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Chessville
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In 1987 I had discovered another fascinating new gambit. I thought about the Budapest Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5) , but it had occurred to me that instead of playing 2...e5 as in the Budapest, why not play 2...g5! I had tested this gambit in blitz games and against my computer software program called Psion. The middle game positions that occurred were "ugly". Thus I named it the "Medusa Gambit". According to Greek mythology Medusa was a mortal woman who was transformed into a Gorgon. A Gorgon was a hideous creature with wings, claws, enormous teeth and snakes for hair. Medusa was slain by Perseus, but even in death Medusa was still so frightful that it turned any onlooker into stone. For a long time I had thought that the Medusa Gambit was unsound, but the more I played it, the more I liked it! Maybe I had too much fun playing it. If White declines the gambit by playing 3.Nc3 then the game transposes into a Killer Grob type position where Black has pawns at h6, g5, e6 or d6 and his bishop at g7. In the Medusa Gambit games, White almost always plays the accepted line 3.Bxg5. Black then plays 3...Ne4 attacking White's bishop. White has various replies: 4.Bh4; 4.Nf3; 4.Be3; 4.Bd2; 4.Bf4 and 4.Bc1. Black then plays 4...c5 for any of these five possible White moves. Black later moves his queen to b6 or a5 to take advantage of White's weak pawn at b2. MEDUSA GAMBIT ACCEPTED
A fourth strategy for Black is the positional strategy of posting a knight on white’s third rank in the middle of the board. And black can squeeze white’s position by controlling key open files and create threats to tie up white’s position. This occurred in the game Genius5 – Jerry Flowers. 3…Ne4 This is the move that I normally play after 3.Bxg5. It attacks the white bishop at the g5 square. From here there are various white replies: A. White plays 4.Bh4. I believe that this white bishop is out of play. More game testing needs to be done on this line. B. White plays 4.Nf3. This is a computer move. White does not lose a tempo move. C. White plays 4.Be3. Eric Schiller played this line in a blitz game against me. It blocks the white pawn push e4 and also blocks the development of the white king bishop. D. White plays 4.Bd2. This move appears to be defensive but it is also flexible because this white bishop at d2 can be later posted at c3. E. White plays 4.Bf4. This is the main line in the Medusa Gambit accepted. F. White plays 4.Bc1. This move undevelops the white's queen bishop. White has lost 2 moves, but there is no real weakness on the b2 square and on the queen side. Accepted Line 4.Bh4 Analysis Accepted Line 4.Bh4 Nakamura & Comet B68 2006 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g5 3. Bxg5 Ne4 4. Bh4 c5 5. Qc2 (5. Nf3 Qa5+ 6. Nbd2 Bg7 (6... cxd4 7. Nxd4 Bg7 8. N4b3 Qe5 9. Rb1 Nc6 10. e3 Nxd2 11. Nxd2 Qa5 12. Qb3 d6 13. Be2 Rg8 14. Bf3 h6 15. h3 Be5 16. Bd5 Nb4 17. Be4 a6 18. Ra1 Ra7 19. f4 Bh8) 7. b4 Qxb4 8. Rb1 Qc3 9. Rb3 Qa5 10. Rb5 Qc3 11. dxc5 Nc6 {=}) 5... Qa5+ 6. Kd1 Nd6 7. d5 Bg7 8. Nd2 Na6 9. Ngf3 Nb4 10. Qb3 Nf5 11. e4 Nxh4 12. Nxh4 d6 13. a3 Bf6 14. Nf5 Bd7 15. Ke2 Na6 16. f4 O-O-O {=} Chess Genius accepted the gambit pawn at g5 and played the 4…Bh4 accepted line of the Medusa Gambit. Black maneuvered to strengthen his center in the opening and early middlegame. White did not castle kingside because black’s forces were ready for a kingside attack. Black broke through the center with the center pawns which threatened the white’s king and threatened to win some minor pieces. White could not adequately defend his position and had to resign. Chess Genius – Nakamura (2100) Test Game 1994
27...e3 28. Bxa5 {A desperado move. White is lost.} d2+ 29. Bxd2 exd2+ 30. Kxd2 Rcd8+ 31. Ke1 Qg5 32. f4 exf4 33. Bd5 fxg3 {-+ and mate in 11 according to Fritz8.} 0-1
Black won the
exchange of knight for rook in the opening and had the edge coming out of
the opening. The only problem with white’s game is that the white king was
trapped in the middle of the board and not safe from a black attack. The
black attack wins white’s queen but the endgame was far from over because of
white’s passed kingside pawns. Black queens his pawns first and wins the
game. Chess Genius 2 – Nakamura (2100) Test Game 12/23/94
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g5
{The Medusa Gambit} 3. Bxg5 Ne4 4. Bh4 c5 5. Qc2 Qb6 6. e3 { White
cannot play 6.Qxe4 because of 6...Qxb2 dropping the R at a1.} Na6 7. Nf3
d6 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bg4 10. Be2 O-O-O 11. Ng5 Bxe2 12. Nxf7 Bxc4 13. Nxh8
Bg7 14. Nf7 Rf8 15. Ng5 h6 16. Ne4 Rf7 17. Nd2 Be6 18. f3 Kb8 19. Qa4 Qd8
20. Rb1 Nc7 21. dxc5 dxc5 22. Qc6 b6 23. Bg3 Bd7 24. Qxc5 Rf5 25. Bxc7+ Qxc7
26. Qxe7 Bxc3 27. e4 Re5 28. Qf8+ Kb7 29. Qxh6 Qc5 30. Qf4 Bb5 31. g3 Re7
32. a4 Ba6 33. Kd1 Rd7 34. Re1 Bxd2
{[The other 2
possible moves were 34.Qf2 and 34.Qa5. After 34.Qf2 Qe3 35.Rxe2+ it is not
clear how Black should play. 34.Qa5 looks more promising because if 34...Re2
35.Bxe2+ wins an exchange and after 35...Kxe2 36.Rxd2+ is strong]} 35.
