Why not simply recapture on c3 and develop a piece?  With 5.Nxc3 White firmly gains control of the d5-square, ruling out ...d7-d5 (mainly because e4xd5 would hit Black's knight on c6, and retain the initiative for White in a position with level material).  

White's two main plans from here are as follows:
​
a) To launch a quick attack against f7, Black's main weak point, with Bc4, Ng5 and/or Qb3.  While Black can usually adequately defend f7, it often involves putting the black pieces on sub-optimal squares, making it difficult for Black to complete development and increasing the danger of the black king being caught in the centre. 
​If White goes for the Bc4, Qb3 approach, White has to beware of the ...Nc6-a5 fork, which in some lines can force the exchange of the important light sqaured bishop for Black's knight on c6.  Black commonly prepares ...Na5 by meeting Qb3 with ...Qd7, which blocks in the bishop on c8, but also blocks the a4-e8 diagnoal so that after ...Na5, White cannot meet it with Qa4+.

b) To attack on the kingside dark squares with Bg5, aiming to put the knight on g8 in an awkward pin against the black queen on d8, and adding to the pressure with Nc3-d5.  This plan is not very effective if Black can bring the dark squared bishop to e7, but it can be effective if Black has brought the bishop out to c5 and then played ...d6, blocking the bishop from getting back to defend the kingside.  It is not quite as effective in the ...Bb4 lines because Black can prevent Nc3-d5 by exchanging off the knight on c3.

The main reason why White has often preferred 5.Bc4 to 5.Nxc3 is that after 5.Nxc3, Black can force the exchange of the knight on c3 by playing 5...Bb4, and following it up quickly with ...Bb4xc3, although this does give White the bishop pair vs. bishop and knight in an open position.  Another issue with 5.Nxc3 is that 5...Bc5 is a surprisingly robust defence. 

Black cannot get into either of these lines after 5.Bc4, because 5.Bc4 Bb4 can be met by 6.0-0 or 6.bxc3 (instead of 6.Nxc3) and 5...Bc5 can be met by the tactic 6.Bxf7+, intending 6...Kxf7 7.Qd5+ and 8.Qxc5.  Black can, however, get into the 5...d6 variation against 5.Bc4, for if Black meets 5.Bc4 with 5...d6 or 5...Nf6, White has nothing better than (or as good as) 6.Nxc3, allowing a straight transposition.  As you will see in the discussion of 5.Bc4 lines, though, most theoretically critical after 5.Bc4 is to grab the pawn on b2.

5.Nxc3 d6

One of the most important Black defences is 5...d6, where Black aims to follow up with ...Nf6, ...Be7 and ...0-0, in the style of the passive but solid Hungarian Defence (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7).  The bishop on f8 is locked inside the pawn chain, but it can be useful as a defender of the kingside, in particular the Bg5 plan is no good because Black replies with ...Be7.  This defence can also be used against 5.Bc4, if Black would rather not take the second pawn at b2 and allow White an accelerated initiative.

Why 5...d6 and not the natural-looking 5...Nf6 instead?  The main reason is that White can exploit Black's move order with 6.e5, hitting the knight on f6, and if 6...Ng4 7.Qe2 and Black's knight on g4 is in danger of being driven back to h6.  

​Against this, 6.Bb5!? may be playable, pinning the knight on c6, but this slower approach is less likely to give White full compensation for a pawn, for example see Berza-Cavajda, email 2004.   By far the most popular and consistent approach is 6.Bc4, fingering Black's weak point on f7 and preparing to attack it on the next move.

[Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "One pawn sacrifice"] [Black "...Bb4"] [Result "*"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "13"] [EventCategory "9"] [SourceVersionDate "2019.01.15"] * [Event "JUG jub corr"] [Site "Yugoslavia"] [Date "1987.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Thiele, Erich"] [Black "Van Perlo, Gerardus C"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C44"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "1987.??.??"] [EventType "tourn (corr)"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "YUG"] [SourceTitle "Corr Nr. 1"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "1997.09.01"] [SourceVersion "2"] [SourceVersionDate "2000.04.19"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 Bb4 {[#] This has generally been regarded as the most critical response to 5.Nxc3. Black pins the knight on c3, and prepares to swap it off and then play ...Nf6 and ...0-0.} 6. Bc4 Bxc3+ (6... d6 {is more common, which tends not to make any difference in most cases as after 6...d6 Black's best 7th move is generally to take on c3 anyway, but Black does have the interesting sideline} 7. Ng5 Nh6 8. O-O O-O {, where Black is not afraid of allowing White to get Nc3-d5 in. Danish Dynamite gave the line} 9. Nd5 Bc5 10. Nf3 {threatening Bxh6, which would force the reply ... gxh6, dangerously exposing the black king, and then} Ng4 11. Bg5 Qd7 {and I think White has enough compensation for a pawn here, in a situation similar to the positions that often arise from the 5...Bc5 lines. The advance of the a and b-pawns may cause Black some difficulties. However, this line is still untested, and there are quite a few decent alternatives for both sides at move 9 and 10.}) 7. bxc3 d6 {Black plays this to cover the e5-square, so that if Black plays ...Nf6, developing the knight to its best square, White can't play e4-e5 without it involving the sacrifice of a second pawn.} 8. Ng5 {White is well justified in moving the same piece twice in the opening here, as attacking f7 disrupts Black's development plan.} Nh6 ({A reasonable alternative is} 8... Ne5 {whereupon play often continues} 9. Bb3 {threatening f4 kicking away the knight on e5 and then taking on f7, and then} h6 10. f4 { A few recent correspondence games have led to an equal game after} hxg5 (10... Bg4 11. Qd4 $44 {- Danish Dynamite.}) 11. fxe5 Qe7 12. Qd5 dxe5) 9. O-O O-O 10. f4 Na5 {Black wants to kick the bishop off the a2-g8 diagonal so as to unpin the f7-pawn and kick the knight away from g5 with ...f7-f6. However, the knight ends up a bit offside on a5, and Black could also have considered completing development with ...Qe7 and moving the bishop on c8.} 11. Be2 (11. Bd3 {might be a slight improvement, with the idea of e4-e5 uncovering an attack on h7, but White might also have envisaged the upcoming piece sacrifice after playing Be2.}) 11... Kh8 12. f5 f6 {[#]} (12... Nc6 {bringing the knight over to defend the king would have been safer, although the move played in the game is not objectively bad.}) 13. Nxh7 $5 {Although I didn't believe in it when I first looked at it, this knight sacrifice appears to be fully sound, having examined it closely with the aid of the most recent versions of Stockfish. It is also White's only way to be sure of keeping the initiative.} Kxh7 14. Bh5 g5 (14... Nc6 {bringing the knight over to defend the king appears to be Black's only other way to survive. Stockfish gives its favourite "0.00", and a closer look reveals that it probably is a draw with best play, but of course there is plenty of scope for both sides to go wrong in this type of position.}) 15. fxg6+ $2 (15. h4 {trying to open lines would have given White enough compensation for the sacrificed knight.}) 15... Kg7 {Now the king is quite safe behind White's g6-pawn.} 16. Qd2 Ng8 17. Be2 Nc6 ({Black still has to be careful:} 17... Kxg6 $2 18. Qd3 {gives White a winning attack.}) 18. h4 {White threatens to support the pawn on g6 with h4-h5, so this is the right time for Black to take the pawn.} Kxg6 19. c4 (19. Qd3 {is now met by} Ne5) 19... Ne5 20. Rb1 b6 21. Rb3 Be6 22. Rg3+ {[#]} Kf7 $2 (22... Kh7 {would have left Black with a winning position, although White retains some attacking chances. For example,} 23. h5 Rf7 24. h6 Qd7) 23. Bh5+ {Now White invades on the kingside and is back to having sufficient attacking chances for the piece.} Ke7 24. Rg7+ Bf7 25. g4 Qe8 26. Bb2 Rd8 27. g5 Rd7 28. g6 Nxg6 29. Bxf6+ Nxf6 30. Qg5 Kd8 31. Qxf6+ Kc8 32. Bxg6 Rg8 33. Bxf7 Qxf7 34. Qxf7 Rxg7+ 35. Qxg7 Rxg7+ 36. Kh2 {In this endgame White has the better chances due to the outside passed h-pawn, but with best play it's a draw, and in the game Black held the draw quite easily.} Kd7 37. Kh3 Ke6 38. h5 a6 39. Rf5 c6 40. Kh4 Rg2 41. a3 Re2 42. Rf4 b5 43. cxb5 axb5 44. h6 1/2-1/2 [Event "CRO-chT"] [Site "Bol"] [Date "2014.05.15"] [Round "2.3"] [White "Loncar, Robert"] [Black "Bosiocic, Marin"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "2371"] [BlackElo "2542"] [PlyCount "58"] [EventDate "2014.05.14"] [EventType "team-swiss"] [EventRounds "6"] [EventCountry "CRO"] [SourceTitle "CBM 160 Extra"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2014.07.01"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2014.07.01"] [SourceQuality "1"] [WhiteTeam "Kastel Stari"] [BlackTeam "Rijeka Rijeka"] [WhiteTeamCountry "CRO"] [BlackTeamCountry "CRO"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 Bb4 6. Bc4 Nge7 {Black wants to be able to castle and by-pass the issue that an immediate ...Nf6 is met by e4-e5.} 7. Ng5 {Now it turns out that Black can't safely castle after all.} (7. O-O {unpinning the knight on c3 and threatening Nc3-d5 is also good, although it does allow Black to get castled. For example, White has dangerous attacking chances after} O-O 8. Nd5 Nxd5 9. exd5 Ne7) 7... Ne5 (7... O-O $2 8. Qh5 $1 { attacks h7 and f7 and wins, as Black can't defend both pawns.}) 8. Bb3 h6 9. f4 (9. Nf3 $5 {appears to be fine in this position, as Black can't respond to it with the pinning ...Bg4.}) 9... hxg5 10. fxe5 Bxc3+ $2 (10... Nc6 {would have been better, as it is useful to have the option of dropping the bishop on b4 back to d6 or e7 in various lines.}) 11. bxc3 Nc6 12. O-O Nxe5 {[#]} 13. Qd5 $2 (13. Rxf7 $3 {would have given White a winning attack, as} Nxf7 14. Bxf7+ Kxf7 {with the idea of Bxg5 and bringing the rook on a1 into the attack forces Black to part with the queen or be mated.} 15. Qd5+) (13. Bxf7+ {intending} Nxf7 14. Rxf7 $3 {is also winning.}) 13... d6 {Now Black is quite safe, as ... Bc8-e6 is coming, snuffing out White's attack.} 14. Ba3 ({The computer points out the astonishing sacrifice} 14. Qxe5+ $5 dxe5 15. Bxf7+ {whereupon Black has to give back the queen to avoid being mated, but Black can get the upper hand, for example} Kd7 16. Rd1+ Kc6 17. Rxd8 Rxd8 18. Bxg5 Rd3 {and White does not have enough for the exchange.}) 14... O-O 15. Rad1 Bg4 16. Rde1 b6 17. Re3 Qe7 18. Qd2 Be6 19. Rg3 {White goes for the attack, but Black's defences hold up well.} f6 20. Qe2 Rae8 21. Rh3 Qf7 22. Bc1 Bxb3 23. axb3 {[#]} g4 {This is a useful resource for Black, closing lines for the white pieces to the kingside, although it takes some courage to play this as the pawn on g4 has potential to become weak.} 24. Rh4 Qxb3 25. h3 ({I would have considered} 25. Bf4 {in this position with the idea of taking the knight on e5 and then rounding up the pawn on g4, but} f5 {is a good reply, intending} 26. exf5 $2 Nf3+) 25... Qxc3 26. hxg4 Qc4 27. Qf2 Ng6 28. Rh3 Rxe4 29. Kh1 Rxg4 {White is now five (!) pawns down, and with few attacking chances left, so White gave up. } 0-1 [Event "EU-ch M/027 email"] [Site "ICCF email"] [Date "2005.02.20"] [Round "?"] [White "Fabig, Holger"] [Black "Klausner, Helmut"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "2251"] [BlackElo "2304"] [PlyCount "105"] [EventDate "2005.02.20"] [EventType "tourn (corr)"] [EventRounds "10"] [SourceTitle "Telechess CBM 118"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2007.05.31"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 Bb4 6. Bc4 {This is not as bad for Black as in many analogous variations - indeed with best play Black can probably reach equality in this line, but Black will have a rough time with king safety in the early middlegame.} Nf6 {[#]} 7. e5 {White causes disruption by hitting the knight on f6.} (7. O-O {should be met by} Bxc3 8. bxc3 d6 {transposing to the line 6...d6 7.0-0 Bxc3 8.bxc3 d6.}) 7... d5 { Often the best move in this type of position, counterattacking against the bishop on c4.} (7... Ng4 8. Bxf7+ $1 {intending} Kxf7 9. Ng5+ {regains the pawn (by picking up the knight on g4 on the next move) and maintains attacking chances.}) 8. exf6 dxc4 9. Qxd8+ (9. Qe2+ $6 {would tempt me if I was unfamiliar with this position, hoping to keep queens on the board, but after} Be6 10. fxg7 Rg8 {Black threatens to play ...Qd3 forcing the queens off anyway. }) 9... Nxd8 (9... Kxd8 10. fxg7 Re8+ {is another idea for Black, but one amusing example of how White can keep attacking chances going against this went } 11. Kf1 $5 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Bf5 13. Ba3 Rg8 14. Bf8 {[#]} Nb8 $2 (14... Ne7 { keeps Black in the game, but White is still better.}) 15. Ne5 Be6 16. f4 Nd7 17. Rd1 f6 18. Nxd7 Bxd7 19. Rd5 Kc8 20. Kf2 b5 21. Rh5 a5 22. Rxh7 b4 23. Rh8 Be6 24. h4 b3 25. axb3 cxb3 26. h5 Kd7 27. f5 Bd5 28. h6 a4 29. h7 a3 30. Rxg8 {1-0 Ganskaya,E (1931)-Zingaylo,A (2070) Lubny 2009}) 10. fxg7 Rg8 11. Bh6 (11. O-O {is a playable and largely unexplored alternative for White, as the pawn on g7 is going to drop off soon anyway.}) 11... Ne6 (11... f6 {intending ... Kf7 is also playable.}) (11... Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Ne6 13. O-O-O Nxg7 14. Rhe1+ Ne6 {is the most popular continuation. White's attacking chances are worth a pawn, but many high-level games have ended in draws.}) ({It is easy for Black to go wrong:} 11... Bf5 $2 {has been tried in several games, but} 12. O-O-O Bxc3 13. bxc3 {and with the e-file pointing at Black's king still open, White has a very dangerous attack.}) 12. O-O-O Bxc3 (12... Nxg7 $2 {is well met by} 13. Nd5 {so this is the right time to chop off the knight on c3.}) 13. bxc3 f6 14. Rhe1 Kf7 {[#] Here White has continued attacking chances, but with best play Black can defend and keep the chances level.} 15. g4 (15. Re4 {is probably the most reliable continuation for White, attacking the pawn on c4 and encouraging Black to weaken the queenside a bit with ...b5.}) 15... Nc5 16. Rg1 Nd3+ 17. Kb1 b5 (17... a5 {would have been more challenging, the point being that} 18. g5 $6 fxg5 19. Rxg5 $2 {results in the bishop on h6 being lost after} Ra6 $1) 18. g5 c5 (18... fxg5 19. Rxg5 {is now very strong for White, breaking through to the black king.}) 19. Rd2 b4 {Both sides are now attacking on opposite wings, making for a combative game despite the early exchange of queens.} 20. gxf6 Kxf6 21. cxb4 cxb4 22. Re2 Bf5 23. Bg5+ Kxg7 24. Re7+ Kf8 25. Rc7 { [#] White correctly figures that Black's discovered checks are not dangerous. Black finds the only discovered check that keeps the chances level.} Ne1+ ( 25... Nxf2+ $2 26. Ka1 Rg6 27. Nh4 {leaves Black in a lot of trouble.}) 26. Ka1 Nc2+ 27. Kb2 c3+ 28. Kb3 Rg6 29. Nh4 Nd4+ {This is the important resource that keeps Black in the game.} 30. Kxb4 Rb6+ 31. Kc4 Ne2 32. Be7+ Kf7 33. Bb4+ Kf6 34. Bxc3+ Nxc3 35. Nxf5 Ne2 36. Re1 Rb2 37. Ne3 Rxa2 38. Nd5+ Kg5 39. h4+ Kh6 40. Nc3 Nxc3 41. Re6+ Kh5 42. Rxh7+ Kg4 43. Rg6+ Kf5 44. Rg5+ Kf6 45. Kxc3 Rxf2 46. Rh6+ Kf7 47. h5 a5 48. Rgg6 Ke7 49. Rb6 Ra7 50. Rhg6 a4 51. h6 a3 52. h7 a2 53. Ra6 {And after having run out of pieces to attack each other with, with both pawns set to drop off, the players agreed a draw.