Black's most critical response to the Danish Gambit is to accept the pawn sacrifice. Against this, 4.Nxc3 is probably as sound as 5.Nxc3 is in the Göring Gambit, giving White full compensation for the pawn, and tends to transpose in most cases, but 4.Bc4 looks dubious to me, mainly because with no black knight on c6, it is easier for Black to get in ...d7-d5. If White wants to sacrifice a second pawn with Bc4 then the Göring Gambit move-order should be preferred.
4.Nxc3
This will usually transpose into the Göring Gambit after ...Nc6 from Black and Nf3 from White, but there are some independent options. If Black plays 4...Bb4, then White can continue with 5.Nf3 (inviting a straight transposition to the Göring after 5...Nc6). Note that this position can also arise after 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.c3 dxc3 5.Nxc3. Black has various alternatives, most notably lines with an early ...Ne7 aiming to get in ...d7-d5, but White appears able to get full compensation for the pawn against those as well. Alternatively there is 5.Bc4, with the idea of 5...Nc6 6.Nge2, avoiding the transposition to the Göring with 6.Nf3. I am less convinced by White's compensation for the pawn in this variation but it is not clearly bad. Note that if Black plays 4...d6, then White must play 5.Bc4 intending Qb3 putting pressure on f7 immediately, because if 5.Nf3?! Be7, followed by ...Nf6 and ...0-0, Black gets a solid pawn-up position. After 5.Bc4 play will typically transpose into the Göring Gambit following 5...Nf6 6.Qb3 Qd7 7.Nf3 Nc6, whereupon play tends to get very complicated very quickly, with equal chances for both sides. Against other 4th moves from Black it generally doesn't matter whether White follows up with 5.Bc4 or 5.Nf3.
4.Bc4
White most often plays the Danish Gambit with the aim of sacrificing a second pawn although I think using this move-order, 4.Nxc3 is a significantly superior option. Black can refrain from taking on b2, which usually leads again to transpositions into Göring Gambit lines, but one interesting sideline is 4...Bb4 5.bxc3 (5.Nxc3 transposes to 4.Nxc3 Bb4 5.Bc4) 5...Qf6 6.cxb4!?, offering a sacrifice of the rook on a1.
However, Black should take on b2: 4...cxb2 5.Bxb2. Then after 5...Nc6 White has nothing better than 6.Nf3 transposing into Göring Gambit lines (White can defer this knight move, but doing so narrows down White's options). Independent options include 5...Nf6 and 5...Bb4+, which often transpose to each other, and White should avoid the line 5...Nf6 6.e5?! d5 7.exf6 Bb4+ 8.Nc3 Qxf6, instead 6.Nc3 should be preferred, whereupon 6...Bb4 7.Nge2 0-0 8.0-0 gives White compensation for two pawns but it is not clear if it is enough. Note, however, that White tends to score well in practice in these lines, as White's strong pair of bishops pointing at Black's kingside are hard to deal with in over-the-board play.
The biggest practical problem for White is 5...d5 6.Bxd5 (6.exd5 Nf6 leaves White exposed to checks down the e-file, and 7.Nc3 Bd6 is slightly better for Black) 6...Nf6 (6...Bb4+ leaves White with reasonable compensation for a pawn after 7.Nbd2, leaving the a1-h8 diagonal open for the bishop on b2). Then 7.Nc3 is dubious because of 7...Nxd5 8.Nxd5 Nd7 9.Nf3 c6, as the spirited piece sacrifice 10.0-0 exd5 11.exd5 doesn't give White enough compensation (though Black has to take some care). This leaves the equal endgame following 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qxd8 Bb4+ 9.Qd2. This is no refutation of the gambit (most theoretically critical are 5...Nf6, 5...Bb4+ and 5...Nc6, with the aim of keeping a two-pawn advantage) but it thwarts the typical gambiteer's desire for a double-edged game with attacking chances.
Games and analysis
The coverage is divided as follows: 1. 3...dxc3 4.Nxc3 Bb4 5.Nf3 2. 3...dxc3 4.Nxc3 Bb4 5.Bc4 (and examinations of independent options after 4.Nxc3 that don't transpose straight into the Göring Gambit). 3. 3...dxc3 4.Bc4 where Black doesn't take on b2. 4. 3...dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 Bb4+ (and a look at some 5th-move alternatives) 5. 3...dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 d5 6.Bxd5 Bb4+ 6. 3...dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 d5 6.Bxd5 Nf6 7.Nc3 7. 3...dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 d5 6.Bxd5 Nf6 7.Bxf7+
Games
[Event "Corsica Masters rap 06th"]
[Site "Bastia"]
[Date "2002.11.01"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Zezulkin, Jurij"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C21"]
[WhiteElo "2524"]
[BlackElo "2688"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2002.11.01"]
[EventType "rapid"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.02.06"]
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 {With this move-order White may be envisaging a
Göring Gambit, but play soon transposes into a line that can be reached via a
Danish Gambit (3.c3).} Bb4+ 4. c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 {This line can also arise via 1.