Qxd2 Rxd2+ 36. Kxd2 Qd4+ 37. Kc1 Qc3+ 38.
Kd1 Bc4 39. g4
Qd3+ 40. Kc1 Bb3 41. Rxb3 Qxb3 42. Kd2 Qxa4
{Although
Black had won the white Q, the game is still far from over. White has still
has some dangerous passed pawns on the kingside.} 43. h4 Qd4+ 44. Ke2 a5
45. Rd1 Qc4+
46. Ke3 a4 47.
g5 a3 48. Kf4 a2 49. Ra1 b5 50. h5 b4 51. h6 Qf7+ 52. Ke3 b3 53. Rh1 Qh7 54.
g6 Qxg6 55. h7 Qg7 56. h8=Q Qxh8 57. Rxh8 a1=Q 58. Rh7+ Kb6 59. Rh6+ Kc5 60.
Rh5+ Kc4 61. Rh7 Qe1+ 62. Kf4 b2 63. Rb7 b1=Q 64. Rxb1 Qxb1 65. Ke5 Qb5+ 66.
Kf4 Kd4 0-1 Jack Young played both rook pawns to the fifth rank and both rooks to the sixth rank and created two passed pawns on the queenside. Black’s bishop on g7 supported the passed pawns on the queenside and black sacrificed both rooks for the exchange. White could not stop the two passed pawns and had to resign. A very interesting and unique game. Constellation Level 7 (2015) - Jack Young (2285) 1991 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g5 3. Bxg5 Ne4 4. Bh4 {I have always felt that this move was not good for white because the bishop at h4 is out of play.} c5 5. e3 Qa5+ 6. Nd2 Bg7 7. Ngf3 Nc6 8. d5 Ne5 9. Nxe5 Bxe5 10. Rb1 Nxd2 11. Qxd2 Qxa2 12. Bd3 a5 13. Qe2 a4 14. Bg3 Bg7 15. O-O {A rook lift to start an attack on white's kingside.} Ra6 16. Qc2 h5 17. h3 Rhh6
Genius5 – Jerry Flowers Offhand Game 1997 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g5 3. Bxg5 {White accepts the Medusa Gambit} Ne4 4. Bh4 c5 5. Qc2 Qa5+ 6. Kd1 f5 7. f3 Nd6 8. e3 Nc6 (8... cxd4 9. exd4 Bg7 10. c5 {+/=}) 9. Bg3 (9. Be1 Qb6 {+/-}) 9...cxd4 10. Bxd6 exd6 11. e4 ({better is} 11. exd4 {!? should be considered} Bg7 12. Qd2 {+/=}) 11... Bg7 =/+ 12. exf5 O-O {White is up a pawn but has development problems.} 13. Bd3 {Blocks the pawn on d4} Nb4 14. Qd2 Qc5 (14... d5 15. cxd5 Qc5 16. Na3 {=/+}) 15. Ne2 (15. Na3 {!? =/+ is interesting}) 15... d5 {-/+} ({Less advisable is} 15... Nxd3 16. Qxd3 Re8 17. Nf4 {=}) 16. cxd5 (16. b3 dxc4 17. Bxc4+ d5 18. a3 dxc4 19. axb4 Qc6 20. bxc4 Bxf5 21. Ng3 Bg6 22. c5 a5 23. bxa5 Qxc5 {-+ 1.72}) 16... Nxd5 17. Ke1 Ne3 {The black N at e3 is very well posted. It causes major problems for white.. Here comes the goal-getter} 18. g4 Qe7 (18... Qc6 19. Rg1 {-/+}) 19. Kf2 Qh4+ (19... Qh4+ 20. Ng3 b6 {-/+}) 20. Kg1 Qh3 21. Ng3 d5 22. Qf2 Bd7 23. Nd2 Rac8 24. Rb1 (24. Nb3 Be5 {-/+}) 24... Ba4 (24... Bh6 25. Ndf1 {-+}) 25. b3 Bd7 26. Ndf1 Bh6 27. Re1 Rfe8 28. f6 Rc3 29. Bf5 Bb5 (29... Bxf5 30. Nxf5 Bf4 31. N1g3 {-/+}) 30. Nd2 {?? further deteriorates the position} (30. f4 Bxf1 31. g5 Qg2+ 32. Qxg2 Bxg2 33. Rxe3 Rexe3 34. Kxg2 {=}) 30... Nxf5 {-+} 31. Rxe8+ (31. Nxf5 Be3 32. f7+ Kxf7 33. Nd6+ Kg6 34. Nxe8 {-+}) 31... Bxe8 32. Nxf5 (32. g5 Bxg5 33. Ndf1 Nh4 34. f7+ Bxf7 35. Ne4 dxe4 36. a3 Nxf3+ 37.Qxf3 Rxf3 38. Ne3 Bxe3#) 32... Rc1+ (32... Rc1+ 33. Qf1 Bxd2 34. Qxc1 Bxc1 {-+}) 0-1
Accepted Line 4.Nf3 The gambit accepted move 4.Nf3 is a computer move because a computer does not like to lose tempo in the opening. In this game I made an error by leaving my king in the middle of the board. Castling kingside would have made my game much easier. I was up a knight for 2 pawns but could not avoid perpetual check. With time control pressure quickly approaching, I had to take the draw. Mios (1904) – Evilone (1865) Playchess.com 9/10/04 Game 5min.
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4
{last book move} g5 3. Bxg5 Ne4 4. Nf3 {4.Nf3 is a computer type of
move because computers do not like to lose tempo in the opening.} c5 5.
dxc5 Qa5+ 6.
Bd2 Qxc5 7. e3
Bg7 8. Qc2 d5
(8... Nxd2 9. Nbxd2 d6 10. Bd3 {+/=}) 9. Bd3 f5 { Giving more
protection the the black N at e4.} 10. O-O (10. Nc3 Nxd2 11. Nxd2
dxc4 12. Bxc4 e6 {+/-}) 10... Nc6 11. a3 {Covers b4} (11. Rc1 {+/-})
11... a5 { ? A preventive move to stop white from playing b4.}
({better is} 11... dxc4 !? {is an interesting idea} 12. Be2 b5 {=}) 12.
