The Scotch Gambit with 4...Bc5
The 4...Bc5 variation usually transposes into the Giuoco Piano after 5.c3 Nf6, but both sides have sub-optimal alternatives along the way.
Instead of 5.c3, 5.Ng5 doesn't work out very well for White after the surprisingly effective 5...Nh6, while 5.0-0 is ineffective because of 5...d6, intending 6.c3 Bg4 putting the f3-knight in an irritating pin against the queen. White's best attempt to generate play is with 7.Qb3 attacking b7 and f7, but then after 7...Bxf3 Black gets too much counterplay against White's weakened kingside.
Thus White's only serious challenge to Black's idea is 5.c3. Then 5...dxc3 is probably sub-optimal because of 6.Bxf7+ followed by Qd5+ and Qxc5, as noted in the coverage of the line 4.c3 dxc3 5.Bc4 Bc5. 5...d6 is passive and allows White a strong centre. 5...d3 is perhaps not as bad as its reputation, for I think White only gets a small edge against this following 6.b4 Bb6 7.0-0, but it is not as reliable as 5...Nf6. 5...Qe7, counterattacking against e4, is not very strong after 6.0-0, with the idea 6...dxc3 7.Nxc3 threatening Nd5, or 6...d3 7.e5.
Instead of 5.c3, 5.Ng5 doesn't work out very well for White after the surprisingly effective 5...Nh6, while 5.0-0 is ineffective because of 5...d6, intending 6.c3 Bg4 putting the f3-knight in an irritating pin against the queen. White's best attempt to generate play is with 7.Qb3 attacking b7 and f7, but then after 7...Bxf3 Black gets too much counterplay against White's weakened kingside.
Thus White's only serious challenge to Black's idea is 5.c3. Then 5...dxc3 is probably sub-optimal because of 6.Bxf7+ followed by Qd5+ and Qxc5, as noted in the coverage of the line 4.c3 dxc3 5.Bc4 Bc5. 5...d6 is passive and allows White a strong centre. 5...d3 is perhaps not as bad as its reputation, for I think White only gets a small edge against this following 6.b4 Bb6 7.0-0, but it is not as reliable as 5...Nf6. 5...Qe7, counterattacking against e4, is not very strong after 6.0-0, with the idea 6...dxc3 7.Nxc3 threatening Nd5, or 6...d3 7.e5.
The Giuoco Piano main line- 5.c3 Nf6 (reaching the same position as arises from 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4)
This line is very important as it is often recommended to beginners, and White has no good alternative to playing into it following 4.Bc4 Bc5.
The sidelines 6.e5 and 6.0-0 are both better than their reputations, and the 6.e5 line has often been favoured by Sveshnikov, whereupon Black has to find 6...d5! 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6! in order to get an equal game (instead 8...Bb4+ is often encountered at club level and gives White good chances of securing some advantage). In the case of 6.0-0, Black has to find 6...Nxe4 7.cxd4 d5 8.dxc5 dxc4 in order to keep the game level, and White should keep the queens on with 9.Qe2 rather than initiating a brief flurry of activity against the black king with 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.Rd1+ Bd7, which if anything leaves Black with the edge.
Instead after 6.cxd4 Bb4+, 7.Nbd2!? appears to be the most promising of White's seventh-move tries, giving White reasonable compensation for a pawn after 7...Nxe4 (probably best) or a decent "isolated queen's pawn" position following 7...d5 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.0-0.
7.Bd2 is safest but can lead to rather drawish situations, and Black has a choice of equalisers: 7...Nxe4!? is good, intending 8.Bxb4 Nxb4 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.Qb3+ Kf8 (10...d5!? is a more double-edged try which should also equalise) and 7...Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.0-0 0-0, or 10.Qb3 Na5, though the latter allows White a forced draw by repetition if he/she wants it.
Greco's Attack with 7.Nc3 offers practical chances but is rather dubious. Following 7...Nxe4 8.0-0 Bxc3, White's best chance is 9.d5, the Møller Attack, but White is struggling to prove adequate compensation for the pawn after 9...Bf6 and 9...Ne5. I have provided one illustrative game in each of those lines and White's prospects are pretty grim if Black plays accurately, though in practice Black quite often goes wrong.
In summary, I think beginners are fine trying out the old main lines with 7.Bd2 and 7.Nc3, but that club-level players upwards are advised to try 7.Nbd2 or 6.0-0 or 6.e5 instead.
The sidelines 6.e5 and 6.0-0 are both better than their reputations, and the 6.e5 line has often been favoured by Sveshnikov, whereupon Black has to find 6...d5! 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6! in order to get an equal game (instead 8...Bb4+ is often encountered at club level and gives White good chances of securing some advantage). In the case of 6.0-0, Black has to find 6...Nxe4 7.cxd4 d5 8.dxc5 dxc4 in order to keep the game level, and White should keep the queens on with 9.Qe2 rather than initiating a brief flurry of activity against the black king with 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.Rd1+ Bd7, which if anything leaves Black with the edge.
Instead after 6.cxd4 Bb4+, 7.Nbd2!? appears to be the most promising of White's seventh-move tries, giving White reasonable compensation for a pawn after 7...Nxe4 (probably best) or a decent "isolated queen's pawn" position following 7...d5 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.0-0.
7.Bd2 is safest but can lead to rather drawish situations, and Black has a choice of equalisers: 7...Nxe4!? is good, intending 8.Bxb4 Nxb4 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.Qb3+ Kf8 (10...d5!? is a more double-edged try which should also equalise) and 7...Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.0-0 0-0, or 10.Qb3 Na5, though the latter allows White a forced draw by repetition if he/she wants it.
Greco's Attack with 7.Nc3 offers practical chances but is rather dubious. Following 7...Nxe4 8.0-0 Bxc3, White's best chance is 9.d5, the Møller Attack, but White is struggling to prove adequate compensation for the pawn after 9...Bf6 and 9...Ne5. I have provided one illustrative game in each of those lines and White's prospects are pretty grim if Black plays accurately, though in practice Black quite often goes wrong.
In summary, I think beginners are fine trying out the old main lines with 7.Bd2 and 7.Nc3, but that club-level players upwards are advised to try 7.Nbd2 or 6.0-0 or 6.e5 instead.
