Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Newark Gambit Debate @ "chesspub.com"

Alejandro Melchor [pictured] of Barcelona has contributed to the theory of both the Philidor Counter Gambit and the Latvian Gambit.

Recently, at chesspub.com, Melchor recommended 5.Bb3 as the correct move against Lev Zilbermintz's line in the PCG 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.Bc4 b5, which Zilbermintz calls the Newark Gambit.

After 5.Bb3 fxe4, a player using the handle SmyslovFan claims that 6.dxe5 "is the refutaion of Black's opening" following the further moves 6...c6 7.Ng5 d5 8.e6.

I have never played the Newark Gambit, instead preferring Morphy's 4...Nc6 over Zilbermintz's 4...b5. But it seems to me that, after 8.e6, Black has a tenable position via the exchange sacrifice 8...Nf6 9.Nf7 Qc7 10.Nxh8 Bxe6 with the idea of ...Bc5, ...Kf8, ...Kg8, ...Kxh8.


The move 11.Bg5 can be met simply by 11...Nbd7.