Reykjavík Open upset - 400 Elo difference. When the underdog wins!

by Arne Kaehler
4/1/2023 – In today's episode, we will delve into an astonishing upset from the first round of the Reykjavík Open 2023, where a relatively unknown Norwegian with the Black pieces defied all odds by defeating an opponent with a staggering 400 Elo rating advantage. IM Robert Ris will expertly dissect the game, revealing the critical moments and ingenious strategies that led to this David versus Goliath victory. Get ready to be inspired by the power of perseverance and the beauty of the unexpected as we explore this thrilling upset together.

Adhiban Gambit against 1.c4 Adhiban Gambit against 1.c4

After 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e4 Black is giving up a pawn. By sacrificing the e-pawn, Black gains a lot of time harassing the white knight and seizes the initiative in the centre.

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The Underdog!

with IM Robert Ris

We all love stories where a vastly underrated player surprises everyone by winning against a far stronger player. Luckily, we are all human, after all.

But how do these things happen? What are the moves that lead to success? And what can we learn from these examples for the times we get to face a stronger opponent?

Dutch IM Robert Ris presents us real examples of such encounters from the last month. With his co-host Arne Kaehler, they look at the tactics and strategies that led to the upset win.

 
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MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,165,57054%2421---
1.d4946,47455%2434---
1.Nf3281,31256%2441---
1.c4181,93756%2442---
1.g319,68856%2427---
1.b314,23654%2427---
1.f45,88648%2377---
1.Nc33,79651%2384---
1.b41,75348%2380---
1.a31,19754%2403---
1.e31,06848%2408---
1.d394850%2378---
1.g466246%2361---
1.h444653%2374---
1.c342651%2425---
1.h327956%2416---
1.a410860%2468---
1.f39147%2431---
1.Nh38966%2508---
1.Na34262%2482---
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.e3 4.cxd5 exd5 4...cxd4 5.Qxd4 Nc6 6.Qd1 exd5 7.Qxd5 Bd6 4...Nf6 5.Nf3 dxc4 5...Nc6 6.Bxc4 a6 7.Bd3 7.0-0 b5 7...Nc6 7...Nbd7 7...b6 7...b5 8.a4 b4 9.Ne4 8.0-0 cxd4 9.exd4 Be7 9...Nxd4?? 10.Nxd4 Qxd4 11.Bb5+ axb5 12.Qxd4 10.a3 10.Bg5 0-0 11.Rc1 10...0-0 11.Re1 11.Bc2 b5 12.Qd3 Bb7 13.Re1 g6 14.Bh6 Re8 15.Rad1 Rc8 16.Bb1 b4 17.axb4 Nxb4 1/2-1/2 (33) Wojtaszek,R (2694)-Gajewski,G (2596) Bydgoszcz 2021 11...b6 11...b5 12.Bb1 Bb7 13.Qd3 Na5 14.Bg5 g6 15.Ba2 Nc4 16.Bxc4 bxc4 17.Qxc4 Bxf3 18.gxf3 1-0 (45) Ding,L (2799)-Van Foreest,J (2714) chess24.com INT 2022 12.Bg5 Bb7 13.Bb1 13.Rc1 13...Nd5 14.Nxd5 14.Qd3 g6 15.Bh6 Re8 16.Nxd5 Qxd5 17.Ba2 17.Qe3 14...Bxg5 15.Nxb6 Qxb6 16.Nxg5 g6 16...Qxb2?? 17.Bxh7+ Kh8 18.Qh5 17.d5 exd5 17...Qxb2?? 18.Ra2 18.Ba2 Rad8 18...Nd4 19.Qd2 Rac8 19...h6 20.Rad1 19.b4 19.Qd2 19...a5 20.b5 Nd4 20...Qxb5? 21.Rb1 Qa6 22.Bxd5± 21.a4 Qf6 21...Rfe8!? 22.Qd2 22.Nf3 Nxf3+ 23.Qxf3 Qxf3 24.gxf3 d4 22...h6 23.Rad1 Rfe8! 24.Nh3 24.Qxd4 Qxd4 25.Rxe8+ Rxe8 26.Rxd4 Re1# 24...Qh4? 24...Re4!? 25.Qxh6? Rg4! 24...Kg7 25.Nf4 Re4 26.Nxg6? 26.Rxe4 dxe4 27.Nd5! 27.Bd5? Bxd5 28.Qxd4 Qxf4 27.Kh1 Rd6!? 28.Qe3 28.Nxg6 Rxg6 29.Qxd4 Qg4 30.Bxf7+ Kxf7 31.Qd7+ Kg8 32.Qe8+ Kh7 33.Rd7+ Rg7 34.Rxg7+ Qxg7∞ 28...Nf3 27.Nxg6 Nf3+ 27...Bxd5 27...Ne6 28.Qe3 28.Qxd4+- 26.g3? Nf3+ 27.Kg2 Qg4-+ 26.Nd3? Qg4! 26...Qg4! 26...fxg6? 27.Rxe4 Qxe4 28.Qxd4± 26...Rxe1+ 27.Kf1 27.Rxe4 dxe4 27.Qxh6 fxg6 27...Qxg6 28.Bb1 Rxe1+ 29.Qxe1 Qf6 30.Qxa5 Re8? 30...Ne6! 31.Qa7?? 31.Qc3! Qe5 32.Qg3+ 32.Re1 Qxe1+ 33.Qxe1 Rxe1+ 34.Kxe1 32...Qxg3 33.hxg3 31...Qe5 31...Qe5! 32.Qxb7 32.Qxd4 Qe2+ 33.Kg1 Qe1+ 34.Rxe1 Rxe1# 32...Qe2+ 33.Kg1 Qxd1# 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Gajewski,G2587Nielsen,A22010–12023D27Reykjavik Open 20231

Robert Ris has authored plenty of FritzTrainers for ChessBase — check out the newest from his vast collection:

A Complete Black Repertoire against 1.d4, 1.Nf3 & 1.c4

These video courses feature a black repertoire against 1.d4, 1.Nf3 and 1.c4. The recommended variations are easy to learn and not difficult to remember, but also pose White serious challenges.

Links:

Arne Kaehler, a creative mind who is passionate about board games in general, was born in Hamburg and learned to play chess at a young age. By teaching chess to youth teams and creating chess-related videos on YouTube, Arne was able to expand this passion and has even created an online course for anyone who wants to learn how to play chess. Arne writes for the English and German news sites, but focuses mainly on content for the ChessBase media channels.
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