1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nd5
The dreaded Belgrade Gambit…

 

5… Nxe4

…accepted! A good way to decline is 5… Nb4 Averbach 6. Nxd4 (perhaps instead 6. Nxf6+!? Qxf6 7. Bc4 Bc5 8. O-O d6 9. e5 dxe5 10. Bg5!? Qf5 11. Re1 f6 12. c3) (or 6. Bc4!?) 6… Nxe4 7. Nf5 c6 8. Nxb4 Bxb4+ (8… Qf6!? Tal) 9. c3 Qf6! Tal

 

6. Qe2 f5 7. Ng5 d3 8. cxd3 Nd4 9. Qh5+ g6 10. Qh4 c6 11. dxe4 cxd5 12. exd5 Nc2+?

A natural sort of blunder. But the greedy Rook grab is almost always punished in the Belgrade Gambit. Black has at least two good defenses which likely lead to advantage or equality with best play:

 

a) 12… Bg7! 13. Qg3 (13. Kd1 h6=) 13… O-O! 14. Bd3 Qa5+ (14… Re8+)

 

b) 12… Qa5+ 13. Kd1 (13. Bd2 Qa4 14. Qg3) 13… Qxd5 14. Bc4!! Qxc4 15. Re1+ Be7 16. Rxe7+ Kxe7 17. Ne4+ Ke6 18. Qf6+ Kd5 19. Nc3+ Kc5 20. Be3 Qd3+ 21. Ke1 Re8 22. Rc1! (22. b4+!?) 22… Rxe3+ 23. fxe3 Qxe3+ 24. Kd1 and White appears to have drawing chances by perpetual check.

 

13. Kd1 Nxa1 14. Qd4 Rg8

14… h6 15. d6!! (15. Bc4!)

 

Position after 14…Rg8

 

15. d6!!

…threatening an annihilating attack with Bc4 and Re1+.

 

15… Bxd6 16. Qxd6 Qe7 17. Qd5 Rg7 18. Bc4!

Black must lose material due to the threat of Re1 pinning the Queen.

 

18… Nc2

18… Kd8 19. Re1 Qb4 20. Ne6+

 

19. Kxc2 h6 20. Bd2 hxg5 21. Re1 Qxe1 22. Bxe1 d6 23. Qxd6 Bd7 24. Qe5+

and White wins a Rook or forces mate.

 

1-0

[Annotated by Michael Goeller]