e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Bb4 5.Nf3.} Bxc3+ {Black immediately chops
off White's c3-knight before White has the chance to play Qb3 and then
recapture with the queen on c3.} (5... Nc6 {transposes into a line of the
Göring Gambit: 3...Nc6 4.c3 dxc3 5.Nxc3 Bb4. This may well be Black's best
option.}) (5... Nf6 {is well met by} 6. e5 {and if} Ne4 7. Qc2 {(C.Oren-C.
Kayis, email 2006).}) (5... Ne7 {is an important alternative.} 6. Bc4 (6. Qd4
$5 Bxc3+ 7. Qxc3 O-O 8. b4 {is a complex line, which has been analysed
extensively by Peter Lukacs.} d5 9. Bb2 f6 10. Bd3 {offers White sufficient
compensation for a pawn due to the superior development and well-placed bishop
on b2 (V.Zvjaginsev-A.Beliavsky, Vidmar Memorial 1999.)}) 6... O-O 7. O-O (7.
Ng5 {is met by} d5 8. exd5 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 h6) 7... Nbc6 (7... Bxc3 8. bxc3 {
transposes to lines examined in the notes to White's seventh move.}) 8. Nd5 {
gives White fair compensation for a pawn.}) 6. bxc3 Ne7 (6... Nc6 {again
transposes into the Göring Gambit after} 7. Bc4 ({or} 7. Bg5 $5 Nge7 8. Bc4)
7... d6 8. Ng5) 7. e5 {White gains more space in the centre.} (7. Bc4 {is also
quite good, e.g.} O-O 8. O-O Nbc6 9. Bg5 (9. e5 d5 10. exd6 Qxd6 11. Qxd6 cxd6
12. Ba3 d5 {and I'm not convinced that White had enough for the pawn in D.
Velimirovic-A.Motylev, Herceg Novi 2000.}) 9... d6 10. Nd4 $44) 7... d5 (7...
Nbc6 {may be superior, with the idea of returning the pawn after} 8. Ba3 d5 9.
exd6 cxd6 10. Qxd6 Qxd6 11. Bxd6 Be6) 8. exd6 Qxd6 9. Qxd6 cxd6 10. Ba3 {
Despite the exchange of queens, White retains good compensation for the
sacrificed pawn thanks to the open lines and Black's very weak pawn on d6.} d5
(10... Nbc6 11. O-O-O Be6 12. Rxd6 Bxa2 {is another idea for Black but White
retains good compensation for the pawn, e.g. after} 13. c4 {leaving Black's
bishop on a2 offside.}) 11. O-O-O Nbc6 12. Bb5 Be6 13. Rhe1 a6 14. Bxc6+ Nxc6
15. Rxd5 {White has regained the pawn and has some advantage due to the
better-placed pieces.} Rd8 (15... h6 {was probably best here.} 16. c4 Ne7 17.
Rd2 $14) 16. c4 h6 17. Nh4 Rd7 (17... Ne7 18. Rxe6 fxe6 19. Rxd8+ Kxd8 20.
Bxe7+ {would leave White with two pieces for a rook, since Black cannot take
on e7 due to the Ng6 fork.}) 18. Ng6 Rg8 19. Nf4 Nd8 20. Rc5 Nc6 21. Nxe6 (21.
Re4 {is another good idea, centralising the rook.}) 21... fxe6 22. Rxe6+ Kf7
23. Re2 {White still has the upper hand, thanks to the extra pawn, but White
may just have been happy to get a draw against Anatoly Karpov and hold the
upper hand for most of the game.} 1/2-1/2
[Event "GER-ch26 V05 corr"]
[Site "GER corr"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Firnhaber, Ingo"]
[Black "Lachmann, Helmut"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C21"]
[WhiteElo "2303"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "corr"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.08.31"]
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 (4... d6 {should be met by} 5. Bc4 (
5. Nf3 $6 Be7 {allows Black to get in the "Hungarian Defence" formation and
safely castle kingside before White gets the chance to attack f7:} 6. Bc4 Nf6
7. Qb3 O-O $15) 5... Nf6 6. Qb3 Qd7 {and play then transposes into the Göring
Gambit with} 7. Nf3 Nc6) (4... Bc5 5. Bc4 (5. Nf3 {will usually transpose in
this particular case.}) 5... d6 6. Nf3 (6. Qb3 $6 Qd7 7. Nf3 Nc6 {is a bad
line of the Göring Gambit for White.}) 6... Nf6 {and now White should generate
complications with} 7. e5 (7. O-O $6 O-O 8. Bg5 {allows Black to reinforce the
f6-knight with} Nbd7 {rather than transposing back to Göring Gambit lines with
...Nc6.}) 7... dxe5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nxe5 Re8 10. Bf4 $44) (4... Bb4 {can be
met by} 5. Bc4 (5. Nf3 {was discussed in the previous game.}) (5. Qd4 {is an
independent alternative, though note that Black can avoid this by playing 4...