Rc1 (12. Nc3 dxc4 13. Nxe4 Qd5 14. Bxc4 Qxe4 {+-}) 12... Bd7
(12... dxc4 13. Bxc4 e6 14. Be1 {+/-}) 13. cxd5 Qxd5 14. Bxe4
({better is} 14. Nc3 {!?} Bxc3 15. Bxc3 {+/-}) 14... fxe4 +/= 15. Bc3 ??
{releasing the pressure on the opponent} ({better is} 15. Ne1 {+/=
the only rescuing move}) 15... exf3 {-+} 16. Bxg7 Qg5 17. g3 Qxg7
18. Nd2 Rf8 19. Qe4 Ne5 ({better is} 19... Qxb2 {seems even better} 20.
Nc4 Qf6 {-+}) 20. Qxb7 {-/+} Rd8 21. Qe4 (21. Rc5 Nd3 22. Rxa5
Qxb2 23. Qxb2 Nxb2 {-/+}) 21... Bf5 22. Qa4+ Bd7 (22... Kf7 23. Qxa5
Qg4 24. Qxe5 Rxd2 25. Rc7 {-+}) 23. Qe4 Bf5 ({better is} 23... Be6
24. Rd1 {-+}) 24. Qa4+ Bd7 25. Qe4 1/2-1/2 Accepted Line 4.Be3 Analysis Accepted Line 4.Be3 Nakamura & Crafty 19.19 2006
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g5 3. Bxg5 Ne4 4. Be3 Bg7
(4... d5 5.
cxd5 Qxd5 6. f3 Qa5+ 7. Nd2 Nd6 8. Bf2 Bh6 (8... Nc6 9. e4 Bg7 10. e5 Nf5
(10... Nxe5 11. dxe5 Qxe5+ 12. Ne2 Qxb2 13. Rc1 Qxa2 14. Rxc7 Bd7 15. Bg3
Nb5 16. Rxb7 Bc6 17. Rb8+ Rxb8 18. Bxb8 O-O 19. Bf4 Rd8 20. Kf2 Nc3 21. Qc1
Qe6 22. Nxc3 Bd4+ 23. Kg3 Qg6+ {=}) 11. Ne2 Qb4 (11... O-O 12. Nc3 Be6 13.
Nb3 Qb4 14. g4 Bxb3 15. axb3 Nfxd4 16. Ra4 Qxb3 17. Bxd4 Nxd4 18. Qxd4 Qxb2
19. Qe3 c6 20. Be2 b5 21. Re4 Qa1+ 22. Bd1 Rfd8 23. O-O Qa3 24. Bc2 b4 25.
Nd1 Qxe3+ 26. Nxe3 a5 27. Nf5 Ra7 28. e6 c5 29. exf7+ Kxf7 30. Rfe1 Bf6 31.
Ba4 Rd3 32. f4 Kf8 33. g5 Bd4+ 34. Kg2 Ra3 35. Bc6 {+- 3.23} Ra2+) 12. a3
Qxb2 13. Nc4 Qb5 14. Nc3 Qa6 15. Nd6+ {+- 3.97}) 9. e3 Bf5 10. Ne2 Nd7 11.
Nc3 Qb6 12. Qc1 c6 13. g4 Be6 14. Bd3 O-O-O 15. O-O f5 16. d5 Nc5 17. Qc2
Nxd3 18. Qxd3 Bf7 19. Nb3 fxg4 20. e4 Qc7 21. fxg4 cxd5 22. Bxa7 dxe4 23.
Qh3 Bg5 24. Nxe4 Nxe4 25. Rxf7 b6 26. Qf3 Nd6 {=}) (4... c5 5. Qd3 Qb6 6.
Nd2 Nxd2 7. dxc5 Qxb2 8. Bd4 Qb4 9. Bc3 Qxc5 10. Bxh8 Nxc4 11. Bd4 Qc7 12.
Nf3 {+- 1.77}) 5. Nf3 c5 6. Nbd2 Qa5 7. Qc2 f5 8. d5 Na6 9. a3 d6 10.
O-O-O O-O 11. h3 b5 12. Nxe4 fxe4 13. Nd2 {= Comet 68 says that the
position is equal but black has very good chances to win this game by
playing the rook to b8. The white kingside position does not look very
good.} Leusii9 locked the center pawns and shifted all his forces towards white’s kingside. Black first sacrificed a knight at h2 and a rook at g1 and white could not stop checkmate. Leusii9 – Evilone Playchess.com 8/17/05 Game 5min.
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g5 3. Bxg5 Ne4 4. Be3 c5 5. d5 Bg7 6. Bc1
{It is strange that Fritz8 also gives 6.Bc1 as the best move. The other
possible move was 6.Qc2.}
Qb6 7. Qb3
Qa5+ 8. Bd2 Nxd2 9. Nxd2 O-O 10. e3 d6 11. Bd3 e5 12. Ne2
(12. dxe6 fxe6 13. Rd1 Nd7 14. Ngf3 h6 15. Bg6 Nb6 16. O-O Bd7 17. Bb1 Rfd8
18. Qc2 Na4 19. b3 Nc3 20. Rde1 Nxb1 21. Rxb1 d5 22. Rbc1 Rac8 {+/- 0.81})
12... f5 13. O-O
Qd8
{The
center is locked up and black now switches his focus on the white kingside
castled position.} 14. f4 e4 15. Bc2 Qh4 16. Nc3 Rf6 17. Rf2 Rh6 18.
g3
Qh3 19. Nb5 Nd7
{Black needs to bring the N to the kingside to assist in the kingside
attack.} 20. Nc7 Rb8 21. Ne6 Nf6 22. Nxg7 Kxg7 23. Nf1 Ng4 24. Rg2 Bd7
25. Qc3+ Kf7 26. b4 b6 27. Rb1 Rg8 28. bxc5 dxc5 29. a4 Nxh2 {the
decisive sacrifice to break open the vulnerable white king position.} 30.
