INDEX (TEMARY)

Pág.:
INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………. 2
STRATEGY AND GENERAL IDEAS ……………………………………………………… 4
FOR BLACK………. ………………………………………………………………. 4
FOR WHITE ………….…………………………………………………………….. 5
PAWN STRUCTURE ………………………………………………………………………. 6
MAIN LINES AND VARIANTS ……………………………………………………….…. 12
MEXICAN GAMBIT ACCEPTED
a) Pseudogambit.……..……………………………………………... 12
b) Phoenix Attack ………………………………………………….... 13
c) Rock System……….………………………………………………. 15
REFUSED MEXICAN GAMBIT
ADVANCE VARIANTION………………………………………………..... 16
a) Wind System (3… g6)…………………………………………… 17
b) Fire System (3… e5)……………………………………………... 18
c) Fire System Deferred……………………………………………. 20
WATER SYSTEM…….……………………………………………………….. 21
a) Water System 3. e3
b) Water System 3. f3
TACTICS AND ATTACKS IN THE MEXICAN GAMBIT ….………………………………. 22
DEMOSTRATIVE GAMES ………………………………………………….….…………… 33
CHESS AMBUSH: TRAPS, TRICKS AND ERRORS …………………………..………………. 44

AUTHOR: JOSÉ ANGEL SOTO BUSTOS

APATZINGÁN DE LA CONSTITUCIÓN, MICHOACÁN DE OCAMPO, MÉXICO,
DECEMBER 16, 2017.
COPYRIGHT RESERVED © ®

Page 1
INTRODUCTION

The Mexican Gambit is a variant this gambit, that is to say, Mieses tried to
posed by Black in the Dutch Defense. I recover the pawn immediately giving
dared to name it that, since he is a check with the Queen, with which he
Mexican: his server, who for the first time would not even enter the definition of a
studies, analyzes and puts it into Gambit since he is not really offering the
practice, even if it has not been in material, in addition to that he did not
international or high-level tournaments. support any strategic foundation when
It is a gambit since it offers a pawn, playing it, his movements they were
without the (immediate) intention of based simply on recovering the pawn,
recovering it, in exchange for diverting which also lost time by playing the
the white pawn from the center: Queen early, as well as more turns by
aspiring in this way to fight for the exposing it to attacks, without having
central domain, the initiative and gain any compensation in the center, and
time in development. losing the initiative from the third play;
It is worth mentioning that it is not while in this study strategic ideas are
strictly an unprecedented move, I was presented that support the playing 2…
given the task of investigating in c5, not as a simple change of pawns,
possible databases items for analysis but with the intention of disputing the
and study; Fortunately and initiative, the central domain and the
unfortunately I only found a few games, advantage in development.
the first one: a game played in Leipzig in Unfortunately, there are no Grand
1889 between Emanuel Lasker and Master games for study and analysis,
Jacques Mieses. It did not seem fair to fortunately, since this play by opening
call this gambit Mieses because despite theory is so unknown, it raises an
performing the sequence of plays that important surprise factor, as well as a
define it, he made them without the possible "theoretical novelty". Given the
strategic foundations that characterize initial "theory" presented here, the

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possibility of more studies, variants and practice and analysis of more players
sub variants that arise according to the remains open.

Page 3
STRATEGY AND GENERAL IDEAS

This gambit is produced in the Dutch in order to control d4, allow the rapid
Defense. We enter the Mexican Gambit, development of dark pieces, as well as
with blacks, having played 1. d4 f5, 2. c4: fight for the initiative and mastery of the
by offering a pawn in box c5, with the center. In summary, the Mexican Gambit
intention of diverting the white pawn from arises when playing black c5, and the Fire
d4. Whether White accepts the gambit, or System, when having entered the Mexican
refuses it; We call “Fire System” the strategy Gambit, pawn play e5 is forced.
or thematic idea of playing at all costs e5:

WITH BLACKS

The main objective of the Mexican Gambit think, do I capture the pawn or not
is to leave the closed opening systems, capture it, and if I capture it, I must deliver
according to the variants of the target, you it or hold it, and if not I capture how I
can enter a semi-closed, semi-open game should refuse the gambit: advancing to d5
and even very clear, tactical and or defending the pawn, and with what
aggressive variants similar to the open piece should I defend it? Black can also
game. This general strategy is based on the face two types of white: the first with
idea of removing the queen pawn player predefined “concepts”, that is, “I always
from his “comfort zone”, accustomed to refuse an attack by advancing the pawn,
playing positionally and “quietly”. To this is in this case d5”, or “in an unknown gambit I
added the second (temporary) strategy: always capture but then deliver the pawn
the surprise factor, I say "temporary" seeking my development ”, which has the
because it is only while it becomes popular risk of playing in a“ mechanical ”way, and
and studied, but while this happens, White if White does this, they could soon be
never waits for c5 on Black's second play. overcome in development, having lost the
With this, the surprise factor is linked to the initiative or even having allowed the
previous strategy: to remove the first player central domain to black. The other type of
from his comfort zone, who will have to white will be the one who always seeks to
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find the “correct” play or the best play on way: fighting for control of the center,
the board, they are usually the most obtaining and maintaining the initiative,
difficult, but this gambit also has its seeking rapid development, as well as
advantage: being theoretically unknown, opting for a tactical game, avoiding
white can take a long time to determine changing pieces, preferably only the
the correct moves, besides that if Black necessary ones. . The fourth strategy, but
plays in a very active way they can not least, and I say it very seriously: is to
despair the positional player and even prepare yourself psychologically to “win in
make him desatinar. Black's third main a spectacular way, or lose in a
strategy is to always play in a very active catastrophic way”, in the style of Tal.

WITH WHITE

There are two key points for the white side. wrong plans or adopt misconceptions
The first is that they choose the variant to during the development of the first phase
play, either accept the gambit, or refuse it; of the game, in the games they will
in any of its lines. Thus, White must analyze analyze later, it is demonstrated how White
which line suits them best according to usually has problems on the flank of the
their style of play, the pawn structure is queen, tactical details in box e5, difficulties
fundamental in this aspect, and White with the king in the center (if they do not
usually has the opportunity to define it rush their development) and even some
(when choosing the variant), once the circumstances in the large diagonals; All
structure of pawns the first player may these disasters can occur by executing
choose to develop their pieces in the way ideas or "standard" plans that in specific
that best suits their style of play or plans. Of positions of the Mexican Gambit result in a
course, Black will also try to generate the potential error. Thus, what is recommended
maximum possible counter game. The to the first player is to adapt to the
second key point: is that there are many circumstances: not to try to stick to his
possibilities to be wrong, being an positional and “quiet” style at all costs,
unknown Gambit for the theory of since he can fall into a passive game at
openings, White may eventually choose the mercy of a wild black side. In most
Page 5
lines, White will have to start that engine sub variants, tactical elements and
inside her brain, to start analyzing variants, combinations.

