The Two Knights Defence with 4.Ng5- Main line, 4...d5 5.exd5 Na5
The main line is of sufficient importance to warrant its own separate page. With 5...Na5, Black counterattacks against the bishop on c4. The main downside of this continuation is that Black's knight can end up largely shut out of play on a5, but the upside is that Black can usually accumulate a large lead in development by kicking the g5-knight away with ...h7-h6, and playing active developing moves. Black will then try to force concessions from White through active piece play, and in some lines can consider launching a kingside pawn storm during the middlegame. However, White can generally maintain the extra pawn, which leaves the chances dynamically equal in most cases.
White can consider 6.d3, defending the bishop on c4, but this doesn't offer White much after 6...h6 7.Nf3 e4. I have chosen an illustrative game featuring David Bronstein's interesting piece sacrifice 8.dxe4 Nxc4, securing two pawns and a strong mass of central pawns, which may be White's best practical chance following the inferior 6.d3, but it should not really provide enough compensation.
Instead the usual continuation is 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6, whereupon White can pin Black's c6-pawn with 8.Qf3, but Black has three strong responses in 8...Rb8, 8...Be7 and 8...h6. 8.Bd3!? has been tried at grandmaster level in recent years, with the idea of playing c3 and Bc2 (then Mark Ginsburg's recommendation 8...Ng4 is a strong reply), but the main line is 8.Be2 h6 and then White chooses between 9.Nh3 (after which Black should generally avoid the temptation to play ...Bxh3, as White can shore up the kingside using the light-squared bishop, and should instead play around the knight) and 9.Nf3. The traditional main line then continues 9...e4 10.Ne5 Bd6 11.d4 exd3 12.Nxd3 Qc7.
Black is a long way ahead in development, and White's kingside lacks defenders for the time being, but White retains the extra pawn. White has a challenging plan starting with 13.b3, intending Bb2 putting pressure on Black's kingside, and I am not convinced that Black can get full compensation for the pawn against this. However, Black has the refinement 10...Bc5, encouraging 11.c3 (threatening a pawn fork with b2-b4) and then playing 11...Bd6, with the idea that White's extra tempo with c2-c3 makes it difficult for White to carry out the plan with b3 and Bb2. I get the impression that Black is able to get full compensation for the pawn without much difficulty.
Instead of 6...c6, Black can also try 6...Bd7, which leaves White with a relatively devalued pawn plus (doubled pawns on d2 and d5) and in the long run White can find it difficult to hold onto the extra pawn on d5, but the downside for Black is that White tends to get a larger share of the piece play in that variation and White may have greater chances of a theoretical edge.
[Event "ROM-ch"]
[Site "Baile Tusnad"]
[Date "2001.02.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Manea, Alexandru"]
[Black "Sofronie, Iulian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C58"]
[WhiteElo "2301"]
[BlackElo "2399"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2001.02.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.08"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 {Diagram [#] This is
Black's most reliable way to get compensation for a pawn. Black
counterattacks against the bishop on c4, although this move has the
disadvantage that the knight on a5 can sometimes end up out of play.} 6. d3 {
White defends the bishop on c4 with the d-pawn. This move is not
theoretically critical, but it can be followed up with a tricky piece
sacrifice if White desires.} (6. Bb3 $6 {is no good because it allows Black to
regain the sacrificed pawn while getting an advantage in development.} Nxb3 7.
axb3 Nxd5 ({Also good for Black is} 7... h6 8. Nf3 e4 9. Qe2 Be7)) ({White
should also avoid} 6. Qe2 $6 Nxc4 7. Qxc4 Nxd5) 6... h6 {Black chases the
g5-knight away from its outpost.} ({The immediate} 6... Nxc4 7. dxc4 {provides
Black with enough compensation for the pawn, but Black has better than this.}
h6 8. Nf3 e4 {is now met by} 9. Nd4) 7. Nf3 e4 {Diagram [#]} 8. dxe4 $5 {White
sacrifices the bishop on c4 in return for two pawns and a strong centre.} (8.
Qe2 {is the most common move, pinning the e4-pawn.} Nxc4 9. dxc4 Bc5 {is the
main line following the slightly inferior 6.d3,, where Black has at least
sufficient compensation for the pawn. The knight on f3 will be forced to move
again once Black castles out of the pin on the e4-pawn.} 10. Nfd2 O-O 11. Nb3 (
{Or} 11. O-O Bg4 12. Qe1 Re8) 11... Bg4 12. Qf1 Bb4+ 13. c3 Be7 {with very
good play for Black, while White's development is chaotic, Sosna,J (2375)
-Bernasek,J (2444) Czechia 2008}) 8... Nxc4 {It is no good declining the piece
sacrifice- otherwise Black will be left a pawn down for insufficient
compensation.} 9. Qd4 {Most often played, attacking the knight on c4.} (9. O-O
{is a reasonable alternative, discouraging ...Nxe4 because of the pin on the
e-file following Rf1-e1, but this, too, should not provide full compensation
for the piece.} Bc5 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Qd3 Nb6 $15) 9... Nb6 10. c4 Bb4+ (10... c5
11. Qd3 Bg4 12. Nbd2 Be7 13. O-O O-O {is objectively slightly better for Black,
although White went on to outplay his opponent and win in the stem game for
this piece sacrifice line, Bronstein,D-Rojahn,E Moscow 1956}) 11. Nbd2 (11. Nc3
Qe7 12. O-O Bc5 13. Qd3 $15 {is similar to the game, but I think that the
knight is slightly better-placed on c3 than on d2.}) 11... Qe7 12. O-O Bc5 13.