Games and analysis
Since the Giuoco Piano main line is quite a complex and heavily-analysed system, I have 10 illustrative examples, divided up as follows:
1. 5.0-0 (with a brief note on 5.Ng5)
2. 5.c3 d3, and other alternatives
3. 5.c3 d6
4. 5.c3 Nf6 6.e5
5. 5.c3 Nf6 6.0-0
6. 5.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nbd2
7. 5.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Nxe4
8. 5.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bxd2+
9. 5.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.0-0 Bxc3 9.d5 Ne5
10. 5.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.0-0 Bxc3 9.d5 Bf6
1. 5.0-0 (with a brief note on 5.Ng5)
2. 5.c3 d3, and other alternatives
3. 5.c3 d6
4. 5.c3 Nf6 6.e5
5. 5.c3 Nf6 6.0-0
6. 5.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nbd2
7. 5.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Nxe4
8. 5.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bxd2+
9. 5.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.0-0 Bxc3 9.d5 Ne5
10. 5.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.0-0 Bxc3 9.d5 Bf6
[Event "BIH-chT 11th"]
[Site "Jahorina"]
[Date "2012.06.06"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "Pap, Misa"]
[Black "Brkic, Ante"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C44"]
[WhiteElo "2504"]
[BlackElo "2569"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2012.06.02"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[WhiteTeam "Prijedor"]
[BlackTeam "Siroki Brijeg"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BIH"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BIH"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 {Diagram [#] Black defends the
d4-pawn, thus preventing White from recapturing on d4.} 5. O-O {This move is
too slow. White's only way to seriously challenge Black is to offer a gambit
immediately with 5.c3, as subsequent analysis will demonstrate.} (5. Ng5 Nh6 $1
{makes it difficult for White to make much progress.} 6. O-O (6. Qh5 Qf6) (6.
Nxf7 Nxf7 7. Bxf7+ Kxf7 8. Qh5+ g6 9. Qxc5 d6 $15 {leaves Black with the
better development.}) 6... O-O 7. c3 Qf6 $15) 5... d6 $1 {This prevents e4-e5
and prepares ...Bc8-g4 pinning the knight on f3.} (5... Nf6 6. e5 {transposes
to the Max Lange Attack.}) 6. c3 {This move clears the path for White's queen
to come to b3, counterattacking against f7. There are no good alternatives.} (
6. Ng5 Nh6 7. c3 Qf6) (6. Re1 Nf6 ({or} 6... Bg4 7. Nbd2 Ne5) 7. e5 dxe5 8.
Nxe5 O-O) 6... Bg4 (6... dxc3 7. Nxc3 {transposes to an important line of the
Göring Gambit (4.c3 dxc3 5.Nxc3 Bc5 6. Bc4 d6 7.0-0) in which White can get
enough compensation for the pawn with Bg5 and Nd5.}) 7. Qb3 {[%cal Rc4f7,Rb3b7]
Diagram [#] White abandons the knight on f3 and attacks b7 and f7.} (7. cxd4
Nxd4 {leaves White in trouble due to Black's pressure against f3.}) 7... Bxf3
$1 {Black is happy to let f7 drop off in return for strong counterplay against
the exposed white king.} (7... Qd7 {probably leads to a slightly better
position for White, e.g.} 8. cxd4 (8. Bxf7+ Qxf7 9. Qxb7 Kd7 10. Qxa8 Bxf3 {
gives Black a dangerous attack on the kingside but it is probably worth no
more than a draw.}) 8... Bxf3 9. dxc5 Bxe4 10. Re1) 8. Bxf7+ Kf8 9. gxf3 (9.
Bxg8 $6 Rxg8 10. gxf3 {is met by} g5 $1 {with dangerous attacking chances
against the white king.}) 9... Nf6 {Diagram [#] Black has other decent moves
in this position but I think this move (also recommended by Mark Morss at his
"Hard Chess" column) is best, simply developing a piece.} 10. Bc4 (10. Be6 $5
dxc3 11. bxc3 Ne5 {was slightly better for Black in T.Winckelmann-W.Schoen,
email 2005, but this may well be an improvement over the game continuation.})
10... Qe8 {This prepares a kingside attack with ...Qh5.} 11. Bf4 (11. Qxb7 {is
a very risky pawn snatch, e.g.} dxc3 12. bxc3 Rb8 13. Qa6 (13. Qxc7 Rc8 14. Qb7
Na5) 13... Ne5 $17) 11... g5 $5 {Black prepares to attack White using the
half-open g-file.} 12. Bg3 (12. Bxg5 Qg6 $17) 12... h5 13. h3 g4 {Diagram [#]}
14. Qxb7 $6 {This pawn grab is too risky.} (14. Nd2 {was probably necessary,
getting some pieces over towards the defence of the king, though Black
certainly has the upper hand.} h4 15. Bf4 gxf3 16. Nxf3 Qg6+ $17) 14... h4 15.
Bf4 (15. Bb5 {puts pressure on Black's c6-knight but Black can just ignore
this and concentrate on trying to checkmate White:} hxg3 $1 16. Bxc6 Qh5 $1 17.
Qxa8+ Kg7 {and White has no good defence.}) 15... gxf3 16. Kh1 Qd7 {White is
already lost here.} 17. Kh2 Rb8 18. Qa6 Nh5 19. Bg5 d5 20. e5 dxc4 21. Qxc4 Be7
22. Bxe7+ Kxe7 23. Qc5+ Kd8 24. Nd2 Nf4 25. e6 Nxe6 26. Qf5 Rf8 27. Qh5 Rxb2
28. Nxf3 Kc8 29. Rad1 Qf7 30. Qd5 Qxf3 31. Qxe6+ Kb7 32. Rb1 dxc3 0-1
[Event "AUS-ch"]
[Site "Parramatta"]
[Date "2008.01.07"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Xie, George Wendi"]
[Black "Sales, Jesse Noel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C44"]
[WhiteElo "2413"]
[BlackElo "2299"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2008.01.02"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AUS"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
1. d4 Nc6 2. e4 e5 3. Nf3 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. c3 {As established by White's
failure in the previous game, this is White's most serious challenge to
Black's concept.} d3 {Diagram [#] Aiming to "safely" return the pawn. This
line is probably better than its reputation, as I don't see a way for White to
get more than a small edge against it, but it is not as good as the standard 5.
..Nf6.} (5... dxc3 {transposes to the Göring Gambit. Now White has two main
choices:} 6. Bxf7+ ({or} 6. Nxc3 d6 7. O-O Nge7 8. Bg5 {and White probably has
enough for the pawn, with Nd5 to follow and, in some cases, b2-b4 attacking
the c5-bishop.}) 6... Kxf7 7. Qd5+ Kf8 8. Qxc5+ {and White often sacrifices a
pawn on b2 or e4 in return for long-term attacking chances against the exposed
black king on f8.}) (5... Qe7 {is side-stepped with} 6. O-O {whereupon Black
cannot take on e4 due to the pin with Re1, and if} d3 (6... dxc3 7. Nxc3 {
gives White very dangerous compensation due to the threat of Nc3-d5}) 7. e5 {
is very strong.}) 6. b4 {Gaining space on the queenside.} Bb6 7. Qb3 (7. O-O {
is probably more accurate, keeping White's options open.} d6 (7... Nf6 8. a4 a6
9. e5) 8. a4 a6 (8... a5 9. b5) 9. Qb3 (9. Qxd3 {is the main alternative,
followed by queenside expansion, e.g.} Nf6 10. a5 (10. Bf4 {followed by Nbd2
is another good plan, with the idea of eventually getting in e4-e5.}) 10... Ba7
11. Be3 Bxe3 12. Qxe3 {gave White a very small edge due to the space advantage
in R. Nickel-W.Weissleder, email 2007.}) 9... Qe7 {transposes to the game
continuation.}) 7... Qe7 8. O-O d6 (8... Nf6 {counterattacking against e4 is a
more accurate move-order, since} 9. a4 a6 {leaves White with nothing better
than} 10. Bxd3 (10. a5 Ba7 11. b5 $6 axb5 12. Qxb5 {is met by} Nxe4)) 9. a4 a6
(9... a5 10. b5 {leads to reasonable attacking chances for White, e.g.} Ne5 11.