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Groningen GAM"] [Site "Groningen"] [Date "1997.??.??"] [Round "2"] [White "Blees, Albert"] [Black "Bosch, Jeroen"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "2405"] [BlackElo "2425"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "1997.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "3"] [EventCountry "NED"] [SourceTitle "EXT 2002"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2001.11.25"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 Bb4 6. Bc4 d6 (6... Qe7 { is an idea that crops up a lot in the opening phase of this game, so it's worth seeing why it isn't advisable at move 6:} 7. O-O {This avoids the threat of ...Bxc3 and ...Qxe4+, and as Nc3-d5 is threatened, Black is forced to chop off the knight on c3 straightaway.} Bxc3 8. bxc3 d6 (8... Qxe4 $2 {loses the queen for a rook following} 9. Re1) ({I once won a game against a higher-rated player in short order following} 8... Ne5 $6 9. Nxe5 Qxe5 10. Qb3 {where White has an overwhelming attack - the game continued} Qe7 11. Ba3 Qf6 $2 12. e5 Qg6 13. Qb4 {1-0. It's the kind of thing that can happen if Black violates too many traditional opening principles in the accepted lines of the gambit, leaving Black with no pieces developed other than the queen.}) 9. Ba3 {and White is preparing to blast open the centre with e4-e5.}) 7. Qb3 {[#] This is an alternative way of attacking f7, but with the right move order Black can engineer ...Nf6 and ...0-0 safely unless White is prepared to sacrifice a second pawn.} Bxc3+ $1 (7... Qe7 $6 8. O-O {unpins the knight on c3, threatening Nd5, and after} Bxc3 9. Qxc3 $1 {gives White good compensation for the pawn, as first pointed out by John Emms in Play the Open Games as Black, who remarked, "I can't find a single example of 9.Qxc3 here, even though it may well be White's best move!". The idea is generally to play Re1 followed by e5, blasting open the centre, and as White has castled and is ready to bring a rook to e1,} Qf6 $2 10. e5 $1 {doesn't work for Black.}) 8. bxc3 (8. Qxc3 Qf6 $1 {now works very well for Black, and to avoid the exchange of queens, White has to move the queen again, and Black's position is solid following} 9. Qb3 Nge7 10. Bg5 Qg6) 8... Qd7 {This threatens ...Nc6-a5 which would force the exchange of the Bc4 for the Nc6, as Qa4 in response would no longer be check.} (8... Qe7 {is more challenging for White, because of} 9. O-O Nf6 {and Black is preparing to castle kingside.} 10. e5 $5 {White's only way to maintain attacking chances against the king in this position appears to be this sacrifice of a second pawn, but it is doubtful if White can get enough for two pawns.} (10. Bg5 {aims for positional compensation by pinning the knight against the queen, but it is not clear if White can get enough for a pawn with this, for example} O-O 11. Rae1 h6 12. Bh4 Na5 13. Qa4 Nxc4 14. Qxc4 Be6 15. Qd3 Rfe8 16. Nd4 {, Minev,N-Matanovic,A Moscow 1956}) 10... Nxe5 11. Nxe5 dxe5 12. Ba3 c5 {is the usual continuation, which leads to considerable complications following Bb5+ or Qb5+, aiming to catch the black king in the centre, but both theory and practice have demonstrated that White probably doesn't have enough for two pawns (Black has a plus score against it in the database).}) 9. Ng5 Nh6 {Now Black is threatening ...Na5 again, so White back-pedals for a move to avoid letting the important bishop on c4 get exchanged off.} 10. Qc2 Ne5 11. Bb3 Qe7 12. f4 Nd7 13. Ba3 Nc5 {[#]} 14. Bxc5 $6 (14. O-O {is fine for White, because if Black exchanges off the bishop on b3, White gets an open file for the rook following axb3 and can still aim for e5. However, White may well have envisaged the upcoming exchange sacrifice, which, while not completely sound, presents White with a dangerous attack that Black couldn't survive in the game.}) 14... dxc5 15. O-O-O f6 16. Nf3 Bd7 {[#]} 17. Rxd7 $5 {Not objectively best, but the best practical choice and very much in the spirit of the gambit.} ({If} 17. Rhe1 O-O-O {and I don't think White has much to show for the pawn.}) 17... Kxd7 (17... Qxd7 18. Rd1 {is also playable for Black, but then White has the idea of e4-e5 continuing attacking chances, regardless of where Black's queen moves.}) 18. Rd1+ Kc8 19. e5 c6 20. Rd6 fxe5 $2 (20... Kc7 {gives Black the advantage (Mark Morss, citing analysis by Blees himself), although White's attack still looks pretty scary.}) 21. Be6+ Kb8 22. Qd2 e4 23. Ne5 e3 24. Qd3 {[#]} a5 $2 (24... e2 $1 {was Black's only way to survive, envisaging} 25. Kd2 a5 $1 {and ...Ra6. It is, though, the kind of line that is difficult for humans to spot, and very easy for the latest computer engines.}) 25. Nxc6+ bxc6 26. Rd7 Qxe6 27. Qb1+ 1-0 [Event "CFriend AC-2005-Q-00007 email"] [Site "Chessfriend.com"] [Date "2005.07.22"] [Round "1"] [White "Nepustil, Frantisek"] [Black "Yarmolyuk, Yury"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "2376"] [BlackElo "2141"] [PlyCount "69"] [EventDate "2005.??.??"] [EventType "tourn (corr)"] [EventRounds "6"] [SourceTitle "Corr 2008"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2008.06.24"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2008.06.24"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 {A slightly unconventional move order, but fully playable.} Bb4+ {More forcing than 3...Nc6 which would allow White the option of playing the Scotch Game (4.Nxd4) or Scotch Gambit (4.Bc4), or avoiding this particular ...Bb4 variation with 4.c3 dxc3 5.Bc4. That said, when I have played this line with White the majority of my opponents have complied with 3.. .Nc6.} 4. c3 (4. Bd2 {is also playable but is less likely to give White the usual attacking chances associated with this gambit. White often ends up regaining the pawn and having equality, e.g.} Bxd2+ 5. Nbxd2 Nc6 (5... c5 { is more ambitious, where the onus is on White to prove enough compensation for the pawn but White gets more in the way of attacking chances, e.g.} 6. c3 dxc3 7. bxc3 Ne7 8. e5 d5) 6. Nb3 Nf6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O Re8 9. Re1 d6 10. Nfxd4 { with a level position, as played in Savchenko,B (2616)-Chadaev,N (2573) Olginka 2011}) 4... dxc3 5. Nxc3 ({If} 5. bxc3 $6 Bc5 {it is hard for White to generate enough of an initiative to justify the pawn sacrifice. In particular Black doesn't have any Nc3-d5 ideas to worry about.}) 5... Nc6 {This is a straight transposition to 3...Nc6 4.c3 dxc3 5.Nxc3 Bb4. There are some fifth move alternatives for Black, but none of them are more challenging for White than this line.} 6. Bc4 d6 7. O-O {White unpins the knight on c3 and threatens Nc3-d5. Although in this case the knight wouldn't gain a tempo against a queen on e7, in this particular line it is very important for Black to exchange off the knight immediately before it gets to d5.} Bxc3 (7... Nf6 $6 8. Nd5 { leaves Black in a lot of trouble:} O-O (8... Nxd5 $2 9. exd5 {and if the knight on c6 moves, White plays Qa4+ and Qxb4, so Black is losing a piece.}) 9. Bg5 {and Black can't stop White from exchanging on f6 and forcing the reply ... gxf6, dangerously exposing the black king.}) 8. bxc3 Nf6 $1 {Black is preparing to castle kingside.} (8... Bg4 $5 {has also scored well for Black, allowing f7 to drop off in return for counterplay against White's king by taking on f3 and forcing the recapture g2xf3. But objectively this line is quite good for White. The most critical line runs} 9. Qb3 Bxf3 10. Bxf7+ Kf8 11. gxf3 (11. Bxg8 $6 Rxg8 12. gxf3 Ne5 $6 (12... Qd7 $1 {gives Black dangerous attacking chances with the idea of ...g7-g5-g4, as pointed out by John Watson in his review of Danish Dynamite.}) 13. f4 Nf3+ {was actually the game continuatiion, but see the note to Black's 12th move!}) 11... Ne5 12. Bxg8 Rxg8 13. f4 Nf3+ 14. Kg2 Nh4+ 15. Kh1 Qd7 16. c4 Qg4 17. Qg3 Qf3+ 18. Qxf3 Nxf3 19. Rb1 {(Fries Nielsen,J (2300)-Brinck Claussen,B (2385) Norresundby 1978) although naturally there are various playable alternatives for both sides along the way.}) 9. Bg5 {White goes for positional compensation, putting the knight on f6 in an awkward pin.} (9. Ba3 {is a sneaky way of stopping Black from safely castling, because then the pawn on d6 would be pinned against the rook on f8, making e4-e5 very strong. But White hasn't found an adequate answer to} Bg4 $1 {as was famously played by Smyslov against Jonathan Penrose:} 10. Bb5 (10. Qb3 {is well met by} O-O) 10... O-O 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. e5 Nd5 13. Qd3 (13. exd6 {followed by 14.c4 is probably best, but White doesn't really have enough for a pawn here.}) 13... Re8 14. exd6 Nf4 15. Qc4 Ne2+ 16. Kh1 Bxf3 17. gxf3 cxd6 18. Qxc6 Rc8 19. Qxd6 Qh4 20. Rfd1 Qxf2 21. Rf1 Qh4 22. Rad1 Re6 23. Qd7 Ng3+ 24. Kg1 Rce8 25. Rf2 Ne2+ {0-1 Penrose,J-Smyslov,V Munich 1958}) ( 9. e5 {leads to a complicated but dubious two-pawn sacrifice line that we saw in the previous game:} Nxe5 10. Nxe5 dxe5 11. Qb3 (11. Qxd8+ Kxd8 12. Bxf7 Ke7 13. Bb3 Be6 {"leads to a dreary ending for White" - Mark Morss. It's the kind of position where if Black is the stronger player, Black has decent winning chances, but if White is the stronger player it will probably be a draw. With so many pieces having been exchanged, and White remaining a pawn down, White has no real winning chances.}) 11... Qe7 12. Ba3 c5) 9... O-O 10. Rb1 h6 11. Bh4 Qe7 12. Re1 {[#]} Rb8 (12... Ne5 {would have been superior, forcing the exchange of another pair of minor pieces.}) 13. Nd4 {Now White can avoid having to exchange another pair of pieces following ...Ne5. If Black exchanges knights on d4, White can take back with the pawn on c3, establishing a strong centre.} Ne5 14. Bb3 a6 15. Nf5 Qd8 16. Qd4 Bxf5 17. exf5 Ned7 18. f4 b5 19. g4 {[#]} Qc8 $2 ({Black's only way to stay on top was to give the pawn back with} 19... c5 20. Qxd6 c4 {whereupon Black repels the white attack and has the better pawn structure (two pawn islands vs. White's three).} ({or} 20... Qb6 { threatening ...c4+ is also good.})) 20. g5 hxg5 21. fxg5 Ne5 22. Rf1 Ne8 23. Qd1 c5 24. Qh5 c4 25. Bc2 b4 26. Rf4 b3 27. axb3 cxb3 28. Be4 Rb5 29. Bf2 Qxc3 {[#]} 30. Rh4 f6 31. g6 Nxg6 32. Qh7+ Kf7 33. Rh3 Qd2 34. Qxg6+ Ke7 35. Bd3 1-0 [Event "HUN-chT 0001"] [Site "Hungary"] [Date "2001.02.25"] [Round "7"] [White "Hidegh, Eszter"] [Black "Papp, Nandor"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C21"] [WhiteElo "2120"] [BlackElo "2158"] [PlyCount "135"] [EventDate "2000.11.26"] [EventType "team-tourn"] [EventRounds "11"] [EventCountry "HUN"] [SourceTitle "EXT 2009"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2008.11.26"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2008.11.26"] [SourceQuality "1"] [WhiteTeam "Sarospatak"] [BlackTeam "Nagykanizsa"] [WhiteTeamCountry "HUN"] [BlackTeamCountry "HUN"] 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 {A departure from the more usual 6.Bc4. White aims to attack on the kingside dark squares and put the knight on g8 into an awkward pin, exploiting the fact that Black cannot bring the bishop to e7 without the loss of a tempo.} Nge7 (6... Be7 $5 { is surprisingly strong, despite the loss of a tempo.} 7. Be3 (7. Bxe7 Ngxe7 8. Bc4 O-O {gives White some hacking chances but Black is quite solid, if} 9. Ng5 h6) (7. Bf4 {might be White's best try, with the possible idea of castling queenside and launching a kingside pawn storm, but it is not clear if it is worth a pawn}) 7... d6 8. Bb5 Nf6 9. e5 Ng4 10. Bxc6+ bxc6 {did not work out well for White in Gabre,Z (2114)-Novosel,T (2169) Grubisno Polje 2014}) (6... Nf6 {is well met by} 7. e5) 7. Qb3 ({White can aim for queenside castling and a kingside pawn storm, but this seems to be too slow, for example,} 7. Qc2 d6 8. O-O-O Bxc3 9. Qxc3 O-O 10. h4 Be6 11. h5 h6 $1 12. Be3 Qe8 13. g4 f6 14. Rg1 Qf7 15. a3 d5 {, Gufeld,E-Stein,L Kiev 1959}) 7... O-O 8. Bc4 Qe8 {Black breaks the pin on the knight on e7.} 9. O-O {White now threatens to bring the knight on c3 out to d5, or maybe to b5, and so Black swaps it off without delay.} Bxc3 10. Qxc3 Ng6 {[#] Here White has decent compensation for a pawn, and decides to mix things up somewhat.} 11. e5 Ngxe5 12. Rae1 d6 {This is a surprisingly robust defence.} 13. Nxe5 dxe5 14. f4 Be6 15. f5 Bxc4 16. Qxc4 h6 $6 (16... Qd7 {would have been better, forcing play into similar channels to the game.}) 17. Bh4 $6 (17. Be3 {would have been better, keeping an eye on the h6-pawn for potential Bxh6 sacrifices.}) (17. f6 $5 {is even playable, with the idea of} hxg5 18. Qc1 {with the idea of mating Black on the dark squares.}) 17... Qd7 18. Re4 Kh7 19. f6 Rg8 20. fxg7 f5 21. Bf6 Rxg7 $2 {This keeps the chances level, but Black had a way to come out on top here.} (21... b5 { was the way to refute White's play, aiming to kick the queen on c4 away from defending the rook on e4, and if} 22. Qc2 Qe6) ({Of course Black can't get away with} 21... fxe4 $4 22. Qxe4+ Qf5 23. Qxf5#) 22. Bxg7 fxe4 23. Rf7 Qd1+ 24. Kf2 Qd2+ 25. Kg1 Qd1+ 26. Kf2 Qd2+ 27. Kg1 {[#] Now Black can take a draw, but Black decided to play on and take the game into an endgame in which White's active pieces and bishop vs. knight in an open position give White enough compensation for a pawn.} Qd4+ $5 28. Qxd4 exd4 29. Bxd4+ Kg6 30. Rg7+ Kf5 31. Bc3 Re8 32. Kf2 Re7 33. Rg8 Rf7 34. Ke3 Ne7 35. g4+ Ke6 36. Ra8 { White starts to drift into a worse position around here.} (36. Re8 {intending} Kd7 37. Rh8 {may have been stronger.}) 36... Nd5+ 37. Kxe4 Rf4+ 38. Kd3 Rxg4 39. Rxa7 b6 40. Ra8 Rh4 41. Re8+ Kd7 42. Re5 Kd6 43. Re8 Rh3+ 44. Kc4 Nxc3 45. bxc3 Rxh2 46. a3 h5 47. Kd4 Rh4+ 48. Kd3 Ra4 49. Rd8+ Kc6 50. Rh8 h4 51. Rh6+ Kb5 52. Kc2 Rg4 53. Kb3 c5 54. Rh5 Ka5 55. c4 Ka6 56. Rh6 Rg3+ 57. Ka4 Rg4 58. Kb3 Rf4 59. Kc3 Rf3+ 60. Kb2 h3 61. Rh4 Rf2+ 62. Kb3 h2 63. Ka4 Kb7 64. Kb5 $2 {This should lose.} (64. Kb3) 64... Rb2+ 65. Ka4 Kc7 $2 (65... b5+ {allows Black to promote a pawn at c1:} 66. cxb5 c4) 66. Rh6 Kd7 67. Rd6+ Kc7 68. Rd7+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "SLO-chT1 East"] [Site "Slovenia"] [Date "2015.10.17"] [Round "2"] [White "Ivanec, Dezider"] [Black "Brinovec, David"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "2132"] [BlackElo "2235"] [PlyCount "59"] [EventDate "2015.10.16"] [EventType "team-tourn"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "SLO"] [SourceTitle "EXT 2019"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2018.10.10"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"] [SourceQuality "1"] [WhiteTeam "Rokada Lendava"] [BlackTeam "Zalec"] [WhiteTeamCountry "SLO"] [BlackTeamCountry "SLO"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 (4. Bc4 Bb4+ 5. c3 dxc3 {was the move order used in this game, reflecting the fact that the position after move 5 more commonly arises from the Scotch Gambit, but I have kept the Göring Gambit move order to avoid confusion.}) 4... dxc3 5. Bc4 {White offers the second pawn on b2. Although taking on b2 is the most theoretically critical course for Black, in practice Black often refuses the second pawn, as taking it accelerates White's initiative and lead in development. Black's most reliable ways of declining it are 5...d6 and 5...Nf6, both of which leave White with no good alternative to 6.Nxc3, heading into lines with 5.Nxc3 d6 6. Bc4 Nf6, which, while arguably not as challenging for White as 5.Nxc3 Bb4 6. Bc4 d6, are fully playable and lead to equal chances if Black plays accurately. } Bb4 {With the threat of a lethal discovered check on c2, so White has to react quickly, but White has three reasonable options here. 6.Nxc3 transposes to 5.Nxc3 Bb4 6.Bc4, but White can deviate with 6.bxc3 or 6.0-0, which I will give an example of next.