Blumenfeld Countergambit, Dus-Khotimirsky, Spielmann
Blumenfeld Countergambit
Definition
The Blumenfeld Countergambit is an aggressive defence for Black that arises after the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5 (or the move-order 3…c5 4.d5 b5 straight away). Black immediately offers a pawn on the b-file in return for swift piece activity, rapid development, and long-term pressure on the dark squares, especially e4 and c3.
Typical Move-Order
- 1.d4 Nf6
- 2.c4 e6
- 3.Nf3 c5
- 4.d5 b5 – the Blumenfeld Countergambit proper
Strategic Ideas
- Pawn Sacrifice for Initiative. By playing …b5 Black distracts White’s c-pawn from the centre and frees the c6-square for a knight or the c8-bishop.
- Dark-Square Grip. After …g6 and …Bg7, Black exerts powerful pressure on e4 and d5, often establishing an outpost on e4.
- Queenside Majority. Even if the pawn is not recovered, Black’s a- and b-pawns can roll down the board in the late middlegame.
- Dynamic, Not Static. Black must keep the initiative; if the game drifts into quiet positional channels the extra pawn usually tells.
Historical Significance
The gambit is named after the Russian master Benjamin Markovich Blumenfeld, who introduced it in the early 1920s. It was soon adopted by leading Soviet players such as Alekhine and Botvinnik as a surprise weapon against 1.d4. In modern times grandmasters like Boris Avrukh, Levon Aronian, and Peter Svidler have employed it when they need a fighting game.
Illustrative Mini-Game
After 40 moves the game was an “open fire-fight” in which Black’s pawn sacrifice and central thrusts gave ample compensation and eventually a full point.
Interesting Facts
- Computers once evaluated the Blumenfeld as close to “+=”; modern engines, however, with better hardware and deeper learning, often swing to “=” or even a slight edge for Black in complex positions.
- In the 2005 Russian Super-Final, Vladimir Kramnik was surprised by Levon Aronian’s Blumenfeld choice. Kramnik spent over 40 minutes on move 10, an illustration of the psychological value of a well-timed gambit.
Dus-Khotimirsky
Definition
Fedor Ivanovich Dus-Khotimirsky (1881 – 1965) was a Ukrainian-born Russian chess master, theoretician, and journalist. While not an opening system per se, “Dus-Khotimirsky” is often referenced in chess literature in three distinct contexts:
- as the surname of a strong pre-revolution Russian player;
- as the Dus-Khotimirsky Attack in the Queen’s Gambit Declined;
- as a contributor to early Soviet chess culture and training methods.
How the Name Appears in Opening Theory
The line 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3 h6 7.Bh4 b6 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.Rc1 is sometimes called the Dus-Khotimirsky Variation. Here Dus-Khotimirsky employed an early …b6 idea to equalise against the dangerous Cambridge Springs-type structures.
Historical Highlights
- Carlsbad 1907. Dus-Khotimirsky defeated both Rubinstein and Nimzowitsch, finishing ahead of Marshall and Teichmann.
- Moscow 1925. He took a brilliancy prize for his win against Capablanca’s future second, Salo Flohr.
- Trainer and Journalist. In the 1930s he wrote for “64” and trained Soviet juniors—his pupils included a young Mikhail Botvinnik.
Style and Contributions
- Tactical Flair. Dus-Khotimirsky loved open positions, material sacrifices, and piece activity—traits that resonate with modern engine-approved play.
- Theoretical Sparks. Many of his pet lines (for example the early …b6 in the Queen’s Gambit) were experimental but later mainstreamed by giants like Petrosian.
- Longevity. He survived two World Wars, the Russian Revolution, and repression, yet remained active in the Soviet chess scene into the 1950s.
Anecdote
During the legendary St. Petersburg 1909 tournament, Dus-Khotimirsky was the only player to defeat the tournament winner Emanuel Lasker. The win shocked the reigning World Champion and immediately cemented Dus-Khotimirsky’s place in chess folklore.
Spielmann Variation
Definition
The term “Spielmann Variation” most commonly refers to the line 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 in the Nimzo-Indian Defence. Introduced by the Austrian attacking genius Rudolf Spielmann at Barmen 1905, the move 4.Qc2 protects the c-pawn, maintains the option of e2-e4, and avoids doubled c-pawns after …Bxc3+. Modern opening manuals often call it the “Classical” or “Capablanca” Variation, but the historic name endures.
Key Ideas for White
- Maintain the Knight Pair. By preventing …Bxc3+, White keeps the strong knight on c3 and hopes to gain space with e4.
- Central Expansion. Lines often continue 4…O-O 5.e4 d5 6.e5, locking the centre and giving White a space advantage.
- Two Bishops Later. If Black voluntarily exchanges on c3 later, the bishop pair becomes a serious middlegame asset for White, especially after cxd5 recaptures with the bishop opening the long diagonal.
Main Tabiyas
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 7.Nf3 dxc4 8.Qxc4 – the Reshevsky Variation.
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 c5 – forcing play in the centre before White can push e2-e4.
Historical & Practical Significance
- World-Championship Tested. Capablanca used 4.Qc2 to crush Alekhine in 1927, demonstrating its solidity at the highest level.
- Modern Approval. Players such as Anand, Carlsen, and Ding have all employed the variation, often steering games toward rich positional struggles.
- Flexibility. White can aim for a pawn centre with e4, a minority attack with b4-b5, or a calm fianchetto with g3—hence the line remains highly popular in all time controls.
Sample Grandmaster Encounter
Aronian – Carlsen, Wijk aan Zee 2012. After a sharp opening tussle Black ultimately held the balance, showing that even at elite level both sides retain winning chances.
Fun Fact
Spielmann, famous for the dictum “A good sacrifice is one that is not necessarily sound but leaves your opponent confused,” actually chose 4.Qc2 because it is sound yet preserves the option of later chaos—an apt reflection of his pragmatic romanticism.