Raymond Keene

Piratical

issue 29 August 2015

I have never met David Smerdon, the Australian grandmaster and author of Smerdon’s Scandinavian (Everyman Chess). Last week I gave a ringing endorsement of his new book and I must say that in my mind’s eye I visualise him as some swashbuckling buccaneer of the chessboard, complete with eyepatch, wooden leg, tricorn hat and probably a parrot. Under Fidé’s regulations this dress code would probably have him thrown out of any tournament, so I am sure that the real-life Smerdon is far more unobtrusive.

Here, though, is a further example of the freebooting style which characterises Smerdon’s new publication.
 
Moylan-Smerdon; Sydney 2003; Scandinavian Defence
 
1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Nf6 3 d4 Bg4 4 Be2 Bxe2 5 Qxe2 Qxd5 6 Nf3 e6 7 0-0 Be7 7 … Nc6 is more accurate, preventing c2-c4 due to the weakness of the d4-pawn.



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