PAWN STRUCTURE
The pawn structure largely determines the mobility of the pieces, and with it, the strategies
and patterns to follow. Next the most typical pawn structures according to the main variants.

Mexican Gambit Accepted: delayed pawn of the column d will not be

Phoenix attack able to advance easily, especially except

for the clear pawn of c4, however, once
the white c5 pawn falls, can attack the
pawn of c4, with the intention of achieving
a utopian d5. Pawns e5 and f5 are
expected to offer good control of the
center to black, and rapid development of
the king wing. If White chooses to hold the
pawn of c5 with the b4 movement, they
may be able to defend it a few moves, but
due to the pressure it will still fall, the only
thing that will alter the game is that by
moving the pawn in column b, the first
White accepted the gambit, so his
player can put his bishop on b2 attacking
pawns bent in column c, although they
e5 and controlling the large diagonal a1-
apparently have an advantage pawn,
h8, which would make black development
Black has compensation for his presence in
a bit difficult. It is worth mentioning that if
the center, in addition to that they will
White chooses this strategy (holding the
attack very strongly against the C5 pawn
advantage pawn with b4 and a3)
capturing him in the majority of variants.
although in the first instance it seems
On the part of the black one is the
annoying for Black, there is a good chance
weakness in the square d6 since the
of being in advantage, since normally

Page 6
when the clear side chooses to defend the and eventually c7 with the intention of
pawn confines his pieces to the defense, playing b5 or even d5. In this pawn
headquarters the initiative and locks its structure (e5, f5) White can play e4 very
development, in addition to being early since the pawn in column f cannot
exposed to tactical problems that will be capture by the play h5+ with check:
seen later. Some typical options are to after knocking down on e5.
attack the white pawn in c5 with a6,

Mexican Gambit Accepted: completely deprive the movements of a

white knight in c3. In addition to supporting
Rock System
the pawn of f5 so that it is not hanging, so
that if White were to play e4 the pawn of
column f can capture without fear of a
possible h5+ since the typical capture of
the queen in e5 with check would not
occur, as in the previous variant. This
structure offers a utopian plan of minority
attack: once the white c5 pawn has fallen,
play a6 and b5 for example. Another plan
without the presence of the white side
pawn in c5 is to play with black d6
followed by e5 to further dominate the
Very similar to the Phoenix Attack,
center. It is also possible to maneuver with
with the difference that the black pawn is the queen's knight: attack the white pawn
in e6, which controls box d5, which
in c5 with c7 or a6 then take it to c7
together with an eventual a6 can almost
with the idea of pawn b5 or d5.

Page 7
 Mexican Gambit Refused: advance of the white pawn A very fast

Advance - Wind System development of the king wing is expected,

with good central dominance, since the
pawns c5 and f5 control d4 and e4
respectively, in addition to the bishop on
g7 covering the d4 and e5 squares that
are on that large diagonal. On the other
hand it is possible to continue with
standard strategies such as attacking the
forward pawn of d5 and its base in c4, with
pawn movements such as e6, a6 and b5.
Note that in this pawn structure, Black's
good bishop is the one that can be placed
on the large black diagonal, but the "bad"
Once White has declined the gambit
bishop of white squares also becomes
playing the variant of the advance, Black good, since since b7 it can help attack the
chooses the Wind System: playing g6, with d5 advance pawn.
the intention of exploiting the diagonal a1-
h8 to the fullest, thanks to the fact that it
has been completely free due to the

Page 8
 Mexican Gambit Refused: the most of his advantage in the center.

Advance - Fire System White cannot afford to play passively, so

they must pretend to break the center as
soon as possible with e4, and even then
Black can play d6 and try to maintain the
central tension. In short, a fierce fight,
which fulfills its objective by Black: to
remove the first player from his
comfortable game of pawn queen,
entering a complicated, aggressive
system, in a fight for the center, for the
initiative, for the development, with
tactical elements. As will be seen later, the
capture at step dxe6 does not concern
It is perhaps the most acute and Black, since White in exchange for the
complex line of the Mexican Gambit. The minimum material advantage (a pawn),
three pawns in fifth row of Black offer him they give up their pawn ahead and fall
some advantage in the central domain. behind in development, which is also
However, the white forward pawn gives supposed to It's the idea of every gambit!
him an advantage of space and Give a pawn in exchange for space,
generates a weak point in d6 for Black. On development or times. There are even
the other hand, the second player will seek variants that Black can choose in which
to attack this advanced pawn and make they do not have less pawn.

Page 9
 Mexican Gambit Refused: queen bishop behind the chain of pawns.

Water System e3 Black has a chance to play standard plans

like a6-c7 with the intention of playing
a6, b5 and even d5. The second player
also has the possibility of playing his king's
bishop in g7 attacking d4, even, there is
the possibility of playing his queen's bishop
in the large diagonal of white squares,
taking advantage of the fact that the
white's pawn structure has left it
completely open (a8-h1). Now the central
domain will also be fought from the
diagonals, with more abrupt ruptures and
greater participation of pieces that are not
pawns (mainly bishops and knights).
It is the most solid way to refuse the
gambit by White, at the cost of temporarily
giving up box e4 and imprisoning her

Page 10
Mexican Gambit Refused: It is a totally different scheme to the
queen pawn (which is the objective), more
Water System f3
like a kind of Sicilian with two strange
movements, c4 of the white ones and f5 of
the black ones, which although rare, are
each useful controlling a central square .
Black has the semi-open column c while
White the same in column d to match the
rooks. You can also present a fight of
fianchettos with g3 and g6 respectively, to
control the large unoccupied diagonals,
eventually b3 and b6 with previous rook b1
and b8, or failing bishops in c3 and c6
according to white or black.

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MAIN LINES AND VARIANTS

MEXICAN GAMBIT ACCEPTED

Once White has accepted the gambit several possibilities arise for Black.
a) Pseudogambit
b) Phoenix Attack
c) Rock System

PSEUDOGAMBIT reality, like any premature playing of this piece,

generates delay in the development and loss of
the initiative. White quickly gains advantage in
the development and central domain. They can
even afford to play 5. e4 capturing the pawn
with the knight and earning some more time
since the black queen is attacked. This idea of
recovering the pawn with Queen is
undoubtedly the most bad of all: it lacks valid
strategy and arguments. However, it is the
precursor of this gambit, when played for the
first and only time in Leipzig, 1889; between
Emanuel Lasker and Jacques Mieses,
1. d4 f5 2. c4 c5 3. dxc5  a5+? 4. c3
obviously winning the target. In fact it is not
xc5 strictly a gambit, since it intends to recover the
pawn immediately, when the theory indicates
Of all the possibilities, we will start
that a gambit consists of offering material in
talking about the only bad one, the
exchange for development, space, activity of
pseudogambit: it consists in recovering the
the pieces or time (shifts).
pawn of c5 quickly with the queen, who in

Page 12
 PHOENIX ATTACK a) 4. e4!?

