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How to beat the Orangutan
Ok, now how should it really be played?? I felt wounded after that last game – it’s never nice to get so badly outplayed especially when it could have been easily avoided. I did some background reading into the Orangutan so next time my opponent wouldn’t come off so lightly.
The next game extract is taken from the rather good book Beating Unusual Chess Openings by IM Richard Palliser. He deals with a number of tricky annoying systems, such as the English, Reti, Kings Indian Attack alongside the Orangutan (also called Sokolosky). I highly recommend it.
1. b4 e5 2. Bb2 Bxb4
As I mentioned in my own game earlier this is the best move – hands down!
3. Bxe5 Nf6 4. e3 O-O 5. Nf3 Re8!
This move provides a number of subtle threats down the e-file and is a lot stronger than first appears, especially after the Knight pops up on d5 later.
6. c4
White naturally challenges Black’s central d5 advance immediately preparing for it. The knight at f6 will undoubtably. Everything Black has been doing up til now has involved a struggle for the centre. Something that was sadly missing from my own game.
6…d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5
Everything is going according to plan!
8. Bc4?
White needed to be careful here. Theory recommends an immediate retreat of the bishop to b2 followed be the development of the Bishop to e2 preventing an nasty tricks on the e-file.
8…Bg4 9. Bb2 Nxe3!
Out of the blue like a bolt of lightning! Already White needs to tread carefully, whilst with accurate play the best Black should hope for is a draw with inaccurate play by White they can easily lose in a brutal fashion as we shall see.
10. fxe3 Rxe3+ 11. Kf2 Rxf3+ 12. gxf3 Qh4+ 13. Kg1!
In fact this is White’s best and only move. Any other will lose…
13…Bh3 14. Bf1 Nc6!?
This move keeps Black’s attacking momentum. White still has drawing chances here with accurate play but Black has plenty of compensation.
15. Bxh3 Qxh3 16. Qf1 Qf5! 17. Qg2 Bc5+ 18. Kf1 Nd4 19.
Qg4??
A critical mistake. So easy is it for White to go astray here. We quickly realise just how tricky the sacrifices by Black have made the position for White to defend.
19…Qd3+ 20. Kg2 Re8 21. Rg1 f5!
Game over! Black displaces the Queen leaving White’s position in tatters and his King heavily exposed – mate is coming soon.
I hope this article has provided you with a demonstration of how different an opening can be handled at the opening stages. Especially taking note of any opening motifs and how psychological reasons behind moves can seriously determine the outcome of a game even from the early stages.
Remember always come prepared to the board! Any comments are welcome.
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2…d6 is not a mistake. I often play 1…d6 and then 2..e5 and get a good position regularly. The idea is to play moves like f5, Nf6, Be7. This type of defense is examined in “An explosive chess opening repertoire for black” by Yrola and Tella. I used to take the pawn on b4 but it seems easy for white to get a good position so I don’t play that way anymore.
Thanks for the feedback Chovoss. I got the line taking b4 from the exact book you mention. Sometimes certain variations just suit people’s style of play I think and d6 didn’t really suit mine.
I was a little careless in fairness playing d5 and giving a way a pawn. I think really that’s all that did it, after that it was a pretty straightforward win for him because I didn’t have any compensation.
Do you happen to have a blog yourself?