Albin Counter-Gambit- Lines with a3 and/or Nbd2
The idea of a2-a3 is simply to prevent ...Bb4+ and prepare a queenside attack with b2-b4-b5 in some variations, which is especially designed to combat Black's ideas of queenside castling and kingside play. The idea of Nbd2 is often to play Nb3, rounding up the pawn on d4. These lines are generally considered to be the most critical test of the Albin Counter-Gambit these days. Black has ways to get counterplay, and ways to emerge out of the opening with no more than a slight theoretical disadvantage, but achieving both of those is a much greater challenge.
5.a3
Against this, 5...Nge7 often leads to considerable complications, as demonstrated in a number of Alexander Morozevich's games, but has the downside that White has ways to try to return the pawn and simplify the position with the aim of nullifying Black's counterplay. In particular, I don't like the line 5...Nge7 6.b4 Ng6 7.Bb2 a5 8.b5 Ncxe5 9.Qxd4 from Black's point of view, as was recommended by Kiril Georgiev in his book Squeezing the Gambits.
5...Bf5 is also playable, after which Black meets 6.Nbd2 or 6.b4 with 6...Qe7. This blocks in the f8-bishop but puts some pressure on the e5-pawn, while Black can then defend d4 with a rook after castling queenside. However, White has a couple of promising options, such as 6.b4 Qe7 7.Nxd4 (where I'm not sure that Black gets enough for two pawns) and 6.e3 dxe3 7.Qxd8+ Rxd8 8.Nc3, which is slightly better for White.
Black can refine this idea with 5...Bg4 6.Nbd2 (not 6.e3?! Nxe5) 6...Qe7. Then White should kick the bishop with 7.h3, and after 7...Bh5, generally allows Black to regain the pawn but strives to work up queenside attacking chances, e.g. 8.g4 Bg6 9.Bg2 or 8.Qa4 0-0-0 9.b4 Ncxe5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Bb2.
The main alternative for Black is 5...Be6, after which play typically becomes complicated, e.g. 6.Nbd2 Nge7 7.Nb3 Nf5, in which Black's practical chances are quite good, although objectively White should have some advantage. White's important options here include 8.g3, 8.g4, and 8.Qd3.
5...Bf5 is also playable, after which Black meets 6.Nbd2 or 6.b4 with 6...Qe7. This blocks in the f8-bishop but puts some pressure on the e5-pawn, while Black can then defend d4 with a rook after castling queenside. However, White has a couple of promising options, such as 6.b4 Qe7 7.Nxd4 (where I'm not sure that Black gets enough for two pawns) and 6.e3 dxe3 7.Qxd8+ Rxd8 8.Nc3, which is slightly better for White.
Black can refine this idea with 5...Bg4 6.Nbd2 (not 6.e3?! Nxe5) 6...Qe7. Then White should kick the bishop with 7.h3, and after 7...Bh5, generally allows Black to regain the pawn but strives to work up queenside attacking chances, e.g. 8.g4 Bg6 9.Bg2 or 8.Qa4 0-0-0 9.b4 Ncxe5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Bb2.
The main alternative for Black is 5...Be6, after which play typically becomes complicated, e.g. 6.Nbd2 Nge7 7.Nb3 Nf5, in which Black's practical chances are quite good, although objectively White should have some advantage. White's important options here include 8.g3, 8.g4, and 8.Qd3.
5.Nbd2
This move-order trick is mainly aimed against 5...Nge7, after which 6.Nb3 Nf5 7.e4 makes it hard for Black to avoid accepting a trade of queens down the d-file, whereupon Black's better pawn structure only offers partial compensation for the pawn. Black can keep the queens on with 7...Nh4, but then simply 8.Nfxd4 is good for White. 5.Nbd2 is also effective against 5...Bf5, since after 6.Nb3, a subsequent Nb3xd4 will hit the bishop on f5. Then 6...Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Qe7 (7...Be7 is met by 8.Na5!, as per Justesen-Anderson, email 2011) 8.a3 Bxd2+ 9.Qxd2 is better for White.
Black can, however, try either 5...Bg4 or 5...Be6, after which White has nothing better than 6.a3 transposing to the lines following 5.a3 and 6.Nbd2. Both are better for White with best play, but give Black some counterplay. Thus, I am not convinced that 5.Nbd2 is objectively any better than 5.a3, but it has the advantage of narrowing down Black's good options, since after 5.Nbd2, both 5...Nge7 and 5...Bf5 look suspect to me.
Black can, however, try either 5...Bg4 or 5...Be6, after which White has nothing better than 6.a3 transposing to the lines following 5.a3 and 6.Nbd2. Both are better for White with best play, but give Black some counterplay. Thus, I am not convinced that 5.Nbd2 is objectively any better than 5.a3, but it has the advantage of narrowing down Black's good options, since after 5.Nbd2, both 5...Nge7 and 5...Bf5 look suspect to me.
