The Scorpion-Horus Gambit

1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d3 dxe4 4.Bg5

I was looking at one of my old email messages and found an interesting idea against a Caro-Kann pawn setup (1.e4 c6).  What if you could play a Noch Gambit type of setup against a Caro-Kann Defense?

The Noch Gambit is: 1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d3 dxe4 4.Bg5 and White offers the gambit pawn.  In this new gambit you have the following moves: 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d3 dxe4 4.Bg5 and now White offers the gambit pawn at d3.  The Noch Gambit is really a reversed form of the Blackburne-Hartlaub Gambit (1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 d6) and the gambit could continue with 3.exd6 Bxd6.
 

I have checked my chess databases and found that after the move 3…dxe4 the two moves played were 4.Nxe4 or 4.dxe4.  No one has played 4.Bg5 or 4.Bf4 treating this opening as a gambit.

I started to think about a new name for this gambit and thought about the documentary I saw on "The Real Scorpion King" on The History Channel.

At the turn of the last century a number of new tombs were discovered buried in the sands of Egypt.  On one of those tombs a sign of the scorpion was inscribed on a vase from the tomb.

Also found were the symbol of Horus (a bird like figure).  The symbol of Horus means the sign of kingship.  This means that the tomb was the final resting place for a king called Scorpion.  According to the documentary King Scorpion invented the earliest known form of writing, predating even the Sumerians.

Anyway I decided to call this new gambit the Scorpion-Horus Gambit.  Here are references to the Egyptian God called Horus and the Scorpion King on Wikipedia.

There were actually only two Scorpion-Horus Gambit games, so I had to run an chess engine tournament to test the Scorpion-Horus Gambit.  See the cross table below:

All of the chess engines in this tournament had the following parameters:

• Acer Athlon 4400 Dual Core Processor

• Operating System – Window Vista Home Premium

• Time control – 5 minutes / game

• 2 gig ram

• Hash table – 256 meg

• All chess engines played the following starting position: 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d3 exd3 4.Bg5

Estimated Elo ratings of chess engines:

Many chess players have this false notion that a game played at blitz speed (5 minutes) is not of very high quality.  This is not true of these chess engines which are analyzing many positions (some more than a million positions a second) for every move.  Their blitz games are of very high quality.  Chess engines do not miss mate-in-3 or even mate-in-4 moves.

Even regular tournament games can be flawed where one player walks into checkmate.  Some of my best games have been played at blitz speed or short time controls such as game in 15 minutes or game in 30 minutes.

Early Games

This is the first known Scorpion-Horus Gambit game played, and it was a test game against the chess engine Shredder4 in 2002.  After playing the exchange sacrifice on move 19.Rxf6, I had missed several different ways to win the game.

Clyde Nakamura (2100)- Shredder4     Test Game      8/18/02     Game 30 min.

1.Nc3 c6 2.e4 d5 3.d3 dxe4 4.Bg5 Qb6 5.Rb1 Qa5 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Qd2 exd3 8.Bxd3 e5 9.Nge2 Be7 10.h3 {better was 10.0-0} O-O 11.O-O Na6 12.f4 Rd8 13.fxe5 Qxe5 14.Bf4 Qa5 15.a3 Qb6+ 16.Kh1 Nc5 17.Bg5 h6 18.Bxf6 Bxf6

 {White cannot stop the black c-pawn from queening.} 40.Ng4 b4 41.axb4 cxb4 0-1
 

J Ezra Lutton (2107) – Robert M. Taylor (2165)  4NCL/Div3/SCS vs 3CS2 3/9/03

{A00: Irregular Openings} 1.Nc3 d5 2.e4 c6 3.d3 dxe4 4.Bg5 (4.dxe4 Qxd1+ 5.Nxd1 e5 =) 4...exd3 5.Bxd3 Nf6 6.Qe2 (6.Nf3 Bg4 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 Nbd7 =) 6...Bg4 =/+ 7.f3 {Consolidates e4} Be6 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.f4 (9.O-O-O Qa5 =/+) 9...Qa5 -/+ 10.a3 Nd7 11.b4 (11.O-O-O f5 -/+) 11...Qc7 12.Qe3 Bh6 (12...Qb6 13.Qg3 -/+) 13.Nge2 Ne5 14.Rf1 (14.O-O !? -/+ ) 14...Nxd3+ -+ 15.Qxd3 Rd8 16.Qe4 f5 17.Qe3 Bg7 18.Qxa7 (18.Rd1 Qb6 19.Qxb6 axb6 -+) 18...Bc4 19.Qe3 Rd6 20.Qf3? (20.Rf2 c5 21.Qxc5 Rc6 22.Qxf5 Be6 -+) 20...O-O (better is 20...Bxe2 !?  {keeps an even firmer grip} 21.Kxe2 Re6+ 22.Kd2 Qd8+ 23.Kc1 -+) 21.Rd1 Re6 22.Rd2 Qb6 (22...Rd8 {and Black can already relax} 23.Rf2 -+) 23.Nd1 (23.Na4 Qa6 24.Nc5 Bxe2 25.Rxe2 Bc3+ 26.Kf2 Bd4+ 27.Ke1 Rxe2+ 28.Qxe2 Qxa3 -+) 23...Ra8 24.Qg3 Kh8 (24...Qd4 {makes it even easier for Black} 25.Rf2 (25.Rxd4 ?? Rxe2#) 25...Qa1 26.Qh3 -+) 25.Rf3 (25.Qh3 Rg8 -+ ) 25...Bd5 (25...Rxa3 {might be the shorter path} 26.Kf1 Rxe2 27.Rxe2 -+) 26.Re3? (26.Qf2 Qc7 27.Rg3 -+)