Nc6 and then 5...Bb4.} Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Nf6 {concedes the bishop-pair to White
without undermining the white queenside pawn structure, but on the other hand,
with White having moved the queen twice, White's lead in development is
reduced.} 7. Bg5 d6 8. Nf3 O-O {is a likely continuation, where White has some
compensation for the pawn, but it is not clear if it is enough.}) 5... Qe7 {
This move is probably not best.} (5... Nc6 {transposes into the game.}) 6. Nge2
Nf6 7. O-O {and White threatens Nc3-d5, while it is too risky for Black to
grab the pawn on e4.} Nxe4 $2 8. Nd5) 5. Bc4 Bb4 {This reaches a position that
often arises via 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Bb4 5.Bc4 Nc6.} 6. Nge2 {
Avoiding the transposition to the Göring Gambit with 6.Nf3. By placing the
knight on e2, White adds extra protection to the knight on c3 and thus
discourages Black from exchanging on c3. The main downside of the move is that
White cedes control of the e5-square and does not have the option of Nf3-g5,
which is often White's best way to get compensation in the Göring Gambit with .
..Bb4.} (6. Qb3 {is not very effective here due to} Qe7 {which cannot be
side-stepped by castling.} 7. Nf3 Na5 $1 {is very difficult for White to
handle.} 8. Bxf7+ Kf8 (8... Qxf7 $2 9. Qxb4) 9. Qa4 Kxf7 {allows Black to hold
onto an extra piece.}) 6... Nf6 {Probably Black's best response, taking
advantage of White's lack of control of e5.} 7. O-O O-O 8. Bg5 Be7 9. Qc2 d6
10. f3 {This move is rather slow, but it is quite difficult for White to make
progress here.} (10. Rad1 {is a suggestion of Mark Nieuweboer, which can be
followed up by f2-f4 later on, especially if Black plays the computer's
preference of ...Nc6-e5. I am not sure if it provides full compensation, but
White's chances appear better than in the game, e.g.} Bd7 11. Bb3 Ne5 12. f4
Nc6 13. Qd3 {and Black is solid, but White has some attacking chances with
ideas of e4-e5, Qd3-g3 and Rf3-g3.}) 10... d5 {This leads to a long exchanging
sequence in which Black is able to hold onto the extra pawn.} (10... Ne5 11.
Bb3 Bd7 $15 {is one good idea, simply completing development.}) 11. exd5 Nxd5
12. Bxe7 Ncxe7 13. Bxd5 (13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14. Rad1 {is also playable, e. g.} c6
15. Bxd5 cxd5 16. Nf4 {but Black still keeps the extra pawn with} Be6) 13...
Nxd5 14. Nxd5 Qxd5 15. Qxc7 Qb5 16. Nc3 Qxb2 17. Rab1 Qd2 18. Rf2 Qd8 19. Qe5 {
White has some compensation for the pawn due to the superior piece activity,
but it shouldn't be enough because Black has been able to simplify the
position.} b6 20. Rd1 Qe8 21. Qxe8 ({I would rather keep queens on the board
with} 21. Qd4) 21... Rxe8 22. Rfd2 Ba6 23. Rd7 Bc4 24. Nd5 Bxd5 25. R1xd5 Kf8
26. Rc7 Re7 {With this move Black shifts White's rook on the seventh rank.
Black went on to win in the ending with the extra pawn:} 27. Rdd7 Rxd7 28. Rxd7
a6 29. Rb7 b5 30. a3 Re8 31. Kf2 g5 32. Ra7 Re6 33. Kg3 Kg7 34. h4 h6 35. Kg4
Kg6 36. h5+ Kf6 37. g3 Rc6 38. Kh3 Ke6 39. g4 f5 40. gxf5+ Kxf5 41. Kg3 Ke5 42.