(Fire System)

1. d4 f5 2. c4 c5 3. dxc5 e5!? 4. e4  xc5 5.

exf5 h4
1. d4 f5 2. c4 c5 3. dxc5 e5!?
In exchange for a pawn, Black has the
Deploying the ideas and principles of the initiative and advantage in development, in
Fire System. Black seeks to force central addition to attacking the f2 box so that the first
dominance, gain an advantage in development, player must spend some time covering the
fight for initiative, enter tactical environments, threat. Black still has its two central pawns, and
and if possible, quickly attack the rival king. All the white pawn of f5 being so far away will be
this, at the possible cost of a pawn, and even, if difficult to defend if he wants to hold the
necessary, in exchange for quality. White also material advantage. White although delayed in
has different options, such as: its development (all its pieces in the first row),
have a potential turn stored in their king's
a) 4. e4!? knight, since in case of playing f3 would
b) 4. f3?! attack the black queen recovering some time;
c) 4. b4?! therefore, Black must play developing as soon
Which will be analyzed below: as possible to maintain the pressure and keep
the initiative, since in case of losing it, the less
pawn would have no compensation. Although
even, in case of losing the initiative: there is still
a reserve plan for the dark side; which is to
recover the pawn of f5.
Page 13
 b) 4. f3 c) b4?!

1. d4 f5 2. c4 c5 3. dxc5 e5!? 4. f3

1. d4 f5 2. c4 c5 3. dxc5 e5!? 4. b4?!

Entering a world of tactical possibilities.

White's somewhat ambitious want to
White's idea is to develop the knight and attract
hold the minimum advantage. In exchange for
black pawns to weaken its structure. But in turn
material superiority the first player must make
Black has several interesting and very active
plays that do not benefit their development,
answers.
such as moving pawns b4 and a3, including the
queen, that is, only moves that do not evolve,
with the sole intention of holding the pawn.
Black, although they are not interested in
recovering the pawn, because they are
supposed to be delivering it as a gambit, only
to annoy White can choose to recover it, in fact
winning it with plays like a5 and a6, and in
the event that White does not yield, one could
arrive at a somewhat complex position, but
comfortable for Black; for example the following
could occur:
1. d4 f5 2. c4 c5 3. dxc5 e5!? 4. b4?! a5 5.

a4 a6 6. a3 axb4 7. axb4 c7 8. xa8

xa8 9. xa8
Page 14
 Although White achieved its task: to
safeguard the advantage pawn, in exchange
they are forced to yield the queen for her
material equivalent (Rook, knight and pawn,
adding nine points). While it is true that they do
not have a material disadvantage, on the
contrary, they continue with an extra pawn, it
seems a high cost, very risky. In this line Black
can choose the “Apocalypse” variant by playing
9… b6, as will be seen in a game later.

ROCK SYSTEM

1. d4 f5 2. c4 c5 3. dxc5 e6

A less ambitious but much solid system

for blacks. He intends to develop his king's
bishop and recover the pawn of c5. White in
this variant cannot hold the pawn with such an
easy advantage, since in case of defending it
with 4. b4?? f6! winning rook or at least
piece (5. c3 xc3+ 6. d2). Nice tactical
trick.

Page 15
MEXICAN GAMBIT REFUSED

White has several alternatives to refuse the gambit:

a) Advance variant 3. d5
b) Water system 3. e3
c) Water system 3. f3

A) ADVANCE VARIANT c6 and e6. Perhaps the most annoying for

Black is c6 since they will not be able to

1. d4 f5 2. c4 c5 3. d5 develop their b8 knight in a natural way,

however, in turn Black has controlled the d4
and e4 boxes with side pawns!, Which implies
a great advantage in the domain of the center,
since they still have the central pawns dye to
fight for this control. The strategy that is
currently proposed for the second player is to
remain focused on the control of the center
with 3.… e5! posing the Fire System in the
declined Mexican Gambit, variant of the
advance. Remember that the main idea of this
gambit is aggressiveness, with an open, semi-
open or semi-closed style of play that threatens
Characteristics: the game pawn queen. Black now has two
main alternatives:
It occurs when White declines the Mexican a) Wind System (3… g6)
Gambit advancing his pawn to d5. White now b) Fire System (3… e5)
has a very advanced pawn that controls boxes c) Fire System Deferred

Page 16
 WIND SYSTEM

1. d4 f5 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 An alternate strategy for Black in the Mexican

Gambit declined variant of the advance is the
Air System (or Wind), which occurs with
movements such as g6, f6, g7, e6, d6,
developing his pieces by fianchetto, attacking
the advanced pawn of d5, another subplan
perhaps attacking his c4 backrest, with
movements like b8 y b5, but especially
exploiting the great diagonal a1-h8, which has
left clear the progress of the white pawns.

Page 17
FIRE SYSTEM

1. d4 f5 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5!? 4. … f6

1. d4 f5 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5! 4. dxe6 a.p. f6 5.

exd7+ xd7

At this time it seems that box d6 has

been very weak for Black, but due to pawn
In exchange for the pawn less, Black
structure and no development, it is impossible
has an advantage in development, two pieces,
for White to exploit this weakness, for example,
while White is still in the front row, in addition to
if 4. d6? b6 the same pawn falls without a turn of advantage, since to match his king's
being defended. Black has a strong central
bishop, they must make a pawn movement
presence, in fact, perhaps we could even say
more, either e3 or g3. White will no longer be
that they control the center of the board. Which
able to play e4, so Black has more central
is a gigantic gain considering that White has an
dominance, by checking boxes d4 and e4.
"advantage movement." As we saw earlier, 4.
d6? It is not a very good move, so White has
4. … dxe6
only two possible moves left to continue
1. d4 f5 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5! 4. dxe6 a.p. dxe6!?
fighting for the central domain. The first of
5. xd8+ xd8 6. f4 (to win the diagonal
these would be logic 4. dxe6 to step. Which
b8-h2 to the black bishop of the king, who was
could give us a sequence with two variants for
going to comfortably go out to d6, he could
Black:
follow instead another strategy in the big
diagonals such as: 6. f3 c6 7. b3 b4
8.e5 e8 9. a3 a6 10. g3 e7 11.

