[Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "BDG (Alapin-Diemer Gambit)"] [Black "v French Defence"] [Result "*"] [ECO "C01"] [Annotator "Martin"] [PlyCount "31"] [EventDate "2021.04.25"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Be3 dxe4 4. Nd2 Nf6 5. f3 Nd5 {This is a natural idea to exchange White's dangerous e3 bishop. However, White does not move the bishop, besides it cannot move to f2 due to 6... e3, but it can be defended by the queen.} 6. Qe2 Nxe3 (6... c5 $5 {This maybe an improvement, Black gets on with the plan to attack White's centre rather than allow easy development but White still has good chances.} 7. dxc5 Nxe3 8. Qxe3 Qa5 9. O-O-O Qxc5 (9... Bxc5 $2 { looks tempting to develop a piece and attack the queen but after} 10. Qg5 $1 { White is substantially better. Nb3 and Nc4 are threatened to start with.}) ( 9... Qxa2 $2 {looks dangerous but after} 10. Nb3 {the hunter may soon become the hunted! e.g.} Be7 11. Bb5+ (11. Ne2 Bf6 12. Nc3 Bxc3 13. Qxc3 {is an alternative way of playing when White is better.}) 11... Bd7 (11... Nc6 $2 12. Ne2 Bf6 13. Nc3 Bxc3 14. Qxc3 O-O 15. Kd2 $1 {winning}) 12. Rxd7 Nxd7 13. Ne2 Bf6 14. Nc3 Bxc3 15. Qxc3 O-O-O 16. c6 {and White is having plenty of fun!}) 10. Qxc5 Bxc5 11. Nxe4 Be3+ 12. Kb1 Ke7 {with about equal chances as in Simons v Furjel 2014. The game was drawn.}) 7. Qxe3 exf3 8. Ngxf3 Be7 9. Bd3 O-O 10. O-O Nd7 {This is a standard Alapin-Diemer position and we feel White has good practical chances in over the board play. Here are a couple of ways the game might continue.} 11. Rae1 ({Simons v Brusey (2000) took a different course} 11. Ne4 c5 12. Neg5 h6 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14. Qxe6+ Kh8 15. Qg6 Nf6 16. Ne5 $1 {This looks like it loses a piece but after} Qxd4+ 17. Kh1 Be6 {Black realises White's plan but it is too late. White now has} ({If} 17... Qxe5 18. Rxf6 $1 { as in the game.}) 18. Rxf6 $1 Bg8 19. Nf7+ Rxf7 20. Rxf7 Bd6 21. Re1 Bxh2 22. c3 {and Black resigned.}) 11... c5 {This is the standard response but White often gives up the d-pawn.} 12. Ne5 cxd4 $2 {This obvious and natural move is simply bad and plays into the Gambiteer's hands.} 13. Qh3 $1 g6 14. Rxf7 $1 { A great thematic sacrifice to remember!} Rxf7 15. Nxf7 Kxf7 16. Qxh7+ {and it is mate in 2.} *