Letter From a Reader – Cochrane Gambit

Dear Mr. Alterman 

Some time ago I enjoyed your three videos on Cochrane Gambit, and decided to give this gambit a try in a serious tournament game as soon as someone would dare to play me the Petroff. It just happened today, July 27, in last round of Canadian Open. I thought you would be happy to see the score of my very first game with this gambit.

White: Louis Morin (1907)- Black: Alex Ferreira (1954)

Canadian Open, 9th round, July 27, 2008.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7 Kxf7 5.Bc4+ Be6 6. Bxe6+ Kxe6 7.d4 Be7 8.O-O Kf7 9.Nc3 Rf8 10.f4 Kg8 11.Be3 c5 12.e5 dxe5 13.fxe5 Nd5?

A most natural move. I guess Black was expecting 14.Nxd5 Qxd5 with much the better game, but…

14.Rxf8+! Bxf8 

(Black is losing after 14…Kf8 15.Qf3+! and knight d5 is gone – B.A)

 15.dxc5!

Pins and wins the knight since the black queen is not protected anymore. I give the remaining moves only to show that I did not waste this opportunity.

 15…Nc6 16.Qxd5+ Qxd5 17.Nxd5 Nxe5 18.b3 Ng4 19.Bd4 Rc8 20.b4 Re8 21.h3 Ne5 22.Bxe5 Rxe5 23.c4 Re2 24.Kf1 Rc2 25.Ne3 Rc3 26.Ke2 Ra3 27.Nc2 Rc3 28.Kd2 Rxc4 29.g3 Re4 30.Re1 Txe1 31.Nxe1 Kf7 32.Ke3 Ke6 33.Ke4 g6 34.Nf3 h6 35.Nd5+ Kd7 36.Kd6 h5 37.a4 g5 38.g4 hxg4 39.hxg4 Be7 40.b5 Bd8 41.c6+ Kc8 42.Ne6 Be7 43.Nc5 bxc6+ 44.Kxc6 Kb8 45.a5 Kc8 46.Nd7 Bd8 47.b6 axb6 48.a6

1-0

Should you like this example, please feel free to use it in future videos or chess lessons. With all my thanks

Louis Morin

Montreal, Canada