Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Hidden in Plain Sight

Annibale Dolci – Alberto Fernández
Match Postal Lima–Piura; Lima, 1933
Bird Opening A02

1. f4 e5 2. fxe5 d6 3. e6!? Theory says that taking the Pawn is the best try for an advantage, but don Aníbal preferred to decline the gift in way that — as International Master David Cummings writes — “doesn’t promise much against correct play”.
3. ... Bxe6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. d4 c5 6. Nc3 d5 7. Bg5 Be7 8. dxc5 Nc6 9. e4 Nxe4 10. Nxe4 dxe4 11. Qxd8+ Bxd8? Very artificial and unnatural.
12. Bxd8 Rxd8 13. Ng5 Bf5 14. Bb5 0-0 15. 0-0 Bg6 16. Rfe1 Rde8. Probably the wrong Rook, even though, of course, there’s yet nothing desperate.
17. h4 f5 18. c3 Rf6 19. b4 h6 20. Bc4+ Kh8 21. Nh3 Bh5 22. Nf4 Bg4 23. h5 g5? Too hasty. Black should have prepared it by first playing 23. ... Ne5 24. Bd5 Re7 with a defensible game.
24. hxg6 Nd8? As they say, misfortunes never come alone.


25. b5 Kg7 26. Rad1! 1–0. A beautiful touch which forces a Zugzwang where Black has no option but 26. ... Bxd1 27. Rxd1 Rxg6 28. Rd7+ Kf6 29. Rd6+ leaving White a piece ahead.

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