






1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ ...and related lines
(risky/nonrisky lines, tactics & psychology for fast, exciting play)
I also got wondering the other day: is there another totally obscure and disreputable tactical opening line or gambit that I could go digging for information about, while I'm researching the Jerome Gambit [1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+]??
There's been discussion lately on the Fred opening, 1.e4 f5, in the Unorthodox Chess Openings group at Yahoo – including where the name "Fred" came from in the first place (several theories, nothing conclusive).
Sometimes the opening is referred to as the Duras Gambit, which is a lot less obscure: In my database I have four games (from 1936 and 1938) where GM Oldrich Duras played the opening, actually scoring two wins, a draw and a loss.
The earliest game example I could find was Pillsbury - Magana, Paris 1902, a blindfold simultaneous exhibition game (1 of 16) Paris, 06.1902: 1.e4 f5 2.exf5 Kf7 3.d4 d5 4.Qh5+ g6 5.fxg6+ Kg7 6.Bd3 Nf6 7.Bh6+ Kg8 8.gxh7+ Nxh7 9.Qg6+ Bg7 10.Qxg7 mate.
You have to admit, 1.e4 f5 stand right up/down there with 1.h4 as a possible companion to the Jerome Gambit!
I met Calvin (via email) when I reviewed his book for the Chessville web site.
Of Chess Kings Volume One, subtitled History, Politics, and the Fine Art of Mythmaking in Chess my review noted
Olson, a chess teacher, Correspondence Chess Master and historian, is a good choice to tackle this topic. He is well-read on the topic, having a personal chess library of over 3,000 volumes. His chess writings have been published (School Mates, Gambit) and he has edited a chess newsletter (The Orange Knight). Incidentally, he has served as proofreader for chess books (including several for Random House). The Chess Kings Volume One is the result of 30 years of studying chess, followed by 10 years of research and writing.
It was not surprising that The Chess Kings received the the Perry PawnPusher Awards Was There Chess Before Fischer? Award.
Calvin was amused to receive the award, and we both smiled when his publisher, Trafford, mentioned it on its site.
According to Calvin's wife, Gail, he was working on the last chapter of Volume II the day he died. John Watson has agreed to finish the last chapter using Calvin's notes and intent. As she noted
I hope that this volume is available soon so that others can appreciate his talent and what he wanted to give back to chess for all the years of pleasure that it gave him.
To which I can only add: Amen.