GM Mark Hebden, one of the strongest players of the Barry Attack, is often a good source of inspiration.

In this particular game black chooses a standard pattern to stop the marching h-pawn: first he plays h6, and when white plays h5, he plays g5 - closing it up and attacking white's bishop on f4.

But Hebden says no.

He takes the pawn on g5 with his bishop and continues to push the h-pawn, completely disorganizing black's pieces!

The never disappointing youtube-annotater Mato Jelic ('Hi, this is Mato ...') shows us the very instructive chess game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiwmlsMuiFM

(Watch this before continuing with my game, since Hebden's play is obviously more intructive than mine)

A few months after I saw this game I played in an OTB tournament. It was the last round, and I knew that if I won I would have good odds to win in my rating category - so I didn't mind taking some risk. The Barry came on the board and after h6, h5, g5 I did it: Bxg5?!

My opponent was rated in the low 1800s.

I'm fully aware the piece sac at move 10 wasn't objectively sound, and with better defense my opponent could have freed himself with a material plus and won the game. But this 1800 player couldn't solve the problems on the board and lost in 16 moves. Not to mention I became first in my group.

So I hope you guys will remember this pattern - and use it to put the challenge to your opponents. Especially the way Mark Hebden used it: that after white plays h7 black cannot take the pawn and has to play Kg7, with very awkward pieces.

That will wipe the contemptuous look your opponent gave you after Bxg5 quickly off his face.

Summerscale's Killer Opening Repertoire Group

Super Admins