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Swamp and counterswamp
by Alex Bourke 

It's the last game of the 1999-2000 season.  Struggling at the bottom of the second division, Kings Head face the undefeated division champions.  Heavily outgunned, nothing to lose, the perfect scenario for an all or nothing swamping.

London League Division 2
	David Sedgwick, Mushrooms (171)
	Alex Bourke, Kings Head 2 (152)
Pirc

1. e4, d6 2. d4, Nf6 3. Nc3, g6 4. Bc4, Bg7 5. Qe2 ...
   Holmov's system, one of the most aggressive lines against the Pirc.
5 ..., Nc6 6. e5, ...
   Swamp!
6. ..., Nxd4
   Swamp to you too, pal!
7. exf6, Nxe2 8. fxg7, Rg8 9. Nxe2, Rxg7 10. Bh6, Rg8
11. O-O-O, e6
   Apparently strongpointing f7, e6 and d5, but also threatening the bishop fork Qh4.  Correct now is 12. h4.
12. Nf4??, Qh4!
   Now White is losing material.  But he has a very active position, whereas Black's is as dozy as a midwinter bear.  With three pieces out of play, Black is effectively material down and so White now has a duty to attack, mix it, try to wrongfoot Black, and thus maximize the chances of an open board mate.
13. Nb5, Qxh6 14. g3, Kd8 15. Rhe1, a6 16. Nd4, e5
17. Rxe5! ...
   Oh cripes, now I can't take because of Nf5 dis ch winning my queen.
17. ..., Re8 18. Rxe8+, Kxe8 19. Kb1, c6 20. Nf3, d5 21. Re1+, Kf8 22. Bd3, Bg4 23. Ne5, Re8
   The White knight is pinned and the position becomes really tricky as White's back rank is so vulnerable.  See if you can guess Black's next three moves. The White R has to defend e5 and the first rank and is therefore overloaded,
allowing...
24. f3, Qxh2!
   Q. What does this position have in common with a tunnel under Manchester Airport runway extension? A. Swampy!
25. fxg4, Rxe5! 26. Rf1, Qf2! 27. a3, Re1+ 28. Rxe1, Qxe1+ 29. Ka2, Qxg3 30. Ne2,Qxg4
0-1

See Also Swamp 1, Swamp2, Swamp3, Swamp5, Swamp 6!See also Members Guide to France, Alex's French Chess Dictionary