Games and analysis
The coverage is divided as follows:
1. 5.a3 Bg4
2. 5.a3 Bf5
3. 5.a3 Nge7 6.b4
4. 5.a3 Nge7 6.Nbd2 (6...Be6 usually follows, a line which also arises via 5...Be6 6.Nbd2 Nge7)
5. 5.Nbd2 Bg4
6. 5.Nbd2 Be6 6.Nb3 (instead of 6.a3 transposing into game 4 after 6...Nge7)
7. 5.Nbd2 Bf5
8. 5.Nbd2 Nge7
1. 5.a3 Bg4
2. 5.a3 Bf5
3. 5.a3 Nge7 6.b4
4. 5.a3 Nge7 6.Nbd2 (6...Be6 usually follows, a line which also arises via 5...Be6 6.Nbd2 Nge7)
5. 5.Nbd2 Bg4
6. 5.Nbd2 Be6 6.Nb3 (instead of 6.a3 transposing into game 4 after 6...Nge7)
7. 5.Nbd2 Bf5
8. 5.Nbd2 Nge7
[Event "CHN-chT"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2012.04.28"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Lin Chen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D08"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2446"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2012.04.28"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[WhiteTeam "Zhejiang"]
[BlackTeam "Wuxi"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CHN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CHN"]
{This article deals with the critical 5.a3, which prevents ...Bb4+ and
prepares to expand on the queenside. In Game 1 I deal with 5...Bg4, which
seems better than its reputation, and look briefly at 5...Be6 and 5...a5 in
the notes. Game 2 features the rare, but interesting, 5...Bf5, while Game 3
features Morozevich's favourite 5...Nge7, which is probably objectively best,
although it has the downside that in some lines White can return the pawn in
order to simplify and try to get a niggling endgame plus. Game 4 is provided
for some light entertainment, where Loek van Wely played an early g2-g3 and
Morozevich seized a good opportunity to revert to the "caveman" attack with ...
Qd7, ...0-0-0, ... Bh3 and the h-pawn hack, and crushed White on the kingside.
} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. a3 {This has emerged as a
critical response to the Albin Counter-Gambit, preventing ...Bb4+. Instead of
trying to exchange off Black's d4-pawn and remove the queens with e2-e3, White
more often follows this up with b4 and Bb2, gaining space on the queenside and
preparing a queenside attack for in case Black castles queenside, while Nbd2
and Nb3 is another possible approach, targeting the d4-pawn.} Bg4 {This is the
most popular response, although 5...Nge7 has probably overtaken it in recent
years. Black puts pressure on the f3-knight and prepares ...Qd7 (or perhaps ...
Qe7) and queenside castling.} (5... Be6 {is a reasonable option, but has
limited independent value as many of the lines transpose to 5...Nge7 lines
where Black plays an early ...Be6, since Black generally does best to follow
it up with ... Nge7.} 6. Nbd2 {is the most usual response, defending c4.} (6.
e3 dxe3 7. Qxd8+ Rxd8 $44 {transposes to the line 4.a3 Nc6 5.e3 Be6 6.Nf3 dxe3
7.Qxd8+ Rxd8.}) (6. b4 {is an interesting alternative, returning the pawn in
order to gain time in expanding on the queenside:} Bxc4 7. Nbd2 Ba6 (7... Be6
8. b5) 8. Qb3 Qd7 {with a slight advantage for White.}) 6... Qd7 $6 (6... Nge7
{transposes to 5... Nge7 6.Nbd2 Be6.}) 7. b4 {gives White a powerful
initiative on the queenside, for example,} Nge7 8. Nb3 Ng6 9. Nbxd4 Bxc4 10.
Nxc6 Qxc6 11. Bb2 a5 12. Nd4 $14 {Volzhin,A (2505)-Rewitz,P (2310) Aarhus 1997}
) (5... a5 {is quite a popular alternative, with the idea of gaining some
control over the b4-square, but it should be better for White.} 6. Nbd2 (6. e3
{is also good for White, transposing to 4.a3 Nc6 5.e3 a5 6.Nf3.} Bc5 7. exd4
Bxd4 8. Be2) 6... Nge7 7. Nb3) 6. Nbd2 {This is probably the best response for
White. White reinforces the knight on f3 and prepares to chase the bishop away
from g4 with h2-h3.} (6. b4 {is a strong move for White in most other
variations but here it is met by} Qe7 {and White's queenside build-up achieves
little.}) (6. Qb3 {is sometimes played, and is highly rated by computer
engines, but it is risky to go after the pawn on b7.} Qd7 (6... Rb8 {is
playable, but gives White a slight advantage and few problems, e.g.} 7. Nbd2
Nge7 8. h3) 7. Qxb7 Rb8 8. Qa6 Nge7 {Diagram [#] and Black will get reasonable
attacking chances with ...Ng6, and developing the f8-bishop and castling short.
}) 6... Qe7 {This is an advantage of playing ...Bg4 rather than ...Be6.
Developing the queen to e7 increases the pressure on White's e5-pawn and means
that approaches with b2-b4-b5 can be safely met by ...Nc6xe5 in various lines,
while castling queenside allows the rook on d8 to protect the pawn on d4. The
downside of this queen placement is that it will typically take Black a while
to develop the bishop on f8.} (6... Qd7 {leaves White free to expand on the
queenside, e.g.} 7. b4 O-O-O 8. b5 Na5 9. Qa4 b6 10. Bb2 {with advantage for
White.}) 7. h3 {White forces the g4-bishop to move to a different square.} (7.
b4 O-O-O {is now OK for Black because Black is threatening ...Nxe5.}) 7... Bh5
{This retreat is weaker than 7...Be6 according to Dorian Rogozenco but I am
not so sure about this.} ({It seems to me that} 7... Be6 {should be met by the
strong queenside expansion plan with} 8. b4 {rather than Dorian Rogozenco's
suggestion of Nbd2. Black's bishop on e6 blocks the queen's path to e5.}) 8. g3
(8. g4 {is more common, although White has to take some care with this because,
particularly if White then castles kingside, the g4-pawn can be vulnerable to
attack with ...h7-h5.} Bg6 9. Bg2 O-O-O {with ...h7-h5 to follow probably
gives Black sufficient compensation for the pawn.}) (8. Qa4 {is rather more
challenging, aiming for a quick queenside attack.} O-O-O 9. b4 Nxe5 10. Nxe5
Qxe5 11. Bb2 {should probably be met by the prophylactic} a6 {with the idea}
12. b5 Qe6) 8... O-O-O 9. Bg2 Nxe5 {This move allows White to trap the bishop
on h5, although Black will get some compensation if it is taken so I can see
why White ducked out of that line.} (9... d3 {is probably best, undermining
the support of the knight on f3.}) 10. Nxe5 Qxe5 11. Nf3 ({I am not convinced
that Black gets enough for the piece after} 11. f4 {intending g4, and if ...
