---

Today’s Quick Wins article and video is a two-in-one! I played these two games back-to-back against the same Random Noob, who played an interesting idiosyncratic set up for their first three moves – developing their king’s pawn, king’s knight, and then, the king’s bishop to the d-file. We’ll have a look at why this approach is somewhat suboptimal, and arguably, a mistake.

Game 1: Vienna Gambit Declined… 3… Bd6
https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/3FRaXLuuwU

I had the white pieces in the first game and as my opponent with the black pieces played their approach, it allowed me to play the Vienna Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4). Against the Vienna Gambit, developing the bishop to the d-file ostensibly defends Black’s e5-pawn. However, this is a mistake, and arguably a blunder (3… Bd6??) as White now as the lovely tactic (4. fxe5! Bxe5 5. d4! Bd6 6. e5), forking Black’s bishop and knight. Black opts to desperado their bishop, but after (6… Bxe5 7. dxe5), White has a very thematic attack on Black’s f6-knight.

The best move for Black is to un-develop their knight to g8, which can be difficult to stomach. Black, flustered by the opening manoeuvre, now blunders their second piece with (7… Nh5??), putting the knight on a diagonal controlled by my queen (8. Qxh5)!

Black, castles their king, but the damage has been done. As I have a massive advantage in both material and development, checkmate comes only a few moves later by coordinating my bishop pair and queen. The crushing dominance is evident that on checkmate, every single one of Black’s remaining pieces were still on Black’s back rank!

Game 2: King’s Pawn Opening, King’s Knight Var., 3. Bd3
https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/24VTiFV1Rg

My opponent immediately asked for a rematch, and I obliged. This time, they played White and I Black. Notably, they followed their somewhat unusual opening approach (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bd3). As they moved first, this bishop move is not a disaster as it was against the Vienna Gambit, but it is nonetheless suboptimal.

Consider, the bishop on d3 is blocked in by White’s own e4 pawn, and thus, not exerting pressure along a second diagonal. Furthermore, the bishop obstructs the development of White’s d2-pawn, which has the consequence that it potentially restricts the development of the other (dark square) bishop.

My approach with the Black pieces then was simple in the opening – just develop normally. So, I developed my second knight, and then the king’s bishop to its “normal” square of c5. White castled very quickly kingside (on move 4). This is not a mistake, but it potentially also simplifies my strategy! My target is clear – White’s king on the kingside – and I could potentially overwhelm White with a rapid attack due to my superior development. On move 5, Stockfish considers (5… d5) to be the most accurate move and this fits an opening principle that if you can take the full centre with pawns, it is usually good to do so. However, I opted to try to keep the centre closed and played (5… d6!?). This opened the light square diagonal for my bishop to bring into the attack, and I was going to delay castling for tempo.

White attempts to launch a counterattack down the queenside, and there is some logic to this. However, this fundamentally goes nowhere and there is an escalating risk on their kingside as their pieces are on the wrong side of the board. The negative consequences of White’s odd (3. Bd3) is again made evident with (8. Bb2?!). White’s developing of their dark square bishop had to be via a fianchetto as their d2-pawn is stuck. However, on b2, the dark square bishop is similarly blocked in by their own pawn meaning that neither bishop were exerting any influence in the game.

And thus, I struck with an aggressive, speculative, but tricky move (8… Ng4!?). I only made an article and video about the Fishing Pole Attack/Trap earlier in the month and this seemed a perfect time to use it! With White’s pieces largely on the queenside, this attack is stronger than what it normally be!

White responded in exactly the manner I expected (9. h3?!) attempting to kick my knight [+0.4 → 0.00] rather than just being patient. Being tempted by my bait, I now play (9… h5!!) ostensibly sacrificing the knight! Those who are sensitised to this fishing pole tactic will know that capturing the knight is a mistake but is often unknown in the beginner and early intermediate level.