{White is ruining his position} (better is 35. Rxe7! Rxe7 36. Qd8+ Kh7 37. Qxe7+ Kg6 38. Qe8+ Kg7 39. Qd7+ Kg6 40. Qd2 +/=) 35... Bd5 -/+ 36. Qd2 Bxg2 (36... Qa7+ !? 37. Ne3 Re4 38. Rd8+ Kh7 -+) 37. Ne3 =/+ Bh3??  {there were better ways to keep up the pressure} (better is 37... Bd5 38. Nxd5 cxd5 39. Rxd5 Re4 -/+) 38. Rc7??  {spoils everything} (better is 38. Rxe7!  {and White gets the upper hand} Rxe7 39. Qd8+ Kg7 40. Qxe7+ Kg6 41. Qe8+ Kg7 42. Kg3 +-) 38... Kg7 (38... Kh7 39. Kg3 Qb6 40. Kxh3 Qxc7 41. Nxf5 -+) 39. Kg3 (39. Rc8 Qa1 40. Qd1 Qxd1 (40... Qxc3 41. Qg1+ Bg4 42. Nxf5+ Kh7 43. Qxg4 Qe1+ 44. Kf3 Qd1+ 45. Kg3 Qg1+ 46. Kh3 Qxg4+ 47. Kxg4 +-) 41. Nxd1 Bg4 -+) 39... Qb6 40. Kxh3 Rxe3+ 41. Kh4 Qxc7 42. Qxe3 Qd7 (42... e5 {might be the shorter path} 43. Qg3+ Kf7 44. Qd3 -+) 43. c4 ?!  {not putting up any resistance} (43. h3 -+) 43... Kf7 44. Qf3 (44. c5 {cannot change destiny} Qe6 45. Qf2 Qb3 -+) 44... Qd4 45. Kh5 Qg1 (45... Qg1 46. h3 Qd4 -+) (better is 45... Qxc4 {keeps an even firmer grip} 46. Kxh6 Qxb4 47. Qh5+ Ke6 48. Qf3 -+) 0-1
 

Poison Pawn Variation 1

Black takes the pawns at e4, d3 & b2

1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d3 dxe4 4.Bg5 Qb6 5.Qd2 exd3 6.Bxd3 Qxb2 7.Rb1 Qa3
 

Deep Shredder 10 – Aristarch 4.50   Scorpion-Horus Eng Tourn 7/4/09

(20...Ba6 {no good, but what else?} 21.Bxa6 Nc5 +-) 21.Be6 Rg8 22.Bxg8 (22.Qb4+ c5 23.Qh4 Nb6 24.Nxg7 Qe7 25.Bxg8 Bg4 +-) 22...Kxg8 23.Ne7+ Kh8 24.Nxc8 Nb6 (24...Nf8 {is one last hope} 25.Nd6 Ne6 +-) 25.Qd8+ Qxd8 26.Rxd8+ Bf8 27.Rxf8+ Kg7 28.Nxb6 Rxf8 29.Nd7 Re8 (29...Rg8 {is no salvation} 30.Rd1 Kf7 31.Rd6 {+-}) 30.Nd4!  {an unexpected blow} Kf7 (30...exd4 {Exploits the pin} 31.Rxe8) 31.Nxc6 {2:05-1:05} (31.Nxc6 Rc8 32.Ndb8 +-)1-0

Rocket v1.2 – Aristarch 4.50   Scorpion-Horus Eng Tourn 7/4/09

{B10: Caro-Kann: 2 d3 and 2 c4} 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d3 (3. d4 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 +/=) 3... dxe4 4. Bg5 (4. dxe4 Qxd1+ 5. Nxd1 e5 =) 4... Qb6 5. Qd2 (5. Rb1 !? =) 5... exd3-+ 6. Bxd3 Qxb2 7. Rb1 Qa3 8. Nf3 f6 (8... Nf6 9. O-O -/+) 9. Be3 -/+ e6 {Prevents intrusion on d5+f5} 10. O-O Ne7 11. Rb3 Qa5 12. Rd1 Qc7 13. Qe2 g6 {Controls f5} ({better is} 13... Nd7!?  =/+  {must definitely be considered}) 14. Bd4 +/= Bg7 15. Bc5 Nd5 16. Ne4 b6 17. Ba3 (17. Nd6+ Kd8 18. Ba3 +/= (worse is 18. Nxc8 bxc5 19. Qxe6 Re8 {=/+})) 17... Bf8? (17... c5 18. Bb5+ Kf8 19. Nxc5 bxc5 20. Rxd5 Na6 +-) 18. c4 +/- Bxa3 19. cxd5 exd5? (better is 19... Bd6!? 20. Nxf6+ Kf7 +/-) 20. Nxf6+ +- (20. Rxa3?!  {is clearly inferior} dxe4 21. Qxe4+ Kf7 22. Bc4+ Kg7 =) 20... Kf7 21. Rxa3 Qe7 22.Nxh7 Rxh7

