1995.) 13.Qd3 g6; 14.Bh6 Re8; 15.Qd4 c5; 16.Qf4 d4; 17.

Rad1
Qc7; 18.cxd4 Bxf3; 19.Qxf3 cxd4; 20.Be4 and White can be very
happy with the position, Hammar vs. Lind, Swedish Championship
1983.
9.Nxe5. 9.Bc2 exd4; 10.Re1 is a reasonable alternative, leading
to roughly level chances after 10d5, Acs vs. Beliavsky, Hungarian
Team Championship 2000. 9Nxb3; 10.Qxb3. 10.axb3 Bd6;
11.f3 Ng5; 12.Be3 00 13.Qd2 is a also playable, Madl vs.
Stefanova, Leon 2001. 10Nd6.
10Qf6 was seen in Nijboer vs. Van der Wiel, Rotterdam 2000.
11.Nd2 is the safest plan. 11.f3?!, played in the game, is too
ambitious. In general, you should avoid playing f3 in these Spanish
lines.
10d5? just locks out the bishop, and 11.Re1 f6 leads to the
devastating 12.Rxe4!
11.c4.
11.Bf4 is a quieter approach. 11Be7; 12.a4 00 13.Na3 Bg5;
14.Bg3 Ne4; 15.Nf3 Rb8; 16.axb5 axb5; 17.d5 d6; 18.Qd1 f5;
19.h3 f4 led to a draw in Stellwagen vs. Van der Wiel, Amsterdam
2001.
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Position after 11.c4
11f6 is Black's best.
11Qf6; 12.Nc3 Qe6; 13.Re1 000 14.cxb5 Qxb3; 15.axb3 axb5;
16.Bf4 f6; 17.Nd3 {+=} 10 Bauer vs. Kasimdzhanov, Las Vegas
NV 1999
11bxc4; 12.Nxc4 Nxc4; 13.Qxb7 Nd6 (13Be7; 14.Bf4 00
15.Nc3 Bd6; 16.Bxd6 Nxd6; 17.Qf3= Kozakov vs.
Mikhalchishin, Ptuj 2000.) 14.Qf3 Be7; 15.Nc3 00 16.Bf4 where
White was a bit better in Fleck vs., Van der Wiel, Essen 2002.
12.c5! fxe5 Pretty much forced. 13.cxd6 Bxd6 was played in
Baramidze vs. Kniest, Dortmund 2000. White should continue
14.dxe5! Bxe5; 15.Re1 Qe7; 16.Bf4 d6; 17.Nc3. The position is
unclear, but Black can't castle on the kingside and it is too
dangerous to go queenside. White has more than enough for the
pawn.

Dealing with the [Modern] Line 5.O-O Bc5 (including

lines with Bb7)
1.e4 e5; 2.Nf3 Nc6; 3.Bb5 a6; 4.Ba4 Nf6; 5.00 Bc5
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Position after 5Bc5
This flexible modern approach defers the choice of overall strategy
for a bit. Black can later play b5 and Bb7, or can choose d6
with kingside bishop deployment.
6.c3. White should aim for a rapid d4-break. 6b5 This move
leads to the hybrid line, similar to the Arkhangelsk.
a) 6Ba7 is non-committal, but a bit slow. 7.d4 Nxe4 (On 7O-O;
8.Bg5 White has a pleasant position. There is a lot more theory,
but White's plan is simple enough, just standard Spanish play.)
8.dxe5 00 (8d5!?; 9.exd6 00 10.dxc7 Qxc7; 11.Bc2!? Re8;
12.Nbd2 Nf6 Ciemniak vs. Pinkas, Czestochowa 1993. Better
was simply 11.Nbd2! and Black doesn't have enough for the pawn)
9.Qd5 Nc5; 10.Bc2 Ne7; 11.Qd1 d5; 12.exd6 (12.Bg5! is clearer)
12cxd6; 13.Bf4 d5; 14.Nd4 Ng6; 15.Bg3 f5; 16.f3 Ne6; 17.Bf2
Nef4; 18.Kh1 Qg5; 19.g3 Nh3; 20.f4 Nxf2+; 21.Rxf2 with White
holding the advantage in Nielsen vs. Andersen, Copenhagen 1936.