} 6. bxc3 $5 {Normally this kind of recapture with the pawn is dubious, as it takes away the b1-knight's best square, but here it is tactically justified because with White's bishop already on c4, there are various tactics against f7. The positions that result are reminiscent of the accepted lines of the Evans Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4).} Ba5 { As in the Evans, this is Black's most challenging bishop retreat.} (6... Bc5 { is not effective here because of} 7. Bxf7+ {with the idea} Kxf7 8. Qd5+ { and Qxc5.}) (6... Be7 $2 7. Qd5 {threatens checkmate on f7 and forces the win of a piece with} Nh6 8. Bxh6 O-O 9. Be3 {Note that there are certain lines of this type where playing Qd5 does not win a piece (we'll see an example of one later), but in this line Black has no comebacks.}) (6... Bd6 {is, like in the Evans Gambit, playable but slightly inferior. Two likely continuations:} 7. O-O Nge7 (7... Qf6 8. Re1 Ne5 9. Nxe5 Bxe5 10. f4 Bxf4 11. Rf1) 8. Ng5 Ne5 9. Bb3 h6 10. f4) 7. O-O d6 8. Qb3 Qe7 {[#]} (8... Qf6 {is probably best met by} 9. e5 $5 {followed by Re1.}) 9. e5 (9. Re1 {is a popular alternative, whereupon Black's best is to try} Bb6) 9... dxe5 {Most often played, as it holds onto the extra pawn, but White can now work up a very dangerous initiative.} (9... Nxe5 {is safer, even though it allows White to grab the f7-pawn following} 10. Nxe5 (10. Nbd2 {is a good alternative, intending to bring the knight out to c4 if Black exchanges off the bishop on c4.}) 10... Qxe5 (10... dxe5 $2 11. Qb5+ { and Qxa5.}) 11. Bxf7+ {whereupon Black can hope to get some counterplay following} Kf8) 10. Ba3 Qf6 11. Re1 (11. Nbd2 {is probably stronger, connecting the rooks and bringing the last piece into the attack. The main threat is to bring the knight into e4.}) 11... Bb6 12. Nbd2 Bf5 {[#]} 13. Nxe5 $6 {This looks tempting, but as Black can castle out of the attack down the e-file, it is probably too materialistic.} (13. Bd5 {is one good alternative, stopping any ideas of forcing the exchange of the Bc4 for the Nc6 with ...Na5.} ) 13... O-O-O 14. Nxc6 Bxf2+ {The bishop cannot be taken because then ...Bc2+ would win the white queen.} 15. Kh1 Qxc6 16. Bb5 Qh6 17. Qxf7 Nf6 18. Re7 Qf4 19. g3 Be4+ 20. Rxe4 Qxd2 21. Re7 Bb6 22. Bc5 Qxc3 {[#]} 23. Bxb6 axb6 (23... Qxa1+ {perhaps looked too dangerous because of White's mating threats, but} 24. Kg2 Rd2+ 25. Kh3 Qh1 {allows Black to defend on the queenside due to Black's deadly threat of ...Qxh2#.}) 24. Rf1 Rhg8 $2 {Sometimes in these positions one slip is all it takes.} (24... Qc5 {would have allowed Black to keep c7 covered. }) 25. Bc4 Kb8 26. Rxc7 Qa3 27. Rxb7+ Ka8 28. Rxb6 Rd7 29. Bd5+ Ka7 30. Rb7+ 1-0 [Event "Ruhrgebiet Regionalliga 0910"] [Site "Germany"] [Date "2010.03.14"] [Round "8.2"] [White "Webb, Laurence"] [Black "Schlehoefer, Ralf"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "2331"] [BlackElo "2326"] [PlyCount "50"] [EventDate "2009.09.06"] [EventType "team-tourn"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "GER"] [SourceTitle "EXT 2011"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2010.11.26"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"] [SourceQuality "1"] [WhiteTeam "Brackel"] [BlackTeam "Wattenscheid III"] [WhiteTeamCountry "GER"] [BlackTeamCountry "GER"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 (4. Bc4 Bb4+ 5. c3 dxc3 {was again the move order used in this game.}) 4... dxc3 5. Bc4 Bb4 6. O-O {White offers the sacrifice of the second pawn again.} d6 {Black's most popular reply, refusing the offer of the second pawn.} (6... cxb2 7. Bxb2 {is very dangerous for Black with the moves 0-0 and ...Bb4 inserted. Black's only way to avoid being clearly worse is} Nf6 8. e5 ({If} 8. Ng5 O-O {and then} 9. e5 {then Black can sacrifice a piece for a pawn with} Nxe5 10. Bxe5 d5 {leaving Black with three pawns and easy development in return for the piece.}) (8. a3 {followed by pushing e4-e5 is a good alternative.}) 8... Nh5 ({now} 8... Nxe5 $2 9. Nxe5 { leaves Black close to losing despite having three pawns for the piece, as} d5 $2 {loses another piece to Qa4+ and Qxb4.}) 9. Nc3 {and now one quick game continued from here:} Nf4 10. Re1 {White could also consider 10.Ne4 or 10.Nd5 here.} O-O 11. Re4 Ng6 12. Nd5 Bc5 $2 (12... Be7) 13. Nf6+ $1 gxf6 14. exf6 d5 15. Ng5 {1-0 Caillet-Silva, LSS email 2009}) (6... Qf6 {(suggested by John Watson) is probably best met by} 7. e5 (7. Nxc3 Bxc3 8. bxc3 {is also good for White.}) 7... cxb2 $5 ({or} 7... Qg6 8. Nxc3 Bxc3 9. bxc3) 8. exf6 (8. Bxb2 { can be met by the surprisingly resilient} Qf4 {- John Watson.}) 8... bxa1=Q 9. Qe2+ {followed by Bb2, leaving White with a queen for rook, piece and three pawns. Often this kind of material balance would favour the pieces, but not here with Black's king exposed.}) 7. a3 (7. Nxc3 {would transpose to the line 5.Nxc3 Bb4 6.Bc4 d6 7.0-0, whereupon} Bxc3 8. bxc3 Nf6 {is a good reply.}) 7... Ba5 8. b4 Bb6 9. Qb3 $5 (9. Nxc3 {with the idea Nd5 is also quite good, but it has not scored as well for White in practice.}) 9... Bg4 $6 (9... Qf6 10. Nxc3 Nge7 {might be Black's best practical choice but White still has at least a pawn's worth of compensation after developing the bishop on c1 to either b2 or g5.}) ({Returning the pawn with} 9... Be6 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. Qxe6+ Qe7 12. Qb3 { is Stockfish's preference (illustrating how far chess engines have come since their ultra-materialistic days), but White has scored 5.5/6 from this position, suggesting that it probably isn't a good practical try. White will aim to take on c3 and bring the bishop onto the long diagonal with Bb2, and if Black castles queenside, White has a ready-made attack via pushing the a and b-pawns. }) 10. Bxf7+ Kf8 11. Bxg8 Rxg8 12. Ng5 {White is now much better, but this game is a warning example - Black isn't finished yet in this type of position!} Qe8 13. Nxh7+ Ke7 14. Nxc3 Qh5 $2 (14... Rh8 {would not have lost immediately, and also starts a counterattack down the h-file.}) 15. Ng5 $2 (15. Nd5+ { wins immediately for White, due to} Ke8 ({or} 15... Kd8 16. Bg5+ {with the idea } Ne7 17. Nxb6 {discovering an attack on the rook on g8.}) 16. Nhf6+ gxf6 17. Nxf6+ {forking the king and queen twice in two moves}) 15... Nd4 16. Qc4 Raf8 17. Nd5+ Kd8 $2 {A mistake, but you have to calculate deeply to see why, so it's quite understandable, especially as Black wouldn't have wanted to give up the c7 pawn.} (17... Ke8 18. Nxc7+ (18. Nxb6 $2 Rh8 $1 {gives Black a winning attack, for example} 19. h3 Bxh3 $1 20. gxh3 Nf3+ 21. Nxf3 Qxh3 {gives Black a forced mate.}) 18... Kd7 {would have given Black enough counterplay to keep the chances level.}) 18. Nxb6 Ne2+ (18... Rh8 19. h3 Bxh3 20. gxh3 Nf3+ 21. Nxf3 Qxh3 {doesn't force checkmate because of the inconvenient position of Black's king on d8:} 22. Bg5+ Ke8 23. Nh4 {saves White and keeps White two pieces ahead.}) 19. Kh1 axb6 20. Be3 $2 {D'oh!} (20. h3 {was White's only way to survive Black's attack, with the idea} Rh8 21. f3 $1 {and Black gets nowhere with} Ng3+ 22. Kg1) 20... Rh8 21. h3 Rf3 $1 22. Qxe2 (22. gxf3 Bxh3 { forces checkmate, as White's checks run out after} 23. Nf7+ Ke7 ({Black can even get away with} 23... Qxf7 $5 {intending} 24. Qxf7 Bxf1+ {and all White can do is delay checkmate for a couple of moves by blocking with the queen and bishop.}) 24. Bg5+ Kf8 25. Be7+ Kxe7) 22... Bxh3 $1 {Even stronger than winning the white queen with 22...Rxh3+, as Black has a forced checkmate from here.} 23. Nf7+ Kc8 24. Nxh8 ({White has no more checks after} 24. Nxd6+ Kb8 $1 ) 24... Bxg2+ 25. Kxg2 Qg4+ 0-1 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "One pawn sacrifice"] [Black "...d6"] [Result "*"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "13"] [EventCategory "9"] [SourceVersionDate "2019.01.15"] * [Event "corr"] [Site "corr"] [Date "1969.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Hall, Richard VM"] [Black "Lambers, Gerrit Hans"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C44"] [PlyCount "33"] [EventDate "1969.??.??"] [EventType "tourn (corr)"] [EventRounds "9"] [SourceTitle "Corr 2000"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2000.04.19"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2000.04.19"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Bc4 d6 {The most popular way of declining the offer of a second pawn.} (5... Nf6 {is less often played, but as far as I can see it comes to the same thing, since} 6. e5 $6 (6. O-O $6 Be7 $1) (6. Nxc3 d6 {is a straight transposition into the game - other sixth moves by Black are more dubious because they allow 7.e5}) 6... d5 7. exf6 dxc4 {leads nowhere for White.}) 6. Nxc3 {White usually plays this, for while it is possible for White to persist in offering the pawn on b2, Black can just ignore it and continue with the plan of ...Nf6, ...Be7 and ...0-0, and wait until a better moment to grab the pawn on b2.} (6. Qb3 $6 Qd7 {threatens ... Na5 forcing the exchange of the Bc4 for the Nc6, and if} 7. Ng5 Nh6 {is a very robust defence. If White moves the queen or the bishop now to prevent the exchange of the Bc4 for the Nc6, then Black can grab the pawn on b2 without having to fear much.}) 6... Nf6 {This is Black's best and most consistent follow-up. We will see some examples of the alternatives later, which are less challenging for White.} 7. Qb3 (7. Ng5 {is also playable, attacking f7 and disrupting Black's development, whereupon} Ne5 8. Bb3 h6 9. f4 {[#] typically follows, and play becomes complicated, although I am less confident that White has enough compensation for a pawn here than in the main line with 7.Qb3, as it seems that with 9...hxg5 Black can get decent counterplay down the h-file.} hxg5 (9... Bg4 10. Qd4 c5 11. Qe3 hxg5 12. fxe5 Nd7 13. Ba4 {was played in Barrios Troncoso,J (2485)-Piccoli,F (2505) France AJEC 2002}) 10. fxe5 Bg4 ({ Mark Nieuweboer pointed out to me that} 10... Nd7 11. e6 fxe6 12. Bxe6 { as played in Tuma,J (2201)-Svoboda,S (2286) Czechia 2010 can be improved for Black with} c6 (12... Be7 {may be even more accurate, with ...c6 to follow, e. g.} 13. O-O Ne5 14. Bxc8 Qxc8 {and now White can't take on g5.})) 11. Ba4+ ({if } 11. Qd4 dxe5 12. Qxe5+ Qe7) 11... c6 12. Qb3 {was played in Thomas,R-Waters, R England 1968, whereupon Black could have tried} dxe5) (7. O-O $6 {is too slow and allows} Be7 {followed by castling. I have included an example with 7. 0-0, mainly for the benefit of those who wish to use this 5...d6 defence with Black.}) 7... Qd7 {This is best, because it threatens ...Na5, forcing the exchange of the Bc4 for the Nc6. 7...Qe7 gives White too much leeway, and 8. 0-0 and 8.Bg5 are good replies.} 8. Ng5 {White attacks f7 again, not giving Black time for ...Na5.} Ne5 (8... Nd8 {is a bit passive.} 9. O-O (9. f4 { makes a lot of sense, ensuring that if Black kicks the knight on g5 with ...h6, the knight won't block the f-pawn after retreating to f3. On the minus side,} c6 {with ideas of ...d5 or ...b5 is stronger than it is against 9.0-0, as White isnt ready to bring a rook to the e-file. For example,} 10. e5 d5 11. exf6 dxc4 12. Qxc4 gxf6 13. Nge4 Be7) 9... h6 (9... c6 $2 10. e5 {and if Black plays ...d5 or ...dxe5, White is able to open up the e-file.} d5 11. exf6 dxc4 12. Re1+ {is the key difference.}) 10. Nf3 Nc6 11. Bb5 a6 12. e5 axb5 13. exf6 gxf6 14. Nd5 Bg7 15. Re1+ Kd8 {[#] saw White develop a dangerous attack in Melnikov,D (2348)-Krylov,M (2516) St Petersburg 2010}) 9. Bb5 {White needs to keep the initiative, and so pins the black queen to the king, obliging Black to put something in the way on c6.} ({Martin Voigt has experimented with} 9. Be2 {but again I think it is a bit too passive.} h6 10. f4 hxg5 11. fxe5 dxe5 12. Bxg5 c6 {is the most usual continuation, where White is only scoring 0.5/5. One good idea for Black is ...Qe7 and ...Qb4, trying to get the queens off. White can weaken the black kingside pawn structure with Bxf6 if desired, but then Black can make good use of the g and h-files for the rooks, and retains an extra pawn as well as having two pawn islands vs. White's three.}) 9... c6 ( 9... Nc6 10. O-O ({if} 10. f4 h6 11. Nf3 a6) 10... h6 11. Nf3 {transposes back into the aforementioned Melnikov-Krylov game.}) 10. f4 {[#] A common "tabiya" in this gambit, which leads to tremendous complications, sometimes with multiple good options for both sides at each move. It has been heavily analysed and looks like it is equal with best play, but there is still a lot to be worked out even at the highest levels, and at club level one can't expect either side to be able to work through the complications without mutual inaccuracies kicking in.} cxb5 {Black's most materialistic option, looking to secure a two-pawn advantage, but it turns out that it is too dangerous for Black to hold onto the second pawn. Nonetheless, it is one of Black's two most reliable options at this point (10...Neg4 being the other).} 11. fxe5 dxe5 12. Be3 {White has the very dangerous plan of Rd1, then deflecting the black queen away from covering f7, and then delivering checkmate on f7.} a6 $2 {Black doesn't have time for this.} (12... a5 $1 {is the only way for Black to stay in the game here, with the idea of ...a4 kicking the white queen off the a2-g8 diagonal.} 13. O-O (13. Rd1 $6 a4 {has the problem that if} 14. Qxb5 Qxb5 15. Nxb5 {Black gets out with} Bb4+) (13. a3 $6 a4 14. Qa2 b4 15. Rd1 b3) 13... a4 14. Qxb5 (14. Qc2 $6 Be7 15. Rad1 Qc6 {threatening ...b4 leaves White with inadequate compensation for two pawns.}) 14... Bd6 (14... Qxb5 $2 15. Nxb5 { leaves Black unable to defend against the queenside threats, as Black doesn't have the saving ...Bb4+.}) 15. Qe2 {and with Rxf6 being quite strong in many lines, White has decent compensation for a pawn.}) 13. Rd1 Qc7 ({Or} 13... Qe7 14. Bc5 $1) 14. Bb6 $1 Qc4 15. Rd8+ Ke7 16. Qd1 Qc6 {[#]} 17. Re8+ $1 {A pretty finish. Black has three ways to take the rook, but all three are mated on the next move.} 1-0 [Event "CUB-ch"] [Site "Matanzas"] [Date "1994.??.??"] [Round "8"] [White "Espinosa, Julio Manuel"] [Black "Valdes, Luis Enrique"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "2340"] [BlackElo "2325"] [PlyCount "70"] [EventDate "1994.??.??"] [EventType "swiss"] [EventRounds "13"] [EventCountry "CUB"] [SourceTitle "EXT 2003"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2002.11.25"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Bc4 d6 6. Nxc3 Nf6 7. Qb3 Qd7 8. Ng5 Ne5 9. Bb5 c6 10. f4 Neg4 {So far the same as in the previous game, but 10. ..Neg4 is a very important deviation for Black.} (10... Ng6 $5 {is another fairly challenging alternative, whereupon White can react with a dangerous piece sacrifice:} 11. e5 $5 (11. Bd3 {is also playable, maintaining compensation for a pawn as Black's bishops are blocked in,}) (11. Bc4 {is well met by} d5 {aiming to blast open the centre and get at White's king.}) 11... h6 12. exf6 hxg5 13. O-O $5 cxb5 {and then White chooses between 14.Nd5 (Mastrovasilis-Ovod, Groningen 1997) and the untested 14.f5. I am not sure if it is completely sound, but it is certainly dangerous. If White doesn't trust this piece sacrifice, 11.Bd3 is a reasonably safe and sound alternative to the double-edged 11.e5.