30. Ne5+ Kh5 31. Rxf8 Bg4 32. Rxa8 Kg5 33. Rxg4+ (33. Rf8 Kh6 34. Rxg4 Kh7 35. Rf3 c5 36. Rh3#) 33... Kf6 (33... Kf5 {a fruitless try to alter the course of the game } 34. Re8 Kf6 35. Rf4+ Kg5 36. Rh8 c5 37. h4#) 34. Re8 a6 (34... c5 {does not help much} 35. Rf4+ Kg7 36. Rf7+ Kh6 37. Rh8+ Kg5 38. h4#) 35. Rf4+ Kg7 36. Rf7+ Kh6 37. Rh8+ Kg5 38. h4# {1:19-50} 1-0
 

Strelka 1.8 – Aristarch 4.50   Scorpion-Horus Eng Tourn 7/4/09

{B10: Caro-Kann: 2 d3 and 2 c4} 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d3 (3.d4 dxe4 +/=) 3...dxe4 4.Bg5 (4.dxe4 Qxd1+ 5.Nxd1 e5 =) 4...Qb6 =/+ 5.Qd2 (5.Rb1!?  =/+) 5...exd3 -/+ 6.Bxd3 Qxb2 7.Rb1 Qa3 8.Nf3 f6 9.Be3 e6 {Covers d5+f5} 10.O-O Qa5 (10...Kf7 11.Rb3 Qa5 12.Ne4 Qxd2 13.Nfxd2 =/+) 11.Rfd1 Bb4 12.Bxh7 Nd7 (12...Kf7 !?  {should be examined more closely} 13.Qd3 Ne7 = (13...Bxc3 ??  {is followed by mate in 4} 14.Bg6+ Kf8 15.Qd6+ Ne7 16.Qd8+ Qxd8 17.Rxd8#)) 13.Bg6+ +/= Kf8 14.Nd4 (14.Qd4 !?  {should be investigated more closely} Ba3 15. Ne4 +/-) 14... Ne7 =  {Black is behind in development.} (14... Bxc3 ??  {is impossible because of the following mate in 2} 15. Nxe6+ Ke7 16. Qd6#) 15. Nxe6+ Kg8 16. Rxb4 Qxb4 17. Be4 Kf7 (17... f5 18. Bf3 f4 +/-) 18. Nc7 +/- Rb8 19. Bxa7 Qa5 20. Qd6 (20. Bxb8 {is clearly worse} Nxb8 21. N3b5 Qxd2 22. Rxd2 cxb5 23. Nxb5 b6 -+) 20... Nf8 ? (better is 20... Ne5 !? 21. Bxb8 Qxc3 +/-) 21. N3d5 ! +-  {takes home the point} (21. Bxb8 ?! Qxc3 22. Ba7 Bf5 23. Bxf5 Nxf5 +/-) 21... Nxd5 (21... Qxd5 22. Bxd5+) 22. Nxd5 (22. Bxb8 ?!  {is no comparison} Nc3 23. Re1 Nxe4 24. Rxe4 Ng6 =) (22. Bxd5+ ?! cxd5 23. Bxb8 Qxa2 +-) 22... cxd5 23. Bxd5+ Be6 24. Bxb8 Bxd5 25. Qxd5+ Qxd5 26. Rxd5 Ne6 (26... Ke6 27. Rd8 +-) 27. Rd7+ Kg6 28. Rxb7 Rc8 29. Rb2 Nd4 30. Kf1 Nxc2 31. a4 Nd4 32. Bf4 Rc4 (32... Ra8 33. Ra2 +-) 33. Ra2 Nb3 (33... Rc6 34. a5 Ra6 35. Ra4 +-) 34. Be3 Na5 35. Bb6 Rc1+ 36. Ke2 Nc6 (36... Nc4 {does not improve anything} 37. Bd8 Nd6 38. a5+-) 37. a5 Nb4 38. Ra4 Na6 39. h4 Kh7 40. Be3 Rc2+ 41. Kd3 Rc5 (41... Rb2+-  {there is nothing else anyway}) 42. Bxc5 Nxc5+ 43. Kc4 Nxa4 44. Kb4 Nb2 45. a6 Nd3+ 46.Kc4 Nxf2 (46...Ne5+ {hardly improves anything} 47.Kb5 +-) 47.a7 {1:09-43s} (47.a7 f5 48.a8=Q +-) 1-0
 

