Jyrki Heikkinen (1884) - GM Bogdan Lalic (2557)

Diemer-Duhm Gambit, Golders Green Rapidplay (30 + 30 min.), London 1996

1. d4

With this move, my only idea is to transpose to the DDG; nowadays so few play the French Defence.

1... Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. f3 d5 4. e4

Finally, the DDG.

4... dxe4 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Qa4+ Nc6 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3

8... h6 9. Qc2 exf3 10. Nxf3 O-O 11. Be2 e5 12. dxe5 Ng4 13. Bf4 Qe7 14. O-O

14. Qe4!? Re8 (14... f5 15. Qd5+ Be6 16. Qb5 g5 is unclear, or 15... Qe6? 16. h3) 15. Bd3 f5 (15... g6! looks good) 16. Qd5+ Qe6 17. Qxe6+ Rxe6 18. Nd4 Ngxe5 (18... Re8! 19. Nxc6 bxc6 =+) 19. Nxe6 Nxd3+ 20. Kd2 is unclear.

14... Qc5+

14... Ngxe5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Qe4 =+. White's Bishop pair gives some compensation, but, on the other hand, doubled c-pawns are quite troublesome.

15. Kh1 Nf2+ 16. Rxf2

16. Kg1?? Nh3+ 17. Kh1 Nxf4 wins a Bishop.

16... Qxf2 17. Qe4

Had I seen the next move, I would have played 17. Rf1 Qc5 18. Qe4, and White's attack looks dangerous.

17... Bf5 18. Qxf5 Qxe2

Things to Do in Diemer When You're Dead

19. Bxh6! gxh6?

This was played almost instantly, even though Black had much more time. 19... Ne7! 20. Qg4 Ng6 21. Re1 Qc2 -+ should be an easy win for Black.

20. Ng5!

20. Qg4+?? Kh8 21. Qh5 Ne7 (21... Kg7 =) 22. Qxh6+ Kg8 23. Qg5+ (23. Ng5 Qd3) Ng6 24. h4 looks great, but after simple 21... Qe4!, White could resign.

20... hxg5 21. Qxg5+

Of course, it's now perpetual check, but maybe Black wanted to give White still a chance to blunder, and continued a few moves more.

21... Kh7 22. Qf5+ Kh6 23. Qf6+ Kh7 24. Qf5+ Kh8 25. Qf6+ Kh7 26. Qf5+ Kh6 27. Qf6+ Kh5 28. Qf5+

Had I had more time, I could have attempted a desperate win; luckily enough, I hadn't. 28. h3? (28. Rf1 Qxf1+ or 28. g4+ Qxg4) Qe4 (28... Rg8 29. g4+ Rxg4 30. hxg4+ Qxg4 31. Qxf7+ Kh6 32. Qf6+ Qg6 -+) 29. Rf1 Qg6 30. Rf5+ Kh6 31. Qh4+ Kg7 32. Rg5 -+ is fairly easy win for Black.

28... Kh6 draw

Having dreamt of 28... Kh4?? 29. g3 mate, I got my first draw suggestion ever from a GM. In April 1996, GM Lalic was number 113 in the world.

PGN version.