}) 11. h3 (11. Be2 {is the main alternative, whereupon play most often continues} h6 12. Nf3 d5 13. h3 {and while this is fully playable for White, Black can make White sweat with various piece sacrifice ideas following} dxe4 {, for example,} 14. Nh4 Nf2 $5 ({or} 14... Qd4 15. hxg4 Nxg4)) (11. Bc4 d5 $1 {is even stronger for Black than it is after 10...Ng6 11.Bc4.}) 11... cxb5 12. hxg4 {[#] This position has been well analysed but there is still a lot to be discovered, as is illustrated by the observation that the majority of games end in decisive results even at high levels of play. Black is still tied down somewhat by the pressure on f7, but White's king has potential to become very exposed as well.} b4 {Black is prepared to let the pawn on h7 drop, as it will result in White having an offside knight on h7.} ( 12... h6 {is the main alternative.} 13. Nxb5 (13. Be3 {is a good alternative, with the idea} b4 14. Nd5) 13... d5 {is the main idea, but White can keep the centre blocked with} 14. e5 Nxg4 15. Bd2) 13. Nd5 b6 14. Nxf6+ gxf6 15. Rxh7 ( 15. Nxh7 {may well be superior, though it is not as often played. I am guessing that White is often afraid of the rook on h1 being tied to the defence of the knight on h7, but White can connect the rooks by playing f5, Bf4 and moving the king, while the rook on h8 is shut out of the game.} Qxg4 $2 {is of course not playable because of} 16. Nxf6+) 15... Rxh7 16. Nxh7 {[#] White has scored well in this position, albeit mainly in low-level games. Objectively, though, if anyone stands better it is probably Black, as the knight on h7 is misplaced. Black does have to be careful of the Nxf6+ fork though.} Be7 17. g5 (17. f5 {can be met by} Ba6 {with the idea of ...Qb5 creating threats against White's king.}) 17... fxg5 18. f5 (18. Nxg5 {is preferred by computers but is untested, probably because Black can invade with} Bxg5 19. fxg5 Qg4 {and White's king is set to go for a walk.}) 18... Qc6 19. Qxb4 f6 20. Qd4 (20. Bd2 {is probably superior, developing and preparing Rc1 attacking the black queen.}) 20... Bb7 ({Another game continued} 20... Kf7 21. Be3 Bb7 (21... Ba6 {with the idea ...Qb5 is even stronger.}) 22. Rc1 Qxe4 23. Rc7 Rh8 $4 (23... Ke8) 24. Qxf6+ {1-0 Ljubojevic,L-Smejkal,J Wijk aan Zee 1972. I wonder if Black simply missed that the bishop on e7 is pinned.}) 21. Nxf6+ { Tempting, getting the knight out of its hole, but now Black can get through to the white king.} (21. Bxg5 fxg5 22. f6 {is White's best chance according to the computer, but} Qxe4+ 23. Qxe4 Bxe4 24. Nxg5 Bxg2 25. fxe7 Kxe7 {gives us an ending where Black has all of the winning chances.}) 21... Bxf6 22. Qxf6 Qxe4+ 23. Kd1 Qg4+ 24. Ke1 Qh4+ 25. Kd2 Qf2+ 26. Kc3 Rc8+ 27. Kb3 Qg3+ 28. Ka4 Bc6+ 29. Kb4 a5+ 30. Kc4 Be4+ 31. Kb5 Qd3+ 32. Kxb6 Rc6+ 33. Kxa5 Qa6+ 34. Kb4 Rc4+ 35. Kb3 Qa4# 0-1 [Event "FRA-chT"] [Site "France"] [Date "1989.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Chevallier, Didier"] [Black "Pinter, Jozsef"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C56"] [WhiteElo "2255"] [BlackElo "2550"] [PlyCount "48"] [EventDate "1989.??.??"] [EventType "team-tourn"] [EventRounds "11"] [EventCountry "FRA"] [SourceTitle "TD"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "1994.03.01"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Bc4 d6 6. Nxc3 Nf6 7. O-O $6 Be7 { Now Black is ready to castle, and get a solid, if fairly passive, position.} 8. Nd5 {Black has to take some care here as grabbing the pawn on e4 is too risky, and so Black should not be distracted from the original plan.} ({Another example, which illustrates the fact that even in a relatively quiet line like this, Black has to play accurately to keep an advantage, went} 8. Re1 O-O 9. h3 Ne5 10. Bb3 Nxf3+ 11. Qxf3 c6 (11... Nd7 {heading for e5 would have been fine at this point.}) 12. Bf4 Nd7 $6 {The right idea, heading for e5, but poorly timed.} (12... Be6 {offering to exchange bishops was probably best.}) 13. Red1 {Now the pawn on d6 is attacked, and if the knight on d7 moves, the pawn will be pinned against the queen.} Qc7 14. Rac1 {and in Szegi,T (2208)-Stehlik,P (2041) Slovakia 2017, White had compensation in a position that reminds me of the Morra Gambit against the Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3) with White's rooks working well on c1 and d1.}) 8... O-O (8... Nxe4 $2 {allows White to get a very dangerous attack very quickly, for example} 9. Re1 Nc5 (9... Nf6 10. Nxf6+ gxf6 11. Bh6) 10. Nxe7 Nxe7 11. Ng5) 9. Re1 Bg4 10. Qa4 (10. Bf4 { is another idea for White, simply continuing development, but it isn't enough compensation for a pawn. A good reply is} Ne5) 10... a6 11. Nxe7+ (11. Be2 { is probably better, to avoid being forced into recapturing on f3 with the g-pawn and exposing the white king.}) 11... Qxe7 12. Bd5 (12. Be2 {now drops the e-pawn after} Qxe4 {as Black is attacking the white queen on a4, which means White doesn't have time to discover an attack on the black queen by moving the bishop on e2.}) 12... Bxf3 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. gxf3 {[#] Now the white king is exposed, enabling Black to go after the white king, and of course Black still has the extra pawn, which Black chooses to defend.} c5 ( 14... Nd7 {is also playable, as} 15. Qxc6 Ne5 16. Qc3 Qh4 {followed by ...f5 gives Black a strong attack.}) 15. Bf4 Nh5 16. e5 $2 (16. Bg3 {was probably necessary, stopping ...Qh4, but Black is clearly better, if not winning, due to the extra pawn plus having put White on the defensive.}) 16... Qh4 17. Re4 Nxf4 18. Rxf4 Qg5+ 19. Rg4 Qxe5 20. Kh1 Qxb2 21. Rag1 g6 22. h4 Qxf2 23. Qe4 Rae8 24. Qf5 Re1 0-1 [Event "Alushta Autumn 5th"] [Site "Alushta"] [Date "2002.10.19"] [Round "7"] [White "Kulicov, Oleg Anatolie"] [Black "Arbakov, Valentin"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "2420"] [BlackElo "2446"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "2002.10.15"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "14"] [EventCountry "UKR"] [EventCategory "7"] [SourceTitle "EXT 2003"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2002.11.25"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 d6 (5... Nf6 {looks sensible but is rarely played, despite the fact that most opponents play the "automatic" 6.Bc4, allowing the transposition with 6...d6. I think} 6. e5 { is probably the reason, with the idea} Ng4 (6... Qe7 7. Qe2) 7. Qe2 {and Black's knight on g4 is set to be kicked with h2-h3 shortly.}) 6. Bc4 (6. Bb5 $5 {is also playable, pinning the knight to the king and therefore making e4-e5 more of a threat, but ultimately White tends to get a slower, more positional type of compensation in this line, and it is not clear if it is enough for a pawn. One typical example continued} Be7 7. O-O Nf6 8. h3 (8. e5 { may be White's best bet here, e.g.} Ng4 9. exd6 cxd6 10. Bf4 {with some positional compensation for the pawn, as Black's d6-pawn is weak.}) 8... O-O 9. Bf4 Be6 10. Re1 a6 11. Ba4 b5 12. Bb3 Na5 13. Bc2 {and White didn't have a lot for the pawn in Emma,J-Amado,C Zarate 1972, but went on to win after Black made a couple of mistakes.}) 6... Be6 {Black seeks to blunt White's pressure on f7 and exchange off the bishops, but there is a problem with this idea.} 7. Bxe6 (7. Nd5 {is also playable, but not as promising for White as voluntarily exchanging on e6 in this particular situation.} Be7 {is a good reply.}) 7... fxe6 8. Qb3 {[#] Now e6 and b7 are both attacked, and Black cannot defend both of them without going very passive.} Qc8 (8... Qd7 {offers the pawn on b7, and as the queen is more actively placed on the second rank, White should probably take it:} 9. Qxb7 Rb8 10. Qa6 {and White has slightly the better of it, having two pawn islands vs. Black's three, and the plan of blasting open the centre with e4-e5. The queen will retreat to e2 to defend the b2-pawn so that the c1-bishop can develop.}) 9. Ng5 Nd8 10. f4 {[#] Now Black's pieces are clustered on the back rank, but Black's position is quite solid, so White has to set about engineering a slow breakthrough by timing the advance of the e and f-pawns right.} Be7 {Probably the most challenging response, threatening to take the knight on g5 and leave White with an isolated pawn on e4 following the recapture fxg5.} 11. O-O {White's idea is that if Black exchanges on g5 now, it will open up the f-file for the rook.} (11. f5 {is a popular alternative, allowing White to recapture on g5 with the bishop if Black takes on g5. Black can however close the centre here with} e5 {, for example} 12. O-O Nf6 13. Be3 c6 14. Rac1 {Sprinkhuizen,A (2364)-Fechner,J (2400) ICCF email 2003. White still retains a fair amount of pressure for the pawn, but will need to be patient as Black has the weak points on e6 and f7 well covered.}) 11... Bxg5 12. fxg5 (12. Qb5+ Qd7 13. Qxg5 {is the main alternative, keeping the e and f-pawns together, but White has lost in the two games in which this was tried.}) 12... Ne7 13. Be3 Nf7 {With these moves Black is now prepared to castle kingside, but still has a rather passive position.} 14. Nb5 (14. Ne2 { with the idea of Nf4 is probably stronger.}) 14... a6 $6 (14... Nc6 {is a better way of defending the pawn on a7. If} 15. Rxf7 $6 Kxf7 16. Rf1+ Ke8 { and if White plays Nd4, the knight just gets exchanged off.}) 15. Nd4 (15. Rxf7 $1 Kxf7 16. Rf1+ {is a fully sound exchange sacrifice here, with the idea} Ke8 17. Nd4) 15... Nd8 16. Rf3 Rf8 17. Rh3 Rh8 (17... e5 {with the idea of playing ...Qe6 after the knight moves may be stronger.}) 18. Rf1 c5 19. Nf3 Qd7 {[#]} 20. e5 {A well-timed advance.} Nd5 21. exd6 Qxd6 22. g6 h6 23. Ng5 Nxe3 24. Nf7 Qd4 (24... Nxf7 25. gxf7+ Ke7 26. Rxe3 {was objectively better, but Black probably didn't like leaving a powerful white pawn on f7.}) 25. Rxe3 Nxf7 26. Qxe6+ Kd8 27. Qe7+ (27. Rxf7 {would have forced checkmate more quickly, but the move played in the game is also easily winning for White.}) 27... Kc8 28. gxf7 1-0 [Event "CZE-chT1E 0607"] [Site "Czechia"] [Date "2007.01.21"] [Round "6.5"] [White "Kozlicek, Lubomir"] [Black "Bazant, Petr Sr"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "2180"] [BlackElo "2282"] [PlyCount "45"] [EventDate "2006.10.15"] [EventType "team-tourn"] [EventRounds "11"] [EventCountry "CZE"] [SourceTitle "EXT 2008"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2007.11.25"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 d6 6. Bc4 Bg4 {[#] Black has the idea of forcing the exchange of two pairs of minor pieces with ...Bxf3 followed by ...Ne5, but there is a problem with this:} 7. Qb3 {Now f7 and b7 are both attacked, and Black has to play very accurately to stay in the game.} Qd7 {This is necessary to protect the knight on c6 so that if White takes on b7, the knight on c6 is still defended and so Black is free to move the rook on a8.} (7... Bxf3 $4 8. Bxf7+ {and Qe6# isn't too clever.}) 8. Bxf7+ {A tactic to deflect the queen away from protecting the knight on c6.} (8. Qxb7 $6 Rb8 9. Qa6 Rb6 {gives Black a draw in hand by perpetually attacking the white queen with the rook.}) (8. Ng5 {is a good alternative for White, attacking f7 again, and if} Nh6 {with the threat of ...Na5, White can try} 9. Bd5 {as played in Hazdra,T (2054)-Djumlija,K (1510) Austria 2000}) 8... Qxf7 9. Qxb7 { [#] White attacks the rook on a8 and the knight on c6, and Black's only way to maintain positive chances is to offer an exchange sacrifice:} Kd7 $1 (9... Rb8 $2 10. Qxc6+ {leaves White a pawn up for nothing - ironic, given that White originally sacrificed a pawn in the opening!}) 10. Qxa8 Bxf3 11. gxf3 Qxf3 { [#] Stockfish gives an assessment of "0.00", which is one of the reasons why I suggested the alternative 8.Ng5 earlier. However, White has a large plus score from this position, indicating that White's position is the easier to play in practice.} 12. Rg1 Nf6 {The latest computers suggest the plan of ...g6, ... Nge7 and ...Bg7 as Black's best way to maintain compensation for the exchange.} 13. Be3 Ng4 $2 (13... Nxe4 {is more challenging for White, but White keeps attacking chances after} 14. Rc1 {with the idea of Nb5, pressuring Black down the c-file. Note, though, that after} d5 {White has to bear in mind that if the knight on c3 moves immediately, Black has ...Bb4+ followed by picking up the queen on a8, so White's most secure continuation is probably} 15. Qb7) 14. Rxg4 $1 Qh1+ (14... Qxg4 15. Rc1) 15. Ke2 Qxa1 16. Qb7 Ne5 17. Rg3 Qh1 18. Nd5 Qb1 19. Qxc7+ Ke8 20. Qc8+ Kf7 21. Qf5+ Ke8 22. Qe6+ Kd8 23. Bg5+ 1-0 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "One pawn sacrifice,"] [Black "...Be7"] [Result "*"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "2006.10.15"] [EventType "team-tourn"] [EventRounds "11"] [SourceVersionDate "2019.01.15"] * [Event "British CF-72 Championship"] [Site "Edinburgh"] [Date "1985.07.30"] [Round "2"] [White "Bryson, Douglas Marshall"] [Black "Thipsay, Praveen Mahadeo"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "2275"] [BlackElo "2470"] [PlyCount "37"] [EventDate "1985.07.29"] [EventType "swiss"] [EventRounds "11"] [EventCountry "SCO"] [SourceTitle "EXT 1999"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "1998.11.16"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Bc4 d6 6. Nxc3 Be7 $6 {The right idea but in the wrong order. Black should play 6...Nf6 intending 7...Be7.} 7. Qb3 {[#] Now Black cannot defend f7 (if 7...Nh6, 8.Bxh6) and so Black's best is to force the exchange of the Bc4 for the Nc6, to at least get the bishop pair out of it.} Na5 8. Bxf7+ Kf8 9. Qa4 ({White can't hold onto the bishop on f7: if} 9. Qd5 $6 c6 {White is very fortunate not to be losing a piece. If} 10. Qh5 $2 (10. Qd3 Kxf7 11. b4 {trapping the knight on a5 is the way to get the piece back, but in the meantime Black is able to catch up in development.}) 10... Nf6 {really does win a piece.}) 9... Kxf7 (9... c6 {is also playable, defending the knight on a5, when again White can't preserve the bishop on f7 because of 10.Bh5 Nf6. Thus White has invariably chopped off the knight on g8, although there is also an argument for retreating the bishop back to b3.}) 10. Qxa5 c6 {Black offers a queen exchange in an attempt to reduce the pressure, hoping that the bishop pair will become more important in an endgame.} (10... Nf6 {intends to "castle by hand" with ...Rf8 or ...Re8 and then ...Kg8, but White can disrupt this plan with 11.e5 or 11.Ng5+.}) 11. Qxd8 {This is objectively good, but White has to play accurately after this to maintain the initiative.} (11. Qa4 {is probably the better practical choice for most players, retaining more long-term attacking chances with queens still on the board. For example,} b5 12. Qc2 Bg4 (12... Be6 13. O-O Bf6 14. Rd1 Qf8 $2 ( 14... Qe7) 15. e5 dxe5 16. Ne4 Rd8 17. Neg5+ Ke7 18. Qc5+ Ke8 19. Qxf8+ { 1-0 Agnew,A (2081)-Scott,D (2017) England 2013}) 13. Nd4 Qd7 14. h3 Be6 15. O-O Bc4 $6 (15... Nf6) 16. Rd1 Nf6 17. f4 {and White had a large advantage in Matsuura,E (2473)-Pelikian,J (2407) Osasco 2004}) 11... Bxd8 12. Bf4 Ke7 (12... Ke6 $5 {is not as bad as it looks. I once lost a game after this after misplaying the white attack, and that bruising experience is one of my reasons for suggesting 11.Qa4.}) 13. O-O-O Bc7 14. e5 d5 {[#]} 15. Rxd5 $1 cxd5 16. Nxd5+ Kd7 $2 (16... Kd8 {leaves White with a rook's worth of compensation and White is set to regain at least some of the material, but Black is still in the game.