9 Kh1UON 27 Jan – May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 35

UON 27D1) 9 Qe1 The actual move order in this game was 7 Bd3 00 8 00 Nc6 whichtransposed. 9…Nd5?? A common mistake. Now the h7-square isunprotected. 10 Bh7+! Kxh7 11 Qh4+ Kg6 12 Bxe7 Qxe7 13 Qg4+ Kh6 14Qh3+ Kg6 15 Nh4+ 1-0, Purser – Casteel, correspondence 1982.9 Qe1 Nb4 10 Rd1 Nxd3 11 Rxd3 b6 12 Ne5 Bb7 13 Qh4 Nd5 14 Bxe7Qxe7,draw, Sampsa Nyysti – Martii Ranki, Turku, TurkuWe Tu Ts open 1996.D2) 9 Bb5 Bd7 10 Qd2 a6 11 Bc4 b5 12 Bd3 Nd5 13 Nxd5 exd5 14 c3h6?? 15 Bxh6! gh6 16 Qxh6 f5 17 Qg6+ Kh8 18 g4 Rf6, 1-0, KurtStummer – Edgar Daikeler, correspondence 1991.D3) 9 Ne2 e5 10 Rd1 Nxd3 11 Bxe7 Qxe7 12 Bxc6 bxc6 DRAW, BrianEverett – Thomas Winckelmann, Germany, 5503 corresp. tournament, 1995.D4) 9 Kh1 Nb4 If 9…Nxd4?? then 10 Nxd4! wins. 10 Bc4 a6 11 a3 Nbd512 Bd3 b5 13 Qe1 Bb7 14 Qh4 g6 15 Ne5 Nxc3 16 bxc3? Better is 16Rxf6! += Nd5 17 Nxf7?! Rxf7 18 Rxf7 Kxf7 19 Qh7 Ke8 20 Bg6 Kd7 21Rf8 Qg8! =+, 0-1, 52, Zilbermints – FM Ian Findlay (Toronto, Canada), ICC5 0 r blitz, 3/27/2003.Despite losing this game, I won the match, +3, -1, =0.9 Kh1 Nb4 10 Bc4 b6 11 a3 Nbd5 12 Qe1 Bb7 13 Qh4 Re8 14 Bd3 g6 15Ne5 Rf8 16 Rae1 Nxc3 17 bxc3 Nd5 18 Nxf7 Rxf7 19 Rxf7 Kxf7 20 Qxh7+ 1-0,Gianni Rossi – Adrian Paler, Borgo Thursday Open tournament, Italy, 2007.04.04UON 27 Jan – May 2011 Zilbermints Gambit 36