Qd3 (13. Qc3 {is probably a slight improvement for White, making use of the
square that has been left vacant by the b1-knight moving to d2.} O-O (13...
Nbd7 14. a3 {threatening b2-b4 is quite awkward for Black.} a5 15. e5 Ng4 16.
Nb3 $44) 14. e5 Ng4 15. Nb3 $15) 13... Nbd7 14. h3 {Presumably this was played
to prevent ...Nf6-g4.} (14. a3 {is well met by} a5) 14... O-O 15. Re1 Ne5 16.
Nxe5 Qxe5 {Diagram [#]} 17. Nb3 {The problem with this move is that Black can
happily invite an exchange of the b3-knight for the bishop on c5, for
exchanging minor pieces increases the importance of Black's material advantage.
} (17. Nf3 Qh5 18. Bf4 $15 {leaves White well in the game, though White still
does not have enough compensation for the piece.}) 17... Nd7 18. Nxc5 Nxc5 19.
Qe3 b6 20. f4 Qf6 21. Kh2 Re8 22. e5 Qh4 23. Bd2 Bf5 24. Rg1 Ne4 25. g4 Bh7 26.
Be1 {White would rather avoid exchanging the bishop for Black's e4-knight, but
the downside is that Black gets to undermine White's centre with a well-timed .
..g7-g5.} (26. Rad1 Nxd2 (26... Qe7 {may well be better than the immediate
exchange on d2.}) 27. Rxd2 Rad8 28. Re1 {leaves White with an imposing array
of central pawns, though objectively it is still not sufficient compensation
for the sacrificed piece.}) 26... Qe7 27. Rd1 g5 28. d6 cxd6 {White resigned
in this position but I think White might still have some hacking chances
followingt 29.exd6.} (28... Nxd6 {is stronger, exploiting the pin against the
queen on e3, whereupon I think White has very little to show for the piece.})
0-1
[Event "ESP-chT"]
[Site "Lanzarote"]
[Date "2003.05.11"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Hector, Jonny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C58"]
[WhiteElo "2686"]
[BlackElo "2553"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2003.05.06"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.07.09"]
[WhiteTeam "Valencia Grupo Bali"]
[BlackTeam "Alzira Hiraturas"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ESP"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ESP"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ {This is the
normal follow-up after 5...Na5. By moving the bishop out of the way of the
a5-knight and giving check, White gains enough time to be able to hold onto
the extra pawn.} Bd7 {Until fairly recently Black normally played 6...c6
automatically here, and I still think 6...c6 is slightly the better move.
However, the bishop block is playable. Black is more likely to regain the
pawn in this variation but is less likely to gain a substantial lead in
development, and I think that White has good chances of getting an edge.} 7.
Qe2 {Defending the bishop on b5 and attacking the pawn on e5.} (7. Bxd7+ Qxd7 {
allows Black to regain the pawn by force with a good game (Tim Harding)}) 7...
Be7 {A cunning development plan, apparently leaving the e5-pawn en prise, but
White cannot afford to take it.} (7... Bd6 {is more common, but White has
chances of an edge following} 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Bxd7 (9. O-O {, as Harding notes,
is met by the trap} Nxd5 10. Bxd7 Nf4 11. Qg4 h5 {and if} 12. Qh4 ({Better is}
12. Qf3 Qxg5 13. d3 {with equal chances.}) 12... Be7) 9... Qxd7 10. a3 {
Diagram [#] White threatens to win the knight on a5.} b6 11. d3 Be7 $5 (11...
c6 $6 12. b4 Nb7 13. dxc6 Qxc6 14. Nce4 $16 {Morozevich,A (2720)-Sokolov,I
(2620) Sarajevo 1999}) 12. O-O Nxd5 13. Qxe5 Nxc3 14. Qxc3 Bf6 {and Black has
decent compensation for the pawn.}) 8. Nc3 (8. Qxe5 $6 O-O {followed by ...Re8
leaves White with trouble down the e-file, while in the meantime White's
bishop on b5 is attacked.}) 8... O-O 9. O-O {Diagram [#]} ({I don't think
White gets much with} 9. Bxd7 Qxd7 10. O-O Rfe8 {whereupon Black rounds up the
pawn on d5, with approximate equality.}) 9... Bg4 (9... c6 $5 {is more popular,
committing fully to a pawn sacrifice after all.} 10. dxc6 Nxc6 11. Bxc6 Bxc6
12. d3 Re8 {leaves Black with some compensation for the pawn, though I suspect
that White is slightly better, Marciano,D (2455)-Flear,G (2495) Clichy 1995}) (
{Probably not quite as good is} 9... Nxd5 10. Nxd5 Bxg5 11. Bxd7 Qxd7 12. Qxe5
{since White has kept an extra pawn and simplified the position, though Black
has some compensation for the pawn following} h6) 10. f3 (10. Qxe5 {is
probably a little too greedy. White may well objectively stand better, but
Black gets dangerous compensation for two pawns.} Bd6 (10... c6 $5 {looks like
a promising alternative, e.g.} 11. dxc6 bxc6 12. Ba4 Bd6 13. Qe3 Re8 {and I
would hesitate to take White in this position.}) 11. Qd4 c5 12. Qd3 $2 (12. Qa4
a6 13. Nge4 {leaves Black with insufficient compensation for two pawns.}) 12...