Bg6, then f5, e.g.} Qf6 12. g4 Qxf4 13. gxh5 Qg3+ 14. Kf1) 11... Bxf3 {This is
not disastrous but I don't particularly like the idea of conceding the
bishop-pair.} (11... Qc5 {keeps the bishop on the board.}) 12. Bxf3 d3 $6 {I
don't think this is particularly good here because White gets too large a lead
in development.} (12... Nf6) 13. Bf4 Qd4 {Taking on b2 here would be somewhat
risky.} 14. O-O Nf6 15. e3 Qd7 16. Qb3 c6 17. Qa4 (17. Rfd1 {is a good idea,
tying Black down to the defence of the pawn on d3, and then 18. Qa4 follows in
most cases.}) 17... Bd6 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. Qxa7 Rhe8 {White's queenside attack
is not immediately dangerous because if White checks at a8 the black king
comes out to c7 and is quite safe, but Black has to be careful because the
white queenside pawns provide potential reinforcements.} 20. b4 Ne4 21. b5 f5 (
21... Re5 {is superior, combining attacking and defensive ideas.}) 22. bxc6 (
22. Rab1 {is more challenging.}) 22... Qxc6 23. Qa8+ Kd7 24. Qa5 g6 25. Rfd1
Kc8 26. Rab1 Qa6 27. Qb4 Rd7 28. c5 Kb8 29. Bxe4 Rxe4 30. Qc3 Rc4 31. Qe5+ Ka7
32. Qe8 Qc6 33. Rb6 Qa4 34. Rd2 Rc1+ 35. Kg2 Qe4+ 36. Qxe4 fxe4 37. Rb4 Rc2 38.
Rd1 Rf7 39. Rf1 Rd7 40. Rd1 Rf7 41. Rf1 Rd7 42. Rd1 1/2-1/2
[Event "Marseille"]
[Site "Marseille"]
[Date "2006.07.02"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Brunner, Nicolas"]
[Black "Leygue, Dominique"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D08"]
[WhiteElo "2407"]
[BlackElo "2345"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2006.06.30"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "4"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. a3 Bf5 {Black prepares ...Qd7 or ...
Qe7 and queenside castling, while the bishop on f5 gives Black some potential
threats on the c2 and d3-squares. This line should, however, be slightly
better for White with best play.} 6. b4 {White continues with queenside
expansion.} (6. e3 dxe3 7. Qxd8+ Rxd8 8. Bxe3 {is slightly better for White,
though with some counterplay for Black, as noted under 4.a3 Nc6 5.e3 Bf5 6.Nf3
dxe3 7.Qxd8+ Rxd8 8.Bxe3.}) (6. Nbd2 {should be met by} Qe7 {with reasonable
chances for Black. The queen on e7 adds pressure to the e5-pawn, and thus
makes White's queenside build-up less potent. Perhaps White's best bet here is
to change plans and try a kingside fianchetto, since with the black queen
developed to e7 rather than d7, there is no immediate threat of ...Bf5-h3,
exchanging off White's light-squared bishop.} (6... Qd7 7. b4 {allows White to
gain space on the queenside:} O-O-O 8. b5 Na5 9. Qa4 {#[Position after 9.Qa4]
This is the kind of situation that Black should avoid in the variation
starting with 5.a3.}) 7. g3 (7. Nb3 O-O-O {leaves White in some bother, since
Black is threatening to round up the e5-pawn and generate threats against
White's king in the centre.}) 7... O-O-O 8. Bg2 Nxe5 9. Nxe5 Qxe5 10. O-O) 6...
Qe7 {Again this is the right spot for the queen, despite blocking in the
f8-bishop. 6...Qd7 would leave White with a few very promising options.} (6...
Qd7 7. b5 Na5 8. Qa4 b6 9. Bb2) 7. Nbd2 ({White can grab the d4-pawn here with
} 7. Nxd4 {but Black gets good piece play to compensate, for example,} O-O-O 8.
Bb2 Qxe5 9. e3 Nf6 {#[Position after 9...Nf6] although I think this line may
well be White's best try for an advantage. White triumphed in the only game
that I can find from this position:} 10. Be2 h5 11. Nd2 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Qe6 13.
O-O Bd6 (13... h4 {is probably more of a threat to White.}) 14. Nf3 Ne4 $2 (
14... c5) 15. Qa4 Rhg8 16. Qxa7 g5 17. c5 Bf4 18. exf4 gxf4 19. c6 bxc6 20. Ne5
Rxg2+ 21. Kh1 Ng3+ 22. hxg3 Rh2+ 23. Kxh2 fxg3+ 24. fxg3 {1-0 (24) Caetano, H
(2047)-Goncalves,A (1953) Foz do Iguacu 2012}) 7... O-O-O 8. Qa4 Kb8 9. Bb2 f6
$5 {Black decides to persist in sacrificing a pawn.} (9... Nxe5 10. Nxe5 Qxe5
11. Nf3 Qe4 {leaves roughly equal chances.}) 10. exf6 $6 (10. Nb3 {is probably
safer. If} Bc2 11. e6 Qxe6 12. Nbxd4 Rxd4 13. Qxc2) 10... Nxf6 11. h3 g5 12. g4
(12. b5 $2 {is refuted by the surprising} Nd7 {threatening ...Nc5, attacking
the white queen and threatening ...Nd3+.}) 12... Bg6 13. Qb3 Bg7 14. Rg1 (14.
Bg2 {followed by kingside castling is probably White's best bet here.}) 14...