Rxh2 Rxg3+ 31. Kh1 (31. Nxg3 Qxh2+ 32. Kf1 Qxg3 {-+ According to Fritz8
white will be checkmated in 7 moves.}) 31...
Rg1+
32. Kxg1 Rg6+ 33. Kh1 Qf3+ {if 34.Rg2 Qxg2 checkmate.} 0-1 Eric Schiller played an unusual accepted line with 4.Be3 which guards the d pawn but blocks the pawn thrust e4. Black played Nc6 which is not the thematic c5 move that black always plays in the accepted lines of the Medusa Gambit. A series of pawn and piece exchanges occurred in the center of the board and white’s king position was compromised. Also weakened was the white pawn at b2. White’s king was chased to the edge of the board and Eric Schiller resigned before checkmate. Eric Schiller – Clyde Nakamura Webster Hall Offhand Game 1988 Game 5min.
BunnyMoves played the Medusa Gambit accepted line 4.Bd2 and allowed black to exchange the bishop at g4 with the white knight at f3 which caused a major weakness in white kingside position. White later won a pawn at h6 but this was not good because black controlled the half open h file. Black played a discovered check with the queen and knight and checkmated the white king. BunnyMoves (1945) – Evilone (1950) Internet Chess Club 11/1/97 Game 5min.
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g5 3. Bxg5 Ne4 4. Bd2 c5 5. d5 Bg7 6. Nc3 Nd6
{?} ({better is} 6... Nxd2 {!? and Black hangs on} 7. Qxd2 {d6 +/=)
7. e4 {+-} O-O 8. Bd3 (8. Qh5 f5 9. exf5 Na6 10. a3 Rxf5 11.
Qg4 Qb6 12. Rb1 Rf6 13. Bd3 e6 14. Nf3 Nf5 15. Qh5 h6 16. Ne5 Qd8 {+- 3.0})
8... Na6 9. a3 Nc7 (9... f5 10. exf5 Nxf5 11. Qh5 {+-} ) 10. Nf3
(10. e5 {!?} Bxe5 11. Bxh7+ Kxh7 12. Qh5+ Kg8 13. Qxe5 f6 14. Qg3+ { +-}
Kf7 {+-}) 10... b5 11. cxb5 c4 12. Bc2 Ndxb5 13. O-O d6 14. Ng5 (14.
Qe2 {!? +/-}) 14... h6 15. Nf3 Bg4 16. Qc1 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Nd4 (17...
e6 18. Bxh6 Qf6 19. Bg5 Qxf3 20. Bd1 {+/-}) 18. Bd1 (18. Bxh6 !? e5
19. Kh1 Nxf3 20. Qe3 {+/-})
18... e6 19.
Bxh6 Qh4 20. Bxg7
({better is}
20. Bf4 {!? might be a viable alternative} exd5 21. Bg3 {+/=}) 20... Kxg7
=/+ 21. Ne2 {??} ({better is} 21. Kh1 {and White has air to
breath} Rh8 22. Rg1+ Kf6 23. e5+ Kxe5 24. Qe3+ Kf6 25. Rg2 Nxd5 26. Nxd5+
exd5 27. f4 {=/+}) 21... Nxf3+ ({better is} 21... Rh8 {secures
victory} 22. Qg5+ Qxg5+ 23. Ng3 Qh6 {-+}) 22. Kg2 Qxe4 23. Qe3 {??
terrible, but the game is lost in any case} (23. Qc3+ Ne5+ 24. f3 Qg6+ 25.
Kf2 Nxd5 26. Qd4 {-+}) 23... Nh4+ 24. Kh3 Qg2+ (24... Qg2+ 25. Kxh4
Rh8+ 26. Qh6+ Rxh6#) 0-1 Vollgass played the gambit accepted line 4.Bd2 and stole a pawn at h7 with his queen. The white queen was trapped into a repetition of moves and so Vollgass decided to exchange white queen for rook and bishop to play for the win. Black later counter attacked the white queen side castled position and white resigned. Vollgass (2087) – Evilone (2018) Playchess.com 8/15/04 Game 6min.
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g5 3. Bxg5 Ne4 4. Bd2 c5 5. f3
(5. Nc3 Nxd2 6. Qxd2 {+/-}) 5... Nd6 ? ({better is} 5...Nxd2
{!? is an interesting idea} 6. Qxd2 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Rg8 {+/=}) 6. dxc5 Nxc4
7. Bc3 Rg8 8. Qd3 d5 9. cxd6 (9. Qxh7 {?!} Rg6 {=}) 9... Nxd6 10. Nd2
Nc6 11. Qxh7 Rg6 12. e4 (12. Rd1 {!? +/=}) 12... Rh6 = 13. Qg8 Rg6
14. Qxg6 ?? {hands over the advantage to the opponent} ({better is} 14.
Qh8 {is the best chance} Rh6 15. Qg8 {=}) 14... fxg6 -+ 15. Ne2 e5 16.
Ng3 (16. h4 {doesn't change the outcome of the game} Nb5 17. O-O-O Qc7
{-+} (17... Nxc3 {?! } 18. Nxc3 Nd4 19. h5 {-+})) 16... Be6 17. Be2 Qb6
18. h4 O-O-O ({better is} 18... Nb4 {keeps an even firmer grip} 19.