Zappa Mexico – Aristarch 4.50  Scorpion-Horus Eng Tourn 7/4/09

{B10: Caro-Kann: 2 d3 and 2 c4 B10: Caro-Kann: 2 d3 and 2 c4} 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d3 dxe4 4. Bg5 Qb6 5. Qd2 (5. Rb1 !?=) 5... exd3 -/+ 6. Bxd3 Qxb2 7. Rb1 Qa3 {Black should quickly conclude development.} 8. Nf3 f6 (8... Nf6 9. O-O -/+) 9. Be3 =/+ e6 {Secures d5+f5} 10. O-O Qa5 (10... Nd7 11. Ne4 =/+) 11. Nd4 Bb4 12. Nb3 Qa3 13. Qe1 Nd7 {Black is behind in development.} 14. Bc1 Bxc3 15. Qxc3 Qd6 (15... Qf8 16. Na5 Nb6 17. Nxc6 +/=) 16. Rd1 +/= Qc7? (better is 16... Qe5 {and Black hangs on} 17. Qc4 Ne7 =) 17. Nd4 +- Nb6 18. Nb5 Qb8 19. Nd6+ Kf8 (19... Qxd6 {Decoy theme: d6} 20. Bg6+ {Discovered attack}) 20. Ba3 (20. Nxc8 ?! Qxc8 21. Qd4 Ne7 +/=) 20... Ne7 21. Qc5 (21. Nxc8 ?! Qxc8 22. Re1 Kf7 +/=) 21... Nbd5 22. Nxb7 Bxb7 (22... Qxb7 23. Rxb7) 23. Ba6 Bxa6 {A pinning theme} 24. Rxb8+ {Eliminates the defender b8} Rxb8 25. Qxa7 Kf7 26. Qxa6 Ra8 27. Qd3 Ng6 28. Kf1 Rhd8 29. Rb1 Kg8 30. Qb3 Ne5 31. Bc5 Rd7 32. g3 Ra5 ? (better is 32... Nc7 +-) 33. Qb8+ Kf7 34. Bd6 Ne7 35. Rb7 Rxb7 36. Qxb7 N5g6 37. a3 Rb5 (37... h5 {doesn't get the cat off the tree} 38. Qd7 +-) 38. Qc7 e5 (38... h5 {doesn't improve anything} 39. Ke1 +-) 39. a4 Rb1+ 40. Ke2 Rc1 (40... Ke6 {does not solve anything} 41. a5 Rc1 42. Kd2 +-) 41. Kd2 Ra1 42. a5 h5 (42... Ra4 {doesn't change the outcome of the game} 43. Bc5 e4 44. Qb6 +-) 43. Qb6 c5 (43... Ke6 {cannot undo what has already been done} 44. Bxe7 Nxe7 45. a6 +- ) 44. Bxc5 f5 (44... e4 {is not much help} 45. a6 Ne5 46. Qb7 +-) 45. a6 Nc8 (45... Nd5 {cannot change what is in store for ?} 46. Qb7+ Nde7 47. a7 Rxa7 48. Qxa7 +-) 46. Qb3+ Kf6 47. Qb7 Nge7 48. f4 {1:03-31s} (48. f4 Kf7 49. fxe5 +- ) 1-0
 

Poison Pawn Variation 1b

1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d3 dxe4 4.Bg5 Qb6 5.Qd2 Qxb2 6.Rb1 Qa3 7.dxe4

Rocket v1.2 – Strelka 1.8  Scorpion-Horus Eng Tourn 7/4/09

{B10: Caro-Kann: 2 d3 and 2 c4 B10: Caro-Kann: 2 d3 and 2 c4} 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d3 dxe4 4.Bg5 Qb6 5.Qd2 Qxb2 6.Rb1 Qa3 7.dxe4 Nf6 8.Nf3 Nbd7 9.Bd3 (9.e5 h6 10.Be3 Ng4 +/=) 9...Nc5 (9...e5 10.O-O =/+) 10.e5 h6 11.Be3 Nfd7 12.O-O e6 {Secures d5+f5} 13.Rfd1 Be7 {Black is behind in development.} 14.Be2 O-O 15.Bxh6 gxh6 16.Qxh6 Qxc3??  {allows the opponent back into the game} (better is 16...Nxe5 {would bring relief} 17.Nxe5 Qxc3 =) 17.Ng5 +- Bxg5 18.Qxg5+ Kh8

34.Qg4+ Kf6 35.Qxc4 Kxf5 36.Qc3 (better is 36.Qd3+ {keeps an even firmer grip} Kf6 37.Qxd7 +-) 36...a5 (36...Nf6 {the only chance to get some counterplay} 37.Qh3+ Kg6! +-)  37.g4+!  {and the rest is history} Kg6 (37...Kxg4 38.Qxc6 {A double attack}) 38.Qd3+ Kf6 39.Qxd7 c5 40.g5+!  {1:19-15s. the punch} (40.g5+ Nxg5 41.Qc6+ Kg7 42.Qxa8 Nxh7 43.Qb7+ Kg8 44.Qxb6 +-) 1-0
 