b) 6d6; 7.d4 exd4 (7Ba7; 8.dxe5 Nxe4; 9.Bxc6+ bxc6; 10.Qa4
Nc5; 11.Qxc6+ Bd7; 12.Qd5 with a better game for White.) 8.cxd4
Ba7 (8Bb6; 9.d5 and White should win, Tehrany vs. Steiner,
Graz 1996.) 9.d5 b5; 10.dxc6 bxa4; 11.Qxa4 00 12.Bg5 Re8 is
Alekhine vs. Grijns & Tongeren, Bandoeng 1933. Then 13.Nc3!
keeps a rather large advantage.
c) 600 7.d4. Now 7Bb6; 8.dxe5 Nxe4; 9.Qd5 Nc5; 10.Bc2 Ne7
transposes to {REF}, so the main line is 7exd4; 8.cxd4 with a
number of possibilities:
8Be7; 9.d5 is unacceptable for Black.
8Ba7; 9.Nc3 d6; 10.h3 Re8; 11.Re1 Bd7; 12.Bg5 and Black was
in trouble in McDonald vs. Bader, Australian Junior Open 1995.
8b5; 9.dxc5 bxa4; 10.Qxa4 Re8; 11.Nc3 {+/-} Buck vs. Cox,
National Open, Chicago 1991.
8Bb4; 9.a3 Ba5; 10.e5 Nd5; 11.b4 {+/-} Tatar Kis vs. Szoukup,
Budapest 1994.
8Bb6; 9.Nc3 h6 (9d6; 10.h3 Ba7; 11.Bg5 b5; 12.Bc2 Re8;
13.Nd5 Bb7; 14.Qd3 Nxd4; 15.Nxd4 Bxd5; 16.exd5 Bxd4;
17.Qxd4+- Anderson vs. Naftel, Siegen Olympiad 1970.) 10.e5
Nh7; 11.d5 and Black was in deep trouble in Cossu vs. Arno,
Postal 1979.
d) 6Nxe4?; 7.Qe2 is very good for White, since a knight retreat
allows d4.
e) 6Bb6; 7.d4 Nxe4 (7exd4; 8.cxd4 d5; 9.exd5 Nxd5; 10.Ne5
Qd6; 11.Nc3 Nxc3; 12.bxc3 00 13.Nxc6 bxc6; 14.Qf3 Bd7;
15.Bf4 Qf6 Scheer vs. Klein, Wuerzburg Open 1987, and now just
16.Qg3 gives White a clear advantage.) 8.Re1 f5; 9.Bxc6 dxc6;
10.Nxe5 Qf6; 11.Nc4 Ba7; 12.f3 Be6; 13.Nba3 b5 (13Nd6;
14.Nxd6+ cxd6; 15.Qe2 Kd7; 16.Bg5) 14.fxe4 and White won in
Klompus vs. Philipp, Postal 1980.
7.Bb3. The bishop can go directly to c2, but only if Bc5 is played
before b5. Unless you are really trying to milk everything out of
the position, it is simpler to study just a single plan.
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Position after 7.Bb3
7d6. Black has explored many alternatives, most of which can
be met simply with 8.d4. These are instructive lines to play
through:
a) 700 8.d4! exd4; 9.e5! Ne8; 10.cxd4 is horrible for Black.
b) 7Nxe4; 8.Qe2 d5 (8Nf6; 9.d4 Bb6; 10.dxe5 Ng4; 11.Bxf7+
Kxf7; 12.Ng5+ Kg8; 13.Qxg4 placed Black in grave danger in,
Kupka vs. Kracik Jaroslav/Plzen 1995.) 9.d3 Nf6; 10.d4 Be7
(10Bb6; 11.Nxe5 Nxe5; 12.Qxe5+ leaves Black a bit short of
equality, van Geemen vs. Lunek, Postal 1991.) 11.dxe5 Ne4;
12.Rd1 Be6; 13.c4! bxc4??; 14.Ba4 and Black gave up in Matulovic
vs. Feller, Siegen Olympiad 1970.
c) 7Na5; 8.Nxe5 Nxb3; 9.Qxb3 gives White a pleasant game.