Bxb4 Qxb4 20. b3 {-+}) 19. O-O-O (19. a4 {-+ praying for a miracle})
19... Bxa2 20. h5 (20. Bd3 {doesn't change anything anymore} Bh6
{-+}) 20... gxh5 (20... Qf2 {!? makes it even easier for Black} 21.
b3 Qxg3 22. Kb2 {-+}) 21. Rxh5 Kb8 22. Rh8 (22. Bd3 Qe3 23. Bf1 Nd4
24. Ba5 Rc8+ 25. Bc4 Rxc4+ 26. Bc3 Rxc3+ 27. bxc3 Qxc3#) 22... Nd4
(22... Qe3 23. Kc2 Nd4+ 24. Bxd4 exd4 25. Rxf8 Rxf8 26. Ra1 d3+ 27. Bxd3
Rc8+ 28. Kd1 Qxd3 29. Ngf1 Nxe4 30. Ke1 Nxd2 31. Kf2 Nxf1 32. Re1 Rc2+ 33.
Kg1 Qd4+ 34. Re3 Qxe3+ 35. Kh1 Qd2 36. b3 Qxg2#) 23. Bd3 (23. Re1 {is
not much help} Nf7 24. Rxf8 Rxf8 -+) 23... Rc8 (23... N6b5 !? {might
be the shorter path} 24. Rdh1 Nxc3 25. Rxf8 -+) 24. Ne2 (24. Rdh1
{hardly improves anything} Nf7 25. Rxf8 Rxf8 -+) 24... N6b5 25. Bxb5
(25. Rxf8 {cannot change destiny} Rxf8 26. Bxd4 Nxd4 -+) 25... Qxb5
{-+ 7.94} (25...Qxb5 26. Nxd4 exd4 27. Rxf8 Rxf8 28. Bxd4 Rc8+ 29. Bc3 Qd3
-+) 0-1 Accepted Line 4.Bf4 (Main Accepted Line) Of interest is the black rook sacrifice line at a8. This was explored in the analysis and in the games versus Allanon and Jean. Black obtained a strong attack on the white king for the sacrificed rook. In the analysis I found the key to playing this line correctly. Also interesting is the early e5 line that I played against Gerald Oshio. I had analyzed this previously and wanted to test this line in a game. The current opinion on this line is that it is not sound. Analysis Accepted Line 4.Bf4 Nakamura & Fritz8 2006
Mchess Pro – Nakamura (2100) Offhand Game 1994 Game 15min.
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g5 3. Bxg5 Ne4 4. Bf4 c5 5. Nd2 Qa5 6. Qc2 Nf6
{[I have tried
6...f5 many times before but always drop the pawn and get an bad game.]}
7. dxc5 Qxc5 8. Nb3 Qh5 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. Nbd4 {[The position is poisoned.
MChess Pro does not drop pieces without compensa- tion.]} Nxd4 11. Nxd4
e5 12. Nb5 exf4 13. Nc7+ Kd8 14. Nxa8 Bb4+ 15. Kd1 b6 16. Qd3 {[White's
other move 16. Qa4 is the only try to save the N but is very dangerous . If
16.Qa4 Qc5 17. Qxa7 Qd4+ 18.Kc2 (18.Kc1 Qd2+ 19.Kb1 Qd1+mate) Qxc4+ 19.Kb1
Qe4+ etc.]} Bb7 17. Nxb6 axb6 18. Qd4 Be7 19. Qxb6+ Kc8 20. f3 Ne8 21.
Qb5 Qg6 22. Qe5 Bf6 23. Qc5+ Nc7 24. Qb6 {[White has played too many Q
moves. Black is slowly developing all his pieces and controlling key
squares.]} Re8 25. a4 Re6 26. Qb4 Be7 27. Qc3 Na6 28. Kc1 Bb4 29. Qh8+
Kc7 30. Ra2 Nc5 31. b3 Nxb3+ 32. Kb2 Na5 33. Kc1 Re3 34. Rc2 Nb3+ 35. Kb1
Qd6 36. Ka2 Qd1 {[36...Qa6 is a much better move. White cannot defend
the pawn on a4.]} 37. Qb2 Bc6 38. Qb1 Qd4 39. Qxb3 Rxb3 40. Kxb3 Be7 41.
Rc1 Bf6 42. Rc2 Qa1 43. Rc3 Qb1+ 0-1 Gerald Oshio played the main gambit accepted line 4.Bf4. I usually play the thematic Medusa Gambit move 4…c5 but played the 4…e5 move instead. I had analyzed this move and wanted to test it in a blitz game. If white plays 5.Bxe5 then black has the move 5…Bb4+ which wins the white queen if white does not play the best move 6.Qb3. White did not play the best move and lost his queen. White resigned a few moves later. I do not believe that the move 4..e5 is totally sound. But still this was an interesting blitz game. Gerald Oshio – Clyde Nakamura (2165) Offhand Game 2/2/97 Game 5min.
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g5 3. Bxg5 Ne4 4. Bf4 e5
{I had analyzed this position previously and had thought this was an
alternative play for black instead of the usual 4...c5 move.} 5. Bxe5
{??} Bb4+ 6. Nc3 Nxc3 7. bxc3 (7. Qb3 Nxa2+ 8. Kd1 Rg8 9. Rxa2 Nc6 10.
Bf4 a5 11. d5 Qf6 12. Bxc7 Qxf2 13. Nf3 Ne7 14. d6 Qc5 15. e4 Nc6 16. Qd3 b6
17. e5 Rg6 18. Qd5 Qe3 19. Kc2 Bb7 20. Kb1 Nd8 21. Qd1 {-+ 2.22}) 7...
Bxc3+ 8. Qd2 Bxd2+ 9. Kxd2 f6 {-+ 6.03} 0-1 Allanon played the main line 4.Bf4 of the Medusa Gambit Accepted and headed into the rook sacrifice line at a8 of the Medusa. Black did not play the line accurately but at one point black missed a drawing line. White traded down pieces and black who was a rook down has no more play left. Allanon (2648) – Evilone (2074) ICC 12/20/97 Game 5min.
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g5 3. Bxg5 Ne4 4. Bf4 c5 5. Nd2 Qa5 6. Qc2 d5
({better is} 6... Nf6 {!?} 7. Ngf3 d6 {+/-}) 7. cxd5 {+-} Bf5 8.