a6 {leaves White in some trouble, Short,N (2682)-Xie,J (2562) Jinan 2002})
10... Bh5 (10... Bf5 {is probably a superior alternative, counterattacking
against c2.} 11. Ba4 ({Another option is} 11. Qxe5 Bxc2 12. Nge4 Nxe4 13. fxe4
c6) 11... Nd7 {and Black has reasonable counterplay, though White probably has
a slight advantage.}) 11. Qxe5 {I don't think Black can get enough
compensation for the second pawn here, but White has to be quite careful, as
White's queen is exposed and Black's pieces can quickly become active.} Bg6 (
11... c6 12. dxc6 bxc6 13. Nge4 {is quite good for White, since White
threatens to exchange knights on f6 and then take the bishop on h5.}) 12. Nge4
a6 13. Bd3 Re8 14. Kh1 b5 15. a3 Nb7 (15... Nh5 {, preparing to discover an
attack against the white queen and/or bring the knight to f4, is a good active
option, e.g.} 16. Qd4 Nf4 17. Re1 Nc6 18. Qf2 Nxd5 19. Nxd5 Qxd5 20. b3 {and
Black has regained one of the two sacrificed pawns, but White is preparing to
develop the c1-bishop to b2 and most likely maintains an edge.}) 16. Qg3 ({If}
16. Qd4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 f5) 16... Nh5 17. Qf2 f5 {Diagram [#]} 18. g4 $1 {
Accurately played. White lashes out at the right moment in order to slow down
Black's initiative.} ({Note that} 18. Ng3 $2 Bc5 {traps the white queen.})
18... fxe4 19. gxh5 Bh4 (19... exd3 20. hxg6 hxg6 21. cxd3 {is an intriguing
line where White is two pawns ahead but has tripled pawns on the d-file. I
think Black isn't far short of full compensation.}) 20. Qg2 exf3 21. Qxf3 Bxd3
22. Qxd3 Qg5 {White's kingside is quite well-defended and I don't think
Black's compensation is adequate here.} 23. b3 (23. Qf5 {is a good alternative,
encouraging an exchange of queens.}) 23... Nd6 24. Bb2 Qxh5 {The downside of
taking this pawn is that after White's next move, it is hard to avoid
exchanging queens.} 25. Qh3 Qh6 26. Rg1 Bg5 27. Qxh6 Bxh6 28. d3 {White is now
a pawn up in the ending and successfully converts the advantage, although I
think Black could possibly have defended better.} Re7 29. Raf1 Rae8 30. Nd1 g6
31. c4 Bg7 32. Bxg7 Kxg7 33. c5 Nf7 34. b4 Re2 35. Rg2 Nh6 {This makes White's
task easier as the knight no longer covers the important d6-square.} (35... Re1
36. Rgf2 Nh6 {may be an improved version for Black as White doesn't get time
to play d5-d6 before Black brings the knight into f5.}) 36. Rxe2 Rxe2 37. Nc3
Rd2 38. d6 cxd6 39. Ne4 Rc2 40. cxd6 Nf7 41. d7 Nd8 42. Nc5 a5 43. Re1 axb4 44.
Ne6+ 1-0
[Event "World Cup"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2007.11.27"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Inarkiev, Ernesto"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C58"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2674"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2007.11.24"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 {This is
Black's most usual continuation and I think the most definite way of getting
full compensation for the pawn, although as demonstrated in the notes to the
previous game, 6...Bd7 is a decent alternative.} 7. dxc6 {White doesn't have
much of a choice, since otherwise Black recaptures on d5 and obtains the
better game.} bxc6 (7... Nxc6 $6 {may tempt players who are unfamiliar with
the line, bringing the a5-knight back into play, but then Black has no good
way of defending f7 after} 8. Bc4) 8. Qf3 {Instead of retreating the bishop
immediately, White leaves it there and pins the c6-pawn against the rook on a8.
} Rb8 {This is often known as Colman's Defence. Black invites White to grab a
second pawn by taking twice on c6.} (8... cxb5 $6 9. Qxa8 {is theoretically
unsound, but scores quite well for Black in practice, so White should be aware
of the possibility of sacrificing the exchange. Here is one example
demonstrating the potential for Black to generate trouble:} Bc5 10. O-O (10.
Ne4 {is the most critical test of Black's sacrifice, e.g.} Nxe4 11. Qxe4 O-O
12. O-O Bb7 13. Qxe5 Qb6 {(Taina,B-Kudriashov,S (2219) Rome 1995)} 14. c3 {and
Black has a significant lead in development, but White, with an extra exchange
and two extra pawns, has the upper hand.}) 10... O-O 11. d3 $2 (11. Ne4 Qb6 12.