White bites (10. hxg4??), which is a game changing blunder [-5.3] as (10… hxg4), and White is forced into a critical position. To avoid checkmate, White needs to refrain from moving their knight out of danger, give it up, and find the obscure and unintuitive g3. This is not likely to occur for a person who succumbs to the Fishing Pole Attack/Trap and White plays the sensible looking (11. Nh2??), which however, blunders [-M4]. The point of delaying castling, and the fishing pole, is to full open the h-file controlled by the rook and then with (11… Qh4), there is an immediate checkmate threat with the rook-queen battery down the h-file. White spends almost two minutes to find the single move the delays checkmate (12. Re1), giving an escape square for their king, but it’s to no avail. With my dark square (king’s) bishop initially developing to the sensible c5 square, it remained on that diagonal and now pins White’s f-pawn to the king.

This allows the following pattern to know – (12… Qxf2+), supported by the bishop on the diagonal forces White’s king into the corner (13. Kh1) and the queen bounces back to her original square on the h-file (13… Qh4) threatening checkmate. With the f-pawn now gone, my dark square bishop cuts off White’s king’s escape and checkmate is unavoidable the next turn. GG!

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2024.06.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "Random Noob"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "600"]
[WhiteElo ""]
[BlackElo ""]
[Termination "Guest8868675528 won by checkmate"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.100x100o.671ef4f371ed@3x.png"]
[WhiteCountry "17"]
[WhiteTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:09:59.7][%timestamp 3]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:09:58.7][%timestamp 13]}
2. Nc3 {[%clk 0:09:58.3][%timestamp 14]} 2... Nf6 {[%clk 0:09:52.4][%timestamp
63]} 3. f4 {[%clk 0:09:56.7][%timestamp 16]} 3... Bd6 $4 {[%clk
0:09:42.9][%timestamp 95][%c_effect
d6;square;d6;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false] Vienna Gambit,
Declined 3... Bd6. My opponent seemed to have developed an idiosyncratic
approach of playing the king's bishop to d6. This is suboptimal against the
Italian, and a blunder against the Vienna Gambit $1 [+3.3]} 4. fxe5 $1 {[%clk
0:09:44.5][%timestamp 122][%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false]} 4... Bxe5 {[%clk
0:09:35][%timestamp 79]} 5. d4 $1 {[%clk 0:09:44][%timestamp 5][%c_effect
d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false]} 5... Bd6 $6 {[%clk
0:08:49.6][%timestamp 454][%c_arrow
f6e4;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;e4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e4;persistent;false][%c_effect
d6;square;d6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] An inaccuracy, but it's pretty bad
regardless [+4.4]} 6. e5 {[%clk 0:09:42.7][%timestamp 13][%c_arrow
e5d6;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;d6;persistent;false,e5f6;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false,d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false]
Fork, and hence why 3... Bd6 was a blunder} 6... Bxe5 {[%clk
0:08:47.5][%timestamp 21]} 7. dxe5 {[%clk 0:09:40.2][%timestamp 25]} 7... Nh5 $4
{[%clk 0:08:40.5][%timestamp 70][%c_effect
h5;square;h5;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
h5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h5;persistent;false] The only good move is
to undevelop the knight to g8, but moving backwards can be a difficult idea to
accept for beginners. Black pushes their knight forward, and blunders it on the
diagonal controlled by the queen. [+6.4]} 8. Qxh5 {[%clk 0:09:36.6][%timestamp
36]} 8... g6 {[%clk 0:08:36.1][%timestamp 44]} 9. Qf3 {[%clk
0:09:18.9][%timestamp 177][%c_arrow
h5h6;keyPressed;none;from;h5;opacity;0.8;to;h6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h6;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;h6;persistent;false] I considered Qh6 as
well which seemed really good (and on analysis, the most accurate move), but Qf3
felt safer and also sets up an attack on Black's weak f-pawn.} 9... c5 {[%clk
0:08:32.4][%timestamp 37]} 10. Bc4 {[%clk 0:09:16][%timestamp 29] Note: White's
light square bishop and queen have set up a \"Scholar's Mate\" type attack.}
10... O-O {[%clk 0:08:10][%timestamp 224]} 11. Bh6 $5 {[%clk
0:08:49.1][%timestamp 269][%c_arrow
f3g3;keyPressed;none;from;f3;opacity;0.8;to;g3;persistent;false][%c_effect
h6;square;h6;type;Interesting;persistent;true][%c_highlight
g3;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;g3;persistent;false] Tricky move, but
inaccurate as Black has the counterattack Qh4+, absolute fork of the king and
bishop now on h6. However, they have to find it $1} 11... Re8 $4 {[%clk
0:07:37.2][%timestamp 328][%c_effect
e8;square;e8;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false] And they don't,
blundering [+M2]} 12. Qxf7+ {[%clk 0:08:45.3][%timestamp 38][%c_arrow
c4f7;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false,f7g8;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;g8;persistent;false,f7f8;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;f8;persistent;false,f7g7;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;g7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false,g8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g8;persistent;false,f8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f8;persistent;false,g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g7;persistent;false]}
12... Kh8 {[%clk 0:06:41.8][%timestamp 554][%c_arrow
f7g8;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;g8;persistent;false,f7f8;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;f8;persistent;false,f7g7;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;g7;persistent;false,h6g7;keyPressed;none;from;h6;opacity;0.8;to;g7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g8;persistent;false,f8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f8;persistent;false,g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g7;persistent;false]}
13. Qg7# {[%clk 0:08:44.2][%timestamp 11][%c_effect
e1;square;e1;type;Winner,h8;square;h8;type;CheckmateBlack][%c_arrow
h6g7;keyPressed;none;from;h6;opacity;0.8;to;g7;persistent;false,g7g8;keyPressed;none;from;g7;opacity;0.8;to;g8;persistent;false,g7h8;keyPressed;none;from;g7;opacity;0.8;to;h8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g7;persistent;false,g8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g8;persistent;false,h8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h8;persistent;false]
Checkmate with the bishop pair and queen $1 GG $1 Notice: ever Black piece is still
on the back rank $1} 1-0


