Chess With Sam Collins

Conor Murphy vs Alex Astaneh López

Blackthorne Irish Championship 2019, Dublin

Congratulations to the 2019 Irish Champion, Conor Murphy, who secured the title with an impressive series of five consecutive wins. In this game he beat the defending champion, before beating me in the following round.

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5

Probably the most ambitious response to the Caro Kann, leading to complex manoeuvring battles. Murphy won another good attacking game after 3.Nd2 ...