Nxf6+ gxf6 13. Qf3 Bb7 $44) 11... Nb7 12. b4 Bb6 13. a4 Qc7 {and the queen on
a8 is set to drop, Situru,N (2382)-Kunte,A (2561) Kuala Lumpur 2005}) (8... h6
{is a good alternative.} 9. Ne4 Nd5 10. Ba4 (10. Nbc3 cxb5 11. Nxd5 Bb7 {is
assessed as better for White by the computer, but this is probably inaccurate,
e.g.} 12. Ne3 Qd7 13. O-O Nc6 14. d3 O-O-O {gives Black reasonable long-term
attacking chances in return for the pawn, Van der Wiel,J (2570)-Spassky,B
(2620) Reggio Emilia 1986}) 10... Be7 11. d3 O-O 12. O-O f5 13. Ng3 {and Black
has decent compensation for the pawn, although White went on to win the game,
Short,N (2676)-Hebden,M (2532) Liverpool 2006}) (8... Be7 {is another way to
offer a sacrifice of a second pawn on c6.} 9. Bd3 {It is probably best for
White to decline the second pawn.} (9. Bxc6+ Nxc6 10. Qxc6+ {is playable but
gives Black a very dangerous initiative for the two sacrificed pawns, e.g.} Bd7
11. Qf3 O-O 12. Nc3 Rc8 13. d3 Bc6 $44 {Mamedyarov,S (2724)-Tomashevsky,E
(2664) Moscow 2009}) 9... O-O 10. O-O h6 11. Ne4 Nxe4 $6 (11... Nd5 12. Ng3 Nf4
{gives Black reasonable compensation for the pawn}) 12. Qxe4 {with advantage
for White, as White maintains an extra pawn and has chances of developing an
initiative on the kingside as well, Howell,D (2634)-Buhmann,R (2584) Germany
2013}) 9. Bd3 {White refrains from taking the second pawn.} (9. Bxc6+ Nxc6 10.
Qxc6+ {gives Black a dangerous intiative for two pawns, as long as Black finds
the accurate knight block with} Nd7 (10... Bd7 $6 11. Qc4 {attacks f7 and
forces Black to play the awkward} Qe7) 11. d3 Be7 12. Nf3 Rb6 ({Another good
option for Black is} 12... O-O {intending} 13. Qe4 f5) 13. Qe4 Bb7 14. Qe2 Rg6
{and Black has a large development advantage and some threatening kingside
play, Eggleston,D (2368)-Howell,D (2593) Halifax 2008}) 9... Be7 (9... h6 10.
Ne4 Nd5 {is the other main option for Black, intending to bring the knight
into f4, but White has quite a large plus score in the database following} 11.
b3 {intending to fianchetto the c1-bishop to b2. One high-level game in this
line featured an interesting queen sacrifice for White:} g6 12. Qg3 Bg7 13. Bb2
Nf4 14. Qxf4 $5 (14. O-O {is simple and good, with a slight advantage for
White.}) 14... exf4 15. Bxg7 Kd7 $6 (15... f5 16. Bxh8 fxe4 17. Bxe4 $44) 16.
Bf6 Qe8 17. O-O Kc7 18. Re1 Bf5 19. Na3 Qe6 20. Bc3 Qd5 21. Nc4 Nxc4 22. bxc4
Qd8 23. Ba5+ {1-0 (23) Van der Wiel,J (2493)-Ernst,S (2521) Groningen 2004})
10. Nc3 O-O {Diagram [#] Black probably has sufficient compensation for the
pawn here, due to the better development, and Black also enjoys a slight plus
score in practice with this line. However, White does have some attacking
chances on the kingside, so Black has to remain alert.} 11. a3 {Preparing to
hassle Black's a5-knight by playing b2-b4, but this is too slow.} (11. O-O {is
more reliable.} h6 12. Nge4 Nd5 13. Ng3 Nb4 {then gives Black reasonable
compensation for the pawn} (13... Nf4 14. Bf5 {is less convincing for Black.}))
11... c5 {Discouraging b2-b4 and preparing to attack White down the long
diagonal with ...Bb7.} 12. b3 (12. Nge4 {is a good alternative, whereupon
Black should probably avoid the knight exchange, e.g.} Nd7 13. Ng3 c4 14. Be4
Nf6 {with good compensation for the pawn.}) 12... Rb6 (12... Bb7 {is a good
alternative, and may well be even stronger.}) 13. O-O Bb7 14. Qh3 (14. Nge4 {
runs into} Nd7 {intending ...f7-f5.}) 14... h6 15. Nge4 {Diagram [#]} Nh7 (
15... Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Bxe4 17. Nxe4 Nc6 {followed by ...f5 probably gives Black
a full pawn's worth of compensation despite the exchanges.}) 16. b4 {White
returns the extra pawn in order to get a fair share of the initiative.} cxb4
17. axb4 Bxb4 18. Ba3 f5 19. Bxb4 Rxb4 20. Nc5 Ng5 21. Qe3 Ba8 22. f4 exf4 23.
Rxf4 Re8 (23... Rxf4 24. Qxf4 Qb6 {was probably Black's most secure
continuation, giving equal chances.}) 24. Rxb4 (24. Qxe8+ Qxe8 25. Rxb4 {picks
up two rooks for the queen under more favourable circumstances and I doubt
that Black gets enough compensation.}) 24... Rxe3 25. dxe3 Nc6 26. Rb5 f4 27.
h4 f3 28. N5e4 $6 (28. Rab1) 28... Nxe4 29. Nxe4 fxg2 30. Kxg2 Qe8 31. Rab1 a6
32. Rb6 a5 33. R1b5 a4 34. Kf2 $6 (34. Ra6 {should have been preferred,
whereupon White will be able to round up the a-pawn.}) 34... a3 35. Ra6 Qc8 36.
Rc5 Qf8+ 37. Ke2 Nb4 38. Raa5 a2 39. Bc4+ $2 (39. Rf5) 39... Kh7 40. Rcb5 Bxe4
0-1
[Event "Leuven m blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2011.10.09"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C58"]
[WhiteElo "2698"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2011.10.09"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.10.28"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8.
