Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...f6/3. Nxe5

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Damiano Defence
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7 black kingf7 black kingg7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black pawng6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 white knightf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 white pawnf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 black kingf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 black kingh1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6
ECO code: C40
Parent: King's Knight Opening

3. Nxe5!! - Damiano Defence

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The critical move that refutes the Damiano Defense after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6? is 3. Nxe5!! This move allows White to seize a pawn and gain a tempo, instantly activating White's pieces.

If Black takes back with 3... fxe5?, Black would be struck with the move 4. Qh5+ and after 4... g6, White wins the exchange with 5. Qxe5+ and then 6. Qxh8. (You may refer to the Sample Game).

When Black responds with 3... Qe7, the most resilient move in this situation, The only way to regain the pawn is 3...Qe7, but after 4. Nf3 Qxe4+ 5. Be2, white would have a large lead in development with no weaknesses. This sequence results in a substantial lead in development for White and greater control of the board. The underlying issue for Black in the Damiano Defense is the hindrance of piece development, especially the knight, which is blocked from its natural square at f6 by the pawn moved to f6. This results in a compromised kingside defense for Black.

Theory table

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

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6? 3. Nxe5!

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
See the Sample Chess Game ...
fxe5?
Qh5+
Ke7
Qxe5+
Kf7
Bc4+
d5
Bxd5+
Kg6
d4?
Bd6!
Bf7+
Kxf7
Qh5+
Kf8!
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
h4
h6
Bxb7!
Bd6
Qd5?
Nf6!
Qb3
Bxb7
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Qa5!
Nf6
Bxa8
Na6
a3 ±
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
h5
Bxb7!
Bxb7?
Qf5+!
Kh6
d4(d3)+
g5
Qf7 +−
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bd6
Qa5!
Nf6
Bxa8 ±
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Qg3+
Qg5
Qxc7
Qd7
h4
Qe5
Qxe5
Qxe5
h5+! ±
...
Qe7
Nf3
Qxe4+
Be2
d5
O-O
Qa4
Re1 ±
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Ne7
Re1 ±
...
...
...
d5
d3
dxe4
dxe4
Qxe4+
Be2
Nc6
Nc3
Qe6
Nb5 ±
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Qe7
O-O
Qd8
Bf4 ±
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bb4
O-O
Bxc3
bxc3
Qa4
Nxd4 ±

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References

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Bibliography

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  • Kavalek, Lubomir (1997). CHESS: Damiano Defense.
  • Copeland, Sam (2019). Damiano's Defense Chess Opening Trap: Sac A Knight On Move Three!.
  • Perunovic, Miodrag (2019). Chess For Beginners: Killing Damiano's Defense.
  • Rozman, Levy (2022). WORST OPENING In Chess...
  • Volclus (2022). WIN IN 3 - The Damiano Trap.
  • Stripes, James (chessskill.blogspot.com) (2012). Opening Disaster: Damiano's Defense.