Re7+ Kd5 43. Rd7+ Kc4 44. f4 gxf4+ 45. Kxf4 a5 46. Ra7 b4 0-1
[Event "Ufa Dautov Memorial op"]
[Site "Ufa"]
[Date "2010.04.04"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Darmin, Dmitry"]
[Black "Chinchik, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C21"]
[WhiteElo "2361"]
[BlackElo "2085"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2010.04.03"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Bc4 {This is the main line of the Danish
Gambit. White offers a second pawn at b2.} Nf6 (4... d6 5. Nxc3 {reaches a
position that often arises via 4.Nxc3 d6 5.Bc4 and will usually transpose into
Göring Gambit lines after a subsequent ...Nc6 and Nf3.} ({Against} 5. Nf3 $6 {
Black should head for the "Hungarian Defence" formation with ...Nf6, ...Be7
and ...0-0, rather than taking on b2.} Nf6 6. O-O Be7 7. e5 (7. Nxc3 O-O $15)
7... cxb2 8. Bxb2 dxe5 9. Qb3 Be6 $15)) (4... Bc5 5. Bxf7+ {may well be a
stronger continuation than recapturing on c3 via this move-order:} (5. Nxc3 {
transposes to 4.Nxc3 Bc5 5.Bc4}) 5... Kxf7 6. Qd5+ Kf8 7. Qxc5+ d6 (7... Qe7 8.
Qxc7 Qxe4+ 9. Ne2 $14) 8. Qxc3 Nf6 9. f3 $14) (4... Bb4 5. bxc3 (5. Nxc3 {
transposes to 4.Nxc3 Bb4 5.Bc4, and is probably more reliable.}) 5... Qf6 (5...
Bc5 6. Bxf7+ Kxf7 7. Qd5+) 6. cxb4 $5 {is a dangerous exchange sacrifice.} (6.
Qc2 Nc6 7. Nf3 Bc5 $15) 6... Qxa1 7. Qb3 Qf6 8. Nf3 d6 9. Bb2) 5. Nxc3 (5. Nf3
$5 {is an interesting idea, though probably not fully sound.} Nxe4 (5... d5 6.
exd5 cxb2 7. Bxb2 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 Qe7+ {is the main problem.}) 6. O-O Be7 7. Bxf7+
Kxf7 8. Qd5+ Kf8 9. Qxe4 cxb2 10. Bxb2 {is one sample line, where White has
some compensation for two pawns, though it is not clear if it is enough.}) 5...
Bc5 $6 (5... Nc6 6. Nf3 {transposes into the Göring Gambit}) (5... d6 {should
also lead to a transposition after} 6. Nf3 Nc6) 6. e5 d5 ({I doubt that Black
will survive for long after} 6... Ng8 7. Nf3) 7. exf6 dxc4 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.
fxg7 Re8+ 10. Nge2 {White is significantly better here, as White's king is far
safer than Black's.} Bf5 11. O-O ({Even stronger is} 11. Bg5+ Kc8 12. O-O-O $16
) 11... Nd7 12. Bg5+ f6 13. Bh6 c6 14. Rfd1 (14. Rfe1 {is stronger, with the
threat of Ng3, exchanging rooks on e8 and promoting on g8.}) 14... Ke7 15. h3
Kf7 {Now Black is well over the worst.} 16. g4 Bd3 17. Nf4 Ne5 18. Kg2 b5 19.
Re1 Bd4 20. Rac1 a5 21. b3 Bxc3 22. Rxc3 b4 23. Rcc1 a4 24. Nxd3 cxd3 25. Bd2
axb3 26. axb3 Ra2 27. Rcd1 Kxg7 $2 (27... Rd8 {had to be thrown in first,
removing the pin on the e5-knight.}) 28. f4 Rb2 29. fxe5 fxe5 30. Kf3 {White
is now a piece up and White went on to win the endgame.} Rxb3 31. Rc1 Rb2 32.
Ke3 Rc8 33. Rc5 b3 34. Bc3 Rg2 35. Bxe5+ Kg6 36. Kxd3 b2 37. Rc2 Rxc2 38. Kxc2
Kg5 39. Bxb2 Rf8 40. Re5+ Kf4 41. Rh5 1-0
[Event "ESP AEAC W/M/020 email"]
[Site "ICCF email"]
[Date "2008.03.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Garcia Diez, Mariano"]
[Black "Gil Barba, Jose Maria"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C21"]
[WhiteElo "2082"]
[BlackElo "1897"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2008.??.??"]
[EventType "corr"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.08.31"]
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Bc4 cxb2 {Black takes the second pawn at b2,
which is the most critical test of the Danish Gambit.} 5. Bxb2 Bb4+ {This is
one of Black's most important options.} (5... d6 {is quite an important option.