}) 17. e6+ Kxe6 18. Nxc7+ Kf5 19. Be5 1-0 [Event "Reykjavik op"] [Site "Reykjavik"] [Date "2014.03.04"] [Round "1"] [White "Thorhallsson, Throstur"] [Black "Danielsson, Sigurdur G"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2435"] [BlackElo "1953"] [PlyCount "41"] [EventDate "2014.03.04"] [EventType "swiss"] [EventRounds "10"] [EventCountry "ISL"] [SourceTitle "CBM 159 Extra"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2014.04.24"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2014.04.24"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 (3. Bc4 Be7 4. d4 exd4 5. c3 dxc3 {was the move order used in this game (i.e. via a Hungarian Defence), but via that move order, Black can instead try 5...Na5, which is probably superior. It can also arise via the Scotch Gambit: 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Be7 5.c3 dxc3, where again Black has the 5...Na5 possibility. In the Göring Gambit move order, Black doesn't have the ...Na5 possibility, so 5...Be7 can be considered dubious.}) 3... exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Bc4 Be7 $6 {[#]} 6. Qd5 {Some commentators have mis-analysed this as winning a piece for White, but this is not the case, so it is debatable as to whether this is better than the simple knight recapture on c3.} (6. Nxc3 {leaves Black in a fair amount of trouble (in a position that also arises from 5.Nxc3 Be7?! 6.Bc4).} {If} Nf6 (6... d6 7. Qb3 {is probably Black's best chance, transposing to the previous game, where with} Na5 { Black can at least get the bishop pair in return for losing the extra pawn and having an exposed king.}) 7. e5) 6... Nh6 7. Bxh6 O-O 8. Nxc3 (8. Bc1 $6 { is the move that has sometimes been mis-analysed as winning a piece, but in reality} Nb4 {wins the piece back, for if} 9. Qd1 $6 (9. Qh5 {is probably the best practical chance for White here.}) 9... c2 {Black forks the queen and the knight.}) (8. Bxg7 Kxg7 ({Not} 8... Nb4 $2 9. Qe5 {with the threat of Bh8 and Qg7#}) 9. Nxc3 {is also a bit better for White because of the exposed Black king, but Black has some hope due to the bishop pair.}) 8... gxh6 9. Qh5 { [#] Now Black can choose to give the pawn back, or protect it by moving the king forward. In this game Black opted for the latter, but it is risky because White gets an extra tempo for the attack.} Kg7 (9... d6 10. Qxh6 Bf6 {is probably the best practical chance for Black, but even so White retains some attacking chances. For example,} 11. Nd5 Bg7 12. Qh5 Ne5 13. Nxe5 dxe5 14. O-O c6 15. Ne3 h6 16. Rfd1 Qe7 17. Rd3 b5 18. Bb3 c5 19. Nd5 Qg5 20. Qxg5 hxg5 21. Ne7+ Kh7 22. Bd5 $16 {Zarnicki,P (2390)-Rubin,M Buenos Aires 1990}) 10. h4 d6 11. g4 {White goes for a kingside pawn storm, trying to get through to Black's king.} Be6 12. Bd5 ({Another game continued} 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. Bxd5 Nb4 14. O-O-O Nxd5 15. Rxd5 Qd7 16. Nd4 {Castro,F (1956)-Tavares,T Lisbon 2004}) 12... Bf6 13. g5 Bxc3+ 14. bxc3 Bxd5 15. exd5 Qe7+ 16. Kf1 Ne5 17. Re1 hxg5 $2 (17... Kh8 18. Qxh6 ({perhaps} 18. gxh6 f6 19. Nd4) 18... f6 {looks scary but it appears that this is Black's only way to survive.}) 18. Nxg5 h6 19. Rg1 Rh8 { [#]} 20. Rxe5 $1 dxe5 21. Ne6+ 1-0 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "One pawn sacrifice"] [Black "...Bc5"] [Result "*"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "13"] [EventCategory "9"] [SourceVersionDate "2019.01.15"] * [Event "Remote Superturnier 17 email"] [Site "Remote email"] [Date "2012.07.28"] [Round "?"] [White "Gnuechtel, Andreas"] [Black "Peschen, Rainer"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "2182"] [BlackElo "2140"] [PlyCount "83"] [EventDate "2012.??.??"] [EventType "tourn (corr)"] [EventRounds "14"] [EventCountry "GER"] [SourceTitle "Corr 2015"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2015.07.17"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2015.07.17"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 (3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bc5 {was the move order used in the game, highlighting the fact that these lines can also arise from a Danish Gambit, especially if White reacts to 3...dxc3 with 4.Nxc3.}) 3... Nc6 4. c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 Bc5 {Black develops a la Giuoco Piano (1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5). This defence has often been underestimated, but in reality I don't think it is any worse than 5...Bb4 or 5...d6.} 6. Bc4 {White's immediate threat is Bxf7+, because if Black takes the bishop there follows Qd5+ and Qxc5, exploiting the position of the bishop on c5.} Nge7 {This covers the d5-square, but it isn't the best move order because White could and should have launched a quick attack on f7 here.} (6... d6 {is the most reliable way of protecting the bishop against any Bxf7+ tricks.}) (6... Nf6 $6 {is well met by} 7. e5 {and Black is in trouble, for example,} d5 (7... Ng4 {is probably the lesser evil, but} 8. Bxf7+ {regains the pawn and continues the attack, for if} Kxf7 {White can choose between 9.Qd5+ and Qxc5, and 9.Ng5+ and Qxg4.}) 8. exf6 dxc4 9. fxg7 $1 Qxd1+ 10. Kxd1 Rg8 11. Nd5) 7. O-O {This isn't bad, but White has better via this move order.} (7. Ng5 {attacks f7 and forces concessions. If} Ne5 (7... O-O $2 {loses to} 8. Qh5) 8. Nxf7 Nxf7 9. Bxf7+ Kxf7 10. Qh5+ {and Qxc5, regaining the pawn and keeping an attack going.}) 7... d6 { [#] Now we have a position that more commonly arises via 6...d6 7.0-0 Nge7.} 8. Bg5 {In this 5...Bc5, 6...d6 variation, White generally does best to attack on the kingside dark squares. As there is no danger of the knight on c3 getting exchanged for the black dark square bishop, White can plan on putting the knight on d5 and then harassing the black queenside pieces by pushing the a and b-pawns.} O-O 9. Nd5 {White puts extra pressure on the knight on e7, and Black now has to be careful, because in some lines b2-b4-b5 can win a piece for White, by kicking the knight on c6 away from defending the knight on e7.} Be6 {[#]} 10. b4 {White initiates complications and opens lines, even at the cost of a second pawn.} (10. Nf6+ $6 {is a piece sacrifice proposed by Paul Keres, which Black does best to decline with} Kh8 $1 {and White doesn't appear able to continue the attack, for example} (10... gxf6 $2 11. Bxf6 h6 12. Ng5 $1 {is the idea, whereupon Black has to give up the queen to avoid being mated:} hxg5 13. Qh5 Ng6 14. Bxd8 Bxc4) 11. Nh4 (11. e5 h6 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. Ne4 { is another idea, where taking on g5 is dangerous for Black, although Black may be able to get the upper hand there with precise defence. Unfortunately for White, Black has the safer approach with} Qe8 {bringing the queen over to defend the king.}) 11... h6 12. Qh5 Ng8 {and despite the white pieces crowding the black king, Black is quite safe and White has too many pieces hanging.}) 10... Bxd5 11. exd5 Nxb4 {[#] Black is now two pawns ahead, but White has additional open lines.} 12. a3 (12. Re1 {is a good alternative, virtually forcing the weakening ...f6 because of the double attack on the knight on e7. If} Re8 $2 13. a3 Na6 14. Qe2) 12... Na6 13. Rb1 Bb6 14. Re1 f6 15. Bd2 { [#] White's next idea is to threaten to trap the bishop on b6 with a3-a4-a5.} Ng6 16. a4 Ne5 17. Be2 Ng4 18. Rf1 {Black has driven White back, but this is only temporary. Black still has to worry about the bishop on b6, and if it moves, White can take on b7.} Qe8 19. Be1 Rb8 20. a5 Bc5 21. Rb3 Ne5 22. Bc3 Kh8 {[#] Now White turns to the kingside.} 23. Qb1 Qc8 24. Bxe5 dxe5 25. Bd3 g6 26. Nh4 {Threatening a sacrifice on g6, so Black plays another potentially weakening pawn move to stop the idea.} f5 27. Qc1 {A multi-purpose move, targeting the h6-square as well as the queenside.} Kg7 $2 {This looks natural, to stop the queen from getting into h6, but this was not the best way of doing so.} (27... f4 {was bettter, for if White continues as per the game,} 28. Bxa6 Be7 29. Rc3 bxa6 30. Rxc7 Qd8 {Black is still in the game because the bishop on e7 is not pinned against the king, and is currently attacking the knight on h4.}) 28. Bxa6 Be7 29. Rc3 c5 (29... bxa6 30. Rxc7 Qd8 31. Nf3 {attacking e5 is pretty good for White. Note that the bishop on e7 is pinned.}) 30. Be2 Bxh4 31. Rxc5 Qd8 32. Rc7+ Be7 33. d6 Qxd6 34. Rd1 Qf6 35. Rdd7 Rfe8 36. Qc5 Kf8 37. Qxa7 Rbd8 38. Rxd8 Rxd8 39. Qxb7 e4 40. a6 e3 41. fxe3 Qe5 42. g3 1-0 [Event "IECG CP.2001.Q.00020 email"] [Site "IECG email"] [Date "2002.10.01"] [Round "?"] [White "Garibaldi, Lucio Manuel"] [Black "Krol, Wladyslaw"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "1884"] [BlackElo "2263"] [PlyCount "62"] [EventDate "2002.10.01"] [EventType "tourn (corr)"] [EventRounds "10"] [EventCountry "POL"] [SourceTitle "Corr 2008"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2008.06.24"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2008.06.24"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 Bc5 6. Bc4 (6. Bg5 {will transpose in most cases, but Black also has the surprisingly strong} Be7 $5) 6... d6 {This is the most reliable follow-up to 5...Bc5.} 7. Bg5 {White attacks the black queen, encouraging Black to put the knight on g8 in the way, resulting in it being placed in an awkward pin.} Nge7 {This is probably the best reply, even though it results in being pinned. Black can swiftly castle kingside and can eventually break the pin with ...Qd7 or ...Qe8.} 8. Nd5 $6 { [#]} (8. O-O {is preferable, getting the king off the e-file, and then White will typically follow up with Nc3-d5. Often it will transpose to the previous game after} O-O 9. Nd5 Be6 {but this line is relatively unexplored, and Black does have some alternatives at move 8 and 9, such as 8...h6 9.Bh4 and then 9... 0-0 or 9...Bg4.}) (8. Qc2 {followed by 0-0-0 is another idea, with the idea of storming the black kingside with the kingside pawns, but it seems that Black's resources against this are very good, particularly the possibility of a well-timed ...Ne7-g6. The bishop on g5 can get in the way of the advance of the h-pawn (if kicked back to h4) or the g-pawn (if kicked back to g3).} h6 9. Bh4 O-O 10. O-O-O Qe8 {with the idea of ...Ng6, for example.}) 8... f6 $6 { This is rather weakening and can be met by a strong piece sacrifice.} (8... h6 $1 {is the reason why White should not play 8.Nd5.} 9. Bh4 g5 $1 10. Nf6+ (10. Bg3 Nxd5 11. exd5 Qe7+ {is an inconvenient check for White, illustrating the benefit of getting the king out of the way of any such trouble with 8.0-0}) 10... Kf8 {and although White has caught the black king in the centre, Black is better, as Black threatens ...g5-g4 or ...Bc8-g4, as well as the immediate threat to take the bishop on h4. Indeed, in this position White's best practical chance is probably to sac the knight on g5:} 11. Nxg5 hxg5 12. Bxg5 { , but White's attacking chances are not worth a piece.}) 9. Bxf6 $5 {This was another of Paul Keres's piece sacrifice suggestions.} ({Somewhat less effective is} 9. Nxf6+ $2 gxf6 10. Bxf6 Rf8) 9... gxf6 10. Nxf6+ Kf8 11. Qc1 { [#] Black now has to be very careful.} Ng8 12. Nh5 $6 {Probably not the best, as there is a risk of the knight being shut out of play here.} (12. Nd5 { appears to be untested, but was suggested by "George Jempty" at the Chesspublishing.com forum, and gives White enough compensation for the piece.}) 12... Qe7 13. Qf4+ Ke8 14. Bxg8 $6 (14. O-O-O {would have given White rather better chances of building an attack, but White is now struggling to get enough of an attack going for the piece in any case.}) 14... Rxg8 15. Nf6+ Kf8 16. Ng5 {[#]} Rxg5 $1 17. Nxh7+ Kg7 (17... Ke8 {would have brought the king to a safer position, but Black might have been afraid of the possible discovered checks after} 18. Nf6+ Kf7 {whereupon} 19. Nd5+ Rf5 $1 {is an important resource for Black, exploiting the pin on the e4-pawn.}) 18. Nxg5 Nd4 19. Rc1 Bf5 20. f3 Rf8 21. h4 Rf6 22. Qg3 Kh8 23. Rc3 d5 24. Kd1 dxe4 25. Nxe4 Bxe4 26. fxe4 Bd6 27. Qe3 Be5 28. Rd3 c5 29. Qg5 Qe6 30. Rc3 Bf4 31. Qh5+ Rh6 0-1 [Event "ITA-ch3 email"] [Site "Italy"] [Date "1999.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Baccarini, Stefano"] [Black "Mazza, Domenico"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C44"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "1999.??.??"] [EventType "swiss (corr)"] [EventRounds "8"] [EventCountry "ITA"] [SourceTitle "Corr 2002"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2002.05.23"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2002.05.23"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. c3 dxc3 6. Nxc3 d6 7. Bg5 { This gives the same position as the previous game, but now Black deviates.} Qd7 {"No problem" - Jude Acers and George Laven in their book on the Italian Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d4!?). However, this move blocks in the bishop on c8 and makes queenside development problematic.} (7... f6 $5 { is another idea for Black, with the possible idea of ...Nh6-f7, but it is rather weakening.} 8. Bh4 Nh6 9. O-O Nf7 {and then White's best options are 10. Na4, exchanging off the bishop on c5, or perhaps 10.Nd5. White should not be tempted to exchange off the knight on f7, after which Black can "castle by hand" with ...Re8 and ...Kg8 and enjoy the bishop pair.}) 8. Qd2 $5 {White envisages queenside castling and a possible kingside pawn storm, especially with Black poorly placed for organising queenside castling.} (8. O-O {is also playable, but the following example is far from convincing:} h6 9. Bh4 Nge7 10. Nd5 ({perhaps} 10. Na4 {with the idea of exchanging off the bishop on c5.}) 10... Ng6 (10... Nxd5 11. exd5 Ne5 12. Re1 ({or} 12. Nxe5 dxe5 13. Bg3 f6) 12... f6 {is more of a test for White, creating a blockade in the centre.}) 11. Bf6 O-O 12. Qc1 Nce5 13. Bxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. Rd1 Bd4 16. Rd3 c6 $2 17. Nf6+ $1 gxf6 18. Qxh6 {and White soon won in Nagy,A (1736)-Mertens,T (2005) Brezova pod Bradlom 2006}) 8... h6 9. Bh4 Nge7 10. O-O-O Ng6 11. Bg3 a6 12. Nd5 (12. e5 {may be more of a test for Black, prising open the centre. If} dxe5 $6 ({Black should probably just play} 12... O-O) 13. Qxd7+ Bxd7 14. Bxf7+ Kxf7 15. Rxd7+ {regaining the pawn with advantage.}) (12. Rhe1 {is another good alternative.}) 12... O-O 13. Kb1 Re8 14. Rhe1 Nce5 $6 (14... b5 {is more of a test for White, getting a black queenside pawn storm underway before White gets a chance to advance any of the kingside pawns.}) 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 Rxe5 {[#]} 17. b4 {This is weakening, but it shouldn't have been too costly.} ( 17. f4 {with the idea of f5 is probably even stronger, avoiding weakening the queenside.}) 17... Ba7 18. f4 Re8 19. h3 $2 (19. f5 {with the threat of f6 keeps Black busy defending the king.}) 19... c6 20. Nc3 b5 21. Be2 a5 {[#] Black correctly goes for the queenside attack, rather than trying to defend and win with the extra pawn in the endgame. Indeed, the extra pawn comes in rather useful for Black's attack, with a four vs. two majority on the queenside adding impetus to the queenside pawn storm.} 22. Bg4 Qe7 23. Bxc8 Raxc8 24. bxa5 Bc5 25. e5 d5 26. Qd3 Qa7 27. f5 Qxa5 28. e6 {White tries to get something going in the centre and on the kingside, but does not have enough behind the attack. Meanwhile White's king is somewhat bare.} Qb4+ 29. Ka1 fxe6 30. fxe6 Ra8 31. Rd2 Ra3 32. Rc1 Rxe6 33. Qf5 Rf6 34. Qc8+ Kh7 35. Rb2 {[#]} Rxc3 $1 {Giving up the queen for rook and bishop, but forcing checkmate.