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Nxe5 15. Rxd4 f6 (15...Bxa2? 16. Be7! Re8 16. Nf6!! gxf6 17. Rxe5!) 16. Bf4
Bxa2 17. Nc3 Bf7 18. Bxe5 fxe5and now, instead of 19. Rxe5+ as played in the
game, with equality (the game continued 19...Rae8 20. f4 Rxe5 21. fxe5 Be6 22.
Nb5 Rf5 23. Re4 Rf7 24. Nxa2 c6 25. b4 Rf8 26. b5 cxb5 27. Nxb5 Rc8 28. Nd4
Kf7 and Black had no trouble holding the draw), Baker says 19. Rd7!"would have
kept an edge." But that is a point that I would like to debate. First, 19...Rac8 is
obviously called for.
Nd5 c6 24. Ne7+ Kf8 25. Nc8 and White is better) and now:
C4a. 21. Rxe8+ Bxe8 22. Re7 Kf8 with at least equality.
C4b. 21. f4 Rxe5 22. fxe5 Be6! 23. Rd4 (23. Re7? Kf8) 23...Kf7 and Black's game
looks fine.
C4c. 21. R5e7 Rxe7 22. Rxe7 Kf8 23. Rd7 Be6 and Black is equal or better.
C5. 20. Re7 Rfe8 21. R7xe5 (or 21. R1xe5 Kf8 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23. Rxe8+
Bxe8) 21...Rxe5 22. Rxe5 Kf8 23. f4 Rd8 and Black is at least equal.
I would very much like to hear from anyone who has anything to contribute to the
evaluation of the position in the foregoing diagram. The position after Black's
fourth move is important for the theory of the open games outside the Two Knights,
since it can also arise from the Scotch Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4.
Bc4 Nf6) and Bishop's Opening (1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nf3 Nc6).
But as for now, I maintain my conviction that 4. Ng5! is White's best try against the
Two Knights. Oh yes, it is entertaining for Black to play against, especially if he is
as enthusiastic a follower of the great Tarrasch as I am. But, notwithstanding the
great Doctor's perfectly correct observation that "this move surrenders the
initiative, the birthright of the white pieces," White can play 4. Ng5! with good
hope of winning. There is a fine balance between White's extra material and Black's
superior piece activity in these lines, making them a good vehicle for either player's
winning aspirations.
As to how Black should answer 4. Ng5!, the clear favorite is the main line, 4...d5 5.
exd5 Na5, though not everybody agrees. Back in 1969-70, former World CC
Champion Hans Berliner wrote a series of columns in the Washington Post in
which he espoused "The System," an approach to the opening that placed a great
deal of emphasis on the fight for the center and the vigorous use of the pieces.
Concerning 5...Na5 Berliner wrote, "this move decentralizes a well placed piece in
favor of a momentary attack, and thus is not at all in accord with System
principles." He continued: "It is more appropriate instead to think of mobilizing
new forces while counterattacking in order to take advantage of White's loss of
time." And thus he advocated the Fritz Variation, 5...Nd4, a line which he
continuously championed in his practice, with good success.
I won't try to plumb the theoretical depths of the Fritz Variation this month, but for