Qb3 Bg7 {?} (8... Nd7 {+-}) 9. Qxb7 O-O (9... Bxd4 10. g4 {! and
the rest is history} Bxf2+ 11. Kd1 Qa4+ 12. Nb3 Bxg4 13. h3 +- (13. Qxa8 O-O
14. Nf3 c4 =/+) (13. Bxb8 O-O 14. Be5 Rad8 {-+})) 10. Qxa8 ({better
is} 10. f3 {!? might be the shorter path} Nd6 11. Bxd6 exd6 12. Qxa8 Bh6
{+-}) 10... Bxd4 11. Ngf3 ({better is} 11. Qb7 {and White wins} c4
12. Rc1 (12. Qxe7 Bxf2+ 13. Kd1 Qa4+ 14. Kc1 Nxd2 15. Qg5+ Bg6 {-+})
12... Bxf2+ 13. Kd1 {+-}) 11...Bxf2+ += 12. Kd1 Nd7 {??
solves nothing} (12... Qa4+ 13. Nb3 {=} c4) 13. Qc6 +- Nb6 (13... Qb4
{doesn't do any good} 14. Rc1 Ndf6 15. e3 Qxb2 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Bd3
{+-}) 14. Nxe4 Bxe4 15. Bd2 Qa6 16. e3 Bd3 17. Bxd3 Qxd3 18. Ne1
({better is} 18. Ne5 {!? makes it even easier for White} Qe4 19. Rf1
Rc8 +-) 18... Bxe1 19. Kxe1 Nc4 20. Bc1 ({better is} 20. Rd1
{!? and White can already relax} Nxb2 21. Qh6 Nxd1 22. Qg5+ Kh8 23. Qxe7 Kg8
24. Qg5+ Qg6 25. Qxg6+ hxg6 26. Kxd1 Rd8 {+-}) 20... Nxe3 21. Bxe3 ??
{White lets it slip away} ({better is} 21. d6 {with excellent chances for
White} Nc2+ 22. Kf2 Qd4+ 23. Kg3 Qd3+ 24. Kh4 exd6 25. Bf4 Nxa1 26. Rxa1 +-)
21...Qxe3+ {=} 22. Kf1 Qd3+ 23. Kf2 Qd4+ {?? letting the wind
out of his own sails} ({better is} 23... Qd2+ {the only rescuing move} 24.
Kg3 Qg5+ 25. Kf3 Qf5+ 26. Ke2 Qe5+ 27. Kf1 Qf4+ 28. Kg1 Qd4+ 29. Kf1 Qf4+
30. Kg1 Qd4+ 31. Kf1 Qf4+ {=}) 24. Kg3 +- Qe5+ (24... Kh8 25. Rae1
Rg8+ 26. Kf3 Qg4+ 27. Ke3 Qd4+ 28. Kf3 {= according to Fritz8 I missed the
draw}) (24... Kh8 25. Rhd1 Qe3+ 26. Kh4 Qf4+ 27. Kh3 Qf5+ 28. g4 Qf3+ 29.
Kh4 Qf2+ 30. Kh3 Qf3+ 31. Kh4 Qf2+ =) (24... Kh8 25. Kf3 Qd3+ 26. Kf2 Qd4+
27. Kf1 Qc4+ 28. Ke1 Qb4+ 29. Ke2 Qxb2+ 30. Kf3 Qc3+ 31. Kf4 Qd4+ 32. Kf3
Qc3+ 33. Kf2 Qd4+ 34. Kf3 Qc3+ {=}) 25. Kh4 Qf4+ 26. g4 Qf2+ 27. Kh5 f5
(27... Rd8 {is the last straw} 28. h3 Qxb2 {+-}) 28. Qe6+ Rf7
(28... Kh8 {there is nothing better in the position} 29. Qxe7 fxg4 30. Qe5+
Qf6 31. Qxf6+ Rxf6 {+-}) 29. Raf1 Qg2 30. Rxf5 Qh3+ 31. Kg5 h6+
(31... Qe3+ {cannot change what is in store for ?} 32. Qxe3 Rxf5+ 33. gxf5
Kf8 34. Re1 e6 35. Qxc5+ Kf7 36. Qc7+ Kf8 37. Qd8+ Kf7 38. dxe6+ Kg7 39.
f6#) 32. Kf4 (32. Kf4 Qb3 33. Qxf7+ Kh8 34. Qe8+ Kg7 35. Qxe7+ Kh8
36. Rf8#) 1-0 Jean played the mainline accepted move 4.Bf4 and played into the black rook sacrifice at a8. This is one of the most fascinating lines in Medusa Gambit. I had wondered for a long time whether this line was sound for black. Black is down a rook but has all of his pieces activated for an attack on the white king. White is behind in development and has a king in the middle of the board which is not safe from checkmate. In this game white threatened checkmate at g7 with queen and bishop, so black had to sacrifice a bishop to prevent checkmate. Black later played the pawn thrust c4 and c3 which wins the game. This pawn thrust c4 to c3 is the key to this variation of the Medusa Gambit. Jean (2216)-Evilone (2052) ICC 12/12/98 Game 15min. + 5 sec.
18...f6 19.
Qxf6 Be3+ 20. Bxe3 c3 21. Bd4 ?
{This move
looks plausible but loses.} cxb2+ {White is lost the double check
leads to mate for Black. If 22.Kd1 Bc2+mate. If 22.Kxb2 then 22....Qb4+ and
mate} 0-1 Marmot75 played the main accepted line 4.Bf4 of the Medusa Gambit and later traded queens. At one point in the game white was 3 pawns up. Black later picked up some pawns to close the gap. White got greedy and played a horrendous blunder with 27.Rxe7 and lost the rook and the game. Marmot75 (2102)-Evilone (2020) Playchess.com 6/12/04 Game 5min.
