The Dutch Defence and Checkmate In Two Moves!

I just stumbled upon some stuff on the web about the checkmate in two moves that every beginner learns about very early on, for example:

1.e4 f6 2.d4 g5 3.Qh5 mate

There are some (but not many) permutations on the two move mate theme (but not many).

This is very much beginners’ stuff whereas this site is aimed at players of at least club/tournament playing strength. However, it got me thinking about how this tactical theme endures (as do many very simple tactical themes), and manifests itself in (only slightly!) more sophisticated circumstances, i.e. circumstances that are of interest to club players.

I’ve been writing posts about the Dutch Defence recently, and I thought I’d write about a couple of examples from this opening in which this theme can occur – OK not quite mate in only two moves, but getting close to it! Sure, it needs black to blunder for this to happen, but non of us club players blunder, do we!? Seriously though, there is a real danger that the sudden need to avoid being mated can lead to the total disruption of one’s position.

The first example is from the system where white plays 2.Nc3 :

1.d4 f5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5 c6?! (black should play 3… d5 immediately) 4.Bxf6 gxf6?? 5.e4 (see first diagram)

5… d5 (narrowly avoiding 5…fxe4 6.Qh5#, but black will suffer whatever he now plays!) 6.Qh5+ Kd7 7.exd5 cxd5 8.Nxd5

and black’s position is a wreck.

Another example comes from the system where white plays 2.Bg5. Again, black can easily avoid immediate loss, but in doing so his position can end up beyond repair.

1.d4 f5 2.Bg5 h6 3.Bh4 g5 4.Bg3 f4 5.e3 (see second diagram)

Ouch! Instead of loosing his bishop white threatens mate and sits back looking smug. Black must loose at least a pawn and suffer positional damage.

5… Nf6 6.exf4 gxf4 7.Bxf4