Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c6/2. d4/2...d5/3. Nc3/3...dxe4/4. Nxe4/4...Nf6/5. Qd3/5...e5

Caro-Kann defence rd nd bd qd kd bd rd pd pd pd pd pd pd nd pd pl nl ql pl pl pl pl pl pl rl bl kl bl nl rl A stunning victory! 5...e5? This move appears to completely free Black's position and equalize the game, but it really loses time in a wide open position and falls behind in development. This puts Black in a critical position. This also gives black an opportunity to fall for a brilliant mating attack that was played in the game Reti-Tartakower, 1910. It is rarely a good idea to open up the position if you are behind in development, and Black is doing just this here. Better is to trade knights on e4 and then move the other knight to d7. He can then play for the freeing...c5, ...e5, or attack the queen with ...Nf6 After this mistake, black loses time and development. Reti-Tartakower, 1910 The game continued: 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Qd3 e5? 6. dxe5 Qa5+ 7. Bd2 Qxe5 8. 0-0-0! (Sacrificing a piece to get at the unprotected black king). 8...Nxe4?? (This gets mated. However, he was so far behind in development that he already had a poor position. 8...Qxe4 loses the queen to 10.Re1) 9. Qd8+!! Kxd8 10. Bg5+ Kc7 (10...Ke8 Rd8#) 11. Bd8# A remarkable finish! Reti-Tartakower, 1910 rd nd bd bl bd rd pd pd kd pd pd pd pd qd nd pl pl pl pl pl pl kl rl bl nl rl The final position is given in the second diagram below. According to chessgames.com, the game Reti-Tartakower, 1910 was the "Game of the day" on Jan 16 2005 and the "Sucker Punch".http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1250654 References Hodgson Julias Quick Chess Knockouts Globe Print Press 108-109 1-85744-045-5