Page 18
g2 f6 12. b2 e7 13. 0-0 ec6 =) 6. the center could now be an advantage. On the

…  c6 (Threatening e5 and expell the white other hand White has control of column d, but a
ridiculous knight in a3, which in fact, does not
bishop) 7.  f3 b4! (forcing White to defend
serve to move it to c2, so the only reasonable
with the knight on the edge of the board, they
move would be to return it to b1 to relocate it ...
can also defend themselves with 8. d2, but however, observe kind reader , as even in its
then they would have lost the right to cast,
natural square of c3 has a lot of influence,
which is supposed to be the advantage brought
since the black pawns deprive much of their
by the premature change of ladies, having left
movements, so White will have to play with a
the black king in the center) 8. a3 a6 knight that does not work, or invest at least two
(prophylactic, avoiding an eventual b5), 9. or three turns to repair it.
e3 e8 10. e2 e7 11. 0-0 f6 12.

e5 d7 13. fd1 c6 14. xf6 xf6 As already seen, in both variants of 1.

= d4 f5 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5! 4. dxe6 a.p. it seems

that Black manages to obtain some advantage
or at least equalize, either with less pawn in
exchange for development, or in exchange for
the right to castling for greater activity of his
pieces and a superior center. So White has a
better play to capture in d6 at the pass, and
this move is 4. e4!

While it is true that Black lost the right to

encar, in this position they have no pawn, they
retain a very healthy pawn structure and a
harmonious development, even, White cannot
prevent Black from playing e5 achieving even
more dominance central, and even, getting to
annoy the white knight with e4. It would also be
worth considering some changes of pieces to
reach an end soon, in which the king closer to

Page 19
 1. d4 f5 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5! 4. e4! d6 better). In the position that is reached after
playing d6, Black covers pawn f5 and if
captured by White's pawn, they will recover
with the developing queen's bishop. Depending
on the circumstances, Black may opt for the
ambitious and somewhat typical strategy in
these pawn structures: try to change their bad
bishop from dark squares, to White's good
bishop, for example with g6 and h6; or e7

and  g5.

Note that Black could not capture the e4 pawn

due to the threat of the white queen (4.e4
fxe4?? 5. h5+ +- and the clear side is much

FIRE SYSTEM DEFERRED

An alternative to optionally face the pawn at the

passage of White would be entering the Fire (With the advantage that if White captures the
system in a deferred way: step you can take the pawn with the bishop, for
1. d4 f5 2. c4 c5 3. d5 d6 4. f3 e5 example) 5. dxe6 a.p.  xe6 6. g5  xc4 7.

c2 e7 With good chances for both sides:

Page 20
WATER SYSTEMS

White has two alternatives to appease the Fire System (more positional or closed):

3. e3 3. f3

1. d4 f5 2. c4 c5 3. e3 1. d4 f5 2. c4 c5 3. f3 cxd4 4. xd4

Which leads to a more positional game

and known to White. The second player will
Entering a system similar to the Sicilian
have a more classic scheme (with the
Defense, with the advantage for Black's pawn
possibility of playing something similar to the
in f5, which controls e4, of course White also
stone wall or even the Leningrad system), with
has the support of c4, but now we are totally
the incentive that Black still retains certain
out of the Pawn Queen systems, which is One
advantages: such as control of square e4, the
of the main objectives of this gambit. Note that
presence of the pawn of c5 bothering the white
the pawn of f5 cannot be captured at this time:
center and the fact that White blocked his
since if for example: 4. … f6 5. xf5??
queen bishop. A game of bishops in fianchetto
could be generated, fighting for the central
a5+ Winning the knight.
domain through the large diagonals.

Page 21
TACTICS AND ATTACKS IN THE MEXICAN GAMBIT

The following is presented as exercises, some positions that may derive from specific variants of the
Mexican Gambit, the objective is to exemplify the schemes of weaknesses and possible attacks. All
positions are based on analysis, which will be seen in the next chapter.

EXERCISE 1

Mexican Gambit Rejected / Advance Variant / Fire System (3. … e5)

Position after 8. fxe3??
Play Black and Win (#1)

Page 22
 EXERCISE 2

Mexican Gambit Accepted / Fire System (3. … e5)

Position after 8. xa5??
Play Black and Win (#1)

EXERCISE 3

Mexican Gambit Rejected / Advance Variant (with step capture)

Position after 11. gf3??
Play Black and Win (#1)

Page 23
 EXERCISE 4

Mexican Gambit Accepted / Phoenix Attack

Position after 23. xd6
Play Black and Win (#2)

EXERCISE 5

Mexican Gambit Rejected / Advance Variant / Fire System (3. … e5)

Position after 11. … xd6?

Page 24
 Play White and Win (#2)

EXERCISE 6

Mexican Gambit Accepted / Fire System (3. … e5)

Position after 12. e1?
Play Black and Win (#2)

EXERCISE 7

Mexican Gambit Rejected / Advance Variant / Fire System (3. … e5)

Position after 32. h4

Page 25
 Play Black and Win (Material o #3)

EXERCISE 8

Mexican Gambit Accepted / Fire System (3. … e5)

Position after 11. h3??
Play Black and Win (#3)

EXERCISE 9

Accepted Mexican Gambit / Fire System (3.… e5) / Apocalypse Variant

Position after 30. f4
Play Black and Win (#3)
Page 26
 EXERCISE 10

Accepted Mexican Gambit / Rock System

Position after 15. h3
Play Black and Win (#4)

EXERCISE 11

Mexican Gambit Rejected / Advance Variant (with step capture)

Position after 11. xg7??

Page 27
 Play Black and Win (#4)

EXERCISE 12

Mexican Gambit Rejected / Variant 3. e3

Position after 11. g1
Play Black and Win (#4)

EXERCISE 13

Mexican Gambit Rejected / Advance Variant / Fire System (3. … e5)

Position after 17. e1

Page 28
 Play Black and Win (#4)

EXERCISE 14

Mexican Gambit Accepted / Fire System (3. … e5)

Play Black and Win (#4)

EXERCISE 15

Mexican Gambit Rejected / Advance Variant / Deferred Fire System

Position after 29. d6??

