Annotated Game #295: No need to panic

Panic in the opening is never good, as this next tournament game miniature shows. Because there is more to it than just a one-move blunder (although not much more), I think it is worth publishing, as it highlights a useful gambit for Stonewall players to know, along with the unnecessarily deleterious psychological effects of panic.

[Event "?"] [White "Expert"] [Black "ChessAdmin"] [Site "?"] [Round "?"] [Annotator "ChessAdmin/Dragon 3.2"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "????.??.??"] [ECO "D30"] [PlyCount "17"] [GameId "2099915250376808"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 e6 {The move-order for a Slav Stonewall, although Black is not committed necessarily to that.} 4. e3 Bd6 (4... f5 {allows the provocative} 5. g4 $5) 5. Qc2 f5 {now we have the Stonewall formation.} 6. b3 Qe7 {this move-order is not necessary to prevent Ba3, a common idea for White, due to tactics. However, the queen will probably go to e7 anyway.} (6... Nf6 7. Ba3 $2 (7. Bd3 O-O 8. cxd5 {and either recapture is fine} exd5 9. Bxf5 Bxf5 10. Qxf5 Ne4 11. Qe6+ Kh8 12. Nbd2 Rf6 $11 {and White's queen cannot stop getting kicked around by Black's pieces.}) 7... Bxa3 8. Nxa3 Qa5+ $19) 7. Bd3 Nf6 8. cxd5 {here I panicked over the loss of a pawn, not recognizing that this is actually a standard Dutch gambit; see also the above variation with Bd3.} cxd5 $4 {saves the pawn, but loses the bishop. An example of failing to consider tactics in the opening phase.} (8... exd5 $1 9. Bxf5 Bxf5 10. Qxf5 O-O $11 {follwed by ...Ne4; this is a completely legitimate gambit.}) 9. Qxc8+ 1-0