Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bc4/3...Nf6/4. Ng5/4...d5/5. exd5
| Two knights defence | |
|---|---|
|
a b c d e f g h 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 a b c d e f g h | |
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) | |
| Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 | |
| ECO code: C57 | |
| Parent: Two knights defence → 4. Ng5 → 4...d5 | |
5. exd5
[edit | edit source]Taking the pawn is an automatic move as other moves lose material.
Black has a selection of interesting moves leading to diverse tactical positions.
The classical way to play, and one of the most popular continuations in amateur games, is 5...Nxd5?!. However, this is now known to be inferior. It allows 6. Nxf7+!, an audacious knight sacrifice known as the fried liver where Black's king is hounded into the centre of the board, or 6. d4, the Lolli attack and Bobby Fischer's preferred line.
5...Na5, the Polerio variation, is the most serious continuation and main line today. Black counterattacks the bishop, and the line continues 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Bd3 Nd5 9. Nf3 Bd6 10. O-O. White may be ahead a pawn, but Black is considered equal with more active pieces.
5...b5!? is the Ulvestad variation. Black offers a pawn to deflect the bishop from control of d5 and pressure of f7, so that they may retake on d4 with the queen. This works out very well for Black if White accepts the sacrifice, but not so well if White knows the surprising refutation 6. Bf1!.
5...Nd4!?, the Fritz variation, gets the knight out from under the gun. After 6. c3 b5, this usually leads to a trade of minor pieces but White is still a pawn ahead: 8. cxd4 Qxg5 9. Bxb5+ Kd8 ±.
Theory table
[edit | edit source]1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5. exd5
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Line | exd5 Na5 |
Bb5+ c6 |
dxc6 bxc6 |
Be2 h6 |
∞ |
| Bogoljubov Variation | ... ... |
... ... |
... ... |
Qf3?! Rb8 |
∞ |
| Ulvestad Variation | ... b5 |
Bf1 h6 |
Nxf7 Kxf7 |
dxc6 Bc5 |
+= |
| Fritz Variation | ... Nd4 |
c3 b5 |
Bf1 Nxd5 |
Ne4 Qh4 |
+= |
| Lolli Variation | ... Nxd5!? |
d4 Bb4+ |
c3 Be7 |
Nxf7 Kxf7 |
+= |
| Fried Liver Attack | ... ... |
Nxf7!! Kxf7 |
Qf3! Ke6 |
Nc3 Nb4 |
∞ |
References
[edit | edit source] | Wikipedia has related information at Two Knights Defence. |
- Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.
- Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.
King's gambit
Accepted
Declined
Vienna
- Barnes ?
- Borg ?
- Corn stalk ??
- Duras ??
- 1...b5 ??
Zukertort