Henrik Kowalski: Level 25 Chess Rival (1724 ELO)

Knight tier · Universal · plays the Smith-Morra Gambit

How Henrik plays

Henrik coached juniors in Brno for many years and plays the kind of chess he used to teach: sound, flexible and free of prejudice. He accepts the Smith-Morra not because he loves defending but because he believes an extra pawn is an extra pawn, and White's compensation should be proven rather than assumed. After ...dxc3 he develops with ...Nc6, ...d6, ...e6 and ...Nf6, and he is willing to return material when the position asks for it.

As a universal player he has no single favourite position. He can defend, counterattack or grind an ending, choosing whatever the board calls for, which makes him hard to read. At 1724 he is one of the first rivals who plays at a steady engine-capped level rather than making human errors, so he will rarely hang anything. The test against Henrik is whether your compensation actually exists. If your initiative fizzles, his extra pawn will usually win the endgame.

At 1724 ELO, Henrik rarely gives material away for nothing. He is held to that rating by the engine, so you will see the occasional inaccuracy in quiet positions, but tactics are usually spotted. Games are won by building a better position over many moves and converting it carefully.

Smith-Morra Gambit: the line Henrik plays

Henrik plays the Black side of the Smith-Morra Gambit: after 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 they take the pawn with ...dxc3 and then develop with ...Nc6, ...d6, ...e6 and ...Nf6. Black keeps the extra pawn and tries to survive White's lead in development.

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 7.O-O Nf6 8.Qe2 Be7

Learn it move by move: Smith-Morra Gambit walkthrough

How to beat Henrik

  1. Measure your compensation in concrete terms: developed pieces, open files and his king's safety. If you cannot point to two of those by move twelve, look for a way to regain the pawn before the initiative fades.
  2. Expect him to give the pawn back when it helps him. A timely ...d5 or ...b5 that returns material to free his game is typical, so make sure your pieces stand well in the open position that follows.
  3. Keep the queens on while you are down material. His technique turns an extra pawn into a full point, so every trade you allow should increase your activity, not move the game toward his endgame.
  4. If you gambit the pawn, play for activity, not material: castle, put a rook on d1 and the queen on e2, and look for Nd5 or e5 to rip open the d-file. If you would rather not gambit, 2.Nf3 leads to an Open Sicilian where they reply ...d6 and ...a6.
  5. The book answers 1.e4 (including the Alapin 2.c3 and the Open Sicilian 2.Nf3). Open 1.d4 and he is out of book immediately.

What beating Henrik teaches you

Henrik teaches you to judge compensation soberly and play a gambit for concrete activity, knowing a strong opponent will cash in the pawn if the initiative fades.

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