Rhe8 (14... d3 $1 {would have left White in a lot of trouble.} 15. e3 Ne4) 15.
O-O-O Ne4 16. Nxe4 Qxe4 17. Nd2 (17. b5 $2 Na5) 17... Qe7 18. Nf3 Qf7 19. Rg3
Qf4+ 20. Rd2 Rd7 {Black plans to double rooks on the e-file, but this is
another juncture where the d-pawn push would have been even stronger.} (20...
d3 21. e3 Bxb2+ 22. Qxb2 (22. Kxb2 Rxe3 $1 23. fxe3 Qxg3) 22... Qxc4+) 21. Kd1
Rde7 $6 {This doesn't work because it neglects the defence of the d4-pawn and
allows White to get strong queenside counterplay.} 22. b5 Na5 23. Qb4 b6 24.
Bxd4 Bf8 $2 {This leaves Black in a passive and probably losing position.} (
24... Bxd4 25. Rxd4 Qf6 {leaves Black with a fair share of the chances.}) 25.
Qc3 Qe4 26. Ke1 Qb1+ 27. Rd1 Qa2 28. e3 Rf7 29. Be2 Bd6 30. Ne5 Nb3 31. Nxf7
Bxg3 32. fxg3 Nxd4 $2 33. Qxd4 Bxf7 34. Bf3 Bd5 35. Qxd5 1-0
[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D08"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "rapid"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. a3 Nge7 {This is the usual response
at grandmaster level, and is probably objectively best. Black has the option
of reinforcing the d4-pawn with ...Nf5 as well as going after the e5-pawn with
...Ng6. However, note that in the main line, White has a deviation at move 9
which aims to head for a slightly better endgame and limit Black's counterplay,
and Black doesn't appear to have a good way to avoid this once he or she has
played 5...Nge7.} 6. b4 {The most popular response to 5...Nge7. White chooses
to expand on the queenside. Instead, the next game features 6.Nbd2.} (6. e3 {
is not a problem for Black, see the line 4.a3 Nc6 5.e3 Nge7 6.Nf3. Black has
reasonable chances after either 6...Bg4 or 6...Nf5.}) 6... Ng6 {Black
continues with the plan of rounding up the e5-pawn.} (6... Bg4 {is a rare
alternative, and probably fails to give Black sufficient compensation for the
pawn, though Black does get some practical chances.} 7. Bb2 {may be the best
reply, attacking d4.} Ng6 (7... Bxf3 8. exf3 Ng6 9. g3 Ncxe5 10. f4 $14) (7...
a5 8. b5 Bxf3 9. exf3 Nxe5 10. Qxd4) 8. Nxd4 Ncxe5 9. Qb3 {and Black has easy
development in return for the pawn, but White is in little danger of facing a
quick attack. This line has not been tested according to my database.}) (6...
Be6 7. Bb2 {is a better version of the same idea for White.}) (6... Nf5 7. b5 {
is no good for Black.}) 7. Bb2 a5 {I have been critical of this move in some
other variations, but here it appears to be best, undermining the defence of
the c4-pawn so that Black can go after c4 as well as e5 if White tries to go
after d4.} (7... Ngxe5 {is poorly timed because of} 8. Nxe5 Nxe5 9. e3) (7...
Bg4 8. Nxd4 Ncxe5 {transposes to the note to 6...Bg4.}) 8. b5 Ncxe5 9. Nxe5 (9.
Qxd4 {is a practical problem from Black's point of view. It is no refutation
of Black's opening, but the idea is to head for an endgame with a small,
niggling edge and limit Black's counterplay. Kiril Georgiev (who advocated
this line in his book Squeezing the Gambits) tried it out shortly afterwards,
with success:} Qxd4 10. Bxd4 Nxc4 11. e3 Nd6 12. Be2 (12. Nbd2 {is also good.})
12... Bd7 13. a4 Nf5 14. Bc3 Bb4 15. O-O c6 16. Bxb4 axb4 {This leaves Black's
b4-pawn weak, although I think Black had a way to keep a reasonable share of
the chances in a few moves' time.} 17. Nbd2 Ke7 18. Nc4 cxb5 19. Nb6 bxa4 ({
The exchange sacrifice} 19... Rxa4 {is probably Black's best bet in this
position, since after the move played in the game, Black's queenside pawns end
up too weak, and Black gets caught in an awkward pin against the black rook on
a8 following the exchanges, though this would have been far from obvious to
see over the board.} 20. Nxd7 (20. Nxa4 $6 bxa4 {and Black's queenside pawns
give excellent compensation for the exchange.}) 20... Rxa1 21. Rxa1 Kxd7 22.
Bxb5+ Kd6) 20. Nxa8 Rxa8 21. Rfb1 {with advantage for White as Black cannot
easily hold the queenside pawns, Georgiev,K (2669)-Bontempi,P (2367) Arvier
2010}) (9. Bxd4 {is also playable, since} Nxc4 10. e3 {is slightly better for
White.}) 9... Nxe5 10. e3 (10. Bxd4 Nxc4 11. e3 {is also slightly better for
White.}) 10... Be6 11. Bxd4 Nxc4 12. Qc2 Nd6 13. Bd3 {#[Position after 13.Bd3]
In this position White has a slight advantage, but Black has plenty of scope
to generate counterplay as most of the pieces remain on the board.} Qg5 14. f4
{This gains some space on the kingside, but leaves White's e3-pawn backward
and the kingside weakened, so it is double-edged.} (14. O-O {is quite often
played instead but I think Black can be satisfied with the outcome after} Nxb5
15. Bxb5+ Qxb5 16. Qxc7 Rc8) 14... Qh4+ 15. g3 Qh5 $6 (15... Qh3 {is probably
a better follow-up, given that Black gets into problems in a few moves' time.
