A lot of chess lessons can be taught through playing training games with a student and sometimes it only takes eleven moves for a master to make an indelible impression. Case in point, I played a game at rook odds against a clever young beginner who has now learned some valuable insights.
When playing at rook odds I always attack fast and fiercely. Here, I opted for an unconventional line in the Scotch Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4) where I respond to 3… exd4 with 4. Ng5. While chess engines completely dismiss this Wayward Knight variation as winning for Black, I enjoy a nice winning percentage against unsuspecting opponents.
[Event “Rook Odds”]
[Site “Atherton, California “]
[Date “2026.10.08”]
[Round “?”]
[White “Chris Torres”]
[WhiteElo “”]
[Black “Student”]
[BlackElo “”]
[Result “1-0”]
[FEN “rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/1NBQKBNR w Kkq -“]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Ng5 h6 5.Nxf7 Kxf7 6.Bc4+ Kf6 7.Qf3+ Ke7 8.Qf7+
Kd6 9.Bf4+ Ne5 10.Qd5+ Ke7 11.Qxe5#
1-0
After our game, I explained to my student how, “Oftentimes against gambit play, it is good to give back a pawn to the gambiter to blunt their attack.” For instance, after 5.Nxf7 Kxf7 6.Bc4+ Black Black can give a pawn back with good effect with 6… d5.
Black should like their position after 7.Bxd5+ Kg6!, 7.Bxd5+ Kg6 8.O-O Bc5.
Play might continue something like 9.Bxc6 bxc6 10.Qd3 Ne7 11.Nd2 Kh7 12.Nf3 Rf8 13.Bd2 Kh8 where Black has castled by hand and White has a lead in development but not enough compensation for their sacrificed piece.
Of course I am just touching upon the Wayward Knight Attack in the Scotch Game. Perhaps in a future post I will revisit this variation of interest and share more of my insights.