Poison Pawn Variation 2

Black takes the pawns at e4 and d3

1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d3 dxe4 4.Bg5 exd3 5.Bxd3

Zappa Mexico – Pharaon 3.5.1   Scorpion-Horus Eng Tourn 7/4/09

{B10: Caro-Kann: 2 d3 and 2 c4} 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d3 dxe4 4. Bg5 exd3 5. Bxd3 Nf6 6. Nf3 e6 {Covers d5+f5} 7. Qe2 h6 8. Be3 b6 {Prevents intrusion on c5 } (8... Bb4 9. Bd2 =/+) 9. O-O-O = Nd5 10. Bd4 Nd7 {Black is behind in development.} (10... a6 11. Rhe1 +/=) 11. Nxd5 +/- cxd5 12. Bb5 Qc7 13. Be5 Qc5 14. Nd4 Bb7 (14... a6 !? 15. Bc6 Ra7 +/-) 15. Rd3 +- Rc8 16. Rc3 Qb4 17. Rxc8+ Bxc8 18. a3 Qc5 19. h4 Bb7 ? (19... Bd6 20. Bxg7 Bf4+ 21. Kb1 Rg8 22. Nxe6 Qe7 23. Nxf4 Qxe2 24. Bxe2 Rxg7 {+-}) 20. Rh3 a6 (20... Rg8 {a fruitless try to alter the course of the game} 21. Rc3 Qxc3 22. bxc3 +-) 21. Bxd7+ Kxd7 22. Rc3 Qxc3 23. bxc3 Bxa3+ 24. Kd2 Be7 (24... Rg8 {does not save the day} 25. c4 dxc4 26. Qxc4 +-) 25. Qf3 f6 (25... Ke8 {cannot change what is in store for ?} 26. Bxg7 Rg8 27. Bxh6 Bxh4 28. Qf4 +-) 26. Qg4 fxe5 27. Qxe6+ Kd8 28. Qxb6+ Kc8 29. Qe6+ Kd8 30. Qxe5 Bf6 (30... Rg8 {hardly improves anything} 31. Qb8+ Bc8 32. Qa7 +-) 31. Qd6+ Kc8 32. Ne6 Bd8 33. Nc5 Bc7 34. Qd7+ Kb8 35. Qxg7 Re8 36. h5 Bf4+ (36... a5 {is no salvation} 37. Qxh6 Bc8 38. Qf6 +-) 37. Kd3 Bc7 (37... Bc6 {doesn't get the cat off the tree} 38. Nxa6+ Ka8 39. Nc7+ Bxc7 40. Qxc7 {+-}) 38. Qxh6 a5 (38... Rd8 {doesn't do any good} 39. g4 a5 40. g5 +-) 39. Qg6 Rd8 40. h6 a4 41. Nxa4 Be5 42. Nc5 Bc7 43. Qf6 {1:21-1:19} (43. Qf6 Bc8 44. h7 +- ) 1-0
 

Strelka 1.8 – Pharaon 3.5.1  Scorpion-Horus Eng Tourn 7/4/09

{B10: Caro-Kann: 2 d3 and 2 c4} 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d3 dxe4 4. Bg5 exd3 5. Bxd3 Nf6 6. Nf3 e6 {Covers d5+f5} 7. Qe2 h6 8. Bxf6 (8. Bf4 Nbd7 =/+) 8... Qxf6 =/+ 9. O-O-O Bb4 10. Ne4 Qf4+ 11. Kb1 Be7 12. c3 {Controls b4} O-O {Black is behind in development.} (12... Nd7 13. Bc2 =/+) 13. Bc2 = Qc7 14. g4 Qf4 15. Rhg1 b6 {Secures c5} (15... c5 16. g5 =) 16. g5 Ba6 (16... hxg5 17. Nexg5 Ba6 18. Nxe6 Qh6 +- (18... Bxe2 ??  {Black will choke on that} 19. Rxg7+ (19. Nxf4 ??  {a fat bite, but...} Bxf3 20. Rde1 Bd6 -+) 19... Kh8 20. Rh7+ (20. Nxf4 {White still proves to be far too greedy} Bxd1 (20... Kxg7 ?! {is a useless try} 21. Rg1+ Kh8 22. Nxe2 =) (20... Bxf3 ??  {simply mating in 4} 21. Rh7+ Kg8 22. Rg1+ Bg4 23. Rxg4+ Bg5 24. Rxg5#) 21. Rg3 Bxc2+ 22. Kxc2 Bd6 23. Rh3+ Kg7 24. Rg3+ Kf6 25. Nh5+ Ke7 -+) 20... Kg8 21. Rg1+ (21. Nxf4 {White self-destructs in greed} Bxd1 22. Rh3 Bxc2+ 23. Kxc2 Re8 -+) 21... Bg5 22. Nxf4 +- (22. Rxg5+ ?! Qxg5 23. Nfxg5 fxe6 24. Nxe6 Rc8 =))) 17. c4 +/- hxg5 (better is 17... g6 !?  +/-) 18. Nfxg5 +- Qh4 19. f4 (better is 19. Rg3 g6 20. Nxe6 +-) 19... Bb7 ??  {the position is going down the drain} (better is 19... b5 +/-) 20. Nd6 +- Bxd6