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4
{last book move} g5 3. Bxg5 Ne4 4. Bf4 c5 (4... e5 5. dxe5 Bc5 6. e3
Bb4+ 7. Ke2 {+-}) 5. Nc3 (5. Qc2 Qa5+ 6. Nd2 Nf6 {+/-}) 5... Qa5
6. Qd3 d5 ({better is} 6... cxd4 {!?} 7. Qxd4 Nxc3 {+/-}) 7. cxd5 +-
Bf5 8. Qb5+ Qxb5 9. Nxb5 Na6 10.
f3 Nf6
(10... Bd7
11. e3 Nd6 12. Nxd6+ exd6 13. Bxa6 bxa6 {+-}) 11. e4 Bd7 12.
dxc5 Bg7
13. Rc1 O-O
(13... Nh5
{cannot undo what has already been done} 14. Be3 Bxb2 15. Rb1 {+-}) 14.
a3 (14. c6 {!? seems even better} bxc6 15. dxc6 Nh5 {+-}) 14... Nh5
15. Be3 Bxb2 16. Rc2 Bg7 (16... Bxb5 {doesn't get the bull off the ice}
17. Bxb5 Bxa3 18. Bxa6 bxa6 19. Ne2 {+-}) 17. g4 (17. c6 {keeps an
even firmer grip} bxc6 18. dxc6 Bc8 {+-}) 17... Nf6 18. Nh3 (18. c6
{might be the shorter path} bxc6 19. dxc6 Be6 {+-}) 18... Rfc8 19. Nf2
(19. c6 {seems even better} bxc6 20. Nxa7 cxd5 21. Nxc8 Rxc8 22. Rxc8+ Bxc8
{+-}) 19... Nc7 20. Nxc7 Rxc7 21. Bf4 Rcc8 22. Bd3 Ba4 23. Rc1 Nd7 24.
Be3 Bb2 25. Rb1 Bxa3 26. Rxb7 Nxc5 27. Rxe7 {?? instead of simply
winning the game} ({better is} 27. Bxc5 Bxc5 28. Ke2 {+/-}) 27... Nxd3+
-+ 28. Nxd3 Bxe7 (28...Bxe7 29. Ke2 Rc2+ 30. Bd2 Rb8 {-+}) 0-1 Count Zamoyski played the main gambit accepted line 4.Bf4 and later exchanged queens on move 8. Black was up a pawn several moves later. White proceeded to win back his pawn but blundered on move 21.Nd4?? which lost a piece and the game. Count Zamoyski(2052)-Evilone(1912) Playchess.com 8/18/05 Game 2m+3sec.
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4
{last book
move} g5 3. Bxg5 Ne4 4. Bf4 c5 (4... e5 5. dxe5 Bc5 6. e3 Bb4+ 7. Ke2
+-) 5. e3 Bg7 6. Bd3 Qa5+ 7. Nd2 Nxd2 8. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 9. Kxd2 cxd4 10. exd4
Bxd4 11. Be3 {= Black came out the opening with an equal position.}
Bxb2 12. Rb1 Bf6 13. Nf3 Nc6 14. Rb5 (14. c5 h5 {=}) 14... a6
(14... b6 15. Re1 {=/+}) 15. Rh5
d6
{Prevents intrusion on c5+e5} 16. Rxh7 (16. h4 {=}) 16... Rg8
(16... Rxh7 {!?} 17. Bxh7 Na5 {=/+}) 17. g3 {Covers h4} (17. h4 {+/=
is interesting ?}) 17... Nb4 {=} 18. Bb1 Be6 19. Rc1 (19. a3 Nc6 {=})
19... Rc8 20. a3 Nc6 21. Nd4 {??} ({better is} 21. Be4 {=/+ was a
good chance to save the game}) 21... Nxd4 {-+} 22. Bxd4 Bxd4 23.
f4 (23. Be4 {cannot change destiny} b6 {-+} (23... Bxc4 {?!} 24. Bd5 b5
25. Bxf7+ Bxf7 26. Rxc8+ Kd7 27. Rxg8 Bxg8 28. Rh3 {-+})) 23...Bxc4
(23... Bb2 !? {makes it even easier for Black} 24. Rh1 Bxa3 25. Be4 Rxc4 26.
f5 {-+}) 24. Be4 Rc7 (24... b5 25. Bb7 Rc5 26. Bxa6 Bb2 27. Rb1 Rd5+
28. Kc2 Bd3+ {-+ 5.37}) (24... b5 !? {seems even better} 25. Bb7 Rc5 26. a4
{-+}) 25. Bxb7 Kd7 (25... Rxb7 {Theme: Deflection from c4} 26. Rxc4)
26. Be4 (26. Rxc4 {doesn't do any good} Rxc4 (26... Rxb7 {?! is the
weaker alternative} 27. Rxd4 Ke6 28. Rh6+ Kf5 29. Ra4 {=}) 27. Bxa6 Rc3
{-+}) 26... Bb2 (26... Rb8 {keeps an even firmer grip} 27. Rb1 Rxb1
28. Bxb1 {-+}) 27. Rb1 (27. Bf5+ {doesn't change the outcome of the
game} Kd8 28. Rb1 Bc3+ 29. Ke3 e6 30. Rb8+ Rc8 31. Rxc8+ Kxc8 {-+}) 27...
Bxa3 28. f5 (28. Bd3 {is not the saving move} Ke6 {-+}) 28... a5 29.
f6 (29. Bd3 {doesn't get the bull off the ice} Bd5 {-+}) 29... Bb4+
30. Ke3 e5 31. Bf5+ Be6 ({better is} 31... Kc6 {-+ keeps an even firmer
grip}) 32. Bd3 {??} ({better is} 32. Rxf7+ ! {would hold out} Kd8 33.
Bxe6 Rxf7 34. Bxf7 {=/+}) 32... d5 ({better is} 32... Rc3 {seems even
better} 33. Rf1 d5 34. Rh4 {-+}) 33. Rg7 Rcc8 (33... Rh8 {makes it
even easier for Black} 34. h4 e4 {-+} 35. Be2) 34. Bb5+ (34. Rxg8
{does not help much} Rxg8 35. Rb2 e4 {-+}) 34... Kd6 35. Rc1 (35.