Bd3 {[%csl Ge4][%cal Rd3e4,Rg5e4] Diagram [#] A slightly unusual bishop
retreat, but one idea is to prevent Black from playing ...e5-e4 (due to the
fact that the e4-square is attacked twice by white pieces) and the bishop can
potentially be tucked away with c3 and Bc2.} Nd5 {Black centralises the knight
and uncovers an attack on the knight on g5 from the queen.} (8... h6 {is the
main alternative, but White scores quite well after} 9. Ne4 {(another key
point behind 8.Bd3) and} Nd5 (9... Nxe4 10. Bxe4 {leads to a slightly better
position for White}) 10. O-O Be7 (10... g6 11. Re1 Bg7 12. Bf1 O-O {and I
doubt that Black has full compensation, Short,N (2684)-Sokolov,I (2655) London
2009}) 11. Ng3 h5 (11... O-O 12. Bf5 {also gives White a slight advantage as
Black doesn't quite have full compensation for the pawn.}) 12. Re1 h4 13. Nf5 {
led to a better position for White, Riazantsev,A (2692)-Sokolov,I (2650) Saint
Quentin 2014}) (8... Ng4 {is the main reason why 8.Bd3 may not be best, as
recommended by Mark Ginsburg. The move prepares ...f7-f5 and thereby supports
the advance ...e5-e4.} 9. Ne4 f5 10. Be2 h5 {Black anticipates the potential
opening of the h-file, which will give Black good play.} 11. h3 fxe4 12. hxg4
Bc5 {Diagram [#] This is probably the most critical position for the
assessment of 8.Bd3. Some grandmaster games have developed into board-wide
chaos from here, e.g.} 13. b4 ({Or} 13. Nc3 Qd4 14. O-O O-O $44 {Lanc,A (2525)
-Green,W (2439) ICCF email 2010}) 13... Qd4 14. bxc5 O-O 15. O-O Qxa1 16. Nc3
e3 17. gxh5 exf2+ 18. Rxf2 Rxf2 19. Kxf2 Be6 20. Bf3 Rf8 {with equal chances
in a complex position, Stellwagen,D (2625)-L'Ami,E (2581) Maastricht 2008}) 9.
Nf3 (9. Ne4 {is now met by the strong} f5) (9. h4 {has also been tried at
grandmaster level, but Black has very good compensation for the pawn after
this move, e.g.} Nf4 10. Bf1 h6 11. Nf3 Bd6 {Landa,K (2640)-Lastin,A (2530)
Sochi 2012}) 9... Bd6 10. O-O (10. Be4 {preserves the bishop but then} Nf4 {
leaves it difficult for White to guard the pawn on g2.} 11. g3 (11. O-O f5)
11... Nh3 $15) 10... Nf4 {Black intends to grab the bishop-pair and undermine
White's pawn structure and there is nothing that White can do about it.} (10...
O-O {is not as challenging and I think it falls slightly short of providing
full compensation for the pawn.} 11. Re1 Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Bf5 {with a slight
advantage for White, Navara,D (2692)-Beliavsky,A (2656) Novi Sad 2009}) 11. Re1
Nxd3 12. cxd3 O-O {Diagram [#] Black has good compensation for the pawn here
due to White's shattered pawn structure. With this move Black offers a
sacrifice of the e5-pawn, which White often accepts in practice, but with poor
results.} 13. Nc3 (13. Nxe5 Re8 14. d4 (14. Nf3 {is met by} Bg4 {and if} 15.
Re3 Bc5) 14... f6 15. Nf3 Bg4 $44 {McShane,L (2683)-Gupta,A (2580) Reykjavik
2011}) 13... Re8 14. h3 (14. Ne4 {is a more critical test of Black's resources
and might suffice for a small edge.} c5 15. b3 (15. Nxd6 Qxd6 16. Ng5 Nc6 {and
Black probably has enough for the pawn.}) 15... Bf8 {is then the usual
continuation.}) 14... c5 15. b3 Ba6 16. Ba3 {Returning the extra pawn but I
think this leaves Black with the initiative in a position with level material.}
(16. Qc2 f5 {leaves Black with excellent compensation for the pawn.}) 16...
Bxd3 17. Ne4 Bxe4 18. Rxe4 f5 19. Ra4 e4 20. Nh2 (20. Nd4 {[%cal Ra3d6,Ra4a5]
is better, exploiting the attack on the knight on a5 and the pin against the
bishop on d6.} cxd4 (20... Re5 {may be a better bet, maintaining good
compensation for the pawn.}) 21. Bxd6 Qxd6 22. Rxa5 {is the idea.}) 20... Nc6
21. Rc1 (21. Qc2 {is the computer's preference but White is living dangerously
after, say,} Ne5 (21... Rc8 {is a good alternative}) 22. Bxc5 Rc8) 21... Ne5
22. d4 Nd3 23. dxc5 Bf4 24. Rc2 e3 25. f3 (25. Nf1 {leaves White material down
for insufficient compensation, e.g.} exf2+ 26. Rxf2 Nxf2 27. Qxd8 Raxd8 28.