} 36. Rxb4 Rxc1+ 37. Kb2 Re1 0-1 [Event "CZE-chT 9899"] [Site "Czechia"] [Date "1998.11.29"] [Round "4"] [White "Zezulkin, Jurij"] [Black "Plachetka, Jan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "2505"] [BlackElo "2400"] [PlyCount "125"] [EventDate "1998.10.31"] [EventType "team-tourn"] [EventRounds "11"] [EventCountry "CZE"] [SourceTitle "EXT 2019"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2018.10.10"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"] [SourceQuality "1"] [WhiteTeam "Vysehrad SK Sokol"] [BlackTeam "Zlin"] [WhiteTeamCountry "CZE"] [BlackTeamCountry "CZE"] 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 Nc6 (3... Bc5 4. c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 d6 6. Bc4 Nf6 7. O-O Nc6 {was the rather unusual move order that the game used.}) 4. c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 Bc5 6. Bc4 d6 7. O-O {A reasonable alternative to the more popular 7.Bg5. White gets the king out of the centre and generally intends to follow up with 8.Bg5.} (7. Bg5 Nf6 {tends to transpose, but there are a couple of alternatives worth mentioning:} 8. O-O (8. Nd5 $6 {is met by} Bxf2+ {intending} 9. Kxf2 Nxe4+ {and ...Nxg5.}) (8. Qc2 $5 {intending queenside castling was suggested in Danish Dynamite, e.g.} h6 (8... O-O $6 9. O-O-O {is good for White, with the threat of Nd5 and exchanging off the knight on f6 and forcing . ..g7xf6, weakening the black kingside, and then pushing the kingside pawns.}) 9. Bh4 Be6 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. e5 {and White threatens a big check on g6.} (11. O-O-O $6 Qe7 {is good for Black, with Black spoiling White's game plan by also castling queenside.}))) 7... Nf6 {This is quite an important position as it can also arise from a sideline of the Giuoco Piano: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.0-0 dxc3 7.Nxc3 d6.} (7... Bg4 8. Bg5 ({I don't trust } 8. Qb3 Bxf3 9. Bxf7+ Kf8) 8... Qd7 {is an independent option for Black which is untested and unexplored. I think White can get enough compensation with} 9. Nd5 {and if} Bxf3 10. Qxf3 Ne5 11. Qc3 {pins the knight against the pawn on g7. }) (7... Nge7 {is probably best, whereupon White has nothing better than} 8. Bg5 {transposing to the line 7.Bg5 Nge7 8.0-0}) 8. Bg5 {The main problem with putting the knight on f6 rather than e7 is that White can try to force a weakening in the black kingside pawn structure with Nd5 and then exchanging on f6, forcing the recapture ...g7xf6.} h6 (8... Bg4 9. Nd5 Ne5 {is the other main option for Black, counterattacking against the knight on f3.} 10. Be2 (10. b4 $5 {is also worth exploring.}) 10... Ned7 {This avoids the weakening of the black kingside pawn structure, but at the cost of development.} 11. b4 Bb6 { (Limbach,R-Benschop,A Netherlands 1989) and now} 12. a4 {threatening to trap the bishop on b6 maintains a strong initiative.}) 9. Bxf6 (9. Bh4 {is met by} Bg4 {and I am not convinced that White can get enough compensation for the pawn here, e.g.} 10. h3 (10. Nd5 {is met with the well-timed} g5) 10... Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Ne5) 9... Qxf6 10. Nd5 Qd8 {[#] Here White can get compensation for the pawn by pushing the a and b-pawns.} 11. b4 Bb6 12. a4 Bg4 (12... Ne5 { is probably superior, whereupon White chooses between 13.Nxe5 and 13.Be2.} 13. Nxe5 dxe5 14. Qh5 Bd4 15. Nb6 O-O 16. Nxa8 Bxa1 17. Rxa1 Qd4 18. Rc1 {was played in Fister,B (2263)-Boreika,V (2242) ICCF email 2009, with roughly equal chances in a complicated position.}) 13. a5 Bd4 {Black now has to be careful as the black minor pieces are rather tied down with defending the bishop on d4. } 14. Rc1 O-O {[#]} 15. Be2 (15. a6 {may be even stronger, giving White a very dangerous queenside initiative.}) 15... Bxf3 16. Bxf3 a6 17. Nxc7 $6 (17. Kh1 Be5 18. Bg4 Bb2 19. Rc2 Ba3 20. Qd2 Ne5 {was played in Julia,E-Sorin,A (2250) Buenos Aires 1985, and here simply} 21. Nxc7 {looks good.}) ({Or perhaps} 17. Bg4) 17... Bxf2+ 18. Rxf2 Qxc7 19. Be2 Qe7 20. Bc4 Ne5 21. Bd5 Qg5 22. Rc3 Rac8 23. Rfc2 Rxc3 24. Rxc3 $6 Kh7 $6 (24... Ng4 {with the idea of coming into e3 would have given Black the upper hand.}) 25. Bxb7 Rb8 26. Bxa6 Rxb4 {[#] White is now looking to win with the passed a-pawn, while Black can keep generating kingside counterplay.} 27. Bf1 Rb2 28. a6 Qf4 29. Qe1 Ng4 30. Qg3 Qf6 31. e5 dxe5 32. h3 Qb6+ (32... e4 $1 {with the idea} 33. hxg4 Rb1 {is good for Black.} ) 33. Kh1 Rb1 34. Qd3+ e4 $2 (34... g6 35. hxg4 e4 36. Qc4 Qf2 {gives Black enough counterplay to keep the chances level.}) 35. Qxe4+ g6 36. Qf4 Ne5 { Black has avoided having to sacrifice the knight, but now White can safeguard the bishop on f1 against any tricks.} 37. Rc1 Rxc1 38. Qxc1 Qd4 39. Qe1 Nc6 40. Qe8 Qf6 41. Bb5 Na7 42. Bc4 Kg7 43. Qe3 Nc8 44. Qc5 Nb6 45. Bb5 h5 46. Kg1 h4 47. Bf1 Nd7 48. Qf2 Qxf2+ (48... Qg5 {is met by} 49. Qd4+ {and then 50.a7}) 49. Kxf2 Kf6 50. Bb5 Nb6 51. a7 {The a7-pawn will act as a "decoy", forcing Black to put everything into rounding it up on the kingside and allowing White to invade with the king on the kingside.} Kf5 52. Ke3 Ke5 53. Be8 Ke6 54. Kf4 Kd6 55. Bxf7 Kc6 56. Kg5 Kb7 57. Kxh4 Kxa7 58. Kg5 Kb7 59. Kxg6 Kc7 60. h4 Kd7 61. h5 Ke7 62. h6 Nd7 63. Kg7 1-0 [Event "VW-Cup5 Gr02 email"] [Site "ICCF email"] [Date "2012.09.01"] [Round "?"] [White "Sprinkhuizen, Arno PJ"] [Black "Sergiev, Stefan"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "2305"] [BlackElo "2352"] [PlyCount "121"] [EventDate "2012.??.??"] [EventType "tourn (corr)"] [EventRounds "12"] [SourceTitle "Corr 2015"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2015.07.17"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2015.07.17"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 Bc5 6. Bc4 d6 7. Qb3 $6 { This is a warning example: against 5...Bc5 and 6...d6, the immediate attacks against f7 are not as effective.} (7. Ng5 $6 Ne5 {also doesn't work, as following} 8. Bb3 h6 9. f4 Bg4 {White can't play Qd4, and as a result Black is better.}) 7... Qd7 {Black threatens ...Na5 forcing the exchange of the Bc4 for the Nc6.} 8. Nd5 {This lays a trap for Black.} (8. Ng5 Nh6 $1 {again threatens ...Na5.} (8... Ne5 9. Bb5 c6 10. f4 {is also good for Black with best play, with Black having played ...Bc5 rather than ...Nf6 (compared with one of the main lines of the gambit starting with 5...d6) but it is rather more complicated than just playing 8...Nh6.})) 8... Nge7 ({Not} 8... Na5 $2 9. Qc3 { attacking the knight on a5 and the pawn on g7.}) 9. Qc3 O-O 10. O-O Nxd5 11. exd5 Ne7 (11... Ne5 {is a good way to return the pawn for a positional advantage:} 12. Nxe5 dxe5 13. Qxe5 Bd6 {and Black has the advantage because White's d5-pawn is weak and will need looking after. Normally I would suggest that Black gets better winning chances by holding onto the extra pawn even at the cost of allowing White greater attacking chances, but in view of how the game went, I am not sure.}) 12. b4 Bb6 13. Bb2 f6 {[#] White has some compensation for a pawn here, with a2-a4-a5 being one idea, but I don't think it is enough.} 14. a4 ({There was also a rather more combative draw from this position:} 14. Rae1 Ng6 15. Nd4 Qg4 16. Qd2 Bd7 17. f3 Qh4 18. Kh1 Rfe8 19. g3 Qh3 20. Ne6 Kh8 21. b5 Rab8 22. a4 c6 23. a5 Bxa5 24. Qxa5 cxd5 25. Nxg7 $1 Kxg7 26. Bxf6+ Kxf6 27. Qc3+ Ne5 28. f4 dxc4 29. fxe5+ Kg5 {½-½ Lagemann, T-Ratzmann,S DESC email 2005}) 14... a5 {Necessary, as otherwise 15.a5 would have been strong.} 15. b5 Ng6 16. Nd4 Qg4 17. Rfe1 Ne5 18. Be2 Qh4 19. Qg3 { White has given up on building up an attack, and offers to trade queens and hopes to draw the ending, and the computer agrees with White's decision. Maybe Black had winning chances somewhere along the line, but I don't see a clear-cut way in which Black could have avoided a draw. The problem for Black is that the pawns on a4, b5 and d5 are effective at holding back Black's queenside pawn majority, and the black pawn on d6 limits Black's scope for ganging up against White's isolated pawn on d5.} Qxg3 20. hxg3 Re8 21. Kf1 Ng4 22. Rac1 Bd7 23. Bc3 h5 24. Bd3 Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Kf7 26. Re2 Ne5 27. Be4 Re8 28. Nb3 Ng4 29. Bd3 Ne5 30. Be4 Ng4 31. Bd3 Ra8 32. Bd4 Ne5 33. Bxb6 cxb6 34. Bb1 Rc8 35. Rc2 Nc4 36. Nd4 Rc5 37. Ba2 Ne5 38. Ke2 Ke7 39. f3 g6 40. Bb3 Be8 41. f4 Nd7 42. Kd3 Rxc2 43. Bxc2 Bf7 44. Kc4 {White has set up a fortress. Stockfish 10 initially assesses the position as -0.48, but if it is left going for long enough, it recognises that there is no way through and reverts to its favourite evaluation of 0.00. Black gave up after trying for another 18 moves.} f5 (44... g5 $2 {is met by} 45. Nf5+ {and Nxd6.}) ({Also no good is} 44... Kd8 45. Bd3 g5 46. Nf3 gxf4 47. gxf4 {and Black still can't break through.}) 45. Ne2 Nf6 46. Nc3 Ng4 47. Kd4 Kf6 48. Nb1 Ke7 49. Nc3 Nf6 50. Kc4 Nd7 51. Kd4 Nc5 52. Nb1 Nd7 53. Nc3 Bg8 54. Nd1 Nf6 55. Ne3 Kd7 56. Bd3 Bf7 57. Bc2 Bg8 58. Bd3 Kc7 59. Bc2 Bf7 60. Bd3 Kd7 61. Bc2 1/2-1/2 [Event "Christmas Congress 1984/85-60 Premier"] [Site "Hastings"] [Date "1984.12.29"] [Round "1"] [White "Sveshnikov, Evgeny"] [Black "Kupreichik, Viktor D"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "2515"] [BlackElo "2480"] [PlyCount "88"] [EventDate "1984.12.29"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "13"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [EventCategory "9"] [SourceTitle "MCD"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "1999.07.01"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 (4. Bc4 Bc5 5. c3 dxc3 {was the move order that this game used - the ...Bc5 lines in general often arise from the Scotch Gambit.}) 4... dxc3 5. Bc4 Bc5 {Again, Black cannot get into the lines with 5.Nxc3 Bc5 6.Bc4 if White offers the second pawn with 5.Bc4, because White now has a tactic exploiting the position of the bishop on c5. Indeed, objectively this move might even warrant the "?!" mark.} 6. Bxf7+ {White can of course transpose into lines examined earlier with 6.Nxc3, transposing to 5. Nxc3 Bc5 6.Bc4, but this temporary sacrifice appears to be superior. In his 2002 articles on the Scotch Gambit Tim Harding suggested that it can lead to rather level situations, but having looked at it closely, I don't think this is the case at all.} Kxf7 (6... Kf8 $6 7. Bb3 {is better for White than the main line, perserving the important light squared bishop.}) 7. Qd5+ Kf8 (7... Ke8 8. Qh5+ Kf8 (8... g6 $6 9. Qxc5 {is unnecessarily weakening.}) 9. Qxc5+ { transposes to 7...Kf8 8.Qxc5+.}) 8. Qxc5+ d6 (8... Qe7 {is the other common option. Until recently I thought this was Black's most reliable way of meeting 8...Qxc5+, but having then encountered White's 9.Qe3!? possibility, I am not so sure.} 9. Qxc3 (9. Qxe7+ Ngxe7 10. Nxc3 {is not particularly drawish because of the rival pawn majorities, and the majority of the games have ended in decisive results, with White having a slight advantage due to the better development. However, Black is not in danger of getting mated anytime soon.}) ( 9. Qe3 $5 {is Stockfish's preference, but it hasn't often been played.} Nb4 { This seems to me to be the most likely objection to 9.Qe3, with a strong threat of the fork on c2, but amazingly it was only been played in one of the ten games with 9.Qe3.} (9... cxb2 10. Bxb2 {is most often played in response, with White enjoying more than enough compensation for a pawn.}) 10. Na3 { This is safe and good.} (10. Qe2 $6 d5 11. bxc3 dxe4 12. cxb4 exf3 13. Qxe7+ Nxe7 14. gxf3 Nd5 {was good for Black in Szydelko,M (1821)-Leczycki,P (1821) Lublin 2007}) (10. O-O $1 {is probably even stronger objectively, but you need to have strong nerves to go in for such a deep exchange sacrifice.} Nc2 11. Qf4+ {is the idea, whereupon White gets dangerous attacking chances against the black king, and the knight, if it takes the rook on a1, will not escape.})) 9... Qxe4+ 10. Be3 {[#] gives White reasonable compensation for a pawn in view of Black's exposed king.} d6 11. O-O Nf6 12. Nbd2 Qb4 13. Qd3 Qxb2 $6 {This is too risky.} (13... Qg4) 14. Rfb1 Ne5 15. Qf1 Nxf3+ 16. Nxf3 Qa3 17. Qc4 { and Black resigned rather prematurely in Harding,T-Dashkevich,V ICCF corr 1992} ) 9. Qc4 $5 {White offers the pawn on b2.} (9. Qxc3 {is also good.} Nf6 (9... Qf6 {offers an exchange of queens, but White can side-step it with} 10. Qa3 $5 {(instead of the more popular 10.Bg5) and then play Bg5 in the next move or two.}) 10. Nbd2 {with the idea of b4 and Bb2 gives White considerable long-term pressure.}) 9... Bg4 (9... cxb2 10. Bxb2 {holds onto an extra pawn, but White has more than enough compensation, thanks to the open lines for the queen and bishop pointing towards Black's king.}) 10. Nxc3 Bxf3 11. gxf3 Qf6 { [#] Black has succeeded in weakening the white kingside pawn structure and leaving the white king with no particularly safe haven. However, White's strong centre and greater piece activity and Black's misplaced king on f8 nonetheless give White a clear advantage.} 12. f4 Qf7 13. Qb5 Nd4 14. Qd3 Ne6 15. f5 Nc5 16. Qc2 (16. Qe2 {may have been superior, preventing the black queen from heading into c4.}) 16... Qc4 17. Be3 Nf6 $6 ({Black should have taken the opportunity to catch White's king in the centre:} 17... Nd3+ 18. Kd1 Nf6) 18. O-O-O {The king lacks pawn shelter here, but it is safer here than in the centre or on the kingside.} Re8 19. f3 Ncd7 20. Rd4 Qc6 21. Kb1 Re7 22. Qe2 Ne5 23. Bg5 Qc5 24. Rhd1 Nc6 25. Rc4 Qe5 26. Nd5 Rf7 27. Bf4 Qe8 {[#]} 28. Nxc7 $1 Rxc7 29. Bxd6+ Re7 30. e5 Nd7 31. f4 {[#] Black is being squeezed off the board.} h5 32. Qd3 Rh6 33. Bxe7+ Kxe7 34. Qa3+ Kf7 35. e6+ Rxe6 36. fxe6+ Qxe6 37. Qd3 Nf6 38. f5 Qe5 39. Rc2 Kg8 40. Re2 Qc5 41. a3 Kh7 42. Rg2 Ne5 43. Qc2 Qe3 44. Rdg1 Neg4 1-0 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "One pawn sacrifice"] [Black "...others"] [Result "*"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "13"] [EventCategory "9"] [SourceVersionDate "2019.01.15"] * [Event "WS MN/034 email"] [Site "ICCF email"] [Date "2008.07.20"] [Round "?"] [White "Berza, Stefan"] [Black "Mignon, Frederic"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C56"] [WhiteElo "2391"] [BlackElo "2408"] [PlyCount "108"] [EventDate "2008.??.??"] [EventType "tourn (corr)"] [EventRounds "12"] [SourceTitle "Corr 2011"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2010.08.31"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2010.08.31"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 ({The line seen in this game can also arise via} 5. Bc4 Nf6 6. Nxc3 Bd6 $5) 5... Nf6 (5... g6 {is very occasionally seen, going for a kingside fianchetto, but White can make Black pay for weakening the kingside dark squares.} 6. Bc4 d6 (6... Bg7 $6 7. Qb3 $1) 7. O-O {A "waiting developing move", first brought to my attention by Mark Nieuweboer. White waits for Black to commit to ...Bg7 before playing Bg5.} (7. Qb3 Qd7 {threatens ...Na5 forcing the exchange of the Bc4 for the Nc6, although here} 8. Nd5 Bg7 (8... Na5 $2 9. Qc3) 9. Bd2 {preventing ...Na5 and envisaging Bc3 is good for White.}) (7. Bg5 Be7 $5 {is surprisingly strong.}) 7... Bg7 (7... Nf6 $6 {is met by} 8. Ng5 $1) (7... Nge7 $6 8. Ng5 $1) 8. Bg5 { and with Nd5 to follow, Black's kingside dark squares will come under heavy pressure.}) 6. Bc4 Bd6 $5 {Rarely seen, but playable. Black wants a grip on the e5 square. Stefan Bücker brought this idea to my attention, citing Siegfried Kalkofen.} 7. O-O ({Or} 7. Bg5 {at once, pinning the knight to the queen.