Chess Opening Blunders
Chess Opening Blunders
Chess Opening Blunders
Cover Design/Layout:
Gerald Lee Wall
http://www.billwallchess.com/
Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I
Quick Rules of Chess. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II
Chess Notation - Algebraic Notation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV
Chess Principles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V
Opening Moves and Opening Names. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VII
Alapin’s Opening. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Alekhine’s Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Basman’s Defense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Benko Gambit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Benko’s Opening. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Benoni Defense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Benoni Defense, Old Benoni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Bird’s Opening. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Bird’s Opening, From’s Gambit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Bishop’s Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Blackburne Shilling Gambit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Blackmar-Diemer Gambit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Bogo-Indian Defense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Budapest Gambit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Caro-Kann Defense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Center Counter Defense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Center Game. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Dunst Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Dutch Defense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Elephant Gambit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
English Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Englund Gambit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Evans Gambit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Four Knights Game. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
French Defense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Giuoco Piano. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Grob’s Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Gruenfeld Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Hungarian Defense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Table of Contents (Continued)
Indian Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Jerome Gambit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
King’s Gambit Accepted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
King’s Gambit Declined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
King’s Indian Defense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Larsen’s Opening. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Latvian Gambit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Modern Defense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Nimzo-Indian Defense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Nimzowitsch Defense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Old Indian Defense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Owen’s Defense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Petroff’s Defense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
Philidor’s Defense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Pirc Defense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Polish Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Ponziani Opening. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Queen’s Gambit Accepted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Queen’s Gambit Declined. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Queen’s Indian Defense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Queen’s Pawn Game. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Ruy Lopez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
St. George’s Defense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Scotch Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Sicilian Defense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Three Knights Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Trompowsky Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Two Knights Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Vienna Game. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Zukertort Opening. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Chess Opening Blunders
Introduction
There are always blunders (very bad moves) in chess. It happens to
everyone. It is usually caused by carelessness, overconfidence, or a tactical
oversight, and is usually fatal in the opening when made against a strong
opponent. Among weaker players, blunders often occur in the opening be-
cause they did not consider the opponents forcing moves, sound sacrifices,
and other threats, such as discovered check, fork by the knight, and pin by
the bishop.
Grandmasters have also made their fair share of opening blunders
through some tactical oversight or overlooking a threat, often called “chess
blindness.” They simply overlooked a move or sequence of moves that they
would normally notice. Opening blunders arise from the player not famil-
iar with the opening and not seeing something obvious to prevent such a
blunder.
The types of blunders include losing a piece without compensation,
losing material due to the opponent’s direct or future attack, and allowing
checkmate to the king. An opening blunder is usually more than a small
mistake or error that can be overcome by accurate play. A blunder is usu-
ally a very bad miscalculation that often leads to a quick loss of the game.
Most blunders result from loss of material, a very ruined position, or
checkmate. It is usually a fatal mistake in the chess game.
There is a strong correlation between blunders and strength of player
or rating. The highly rated players blunder much less frequently than the
lower-rated players, especially in the opening where the stronger player has
more knowledge of traps and best play during the opening.
Always question what looks like a blunder. Grandmaster Lev Alburt’s
advice is, “When your opponent makes a move that looks like an obvious
blunder – especially if he is a pretty strong player – it is advisable to try to
find out what he has overlooked.” Also, check twice to make sure that it is
he who has overlooked something. Don’t interpret your opponent’s move
as meaningless.
In this book, you will find a sampling of opening blunders that have
been made around the world since the start of chess recording. From
amateur to grandmaster, opening blunders have been made and punished.
This collection of opening blunders is aimed at everyone who enjoys short
chess games from practical play. Enjoy!
Page I
Bill Wall
The Purpose
The point of chess is to attack the enemy King and checkmate the King
so that it cannot move to any square without also being attacked.
The Board
The first thing to know is how to set up a chessboard. The chessboard
is made up of an 8 square by 8 square board with alternating light (usually
White) and dark (usually Black) squares. The square to each player’s right-
hand corner must be the light-colored square.
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
Page II
Chess Opening Blunders
The Pieces
From left to right, the pieces are set up on the first and eighth ranks as
rook, knight, bishop, queen, king, bishop, knight, rook. The pawns are set
up on the second and seventh ranks. The queen must be on a square of its
own color.
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
The Rules
White always goes first then the Black moves, and so on until the end
of the game.
The value of the pieces are 1 point for a pawn, 3 points for a knight, 3.5
points for a bishop, 5 points for a rook, and 9 points for a queen. There is
no value given to the king since it never leaves the board.
If the same absolutely identical position occurs 3 times during a game,
the game is drawn. If one player can check the enemy King indefinitely
without the player being able to prevent it, the game is drawn by perpetual
check.
If no pawns have been moved and there have been no capture for at
least 50 consecutive moves, the game is drawn.
If the player cannot move any piece at all, including the king, without
being checked, the game is drawn as it is stalemate.
Algebraic notation is the official chess notation used around the world.
Page III
Bill Wall
The pieces are labeled N for knight, B for bishop, R for rook, Q for
queen, and K for king. If there is no indication of a piece, then it is as-
sumed the piece is a pawn.
Moving the king’s pawn up two squares on the first move would be
1.e4. If Black plays the same move as White, then we have 1.e4 e5. If
White moves his king-side knight in front of the bishop for his second
move, then we have 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3. If Black plays his queen-side knight
in front of his bishop, then we have 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6. This would be the
notation for both White or Black.
It is best to keep record of all your chess games and perhaps enter
them into a database, or use your scoresheet to study what you did right or
wrong, or prepare an opening or against you opponent the next time you
play.
Page IV
Chess Opening Blunders
Chess Principles
1. Develop your pieces quickly.
2. Control the center.
3. Put your pieces on squares that give them maximum space.
4. Try to develop your knights towards the center.
5. A knight on the rim is dim.
6. Don’t take unnecessary chances.
7. Play aggressive.
8. Calculate forced moves first.
9. Always ask yourself, “Can he put me in check or win a piece?”
10. Have a plan. Every move should have a purpose.
11. Assume your opponent’s move is his best move.
12. Ask yourself, “Why did he move there?” after each move.
13. Play for the initiative and controlling the board.
14. If you must lose a piece, get something for it if you can.
15. When behind, exchange pawns. When ahead, exchange pieces.
16. If you are losing, don’t give up fighting. Look for counter-play.
17. Don’t play unsound moves unless you are losing badly.
18. Don’t sacrifice a piece without good reason.
19. If you are in doubt of an opponent’s sacrifice, accept it.
20. Attack with more that just one or two pieces.
21. Do not make careless pawn moves. They cannot move back.
22. Do not block in your bishops.
23. Bishops of opposite colors have the greatest chance of drawing.
24. Try not to move the same piece twice or more times in a row.
25. Exchange pieces if it helps your development.
26. Don’t bring your queen out early.
27. Castle soon to protect your king and develop your rook.
28. Develop rooks to open files.
29. Put rooks behind passed pawns.
30. Study rook endgames. They are the most common endgames.
31. Don’t let your king get caught in the center.
32. Don’t castle if it brings your king into greater danger.
33. After castling, keep a good pawn formation around your king.
34. If you only have one bishop, put your pawns on its opposite color.
Page V
Bill Wall
Page VI
Chess Opening Blunders
Page VII
Bill Wall
! good move
!! excellent move
? weak move
?? blunder
!? interesting move
?! dubious move
O-O castle kingside
O-O-O castle queenside
() annotations and comments
x takes
+ check
# checkmate
… Black’s move
1-0 White won
0-1 Black won
1/2-1/2 draw
B bishop
K king
N knight
Q queen
R rook
-----------------------------------------------
APCT All Postal Chess Tournament
CC Chess Club
CCLA Correspondence Chess League of America
Corr. Correspondence game
FICS Free Internet Chess Server
ICC Internet Chess Club
NN Nomne Nescio – unknown name
Simul Simultaneous Exhibition
Page VIII
Chess Opening Blunders
Alapin’s Opening
(1.e4 e5 2.Ne2)
1.e4 e5 2.Ne2 Nc6 3.Nbc3 Bc5 4.Ng3 d6 5.d3 Nf6 6.Bg5 Be6 7.Nh5 O-O?
(7…Rg8) 8.Nd5? (8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Nd5) 8…Nxe4 9.Bxd8?? (9.dxe4 Qxg5
10.Ng3) 9…Bxf2+ 10.Ke2 Bg4# 0-1, London CC-Athens CC, Corr. 1899
1.e4 e5 2.Ne2 Bc5 3.f4 Nf6 4.fxe5 Ng4? (4…Nxe4 5.d4 Bb6) 5.d4
Bb4+?? (5…Bb6) 6.c3 Ba5 7.Nf4 h5 8.Bc4 O-O 9.O-O Qe8 10.Ng6
(threatening 11.Nxf8) 1-0, Bill Wall-NN, playchess.com 2018
Page 1
Bill Wall
1.e4 e5 2.Ne2 Bc5 3.f4 Qf6 4.c3 Nc6 5.g3 Nh6 6.Bg2 Ng4 (threatening
7…Bf2#) 7.Rf1? (7.d4 exd4 8.e5) 7…Nxh2 8.fxe5?? (8.Rh1) 8…Qxf1
9.Bxf1 Nf3# 0-1, Manko-Jankowitz, Corr. 1900
1.e4 e5 2.Ne2 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.Nbc3 Qa5 5.d4 Nc6 6.d5 (6.a3) 6…Nb4
7.Bd2? (7.Ng3) 7…Bf5 8.Rc1 Bxc2?? (8…Ne4) 9.Rxc2 Nd3# 0-1, NN-
Canal, Barcelona 1935
1.e4 e5 2.Ne2 d6 3.Ng3 c5 4.Bc4 Nc6 5.Qf3 Nf6 6.Nh5 Bg4?? (6…Be6;
6…Rg8) 7.Nxf6+ (7…Qxf6 8.Qxg4) 1-0, Bill Wall-Darek, Internet 1998
1.e4 e5 2.Ne2 Nf6 3.f4 Nc6 4.fxe5 Nxe5 5.d4 Nc6 6.Nbc3 Bb4 7.a3
Bxc3+ 8.Nxc3 O-O 9.Bg5 h6 10.h4 Re8 (10…hxg5 11.hxg5 Nh7
12.Qh5) 11.e5?! (11.Bxf6) 11…hxg5 (11…d6) 12.hxg5 Nh7? (12…Nxe5)
13.Qh5 Qxg5?? (13…Kf8) 14.Qxh7+ Kf8 15.Qh8+ Ke7 16.Nd5+ Kd8
17.Qxe8+ Kxe8 18.Rh8# 1-0 McNamus-Ncintosh, Berkeley 1985
1.e4 e5 2.Ne2 Nf6 3.f4 Nxe4 4.d3 Nc5 5.fxe5 Nc6 6.d4? (6.Nbc3) 6…
Qh4+ 7.g3? (7.Ng3) 7…Qe4 8.Rg1 Nxd4 9.Qxd4 Qxc2 10.Nf4 Qxc1+
11.Ke2 Nb3 (12.axb3 Bc5) 0-1, Mouillaux-Matisson, Corr. 1985
1.e4 e5 2.Ne2 Nf6 3.f4 Nxe4 4.fxe5 d5 5.d3 Nc5 6.d4 Ne4 7.g3 Be7
8.Bg2 O-O 9.O-O c6 10.Qd3 Ng5 11.h4 Ne6 12.Nd2 f6 13.exf6 Bxf6
14.Nf3 Nd7 15.Bd2 Qe8?! (15…Qb6) 16.Rae1 Qg6? (16…Qd8) 17.Bh3
Nb6? (17…Nxd4) 18.Bf5 (18…Qe8 19.Bxh7+ Kh8 20.Bb4) 1-0, Briem-
Schubert, Reykjavik 1998
1.e4 e5 2.Ne2 Nf6 3.f4 exf4 4.Nxf4 Nxe4? (4…Nc6) 5.Qe2 Qe7? (5…d5)
6.Nd5 Qe5 7.Nbc3 c6 8.d4 Qxd4 9.Be3 (9.Nxe4!) 9…Nxc3?? (9…Qxd5
10.Nxd5 cxd5) 10.Bg5+ Nxe2 11.Nc7# 1-0, Vihmand-Haavamae, Estonia
2012
1.e4 e5 2.Ne2 Nf6 3.f4 exf4 4.Nxf4 Nxe4? (4…Nc6) 5.Qe2 Qe7? (5…
d5) 6.Nd5 Qe5 7.Nbc3 c6 8.d4 Qf5 9.Nxe4 (9…cxd5 10.Nd6+; 9…Kd8
10.Bg5+) 1-0, Seyboth-Luetze, St. Petersburg, 1902
1.e4 e5 2.Ne2 Qh4 3.Nbc3 Nc6 4.g3 Qg5 (4…Qg4) 5.d4 Nxd4? (5…
Qh5) 6.Bxg5?? (6…Nxd4) Nf3# 0-1, Lutze-Begas, Germany 1893
Page 2
Chess Opening Blunders
Alekhine’s Defense
(1.e4 Nf6)
This opening has been analyzed and played since the early 19th
century. In 1921, world champion Alexander Alekhine (1892-
194) introduced it in an international chess tournament in Bu-
dapest and popularized this defense. It is a favorite of GM Lev
Alburt.
1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.exd5 c6 4.dxc6 Nxc6 5.d3 e5 6.Bg5 Bc5 7.Ne4??
(7.Nf3) 7…Nxe4 8.Bxd8 Bxf2+ 9.Ke2 Nd4# 0-1, Dilettante-Geshev,
Bulgaria 1935
1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.exd5 Nxd5 4.Nxd5 Qxd5 5.b3?? (5.Qf3) 5…Qe5+
(threatening 6…Qxa1) 0-1, Schriemer-Borman, Netherlands 2004
1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.exd5 Nxd5 4.Nge2 Nc6 5.g3?! (5.Nxd5) 5…Bg4
Page 3
Bill Wall
6.Bg2 Nd4 7.Bxd5?? (7.f3) 7…Qxd5 8.f3 (8.Nxd5 Nf3+ 9.Kf1 Bh3#)
8…Qxf3 (8…Nxf3+) 9.Rf1 Qg2 (threatening 10…Bh3 and 11…Qxf1#)
0-1, Gibbs-Schmidt, Lugano 1968
1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e5 d4 4.exf6 dxc3 5.bxc3 gxf6 6.d4 e5 7.Bd3 Nc6
8.Ne2 Be6 9.O-O Qd7 10.Be3 O-O-O 11.Qc1 Rg8 12.Qb2 (12.Bxh7)
12…Rxg2? (12…h5) 13.Kxg2 Bh3+ 14.Kg1 Qg4+?? (14…Bxf1) 15.Ng3
Qf3 16.Be4 (16…Qg4 17.Bf5+) 1-0, Balla-Sterk, Budapest 1921
1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e5 Nfd7 4.e6 fxe6 5.d4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.dxc5 Nxc5
8.Bb5 g6?? (8…Qd6) 9.Qd4 (threatening 10.Qxc5 and 10.Qxh8) 1-0,
Russ-Zeh, Corr. 1974
1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d6 3.Bc4 Nxe4 (3…e6) 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe4 e5 (5…
e6) 6.Qf3+ Kg8?? (6…Ke8) 7.Ng5 (threatening 8.Qf7#) 7…Qf6 8.Qb3+
(8…Be6 9.Nxe6) 1-0, Krejcik-Gottlieb, Vienna 1922
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.d4 d6 5.Bd3 dxe5 6.dxe5 N8d7?! (6…
Nc6) 7.e6 Nf6?? (7…Ne5) 8.exf7+ Kxf7 9.Bg6+ (9…hxg6 10.Qxd8) 1-0,
Wren-Mayfield, Halifax 1941
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.d4 d6 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 Nc6 7.Be3 Bf5
8.Nc3 e6 9.Nf3 Bg4 10.Qd2 Be7 11.O-O-O Qd7 12.h3 Bf5 13.d5 Na5
14.Bxb6 axb6 15.Qf4 (15.Bd3) 15…Bb4 16.dxe6?? (16.Qe3) 16…Nb3+
17.axb3 Ra1+ 18.Nb1 Rxb1# 0-1, Andreev-Khmelnitsky, Russia 1988
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Ng5+
(7.e6+) 7…Kg8 8.Qf3 Qe8 9.e6 Nxd4?? (9…Nd8) 10.Qf7+ Qxf7
11.exf7# 1-0, Brolin-NN, Stockholm 2011
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 f6?! 4.c4 Nb6? (4…Nb4) 5.Bd3 fxe5?? (5…g6)
6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxg6+ hxg6 8.Bxg6# 1-0, Tamache-NN, lichess.org 2011
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.Nf3 d6 4.Be2 Nf4 5.Bf1 dxe5 6.Nxe5? (6.d4) 6…
Qd5 7.Nf3?? (7.d4) 7…Qe4+ 8.Be2 Nxg2+ 9.Kf1 Bh3 10.d3 (10.Kg1
Nf4) 10…Nh4+ 11.Ke1 Nxf3# 0-1, Rabinovich-Lowenthal, Moscow
1927
Page 4
Chess Opening Blunders
Basman’s Defense
(1.e4 g5)
1.e4 g5 2.d3 h6 3.Ne2 d6 4.Ng3 Nf6 5.Bd2 Bg7 6.Bc3 h5 7.Be2 g4 8.Nd2
Nc6 9.d4 d5?! (9…e6) 10.e5 Ng8 11.Bb5 f5 12.f4 Qd7 13.Nb3 b6? (13…
e6) 14.Nxf5 Bf8 15.Qe2 a6?? (15…e6) 16.e6 (16…Qd8 17.Bxc6+) 1-0,
Inkeroinen-Heinola, Finland 1984
1.e4 g5 2.d4 Bg7 (2…f6?? 3.Qh5#) 3.Bxg5 c5 4.Be3 Qb6 5.Nc3 Qxb2
6.Na4 Qa3 7.c3 cxd4 8.Bxd4 (8.cxd4) 8…Bxd4 9.Qxd4 Nf6? 10.Nc5
(10.f3) 10…Nc6 11.Qe3 Ng4 (12.Qd2 Qxc5) 0-1, Guennewig-Alber,
Page 5
Bill Wall
Bavaria 1988
1.e4 g5 2.d4 Bg7 3.Bxg5 c5 4.Be3 cxd4?! (4…Nc6) 5.Bxd4 e5?! (5…
Bxd4) 6.Be3 Ne7 7.Nc3 O-O 8.Nf3 f5? (8…d6) 9.Bc4+ Kh8 10.Ng5 Qe8
11.Nb5 Qg6?? (11…d5) 12.Nd6 Bf6?? (12…h6) 13.Ngf7+ (13…Rxf7
14.Nxf7+ Kg7 15.Bh6+ Kg8 16.Qd6) 1-0, Erben-Forster, Corr. 1989
1.e4 g5 2.d4 h6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.h4 gxh4 5.Nf3 d6 6.Nxh4 Nf6 7.Bf4 c6
(7…Nc6) 8.Qd2 Ng4?! (8…b5) 9.O-O-O Qa5 10.Bc4 b5? (10…Qb4)
11.Nxb5 Qxd2+ 12.Rxd2 cxb5?? (12…Na6) 13.Bd5 (winning the rook)
1-0, Wallwork-Thornton, Corr. 1989
1.e4 g5 2.d4 h6 3.Bc4 d6 4.Ne2 Nf6 5.Nbc3 Nbd7 6.f4 c6 (6…gxf4) 7.e5
d5? (7…Nb6) 8.Bd3 Ng8? (8…Nh7) 9.e6 Ndf6 10.exf7+ Kxf7 11.fxg5
hxg5 12.Bxg5 c5 13.dxc5 Qc7 14.Qd2 Qxc5 15.O-O-O Bd7 16.Nf4 d4
17.Nce2 Qxg5?? (17…e5) 18.Bg6+ Kg7?? (18…Qxg6 19.Nxg6 Kxg6)
19.Ne6+ (19…Bxe6 20.Qxg5) 1-0, Robles-Gagnon, California 1992
1.e4 g5 2.d4 h6 3.h4 gxh4 (3…g4) 4.Rxh4 e5?! (4…c6) 5.Nf3 exd4?
(5…Be7) 6.Qxd4 Qf6 7.e5 Qe7? (7…Qe6) 8.Nc3 c6? (8…Nc6) 9.Be3
d5?? (9…Bg7) 10.exd6 Qf6 11.Re4+ Be6 12.O-O-O Bg7 13.d7+
Kd8 14.Qb6+! axb6 15.Bxb6+ Ke7 16.d8=Q# 1-0, Alexopoulos-
Giannopoulos, Greece 1969
1.e4 g5 2.Nf3 f6? (2…g4) 3.Nxg5 fxg5?? (3…e6) 4.Qh5# 1-0, Bill Wall-
SCXC, FICS 2011
1.e4 g5 2.h4 gxh4 3.Bc4 e6 4.e5 d5 5.exd6 cxd6 6.Nf3 Be7 7.d4 d5
8.Bd3 Nc6 9.c3 h5 10.Bf4 Nh6 11.Na3 a6 12.Nc2 Ng4 13.Qe2 b5
14.O-O-O Bb7 15.Rh3 b4 16.Rdh1 bxc3 17.bxc3 Qa5 18.Kd2?! (18.
Nxh4) 18…Rc8 19.Nxh4?? (19.Rb1) 19…Nxd4 20.Nxd4 Qxc3+ (21.
Kd1 Qa1+ 22.Bb1 Qxb1+ 23.Kd2 Bb4+ 24.Rc3 Bxc3#) 0-1, Hoeffler-
Prothero, Seattle 1994
Page 6
Chess Opening Blunders
Benko Gambit
(1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5)
The Benko Gambit, called the Volga Gambit in the Eastern Bloc
countries, was promoted and popularized by grandmaster Pal
Benko (1928-2019). Black sacrifices a pawn to get a slight lead
in development and better pawn structure.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.b3 g6 5.Bb2 Bg7 6.Qd2 Ne4 7.Qc2 Qa5+
8.Kd1?? (8.Nd2) 8…Nxf2+ 9.Kc1 Qe1+ 10.Qd1 Qxd1# 0-1, Chobot-
Schmitt, Milwaukee 1972
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.b6 a5 6.Nc3 Ba6 7.f4 d6 8.Nf3
Qxb6 9.e4 Bxf1 10.Rxf1 Qb4? (10…Nfd7) 11.a3 Qc4 12.Nd2 Qd4??
(12…Qd3) 13.Qe2 c4 14.Nxc4 Qa7 15.e5 (15…dxe5 16.fxe5 Nfd7
17.Nb5) 1-0, Mikhalevski-Jones, New Zealand 2009
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.b6 d6 6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.e4 g6 8.f4 Bg7
Page 7
Bill Wall
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.Nc3 axb5 6.Nxb5 Ba6 7.e3?
(7.Nc3) 7…Bxb5 (8.Bxb5 Qa5+ and 9.Qxb5) 1-0, Kirchenhoff-Foldi,
Dortmund 1986
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.Nc3 axb5 6.e4 b4 7.Nb5 Nxe4?
(7…d6) 8.Qe2 Nf6?? (8…f5) 9.Nd6# 1-0, Hultin-Fromm, Sweden 1992
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.Nc3 d6 6.e4 axb5 7.Bf4 b4 8.Nb5
Nxe4 9.Qe2 Nf6?? (9…g5) 10.Nxd6+ (10…Kd7 11.Qb5+ Kc7 12.Ne8#)
1-0, Buggler-Guarisco, Switzerland 1987
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.Nc3 d6 6.g3 g6 7.Bg2 Bg7 8.Nf3
axb5 9.Nxb5 Qa5+ 10.Nc3 Ne4 11.Bd2 Nxc3 12.Qc2?? (12.bxc3) 12…
Qa4 (threatening 13…Qxc2) 13.b3 (13.Qxa4 Nxa4) 13…Qe4 (threatening
14…Qxe2#) 0-1, Mason-Colding, Connecticut 2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.f3 Bb7 6.e4 e6 7.Nc3 exd5 8.e5
Qe7 9.Qe2 Ng8 10.Nh3 Qh4+ 11.g3 Qb4?! (11…Qd8) 12.Bd2 Qxb2?
(12…c4) 13.Qd1 (13.Rb1!) 13…Qa3?? (13…c4) 14.Nb1 (14…Qb2
15.Bc3) 1-0, Hareux-Waquet, France 2001
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.Nc3 b4 5.Nb1 d6 6.Bd2 e6 7.Bg5 Be7 8.a3
bxa3 9.Nxa3 Nxd5 10.Bxe7 Nxe7 11.Nb5 d5 12.Nxa7 Qb6 13.Nxc8??
(13.Nb5) 13…Qb4+ 14.Qd2 Rxa1# 0-1, NN-Bill Wall, playchess.com
2012
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.e3 Bb7 5.b4? (5.Nf3) 5…bxc4 6.Bxc4 cxb4
7.Qd2? (7.Bb2) 7…Qc7 8.Qxb4?? (8…Bb3) 8…Bxd5 (threatening 9…
Bxc4 and 9…Bxg2; 9.Bxd5 Qxc1+ 10.Ke2 Nxd5) 0-1, Rhals-Bill Wall,
Internet 1999
Page 8
Chess Opening Blunders
Benko’s Opening
(1.g3)
1.g3 d5 2.b4 c6 3.Bg2 a5 4.b5 cxb5 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Nxb5 e5 7.c4 Bc5
8.Nc3 dxc4 9.Qa4+ Bd7 10.Qxc4 Qc7 11.Qb3 Bc6 12.Nf3 a4 13.Qc2
Na6 14.O-O O-O 15.Nxa4? (15.Qf5) 15…Bxf3 (16.Nxc5 Bxg2 17.Kxg2
Nxc5) 0-1, Jones-Lamm, Aalborg 1986
1.g3 d5 2.Bg2 e6 3.c4 c6 4.b3 f5 5.Bb2 Nf6 6.Nf3 Bd6 7.Qc2 O-O 8.O-O
Page 9
Bill Wall
Nbd7 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Nd4 Ne5 11.Nxf5 Bxf5 12.Qxf5 Qe7 13.Nc3 Ne4
14.Qh3 Nxf2 15.Rxf2 Bc5 16.e3 Rxf2 17.Kxf2 Nd3+ 18.Kg1?? (18.Ke2)
18…Bxe3+ (19.dxe3 Qxe3+ 20.Kh1 Nf2#) 0-1, Lees-W. Evans, Whitby
1962
1.g3 d5 2.Bg2 Nf6 3.c4 dxc4 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.O-O a6 6.Na3 c5?! (6…Nb6)
7.Nxc4 e6 8.d4 Rb8? (8…Be7) 9.Bf4 Ra8 10.dxc5 Nxc5?? (10…Bxc5)
11.Qxd8+ Kxd8 12.Rfd1+ Nfd7 13.Nb6 Ra7 14.Bb8 1-0, Tal-Uhlmann,
Herceg Novi blitz 1970
1.g3 d5 2.Bg2 Nf6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.d3 c5 6.O-O Nc6 7.Nc3 b6
8.e4 dxe4 (8…d4) 9.dxe4 Ba6 10.e5 Ng4 11.Nd2 Ne3? (11…Ncxe5)
12.Bxc6+ Kf8 13.Qf3 Nxf1?? (13…Rc8) 14.Bxa8 1-0, Vieira-Teixeira,
Rio de Janeiro 1997
1.g3 Nf6 2.Bg2 Nc6 3.f3 e5 4.d3 Bc5 5.h3 d5 6.Nc3 d4 7.Na4 b5 8.Nxc5
Qd5 9.Na6 e4?? (9…Bxa6) 10.Nxc7+ (forking K and Q) 1-0, Anderson-
Pavey, Indiana 1992
1.g3 Nf6 2.Bg2 Nf6 3.c4 dxc4 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.O-O a6 6.Na3 c5? (6…
Nb6) 7.Nxc4 e6 8.d4 Rb8? (8…Nb6) 9.Bf4 Ra8 10.dxc5 Nxc5?? (10…
Bxc5) 11.Qxd8+ Kxd8 12.Rfd1+ Nfd7 13.Nb6 Ra7 14.Bb8 1-0, Tal-
Uhlmann, Herceg Novi blitz 1970 - Jerry, delete this game – a duplicate
1.g3 g6 2.Bg2 Bg7 3.c3 Nf6 4.e4 d6 5.Qb3 O-O 6.e5 dxe5 7.Bxb7?
(7.Nf3) 7…Bxb7 8.Qxb7 Nbd7 9.Nf3? (9.Kf1) Nc5 10.Qb5 Nd3+
11.Ke2 e4 12.Ne1 Nxc1 0-1, Kant-Bill Wall, chess.com 2009
1.g3 h5 2.Bg2 h4 3.gxh4 Rxh4 4.f3? (4.d4) 4…e5 5.e4 Nc6 6.Nh3??
(6.Nc3) 6…Rxh3 7.Bxh3 Qh4+ 8.Ke2 Nd4+ 0-1, Flores-Bill Wall,
Sunnyvale 1988
Page 10
Chess Opening Blunders
Benoni Defense
(1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5)
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 d6 4.Nf3 g6 5.g3 Bg7 6.Bg2 b5 7.cxb5 a6 8.bxa6
Qa5+ 9.Nc3 Ne4 10.Qc2? (10.O-O) 10…Nxc3 11.Bd2?? (11.O-O) 11…
Qa4 (12.b3 Qe4) 0-1, Spassov-Adorjan, Sochi 1977
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg4 (7…
Bg7) 8.Be2 Qe7 (8…Bxf3) 9.O-O Nxe4?? (9…Bg7) 10.Qa4+ Nd7
11.Nxe4 1-0, Bill Wall-Campelli, Dayton 1984
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Bg5
Page 11
Bill Wall
h6 9.Bh4 g5 10.Bg3 Nh5 11.Bb5+ Kf8 12.e5 Nxg3 13.fxg3 Bg4 (13…
Nd7) 14.O-O Bxe5 15.Nxe5 Bxd1 16.Nxf7 Qe7?? (16…Qb6) 17.Nxh6+
(17….Kg7 18.Nf5+ forking queen and king) 1-0, Nickoloff-Dlaykin,
Cambridge 1986
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Bg7 8.Bb5+
Nbd7 9.e5 Nh5?! (9…dxe5) 10.e6 Qh4+? (10…O-O) 11.Kf1 Ng3+??
(11…Qe7) 12.hxg3 Qxh1 13.Qa4 (13…fxe6 14.dxe6) 1-0, Peralta-
Carmona, Spain 2005
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Bg7 8.e5
dxe5 9.fxe5 Nfd7 10.e6 fxe6 11.Nf3 O-O 12.Bc4?? (12.dxe6) 12…Nb6
(12…Rxf3! 13.Qxf3 Qh4+) 13.Qb3?? (13.Bg5) 13…Rxf3 14.dxe6 (14…
gxf3 15.Qh4+) 14…Qh4+ 15.Kd1 Qd4+ 16.Bd2 Nxc4 (threatening 17…
Qxd2#) 0-1, Rundic-Amburn, Oklahoma City 1990
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Bg7 8.Nf3
O-O 9.Bd3 c4 10.Bxc4 Nxe4 11.Ng5 Bf5 12.Bd3?? (12…Ncxe4) 12…
Nxc3 (13.bxc3 Bxc3+ 14.Kf2 Bxd3 15.Qxd3 Bxa1) 0-1, Arakelov-S.
Ivanov, Russia 1995
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.cxd5 d6 7.e4 O-O
8.Bd3 Nxe4 9.Bxe7 Nxc3?? (9…Qxe7) 10.Bxh7+ Kh8 (10…Kxh7
11.Qd3+) 11.Qh5 Bg4 (11…Qxe7+?? 12.Be4+ Kg8 13.Qh7#; 11…Nb5??
12.Bg6+ Kg8 13.Qh7#) 12.Qh4 Qxe7+ 13.Qxe7 Na6 (threatening 14…
Rae8) 14.Qh4 Rfe8+ 15.Kd2 Re5 16.Bc2+ (16…Bh5 17.Nf3 Rxd5
18.Kxc3) 1-0, Gaiter-Lee, Austrian Corr. 1989
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.d6 Ne4 5.Bf4?? (5.Nf3) 5…Qf6 6.Bg3??
(6.Qc1) 6…Qxb2 0-1, Malezos-Bill Wall, chess.com 2015
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.dxe6 fxe6 5.Nc3 Be7 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Bf4 d6 8.h3
O-O 9.Qc2 Nd4 10.Nxd4 cxd4 11.Ne4 e5 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.Bd2 Bg5
14.g4 Bh4 15.Rh2 Bxf2+ 16.Kd1 Bg1 0-1, Lopang-Sikorova, Russia
2007
Page 12
Chess Opening Blunders
1.d4 c5 2.c4 cxd4 3.Nf3 e5 4.Nxe5? (4.e3) 4…Qa5+ (5.Nd2 Qxe5) 0-1,
Combe-Hasenfuss, Folkestone 1933
1.d4 c5 2.dxc5 Qa5+ 3.Nc3 Qxc5 4.e4 e5 5.Nf3 d6 6.Nd5 Ne7?? (6…
Bd7) 7.b4 Qc6 8.Bb5 (8…Qxb5 9.Nc7, forking king and queen) 1-0,
Kraus-Costin, Switzerland 1913
1.d4 c5 2.d5 Na6 3.Nf3 d6 4.e4 Bg4?! (4…g6) 5.Ne5 Qa5+? (5…Bd7)
Page 13
Bill Wall
1.d4 c5 2.d5 d6 3.c4 e5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.g3 f5 6.e4 Bg5?? (6…fxe4) 7.Qh5+
(threatening 8.Qxg5 or 8.Bxg5) 1-0, Persson-Correa, Spain 2006
1.d4 c5 2.d5 e6 3.Nc3 exd5 4.Nxd5 Ne7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 Qa5+ 7.c3
Nf5?? (7…Nxd5) 8.Qa4 Qxa4?? 9.Nc7# 1-0, Yermolinsky-Tate, Reno
2001
1.d4 c5 2.d5 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e4 exd5?! (4…d6) 5.e5 d4? (5…Ng8)
6.exf6 Qa5?? (6…d5) 7.Bd2 gxf6 8.Nd5 Qd8 9.Qe2+ Be7 10.Nxf6+ Kf8
11.Bh6# 1-0, Meinsohn-Meng, France 2002
1.d4 c5 2.d5 e6 3.dxe6 fxe6 4.e4 d5 5.Bb5+ Nc6 6.Nf3 Qa5+ 7.Nc3 d4
8.Nxd4 cxd4 9.Qh5+ Ke7 (9…Kd8) 10.Bg5+ Nf6 11.Bxc6 Qb6?? (11…
Kd6) 12.Qe8+ Kd6 13.Bf4+ Kc5 14.Na4+ Kb4 15.Bd2+ (15…Kc4
16.b3+ Qxb3 17.axb3#) 1-0, Kiss-Juhasz, Budapest 2012
1.d4 c5 2.d5 Nf6 3.c4 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 Bxa6 6.Nc3 d6 7.Nf3 Nbd7
8.Nd2 Qa5 9.g3 g6 10.Bg2 Bg7 11.O-O O-O 12.Qc2 Rfb8 13.Re1
Ng4 14.Bh3 h5 15.Nb3 Qb4 16.Bd2?? (16.Bg2) 16…c4 17.Nc1 Qxb2
(18.Qxb2 Rxb2 19.Ne4 Rxd2 20.Nxd2 Bxa1) 0-1, Holzinger-Browne,
Chicago 1973
1.d4 c5 2.Nf3 cxd4 3.Nxd4 d5 4.c4 e5 5.Nb5 d4 6.e3 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 dxe3
8.Bxb4?? (8. fxe3) 8…exf2+ (9.Ke2 Bg4+; 9.Kxf2 Qxd1) 0-1, Kuenitz-
Bauer, Gibraltar 2015
Page 14
Chess Opening Blunders
Bird’s Opening
(1.f4)
1.f4 d5 2.b3 Nf6 3.e3 c5 4.Bb5+ Nc6 5.d4?? (5.Bb2; 5.Nf3) 5…Qa5+
0-1, Schenk-Rindlisbacher, Switzerland 1990
1.f4 d5 2.e3 c5 3.b3 e6 4.Bb2 Nf6 5.Nf3 Be7 6.Bd3 O-O 7.Ng5 g6 8.h4
Nh5?? (8…h6) 9.Qxh5! Bxg5 (9…gxh5?? 10.Bxh7#) 10.Qxh7+!! Kxh7
11.hxg5+ Kg8 12.Rh8# 1-0, Cook-NN, Bristol 1906
1.f4 d5 2.e3 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.b3 e5 5.fxe5 Nxe5 6.Be2 Bxf3 7.Bxf3 Nf6
8.Bb2 Bd6 9.O-O Ne4 10.Nc3 Qh4 (10…Nxc3) 11.Nxd5?? (11.Bxe4
Page 15
Bill Wall
1.f4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e6 4.b3 Bd6 5.Bb2 O-O 6.Bd3 Nbd7 7.O-O Re8
8.Ne5 c6 9.Rf3 Qc7? (9…g6) 10.Nxd7 Nxd7 11.Bxh7+ Kxh7?? (11…
Kf8) 12.Rh3+ Kg8 13.Qh5 Kf8 14.Bxg7+ Ke7 15.Qg5+ f6 16.Bxf6+
Nxf6 17.Rh7+ (17…Kd8 18.Rxc7; 17…Kf8 18.Qxf6+) 1-0, Brown-
Howell_Smith, London 1932
1.f4 d5 2.e4?! dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Qe2 Qd4 5.h3 a6 (5…Nc6) 6.g4 g6
7.Bg2 Nc6 8.Nxe4 h6?? (8…Nxe4 9.Bxe4 f5) 9.c3 Qd8 10.Nxf6# 1-0,
Williams-Cranford, Corr. 1982
1.f4 d5 2.e4?! dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Qe2 (4.h3) 4…Bf5 5.Qb5+ Bd7 6.Qxb7
Bc6?? (6…Nc6) 7.Bb5 Qd7 8.Bxc6 Qxc6 9.Qc8# 1-0, Myers-NN, Iowa
1985
1.f4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.O-O h5 6.d3 Bg4 7.Nc3 Bxf3
8.Bxf3 e6 9.e4 d4 10.e5? (10.Nb5) 10…dxc3 11.exf6 Qd4+ 12.Kg2? (12.
Rf2) 12… cxb2 13.fxg7?? (13.Bxb2) 13…bxa1=Q 0-1, Cockcroft-Juhe,
Whitby 1968
1.f4 f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.g4 d5 5.g5 d4 6.gxf6 dxc3 7.fxg7 (7.Qh5+!)
7…cxd2+ 8.Bxd2 Bxg7 9.Qh5+ Kf8 10.O-O-O Qe8 11.Qd5 Bd7? (11…
Qc6) 12.Bc4 Nc6 13.Ne2 Nd8?? (13…Rd8) 14.Bc3 Bxc3 15.Nxc3 Be6
16.Qe5 (16…Rg8 17.Bxe6 Nxe6 18.Qxe6) 1-0, Wagner-Skarszewski,
Corr. 1912
Page 16
Chess Opening Blunders
1.f4 e5 (From Gambit) 2.d3 exf4 3.Bxf4 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.c3 d6 6.Nbd2
Nf6 7.Bg5 Ng4 8.Bh4?? (8.d4) 8…Qxh4+ 9.Nxh4 Bf2# 0-1, Barsalou-
Bill Wall, Dayton 1980
1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 d6 4.exd6 Bxd6 5.d4 Nf6 6.Bg5 (6.Nc3) 6…
h6 7.Bh4 g5 8.Bf2 Ne4 9.e3 g4 10.Bh4?? (10.Nfd2) 10…gxf3 11.Bxd8
f2+ 12.Ke2 Bg4+ 13.Kd3 Nb4+ 14.Kxe4 f5# 0-1, NN-Schlechter, Vienna
1887
1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 Bxd6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Nc3 O-O 6.d3 Ng4 7.Bg5 f6
8.Bh4 (8.Bc1) 8…Ne3 9.Qd2? (9.Qb1) 9…Bf4 (threatening 10…Nxg2+
Page 17
Bill Wall
1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 Bxd6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.d4 Nc6 6.Bg5 Bg4 7.e3 Qd7
8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Bb5 O-O-O 10.d5 Qe7 11.Bxc6? (11.Qe2) 11…Qxe3+
12.Qe2?? (12.Kf1) 12…Qc1+ 13.Qd1 (13.Kf2 Bc5+ 14.Kg3 Qh6) 13…
Rhe8+ 14.Bxe8 Rxe8+ 15.Kf2 Qe3+ 16.Kf1 Bxf3 17.gxf3 Bc5 18.Kg2
Rg8+ (19.Kh3 Qh6#; 19.Kf1 Qf2#) 0-1, Bird-Steinitz, London 1866
1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 Bxd6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.g3 h5 6.Bg2 (6.d4) 6…h4
7.Nxh4? (7.d3) 7…Rxh4 8.Bxb7?? (8.gxh4) 8…c6 9.d4 (9.Bxa8 Bxg3+
10.hxg3 Rxh1+ 11.Kf2 Qd4+ 12.e3 Qf6+ 13.Kg2 Rxd1) 9…Bxg3+
10.Kd2?? Qxd4# 0-1, Jensen-Kristinsson, Helsinki 2009
1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 Bxd6 4.Nf3 g5 5.e4 g4 6.e5 gxf3 7.exd6 Qh4+
8.g3 Qe4+ 9.Kf2?? (9.Be2) 9…Qd4+ 10.Ke1 f2+ 11.Ke2 Bg4# 0-1, NN-
Bier, Vienna 1905
1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 Bf5?! 4.dxc7 Qxc7 5.Nc3 Bd6 6.Nb5?? (6.e4)
6…Bg3+ 7.hxg3 Qxg3# 0-1, Veauce-Keene, Bognor Regis blitz 1963
1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 f6 3.exf6 Nxf6 4.Nf3 d5 5.e3 Nc6 6.Bb5 Bd6 7.Bxc6+
bxc6 8.O-O O-O 9.b3?! (9…d3) Ng4 10.h3 Qf6 11.c3? (11.Nc3) 11…
Nh2 12.Nxh2 Bxh2 13.Kxh2 Qxf1 0-1, Reif-Em Lasker, Breslau 1889
Page 18
Chess Opening Blunders
Bishop’s Opening
(1.e4 e5 2.Bc4)
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.b4 Bxb4 4.Qg4 Qf6 5.Nf3 Nh6 6.Qg3 Qf4 (6…
Nc6) 7.Qxg7 Qxe4+?? (7…Rg8 8.Qxe5+ Qxe5 9.Nxe5 Rxg2) 8.Kd1 Rf8
9.Re1 Qxc4 10.Qxe5+ Qe6 (10…Kd8 11.Qf6+ Be7 12.Qxe7#) 11.Qf4
1-0, Bill Wall-Scott, San Antonio 1970
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.c3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.e5 d5 6.exf6 dxc4 7.Qh5
Bf8? (7…O-O) 8.Qe5+ Be6 9.fxg7 (9…Rg8 10.gxf8=Q+ 11.Bh6+ Ke8
12.Qxd4) 1-0, Ursell-O’Hanlon, Southsea 1949
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.d3 Bg4 (4…Nf6) 5.Bxf7+ Kd7?? (5…
Page 19
Bill Wall
Kxf7) 6.Nxe5+ dxe5 7.Qxg4+ Ke7 8.Qxg7 (8…Nf6 9.Bb3+ Kd6 10.f4)
1-0, Schmied-Ammer, Vienna 1996
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Nf3 f6? 4.Nxe5 fxe5? (4…Qe7) 5.Qh5+ g6?? (5…
Ke7) 6.Qxe5+ Ne7?? (6…Qe7) 7.Qxh8+ 1-0, Koljevic-Jallow, Batumi
2018
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.d3 Na5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Qh5+ Ke6 6.Qf5+ Kd6
7.d4 Qf6?? (7…Kc6) 8.dxe5+ Qxe5 9.Bf4 1-0. Boros-Saller, Hungary
1995
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 c6 4.Nf3 d6 5.Nbd2 Be7 6.Nf1 O-O 7.Ne3 d5
8.Bb3 (8.exd5) 8…dxe4 9.Nxe5? (9.dxe4) 9…Qa5+ (threatening 10…
Qxe5) 0-1, Brandt-Stefanova, Germany 2017
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 c6 4.Nf3 d6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 O-O 7.Nbd2 Nbd7
8.c3 Re8? (8…b5) 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7?? (9…Kh8) 10.Ng5+ Kg8 11.Ne6
(11…Qb6 12.Nc4; 11…Qa5 12.Nc4) 1-0, Paehtz-Seps, Biel 2004
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d4 c6 4.dxe5 Qa5+ 5.Nc3 Nxe4 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7
7.Qf3+ Nf6 8.exf6 Qe5+ 9.Ne4 Bb4+?! (9…gxf6) 10.Kf1 Re8 11.fxg7+
(11.Ng5+! Kg6 12.g4) 11…Kxg7 12.Qg4+ Kh8 13.Bg5 Be7? (13…d5)
14.Nf3 Qb5+ 15.Kg1 d5?? (15…Qxb2) 16.Qh5 Bd7 17.Nf6 (17…Bxf6
18.Bxf6+ Kg8 19.Ng5) 1-0, Marshall-Forsberg, New York 1925
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.e5 d5 5.exd6? (5.Bb3) 5…Bxd6 6.Qxd4??