} 6. Nf3 (6. Qb3 Qe7 7. Nc3 c6 {has ideas of ...Nd7 and/or ...b5, e.g.} 8. Nf3
Nd7 9. O-O Nc5) 6... Nf6 (6... Nc6 {transposes to the Göring Gambit}) 7. O-O
Be7 8. e5 {leads to complications and reasonable compensation for two pawns, e.
g.} dxe5 9. Qb3 Be6 10. Na3 Bxc4 11. Nxc4) (5... c6 6. Nf3 d6 {again has the
idea of ...Nd7-c5, but as this no longer hits a queen on b3, White should be
fine, e.g.} 7. Nc3 Nd7 8. O-O Nc5 9. Re1 $44 {C.Schakel-K.Miettinen, corr.
2003.}) (5... Nc6 {leaves White with no good alternative to 6.Nf3 transposing
into the Göring Gambit. If White plays 6.Nc3 instead, then the g1-knight is
better-placed on f3 than on e2, so White ends up committed to Göring Gambit
lines with an early Nc3, thus limiting White's options.}) 6. Kf1 {This avoids
loss of time but it is hard for White to get two pawns' worth of compensation
with the king misplaced.} (6. Nc3 {is probably White's best response to the
bishop check.} Nf6 7. Nge2 O-O (7... Nxe4 $6 8. O-O {is very dangerous for
Black.}) 8. O-O d6 (8... Nc6 9. Nd5 Nxd5 10. exd5 Na5 11. Bd3 $44) 9. Nd5 Nxd5
10. Bxd5 {gives White some compensation for two pawns in view of the strong
pair of bishops, but it is not clear if it is enough.} Qg5 11. Nd4 Bc5 {is one
likely continuation.}) (6. Nd2 Nf6 7. Ngf3 {has a few objections, including} d5
8. exd5 Qe7+) 6... Nf6 (6... Kf8 $5 {defends g7, but can be met by} 7. Nc3 {
intending Nd5, which is quite awkward for Black.} Bxc3 8. Bxc3 Nc6 9. Qb3 Qe7
10. Re1 {is one sample continuation, where White has a fair amount of
compensation for two pawns.}) 7. e5 (7. Bxf7+ $6 Kxf7 8. Qb3+ d5 9. Qxb4 Nc6 {
led to a much better position for Black in S.Pavlovic-M.Drobne, SRB-ch 2011.})
7... d5 8. Bb5+ (8. Qa4+ Nfd7 $1 9. Bxd5 Qe7 {preparing kingside castling
gives White insufficient compensation for a pawn.}) 8... Nfd7 9. Qg4 (9. e6 $5
fxe6 10. Bxg7 Kf7 11. Bb2 {gives White attacking chances, though probably not
enough for two pawns following} (11. Bxh8 $6 Qxh8 {leaves White without an
adequate way of defending the rook on a1.}) 11... Nf6) 9... c6 10. Qxg7 Rf8 11.
Bd3 Nc5 12. Qxh7 Nxd3 13. Qxd3 {White has regained the two sacrificed pawns,
but Black is now able to exploit White's vulnerable king position.} b6 14. Qe3
Bc5 (14... Ba6+ 15. Ne2 Nd7 {may be even stronger.}) 15. Bd4 Ba6+ 16. Ne2 Be7
17. Bb2 c5 18. Nd2 Qd7 19. Re1 Nc6 20. Kg1 O-O-O {Black has a large advantage
in this position. White decides to generate some trouble using the passed
h-pawn, but this is not really a threat to Black.} 21. h4 Nb4 22. Qf3 Nd3 23.
Rb1 Nxb2 24. Rxb2 f6 25. e6 Qxe6 26. Nf4 Qe5 27. Rb1 Rfe8 28. Ng6 Qd4 29. Qa3
Bd6 {Giving up the a6-bishop probably isn't best, even though Black's attack
is sufficient to win back material.} (29... Bd3 {would have been strong,
attacking the rook on b1 and preserving the light-squared bishop.}) 30. Qxa6+
Kb8 31. Rxb6+ {White decides to open up the black king, but the king can
escape. White probably played this a move too early.} (31. Nf1 {is best, and
then if} Qe4 {then} 32. Rxb6+ axb6 33. Qxb6+ Kc8 34. Qc6+ Bc7 35. Qa6+ Kd7 {
and White has some compensation for the exchange.}) 31... axb6 32. Qxb6+ Kc8
33. Qc6+ Bc7 34. Qa6+ Kd7 {Here White resigned, since if 35.Nf1 (hoping to
transpose into the previous note) then 35...Ra8.} 0-1
[Event "Kesarovski Georgiev Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Sunny Beach"]
[Date "2007.09.16"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Vospernik, Andrej"]
[Black "Georgiev, Dimitar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C21"]
[WhiteElo "2199"]
[BlackElo "2055"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2007.09.10"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.01"]
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Bc4 cxb2 5. Bxb2 Nf6 {This is another
challenging response to the Danish Gambit and will often transpose to 5...Bb4+
lines, but in this game Black opted for a different follow-up.} 6. Nc3 (6. e5 {
is the obvious response, but here it doesn't work very well because of} d5 7.