}) ({The immediate attacks on f7 don't work here:} 7. Qb3 $6 O-O 8. Ng5 Ne5) 7... O-O ({Black can go in for the forcing line} 7... Ne5 8. Nxe5 Bxe5 { and if} 9. f4 Bxc3 10. bxc3 O-O {. For this reason, maybe the move order 7.Bg5 is more accurate.}) 8. Bg5 {This threatens Nc3-d5, putting extra pressure on the knight on f6.} ({A few games have continued} 8. Re1 {(threatening to win a piece with 9.e5)} Ne5 9. Nxe5 Bxe5 10. f4 Bxc3 11. bxc3 d6 {[#] where White's pair of bishops offers adequate compensation for a pawn, but White doesn't have much in the way of attacking chances, for example,} 12. e5 ({perhaps} 12. Ba3 {, but then} Bg4 {is quite good in response.}) 12... dxe5 13. Ba3 Qxd1 14. Raxd1 Re8 15. fxe5 Ng4 {and the game was soon drawn in Fabig,H (2246)-Jambrich, J (2262) ICCF email 2011}) 8... h6 9. Bh4 Be7 {[#] This puts a stop to any Nd5 tricks.} 10. Re1 {Probably too slow.} (10. e5 $5 {, suggested to me by Stefan Bücker, is probably White's best way to generate some chaos. I can find one high level game with it:} Ng4 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. Nd5 (12. Nb5 {is also worth considering, with the idea that after} Qd8 13. Re1 {White's knight and queen control the d6-square and so Black cannot challenge White's e5-pawn with 13... d6.}) 12... Qd8 13. Re1 d6 14. exd6 cxd6 15. Nc3 Qb6 16. Qe2 Bd7 17. Nd5 Qa5 18. b4 Nxb4 19. Qd2 Nc6 20. Ne7+ Kh8 21. Qxd6 Rad8 {and White had some compensation for the pawn, and the game was later drawn, Nichols,S (2220) -Clement,G (2209) FICGS email 2010}) 10... d6 11. e5 {The problem with this line now is that by taking on e5 with the d6-pawn, Black can offer an exchange of queens.} dxe5 12. Nxe5 (12. Qc2 {is met by} Nd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 {but this would have been a better practical chance for White, for example} 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nd5) 12... Nxe5 13. Rxe5 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1 Bd6 {[#] Black has good winning chances here due to the queenside pawn majority.} 15. Ree1 Bf5 16. Nb5 (16. Bxf6 gxf6 {is also possible, shattering the pawn structure in front of the king, but at the cost of the bishop pair. Black is still much better here too, for example,} 17. Nd5 Kg7 18. Ne3 Bg6) 16... Bb4 17. Re5 Bh7 18. Bb3 Rfd8 19. Rxd8+ Rxd8 20. Nxc7 Rd2 21. Nd5 Rxb2 22. g4 Bd6 23. Nxf6+ gxf6 24. Re8+ Kg7 25. Rd8 Be5 26. Rd7 Rb1+ 27. Kg2 Be4+ 28. Kh3 Rg1 29. Bd5 Rd1 30. Rxf7+ Kg6 31. Rxf6+ Bxf6 32. Bxe4+ Kg7 33. Bxb7 Bxh4 34. Kxh4 {White now has two pawns for the exchange, but it isn't enough to save the game, because Black's rook is very active and can win a pawn immediately.} Rd2 35. a4 Ra2 36. Bc6 Rxf2 37. g5 Rxh2+ 38. Kg3 Rh5 39. gxh6+ Rxh6 40. Bb7 Rb6 41. Bc8 Kf6 42. Kf2 Rb8 43. Ba6 Rb4 44. Bb5 Re4 45. Kf3 Re5 46. Kf4 Ke6 47. Bd7+ Kd5 48. Bc6+ Kd4 49. Bb5 Re6 50. Kf5 Rd6 51. Be2 a6 52. Kf4 Kc5 53. Ke5 Rd5+ 54. Ke4 Rd4+ 0-1 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Double pawn sacrifice"] [Black "...Bb4+"] [Result "*"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "2013.??.??"] [EventType "swiss (corr)"] [EventRounds "2"] [SourceVersionDate "2019.01.15"] * [Event "Anderssenfeier Meisterturnier"] [Site "Leipzig"] [Date "1877.07.16"] [Round "1"] [White "Goering, Carl Theodor"] [Black "Paulsen, Wilfried"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C44"] [PlyCount "124"] [EventDate "1877.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2019.01.15"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Bc4 cxb2 6. Bxb2 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Ng5 $6 {Attacking f7 in this way is a common theme in this gambit, but here it turns out to be mistimed because Black can just castle out of it. White's best options are 8.Qc2 (envisaging queenside castling and throwing the h-pawn forward) and 8.0-0 intending Nc3-d5.} Ne5 $6 {This allows White to justify hopping the knight into g5.} (8... O-O $17) 9. Bb3 {White's idea is to kick the knight on e5 with f2-f4.} O-O 10. O-O d6 11. f4 Bc5+ 12. Kh1 Neg4 13. Nd5 Nxd5 {Probably the right decision.} (13... Nf2+ $2 14. Rxf2 Bxf2 $2 {loses for Black after} 15. Nxf6+ gxf6 16. Qh5 {and Black gets mated.}) 14. Qxd5 {[#] White is still two pawns down but has a very strong attacking position.} c6 15. Qd3 h6 16. Nh3 $6 ({White has to keep the initiative.} 16. Qc3 {threatening mate on g7 was the right way to go.}) 16... Be6 17. Qc3 {Nonetheless, White retains attacking chances.} Nf6 18. Bc2 b5 19. Rf3 Nh5 $2 {One slip is all it takes to let White get a very strong attack again.} (19... b4) 20. f5 b4 21. Qd3 (21. Qd2 {is stronger, eyeing the h6-pawn so that f5-f6 becomes even more of a major threat.}) 21... Bc8 22. Bb3 {Göring misses the strong f-pawn push for three consecutive moves.} (22. f6) 22... a5 $2 23. Bc4 $2 (23. f6 $1 { gives White a winning attack.}) 23... a4 24. Raf1 (24. f6 $1) 24... a3 25. Ba1 d5 26. exd5 cxd5 27. Bxd5 Ba6 {This skewer costs White an exchange.} 28. Qe4 $2 {This could have led to White losing a whole rook.} (28. Qb3 Bxf1 29. Rxf1 { and White still has some hacking chances.}) 28... Bxf1 $2 (28... Re8 {and White can't hold onto the bishop on d5.}) 29. Rxf1 Ra6 30. Qc4 Ra5 31. Rd1 Kh7 $2 (31... Qe7 {with the idea} 32. Bf3 Nf6 {keeps Black on top.}) 32. Bf3 { Attacking the queen on d8 and the knight on h5, which should win a piece back.} Re8 {[#] Crafty play by Paulsen, threatening ...Qxd1+ followed by ...Re1 mate.} 33. Qf1 $2 {D'oh! Göring misses an opportunity to get right back into the game.} (33. Ng1 {with the idea} Qg5 34. Qxf7 {is quite good for White.}) 33... Qh4 34. g3 Nxg3+ 35. hxg3 Qxg3 36. Qg2 Re1+ 37. Ng1 Qh4+ 38. Qh2 Qxh2+ 39. Kxh2 Bxg1+ 40. Kg2 Rxd1 41. Bxd1 Be3 42. Kf3 Bd2 43. Bc2 f6 44. Bd4 h5 45. Ke2 Rd5 46. Bf2 Bc3 47. Be3 Re5 48. Kf3 Rxe3+ 49. Kxe3 Kh6 50. Bb1 Kg5 51. Kf3 h4 52. Kg2 g6 53. fxg6 f5 54. Kh3 Bf6 55. Bc2 Kxg6 56. Bd1 Kg5 57. Ba4 Kf4 58. Kg2 Ke3 59. Kf1 f4 60. Bd7 b3 61. Be6 b2 62. Bf5 Kd2 0-1 [Event "olm14 qual GP1 B4 corr"] [Site "ICCF email"] [Date "2000.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Dolgov, Igor Mikhailovich"] [Black "De Groot, Adrianus Dingeman"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "2341"] [BlackElo "2427"] [PlyCount "67"] [EventDate "2000.??.??"] [EventType "team-tourn (corr)"] [EventRounds "11"] [SourceTitle "Corr 2002"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2002.05.23"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2002.05.23"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Bc4 cxb2 6. Bxb2 {[#] Taking on b2 is the most theoretically critical option for Black, but it is also dangerous as it accelerates White's initiative.} Bb4+ {This is also the most theoretically critical follow-up, as it allows Black to complete kingside development by developing the bishop with check. However, the dark squared bishop moving to the queenside means that the black kingside is in danger of lacking defenders.} 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Qc2 {White has the double-edged plan of castling queenside and launching a kingside pawn storm. Castling kingside is objectively more likely to give White two pawns' worth of compensation, but the queenside castling plan has proved more popular as it is very dangerous (for both sides!)} O-O 9. O-O-O d6 10. e5 {This gives White's queen an open line to h7 and kicks the knight away from f6, exploiting the pin against the pawn on d6.} Ng4 11. h4 {White starts the kingside pawn storm.} (11. Nd5 { is less effective because of} Bc5 {attacking f2, and if} 12. exd6 cxd6 { opens up the c-file towards White's king. It's amazing how quickly Black can get a rook to c8. For example,} 13. h4 Nce5 14. Ng5 g6 15. Ne4 Bf5 16. Bxe5 Nxe5 17. h5 Rc8 {and Black is already winning, Good,G-Morss,M USA 1999}) 11... Ncxe5 ({Black has to be careful:} 11... Ngxe5 $2 12. Ng5 g6 13. Nce4 {turns out to be close to winning for White.}) 12. Ng5 g6 {Black has been forced into weakening the kingside, making h4-h5 more of a threat.} 13. Nce4 {White has various threats, including 14.h5 and 14.f3 and 14.f4, kicking Black's pieces away from their defensive posts.} c6 {In Danish Dynamite this idea was attributed to Tim Harding, with the idea of striking out in the centre with ... d5.} (13... Bf5 {pinning the knight on e4 is probably the critical test, as Black has recently won a number of (probably computer-assisted) games starting with} 14. Qb3 Qe8 $1 {- a move that Black probably won't find without preparation or computer assistance. Black is probably not winning here but is likely to come out on top with very precise defence.}) 14. h5 (14. f4 {is untested but may well be stronger, giving White enough compensation for two pawns.} Nxc4 (14... Ne3 {can be met by} 15. Bxf7+ $1 {with the idea} Nxf7 16. Qb3 Nxd1 17. Rxd1 {, again with a very dangerous attack.}) 15. Qxc4 {followed by 16.h5 in most cases gives White a very dangerous attack.}) 14... d5 15. hxg6 fxg6 16. Nxh7 Rf4 (16... Bf5 {was better, and if} 17. Nxf8 Qxf8 18. f4 { Black can start a counterattack with} Ba3) 17. g3 Rf7 18. Nhg5 Rxf2 {[#]} 19. Qxf2 $1 Nxf2 20. Bxe5 Nh3 21. Nf6+ Kf8 22. Nxh3 Bf5 23. Ng5 Ba3+ 24. Kd2 dxc4+ 25. Ke3 Bc1+ 26. Kf3 Bxg5 27. Rxd8+ Rxd8 28. Nh7+ Ke8 29. Nxg5 c5 30. g4 Rd5 31. Kf4 Bxg4 32. Ne4 g5+ 33. Nxg5 Be2 34. Ne4 1-0 [Event "Moscow op-E"] [Site "Moscow"] [Date "2011.02.06"] [Round "9"] [White "Yu, Yangyi"] [Black "Jumabayev, Rinat"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "2607"] [BlackElo "2555"] [PlyCount "59"] [EventDate "2011.01.29"] [EventType "swiss"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "RUS"] [SourceTitle "CBM 140 Extra"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2011.03.01"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2011.03.01"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Bc4 cxb2 6. Bxb2 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 d6 { This allows White to get in a quick attack on f7 before Black has time to castle out of it.} 8. Qb3 {[#]} Be6 (8... Nh6 {is probably stronger. Then three games have continued} 9. O-O-O $5 {, which appears to be quite good:} O-O (9... Be6 10. Nd5 $1) 10. Nd5 {and White has the idea of playing g2-g4-g5 (if Black takes the pawn on g4, it will open up the g-file for a white rook).}) 9. Bxe6 fxe6 10. O-O (10. O-O-O $6 {is met by} Qe7 {followed by 11...0-0-0.}) 10... Qd7 11. Nd5 (11. Ng5 {attacking e6 is a good alternative, whereupon Black probably has to go passive with} Bxc3 12. Bxc3 Nd8) 11... a5 12. Ng5 exd5 13. exd5 Ne5 14. Ne6 {[#] White has regained one of the two sacrificed pawns, albeit at the cost of having an isolated pawn on d5, and now has this powerful square for the knight.} Nf6 15. a3 Bc5 16. Rae1 Kf7 $6 (16... b6 {reduces the potency of the upcoming sacrifice on c5}) 17. Nxc5 dxc5 18. Rxe5 Rhe8 19. d6+ Kf8 20. Rxc5 Qxd6 21. a4 b6 22. Rf5 Re6 23. g4 h6 24. h4 Ke8 $2 (24... Rae8 { was the only way for Black to stay in the game, doubling up on the e-file, with the idea} 25. Rd1 $2 Qxd1+ $1 26. Qxd1 Re1+) 25. Rd1 Qe7 {[#]} 26. g5 { The key breakthrough.} hxg5 27. hxg5 Nh7 28. Ba3 Re1+ 29. Kh2 Qe6 30. Rxe1 1-0 [Event "GER-GRE"] [Site "Fuerth"] [Date "2002.09.05"] [Round "6"] [White "Mastrovasilis, Dimitrios"] [Black "Graf, Alexander"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "2462"] [BlackElo "2624"] [PlyCount "97"] [EventDate "2002.08.31"] [EventType "team-tourn"] [EventRounds "6"] [EventCountry "GER"] [SourceTitle "CBM 091"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2002.11.12"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2002.11.12"] [SourceQuality "1"] [WhiteTeam "Greece"] [BlackTeam "Germany"] [WhiteTeamCountry "GRE"] [BlackTeamCountry "GER"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Bc4 cxb2 6. Bxb2 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Qc2 d6 9. O-O-O Bxc3 {Black swaps off the knight, with the idea of exchanging as many pieces as possible following ...Be6.} 10. Qxc3 ({If} 10. Bxc3 Be6 (10... Qe7 $5 {may well be stronger in this particular situation, with the idea of playing ...Be6 and possibly ...0-0-0.}) 11. e5 Bxc4 12. exf6 gxf6 {White has some compensation due to the shattered black kingside pawn structure, but it is not clear if it is enough. Again Black can consider castling queenside.}) 10... Be6 11. Rhe1 (11. Bxe6 fxe6 {doesn't really get anywhere for White, e.g.} 12. Qb3 Qd7 13. Ng5 e5 {and if} 14. Ne6 $6 Na5) 11... Bxc4 12. Qxc4 O-O {[#] This has been played in a few games, with White enjoying some, but probably not quite enough, compensation for two pawns. Black still has to be careful though, with the potential for White to launch a kingside pawn storm, and the bishop on b2 pointing towards Black's kingside.} 13. e5 Nd7 $5 {Black is prepared to return one pawn (allowing White to capture twice on d6).} (13... Ne8 {is more common, whereupon White can start the kingside pawn storm:} 14. g4 a5 $5 {Two can play at that game, as they say!} 15. h4 {and I suggest that White's practical chances are pretty good.}) 14. Qg4 ({It appears that the immediate kingside pawn roller is now insufficient because Black can block out the bishop on b2 by taking on e5:} 14. g4 dxe5 15. h4 Qe7) ({Alternatively if} 14. exd6 cxd6 15. g4 (15. Kb1 Nb6) 15... Rc8 $1 { Black's attack is quicker, as there is the threat of moving the knight on c6 and pinning the queen to the king.}) 14... f6 15. exd6 ({If} 15. exf6 {the computer persists with cold-blooded defence:} Nxf6 16. Qe6+ Kh8 17. Ng5 Qe8 18. Qh3 Qh5 {and I am guessing that Alexander Graf may have found these moves, but Black does have to defend accurately to get the advantage.}) 15... Rf7 16. Kb1 cxd6 17. Rxd6 Qc8 18. Qe4 ({White does have ways to keep the queens on here, e. g.} 18. h4 Nc5 19. Qf4 {, but Black is still better, having reinforced the kingside and retaining attacking chances on the queenside.}) 18... Nb6 19. g4 Qf8 20. Re6 Qb4 21. Qxb4 Nxb4 {[#] Black goes in for a pawn-up ending, with some winning chances due to the queenside pawn majority, but it is not easy to convert the extra pawn, and in the game White managed to scrape a draw:} 22. g5 Nd3 23. Re8+ Rf8 24. Rxa8 Rxa8 25. Re7 Rc8 26. gxf6 gxf6 27. a3 Na4 28. Bd4 Nc3+ 29. Ka1 Nb5 30. Rxb7 Rc1+ 31. Ka2 Rc2+ 32. Ka1 Nxd4 33. Nxd4 Rxf2 34. Rxa7 Rxh2 35. a4 h5 36. a5 Nb4 37. Rb7 Nd5 38. Rb2 Rxb2 39. Kxb2 Nc7 40. Kc3 Kf7 41. Kc4 h4 42. Nf3 h3 43. Kd4 Ke6 44. Ke4 Nd5 45. a6 f5+ 46. Kd4 Nb4 47. a7 Nc6+ 48. Ke3 Nxa7 49. Ng5+ {White managed to get a draw, but it is primarily this game and the associated opening line that puts me off the 0-0-0 approach for White.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "IECC O-3626"] [Site "IECC email"] [Date "2013.04.10"] [Round "?"] [White "Romanelli, Gabriel Adrian"] [Black "Lewis, Matthew"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "2123"] [BlackElo "2121"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2013.??.??"] [EventType "swiss (corr)"] [EventRounds "2"] [SourceTitle "Telechess CBM 165"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2015.03.11"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"] [SourceQuality "1"] [WhiteTeam "Argentina"] [BlackTeam "US of America"] [WhiteTeamCountry "ARG"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Bc4 cxb2 6. Bxb2 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. O-O {White unpins the knight on c3 and threatens Nc3-d5, with the idea of either breaking through to g7, or exchanging on f6 and forcing the recapture .. .gxf6, weakening the kingside pawn structure. There have not been many high level games with this, as the queenside castling plan has been known to be very dangerous, so this line is relatively unexplored.