Rxf4 (28. Kxf2 Be5) 28... Nd3) 25... Bg3 26. Nf1 Bf2+ 27. Kh1 Nf4 28. Qxd8
Raxd8 29. Rxf4 Rd1 {Diagram [#] Although White is temporarily a piece ahead,
the threat of ...e3-e2 and the powerful bishop and rook in the heart of
White's position forces White to concede material.} 30. Re2 (30. Kh2 e2 {
forces the dismal} 31. Rxe2 Rxe2) 30... Bg3 31. Kg1 Bxf4 32. g4 Red8 33. Bb4
R8d4 34. Ba5 Rd5 35. Bb4 a5 36. Bxa5 Rxc5 37. Bb6 Rcc1 38. Bxe3 Rxf1+ 39. Kg2
Bxe3 40. Rxe3 Rfe1 41. Rd3 f4 0-1
[Event "Beijing Sportaccord blindfold"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2012.12.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Fressinet, Laurent"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C59"]
[WhiteElo "2681"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2012.12.18"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.20"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8.
Be2 {This is the main continuation for White, dropping the bishop back to a
square where it cannot easily be attacked and does not block the d-pawn.} (8.
Ba4 $6 {I remember unwisely trying out this move in a game at the local chess
club many years ago. The bishop needs to remain on the f1-a6 diagonal to help
cover the white king.} h6 9. Nf3 (9. Nh3 Bg4) 9... e4 10. Ne5 $2 (10. Qe2 Bd6
$15) 10... Qd4) 8... h6 9. Nh3 {Diagram [#] Normal is 9.Nf3, but this tricky
knight move has been favoured by Bobby Fischer. White invites a premature
exchange on h3 (whereupon the white bishop on e2 will shore up the light
squares around the white king) but puts the knight "on the rim".} Bd6 (9... Bc5
{is more popular.} 10. d3 O-O 11. O-O Nb7 (11... Bxh3 12. gxh3 Qd7 13. Kg2 Nd5
14. Nc3 {and White's king is relatively safe on g2, as Black's pieces are not
well-placed to attack it, Socko,B (2643)-Pavasovic,D (2590) Austria 2009}) 12.
Nc3 Qc7 13. Kh1 Rd8 {and Black has enough compensation for the pawn, Lanc,A
(2518)-Romm,M (2467) ICCF email 2011}) (9... g5 $5 {is an interesting option,
intending ...Bg7 and threatening ...g4, attacking the knight on h3.} 10. d3 Bg7
(10... g4 {may be a better bet for Black, e.g.} 11. Ng1 Bc5 12. Nc3 Rb8) 11.
Nc3 O-O 12. Ng1 {White loses a couple of tempi with this knight, bringing it
back around to f3, but argues that with the knight on f3, Black's ...g7-g5 is
not as useful, and also prepares to play h2-h4.} Nd5 13. h4 f5 14. hxg5 hxg5
15. Nf3 g4 16. Nd2 g3 17. Nb3 gxf2+ 18. Kxf2 {with a messy position, but White
is probably slightly better, for both kings are now exposed, Gdanski,J (2527)
-Beliavsky,A (2657) Rijeka 2010}) (9... Bxh3 10. gxh3 {looks tempting as it
shatters the white kingside pawn structure, but White can shore up the holes
in the kingside using the light-squared bishop, e.g.} Bc5 11. d3 O-O 12. O-O
Qc7 (12... Qd7 13. Kg2) 13. Nc3) 10. d3 O-O 11. Nc3 Rb8 {Diagram [#] Here
Black enjoys reasonable compensation for the pawn, as White's pieces are
passively placed.} 12. Ng1 (12. O-O {is more often played in this position.}
Nb7 13. Kh1 Nc5 14. Ng1 Qc7 {is one sample line, giving Black good
compensation for the pawn, Ni,H (2641)-Almasi,Z (2691) Reggio Emilia 2008})
12... c5 (12... Qc7 {with the idea of developing the c8-bishop to e6 or f5 is
probably better.}) 13. Nf3 Bb7 14. O-O Nc6 15. Ne4 Nd4 16. Ng3 {Allowing Black
to grab the bishop-pair, but the knight is a good defensive piece here.} (16.
Nxd6 Qxd6 17. Re1 {is a good alternative continuation for White.}) 16... Nxe2+
({It may be better for Black to forgo the tempting exchange on e2, e.g.} 16...
Re8 17. Nxd4 exd4 {and Black keeps good compensation for the pawn with the
bishops pointing at White's kingside.}) 17. Qxe2 Re8 18. Nd2 Bf8 19. f3 Nd5 20.
Nc4 g6 21. Qf2 {Diagram [#] It is clear that Black has been outplayed over the
past few moves, as Black no longer has much compensation for the pawn.} f5 22.
Re1 Qc7 23. b3 Bg7 24. Bb2 Re6 25. Rad1 Rbe8 26. Rd2 h5 27. h3 (27. Ne2 {with
the idea of Nc3 may be the best way to keep some advantage.}) 27... Qe7 28. Nf1
Nf4 {Diagram [#] In this position Black is fighting back, and the knight is
well-placed on f4 and not easy to challenge.} 29. h4 Bf6 30. Kh2 Nd5 31. Rde2
Bxh4 32. g3 Bf6 33. Bxe5 h4 34. Kg1 hxg3 (34... f4 {is more accurate, giving
Black a strong kingside attack.}) 35. Qxg3 {Black now ends up with problems
down the e-file as the white rooks oppose the black queen on e7.} Bh4 36. Qh2
Nb6 $2 {This leaves the c3-square vacant for White's e5-bishop.} (36... Bc6 37.
Nd6 {was relatively best but sees White start to take over the initiative.})
37. Bc3 Rxe2 38. Rxe2 Qg5+ (38... Qxe2 {is better, but leaves Black facing a
strong attack:} 39. Qxh4 Qe7 40. Qh8+ Kf7 41. Qg7+ Ke6 42. Qxg6+ Kd7 43. Qxf5+
{and White has three pawns and an attack for the exchange.}) 39. Rg2 Qh5 40.