Rxg8 {doesn't improve anything} Rxg8 36. Rc1 d4+ 37. Ke4 Bc3 {-+}) 35...
Bc5+ (35...Rxc1 36. Rxg8 Rc2 37. Rd8+ Kc7 38. Bd7 Bxd7 39. Rxd7+ Kxd7
40. h3 {-+}) 36. Ke2 Rxg7 37. fxg7 Rg8 38. Ra1 Bb4 39. Rc1 Bd7 (39...
e4 {might be the shorter path} 40. Rf1 {-+}) 40. Bd3 (40. Bxd7
{cannot undo what has already been done} Kxd7 41. g4 Rxg7 {-+}) 40... e4
41. Ba6 Rxg7 (41... Rxg7 42. Kf2 d4 {-+}) 0-1 Early in the game black worked on the dark squares and won the exchange. Each side is attacking the others king position. Black makes a bishop sac on move 35 to blow apart white’s kingside position. White in the mean time is also trying to attack black’s king position on the queenside. It is now a matter of who will break through first. Black broke through first and checkmated the white king. Patzer777 (1986) - Evilone Playchess.com 8/14/05 Game 3min+1sec. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g5 3. Bxg5 Ne4 4. Bf4 {This is the main accepted line of the Medusa Gambit.} c5 5. d5 Bg7 6. Qc2 Qa5+ 7. Nd2 f5 8. f3 Nf6 (8... Nxd2 9. Bxd2 Qb6 10. Qxf5 Qxb2 11. Rc1 {+/-}) 9. e4 (9. Qxf5 Na6 {+-}) 9... d6 (9... fxe4 10. fxe4 O-O 11. g3 {+/-}) 10. Bd3 (10. exf5 {!?} O-O 11. Bg5 {+-}) 10... Na6 11. a3 {Prevents intrusion on b4} (11. exf5 {!?} Nh5 12. Bg5 {+/-}) 11... Nb4 12. Qb1 (12. axb4 {A pinning theme} Qxa1+) 12... Nxd3+ 13. Qxd3 Nh5 14. Be3 f4 ({Weaker is} 14... Bxb2 15. Ra2 fxe4 16. Qxe4 {+/=}) 15. Bf2 Bxb2 16. Rb1 (16. Ra2 Be5 {=}) 16... Bc3 (16... Qxa3 {!?} 17. Qxa3 Bxa3 {=/+}) 17. Ne2 Be5 {The bishop likes it on e5} 18. O-O Qc7 19. g4 (19. Kh1 Rg8 20. Qb3 Qd7 21. Rg1 Rg6 22. Qb5 b6 23. g4 fxg3 24. Qxd7+ Bxd7 25. Bxg3 Nxg3+ 26. hxg3 {=}) (19. Qb3 Rg8 {=}) 19... fxg3 20. Nxg3 (20. Bxg3 {!?} Nxg3 21. hxg3 {=/+}) 20... Nf4 21. Qe3 (21. Qb3 Bh3 22. Qxb7 Qxb7 23. Rxb7 h5 {-/+} (23... Bxf1 </- 24. Ndxf1 Kd8 25. Nf5 {=})) 21... Nh3+ (21... Bh3 22. Rfd1 Rg8 23. Kh1 Bg2+ 24. Kg1 {-+}) 22. Kh1 Bd4 23. Qe2 Nxf2+ 24. Rxf2 Bxf2 25. Qxf2 Bd7 26. f4 O-O-O 27. f5 h5 (27... Rhg8 28. Qe2 {-+}) 28. Qe3 h4 29. Ne2 Rdg8 30. Nf3 Qd8 (30... Rg4 31. h3 Rgg8 32. Qc3 {-/+}) 31. Qb3 b6 32. a4 Qe8 ({better is} 32... Rg4 {!?} 33. Nd2 Rhg8 {-/+}) 33. a5 {=} Qh5 34. axb6 axb6 35. h3 ({better is} 35. Nf4 Qg4 36. Qe3 {+/- }) 35... Bxf5 {?? releasing the pressure on the opponent} (35... Rg3 36. Nxg3 hxg3 37. h4 {=}) 36. exf5 {?? not a good decision, because now the opponent is right back in the game} ({better is} 36. Nf4 {would have made live much easier for White} Rg3 37. Nxh5 Rxh3+ 38. Kg2 Rg8+ 39. Kf2 Bxe4 40. Rg1 {+-} (40. Qxb6 {?!} Rxf3+ 41. Ke1 Rg1+ 42. Ke2 Rxb1 43. Qc6+ Kd8 44. Qa8+ Kc7 45. Qc6+ Kd8 46. Qa8+ Kd7 47. Qa4+ Kd8 {+=} 48. Qa8+)) 36... Qxf5 {=} 37. Neg1 Rg3 38. Kh2 ?? {hands over the advantage to the opponent} ({better is} 38. Qa2 {is just about the only chance} Rxf3 39. Qa8+ Kc7 40. Qc6+ Kd8 41. Qa8+ Kd7 42. Qc6+ Kd8 43. Qa8+ Kd7 44. Qc6+ Kd8 {=}) 38... Rhg8 -+ 39. Qxb6 ?? {an oversight. But White was lost anyway.} (39. Ra1 R8g7 40. Qb1 (40. Qxb6 {?? is refuted decisively by mate in 4} Qc2+ 41. Nd2 Qxd2+ 42. Ne2 Qxe2+ 43. Kh1 Rxh3#) 40... Rxf3 41. Ra8+ Kb7 42. Rb8+ Kxb8 43. Qxb6+ Kc8 44. Qc6+ Kd8 45. Qa8+ Qc8 46. Qxc8+ Kxc8 47. Nxf3 {-+}) 39... Rg2+ (39... Qc2+ 40. Nd2 Qxd2+ 41. Ne2 Qxe2+ 42. Kh1 Rxh3#) 40. Kh1
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