(6.Qe2+) 6…Bb4+ (7.Qc3 Nc6) 0-1, Hejny-Jerabek, Czech Republic
1993
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Qxd4 Nd6?! (5…Nf6) 6.O-O
Nc6?? (6…f6) 7.Re1+ Ne7 8.Bb3 f6 9.Qd5 g5 10.Nxg5 fxg5 11.Bxg5 h6
12.Nc3 (12.Bf4!) 12…Rh7 13.Qg8 hxg5 14.Qxh7 (threatening 15.Qg6+
Nf7 16.Qxf7#) 1-0, Prokes-Zander, Vienna 1925
Page 20
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Nxd4 exd4 5.c3 dxc3 6.Nxc3 Qg5 7.d3
Qxg2 8.Rf1 Bb4 9.Qb3 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 (10.Qxc3) 10…Qg6 11.Bf4 c6
12.O-O-O? (12.Qb4) 12…b5 13.Rg1? (13.Bxb5) 13…bxc4 14.Qxc4
Qf6 0-1, Bill Wall-Aker, Corr. 1981
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Nxd4 exd4 5.d3 Nf6 6.O-O Be7? (6…
d6) 7.e5 Ng8 8.Qh5 g6? (8…d5) 9.Qf3 d5 10.exd6 Bf6 11.Re1+ Kf8
12.dxc7 (12.Re7!) 12…Qd6? (12…Qxc7) 13.Bf4 Qc6 14.Bd5 Qxc2
15.Bh6+ (15.Na3!) 15…Nxh6 16.Qxf6 Rg8 17.Re8+ Kxe8 18.Qd8# 1-0,
Page 21
Bill Wall
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Nxd4 exd4 5.O-O d6?! (5…Nf6) 6.c3
dxc3 7.Nxc3 Nf6 (7…Be7) 8.d4 g6? (8…Be7) 9.Bg5 Bg7?? (9…Be7)
10.f4 (10.e5!) 10…Qb7? (10…Bg4) 11.e5 dxe5 (11…Ng4) 12.fxe5 1-0,
Zevetov-Yakimov, Corr. 1982
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Nxe5 Qg5 5.Bxf7+ Ke7 6.Bc4?? (6.O-O)
6…Qxg2 7.Rf1 Qxe4+ 8.Be2 d5 (8…Nxc2!) 9.Ng4?? (9.Nc3) 9…Nf3#
0-1, George-Bekheet, Norway 2016
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Nxe5 Qg5 5.Bxf7+ Ke7 6.Bxg8?? (6.O-
O) 6…Qxg2 7.Rf1 Qxe4+ 8.Qe2 Qxe2# 0-1, Shahudha-Almeraj, Norway
2016
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Nxe5 Qg5 5.Bxf7+ Ke7 6.O-O Qxe5
7.Bxg8 Rxg8 8.c3 Nc6 9.d4 Qa5? (9…Qf6) 10.d5 Ne5? (10…g6)
11.Qh5 Nf7?? (11…g6) 12.d6+ (12…cxd6 13.Qxa5) 1-0, Chandler-NN,
Stockbridge 1983
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Nxe5 Qg5 5.Nxf7?? (5.Bxf7+) 5…Qxg2
6.d3 Qxh1+ 7.Kd2 Qg2 8.Nxh8 Qxf2+ 0-1, Kozelek-Holzmann, Europe
1929
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Nxe5 Qg5 5.Nxf7?? (5.Bxf7+) 5…Qxg2
6.Rf1 Qxe4+ 7.Be2 Nf3# 0-1, McBride-Hill, England 1892 and Muhlock,
Kostic, Cologne 1911
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Nxe5 Qg5 5.Nxf7?? (5.Bxf7+) 5…Qxg2
6.Nxh8 Qxh1+ 7.Bf1 Qxe4+ 8.Be2 d5 9.d3 Nf3+ 10.Kf1 Bh3# 0-1,
Mueller-Pieper, Baden 1988
Page 22
Chess Opening Blunders
Blackmar-Diemer Gambit
(1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3)
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 f5 4.Bg5 Nf6 5.f3 exf3 6.Nxf3 Nc6 7.d5 Nb4
8.Bxf6 gxf6? (8…exf6) 9.a3 Na6?? (9…Nxd5) 10.Nd4 (10.Ne5! fxe5
11.Qh5+ Kd7 12.Qxf5) 10…Nc5?? (10…h5) 11.Qh5+ Kd7 12.Bb5+ (12.
Qxf5!) 12…c6 13.dxc6 Kc7 14.O-O-O Kb8 15.b4 (15…cxb7!) 15…
Ne4 16.Nxf5 (16.Nxe4! fxe4 17.cxb7) 16.Qc7?? (16…Nd6) 17.Nd5 Qe5
Page 23
Bill Wall
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 (Ziegler Defense) 6.Be2
e6 7.O-O Be7 8.Qd3 O-O 9.Ne4 Nbd7 10.Nfg5 g6 11.Qh3 Qa5?? (11…
h5) 12.Nxf6+ (12.Qh6!) 12…Rxf6 13.Rxf6 (13.Qh6! with the threat of
14.Rxf6 Bxf6 15.Qxh7#) 13…Kg7?? (13…h5) 14.Rxf7+ Rxf7 15.Qxh7+
Kf6 16.Qxf7# 1-0, Bateman-Nuzzo, British Columbia 1973
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 e6 (Euwe Variation) 6.Bg5
Be7 7.Qd2 Nbd7 8.Bd3 c5 9.O-O-O a6 10.Qf4 Qa5?! (10…cxd4) 11.d5
exd5? (11…Qb4) 12.Rhe1 h6?? (12…Qd8) 13.Rxe7+! Kxe7 14.Nxd5+
Kf8 15.Qd6+ (15…Kg8 16.Ne7+ Kf8 17.Ng6+ Kg8 18.Qf8+ Nxf8
19.Ne7#) 1-0, Rosenberg-Commerford, CCLA Corr. 1966
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 Bg4 (Teichmann Variation)
6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 c6 8.Be3 e6 9.Bd3 Bb4 10.O-O Nbd7 11.g4 Qe7 (11…
O-O) 12.Bf4 O-O-O?? (12…h6) 13.Qxc6+! bxc6 14.Ba6# 0-1, Bohley-
Friesma, Michigan 1965
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 Bg4 6.h3 Bh5 7.g4 Bg6
8.Ne5 Nbd7 9.Bf4 Nxe5 10.dxe5 Qxd1+ 11.Rxd1 Nd7? (11…Ne4)
12.Nb5 O-O-O?? (12…Rc8) 13.e6 fxe6 14.Nxa7+ Kb8 15.Nb5 e5
16.Bxe5 (threatening 17.Bxc7+) 1-0, Diemer-Ritter,West Germany 1951
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 g6 (Bogoljubow Variation)
6.Bc4 Bg7 7.O-O O-O 8.Qe1 Bf5 9.Bb3 Re8 10.Bxf7+ Kxf7 11.Ng5+
Kg8 12.Rxf5 gxf5?? (12…e6) 13.Qe6+ Kh8 14.Nf7+ (14,,,Kg8 15.Nh6+
Kh8 16.Qg8+ and 17.Nf7#) 1-0, Robyn-Stefani, Corr. 1965
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 h6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.Ne5 e6
8.O-O Bxc2 9.Qe2 Qxd4+? (9…Nc6) 10.Kh1 Be4?? (10…Nc6) 11.Bf4
(11.Nxf7!) 11…c6?? (11…Bb4) 12.Rad1 Bxg2+ 13.Kxg2 Qb6 14.Nxf7
(14…Kxf7 15.Qxe6+ Kg6 16.Bd3+ Kh5 17.Qh3#) 1-0, Bohley-Robinson,
Corr. 1965
Page 24
Chess Opening Blunders
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Qxf3 (Ryder Variation) 5…
Qxd4 6.Be3 Qb4 7.O-O-O a6 8.Rd4 (8.Qg3) 8…Qa5 9.Be2 Bg4?? (9…
c6) 10.Qxb7 e5 11.Ra4 (trapping the queen) 1-0, Plath-Knies, German
Corr. 1985
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Qxf3 (Ryder Variation) 5…
Qxd4 6.Be3 Qb4 7.O-O-O Nc6 8.Nb5 e5?? (8…Qa5) 9.Nxc7+ Ke7
10.Nxa8 Bg4 11.Qf2 Ne4 12.Qh4+ Nf6 13.Nc7 Qa5 14.Nd5+ Ke6
15.Nxf6 Bxd1 16.Bc4+ Kd6 17.Kxd1 1-0, Bill Wall-Crisler, Guam 1974
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Qxf3 Qxd4 6.Be3 Qb4 7.O-O-O
Bg4 8.Nb5 Na6 (8…e5 9.Qxb7 1-0, Thompson-Chace, Kansas City 1964)
9.Qxb7 Qe4 10.Nxc7+ Nxc7 11.Qxc7 Qxe3+ 12.Kb1 Rc8 13.Bb5+ Bd7
14.Qxc8# 1-0, Gedult-Kovac, Paris 1966
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Qxf3 Qxd4 6.Be3 Qb4 7.O-O-O
Bg4 8.Nb5 Na6 9.Qxb7 Rc8?? (9…Qe4) 10.Qxa6 Qe4 11.Qxc8+ (11…
Bxc8 12.Nxc7#) 1-0, Karch-Troester, Corr. 1982
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Qxf3 Qxd4 6.Be3 Qb4 7.O-O-O
Bg4 8.Nb5 Nbd7?? (8…Na6) 9.Qxb7 Rb8?? (9…Qe4 10.Qxe4 Nxe4
11.Rd4) 10.Qxb8+ Nxb8 11.Nxc7+ 1-0, Lagland-Saari, Finland 1955 and
Richard-Knapp, London 1962 and Grava-Pole, Albany 1963
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Qxf3 Qxd4 6.Be3 Qb4 7.O-O-O
Bg4 8.Nb5 e5?? (8…Na6) 9.Nxc7+ Ke7 10.Qxb7 Qxb7 11.Bc5# 1-0,
Bartsch-Jennen, Germany 1948
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Qxf3 Qxd4 6.Be3 Qe5 7.O-O-O
Bg4 8.Qxb7 Qxe3+ 9.Kb1 Bxd1?? (9…Qb6) 10.Qc8# 1-0, Baitsch-
Pahlke, Baden 1956
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Qxf3 Qxd4 6.Be3 Qg4 7.O-O-O
Qxf3 8.Nxf3 Bg4 9.Nb5 Bxf3?? (9…Na6) 10.Nxc7# 1-0, Bill Wall-
Solitude, Internet 1996
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Qxf3 Qxd4 6.Be3 Qg4 7.Qf2
Page 25
Bill Wall
Ne4 8.Nxe4 Qxe4 9.O-O-O Nc6 10.Nf3 f6 11.Bd3 Qa4 12.Qg3 (12.
Kb1) 12…e5?? (12…Qxa2) 13.Bg6+! hxg6 14.Qxg6+ Ke7 15.Bc5+ Ke6
16.Ng5# 1-0, Nolte-Ronning, Minneapolis 1966
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 Bf5 (Vienna Variation) 5.g4 Bg6 6.g5
Nd5 7.fxe4?! (7.Nxe4) 7…Nxc3 8.bxc3 Bxe4 9.Nf3 c5 (9…Qd5) 10.Bc4
Nc6 11.g6 hxg6 12.Ng5 Bxh1?? (12…Bd5) 13.Bxf7+ Kd7 14.Qg4+
(14…dxc5+!) 14…Kc7?? (14…e6) 15. Ne6+ (forking queen and king)
1-0, Gedult-Falk, Paris 1966
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 Bf5 5.Bg5 exf3 6.Nxf3 Nc6 7.Bb5 Nd5
8.Ne5 Qd6? (8…Nxc3) 9.Qf3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 Be6? (10…f6) 11.Nxc6
Bd5?? (11…a6) 12.Nb4+ (12.Nxe7+!) 12…c6 13.Qxd5 (13…Qxd5
14.Nxd5 Rc8 15.a4) 1-0, Scholze-Menke, Corr. 1952
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 Bf5 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 exf6 7.fxe4 Bh7
8.a3 f5 9.e5 Qg5 10.Nf3 Qg6? (10…Qe3+) 11.Nd5 Qc6?? (11…Na6)
12.Bb5 1-0, Bomberault-Shupe, Corr. 1966
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 (Von Popiel Gambit) 4…Nbd7 5.f3
exf3 6.Nxf3 e6 7.Bd3 e6 8.O-O Nb6 9.Kh1 Nbd5 10.Ne5 h6 11.Bxf6
Bxf6?! (11…Nxf6) 12.Qh5 Qe7?? (12…O-O) 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.Nxf7
O-O 15.Qg6 Qd7 16.Nxh6+ (16….Kh8 17.Qh7#) 1-0, Berzzarine-
Torkelson, Toledo, OH 1963
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bf5 5.Qe2 Qxd4? (5…Nc6) 6.Qb5+
Qd7?? (6…Nbd7) 7.Qxb7 1-0, Rosenvald-Zaplava, Tallinn, 2001
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.f3 exf3 4.Nxf3 Bf5 5.c3 e6 6.Bc4 Be7 7.O-O Nf6
8.Nbd2 c6 9.Ne5 Bg6 10.Ndf3 Nbd7 11.Qe2 Bh5 12.Qe1 Bxf3? (12…O-
O) 13.Nxf7 (13…Qb6 14.Rxf3) 1-0, Blackmar-Atkinson, Corr. 1884
Page 26
Chess Opening Blunders
Bogo-Indian Defense
(1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+)
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+4.Bd2 c5 5.Nc3 O-O 6.g3 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Nc6
8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Bg2 d5 10.Ne4? (10.O-O) 10…Nxe4 11.Bxb4 Qb6 (12.
Bxe4 Qxb4+ 13.Qd2 Qxd2+ 14.Kxd2 dxe4) 0-1, Pitkanen-Keskel, Tallinn
2001
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+4.Bd2 Bxd2+ 5.Nbxd2 O-O 6.e4 d6 7.Bd3
Nbd7 8.e5 dxe5 9.dxe5 Ng4 10.Qe2 Nc5?! (10…Ndxe5) 11.Bc2 b6?
(11…Qe7) 12.h3 Nh6 13.b4 Nd7?? (13…Nb7) 14.Qe4 (threatening
15.Qxh7#) 14…g6 15.Qxa8 1-0, Koltanowski-NN, California 1988
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+4.Bd2 Qe7 5.e3 O-O 6.Bd3 d5 7.O-O Nbd7
Page 27
Bill Wall
8.Nc3 Bxc3 9.Bxc3 b6 10.Rc1 Bb7 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Qb3 c5? (12…
a5) 13.dxc5 Nxc5? (13…Rfc8) 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Qb4 Kh8?? (15…Qd7)
16.Rxc5 (16…bxc5 17.Qh4; 16…Qxc5 17.Qh4) 1-0, Marshall-Petrov,
Hamburg 1930
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+4.Bd2 Qe7 5.g3 Nc6 6.Nc3 Bxc3 7.Bxc3
Ne4 8.Rc1 O-O 9.d5 Nb4? (9…Qc5) 10.d6 (10…Nxd6 11.Bxb4) 1-0,
Veingold-Fernandez, Spain 1995
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2 b6 5.a3 Bxd2+ 6.Qxd2 Bb7 7.e3
O-O 8.Be2 d6 9.O-O Nbd7 10.b4 Ne4 11.Qd3 f5 12.Bb2 Rf6 13.d5
Rg6 14.dxe6 Nf8 15.c5 Nxe6?! (15…bxc5) 16.cxd6 cxd6 17.Rad1 Kh8
18.Ne1?? (18.h4) 18…N6g5 19.Kh1 Nh3 (20.gxh3 Nxf2#; 20,Qc2 Qh4)
0-1, Galfand-Illescas, Madrid 1996
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2 b6 5.e3 O-O 6.Bd3 Bb7 7.O-O d5
8.a3 Be7 9.b4 c5 10.bxc5 bxc5 11.cxd5 Qxd5 12.e4 Qh5?! (12…Qd7)
13.Rb1 Bc6 14.Qc2 Nbd7? (14…Nfd7) 15.e5 Nd5 16.Ne4 Rac8?? (16…
f5) 17.Ng3 (17…Qg4 18.h3) 1-0, Balashov-Nickl, Greece 2017
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2 d5 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.a3 Be7 7.e3
O-O 8.Qc2 a5 9.b3 Bd7 10.Bb2 Na7 11.Bd3 h6 12.Rg1 c5?! (12…a4)
13.dxc5 Bxc5? (13…Bc6) 14.g4 dxc4? (14…Qe7) 15.Bxc4 Rc8?? (15…
Ne8) 16.g5 hxg5 17.Nxg5 Re8 18.Nxf7 Qe7 19.Ne4 Kxf7 (19…Nh5
20.Neg5) 20.Nxf6 (20…gxf6 21.Qg6+ Kf8 22.Qg8#) 1-0, Wilder-Kogan,
Colorado 1987
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nfd2 Ne4 5.a3?! (5…Qc2) 5…Qf6 6.f3??
(6.Qc2) 6…Qh4+ 7.g3 Nxg3 8.Rg1 Ne4 0-1, Petit-Bill Wall, Thailand
1974
Page 28
Chess Opening Blunders
Budapest Gambit
(1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5)
The first known game with the Budapest Gambit was played by
Geza Maroczy (189-1851) in 1896. Hungarian chess players
further developed the opening, and the opening has been seri-
ously analyzed since 1916. Black gives up a pawn for quick de-
velopment of his pieces. Blunders can occur for White or Black.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.d5 Bb4+ 4.Nc3 d6? (4…Bxc3+) 5.Qa4+ (5…Nc6
6.dxc6 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3) 1-0, Gueye-Korsano, UAE 1985
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.d5 Bc5 4.Bg5? (4…Nc3) 4…Ne4 5.Bxd8?? (5.Be3)
5…Bxf2# 0-1, Arnold-Hanauer, Philadelphia 1936
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ne4 4.a3 d6 5.exd6 Bxd6 6.g3? (6.Nd2) 6…
Nxf3 (7.Kxf2?? Bxg3+, threatening 8…Qxd1; 7.Qd5 Nxh1) 0-1, Warren-
Selman, Corr. 1932
Page 29
Bill Wall
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ne4 4.a3 Qh4 5.Be3 Bc5 6.Qd3?? (6.Bxc5
Nxc5 7.b4) 6…Nxf2 (6…Nxf2 7.Bxf2 Qxf2+, threatening 8..Qxf1) 0-1,
Whiteley-Dunn, London 1989
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ne4 4.f3? Qh4+ 5.g3 Bb4+ 6.Nd2?? (6.Nc3)
6…Nxg3 7.hxg3 Qxf3# 0-1, Andrew-Bill Wall, chess.com 2009
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ne4 4.a3 Qh4 5.g3 Qh5 6.Nf3 Nc6 (6…d6)
7.Qc2 Qf5? (7…Nc5) 8.Nbd2 Nxg3? (threatening 9…Qxc2) 9.e4 (9.e4
Nxe4 10.Qxe4 Qxe4+ 11.Nxe4) 1-0, Wiegel-Fiebeg, Corr. 1984
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ne4 4.f3? Qh4+ 5.g3 Bb4+ 6.Nd2?? (6.Nc3)
6…Nxg3 7.hxg3 Qxf3# 0-1, Andrew-Bill Wall, chess.com 2009
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ne4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Nbd2 Nc5 6.g3 h5 (6…d6)
7.a3 Qe7 8.b4 Nxe5 9.bxc5?? (9.Bg2) 9…Nd3# 0-1, Cole-Hein, Siegen
1941
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Qd4 d5 5.cxd5 Nc6 6.Qd1 Ncxe5 7.Nf3
Bb4+ 8.Nc3 Qe7 9.Bd2?? (9.Nxe5) 9…Nd3# 0-1, Farzamfar-Gralla,
Hamburg blitz 2006
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Qd4 d6 5.exd6 Bxd6 6.Nf3 (6.Qxg7??
Be5 0-1, Takacs-Krejcik, Vienna 1920) 6…O-O 7.h3 (7…Bg5) 7…Nc6
8.Qd1?? (8.Qd2) 8…Nxf2 (9.Kxf2 Bc5+ 10.Ke1 Bf2+ 11.Kxf2 Qxd1)
0-1, Wright-Scrivener, Chicago 1926 and Kovalenko-Beimanov, Minsk
1990
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e4 Nxe5 5.Ne2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2?? (6.Nec3)
6…Nd3# 1-0, Taro-Neale, Seattle 1949
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e4 Nxe5 5.f4 Nec6 6.Be3 Bb4+ 7.Nd2
(7.Nc3) 7…Qe7 8.Qf3 d6 9.Bd3 Nd7 10.Ne2? (10.Qe2) 10…Nde5
11.fxe5 Nxe5 12.Qg3 Nxd3+ 13.Kd1 Nxb2+ 14.Kc2?? (14…Kc1) 14…
Nxc4 15.Nxc4 Qxe4+ 16.Kd1 Qxc4 17.Bd4 Bd7 0-1, Kohn-Leonhardt,
Poland 1930
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e4 h5 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nh3 d6?! (6…Bc5)
Page 30
Chess Opening Blunders
7.Bg5 Qd7 8.exd6 Bxd6 9.Be2 f6 10.Bf4 Nce5? (10…Nge5) 11.f3 Nh6
12.Be3 Qf7 13.Nf4 Nxc4?? (13…Be7) 14.Qa4+ (14…Bd7 15.Qxc4) 1-0,
Bogoljubov-Prokes, Bad Pistyan 1922
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.h3? (5.e3) 5…Bxf2+ 6.Kd2
Ne3 7.Qb3?? (7.Qa4) 7…d5 8.Qd3 Bf5 (threatening 9…dxc4) 0-1, NN-
Bill Wall, playchess.com 2014
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.e4 Ngxe5 6.Bg5?? (6.Nxe5)
6…Nxf3 (7.Qxf3 Qxg5) 0-1, Grimm-R. Smith, Philadelphia 1943
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bf4 Bb4+ 6.Nbd2 Qe7 7.a3
(7.Bg5 Qe6 8.a3 Ngxe5 9.axb4?? Nd3# 0-1, Imeeva-Jovanovic, Greece
2001) 7…Ncxe5 (7…Ngxe5 8.axb4?? Bd3# 1-0, Henricksen-Pedersen,
Copenhagen 1937) 8.axb4?? (8.e3) 8…Nf3# 0-1, Opendahl-Czekalski,
Ireland 2000
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.Bf4 Bb4+ 7.Nbd2
Qe7 8.a3 (8.e3) 8…Ncxe5 9.axb4?? (9.e3) 9…Nd3# 0-1, Olszewski-
Kasaja, Poland 1989
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.f4?! Bc5 5.Nh3 Nxh2? (5…d6) 6.Rxh2
Qh4+ 7.Kd2 d5 8.Qb3 Bxh3? (8…dxc4) 9.Qxh3 (9.g3) 9…Qxf4+
10.Kc2 Qxf1?? (10…Qxc4+) 11.Qc8+ Ke7 12.Qxh8?? 912.Bg5+!) 12…
Qxe2+ 13.Bd2 Nc6 14.Qxa8 Nb4+ 15.Kb3 Qxc4+ 16.Ka4 b5+ 17.Ka5
Bb6# 0-1, Helmer-Krejcik, Vienna 1917
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.e3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Qe7 5.Nc3? (5…dxe5) exd4 6.Nd5
Nxd5 7.cxd5 dxe3 8.fxe3 Qxe3+ 9.Qe2?? (9…Be2) 9…Bxd2+ 0-1,
Kuenzler-Gedult, France 1971
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.Bg5 exd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Qd1 Bc5 6.Nf3? (6.e3) 6…
Ne4 7.Bh4?? (7.Be3) 7…Qxh4 (8.Nxh4 Bxf2#) 0-1, Tjio-Verheig,
Eindhoven 1978
Page 31
Bill Wall
Caro-Kann Defense
(1.e4 c6)
1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Ne5
Bh7 8.Bc4 e6 9.Qe2 Nd7?? (9…Qe7) 10.Nxf7 (10…Qf6 11.Bxe6) 1-0,
Derda-Deuser, Indiana 1980
1.e4 c6 2.c4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 Qb6 7.cxd5
Qxb2+ 8.Rc1 Nb4 9.Na4 Qxa2 10.Bc4 Bg4?? (10…Nc2+) 11.Nf3 (11…
Page 32
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 c6 2.c4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Qb3 Bg7 7.cxd5 O-O
8.Bg5 Nbd7 9.Nf3 Nb6 10.Bxf6 exf6 11.h3 a5 12.Bb5?! (12.a4) 12…a4
13.Bxa4? (13.Qb4) 13…Nxa4 14.Nxa4?? (14…O-O) 14…Qe8+ (15.Kf1
Qxa4) 0-1, Balashov-Botvinnik, USSR 1970
1.e4 c6 2.c4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Bg5 Ne4
8.cxd5 Nxg5 9.Nxg5 Qb6 10.Bb5+ Nd7 11.O-O O-O 12.Nf3 Nf6 13.Re1
a6 14.Bd3 Qxb2 15.Na4 Qa3?! (15…Qb4) 16.Nb6 Rb8?? (16…Bg4)
17.Nc4 Qc3 18.Rc1 (18…Qb4 19.Rb1 Qc3 20.Rb3) 1-0, Leonhardt-
Fahrni, Hamburg 1905
1.e4 c6 2.c4 e6 3.d4 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.e5 Bf5 6.Nf3 h6 (6…Bb4+) 7.a3
Nd7 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 f6? (9…Ne7) 10.e6 Nb6?? (10…Qe7) 11.Qg6+
Ke7 12.Qf7+ Kd6 13.Bf4# 1-0, Day-Wright, Louisville 1973
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Ng3 e6 7.Bd3 c5
8.Qe2 Be7 9.Bd2 b6 10.Bb5 Bb7 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Bg5 a6 13.Bxd7+
Qxd7 14.Rd1 Qc7 15.O-O O-O 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Nh5 Qe7?? (17…
Be7) 18.Rd7! (18…Qxd7 19.Nxf6+, forking queen and king) 1-0, Sharp-
Aykent, Atlanta 1981
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Ng5 Ngf6 6.Bd3 e6 7.Qe2
Be7 8.N1f3 b6? (8…h6) 9.Nxf7 (9…Kxf7 10.Ng5+ Ke8 11.Nxe6) 1-0,
Pavosovic-Zelenika, Croatia 2005
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 (Classical Variation) 5.Bd3 Bg6
6.Qe2 Nd7?? (6…e6) 7.Nd6# 1-0, Gonzalez-Matto, Gibraltar 2004
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 e6 7.h4 h6
8.Ne5 Bh7 9.Bc4 Nd7 10.Qe2 Ngf6?? (10…Nxe5) 11.Nxf7 (11…Kxf7??
12.Qxe6+ and mate next move) 1-0, Tarjan-Clifton, Las Vegas 1973
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7
Page 33
Bill Wall
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 (Knight Variation) 5.Nxf6+ exf6
6.c3 Bd6 7.Bd3 O-O 8.Qc2 g6 9.Ne2 Qc7 10.h4 Nd7 11.h5 f5 12.hxg6
hxg6 13.Bg5 c5 14.Bxf5 f6 15.Be6+ (15…Kg7 16.Bh6+ Kh7 17.Rh3 Rh8
18.Bf8#) 1-0, Bronstein-Ritov, Tallinn 1978
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ gxf6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.Bf4 e6
8.Ne2 Bd6 9.Bxd6 Qxd6 10.Ng3? (10.Qd2) 10…Qb4+ (threatening 11…
Qxc4) 0-1, von Meijenfeldt-Pacher, Groningen 2012
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ gxf6 6.Bf4 Qb6 7.Rb1
Be6 8.b3 Bf5 9.Bc4 Na6 10.a4 O-O-O 11.Ne2 c5 12.Bxa6?! (12.Be3)
12…Qxa6 13.Be3? (13.d5) 13…cxd4 14.Nxd4 e5 (15.Nxf5 Bb4+ 16.Bd2
Bxd2+) 0-1, Solmundarson-Johannessen, Reykjavik 1964
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.c3 Bg4 (5…Ne7) 6.Nbd2 c5 7.dxc5
Bxc5? (7…Bxf3) 8.Qa4+ 1-0, Shabanov-Igney, Italy 2001
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.f4 e6 5.g4? (5.Nc3; 5.Nf3) 5…Qh4+ 6.Kd2
Be4 7.Nf3 Qf2+ 8.Qe2 Qxf3 0-1, NN-Bill Wall, lichess.org 2016
1.e4 c6 2.d4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 d5 5.h3 e6 (5…Nf6) 6.Bf4 Qb6 7.Qd2
Ne7 (7…Nf6) 8.O-O-O f6? (8…O-O) 9.Kb1 Qa5?? (9…Qd8) 10.Nxd5
(threatening 11.Qxa5; 10…Qxd2 11.Nc7+ Kd8 12.Rxd2, threatening
13.Nxa8) 1-0, Karpatchev-Oney, Istanbul 2006
Page 34
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 c6 5.Bd2 Qc7 6.d5 cxd5 (6…
Nf6) 7.Nxd5 Qd6 8.Bb4 Qc6?? (8…Nc6) 9.Bb5 Qxb5?? 10.Nc7# 1-0,
Ramirez-Hernandez, Baja 2005
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 c6 5.Nf3 Bg4 (5…Nf6) 6.Bf4 e6
Page 35
Bill Wall
7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 Bb4 9.Be2 Nd7 10.a3 O-O-O?? (10…Bxc3+) 11.axb4
Qxa1+ 12.Kd2 Qxh1 13.Qxc6+! bxc6 14.Ba6# 1-0, Canal-NN, Europe
1930
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Bc4 Bg4 6.Nge2 Nc6 7.Be3
O-O-O 8.f3?! (8.a3) 8…e5 9.fxg4? (9.d5) 9…exd4 10.Nxd4 Nxd4
11.Bxd4? (11.O-O) 11…Bc5 12.Qf3 Rhe8+ 13.Kf1 Rxd4 14.Bxf7??
(14.Bd3) 14…Qe6+ 15.Ne2 Rxe2 16.Qxe2 Rf4+ 0-1, Whelen-Levy, Las
Vegas 1976
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Bd2 Nc6 6.Bb5 Bd7?? (6…
Qb4) 7.Nd5 Nb4 8.Bxb4 (8…Qxb5 9.Nxc7+) 1-0, Abrahams-Crothers,
Oxford 1925
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Bd3 Bg4 6.Ne2 Nbd7 (6…
Nc6) 7.O-O O-O-O 8.f3 Bf5? (8…Bh5) 9.b4 (9…Qxb4 10.Rb1 Qa5
11.Rb5 and 12.Rxf5) 1-0, Delgado-Heimbaecher, Canary Islands 2001
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bf5 (5…Nc6) 6.Ne5
Ne4? (6…e6) 7.Qf3 e6?? (7…Nd6) 8.Nc4 (8…Qb4 9.a3 Qe7 10.Nxe4)
1-0, Dussol-Meyer, France 2005
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.Nf3 Bg4 (4…Nf6) 5.h3 Bh5 6.d4 Nf6
7.g4 Bg6 8.Ne5 Nbd7 9.Nc4 Qa6 10.Bf4 Qe6+ 11.Ne3 O-O-O? (11…
Qb6) 12.d5 Qb6 13.Nc4 Qb4?? (13…Qa6) 14.a3 Qc5 15.Be3 (trapping
the queen) 1-0, Alekhine-Schroeder, New York 1929
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 (4.Bc4 Qc6?? 5.Bb5 1-0, Kamps-
van Ginkel, Leiden 2009) 4…Nf6 5.Nf3 a6 6.Ne5 Nc6 7.Bf4 Qxd4 (7…
Bf5) 8.Nxc6 Qxf4?? (8…Qxd1+) 9.Qd8# 1-0, Matoussi-Al_Khelaifi,
Dresden 2008
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 c6 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Bf4
Nd5 8.Nxd5 Qxd5 9.Bc4 Qe4+ 10.Be3?? (10.Qe2) 10…Nxe5 (11.dxe5
Qxc4) 0-1, Stachanczyk-Heinzel, Poland 2017
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd8 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Ne5 Bh5?? (6…
Be6) 7.Qxh5 Nxh5 8.Bf7# 1-0, Balode-Sondore, Riga 1965
Page 36
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd8 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.Nf3 h6 6.O-O a6 7.Re1
Nc6 (7…e6) 8.d4 Bg4 (8…b5) 9.Ne5 Bxd1?? (9…Nxe5) 10.Bxf7# 1-0,
Mestres-Curbelo, Canary Islands 2001
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd8 4.d4 Nc6 5.Nf3 (5.d5) 5…Bg4? (5…
Nf6) 6.d5 Ne5?? (6…Bxf3) 7.Nxe5 Bxd1 8.Bb5+ (8…c6 9.dxc6 a6
10.c7+) 1-0, Mieses-Oehquist, Nuremberg 1895
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd8 4.d4 Bf5 (4…Nf6) 5.Qf3 Bd7? (5…
Qc8) 6.Qxb7 Bc6?? (6…Nc6) 7.Bb5 Qd7 8.Bxc6 Qxc6?? 9.Qc8# 1-0,
Ingram-A. McDonald, Edinburgh 2009
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.c4 Qd8 4.b4 (4.Nf3) 4…Nc6 5.Qa4?! (5…Nf3)
5…Qd6 6.c5?? (6.Nf3) 6…Qe5+ (6…Ne2 Qxa1) 0-1, NN-Bill Wall,
playchess.com 2016
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.b3 Bg4 4.Bb5+ c6 (4…Nbd7) 5.dxc6 Bxd1?? (5…
Nxc6) 6.c7+ Qd7 7.c8=Q# 1-0, Bill Wall-Davros, chess.com 2008
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Bb5+ Nbd7 5.h3 Bh5 (5…Bxf3) 6.c4
e6 7.g4 Bg6 8.Qe2 a6 9.dxe6 axb5?? (9…fxe6) 10.exf7+ (10…Kxf7
11.Ng5+ Kg8 12.Qe6+ Bf7 13.Qxf7#) 1-0, Stefansson-Agullo, Reykjavik
2011
1.e4 d5 2.Nf3 (Tennison Gambit) 2…dxe4 3.Ng5 Qd5 4.d3 exd3 5.Bxd3
Qxg2?? (5…Qe5+) 6.Be4 (trapping the queen) 1-0, Krejcik-Takacs,
Vienna 1920
1.e4 d5 2.Nf3 dxe4 3.Ng5 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bf5 5.Qe2 c6 6.Ngxe4 Nbd7?? (6…
Nxe4) 7.Nd6# 1-0, Schroder-Blake, Brooklyn 1912
Page 37
Bill Wall
Center Game
(1.e4 e5 2.d4)
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 (Danish Gambit) 3…dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2
Bb4+ 6.Nc3 Qg5 7.Nf3 Qc5 8.Qb3 Nh6 9.O-O O-O 10.Nd5 Be5??
(10…Nc6) 11.Ba3 (11…Qc6 12.Ne7, forking queen and king) 1-0, Albin-
Horinek, Sofia 1922
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 (Danish Gambit) 3…dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2
Bb4+ 6.Nc3 Nh6 7.Nf3 O-O 8.O-O Bxc3 9.Bxc3 d6 10.Qb3 Nc6 11.Qb2
Ne5?! (11…Re8) 12.Nxe5 dxe5 13.Bxa5 Qg5 14.f4 Qg4?? (14…Qg6)
15.Rf3 Qg6 16.Rg3 Bg4 17.h3 Qxe4 18.Bxg7 (18…Nf5 19.Rxg4) 1-0,
Jackson-Coleman, Ontario 1876
Page 38
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 d6 (5…Bb4+) 6.Nf3
Bg4?! (6…Nf6) 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Ne5+ Ke8 9.Nxg4 Nf6?? (9…Nd7)
10.Nxf6+ gxf6 11.Qh5+ Ke7 (11…Kd7 12.Qf5+ Kc6 13.Bxf6) 12.Bxf6+
Kxf6 13.Qh4+ (14.Ke6 Qxd8) 1-0, Bernhold-Zahler, Berlin 1941
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 d5 5.Bxd5 Be7 6.Qb3 Be6 7.Bxe6
fxe6 8.Qxe6 Nc6 9.bxc3 Nd4?? (9…Qd3) 10.cxd4 Qxd4 11.Ne2 Qxa1
12.Nbc3 Rd8 13.O-O (threatening 14.Ba3) 1-0, Hammond-Scamp,
London 1913
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 d6 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Bxf7+
Kxf7 8.Ne5+ Ke8 9.Nxg4 Nf6?? (9…h5) 10.Nxf6 gxf6 11.Qh5+ Ke7
12.Bxf6+ (12…Kxf6 13.Qh4+ and 14.Qxd8) 1-0, Bernhold-Zahler,
Berlin 1941
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 f5? 6.Qh5 g6 7.Qe2
Nf6? (7…Bb4+) 8.exf5+ (8…Be7 9.Bxf6 Rf8 10.fxg6 hxg6 11.Bg7) 1-0,
Lutes-Hartenstein, Indianapolis 1962
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 Nf6 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.Nf3
Na5 8.Bxf7+ Kxf7 9.e5 Nc4?! (9…d5 10.exf6 Nc4) 10.exf6 Qe8+ 11.Kf1
Nxb2?? (11…gxf6) 12.Qd5+ (12…Kxf6 13.Ne4+ Ke7 14.Re1) 1-0,
Svenson-Alderson, Corr. 1912
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d6 4.cxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7 6.Bd3 Be6 (6…c5)
7.f4 d5?! (7…c5) 8.e5 Bg4 9.Nf3 Nfd7 10.O-O c5? (10…Nc6) 11.Nxd5
Nxe5?? (11…Nxe5) 12.dxe5 O-O 13.h3 Qxd5 14.Bxh7+ (14…Kxh7
15.Qxd5) 1-0, Blackburne-Beardsall, London 1871
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.e5 d5 5.Bb3 Ne4 6.Ne2 Bc5 7.f3 Qh4+
8.g3 d3 9.gxh4?? (9.Qxd3) 9…Bf2+ 10.Kf1 Bh3# 0-1, Stevenson-
Mariotti, Nottingham 1868
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Nf3 Nxe4 (5…O-O) 6.Bxe7
Qxe7 7.O-O Qb4? (7…Nc5) 8.Qxd4 Nd6?? (8…d5) 9.Bxf7+ (9…Kxf7
10.Qxb4) 1-0, Bill Wall- Latell, Mountain View 1986
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Bc4 Qh4 4.Qe2 Bb4+ 5.c3 dxc3 6.bxc3 Bc5 7.Nf3
Page 39
Bill Wall
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qa4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d5 6.Bg5 dxe4 7.Nxe4
Qe7?! (7…Qd5) 8.O-O-O Qxe4? (8…Bd7) 9.Rd8+ Kxd8 10.Qxe4 1-0,
Bronstein-NN, Moscow 1950
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 Nf6 5.Bc4 Ne5 6.Bb3 Bb4+ 7.c3
Bc5 8.Qg3?? (8.Qe2) 8…Bxf2+ (9.Qxf2 Nd3+; 9.Kxf2 Nxe4+) 0-1, NN-
Leonhardt, Leipzig 1903
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 Nf6 5.Be2 Bb4+ 6.c3 Ba5 7.b3?!
(7.e5) 7…Bb6 8.Qf4 O-O 9.Nd2? (9.e5) 9…Re8 10.Bb2 d5 11.O-O-O
dxe4 12.Nxe4? (12.Nc4) 12…Qxd1 13.Bxd1 Nxe4 (14.Nh3 Nxf2
15.Nxf2 Be3+) 0-1, L. Kubbel-A. Kubbel, St. Petersburg 1906
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nc6 5.Qe3 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.Nf3??
(7.Nc3) 7…Qxb2 8.Qc3 Bb4 0-1, Shammu-Bill Wall, chess.com 2010
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nc6 5.Qe3 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.Nf3??
(7.Nc3) 7…Qxb2 8.Qc3 Bb4 0-1, Shammu-Bill Wall, chess.com 2010
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Qf6 4.Qe3 Nh6 5.Nc3 Ng4 6.Nd5 Qc6?? (6…
Nxe3) 7.Qf4 d6 8.Bb5 Qxb5 9.Nxc7+ 1-0, Barnett-Eastwood, Corr. 1949
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Nf3 Bc5 4.Bc4 d6 5.Nxd4 Nc6 6.Nb3 Bb6 7.O-O
Qh4 8.g3 Qh3 9.Re1?? (9.Kh1) 9…Bg4 10.Bf1 Bxf2+ (11.Kxf2 Qxh2+
12.Bg2 Bxd1) 0-1, Orton-Gureyev, Tulsa 2018
1.e4 e5 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 exd4 4.Qxd4 dxe4 5.Nd5 c6? (5…Be6) 6.Qe5+
Kd7 7.Qf5+ Kd6?? (7…Ke8) 8.Bf4+ Kc5 9.b4+ Kd4 10.c3# 1-0, Sas-
NN, Ukraine 1904
Page 40
Chess Opening Blunders
Dunst Opening
(1.Nc3)
1.Nc3 d5 2.e4 d4 3.Nd5 e5 4.c3 c5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bc4 Be6 7.d3 h6 8.O-O
f5? (8…Bd6) 9.Qb3 Na5 10.Bb5+ Kf7?? (10…Bd7) 11.Nxe5# 1-0, Bill
Wall-Wauseon, playchess.com
Page 41
Bill Wall
1.Nc3 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.f3 Bf5 5.g4 Bg6 6.g5 exf3 7.Qxf3 Qd4
8.Qxb7 Ng4 9.Qxe8?? (9.Qc8+) 9…Qf2+ 10.Kd1 Ne3+ 11.dxe3 Bxc2#
0-1, Aasum-Frenzel, Germany 1989
1.Nc3 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nxe4 Nd7 4.Bc4 Ngf6 5.Ng5 e6 6.Qe2 Be7?? (6…
Nb6) 7.Nxf7 (7…Kxf7 8.Qxe6+ Kg6 9.Qf7+ Kf5 10.g4+ Kxg4 11.Qe6+
Kh5 12.Qf5+ g5 13.h4) 1-0, Myers-Savon, New York 1959
1.Nc3 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nxe4 e5 4.Bc4 Bf5 (4…Nc6) 5.Qf3 Bg6 6.Ng5
Nf6? (6…Nh6) 7.Qb3 (threatening 8.Qxb7 and 8.Bxf7+) 1-0, Havenaar-
von Saldern, Guernsey 2001
1.Nc3 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nxe4 e5 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Bc4 Nc6? (5…Nc6) 6.Bxf7+
Kxf7 7.Nfg5+ Ke8 8.Qxg4 Nge7? (8…Nf6) 9.Qh5+ g6?? (9…Ng6)
10.Nf6# 1-0, Bill Wall-Tigred, zone.com 2000
1.Nc3 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nxe4 e5 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.h3 Bxf3 (5…Be6) 6.Qxf3
Be7? (6…Qd7) 7.Bc4 Nh6? (7…Nf6) 8.d3 g5?? (8…O-O) 9.Qh5
(threatening 10.Qxh6; 9…Ng8 10.Qxf7+) 1-0, Myers-Meifert, Racine
1955
1.Nc3 d5 2.e4 Nf6 3.exd5 Nxd5 4.Bc4 Nb6 5.Bb3 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4? (6…
Bf5) 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Ng5+ Ke8 9.Qxg4 Nd4 10.Qe4 1-0, Ritvin-Rabin,
Philadelphia 2006
1.Nc3 e5 2.e3 d5 3.Nce2 Nc6 4.b3 Nf6 5.Bb2 Bf5 6.f4? (6.Ng3) 6…
Bd6 7.Nf3 Nb4 8.Rc1?? (8.d3) 8…Bxc2 (9.Rxc2 Nd3#) 0-1, Schlenker-
Stamer, Tubingen 1980
1.Nc3 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Bg5 d5 6.e4 Be7 7.Bb5 Bd7
8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Nxd5 Bxg5 10.Qe2+ Ne7 11.Qe5 Bxb5?? (11…O-O)
12.Nxc7+ Kf8 13.Nce6+ (13…fxe6 14.Nxe6+) 1-0, Dunst-Gresser, New
York 1950
Page 42
Chess Opening Blunders
Dutch Defense
(1.d4 f5)
1.d4 f5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.Qd3 g6 6.e4 h6 7.exf5 hxg5
8.Nxg5 Nb6 9.fxg6 Qd7 10.g7 (10…Bxg7 11.Qg6+ Kd8 12.Nf7+ Ke8
13.Nxh8+) 1-0, Dougherty-Whissell, Ontario 2008
1.d4 f5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Be3 e6 4.Bg5 Bb4+ 5.Nc3 c5 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3
O-O 8.d5?! (8.Nf3) 8…Qa5 9.Qd2?? (9.Bxf6) 9…Ne4 10.Qc1 Nxg5
11.Qxg5 Qxc3+ 0-1, NN-Bill Wall, playchess.com 2019
Page 43
Bill Wall
1.d4 f5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5 h6?! (3…d5) 4.Bxf6 exf6 5.e4 h5? (5…Bb4)
6.Be2 g6 7.exf5 Qe7 8.fxg6 Bg7 9.Nf3 Nc6 10.O-O d6 11.Nd5 Qd7
12.Re1 Kd8 13.Bd3 f5 14.Qd2 (14.Ng5!) B14…h6 15.Ng5 Rf8 16.Ne6+
(16…Ke8 17.Nexc7+) 1-0, Bacrot-Guillevic, Corsica 2005
1.d4 f5 2.c4 e6 (Classical Variation) 4.e3 b6 5.Bd3 Bb7 6.f3 Bd6 7.Nge2
Nc6 8.O-O O-O 9.e4 fxe4 10.fxe4? (10.Nxe4) Ng4 11.e5?? (11.Nf4) 11…
Qh4 12.h3 Ncxe5 13.dxe5 Bc5+ 14.Kh1 Qxh3# 0-1, Siegheim-Miller,
London 1925
1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 (Normal Variation) 3.Nc3 e6 4.Nf3 Bb4 5.Qc2 O-O 6.e3
b6 7.Be2 Bb7 8.O-O Bxc3 9.Qxc3 Ne4 10.Qc2 Rf6 11.Nd2 Rh6 12.g3??
