Novelty On Move 4 In US Championship!

David Pruess (left) playing 4.Bb5+ against IM Dean Ippolito (right)

photo by Tom Braunlich

IM David Pruees produced an interesting novelty (4.Bb5+) in round 3 of the US Championship 2008 against IM Dean Ippolito. The strength of the novelty is debetable but it did produced an original position. To make more interesting, Pruess are willing to skip castling around move 7 and 8 . He also set an excellent exchange sacrifiece on move 12, sacrificing both his rook for black queen.

IM David Pruees - IM Dean Ippolito [C30]
US Championship 2008 (3), 16.05.2008

1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bb5+!? 4.c3 is the normal continuation here but Pruess explore a new move with 4.Bb5+ 4...c6 4...Nd7 5.Nc3 (5.fxe5 dxe5 6.Nxe5 Qh4+) 5...Ngf6 6.fxe5 dxe5 7.Nxe5 c6; 4...Bd7 5.Ba4 Nf6 6.fxe5 dxe5 7.d3 Ng4 8.Qe2 Pruess doesn't mind not castling for instance 8...Nf2?! 9.Rf1 Ng4 And white has excellent initiative although his king is still in the center.; 8...Bf2+ 9.Kf1÷ 8...Qa5+ 9.Nc3 Bd4 9...Bb4 is more or less the same 10.Bb3 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Qxc3+ 12.Qd2 Qxa1 13.0–0 10.Bb3 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Qxc3+ 12.Qd2...Pruess set a trap here, actually an exchange sacrifiece. if 12... Qxa1 13.0–0 white is threatening 14.Ba3 and black queen has to take the rook on f1. It seems that it is an equal exchange but white has excellent initiative and development whereas black's pieces is not develop at all! Black however decide to exchange queen with 12...Qxd2+ 13.Bxd2 and white won after 16 more moves. 1-0