White then has problems castling kingside.} 16. Kf2 Nf5 17. Be4 O-O-O 18. b6
Bd6 {is one possible continuation, with a small plus for White in a messy
position.}) 16. Nc3 Nf5 17. O-O O-O-O {On the face of it, this is an
attractive position for Black, having castled on the opposite side of the
board to White, and having long-term kingside attacking possibilities. However,
Topalov's reply should have given him a significant advantage.} (17... Nxd4 18.
exd4 O-O-O 19. f5 Bd7 20. Nd5 {also gives White a strong queenside attack.}) ({
The pawn sacrifice with} 17... Bd6 18. Qg2 Nxd4 19. Qxb7 O-O 20. exd4 {may be
Black's best bet here, but Black's kingside attacking chances are probably
insufficient.}) 18. Ba7 $1 {This creative move prepares to attack Black on the
queenside with the idea of Na4 and Nb6+.} Qg4 (18... b6 {traps the bishop but
then} 19. Bxb6 cxb6 20. Nd5+ Bc5 21. Nxb6+ {is no good for Black.}) 19. Ne4 $6
(19. Na4 $1 {with the idea of Nb6+ allows White's queenside attack to break
through.}) 19... Rd7 20. Rfd1 Qf3 21. Ng5 Nxe3 22. Nxf3 Nxc2 23. Bxc2 {White
should still be better in this position, in spite of the pawn minus.} b6 24.
Ne5 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Bxa3 26. f5 Ba2 27. Ra1 $2 (27. Nc6 {still gives White more
than enough compensation for the two pawns.}) 27... Bc5+ 28. Kf1 Re8 {Now
Black gets enough counterplay to get out of the mess on the queenside and is
two pawns up for not much.} 29. Re1 (29. Nc6 $2 Bc4+) ({A slight improvement
over the game was} 29. Rxa2 Rxe5 30. Bd3 $17) 29... f6 30. Nd3 Rxe1+ 31. Kxe1
Bd6 32. Nc1 Bd5 33. Bb3 Be4 34. Bxb6 cxb6 35. Be6+ Kc7 36. Ke2 Be5 37. Nd3 Kd6
38. Ke3 Bd5 0-1
[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D08"]
[WhiteElo "2681"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "rapid"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 Nge7 6. a3 {This position
often arises via 5.a3 Nge7 6.Nbd2, although as we have seen, 6.b4 is a strong
option for White here.} Be6 (6... Ng6 {attacking e5 should be met by} 7. Nb3 {
, attacking the pawn on d4, and Black ends up with insufficient compensation
for a pawn once d4 drops off, although Black's score in practice hasn't been
too bad.} Be7 (7... Ngxe5 8. Nxe5 Nxe5 9. Qxd4 {leaves White with an extra
pawn for not much.}) 8. Nbxd4 Ncxe5 {is slightly better for White but Black's
slight lead in development offers some compensation for the pawn. FATTAaMANO
(2432)-New Man (2499) playchess.com INT 2008}) 7. g3 {This is not the most
critical option and it allows Black to revert to the standard "hack attack"
with ...Qd7, ...0-0-0, ...Bh3, ...h7-h5-h4 etc.} (7. Nb3 {is again the most
critical reply, as recommended by Dorian Rogozenco, but this time it leads to
rather complicated positions which should be more to the taste of a typical
Albin Counter-Gambit aficionado.} Nf5 {Diagram [#]} (7... Bxc4 8. Nbxd4 Qd5 9.
Qc2 {gives White a slight advantage (Dorian Rogozenco) e.g.} Nxd4 10. Nxd4 Qxd4
11. e3 Qxe5 12. Bxc4 $14 {Ivanisevic,I (2664)-Khenkin,I (2655) Subotica 2008})
8. Qd3 (8. g3 {has been suggested by Dorian Rogozenco and it leads to
considerable complications after} Qd7 {preparing queenside castling, e.g.} 9.
Bh3 Nh4 10. gxh4 Bxh3 11. Nbxd4 O-O-O) (8. g4 Nh4 {gives Black sufficient
counterplay.}) 8... a5 {Generating counterplay on the queenside.} 9. Bf4 a4 10.
Nbd2 Bc5 {10...Be7 and 10...Qd7 may be superior alternatives.} 11. g3 Nfe7 ({
Perhaps simply} 11... O-O) 12. Ne4 Bb6 13. Bg2 $14 {Nielsen,P (2710) -Tikkanen,
H (2501) Sweden 2009}) 7... Qd7 8. Bg2 Bh3 (8... Ng6 {is also good, supporting
...h7-h5-h4 as well as threatening to take on e5.}) 9. O-O Bxg2 10. Kxg2 O-O-O
11. b4 {Probably White's best option here, getting queenside counterplay
rolling.} Ng6 12. Bb2 (12. b5 Ncxe5 13. Bb2 c5 $1 {is quite good for Black.})
12... h5 {Black continues to focus on the kingside attack. Instead, it is
inadvisable to grab the pawn on e5 here.} (12... Ncxe5 $6 13. Bxd4) (12...
Ngxe5 $6 13. b5) 13. b5 Ncxe5 14. Bxd4 Nxf3 15. Nxf3 h4 16. Bxa7 $2 {White
doesn't have a real follow-up to this pawn snatch, while decentralising the
bishop allows Black to put more impetus into the kingside attack.} (16. e3 {
would have enabled White to defend for the time being. White would then have
had a slight edge, though with good winning chances for both sides.}) 16... Qg4
(16... Nf4+ {would have been even stronger:} 17. Kh1 (17. gxf4 $2 Qg4+ 18. Kh1
Rxd1) 17... Qh3 {and White has to give up the queen for rook and knight to
avoid being checkmated.}) 17. Qc2 hxg3 18. fxg3 b6 19. a4 Bd6 20. e3 Rh3 21.