[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2024.06.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Random Noob"]
[Black "vitualis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "600"]
[WhiteElo ""]
[BlackElo ""]
[Termination "Guest8868675528 won by checkmate"]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.50x50o.ab18600a8723@3x.png"]
[BlackCountry "17"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:09:58.3][%timestamp 17]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:09:55.6][%timestamp
44]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 0:09:56.3][%timestamp 20]} 2... Nc6 {[%clk
0:09:52.4][%timestamp 32]} 3. Bd3 {[%clk 0:09:54.3][%timestamp 20] Just like in
the previous game, Random Noob has picked up an idiosyncratic approach of
playing the king's bishop to d3. As White moves first, this isn't blunder, but
it is suboptimal [-0.1]. Tactically, it causes problems as the king's bishop is
blocked behind their own pawn on e4. Furthermore, the bishop prevents the
development of the d-pawn, meaning that White's queen's bishop will also have
problems with development. However, with everything defended, there isn't an
immediate target for attack.} 3... Nf6 {[%clk 0:09:37.2][%timestamp 152]} 4. O-O
{[%clk 0:09:48.4][%timestamp 59]} 4... Bc5 {[%clk 0:09:26.7][%timestamp 105]
Developing normally is the best approach $1} 5. c3 $6 {[%clk 0:09:21][%timestamp
274][%c_effect c3;square;c3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b1c3;keyPressed;none;from;b1;opacity;0.8;to;c3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c3;persistent;false] Developing the knight
first would be best [-0.5]} 5... d6 $5 {[%clk 0:09:22.6][%timestamp 41][%c_effect
d6;square;d6;type;Interesting;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d7d5;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false] Immediately attacking
in the centre is good - if you are allowed to put two pawns in the centre, it's
generally good. Stockfish identifies that indeed, d5 is the most accurate move.
However, with White's developed cramped, and having already committed to
kingside castling, I thought that I had an opportunity to immediately launch a
kingside attack, and wanted to keep the centre closed. Stockfish doesn't approve
of this approach [-0.5 $37 +0.3], but it also isn't especially risky. White will
need to play very accurately.} 6. b4 {[%clk 0:09:15.2][%timestamp 58]} 6... Bb6
{[%clk 0:09:16.3][%timestamp 63] Note: Black's dark square bishop pins White's
f2-pawn to the king} 7. Na3 {[%clk 0:08:59.6][%timestamp 156][%c_arrow
a2a4;keyPressed;none;from;a2;opacity;0.8;to;a4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a4;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;a4;persistent;false] Awkward knight
development} 7... a6 {[%clk 0:09:10.1][%timestamp 62]} 8. Bb2 $6 {[%clk
0:08:53.5][%timestamp 61][%c_arrow
d3c2;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;c2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c2;persistent;false][%c_effect
b2;square;b2;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Awkward bishop development - note
both of White's bishops are blocked by their own pawns and so don't exert any
pressure down the diagonals [-0.4]} 8... Ng4 $5 {[%clk 0:08:47][%timestamp
231][%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;Interesting;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e8g8;keyPressed;none;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;g8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g8;persistent;false] Stockfish prefers
playing solidly with short castles, but I opt to keep my king in the centre for
now as it's safe. Instead, I play an aggressive tricky move with Ng4,
effectively starting the fishing pole trap/attack $1 Stockfish doesn't approve
[+0.4] but as we'll see, it's a winning tactic $1} 9. h3 $6 {[%clk
0:08:28.5][%timestamp 250][%c_effect
h3;square;h3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
