The Four Nations Chess League rules stipulate that where there are 80 points or more between players in the same team, the higher rated player must play above his team mate.

Because of this rule and his high rating (2407) relative to his team mates, Oxford 1 star, David Zakarian is usually obliged to play on board 1.

Where other, more closely rated teams, change their order from match to match thereby making it harder for opponents to prepare, David is always at the top of the Oxford list and consequently, often finds himself the victim of deep home preparation.

Nevertheless he’s holding his own so far this season and last weekend scored a convincing win against German Holger Grund rated 2428.

As you’ll see below, David’s opponent, far from springing a home-cooked opening surprise quickly finds himself defending against a very tricky pawn sacrifice.

White: David Zakarian

Black: Holger Grund

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 Well, the opening is called the Queen’s Gambit – but in reality, unlike in the King’s Gambit, White rarely stays a pawn behind for long.

3.e3 c5!? Trying to hang on to the pawn with 3...b5? fails to 4.a4 c6 5.axb5 cxb5 6.Qf3 – as first pointed out by the Italian theoretician, Salvio, in 1604!

4.Bxc4 cxd4 5.Nf3!? Offering a pawn to make the Queen’s Gambit live up to its name.

5...Qc7 6.Bb3 dxe3!? Actually it’s rather risky to take the pawn and probably Black should prefer.

6...Bg4 7.0–0 Nf6 8.exd4 e6 with a perfectly acceptable Isolated Queen’s Pawn position.

7.Bxe3 e6 8.0–0 Nf6 9.Nc3 a6 Giving White move to increase his lead in development. Unfortunately for Black it’s a necessary precaution. For instance 9...Nc6 10.Nb5 Qb8 11.Qc1! threatens the murderous 12.Bf4 and is hard to meet.

10.Rc1 Nc6 11.Na4! Bd6 12.Qd2!? The straightforward 12.Nb6 Rb8 13.g3! was also dangerous for Black. For example the naive 13...0–0? would lose material to 14.Nc4!

12...Ng4!? Black strikes out hoping to swap some pieces. The computer judges that Black can hang on after 12...0–0 13.Rfd1 Be7 14.Bf4 Qd8 but you can understand the human reluctance to follow this line, since it looks like White must win material.

13.Bb6 Qb8 14.Qg5! Nxh2 15.Rxc6! Targeting d8.

15...0–0 16.Rxd6! Nxf3+ 17.gxf3 Qxd6 18.Bc5 Qd8 Has Black escaped?

19.Be7 No! White has seen it all.

19...f6 20.Qc5 Qe8 21.Rd1 Bd7 22.Rxd7?! Much better was 22.Nb6!

22...Qxd7 23.Nb6 Qd3? Missing a chance he did not really deserve. After 23...Qe8! 24.Bxe6+ Kh8 25.Bxf8 Qxf8, Black is very much alive.

24.Bxe6+ Kh8 25.Bxf8 Now it’s simply a matter of mopping up without blundering. That’s something that’s often easier said than done – but David always seems to finish-off won games quickly and without fuss.

25...Re8 26.Bd6 Qg6+ 27.Bg3 f5 28.Bxf5 Qh5 29.Kg2 h6 30.Nd7 b6 31.Qc2 Re1 32.Bh3 Qb5 33.Qc8+ Kh7 34.Nf8+ Kh8 35.Ne6+ Kh7 36.Bf5+! g6 37.Qc7+ Kg8 38.Qg7 checkmate.