Kh1 Rdh8 22. Rf2 Bxg3 23. Rg1 Qxf3+ 0-1
[Event "Barcelona Sant Marti op-A 14th"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2012.07.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Moskalenko, Viktor"]
[Black "Cruz, Jonathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D08"]
[WhiteElo "2523"]
[BlackElo "2418"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2012.07.13"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
{After 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6, the move 5.Nbd2 has been
recommended in some sources. White has the option of continuing with 6.a3 and
queenside expansion (which will usually transpose to lines considered under 5.
a3) or play Nd2-b3, attacking d4. In this article I focus on the Nd2-b3 based
approaches. Game 1 examines 5...Bg4, Game 2 examines 5...Be6, Game 3 examines
5...Bf5 and Game 4 examines 5...Nge7. The move-order with 5.Nbd2 is
particularly effective against 5...Nge7, and I'm not convinced about Black's
chances after 5...Bf5 6.Nb3, but against 5...Bg4 and 5...Be6, there may be
nothing better for White than 6.a3 transposing into 5.a3 lines.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4
e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 {Dorian Rogozenco is among the sources that
recommend this move.} Bg4 {Black puts pressure on the f3-knight and
discourages Nd2-b3.} (5... Qe7 {is an interesting way to try to exploit
White's move-order, since Nbd2 has reduced the pressure on Black's d4-pawn,
and after 5...Bg4, 5...Bf5 and 5...Be6, Black's best response to 6.a3 is
probably 6...Qe7.} 6. g3 {may be the best response, exploiting the fact that
Black now cannot easily engineer ...Bh3 exchanging off the light-squared
bishops.} (6. Nb3 {is generally transposes to lines where Black lets d4 drop
off and grabs e5, giving Black some compensation for the pawn due to active
pieces, e. g.} Bg4 (6... Bf5 7. Nbxd4 {is perhaps a slightly better version
for White}) 7. Nbxd4 O-O-O 8. e3 Nxe5) 6... Bf5 (6... Bg4 {meets with the same
response.}) 7. Bg2 O-O-O 8. O-O Nxe5 (8... Qd7 {was played in the only game I
can locate, but this just loses a tempo over the normal 5.g3 Bf5 lines.}) 9.
Nxe5 Qxe5 10. Nf3 Qc5 11. Qa4 $14) 6. h3 {White attacks the g4-bishop
immediately.} (6. a3 {is probably best, transposing to 5. a3 Bg4 6.Nbd2,
whereupon I recommend 6.. .Qe7.}) (6. g3 {transposes to 5.g3 lines which are
slightly better for White, but give Black promising attacking chances:} Qd7 (
6... Qe7 $5) 7. Bg2 O-O-O 8. O-O Bh3) (6. Nb3 {gives Black a choice of decent
options due to Black's attack on the knight on f3.} Bb4+ (6... Qe7 {lets d4
drop off in return for grabbing e5 and getting active piece play, e.g.} 7.
Nbxd4 O-O-O 8. e3 Nxe5 {and Black's threats come close to providing full
compensation.}) 7. Bd2 Qe7 {and I think Black has sufficient play.}) 6... Bxf3
{Giving up the bishop-pair, but this encourages White to either allow ...Bb4+
by recapturing with the knight, or compromise the white kingside pawn
structure.} 7. Nxf3 (7. exf3 Nxe5 8. f4 Nc6 {is at least equal for Black,
since White's pawn structure is compromised and White has lost the extra pawn.}
) 7... Bb4+ 8. Bd2 Qe7 {#[Position after 8...Qe7]} (8... Bxd2+ $6 9. Qxd2 {
exchanges off Black's active bishop and leaves Black with trouble defending d4.
}) 9. g3 {I don't think this works out particularly well for White. The
h3-pawn is vulnerable after this move.} (9. Bxb4 Qxb4+ 10. Qd2 {is another
option for White. However, Black probably has sufficient compensation for the
pawn after} Qxd2+ (10... Qxc4 11. e3) 11. Kxd2 Nge7 {#[Position after 11...
Nge7] as it will be hard to hold onto e5. Note, there are many analogous lines
in this 5.Nbd2 variation where White has the option of trading bishops on b4
and then trading queens, but in each case Black gets enough compensation for
the pawn in the resulting queenless middlegames.}) (9. a3 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O-O
{is fine for Black.}) 9... Nxe5 (9... O-O-O {may be slightly stronger, as
White doesn't have a good way to hold onto e5 anyway.}) 10. Nxe5 Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2
Qxe5 12. O-O-O Rd8 $6 {This drops the d4-pawn for very little compensation,
since White can exploit the fact that the black king is still in the centre of
the board.} (12... O-O-O {gives Black a reasonable game although White may be
able to claim a slight edge by attacking d4 with} 13. e3 c5 14. Qa5) 13. e3 Ne7
(13... c5 $6 14. exd4 cxd4 $2 {is met by the pin} 15. Re1) 14. exd4 Qf6 15. Bg2
c5 16. Qf4 Qxf4+ 17. gxf4 cxd4 18. Bxb7 {White is now a pawn up, and White's
piece activity offsets the shattered queenside pawn structure, i.e. Black has
nothing for the pawn.} O-O 19. Rhe1 Rd7 20. Be4 Rc8 21. b3 f5 22. Bd3 g6 23.
Kb2 Nc6 24. Bf1 Kf7 25. Bg2 Ne7 26. Rd2 Kf6 27. Red1 Rcd8 28. b4 g5 29. fxg5+
Kxg5 30. c5 Ng6 31. Kb3 Nf4 32. c6 Re7 33. Bf1 Rd6 34. b5 d3 35. Bxd3 Nxh3 36.
