The Fried Liver Attack – Part 5

 

1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Nxf7 Kxf7 7.Qf3+ Ke6  8. Nc3   

 

8…Nce7    

Another way to treat black’s position is the well known   

9.d4! 

This move was analyzed by Polerio about 400 years ago! It’s easy to discover the drawback of

A.)  9…exd4? 

After 10.Qe4+ Black King is overloaded and Nd5 is lost.  10…Kd7 11. Nxd5 White wins the piece back while keeping a huge positional advantage. Now 11… Nxd5 loses at spot after 12.Qxd5+ Ke8 13.Qf7# .  

B.) 9…b5

The effort to decoy white’s bishop from the long diagonal doesn’t work as well.

10. Bb3! The only way in which white can maintain his attack. Bishop keeps an eye on the a2-g8 diagonal.  

10…b4 Black was pinning his hopes on this move. Nc3 is attacked and after 11. Ne4 black simply plays h6 when it’s not so clear how to break black’s position. But black’s idea could easily be refuted.  

11.Nd5 Nd5 12.Bg5!  

The decisive move! Black’s Queen is overloaded and it’s a clear sign that black’s position will be damaged very soon. He has nothing to counter the power of white’s attack.  12…Qd7 (Accepting the bishop after 12… Qg5 leads to instant disaster 13. Qd5)  13.0-0-0 c6  14. Rhe1 Despite the fact that white is still a piece down, black can resign with a clear conscience. For instance : 14…Kd6 15. de+ Kc7 16. e6 Qd6 17.Rd5! with forthcoming 18.Bf4  

  

C.) 9…c6! 

A critical position has arisen. Black is already under extreme pressure, nevertheless there are a few accurate moves needed: 

10.Bg5 !

 White must stick on his plan. There is no way back.  

10…h6  11. Bxe7

 It is important not to allow black to coordinate his forces.  After

 11…Bxe7 12.0-0-0

White completes his development. One more move for white (Rhe1) and the game will be over. 

12…Rf8! 

Black has his own threats as well!  

13. Qe4  

Despite the material deficit, white enjoys compensation that builds on the lack of safety of the black monarch.  

13…Rxf2?   

Looks like black underestimated White’s 16th move. It was essential to play 13…Bg5+ 14.Kb1 Rf4! 15. Qe5 Kf7 16.Nd5 cd 17.Bd5 but after 17…Kf8 even though white is getting three pawns for the piece, black neutralizes the attack itself.  

14.dxe5 14… Bg5+ 15. Kb1 Rd2

 The point of black’s defense. Black is trying to cover the critical d5 square.  

16.h4!  

The advance of the “h” pawn tears down black’s position. Now Rd2 is hanging and black fails to save the game by 16…Ke7 17. Bd5! But not 17.hg Nc3! + and black is who’s winning!  

16…Rxd1+  17.Rxd1

Black is completely tied up  

17… Bxh4 18.Nxd5

Finally white strikes at the crucial target.

18…cxd5 19.Rxd5 Qg5 20.Rd6+ Ke7 21.Qd5

 

 There is no way for black’s King to escape from the decisive threats.