The idea behind the blog is to take an occasional sample game and examine it in some detail in relation to the current theory as described in the Jackal Attack e-book.
As the opening tends to have a high tactical content, it is hoped that the games and positions discussed may be of general interest.
Further and more diverse content will be added to the blog in due course. Particular games [famous or otherwise] will be analysed. There will also be essays on aspects of the game that have to do with position evaluation and move choice - but using linguistic cues rather than calculation.
The Jackal Attack website can be accessed here and there are related articles to be found on the web; for example here and here .The article in which I introduced some preliminary analysis on the Jackal can be found in 'New In Chess' [Theoretical Yearbook 61]. However, that analysis is now about eight years old. Knowledge of the Jackal's various lines has sharpened and expanded greatly since that time and the latest [March 2010] update of the e-book represents the most current analysis and evaluations. The e-book is updated twice a year.
This month's featured game:
Hortillosa A (2068) - Amarasinghe P (1958)
[Saint Paul: USA: 2010] French: Jackal Attack.
1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.d4 c5 6.Bg5!?
The opening stems from an internet blitz game Skelton - Jestadt: 2001
By refusing to guard his e-pawn, White is effectively tempting his opponent to take it at a later point.
Although the players make a couple of errors between them in this game - they do in fact succeed in advancing practical play towards what the e-book considers to be a main line.
In an article on the game by Gary Lane, [over at ChessPub.com], White cites analysis from the original NIC article and it becomes apparent that he is on more familiar ground than his opponent. As Lane points out; these types of unfamiliar positions can place quite a burden upon the defender.
The opening's statistics tend to support this view: Out of about thirty-five games that have reached the above basic position, White has done rather well so far; winning 42% to Black's 30%.
6...Qb6 7.dxc5 Bxc5
The e-book's assessment of this natural move is that Black should gain equality. Nevertheless, those conducting the defence have yet to record a single win in the 'Belfast Variation' [i.e. the line in the Jestadt game]. However, having to give up the queen on the fourteenth move is not to everyone's taste.
8.Qd2 Nc6 9.O-O-O Ndxe5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5
An on-line check shows that only one other game has so far managed to reach this position. By capturing the e-pawn, Amarasinghe now asks the question of White: 'Do you really have enough for the pawn?' [White to move]
In the initial 'New In Chess' analysis on the Jackal, I have to admit that I thought this reply was quite a pointless move - so much so that I didn't even mention it.
Instead, I tried to justify a re-deployment of the White forces involving the queen going to e, followed a little later with f2-f4 and then with the bishop soon developing to d3. After that, the plan would be to expand rapidly on the king-side.
It is, undoubtedly, a brilliant, subtle and well-concealed plan. If there is a slight flaw in this devilish scheme - it is merely the detail that it doesn't actually work.
Unfortunately, the fact that it offers White some measure of compensation - only served to fuel my stubborn persistence with the Qe1 line. But, luckily, all bad things come to an end and I eventually abandoned the idea.
Only then did I begin to appreciate that the immediate 11.Bb5+ was - not only a much better choice - but that it turns out to be quite dangerous for Black.
I've kept the e-book's chapter on the 11.Qe1 line as a reminder to myself that sometimes Fritz really does know best. However, the e-book has long since had two extra chapters on the ramifications of 11.Bb5+ and it is very possible that a third will soon be needed.
11...Nc6?
This should be a fatal mistake.
Understandably, Black may have been a bit anxious about having an unprotected piece stuck in the centre of the board. However, with tempo having already been spent on pinching the e-pawn - and with just two pieces currently active as a result - he could not afford to move the knight yet again.
Games are frequently lost by a delay in castling and such delays are a particular temptation when castling is seen to be only one more move away. This can create the dangerous impression that enough time remains to attend to 'just one more thing first'.
But it was in fact high time for Black to develop another piece or to get the king off the central files. It turns out that castling in the above position - if answered correctly by White - is no easy solution for the defender. Nevertheless, either castling or ...Kf8 or ...Bd7 were all preferable to the text.
12.Qe2!
White responds to his opponent's error with a not-so-hard-to-find but very accurate follow-up. Now the writing really is on the wall: Round about here, Black must have begun to regret taking that e-pawn after all. His consolation is that he hasn't been the first to be tempted and he certainly won't be the last.
After White's reply, there is no longer sufficient time to castle safely: With the b5 bishop now guarded by the queen, White threatens to answer castling with the reply 13.Na4 - winning a piece.
White might have to lose his a-pawn and maybe suffer a 'spite check' or two - but he will not be overly concerned with that.
Worse for Black would have been 12...h6? to which White replies 13.Nxd5. The opening of a central file is a prized achievement for White in all Jackal lines and the Nxd5 move almost always a sign that things have gone pear-shaped for Black.
My old, beat-up, version of Fritz [5] croaks to confirm that Black's game would quickly fall apart after ...h6: For instance; after 12...h6? 13.Nxd5 Qa5 14.Bd2 Qxa2 15.Bc3 is very strong.
Nor is there much joy for the defender in the actual game continuation: He now appears destined to lose a piece...
12...Qa5 13.Rxd5 O-O 14.Rxc5
But wait! 14...a6 Is this a glimmer of hope? ...
15.Be3? But this is not it. White agreed a draw here. A pity: The winning move was 15.Bf6!
In the event of 15...gxf6 16.Qg4+ Kh8 17.Rh5 Rg8 18.Qh4 Rg7 19.Bxc6 wins since the knight is captured with a simultaneous attack on the black queen. Little better would have been 15...Nb4 16.Rg5 g6 17.Qh5.
In unfamiliar territory, the players usefully highlighted a few features of a line which had not previously been explored in competitive chess. It is true that a couple of errors were made: But errors can be very instructive; particularly in the opening.
