On Saturday, I had the pleasure to play some casual chess games at the Lathrop Chess Club. This chess gathering, which is run by my daughters, meets on the first and third Saturday afternoon of the month from 12:30 to 2:00 PM at the Lathrop Library.
Those who know me well, know that I enjoy playing games against amateurs with a handicap and a I have a strong affinity for gambit openings. So it should be of no surprise that I spotted my opponent a rook and gleefully employed the Lopez Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. Qe2 Nf6 4. f4) when I faced a new opponent at the Lathrop Library. For those who wish to learn more about playing chess with a handicap I recommend referencing “At Odds with my Student.” If you are curious about the Bishop’s Opening: Lopez Variation and the associated Lopez Gambit, I recommend searching for examples played by such luminaries as Gioachino Greco, Louis-Charles Mahé de La Bourdonnais, and John Cochrane. It is through their chess games that I learned to appreciate the creative attacking opportunities that the Bishop’s Opening: Lopez Variation (1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. Qe2) offers players of both colors.
[Event “Lathrop Chess Club”]
[Site “Lathrop, California “]
[Date “2025.06.21”]
[Round “At Rook’s Odds”]
[White “Chris Torres”]
[Black “amateur “]
[Result “1-0”]
[FEN “rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/1NBQKBNR w Kkq -“]
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Qe2 Nf6 4.f4 exf4 5.e5 O-O 6.Nf3 d5 7.d4 Be7 8.Bd3 Nh5 9.g3
fxg3 10.hxg3 Nxg3 11.Bxh7+ Kh8 12.Bd3+ Nxh1 13.Qh2+ Bh4+ 14.Nxh4 Kg8 15.Nf3 Re8
16.Qh7+ Kf8 17.b3 Nd7 18.Qh8+ Ke7 19.Qxg7 Rg8 20.Bg5+ Ke6 21.Qh6+ f6 22.Qh3+
Kf7 23.Qh7+ Ke6 24.Bf5#
1-0