d) 7Ba7; 8.d4 d6; 9.dxe5 dxe5; 10.Qxd8+ Nxd8; 11.Nxe5 Bb7;
12.Nd2 is the move to play if you are aiming for a win. A quick
draw followed the initially exciting 12.Bg5 Nxe4; 13.Bxd8 Rxd8;
14.Nxf7 Rf8; 15.Nxd8 Kxd8; 16.Nd2 Nxf2; 17.Nf3 Nh3+ in
Karaklaic-Rellstab/Postal1956. After 12.Nd2 00 13.Bc2 Re8;
14.Nef3 Nxe4; 15.Nxe4 Bxe4; 16.Re1!, White keeps a small
advantage.
e) 7Be7; 8.d4 00 9.dxe5 Nxe4; 10.Bf4 Bg5; 11.Nxg5 Nxg5;
12.Nd2 is unpleasant for Black, Moreno Gea-Ramirez Diaz,
Postal1984.
f) 7h6; 8.d4 exd4; 9.cxd4 Bb6; 10.e5 Nh7; 11.d5 and Black is
busted, Castner vs. Remus, San Francisco 1980.
g) 7Bb6; 8.d4 with:
8Qe7; 9.a4 Rb8 (9Bb7 can be countered by 10.Bg5!?) 10.axb5
axb5 is Pytel vs. Konikowski, Poland 1965, where 11.Re1 would
have secured the advantage.
800 9.Nxe5 with an excellent game for White.
8Nxe4; 9.Bd5 Nf6; 10.Bxc6 dxc6; 11.Nxe5 00 12.Nxc6 Qd6;
13.Ne5 c5; 14.Bf4 is better for White, Wierzbicka vs. Strzalka,
Polish Womens Championship 1989.
h) 7Bb7?! is important, because it can also be reached from the
Arkhangelsk. 8.d4 and now:
8Bd6; 9.Bd5 Qe7; 10.Bg5 00 11.Re1 h6; 12.Bh4 with a small
edge for White in Cely vs. Jakubowski, Moravian Open
Championship 1996.
8exd4; 9.cxd4 Bb6; 10.Bg5 h6; 11.Bh4 g5; 12.Bg3 d6; 13.Nc3
Qd7; 14.e5! was painful for Blkack in Jaltychenko vs. Abisheva,
Bratislava 1993.
8Bb6; 9.dxe5 Ng4 is refuted by 10.Bxf7+! Kxf7; 11.Ng5+ Ke8;
12.Qxg4, Matthews vs. Arias, Valencia 2000.
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Position after 7d6
8.d4 exd4.
8Bb6; 9.dxe5 Nxe5 (9dxe5; 10.Qxd8+ Nxd8; 11.Nxe5 Bb7;
12.Bg5doesnt relive Blacks pressure, even though the queens are
gone. Karaklajic vs. Rellstab, Bled 1956.) 10.Nxe5 dxe5;
11.Qxd8+ Kxd8; 12.Bxf7 Ke7?! (12Rf8 is better, and will gain
equality. 13.Bb3 Nxe4; 14.Be3 Bxe3; 15.fxe3 Rxf1+; 16.Kxf1 Bb7
was seen in Nikolin vs. Maric, Tivat 1995.) 13.Bb3 Bb7; 14.Bg5.
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The pressure at f2 gives Black some compensation for the pawn,
but White can be happy with the position. 14Rhf8; 15.Nd2 h6;
16.Bh4 g5; 17.Bg3 Rad8; 18.Rad1 Rd7?; 19.Bxe5 Ng4 (19Rfd8;
20.Nf3 Rxd1; 21.Rxd1 Rxd1+; 22.Bxd1 Bxe4) 20.Bg3 Ne3;
21.fxe3 Bxe3+; 22.Bf2 and Black resigned. REBEL vs. Timman,
Aegon Man vs. Machine Tournament 1997.
9.cxd4 Bb6; 10.Bg5 00. White is already quite a bit better.
