Yes, folks, it’s back – Blunder of the Week! Everyone’s done it and everyone loves it apart from the poor sucker who’s made to look a wally all over the world wide web. This week it’s Reg who was guilty of a mental blank and the beauty of this one is that it took place after only five moves….The beneficiary was Michael Doyle who points out that he has a grade 26 points below his opponent’s so Reg’s generosity was even more appreciated.
White: Reg Pidduck (107) Black: Michael Doyle (81)
Goodall Cup
1. e4 e6 2. d4 c5 3. Be3 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6
Have a look at this position. White’s queen is threatened so clearly it has to move so what could be safer than 5. Qc3?? Well, quite a lot actually and I suspect it did not take Michael long to realise that this was his lucky day. The game continued:
5…….Bb4! 6. Bd4 Bxc3 7. Bxc3 and White resigned after 24 moves.
So Black won a queen for a bishop but if it is any consolation to Reg – and I don’t think it is – Michael could have won it for nothing. Presumably, White played 6.Bd4? in the hope that Black would play 6….. Nxd4 to which he would reply 7. Qxb4 and he escapes …….except that he doesn’t.
7……Nxc2+!
Ouch! Losing your queen for nothing after seven moves might constitute Blunder of the Year. Your correspondent can certainly remember losing his at the Thanet Congress once after a similar number of moves – I recall the player next to me had not even arrived to start his game and I had already lost. I’m not proud, I’ll dig it out. Watch this space.
Bad luck, Reg, but thank you for allowing us to enjoy some welcome schadenfreude.