Nxe5 dxe5 12. Ba3) 10. a5 Ba7 11. b5 axb5 12. Qxb5 Nf6 13. e5 {Diagram [#]}
dxe5 (13... Ng4 {is probably a better option.} 14. Bg5 Qd7 15. exd6 cxd6 16.
Re1+ {leaves White with dangerous attacking chances, but Black's defensive
chances are better than in the game. Mark Nieuweboer pointed out the
inconvenient continuation} Nce5 17. Nxe5 dxe5 18. Rxe5+ Nxe5 19. Qxe5+ Kf8 {
where it is not clear if White has more than a draw with} 20. Bh6 Rg8 21. Bc1 {
(threatening Ba3+)} Rh8 {etc.}) 14. Ba3 {With this move White makes it
difficult for Black to castle.} Qd7 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Qxe5+ Kd8 17. Qg3 Qf5 18.
Bxf7 $6 (18. Nd2 {is probably best, then if} Ng4 19. Bxd3) 18... Ng4 19. Bc4
Ne5 $2 (19... Nxf2 $1 20. Rxf2 Re8 {is very hard for White to deal with.}) 20.
Qxg7 Re8 21. Bb5 c6 22. Bd6 Nf7 $2 (22... Bd7 {would have been a better
defence. The move played in the game allows White to play a powerful sacrifice.
}) 23. Bxd3 $1 Qxd3 24. Qf6+ Kd7 25. Qxf7+ Kxd6 26. Qxe8 Bh3 27. Qxa8 1-0
[Event "Las Palmas Montalvo Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "2013.03.29"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Bergez, Luc"]
[Black "Larino Nieto, David"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C53"]
[WhiteElo "2375"]
[BlackElo "2508"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2013.03.25"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 (3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 d6 5. d4 exd4 {was the move-order
used to get to this position in the actual game.}) 3... exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. c3
d6 {This is rather passive, not really challenging White's threat to recapture
on d4 with the c3-pawn and gain a strong centre with the pawns on d4 and e4.}
6. cxd4 {Diagram [#] This is very good for White, since Black has played ...d6
rather than ...Nf6 and is not ready to counterattack against e4. White does,
however, have to watch out for the "fork trick" with ...Nxe4, and if Nxe4, ...
d5, forking White's e4-knight and c4-bishop.} Bb6 (6... Bb4+ {doesn't work
very well here, e.g.} 7. Nc3 Nf6 (7... Bg4 8. O-O {threatens Nc3-d5 and d4-d5.}
) 8. d5 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Na5 10. Bd3 $14) 7. h3 {This move prevents the annoying
pin with ...Bg4.} (7. O-O {is also playable, since if} Bg4 8. Be3 Nf6 9. Nc3
O-O {then White can continue with} 10. h3 Bxf3 11. gxf3 $14 {with the idea
that White can take advantage of the half-open g-file after Kh2 and Rg1.}) 7...
Qf6 (7... Nf6 {may be a stronger response, counterattacking against e4, but
White can still get an edge against it.} 8. O-O (8. Nc3 {is met by the "fork
trick"} Nxe4 9. Nxe4 d5) 8... O-O (8... Nxe4 9. Re1 O-O 10. Rxe4 d5 11. Bxd5
Qxd5 12. Nc3 $14 {leaves White with a good "isolated queen's pawn" position
and good chances of getting in the important d4-d5 pawn push.}) 9. Re1 d5 10.
exd5 Nxd5 11. Bg5 $14) 8. Be3 (8. e5 {is less good:} dxe5 9. dxe5 Qg6 {
threatens ...Qe4+ as well as ...Qxg2.}) 8... Qg6 9. Nc3 Nge7 {Diagram [#]} (
9... Qxg2 $2 10. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 (10... Kf8 11. Rh2 {traps the black queen,
since it can no longer safely retreat to g6}) 11. Rg1 {wins the black queen,
since} Qxh3 {is met by} 12. Ng5+) 10. g4 {An aggressive way of covering the
threat against g2.} Ba5 (10... h5 $5 {counterattacking against White's g4-pawn
may have been better, e.g.} 11. g5 O-O 12. Qe2 $14) 11. Ng5 d5 $6 {This
doesn't work out very well.} (11... O-O 12. f4 $14 {gives White good attacking
chances, but White has to be quite careful because the white king doesn't have
a particularly safe shelter.}) 12. exd5 Nb4 13. O-O (13. Qa4+ {leaves White
with an extra pawn following the tactical sequence} Bd7 14. Qxa5 Nc2+ 15. Ke2
Nxe3 16. fxe3 Qxg5 {and White has much the better chances, though it is
understandable that White did not want to have to give up castling rights.} 17.
Rhf1 $16) 13... O-O 14. f4 $5 (14. Qa4 $16 {may well be even stronger, for
example,} Nc2 (14... b6 15. a3 Nc2 16. d6 {and White has various threats.}) 15.
Nxf7 Rxf7 16. Qe8+) 14... b5 (14... Nc2 {forking the rook on a1 and the bishop
on e3 is the preference of chess engines, but it is probably too greedy.} 15.
Qe2 $1 Nxa1 (15... Nxe3 16. Qxe3 $16) 16. f5 Qb6 17. d6 Qxd6 18. f6 Qg3+ 19.
Kh1 $16 {and White's kingside attack offers more than enough compensation for
the exchange.}) 15. f5 Bxf5 16. d6 cxd6 17. Bxf7+ Rxf7 18. Nxf7 Nc2 (18... Qxf7
19. gxf5 Nxf5 20. Bf2 $14 {leaves Black an exchange for a pawn down.}) 19. Bg5
(19. Rxf5 Nxa1 $13) 19... Bd3 (19... Qxf7 20. Qf3 Re8 21. Nxb5 $14 {leaves a
complicated position but slightly advantageous for White.}) 20. Bxe7 Bxf1 21.
Qf3 {White is now clearly better, possibly winning, but lets Black off with a
draw.} Bg2 22. Kxg2 Re8 23. Rf1 $2 (23. Nxd6) 23... Qe6 24. Nd5 $6 (24. Nxd6)
24... Qxd5 25. Nh6+ Kh8 26. Nf7+ Kg8 1/2-1/2
[Event "World Cup ACP (Women) 1st"]
[Site "Konya"]
[Date "2009.12.03"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Socko, Monika"]
[Black "Cmilyte, Viktorija"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2449"]
[BlackElo "2497"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2009.12.01"]
[EventType "rapid"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[EventCategory "5"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 (3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 {is the more common
move-order, which was used in this game.}) 3... exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. c3 Nf6 {
Diagram [#] Black counterattacks against e4, transposing into the old main
line of the Giuoco Piano.} 6. e5 $5 (6. b4 {is an attempt to improve on the 6.
e5 line, but appears to be unsound. Some sample lines:} Bb6 7. e5 (7. b5 Na5 8.