Ne5 g5 41. Ng3 Qh7 42. Nxf5 Nd5 43. Qxh4 Qxh4 44. Nxh4 Nxc3 45. Rxg5+ 1-0
[Event "SRB-chT 1st"]
[Site "Zlatibor"]
[Date "2007.08.31"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Black "Halkias, Stelios"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C59"]
[WhiteElo "2652"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2007.08.21"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.01"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8.
Be2 h6 9. Nf3 {Diagram [#] This is the main line. The knight retreats to its
most natural square, but is consequently exposed to ...e5-e4, forcing the
knight to head elsewhere.} e4 {This is almost invariably played, since it
opens up the b8-h2 diagonal for the queen and/or bishop and forces the white
knight away from f3.} (9... Bd6 {has occasionally been tried but White may get
a slight edge with} 10. d3 {discouraging a subsequent ...e5-e4, for example,}
O-O 11. O-O Qc7 12. Nbd2 Bf5 13. c3 {with a slight advantage for White, as
White has the extra pawn and a solid, if rather passive, position, Honfi,K
(2480)-Rukavina,J (2440) Bucharest 1973}) 10. Ne5 Qc7 (10... Bd6 {is more
common, which will usually transpose into the game continuation after} 11. d4 (
11. f4 exf3 12. Nxf3 {allows White to return the knight to f3, but gives White
less of a presence in the centre, so Black can easily get enough compensation
for the pawn with} O-O {, for example,} 13. d4 Re8 14. O-O c5 15. Kh1 Bb7 {and
Black retains a large lead in development and attacking chances, Vukcevich,M
(2490)-Romanishin,O (2585) Hastings 1976}) 11... exd3 (11... Qc7 {probably
allows White to get a slight advantage, e.g.} 12. Bd2 O-O 13. O-O {, since if
Black regains the pawn with} Bxe5 $6 14. dxe5 Qxe5 {then it's White who gets a
strong kingside attack starting with} 15. Bc3) 12. Nxd3 Qc7) (10... Bc5 {is a
very important alternative which has been scoring well for Black recently.
One idea behind this move is that after} 11. c3 {threatening the pawn fork
b2-b4} (11. O-O {is not a serious test for Black, e.g.} O-O 12. Kh1 Re8 13. f4
exf3 14. Nxf3 Ng4 {gives Black good attacking chances, Charbonneau,P (2503)
-Ivanchuk,V (2762) Montreal 2007}) 11... Bd6 12. d4 ({Or} 12. f4 exf3 13. Nxf3
O-O 14. d4 Re8 $44 {Pommerel Brouwer,W (2420)-Weissleder,W (2477) ICCF email
2009}) 12... exd3 13. Nxd3 Qc7 {the pawn on c3 makes it harder for White to
carry out the critical plan with b3 and Bb2 that arises after the immediate 10.
..Bd6.} 14. Nd2 O-O (14... Bxh2 $6 {is very tempting in this position but} 15.
Nf3 {allows White to take over the initiative.}) 15. b4 Nb7 16. Nc4 Nd5 {and
Black retains sufficient compensation for the pawn, and chances to regain the
pawn by taking on c3 or h2, Molner,M (2447)-Bojkov,D (2544) Los Angeles 2011})
11. d4 (11. f4 exf3 12. Nxf3 {may be better than it is against 10...Bd6, since
it is not clear if Black's queen is best placed on c7 with the white king's
knight safely planted on f3. However, Black probably shouldn't be too
concerned.} Bd6 13. O-O O-O 14. d4 c5 {probably gives Black sufficient
compensation for the pawn, Arppi,H (2323)-Nisula,T (2320) ICCF email 2009})
11... exd3 12. Nxd3 Bd6 {Diagram [#] This is the most commonly-reached
position at move 12 from the 5...Na5 line. Black has considerable
compensation for the pawn due to the lead in development, but White's position
is quite solid. Black should generally be careful of taking on h2 too hastily
because in many variations White is then able to take over the initiative. In
this position, White now has one plan that causes Black some difficulties in
getting full compensation for the pawn.} 13. b3 {This is the key idea for
White, as advocated by Tim Harding and favoured by GM Alexander Morozevich in
some of his games. White will develop the c1-bishop to b2, develop some
pressure on the kingside, and aim to demonstrate that the a5-knight is
misplaced.} (13. h3 {is often played to cut out the possibility of Black
taking on h2, but then Black easily gets enough compensation for the pawn.