exf6 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 (8. Nd2 {is probably a better try, but} dxc4 9. fxg7 Rg8 {
still leaves Black with the upper hand.}) 8... Qxf6 $1 {taking advantage of
the pin on the knight on c3.} 9. Bb5+ c6 10. Nge2 cxb5 {leaves White with
insufficient attacking chances for three pawns.}) 6... d5 {Returning one pawn
in order to free the black position.} (6... Bb4 {transposes to the line 5...
Bb4+ 6.Nc3 Nf6, which is the most theoretically challenging option although
White does get dangerous attacking chances for two pawns after} 7. Nge2) 7.
exd5 (7. Nxd5 Nxd5 8. Bxd5 Bb4+ {forces White to give up the right to castle.})
7... Bd6 8. Qc2 Qe7+ 9. Nge2 Nbd7 10. O-O-O $5 {The white king is devoid of
pawn cover here, but castling queenside is quite common in the 4.Bc4 line of
the Danish Gambit, as the rook on d1 can quickly join the attack and White is
better-placed to push the h-pawn forward. Here, though, I don't think it works
out too well.} (10. O-O O-O 11. Ng3 {with the idea Nf5 gives White some
compensation for the pawn.}) 10... Ne5 11. Bb5+ Bd7 12. Nd4 O-O 13. Rhe1 a6 14.
Bd3 Ba3 {A standard idea, with the idea of exchanging off White's bishop on b2
and opening up White's king.} 15. Re3 Nxd3+ 16. Rdxd3 Qb4 17. Bxa3 Qxa3+ 18.
Kb1 {Black stands clearly better in this position due to the extra pawn and
the exposed white king. However, Black still has to be careful because White's
pieces are quite well placed to attack the black kingside.} Qd6 19. Ne4 Qb6+
20. Ka1 Nxd5 21. Rg3 Nb4 $6 {Very tempting, forking the queen and rook, but as
noted earlier, Black has to be careful of White's kingside attacking potential.
} (21... Rfe8 {is probably the best defence, counterattacking against the
knight on e4.}) 22. Qc3 g6 $6 (22... f6 {is a more solid defence.}) 23. Nb3 Bf5
$2 (23... Nxd3 24. Nf6+ Qxf6 25. Qxf6 {gives Black some fighting chances with
rook, bishop and two pawns for the queen.}) 24. Nf6+ Qxf6 25. Qxf6 Nxd3 (25...
Bxd3 {was a better chance although White is still on top following} 26. a3 Nc2+
27. Kb2) 26. Qxf5 1-0
[Event "NAmerica-ch3 corr7882"]
[Site "corr"]
[Date "1978.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Preo, Nicolas A"]
[Black "Andrews, Randal J"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C21"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1978.??.??"]
[EventType "corr"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.19"]
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Bc4 cxb2 5. Bxb2 d5 {This is the most
popular response to the Danish Gambit, though not necessarily the most
theoretically critical, since the line used in this game gives White good
compensation for a pawn and the main alternative leads to an equal endgame.} 6.
Bxd5 (6. exd5 Nf6 {leaves White exposed to checks down the e-file.} 7. Nc3 (7.
Nf3 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 Qe7+) 7... Bd6 8. Nge2 O-O $15 {leaves Black with a solid
position, although White's pressure down the a1-h8 diagonal gives some
attacking chances.}) 6... Bb4+ (6... Nf6 {is the main alternative, which
features in the next two games.}) 7. Nd2 {I believe that this is White's best
way to block the bishop check in this positiion.} (7. Nc3 Bxc3+ 8. Bxc3 Nf6 9.
Qf3 {is the other main line, but I think White struggles to generate enough
attacking chances in this line following} Nxd5 10. exd5 O-O) 7... Bxd2+ (7...
Kf8 {has been recommended by John Watson, with the idea of guarding g7 and
threatening inconvenient checks on the e-file, but White can get good play with
} 8. Ngf3 Nf6 9. O-O $1 {(this gets out of the way of any checks)} Nxd5 10. Nc4
{followed by 11.exd5, with good compensation for the pawn.}) (7... Nf6 {is
well met by} 8. Bxf7+ Kxf7 9. Qb3+ Nd5 10. O-O-O {with good compensation.}) 8.