Deep Shredder 10 – Pharaon 3.5.1   Scorpion-Horus Eng Tourn 7/4/09

{B10: Caro-Kann: 2 d3 and 2 c4} 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d3 dxe4 4. Bg5 exd3 5. Bxd3 Nf6 6. Nf3 e6 {Controls d5+f5} 7. Qd2 Nbd7 8. O-O Nc5 9. Rad1 Nxd3 10. Qe2 (Less advisable is 10. Qxd3 Qxd3 11. Rxd3 Nd5 -/+) 10... Be7 11. Rxd3 (Instead of 11. Qxd3 Qxd3 12. Rxd3 Nd5 -+) 11... Qa5 {Black should quickly conclude development.} (11... Qc7 12. Rfd1 =) 12. Rfd1 h6 (12... O-O 13. Ne4 Nd5 14. Bxe7 Nxe7 15. Nd6 =) 13. Bxf6 +/= Bxf6 14. Ne4 Be7 (14... Qxa2 ??  {the pawn is safe and cannot be captured without dire consequences} 15. Nxf6+ gxf6 16. Rd8+ Ke7 17. Rxh8 +-) 15. Nd6+ Bxd6 16. Rxd6 O-O 17. Ne5 Rb8 18. c3 f6 (18... Qxa2 ?  {fails to} 19. Rd8 Rxd8 20. Rxd8+ Kh7 21. Nxf7 Qb1+ 22. Qf1 Qxf1+ 23. Kxf1 +-) 19. Ng6 Re8 20. Qd3 Qc7 (20... Qxa2 ??  {a poisoned pawn} 21. Rd8 Bd7 22. Rxd7 +-) 21. f4 Qb6+ 22. Kh1 a6 ?? (22... Qc7 23. Qe4 =) 23. Rd2 ??  {not a good decision, because now the opponent is right back in the game} (better is 23. Ne5 {would have given White a clear advantage} Qc7 24. Nd7 +-) 23... Qc7 = 24. Re2 (24. Qe4 Qa5 25. g4 Qb5 =) 24... c5 25. Rd2 b5 26. c4 (26. Kg1 !?  =/+  {is worth consideration}) 26... bxc4 -/+ 27. Qc2 Qa5 28. Rd1 f5 (better is 28... Rb7 !?  -/+) 29. Qe2 = Qxa2 (29... Qa4 !?  {must be considered} 30. Qh5 Bb7 = (30... Qxa2 ?  {is no good} 31. Ne5 Qa4 32. Rd8 +-) (30... Rxb2 31. Ne5 Rf8 32. Rd8 =)) 30. Qh5 +/= Rb7 (30... Bb7 31. Ne5 Bxg2+ 32. Kxg2 +/-) 31. Ne5 (31. Rd8 Qa4 32. Ne5 Rbe7 +/-) 31... Rbe7 (31... Rf8 32. Rd8 Qa4 +-) 32. Rd8 +/- Qa4 33. h3 c3 ?? {cause more grief} (33... a5 34. Qg6 Kh8 +-) 34. bxc3 +- Qb5 35. Qg6 Qa4 36. c4 a5 (36... Kh8 {doesn't get the bull off the ice} 37. Kh2 +-) 37. R1d3 (37. Kh2 {and White can already relax} Kh8 +-) 37... Kh8 (37... Bb7 {does not improve anything} 38. R3d7 Qxd7 39. Rxd7 +-) 38. Kh2 Kg8 39. Nd7 !! {the final blow} Bxd7 (39... Rxd7 {A deflection} 40. Rxe8# {A beautiful mate combination}) 40. R3xd7 !  {Annihilates a defender: d7} Qxd7 (40... Rxd7 {Theme: Deflection from e8} 41. Rxe8# {The nicest combinations are those leading to mate}) 41. Rxd7 a4 42. Ra7 !  {the punch} e5 (42... Rxa7 {Deflection from e8} 43. Qxe8+) 43. Rxe7 Rxe7 44. Qd6 Kf7 45. fxe5 a3 46. Qxc5 g6 (46... a2 {is not the saving move} 47. Qa5 Kg6 48. Qxa2 Rxe5 49. Qa6+ Kh7 50. Qd6 +-) 47. Qxa3 Rxe5 48. c5 Re6 49. Qa8 Re2 50. Qd5+ Ke7 51. c6 {10s-1:05} (51. c6 Rc2 52. Qd7+ Kf8 53. Qd3 Rxc6 54. Qd8+ Kf7 55. Qd7+ Kf6 56. Qxc6+ Kf7 57. Qc4+ Kf6 58. Qh4+ Ke6 59. Qxh6 +-) 1-0
 

Early Queen Exchange in the Opening

1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d3 dxe4 4.Bg5 exd3 5.Qxd3

I do not recommend the early exchange of Queens in this opening.  In principle it makes no sense for White to exchange Queens when you are down one or more pawns.  This was proven in the Scorpion-Horus engine tournament, where White had 1 win and 4 losses.