Bc4 Rf6 37. Rd7 Re8 38. Rd8 Re7 39. R1d7 1-0
[Event "SVK-chT 0910"]
[Site "Slovakia"]
[Date "2009.11.28"]
[Round "3.7"]
[White "Lisko, Frantisek"]
[Black "Srvatka, Igor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D08"]
[WhiteElo "2299"]
[BlackElo "2167"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2009.10.24"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SVK"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 Be6 {Black prepares to castle
queenside.} 6. Nb3 {White goes after the d4-pawn straightaway, and Black needs
to address this because Black's bishop on e6 will be hit by a white knight if
White gets to take on d4.} (6. a3 {transposes to 5.a3 Be6 6.Nbd2, which is
probably best, and then Black continues with 6...Nge7 intending 7...Nf5.}) (6.
g3 {transposes to 5.g3 Be6 6.Nbd2, whereupon Black should play ...Qd7, ...
0-0-0, and aim for ...Bh3 and a h-pawn hack.}) 6... Bb4+ (6... Bxc4 7. Nbxd4 {
gets rid of Black's d4-pawn and leaves White with the better position.}) 7. Bd2
Qe7 (7... Be7 {is an interesting alternative. For example, White has just
slightly the better of a murky position after} 8. Qc2 Qd7 9. Na5 Nxa5 10. Bxa5
b6) 8. Nbxd4 {This move is probably not best here, since Black can put White
under pressure down the d-file after exchanging knights on d4.} (8. a3 Bxd2+ 9.
Qxd2 {should be met by} O-O-O {and Black has reasonable chances.} ({I don't
trust the pawn grab on c4 as White's pieces become too active in response:}
9... Bxc4 10. Nbxd4 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 Qxe5 12. Rc1) 10. Na5 Nxa5 11. Qxa5 Kb8) 8...
Nxd4 9. Nxd4 O-O-O {This gives Black some initiative and good play down the
d-file.} 10. Nf3 Bxd2+ 11. Nxd2 {Diagram [#]} Qb4 {I have doubts about Black
going after White's queenside when taking the queenside pawns will open up
lines against Black's king.} (11... Qg5 {is a good alternative.}) 12. Qc2 Nh6 {
With the idea of stirring up trouble with ...Ng4.} 13. e4 $6 (13. h3 {would
have kept some advantage for White.}) 13... Ng4 14. a3 Qa5 $6 (14... Qc5 {
prevents White's next move.}) 15. c5 Rd4 16. Be2 Rhd8 17. b4 Rxb4 18. O-O Ra4
$6 {This results in Black's rook being shut off on the queenside.} (18... Rbd4
19. Nb3 Bxb3 20. Bxg4+ Be6 21. Bxe6+ fxe6 {is an improvement over the game for
Black, who threatens ...Rd2.} 22. c6 b6 {would keep everything covered.}) 19.
Nb3 Bxb3 20. Bxg4+ Be6 21. Bxe6+ fxe6 22. Qb3 (22. c6 b6 23. Qb3 {threatens
Rfd1, with a large advantage for White.}) 22... Qa6 {Black has only a slight
disadvantage in this position, but lost the game because of a big blunder near
the end:} 23. Qf3 Rad4 24. Rfc1 Qc6 25. Qg4 Rxe4 26. Qxg7 Qd5 27. Re1 Rxe1+ 28.
Rxe1 Qxc5 29. Qf6 Qd5 30. h4 h5 31. Re3 Rg8 32. Rf3 b6 33. Kh2 Rg4 34. Qh8+ Kb7
35. Qxh5 Qe4 36. Kh3 a5 $4 37. Qxg4 1-0
[Event "WS TT/2/11/2 Countergambit email"]
[Site "ICCF email"]
[Date "2011.03.05"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Justesen, Aage"]
[Black "Anderson, Douglas D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D08"]
[WhiteElo "1955"]
[BlackElo "2220"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "2011.??.??"]
[EventType "corr"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 Bf5 {This move was dismissed
by Dorian Rogozenco. It should lead to an advantage for White with best play,
but Black gets some counterplay. As usual with the Albin lines with the early .
..Bf5, Black generates issues for White on the d3 and c2 squares.} 6. Nb3 (6.
a3 Qe7 {is acceptable for Black- see 5.a3 Bf5 6.Nbd2.}) 6... Bb4+ {Taking
advantage of White leaving the a5-e1 diagonal open without having played a2-a3.
} (6... Qe7 {is another option, and may be the best practical choice, letting
d4 drop off and going after e5, though White should have at least a slight
advantage in this line.} 7. Nbxd4 O-O-O 8. e3 Nxe5 9. Bd2 $14 {Black has at
least half a pawn's worth of compensation, but probably not enough. Black's
bishop would be better off placed on g4 in this line.}) 7. Bd2 Be7 $5 {A
surprising retreat. This has been suggested for Black at the Chesspublishing.
com forum, though I think the line used in this game casts doubt on its
viability.} (7... Qe7 {is playable but should be slightly better for White,
because Black's bishop on f5 can become a target for Qd2-f4. It is best met by}
8. a3 Bxd2+ 9. Qxd2 Be4 (9... O-O-O 10. Qf4 {is a worse version for Black.})
10. O-O-O O-O-O 11. Qf4 Bxf3 12. gxf3 Nxe5 13. Rxd4 Nf6 $14) 8. Na5 {This aims
to provoke a weakness in the black queenside following the exchange of knights.