(12.f3) 12…Qh4 13.Nf3 Ng5 [14.gxh4 Nxf3+ (14…Nxh4 15.Nh3#)
15.Kh1 Rxh4 16.h3 Nxd4+] 0-1, Litvinov-Veresov, Minsk 1958
1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e6 4.Nf3 Bb4 5.g3 c5 6.Bg2 Ne4 7.Qc2 Qa5
8.Bd2 Nxd2 9.Nxd2 cxd4 10.Nb3?? (10.Nb5) 10…dxc3 (11.Nxa5 cxb2+
and 12…bxa1=Q) 0-1, Taborn-Goldsby, Pensacola 2010
1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e6 4.Nf3 b6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 Bb7 7.Bd3 O-O
8.O-O Ne4 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Rc1 Na6 11.a3 Rf6 12.Qa4? (12.Bxe4 fxe4
13.Nd2) 12…Nxc3 13.Rxc6 Bxf3? (13…bxc3) 14.Qxa6?? (14.Rfc1)
14…Rg6 15.g3 Qg5 (15…Qh4!) 16.Re1?? (16.Rfc1) 16…Qh5 (16…
Qh4! 17.Bf1 Rh6) 17.e4?? (17.Bf1 Rh6 18.h4) 17…Qxh2+ (18.Kxh2
Rh6+ 19.Kg1 Rh1#) 0-1, Abramovic-Botvinnik, USSR 1924
1.d4 f5 2.e4 (Staunton Gambit) 2…fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.g4 d5 5.g5 Ng8 6.f3
exf3 7.Qxf3 e6?! (7…Nc6) 8.Bd3 g6 9.Nge2 Qe7? (9…Ne7) 10.Bf4 c6?
(10…Nc6) 11.Be5 Bg7 12.Qg3 Na6? (12…Bxe5) 13.O-O Bd7 14.Bd6
Qd8 15.Qf4 (threatening 16.Qf8+ Bxf8 17.Rxf8) 1-0, Tartakower-Mieses,
Baden-Baden 1924
1.d4 f5 2.e4 (Staunton Gambit) 2…fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.g4 h6 5.g5 hxg5
Page 44
Chess Opening Blunders
6.Bxg5 d5 7.f3 Bf5 8.Bg2 exf3 9.Nxf3 e6 10.Nh4 Bh7 11.Qe2 c6 12.O-O
Be7? (12…Qe7) 13.Qxe6 Qd7? (13…Nbd7) 14.Qe3 O-O? (14…Kd8)
15.Bh3 Qe8? (15…Qc7) 16.Rae1 Ne4?? (16…Bb4) 17.Be6+ (17.Nxe4!)
1-0, Biscay-Kuebert, Corr. 1965
1.d4 f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 d6 5.Qd2 Nbd7 6.O-O-O c6 7.f3 exf3
8.Nxf3 h6 9.Bd3 Nb6? (9…Qa5) 10.Bg6+ Kd7 11.Ne5+ Kc7?? (11…
dxe5 12.Bxf6) 12.Nf7 1-0, Mantia,-Bill Wall, Dayton 1981
1.d4 f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 g6 5.f3 exf3 6.Nxf3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c6
8.Qd2 b5 9.Bd3 b4 10.Ne4 Ba6?! (10…Nxe4) 11.Bxd6 Bxf6? (11…exf6)
12.Bxa6 Nxa6 13.Qe2 Qa5?? (13…Bg7) 14.Nxf6+ Kd8 15.Ne4 b3+
16.c3 1-0, Cruz-Bazan, Argentina 1960
1.d4 f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.f3 exf3 4.Nxf3 Nf6 5.Bd3 e6 6.O-O Be7 7.Ng5 h6??
8.Rxf6 hxg5?? (8…Bxf6) 9.Bg6# 1-0 Krasser-NN, Glasgow 2018
1.d4 f5 2.Bg5 (Hopton Attack) 2…h6 3.e3 b6 4.e3 b6?! (4…c5) 5.Be2
Bb7?? (5…d6) 6.Bh5+ Nxh5 7.Qxh5+ g6 8.Qxg6# 1-0, Wallin-Rose,
Helsinki 2015
1.d4 f5 2.h3 (Korchnoi’s Variation) 2…Nf6 3.g4 fxg4 4.hxg4 Nxg4 5.Qd3
Nf6?? (5…g6) 6.Rxh7 (threatening 7.Rxh8 and 7.Qg6#) 1-0, Carballo-
Serrano, Madrid 2001
Page 45
Bill Wall
Elephant Gambit
(1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 c6 4.dxc6 bxc6 (4…Nxc6) 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Bc4 e4?
(6…Bd6) 7.Qe2 Bg4 8.Nxe4 Bxf3?? 9.Nf6# 1-0, Toth-Costa, Spain 1999
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.Nc3 Qa5 5.Qe2 Nc6 6.d3 Bg4 7.Bd2
Nd4 8.Qxe5+?? (8…Qe4) 8…Qxe5 9.Nxe5 Nxc2# 0-1, Abrikossowski-
Parkov, Moscow 1938
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.Nc3 Qd8 5.d4 Bg4?! (5…exd4) 6.Bc4
exd4 7.Ne4 Nc6? (7…Nf6) 8.Qe2 Bxf3?? (8…Qe7) 9.Nf6# 1-0, Wendell-
Lindos, Chicago 1903
Page 46
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 e4 4.Qe2 Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7 6.Nxe4 Nxd5 7.d3 O-O
8.a3 Re8 9.Qd1? (9.c4) 9… f5 10.Ng3?? (10…Be2) 10…Bb4# 0-1,
Baker-H. Evans, Corr. 1955
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 e4 4.Qe2 Nf6 5.Nc3 Qe7?! (5…Be7) 6.Ng5 Bf5?
(6…Na6) 7.Qb5+ Nbd7 8.d6 Qe5 9.Qxb7 Rb8?? (9…Nb6) 10.dxc7 1-0,
Taeffner-Ulllrich, Berlin 1940
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 e4 4.Qe2 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bg4? 6.Nxe4 Bxf3?? (6…
Nxe4) 7.Nxf6# 1-0, Bill Wall-Mof, chess.com 2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nxe5 dxe4 4.Bc4 Qg5 5.Bxf7+ Ke7 6.Qh5? Qxg2
7.Bxg8 Qxh1+ 8.Ke2 Rxg8 9.Qf7+ Kd6 10.Qxg8?? (10.Nc4) 10…Kxe5
11.Qxf8 Bg4+ 12.Ke3 Qe1# 0-1, NN-Bronstein, Moscow 1954
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nxe5 dxe4 4.Bc4 Qg5 5.Nxf7? Qxg2 6.Qh5 Qxh1+
7.Ke2 Qxc1?? (7…g6!) 8.Nc3 Qxa1?? (8…Nf6) 9.Nd6+Kd7 10.Qe8+
(10…Kxd6 11.Nxe4#) 1-0, Lange-Schurig, Berlin 1855
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nxe5 dxe4 4.Bc4 Nh6 5.d4 Bd6? (5…Nd7) 6.Bxh6
Bxe5 7.Qh5 Qxd4?? (7…O-O) 8.Qxf7+ Kd8 9.Bg5+ Bf6 10.Qxg7 1-0,
Schel-NN, Holland 1910
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nxe5 dxe4 4.d4 h6? (4…Nd7) 5.Bc4 Be6?? (5…
Nc6) 6.Bxe6 fxe6 7.Qh5+ g6 8.Qxg6+ Ke7 9.Qf7+ Kd6 10.Nc4+ Kc6
11.Qxe6+ Bd6 12.Ne5+ Kb6 13.Qb3+ Ka6 14.Qa4+ (14…Kb6 15.Nc4#)
1-0, Klein-Mason, Aspen 1968
Page 47
Bill Wall
English Opening
(1.c4)
This opening was first mentioned and played in the 15th cen-
tury. It derives its name from the English chess master Howard
Staunton (1810-1874), who played it six times during his 1843
match with Pierre Charles Fournier de Saint-Amant (1800-
1872). It is considered a hypermodern, dynamic and flexible
opening.
1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 d6 6.d4 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7
8.O-O Bg7 9.h3 Qc8 10.Kh2? (10.Nxc6) 10…Nxd4 (11.Qxd4 Ng4+
winning the queen) 0-1, Butnorius-Maryasin, Lithuania 2012
1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 g6 4.e3 Bg7 5.d4 e6?! (5…d6) 6.dxc5 Bxc3+
7.bxc3 Qa5 8.Nd4 Qxc5? (8…Nge7) 9.Nb5 Ne5?? (9…Nge7) 10.Ba3
Qc6 11.Nd6+ Kd8 (11…Kf8 12.Qd4) 12.f4 Nxc4 13.Bxc4 Qxg2
14.Nxf7+ Ke8 15.Qd6 (threatening 16.Qf8#) 15…Qxh1+ 16.Bf1 1-0,
Page 48
Chess Opening Blunders
1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 b6?! (5…Nc6) 6.Ndb5
d6? (6…Ba6) 7.Bf4 e5 8.Bg5 Be7?? (8…Na6) 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Qd5
(threatening 11.Qxa8) 1-0, Adorjan-Zsinka, Budapest 1982
1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nf4? (5…Nb4) 6.d4
cxd4? (6…Ne6) 7.Bxf4 dxc3 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.O-O-O+ Ke8 10.Bxb8
(10…Rxb8 11.Bb5+ Bd7 12.Rxd7) 1-0, Karavade-Hoolt, Riyadh 2017
1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nb4 7.Na3 e5
8.Ndb5 Qxd1+ 9.Kxd1 N8a6 10.Be3 Be6?! (10…Bg4+) 11.Bc4 Rd8+
12.Ke2 Nc2? (12…Bc5) 13.Bxe6 Bxa3 14.Nxa3 Nxe3 15.Bh3 1-0,
Saemisch-Ernst, Berlin 1935
1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Nc3 Bc5 7.Bg5 Qb6
8.e3?! (8.Qe2) 8…Qxb2 9.Nd5?? (9.Rc1) 9…Nxd5 10.cxd5 Bb4+ 0-1,
Gomes-Hoffman, Brasilia 1999
1.c4 c5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nc3 Nc7 6.Qa4+ Bd7? (6…
Nce7) 7.Qb3 Nc6?? (7…f6) 8.Qxb7 Rb8?? (8…Nd4) 9.Qxc6 (9…Bxc6
10.Bxc6+ Qd7 11.Bxd7) 1-0, Salvesen-Mardell, Stockholm 2007
1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.d3 d6 6.Nf3 e6 7.Bg5 Nge7 8.O-
O O-O 9.Qd2 Re8 (9…d5) 10.Ne4 Kh8 11.Bf6 Rg8 12.Qh6 (12.Qf4!)
12…Nf5?? (12…Bxf6) 13.Qxh7+ (13…Kxh7 14.Nfg5+ Kh6 15.Nxf7+)
1-0, Naldrett-Gonzalves, Gibraltar 2013
1.c4 d6 2.Nc3 Be6 3.d4 Bxc4?! (3…Nf6) 4.Qa4+ b5 5.Nxb5 Na6?? (5…
Bxb5) 6.Nxd6# 1-0, Bill Wall-RNWN, FICS 2011
1.c4 d6 2.d3 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.h3 Be6 6.Bd2 c5 7.Qc1
O-O 8.Bh6 d5 9.h4 dxc4 10.h5 (10.Bxg7) 10…cxd3 11.exd3 Nxh5?
(11…Bxh6) 12.Rxh5 gxh5?? (12…Bxh6) 13.Qg5 f6 14.Qxg7# 1-0,
Thompson-Dromgoole, Nashville 2013
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.Nd5 Bc5 4.Qc2 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.e3 Nge7 7.Nxe7
Qxe7 8.a3 a5 9.b3 O-O 10.Bb2 f5 11.h4 f4 12.O-O-O? (12.Bd3) 12…
Page 49
Bill Wall
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 f5 4.d4 e4 5.Bg5 Nf6 6.d5 exf3 7.dxc6 fxg2
8.cxd7+?? (8.Bxg2) 8…Nxd7 (9.Bxd8 gxh1=Q) 0-1, Doroshkevich-
Tukmakov, Riga 1970
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.g3
Qe7 8.Bg2 Ba6 9.Qd3?! (9.Qc2) 9…d5 10.b3 d4 11.Qxd4? (11.Bxc6+)
11…Rd8 12.Bxc6+ Kf8 13.Bd5?? (13.Qxd8+) 13…Rxd5 (14.cxd5
Qxe2#; 14.Qxa7 Bxc3+) 0-1, NN-Mueller, Corr. 1929
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 g6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nd5 Bg7 6.Bg5 Nge7 7.Nxd4
Bxd4 8.Qxd4! O-O?? (8…Nxd4?? 9.Nf6+ Kf8 10.Bh6#; 8…f6) 9.Nf6+
Kh8 10.Ng4+ (10…Nxd4 11.Bf6+ Kg8 12.Nh6#) 1-0, Andreikin-
Karjakin, Moscow blitz 2010
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Bb4 5.e3 d6 6.Nge2 Bg4 7.Qb3 Rb8
8.Nd5 Bc5 9.Nxf6+ Qxf6 10.Bxc6+? (10.Nc3) 10…bxc6 11.Qxb8+??
(11.Qd1) 11…Kd7 12.Qxh8 Qf3 13.Kd1 Qxe2+ 14.Kc2 Qxc4+ (15.Kb1
Qd3#) 0-1, Craddock-Mieses, London 1939
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.e4 Bc5 4.d3 d6 5.Bg5 Nc6 6.Nd5 Nxd5 7.Bxd8
Bb4+ 8.Ke2?? (8.Qd2) 8…Nd4# 0-1, Jacobsen-Ash, Sydney 1889
1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.d3 O-O 6.O-O d6 7.Nc3 Bd7
8.e3 Bb4 9.Ne2 e4 10.dxe4 Nxe4?! (10…a5) 11.Qc2 Re8 12.a3 Bc5
13.b4 Bb6 14.Bb2 Qe7? (14…Nxf2 15.Rxf2 Bxe3) 15.Nf4 Nf6? (15…
Rac8) 16.Ng5 Ne5?? (16…g6) 17.Nd5 (17…Qd8 18.Bxe5 dxe5 19.Rad1)
1-0, Benko-Cosulich, Venice 1974
1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nc3 Be6 6.Qa4+ c6 7.Nf3 Nd7
8.d4 N7b6 9.Qc2 exd4 10.Nxd4?? (10.Nxd5) 10…Nb4 11.Qe4 Qxd4
(12.Qxd4 Nc2+, forking king and queen) 0-1, Maul-Brummer, Leipzig
1964
1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.d4 e4 7.Ne5 Bb4+
8.Kf1? (8.Bd2) 8…Nxe5 9.dxe5?? (9.a3) 9…Ne3+ (winning the queen)
Page 50
Chess Opening Blunders
1.c4 e5 2.g3 g6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nf3 Nxe4?! (4…exd4) 5.Bd3 Bb4+ 6.Kf1 d5
7.Qb3 c5? (7…a5) 8.cxd5 Nf6 9.dxe5 Nxd5 10.Bg5 Qd7? (10…Ne7)
11.a3 b5?? (11…Ba5) 12.Be4 c4 13.Qc2 Ba5 14.Nc3 Bxc3 15.Bxd5
(15…Qxd5 16.Rd1) 1-0, Miles-G. Wall, Birmingham, England 1999
1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d3 Nf6 4.Bg5 (4.e3) 4…d4 5.Ne4?? (5.Nb1) 5…Nxe4
(6.Bxd1 Bb4+) 0-1, Fernandez-Garbarino, Argentina 2001
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 b6 3.e4 d6 4.d4 c5 (4…Bb7) 5.e5 cxd4? (5…dxe5) 6.exf6
dxc3 7.Qd5 Qc7 8.Qxa8 Nc6 9.c5 1-0, Rosen-J. Bellin, Spain 2017
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.g3 Nxc3 5.bxc3 e6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.Rb1
O-O 8.Bxb7? (8.Nf3) 8…Bxb7 9.Rxb7 Qd5 0-1, Brooks-Bill Wall,
Thailand 1973
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Nb6 6.Nf3 Bg7 7.O-
O O-O 8.d4 Nc6 9.e3 e5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.e4?! (11.Nxe5) 11…Bg4
12.Qe2?! (12.Qxd8) 12…Qf6 13.Bg5?? (13…Bf4) 13…Nxf3+ (14.Bxf3
Qxf3; 14.Kh1 Qxg5) 0-1, Buscio-Bellin, Athens 1971
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e3 Nc6 4.g3 Bb4 5.Nge2 Ne5 6.Qc2?! (6.Nf4) 6…
Nf3+ 7.Kd1 Ng4 8.Qb3? (8…Nf4) 8…Nxf2+ 9.Kc2 Ne1+ 10.Kb1 Qf6
11.Rg1 Qg6+ 12.e4 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 Qxe4+ 14.d3 Qxd3+ 15.Qxd3 Nxd3
0-1, Maverick-Bill Wall, chess.com 2010
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 Bb4 4.e5 Ng8 5.Qg4 Ne7 6.Qxg7 Rg8?? (6…
Ng6) 7.Qxh7 Bxc3 8.dxc3 d6 9.Nf3 Nd7 10.Bg5 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 dxe5
12.Qxg8+ 1-0, Maddigan-Breidenthal, Indiana 1980
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 c5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Bb4 7.Nxc6 bxc6
8.Bd3 e5 9.O-O-O O-O 10.f4 Bc5+ 11.Kh1 d6 12.f5 h6 13.g4 d5 14.g5
dxc4 15.gxf6 Qxd3 16.fxg7 Kxg7?? (16…Rd8) 17.Qg4+ Kh7 18.Bxh6
(18…Kxh6 19.Qh4+ Kg7 20.Rg1+ Bxg1 21.Rxg1+ Qg3 22.Rxg3#) 1-0,
Martner-Najdorf, Buenos Aires 1964
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 c5 4.f4 Nc6 5.Nf3 d5 6.e5 Ng4 7.cxd5 exd5
Page 51
Bill Wall
8.Qb3 Nb4 (8…c4!) 9.a3? (9.Bb5+) 9…c4 10.Qa4+ Bd7 11.Qd1?? (11.
Nb5) 11…Qb6 (threatening 12…Qf2#) 0-1, Mazel-Botvinnik, Leningrad
1938
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 Qxf6 7.Nf3 c5
8.Bd3 Bd7 9.Be4 Bc6 10.Qe2 Bxe4 11.Qxe4 Nc6 12.Rb1 O-O-O 13.d4
Rd7 (13…Qf5) 14.Bf4 Qg6?? (14…Bd6) 15.Qxc6+ (15…bxc6 16.Rb8#)
1-0, Benjamin-Gambos, Philadelphia 1995
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.b3 d4 5.e3 Nc6 6.Bg2 e5 7.exd4? (7…O-O)
7…e4 8.Ng5 Qxd4 9.Nc3 Bg4 10.f3 Nb4 11.Qe2 Bh5 12.Rb1 O-O-O
13.Ngxe4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4?? (14…Nxe4) 14…Nd3+ (15.Kd1 Nf2+,
forking king and queen) 0-1, Cox-Adams, England 2010
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.Qc2 b6 7.cxd5
Nxd5 8.Nc3 Bb7 9.Rd1 c5 10.d4 Nb4 11.Qb1 Qc8 12.Bg5 Bxg5? (12…
f6) 13.Nxg5 (threatening 14.Qxh7#) 13…g6 14.Nce4 Kg7?? (14…
Nd5) 15.Nd6 (15…Qd7 16.Bxb7 Qxd6 17.Bxa8) 1-0, Aronian-Karpov,
Moscow blitz 2009
1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 e5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.Nf3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.O-O Be7 7.d4
exd4 8.Nxd4 Nxd4 9.Qxd4 Nb4? (9…Nf6) 10.Qxg7 Bf6 11.Qh6 Nc2?
(11…Be5) 12.Nc3 Bxc3?? (12…Nxa1) 13.bxc3 Nxa1 14.Qg7 (14…Rf8
15.Ba3) 1-0, Schwarz-Stickler, Germany 1992
1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 e6 3.Bg2 d5 4.d4 dxc4 5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qxc4 Bc6 7.Nf3
Nbd7 8.O-O Bd5 9.Qd3 Be4 10.Qe3 c5 11.Nc3 Bc6 12.Rd1 Qb6??
(12…Be7) 13.d5 Bb5 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.Nxb5 Qxb5 16.Qxe6+ Be7
17.Ng5 (17…Rf8 18.Nxh7 Nxh7 19.a4 Qa6 20.Qxd7+) 1-0, Lundin-
Benko, Austria 1948
1.c4 g6 2.Nc3 Bg7 3.g3 e5 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.d3 d6 6.Nf3 Nge7 7.O-O h6
8.a3 Be6 9.Be3 O-O 10.Qc2 Qd7 11.Rfd1 Bh3?! (11…Bxh3) 12.Bh1
f5 13.Qd2? (13.Bd2) 13…f4 (14.gxf4?? Qg4+ 15.Bg2 Qxg2#) 0-1,
Quinn-L. Evans, Milwaukee 1970
Page 52
Chess Opening Blunders
Englund Gambit
(1.d4 e5)
1.d4 e5 2.d5 f5 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Nh3 O-O 6.a3 d6 7.b4 Bd4
8.Bb2 f4 9.Ng5 Bxf2+ 10.Kxf2 Ng4+ 11.Kg1 Qxg5 12.h4?? (12.Bc1)
12…f3 (13.hxg5 f2#; 13.exf3 Qe3#; 13.gxf3 Qe3+) 0-1 Heltay-Janny,
Budapest 1916
1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Bb4 3.c3 Bc5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Bc4 Nxe5 6.Bb3 d5 7.Qxd5?
(7.Bxd5) 7…Nd3+ 8.Kf1 Qxd5 9.Bxd5 Nxc1 0-1, Laprade-Bill Wall,
Florida 2004
1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7 4.c3 Nxe5 5.Nbd2?? (5.Bd2?? Nd3# 0-1,
Page 53
Bill Wall
1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7 4.Nc3 Nxe5 5.Nd5 Nxf3+ 6.gxf3 Qd8
7.Qd4 c6?? (7…Ne7) 8.Qe5+ Be7 9.Qxg7 Bf6 10.Nxf6+ Qxf6 11.Bh6
Qxh6 12.Qxh8 1-0, Karch-Miller, Corr. 1982
1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7 4.Qd5 b6?! (4…f6) 5.Nc3 h6? (5…
Bb7) 6.Nb5 Qd8 7.e4 Nge7?? (7…Bb4+) 8.Qd6 cxd6 9.Nxd6# 1-0,
Greenwood-Playfair, Corr. 1988
1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7 4.Qd5 h6 5.Nc3 g5 6.Nb5 Kd8 7.e3 a6
8.Ndb4 Nb4 9.Qb3 c5 10.Nf5 (10.a3) 10….Qe6 11.c3? (11.Bd2) 11…
Qxb3 12.axb3 Nc2+ 13.Kd1 Nxa1 14.Bc4 d5 (15.Bd3 Nxb3) 0-1,
Boglojubov-Diemer, Baden-Baden simul 1933
1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7 4.Bf4 Qb4+ 5.Nc3 Qxb2 6.Nd5 Bb4+
7.Nxb4 Nxb4 8.Rb1 Qc3+ 9.Bd2?? (9.Qd2) 9…Nxc2+ (10.Qxc2 Qxc2)
0-1, Ristic-Umapathysivam, Australia 2000
1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7 4.Bf4 Qb4+ 5.Bd2 Qxb2 6.Bc3?? (6.Nc3)
6…Bb4 7.Qd2 Bxc3 8.Qxc3 Qc1# 0-1, Silbermann-Honich, Ukraine
1930
1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7 4.Bf4 Qb4+ 5.Qd2?? (5.Nc3) 5…Qxb2
6.Qc3 Bb4 (7.Bd2 Bxc3 8.Bxc3 Qc1#) 0-1, Scheeren-Welling, Eindhoven
1974 and Moreno-Francisco, Spain 2004
1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7 4.Bg5 f6 5.exf6 gxf6 6.Bd2 d6 7.c3 Ne5
8.Nd4?? (8.e4) 8…Nd3# 0-1, Verdonk-Nobbe, Netherlands 1983
Page 54
Chess Opening Blunders
Evans Gambit
(1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4)
This gambit is named after the Welsh sea Captain William Evans
(1790-1872), who first analyzed and played it in 1827. White
gives up an early pawn in exchange for quick development and
control of the center.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O
d6 8.Qb3 Bb6 9.Bxf7+ Kh8 10.Bxg8 Rxg8 11.Ng5 Ne5?? (11…Qe8)
12.Nxh7+ (12…Ke7 13.Bg5+; 12…Ke8 13.Qxg8+) 1-0, R. Fischer-
Sugerman, Chicago 1964
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 Nxd4 7.Nxe5 Ne6
8.Nxf7 Kxf7 9.Bxe6 Kxe6 10.Qd5+ Ke7 11.Qxa5 d6 (11…Kf8) 12.Qg5+
Nf6? (12…Kd7) 13.Qxg7+ Ke6 14.f4 d5?? (14…Rg8) 15.f5+ Kd6
16.e5+ 1-0, Bill Wall-Guerra, chess.com 2013
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.O-O Nf6 7.d4 exd4
Page 55
Bill Wall
8.Ba3 d6 9.e5 dxe5?! (9…Ne4 10.exd6 cxd6) 10.Qb3 Qd7 11.Re1 Qf5?
(11…Bb6) 12.Bb5 Nd7 13.Qd5 Bb6?? (13…Qe6) 14.Nxe5 Ne7 15.Nxd7
Qxd5 16.Nf6+ Kd8 17.Bxe7# 1-0, Steinitz-Pilhal, Vienna 1862
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.O-O Nf6 7.d4 d6
8.Qa4 exd4 9.cxd4 d5? (9…Bd7) 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Bb5 Nde7? (11…
Bd7) 12.Qxa5 1-0, Triapkin-N. Ivanov, Russia 2010
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Bc5 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O d6
8.cxd4 Bb6 9.Nc3 Nf6?! (9…h6) 10.e5 dxe5 11.Ba3 Bg4? (11…Nxd4)
12.Nxe5 Bxd1?? (12…Nxe5) 13.Bxf7# 1-0, Schnitzler-Levy, Duesseldorf
1862
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Bc5 6.O-O d6 7.d4 Bb6
8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Bxf7+? (9.Qxd8) 9…Kxf7 10.Nxe5+ Kf8 11.Ba3+ Nge7??
(11…Ke8) 12.Qf3+ (threatening 13.Qf7#) 1-0, Eckl-Schonewald, Corr.
1968
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Bc5 6.O-O Nf6 7.d4 Bb6?!
(7…Bd6) 8.dxe5 Nxe4? (8…Ng4) 9.Qd5 Ne5?? (9…O-O) 10.Nxe5
Bxf2+ 11.Rxf2 Qe7 12.Rxf7 1-0, Bill Wall-Shameson, Mountain View,
CA 1986
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Be7 6.d4 d6 7.Qb3 Nh6?!
(7…Kf8) 8.Bxh6 gxh6? (8…Na5) 9.Bxf7+ Kf8 10.Bh5 (10…d5 11.exd5
Na5 12.Qb5) 1-0, R. Fischer-Boatner, Houston 1964
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Be7 6.d4 Bf6 7.dxe5 Nxe5
8.Nxe5 Bxe5 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.Qd5+ Kf6?! (10…Kg6) 11.f4 Bxc3+?
(11…Kg6) 12.Nxc3 c6?? (12…Ke7) 13.Qg5+ (13…Kf7 14.Qxd8) 1-0,
Winawer-D’Andre, Paris 1867
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bb6 5.b5 Na5 6.Nxe5 Nh6 7.d4 d6
8.Bxh6 gxh6 9.Bxf7+ Ke7 10.Nc3 dxe5 11.Qf3 c6? (11…Bg4 12.Qxg4
Kxf7) 12.dxe5 Bg4?? (12…Nc4) 13.Qf6+ Kd7 14.Rd1+ Bxd1 15.Qd6+
Kc8 16.Be6+ (16…Qd7 17.Bxd7+ Kd8 18.Be6+ Ke8 19.Qd7+ Kf8
20.Qf7#) 1-0, Deighton-Blake, Cambridge 1894
Page 56
Chess Opening Blunders
The Four Knights Game has been played since the late 16th cen-
tury. The opening usually leads to quite positional play, but
there are many ways to blunder.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.a3 Nd4 5.Nxe5 Qe7 6.Nf3 Nxe4
7.Nxe4?? (7.Nd5) 7…Qxe4+ 8.Be2 Nxc2+ 0-1, T. Bell-Bill Wall, North
Carolina 1979
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 d6 7.Bg5 Bg4
8.Nd5 Nd4 9.Nxb4 Nxb5 10.Nd5 Nd4 11.Qd2 Nxf3+ 12.gxf3 Bh3??
(12…Bxf3) 13.Nxf6+ (13.Bxf6! gxf6 14.Qh6) 13…gxf6 14.Bh4 Re8??
(14…Kh8) 15.Kh1 (15…Re6 16.Rg1+ Kf8 17.Rg3) 1-0, Sandu-Sinka,
Romania 1962
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bc5 5.O-O O-O 6.Nxe5 Re8 7.Nd3
Bd4 8.Ne2 (8.Re1) 8…Rxe4 9.Nxd4? (9.c3) 9…Nxd4 10.Ba4 Ne2+
Page 57
Bill Wall
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Nd4 5.Ba4 c6 6.O-O Bc5 7.Nxe5 d6
8.Nd3? (8…b4) 9…Bg4 9.Qe1 Nf3+ 10.gxf3 Bxf3 11.e5 O-O 12.exd6??
(12…exf6) 12…Ng4 13.Qe7 Bxd6 (threatening 14…Bxh2#) 0-1, Abonyi-
Hromadka, Prague 1908
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Nd4 5.Bc4 Nxe4 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7
7.Nxe4 Nxf3+ 8.Qxf3+ Kg8?? (8…Kg6) 9.Ng5 (threatening 10.Qd5+ or
10.Qf7#) 1-0, Jowitt-McDonald, Hertfordshire 1884
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bc4 Bb4 5.Qe2 O-O 6.O-O d6 7.Nd5
Nxd5 8.exd5 Na5? (8…Nd4) 9.Bd3 Bg4? (9...Bc5) 10.Qe4 (threatening
11.Qxh7#) 10…f5 11.Qxb4 1-0, Bill Wall-Ironimus, playchess.com 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 d6 7.Bg4
Bg4 (7…h6) 8.Nd5 Nd4 9.Qd2 Qd7?? (9…Nxf3+) 10.Bxf6 (10.Nxf6+!
gxf6 11.Bxf6) 10…Bxf3?? (10…Nxf3+) 11.Ne7+ Kh8 12.Bxg7+ Kxg7
13.Qg5+ Kh8 14.Qf6# 1-0, Capablanca-NN, New York 1918
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 Bb4 5.Nxe5 Qe7 6.Nxc6 Qxe4+ 7.Be2
Qxc6 8.O-O d5?? (8…Bxc3) 9.Bb5 1-0, Bolland-Dewing, Hastings 1924
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 d5?! (5…Bb4) 6.Bb5
Qd6? (6…Bd7) 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Nxc6 bxc6?? (8…Nxc3) 9.Qxd5 (9…
Qxd5 10.Nxd5 cxb5 11.Nxc7+) 1-0, Valenta-Gotz, Czech Republic 1994
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nd5 Nxd5 6.exd5 Nb4 7.Bc4
Qe7+ 8.Kd2?! (8.Kf1) 8…g6 9.Re1?? (9…Nxd4) 9…Bh6+ (10.Re3
Bxe3+ 11.fxe3 Qxe3#) 0-1, Cavallo-Barrera, Argentina 1983
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nd5 Nxe4 6.Bc4 Bb4+ 7.c3
dxc3 8.O-O O-O 9.Qc2 Re8 10.Bf4 d6 11.Rae1 Nd2?? (11…Bf5)
12.Ng5 (12…g6 13.Rxe8+ Qxe8 14.Nf6+) 1-0, Knox-Eley, Cologne 1970
Page 58
Chess Opening Blunders
French Defense
(1.e4 e6)
1.e4 e6 2.c4 d5 3.cxd5 exd5 4.Qa4+ Bd7 5.Qb3 d4 6.Bc4 Qe7?? (6…
Bd6) 7.Qxb7 Bc6 8.Qc8+ Qd8 9.Bxf7 Ke7 10.Qe6# 1-0, van Weersel-
Kuijpers, Netherlands 2000
1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 Nc6 4.Ngf3 Bc5 5.c3 d4?! (5…Bb6 or 5…Nf6)
6.Nb3 Bb6 7.cxd4 Nxd4? (7…a5 or 7…Nf6) 8.Nbxd4 (8…Bxd4 9.Qa4+
and 10.Qxd4) 1-0, Ubiennykh-Kulakova, Tomsk 2001
1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.Ngf3 c5 5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.O-O O-O
8.Re1 b5 9.e5 Nd7 10.Nf1 a5 11.h4 b4 12.Bf4 Ba6 13.Ng5 Qe8 (13…h6)
14.Qg4 a4? (14…Nb6) 15.Nxe6 (15…fxe6 16.Qxe6+ Kh8 17.Qxc6) 1-0,
Page 59
Bill Wall
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 (Winawer Variation) 4.Bd2 dxe4 5.Qg4 Qxd4
6.Nf3 Nh6 7.Qg5 exf3 8.O-O-O Qg4?? (8…Be7) 9.Qd8+ Kxd8 10.Bg5+
Ke8 11.Rd8# 1-0, Dekker-Erler, Corr. 1967
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bd2 Nf6 5.e5 Bxc3 6.Bxc3 Ne4 7.Bb4 c5
8.dxc5?! (8.Bxc5) 8…Nxf2 9.Qf3? (9.Kxf2) 9…Nxh1 10.g3 Nc6 11.Bb5
Qg5 (11…Bd7!) 12.Ne2 Qxe5 13.Qxh1?? (13.O-O-O) 13…Qxb2 (14.
Bxc6 bxc6 15.Bc3 Qxc2) 0-1, Brinkman-P. Thompson, Minnesota 1977
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bd3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 h6 6.Ba3 Nd7 7.Qe2
dxe4 8.Bxe4 Ngf6 9.Bd3 b6?? (9…c5) 10.Qxe6+ fxe6 11.Bg6# 1-0,
Alekhine-Vasic, Banja Luka 1931
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bd3 dxe4 5.Bxe4 c5 6.Nge2 cxd4 7.Nxd4
Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Qa5 9.Qf3 Nf6 10.Bxb7?? (10.O-O) 10…Bxb7 11.Qxb7
(11.Qg3 Ba6) 11…Qxc3+ 12.Ke2 Qxd4 13.Qxa8 O-O 14.Rb1 Qxc4+
15.Ke1 Nc6 16.Qb7 Nd4 (threatening 17…Qe2#) 0-1, Winawer-De Vere,
Baden-Baden 1870
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bd3 dxe4 5.Bxe4 c5 6.Qf3 cxd4 7.a3 Qa5
8.Bxb7 Bxc3+ 9.Kd1?? (9.bxc3) 9…Qb5 10.bxc3 Bxb7 0-1, Williams-
Pederson, Corr. 1990
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.Nf3 dxe4 6.Bxe4 Nge7?! (6…
Nf6) 7.O-O Bxc3 8.bxc3 O-O 9.Bxh7+ Kh8 10.Bd3 f6 11.Ne5 fxe5??
(11…Kg8) 12.Qh5+ Kg8 13.Bh7 Kh8 14.Bg6+ (14…Kg8 15.Qh7#) 1-0,
Capablanca-Hoffman, Providence 1922
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Qc7 7.Qg4 f5
8.Qg3 cxd4 9.cxd4 Ne7 10.Bd3?? (10.Bd2) 10…Qc3+ (threatening 11…
Qxa1) 0-1, Rahman-Murshed, Bangladesh 2007
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Nf3 Qa5
8.Bd2 Qa4 9.Qb1 Nbc6 10.Bb5 Qa5 11.c4 Qb6?! (11…Qc7) 12.dxc5
Qxc5?? (12…Qc7) 13.Be3 (trapping the queen) 1-0, Bickham-L. Ault,
New York 1959
Page 60
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 O-O
8.Bd3 Nbc6 9.Nf3 Bd7?? (9…Nf5) 10.Bxh7+ (10…Kxh7 11.Qh5+ Kg8
12.Ng5 Re8 13.Qh7+ Kf8 14.Qh8+ Ng8 15.Nh7+ Ke7 16.Bg5+ Nf6
17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Qxf6#) 1-0, Caride-Notkevich, Herceg Novi 2008
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Nc6 5.Nf3 Nge7 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Na5
8.a4 a6?! (8…b6) 9.Bd3 O-O? (9…h6) 10.Bxh7+ Kxh7 11.Ng5+ Kg8??
(11…Kg6) 12.Qh5 Re8 13.Ba3 Nc4 14.Qh7+ Kf8 15.Qh8# 1-0, Sprout-
Kingston, New Hampshire 1981
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Ne7 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.Qg4 Qc7
8.Qxg8 Rg8 9.Qxh7 cxd4 10.f4?? (10.Ne2) 10…Qxc3+ (and 11…Qxa1)
0-1, Gibbs-Gunn, Hastings 2013
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qg4 Ne7?! (4…Nf6) 5.Qxg7 Rg8? (5…
Ng6) 6.Qxh7 c5 7.Nf3 Nbc6 8.Bb5 Rxg2?? (8…cxd4) 9.Ne5 Qa5
10.Bxc6+ Nxc6 11.Qxf7+ Kd8 12.Kf1 cxd4 13.Kxg2 dxc3 14.Bg5+ (14.
Nxc6+! bxc6 15.Bg5+ Be7 16.Qxe7#) 1-0, Berry-Roper, Oklahoma 1991
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 (Rubinstein Variation) 4.Nxe4 Nc6 5.Nf3 Nf6
6.Nxf6+ Qxf6 7.Bg5 Qf5 8.Bd3 Qg4?? (8…Qd5) 9.h3 Qxg2 10.Rh2
Qxh2 11.Nxh2 Nxd4 12.Bb5+ 1-0, Steinitz-Bird, London 1866
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bd7 5.d5 exd5 6.Qxd5 c6?! (6…
Nc6) 7.Qe5+ Be6 8.Bg5 Qd5?? (8…Qb6) 9.Rd1 f6 10.Bxf6 Qxe5
11.Rd8+ Kf7 12.Bxe5 Nf6 13.Ng5+ (13…Ke7 14.Rxb8) 1-0, Splane-
Escoto, California 2011
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Qd5 5.Ng3 b6 6.Be2 c5?? (6…Nc6)
7.Bf3 1-0, Ringoir-Hulligan, Liverpool 2008
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.g3 b6 6.Bg2 Rb8 7.Nc3 Bb4
8.Bd2 Ndf6 9.Qe2 Ne7 10.Qb5+ (threatening 11.Qxb4) 1-0, Westerberg-
Stigar, London 2015
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Ne7 5.Bd3 g6?? (5…Nxf6) 6.Nf6#
1-0, S. Ivanov-Martinov, Moscow 1973
Page 61
Bill Wall
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Bd3 Nbd7 6.Qe2 Be7 7.Nf3?!
(7 O-O) 8.Bg5 b6? (8…h6) 9.Nxf6+ (threatening 10.Qe4) 9…Bxf6
10.Qe4 1-0, Sermek-Varini, Slovenia 1999
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Ne7 4.Nf3 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Nbc6 6.Bd3 g6?? (6…f5)
7.Nf6# 1-0, Kinoshita-Jegaden, Stillwater 2008
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Be3 Bb4 5.f3 dxe4 6.a3 Nd5 7.Qd2 Bxc3
8.bxc3 Nxe3 9.Qxe3 exf3 10.Nxf3 Nd7 11.Bd3 Nf6 12.O-O b6?! (12…
O-O) 13.Ne5 Qd5?? (13…h6) 14.c4 Qd8 (14…Qd6 15.c5 Qd8 16.Bb5+)
15.Be4 (15…Rb8 16.Nc6) 1-0, Prentice-Oyler, Corr. 1965
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 Bb4 5.Be3 dxe4 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 exf3
8.Nxf3 O-O 9.Bd3 Nc6 10.O-O Qd6? (10…Ne7) 11.Ng5 e5?? (11…
Rd8) 12.Rxf6! (12…Qxf6 13.Bxh7+ Kh8 14.Qh5) 1-0, Hobson-Jameson,
Golden Knights Corr. 1966
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Be3 Nfd7 (6…Ne4)
7.Qg4 g6 8.Bd3 c5?! (8…h5) 9.Bxg6 Rg8?? (9…Qa5) 10.Qxe6+ 1-0,
Saulin-Prenzler, Germany 2008
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.f3 exf3 6.Nxf3 c5 7.Ne4?!
(7.Bxf6) 7…cxd4 8.Qd2?? (8…Bb5+) 8…Nxe4 9.Bxd8 Nxd2 10.Ne5
Bd6 (or 10…Nxf1! 11.Rxf1 f6) 0-1, Burgerhoff-de Mie, Haarlem 2001
Page 62
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.Bd3
O-O 8.Nce2 f6 9.f4 c5 10.c3 cxd4 11.cxd4 (11.exf6) 11…fxe5 12.fxe5
Qb4+ 13.Qd2?? (13.Nc3) 13…Rf1+ (14.Kxf1 Qxd2) 0-1, Gottschall-
Blackburne, Hamburg 1885
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4 (Chatard-Alekhine
variation) 6…Bxg5 7.hxg5 Qxg5 8.Nh3 Qe7 9.Qg4 f6? (9…Kf8) 10.Nf4
Nb6?? (10…Nc6) 11.Ng6 Qb4 12.O-O-O (12.Nxh8!) 12…Rg8 13.a3
Qa5 14.Rxh7 1-0, Madsen-Fitz, Las Vegas 1975
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Be3 (Alapin Variation) 3…dxe4 4.f3 Nf6 5.Nd2 Nd5
6.Qe2 f5 7.fxe4 Nxe3 8.Qxe3 Be7 9.Ngf3 O-O 10.exf5 exf5 11.Bc4+
Kh8 12.Ne5 Bg5 13.Qf2 c5 (13…Nd7) 14.Ndf3 Bf6?! (14…Nc6) 15.O-
O Qc7? (15…Nc6) 16.Qg3 f4?? (16…Bxe5) 17.Qxf4 Qe7 18.Ng5
(threatening 19.Ngf7+) 1-0, Kampars-Warren, Corr. 1965
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 (Advance Variation) 3…c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Be3 Qb6
6.b3?! (6.Qd2) 6…cxd4 7.cxd4 Bb4+ 8.Ke2? (8.Nd2) 8…Bd7 9.f4
Nh6 10.Nf3 Ne7 11.a4? (11.Bd2) 11…Nef5 12.Bc1? (12.Qd3) 12…Ng4
13.h3?? (13.Qd3) 13…Ng3+ 14.Kd2 Nf2+ 0-1, Everett-Haendiges, New
Hampshire 1981
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.dxc5 Bxc5 7.b4 Bb6 8.Bd3
Nge7 9.Qe2 a6 10.Nbd2 Ng6 11.Nb3 Qc7 12.Bxg6 hxg6 13.a4? (13.O-
O) 13…Rh5 14.g3? (14.Bf4) 14…Rh3 (14…Nxe5!) 15.Bf4 d4 16.Rc1?