Page 29
 Play Black and Win (#5)

EXERCISE 16

Mexican Gambit Accepted / Variant PseudoGambit

Position after 20… d8
Play White and Win (#6)

EXERCISE 17

Mexican Gambit Rejected / Variant 3. e3

Position after 19. d2

Page 30
 Play Black and Win (#6)

EXERCISE 18

Accepted Mexican Gambit / Fire System / Phoenix Attack

Position after 18. e2
Play Black and Win (#8)

Page 31
ANSWERS:

1) 1… g3# 0-1
2) 1… xf2# 0-1
3) 1… d3# 0-1
4) 1… f1+ 2. e1 c2# 0-1
5) 1. d3+ f5 2. xf5# 1-0
6) 1… e3+ 2. f2 xf2# 0-1
7) 1… xh4! 2. gxh4? f3+ 3. h1  xf2# 0-1
3. f1  d2# 0-1
8) 1… b4+ 2.  d2 h6+ (= g5+) 3. e3 xe3# 0-1
9) 1… e4+ 2. h3 h6+ 3. h5 xh5# 0-1
2. f3 g4# 0-1
10) 1… g5+ 2. h5 f6+ 3. h6 g8+ 4.  g7 d4# 0-1
2.  xg5 f6+ 3. h3 g4# 0-1
11) 1… a5+ 2. b4 xb4+ 3. c3 xc3+ 4. d2  xd2# 0-1
12) 1… c6 2. e4 xe4 3. f3 xf3 4. e1 h1# 0-1
13) 1…  xf2+ 2. h1 f1! 3.  xf1 xf1+ 4. xf1  xf1# 0-1
14) 1…  xc3+ 2. d2  b2+ 3. d2  xd2+ 4. f3 xf2# 0-1
15) 1…  xf1+ 2. g2 f3+ 3. h3 f2+ 4. xf2 h5+ 5. g2 8xf2# 0-1
Obviamente 2. xf1?? xf1# 0-1
16) 1. f7+ h6 2. xg6+!! xg6 3. g3+ h7 4. d3+ f5 5. xf5+ h6 6. f7# 1-0
17) 1… g5 2. f6 xf6 3. e4 h5+ 4. g2 h2+ 5. f3 xe4+ 6. f4 h6# 0-1
18) 1… f2+ 2.  d1  xe2+
a) 3. c1 f2 4.  e1  xe1+ 5. c2  e3 6. d1  xd1 7.
c1 xd2+ 8. b1 xb2# 0-1
b) 3. c2  d3+ 4. c1 e3 5. e4 f2 6. xf2 d2+ 7. b1
f5+ 8. e4 xe4# 0-1

Page 32
DEMOSTRATIVE GAMES

Next, there are games of great masters, and some analysis and own studies, where it is intended to
expose the basic ideas and strategies of the Mexican Gambit, in its different variants.

Emanuel Lasker – Jacques Mieses the threats of mate in f7 and e8 with a rook, so
Leipzig, 1889. the need to leave the f8 box of respite
Variant: Pseudogambit 17. e1 f8
1. d4 f5 18. h4
2. c4 c5 The black queen could have been captured
3. dxc5 a5+? with 18. e8, but this would benefit the black
4. c3 xc5 by completely appeasing the attack, in addition
5. e4 fxe4 Lasker prefers to continue with the king's hunt.
6.  xe4 c7 18. … h5

7. h3!? 19. h3 c6

Posing a knight maneuver against the Black 20. he3 d8 (#6)
Queen. 21. e8?
7… g6 The good Lasker missed a mate in 6 moves:
8. f4 g7 21. f7 h6, 22. xg6+!! xg6, 23.
9.  d5 d8
g3+ h7 24. d3+ f5 25. xf5+ h6
10. g5  xb2 26. f7#
11. d6+ f8 21… xe8
12. f3+ f6 22. xe8 a5+
13. xf6  xf6 23. xa5 xa5
14. xf6 exf6 24. xc8 xc8
15. d5  e7+ 25. xc8
16. d2  g7 Black could have already abandoned, but since
Not only is the black bishop hanging, but once ancient times irreverence and disrespect
White places her rook on the open column, the prevailed.
black queen will no longer be able to defend 25… c6

Page 33
 26. d6 b6 10. c7 xf5
27. e2 f5 11. xa8 g4

28. f3 e7

29. b5 a5
30. c7 c8

31. d5 f7

32. c3 e6

33. d4 d6

34. f4+ f6

35. b7  a7
36. d5+ e6
With White's next move, they accept the
37. xb6 1-0
entrance of the black knight, to voluntarily hand
over the rook, with the intention of gaining an
First Study (Theoretical Analysis)
advantage by capturing the piece in h1.
Mexican Gambit Accepted / Phoenix Attack
12. c7 xf2
1. d4 f5
13. e3 xe3
2. c4 c5
14. xe3 xh1
3. dxc5 e5
4. e4 xc5 15. g1 e4

5. exf5 h4 16. d2 g4

The Phoenix unfolds its wings. 17. xh1 c5!

6.  e2

Si 6. h3 e4+ 7. e2 xf5 and black

are slightly better.
6... d6
7. f3

If 7. g4 f6 8. f3 xg4

7... h5
8. c3 f6

9.  b5 O-O

Page 34
Despite the piece of advantage, White is in a 8. c3 f6
very sad situation. His pieces do not 9. b5 O-O
coordinate, they have a queen in the corner of
10. c7 xf5
the board: who neither defends nor attacks, the
11. xa8 g4
rook is the same, and the knight if not because
12. e3!
it already moved to c7 would also be in another
corner, all white pieces nowhere. So: the
material advantage is misleading; It's no use
having an extra piece on the board, if it's no
use. The position of the black pieces is very
different
18. e2? (#6)
White with this error generates an inevitable
mate in 6 movements.
18… f2+
19. d1  xe2+
This is the improvement presented by the
20. c1 f2 second study. The first player has an extra
21. c2 d3+ rook and Black will no longer be able to capture
22. c1 xd2+ in f2 to recover the rook. But the Phoenix
attack continues.
23. b1 c2# 0-1
12… xe3
13. fxe3 e4!

Second Study (Theoretical Analysis) 14. d4??

Mexican Gambit Accepted / Phoenix Attack White loses the queen with a dive in two shifts.
The right thing was to deliver the knight, either
1. d4 f5 in f3 or e5.
2. c4 c5 14… b4+!
3. dxc5 e5 15. d1 g4
4. e4 xc5 16. c7 xe2+
5. exf5 h4 17. xe2
6.  e2 d6

7. f3 h5
Page 35
It seems that, after all, White is not so bad,
they have almost the material equivalent of the
queen, so the game is not yet won, however,
generally in these cases the quality is imposed.
17… g5

18. ce6  xe3

19. c2 f2

20. ad1 xe2+!

21. xe2  xe2+

22. b1  xc4 A beautiful picture that reflects a Fire System
23. d4 e3 and a Phoenix Attack that, although not

24. a3 c5 definitive, gradually incinerated White.

25. f3 e2

26. c1 e4+

Third Study (Theoretical Analysis)
27. a2 b6 Mexican Gambit Accepted / Phoenix Attack
28. he1 c6

29. b4 f2 1. d4 f5

30. h1  e6+ 2. c4 c5

3. dxc5 e5
31. b2 d5
4. e4  xc5
32. h3 d4
5. exf5 h4
33. c2 d3
6. e2 d6
34. c3 d5
7. f3 h5
35. hc1 d2 0-1
White leaves because beyond the two pawns 8. c3 f6

about to promote, there is a devastating attack, 9. b5 O-O

with the bishop towards d4 and the black 10. c7 xf5
queen. 11. xa8 g4

12. c7 xf2

13. h3?!

