Spaghetti Western

Pier Luigi Basso – Luca Moroni
75th Italian Chess Championship; Milan, December 2, 2015
Keres Defence A40

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+ 3. Nd2 b6 4. a3 Bxd2+ 5. Bxd2 Bb7 6. Qc2 f5!? An interesting transformation from Kangaroo to Tulip. 7. e3. For 7. Nf3 Nf6 8. g3 0-0 9. Bg2 Be4 10. Qc3 Qe8 see Kühn – Tereick, Chess Classic Elo Open, Baden-Baden 2013. 7. ... Qe7 8. f3 Nf6 9. Bd3 0-0 10. Ne2 d6 11. Bc3 Nbd7 12. b4 Rae8 13. Ng3 g6 14. Qb3? The b3-square is not suitable for Her Majesty. 14. 0-0 appears to be a far wiser course. 14. ... e5 15. d5

15. ... b5! A very strong coup by which Black breaks up the enemy’s centre. 16. 0-0-0. Decidedly too optimistic, but also 16. 0-0 e4! 17. fxe4 Ng4 looks quite unpleasant for White. 16. ... Nb6 17. Rhe1? The red light flashes, but now it’s hard to suggest any good move for White. 17. ... bxc4 18. Bxc4 Nxc4 19. Qxc4 Bxd5 20. Rxd5 Qf7 21. e4 fxe4 22. fxe4 c6! The coup de grâce. 23. Qxc6 Rc8 24. Qxd6 Rxc3+ 25. Kb2 Nxd5 26. exd5? A blunder, but after 26. Qxd5 Qxd5 27. exd5 Rd3 there is no hope anyway. 26. ... Rxg3! 0 : 1. For if 27. hxg3 then 27. ... Qf2+. The very young, gifted Luca Moroni, though at his first experience in a national Championship, showed both brilliancy and skill.

Pier Luigi Basso (left) vs. Luca Moroni (right). Photo: Scacchierando.it.