(16.O-O) 16…dxc3 17.Rxc3?? (17.a5) 17…Nd4 (18.Rxc7 Nxe2 19.Kxe2
Bxc7) 0-1, G. Wall-Fodor, England 2017
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Nc6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bg5 Nge7?! (5…f6) 6.Bf6 Rg8
7.Qd2 Qd7 8.Bd3 Nf5 9.c3 Be7 10.g4 Ng7?? (10…Bxf6) 11.Qh6 Kf8
12.Ng5 Ke8 13.Qxh7 Kf8 14.Bxg7+ (14…Rg7 15.Qh8+ Rg8 16.Nh7+
Ke8 17.Qxg8+ Bf8 18.Qxf8#) 1-0, Oelhafer-Doran, Minnesota 1977
Page 63
Bill Wall
Giuoco Piano
(1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5)
The Giuoco Piano (Italian for “Quite Game”) is one of the oldest
recorded openings. It has been played for over 500 years. It is
an opening that controls the center with fast development of the
pieces. There are plenty of blunders for both sides if the opening
is not understood.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 (4.b4 – see Evans Gambit; 4.Bxf7 –
see Jerome Gambit) 4…Nge7?! (4…Nf6) 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb6? (6…
Bb4+) 7.d4 Nb8 8.d6 Ng6 9.Ng5 O-O?? (9…Ne5) 10.Qh5 h6 11.Qxg6
hxg5 12.Bxg5 Qe8 13.Bf6 (threatening 14.Qxg7#) 1-0, Tarrasch-Sergel,
Nuremberg 1891
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Qe7 5.d4 Bb6 6.d5 Nd8 7.Be2 d6 8.h3
f5 9.Bg5 Nf6 10.Nbd2 O-O 11.Nh4? (11.Nh4) 11…fxe4 12.Nxe4?? (12.
g3) 12…Nxe4 13.Bxe7 Bxf2+ 14.Kf1 Ng3# 0-1, Horwitz-Bledow, Berlin
1837
Page 64
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 Bb6?! (5…exd4) 6.dxe5
Nxe4? (6…Ng4) 7.Qd5 Bxf2+ 8.Ke2 (threatening 9.Qxf7# and 9.Qxe4)
1-0, Stoklizki-Maximov, Moscow 1973
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3
d5?! (7…Nxe4) 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.O-O Bxc3 10.bxc3 O-O 11.Re1 Na5?
(11…b5) 12.Bxd5 (12…Qxd5 13.Re5 and 14.Rxa5) 1-0, Euwe-Duffield,
England 1924
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3
d5?! (7…Nxe4) 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.O-O Nxc3 10.bxc3 Bxc3? (10…Be7)
11.Qb3 Bxa1?? (11…Be6) 12.Bxf7+ Kf8 13.Ba3+ Ne7 14.Re1 (14.
Rxa1!) 14…Bf5?? (14…Bd7) 15.Ng5 Bxd4 16.Bh5 Bxf2+ 17.Kh1 (17…
Bxe1?? 18.Qf7#) 1-0, Buerstatte-Rein, Milwaukee 1969
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3
Nxe4 8.O-O Bxc3 9.d5 Ne5 10.bxc3 Nxc4 11.Qd4 Ncd6 12.Qxg7 Qf6
13.Qxf6 Nxf6 14.Re1+ Kf8?? (14…Nfe4) 15.Bh6+ Kg8 16.Re5 Nde4
17.Nd2 d6 18.Nxe4 1-0, Moeller-NN, Denmark 1898
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2
d5 8.Bxd5 Nxd5 9.Bxb4? (9.exd5) 9…Ndxb4 10.d5 Bg4 11.Na3?? (11.
dxc6) 11…Ne5 12.Qa4+ Bd7 (13.Qb3 Ned3+ 14.Kf1 Qe7) 0-1, Kustner-
Brinckmann, Hamburg 1955
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb6 7.Ng5 O-O
8.e5 Ne8?? (8…d5) 9.Qh5 h6 10.Qg6 (10…hxg5 11.Bxg5; 10.Nxf7! Qe7
11.Nxh6+ Kh8 12.Ng4#) 1-0, D’Amore-Aprea, Italy 1970
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 Qe7?! (6…
d5) 7.O-O Ne4? (7…Nxe5) 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.Bd5 1-0, Bourloud-Krebs,
Switzerland 1995
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 Nxe4 6.dxc5 Nxc5 7.Qd5
d6?? (7…Qe7) 8.Qxf7# 1-0, Brackett-Waterworth, Boston 1905
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.Nc3 O-O 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 Bb4
8.O-O Bxc3 9.bxc3 g5 10.Nxg5 hxg5 11.Bxg5 Kg7?? (11…d5) 12.f4
Page 65
Bill Wall
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.Ng5 O-O 6.O-O d5 7.exd5 Bg4
8.Qe1?! (8…Nf3) 8…Nd4 9.Qxe5? (9…Ne4) 9…Ne2+ 10.Kh1 Bd4 (11.
Nxf7 Rxf7 12.Qg5 Qd6) 0-1, NN-Bill Wall, playchess.com 2018
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d4 exd4 5.c3 dxc3 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Qd5+
Ke8 8.Qh5+ g6?! (8…Kf8) 9.Qxc5 Qe7? (9…cxb2) 10.Qxc3 Qxe4+??
(10…Nf6) 11.Kd1 (11…Qd5+ 12.Bd2 Nd4 13.Re1+) 1-0, Tarrasch-NN,
Berlin 1880
1.e4 e4 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O d6 5.b4 Nxb4 6.c3 Nc6 7.d4 exd4
8.cxd4 Bb6 9.h3 Na5 10.Bd3 d5?! (10…Ne7) 11.exd5 Qxd5? (11…Ne7)
12.Nc3 Qh5?? (12…Qd8) 13.Re1+ Kd8 14.Ng5 Qxd1 15.Nxf7+ Kd7
16.Bf5+ Kc6 17.Nd8+ Kd6 18.Bf4# 1-0, Lange-Mayet, Berlin 1853
1.e4 e4 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O f5 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 d6 7.exd6 Qxd6?!
(7…cxd6) 8.Re1+ Nge7 9.Ng5 Ne5?? (9…Rf8) 10.Bf4 N7g6 11.Bxe5
Nxe5 12.Nf7 (12…Qf6 13.Rxe5+ Be7 14.f4) 1-0, Morphy-Schulten, New
York 1857
1.e4 e4 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 g5
8.Bg3 h5 9.Nxg5 h4 10.Nxf7 hxg3 11.Nxd8 Bg4 12.Qd2 Nd4 13.Nc3??
(13.h3) 13…Nf3+ (14.gxf3 Bxf3, threatening 15…Rxh2 and 16…Rh1#)
0-1, Fedden-Wayte, England 1884
1.e4 e4 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 Ng4 7.Bg5 f6
8.exf6 gxf6 9.Re1+ Nge5?? (9…Kf8) 10.Nxe5 Be7 11.Qh5+ (11…Kf8
12.Qf7#) 1-0, Haga-Van Riemsdijk, Netherlands 1913
Page 66
Chess Opening Blunders
Grob’s Opening
(1.g4)
The rare and irregular opening, also known as the Spike Open-
ing, takes its name from Swiss International Master Henry Grob
(1904-1974). He analyzed it extensively and played hundreds
of correspondence games with this opening. It has been played
by Grandmaster Spyridon and International Master Michael
Basman with some success.
1.g4 d5 2.Bg2 Na6 3.c4 e6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Qb3 Be6 6.Qxb7? (6…Nf3)
6…Nb4 7.Na3? (7.Nc3) 7…a6 8.d4?? (8…d3) 8…Rb8 9.Qa7 Qc8
(threatening 10…Nc6, trapping the queen) 0-1, Bloodgood-Haack, APCT
Corr. 1975
1.g4 d5 2.Bg2 c6 3.c4 Bxg4 4.Qb3 Qc7 5.cxd5 Nf6 6.Nc3 e5 7.h3 Bd7
8.Nf3 (8.d3) 8…cxd5 9.Nxd5? (9.d4) 9…Nxd5 10.Qxd5 Bd6 (10…Nc6)
11.Ng5? (11.d4) 11…Bc6 0-1, Lovegren-Bill Wall, Dayton 1980
Page 67
Bill Wall
1.g4 d5 2.Bg2 c6 3.h3 e5 4.d3 Bc5 5.Nf3 Nd7 6.e4 Ngf6 7.g5 dxe4
8.Nxe5 Nxe5? (8…gxf6) 9.gxf6?? (9.Nc3) 9…Qxf6 10.d4 Bxd4 11.O-O
Bxh3 12.Bxh3 Nf3+ 13.Kh1 Qe5 (threatening 14…Qh2#) 0-1, Ulrich-
Green, Corr. 1982
1.g4 d5 2.Bg2 e5 3.c4 dxc4 4.Qc2 Qd4 5.Nf3 Qxg4 6.Rg1 Qe6 7.Ng5
Qf5?? (7…Qd7) 8.Qxc4 (8.Qxf5! Bxf5 9.Bxb7) 8…c6? (8…Qd7) 9.Bh3
1-0, Bloodgood-R. Taylor, Virginia 1973
1.g4 d5 2.Bg2 Bxg4 3.c4 c6 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Qb3 Qc7 6.Nc3 Nf6?! (6…
Nc6) 7.Nxd5 Nxd5 8.Bxd5 Nc6 9.Bxf7+ Kd8 10.Nf3 Qd7 11.Ng5 Nd4
12.Qd3 Bxe2?? (12…e5) 13.Qxd4 (13…Qxd4 14.Ne6+ Kd7 15.Nxd4)
1-0, Bloodgood-Christy, Norfolk 1957
1.g4 d5 2.Bg2 Bxg4 3.c4 c6 4.cxd5 Nf6 5.Qb3 Qb6 6.dxc6 Qxb3?? (6…
Nxc6) 7.cxb7 Qc2 (threatening 8…Qxc1#) 8.Nc3 e5 9.bxa8=Q Bd6
10.Bc6+ 1-0, Bill Wall-Kubasek, Thailand 1973
1.g4 d5 2.Bg2 Bxg4 3.c4 Nf6 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Qb3 e6? (5…c6) 6.Qa4+
(threatening 7.Qxg4) 1-0, Lemke-Brummett, Schenectady 1977
Page 68
Chess Opening Blunders
Gruenfeld Defense
(1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5)
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bd2 Nb6 6.e4 Qxd4 7.Qc2
Qc5 8.Be3 Qa5 9.b4 Qxb4?? 10.Rb1 Qa5 11.Rb5 Qa3 12.Bc5 (12…Qa6
13.Rxb6) 1-0, Aleksandrov-Kocheev, Minsk 2014
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4
O-O 8.Ne2 b6 9.h4 Bb7 10.Qd3 e5?! (10…Nc6) 11.h5 Qf6 12.hxg6
hxg6? (12…Qxg6) 13.Qh3 Rc8?? (13…Re8) 14.Qh7+ Kf8 15.dxe5
(15…Qxe5 16.Bh6 Qf8 17.Qh8+ Ke7 18.Bxg7) 1-0, Razuvaev-Gutman,
Rostov 1976
Page 69
Bill Wall
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5
8.Rb1 Qa5?! (8…O-O) 9.Rb5 Qxc3+? (9…Qxa2) 10.Bd2 Qa3 11.Qc2
Nc6?? (11…c4) 12.Rb3 (12…Qa4 13.Bb5, trapping the queen) 1-0,
Polovodin-Maslov, USSR 1984
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3
O-O 8.Be3 c5 9.Rb1 Qa5 10.Qd2 cxd4 11.cxd4 Nc6 12.Be2 Rd8
13.d5?? (13.Qxa5) 13…Bc3 0-1, Bill Wall-D. Davis, Xenia 1983
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Qb3 Nb6 7.Bf4
a5?! (7…O-O) 8.Nb5 Nd5?? (8…Na6) 9.Qxd5 Qxd5 10.Nxc7+
(threatening 11.Nxd5) 1-0, Velandia-Byrn, Gibraltar 2013
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Bg5 c5 7.Rc1
cxd4?? (7…Nxc3) 8.Nxd5 (8…Qxd5 9.Rxc8+ Kd7 10.Rc2) 1-0,
Amigues-Hulin, Marseille 2003
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 c6 6.Bf4 dxc4 7.Qxc4 Nbd7
8.Ne5 Nb6?? (8…O-O) 9.Qxf7# 1-0, Moller-Jonsson, Copenhagen 1947
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.e3 c6 6.Qb3 O-O 7.Bd3 e6 8.O-
O Nbd7 9.Bd2 Nh5 10.e4 (10.Rfd1) 10…e5 11.Nxe5? (11.exd5) 11…
Nxe5 12.dxe5 dxc4 13.Qxc4 Be6 (14.Qc5 Qxd3) 0-1, Moritz-Helling,
Poland 1831
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bg5 Ne4 6.cxd5 Nxg5 7.Nxg5 c6
8.dxc6 Nxc6 9.dxc6 Nxc6 10.Nf3 Bxd4? (10…Bd7) 11.O-O-O (11…e5
12.e3) 1-0, Dearing-Aagard, Hampstead 1998
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bg5 Ne4 6.cxd5 Nxg5 7.Nxg5
c6 8.e3 cxd5 9.Nf3 O-O 10.Be2 Nc6 11.O-O e6 12.Rc1 f6 13.Qb3 Rf7
14.Rfd1 Bh6 15.h3 Rb8 16.Na4 Re7?? (16…Rc7) 17.Rxc6 (17…bxc6
18.Qxb8; 17…b6 18.Rdc1)) 1-0, Wygle-Wilson, Columbus 1999
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Nh5 5.Nxd5?! (5.Bd2) 5…Nxf4 6.Nxf4
e5 7.dxe5?? (7.Nd3) 7…Bb4+ (8.Qd2 Qxd2#) 0-1, Grandepara-Bill
Wall, chess.com 2015
Page 70
Chess Opening Blunders
Hungarian Defense
(1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.Nxd4 Nxe4 7.Nf5
Nxc3 8.Nxg7+ Kf8 9.bxc3 Bf6 10.Nf5 Bxc3+ 11.Kf1 Qf6?! (11…d5)
12.Bh6+ Kg8?? (12…Ke8) 13.Qg4+ Qg6 14.Qe4 Qxh6 15.Qe8+ Qf8
16.Bxf7# 1-0, Moeller-Ros, Stockholm 1897
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.Nc3 h6 5.O-O Nf6 6.d4 exd4 7.Nxd4
Nxd4 8.Qxd4 O-O?! (8…d6) 9.e5 Nh7? (9…Ne8) 10.Bd3 d6 11.Qe4
(threatening 12.Qxh7#) 11…g6? (11…f5) 12.Bxh6 Re8 13.Bc4 dxe5??
(13…Bf5) 13.Qxg6+ (13…Kh8 14.Qg7#) 1-0, P. Benjamin-Hagstrom,
Pasadena 1983
Page 71
Bill Wall
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.d3 d6 5.h4 Bd7 6.Ng5 Nh6 7.Qf3?!
(7.a4) 7…Nd4 8.Qh5? (8.Qd1) 8…Bg4 9.Bxf7+?? (9.Nxf7) 9…Kd7 0-1,
NN-Bill Wall, playchess.com 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.d4 exd4 5.c3 Nf6?! (5…Na5) 6.e5 Ne4
7.Bd5 Ng5? (7…f5) 8.Nxg5 Bxg5 9.Qh5 O-O 10.Bxg5 1-0, Kontic-
Hoffman, Vrnjacka Banja 1989
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Ne5 6.Qe2 Nf6 7.Nc3
Nxc4 8.Qxc4 Nxe4?! (8…O-O) 9.Nxe4 (9.Nf5) 9…d5 10.Qb5+ c6
11.Nxc6 Qd7?? (11…a6) 12.Nxe7 (12…Qxb5 13.Nd6+ Kxe7 14.Nxb5)
1-0, Lommer-Witte, London 1933
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.d4 d6 5.c3 Nf6 6.d5 Nb8 7.Be2 Nxe4?
(7…c6) 8.Qa4+ (threatening 9.Qxe4) 1-0, Florito-Wiep, Netherlands
1990
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.d4 d6 5.dxe5 Nxe5? (5…dxe5) 6.Nxe5
dxe5 7.Qh5 (7…g6 8.Qxe5) 1-0, Estrin-Liberzon, Moscow 1959
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.d4 d6 5.O-O Nf6 6.Nc3 Bg4 7.dxe5 Nxe5
8.Be2 Ng6 9.Nd4 Bxe2 10.Qxe2 c6 11.Nf5 O-O 12.Rd1 Re8 13.Bg5
d5?! (13…Bf8) 14.Qf3 Nd7 15.Nxe7+ Nxe7 16.exd5 cxd5?? (16…
Qa5) 17.Nxd5 f6 18.Bxf6 (18…gxf6 19.Nxf6+ Kg7 20.Nxe8+) 1-0,
Thorsteinsson-Halfdanarson, Reykjavik 1966
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.O-O Nf6 5.Nc3 O-O 6.d3 h6 7.Be3 Bb4
8.Qd2 Kh7 9.h4 Ng4 10.Qe2 d6 11.Nd5 Nxe3 12.fxe3 Bc5 13.Ng5+
Kg6?? (13…hxg5) 14.Rf5 Bxf5 (14…hxg5 15.Rxg5+) 15.exf5+ Kxf5
16.Qh5 (threatening 17.g4#) 1-0, Bill Wall-NN, playchess.com 2017
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.O-O Nf6 5.Nc3 O-O 6.h3 b6 7.d3 Bb7
8.Re1 Bc5 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 d6?! (10…Be7) 11.a3 Bd4? (11…Nd4)
12.Qd2 Qd7? (12…Bxc3) 13.Bxf6 gxf6?? (13…Rfe8) 14.Qxh6 Bxc3
15.bxc3 (15.Qg6+!) 15…Qe7 16.Nh4 Nd8 17.Ng6 (threatening 18.Nxe7+
and 18.Qh8#) 1-0, Siddiqui-Chung, Dresden 2008
Page 72
Chess Opening Blunders
Indian Defense
(1.d4 Nf6, without 2.c4)
1.d4 Nf6 2.e3 c5 3.c3 d5 4.Bd3 e6 5.f4 Bd6 6.Nf3 O-O 7.O-O Nbd7
8.Ne5 Qc7 9.Nd2 Rb8 10.Qe1 b5 11.Qh4 c4 12.Bc2 Nb6 13.Rf3 Bb7??
(13…g6) 14.Bxh7+ (14…Nxh7 15.Rh3 Rfc8 16.Qxh7+ Kf8 17.Ndf3)
1-0, Gatt-Gresh, Athens 1971
1.d4 Nf6 2.e3 c5 3.dxc5 e6 4.b3 Bxc5 5.Ba3? (5.Nf3) 5…Bxa3 6.Nxa3
Qa5+ 7.Qd2 Qxa3 0-1, Al Dahbali-Maghami, Bled 2002
1.d4 Nf6 2.e3 g6 3.Nd2 Bg7 4.b3 O-O 5.Bb2 c5 6.g3 Nc6 7.Ne2 d5
8.Bg2 Bg4 9.O-O Qd7 10.f3 Bh3 11.Bxh3 Qxh3 12.Nf4 Qd7 13.g4?!
(13.dxc5) Nxg4 14.fxg4 cxd4 15.Re1? (15.exd4) 15…dxe3 16.Rxe3??
Page 73
Bill Wall
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 b6 3.e3 Bb7 4.Bd3 d6 5.Nbd2 Nbd7 6.e4 e5 7.c3 Be7
8.Qe2 O-O 9.Nf1 d5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Nxe4 12.Ng3 Nc5 13.O-
O Qd7 14.Nf5 Nxd3? (14…Kh8) 15.Qg4 (15…Bg5 16.Nh6+ Bxh6
17.Qxd7) 1-0, Bogoljubov-Hussong, Germany 1938
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.dxc5 Na6 4.g3 Nxc5 5.Bg2 g6 6.b4 Nce4 7.Bb2 Bg7
8.Nbd2? (8.O-O) 8…Nxf2 9.Kxf2 Ng4+ 10.Kf1 Ne3 (11.Kg1 Bxb2) 0-1,
Hartwell-J. Jacobs, Las Vegas 1974
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.Bg5 Qa5+ 5.c3 Ne4 6.Bh4 Bb7 7.e3 e6?
(7…Qa4) 8.dxe6 dxe6 9.Bxb5+ Nc6? (9…Bc6; 9…Qxb5?? 10.Qd8#)
10.Ne5 (threatening 11.Bxc6+ Bxc6 12.Nxc6) 1-0, Sakaev-Delchev, Ohrid
2001
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.Bg5 Qb6 4.dxc5 Qxb2 5.Nbd2 Qb4 6.e4 Nxe4
7.Be3 e6 8.Rb1 Qa5 9.Rb5 Qa4 10.Bc4?? (10.Nxe4) 10…Nc3 0-1,
Cortes-Umansky, Dos Hermanas 2003
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 c5 3.e3 cxd4 4.exd4 g6 5.c3 Bg7 6.Nf3 O-O 7.Bc4 a6
8.a4 d6 9.O-O Nbd7 10.Re1 b6 11.Qe2 Re8?? (11…Qc7) 12.Bxf7+
Kxf7 13.Ng5+ (13…Kf8 14.Ne6+; 13…Kg8 14.Qe6+) 1-0, Tsoi-
Granados, Norway 2014
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 c5 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4? (4…Qxd4) 4…e5 5.Bxe5 Qa5+
6.c3 Qxe5 0-1, Shuler-Hall, Jacksonville 1990
1.d4 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Ne2 O-O 6.h3 c5 7.Nbc3 cxd4
8.Nxd4 Nc6 9.Be3 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Be6 11.O-O Qd7 12.Kh2 Rfc8 13.Qd2
Rc4 14.Rfe1?? (14.Ne2) 14…Rxd4 (15.Qxd4 Ng4+ 16.hxg4 Bxd4) 0-1,
Zaradic-Bobotsov, Zagreb 1964
Page 74
Chess Opening Blunders
Jerome Gambit
(1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4
7.Qxd4 d6 8.f4? (8.Qd5+) 8…Qh4+ 9.Ke2?? (9…Kf1) 9…Bg4+ (9…
Nc6!) 10.Kd2? (10.Kf1) 10…Nc6 11.Qd5+ Be6 12.Qd3 Qxf4+ 13.Kc3
Qe5+ (14.Kd2 Qg5+ 15.Kc3 Qa5+ 16.b4 Qxb4#) 0-1, Stretto-DjinnKahn,
FICS 2008
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bd6
7.dxe5 Bxe5 8.Qd5+ Kf6 9.f4 Bd6 10.Qg5+ Kf7 11.Qxd8 1-0, Bill
Wall-NN, lichess.org 2016
Page 75
Bill Wall
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Qh4
7.O-O Bd6 8.dxe5 Bxe5? (8…Be7) 9.Qd5+ Kf6?? (10…Kf8) 10.f4
Bxf4?? (10…Bd6) 11.Bxf4 d6 12.Bg3+ 1-0, Bill Wall-Neilson, Florida
2016
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6
7.Qxe5 d6?! (7…Qe7) 8.Qxh8 Qh4 9.O-O (9.d4) 9…Nf6 10.c3?? (10.
Qd8) 10…Ng4 11.h3 Bxf2+ 12.Kh1 Bf5 13.Qxa8 Qxh3+ 14.gxh3 Bxe4#
0-1, NN-Blackburne, London 1884
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6
7.Qxe5 Qe7 8.Qd5+? (8.Qf4+) 8…Kg7 9.d4 Bb6 10.d4 Bh6 11.Bg5?
(11.f3) 11…Nf6 12.e5?? (11.Bxf6+) 12…Nxd5 (13.Bxe7 Nxe7) 0-1,
Levigun-Obviously, GameKnot.com 2004
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6
7.Qd5+ Kf6 8.d4 d6?? (8…Bb4) 9.Bg5# 1-0, Joker-Taj, ICC 2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 6.f4? (6.Qg4+)
6…Nxe5 7.fxe5?? (7.d4) 7…Qh4+ 8.Ke2 Qxe4+ 9.Kf1 Nh6 10.Nc3
Rf8+ 0-1, NN-Drewbear, Chessworld.net 2009
1.e4 e4 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 6.Qg4+ Kxe5
7.d4+ Kxd4?? (7…Bxd4) 8.Be3+ Kc4 9.Qe2+ Kb4 10.Bd2 Ka4 11.b3#
1-0, Bill Wall-NN, lichess.org 2016
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8?! (5…Nxe5)
6.Nxc6 bxc6? (6…Qh4) 7.Qh5+ g6 8.Qxc5 Ne7 9.Qc3 (9…Rf8 10.d3)
1-0, Bill Wall-Qwerty, chess.com 2010
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.O-O d6 6.c3 Bg4 7.d3 Nf6
8.Nbd2 Rf8 9.Qb3+ Be6 10.Ng5+ 1-0, Braken-Knight32, Chessworld.net
2011
Page 76
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 (Bishop Gambit) 3…Bc5 4.d4 Qh4+ 5.Kf1 Bb6
6.Nf3 Qd8 7.Bxf4 Ne7 8.Ng5 O-O?? (8…d5) 9.Qh5 h6 10.Bxf7+ Kh8
11.Qxh6+ gxh6 12.Be5# 1-0, Rudolf-NN, Europe 1912
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 d5 4.Bxd5 Nf6 5.Nc3 c6 6.Bb3 b5?! (6…Na6)
Page 77
Bill Wall
7.e5 Bg4? (7…Nfd7) 8.Nf3 Nfd7? (8…Nd5) 9.d4 g5? (9…Be7) 10.h4
gxh4 11.Bxf4 Qe7?? (11…Be7) 12.Ne4 Be6 13.Nd6+ (13.Bg5+!) 13…
Kd8 14.Bxe6 Qxe6 15.Ng5 Qd5 16.Ndxf7+ 1-0, Zuckerman-Westbrook,
Las Vegas 1973
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 d5 4.Bxd5 Qh4+ 5.Kf1 Nf6 6.Nc3 Ng4 7.Nh3
Ne5 8.Nf2 c6 9.Bb3 Bg4 10.Qe1 Bc5 11.Ncd1? (11.h3) 11…f3 12.g3??
(12.Ne3) 12…Qh3+! 13.Nxh3 Bxh3# 0-1, Anaja-Aguilar, Argentina
1966
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qe7 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.d3 g5 6.Nf3 h6 7.O-O d6
8.e5 dxe5 9.Nxe5 Be6 10.Bxe6 Qxe6 11.Re1 Qb6+ 12.Kh1 Be7 13.b3
O-O? (13…Qa6) 14.Nc4 Qd4 15.Rxe7 Nc6? (15…b5) 16.Bb2 Nxe7??
(16…Qd8) 17.Ne4 (17…Qd8 18.Nxf6+ Kg7 19.Qe2) 1-0, Loman-Dally,
London 1891
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Qh5 c6 7.Bxf4? (7…
Ne2) 7…Qe7+ 8.Qe5?? (8.Be5) 8…Nxf4 0-1, Ross-Bill Wall, North
Carolina 1978
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ 4.g3?? (4.Kf1) 4…fxg3 5.Nf3 (5.Kf1 d5)
5…g2+ 6.Nxh4 gxh1=Q+ 0-1, Gigavear-Bill Wall, chess.com 2010
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 c6 4.d4 d6 5.Bxf4 Bg4 6.Nc3 Nd7 7.Bc4 Ngf6
8.O-O Be7?! (8…Qb6) 9.e5 dxe5 10.dxe5 Nh5? (10…Nd5) 11.Bxf7+
Kf8 (11…Kxf7 12.Ng5+ Bxg5 13.Bxg5+ Kg6 14.Qxg4) 12.Bh6 gxh6??
(12…Nhf6) 13.Nd4 (13…Bxd1 14.Ne6#) 1-0, Hell-Kuenzel, Austria
1908
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Nc3 Qd8 6.Ne4 Bg4 7.Qe2
Bxf3?? (7…Be7) 8.Nf6# 1-0, Meek-Adbor, New Orleans 1855
Page 78
Chess Opening Blunders
Nh6 7.d4 Qe7?! (7…Bg7) 8.Bxf4 f6? (8…Bg7) 9.O-O fxg5? (9…Rg8)
10.Bxg5 Qd7 11.Qd2 Ng8?? (11…b6) 12.Qf4 Ne7 13.Bf7+ Kd8 14.Qf6
(threatening 15.Qxh8) 1-0, Popovych-Otteson, Milwaukee 1969
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Be7 (Cunningham Variation) 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.Nc3
Nxe4 6.Ne5 Bh4+ (6…Nd6) 7.g3 fxg3 8.Bxf7+ Kf8 9.O-O gxh2+
10.Kxh2 Bg3+?! (10…Qg5) 11.Kg2 Nxc3?? (11…Nf6) 12.Qh5 (12.
Bc4+!) 12…Qe7 (12…Qh4 13.dxc3) 13.Ng6+ (13…hxg6 14.Qxh8#) 1-0,
Milner_Barry-NN, Bognor Regis 1961
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Be7 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nxe4 6.Bxf7 Kxf7 7.Ne5+
Ke6 8.Qg4+ Kxe5 9.d4+ Kxd4?? (9…Kf6) 10.Be3+ (10…Ke5 11.O-O,
leading to mate; 10…fxe3 11.Qxe4+ Kc5 12.Qd5+ Kb6 13.Qb5#) 1-0,
Teschner-NN, Southsea 1951
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Be7 4.Bc4 Bh4+ 5.g3 fxg3 6.O-O gxh2+ 7.Kh1
Be7 8.Bxf7+ Kxf7?? (8…Kf8) 9.Ne5+ Ke6 10.Qg4+ Kxe5 11.Qf5+ Kd6
12.Qd5# 1-0, Savanto-Molder, Helsinki 1950
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Be7 4.Be2 Nf6 5.e5 Ng4 6.O-O d6 7.exd6 Bxd6
8.d4?! (8.Bb5+) 8…O-O 9.Nc3 Nc6 10.Nd5? (10.Ne4) 10…Ne7 11.Nxf4
Nf5 12.Qd3 Re8 13.Nd5? (13…Nh3) 13…c6 14.Ne5?? (14.h3) 14…
Nxe5 15.dxe5 Bc5+ (16.Kh1 Qxd5) 0-1, Anderton-Adams, Islington 1992
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Nf6 (Schallopp Defense) 4.Nc3 d6 5.d4 Nh5
6.Bc4 Be7 7.O-O Bd7 8.Bxf7+?! (8.Ne1) 8…Kxf7 9.Ne5+ dxe5
10.Qxh5+ Kg8 11.Qxe5 Bd6?? (11…g5) 12.Qd5+ Kf8 13.Bxf4 Bc6
14.Bxd6+ (14…Ke8 15.Qf7#) 1-0, Gedult-Thery, Paris 1966
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e5 Nh5 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4 dxe5 7.Nxe5?
(7.Bxf7+) 7…Qh4+ 8.Kf1 Be6 9.Bxe6? (9.Nf3) 10…Ng3+ 10.Kg1??
(10.hxg3) 10…Bc5+ 11.d4 Bxd4+ 12.Qxd4 Ne2+ 0-1, Efimov-Bronstein,
Kiev 1941
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 (Classical Variation) 4.Bc4 g4 5.d4 gxf3 6.O-O
fxg2 7.Rxf4 Bh6 8.Qh5 Qe7?? (8…Qg5) 9.Rxf7 Qxe4 10.Rf8+ (10…
Ke7 11.Re8+; 10…Kxf8 11.Qf7#) 1-0, Lee-Weightman, Ontario 1881
Page 79
Bill Wall
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.d4 gxf3 6.O-O fxg2 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7
8.Rxf4+ Nf6 9.e5 Kg8 10.exf6 d5?? (10…h5) 11.Qh5 Nc6 12.Rf2 1-0,
Staunton-NN, London 1847
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.Ne5 Qh4+ 6.Kf1 Bg7 7.Nxf7 d5?!
(7…f3) 8.Bxd5 Bd4 9.Qe1 g3 10.h3? (10.c3) 10…f3 11.Nxh8?? (11.e5)
11…Bxh3 12.Rxh3 Qxh3 13.gxh3 g2# 0-1, Itze-Reinle, Germany 1925
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Bg7 6.Nxg4 d5 7.exd5? (7.d4)
7…Qe7+ 8.Kf2?? (8.Be2) 8…Bd4+ 9.Kf3?? (9.Ne3) 9…Bxg4+ 10.Kxg4
Nf6+ 11.Kf3 Qe4# 0-1, Bird-Gossip, England 1873
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 h6 (Becker Variation) 4.Bc4 g5 5.O-O f6? (5…
Nc6 or 5…d6) 6.Ne5 fxe5?? (6…Bc5+) 7.Qh5+ Ke7 8.Qf7+ Kd6
9.Qd5+ Ke7 10.Qxe5# 1-0, Trigs-NN, chess.com 2012
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 h6 4.h4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bc5 6.d4 Bb6 7.Bxf4 O-O
8.e5 Nh5 9.Bxh6 gxh6 10.Qd2 d5?? (10…Kg7) 11.Qxh6 Ng7 12.Bd3
(threatening 13.Qh7#; 12.Ng5!) 12…Bf5?? (12…Nf5) 13.Ng5 Bxd3
(13…Qd7 14.Bxf5 Qxf5 15.Nxd5) 14.cxd3 (14…Re8 15.Qh7+ Kf8
16.Rf1) 1-0, Grava-Steves, Albany 1965
Page 80
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 (Classical Defense) 3.Ne2 Qf6 4.c3 Nc6 5.g3 Nh6 6.Bg2
Ng4 7.Rf1 Nxh2 8.fxe5?? (8…Rh1) 8…Qxf1+ 9.Bxf1 Nf3# 0-1, Manko-
Jankowitz, Corr. 1900
1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.fxe5? Qh4+ 4.g3 Qxe4+ 5.Qe2 Qxh1 6.Nf3 Nh6 7.c3
Bg1 8.Bg2?? (8.d4) 8…Bxf2+ 9.Kxf2 Ng4# 0-1, NN-Schelfhout, Holland
1910
1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.c3 Nf6 5.fxe5 dxe5 6.Nxe5 Bd6 7.Nf3 Nxe4?
(7…Qe7) 8.Qa4+ (threatening 9.Qxe4+) 1-0, L. Levy-Grey, Las Vegas
1974
Page 81
Bill Wall
1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.c3 Bg4 5.fxe5 dxe5 6.Qa4+ Nd7?! (6…Bd7)
7.Nxe5 Ngf6?! (7…Qg5) 8.d4 O-O 9.Bg5? (9.Nxg4) 9…Nxe5 10.dxe5??
(10…h3) 10…Nxe4 (threatening 11…Bf2#) 0-1, Pulvermacher-
Capablanca, New York 1907
1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.d3 Nf6 6.h3 h6 7.Be2?! (7.Na4)
7…a6 8.Na4 Ba7 9.c4 Qe7 10.Bd2 Bd7 11.Qb3 b5 12.cxb5 Qxb5?
(12…Nc3) 13.Nd4 Qb7 14.Qb7?? (14…Qc4) 14…Bc6 15.Qa6 Nxf3+
(threatening 16…Bf2, winning the queen) 16.Kd1 Nd4 0-1, Bill Wall-
Giannotta, Dayton 1980
1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.b4 Bb6 6.fxe5 dxe5 7.Nxe5??
Qd4 8.Nd3 Bg4 (trapping the queen) 0-1, Dekker-Switzer, Corr. 1874
1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4 Bg4 5.h3 Bxf3 6.Qxf3 Qh4+ 7.Kd1 exf4
8.d4 Bb4? (8…Bxd4) 9.Bxf4 Nc6 10.Bxf7+ Kd7? (10…Ke7) 11.d5 Nd4
12.Be6+ Ke7?? (12…Nxe6) 13.Bg5+ Qxg5 14.Qf7+ Kd8 15.Qf8# 1-0,
Bill Wall-Ericson, San Antonio 1993
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.Nc3 Qe6 5.Nf3 exf4+ 6.Kf2 Bd6?? (6…
Nc6) 7.Bb5+ (threatening 8.Re1) 1-0, Saxton-Darting, Corr. 1936
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Qe2 Bg4 6.Qb5+ Nbd7 7.h3 a6
8.Qa4 (8.Qc4) 8…b5 9.Qa5? (9.Bxb5) 9…Nxd5 10.Bxb5?? (10.hxg4)
10…axb5 11.Qxb5 Qh4+ 12.Kf1 Nxc3 13.dxc3 Bc5 (threatening 14…
Qf2#) 0-1, Svec-Schwarzbach, Vienna 1961
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4 4.d3 Nf6 5.Qe2 Bf5 6.dxe4 Bxe4 7.Nc3 Bb4??
8.Qb5+ (threatening 9.Qxb4) 1-0, Babaev-Moskoview, USSR 1988
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4 4.d3 Nf6 5.Qe2 Bg4 6.Nf3 Qxd5 7.Nbd2 Bf5?
Page 82
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4 4.d3 Nf6 5.dxe4 Nxe4 6.Nf3 Bc5 7.Qe2 Qxd5
8.Nfd2 f5 9.Nc3 Qe6?? (9…Qf7) 10.Ncxe4 fxe4 11.Qh5+ (threatening
12.Qxc5) 1-0, Van Humbeeck-Limbos, Belgium 1964
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4 4.d3 Nf6 5.dxe4 Nxe4 6.Nf3 Bc5 7.Qe2 f5
8.Nfd2 O-O 9.Nxe4 fxe4 10.Be3 Qxd5?? (10…Bg4) 11.Qc4 (11…Qxc4
12.Bxc4+ Kh8 13.Bxc5) 1-0, Schlosser-NN, Poland 1940
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 exf4 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bb5+ c6 6.dxc6 Nxc6 7.O-O?
(7.d4) 7…Qb6+ (threatening 8…Qxb5) 0-1, Jansson-Lie, Norway 2006
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.Nf3 dxe4 4.Nxe5 Bc5 5.Qe2 Nf6 6.Qb5 Nbd7 7.d4
exd3 8.Nxd3 a6 9.Qb3? (9…Qa5) 9…O-O 10.c3?? (10.Be2) 10…
Re8+ 11.Be2 Ba7 12.Qc2 Nc5 13.Nxc5 Bg4 (13…O-O 14.Bxc5+) 0-1,
Atkinson-Baker, Corr. 1953
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.Nf3 dxe4 4.Nxe5 Bd6 5.Qe2 Qe7 6.Qxe4?! (6…Nc3)
6…f6 7.d4? (7.Nxd7) 7…fxe5 8.fxe5 c6 9.Bc4 Bc7 10.O-O Be6 11.Bg5
Qxg5 12.Bxe6 Nh6? (12…Nd7) 13.Bc8 (threatening 14.Bxb7 and
15.Bxa8) 1-0, Chigorin-Walbrodt, Budapest 1896
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Be2 exd4 5.exd5 Bxf3 6.Bxf3 Qh4+ 7.Kf1
Nd7 8.d4 O-O-O 9.c4 Re8 10.Nc3 Ngf6 11.Bd2 g5 12.Qa4? (12…Be1)
12…g4 13.Bd1 Nh5 14.Qxa7?? (14.Rg1) 14…f3 (14…Ng3+! 15.Kg1
f3) 15.Nb5?? (15.Rg1) 15…Ng3+ (16.Kg1 f2+ 17.Kxf2 Nxh1+ 18.Kf1
Qf2#) 0-1, Blackburne-Charlick, Adelaide 1885
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Bg4 5.O-O Nf6 6.Nc3 a6 7.h3 Bh5?
(7…Bxf3) 8.g4 Nxg4 9.hxg4 Bxg4 10.fxe5 (10.Bxf7+!) 10…Nxe5??
(10…Qd7) 11.Nxe5 Bxd1 (11…dxe5 12.Bxf7+ Kd7 13.Qxg4+) 12.Bxf7+
Ke7 13.Nd5# 1-0, Blackburne-NN, Manchester 1885
1.e4 e5 2.f4 f6 3.fxe5 Nc6 4.d4 Be7?? (4…fxe5) 5.exf6 gxf6?? (5…Nxf6)
6.Qh5+ Kf8 7.Bc4 Qe8 8.Bh6+ (8…Nxh6 .Qxh6#) 1-0, R. Fischer-J.
Jones, Detroit 1964
Page 83
Bill Wall
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Qc2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb6 6.Nc3 Qxd4?? (6…
Bg7) 7.Nb5 Qb4+ 8.Bd2 Qa4 9.b3 (9…Qa6 10.Nxc7+, forking queen and
king) 1-0, Krejcik-Vellack, Vienna 1949
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 O-O 6.Bg5 h6 7.Be3 c5 8.dxc5
Qa5 9.Bd2 Qxc5 10.Nf3 Nc6 11.O-O Be6?! (11…Bg4) 12.Nd5 Nd4?? (12…
Bxd5) 13.Bb4 (13…Qc8 14.Nxe7+) 1-0, Basin-Balashov, Ukraine 1988
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 O-O 6.Bg5 h6 7.Be3 c5
8.dxc5 Qa5 9.Bd3?! (9.Bd2) 9…Ng4 10.Qa4?? (10…Bd2) 10…Bxc3+
0-1, Lacrimosa-Bill Wall, Florida 1998
Page 84
Chess Opening Blunders
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.h3 c5 7.d5 e5 8.dxe6
fxe6 9.Bg5 Qa5 10.Qd2 Nc6 11.Be2 Nd4 12.Rd1 e5 13.O-O Be6
14.b3?? (14.Qd3) 14…Qxc3 (15.Qxc3 Nxe2+ and 16…Nxc3) 0-1,
Pohlers-Edirisinghe, Spain 2004
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.h3 e5 7.d5 Nh5 8.Nh2
f5?! (8…Nd7) 9.exf5 Rxf5? (9…Na6) 10.g4 Rxf2 11.Kxf2 Qh4+ 12.Kg1
Qg3+ 13.Bg2 Nf4 14.Bxf4 exf4 15.Nf3 Bd7 16.Ne4 (trapping the queen)
1-0, White-Witt, Hastings 2018
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f4 O-O 6.Nf3 Re8 7.Be2 Nbd7?
(7…c5) 8.e5 Ng4 9.e6 Ndf6 10.exf7+ Kxf7 11.h3 Nh6 12.g4 Nd7??
(12…Nhg8) 13.Ng5+ (threatening 14.Ne6, winning the queen; 13…Kf6
14.Nce4#) 1-0, Atkins-Conde, England 1925
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 O-O 5.Bg5 d6 6.Nf3 Nbd7 7.e5 dxe5
8.dxe5 Ng4 9.Nd5 Ngxe5? (9…f6) 10.Nxe7+ Kh8 11.Nxg6+ hxg6??
(11…fxg6) 12.Bxd8 1-0, R. Fischer-Altusky, New York 1954
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 O-O 5.f4 d6 6.Nf3 c5 7.dxc5 Qa5
8.Bd3 Nfd7 9.Bd2 Nxc5 10.Bc2 Qb4 11.Bb3 Qb6 12.Qe2?! (12.Nd5)
12…Nxb3 13.Nd5? (13.axb3) 13…Qa6 14.Rd1 Qxa2 15.Nc7?? (15.
Nxe7) 15…Na6 (16.Nxa8 Qxb2 17.O-O Bg4) 0-1, Johannessen-Tal,
Reykjavik 1964
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 d6 5.e3 Bg4 6.Be2 Nc6 7.O-O Nd7
8.e4?! (8…h3) 8…Bxf3 9.Bxf3 Nxd4 10.Bg4 Ne5 11.Qxd4?? (11.Be2)
11…Nf3+ 12.Bxf3 Bxd4 0-1, Campelli-Bill Wall, Dayton 1984
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 c6 4.d5 cxd5 5.cxd5 Qa5+ 6.Nc3 Ne4 (6…Bg7)
7.Qd4 Nxc3? (7…Nf6) 8.Bd2 Qxd5? (8…Rg8) 9.Qxc3 Nc6 (9…
Qxh1?? 10.Qxc8#) 10.Qxh8 Nd4 11.Rc1 Qxh1 12.Qxd4 Qxg1?? (12.d6)
13.Qxa7 (13.Rxa7 Rxc8#) 1-0, Feuerstein-Bennett, New York 1955
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nb4 7.Qa4+?