Page 36
An even more utopian plan than the previous 21. d2
ones, now White also aims to capture in the
near future the knight, double with g4: and win "Time to run," the white king must flee in terror:
one more piece (the bishop), so that its h1 rook a cheeky mate was threatened on e2 and none
(knight is settled) and bishop by rook), so that of his pieces can help, since 21.d2 f1# or
the captured rook of a8 is of free gain.
if 21. f4 b4+ and again mate in f1.
Undoubtedly an overly ambitious plan, without
sufficient grounds.
21… c6
13… xh1
22. xc5 b4
14. g4 xg4!?
23. xd6? (#2) f1+
15. hxg4 xg4
24. e1 c2# 0-1
16. g2  g3

17. d3 e4
Mikhail Botvinnik vs. Vassily Smyslov
18. d5+h8 World Championship, round 20.
19. e6  xf3 Moscow, 1958.
20. xf3  xf3 Mexican Gambit Rejected: Water System f3,
by transposition of movements.

1. c4 c5
2. f3 f5
3. d4

Page 37
 12. d2 f8
13. a3 d8

14. ad1 a5

15. xb7 xb7

16. ab5 a6

17. d4 h6

18. c2 f4
19. f3 d6

20. d4 a8

The Rejected Mexican Gambit is reached:
21. d5 xd5
Water System f3 by transposition of plays, it
22. cxd5 c8
would have been the same 1. d4 f5, 2. c4 c5,
23. b1 e8
f3.
3. … cxd4 24. a3 d8

4.  xd4 g6 25. e4 d7

Black chooses a Wind System, but the Fire 26. g2 g4
System is also playable in this position: 4... e5 27. f3 h5
5.  xf5 d5 6. g3 (if 6. e4 d4 with advantage 28. e6 f5
of space for Black in the center, in addition to 29. d4 xe4
an important pawn passed in advance in
30. fxe4 fxg3
exchange for the less pawn) 6… dxc4 7.
31. xf7 xf7
xd8+ xd8 8. e4 e6 9. d2 b4 10. 32. hxg3 g7
a3 a5 with advantage of Black's space and
33. b2 b5
greater activity of his pieces
34. d2 e8
5. g3 g7
35. f2 d7
6.  g2 c6
36. f3 xb2
7.  b5 f6
37. xb2 f7
8. 5c3 O-O
38. e3 c3+
9. O-O b6
39. d2 b4
10. b3 b7
40. b1 h5
11. b2 f7
Page 38
 41. a3 a5 12. xe4 xe4
42. axb4 axb4 13. gxe4  xc3
43. a1 h6
14. xc3 h4
44. a7+ e8 15. b5 e5?!
45. a8+ f7
46. e5 dxe5
47. g5+ g7
48. e6+ 1/2-1/2
Although the game ends in tables, we could
see a healthy development of the black pieces,
without difficulties, and in a very active way.

Fourth Study (Theoretical Analysis)

Fire system
Black already has a pawn less and they are

1. d4 f5 about to lose one more, so they must play in

2. c4 c5 the most active way possible, otherwise the

3. d5 e5 material disadvantage will have no justification,

4. e4 d6 and they will lose in the approaching end. A

better alternative was to first bend the rooks
5. exf5 xf5
and yield the pawn of column "a" instead of "d",
6.  d3!?
With the idea of attracting the black pawn to
for example: 15… f6 16. e2 af8 17.

later attack him, or if the opponent allows it: xa7? e5 with an even stronger attack

change the good black bishop for his bad white with the bent rooks in the open column "f".

bishop. 16. xd6 d3

6… e4 17. f4
7. c2 f6 (If White tries to save the quality it results in a

8.  e2 g6 mate in 4 shifts with 17. e1?? (#4) xf2+

9. O-O g7 18. h1 f1! 19. xf1 xf1+ 20. xf1
10. bc3 O-O xf1#)
11. g3  bd7 17...  xf1
18. xf1 e7
Page 39
 19. e2 f3+ 13. fd1 c6
20. xf3  xd6 14. xf6 xf6

21. b3 f6 15. b1 e7

22. b1  ae8 The king has already moved three times so far,

23. e3 b6 however this play has a deep strategic

foundation: the idea is to connect the two black
24. e1 f7
rooks, but also, allow a bishop maneuver
25. g3 fe7
towards the king's flank, which was also
26. f2 c3
necessary leave box f7 free.
27. d6 xe1+ 16. c3 e8
28. xe1  xe3+ 17. ab1 h5
29. xe3  xe3+ 18. a3 h4
30. d2  e6

31. d7 d6+ 0-1

Quinto Estudio (Análisis Teórico)

Variante del Avance / Captura al paso

1. d4 f5
2. c4 c5
3. d5 e5
A fierce fight begins on opposite flanks, White
4. dxe6 dxe6
intends to gain advantage in the Queen wing,
5.  xd8+ xd8
Black seeks to structure an attack on the king's
6. f4 c6
side.
7. f3 b4 19. b4 cxb4
8.  a3 a6 20. axb4 h3
9. e3 e8 21. g3 h5

10. e2  e7 22. b5 axb5

11. O-O f6 23. cxb5 d8

12. e5  d7 24. h4 g5

Page 40
 25. xh5  xh5
26. f3 f7
27. b6 g4
28. h4 e5

29. e2  e4

30. dc1 fg5

31. xf5+ f6

32. h4? xh4!

33. gxh4? #2 f3+

Black is slightly better. Despite the pair of
34. f1
knights have at least two shifts in development,
If 34. h1  xf2#
since White must still move one more pawn to
34... ed2# 0-1 evolve his bishop.
14. e3?! O-O-O
Sixth Study (Theoretical Analysis) 15. e2?! xe2
Deferred Fire System
16. xe2 e5
17. b1 d5
1. d4 f5
18. O-O b8
2. c4 c5
3. d5 d6 19. fc1 g4

4. f3 e5 20. g3 hf8

5. dxe6 xe6 21. c2 g6

6.  g5 xc4 22. bc1 f6

7. c2 e7 23. f1 c4

8.  xc4 xg5 24. xc4 xf2

9.  xg5 xg5 25. d2 df8

10. c3 c6 26. c5 g4

11. e6+ e7 27. g3 f2

12. xf5  d4 28. xd5 f6

13. d3 f6 29. d6?? #5

Page 41
(White might think that Black plays 29... xd2
30. xf6 xf6 31. xd2 xe3 with
equality, but of course there is the thematic
attack on column f)
29…xf1+
30. g2 f3+

31. h3 f2+

32. h4?
Lasted longer 32. xf2 h5+ 33. g2
Posing the Apocalypse Variant, Black could opt
8xf2#
for a quiet and uncomplicated game: gradually
32… h5# 0-1
impose quality (Queen against rook, knight and
pawn), but when launching the apocalypse
Seventh Study (Theoretical Analysis)
variant they enter a “tactical Armageddon”,
Mexican Gambit Accepted
where the minimum error could cause them to
Apocalypse variant
lose the game, since if they didn't give mate, it
would now be White that with too much
1. d4 f5
material advantage would end up imposing.
2. c4 c5
However, from the approach of the Mexican
3. dxc5 e5
Gambit it became clear that they did not come
4. b4 a5
here to play “quiet and positional”.
5.  a4 a6
10. cxb6 xb4+
6. a3 axb4
11. d2 xb6
7. axb4 c7
12. xc8+ f7
8.  xa8 xa8
13. xb4 xb4+
9.  xa8 (=)
14. d2 f6
At this moment the theory dictates an equality
15. xh8 e4
for both sides (=).
9…b6?!