Rocket v1.2 – Pharaon 3.5.1   Scorpion-Horus Eng Tourn 7/4/09

{B10: Caro-Kann: 2 d3 and 2 c4} 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d3 dxe4 4. Bg5 (4. dxe4 Qxd1+ 5. Nxd1 e5 =) 4... exd3 5. Qxd3 Qxd3 (5... Qa5 6. Qg3 =/+) 6. Bxd3 =  ({Less advisable is} 6. cxd3 Nf6 -/+) 6... e5 7. O-O-O Be7 8. Bxe7 Nxe7 {Black should quickly conclude development.} 9. Ne4 O-O 10. Nf3 Bg4 11. Rhe1 b5 12. Nc5 {A valuable piece} f6 {Secures e5+g5} 13. c4 (13. h3 Bxf3 14. gxf3 g5 =) 13... a6 14. h3 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Ra7 16. b3 (16. f4 exf4 17. b4 Ng6 =/+) 16... Rc8 (16... g5 17. f4 gxf4 18. Kb2 -/+) 17. Kb2 Ng6 18. Bf5 Rf8 19. Be6+ (19. Bxg6 !? hxg6 20. f4 exf4 21. Ne6 =/+) 19... Kh8 -/+ 20. Rd6 Nf4 21. Ra1 (21. Nd3 Nxe6 22. Rxe6 bxc4 23. bxc4 Rd7 -/+) 21... Re7 22. b4 Rfe8 (22... Nxe6 ?! 23. Nxe6 Rfe8 24. Nc5 =/+) 23. Rad1 g6 (23... Nxe6 ?! 24. Nxe6 Kg8 25. Nd8 =/+) (23... Rxe6 ? {seems attractive but will lead to severe problems} 24. Nxe6 Kg8 25. Nxf4 exf4 26. a4 bxa4 27. Ka3 +-) 24. cxb5 axb5 (24... Rxe6 {is the less attractive alternative} 25. Nxe6 Nxe6 26. bxc6 +-) (24... cxb5 ?! {is clearly weaker} 25. Bd5 -+) 25. Bb3 Nxh3 26. Rh1 (26. Rxf6 Kg7 27. Rfd6 Nxf2 -+) 26... Ng5 (26... Nxf2 {is clearly worse} 27. Rh2 +/-) 27. Rxf6 Kg7 28. Rd6 Rf8 29. Bc2 Rxf3 (29... Nxf3 ?! 30. Ne6+ Rxe6 31. Rxe6 =/+) 30. Rg1 Nf7 31. Bxg6 Rxf2+ (31... Nxd6 !? 32. Bh5+ Kf6 33. Bxf3 -+) 32. Bc2+ -/+ Kh8 33. Rd3 Rh2 (33... Rf4 !? 34. Bb3 h6 -/+ (34... Rxb4 ??  {will give the opponent a chance to mate in 2} 35. Rd8+ Nxd8 36. Rg8#)) 34.Rdg3 Nh6 (34... Re8 =/+) 35. Rd1 (better is 35. Rf1 !?  {would keep White alive} Re8 36. Rgf3 =) 35... Re8 -/+ 36. Kc3 Rh4 (36... Ng8 37. Ne4 -/+) 37. Rgd3 (37. Rf3 Rc4+ 38. Kb3 Rf4 -/+) 37... Nf7 (37... Rc4+ 38. Kb3 Nf7 39. a4 -/+) 38. Bb3 =/+ Rf4 39. Rg1 Rf5 40. Rdg3 h6 (better is 40... Nh6 !?  -/+) 41. Rg6 +/- Rf3+ (41... Rf8 !?  +/=) 42. Kd2 +/- Rf8 (42... h5 43. Ne4 Nd7 44. Bxf7 Rxf7 +-) 43. Ke2 +- e4 (43... Rf5 44. Ne4 Rf4 45. Nd6 +-) 44. Nxe4 Rxb3 45. axb3 Nd7 (45... Re8 46. Kd2 Rd8+ 47. Kc3 +-) 46. Rxc6 Re8 47. Ke3 Nde5 48. Ra6 Nd7 49. Rd1 Nf8 50. Rb6 Re5 51. Kd3 Ne6 52. Nc3 Nf4+ 53. Kc2 Ng2 (53... Re7 +-) 54. Rd7 Kg7 (54... Rf5 {doesn't improve anything} 55. Nxb5 (worse is 55. Rxb5 Rxb5 56. Nxb5 Ne5 +-) 55... Ne3+ 56. Kb2 +-) 55. Nxb5 Ne1+ 56. Kc3 Re2 (56... Nf3 {what else? } 57. Nd6 Re3+ 58. Kb2 Re2+ 59. Ka3 N3e5 60. Nf5+ Kh8 +-) 57. Nd4 Rf2 58. b5 Ng2 (58... h5 +-  {a last effort to resist the inevitable}) 59. Rc6 Ne3 60. b6 Ng4 61. b7 Nge5 62. b8=Q {44s-39s} (62. b8=Q Rf3+ 63. Nxf3 Nxd7 64. Qg3+ Kf8 65. Nd4 Nb6 66. Qb8+ Nc8 67. Rxc8+ Ke7 68. Re8+ Kf6 69. Qf4+ Kg7 70. Ne6+ Kg6 71. Rg8+ Kh7 72. Qxf7#) 1-0
 

In the following game the chess engine Zappa Mexico (Black) squeezes White for space and eventually wins some extra pawns which wins the endgame.