(7.a3) N8c6 8.d5 O-O 9.dxc6 Nd3+ 10.Kf1 Nxb2 11.Qb3? (11.Qc2) 11…
Be6 12.Qf3?? (12.Qc2) 12…Bc4+ 13.Ke1 Nd3+ (14.Kf1 Nb4+ 15.Ke1
Nc2#) 0-1, Scoones-Moore, Victoria 1973
Page 85
Bill Wall
Larsen’s Opening
(1.b3)
1.b3 a5 2.Bb2 a4 3.bxa4 d5 4.c4 c6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.cxd5 Nxd5
8.Qb3 Bxf3 9.gxf3 Qa5? (9…Nd7) 10.Nc3 (10.Qxb7!) 10…Nd7? (10…
Nb6) 11.Nxd5 Nc5?? (11…Qxd5) 12.Qb6 Nxa4 13.Qxb7 Rd8 14.Qxc6+
Rd7 15.Bb5 (15.Qc8+! Qd8 16.Nc7+ Rxc7 17.Bb5+; 15.Qc8+! Rd8
16.Bb5+ Qxb5 17.Nc7#) 1-0, Gonzalez-Herrera, Reykjavik 2018
1.b3 d5 2.e3 e5 3.Bb2 Bd6 4.f4 Nd7 5.Qg4 Ngf6 6.Qxg7 Rg8 7.Qh6 exf4
8.exf4?! (8.Nc3) 8…Rg6 9.Qh4 Rg4 10.Qf2 Rxf4 11.Nf3 Ne5 12.d3? (12.
Be2) 12…Qe7 13.Be2 Nfg4 14.Qg3 Nxf3+ 15.gxf3 Re4 16.Qg2?? (16…
fxe4) 16…Qh4+ (17.Kd1 Ne3+) 0-1, Galewski-Jablonski, Corr. 1963
Page 86
Chess Opening Blunders
1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nc3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.a3 a5 7.e3 Bc5
8.Qc2 O-O 9.Nf3 Re8? (9…Nxc3 10.Qxc3 Qe7) 10.Nxd5 Qxd5 11.Bc4
Qd6?? (11…Qd8) 12.Ng5 Kf8 13.Qxh7 Qxf6?? (13…Qh6) 14.Ne4
(threatening 15.Nxc5 and 15.Qxf6) 1-0, Sherman-Stone, Islington 1973
1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nf3 e4 5.Nd4 Bc5 6.Nxc6 dxc6 7.e3 Bf5
8.Qc2 Qe7 9.Be2 O-O-O 10.f4?! (10.a3) 10…Ng4 11.g3 h5 12.h3? (12.
Bxg7) 12…h4 13.hxg4?? (13.Bxg4) 13…hxg3 14.Rg1 Rh1 15.Rxh1
g2 16.Rf1 (16.Rg1 Qh4+) 16…Qh4+ 17.Kd1 gxf1=Q (18.Bxf1 Bxg4+
18.Kc1 Qe1+ 19.Qd1 Qxd1#) 0-1, Larsen-Spassky, Belgrade 1970
1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3 d5 4.Bb5 Bd6 5.f4 Qh4+ 6.g3 Qe7 7.Nf3 f6
8.Qe2 exf4 9.gxf4 a6 10.Bxc6+ bxc6 11.Rg1 Nh6 12.Nc3 Bg4 13.Na4
O-O 14.f5? (14.O-O-O 14…Qe4 15.Rf1 Nxf5 16.O-O-O?? (16.Qf2)
16…Nh4 17.d3 Bxf3 (18.Qf2 Qg4) 0-1, Williams-Thomas, Corr. 1990
1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bd6 5.Na3 Na5 6.Be2 a6 7.Nc4 Nxc4
8.bxc4 Qe7 9.a4 O-O 10.Nh3 Bc5 11.f4?! (11.O-O) 11…Bxe3 12.Bxe5?
(12.dxe3) 12…Ba7 13.Nf2 d6 14.Bb2? (14.Bxf6) 14…Re8 15.d4? (15.
Bxf6) 15…Ng4 (16.Ra3 Ne3 17.Rxe3 Qxe3) 0-1, Sakaev-Sveshnikov,
Gausdal 1992
1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e4 5.Nd4 Bc5 6.Nxc6 dxc6 7.Be2 b5
8.O-O Bf5 9.f3 Qe7 10.fxe4 Bxe4 11.Nc3 O-O-O 12.d4 h5 13.Bf3 Bd6
14.h3 h4?? (14…Rhf8) 15.Bxe4 (15…Nxe4 16.Qg4+ Kb7 17.Nxe4) 1-0,
Pieretti-Pavarin, Corr. 1973
1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3 g6 4.Bb5 Bg7 5.Ne2 Nge7 6.e4 d5 7.exd5 Qxd5
8.Bxc6+ Nxc6 9.O-O Be6 10.Nf4 exf4 11.Bxg7 Rg8 12.Bc3 O-O-O
13.d3 g5 14.Be1 g4 15.Nc3 Qh5 16.f3 g3 17.h3 Bxh3 (18.gxh3 Qxh3
19.Qe2 g2) 0-1, Junghaeni-Hille, Nuremburg 1989
1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Qd2 Nf6 6.Nc3 d5 7.e3 Bb4
8.Bb5 (8.Bd3) 8…O-O 9.O-O-O?? (9.Nge2) 9…Ne4 10.Qe1 d4 11.Bxc6
Nxc3 (12.Bxc3 Bxc3 13.Qxc3 dxc3 14.Rxd8 Rxd8 15.Bf3 Rd2) 0-1,
Bellon-Benko, Palma de Mallorca 1971
Page 87
Bill Wall
1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Qe7 3.e3 d6 4.d4 Bd7 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.Qd5 Nc6 7.Bb5
O-O-O 8.Bc4 Bg4 (9.Qb5 Rd1#) 0-1, NN-Bill Wall, playchess.com 2013
1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 f6 3.e4 Ne7 4.g3 d5 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.Qf3 Bf5 7.d3 Nbc6
8.Bg2 Qxf3 9.Bxf3?! (9.Nxf3) 9…O-O-O 10.Nc3 Nd4 11.Bd1 Nec6
12.h4? (12.a3) 12…Nb4 13.Kd2 e4 14.a3?? (14.Na4) 14…exd3 15.axb4
dxc2 (16.Bxc2 Nxc2+ 17.Kc1 Nxa1) 0-1, Zachariassen-Rasmussen,
Copenhagen 2001
1.b3 Nf6 2.Bb2 c5 3.c4 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.g3 (5.e3) 5…b6 6.Bg2 Bb7
7.e3?? (7.Nf3) 7…Nxe3 8.dxe3 Qxd1+ 9.Kxd1 Bxg2 0-1, Farmer-Bill
Wall, Palo Alto 1990
1.b3 Nf6 2.Bb2 g6 3.e4 d6 4.g3 Bg7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.Ne2 c5 7.O-O Nc6
8.c4 Ne8 9.Bxg7 Nxg7 10.f4 Bd7 11.d4? (11.d3) 11…cxd4 12.Nxd4 Qb6
0-1, Bill Wall-Katsampes, San Antonio 1994
Page 88
Chess Opening Blunders
Latvian Gambit
(1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Bc4 (Mayet Attack) 3…b5 4.Bxg8 Rxg8 5.Qe2 Qe7
6.Qxb5 Nc6 7.Qd5 fxe4 8.Nxe5 Qxe5 9.Qxg8 Nb4 10.Qb3? (10.O-O)
10…Nd3+ 11.Ke2?? (11.Kf1) 11…Ba6 12.c4 Qd4 (13.Rf1 Bxc4) 0-1,
Siegers-Purins, Corr. 1971
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.d4 Qe7 5.O-O fxe4 6.Ng5 Nf6? (6…Nxd4)
7.Bf7+ Kd8 8.dxe5 Nxe5?? (8…d6) 9.Ne6+ 1-0, Gunderam-Grava, Corr.
1970
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Bc4 d6 4.d3 Nf6 5.Ng5 Qe7 6.Nc3 h6 7.Nd5 Qd8
Page 89
Bill Wall
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Bc4 fxe4 4.Nxe5 Nf6 5.Nf7 Qe7 6.Nxh8 d5 7.Be2
Nc6 8.d3 Bf5 9.dxe4 Nxe4 10.Qxd5 Rd8 11.Qxf5 Nd4 12.Qh5+
g6 13.Nxg6?? (13…O-O) 13…Nxc2+ 14.Kf1 Rd1+ 15.Bxd1 Ng3+
(threatening 16…Qe1#) 0-1, NN-Sarner, Philadelphia 1981
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Bc4 fxe4 4.Nxe5 Qg5 5.d4 Qxg2 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Bf7+
Kd8 8.Bg5+?? (8.Qg5+; 8.Bxg6) 8…Be7 9.Bxe7+ Nxe7 10.Nxg6 (10.
Bxg6 Qxh1+ 11.Kd2 Rf8) 10…Qxh1+ 11.Kd2 e3+ 12.Kxe3 Qe1+
13.Kf3 (13.Kd3 Nbc6) 13…Qd1+ (14.K any Qxh5) 0-1, Simon-Pupols,
Washington 1966
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Bc4 fxe4 4.Nxe5 Qg5 5.d4 Qxg2 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Bf7+
Kd8 8.Bxg6 Qxh1+ 9.Ke2 c6 10.Nc3 e3 11.Nf7+ Kc7 12.Qa5+?? (12.
Qh4) 12…b6 13.Qe5+ d6 14.Be4 Bg4+ (15.f3 Qg2+ 16.Kxe3 dxe5) 0-1.
Gerloff-Schneider, Corr. 1985
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Bc4 fxe4 4.Nxe5 Qg5 5.d4 Qxg2 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Bf7+
Kd8 8.Bxg6 Qxh1+ 9.Ke2 c6 10.Bf4 d6 11.Nf7+?? (11.Nd2) 11…Kc7
12.Nd2 Nf6 (12…Qg2!) 13.Qc5?? (13…Rxh1) 13…Bg4+ 14.f3 Bxf3+
(15.Nxf3 Qxf3+ 16.Ke1 Qxf4) 0-1, Davis-Diebert, Columbus 1980
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Bc4 fxe4 4.Nxe5 Qg5 5.d4 Qxg2 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Bg5??
(7.Bf7+) 7…Bb4+ (threatening 8…gxh5; not 7…gxh5?? 8.Bf7#) 0-1,
Tromp-Davila, Calvia 2004
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Bc4 fxe4 4.Nxe5 Qg5 5.Nf7 Qxg2 6.Nxh8? (6…Rf1)
6…Qxh1 7.Ke2?? (7…Bf1) 7…Qxh2 8.Bf7+ Kd8 9.Bxg8 d5 10.Ke3
Qh6+ 11.Kd4 Nc6+ 12.Kc3 d4+ 13.Kc4 Be6+ 14.Bxe6 Qxe6+ 15.Kb5
Qd5+ 16.Ka4 b5# 0-1, Greenwalt-Bill Wall, Dayton 1983
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.d3 Nc6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.Nd5 Qd8?!
(7…Qd6) 8.Nd4 Ne7? (8…Kf7) 9.Nxf5 c6?? (9…g6) 10.Nd6# 1-0,
Kranzle-Krause, Mannheim 1939
Page 90
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.d4 fxe4 4.Nxe5 Nf6 5.Bg5 d6 6.Qe2 dxe5 7.dxe5 h6
8.exf6 hxg5 9.Qxe4+ Kf7 10.Bc4+ Kxf6 11.O-O Bd6 12.f4?? (12.Qf3+)
12…Bc5+ 13.Kh1 (13.Rf2 Qd1+ 14.Bf1 Nc6) 13…Rxh2+ 14.Kxh2
Qh8+ 15.Kg3 Qh4+ 16.Kf3 Qg4# 0-1, Warner-Pupols, Lincoln 1953
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.Nxe5 Nc6 (Fraser Defense) 4.d4 Qf6 (4…fxe4) 5.Nc3
Nxe5? (5…Bb4) 6.Nd5 Qc6? (6…Qd8) 7.dxe5 d6?? (7…a6) 8.Bb5 1-0,
Moreno-Padula, Argentina 1980
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.exf5 Nc6 4.Bb5 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nxe5 Bxf5 7.Qh5+
g6 8.Nxg6? (8.Qe2) 8…hxg6 9.Qxh8?? (9.Qe2+) 9…Qe7+ 10.Kd1 Bxf2
11.Qxg8+ Kd7 12.Qc4 Re8 (threatening 13.Qe1+ Rxe1 14.Rxe1#) 0-1,
Schlezer-Chigorin, Petersburg 1878
Page 91
Bill Wall
Modern Defense
(1.e4 g6)
1.e4 g6 2.Nc3 Bg7 3.Bc4 d6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.d3 Bd7 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.d4 Re8
8.e5 Ng4?! (8…dxe5) 9.e6+ Bxe6? (9…Kg8) 10.Ng5+ Kf6?? (10…Kg8)
11.Nce4+ Kf5 12.Qf3# 1-0, Bill Wall-NN, playchess.com 2019
1.e4 g6 2.Bc4 Bg7 3.Nf3 h6 4.Nc3 Bxc3?! (4…Bxc3) 5.dxc3 g5? (5…
d6) 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Ne5+ Kg7?? (7…Kf8) 8.Qh5 Kf6 9.Qg6+ Kxe5
10.Qf5+ Kd6 11.Qd5# 1-0, Bill Wall-Brundo, chess.com 2010
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c6 4.Bc4 d6 5.Qf3 e6 6.Be3 b5 7.Bb3 Nd7 8.Nh3
Nb6 9.O-O b4 10.Na4 Qc7 11.a3 bxa3 12.Rxa3 Nxa4 13.Rxa4 Ne7
Page 92
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c6 4.Be3 d5 5.f3 dxe4 6.fxe4 Nf6 7.Nf3 O-O
8.Be2 Ng4 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4? (10.Bf4) 10…Ne3 (threatening 11…Nxg2+
and 12…Nxh4) 0-1, Luethgens-Nurkic, Italy 1993
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c6 4.h3 d6 5.a4 Qc7 6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2 Be6 8.g3
Nd7? (8…Nf6) 9.d5 1-0, Kazhgaleyev-Shoker, Spain 2005
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3 Nd7 5.Bc4 c5? (5…Nb6) 6.Ng5 Nh6??
(6…e6) 7.Bxf7+ Nxf7 8.Ne6 Qb6 9.Nxg7+ Kf8 10.Ne6+ (threatening
11.Nd5) 1-0, Al Modiahki-Zaw, Malaysia 1999
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bc4 O-O 6.Bb3 Bg4 7.Be3 Nc6
8.O-O?! (8.h3) 8…e5 9.d5 Nd4 10.Bxd4? (10.Kg1) 10…exd4 11.Qxd4?
(11.Ne2) 11…Bxf3 12.gxf3 Nh5 13.Qb4 Qg5+ 14.Kh1 Qf4 15.Rad1??
(15.Kg2) 15…Qxf3+ 16.Kg1 Nf4 (threatening 17…Qg2#) 0-1, Schiffler-
Kramnik, Frankfurt 1996
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Bg4 a6 5.Nf3 Nd7 6.a4 b6 7.Bc4 h6 8.Bh4
g5? (8…Bb7) 9.Bxg5 hxg5 10.Bxf7+ Kxf7 11.Nxg5+ Kf6?? (11…
Ke8) 12.Qg4 Ne5 13.Nd5+ Kg6 14.Nf4+ Kf6 15.dxe5+ dxe5 16.Nh7+
(threatening 17.Nh7+) 1-0, Rublevsky-D’Amore, Istanbul 2000
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.c4 e5?! (3…e6) 4.dxe5 Bxe5 5.Nf3 c6? (5…Bg7)
6.Nxe5 Qa5+ 7.Bd2 Qxe5 8.Bc3 Qxe4+ 9.Be2 f6 10.O-O Kf7? (10…
Na6) 11.Re1 Nh6?? (11…Qf4) 12.Bf3 Qf5 13.Qd6 Rf8 14.Bb4 1-0,
Biyiasas-Kong, British Columbia 1974
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 4.c3 Nd7 5.Bd3 e5 6.O-O Ngf6 7.h3 O-O 8.Be3 c6
9.Nbd2 Qc7 10.Nh2 d5 11.f3 c5 12.b3? (12.Rc1) 12…exd4 13.cxd4
cxd4 14.Bxd4?? (14.Rc1) 14…Nxe4 15.Bxg7 Qb6+ (16.Kh1 Ng3#) 0-1,
Bagdasarova-Rybenko, St. Petersburg 1998
Page 93
Bill Wall
Nimzo-Indian Defense
(1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4)
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 c5 6.f3 d5 7.cxd5 Nxd5
8.Bd2?! (8.dxc5) 8…cxd4 9.cxd4 Qh4+ 10.g3 Qxd4 11.e4? (11.Rc1)
11…Ne3 12.Qc1?? (12.Bxe3) 12…Qxa1 (13.Qxa1 Nc2+, forking queen
and king) 0-1, Enevoldsen-Larsen, Copenhagen 1954
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 c5 5.dxc5 Bxc5 6.Bf4 g5 7.Bg3 h5?!
(7…Nh5) 8.h4 Ng4? (8…g4) 9.hxg5 Qb6? (9…Qxg5) 10.e3 (threatening
11.Be2) 10…Bxe3? (10…Nc6) 11.fxe3 Qxe3+ 12.Nge2 h4 13.Qe4 1-0,
Yrjola-Haapasalo, Finland 2001
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 c5 5.dxc5 Qc7 6.Nf3 Bxc5 7.g3 a6
Page 94
Chess Opening Blunders
8.Bf4 Qb6?! (8…d6) 9.O-O Nc6 10.Na4 Qa5 11.Nxc5 Qxc5 12.Bd6
Qxf2 13.Kb1 b5?? (13…Qa7) 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Bc5 (trapping the queen)
1-0, Aronian-Hjartarson, Reykjavik blitz 2004
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 Qd6 7.e3 Ne4
8.Bf4 Qg6 9.Qb3 c5?! (9…a5) 10.f3 Nxc3? (10…Nf6) 11.bxc3 Ba5
12.Bcb8 (12…Rxb8 13.Qb5+ Bd7 14.Qxa5) 1-0, Botvinnik-Sorokin,
Leningrad 1933
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.e3 c5 6.dxc5 Ne4 7.Bd2 Nxc5?!
(7…Nxd2) 8.O-O-O Nc6?! (8…O-O) 9.Nf3 (9.cxd5) 9…a5 (9…dxc4)
10.a3 (10.cxd5) 10…a4 (10…O-O) 11.axb4?? (11.Kb1) 11…Nxb4
12.Qb1?? (12.Nxa4 Nxc2 13.Nxc5 Qb6) 12…Nb3# 0-1, Vandette-Bill
Wall, North Wilkesboro, NC 1976
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d6 5.e4 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 O-O 7.Bd3
e5 8.Ne2 Qe7 9.O-O c5?! (9…Re8) 10.f4 Nfd7 11.Ng3 Re8? (11…g6)
12.Nf5 Qf8 13.fxe5 dxe5 14.Qf2 Nb6?? (14…f6) 15.Nh6+ (15…gxh6
16.Bxh6 Qe7 17.Qg3+ Kh8 18.Qg7#) 1-0, Johner-Steiner, Berlin 1928
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.Nf3 c5 6.dxc5 Na6 7.a3 Bxc3+
8.Qxc3 Nxc5 9.g3 d5 10.Bg2 Nfe4 11.Qc2 (11.Qe3) 11…Bd7 12.Nd2?
(12…cxd5) 12…Ba4 13.b3 Nxd2 14.Bxd2 Bxb3 (15.Qb2 Bxc4) 0-1, E.
Brown-Benjamin, Philadelphia 1992
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 b6 5.Nge2 Ne4 6.Qc2 Bb7 7.Ng3 Qh4
8.Bd3 f5 9.O-O Bxc3 10.bxc3 O-O 11.Ne2 Rf6 12.Bxe4? (12.f3) 12…
Bxe4 13.Qd1?? (13.Qd2) 13…Bf3 (14.gxf3 Rh6 15.Re1 Qxh2+ 16.Kf1
Qh3+ 17.Kg1 Qh1#) 0-1, Bareev-Zsinka, Denmark 1988
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 b6 5.Nf3 Bb7 6.Bd3 Ne4 7.Qc2 f5 8.a3
Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 O-O 10.Rb1 c5 11.O-O d6 12.Nd2 Qh4 13.g3 (13.f3)
13…Ng5 14.gxh4?? (14.d5) 14…h3# 0-1, Herbst-Lane, New York 1960
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 b6 7.a3 Bd6 8.e4
dxe4 9.Nxe4 Bb7?! (9…Nbd7) 10.Nxf6+ Qxf6? (10…gxf6) 11.Bg5 Bxf3
12.Qd2 (12…Bf4 13.Bxf4 Bxg2 14.Rg1 Bh3 15.Be5) 1-0, Lugovoi-
Balashov, Russia 2003
Page 95
Bill Wall
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.O-O dxc4
8.Bxc4 Nbd7 9.Qe2 cxd4 10.exd4 b6 11.d5 Nc5?! (11..exd5) 12.Rd1
Qe8? (12…Qe7) 13.Nb5 exd5 14.Nc7 Qe4?? (14…Qxe2) 15.Rd4 Qg6
(15…Qxe2 16.Bxe2 Rb8 17.Rxb4) 16.Nh4 (16…Qh5 17.Qxh5 Nxh5
18.Bxd5 Rb8 19.Rxb4) 1-0, Ivanchuk-Anand, Spain 2008
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d6 6.Nge2 c5 7.O-O Nc6
8.dxc5 Ne5 9.a3 Bxc5 10.b4 Bb6 11.Bb2 Nfg4 12.Nf4? (12.Nd4) 12…
Qh4 13.h3 Nxf2 14.Qe1? (14.Qe2) 14…Qxf4 (15.exf4 Nfxd3+ 16.c5
Nxe1 17.cxb6 Nc3) 0-1, Babula-Kurajica, Istanbul 2000
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.g3 O-O 6.Bg2 cxd4 7.Nxd4 d5
8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Qb3 Qb6 10.Nb5? (10.Nc2) 10…Qxb5 (11.O-O Qb6)
0-1, Dougherty-Gerzhoy, Toronto 2011
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.Bg5 Qa5 6.Bd2 cxd4 7.Nxd4
Qc7?! (7…Nc6) 8.Ncb5 Qxc4?? (8…Qa5) 9.Rc1 (9…Qxa2 10.Rxc8+
Ke7 11.Nf5+ exf5 12.Bxb4+ Ke6 13.Qd6#) 1-0, Bill Wall-NN, playchess.
com 2017
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bg5 (Leningrad Variation) 4…c5 5.e3?!
(5.Nf3) 5…Qa5 6.Nf3? (6.Qd3) 6…Ne4 7.a3?? (7.Qc1) 7…Bxc3+
8.bxc3 Qxc3+ 9.Ke2?? (9.Nd2) 9…Qb2+ 10.Nd2 Nc3+ 0-1, Svane-
Kyrkjebo, Denmark 2017
Page 96
Chess Opening Blunders
Nimzowitsch Defense
(1.e4 Nc6)
1.e4 Nc6 2.Nc3 d6 3.d4 g6 4.Bc4 Bg7 5.Be3 Nf6 6.h3 O-O 7.Nf3 Nd7
8.Qd2 Re8 9.Bh6 Bh8?? (9…e5) 10.Bxf7+ Kxf7 11.Ng5+ (11…Kg8
12.Ne6, trapping the queen) 1-0. Telisman-Mas, France 1991
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Ne2 Nb4 5.Na3 c5 6.c3?? (6.Ng3) 6…Nd3+
(7.Kd2 Nxf2, forking queen and rook) 0-1, Sherborne-Wake, Corr. 1857
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nce7 4.c4 Ng6 5.Nf3 Bc5 6.Nc3 d6 7.Na4 Bb6 8.b4
Nf6 9.Bg5? (9.Bd3) 9…Bxf2+ 10.Ke2 Nxe4 (11.Bxd8?? Nf4#; 11.Qc1
Nxg5 12.Qxg5 Qxg5 13.Nxg5 Bd4) 0-1, Siegemund-Eger, Erfurt 1979
Page 97
Bill Wall
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nce7 4.Nf3 Ng6 5.Be3 Bb4+ 6.c3 Ba5 7.Bd3 Bb6
8.O-O N8e7 9.Qd2 d6 10.c4 O-O 11.Nc3 Ba5 12.Ne1 f5 13.f4?! (13.
f3) 13…fxe4 (13…Nxf4) 14.Bxe4 Bf5 15.Bxf5? (15.Bd3) 15…Nxf5
16.fxe5?? (16.Bf2) 16…Nxe3 (17.Qxe3 Bb6) 0-1, Williams-Kennedy,
London 1848
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nce7 4.h4 h5 5.Bg5 g6?! (5…Nf6) 6.d6 cxd6
7.Nc3 Qc7? (7…f6) 8.Nb5 (8…Qa5+ 9.Bd2 Qb6 10.Be3 Qa5+ 11.b4
Qxb4+ 12.c3 Qa5 13.Nxd6+ Kd8 14.Nxf7+) 1-0, Strugnell-Macrae,
Hastings 2013
1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bd3 Nf6 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Nc3 Qh5 6.O-O Bg4
7.h3 Ne5 (7…Bxf3) 8.hxg4 Nfxg4 9.Nxe5?? (9.Re1) 9…Qh2# 0-1, B.
Gates-M. Carlsen, London TV Exhibition 2014
1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.Nc3 Qa5 5.d4 Bf5 6.Bb5 e6 7.Ne5
Bb4 8.Bd2 Nge7?? (8…Qb6) 9.Nc4 1-0, Amberger-Sprecher, Munich
1924
1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Bg4 5.Be2 O-O-O 6.c4 Qa5+
7.Bd2 Qb6?? (7…Qf5) 8.c5 Qxb2 9.Bc3 (trapping the queen) 1-0, Bill
Wall-McKone, Palo Alto 1989
1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Bg4 4.d5 Ne5 5.Nxe5 Bxd1 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6
dxe5?? (7…Qa5+) 8.cxb7+ Qd7 9.bxa8=R# 1-0, Rhine-NN, lichess blitz
2019
1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.c3 d5 5.e5 Bg4 6.Nbd2 f6 7.exf6 Nxf6
8.h3 Bf5 9.g4 Bd7 10.Bg2 O-O 11.O-O Qc8 12.Ne5 Nxe5? (12…
e6) 13.dxe5 Ne4? (13…Ne8) 14.Nxe4 dxe4 15.Bxe4 Bxe5?? (15…c6)
16.Qd5+ (16…Rf7 17.Qxe5) 1-0, Karklins-Forman, Milwaukee 1970
Page 98
Chess Opening Blunders
The Old Indian aims at Black playing …e5 and placing the
king’s bishop eventually on e7 instead of g7 as in the King’s In-
dian Defense. It is a very sharp and compact opening, but not
as popular as other Indian defenses.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 a6 4.e4 e6 5.f4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Be7 7.h4 d5 8.e5 Ng4
9.c5 O-O 10.Be2 f6 11.g3 Nh6 12.exf6 Bxf6 13.Ne5? (13.Be3) 13…
Nf5 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Bg4? (15.Bd3) 15. Nxg3 16.Rh3 Bxh4 17.Qf3
Ne4+ 18.Kf1 Ng5 19.Qh1 Nxh3 (20.Bxh3 Bf6) 0-1, Arshak-Bill Wall,
playchess.com 2013
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.e4 e5 5.d5 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 a5 8.Nge2
Nc5 9.Qd2 O-O 10.g4 h5 11.gxh5 Nxh5 12.Ng3 Qh4?? (12…Nf4)
13.Bg5 (13…Bh6 14.Bxh4 Bxd2+ 15.Kxd2 Nf4 16.Nb5) 1-0, Andersen-
Kristensen, Copenhagen 2001
Page 99
Bill Wall
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.e4 e5 5.Nf3 c6 6.Be2 g6 7.O-O Bg7
8.Re1 O-O 9.Rb1 exd4 10.Nxd4 Nc5 11.f3 a5 12.Be3 Qe7 13.Bf1 Ne8
14.Qd2 Bh8 15.b3 Nc7 16.a3 Qf6?! (16…Rd8) 17.Nde2 Qe7?! (17…
N7e6) 18.Red1 Rd8?? (18…Ne8) 19.Bxc5 (19…dxc5 20.Qxd8+ Qxd8
21.Rxd8+ Kg7 22.Na4) 1-0, Volpert-Andrejeva, Belgrade 1967
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 e5 4.dxe5 dxe5 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.Nf3 c5 7.Ne4??
(7.g3) 7…Nxe4 8.Bxd8 Bb4+ (9.Nd2 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 Nxd2 11.Kxd2
Kxd8) 0-1, Koukolik-Sykora, Prague 1994
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Bf5 4.f3 d6 5.e4 Bg6 6.Be3 Nbd7 7.Nh3 e5
8.Nf2 Qb6 9.Qd2 Qa5 10.Be2 Be7 11.Rb1 O-O 12.h4 Rad8?! (12…
h6) 13.g4 h5 14.d5 Nc5?? (14…cxd5) 15.b4 Ncxe4 16.fxe4 (16.bxa5!
Nxd2 17.Rxb7) 16…Qc7 17.Bg5 cxd5 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Nxd5 (19…Qd7
20.Nxf6+ gxf6 21.Qh6) 1-0, Reyes-Garrett, Maryland 1979
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Bf5 4.f3 e5 5.d5 e4 6.g4 Nxg4 7.fxg4 Qh4+
8.Kd2 e3+ 9.Kxe3 Qg5+ 10.Kd4?? (10.Kf3) 10…c5+ 11.dxc6 Nxc6+
12.Kd5 Qe7 13.gxf5 Qe5# 0-1, Wojtkiewicz-Shabalov, Bonn 1994
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Bf5 4.f3 e5 5.e4 exd4 6.Nb5 Bd7 7.Nxd4 Nc6
8.Be3 Qe7 9.Nge2 d5 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.exd5? (11.Bf2) 11…Qxe3
12.Nc2?? (12.Nxc6) 12…Bb4+ (13.Nxb4 Nxb4 14.Qd2 Nd3+ 15.Kd1
Nf2+) 0-1, Gross-Christiansen, Lone Pine 1973
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nf3 g6 4.g3 Bg7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.e4 e5 8.O-
O c6 9.h3 Qa5 10.Re1 exd4 11.Nxd4 Re8 12.Nc3?1 (12.Be3) 12…Ne5
13.Ne3 Be6 14.Bf1?? (14.Qe2) 14…Nxe4 15.Nxe4?? (15.Rb1) 15…Qxe1
16.Qxe1 Nf3+ 17.Kh1 Nxe1 18.Nxd6 Re7 (19.Rb1 Rd8) 0-1, Vareille-
Belkhodja, France 1986
Page 100
Chess Opening Blunders
Owen’s Defense
(1.e4 b6)
1.e4 b6 2.c4 Bb7 3.Nc3 e6 4.d4 Bb4 5.Bd3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Nf6 7.Qe2
O-O 8.e5 Bxg2 9.exf6 Qxf6?? (9…Bxh1) 10.Qg4 (10…Bh1 11.Bg5,
winning the queen) 1-0, Seidman-Braun, New York 1974
1.e4 b6 2.c4 Bb7 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Ne4 5.Qf3 Nxc3 6.Qxb7 Nc6 7.Qa6??
(7.dxc3) 7…Nb4 (threatening 8…Nxa6 and 8.Nc2#) 0-1, Bamber-
Chranowski, Corr. 1986
1.e4 b6 2.Bc4 Bb7 3.Nf3 Bxe4 4.Ng5 Bg6 5.h4 f6?? (5…e6) 6.h5 Bxc2
7.Bf7# 1-0, O. Smith-Bej, Philadelphia 1898
Page 101
Bill Wall
1.e4 b6 2.Bc4 Bb7 3.Nf3 h6 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Ne5+ Ke6 6.Qf3 Kxe5
7.d4+ Kxd4?? (7…Kd6) 8.Be3+ Kc4 9.Qe2+ Kb4 10.a3+ 1-0,
Trajkovski-Bytyqi, Skopje 2019
1.e4 b6 2.Bc4 Bb7 3.Qf3 e6 4.d4 Nc6 5.d5 Nd4 6.Qc3?? (6.Qd3) 6…
Bb4 7.Qxb4 Nxc2+ 0-1, J. Roberts-Bill Wall, South Carolina 1970
1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Nc3 e6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Nge2 d6 6.e5 Nfd7 7.Nf4 Be7
8.Qg4 g6 9.Nce2 c5? (9…Qc8) 10.Nxe6 fxe6 11.Bxg6+ hxg6 12.Qxg6+
Kf8 13.Nf4 (13…Bd5 14.Nxd5 exd5 15.e6 Qe8 16.Bh6+ Rxh6 17.Qxh6+
Kg8 18.exd7) 1-0, Chalupetzki-Renyi, Austria 1905
1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Nc3 e6 4.Bc4 f5?! (4…Bb4) 5.exf5 Bxg2 6.Qh5+
Ke7?? (6…g6) 7.fxe6 Nf6 8.Qf7+ Kd6 9.Bb5 c6 10.Bf4# 1-0, Bill Wall-
Antitarlo, FICS 2011
1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Nc3 e6 4.Bd3 h6?! (4…Nf6) 5.Nge2 Nf6 6.O-O c5
7.d5 exd5? (7…a6) 8.exd5 Nxd5?? (8…d6) 9.Nxd5 Bxd5 10.Nf4 Bb7
11.Ng6 fxg6 12.Bxg6+ Ke7 13.Re1+ Kf6 14.Qh5 (threatening 15.Qf5#)
1-0, Kaiser-Strom, Karlstadt 1926
1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 f5 4.exf5 Bxg2 5.Qh5+ g6 6.fxg6 Nf6?? (6…
Bg7) 7.gxh7+ Nxh5 8.Bg6# 1-0, Ajeeb-Baez, Milwaukee 1888
1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 f5 4.exf5 Bxg2 5.Qh5+ g6 6.fxg6 Bg7 7.gxh7+
Kf8 8.Nf3 Nf6 9.Qg6 Bxh1?? (9…Bxf3) 10.Bh6 Ne8 11.Qf5+ Nf6
12.Bxg7+ Kxg7 13.Qg6+ (13…Kf8 14.Qh6+ Kf7 15.Ng5+ Ke8 16.Bg6#)
1-0, Bunaev-Krivans, Corr. 1992
1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 f5 4.exf5 Bxg2 5.Qh5+ g6 6.fxg6 Bg7 7.gxh7+
Kf8 8.hxh8=Q+ Kxg8 9.Qg4 Bxh1 10.h4 Bd5 11.Bg5 Bf7?! (11…Nc6)
12.Ne2 d5? (12…c5) 13.Nf4 Qe8? (13…Qd6) 14.Bf5 e5 15.Ne6 Bxe6??
(15…Bh5) 16.Bf6 (threatening 17.Bxe6+ and 17.Qxg7#) 1-0, Fisher-
Smith, Sydney 1873
1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 f5 4.exf5 Bxg2 5.Qh5+ g6 6.fxg6 Bg7 7.gxh7+
1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 Nf6 4.Qe2 e6 5.Nf3 d5 6.e5 Nfd7 7.Ng5 c5? (7…g6)
8.Nxe6 (8…fxe6 9.Qh5+ g6 10.Bxg6) 1-0, Tahirov-Pukkinen, Finland 2006
Page 102
Chess Opening Blunders
Petroff’s Defense
(1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6)
This defense, also known as the Russian Game, was first popu-
larized by Alexander Petroff (1794-1867), the best Russian
player of his time. It is a solid and resilient defense, but with
a reputation of being a drawish opening. It has its fair share of
traps and attacking oportunitues for both sides.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bc4 O-O 5.d3 c6 6.Nxe5 d5 7.exd5 cxd5
8.Bb3 d4 9.a3 Qe7 10.f4 dxc3 11.axb4?? (11.O-O) 11…Bg4 (trapping the
queen) 0-1, Hirst-Smith, England 1943
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bc4 O-O 5.Nd5 Ba5 6.Nxe5 Nxe4 7.Qh5
Re8?? (7…c6) 8.Qxf7+ Kh8 9.Qg8+ Kxg8 10.Ne7+ Kf8 11.N7g6+ hxg6
12.Nxg6# 1-0, Wishniakov-Owen, Novgorod 1904
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nxe5 d4 5.Bc4 dxc3 6.Bxf7+ Ke7 7.bxc3 Nc6??
(7…Nbd7) 8.Ba3+ (8…Qd6 9.Bxd6+) 1-0, Jackson-Robichaud, Somerset 1986
Page 103
Bill Wall
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4 (Italian Variation) 3…Nxe4 4.Nc3 Nxc3 5.dxc3
f6 6.O-O c6?? (6…d6) 7.Nxe5 d5 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Nxg6 hxf6 10.Qxh8 Nd7
11.Bd3 (11.Re1+! Ne5 12.Bg5) 11…Ne5 12.Bf4 Qd6 13.Rae1 (13…Bd7
14.Bxe5 fxe5 15.Qxe5+) 1-0, Cochrane-Somacarana, Calcutta 1857
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Nc3 Nxc3 5.dxc3 f6 6.O-O Nc6 7.Nh4
Ne7 8.Bd3 g6 9.f4 Bg7? (9…exf4) 10.fxe5 fxe5? (10…f5) 11.Bg5 (11.
Nxg6! hxg6 12.Qg4) 11…c6?? (11…d6) 12.Nf5 gxf5 13.Qh5+ Kf8
14.Rxf5 (14…Nxf5 15.Bxd8) 1-0, Saburof-Luece, Corr. 1904
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Nc3 Nxc3 5.dxc3 f6 6.Nh4 g6 7.O-O
Qe7 8.Kh1?! (8.Be3) 8…d6 9.f4 Be6 10.Bxe6 Qxe6 11.f5 Qf7 12.fxg6?
(12.Qe2) 12…hxg6 13.Bg5 Nd7 14.Qd3?? (14.g3) 14…Rh5 (15.Nf3
fxg5) 0-1, Fowler-Gore, Corr. 1876
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Nc3 Nc5?! (4…Nxc3) 5.Nxe5 Nc6??
(5…Ne6) 6.Bxf7+ Ke7 7.Nd5+ Kd6 8.Nc4# 1-0, Webster-Walsh,
Oshkosh 1964
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Nc3 Nxf2? (4…Nxc3) 5.Kxf2 Bc5+?
(5…c6) 6.d4 exd4?? (6…Bxd4) 7.Re1+ Kf8 8.Ne4 Bb6?? (8…d5)
9.Qd3 (9.Bg5! f6 10.Nxf6 gxf6 11.Bh6#) 9…d5 10.Qa3+ Kg8 11.Bxd5
Qxd5?? (11…d3+) 12.Nf6+ (12…gxf6 13.Qf8+! Kxf8 14.Bh6+ Kg8
15.Re8#) 1-0, Richardson-Delmar, Brooklyn 1871
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Nxe5 d5 5.Bb3?! (5…d3) 5…Qg5 6.O-
O? (6.d3) 6…Qxe5 7.d3? (7…d4) 7…Bd6 8.g3 Ng5 9.Re1?? (9.f4) 9…
Nf3+ 10.Kf1 Bh3# 0-1, NN-Zukertort, Posen 1862
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 6.d4 d6??
(6…Qf6) 7.Qg4+ Kd5?? (7…Kf6) 8.c4+ (8.Nc3+! Nxc3 9.Qf3+ Kxd4
10.Qxc3+) 8…Kxd4 9.Nf3+ Kd3?? (9…Kc5) 10.Qf4 Qd7 11.b3
(threatening 12.Qe3+ Kc2 13.Na3#) 1-0 Peckoeski-Mizesko, Corr. 1979
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.e5 Ne4 5.Qxd4 d5 6.Nc3 Bc5 7.Qxd5??
(7.Qa4+) 7…Bxf2+ (8.Ke2 Nxc3+ 9.bxc3 Qxd5) 0-1, McMahon-
Marshall, Brooklyn 1897
Page 104
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 Bd6 6.c4 O-O 7.cxd5
Bb4+ 8.Kf1 Qxd5 9.Qc2 Nf6 10.Bc4? (10.Be3) 10…Qxd4 11.Nxf7 Nd5
12.Ng5?? (12.Bxd5) 12…Rxf2 (13.Qxf2 Qd1+ 13.Qe1 Qxe1#) 0-1,
Dunkle-Schooling, Corr. 1971
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d5 4.Nxf7 Kxf7 5.e5 Ne4 6.Qf3+ Kg8? (6…
Ke8) 7.Qxe4 dxe4?? (7…Be6) 8.Bc4+ 1-0, Bill Wall-NN, playchess.com
2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Bf5?? (5…Nxc3) 6.Qe2
Qe7 7.Nd5 1-0, Zapata-Anand, Biel 1988 and Shaw-Takahashi, France
2005
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Be7 7.O-O Bg4
8.c4 Nf6 9.Nc3 dxc4 10.Bxc4 O-O 11.Bf4 Nbd7 (11…Nc6) 12.Re1 Nb6
13.Bb3 Nbd5?? (13…c6) 14.Nxd5 (14…Nxd5 15.Bxd5 Qxd5 16.Rxe7;
14.Bxd5!) 1-0, Factor-te Kolste, Hague 1920
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Bg4 7.O-O
Nd7 8.c4 Ndf6 9.h3 Be6 10.Re1 Bb4?? (10…Be7) 11.Qa4+ (threatening
12.Qxb4) 1-0, Gabrielsen-Gronnestad, Norway 2000
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Qe2 Qe7 6.d3 Nf6 7.Bg5 Be6
8.Nc3 Nbd7 9.d4 d5 10.O-O-O c6 11.Kb1 h6 12.Bf4 O-O-O? (12…g5)
13.Qe6 Nh5?? (13…Qb4) 14.Qxc6+! (14…bxc6 15.Ba6#) 1-0, Taube-
Finotti, Hamburg 1939
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nxe4 4.Nxf7 Kxf7 5.Qh5+ Kf6?? (5…g6)
6.Qf3+ Ke5 7.d4+ Kxd4 8.Qf5 Qg5 9.c3+ Nxc3 10.bxc3# 1-0, Beaver-
Adler, Internet 1996
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Qe7 4.d4 d6 5.Nf3 Qxe4+ 6.Be2 Bf5 7.Na3 d5
8.Ng5 Qxg2? (8…Qe7) 9.Bf3 Bg4 10.Bxg2 Bxd1 11.Kxd1 1-0, Bill Wall-
Kas, lichess.org 2017
Page 105
Bill Wall
Philidor’s Defense
(1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 Bg4 4.Bc4 Bh5? (4…Nc6) 5.Nxe5 Bxd1?? (5…
Qg5) 6.Bxf7+ Ke7 7.Nd5# 1-0, Bjarnason-Dittler, Germany 2001
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.Nc3 f5 5.exf5 Bxf5 6.d3 Bg4?! (6…Nf6)
7.O-O Nd4? (7…Nf6) 8.Nxe5 Bxd1?? (8…dxe5) 9.Bf7+ Ke7 10.Nd5#
1-0, Kvisla-Kabashaj, Oslo 2001
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.O-O f5 5.d3 Nf6 6.Nc3 h6 7.Nh4 Ne7
8.Nd5 Nfxd5 9.Qh5+ g6 10.Nxg6 Nf6?? (10…Nxg6) 11.Nxe5+ Nxh5
12.Bf7# 1-0, Somers-NN, London 1923
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.Bb3 Nbd7 7.O-O Re8?
Page 106
Chess Opening Blunders
(7…c6) 8.Bxf7+ (8…Kxf7 9.Ng5+ and 10.Ne6, winning the queen) 1-0,
Perdomo-Wohl, Havana 2001
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 f6 4.d4 Nc6 5.Nh4 Bd7?? (5…Nxd4) 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Nxg6
Bg4 8.Bf7+ Kxf7 9.Nxe5+ Ke6 10.Qf7# 1-0, Kupfer-Silski, Livonia 1881
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Bg4 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.Nxe5 Bxd1?? (6…
dxe5) 7.Bxf7+ Ke7 8.Nd5# 1-0, Hartlaub-Worch, Bremen 1890
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Bg4 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.d4 exd4 6.Bxf7+?! (6.Nb5) 6…
Kxf7 7.Ng5+? (7.Nd5) 7…Kg6? (7…Qxg5 8.Bxg5 Bxd1 9.Nxd1 h6)
8.Qxg4 Ne5?? (8…Qc8) 9.Qf5+ Kh6 (9…Kh5 10.Ne6+) 10.Nf7# 1-0,
Bill Wall-Reyes, San Antonio 1993
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nc6 4.Bb5 Bd7 5.Nc3 a6? (5…exd4) 6.Bxc6
bxc6 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Nxe5 Qf6?? (8…Nf6) 9.Qxd7# 1-0, Birkisdottir-
Steinthorsson, Reykjavik 2016
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 h6 (6…c5) 7.O-
O b6? (7…Be7) 8.Bf3 Bb7? (8…Be7) 9.e5 dxe5 10.Bxb7 Ra7?? (10…
exd4) 11.Bc6+ Ke7 (11…Nxc6 12.Nxc6 Qxd1 13.Rxd1 Ra8 14.Nxe5)
12.Nf5+ (12…Ke6 13.Qxd8) 1-0, Anthony-Hendricks, Milwaukee 1969
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7 6.Bd3 O-O 7.O-O
Re8 8.Kh1 Nc6 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.f4 Bf8 11.e5 dxe5 12.fxe5 Ng5 13.Bf4
Qd7?! (13…Bd7) 14.Qe1 Qe6? (14…Nf6) 15.Qh4 h6? (15…Nh6) 16.h3
g5?? (16…Bc5) 17.Bxg5 hxg5?? (17…Nxe5) 18.Qh7# 1-0, Conquest-T.