For example,} O-O 14. O-O c5 15. b3 c4 16. bxc4 Nxc4 $44 {Sutovsky,E (2604)
-Romanishin,O (2559) Essen 2001}) 13... O-O {Normally played, though Black can
also consider advancing the c-pawn with the idea of bringing the a5-knight
back to c6.} (13... c5 {has the problem that after} 14. Bb2 {White threatens
to chop off the knight on f6, weakening Black's kingside pawn structure.} c4
15. bxc4 Nxc4 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. O-O Be6 18. Nc3 (18. g3 {holding onto the
extra pawn may also be slightly better for White.}) 18... Bxh2+ 19. Kh1 {gives
a messy position, but probably slightly advantageous for White due to Black's
lack of a safe home for the king, Sutovsky,E (2604)-Acs,P (2509) Tel Aviv 2001}
) (13... Bxh2 {amounts to a piece sacrifice after} 14. g3 (14. Bb2 {may also
be better for White}) 14... Bxg3 15. fxg3 Qxg3+ 16. Nf2 {but I don't think
that Black can get enough compensation.}) 14. Bb2 Ne4 (14... Re8 {is the main
alternative.} 15. Bxf6 {is not too much of a threat to Black in this
particular position as White's piece are not well-placed to attack the black
king and Black can consider ...Kh8 and ...Rg8 in some lines, making use of the
half-open g-file.} ({Perhaps} 15. h3 {may suffice for a slight edge, e.g.} Qe7
16. Nc3 c5 (16... Bf5 17. Qd2) 17. O-O $14 {Swathi,G (2362)-Gokhale,C (2407)
Nagpur 2002}) 15... gxf6 16. Kf1 Bf5 17. Nd2 c5 $44 {Hladecek,M (2281)-Pytlik,
L (2390) ICCF 2005}) (14... Nd5 {is a tempting move but White gets some
advantage by challenging the knight with} 15. Nc3 (15. h3 {may also be good, e.
g.} Bf5 16. O-O Rad8 17. Kh1 {and although Black has the more active pieces,
it is hard for Black to make much progress, Morozevich,A (2595)-Balashov,Y
(2510) Novgorod 1997}) 15... Nf4 16. Nxf4 Bxf4 17. h3 $14 {Wise,G (2481)
-Taylor,T (2505) ICCF email 2006}) 15. Nc3 f5 {This continuation was
recommended by John Emms in his book Play the Open Games as Black.} ({Another
option for Black is} 15... Bf5 {, for example,} 16. h3 Rad8 17. O-O Nc5 {and
Black has compensation for the pawn but it is not clear if it suffices for
full equality.}) 16. h3 Ba6 (16... Bb7 {is less effective, as pointed out by
Emms:} 17. O-O a6 {(this is played to facilitate ...c6-c5 without allowing
Nc3-b5)} (17... Rad8 18. Qe1) 18. Qe1 c5 19. Rd1 $14 {Morozevich,A (2590)
-Onischuk,A (2535) Alushta 1994}) 17. O-O Rad8 18. Kh1 (18. Qe1 {is normally
played, preparing to uncover an attack on the knight on a5.} c5 19. Kh1 Bb7 (
19... Nc6 $2 20. Nxe4 fxe4 21. Nxc5 $16 {Morozevich,A (2590)-Graf,A (2575)
Alushta 1994}) 20. Bf3 {may be slightly better for White.}) 18... Bf4 19. Bf3
Rfe8 20. Bh5 Re7 21. Ne2 Bg5 22. Bg6 {White moves the light-squared bishop
around into the holes in Black's kingside.} Qb6 23. Kg1 (23. Ba3 {is an
alternative, attacking the rook on e7, but White probably has no more than a
slight edge, e.g.} Bxd3 24. Bxe7 Bxe7 25. cxd3 Nxf2+ 26. Rxf2 Qxf2 27. Qe1
Qxe1+ 28. Rxe1) 23... Nxf2 24. Rxf2 Be3 25. Bd4 Bxd4 (25... Rxd4 26. Nxd4 Qxd4
27. Kh1 {is another option, which leads to complications. One "drawing line"
runs} Bxd3 (27... Bxf2 28. Nxf2 {is much better for White.}) 28. Rf3 Qf6 29.
Qxd3 Qxa1+ 30. Rf1 Qd4 31. Qxf5 Qd8 32. Bh7+ Kh8 33. Bg6 Kg8 34. Bh7+) 26. Nxd4
Qxd4 27. Rc1 c5 28. Qh5 c4 $6 (28... Bxd3 29. cxd3 Re5 {leads to approximately
equal chances.}) 29. Nf4 cxb3 $2 (29... Bc8 {would have been a stronger
defence: if} 30. Bxf5 Re5) 30. axb3 $2 (30. Qxf5 {forces significant material
gain due to the mating threats although I can understand White being reluctant
to let Black advance the b3-pawn to the seventh rank.} bxa2 31. Bh7+ Kh8 32.
Ng6+ Kxh7 33. Nf8+ Kh8 34. Qh7# {is the main point.}) 30... Qe3 $2 (30... Bc8 {
was again necessary.}) 31. Rd1 (31. Qxf5 {is again even stronger, but this
time the move played in the game is good enough.}) 31... Nc6 (31... Rxd1+ 32.
Qxd1 Qe1+ 33. Qxe1 Rxe1+ 34. Kh2 {is the computer's preference but the
resulting endgame is grim for Black.}) 32. Rxd8+ Nxd8 33. Qxf5 Qe1+ 34. Kh2
Qxf2 35. Bh7+ Kh8 36. Ng6+ Kxh7 37. Qxf2 Kxg6 {Diagram [#] With a rook and two
pieces for queen and pawn, the present material balance is not too bad for
Black, but the problem is that the black king is exposed and the black pieces
are undefended, which allows White to force the gain of material.} 38. Qg3+ Kf7
39. Qd6 Bb7 40. Qxd8 Be4 41. c4 a6 42. g4 Bf3 43. Kg3 Be4 44. h4 Rb7 45. Kf4
Bh1 46. Qd1 Bc6 47. Qd6 Bh1 48. b4 Bg2 49. g5 hxg5+ 50. hxg5 Ke8 51. Qxa6 Rf7+
52. Kg3 Bb7 53. Qd6 Rd7 54. Qe5+ Kd8 55. b5 1-0