Qxd2 Nf6 9. Qg5 {White generates kingside attacking chances immediately.} O-O
10. Rd1 (10. O-O-O $5 {is also worth considering.}) 10... Qe7 11. Ne2 c6 12.
Bb3 h6 13. Qg3 $44 {White's powerful bishops on b2 and b3 present White with
persistent kingside attacking chances.} Be6 14. O-O Na6 15. Nf4 Nc5 16. Nxe6
Nxe6 17. e5 Nh5 18. Qf3 g6 $6 {This leaves h6 too weak.} (18... Nhf4 {
intending ...Ng6 was the best defence, although White retains excellent
compensation for the pawn.}) 19. Bc1 Rfd8 20. Bxh6 {Now White has continued
attacking chances in a position with level material.} Nhg7 21. Qg4 Nf5 22. Bc1
Kg7 23. Bc2 Ned4 $2 {This leaves Black too open on the kingside dark squares.}
(23... Nfd4) 24. Bxf5 Nxf5 25. Bg5 {This wins Black's d8-rook for White's
g5-bishop, but White correctly plays for more.} Qe8 26. Bf6+ {This is even
stronger than taking on d8. White wishes to generate mating threats on the
kingside dark squares.} Kg8 27. Qh3 Ng7 28. Qh6 Qf8 29. Rde1 {White threatens
Re4-h4 and mate on h8, which will force Black to concede further material.} 1-0
[Event "FRG corr"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1979.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Firnhaber, Ingo"]
[Black "Mayer"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C21"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1979.??.??"]
[EventType "corr"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.19"]
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Bc4 cxb2 5. Bxb2 d5 6. Bxd5 Nf6 {This is
Black's most reliable response to 6.Bxd5. Black allows a tactic on f7 which
leads to an equal endgame but in this game White persists in playing for
compensation for a pawn.} 7. Nc3 $6 {Unfortunately, this is dubious.} Nxd5 (
7... Be7 {is also quite good, for example,} 8. Qb3 (8. Qf3 {should be met by}
c6 (8... Nxd5 $6 9. Nxd5 {leaves Black's kingside wide open.} O-O $6 10. Qg3 f6
11. Nxc7) 9. Bb3 O-O $15) 8... Nxd5 9. Nxd5 c6 10. Nxe7 Qxe7 11. Bxg7 (11. Ne2
{may be a slight improvement for White, though I still doubt that White has
enough for the pawn, e.g.} Be6 12. Qg3 Nd7 13. O-O O-O-O) 11... Rg8 12. Bb2
Qxe4+ 13. Ne2 Na6 $1 {(John Emms)}) 8. Nxd5 Nd7 (8... c6 $2 {falls for the
tactic} 9. Nf6+ $1 gxf6 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 11. Bxf6+) 9. Nf3 c6 10. O-O $5 {This
piece sacrifice should not provide sufficient compensation, but it is probably
White's best practical try in the position.} (10. Nf4 Nc5 {leaves it hard for
White to avoid trading queens.}) 10... cxd5 11. exd5 Qb6 (11... Be7 {is the
critical move, as pointed out in Danish Dynamite, letting g7 drop off in
return for getting pieces out.} 12. Bxg7 Rg8 13. Re1 Nb6 $1 (13... Rxg7 $6 14.
d6 f6 15. dxe7 $44) 14. d6 Be6 15. Be5 Bf6 {and Black's problems finding a
safe home for the king give White some compensation , but not enough.}) (11...
f6 12. Re1+ Kf7 13. d6 $44) 12. Rb1 {This response, threatening discovered
attacks against the queen on b6, probably gives White sufficient compensation
for the piece.} Qg6 13. Qa4 ({Or} 13. Re1+ Kd8 14. Nh4 $44) 13... Kd8 14. Ne5
$6 (14. Rfe1 {would have maintained reasonable compensation for the piece.})
14... Nxe5 15. Bxe5 Bd7 16. Qf4 b6 $2 (16... Qf5 {leaves White with
insufficient compensation for the piece.}) 17. Bc7+ $2 (17. Bb8 $1 {wins for
White due to the deadly and unavoidable threat of Qc7+.}) 17... Kc8 18. d6 Bc6
19. f3 Kd7 $6 (19... Qf6 {and I can't see a good way for White to make
progress.}) 20. Rbc1 Rc8 {This allows White to force a draw by perpetual check,
but Black has nothing better.} 21. Rxc6 $1 Kxc6 22. Qc4+ Kb7 23. Qd5+ 1/2-1/2
[Event "EU-ch WS/M/035 email"]
[Site "ICCF email"]
[Date "2011.11.30"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Andersen, Jens"]
[Black "Lorenz, Rudolf"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C21"]
[WhiteElo "2097"]
[BlackElo "2214"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2011.??.??"]