Wall, Blackpool 1988
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Qxd4 Qf6?! (4…Nc6) 5.Qd3 Nc6 6.Nc3 Ne5
7.Nxe5 dxe5 8.Nd5 Qc6?! (8…Qd6) 9.Qg3 f6?? (9…Qd6) 10.Bb5 (10…
Qxb5 11.Nxc7+ and 12.Nxb5) 1-0, de Firmian-Pedersen, Norway 2007
Page 107
Bill Wall
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7 4.Bc4 c6 5.Ng5 Nh6 6.a4 Be7?? (6…exd4)
7.Bxf7+ Nxf7 8.Ne6 Qb6 9.a5 Qb4+ 10.c3 Qc4 11.Nc7+ Kd8 12.b3 1-0,
Leonhardt-NN, Hamburg 1913
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7 4.Bc4 c6 5.Ng5 Nh6 6.a4 Be7?? (6…exd4)
7.Bxf7+ Nxf7 8.Ne6 Qb6 9.a5 Qb4+ 10.c3 Qc4 11.Nc7+ Kd8 12.b3
(trapping the queen) 1-0, Leonhardt-NN, Hamburg 1913
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7 4.Bc4 Be7? 5.dxe5 dxe5? (5…Nh6) 6.Qd5
(threatening 7.Qxf7#; 6…Nh6 7.Bxh6) 1-0, Crespo-Lucena, Havana 2001
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.Bc4 Nc6 5.Ng5 Nh6 6.Nxh7 Qh4 7.Bg5?
(7.Ng5) 7…Qxe4+ 8.Kf1 Ng4 (8…Rxh7!) 9.f3? (9.c3) 9…Qxd4
10.Qxd4 Nxd4 11.Nxf8? (11.fxg4) 11…Nxh2+ (12.Kg1 Ndxf3+ 13.gxf3
Nxf3+ 14.Kg2 Rxh1 15.Kxh1 Nxg5) 0-1, Haselgrove-Newman, Australia
1964
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.dxe5 fxe4 5.Ng5 d5 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.e6 Bxc3+
8.bxc3 Nh6?? (8…Qf6) 9.Qh5+ Kf8 10.Ba3+ Kg8 11.Qf7+ Nxf7
12.exf7# 1-0, Mlotkowski-Deacon, Philadelphia 1913
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.h3 c6
8.a4 Nxe4 9.Nxe4 d5 10.Bb3 dxe4 11.Nxe5 Bd6 12.f4 exf3?! (12…Qc7)
13.Nxf3 Qa5?? (13…Nf6) 14.Ng5 Nf6 15.Qd3 h6 16.Nxf7 Rxf7 17.Qg6
1-0, C. Carlson-Brian Wall, New Mexico 1975
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Bg4 4.dxe5 Bxf3 (4…Nc6) 5.Qxf3 dxe5 6.Bc4 Nf6 (6…
Nh6?? 7.Bxh6 1-0, Kovalev-Pueschel, Berlin 2016; 6…Qd7) 7.Qb3 Nbd7??
(7…Qd7?? 8.Qxb7 Qc6 9.Bb5 1-0, Kolisch-Geake, Cambridge 1860; 7…Be7)
8.Bxf7+ Ke7 9.Qe6# 1-0, Karjakin-Lluch, Internet simul 2003
Page 108
Chess Opening Blunders
Pirc Defense
(1.e4 d6)
1.e4 d6 2.Bc4 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.Qf3 Nf6 5.e5 dxe5 6.Qb3 O-O 7.dxe5 Ng4
8.f4 Qd4 9.Nh3 Nxe5 10.fxe5 Bxh3 11.Qxh3?? (11.Be3) 11…Qxc4 12.
Na3 Qe4+ (13.Kf2 Qxe5) 0-1, Smitten-Dadian, Tiflis 1900
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nd7 3.Nf3 e5 4.Bc4 Be7? (4…Ngf6) 5.dxe5 dxe5? (5…
Nh6) 6.Qd5 (6…Nh6 7.Bxh6) 1-0, Danchevski-Gjorgjieski, Skope 2002
1.e4 d6 2.d4 f5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.exf5 Nxd4 6.g4 h5 7.f3 hxg4
Page 109
Bill Wall
8.fxg4 Qd7 9.h3 Qc6 10.Rh2 Qc5 11.Bf4?? (11.Rf2) 11…e5 12.Bg5??
(12.Be3) 12…Ne6 (threatening 13…Qxg1+ and 13…Nxg5) 0-1,
Duhrssen-Balogh, Corr. 1928
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bb5 Bd7 5.Nge2 a6 6.Bc4 e5 7.O-O g6
8.Bg5 Bg7 9.f4 exf4?? (9…exd4) 10.Rxf4 Na5 11.Bxf7+ (11.e5!) 11…
Kxf7 12.Nd5 h6 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Rxf6+ Kg7 15.Nef4 (threatening
16.Rxg6+ Kf8 17.Qh5) 1-0, Norcia-Dantscheff, Munich 1936
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.Nf3 e5 5.Bc4 Be7 6.a4 c6 7.O-O Qc7
8.a5 Rb8?? (8…exd4) 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.Ng5+ (threatening 11.Ne6,
winning the queen) 1-0, Bartel-Paleologu, Zurich 2016
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 O-O 6.O-O e6 7.e5 Ne8
8.Bd3 Nc6 9.Ne4 dxe5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 12.Bh6 Qh4 13.f4
Bd4+ 14.Kh1 Qxh6 0-1, Pelan-Bill Wall, Dayton 1982
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 O-O 6.O-O Nbd7 7.e5 Ne8
8.Bf4 a6 9.Re1 b5?! (9…c6) 10.a4 b4 11.Nd5 a5? (11…Bb7) 12.Bg5 f6
13.Nxe7+ (13…Qxe7 14.Bc4+ Kh8 15.exf6) 1-0, Escale-Viedma, Corr. 1976
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 O-O 6.O-O Bg4 7.Be3 Nc6
8.h3 Bxf3 9.Bxf3 e5 10.d5 Ne7?! (10…Nd4) 11.Be2 Nd7 12.g4 Kh8
13.Kg2 Ng8 14.h4 Qxh4?? (14…f5) 15.g5 (threatening 16.Rh1, winning
the queen) 1-0, Angantysson-Kaiszauri, Reykjavik 1982
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.h3 O-O 6.Be3 c6 7.Qd2 b5 8.Bd3 a6
9.O-O Qc7 10.a4 b4 11.Ne2 c5 12.dxc5 dxc5 13.e5 Nd5 14.Bh6 Bb7?! (14…
Nd7) 15.Ng3 c4?? (15…f5) 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Nh5+ (17…gxh5 18.Qg5+ Kh8
19.Qh6, threatening 20.Qxh7#) 1-0, Jimenez-Rosales, Spain 2001
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 c5 6.e5 Nfd7 7.exd6 O-O
8.dxe7 Qxe7+ 9.Be2 Re8 10.O-O? (10.d5) 10…cxd4 11.Nd5?? (11.Nb5)
11…Qc5 12.c4 d3+ (13.Be3 Rxe3 14.Nxe3 Qxe3+ 15.Rf2 Bxb2) 0-1,
Donaldson-McHugh, St. Paul 1982
1.e4 d6 2.d4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.Bc4 Nd7?? 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Ng5+ Kf6
7.Qf3# 1-0, Arnason-Pribyl, Latvia 1990
Page 110
Chess Opening Blunders
Polish Opening
(1.b4)
1.b4 d5 2.Bb2 Bf5 3.e3 e6 4.f4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bxb4 6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.Ne2 Ng4
8.c3 Be7 9.h3 Nc5 10.Ng3 Bh4 11.Nxh4 Qxh4 12.Qf3 Nxe3 13.Qf2 Nxf1
0-1, Capablanca-Kevitz, Brooklyn simul 1924
1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.Bxe5 Nf6 4.Nf3 d5 5.e3 Bd6 6.Bb2 Nc6 7.h3 Qe7
8.Be2 Ne5 9.O-O Nxf3+ 10.Bxf3 Ne4 11.a3 Qh4 12.d3?? (12.Nc3) 12…
Bxh3 13.Bxe4 (13.gxh3 Qxh3, threatening 14…Qh2#) 13…Bg4 14.f3
Page 111
Bill Wall
Bh2+ 15.Kh1 Bg3+ 16.Kg1 Qh2# 0-1, B. Harris-Bill Wall, Dayton 1982
1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 d5 3.b5 e4 4.e3 Nf6 5.c4 Bd6 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Bxg7 Rg8 8.Bb2
Qh4 9.g3? (9.Nc3) 9…Bxg3 10.fxg3?? (10.Qe2) 10…Rxg3?? 11.hxg3
Qxg3+ 12.Ke2 Bg4+ 13.Nf3 Bxf3# 0-1, Watkins-Bill Wall, Dayton 1982
1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 e4 3.b5 d5 4.e3 (4.c4) 4…Nf6 5.g3?! (5.Ne2) 5…h5 6.Bg2
h4 7.Ne2? (7.gxh4) 7…h3 8.Bf1 Bg4 9.Qc1 Bf3 10.Rg1 Ng4 11.Nd4
Nxh2 12.Nxf3?? (12.d3) 12…Nxf3+ 13.Ke2 Nxg1+ (14.Kd1 h2) 0-1,
Schmidt-Nakamura, Oslo 2010
1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 f6 3.e4 Bxb4 4.Bc4 Ne7 5.Qh5+ Ng6 6.f4 exf4 7.a3 d5 8.Bxd5
c6 9.Bb3 Qa5? (9…Bd6) 10.e5 Be7? (10…Bc5) 11.Bf7+ (11…Kxf7?? 12.e6+
Bxe6 13.Qxa5; 11…Kd8 12.Bc3) 1-0, Katalymov-Ilivitsky, USSR 1959
1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 f6 3.e4 c6 4.Bxe5 fxe5 5.Qh5+ Ke7 6.Qxe5+ Kf7 7.Bc4+
Kg6? (7…d5) 8.Nh3 (8.Qf5+!) 8…d5 9.Nf4+ Kf7 10.exd5 Qe7?? (10…
b5) 11.d6+ 1-0, Schiffler-Pinkemeil, East Germany 1950
1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 Nf6 3.b5 Bc5 4.e3 Qe7 5.c4 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Nf3 e4
8.d4? (8.Qb3) 8…exf3 9.dxc5 Nxe3 10.fxe3 Qxe3+ 11.Be2 fxg2 0-1,
McKenzie-Nikolayev, Rochester 2004
1.b4 e6 2.Bb2 Nf6 3.a3 c5 4.b5 d5 5.d4 Qa5+ 6.Nc3 Ne4 7.Qd3 cxd4
8.Qxd4 Bc5 9.Qxg7 Bxf2+ 10.Kd1 d4 11.Qxh8+ dxc3 12.Qxc8??
(12.Nf3) 12…dxc3 13.Bc1 Nd7 (13…Qxb5!, threatening 14…Qd5+)
14.Qxa8?? (14.Qxb7) 14…Qxb5 15.Bf4 Qd5+ 16.Kc1 Be3+ 17.Bxe3
Nf2 0-1 (threatening 18…Qd1#) Fleissig-Schlechter, Vienna 1893
1.b4 e6 2.Bb2 Nf6 3.a3 Be7 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 h6 6.Nf3 b6 7.g4 Bb7?!
(7…Nxg4) 8.g5 hxg5 9.Nxg5 Bxh1?? (9…Re8) 10.Bxf6 g6 11.Qh5 (11…
gxh5 12.Bh7#) 1-0, Chernyshov-Lesiak, USSR 1969
Page 112
Chess Opening Blunders
Ponziani Opening
(1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 d5 4.Qa4 Qd6 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.Bc4 Qe4+ 7.Kd1
Bd7?? (7…Qg4) 8.Bxf7+ (8…Kxf7 9.Qxe4) 1-0, Komarek-Korn, Austria
1992
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 d5 4.Qa4 dxe4?! 5.Nxe5 Qd5?! (5…Qd6) 6.Nxc6
Qxc6?? (6…bxc6) 7.Bb5 1-0, Sturell-NN, Sweden 1956
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 d5 4.Qa4 f6 5.Bb5 Nge7 6.exd5 Qxd5 7.O-O
Bd7 8.d4 e4 9.Nfd2 Ng6 10.Bc4 Qa5?! (10…Qh5) 11.Qb3 f5 12.Bf7+
Page 113
Bill Wall
Ke7?? (12…Kd8) 13.Nc4 Qa6 14.Bg5+ Kxf7 15. Nd6# 1-0, Chigorin-
Gossip, New York 1889
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Be2 e4 6.Nd4 Nxd4 7.cxd4
Qxd4 8.O-O Nf6 9.Qc2?! (9.d3) 9…Bd6 10.d3? (10.Nc3) 10…Bf5
11.dxe4 Qe5 12.f4? (12.g3) 12…Qd4+ 13.Kh1 Nxe4 14.Qc4?? (14…
Bd3) 14…Nf2+ 15.Kg1?? (15.Rxf2) 15…Nh3+ 16.Kh1 Qg1+ 17.Rxg1
Nf2# 0-1, Marmoolak-Bill Wall, chess.com 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6 4.d4 d5 5.Bb5 Nxe4 6.Nxe5 Bd7 7.Qb3 Nxe5
8.Qxd5 Qe7 9.Qxb7?? (9.dxe5) 9…Bxb5?? (9…Nd3+ 10.Bxd3 Nd6+,
winning the queen) 10.Qxa8+ Kd7 11.dxe5?? (11.Qd5+ Nd6 12.Qxe5)
11…Qxe5 12.Be3 Bc5 13.Qxh8?? (13.Qb7) 13…Nxf2 14.Kd2 Bxe3+
(15.Kc2 Qe4+; 15.Ke1 Bc1+) 0-1, Wayte-Ranken, London 1890
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6 4.d4 d5 5.Bb5 Nxe4 6.Nxe5 Bd7 7.Qb3 Qe7
8.Qxd5 Nxe5 9.Qxb7?? Nf3+ 10.Kf1?? (10.Kd1) 10…Ng3+ (threatening
11…Qe1#) 0-1, Grundy-Ranken, London 1893
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6 4.d4 d5 5.Bb5 Bg4 6.Qa4 Bd7 7.exd5
Nxd5 8.dxe5 a6 9.Be2 Bc5? (9…Qe7) 10.Qc4 (threatening 10.Qxc5 or
10.Qxd5) 1-0, Nikolayev-Goldberg, Rochester 2004
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6 4.d4 Nxe4 5.d5 Nb8 6.Nxe5 Qe7 7.Qd4
d6 8.Qxe4 f5 9.Bb5+ Kd8?? (9…Nd7) 10.Bg5 1-0, Balabanov-Moros,
Frunze 1984
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6 4.d4 Nxe4 5.d5 Ne7 6.Nxe5 Ng6 7.Bd3
Nxf2? (7…Nxe5) 8.Bxg6 Nxd1?? (8…hxg6) 9.Bxf7+ Ke7 10.Bg5+ Kd6
11.Nc4+ Kc5 12.Nba3 (threatening 13.b4#) 1-0, Bachmann-Kunsstmann,
Augsburg 1899
Page 114
Chess Opening Blunders
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nc3 c6 4.a4 b6 5.e4 Ba6 6.Nf3 e6 7.Ne5 b5? (7…
Bb4) 8.axb5 cxb5 9.Bxc4 bxc4 10.Rxa6 (10…Nxa6?? 11.Qa4+ Ke7
12.Nc6+, forking queen and king) 1-0, Kumar-Cabunagan, Auckland
2017
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 Bb4+ 5.Nc3 exd4 6.Nxd4 Qe7 7.Bxc4
Qxe4+?! (7…Nf6) 8.Kf1 Bxc3 9.bxc3 Be6 10.Qa4+ Nc6? (10…Nd7)
11.Bg5 Bxc4+? (11…Qg4) 12.Qxc4 Nce7? (12…Nxd4) 13.Re1 Qg6
14.h4 Kf8?? (14…Rd8) 15.Qxc7 f6?? (15…Re8) 16.Rh3 1-0, Shirov-
Huebner, Dortmund 1992
Page 115
Bill Wall
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Bxc4 exd4 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Ne5+
Ke8 8.Qxg4 Nf6? (8…Nd7) 9.Qe6+ Qe7 10.Qc8+ Qd8 11.Qxd8+ Kxd8
12.Nf7+ (threatening 13.Nxh8) 1-0, und der Lasa-Bilguer, Berlin 1837
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 Nf6 4.Nc3 c6?! (4…e5) 5.Bxc4 Bg4 6.Nf3
(6.Qb3!) 6…b5 7.Bb3 b4? (7…Bxf3) 8.Ne5 Bh5?? (8…e6) 9.Qxh5 (9…
Nxh5 10.Bxf7#) 1-0, Bill Wall-A. Johnson, Dayton 1979
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 a6 4.a4 c5 5.d5 e6 6.a3 Nf6 7.Nc3 exd5 8.e5
d4 9.Bxc4 Be6? (9…b5) 10.Bxe6 fxe6 11.exf6 dxc3?? (11…gxf6)
12.f7+ (12…Ke7 13.Bg5+; 12…Kxf7 13.Qxd8) 1-0, Botvinnik-Schmid,
Hamburg 1965
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 a6 4.a4 Nc6 5.e3 Na5 6.Nbd2 Be6 7.Ng5 Qd5?!
(7…Bd5) 8.Nxe6 fxe6? (8…Qxe6) 9.e4 (9…Qxd4 10.Qh5+ g6 11.Qxa5)
1-0, Varga-Skripchenko, Germany 1996
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 a6 4.e4 b5 5.a4 Bb7 6.axb5 axb5 7.Rxa8 Bxa8
8.Nc3 c6 9.d5 e6 10.Bf4?! (10.dxc6) 10… b4? (10…cxd5) 11.dxe6
Qe7?? (11…fxe6) 12.Na4 (12…Qxe6 13.Bxb8) 1-0, Krasenkov-Kharlov,
Moscow 1991
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 b5 4.a4 c6 5.e3 Bd7? (5…Nf6) 6.Ne5 e6?
(6…b4) 7.axb5 cxb5 8.Qf3 (threatening 9.Qxa8 and 9.Qxf7#) 1-0,
Blackburne-Fleissig, Vienna 1873
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 c5 4.e3 Bg4 5.Bxc4 e6 6.Qa4+ Nd7 7.Ne5 Bf5??
(7…Ngf6) 8.Nxd7 Qxd7 9.Bb5 1-0, Atkins-Gunsberg, Hanover 1902
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qa4+ Nbd7 5.Nc3 e6 6.e4 c5 7.d5 exd5
8.e5 d4 9.Bxc4 dxc3 10.Ng5 Qe7?? (10…Qb6) 11.Bxf7+ Kd8 12.Ne6+
(12…Qxe6 13.Bxe6 Nxe5 14.Qa5+) 1-0, Sajtar-Sliwa, Warsaw 1947
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 g6 5.Bxc4 Bg7 6.Qa4+ Nbd7? (6…c6)
7.Bxf7+ Kxf7?? (7…Kf8) 8.Ng5+ Kg8 (8…Ke8 9.Ne6 traps the queen)
9.Qc4+ e6 10.Qxe6+ Kf8 11.Qf7# 1-0, NN-Shearer, North Carolina 1978
Page 116
Chess Opening Blunders
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 (Slav Defense) 3.Nc3 e6 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.e4 Ne7 6.Bd3 O-O
7.e5 Bc7 8.Bxh7+ Kxh7 9.Ng5+ Kg6 10.Qg4 f5 11.Qg3 Qd7 12.Qh4
(threatening 13.Qh7#) 1-0, Blackburne-NN, Newark 1900
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e6 4.Nf3 f5 5.h3 Nf6 6.g4 Bd6 7.gxf5 O-O 8.Rg1
Qc7?! (8…exf5) 9.Bh6 Rf7? (9…Ne8) 10.Ng5 gxh6?? (10…Re7)
11.Nxe6+ 1-0, Ramstad-Lalla, Hastings 2017
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Nf3 Bf5 6.Bf4 Nc6 7.e3 e6
8.Qb3 Qd7?! (8…Bb4) 9.Ne5 Ne5? (9…Qc8) 10.dxe5 (threatening
11.exf6 and 11.Bb5, winning the queen) 1-0, Jimenez-de Dios, Spain
2001
Page 117
Bill Wall
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 a6 5.Bg5 Ne4 6.h4 f6 7.Bf4 Qa5 8.Qb3
e5 9.dxe5 d4 10.Qc2? (10.Qa4) 10…dxc3 11.b4 Bxb4 12.Qxe4 O-O
13.e6? (13.Qc2) 13…Qxa2 14.Rc1 (14.Rxa2?? c2+ and c1=Q#) 14…Qb2
15.Rc2 (15.Qc2 Bxe6) 15…Qb1+ (15…Rd8!) 16.Bc1 Ba3 17.Ng5 f5
(18,Qd3 Bxc1) 0-1, Lugovi-Volkov, Moscow 1999
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Bg5 Qb6 7.Qc2 Ne4?
(7…Nc6) 8.Nxe4 dxe4?? (8…Nc6) 9.Qxc8+ (9…Qd8 10.Qxd8#) 1-0,
Prommuang-Kaydanovich, Batumi 2018
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Be7 7.b3 O-O
8.Bd3 c5 9.O-O cxd4 10.exd4 h6 11.Re1 Re8?! (11…dxc4) 12.cxd5
exd5 13.Nb5 Rf8? (13…Bb4) 14.Bf4 Ne8?? (14…Ne4) 15.Nc7 Bb4
16.Nxa8 (16…Bxe1 17.Rxe1 Ndf6 18.Nc7) 1-0, Westerinen-Thomson,
Hague 1961
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 Qa5 7.Qc2 (7.Nd2)
7…Bb4 8.Nd2 O-O 9.Bd3?? (9.Be2; 9.a3) 9…dxc4 10.Bxf6 cxd3
11.Qxd3 Nxf6 0-1, Bill Wall-Erb, Winston-Salem 1982
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bf5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Qb3 b6 7.Bf4 g6?
(7…a6) 8.Nb5 Na6 9.Qa4 (threatening 10.Qxa6 and 10.Nc7+) 1-0,
Desmarais –Barcsi, Budapest 2001
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Ne5 Bh5 6.Qb3 Qb6 7.Qxb6
axb6 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Nxd5 cxd5 10.Bf4 Nc6 11.e3 e6 (11…f6) 12.a3??
(12…Bb5) 12…Bb4+ 13.axb4 Rxa1+ 14.Kd2 Rd1+ 15.Kc3 Be2 0-1,
O’Banion-C. Adams, Oklahoma City 1990
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bf4 Nbd7 7.e3 a6
(7…Nh5) 8.Bd3 Be7 9.O-O O-O (9…Nh5) 10.Qc2 Re8? (10…b5)
11.Nb5 axb5?? (11…e5) 12.Bc7 1-0, O’Bryant-Bill Wall, Winston-Salem
1977
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.cxd5 Qxd5 5.Nc3 Qd8 (5…Qa5) 6.e4 e6
7.Bd3 Nxd4? (7…Be7) 8.Nxd4 Qxd4?? (8…Bc5) 9.Bb5+ (winning the
queen) 1-0, Cafolla-Guerrero, Gibraltar 2006
Page 118
Chess Opening Blunders
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.d5 Bxf3 6.exf3 Ne5 7.Bf4 Qd6
8.Qa4+ Kd8 9.Bg3 e6?? (9…Nf6) 10.O-O-O Qb4 11.dxe6+ (11…Kc8
12.Qe8#; 11…Bd6 12.Qxb4) 1-0, Steckner-Menzel, Germany 1991
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 Bxf3 6.Qxf3 (6.gxf3) 6…
Nxd4 7.Qf4?? (7.Qd1) 7…Nc2+ 8.Ke2 Qd3# 0-1, Bhajne-Ayush, India
2008
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Nc3 Nf6 5,cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nb6?
(6…Bxf3) 7.d5 Ne5?? (7…Bxf3) 8.Nxe5 Bxd1 9.Bb5+ c6 10.dxc6
(threatening 11.cxb7+ and 11.c7+) 1-0, Cabanes-Felizes, Lisbon 2001
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bb4 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 c5
8.e3 h6 9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.Bxc4 O-O 11.O-O b6 12.Ne5 Bb7?! (12…Nd7)
13.f4 g6?! (13…Qe7) 14.Qg4 Be4?? (14…Qg7) 15.f5 (15…Bxf5 16.Qf3)
1-0, Aronian-Vallejo, Dubai blitz 2014
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 c5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Nxd5 Qxd5 7.e3 Nc6
8.Bb5 cxd4 9.Qxd4?? (9.Bxc6+) 9…Qxb5 0-1, Collin-Alekhine, Bern
1932
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.Bg5 Bb4 (5…h6) 6.cxd5 exd5
7.Bxf6 Nxf6? (7…Bxc3+) 8.Qh4+ (threatening 9.Qxb4) 1-0, Huss-
Urban, Switzerland 2013
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 b6 7.cxd5 Nxd5
8.Nxd5 exd5 9.Bf4 O-O 10.Bd3 c5 11.O-O Bb7 12.Rc1 Re8 13.Ne5
Page 119
Bill Wall
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxc4 5.Qa4+ Nbd7 6.Qxc4 c5 7.Nc3
a6 8.a4 cxd4 9.Nxd4?? (9.Qxd4) 9…Ne5 (10.Qb3 Qxd4) 0-1, Schmied-
Aagard, Copenhagen 1995
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Nxd5? (6…e3)
6…Nxd5 7.Bxd8 Bb4+ (8.Qd2 Kxd8) 0-1, Mayet-Harrwitz, Berlin 1848
and Lemieux-Feoktistov, Quebec 2001
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.e3 c6 6.Nf3 Qa5 7.Nd2 dxc4
8.Nxc4? (8.Bxf6) 8…Qxg5 0-1, Diulger- Slovineanu, Moldova 2001
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Nf3 O-O 7.Rc1 a6
8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bd3 c6 10.Qc2 Re8 11.O-O Nf8 12.Ne5 Bd6 13.f4 Be7
14.h3 Nh5 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Rf3 Qh4?! (16…Nf6) 17.g4 f6?? (17…Nf6)
18.Bxh7+ Nxh7 19.Ng6 1-0, Rossolimo-Cukiermann, Paris 1937
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Bxf6 Bxf6 6.e4?! (6.Nf3) 6…dxe4
7.Nxe4? (7.Nge2) 7…Bxd4 8.Qg4?? (8…Qb3) 8…f5 9.Qh5+ g6 10.Qh6
fxe4 11.Rb1 Nd7 12.Be2 Nf6 13.Nh3 e5 0-1, C. Carlson-Farris, Corr. 1968
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Bg5 h6 5.Bh4 g5 6.Bg3 Be7 7.Nb5 O-O
8.Nxc7?? (8.e3) 8…Bb4+ 0-1, Corrie-Bill Wall, Thailand 1974
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Bf5 3.cxd5 Bxb1 4.Rxb1 Qxd5 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.Nf3 e5
7.dxe5? (7.Nxe5) 7…Bb4+ 8.Bd2 Qe4 9.Qd1 O-O-O 10.g3?? (10.Rc1)
10…Bxd2+ (11.Nxd2 Qxg1) 0-1, Laciner-Miladinovic, Istanbul 2001
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Bf5 3.Nf3 e6 4.Qb3 b6 5.e3 Nf6 6.Ne5 Bd6 7.cxd5 Bxe5
8.dxe5 Nxd5? (8…Ne4) 9.e4 Bxe4 10.Qa4+ (threatening 11.Qxe4) 1-0,
Tarrasch-Schwartz, Nuremberg 1890
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e6 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nf6 (5…Nxc3) 6.Bd3
Qxd4?? (6…Be7) 7.Bb5+ (winning the queen) 1-0, Solis-Kashioka,
Calvia 2004
Page 120
Chess Opening Blunders
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Ba6 5.Qc2 Bb7 6.Nc3 c5 7.e4 cxd4
8.Nxd4 Nc6 9.Nxc6 Bxc6 10.Bf4 Nh5 11.Be3 Bd6?? (11…Bc5) 12.Qc1
(threatening 13.Qxd6 and 13.Qxh5) 1-0, Christiansen-Karpov, Wijk aan
Zee 1993
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 d5 6.Bg2 dxc4 7.Ne5 Bb4+
8.Bd2 cxb3 9.Nc6? (9.axb3) 9…b2 10.Nxb4 bxa1=Q 11.Bc3 Qxc3+
12.Nxc3 c6 0-1, Petran-Adorjan, Hungary 1985
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qc2 c6 6.Bg2 d5 7.O-O Bxc4
8.Ne5 Ba6 9.Nxc6? (9.Nc3) 9…Qc8 (threatening 10…Nxc6) 0-1, Basso-
Page 121
Bill Wall
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qc2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Qe7 7.Bg2 d5?
(7…Bb7) 8.Qa4+ (threatening 9.Qxb4) 1-0, Brynell-Chevant, France
2011
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Nbd2 Bb7 6.Bg2 c5 7.e4 Nxe4?
(7…cxd4) 8.Ne5 Nc3 9.Qh5 g6 10.Qh3 Bxg2 11.Qxg2 Na4?? (11…Na6)
12.Qxa8 1-0, Browne-Ashley, Philadelphia 1991
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Bb4+ 7.Qxd2 d6
8.Nc3 Ne4?! (8…O-O) 9.Qf4 Nxc3? (9…Nf6) 10.Ng5 O-O 11.Bxb7 Nd7
12.bxc3 1-0, Rodatz-Reinhardt, Hamburg 1936
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 c5 6.d5 exd5 7.Nh4 Na6
8.cxd5 g6 9.Nc3 Bg7 10.Nb5 d6?! (10…O-O) 11.Bf4 Bf8?? (11…O-O)
12.Qa4 Qd7 13.Bh3 Qxh3 14.Nxd6+ Ke7 15.Nxb7 Nb4?? (15…Nxd5)
16.Bd6# 1-0, Winter-Romi, Paris 1926
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 c5 6.d5 exd5 7.Nh4 b5 8.cxd5
g6 9.O-O Qe7?? (9…d6) 10.d6 1-0, Borgula-Kasiak, Bratislava 1993
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Qc8 6.O-O d5 7.Nc3 Be7
8.Ne5 O-O 9.cxd5 exd5?! (9…Nxd5) 10.Bg5 Nbd7? (10…Rd8) 11.Qa4
Re8 12.Bh3 Kf8?? (12…Qd8) 13.Bxf6 (13…gxf6 14.Nxd7+ Kg7
15.Nxf6) 1-0, Dewing-Illingworth, Margate 1938
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.Nc3 d5
8.Ne5 Nbd7 9.Qa4 Nxe5 10.dxe5 Ng4? (10…Ne4) 11.cxd5 Nxe5 12.d6
1-0, Heinicke-Seitz, Germany 1934
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.Nc3 d6
8.Qd3 Nfd7?? (8…c5) 9.Ng5 (9…Bxg5 10.Bxb1) 1-0, Karner-Mass,
Estonia 1971
Page 122
Chess Opening Blunders
1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 e6 3.Bf4 c5 4.Nf3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nd7? (5…a6) 6.Ndb5 Nd7
7.Nxd5 Qa5+?? (7…Bc5) 8.Bd2 (8…Qa4 9.Nbc7+ Kd8 10.Nxa8) 1-0,
Isakov-NN, ICC 2013
Page 123
Bill Wall
1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.e3 Nf6 6.Be2 O-O 7.O-O Nh5
8.Bg3 Nxg3 9.fxg3 Kh8 10.h3 f5 11.Kh2?! (11.Qd2) 11…e5 12.Nxe5?
(12.dxe5) 12…Nxe5 13.dxe5 Bxe5 14.Nxd5 Bxb2 15.Bc4? (15.c3 Nf4
16.Bxa1)) 15…Bxa1?? (15…c6) 16.Qxa1+ Kg8 17.Ne7# 1-0, Atkinson-
Bird, Montreal simul 1877
1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5 Nbd7 4.f3 c5 5.e4 cxd4 6.Qxd4 e5 7.Qxd5?
(7.Qd2) 7…Nxd5 8.Bxd8 Nxc3 9.Ba5 Na4 0-1, Svensson-Velicka,
Stockholm 2005
1.d4 d5 2.Bd2 Nc6 3.e3 Bf5 4.c4 dxc4 5.Bxc4 Nf6 6.Nc3 a6 7.d5 Ne5
8.Qa4+? (8.Be2) 8…b5 9.Nxb5 Nxc4?? (9…Bd7) 10.Nd6# 1-0, Lietsch-
Van Minden, Oldenburg 1957
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 c5 4.c3 Bf5 5.dxc5 e6 6.b4 b6? (6…Be7) 7.Qa4+
Nbd7? (7…Ke7) 8.c6 Nb8 9.c7+ 1-0, Welling-Sergent, France 1998
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 b6 7.O-O Bd6
8.Re1 O-O 9.e4 dxe4?! (9…Bc7) 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Bxe4 Bb7? (11…
Qc7) 12.Bxh7+ Kxh7 13.Ng5+ Kg8?? (13…Kg6) 14.Qh5 Re8 15.Qxf7+
Kh8 16.Re4 (16.Qh5+! Kg8 17.Qh7+ Kf8 18.Qh8+ Ke7 19.Qxg7#) 16…
Bxh2+ 17.Kxh2 1-0, Schell-Gardner, Columbus 1998
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 g6 4.c4 Bg7 5.Ne5 O-O 6.Qf3?! (6.Be2) 6…
Nbd7 7.Bd3? (7.Nc3) 7…dxc4 8.Bxc4?? (8.Nxc4) 8…Nxe5 9.dxe5 Bg4
(10.Qg3 Qd1#) 0-1, Weiss-Bill Wall, San Antonio 1979
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.Qc2 Bf5? (5…cxd4) 6.Qxf5
Page 124
Chess Opening Blunders
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 e6 4.e3 c5 5.c4 Nc6 6.Nc3 a6 7.Qa4 Bd7 8.Qd1
Qa5 9.Qb3 dxc4 10.Qxb7?? (10.Bxc4) 10…Ra7 (11.Bc7 Rxb7 12.Bxa5
cxd4) 0-1, Schenkein- , Vienna 1913
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 e6 4.e3 Bd6 5.Ne5 O-O 6.Bd3 Nbd7 7.Nd2
h5 8.Nxd7 Qxd7?! (8…Bd7) 9.Bg5 Ng4? (9…Qd8) 10.h3 f6 (10…Nh6
11.Bxh6 gxh6 12.Qxh5) 11.hxg4 fxg5 12.Rxh5 Qf7?? (12…e5) 13.Bh7+
(13…Kh8 14.Bg6+) 1-0, Tallafuss-Weinberger, Austria 2003
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bg5 Ne4 4.h4 c5 5.e3 Nc6 6.c3 Qb6 7.Qc1 Bg4
8.Nbd2 Rc8 9.Bd3 (9.Nxe4) 9…f6 10.Bf4?! (10.Nxe4) 10…cxd4 11.exd4
e5 12.Be3 Nxd2 13.Nxd2? (13.Qxd2) 13…exd4 14.cxd4?? (14…Bf4)
14…Nb4 15.Qb1 Rc1+ (16.Qxc1 Nd3+ 17.Kf1 Nxc1) 0-1, Bujakin-
Belokurov, Moscow 1965
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bg5 e6 4.e3 Be7 5.Bd3 O-O 6.O-O c5 7.c3 Nbd7
8.Ne5 b6 9.f4 Ne4? (9…Bb7) 10.Nc6 (threatening 11.Bxe7 or 11.Nxe7+)
1-0, Ekdyshman-Pavius, St Petersburg, 2001
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Bg4 3.Ne5 Bh5 4.c4 dxc4 5.Nc3 Nd7 6.Nxc4 Nb6 7.Qb3
Qxd4 8.e4 Nf6 9.Be3 Qd7?? (9…Qd8) 10.Bxb6 axb6 11.Nxb6 (11…
cxb6 12.Bb5 wins the queen) 1-0, Bogoljubov-Grekov, Kiev 1914
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 c5 3.Bxb8 Rxn8 4.dxc5 e6 5.Qd4 Qc7 6.b4?! (6.e3) 6…b6
7.cxb6 Rxb6 8.c3? (8.a3) 8…Rxb4 9.cxb4? (9.Qd1) 9…Qc1+ 10.Qd1
Bxb4+ 11.Nd2 Bxd2# 0-1, Regan-Michell, London 1905
Page 125
Bill Wall
Ruy Lopez
(1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 b5 5.Bb3 Be7 6.d4 Bf6? (6…exd4)
7.dxe5 Be7?? (7…d6) 8.Qd5 (8…Nh6 9.Bxh6) 1-0, Grefe-Holmes, Las
Vegas 1974
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.Qe2 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.c3 O-O
Page 126
Chess Opening Blunders
8.O-O d6 9.Rd1 Qe7 10.d4 Bb6 11.Bg5 Nd8 12.Nh4 Ne6?! (12…Re8)
13.Nf5 Qe8?? (13…Qd8) 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Bxe6 (15…fxe6 16.Qg4+ Qg6
17.Ne7+) 1-0, Yates-Rubinstein, Budapest 1926
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O b5 6.Bb3 Bb7 7.Ng5 d5
8.exd5 Nd4 9.c3? (9.Re1) 9…Nxb3 10.axb3? (10.Qxb3) 10…Qxd5
11.Nf3 e4 12.Ne1 O-O-O 13.Na3 Qe5 14.Qe2 Bd6 15.g3 h5 16.f3??
(16.Nac2) 16…h4 17.g4 Bc5+ (18.Kh1 h3) 0-1, Grabenwoeger-Kotek,
Austria 1966
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 exd4
8.Nxd4 Nc5?? (8…Qf6) 9.Nxc6 dxc6 10.Bxf7+ (10…Ke7 11.Re1+ Ne6
12.Bg5+, winning the queen) 1-0, Belanger-Boles, Quebec 1989
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5
8.dxe5 Bc5 9.c3 Bg4?? (9….Be6) 10.Bxd5 1-0, Miles-Pleasants, New
Zealand 1905
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.d5 Ne7
8.Re1 Nc5?! (8…f5) 9.Nxe5 Nxe4?? (9…Bb7) 10.Qf3 f6 11.Qh5+ g6
12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.Qxg6# 1-0, Boom-Fick, Netherlands 1913
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.Re1 d5 7.d3
Nf6?? 8.Nxe5 Be7 9.Nxc6 Qd6 10.Nxe7+ b5 11.Nxc8+ 1-0, Euwe-NN,
Amsterdam 1911
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.d3 Nd7
8.d4 exd4 9.Nxd4 O-O 10.Be3 Re8 11.f3 Bf6 12.Nc3 Nb6 13.Qd3 Re7??
(13…Qe7) 14.Nxc6 (14…Qe8 15.Nxe7+) 1-0, Gonzalez-Shankland,
Florida 2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.Nc3 Bc5 6.d3 Qe7 7.Be3
Nf6 8.Bxc5 Qxc5 9.Qd2 Bg4 10.d4 Qb4 11.Nxe5 O-O-O 12.O-O Rxd4
Page 127
Bill Wall
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.O-O Bd6 6.d4 exd4 7.Qxd4
f6 8.Be3 Be6 9.c4 c5 10.Qd3?? (10.Qd2) 10…Bxh2+ (threatening 11…
Qxd3) 0-1, Barber-Hebden, Ireland 2000
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.d3 d6 5.c3 h6 6.Nbd2 Ne7?! (6…a6)
7.d4 exd4 8.cxd4 Bb6? (8…Bb4 9.d5 a6) 9.d5 a5 10.Ba4 (threatening
11.dxc6) 1-0, Valev-Petrov, Bulgaria 2001
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.O-O d6 5.Bxc6+ bxc6 6.h3 Ne7 7.d4
exd4 8.Nxd4 O-O 9.Bg5 f6 10.Nxc6? (10.Be3) 10…Nxc6 11.Qd5+ Kh8
12.Qxc6?? (12…Be3) 12…Bd7 (13.Qd5 fxg5) 0-1, Lucas-Salgado, Las
Vegas 1975
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 (Bird Variation) 4.Ba4 Nxf3+ 5.Qxf3
c6 6.Nc3 b5 7.Nc3 b5 8.Bb3 b4?? (7…Nf6) 8.Qxf7# 1-0, Crunelle-J.
Fischer, Corr. 1975
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 4.Nxd4 exd4 5.d3 c6 6.Bc4 Ne7 7.O-O d5
8.Bb3 dxe4 9.dxe4 (9.Re1) 9…Ng6 10.c3 dxc3?? (10…Bc5) 11.Bxf7+
(11…Kxf7 12.Qxd8; 11…Ke7 12.Bg5+) 1-0, Bill Wall-Martinez,
Marysville, CA 1971
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 (Steinitz Defense) 4.d4 Bd7 5.Nc3 exd4
6.Nxd4 Nf6 7.O-O a6?! (7…Be7) 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.Qf3 g6?? (9…Ng4)
10.e5 dxe5 (10…Ng8) 11.Nxc6 Bxc6?? (11…Bg4) 12.Qxc6+ Nd7
13.Bg5 Qc8 14.Nd5 (14…Bd6 15.Nf6+ and 16.Nxd7) 1-0, Grefe-Holmes,
Las Vegas 1973
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 Bd7 5.O-O exd4 6.Nxd4 Nxd4
7.Bxd7+ Qxd7 8.Qxd4 Nf6 9.Re1 Be7 10.e5 dxe5 11.Qxe5 O-O?
(11…O-O-O 12.Qxe7 Rfe8 13.Qb4 Ng4 14.h3?? (14.Rf1) 14…Qd6
15.Rxe8+ Rxe8 (16.Qxd6 Re1#) 0-1, Weiss-Kupak, Zagreb 1928
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 Bg4 5.d5 a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.dxc6 bxa4 8.c4
Page 128
Chess Opening Blunders
Ne7 9.Qxa4 Bxf3 10.gxf3 Ng6 11.b4 Be7 (11…f5) 12.f4?! (12.Nc3) 12…
exf4 13.Qa5?? (13…Bd2) 13…Bf6 (threatening 14…Bxa1) 0-1, Gregory-
Marshall, Berlin 1908
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.O-O a6 5.Ba4 Nf6 6.d3 Be7 7.c3 O-O
8.Nbd2 Nh5?! (8…b5) 9.Nxe5?! (9.Bxc6) 9…Nxe5 10.Qxh5?? (10.d4)
10…Bg4 (trapping the queen) 0-1, Whitt-Bill Wall, Tacoma 1969
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nge7 4.Nc3 a6 5.Bc4 Ng6 6.d4 d6? (6…exd4)
7.Ng5 Nh4?? (7…d5) 8.Bxf7+ Kd7 9.Qg4+ Ke7 10.Nd5# 1-0, Bottoni-
Barnes, IECC Corr. 2001
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nge7 4.d4 a6 5.Bxc6 Nxc6 6.dxe5 g6? (6…
d6) 7.Bg5 Ne7 (7…Be7) 8.Nc3 Bg7 9.Nd5 Bf8?? 10.Nf6# 1-0, Ramirez-
Peralta, Tijuana 2005
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nge7 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Ng6 6.O-O Bc5 7.Be3
Nxd4 8.Bxd4 Bxd4 9.Qxd4 Qg5 10.Nc3?? (10.e5) 10…Nh4 (11.g3 Nf3+,
winning the queen) 0-1, Thorhallsson-Thorfinnsson, Reykjavik 2009)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 4.exf5 e4 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Qe2 Qe7 7.Nd4 Qe5
8.Ne6 Bxe6 9.fxe6 Nf6 10.O-O Bd6 11.Nc3?? (11.g3) 11…Qxh2# 0-1,
Koppen-Waibel, Fort Meade 1981
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.d3 d6 6.Bg5 Bd7 7.a3 O-O
8.Qd2 a6 9.Bc4 Qe8? (9…h6) 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Qh6 (11.Nd5! Qd8
12.Qh6) 11…Be6?? (11…Ne7) 12.Nd5 (12.h4!) 12…Bxd5 13.Bxd5
Nd4 14.O-O-O Nxf3?? (14…c6) 15.gxf3 Bxf2 16.Rhg1+ (16…Bxg1
17.Rxg1+) 1-0, Kusswurm-Creed, Milwaukee 1970
Page 129
Bill Wall
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Ne7 5.Nxd5 c6 6.Nc4 cxb5?? (6…
Ng6) 7.Nd6# 1-0, Griffith-NN, England 1888
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.e5 Ne4 6.Nxd4 Be7 7.O-O
Nxd4 8.Qxd4 Nc5 9.f4 b6?! (9…O-O) 10.f5 Nb3? (10…c6) 11.Qe4
Nxa1 12.f6 Bc5+ 13.Kh1 Rb8?? (13…g5) 14.e6 (14…O-O 15.e7;
14.fxg7! Rg8 15.e6) 1-0, Bird-Steinitz, London 1868
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d4 Nxe4 5.d5 Nd4 6.Nxd4 exd4 7.O-
O Nf6 8.Qxd4 Be7 9.Bf4 a6 10.Qc3 (10.d6!?) 10…Nxd5? (10…axb5)
11.Qxg7 Rf8 12.Bh6 Nf6?? (12…Nf4) 13.Re1 (13…Rg8 14.Qxf6) 1-0,
Kinnier-O’Farrell, Corr. 1873
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nxe5 Qd4?!