Bd3 d5 9. e5 Ne4 $15 {B.Ahlbaeck-B.Hulka, corr. 1969}) 7... d5 8. exf6 (8. Bb5
Ne4 9. Nxd4 O-O) 8... dxc4 9. b5 {Diagram [#]} (9. Qe2+ Be6 10. b5 d3 $15) 9...
O-O $1 {is a powerful piece sacrifice.} 10. O-O (10. bxc6 $6 Re8+ 11. Kf1 d3
$17 {gives Black an overwhelming attack.}) 10... dxc3 11. fxg7 Re8 12. Qxd8
Nxd8 13. Nxc3 $15 {Black will win the g7-pawn and will then have an extra pawn
for insufficient compensation.}) 6... d5 {This is the only way for Black to
keep a fair share of the chances.} (6... Ng4 $6 7. cxd4 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 $16 {and
it will be hard for Black to find a good retreat square for the g4-knight. ...
Nh6 is met by Bxh6, shattering the black kingside pawn structure.}) (6... Ne4
$6 7. Bd5 {leaves Black's e4-knight in trouble, so Black should sacrifice it
in return for a flurry of activity against the white king.} Nxf2 (7... f5 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Nxd2 10. Nbxd2 $16) 8. Kxf2 dxc3+ 9. Kf1 cxb2 10. Bxb2 {
leaves Black with three pawns for a piece, but White has attacking chances due
to the pair of powerful bishops, reminiscent of the Danish Gambit.}) 7. Bb5 (7.
Be2 $5 {is a rare alternative which has had several tests at grandmaster level
in recent years. White takes the sting out of a potential ...Bc8-g4, but does
not have the option of shattering Black's queenside pawn structure with Bb5xc6.
} Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb6 (8... Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Nxd2 10. Nbxd2 O-O 11. O-O {led to
approximately equal chances in B.Jobava-S.Karjakin, Russian Championship 2013,
though White went on to win a fine attacking game}) 9. Nc3 O-O 10. O-O Bf5 {
was equal in B.Jobava-K.Malakhov, Burgas Black Sea 2012.}) 7... Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb6
(8... Bb4+ {is more popular, but is less challenging.} 9. Bd2 Nxd2 10. Bxc6+
bxc6 11. Nbxd2 $14 {gives White two knights against two bishops, but White has
a strong centre and Black's queenside is weak, P.Leko-S. Mamedyarov, Tal
Memorial 2008.}) 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Be3 {One of White's key ideas here is to
castle queenside and then roll the kingside pawns forward.} Bg4 (10... Nxc3 11.
bxc3 f6 {is Black's only way to prevent White's queenside castling plan.} 12.
O-O (12. Qb3 Bg4) 12... Bg4 13. Be2 {Diagram [#] leaves roughly equal chances.}
) (10... f6 {(W.Steinitz-C.Schlechter, Vienna 1898) was recommended by Tim
Harding but then White can still castle long after} 11. Qb3 Nxc3 12. Bxc6 bxc6
13. Qxc3) 11. Qc2 f5 12. exf6 Nxf6 {Diagram [#]} 13. O-O-O {This is the right
idea, but White has a superior continuation here.} (13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. Ne5 {is
probably a little better for White. White will chase away the g4-bishop and
will then castle queenside.}) 13... Kh8 14. h3 Bh5 15. g4 Bg6 16. Qe2 Ne4 17.
Bxc6 Nxc3 18. bxc3 bxc6 19. Ne5 Qd6 20. Nxg6+ Qxg6 21. Qc2 (21. f4 Rab8 22. f5
Qd6 {and I think Black's attack is faster.}) 21... Qd6 22. Kb2 c5 {With this
move Black starts to get queenside counterplay rolling.} 23. Ka1 Rab8 24. h4 c4
(24... cxd4 25. cxd4 Rfe8) 25. Qa4 c5 26. Qa3 Rfc8 (26... Rbc8 {is probably
stronger, since Black's f8-rook does a good job of keeping White's e3-bishop
tied to the defence of f2.}) 27. Rhe1 (27. Rb1 {is a stronger defence, where
if anything White may stand a bit better.}) (27. h5 {followed by h6 is also
worth considering.}) 27... Qf6 28. g5 Qf3 29. dxc5 Bxc5 30. Bxc5 Rxc5 31. Rb1
Rxb1+ 32. Rxb1 Rc8 33. Qa5 d4 {I don't think this works out very well for
Black.} (33... Qd3 34. h5 Qd2 $15) 34. cxd4 Qd3 (34... Qxf2 35. Qc5 {leads to
equal chances.}) 35. Qe5 c3 36. Qe6 Rd8 37. Qe3 Qc4 38. Rc1 c2 39. Qd2 Rc8 40.
h5 a5 {This is Black's best chance, pushing the a-pawn to assist with the
attack against the white king.} 41. h6 (41. d5 a4 42. a3 Qb3) 41... a4 42.
hxg7+ (42. a3 {is probably stronger.}) 42... Kg8 43. f4 $2 (43. a3 {prevents
Black's deadly threat of ...a4-a3, and then Black has sufficient compensation
for a pawn, but nothing decisive.} Kxg7 44. f4 Kg6 $11) 43... a3 44. f5 Qb5 0-1
[Event "Ostrava"]
[Site "Ostrava"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Biolek, Richard"]
[Black "Keitlinghaus, Ludger"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C56"]
[WhiteElo "2415"]
[BlackElo "2485"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "1993.09.??"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. O-O {[%eval -32767,0]
Diagram [#] White offers the sacrifice of a pawn (on either e4 or c3) and
threatens to play c3xd4 without allowing ...Bb4+.} Nxe4 {Black grabs the
central pawn on e4 while it is still available for the taking.} (6... dxc3 {is
playable.} 7. e5 (7. Nxc3 d6 8. Bg5 {transposes to an important Göring Gambit
line (4.c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 Bc5 6.Bc4 d6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Bg5).}) 7... d5 8. exf6 dxc4
9. Qe2+ Be6 10. fxg7 Rg8 {leads to a messy position with roughly equal chances,
T.Gietl-J. Gelfenboim, Bechhofen 1998.}) (6... d3 {leads to a good game for
White after} 7. b4 Bb6 8. e5 ({or} 8. a4 a6 9. e5 d5 10. Bxd3) 8... d5 9. Bxd3)
(6... d6 7. cxd4 Bb6 {transposes to 5...d6 6.cxd4 Bb6 7.0-0 Nf6.} 8. h3 {
preventing ...Bg4 is then a good answer, which often leads to promising
"isolated queen's pawn" situations.} Nxe4 (8... O-O 9. Re1 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11.