Page 42
 g5 24. xh7+ f6 25. xd7 f4 26. h7
g4+ 27. h4 gxf3+ 28. h3 g4#) 22...

hxg6 23. h4 e4+ 24. h2 f4+ 25. g1

g3 26. h7 c1)
19...  a1+

20. b1 xb1+

21. d2 e4+

22. e2 c2+

23. f3 d1+

Black is playing "all or nothing", they have
24. f4 g4+
delivered all their pieces except Capablanca:
queen and knight, with which they hope is 25. e5 h4

enough to bring down the white monarch. 26. e2 f6+

16. gf3  b2 27. f4 g5+

17. e3 c3 28. f3 d2+

18. xe5+ 29. g3 d6+

b3 b1+ 19. d2 e4+ 20. e2

If 18. 30. f4

c2+ 21. e1 xb3 22. e2 (22. c5 If 30. f4 e4+ entering a kind of mill with

b1+ 23. e2 c2+ 24. e1 xc5 25. knight 31. h3 xf2+ 32. g3 xh1+ 33.
c4+ f6 26. xh7 b4+ 27. e2 h3 (33. f3 g4#) 33… f2+ 34. g3

b2+ 28. e1 b1+ 29. e2 Nc3+ 30. e4+ 35. h3 gxf4 (-+) with clear black
advantage.
d2 b2+ 31. d3 e4+ 32. d4 Na4+ 33.
30...  e4+
d5 b7+ 34. d4 a7+ 35. d5
31. h3
c5#) 22... c3+ 23. f1 c1+ 24. e1
If 31. f3 g4#
d2+ 25. g1 xe1+ 26. f1 xf1#)
31... h6+
18... e7
32. h5 xh5# 0-1
19. d3

(19. f3 c1+ 20. f2 xd2+ 21. g3

xe3 22. g6+ (22. d3 xe5+ 23. h3

Page 43
TRAPS, TRICKS AND ERRORS

Most of these games were played in Blitz games, it is true that the short time (and even the low level
of the rivals) helped the poor calculation of variants and bad movements, but above all, being a
completely unknown Gambit, the factor surprise was definitive (which in turn, that surprise factor
allows even strong opponents to make bad plays). Of course the tricks are characterized by blunt
errors, whose objective is to show weaknesses, tricks and traps of certain openness. Here are the
most common and thematic in the Mexican Gambit.

TRICK 1: WHITES LOSE ROOK To try to run the annoying queen, but once they
1. d4 f5 combine Queen and Knight it is very
2. c4 c5 dangerous: the famous pieces of Capablanca.
3. dxc5 e6 8. g5+ g6
4. b4?? f6 9. xe4+ f5
5. c2 xa1 10. f3 h6
6. a3 f6 11. e6 xe6? #2
Blacks should be careful and remove the Resisted much more 11... e8 12. h4 h5 13.
queen as soon as possible, for example if 6...
h3 xe6 14. dxe6 xe6+ 15. e3 f6
f6?? 7. b2 a2 8. c3 xc4 9. e4 16. d3+ f7 17.  xb7+  e7 18. xa8
d4 10. f3 and now it is the queen herself +-)
who is captured
12. d3+ f5
7.  b2 d8 (-+) 0-1
13. xf5# 1-0
With decisive advantage for Black.

TRICK 2: BLACKS ARE INVADED

1. d4 f5
2. c4 c5
3. d5 e5
4. e4 fxe4?
5. h5+  e7
6.  xe5+ f7 TRICK 3: WHITES LOSE KNIGHT
7. h3 d6??
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 1. d4 f5 10. b2 f4+
2. c4 c5 11. e1
3. f3 cxd4
Si 11.  g1 Qe3#
4.  xd4 f6 11... e3
5.  xf5?? a5+ 12. c1
6. c3 xf5 (-+) 0-1 Threatened mate in f2
With decisive advantage for Black. 11. … d5
13. cxd5 d7
TRICK 4: WHITES HAVE TACTICAL 14. g3?? f2+
PROBLEMS IN E5 AND F2
15. d1 a4+ (-+)
1. d4 f5
White must deliver the queen 0-1
2. c4 c5
3. dxc5 e5
TRICK 5: WHITES HAVE TACTICAL
4. f3 e4
PROBLEMS IN E5 AND F2 (2)
5.  e5? 1. d4 f5
In many variants of the Mexican Gambit White 2. c4 c5
should never place pieces in the e5 box, since 3. dxc5 e5
if they do, the hanging knight allows some 4. f3 e4
tactical themes of attack to the king or loss of
5. e5? xc5
material.
6. a3? a5+
5… xc5
7. b4? xf2+!?
6. a3?
8. xf2 xe5
With the intention of deploying the pawns of the
queen flank and harassing the black bishop. 9. a2 f6

6. … a5+ 10. b2 g4+

7. b4? xf2+!? 11. g1 f4

It gives much more advantage for Black the 12. d4
simple xb4+, but since it is a Blitz game, If 12.  e1  e3+ 13. f2  xf2#
what is sought is to disturb the white king. 12... e3
8.  xf2 xe5 13. e1 xd4
9.  a2 f6 14. h3 f2

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 15. h2 h4 1. d4 f5
The white queen is hanging with X-Rays 2. c4 c5

16. c3 g3 3. dxc5 e5

4. b3  xc5
17. a4 g4 0-1
5. b2 f6
If for example 18. hxg4 f2+ 19. h1
6. xe5 g4
xf1#. A variation of the previous game.
7. xg7 xf2+

TRICK 6: WEAKNESSES IN THE QUEEN Black must be careful and precise, for example
FLANK OF WHITE AND F2 if 7...xf2? 8. d5 xh1 9. xh8 f2
1. d4 f5 10. g8+ f8 (10... e7 11. f6+) 11.
2. c4 c5
xf2 and white looks better.
3. dxc5 e5
8. d2 g5+
4. b3 xc5
9. d3
5.  b2 f6
If 9. c2 e3+
6.  xe5? a5+
9... xg7
7.  d2?!
10. c3 a6
The truth is that there are no very good
11. h3?? (#3)  b4+
defenses, for example: 7. c3 e4 and the
12. d2 h6+
white position is very sad (or the weak square
13. e3 xe3# 0-1
c3 is defended with the queen or the square f2
playing e3, but both cannot be covered) and if
you eat the black Reyna follow a nice mate: 8. TRICK 8: CHECKMATE OF BISHOP TO THE
KING IN THE CENTER
xa5 xf2#
1. d4 f5
7... e4
2. c4 c5
8.  g3
3. d5 e5
If 8.  xg7?? xf2#
4. b3 f6
8... xd2
5. b2 e4
9.  xd2 b4 (-+)
6. d2 d6
The white queen falls 0-1
7. h3?