(6…Nxe4) 7.Nf3 Bg4? (7…Qd8) 8.Nxd4 Bxd1 9.Nb3 Nxe4?? (9…
Bxf2+) 10.Rxd1 (10.Nxc5!) 10…Bxf2+ 11.Kf1 Bb6?? (11…O-O-O)
12.Re1 f5 13.d3 1-0, Van Camp-Abud, British Columbia 1973
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Bc5 5.Re1 O-O 6.c3 d5 7.Bxc6
bxc6 8.Nxe5 dxe4 9.Nxc6 Qd6 10.d4 Ng4 11.dxc5?? (11…Ne5) 11…
Qxh2+ 12.Kf1 Ba6+ 0-1, Hobbis-Cooper, Corr. 1952
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Bc5 5.Nxe5 Nxe5 6.d4 a6 7.Ba4
Nxe4 8.dxe5 Qh4 9.Qd5?? (9.Be3) 9…Bxf2+ 10.Rxf2 Qxf2+ 11.Kh1
Qf1# 0-1, NN-Alapin, Vienna 1900
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O d6 5.d4 Nxe4 6.d5 a6 7.Bd3 Nf6
8.dxc6 e4 9.Re1 d5 10.Be2 exf3?? (10…bxc6) 11.cxb7 Bxb7 12.Bb5#
1-0, Nimzowitsch-Ryckhoff, Parnu 1910
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Ng4 5.c3 a6 6.Ba4 Bc5 7.d4 Ba7
8.h3 h5 9.Bxc6 dxc6 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Qe7 12.Bf4?! (12.Nd2) 12…
g5 13.Bh2? (13.Bg3) 13…g4 14.hxg4?? (14.Kh1) 14…hxg4 15.Qd3
Rxh2 (16.Kxh2 Qh4+ 17.Kg1 g3) 0-1, Lee-Brian Wall, Kansas 2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Qf6 4.Nc3 Nge7 5.O-O d6?! (5…Nd4) 6.Nd5
Nxd5 7.exd5 a6 8.Ba4 b5 9.Bb3 Nb4? (9…Na5) 10.a3 e4 11.Re1 Bg4
12.Rxe4+ 1-0, Katsampes-Carchedi, San Antonio 1994
Page 130
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 a6 2.c4 c5 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Nf3 e6 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 g6 7.Nxc6 bxc6
8.Be3 Rb8 9.b3 c5 10.Be2 Bg7 11.Bd2 Nf6 12.f3 h5 13.O-O h4 14.Rc1
Nh5 15.Qe1 Bd4+ 16.Kh1?? (16.Rf2) 16…Ng3+ (17.hxg3 hxg3+ 18.Bh6
Rxh6#) 0-1, Husak-Fenda, Slovakia 2000
Page 131
Bill Wall
1.e4 a6 2.d4 b5 3.Nf3 Bb7 4.Bd3 Nf6 5.Qe2 e6 6.O-O c5 7.c3 Nc6 8.d5
Ne7 9.d6 Ng6 10.e5 Bxf3 11.gxf3 Nh5 12.Qe4 f5 13.exf6 Nxf6?? (13.
Bxd6) 14.Qxg6+ (14…hxg6 15.Bxg6#) 1-0, Nygren-Olsson, Sweden
1998
1.e4 a6 2.d4 b5 3.Nf3 Bb7 4.Bd3 Nf6 5.Qe2 e6 6.O-O Be7 7.a3 c5
8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.Nc3 Qc7 10.Bg5 Ng4 11.Rad1 Bd4 12.h3 h6? (12…
Bxc3) 13.Bd2 h5 14.e5 Bxf3? (14…Bxc3) 15.Qxf3 Qxe5?? (15…Nc6)
16.hxg4?? (16.Bf4 Qf6 17.Ne4) 16…hxg4 17.g3 (17.Qf4 Qh5) 17…gxf3
(threatening 18…Qh5 and 19…Qh1#) 0-1, Gallagher-Ruiter, Wisconsin
1981
1.e4 a6 2.d4 b5 3.Nf3 Bb7 4.Bd3 Nf6 5.e5 Nd5 6.a4 b4 7.Ng5 g6 8.Qf3
f5?? (8…f6) 9.Bxf5 Qc8 10.Be4 1-0, De Echaguen-Goncalves, Seville
1994
1.e4 a6 2.d4 b5 3.f4 Bb7 4.Bd3 e6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Qe2 c5 7.c3 Be7 8.O-
O O-O 9.dxc5 Bxc5+ 10.Kh1 Qh6?! (10…d6) 11.e5 Nd5? (11…Ng4)
12.Bxh7+ Kxh7 13.Ng5+ Kg6 14.Qg4 f6?? (14…f5) 15.f5+ (15…exf5
16.Qxf5+ Kh5 17.Qh7+ Kg4 18.Qh3#) 1-0, Bellingrath-Kohl, Baden
1982
1.e4 a6 2.Nf3 b5 3.d4 Bb7 4.Bd3 e6 5.O-O c5 6.c3 Nf6 7.Re1 d5?! (7…
c4) 8.e5 Nfd7 9.Ng5 cxd4? (9…g6) 10.Nxe6 (10…fxe6?? 11.Qh5+ g6
12.Bxg6+ Ke7 13.Bg5+) 1-0, Jowett-J. Andersen, Denmark 1991
1.e4 a6 2.Nf3 b5 3.d4 Bb7 4.Bd3 e6 5.O-O c5 6.dxc5 Bxc5 7.Nbd2 Nf6
8.b3 O-O 9.Bb2 Nc6 10.e5 Ng4 11.Ne4 Be7 12.a3 Qc7 13.Nfg5 Ngxe5
14.Qh5? (14.Nxh7) 14…h6 15.Nf3 Nxf3+ 16.gxf3?? (16.Qxf3) 16…f5
17.Qg6 Ne5 18.Bxe5 Qxe5 19.Nd2 Rf6 (20.Qh5 Qf4 21.Rfd1 Kh7) 0-1,
Jones-Bilbey, Atlanta 1980
Page 132
Chess Opening Blunders
Scotch Game
(1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3 (Goering Gambit) 4…d3 5.Bxd3
d6 6.h3 Nf6 7.O-O Be7 8.Nd4 O-O 9.Nd2 Re8 10.f4 Bf8 11.Qc2 g6
12.N2f3 Nd7 13.Bc4 Nb6 14.Bd3 Nb8?! (14…Nd7) 15.f5 N8d7? (15…
c5) 16.fxg6 fxg6?? (16…hxg6) 17.Bg5 Nf6 (17…Be7 18.Ne6) 18.Qb3+
(18…d5 19.e5) 1-0, Velimirovic-Donner, Hague 1966
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 (Scotch Gambit) 4…Bb4+ 5.c3 dxc3
6.bxc3 Be7? (6…Bd6) 7.Qd5 d6?? (7…Nh6 8.Bxh6 O-O) 8.Qxf7+ Kd7
9.Be6# 1-0, Jimenez-Munoz, Turin 2006
Page 133
Bill Wall
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bb4+ 5.c3 dxc3 6.O-O cxb2 7.Bxb2
Nge7? (7…Nf6) 8.Ng5 O-O?? (8…d5) 9.Qh5 h6 10.Bxf7+ (10…Rxf7
11.Qxf7+ Kh8 12.Qxg7#; 10…Kh8 11.Qxh6#) 1-0, Goncharov-Frenkel,
Moscow 1901
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bb4+ 5.c3 dxc3 6.O-O cxb2 7.Bxb2
f6 8.e5 Be7 9.Qd5 Nh6 10.exf6 Bxf6 11.Bc1 Ne7 12.Qh5+ Ng6?! (12…
Kf8) 13.Bxh6 Bxa1?? (13…d5) 14.Qd5 (14.Re1+!) 14…Rf8?? (14…
Qe7) 15.Re1+ Ne7?? (15…Qe7) 16.Bxg7 Bxg6 17.Qh5+ (17…Rf7
18.Qxf7#) 1-0, von der Lasa-Hanstein, Berlin 1842
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Ng5 Nh6 6.Nxf7 Nxf7 7.Bxf7+
Kxf7 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qxc5 d6 10.Qd5+ Be6 11.Qb5 Ne5 12.f4?? (12.Qxb7)
12…Bc4 13.Qb4 Qh4+ 14.g3 Qg4 15.Qd2 Nf3+ (forking queen and
king) 0-1, Greville-Harrwitz, Paris 1845
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 d6 5.c3 dxc3 6.Nxc3 Bg4 7.O-O Ne5??
(7…Qd7) 8.Nxe5 Bxd1 9.Bxf7+ Ke7 10.Nd5# 1-0, Falkbeer-NN, Austria 1847
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Be7 5.c3 dxc3 (5…Na5) 6.Qd5
d6?? (6…Nh6 7.Bxh6 O-O) 7.Qxf7+ Kd7 8.Be6# 1-0, Schulz-Lehnert,
Germany 1909 and February-Gondwe, Baku 2016
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4
Be7?? (7…Bd7) 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Bxc6+ Bd7 10.Qxd5 1-0, Niccoli-
Haegin, Hastings 2015
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.e5 Ng4 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Ng5+ Ke8
8.Qxg4 h6?? (8…d6) 9.Qh5+ Ke7 10.Qf7# 1-0, Tong-Wang, China 2001
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.O-O d5?! (5…Nxe4) 6.exd5
Nxd5 7.Ng5 h6? (7…Ne5) 8.Nxf7 Kxf7 9.Qf3+ Qf6 10.Bxd5+ Be6
11.Bxe6+ Kxe6 12.Re1+ Kf7?? (12…Kd7) 13.Qd5+ (13…Kg6 14.Re6)
1-0, Eagle-Haakonstad, Detroit 1985
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 h6 5.O-O Nf6 (5…Bc5) 6.e5 Ng8?!
(6…d5) 7.Nxd4 Nxd4? (7…d5) 8.Qxd4 b6?? (8…d6) 9.Qd5 1-0,
Pruneda-Heidarsson, Reykjavik 2015
Page 134
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nxc6 Qf6 6.f4 dxc6 7.f5?
(7.Nc3) 7…Qh4+ 8.Ke2?? (8.g3) 8…Qxe4+ 9.Kd2 Qe3# 0-1, Tuigun-
Fedyushchenko, Batumi 2016
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Be3 Qf6 6.c3 Nge7 7.Bc4
Qg6 8.O-O d5 9.Nxc6 dxc4?? (9…Qxc6) 10.Qd8# 1-0, Judd-Mackenzie,
St. Louis 1878
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Be3 Qf6 6.c3 Nge7 7.Qd2
Nd8 8.f4 d6 9.Bd3 Ne6 10.e5 dxe5? (10…Qh4+) 11.Nxe6 Bxe3?? (11…
Bxe6) 12.Bb5+ Nc6 13.Nxc7 Kf8 14.Qxe3 Rb8 15.Qc5+ Qe7 16.Qxe7+
(16…Kxe7 17.fxe5) 1-0, Paulsen-Bier, Nuremberg 1883
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 d5 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.Be3 Bd7 7.c4
Bb4 8.Nc3 Qe5 9.Be2 Nf6 10.a3 Bxc3 11.bxc3 O-O 12.O-O Rad8
13.Qb3 b6 14.Rad1 Rfe8 15.Rd3?! (15…Qc2) Na5 16.Qc2? (16.Qa2)
16…c5 17.f4?? (17.Nf3) 17…Qe7 18.Nf3 Bf5 0-1, O’Berry-Schemm,
Salem, OR 1975
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Ne5 5.Bf4 Qf6 6.Ne2 Bc5 7.Nd2?
(7.Nbc3) 7…Ng4 8.Be3?? (8.Nc4) 8…Qxf2+ 9.Bxf2 Bxf2# 0-1, NN-Bill
Wall, playchess.com 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nge7 5.Nc3 g6? (5…Nxd4) 6.Bg5
Bg7 7.Nd5 Bxd4?? (7…f6) 8.Qxd4 Nxd4 9.Nf6+ Kf8 10.Bh6# 1-0,
Hopkins-NN, London 1932
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Ne5 5.Bf4 Qf6 6.Ne2 Bc5 7.Nd2?
(7.Nbc3) 7…Ng4 8.Be3?? (8.Nc4) 8…Qxf2+ 9.Bxf2 Bxf2# 0-1, NN-Bill
Wall, playchess.com 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Nxc6 bxc6
7.Bd3 d5 8.exd5 cxd5 9.O-O O-O 10.Bg5 Be6 11.Bxf6?! (11.Qf3) 11…
Qxf6 12.Nxd5? (12.Nb5) 12…Bxd5 13.Qh5 Rfd8 14.Qxh7+ Kf8 15.c3
Bd6 16.Qh8+?? (16.Be4) 16…Ke7 (16…Qh5 17.Rh8) 0-1, Blaha-Ryc,
Czechoslovakia 1961
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.Bd3 Rb8 7.Bg5
Page 135
Bill Wall
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.Qd4 c5 7.Qd3
Bb7 8.Nc3 d6?? (8…Bd6) 9.Qb5+ 1-0, O. Matjushin-G. Matjushin,
Kharkov, 2000
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Qf6 5.Nxc6 Qxc6 6.Bd3 d6?! (6…
Bc5) 7.O-O Nf6 8.Nc3 Be7?? (8…a6) 9.Bb5 (winning the queen) 1-0,
Kyzy-Konkolova, Istanbul 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Qh4 5.Nc3 Bc5 6.Be3 Nge7? (6…
d6) 7.Nf3 (threatening 8.Nxh4 and 8.Bxc5) 7…Qh5 8.g4 (8…Qxg4 9.Rg1
Qe6 10.Bxc5) 1-0, Kulaots-Geller, Moscow 2002
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Qh4 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Nf5 Qh5?? (6…
Qg4) 7.Be2 Qg6 8.Nh4 (trapping the queen) 1-0, Fraser-Taubenhaus,
Paris 1888
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Qh4 5.Nf3 Qxe4+ 6.Be2 Bb4+ 7.c3
Bc5 8.O-O Nf6 9.b4 Bb6 10.Re1 O-O 11.Bd3 Qg4 12.h3 Qh5? (12…
Qg3) 13.b5 (13…Nd8 14.Re5, trapping the queen) 1-0, Fraser-Steele,
Dundee 1873
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 Nxd4 4.Nxe5 c5 5.Bc4 Ne6 6.Qf3 f6?? (6…Qf6)
7.Qh5+ g6 8.Nxg6 Ng7 9.Qd5 Qa5+ 10.Bd2 (threatening 11.Qf7+) 1-0,
Cowen-Barbour, Philadelphia 1882
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 f6?! 4.dxe5 fxe5 5.Bc4 d6 6.Nc3 (6.Ng5) 6…Bg4
7.O-O Nd4? (7…Nf6) 8.Nxe5 Bxd1?? (8…dxe5) 9.Bf7+ Ke7 10.Nd5#
1-0, Burke-McClellan, Minnesota 1977
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 Nf6 4.dxe5 Nxe4 5.Bc4 Bb4+? (5…Qe7) 6.c3
Ba5 7.Qd5 Nd6?? (7…Qe7) 8.exd6 cxd6?? (8…O-O) 9.Qxf7# 1-0,
Correla-Kouevi, Norway 2014
Page 136
Chess Opening Blunders
Sicilian Defense
(1.e4 c5)
The Sicilian Defense has been played and analyzed since 1594.
By 1813, the name was standardized by the English chess master
Jacob Sarratt (1772-1819) after translating some Italian manu-
scripts. The Sicilian Defense has become the most popular de-
fense against White’s opening 1.e4. It is an aggressive defense
that controls the center in a non-symmetrical way.
1.e4 c5 2.b4 e6 3.bxc5 Bxc5 4.d4 Bb6 5.Nf3 d5 6.e5 Nc6 7.c3 Nge7
8.Bd3 O-O?? (8…h6) 9.Bxh7+ Kxh7 10.Ng5+ Kg8 (10…Kg6 11.h4)
11.Qh5 Re8 12.Qh7+ Kf8 13.Ba3 (threatening 14.Qh8#) 1-0, Marshall-
Stodie, Atlantic City 1920
1.e4 c5 2.c3 (Alapin Variation) 2…d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4
Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Nc3 Qd8 8.d5 Ne5 9.Nxe5 (9…Bxd1 10.Bb5+ Qd7
11.Bxd7+ Kd8 12.Nxf7+) 1-0, Naiditsch-Dreager, Germany 2000
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Bill Wall
1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 e6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Be2 Be7 7.O-O O-O 8.c4
Qf5 9.Nc3 Rd8?? (9…cxd4) 10.Nh4 1-0, Lane-Flesch, Ramsgate 1983
1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Be2
Bxf3 (7…e6) 8.Bxf3 Qxd4?? (8…Qc4) 9.Bxc6+ (9…bxc6 10.Qxd4) 1-0,
Gonzalez-Coro, Norway 2014
1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 e6 5.Na3 Nf6 6.Nb5 Na6 7.Be3 cxd4
(7…Be7) 8.Qxd4 Bc5?? (8…Be7) 9.Qxc5 (9…Qxc5 10.Bxc5 Nxc5
11.Nc7+ and 12.Nxa8) 1-0, Boros-Paschall, Budapest 2005
1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Be2 e6 7.Be3 cxd4
8.Bxd4 Be7 9.Bxf6 Bxf3?? (9…Qxd1+) 10.Bxf3 (10…Qxd1 11.Kxd1)
1-0, Kuznetsov-Kohut, Poland 2001
1.e4 c5 2.c3 d6 3.d4 e5 4.Nf3 cxd4 5.cxd4 Qc7?! (5…exd4) 6.Nc3 Nf6
7.Bg5 Nbd7? (7…Be7) 8.Rc1 a6 9.Qd2 exd4? (9…Qb8) 10.Nd5 1-0,
Simes-Scala, Argentina 2001
1.e4 c5 2.c3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Bd3 [4.dxc5 Nxe4? (4…Nc6) 5.Qa4+ 1-0,
Mosquera-Canda, Calvia 2004] 4…g6 5.dxc5 dxc5 6.e5 c4 7.Qa4+ Bd7
8.Qxc4 Ng4 9.f4 Nc6 10.Qe4? (10.Be4) 10…Bf5 (threatening 11…Qxd3)
0-1, Huber-Gheng, Germany 2000
1.e4 c5 2.c3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.cxd4 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bb4+ 6.Nc3 d6?! (6…Nf6)
7.Bd3 a6?! (7…Nf6) 8.O-O Qc7?! (8…Nf6) 9.d4 Ne5 (9…Bxc3 10.bxc3
Na5) 10.Nxe5 dxe5?? (10…Bxc3) 11.Qa4+ (threatening 12.Qxb4) 1-0,
Lawless-Bill Wall, San Jose 1985
1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 e6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.c4 Nb6? (6…Ndb4) 7.d5
exd5 8.cxd5 Nb4 (8…Nd4) 9.d6 g6?? (9…h6) 10.Bg5 (trapping the
queen) 1-0, Johannsdottir-Magnusdottir, Reykjavik 2012
1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 e6 5.Nf3 d6?! (5…cxd4) 6.c4 Nb6 7.dxc5
Page 138
Chess Opening Blunders
dxc5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Ng5 Ke8 10.Nc3 a6? (10…Nc6) 11.Be3 Nc6
12.f4 Nd7 13.Be2 (13.O-O-O!) 13…b6? (13…h6) 14.O-O-O Bb7??
(14…Nd8) 15.Nxf7 (15…Kxf7 16.Rxd7+ Be7 17.Rxb7) 1-0, Holcomb-
Burdick, Columbus 1981
1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 d6 7.Qe2
dxe5 8.Nxe5 N8d7?? (8…Be7) 9.Nxf7 (9…Kxf7?? 10.Qxe6#) 1-0,
Brandenburg-Broekmeulen, Dieren 2006
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 d6 4.Bb5 Bd7 5.Nf3 a6 6.Bxc6 Bxc6 7.O-O
e6 8.Qe1 Nf6 9.d3 Be7 10.e5 dxe5 11.fxe5 Nd5 12.Ne4 b5? (12…
Nb4) 13.Qg3 Rg8? (13…g6) 14.Nfg5 Bxg5?? (14…Qb6) 15.Bxg5 Ne7
16.Nd6+ Kd7 17.Rxf7 1-0, A. Sandrin-Gerber, Milwaukee 1971
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 e6 4.Nf3 d5 5.exd5 exd5 6.d3 Nf6 7.Be2 Be7
8.O-O O-O 9.Kh1 Kh8 10.Qe1?! (10.d4) 10…d4 11.Nd1 Nd5 12.Qg3?
(12.c4) 12…Ncb4 13.Ne1?? (13.c4) 13…Bh4 14.Qf3 Bxe1 15.Rxe1
Nxc2 0-1, Bill Wall-Katsampes, San Antonio 1994
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 e6 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.O-O a6 7.Bxc6 Bxc6
8.Qe1 Be7 9.d3 Nf6 10.f5 exf5 11.exf5 O-O 12.Ne4 Re8 13.Neg5 d5
(13…Qb6) 14.Nxf7 Kxf7?? (14…Qc7) 15.Ng5+ (15…Kg8 16.Qe6+ Kh8
17.Nf7+ Kg8 18.Nh6+ Kh8 19.Qg8+, threatening 20.Nf7#) 1-0, Lanze-
Carter, Syracuse 1972
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bb5 Nd4 6.Nxd4 cxd4 7.Nb1
(7.Ne2) 7…e6 8.d3? (8.O-O) 8…Qa5+ (threatening 9…Qxb5) 0-1,
Herzman-Vuckovic, Bermuda 2002
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nge2 e6 6.d3 Nge7 7.Be3 Nd4
8.Qd2 Qa5 9.f4?! (9.Bf2) 9…d6 10.b4 Qxb4 11.Rb1? (11.a3) 11…Nxe2
12.Rxb4 Bxc3 0-1, Palau-Najdorf, Buenos Aires 1939
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 Nf6 6.O-O Nbd7 7.Bxf7+
Page 139
Bill Wall
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.f4 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.Nxd5 exd5 6.Nf3 a6 7.d4 Nc6
8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.Qxd5 Qa5+ 10.Bd2?? (10…Qd2) 10…Bf2+ 11.Kxf2
Qxd5 0-1, Patterson-Bill Wall, Montgomery 1984
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 d6 5.Nge2 Bd7 6.d4 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Nge7
8.Ndb5 Nc8 9.Bf4 e5? (9…Ne5) 10.Nd5 Qa5+?? (10…Be7) 11.Bd2 Qa4
12.b3 (12…Qxb5 13.Nc7+, forking queen and king) 1-0, Blackburne-
Loye, England 1913
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.dxc5 Qa5 (4…Bxc3+) 5.Bd2 Qxc5 6.Nd5
d6? (6…Na6) 7.Bb4 Qc6?? (7…Qd4) 8.Bb5 (8…Bxb5 9.Nc7+, forking
queen and king) 1-0, Linderod-Brokso, Helsinki 2019
1.e4 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Ne2 Ne5 4.d4 Qa5+ 5.Bd2?? (5.Nbc3) 5…Nd3# 0-1,
Gardijan-Sulc, Croatia 2004
1.e4 c5 2.Bc4 e6 3.e5 Nc6 4.Nf3 d5 5.exd6 Bxd6 6.d4 (6.Nc3) 6…cxd4 7.Nxd4?
(7.c3) 7…Nxd4 (8.Qxd4?? Bb4+ wins the queen) 0-1, Gutschi-Shalnev, Croatia 2010
1.e4 c5 2.Bc4 e6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e5 Nge7 5.Nc3 Ng6 6.Qe2 Nf4 7.Qe4 g5
8.g3?? (8.O-O) 8…d5 9.exd6 f5 0-1, Cochrane-Staunton, London 1842
1.e4 c5 2.d3 Nc6 3.Be3 Nf6 4.Nf3 d6 5.c3 g6 6.b4 cxb4 7.cxb4 Nxb4
8.e5? (8.Nc3) 8…dxe5 9.Nxe5?? (9.Qa4+) 9…Qa5 (threatening 10…
Qxe5 and 10…Nc2+) 0-1, Al Qubaishi-Karavade, Riyadh 2017
1.e4 c5 2.d4 Nc6 3.d5 Ne5 4.f4 Ng6 5.h4 e5 6.Nf3 (6.h5) 6…exf4? (6…
Nxf4) 7.h5 N6e7 8.d6 Nc6 9.e5 a6?? (9…f6) 10.Nc3 Rb8 11.Nd5 f6
12.Nc7+ f6 13.Nc7+ Kf7 14.Bc4# 1-0, Sills-Carlson, Colorado 1969
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 (Smith-Morra Gambit) 3…dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3
e6 6.Bc4 Qc7 7.O-O Nf6 8.Qe2 Ng4 9.h3? (9.a3?? Nd4 0-1, Sorensen-
Page 140
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 d6 5.Bc4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Nf6 7.e5 Nxe5?
(7…Ng4) 8.Nxe5 dxe5?? (8…e6) 9.Bxf7+ (9…Kxf7 10.Qxd8) 1-0, Kvist-
Johannson, Corr. 1958 and Jakobsen-I. Carlsen, Norway 2007
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 d6 5.Bc4 Nf6 6.e5 dxe5?? (6…Nfd7)
7.Bxf7+ (7…Kxf7 8.Qxd8) 1-0, Palma-Riva, Italy 2007
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 g6 5.Bc4 Bg7 6.Nf3 g6 7.e5 dxe5??
(7…Nc6) 8.Bxf7+ Kxf7 9.Qxd8 1-0, Titova-Koveshnikova, Russia 2002
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 e6 4.cxd4 d5 5.e5 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nge7
8.Bd3 O-O?? (8…h6) 9.Bxh7+ Kxh7 10.Ng5+ Kg8 (10…Kg6 11.h4)
11.Qh5 (11…Re8 12.Qh7+ Kf8 13.Qh8+ Ng8 14.Nh7+ Ke7 15.Bg5+ Nf6
16.Qxg7) 1-0, Bateman-Laboucans, British Columbia 1973
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.Bc4 e5 4.f4 d6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.fxe5 dxe5 7.O-O Be7
8.Bxf7+ Kxf7 9.Nxe5+ Ke6?? (9…Ke8) 10.Nf7 Qb6 11.Qg4# 1-0,
Schnitzler-Eberle, Duesseldorf 1861
1.e4 c5 2.Ne2 Nc6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nbc3 g6 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 d6 7.f3 Qb6
8.Be3 Qxb2?? (8…Qa5) 9.Na4 Qa3 10.Bc1 (10…Qb4+ 11.Bd2 Qa3
12.Nb5, trapping the queen) 1-0, Schmid-Sahlmann, Essen 1948
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.d4 Nf6 6.Be2 cxd4 7.cxd4 Bg4?!
(7…Nc6) 8.Nc3 Qa5? (8…Qd6) 9.Qb3 b5? (9…Bc8) 10.Ng5 e6 11.Bxg4
Nxg4 12.Nxe6 b4? (12…fxe6) 13.Ne4 Qf5?? (13…Qb6) 14.Nxg7+ (14…
Bxg7 15.Nd6+, forking queen and king) 1-0, Bone-Marvin, Las Vegas 1974
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.O-O Nge7 5.c3 a6 6.Ba4 d5 7.exd5 Qxd5?!
(7…Nxd5) 8.d4 b5? (8…cxd4) 9.c4 Qd6 10.cxb5 Nxd4 11.bxa6+ Nec6?
(11…Bd7) 12.Bf4 Qd5?? (12…Qd7) 13.Nxd4 cxd4 14.Nc3 (14…dxc3
15.Qxd5 exd5 16.Bxc6+) 1-0, Wahls-Rajkovic, Germany 1992
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 d5 4.e5 d4 5.Bd3 Bg4 6.O-O Nxe5?? (6…Qc7)
7.Nxe5! Bd7 (7…Bxd1?? 8.Bb5+ Qd7 9.Bxd7+ Kd8 10.Nxf7+) 8.Qb3
Page 141
Bill Wall
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Bc4 d6 5.d3 Bg4 6.h3 Bh5? (6…Bxf3)
7.Nxe5 Bxd1?? (7…Nxe5) 8.Bxf7+ Ke7 9.Nd5# 1-0, Gustafsson-NN,
chess24.com blitz 2018
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Qc7 5.O-O Nd4 6.Nd5 Nxd5
7.exd5? (7.Nxd4) 7…Nxb5 0-1, Jameson-White, Wales 2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Qb6 (5…e6) 6.Be3
Qxb2 7.Ndb5 Nb4?? (7…Qb4) 8.Rb1 Nxc2+ 9.Ke2 1-0, Ohanyan-
Tsulaia, Batumi 2016
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.Be3 e5 7.Ndb5
Bf8?? (7…Nd4) 8.Nd5 Bb4+ 9.c3 Ba5 10.b4 (10…Bb6 11.Bxb6 axb6
12.Nbc7+) 1-0, Napier-Ruth, Boston 1896
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c4 Nf6 4.e5 Ng4 5.Qe2 (5.Nc3) 5…Qc7 (5…d6)
6.Nc3 Nge5 7.Nd5 Nxf3+ 8.gxf3 Qd8 9.d3 g6?? (9…Nd4) 10.Nf6# 1-0,
Essa-Long, Batumi 2016
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6 4.Nc3 Bg4 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Ng5+ Kf6??
(6…Ke8) 7.Qxg4 g6 8.Qf4+ Kg7 9.Ne6# 1-0, Schnitzler-Hardung,
Duesseldorf 1862
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.c3 Nf6 7.Bf4?!
(7.Qe2) 7…Nxe4 8.Nb5 O-O 9.Nc7? (9…Bc7) 9.Rb8 10.Bxf7+?? (10…
Nd5) 10…Rxf7 11.Ne6 Qb6 (threatening 12…Qxf2#) 0-1, Custer-
Murgescu, Ohio 1999
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bc4 Bc5?! (6…Qc7)
7.Be3 Nxd4 8.Bxd4 Bxd4 9.Qxd4 f6 10.Rd1 Ne7? (10…Qc7) 11.Bxe6
Nc6 12.Qc4 Qe7 13.Nd5 Qd6?? (13…Qd8) 14.Nxf6+ Ke7 15.Rxd6
Kxd6 16.Qd5+ (16.Nxd7!) 1-0, Emerson-Gould, Milwaukee 1969
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 g6 6.Be3 Qc7 7.Nc3
Bg7 8.Qd2 a5 (8…Nf6) 9.Nd5 Qd8?? (9….Qe5) 10.Bb6 1-0, Schmied-
Page 142
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.c4 Nf6 7.Nc3 Bb4
8.Bd3 d5 9.cxd5 cxd5?? (9…Bxc3+) 10.Qa4+ (threatening 11.Qxb4)
1-0, Delgado-Martin, Canary Islands 2001
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nf5 Nge7?? (5…d5) 6.Nd6#
1-0, McGrouther-McCann, Dundee 1893
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 Qc7 7.O-O
Nf6 8.f4?? Nxd4 9.Qxd4 Bc5 (pinning the Q and K) 0-1, Salomonsen-
Pallesen, Copenhagen 2003
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 a6 7.O-O Nf6
8.f4? (8.Be3) 8…Nxd4 9.Qxd4?? Bc5 0-1, Moskalyuk-Brodsky, France 1998
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.f4 e5 7.Nxc6 bxc6
8.fxe5 Ng4 9.exd6 (9.Be2) 9…Bxd6 10.h3?? (10…g3) 10…Qh4+ (11.
Kd2 Bf4+ 12.Kd3 Ba6+) 0-1, NN-Rhine, GameKnot corr. 2013
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 Bd7 7.Qd2
a6 8.f4 b5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.f5 h5 11.Be2 (11.Qf2) 11…h4 12.O-O?? (12.
Nxc6) 12…Bh6 13.Qd3 Qb6 14.Rad1 Qxd4+ (15.Qxd4 Nxd4 16.Rxd4
Be3+) 0-1, Micalizzi-Anand, Rome 1990
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 e5 7.Bxf6 Qxf6
8.Nd5 Qd8?? (8…Qg6) 9.Nb5 Rb8 10.Nbc7+ Kd7 11.Qg4+ f5 12.Qxf5#
1-0, Beyer-Carlson, Corr. 1967
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2
a6 8.O-O-O h6 9.Be3 Be7 10.f3 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.Kb1 Qa5?!
(12…Qc7) 13.a3 Rb8 14.f4 b4 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Qxd6 Rb6? (16…
Qb6) 17.axb4 Qxb4?? (17…Rxd6) 18.Bb5+ (18…axb5 19.Qxb4) 1-0,
Stefansson-Piket, Antwerp 1998
Page 143
Bill Wall
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 O-O
8.Bc4 Qb6 9.Nce2? (9…Bb3) 9…Qb4+ (threatening 10…Qxc4) 0-1, de
Graff-Degen, Netherlands 2001
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 O-O
8.Bb3 Na5?! (8...d6) 9.e5 Ne8 (9…Nxb3) 10.Bxf7+ (10…Rxf7 11.Ne6
wins the queen) 1-0, Bastrikov-Shamkovich, Sochi 1958
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Be2 O-O
8.O-O d5 9.exd5 Nb4 10.Qd2 Nbxd5 11.Nxd5 Nxd5 12.Bh6 e5 13.Bxg6
Kxg7 14.Rfd1 Nf4 15.Nf3 (15.Nb5) 15…Qf6 16.Re1? (16.Ne1) 16…e4
(17.Nd4 Qg5) 0-1, Riviese-Benko, San Francisco 1961
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 d5? (3…cxd4) 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Nc3 Qe6+ 6.Be3
cxd4 7.Nxd4 Qd7?? (7…Qe5) 8.Ndb5 Rb8 9.Qe2 f6 10.Rd1 Qg4 11.f3
Qh5 12.Bxa7 Nxa7 13.Nd6+ (13…Kd8 14.Nxc8+ Kc7 15.Nxa7) 1-0,
Boleslavsky-Gurgenidze, Rostov 1960
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Nxd7 5.O-O Ngf6 6.Qe2 e6 7.b3
Be7 8.Bb2 O-O 9.c4 a6 10.d4 cxd4 11.Nxd4 Re8 12.Nc3 Qa5 13.Rad1
Rac8 14.Kh1 Bf8 (14…g6) 15.f4 Qh5 16.Qe3? (16.Nf3) 16…Qxh2+ (17.
Kxh2 Ng4+ 18.Kg3 Nxe3) 0-1, Bhat-Browne, San Francisco 2000
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nc6 (3…Nf6 4.Be2 Nxe4? 5.Qa4+ 1-0, Pfeifer-
Bedos, France 2005) 4.d4 cxd4 (4…Nf6) 5.cxd4 Bg4? (5…Nf6) 6.d5
Ne5?? (6…Nb8) 7.Nxe5 Qa5+ 8.Bd2 Bxd1 9.Bxa5 dxe5?? 10.Bb5# 1-0,
Kostopoulos-Kerimov, Greece 2001
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Bc4 Nc6 5.d3 Nge7 6.Bg5 Bg4 7.Nd5 Nd4 8.Nxe5
Bxd1?? (8…dxe5) 9.Nf6+ gxf6 10.Bxf7# 1-0, Buckle-NN, London 1840
Page 144
Chess Opening Blunders
8.O-O Be7 9.Qf3 Bd7? (9…Qc7) 10.e5 dxe5 11.Nxe6 e4?? (11…Bxe6)
12.Nxg7+ Kf8 13.Nxe4 Bc6 14.Bh6 Bxe4 15.Nh5+ (15…Ke8 16.Nxf6+
Bxf6 17.Qxe4+) 1-0, Soltis-Browne, New York 1970
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 Nbd7
8.Bg5 Be7 9.Bxe6 fxe6 10.Nxe6 Qb6 11.Nxg7+ Kf7 12.Nf5 Ne5?? (12…
Qxb2) 13.Nd5 (13.Nxe7!) 13…Qa5+? (13…Nxd5) 14.b4 Qd8?? (14…
Qxd5) 15.Nfxe7 1-0, Camden-Hay, British Columbia 1974
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bg5 Be7
8.Bb3 Nbd7 9.Bxe6 fxe6 10.Nxe6 Qb6 11.Nxg7+ Kd8? (11…Kf7)
12.Ne6+ Ke8 13.Nd5 Nxd5?? (13…Qxb2) 14.Qh5# 1-0, Vogelman-
Schlifke, Buffalo 1972
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f4 e6 7.Bd3 Nc6
8.Nf3 Be7 9.O-O Nd7 10.Kh1 b5 11.Qe1 Bb7 12.Qg3 O-O 13.e5 Nb4
14.f5 Nxe5? (14…dxe5) 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.Bh6 1-0, Schneider-Georgiev,
Malta 1980
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6
(Poison Pawn Variation) 8.Qd2 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.e5 dxe5 11.fxe5
Nfd7 12.Ne4 h6 13.Bh4 Qa4 14.Be2 Nc6?? (14…Ba3) 15.Nxe6 g5
(15…Be7 16.Nc7+) 16.Nf6+ (16…Nxf6 17.Nc7+ Ke7 18.Qd6#) 1-0,
Radjabov-Anand, Israel blitz 2006
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7
8.Qf3 Nbd7 9.Bc4 Qc7? (9…h6) 10.Bxe6 fxe6? (10…O-O) 11.Nxe6
Qc4 12.Nxg7+ Kd8 13.O-O-O Qf7?? (13…h6) 14.Nf5 Kc7?? (14…h6)
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 b5 (6…e5) 7.a4
b4 8.Nd5 Nbd7?? (8…e6) 9.Nc5 (trapping the quen) 1-0, Kovacevic-
Krivokapic, Novi Sad 2009
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be2 Bg7 7.Be3 O-O
8.O-O Nc6 9.f4 Qb6 10.Qd3 Qxb2 11.Bf3 Qa3 12.Rab1 (12.Nxc6)
12…Qa5 13.Nxc6? (13.h3) 13…bxc6 14.h3? (14.Qd2) 14…Ba6 0-1,
Christensen-Aronian, Spain 1998
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Ng4?? 7.Bb5+
Bd7 (7…Nc6 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Bxc6+ Bd7 10.Bxa8 Qxa8 11.Bd4) 8.Qxg4!
Bxb5 9.Ndxb5 (9…Bg7 10.Nd5) 1-0, Schroeder-NN, Corr. 1948
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.Bc4 Ng4
8.Qd2 Nxe3 9.Qxe3 O-O 10.h4 (10.O-O) 10…Qb6 11.O-O-O Nc6
12.Nde2 (12.Ndb5) 12…Qxe3+ 13.fxe3 Ne5 14.Bb3 Ng4 15.Rde1?
(15…Nd5) Nxe3 16.Nf4? (16.h5) 16…Bh6 0-1, Latourette-Fabiani, San
Francisco 2019
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.f4 Bg7 7.e5 dxe5
8.fxe5 Ng4? (8…Nfd7) 9.Bb5+ Kf8?? (9…Nc6) 10.Ne6+ (threatening
11.Qxd8+) 1-0, Thornally-Andress, New York 1974 and Kaspute-Krifa,
Istanbul 2012
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Bxc6 Bxc6
7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Bg5 e5 9.Qd3 h6 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 11.Nd5 Bxd5 12.Qxd5
Qe7 13.O-O-O Qd7?? (13…Rc8) 14.Nxe5 Qc7 15.Qb5+ Ke7?? (15…
Kd8) 16.Nc4 (16.Rxf6! Kxd6 17.Qd5+) 16…Rc8?? (16.a6) 17.Rxd6 a6
Page 146
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6 6.Bg5 Qb6 7.Be3
Qxb2 8.Ndc5 Qb4 9.Bd2 Nxe4? (9…Qc5) 10.a3 (10…Qa5 11.Nxe4)
1-0, Yemelin-Jobava, Abu Dhabi 2003
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.b3 b6 4.c4 Bb7 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bb2 e5 7.Nd5 d6 8.g3
Nge7 (8…Nf6) 9.Bh3 g6?? (9…Nxd5) 10.Nf6# 1-0, Mammadova-Hoolt,
Riyadh 2017
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.exd5 exd5 5.d4 c4 6.g3 b6?! (6…Nf6) 7.Bg2
Bb7?! (7…Bb4) 8.O-O Nf6 9.Ne5 Qc8 10.Re1 Be7 11.Bg5 Nbd7??
(11…O-O) 12.Bh3 Bc6 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Nxf7 Kxf7 15.Qh5+ Kf8 16.Be6
(16…Kg7 17.Nxd5 Bxd5 18.Bxd5 Rb8 19.Rxe7+ Kf8 20.Qf7#) 1-0,
Benjamin-Francis, New York 1979
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.a4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Qc7 7.Bd3 Nc6
8.Nde2 Bc5 9.O-O Ne5 10.h3 Ng6 11.Ng3?? (11…a5) 11…Qxg3 0-1,
Huberty-Gabriel, Singapore 1990
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 Nc6 7.Bd3 Nf6
8.O-O h5 9.f4 Ng4 10.Qf3?? (10.Nf5) 10…Nxe3 11.Qxe3 Nxd4 (12.
Qxd4 Bc5) 0-1, Emanuelsson-Aberg, Corr. 1978
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Qc7 7.Be2 Nc6
8.O-O Nxd4 9.Qxd4 Bd6 10.Kh1 Be5 11.Qd3 b6?! (11…O-O) 12.f4
Bxc3 13.bxc3 Bb7 14.Bf3 Rc8 15.Ba3 b5? (15…Qxf4) 16.cxb5 Qxc3??
(16…axb5) 17.Qd6 (threatening 18.Qe7#) 1-0, Bacrot-Piscopo, France
2017
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Nge7 7.Be2
b5 8.O-O Bb7 9.Nb3 d6 10.Qd2 Nc8 11.a4 b4 12.Na2 a5 13.c3 bxc3
14.Qxc3 Ne5 15.Bb5+ Nd7 16.Rfd1 e5 17.Nc5 1-0, Durao-Green, New
York 1974
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Be2 d5
8.exd5 Nxd4? (8…exd5) 9.Qxd4 Nxd5? (9…exd5) 10.Rd1 Qa5 11.Bd2
Nf6?? (11…Qb4) 12.Nb5 Qd8 13.Qxd8+ Kxd8 14.Ba5+ Ke7 15.Bd8+
Page 147
Bill Wall
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.g3 a6 7.Bg2 Bb4
8.O-O Bxc3 9.bxc3 Ne5 10.f4 Nc4 11.Qg4 Kf8 12.e5 Ne7 13.Re1 Nc6?
(13…Kg8) 14.Nxc6 dxc6 15.f5 Nxe5? (15…b5) 16.Ba3+ Kg8 17.Qd4
f6 18.Bd6 (18…Qd8 19.Bxe5 Qxd4+ 20.Bxd4) 1-0, Diesen-Atlas,
Telephone Match 1976
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.e5 Nd5 7.Qg4 g6
8.a3 Qa5?? (8…Bxc3+) 9.axb4 Qxe1 10.Nb3 (trapping the Q) 1-0,
Walkerling-Hanssen, Corr. 1928
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 g6 (4…Nf6) 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Nge7
7.Nb5 d5 8.exd5 exd5? (8…Nxd5) 9.Bf4 Be6?? (9…Bg7) 10.Bc7
(threatening 11.Nd6+) 1-0, Ivarsson-Morkedal, Helsinki 2014
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 e6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 6.e5 Nd5 7.Bd2 Nxc3
8.bxc3 Bf8 (8…Be7) 9.Bd3 d6 10.Qe2 Nd7?? (10…dxe5) 11.Nxe6 Qb6
12.Nc7+ (12…Qxc7 13.exd6+ Kd8 14.dxc7) 1-0, Kasparov-West, Telex
1977
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.d4 Bg4 6.Be3 Bg7 7.Be3 cxd4
8.cxd4 Nf6 9.Nc3 Qd6 10.Qb3 Nc6? (10…O-O) 11.Ne5 (threatening
12.Qxf7 and 12.Nxg4) 1-0, Anwesh-Prydun, Lviv 2018
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bc4 Nxe4? (6…d6)
7.Nxe4 d5 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Bb3 (9…dxe4?? 10.Bxf7+ Kxf7 11.Qxd8) 1-0,
Sejkora-Ringoir, Dresden 2007
1.e4 c5 2.f4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Bb5+ Nc6 5.exd5 exd5 6.O-O Nf6 7.Re1+
Be7 8.Ne5 Qb6 9.Bxc6+ bxc6 10.Qe2?! (10.Nc3) 10…O-O 11.Nxc6??