Bg5) 9. Re1 O-O 10. Rxe4 d5 11. Bxd5 Qxd5 12. Nc3 $14) 7. cxd4 d5 {Black
should react by striking out in the centre.} (7... Be7 {leads to an unpleasant
position for Black, in spite of being a pawn ahead, after} 8. d5 Nb8 (8... Na5
9. Bd3 Nd6 10. Qc2) 9. Re1 Nd6 10. Bd3 $44) 8. dxc5 (8. Bd3 Bxd4 9. Nxd4 Nxd4)
8... dxc4 9. Qe2 {Diagram [#]} (9. Qxd8+ {should be met by} Kxd8 $1 (9... Nxd8
$6 10. Re1 f5 11. Nc3 {will win a pawn on e4 after the e4-knight is exchanged
off.}) 10. Rd1+ Bd7 {and White's attack fizzles out.}) 9... Qd3 {This leads to
a sequence of moves where there is a possible exchange of queens for several
moves, but it is inadvisable for either side to accept the queen trade.} (9...
Qe7 {is an interesting alternative, though it should leave White with
sufficient compensation for a pawn. Black has to be careful of White's
attacking chances down the e-file and open lines for the pieces.} 10. Qxc4 Nxc5
11. b4 Ne6 12. b5 Na5 (12... Qb4 13. Qe2 $44) 13. Qc3 $44) 10. Re1 (10. Qxd3 $6
cxd3 {gives Black a powerful pawn on d3.}) 10... f5 (10... Qxe2 $6 11. Rxe2 f5
12. Nc3 {allows White to regain the pawn under favourable circumstances by
exchanging on e4:} O-O 13. Nxe4 fxe4 14. Rxe4 {and Black doesn't have a good
way of defending the pawn on c4.}) 11. Nc3 O-O 12. Nxe4 fxe4 13. Qxe4 Bf5 {
Diagram [#]} 14. Qh4 {White intends to generate some attacking chances on the
dark squares on the black kingside, helped by the opposite-coloured bishops.
However, White has to exercise some care over the next few moves because Black
is slightly ahead in development.} (14. Qf4 {is also playable.} Rac8 15. Qg3
Bg6 16. Bf4 {was played in D.Baird-E. Schiffers, Vienna 1898, offering equal
chances.}) 14... Rae8 (14... Qd5 15. Be3 Rad8 16. Rac1 Bd3 {(H.Vatter-J.Fleck,
Bundesliga 1989) threatens a strong exchange sacrifice on f3, so White should
play} 17. Qg3 {with equal chances (Burgess, Emms).}) 15. Bf4 (15. Be3 {is also
playable here.}) 15... Qd5 (15... Re4 {is another possibility, for example,}
16. Re3 Rxe3 17. Bxe3 Be4 18. Ng5 $11) 16. Bxc7 Qxc5 17. Qg3 Qd5 18. Bd6 Rxe1+
19. Rxe1 Rd8 (19... Rf6 {is a slight improvement:} 20. Be7 $6 {is met by} Rg6)
20. Be7 Re8 21. Bf6 {This creates some threats on the black kingside, though
Black can parry these for now.} Rxe1+ 22. Nxe1 Qd7 23. Bc3 {If anything White
may have slightly the better of it here, since White still has attacking
chances on the dark squares around Black's king.} b5 24. a3 a5 25. h3 Be4 26.
Qf4 (26. Qe3 {at once was probably better, threatening Qb6.}) 26... Qe7 27. Qe3
(27. Qg4) 27... a4 $6 (27... b4 28. axb4 axb4 {was better.}) 28. Nf3 $6 (28.
Qb6 {would have been very strong.}) 28... Bxf3 29. Qxf3 Qd7 30. Qe4 Ne7 31. Qe5
Nd5 32. Bd4 h6 33. Qe4 Nc7 34. Be5 Qd1+ 35. Kh2 Qd5 36. Qf5 Qe6 37. Qxe6+ Nxe6
{White has the better endgame here, thanks to the bishop vs. knight in an open
position. With accurate play Black should be able to draw, but in the game,
White was able to convert this advantage into a win.} 38. Kg3 Nc5 ({Black
should probably send the king over immediately:} 38... Kf7) 39. Kf3 Kf7 40. Bd4
Nd3 41. Ke4 b4 42. axb4 Nxb4 43. Bc3 Nc2 $2 (43... Nd3 {is better, with the
idea ...Nf4 attacking the g2 and h3-pawns, and thus making it harder for White
to go a pawn ahead by moving the king to d4 or d5.}) 44. Kd5 {Now White wins a
pawn.} a3 45. bxa3 Nxa3 46. Kc5 Nb1 47. Kxc4 Nxc3 48. Kxc3 Kf6 49. Kd4 Kf5 50.
Ke3 h5 51. g3 Ke5 52. f4+ Kf5 53. Kf3 g6 54. Ke3 Kf6 55. Ke4 Ke6 56. g4 hxg4
57. hxg4 Kd6 58. Kd4 Ke6 59. Kc5 Kd7 60. Kd5 Ke7 61. Ke5 1-0
[Event "Bundesliga 1213"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "2013.04.05"]
[Round "13.3"]
[White "Hector, Jonny"]
[Black "Hracek, Zbynek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2539"]
[BlackElo "2612"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2012.10.20"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[WhiteTeam "Emsdetten Turm"]
[BlackTeam "Werder Bremen"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 {This is the main
continuation for White, temporarily taking control of the centre, but Black
can disrupt White's centre thanks to the knight on f6 preparing ...d7-d5 and
attacking e4.} Bb4+ 7. Nbd2 $5 {Diagram [#] This is an interesting alternative
to the thoroughly analysed lines stemming from 7.Bd2 and 7.Nc3.} Nxe4 (7... d5
{is the standard freeing move, but I'm not sure that it equalises here.} 8.
exd5 Nxd5 9. O-O O-O 10. a3 {gives White quite a pleasant "isolated queen's
pawn" position, J.Hector-D.Semcesen, Malmo 2012.}) 8. d5 (8. O-O {is the other
way to get compensation for the pawn.} Nxd2 9. Bxd2 Bxd2 10. Qxd2 $44 {gives
White fair attacking chances due to the better development and open lines.})
8... Ne7 ({Or} 8... Bxd2+ 9. Bxd2 Ne7 10. O-O {which is likely to transpose to
the game continuation.}) 9. O-O Bxd2 (9... Nxd2 10. Nxd2 $44 {prepares Ne4,
while if Black exchanges on d2 then play transposes to the game continuation.}
({Or} 10. Bxd2 Bxd2 11. Qxd2 $44) 10... O-O 11. Ne4 d6 {is probably better
than exchanging on d2, as played in V.Krivodedov-V.Moiseyenko, Yuzhny 2009,
though White still has reasonable compensation for a pawn.}) 10. Nxd2 Nxd2 11.
