Monday, February 24, 2014

The Misa Pap Attack (C02)

Position after 9.Nbd2!?

There have been some recent publications on IM Jiri Nun's variation of the Milner Barry Gambit (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bd3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Bd7 8.O-O Nxd4 9.Nbd2!?), which some would rename the "Misa Pap Attack" after its most recent and public GM advocate (see videos below).  In analyzing the game Melekhina-Forestier, Poland 2010, I definitely gained some respect for this gambit line against the French Defense, and there are many attractive lines in GM Misa Pap's recent analysis in Chess Informant #113 (available for instant download for only $3.99).  Besides Nun, Pap, and Melekhina, GM David Smerdon has used the gambit on occasion.   The line receives only passing reference in books; for instance, Sam Collins in The French Advance (2nd ed. Everyman 2006) gives only the game Jesus Baron Rodriguez - Carlos Matamoros Franco, Campillos 2005 as his example.  So fans of surprise lines (and perhaps fans of the Smith-Morra) are sure to find it attractive.  

2 comments:

Michel Barbaut said...

Thanks for the good stuff. I download Pap CI lab & it's very interesting. My old beloved Milner-Barry is then resuscited !
A good gambit for fan of the SMG !

Anonymous said...

"A Rude Awakening" by Fernando Peralta in New in Chess Yearbook 111 (2014) covers this line, with emphasis on the games of David Smerdon.