(11.Nc3) 11…Qxc6 12.Qxe7 Re8 0-1, Gitlin-Bill Wall, Hickory, NC 1979
Page 148
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.O-O d6 6.Nd5 Bg4 7.c3
Bc5 8.d3 Ne7? (8…Nxd5) 9.Nxe5 Bxd1?? (9…Nexd5) 10.Nxf6+ gxf6
11.Bxf7+ Kf8 12.Bh6# 1-0, Pollock-Hall, Bradford 1890
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.Bb5 d6 5.O-O Bg4 6.d3 Nf6 7.Bg5 Bxf3
8.Qxf3 a6 9.Nd5 axb5 10.c3 Ne7?? (10…Rg8) 11.Qxf6! gxf6 12.Nxf6+
Kf8 13.Bh6# 1-0, Chandler-Fernandez, Edinburgh 1981
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.Nxe5 Nxe5 5.d4 Bxd4?! (5…Bd6)
6.Qxd4 Qf6? (6…Qf6) 7.Nb5 Kd8?? (7…c6) 8.Qc5 1-0, Capablanca-E.
Adams, Washington DC 1909 and Reti-Dunkelblum, Vienna 1914
Page 149
Bill Wall
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.Nxe5 Bxf2+?! (4…Nxe5) 5.Kxf2 Nxe5
6.d4 Qf6+ 7.Kg1 Nc6 8.e5 Nxe5 9.dxe5?? (9.Qe2 d6 10.Nd5) 9…Qb6+
(threatening mate) 0-1, Broehl-Balduan, Porz 1992
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.Nxe5 Bxf2+?! (4…Nxe5) 5.Kxf2 Nxe5
6.d4 Qf6+ 7.Kg1 Ne7 8.dxe5?? (8…Be3) 8…Qb6+ (threatening mate)
0-1, Starr-Pires, Norway 2014
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.Nxe5 Bxf2+?! (4…Nxe5) 5.Kxf2 Qf6+??
(5…Nxe5) 6.Nf3 d6 7.Nd5 Qd8 8.d4 Be6 9.Ne3 1-0, Gocheva-Salazar,
Malta 1980
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.d4 fxe4 5.Nxe5 Nf6?! (5…Bb4) 6.Bc4
d5? (6…Qe7) 7.Nxd5 Nxd5 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.Qxg6+ Kd7
11.Bxd5 Qe8?? (11…Nxd4) 12.Bf7 Qe7 13.Bg5 Ne5 14.Qf5+ (14…Kc6
15.Qxe4+ Kd7 16.Bxe7) 1-0, Breyer-Balla, Slovakia 1922
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.Be3 d6 7.Nd5
Nge7?! (7…Bd7) 8.Bg5 Bxd4?? (8…Qd7) 9.Qxd4 Nxd4 (9…f6 10.Nxf6)
10.Nf6+ Kf8 11.Bh6# 1-0, Minchev-Miraschiev, Bulgaria 1986
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Qd2
O-O 8.O-O-O Re8 9.f3 d5 10.Bb5 Bd7 11.exd5 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 Bxb5
13.Nxb5 Qxd5 14.Nxc7 Qxa2 15.c3 Rec8 16.Nxa8?! (16.Bxf6) 16…
Nd5 17.Bxg7?? (17.b4) 17…Qa1+ (18.Kc2 Nb4+ 19.Kb3 Qa2+ 20.Kxb4
Rc4+ 21.Kb5 Qa4#) 0-1, Slovineanu-Santos, Greece 2001
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nd5 Bg7 6.Bg5 Nge7? (6…
Nce7) 7.Nxd4 Bxd4?? (7…f6) 8.Qxd4! Nxd4?? 9.Nf6+ Kf8 10.Nh6#
1-0, Curdo-Schmitz, Providence 1994 and Movsisyan-Patton, Tulsa, 2004
Page 150
Chess Opening Blunders
Trompowsky Attack
(1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5)
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 c5 3.d5 Ne4 4.Bh4 Qb6 5.Qc1 g5 6.Bg3 Bg7 7.c3 Qh6
8.Bxb8 Rxb8 9.Nd2 Nxd2 10.Qxd2 b5 11.e4 b4 12.Ne2 bxc3 13.Nxc3
Qb6 14.Rb1 Qa5 15.Bd3?? (15.Rc1) 15…Rxb2 (16…Rxb2 17.Bxc3)
0-1, Wicker-Nicholson, London 1978
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 c5 5.c3 Nbd7 6.f4 Qb6 7.Qc2 c4 8.Be2 Ne4
9.Bh4 Qa5 10.Nf3 b5 11.Ne5 f5 12.Nd2 Nxd2? (12…Nxe5) 13.Bh5+ g6
14.Nxg6 Nb6?? (14…Nf6) 15.Ne5# 1-0, Janowski-Michel, Semmering 1926
Page 151
Bill Wall
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.Bxf6 exf6 4.e3 Be6 5.Nd2 Nd7 6.c4 Bb4 7.cxd5
Bxd5 8.Ne2 O-O 9.Nc3 Nb6 10.a3 Bxc3 11.bxc3 c5 12.Bd3 cxd4
13.cxd4 Bxg2? (13…g6) 14.Rg1 Bc6?? (14…Re8) 15.Rxg7+ (15…Kxg7
16.Qg4+ Kh8 17.Qf5) 1-0, Palatnik-Geller, Rostov 1980
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 c5 4.d5 Qb6 5.Nd2 Qxb2 6.Ngf3? (6.Nxe4)
6…Nc3 7.Nc4?? (7…Qc1) 7…Nxd1 (8.Nxb2 Nxb2) 0-1, Wickert-M.
Adams, Islington 1992
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 c5 4.f3 Qa5+ 5.c3 g5?? (5…Nf6) 6.Bxb8
Nxc3 7.Nxc3 Rxb8 8.dxc5 1-0, Omar-Wolf, Denver 2018
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 c5 4.f3 g5 5.Bxb8 Rxb8 6.fxe4 Bg7 7.e3 Qb6
8.Nc3 cxd4 9.exd4 Bxd4 10.Nf3?? (10.Nd5) 10…Bf2+ (threatening
11.Qe3#) 0-1, E. Torre-Milanovic, ICC Blitz 2003
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bh4 d5 4.f3 Nd6 5.Nc3 c6 6.e4 Qb6 7.Qd2 e6?!
(7…dxe4) 8.O-O-O dxe4? (8…h6) 9.fxe4 Qa5 10.Kb1 Nd7?? (10…f6)
11.Nd5 (11…Qxd2?? 12.Nc7#) 1-0, Mamedyarov-J. Polgar, Dubai blitz
2014
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 e6 3.Nd2 h6 4.Bh4 c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.dxc5 Bxc5 7.Ne4??
(7.Bxf6) 7…Nxe4 8.Bxd8?? Bxf2# 0-1, Collier-Chapman, Gibraltar
2009
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 e6 3.e4 Be7 4.Nc3 h6 5.Bh4 Nxe4 6.Bxe7 Nxc3 7.Bxd8
Nxd1 8.Bxc7 Nxb2 9.Rb1 Na4 10.Bd6 b6?! (10…Nc3) 11.Rb4 Nc3?
(11…b5) 12.Rc4 Nc6 13.Rxc3 Nxd4 14.Bd3 Bb7 14.f3 1-0, Bill Wall-
Trogdon, Dayton 1981
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 e6 3.e4 Be7 4.Bd3 d5 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.Nc3
O-O 8.Nh3 a6?? (8…g6) 9.Bxh7+ (9…Kxh7 10.Qh5+ Kg8 11.Ng5 Re8
12.Qh7+ Kf8 13.Qh8#) 1-0, Bellon-Kristinsson, Gibraltar 2016
Page 152
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bg5 d6 6.h3 Be6 7.Bb5 a6
8.Bxc6+ bxc6 9.d4 exd4 10.Nxd4 Bxd4 11.Qxd4 c5 12.Qc3?! (12.Qd3)
12…Nxe4 13.Qxg7?? (13.Bxd8) 13…Qxg5 14.Qxh8+ Kd7 15.Qxa8
Qc1+ 16.Ke2 Qxc2+ 17.Ke3 Qxf2+ 18.Kd3 c4+ (19.Kxe4 f5#) 0-1,
Alfons Lasker-Eduard Lasker, Breslau simul 1909
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.O-O Bg4 7.Re1 f6
8.Nxe5 Bxd1?? (8…Nxe5) 9.Nxc6+ (9…Kf7 10.Nxd8+ Rxd8 11.Rxd1)
1-0, Armas-Hartung, Dortmund 1988
Page 153
Bill Wall
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.e5 Ng4 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Ng5+
Kg8 8.Qf3 Bb4+ 9.c3 Ncxe5?? (9…Ngxe5 10.Qd5+ Kf8) 10.Qd5+ Kf8
11.Ne6+ (forking queen and king) 1-0, Muratov-Baranov, Corr. 1964
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.O-O Bc5 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4
8.Re1+ Be6 9.Ng5 Qxf6? (9…g6) 10.Nxe6 fxe6 11.Qh5+ Qg6?? (11…
Qf7) 12.Qxc5 (12.Rxe6!) 1-0, Heider-Platz, Cologne 1920
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.O-O Nxe4 6.Re1 d5 7.Nc3?
(7.Bxd5) 7…Be6 (7…dxc3!) 8.Bxd5 dxc3 9.Rxe4?? (9.Bxe4) 9…Ne7
10.Rd4 (10.bxc3 Qxd5) 10…Nxd5 11.bxc3 (11.Bxb7?? Qxd1+) 11…Bc5
12.Rd3 Qe7 0-1, Talavera-Worsley, Argentina 1965
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.O-O Be7 6.Nxd4 Nxe4 7.Nf3
g6?? (7…d5) 8.Qd5 Rf8 9.Ng7# 1-0, Hoffman-Heilmann, Berlin 1904
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Ng5 Ne5 6.Bb3 h6 7.f4 hxg5
8.fxe5 Nxe4 9.Qxd4 Ng3? (9…Nc5) 10.Qf2 d5 (10…Nxh1?? 11.Qxf7#)
11.Qxg3 1-0, Bill Wall-R. Brooks, Thailand 1974
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Ng5 Ne5 6.Bb3 h6 7.f4 hxg5
8.fxe5 Nxe4 9.O-O? (9.Qxd4) 9…d5 10.exd6 Qxd6 11.Bxf7+ Kd8 12.g3
d3 13.Qe1 Qb6+ 14.Be3?? (14.Kg2) 14…Bc5 15.Rf3 Bg4 16.Bxc5
Qxc5+ 17.Re3 Be2 (threatening 18…Qxe3+) 0-1, Kan-Lowenfisch,
Leningrad 1933
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 Bd6 5.dxe5 Nxe5? (5…Bxe5) 6.Nxe5
Bxe5 7.f4 Nxe4 8.Qh5 (threatening 9.Qxf7# and 9.Qxe5) 1-0, Nikolayev-
Halwachs, Switzerland 2010
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5 (Traxler Counterattack or Wilkes
Barre Variation) 5.d4 d5 6.Bxd5 Nxd4 7.Nxf7 Qe7 8.Nxh8 Bg4 9.f3
Nxd5 10.fxg4 Qh4+ 11.Kd2 Qf2 12.Kd3 Nb4+ 13.Kc3 O-O-O 14.Nd2
Qe3+ 15.Kc4 b5+ 16.Kxc5 Na6# 0-1, Alvarsson-Jonsson, Sweden 1966
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5 5.Nxf7 Bxf2+ 6.Kxf2 Nxe4+
7.Ke3 Qe7 8.Kxe4 Qh4+ 9.g4 d5+ 10.Bxd5 Bxg4 11.Qe1?? (11.Bxc6+)
11…Bf5+ (12.Kxf5 g6+ 13.Ke6 Qe7#) 0-1, Rutka-Vesely, Prague 1949
Page 154
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 b5 6.Bb3 Nd4 7.d3 Bc5
8.O-O Bg4 9.Qe1 O-O 10.Ne4 Nxe4 11.dxe4 Qh4 12.Kh1?? (12.Nd2)
12…Nf3 (13.gxf3 Bxf3+ 14.Kg1 Qg4#) 0-1, Touret-Petkov, Metz 2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nd4 6.Nc3 h6 7.Nge4
Nxe4 8.Nxe4 Qh4 9.d3?! (9.Ng3) Bg4 10.Qd2 Bf3 11.Bb5+? (11.Kf1)
11…c6 12.dxc6 O-O-O 13.cxb7+ Kb8 14.Ba6?? (14.c3) 14…Bxg2 (15.
Qd1 Bxe4 16.dxe4 Qxe4+) 0-1, Gaudin-Lazard, Prague 1925
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nd4 6.d6 Qxd6 7.Nxf7?
(7.d3) 7…Qc6 8.Nxh8?? (8.b3?? Qxg2 9.Rg1 Qe4+ 10.Be2 Nf3# 0-1,
Alzbiday-Horowska, Riyadh 2017; 8.O-O) 8…Qxg2 9.Rf1 Qe4+ (10.Be2
Nf3#) 0-1, Zaplava-Petrov, Tallinn, 2001
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O
Be7 8.Re1 Be6 9.Rxe6 fxe6?? (9…O-O) 10.Nxe6 (10…Qd5 11.Bxd5
Qxd5?? 12.Nxc7, forking queen and king) 1-0, Balint-Chernev, New York
1938
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Nxf7 (Fried Liver
Attack) 6…Kxf7 7.Qf3+ Kg8?? (7…Ke6) 8.Bxd5+ Qxd5 9.Qxd5+ Be6
10.Qxe6# 1-0, Maidana-Goette, Argentina 2001
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Nxe4 5.Nxf7 Qh4 6.O-O? (6.Qe2)
6…Bc5 7.Nxh8 Nxf2 8.Rxf2? (8.Bf7+) 8…Qxf2+ 9.Kh1 d5 10.Bxd5??
(10.Be2) 10…Bg4 11.Bf3 Bxf3 12.gxf3 Nd4 13.Nc3 Ne2 (threatening
14…Qxf3#) 0-1, Behaerdt-Gedult, Frankfurt 1971
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 Nh7 7.O-O dxc3
8.Nxc3 Be7 9.Qd3 O-O 10.Qg6 d5?! (10…Ng5) 11.Nxd5 fxg6?? (11…
Ng5) 12.Nxe7+ Kh8 13.Nxg6# 1-0, Watkinson-NN, London 1863
Page 155
Bill Wall
Vienna Game
(1.e4 e5 2.Nc3)
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Bc5 3.f4 Bxg1 4.Rxg1 Qh4+? (4…d6) 5.g3 Qe7 6.fxe5
Nc6 7.d4 f6?? (7…d6) 8.Nd5 Qd8 9.Bf4 g5?? (9…d6) 10.Qh5+ Kf8
11.Bc4 gxf4 12.gxf4 Nxd4 13.Nxf6 Qe7 14.Bxg8 Nxc2+ 15.Kd1 h6
16.Bb3 Nxa1 17.Qxh6+ (17…Rxh6 18.Rg8#) 1-0, Steinitz-Hodges, New
York 1881
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Bc5 3.Bc4 Ne7 4.d3 Nbc6 5.Qh5 O-O 6.Bg5 Qe8 7.Nd5
Bb6?? (7…Nxd5) 8.Nf6+ gxf6 9.Bxf6 1-0, Alekhine-De Cassio, San
Sebastian 1944
Page 156
Chess Opening Blunders
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Qg4 Qf6 5.Nd5 Qxf2+ 6.Kd1 d6?? (6…
Kf8) 7.Qxg7 Bd7 8.Nxc7+ Kd8 9.Nxa8 Kc8 10.Nf3 Bh3 11.Rf1 Qxg2
12.Be6+ (12…Bxe6 13.Qxg2; 12…Kb8 13.Qf8+ Nd8 14.Qxd8#; 12…
fxe6 13.Qc7#) 1-0, Francis-V. Hooper, Birmingham, England 1916
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Qg4 Qf6 5.Nd5 Qxf2+ 6.Kd1 Nge7??
(6…Kf8) 7.Nh3 Qd4 8.Qxg7 Rg8 9.Nf6+ Kd8 10.Nxg8 1-0, Benmesbah-
Elias, Gibraltar 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Qg4 Qf6?! (4…g6) 5.Nd5 Qxf2+ 6.Kd1
Kf8 7.Nh3 Qd4? (7…h5) 8.d3 d6 9.Qh4 Bxh3 10.Qxh3 Na5?? (10…
Qf2) 11.Rf1 Nxc4 12.Qd7 f6 13.Nxf6 Qf2 14.Rxf2 Bxf2 15.Nh5 (15…
Ne7 16.Bg5) 1-0, Mieses-Chigorin, Ostend 1905
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Qg4 Qf6 5.Qg3 Nge7 6.d3 h6 7.Nf3 d6
8.Nb5 Bb6 9.Be3 a6?! (9…Ba5+) 10.Nxd6+ Qxd6 11.Qxg7 Rf8 12.Bxh6
Ng8? (12…Ng6) 13.Bxf7+ Rxf7 14.Qxg8+ Ke7?? (14…Rf8) 15.Bg5+
(15…Rf6 16.Qg7+ Ke8 17.Bxf6) 1-0, Sarner-Mann, New Hampshire 1981
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Ne2 Bc5 4.Ng3 d6 5.d3 Nf6 6.Bg5 Be6 7.Nh5 O-O
8.Nd5 Nxe4 9.Bxd8?? (9.dxe4) 9…Bxf2+ 10.Ke2 Bg4# 0-1, London
CC-Athens CC, Corr. 1899
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Ne2 Qh4 4.g3 Qg5 5.d4 Nxd4 6.Bxg5?? (6.Nxd4)
6…Nf3# 0-1, Lutze-Begas, Germany 1893
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 exf4 4.d4 Qh4+ 5.Ke2 b6 6.Nb5 b6 7.Nf3 Qg4
8.Nxc7+ Kd8 9.Nxa8 Nxe4 10.c4?? (10.c3) 10…Bb4 11.Qa4?? (11.a3)
11…Nxd4+ 12.Kd1 Nf2# 0-1, Morgan-Shipley, USA 1893
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 exf4 4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bc4 Bh4+ 6.g3 fxg3 7.O-O
gxh2+ 8.Kh1 Nh6 9.d4 O-O 10.Bxh6 gxh6 11.Qd2 Bg5? (11…Bf6)
12.Qxh2 Kg7 13.Nxg5 hxg5 14.e5 f5?? (Ne7) 15.exf6+ Rxf6 16.Rxf6
Qxf6 17.Rf1 Qg6 18.Bd3 1-0, Means-Haynes, Portland, OR 1975
Page 157
Bill Wall
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 d6 5.f4 Ng4 6.fxe5 Nf2 7.Qf3? (7…
Qh5) 7…O-O 8.Qg3?? (8.Nh3) 8…Nxh1 9.Qf3 Qh4+ (10.g3 Qxh2)
0-1, Capablanca-Kramer, Russia simul 1914
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Qh5 Nd6 5.Bb3 Nc6 6.d4 exd4 7.Nd5
g6?? (7…Ne7) 8.Qe2+ Be7 9.Nf6+ Kf8 10.Bh6# 1-0, Bass-Armstrong,
USA 1952
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 (Vienna Gambit) 3…d5 4.d4 Bb4 5.fxe5 Nxe4
6.Bd2 Qh4+ 7.Ke2?? (7.g3) 7…Qf2+ 8.Kd3 Bf5 (threatening 9…Nc5#)
0-1, NN-Nathan, Europe 1902
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d5 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.a3? (6.Bb5) 6…
Bc5 7.d4 Nxd4 8.Nxd4 Qh4+ 9.g3 Nxg3 10.Nf3?? (10.hxg3) 10…Bf2+
11.Kxf2 (11.Kd2 Qh6+ 12.Kd3 Bf5+) 11…Ne4+ 12.Ke3 Qf2+ 13.Kd3
Nc5# 0-1, Mackenzie-Hollins, London 1893
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d5 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.Qf3 f5 6.d4 Nc6 7.Bb5 Bb4
8.Nge2 O-O 9.O-O Be6 10.Qd3 Qe7 11.Nf4 Nxd4 12.Nfxd5 Bxd5
13.Nxd5 Qc5 14.Bc4?? (14.Be3) 14…Nf3+ 15.Kh1 Qg1+ 16.Rxg1 Nf2#
0-1, NN-Brooke, Europe 1923
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d6 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Ng5+
Kg6?? (7…Kg8) 8.f5+ Kxg5 9.d3+ Kh4 10.Qf3 (threatening 11.Qh3#)
1-0, Kadisch-NN, Mannheim 1931
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 exf4 4.d4 Be7 5.Bxf4 O-O 6.Nf3 Re8 7.Bc4 d6?!
(7…d5) 8.O-O Nbd7? (8…Nc6) 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7?? (9…Kh8) 10.Ng5+Kg8
11.Ne6 1-0, Bill Wall-D. Hayes, Dayton 1980
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 Bc5 4.Bg2 d6 5.d3 Nc6 6.Nge2 Bg4 7.O-O Nd4
8.Be3 Nf3+ 9.Kh1?! (9.Bxf3) 9…h5 10.h3 h4 11.Bxf3?? (11.Bxc5) 11…
Bxf3 12.Kh2 Ng4+ 13.hxg4 (13.Kg1 hxg3) 13…Qd7 (14.Kg1 Qxg4)
0-1, Bernheimer-del Turco, Rome 1917
Page 158
Chess Opening Blunders
Zukertort Opening
(1.Nf3)
1.Nf3 Nc6 2.c4 d5 3.Nc3 dxc4 4.e4 Bg4 5.Bxc4 Bxf3 6.Qxf3 Nd4?? (6…
Ne5) 7.Qxf7+ Kd7 8.Ne2 Nc2+ 9.Kd1 Nxa1 10.Qf5+ Kc6 11.Qb5+ Kd6
12.e5# 1-0, Bill Wall- Funatik, chess.com 2008
1.Nf3 d5 2.e4 (Tennison Gambit) 2…dxe4 3.Ng5 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bf5 5.Qe2 c6
6.Ngxe4 Nbd7?? (6…e6) 7.Nd6# 1-0, Schroder-Blake, Brooklun 1912
Page 159
Bill Wall
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 (King’s Indian Attack) Bf5 4.c4 e6 5.Qb3 Na6
6.Qb5+ c6 7.Qxb7 Nb4 8.Ne5 Nd7 9.Nxd7 Nc2+ 10.Kd1 Nxa1 11.e4
dxe4? (11…Rc8) 12.Ne5 Bg6?? (12…Qc8) 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.Bxe4
(threatening 15.Bxc6+) 1-0, Kasparov-Taimanov, Moscow 1978
1.Nf3 d6 2.e3 Nd7 3.Bd3 b6 4.Ng5 h6?? (4…Ngf6) 5.Ne6 fxe6 6.Bg6#
1-0, Krejcik-NN, Vienna 1908
1.Nf3 e5 2.Nxe5 Nc6 3.Nxc6 dxc6 4.d3 Bc5 5.e4 Nf6 6.Bg5? (6.Be2) 6…
Bxf2+ 7.Kxf2 Nxe4+ 8.Kg1?? (8…Ke1) 8…Qd4+ 9.Be3 Qxe3# 0-1,
NN-Rhine, lichess.org Internet blitz 2017
1.Nf3 e6 2.g3 b6 3.Bg2 Bb7 4.O-O f5 5.c4 Nf6 6.d4 Be7 7.d5 Na6 (7…
Ne4) 8.Bd4 O-O? (8…Nc5) 9.d6 (9…Bxg2 10.dxe7 Qxe7 11.Kxg2) 1-0,
Greenfeld-Redmond, Ireland 2008
1.Nf3 e6 2.g3 f5 3.c4 Nf6 4.Bg2 d5 5.O-O Bd6 6.Nc3 O-O 7.d3 Nc6
8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bg5 Be6 10.Nb5 Bc5 11.Qa4 h6 12.Bf4 Bb6 13.Nbd4?
(13.Rac1) 13…Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Bd7 (15.Qb3 Bxd4 16.Bxd5+ Kh7) 0-1,
S. Walker-T. Wall, Bournemouth 2016
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.O-O c5 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 O-O 7.c4 Nc6
8.Nc3 a6 9.h3 Qb6 10.Nb3 d6 11.Be3 Qd8 12.Rc1 Be6 13.Nd5 Nd7
14.Nd4 Qc8?? (14…Bxd5) 15.Nxc6 (15…bxc6 16.Nxe7+; 15…Qxc6
16.Nxe7+) 1-0, Teraoka-De Ward, Oslo 1990
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.O-O O-O 5.c4 d6 6.Nc3 e5 7.d3 Nh5
8.b4? (8.Rb1) 8…e4 (9.Bg5 f6 10.Bd2 exf3) 0-1, Kapischka-Kupreichik,
Germany 1992
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.O-O O-O 5.d3 d5 6.Nbd2 c5 7.c4 Nc6
8.a3 b6 9.Rb1 Bb7 10.b4 cxb4 11.axb4 dxc4 12.Nxc4 Nd4 13.Nxd4
Bxg2 14.Ne6 Qd5? (14…fxe6) 15.Nf4 (threatening 16.Nxg2) 1-0,
Abdulaziz-Abbas, Beruit 2001
Page 160
Chess Opening Blunders
Page 161
Bill Wall
Page 162
INDEX
Index Amigues. 70
Ammer. 20
Bacrot. 44, 147
Baez. 102
Anaja. 78 Bagdasarova. 93
A Anand. 96, 105, 143, 145
Andersen. 99
Bain. 58
Baitsch. 25
Aagard. 120 Andersen, J. 132 Baker. 47, 83
Aasum. 42 Anderson. 10 Balabanov. 114
Abbas. 160 Anderton. 79 Balashov. 28, 33, 84, 95
Abdulaziz. 160 Andreev. 4 Balduan. 150
Aberg. 147 Andreikin. 50 Balint. 155
Abonyi. 58 Andrejeva. 100 Balla. 4, 150
Abrahams. 36 Andress. 146 Balode. 36
Abramovic. 44 Andrew. 30 Balogh. 110
Abrikossowski. 46 Andriasian. 8 Bamber. 101
Abud. 130 Angantysson. 110 Bannink. 146
Adams. 52, 79 Anglares. 34 Baranov. 154
Adams, C. 118 Anthony. 107 Barber. 128
Adams, E. 149 Antitarlo. 102 Barbour. 136
Adams, M. 152 Anwesh. 148 Barcsi. 118
Adbor. 78 Aprea. 65 Bareev. 95
Adler. 105 Arakelov. 12 Barnes. 129
Adorjan. 11, 49, 121 Armas. 153 Barnett. 40
Aguilar. 78 Armgost. 146 Barrera. 58
Agullo. 37 Armstrong. 158 Barsalou. 17
Ajeeb. 102 Arnason. 110 Bartel. 110
Aker. 21 Arnold. 29 Bartsch. 25
Alapin. 130 Aronian. 52, 95, 119, 146 Basin. 84
Alber. 5 Arshak. 99 Bass. 158
Albin. 38 Ash. 50 Basso. 121
Al Dahbali. 73 Ashley. 122 Bastrikov. 144
Alderson. 39 Athens. 1, 157 Bateman. 24, 141
Alekhine. 36, 60, 119, Atkins. 85, 116 Bauer. 14
156 Atkinson. 26, 83, 124 Bazan. 45
Aleksandrov. 69, 108 Atlas. 148 Beardsall. 39
Alexopoulos. 6 Ault, L. 60 Beaver. 105
Al_Khelaifi. 36 Aykent. 33 Begas. 2, 157
Allam. 160 Ayush. 119 Behaerdt. 155
Almeraj. 22 Beimanov. 30
Al Modiahki. 93
Al Qubaishi. 140 B Bekheet. 22
Belanger. 127
Altusky. 85, 126 Babaev. 82 Belenkaya. 125
Alvarsson. 154 Babula. 96 Belkhodja. 100
Amberger. 98 Baburin. 47 Bellin. 51
Amburn. 12 Bachmann. 114 Bellingrath. 132
A. McDonald. 37 Bellon. 87, 152
INDEX
F Goncalves. 132
Fabiani. 146
G Goncharov. 134
Gonzalez. 33, 86, 127,
Factor. 105 Gabriel. 147 138
Fahrni. 33 Gabrielsen. 105 Gonzalves. 49
Falk. 26 Gagnon. 6 Gore. 104
Falkbeer. 40, 134 Gaiter. 12 Gossip. 80, 114
Farmer. 88 Galewski. 86 Gottlieb. 4
Farris. 120 Galfand. 28 Gottschall. 63
Farzamfar. 30 Gallagher. 132 Gotz. 58
Fedden. 66 Gambos. 52 Gould. 142
Fedyushchenko. 135 Garbarino. 51 Grabenwoeger. 127
Felizes. 119 Gardijan. 140 Graff. 144
Fenda. 131 Gardner. 124 Gragger. 144
Fernandez. 28, 51, 149 Garrett. 100 Gralla. 30
Feuerstein. 85 Gates. 98 Granados. 74
Fick. 127 Gatt. 73 Grandepara. 70
Fiebeg. 30 Gaudin. 155 Grava. 25, 80
Fine. 107 Geake. 108 Green. 68, 147
Finotti. 105 Gedult. 25, 26, 31, 62, Greenfeld. 160
Fischer, J. 128 79, 82, 124, 155 Greenwalt. 90
Fischer, R. 55, 56, 83, 85, Geller. 136, 152 Greenwood. 54
107, 126 George. 22 Grefe. 126, 128
Fitz. 63 Georgiev. 145 Gregory. 129
Fleissig. 112, 116 Gerber. 139 Grekov. 125
Flesch. 138 Gerloff. 90 Gresh. 73
Flores. 10 Gerzhoy. 96 Gresser. 42
Florito. 72 Geshev. 3 Greville. 134
Fodor. 63 Gheng. 138 Grey. 81
Foldi. 8 Giannopoulos. 6 Griffith. 130
Forman. 98 Giannotta. 82 Grimm. 31
Forsberg. 20 Gibbs. 4, 61 Grob. 68
Forster. 6 Gigavear. 78 Gronnestad. 105
Fowler. 104 Gitlin. 148 Gross. 100, 129
Francis. 105, 147, 157 Gittisarn. 18 Grundy. 114
Guarisco. 8
INDEX
Guennewig. 5 Haynes. 157 Horinek. 38
Guerra. 55 Hazeltine. 16 Horwitz. 64
Guerrero. 118 Hebden. 128 Howell_Smith. 16
Gueye. 29 Hector. 148 Hromadka. 58
Guillevic. 44 Heidarsson. 134 Huber. 138
Gunn. 61 Heider. 154 Huberty. 147
Gunsberg. 116 Heilmann. 154 Huebner. 115
Gureyev. 40 Heimbaecher. 36 Hulin. 70
Gurgenidze. 144 Hein. 30 Hulligan. 61
Gustafsson. 142 Heinicke. 122 Hultin. 8
Gutman. 69 Heinola. 5 Husak. 131
Gutschi. 140 Heinzel. 36 Huss. 119
Heirzeele. 45 Hussong. 74
H Hejny. 20
Hell. 78
Husted. 35
Haack. 67
Haakonstad. 134
Helling. 70
Helmer. 31 I
Haapasalo. 94 Helms. 22 Igney. 34
Haavamae. 2 Heltay. 53 Ilivitsky. 112
Haegin. 134 Hendricks. 107 Illescas. 28
Haendiges. 63 Henricksen. 31 Illingworth. 122
Haga. 66 Herbst. 95 Ingram. 37
Hagstrom. 71 Hernandez. 35 Inkeroinen. 5
Halfdanarson. 72 Herrera. 86 Ironimus. 58
Hall. 74, 149 Herzman. 139 Isakov. 123
Hallman. 158 Hille. 87 Itze. 80
Hanauer. 29 Hirst. 103 Ivanchuk. 96
Hanken. 18 Hjartarson. 95 Ivanov. 12
Hansen. 142 Hobbis. 130 Ivanov, N. 56
Hanssen. 148 Hobson. 62 Ivarsson. 148
Hanstein. 134 Hodges. 156
Hoeffler. 6
Hardung. 142
Hareux. 8 Hoey. 123
Hoffman. 49, 60, 72, 154
J
Harris, B. 112 Jablonski. 86
Harrwitz. 120, 134 Holcomb. 139
Holleis. 124 Jackson. 38, 103
Hartenstein. 39 Jacobsen. 50
Hartlaub. 107 Hollins. 158
Holmes. 126, 128 Jacobs, J. 74
Hartung. 153 Jaffe. 14
Hartwell. 74 Holzinger. 14
Holzmann. 22 Jakobsen. 141
Haselgrove. 108 Jallow. 20
Hasenfuss. 13 Honich. 54
Hoolt. 49, 147 Jameson. 62, 142
Havenaar. 42 Jankowitz. 2, 81
Hay. 145 Hooper, V. 157
Hopkins. 135 Janny. 53
Hayes, D. 158 Janowski. 151
Hopton. 45
INDEX
Jansson. 83 Karpov. 52, 121 Kontic. 72
J. Bellin. 51 Kas. 105 Koppen. 129
Jegaden. 62 Kasaja. 31 Korn. 113
Jennen. 25 Kashioka. 120 Kornacker. 145
Jennings. 74 Kasiak. 122 Korsano. 29
Jensen. 18 Kasparov. 148, 160 Kostic. 22
Jerabek. 20 Kaspute. 146 Kostopoulos. 144
Jicman. 139 Katalymov. 112 Kotek. 127
Jimenez. 110, 117, 133 Katsampes. 139 Kotronias. 9
Jobava. 147 Kaydanovich. 118 Kouevi. 136
Johannessen. 34, 85 Kazhgaleyev. 93 Koukolik. 100
Johannsdottir. 138 Keene. 18 Kourtesis. 9
Johannson. 141 Keller. 23, 62 Kovac. 25
Johner. 95 Kelly. 112 Kovacevic. 146
Johnson. 116 Kennedy. 98 Kovalenko. 30
Joker. 76 Kerimov. 144 Koveshnikova. 141
Jones. 7, 9, 132 Keskel. 27 Kozelek. 22
Jones, J. 83 Kevitz. 111 Kramer. 158
Jonsson. 70, 154 Khairul. 83 Kramnik. 93
Jowett. 132 Kharlov. 116 Kranzle. 90
Jowitt. 58 Khmelnitsky. 4 Krasenkov. 116
Judd. 135 Kingston. 61 Krasser. 45
Juhasz. 14 Kinnier. 130 Kraus. 13
Juhe. 16 Kinoshita. 62 Krause. 90
Junge. 16 Kirchenhoff. 8 Krebs. 65
Junghaeni. 87 Kiss. 14 Krejcik. 4, 31, 37, 84, 160
Kitti. 20 Krifa. 146
K Klein. 47
Knapp. 25
Kristensen. 99
Kristinsson. 18, 152
Kabashaj. 106 Knezevic. 68 Krivans. 102
Kadisch. 158 Knies. 25 Krivokapic. 146
Kaiser. 102 Knight32. 76 Kromhout. 54
Kaiszauri. 110 Knox. 58 Kubasek. 68
Kampars. 63 Knudsen. 45 Kubbel A.. 40, 90
Kan. 154 Kocheev. 69 Kubbel, E. 90
Kant. 10 Kogan. 28 Kubbel L.. 40
Kapischka. 160 Kohl. 132 Kuebert. 45
Karavade. 49, 140 Kohn. 30 Kuenitz. 14
Karch. 25, 54 Kohut. 138 Kuenzel. 78
Karjakin. 50, 108 Kolisch. 108 Kuenzler. 31
Karklins. 98 Koljevic. 20 Kuijpers. 59
Karner. 122 Koltanowski. 27 Kulakova. 59
Karosz. 14 Komarek. 113 Kulaots. 136
Karpatchev. 34 Kong. 93 Kumar. 115
Konkolova. 136 Kunsstmann. 114
INDEX
Kupak. 128 Levigun. 76 Malezos. 12
Kupfer. 107 Levy. 36, 56 Mamedyarov. 152
Kupreichik. 160 Levy, L. 81 Mammadova. 147
Kurajica. 96 Liberzon. 72 Manko. 2, 81
Kusiak. 131 Lie. 83 Mann. 157
Kusswurm. 129 Lietsch. 124 Mantia. 45
Kustner. 65 Limbos. 83 Mardell. 49
Kuznetsov. 138 Linderod. 140 Mariotti. 39
Kvisla. 106 Lindos. 46 Markowski. 143
Kvist. 141 Litvinov. 44 Marmoolak. 114
Kyrkjebo. 96 Lluch. 108 Marshall. 20, 28, 104,
Kyzy. 136 Loman. 78 129, 136, 137
Lommer. 72 Martin. 143
L London. 1, 157
Long. 142
Martinez. 128
Martinovsky. 147
Laboucans. 141 Lopang. 12 Martner. 51
Laciner. 120 Lord. 127 Marvin. 141
Lacrimosa. 84 Lovegren. 67 Maryasin. 48
Lagland. 25 Lowe. 140 Mas. 97
Lalla. 117 Lowenfisch. 154 Maslov. 70
Lamm. 9 Lowenthal. 4 Mason. 8, 47
Lane. 95, 138 Loye. 140 Mass. 122
Lange. 47, 66 Lucas. 128 Matisson. 2
Lanze. 139 Lucena. 108 Matjushin, G. 136
Laprade. 53 Luece. 104 Matjushin, O. 136
Larsen. 87, 94 Luethgens. 93 Matoussi. 36
Lasker, Alfons. 153 Luetze. 2 Matto. 33
Lasker, Eduard. 153 Lugovi. 118 Maul. 50
Latell. 39 Lugovoi. 95 Maverick. 51
Latourette. 146 Lundin. 52 Maximov. 65
Lautier. 32 Lutes. 39 Mayet. 66, 120
Lawless. 138 Lutze. 2, 157 Mayfield. 4, 5
Lazard. 155 Mazel. 52
LDJM. 24
Leache. 35
M McCann. 143
McClellan. 136
Lee. 12, 79, 130 Macho. 159 McDonald. 58
Lees. 10 Mackenzie. 135, 158 Mcdonnell. 111
Lehmann. 33 Mackowiak. 131 McGrouther. 143
Lehnert. 134 Macrae. 98 McHugh. 110
Leighton. 146 Maddigan. 51 McKenzie. 112
Lemke. 68 Madsen. 63 McKinney. 143
Leonhardt. 30, 33, 40, Maghami. 73 McKone. 98
108 Magnusdottir. 138 McMahon. 104
Lesiak. 112 Maidana. 155 McNamus. 2
Means. 157
INDEX
Meek. 78 Muhlock. 22 Nobbe. 54
Meidinger. 145 Munoz. 133 Noi. 62
Meifert. 42 Muratov. 154 Nolte. 26
Meinsohn. 14 Murgescu. 142 Norcia. 110
Meng. 14 Murshed. 60 Notkevich. 61
Menke. 26 Myers. 16, 42 Nunn. 93
Menzel. 119 Nurkic. 93
Mestres. 37
Meyer. 36 N Nuzzo. 24
Nygren. 132
Micalizzi. 143 Naiditsch. 137 Nzi. 105
Michel. 151 Najdorf. 51, 139
Michell. 125
Mieses. 37, 44, 50, 157
Nakamura. 112
Naldrett. 49
O
Mikadze. 125 Napier. 142 O’Banion. 118
Mikhalevski. 7 Nathan. 158 O’Berry. 135
Miladinovic. 120 Navrotescu. 43 O’Bryant. 118
Milanovic. 152 Ncintosh. 2 Obviously. 76
Miles. 51, 127 Neale. 30 O’Driscoll. 51
Miller. 44, 54 Neff. 18 Oehquist. 37
Mills. 80 Neilson. 76 Oelhafer. 63
Milner_Barry. 79 Nekrasova. 142 O’Farrell. 130
Minchev. 150 Nemet. 68 O’Hanlon. 19
Miraschiev. 150 Newman. 108 Ohanyan. 142
Mizesko. 104 Niccoli. 134 Olsson. 132
Mlotkowski. 108 Nicholson. 151 Olszewski. 31
Mochet. 22 Nickl. 28 Omar. 152
Moeller. 65, 71 Nickoloff. 12 Oney. 34
Mof. 47 Nield. 41 Opendahl. 31
Molder. 79 Nikolayev. 112, 114, 154 Orton. 40
Moldovan. 122 Nimzowitsch. 130 Otero. 159
Moller. 70 NN. 2, 4, 8, 14, 15, 16, Otteson. 79
Moody. 42 17, 18, 22, 24, 27, Owen. 103
Moreno. 54, 91 31, 34, 36, 37, 40, Oyler. 62
Morgan. 157 43, 45, 47, 50, 58,
Moriss. 111
Moritz. 70
Morkedal. 148
63, 65, 66, 72, 75,
76, 77, 79, 80, 81, P
83, 88, 90, 92, 96, Pacher. 34
Moros. 114 98, 104, 105, 106,
Morphy. 66 Padula. 91
108, 113, 116, Paehtz. 20
Moskalyuk. 143 117, 119, 123,
Moskoview. 82 Pahlke. 25
127, 130, 134, Palatnik. 152
Mouillaux. 2 135, 140, 142,
Movsisyan. 150 Palau. 139
143, 144, 146, Paleologu. 110
Mueler. 128 155, 158, 160
Mueller. 22, 50 Pallesen. 143
INDEX
Palma. 141 Pribyl. 110 Ringoir. 61, 148
Parkov. 46 Prokes. 20, 31 Ristic. 54
Paschall. 138 Prommuang. 118 Ritov. 34
Patterson. 140 Prothero. 6 Ritter. 24
Patton. 150 Pruneda. 134 Ritvin. 42
Paulsen. 135 Prydun. 148 Riva. 141
Pavarin. 87 Przepiorka. 120 Riviese. 144
Pavey. 10 Pukkinen. 102 RNWN. 49
Pavius. 125 Pulvermacher. 82 Roberts, J. 102
Pavosovic. 33 Pupols. 90, 91 Robichaud. 103
Peckoeski. 104 Purins. 89 Robinson. 24
Pedersen. 31, 107 Robles. 6
Pederson. 60
Pelan. 110 Q Robyn. 24
Roche. 34
Pelikan. 124 Quinn. 52 Rodatz. 122
Peralta. 12, 129, 146 Qwerty. 76 Roehll. 138
Perdomo. 107 Rohit. 141
Persson. 14 Romi. 122
Petit. 28
Petkov. 155
R Ronning. 26
Roper. 61
Petran. 121 Rabin. 42 Ros. 71
Petrov. 28, 128, 155 Rabinovich. 4 Rosales. 110
Petty. 78 Radjabov. 145 Rose. 45
Pieper. 22 Rahman. 60 Rosen. 51
Pieretti. 87 Rajkovic. 141 Rosenberg. 24, 112
Piket. 143 Ramirez. 35, 129 Rosenvald. 26
Pilhal. 56 Ramstad. 117 Ross. 78
Pilsen. 129 Ranken. 114 Rossolimo. 120
Pinkemeil. 112 Rasmussen. 88 Roterman. 62
Pires. 150 Razuvaev. 69 Rouzaud. 91
Piscopo. 147 Redmond. 160 Rubenstein. 88
Pitkanen. 27 Regan. 125 Rubinstein. 127
Plath. 25 Reif. 18 Rublevsky. 93
Platz. 154 Reinhardt. 122 Rudolf. 77
Playfair. 54 Reinle. 80 Ruiter. 132
Pleasants. 127 Rensen. 16 Rundic. 12
Pohlers. 85 Renyi. 102 Russ. 4
Pole. 25 Reti. 149 Ruth. 142
Polgar, J. 152 Reyes. 100, 107 Rutka. 154
Pollock. 149 Rhals. 8 Rybenko. 93
Polovodin. 70 Rhine. 98, 143, 160 Ryc. 135
Polyakov. 8 Richard. 25 Ryckhoff. 130
Popovych. 79 Richardson. 104
Rienaecker. 16
Prentice. 62
Prenzler. 62 Rindlisbacher. 15 S
INDEX
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