Bxd2 d6 {Diagram [#] Here White has excellent compensation for a pawn because
of the bishop-pair combined with the development advantage and open lines.} 12.
Re1 O-O 13. Qh5 Ng6 14. Bd3 Bd7 15. Re4 {This intends Rh4, adding more force
to White's attack.} Re8 16. Bg5 Qc8 17. Rh4 h6 18. Bxh6 $1 Re5 (18... Nxh4 $2 {
probably loses:} 19. Bxg7 Ng6 (19... Kxg7 $2 20. Qh7+ Kf8 21. Qh6+ Ke7 22.
Qxh4+ Kf8 23. Qh6+ Ke7 24. Re1+) 20. Bxg6 fxg6 21. Qxg6 Bf5 22. Qg5 Kf7 23. Bc3
Re5 24. Bxe5 dxe5 25. Re1 $16) 19. Bg5 Rxg5 {Black must return some material
in order to reduce the strength of White's attack.} 20. Qxg5 Nxh4 21. Qxh4 Bf5
22. Qc4 Bxd3 23. Qxd3 {White has regained the pawn and has the more
actively-placed queen, although the d5-pawn can potentially become a weakness.}
Qd7 24. h3 Re8 25. Rc1 c5 26. dxc6 bxc6 27. b4 Re5 28. a4 a5 29. bxa5 Rxa5 30.
Rc4 c5 31. Qc2 Qd8 32. g3 Ra8 $2 (32... Ra7 33. Rh4 g6 34. Qb2 f6 $14 {and
White cannot play Qb7.}) 33. Rh4 {White now crashes through with an attack on
the black king.} f6 (33... g6 34. Qb2 f6 35. Qb7) 34. Qh7+ Kf7 35. Qh5+ Ke6 36.
Re4+ Kd7 37. Qg4+ Kc6 38. Qxg7 Qg8 39. Qxf6 Qd5 40. Qe7 c4 41. Re1 Qd3 42. Rc1
Rb8 43. Qe1 Kd7 44. a5 Rb2 45. a6 Ra2 46. Qb4 Qd4 47. Rf1 d5 48. Qb1 Ra3 49.
Qf5+ 1-0
[Event "FRA-chT Top 12"]
[Site "Belfort"]
[Date "2012.05.31"]
[Round "1.6"]
[White "Netzer, Jean"]
[Black "Gozzoli, Yannick"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2396"]
[BlackElo "2551"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2012.05.31"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[WhiteTeam "Bischwiller"]
[BlackTeam "Marseille Echecs"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 {
Diagram [#] This move is safe and sound, but can lead to rather level
situations.} Nxe4 $5 {During the twentieth century this move was considered
dubious, but it appears to be fully playable for Black, maybe even best if
Black wants to play for a win.} 8. Bxb4 (8. Bxf7+ $6 Kxf7 9. Qb3+ d5 10. Bxb4
a5 {is good for Black, in spite of the misplaced black king.}) 8... Nxb4 9.
Bxf7+ (9. Qb3 {is the main alternative.} d5 10. Qxb4 dxc4 11. O-O $5 (11. Qxc4
O-O 12. O-O Be6 $15 {leaves Black with good pressure against White's isolated
pawn on d4.}) 11... Qd6 (11... Qd5 12. Re1 Be6 13. Na3 $44 {leaves Black
rather tied up.}) 12. Qxc4 O-O {with a level position.}) 9... Kxf7 10. Qb3+ {
Diagram [#]} Kf8 {This is Black's safest reply, aiming to force a queen trade
into an equal endgame.} (10... d5 $5 {is risky but is probably good enough for
dynamic equality. I think it is Black's best option if Black is playing for a
win.} 11. Qxb4 (11. Ne5+ Ke6 $5 12. Qxb4 c5 {leads to an unclear position
where, remarkably, it is hard for White to take advantage of Black's exposed
king on e6.}) 11... Re8 12. O-O a5 $11) 11. Qxb4+ Qe7 {This forces the queens
off due to the threats down the e-file.} 12. Qxe7+ (12. Qa3 {is also playable.}
Qxa3 13. Nxa3 d5 14. Ne5 c6 {gives equal chances.}) 12... Kxe7 13. O-O Re8 14.
Re1 (14. Na3 {is the main alternative, though it will often transpose to the
game continuation.} c6 {is probably the best defence, preventing any Nb5
tricks.}) 14... Kf8 {This defends the knight on e4.} 15. Na3 Nf6 {This allows
White to get attacking chances.} (15... c6) 16. Nb5 Rxe1+ 17. Rxe1 Nd5 18. Rc1
({White's best winning try is probably} 18. Ng5 {, for example,} h6 19. Ne4 a6
20. Nbc3 $14) 18... c6 19. Nd6 Ke7 20. Nf5+ (20. Nc4 {is White's main winning
try, but Black defends with} d6 {, for example,} 21. Re1+ Be6 22. Ng5 Nc7 23.
Nxh7 Kd7 {and it turns out that White cannot hold onto the extra pawn.}) 20...
Kf6 21. Nd6 Ke7 22. Nf5+ Kf6 23. Nd6 Ke7 1/2-1/2
[Event "Maia Vinagre mem Gold email"]
[Site "ICCF email"]
[Date "2007.04.30"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rebord, Mauricio"]
[Black "Almiron, Luis"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2525"]
[BlackElo "2561"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2007.??.??"]
[EventType "corr"]
[EventRounds "16"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxd2+ {
Until the 21st century this was generally regarded as Black's best line. The
main downside is that Black doesn't have a clear-cut equaliser that doesn't
allow White a forced draw by repetition of moves.} 8. Nbxd2 (8. Qxd2 Nxe4 9.
Qe3 {doesn't work out very well for White.} d5 (9... Qe7) 10. Bxd5 Qxd5 11. Nc3
Qc4 12. Qxe4+ Be6 $15) 8... d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 {Diagram [#] White has an isolated
pawn on d4, and will aim to compensate for this by generating active piece
play. Typically, White starts by attempting to shift the black knight from
its outpost on d5.} 10. Qb3 (10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 {is often recommended to
beginners, and gives equal chances, e.g.} Bg4 12. Qc2 Ndb4 13. Qb3 a5 $11)
10... Na5 (10... Nce7 {is a more passive way of protecting the knight on d5,
but it does not allow a repetition draw.} 11. O-O O-O 12. Rfe1 c6 13. Ne4 {
This continuation gives White chances of a small edge due to the active piece
play compensating for the isolated pawn on d4.} Qb6 (13... Nb6 14. Bd3 Ned5 15.
Nc5 {is also slightly better for White, although Black went on to win the game,
Van den Doel,E (2599)-Sokolov,I (2690) Leeuwarden 2004}) 14. Nc3 Qxb3 15. Bxb3
Be6 16. Ng5 {with a slight advantage for White due to the active pieces,
although it is hard for White to make much of this and the game soon burnt out
to a draw, Berzinsh,R (2421)-Sargissian,G (2675) Warsaw 2013}) 11. Qa4+ Nc6 (
11... c6 $6 12. Bxd5 Qxd5 13. Rc1 {is much better for White, for Black's
a5-knight is in a difficult spot.}) 12. Qb3 Na5 13. Qa4+ Nc6 {Diagram [#] Now
White can take the draw, but there are a few ways to play on.} 14. Qa3 $5 (14.