a3c4;keyPressed;none;from;a3;opacity;0.8;to;c4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false] And White is
interested in the bait by threatening the knight with their h-pawn... [0.00]}
9... h5 $3 {[%clk 0:08:44.3][%timestamp 27][%c_effect
h5;square;h5;type;Brilliant;persistent;true][%c_highlight
h5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;h5;persistent;false] The fishing pole
trap/attack $1 I offer the knight sacrifice as bait $1} 10. hxg4 $4 {[%clk
0:08:11.7][%timestamp 168][%c_effect
g4;square;g4;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
g4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g4;persistent;false] White bites, which is
a game changing blunder $1 [-5.3]} 10... hxg4 {[%clk 0:08:43.1][%timestamp 12]}
11. Nh2 $4 {[%clk 0:07:34.7][%timestamp 370][%c_effect
h2;square;h2;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
h2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h2;persistent;false,g3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g3;persistent;false][%c_arrow
g2g3;keyPressed;none;from;g2;opacity;0.8;to;g3;persistent;false] The best move
is extremely difficult to find - with White's knight under attack, it's had to
NOT move the knight out of danger. However, all knight moves result in forced
checkmate [-M4]} 11... Qh4 {[%clk 0:08:22.8][%timestamp 203][%c_highlight
h8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h8;persistent;false,h4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h4;persistent;false,h2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h2;persistent;false][%c_arrow
h8h2;keyPressed;none;from;h8;opacity;0.8;to;h2;persistent;false] This threatens
immediate checkmate} 12. Re1 {[%clk 0:05:46.7][%timestamp 1080] White finds the
only move the delays mate, well done $1} 12... Qxf2+ {[%clk 0:07:46.1][%timestamp
367][%c_arrow
f2e1;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false,f2f1;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;f1;persistent;false,f2g1;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false,b6f2;keyPressed;none;from;b6;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false,f1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f1;persistent;false,g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false,f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false]
The dark square bishop's vision on the f2 square is extremely powerful from a
distance $1 The queen forces the white king into the corner.} 13. Kh1 {[%clk
0:05:31][%timestamp 157][%c_arrow
f2g1;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false]} 13... Qh4 {[%clk
0:07:29.6][%timestamp 165][%c_arrow
b6g1;keyPressed;none;from;b6;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false,h8h2;keyPressed;none;from;h8;opacity;0.8;to;h2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h4;persistent;false,h2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h2;persistent;false,h8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h8;persistent;false,g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false]
And now, checkmate is unavoidable next turn} 14. Qxg4 {[%clk
0:03:58.8][%timestamp 922][%c_arrow
b6g1;keyPressed;none;from;b6;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false,h8h2;keyPressed;none;from;h8;opacity;0.8;to;h2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false,h8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h8;persistent;false,h4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h4;persistent;false,h2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h2;persistent;false]}
14... Qxh2# {[%clk 0:07:27.6][%timestamp 20][%c_effect
e8;square;e8;type;Winner,h1;square;h1;type;CheckmateWhite][%c_arrow
h8h2;keyPressed;none;from;h8;opacity;0.8;to;h2;persistent;false,h2h1;keyPressed;none;from;h2;opacity;0.8;to;h1;persistent;false,h2g1;keyPressed;none;from;h2;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h2;persistent;false,h1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h1;persistent;false,g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false]
GG $1} 0-1