[EventType "corr"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.12"]
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Bc4 cxb2 5. Bxb2 d5 6. Bxd5 Nf6 7. Bxf7+ {
This is the most reliable response to 6...Nf6, which temporarily wins the
queen on d8, but Black can win back the queen, resulting in a level endgame.}
Kxf7 8. Qxd8 Bb4+ {Black wins back the queen due to the attack from the rook
on h8 on the queen on d8. To avoid loss of material White must retreat the
queen to d2.} 9. Qd2 Bxd2+ 10. Nxd2 Re8 {This endgame is level but there are
some winning chances for both sides thanks to the rival pawn majorities.} 11.
Ngf3 {Both sides should complete development before being too "gung-ho" about
advancing their pawn majorities.} (11. e5 $6 Nc6 12. f4 $6 Nb4 {is bad for
White. Black's pieces move into the spaces left behind by White's overextended
pawns and lagging development.}) 11... Nc6 12. O-O (12. e5 Nd5 13. Ne4 Bf5 $15)
12... Bg4 {This narrows down White's options by tying the knight on d2 to the
defence of the knight on f3 (to avoid the shattering of White's kingside pawn
structure.)} 13. Rfe1 (13. Bxf6 {isn't particularly helpful for White as the
pawn formation f6, h7 is better defensively against White's pawn majority than
the g7, h7 formation.} gxf6 14. Rab1 Na5 {and Black may have a slight edge.})
13... h6 {Stopping any tricks based on Nf3-g5+.} (13... Rad8 14. h3 Bxf3 15.
Nxf3 h6 {led to an eventual draw in B.Carlley-J.Wiesinger, email 2011, but
here White has the slight positional advantage of bishop for knight in an open
position.} (15... Nxe4 $2 16. Rxe4 $1 Rxe4 17. Ng5+)) 14. Rab1 Rab8 15. Nc4 ({
Probably best here, in spite of a previous comment of mine, is} 15. Bxf6 gxf6
16. Rec1 $11 {This time White's active pieces compensate for Black's slight
positional trump (Black has a passed pawn, White does not)}) 15... Nd7 (15...
Bxf3 16. gxf3 {is probably about equal since White has bishop for knight in an
open position in return for the shattered pawn structure.}) 16. Rbc1 Rbd8 17.
Nd4 Nxd4 18. Bxd4 b6 19. f4 {White starts to get the pawn majority rolling.}
Be6 20. Bf2 Kg8 21. h3 Nb8 22. Ne5 c5 {Black starts to move the queenside
pawns forward as well, though the position remains quite drawish despite the
rival pawn storms.} 23. Rc3 Rd2 24. a3 {White can get away with allowing the
black rook onto the seventh rank as it doesn't have much to attack.} Ba2 25. g4
Bf7 (25... Nd7 {is probably Black's best way to keep the chances level. Over
the next few moves, White obtains the upper hand.}) 26. Kg2 Red8 27. Kg3 (27.
Kf3 $14 {has the idea} Ra2 28. Re2) 27... Ra2 28. f5 Be8 29. Be3 Na6 30. g5
hxg5 31. Bxg5 Rd4 32. Kh4 Nc7 {In this position White's build-up on the
kingside gives White the better winning chances, although Black is able to
hold.} 33. Rg3 Kf8 34. f6 gxf6 35. Rf3 Rxa3 36. Rxf6+ Kg7 37. Rh6 Raa4 38. Ng4
Rxe4 39. Rxe4 Rxe4 40. Bf6+ Kf7 41. Rh7+ Kg6 42. Rxc7 Rxg4+ {Black swaps off
into a rook vs. bishop ending which should be drawable with accurate play.} (
42... a5 $6 43. Rb7 {gives White good winning chances.}) 43. Kxg4 Kxf6 44. Rxa7
c4 45. Kf4 b5 46. Ra6+ Ke7 47. Rb6 c3 48. Ke3 Bd7 49. h4 c2 50. Kd2 Bf5 51.
Rxb5 Kf6 52. Rc5 Kg6 53. h5+ Kf6 54. Ra5 {The computer assesses this position
as winning for White, but in reality, rook vs. bishop is known to be a draw
unless Black defends inaccurately, and neither side can achieve anything by
advancing their pawns. Black starts with 54...Be4.} 1/2-1/2