} (8. Qc2 {intending 0-0 has the idea of meeting ...Bxc3 with Qxc3 with increased pressure against g7, but has the drawback that after} d6 9. O-O O-O {,} 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. exd5 Ne5 { allows Black to exchange off too many pieces.}) 8... Bxc3 {Black exchanges off the knight before it can get to d5.} (8... O-O 9. Nd5 (9. Qc2 d6 10. Nd5 { allows Black to exchange too many pieces with} Nxd5 11. exd5 Ne5) 9... Be7 { is the other way for Black to avoid allowing the kingside pawn structure to be compromised. White has various ways to maintain attacking chances, although the resulting positions are hard to assess and it is not clear if they are worth two pawns:} 10. Qc2 (10. Nxe7+ Qxe7 11. e5 {has been tried in a couple of games, although} Ne4 {intending to bring the knight to c5 is quite a robust defence. 12.Re1 and 12.Rc1 are then the most likely ways for White to keep up the pressure.}) 10... d6 (10... Nxd5 $2 11. exd5 $16) 11. Rae1 ({or} 11. Qc3 { tying the knight on f6 to covering g7.}) 11... Be6 12. Ng5 {with the idea of f4.}) ({One example of how Black can lose quickly is} 8... d6 $6 9. Nd5 Nxd5 $6 (9... Bc5 10. Nxf6+ gxf6 11. Ng5 $1 {gives White a very strong attack, with the idea of Qh5.}) 10. exd5 O-O 11. dxc6 bxc6 {gave White a piece for three pawns, but the most important factor is the two bishops pointing at the king, with the king lacking defenders, and White soon won, Zukertort,J-Munk,H Berlin 1870}) 9. Bxc3 O-O (9... d6 {can be met by} 10. Ng5 {attacking f7, and if} O-O 11. f4 $44) 10. Re1 (10. Ng5 {is another idea, for example} h6 11. Nxf7 Rxf7 12. Bxf7+ Kxf7 13. e5 {and White keeps attacking chances going, although Black now has two pieces and two pawns for a rook.}) (10. e5 Ne4 11. Bb2 {has been tried in seeral games, again with no clear verdict.}) 10... Nh5 {With the idea of going for a kingside offensive and blocking White's kingside attack that way, but this leaves Black further behind in development.} (10... d6 {is probably best, when again White has attacking chances but it is not clear if they are worth two pawns.}) 11. Nd4 Qg5 {[#] Black is threatening ...Nf4.} 12. h4 $5 Qxh4 ({Black probably shouldn't have taken the pawn.} 12... Qc5 {is more of a test for White, but even so White has a few good moves here, including} 13. Nb5 {intending} Qxc4 14. Qxh5 $16) 13. Nf5 Qg5 14. Bd2 Nf4 15. g3 Nh3+ 16. Kg2 Qf6 {Black is now three pawns ahead, but in the long run the knight on h3 will not escape.} 17. Rc1 d6 18. Qh5 Nxf2 19. Kxf2 g6 20. Qh6 Bxf5 21. exf5 Qxf5+ 22. Kg2 d5 23. Rh1 {This is the other problem for Black: taking on h4 opened up the h-file for a white rook.} Qe4+ 24. Kg1 Qd4+ 25. Be3 Qh8 {[#] Not the greatest square for the black queen!} 26. Bxd5 Rad8 27. Bxc6 bxc6 28. Bxa7 f5 29. Rh4 Rfe8 30. Bf2 Re7 31. Qf4 Qf6 32. a4 Rd5 33. Qc4 Re6 34. Rd4 Rxd4 35. Bxd4 Qf7 36. Qb4 Qd7 37. a5 Re4 38. Qb3+ Qf7 39. Qb8+ Re8 40. Qb4 f4 41. a6 1-0 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Double pawn sacrifice"] [Black "...d6"] [Result "*"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "2013.??.??"] [EventType "swiss (corr)"] [EventRounds "2"] [SourceVersionDate "2019.01.15"] * [Event "GRE-chT Cup"] [Site "Athens"] [Date "2006.09.30"] [Round "3.3"] [White "Mastrovasilis, Dimitrios"] [Black "Michos, Thomas"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "2562"] [BlackElo "2264"] [PlyCount "51"] [EventDate "2006.09.30"] [EventType "team-tourn"] [EventRounds "5"] [EventCountry "GRE"] [SourceTitle "CBM 114 Extra"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2006.11.03"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2006.11.03"] [SourceQuality "1"] [WhiteTeam "Thessaloniki"] [BlackTeam "Athens"] [WhiteTeamCountry "GRE"] [BlackTeamCountry "GRE"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Bc4 cxb2 6. Bxb2 d6 {[#] This is recommended in many sources, e.g. John Emms's Play the Open Games as Black, John Watson's review of Danish Dynamite, and Batsford Chess Openings 2. It is a more solid but passive defence than the bishop check on b4, and often leads to fascinating complications. However, I am more confident that White has two pawns' worth of compensation here than after 6...Bb4+.} (6... Nf6 {is the only alternative to 6...Bb4+ and 6...d6 which doesn't give White a large advantage.} 7. O-O (7. e5 {gives Black the resource} Bb4+ 8. Nc3 d5 9. exf6 Qxf6 $1) 7... Be7 8. e5 Nh5 {is probably the most critical line, with Black intending to annoy White a bit by putting the knight on f4, but Black is falling a fair way behind in development.} 9. Nc3 {may well be the best reply, envisaging Nc3-d5, but it has only been tested in one low-level game, so more tests are certainly needed.} ({Helmut Warzecha has tried} 9. Re1 Nf4 10. Nc3 Ne6 11. Nd5 {in several games, with mixed results.})) 7. O-O {This is one of three good replies to 6...d6, and I examine the other two in the next two games.} Be6 { This highlights the main drawback of 7.0-0: Black can get this move in without White being able to avoid the exchange of bishops with Nc3-d5.} 8. Bxe6 (8. Nbd2 $5 {is worth exploring, with the idea that if Black exchanges bishops, the knight can come out to a strong post on c4. I have looked closely at it with the aid of Stockfish and have not found a refutation. Unfortunately it has only been tested in two games, in both of which White was by far the lower-rated player and lost.}) 8... fxe6 9. Qb3 Qd7 {This does not give up the b7-pawn because of White's undefended bishop on b2.} (9... Qc8 $6 {is unnecessarily passive, and following} 10. Ng5 Nd8 11. f4 {Black will struggle to survive the attack.}) 10. Ng5 (10. Qxb7 $2 {loses to ...Rb8 and ...Rxb2.}) 10... Nd8 {Black has been driven back into passivity, but retains the two-pawn advantage.} 11. f4 {[#] White is getting ready to push the e and f-pawns to try and blast open the centre.} Nf6 {There are playable alternatives for Black here, but this is played more than four times as often as any other move.} 12. Nd2 {White completes development, as now is probably not the right time to advance one of the central pawns.} (12. f5 {is well met by} e5) 12... h6 (12... Be7 {is more common, whereupon White has a few ways to maintain attacking chances, and the most convincing is probably} 13. Rad1 (13. e5 dxe5 14. fxe5 Nd5 {gives Black a blockade in the centre.} (14... Qxd2 $6 {is, however, too risky, e.g.} 15. exf6 Bc5+ 16. Kh1 Qxg5 17. fxg7 Rg8 18. Bf6 {and Black's king is marooned in the centre.})) 13... O-O 14. f5 d5 15. e5 ({rather than} 15. Qh3 $6 h6 16. Nxe6 Nxe6 17. fxe6 Qc6 {when White's attack had largely fizzled out in Dolgov,I (2341)-Larsson,M (2358) ICCF email 2000})) 13. Qh3 {This looks most logical, pinning the pawn on h6 against the rook and keeping the knight on its strong point, eyeing e6 and f7, but computers do not like this move.} ( 13. Ngf3 {is Stockfish's preference, Black has invariably met this with} Be7 { and then the computer favours} 14. Nh4 {heading for g6, although naturally there are alternatives for both sides.}) 13... e5 14. f5 Rg8 (14... Be7 { may be stronger.} 15. Ne6 Nxe6 16. fxe6 Qc6 {then doesn't give White much.}) 15. Ne6 Nxe6 16. fxe6 Qc6 $2 {[#]} (16... Qe7) 17. Rxf6 $1 Be7 (17... gxf6 { is refuted with} 18. Qh5+ Kd8 19. Qf7) 18. Rf2 O-O-O 19. Rc1 Qa4 20. Qc3 c6 21. Nc4 Rgf8 22. Rf7 Rxf7 23. exf7 Rf8 24. Qh3+ Kd8 25. Qe6 Qb4 26. Ba3 1-0 [Event "LSS WC-2009-S-00013"] [Site "LSS email"] [Date "2006.09.06"] [Round "?"] [White "Dolgov, Igor Mikhailovich"] [Black "Vaassen, Jack M"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C44"] [PlyCount "69"] [EventDate "2006.09.06"] [EventType "tourn (corr)"] [EventRounds "10"] [SourceTitle "Corr 2011"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2010.08.31"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2010.08.31"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Bc4 cxb2 6. Bxb2 d6 7. Nc3 { With this move White has the idea of playing Nd5, discouraging Black from playing ...Nf6 and uncovering the path of the bishop on b2 to g7. If Black tries to close that diagnoal with ...f7-f6, the knight on d5 can come to f4, threatening to hop into e6.} Be7 {This is the most challenging response for White to face, which has ideas of putting the bishop on f6 to blunt the bishop on b2.} (7... Be6 8. Nd5 {plays into White's hands somewhat.} Na5 9. Bd3 { is most often played, and Black is under a lot of pressure, for example} c6 10. Nf4 {and White probably has more than enough for two pawns here.}) (7... Nf6 { can be met by} 8. Qb3 {intending} Qd7 9. Ng5 Ne5 10. Bb5 c6 11. f4 {which is similar to the main line of the one pawn sacrifice variations with ...d6, but here White is doing better because the bishop on b2 gives White additional attacking options.}) 8. Qb3 {White attacks f7, to encourage ...Nh6 to defend f7, which reduces Black's control over the f6-square, making ...Bf6 less of a threat.} Nh6 9. Nd5 {[#]} O-O (9... f6 {is most often played, but then White can respond with} 10. Nf4 {with the idea of hopping into the weak e6-square} ( 10. Bc3 {preventing ...Na5 is also good}) ({White should however avoid} 10. O-O $2 Na5 11. Qa4+ c6 12. Nxe7 Nxc4 13. Nxc8 Nxb2 14. Qb3 Qxc8 $17 {Csom, I-Barczay,L Budapest 1967})) 10. h3 {This was suggested in Danish Dynamite, preventing Black's idea of ...Ng4 followed by ...Bf6.} (10. Qc3 $6 {is tempting, threatening mate on g7, but Black has a good way to return one pawn with} Bf6 $1 11. Nxf6+ Qxf6 {and if} 12. Qxf6 gxf6 13. Bxf6 Ng4 {after which the authors of Danish Dynamite concluded, "This is not what White wants to get out of the opening". I can find one game with this, Afshari,M (2304)-Akhavan Rad,A (2252) Iran 2000, which ended in a draw after some mistakes from both sides.}) 10... Re8 {Black wants to add to the protection of g7 by playing ... Bf8.} (10... Be6 {was suggested by John Watson in his review of Danish Dynamite, after which White should probably play} 11. O-O {with a fair amount of pressure for the two sacrificed pawns} (11. Qxb7 $6 Na5 12. Qa6 Nxc4 13. Qxc4 {is good for Black - Watson.})) 11. Nxe7+ {White exchanges the bishop off before it can get to f8.} (11. O-O Bf8 {threatens ...Na5 again, and if} 12. Bc3 Ne5) 11... Rxe7 12. O-O {[#]} Rxe4 {This third pawn grab is somewhat risky.} ( 12... Kh8 {is the computer's suggestion, unpinning the pawn on f7 and so making ...f7-f6 possible, although White still retains some attacking chances.} ) 13. Rfe1 Bf5 14. Bd5 Rxe1+ 15. Rxe1 Rb8 16. g4 Bd7 17. Re4 Qf8 18. Ng5 Ne5 { [#]} 19. Qc2 (19. Rxe5 $5 dxe5 20. Qc2 {was another option for White, maybe not objectively better than the move played in the game, but it gives White more winning chances, when Black has to find the not-so-obvious} Qd6 $1 { to stay in the game.}) 19... Ng6 20. Qxc7 Qc8 21. Qxd6 Bc6 22. Rc4 Qf8 23. Qxf8+ Nxf8 24. Bxc6 bxc6 25. Bd4 f5 26. a4 fxg4 27. Bxa7 Ra8 28. Bb6 gxh3 29. a5 Nf7 30. Nxf7 Kxf7 31. Rxc6 Ne6 32. Kh2 g6 33. Kxh3 Ke7 34. Kg3 Kd7 35. Rc1 1/2-1/2 [Event "Troon Centenery op"] [Site "Troon"] [Date "1984.??.??"] [Round "4"] [White "Bryson, Douglas Marshall"] [Black "Teichmann, Erik Oskar Michael"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C44"] [WhiteElo "2245"] [BlackElo "2285"] [PlyCount "41"] [EventDate "1984.??.??"] [EventType "swiss"] [EventRounds "6"] [EventCountry "SCO"] [SourceTitle "EXT 2004"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2003.11.25"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Bc4 cxb2 6. Bxb2 d6 7. Qb3 { White attacks f7 immediately. This gives Black a fairly wide range of playable options, including one which may well transpose back into 7.0-0 lines with best play, but many of Black's alternatives are inferior.} Qd7 {With this move Black threatens ...Na5 forcing the exchange of the Bc4 for the Nc6.} (7... Nh6 {is quite a challenging alternative. Here ...Na5 is not as strong a threat because White can answer it with Qa4+, and White has several ways to set about continuing development and starting an attack, but Black's knight on h6 holds things together pretty well.} 8. O-O {This is probably White's best response, but it has only been tried in three low level games.} (8. Bc3 {gives Black a choice between ...Qd7 transposing into the game, and the independent option ... Qe7}) (8. Na3 Na5 9. Qa4+ c6 10. Bd3 Bd7 {is pretty solid for Black.}) 8... Na5 9. Qa4+ c6 10. Bd3 {and the knight on b1 may find a rather better square than a3, coming out to d2 or c3 instead.}) (7... Na5 8. Bxf7+ Ke7 9. Qd5 {is quite good for White, since the white queen can settle on h5 and if Black plays ... Nf6, Bxf6 follows.}) (7... Be6 $5 {is an interesting but rarely played option, offering to give back one pawn, and White probably shouldn't oblige. In most cases play will transpose back into 7.0-0 lines.} 8. Bxe6 (8. Nbd2 {is quite a promising alternative.} Qd7 9. O-O {transposes to 7.0-0 Be6 8.Nbd2 Qd7 9.Qb3.}) (8. Na3 $5) 8... fxe6 9. Qxb7 (9. O-O {transposes to 7.0-0 Be6 8.Bxe6 fxe6 9. Qb3}) (9. Qxe6+ Qe7 10. Qf5 Qf7) 9... Nge7 10. Qa6 Rb8 11. Bc3 d5 12. O-O { was played in Warzecha,H (1967)-Lau,W (1964) GER email 2012, when I don't particularly like White's position, but White went on to win.}) 8. Bc3 { This is played to prevent ...Na5. When I first saw this line in Batsford Chess Openings 2, which assessed it as clearly better for Black, I thought that White would probably struggle to get much compensation with being two pawns down and having to move the same piece twice in the opening to defend against . ..Na5. A closer look, however, reveals otherwise. White's initiative is in fact still very dangerous.} (8. Ng5 Nh6 9. Bc3 {is also worth considering but is most likely inferior. Computers tend to prefer Black in this line, but} Ne5 10. Be2 Be7 11. f4 {does give White some hacking chances.}) 8... Nf6 { Recommended in BCO2, which attributed it to Smit. Black isn't really threatening to take on e4, the idea is rather ...Ng4 and ...Nge5.} (8... Nh6 { is the main alternative, intending ...f6 and ...Nf7 in most cases. This is the line that John Watson thought was better for Black, but I doubt this:} 9. O-O f6 (9... Ng4 {transposing into the game is probably superior.}) 10. Nbd2 Nf7 11. Rad1 Nce5 ({Or} 11... Ncd8 $6 {, Bryson,D (2245)-Fernandez Garcia,J (2440) Thessaloniki 1984, and then} 12. Rfe1 {with the idea of blasting through in the centre with f4, e5 and Nd4 is good for White. Black is still two pawns ahead, but has gone too passive.}) 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Be2 Qf7 {(so far analysis by John Watson)} 14. Qb2 {and White intends to blast open the centre with f4.}) 9. O-O Ng4 10. Rd1 Qe7 (10... f6 {intending ...Nge5 or ...Nce5 is probably best, e.g.} 11. Nbd2 Nge5 12. Bd5 {and the position is pretty unclear, but with White enjoying approximately two pawns' worth of compensation.}) 11. Rd3 Rb8 (11... Nce5 {is met by} 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 (12... dxe5 $6 13. Bb4) 13. Bxe5 $1 Qxe5 (13... dxe5 $6 14. Nc3 {followed by Nd5 or Nb5 gives White a winning attack.}) 14. Bxf7+) 12. Nbd2 f6 13. Re1 Bd7 14. h3 Nge5 {[#]} 15. Nxe5 dxe5 ( 15... fxe5 {would have been a stronger defence, although} 16. f4 {is then very strong, with the aim of blasting open the centre.}) 16. Nf3 a6 17. Red1 Bc8 18. Bb4 Nxb4 19. Bf7+ Qxf7 20. Rd8+ Ke7 21. Qxb4+ 1-0