} (8. Bf4 g5 {(suggested by "Bubu13" at the Chesspublishing.com forum) is one
of the key ideas for Black, which leads to just a small disadvantage, with
some counterplay.} 9. Bc1 (9. Bg3 $6 {was tried in a low-level game in which
White subsequently self-destructed:} g4 10. Nfd2 Nb4 11. Rc1 Nxa2 12. Nxd4 Qxd4
13. Qa4+ c6 14. Qxa2 Bb4 15. Rd1 Rd8 16. b3 Bb1 {0-1 (16) Neumann,
U-Nattkaemper,S Germany 1993}) 9... Qd7 10. Bxg5 Bxg5 11. Nxg5 O-O-O) (8. e3 {
is a sensible response for White, challenging the d4-pawn.} dxe3 9. Bxe3 {
should probably be met by a return of the black bishop to b4, to avoid the
queen trade:} Bb4+ 10. Nbd2 Qe7 $14) 8... Nxa5 (8... Nb4 9. Rc1 {is no good
for Black. Black cannot take on a2 because of the response Qa4+.}) 9. Bxa5 b6
10. Bd2 {Diagram [#] Black is in some trouble as the d4-pawn is vulnerable and
the bishop on f5 will be hit if White gets in Nf3xd4.} f6 (10... Qd7 {is
probably best, preventing Qa4+, though it appears that White gets quite a
large advantage with} 11. e3) (10... c5 11. Qa4+ Bd7 {may be a slight
improvement over the game, though I think White is better after} 12. Qb3) 11.
Qa4+ Bd7 12. Qc2 Bc6 (12... fxe5 13. Nxe5 Nf6 {would have been better, but
Black doesn't have much for a pawn here.}) 13. O-O-O Bxf3 14. gxf3 fxe5 15. f4
{A rather early resignation, but White's position is probably won with best
play.} 1-0
[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D08"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 Nge7 {This is Morozevich's
usual preference, but in the move-order with 5.Nbd2 there is a significant
issue with it.} 6. Nb3 {Ganging up on the d4-pawn.} (6. a3 {transposes to 5.a3
Nge7 6.Nbd2, where I think Black is doing OK after} Be6) 6... Nf5 (6... Ng6 {
results in the exchange of Black's d4-pawn for White's e5-pawn, leaving White
with an extra pawn for not much.} 7. Nbxd4 (7. a3 {is also better for White-
Dorian Rogozenco}) 7... Ngxe5 8. Nxe5 Nxe5 9. e3 {That said, Black's practical
results in this position haven't been too bad.}) 7. a3 {This should be
slightly better for White but is not a serious test of Black's opening line.} (
7. e4 {is the main objection to the variation starting with 5...Nge7.} dxe3 (
7... Nh4 {may be a better practical chance, keeping queens on the board and
aiming for complications, but White has a significant advantage here, too,
after} 8. Nfxd4 Nxe5 9. c5 {restricts the scope of Black's pieces- Dorian
Rogozenco}) 8. Qxd8+ {leads to a better queenless middlegame for White
regardless of how Black recaptures, since White gets a fair share of the piece
activity, and has an extra pawn, although the shattered white pawn structure
devalues the pawn plus. For example,} Nxd8 (8... Kxd8 9. fxe3 Bb4+ 10. Kf2 $14
{, for example, if} Re8 11. e4) 9. fxe3 Nc6 10. Bd3 Bb4+ 11. Kf2 {and Black's
superior pawn structure is probably not worth a pawn, Drozdovskij,Y (2627)
-Bauer,C (2590) Ourense 2009}) 7... Be7 (7... Be6 {is more common, giving a
complicated position that I examined under 5.a3 Nge7 6.Nbd2 Be6 7.Nb3 Nf5.}) 8.
g3 {White decides on a kingside fianchetto, especially with Black denied the
option of ...Bf5/Qd7/Bh3 etc.} (8. Bf4 g5 {was most likely the point behind
Black's seventh move.}) 8... a5 {Pushing the a-pawn to cause White some
disruption, pushing the knight away from b3, as also tends to happen in the
line with 7...Be6.} 9. Qd3 a4 10. Nbd2 h5 {Black now starts an attack on the
other flank.} 11. Bh3 {This development of the bishop is more of a challenge
to Black than the standard fianchetto with Bg2. Black's f5-knight is put under
pressure.} g6 12. Ne4 h4 $6 (12... Nh4 {uncovering an attack on the bishop on
h3 was Black's best bet here, and it leads to complications which only
slightly favour White.}) 13. Bf4 (13. g4 {is an improvement, forcing Black's
f5-knight to retreat, which should lead to a significant advantage for White.})
13... hxg3 14. hxg3 Ng7 (14... Nxg3 {doesn't work out very well for Black:} 15.
fxg3 Rxh3 16. O-O-O) 15. Bg2 (15. Nf6+ Bxf6 16. exf6 {looks good for White, as
the white pieces become very active.}) 15... Rxh1+ 16. Bxh1 Bf5 17. Nfg5 Na5
18. Qf3 Ne6 19. Nh7 $6 {Probably a slight error, as the knight ends up shut
out of play here.} (19. Nxe6 Bxe6 20. c5 {gives White a small edge due to the
extra pawn, although the position remains complicated with good practical
chances for Black.}) 19... Bxe4 20. Qxe4 c6 21. e3 (21. Rc1 {with the idea of
encouraging} Nb3 {whereupon White can play} 22. Rd1 {without conceding the
c4-pawn would have been better, although by this stage Black has dangerous
compensation for the sacrificed pawn.}) 21... Nb3 22. Rd1 Qa5+ 23. Ke2 Nec5 24.
Qg2 Qa6 25. Kf1 Qxc4+ 26. Kg1 Qc2 27. Qf3 d3 {Black has outplayed White and
secured a large advantage.} 28. Bg5 Ne4 29. Bxe7 Nxf2 30. Qxf2 Qxd1+ 31. Kg2
Qc2 32. Bd6 O-O-O 33. Kg1 Qxf2+ 34. Kxf2 Rh8 0-1