Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...d5/2. c4/2...e5

From Wikibooks, open books for an open world
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Albin Countergambit
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 8
7 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 7
6 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 6
5 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 5
4 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 4
3 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 3
2 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 2
1 a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5
Delayed Albin Countergambit
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 8
7 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 7
6 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 6
5 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 5
4 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 4
3 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 3
2 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 2
1 a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5

Albin Countergambit[edit | edit source]

2...e5[edit | edit source]

The Albin Countergambit is an uncommon defense to the Queen's Gambit. Although it is rarely played by masters, it seems to be better than its reputation.

The usual continuation is 3.dxe5 d4, where in exchange for the gambit pawn Black has a central wedge at d4 and gets some chances for an attack. Often White will try to return the pawn at an appropriate moment in order to gain a positional advantage.

The Black pawn at d4 is stronger than it may appear. The careless move 4.e3? can lead to the Lasker Trap (see diagram below). After 4...Bb4+ 5.Bd2 dxe3!! 6.Bxb4?? is a blunder — 6...exf2+! 7.Ke2 fxg1=N+!! and Black's position is superior. The Lasker Trap is notable because it is rare to see an underpromotion as early as move 7.

Instead the game usually continues 4.Nf3 Nc6 (4...c5 allows 5.e3 because Black no longer has the bishop check) and now White's primary options are 5.a3, 5.Nbd2, and 5.g3. Perhaps White's surest try for an advantage is to fianchetto his king bishop with 5.g3 followed by Bg2 and Nbd2. Black will often castle queenside. A typical continuation is 5.g3 Be6 6.Nbd2 Qd7 7.Bg2 0-0-0 8.0-0 Bh3.

In the Spassky Variation, White plays 4.e4 to take advantage of the fact that an en passant capture must be made immediately after the enemy pawn moves. Now after 4...Bb4+ 5.Bd2 the en passant capture ...dxe3 is no longer available for Black because of the intervening moves.

Lasker Trap
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 8
7 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 7
6 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 6
5 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 5
4 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 4
3 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 3
2 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 2
1 a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. e3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 dxe3 6. Bxb4 exf2+ 7. Ke2 fxg1=N+

Theory table[edit | edit source]

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5

3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Main line dxe5
d4
Nf3
Nc6
g3
Bg4
Bg2
Qd7
O-O
O-O-O
+=
...
...
...
...
...
Nge7
Bg2
Ng6
O-O
Ngxe5
Nxe5
Nxe5
b3
Bc5
+=
Lasker Trap ...
...
e3?!
Bb4+
Bd2
dxe3!!
Bxb4??
exf2+!
Ke2
fxg1(N)+!!
-+
...
dxc4
Qa4+
Nc6
Nf3 +=
cxd5
Qxd5
Nc3
Qxd4
Qxd4
exd4
=
cxd5
Qxd5
Nc3
Qxd4
Qxd4
exd4
Nb5
Na6
Nxd4
Bb4+
Bd2
Bxd2
Kxd2
c5
Nb5
Nf6
=
cxd5
Qxd5
Nc3
Qxd4
Qxd4
exd4
Nb5
Na6
Nxd4
Bb4+
Bd2
Bxd2
Kxd2
c5
Nb3?
Nf6
e3
b6
=+
e3?!
exd4
exd4
Nf6
=+

When contributing to this Wikibook, please follow the Conventions for organization.

References[edit | edit source]