Bb5 Bd7 15. O-O O-O 16. Rfe1 {gives equal chances.}) (14. O-O {(suggested by
John Watson)} O-O 15. Bxd5 Qxd5 16. Rfc1 {is another idea for White. Black has
the slight advantage of bishop for knight as well as the better pawn structure,
but White has active piece play and the threat of Rc5.}) 14... Qe7+ 15. Qxe7+
Ncxe7 16. O-O Bf5 17. Rfe1 O-O-O {Chances are equal in this position, and with
the kings castled on opposite sides, both sides have significant scope to
attack the enemy king.} 18. Rac1 f6 19. Nh4 Bd7 20. Ne4 Bc6 21. Nc5 g5 22. Nf3
Ng6 23. Bd3 Nb4 24. Bf5+ Kb8 25. a3 Bxf3 26. axb4 Nh4 27. Nd7+ Ka8 28. Rxc7 {
The game was agreed drawn at this point, but I think that at mortal levels
there is still plenty of play left in the position.} 1/2-1/2
[Event "olm14 qual GP4 B2 corr"]
[Site "ICCF email"]
[Date "2000.09.25"]
[Round "?"]
[White "De Coninck, Georges"]
[Black "Sande, Oystein"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2390"]
[BlackElo "2494"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2000.??.??"]
[EventType "corr"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 {
Diagram [#] This is the tricky, but rather dubious, Greco Attack.} Nxe4 (7...
d5 $6 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. O-O {leaves White with the initiative in a position with
level material. Black cannot afford to grab a pawn here, e.g.} Nxc3 10. bxc3
Bxc3 $2 11. Qb3 {is too dangerous for Black.}) (7... Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Nxe4 {is
the other way to win a pawn, but} 9. d5 Na5 10. Bd3 Nc5 11. O-O $44 {is quite
pleasant for White. Black's knights are not very well placed.}) 8. O-O Bxc3 {
This is Black's most accurate way to try and win a pawn.} (8... Nxc3 $6 {gives
White very good compensation for a pawn.} 9. bxc3 d5 (9... Bxc3 10. Qb3 Bxa1 $6
{is far too greedy:} 11. Bxf7+ Kf8 12. Bg5 $16) 10. cxb4 dxc4 11. Re1+ Ne7 12.
Qe2 $44) 9. d5 {This is the Møller Attack, which prevents Black from getting
in ...d7-d5.} (9. bxc3 d5 {leaves White struggling to generate enough
compensation for a pawn. White's best bet is probably to put pressure on the
e4-knight with} 10. Bd3 (10. Ba3 $6 dxc4 11. Re1 f5 12. Nd2 Kf7 13. Nxe4 fxe4
14. Rxe4 Qf6 $17 {left White with inadequate compensation for a piece in W.
Steinitz-E.Lasker, World Championship 1896.}) 10... O-O 11. Qc2 Bf5 12. Re1 Re8
$15 {but White cannot hope for more than to regain the pawn and have equality
at best in this line.}) 9... Ne5 $5 {Traditionally 9...Bf6 has been regarded
as the most critical test of White's idea, but 9...Ne5 may well be comparably
good, as long as Black follows it up correctly at move 11.} (9... Ba5 {does
not present White with too much trouble getting enough compensation.} 10. dxc6
dxc6 11. Qa4 Bb6 12. Bxf7+ Kxf7 13. Qxe4 $44) (9... Bf6 {is the main
alternative.}) 10. bxc3 Nxc4 11. Qd4 {Diagram [#] With this fork, White
ensures that Black has no good way to hold onto the extra piece.} O-O (11...
Ncd6 $6 12. Qxg7 Qf6 13. Qxf6 Nxf6 {looks good for Black at first sight, but
White gets too strong an attack down the e-file:} 14. Re1+ Nfe4 (14... Kf8 $2
15. Bh6+ Kg8 16. Re5) 15. Nd2 f5 16. f3 $14) (11... f5 {is the main
alternative for Black, whereupon} 12. Qxc4 d6 13. Nd4 {gives White some
compensation for the pawn due to the open lines for the pieces and control of
the centre, but it may well fall a little short of full compensation for a
pawn.} O-O 14. f3 Nc5 15. Ba3 {is the most common continuation, which scores
well for Black.}) 12. Qxe4 Nd6 13. Qd3 ({I think} 13. Qf4 {is a better try,
with the idea of generating attacking chances on the kingside dark squares.
For example,} Re8 14. Ba3 Re4 15. Qg3 Nb5 16. Bb2 {intending c3-c4 with
attacking chances. It is still debatable whether it is enough for a pawn
though. I can only find one low-level game with this continuation in the
database.}) 13... b6 14. Bg5 (14. Re1 Bb7 15. Ba3 {is probably a better try.})
14... f6 {With White missing a light-squared bishop, this move cuts out most
of White's attacking possibilities on the kingside.} 15. Bf4 Bb7 16. c4 Re8 17.
Bxd6 cxd6 18. Nd4 Qc7 {Diagram [#]} 19. Nf5 {Optically this looks quite good,
but Black has everything covered.} g6 20. Nh6+ Kg7 21. Ng4 h5 22. Ne3 Re5 23.
Rab1 Rae8 $17 {White now has very little to show for the pawn.} 24. Qa3 Bc8 25.
Rfd1 Re4 26. h3 f5 27. Qc3+ Kf7 28. Rd4 Rxd4 29. Qxd4 Qc5 30. Nxf5 Qxd4 31.
Nxd4 {White has some drawing chances in the pawn-down endgame, but in the game
White was unable to hold.} Ba6 32. Rb4 Re1+ 33. Kh2 Rc1 34. Nb5 Bxb5 35. cxb5
Rc5 36. Ra4 Rxb5 37. Rxa7 Ke7 38. Ra6 Rxd5 39. Rxb6 Rd2 40. a4 Rxf2 41. Rb5 Rd2
42. a5 d5 43. Rb6 d6 44. Rb7+ Ke6 45. Rg7 Kf5 46. a6 Ra2 47. a7 h4 48. Rxg6 $2
(48. Kg1 {at least leaves it up to Black to demonstrate a win.}) 48... Kxg6 0-1
[Event "Pan American Continental"]
[Site "Sao Paulo"]
[Date "2009.07.27"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Borda, Alan"]
[Black "Bhat, Vinay S"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2255"]
[BlackElo "2473"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2009.07.25"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8.
O-O Bxc3 9. d5 Bf6 {Diagram [#] This has been regarded as the most critical
continuation for many decades, although I think that 9...Ne5 (as per the
previous game) may well be comparably good. The onus is certainly on White to
"make something happen" in these variations.} 10. Re1 Ne7 11. Rxe4 d6 (11...