TRICK 7: WEAKNESSES IN WHITE F2

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Whenever White can play his pawn at e4 or at knight, however, many pieces point to the
least e3, otherwise they will face terrible king's flank and it is very risky to displace the
tactical problems. main defender of the castling
7… e3! 11… c6
8. fxe3?? 12. d3 d6
Of course any other play resisted more,
13. h1?
however it was impossible to avoid the loss of
An invitation to the black bishop, the idea is to
material; the knight is attacked by the pawn, if it
catch him with the chain of pawns, it would be
does not move it is lost, but if you try to save it
a good plan if this happened for example on
is worse, for example: 8. df3 a5+ 9.  d2
the flank of Queen; away from the king, or in
e4 and White would like a giant crack in the the same castling under other circumstances,
ground to open for the earth to eat. the problem here is as previously mentioned:
8... g3# 0-1 there are too many pieces pointing to the white
king.
TRICK 9: ATTACK TO WATER CASTLING 3… xh2
1. d4 f5 14. g3 xg3
2. c4 c5
15. fxg3 d4+!
3. e3
16. h2 xe2
Even in solid and quiet variants such as the
17. xe2
Water System, White may have certain
problems if they do not play accurately. (17. xe2 g4+ 18. h3 (18. g1 c6
3… e6 19. e4 xe4 20. f3 xf3 21. f1 h1#)
4. c3 f6 18... d8 19. d2 g5 20. f6 xf6 21.
5. dxc5 xc5 e4 h5+ 22. g2 h2+ 23. f3 xe4+
6. b3 b6 24. f4 h6#)
7.  b2 b7 17...  g4+
8. f3 O-O 18. h3 f6
9.  e2 c7 19. e4
10. O-O a6 If 19. h4 h6+ 20. g5 d8+ 21. f4
11. e1?! g5#
It is not necessarily a mistake, the objective is 19... h6+
to disturb the black bishop and reposition the
20. g2 h2+ (-+)
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Winning the queen 0-1 queen, on the other hand the possibility of
playing f6, g6 and  g7,
TRICK 10: KING CHOKED IN THE CENTER where the queen would cover the black king's
1. d4 f5 bishop for a possible exchange, or at least not
2. c4 c5 hang; However, all these possibilities are really
3. d5 e5 an excuse, since what they really want is to ask
4. dxe6 c6 White a small “trap”, since when playing his
5. exd7+ xd7 bishop in B2, the first player usually develops
his knight in D2 so that this do not obstruct
In exchange for a black pawn they get a rapid your bishop queen, which allows a legendary

development of their pieces, the central pawns trick that occurs in many openings.
no longer exist, which allows the bishops to be 7. b2 f6
mobilized quickly, although it is true that the 8. d2?! e5?!
side pawns of the cyf columns hinder them a The legendary trap that invites White to "solve"
little, the fact of displacing them from the front all its problems, with a "comfortable" change of
row is a good advantage, which makes it knights in f3.
possible to cast and relocate them in the near 9. gf3?? d3# 0-1
future, while White will still have to invest one
more turn in a pawn to be able to develop his
TRICK 11: A BAD PLAN, WELL EXECUTED
king's bishop and for some "strange" reason
1. d4 f5
Now they go back in development. This variant
2. c4 c5
is recommended in Blitz games; where a pawn
3. d5 e5
is nothing, and a turn is everything)
4. dxe6 f6
6. b3 e7?!
5. exd7+ xd7
6. b3 g6
A somewhat "suspicious" play, apparently
7. b2 g7
Black is playing "flexible", since with this
8. d2?! c6
movement, they keep their intentions hidden,
for example: it is possible that they intend to 9. g4?

cast long, so if White casts short we would They say that "when an adversary's plan is

have a fight of opposite castings, in addition to bad, the right thing is to allow him to execute

the black rook would be facing the enemy it", White intends to deflect the pawn f of Black,
to play his knight in e4 and thus change knight

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for bishop in the large diagonal: with that would TRICK 12: MECHANICAL MOVEMENTS
become the domain of this, in addition to 1. d4 f5
leaving attacked the black rook, forcing it to 2. c4 c5
move, with which Black would lose the castling, 3. dxc5 e6
no doubt a very ambitious plan, but it has a 4. b3  xc5
small tactical flaw… 5. b2 f6
9… fxg4
6. d2?! c6
10. e4  xe4
7. c1?
11. xg7
White is playing "by heart", with mechanical
White managed to execute his plan perfectly,
movements, those plays that "make the hand",
diverted the pawn f, so that they could
not the player, many players of pawn queen
exchange knights for bishop, staying with their
have that inertia to mobilize all their pieces of
bishop, they also became the total domain of
the left flank and practically ignore their king
the large diagonal, attack the black rook with
wing, which in some positions is very
which they pretend remove the castling of the
dangerous.
dark king, all according to the plan, except for a
7... xf2+!?
small detail ... that now in this position they
8. xf2 g4+
give them mate in 4 movements
9. g3
11… a5+
12. b4 xb4+
Of course 9. e1 e3 and the queen is lost,
13. c3 xc3+
resisted much more 9. f3 ce5+ 10.

14. d2  xd2# 0-1 xe5 xe5+ 11. g3 f4+, the attack
continues with the incorporation of the dark
Once again the weakness of the white queen
queen and the rook in column f, but of course
flank shines, there are many tricks where the
there is still nothing safe for Black.
first player receives mate for this wing, or at
9... c7+
least they lose Queen, this weakening usually
occurs because the knight has been changed, 10. f3 ce5+
and the bishop goes hiking, as happened in 11. xe5 c5!
this game. It is moral then that; if the adversary 12. d4 xd4
has a bad plan, it is best to allow him to carry it
13. g3 e5+
out.
14. h4 f4!
15. h3
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White's position is like going to therapy for a
couple of months with a good psychologist,
now they play black and give a nice mate in 4
moves
15… g5+
16. h5 f6+

17. h6  g8+

18. g7  d4# 0-1

Curiously, the knight that went to disturb the
white king ended up in his initial position of g8.