Rocket v1.2 – Deep Fritz 8  Scorpion-Horus Eng Tourn 7/4/09

{B10: Caro-Kann: 2 d3 and 2 c4} 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d3 dxe4 4. Bg5 exd3 5. Qxd3 {Nakamura: playing for the exchange of Queens, when you are down in the number of pawn is not recommended.} Qxd3 6. Bxd3 e5 7. Nf3 (7. O-O-O Be7 8. Nf3 Bg4 =) 7... Be6 8. Bd2 (8. Be3 f6 =/+) 8... f6 =/+  {Covers e5+g5} 9. O-O Nd7 {Black is behind in development.} 10. Rfd1 O-O-O 11. Ne4 h6 12. Ba5 b6 {Controls c5} 13. Bd2 Kc7 14. a4 (14. b4 Bg4 -/+) 14... a5 -/+ 15. Nh4 Ne7 16. Bf1 (16. b4 !? g5 17. Nf3 axb4 18. a5 -/+) 16... g5 -+ 17. Nf3 Ng6 18. Be3 (18. Bc3 Bg4 -+) 18... f5 19. Nc3 Bb4 20. Na2 Be7 21. Nc3 (21. Bc1 Nf6 22. Re1 Bc5 -+) 21... f4 22. Bc1 Nc5 (22... Bf5 !?  {makes it even easier for Black} 23. Bd2 -+) 23. Re1 Rhf8 24. Nd2 (better is 24. Nxe5 Nxe5 25. Rxe5 -+) 24... Bf5 25. Nce4 Rd7 26. h3 (26. b3 Rfd8 -+) 26... Rfd8 27. Nxc5 Bxc5 (27... bxc5 ?! 28. Nc4 Bxc2 29. b3 Bxb3 30. Bb2 -+) (27... Rxd2 ?! 28. Bxd2 Rxd2 29. Rad1 Rxd1 30. Na6+ Kc8 31. Rxd1 Bxc2 32. Rc1 -+) 28. Nb3 (28. Ne4 {doesn't get the cat off the tree} Bb4 29. c3 Rd1 30. Rxd1 Rxd1 31. cxb4 Bxe4 -+) 28... Be7 29. c3 h5 30. Be2 (30. g3 {cannot change destiny} Bc2 31. Bc4 Rd1 32. Rxd1 Rxd1+ (32... Bxd1 ?! 33. gxf4 Nxf4 34. Bxf4 gxf4 35. Kf1 -+) 33. Kh2 Bd6 -+) 30... g4 31. hxg4 (31. g3 {does not improve anything} Be6 32. hxg4 hxg4 (worse is 32... Bxb3 33. gxh5 fxg3 34. fxg3 Bc5+ 35. Kh2 -+) 33. gxf4 Bxb3 34. Bxg4 Rg8 -+) 31... hxg4 32. Bc4 Bf6 (better is 32... Rh8 {might be the shorter path} 33. Bxf4 Nxf4 -+) 33. Rf1 (33. Nd2 -+  {no good, but what else?}) 33... Rh8 34. f3 g3 35. Re1 Rdh7 36. Kf1 Rh2 37. Bd2 (37. Re4 Bxe4 38. fxe4 f3 -+) 37... Nh4 38. Nd4 Rxg2 (38... Nxg2 39. Nxf5 Nxe1 40. Nxg3 Nxf3 41. Be1 fxg3 42. Bxg3 Nd2+ 43. Kg1 Rh1+ 44. Kg2 Rxa1 45. Be6 -+) 39. Re2 Bh3 40. Rxg2 Bxg2+ 41. Ke2 Kb7 42. Be6 (42. Rg1 {is not much help} exd4 43. Bxf4 Bxf3+ 44. Kd2 g2 -+) 42... exd4 43. Kd3 Re8 (43... dxc3 {keeps an even firmer grip} 44. Bxc3 Bxc3 45. Kxc3 Nxf3 46. Rd1 -+) 44. Bf7 dxc3 45. Bxe8 cxd2 46. Kxd2 Nxf3+ 47. Kc2 Nd4+ 48. Kc3 f3 {21s-36s} (48... f3 49. Bg6 f2 -+) 0-1
 

CONCLUSION

An idea from one opening can be used in a different opening setting.   I  used the gambit setup from the Noch Gambit and Blackburne-Hartlaub Gambits to create a new gambit in the Caro-Kann Defense.  I had named this new gambit the Scorpion-Horus Gambit.

There existed only two games with this gambit, so I had to run a Scorpion-Horus Gambit chess engine tournament to discover what other fascinating new lines exists in this gambit opening.

Results from the Scorpion-Horus Chess Engine Tournament

Poison Pawn Variation 1     4-0            (4 wins White, 0 wins Black)

Poison Pawn Variation 1b   2 ½ - 1 ½   (2 wins White, 1 win Black, 1 draw)

Poison Pawn Variation 2      5-1             (4 wins White, 2 draws, 0 wins Black)

Early Queen Exchange         1-4              (1 win White, 4 wins Black)

After examining the games and results from the chess engine tournament I believe that White has more than sufficient compensation (space advantage, better mobility of the pieces, more pieces developed) if Black takes all the gambit pawns offered.  This includes all 3 Poison Pawn Variations 1, 1b and 2.

The early queen exchange line had a final result of 1 win White and 4 wins Black which is not good for White.  It is not recommended that White exchanges the Queens early in the game when White is down one of more pawns.

For the accepted lines where all the gambit pawns are taken by Black, it will not be easy for a human player to play the level of tactics necessary to win.  White will have to play for the big attack and sacrifice more pawns and pieces (if necessary) to continue the attack.

Not covered in this article are the declined lines where Black does not take all of the gambit pawns.

This new gambit in the Caro-Kann Defense is still in the very earliest stages of its development.  More games and analysis is needed to discover its many secrets.  This gambit is very much playable in tournament, offhand, blitz games or chess games with a fast time control.  I believe that one day this gambit will be a main line gambit in the Caro-Kann Defense.
 

REFERENCES

Zipped PGN file with the games from this article

Yahoo Unorthodox Chess Openings Newsgroup Messages
     719, 720, 903, 904, 905, 982, 1008, 1144, 3637, 3717, 4839, 6160

Yahoo Unorthodox Chess Openings Newsgroup File Section

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Copyright 2009-2010 Clyde Nakamura.  All rights reserved.

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