O-O {is met by} 12. d6 $1 cxd6 13. Bg5 (13. Qxd6 {leads to a forced draw by
repetition after} Nf5 14. Qd5 Ne7 {since White has to return the queen to d6
to prevent Black from getting in ...d5).}) 13... Ng6 14. Qd5 Ne5 {was
suggested by Botterill in his 1986 book "Open Gambits" but White should be
fine here- if nothing else there is the simplifying} 15. Nxe5 (15. h4 $5 Nxc4
16. Qxc4 {is worth considering.}) 15... dxe5 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Qxe5 Qxe5 18.
Rxe5 d6 19. Re7 $11 {where White's active rook on the seventh rank provides
sufficient compensation for a pawn.}) 12. Bg5 (12. g4 {is a violent
alternative, intending to add to the kingside attack, but Black can get a good
game by returning the pawn and taking advantage of White's weakened kingside.}
O-O (12... h6 13. h4) 13. g5 Be5 14. Nxe5 {Diagram [#]} dxe5 (14... Bf5 $5 15.
Re3 (15. Nxf7 Rxf7 16. Rd4 {may be a better try}) 15... dxe5 16. Rxe5 Qd7 {
with at least equality for Black in view of White's weakened kingside, M.
Ruefenacht-D.Smit, corr. 1990.}) 15. Rxe5 Ng6 {and Black has at least equality
due to White's exposed king.}) 12... Bxg5 13. Nxg5 {Diagram [#]} h6 (13... O-O
{should be met by a strong knight sacrifice, which gives White a very
dangerous attack. It has been analysed out to a forced draw, but in practice
both sides often go wrong and many games end with decisive results.} 14. Nxh7
$1 (14. Qh5 Bf5 15. Rh4 h6) (14. Qe2 Ng6 15. Qh5 h6) 14... Kxh7 (14... Bf5 $5
15. Rh4 Re8 16. Qh5 Ng6 17. Rd4 Re5 {gives equal chances,
Thorhallsson-Schussler, Reykjavik 1986.}) 15. Qh5+ Kg8 16. Rh4 f5 17. Qh7+ Kf7
18. Rh6 Rg8 19. Re1 Qf8 20. Bb5 Rh8 21. Qxh8 gxh6 22. Qh7+ Kf6 23. Rxe7 Qxe7
24. Qxh6+ {is one of the many variations that leads to a draw.}) 14. Qe2 {This
is probably White's best way to generate some compensation for the pawn,
putting pressure on Black down the e-file.} (14. Bb5+ Bd7 15. Qe2 Bxb5 16.
Qxb5+ Qd7 17. Qxb7 {was Tim Harding's main recommendation.} (17. Qe2 Kf8 $1 {
wins the d5-pawn.}) 17... O-O 18. Rae1 Rab8 $1 {was then pointed out to
Harding by Helmut Froeyman, which looks strong for Black, e.g.} 19. Qxa7 Nxd5
20. Qd4 Qf5) (14. Qh5 O-O 15. Rae1 Ng6 {also favours Black.}) 14... hxg5 (14...
Bf5 {is less convincing. White gets a good game by tripling on the e-file:} 15.
Re3 Kf8 16. Re1) 15. Re1 Be6 {Black cannot keep the extra piece, so by
blocking with the bishop, Black forces White to close off the e-file by
placing a pawn there.} 16. dxe6 (16. Re3 $5 {is a good move-order trick which
prevents Black's "drawing line" (see the note to 17...d5 in the game).} c6 17.
dxe6 f6 {transposes to the game continuation.}) 16... f6 17. Re3 {Diagram [#]
White threatens Rh3, with the idea of exchanging off the h8-rook and then
invading on the weak kingside light square complex.} c6 $1 {This prepares ...
Qa5, attacking the e1-rook, in various lines, and thus makes the Rh3 plan
somewhat less potent than in the other variations.} (17... Kf8 18. Qg4 $5 {
intending Rh3 is probably stronger than the immediate 18.Rh3, because it
avoids the shattering of White's kingside pawn structure.} d5 19. Rh3 Rxh3 20.
Qxh3 Kg8 (20... dxc4 $2 21. Qh8+ Ng8 22. e7+ {wins for White}) 21. Bd3 {and
White's attacking chances are probably worth a pawn.}) (17... d5 18. Rh3 Rxh3
19. gxh3 g6 20. Qf3 {tends to lead to a quick draw following} Qd6 21. Qxf6 Qf4
22. Qh8+ Qf8 23. Qd4 Qf4 {since if White swaps queens, the resulting endgames
are slightly better for Black.}) 18. Rh3 $6 (18. Rb3 {is White's best try in
the 17...c6 line, trying to put pressure on Black's queenside.} Qc7 (18... d5
19. Rxb7 $1 {gives White enough compensation for a piece, e.g.} Qd6 20. g3 dxc4
21. Rd1 $44) (18... b6 {cuts off the black queen's access to a5 and as a result
} 19. Rh3 {is now quite strong}) 19. Bd3 {then gives White some long-term
attacking chances on the kingside light squares, though it is doubtful if they
offer full compensation for a pawn.} d5 20. g3 g6 21. Qf3 f5 22. Qe3 g4 23. Qd4
O-O $15 {was the continuation of A.Gonzalez Perez-J.Guerra Mendez, Capablanca
Memorial 2007.}) (18. Qg4 $6 Qa5 {prevents White from playing 19.Rh3.}) 18...
Rxh3 19. gxh3 g6 20. Qd2 {White intends h2-h4 followed by invading with the
queen on h6.} (20. Qf3 Qa5 $17) (20. b4 {intends to attack Black on the
queenside, but Black should instead move the king to the kingside:} Kf8 21. Bd3
Kg7) 20... Kf8 (20... d5 {may well be stronger.} 21. Qc3 (21. Bd3 Qd6) 21... d4
22. Qa3 Qb6 $17) 21. h4 gxh4 22. Qh6+ Kg8 {Diagram [#] In this position White
has attacking chances, but probably not enough for a pawn.} 23. Re3 (23. b4 {
is better, preventing ...Qa5 and preparing Qxh4.}) 23... Qa5 24. Qxh4 {The
problem now is that Black has the option of ...Qg5+ forcing an exchange of
queens.} Kg7 {There is no hurry to force the exchange of queens. Black waits
until a more favourable time before forcing the queen trade.} (24... Qg5+ 25.
Qxg5 fxg5 $17) 25. Rb3 (25. Rg3 $2 Nf5) 25... b6 26. Rh3 Qg5+ 27. Qxg5 fxg5 {
Now White is probably lost.} 28. Be2 Nd5 29. Ra3 Nf4 30. Bf3 d5 31. Bg4 Kf6 32.
Rg3 Re8 33. Rc3 c5 34. a4 Rxe6 35. Kf1 Re4 36. b3 d4 37. Rc4 Nd3 38. Be2 Ne5
39. Rc1 d3 40. Bd1 d2 0-1