Black fell for one idea with 10Bg4?; 11.Bd5! Qd7; 12.Bxf6 gxf6;
13.Qc1 Ne7; 14.Bxa8 Rg8; 15.Qf4 Bh3; 16.g3 Bxf1; 17.Kxf1 c6;
18.d5 10 Browne vs. Lawless, Simultaneous, Mechanic's Institute
1969.
10Na5? is also bad: 11.e5 dxe5; 12.dxe5 Qxd1; 13.Rxd1 Nd7;
14.e6 fxe6; 15.Bxe6 Nf6; 16.Bxc8 Rxc8, Palos vs. Halameister,
Werfen Open 1992, 17.Re1+ with a large advantage.
A classic struggle followed 10Bb7; 11.Nc3 Ne7; 12.Re1 h6;
13.Bh4 g5; 14.Bg3 Kf8; 15.Qd3 c5; 16.e5 dxe5; 17.Bxe5 Kg7.
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This position was reached in the ancient game Loewenthal vs.
Morphy, London 1859. 18.Bxf6+! Kxf6; 19.Qe3 gives White a
tremendous attack. The game concluded 19Qd6; 20.Ne5 cxd4;
21.Ng4+ Kg7; 22.Qxe7 Qxe7; 23.Rxe7 dxc3; 24.Rxf7+ Kg6;
25.Ne5+ Kh5; 26.Bd1+ g4; 27.Bxg4+ Kg5; 28.Rf5+ Kh4; 29.g3#
11.Nc3 Bg4; 12.Nd5 Bxd4. 12Bxf3; 13.gxf3, and 13Bxd4;
14.Rc1! or 13Nxd4; 14.Nxf6+ gxf6; 15.Bh6 Re8; 16.Kh1!,
clearing the g-file. 13.Nxd4!? An amazing queen sacrifice,
although the simple move 13.Rc1! was extremely strong. Still,
White's combination is very exciting. 13Bxd1; 14.Nxc6 Qd7;
15.Raxd1. On 15.Bxf6 Black might try 15Bxb3!?; 15Nxe4;
16.Ne5 Qe8.
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Position after 16Qe8
White wins with some fine tactics. 17.Nxf7! Rxf7; 18.Nxc7 Qb8.
Or 18Qe5; 19.Rd5! 19.Nxa8 Nxg5; 20.h4! Ne4. The original
game went 20Kf8; 21.hxg5 Ra7; 22.Bd5and Black was busted in
Aristizabal vs. Ramirez, Bogot 1992. 21.Rfe1! Nc5. Just as bad
is 21Qxa8; 22.Bd5! 22.Nc7 Nxb3; 23.Re8+ Qxe8; 24.Nxe8
Nc5; 25.Rxd6! and White will win the ending.

Avoiding the Marshall Attack

1.e4 e5; 2.Nf3 Nc6; 3.Bb5 a6; 4.Ba4 Nf6; 5.O-O Be7;
6.Re1 b5; 7.Bb3 O-O; 8.h3
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Position after 8.h3
This move offers a method of transposing to the normal main lines
of the Spanish without allowing Black to use Marshall's sharp d5
plan. If that is tried here, White gets a better than usual version
because the knight can still come to c3. In the normal move order
with 8.c3, that's not possible. The lines presented below are not
bad for Black, but they are quite different in flavor from the
Marshall If Black transposes to the 8.c3 d6; 9.h3 lines, White has
achieved the desired goal of the opening strategy, and discussion
of the main lines of the Ruy Lopez lies outside the scope of this
book. Black now has several options: 8d5 (A), 8Bb7 (B) and
several minor options covered (C).
A) 8d5
This will be the choice of many Marshall Gambit players.
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Position after 8d5
9.exd5 Nxd5 and White has several good ideas. Taking the pawn
isn't at all bad with White having the added option of Nc3 in
comparison with the normal Marshall Gambit. The simple 10.d3
keeps pressure on e5, for example, 10Bf6; 11.Nbd2 h6;
12.Ne4!? Be7; 13.Ng3 Bf6; 14.Nh5 with good play, Bologan vs.
Castellano Ojeda, Las Palmas 1993.
Instead of 10.d3, 10.a4 is also reasonable, for example 10Bb7;
11.axb5 axb5; 12.Rxa8 Bxa8; 13.Nc3, which shows the difference
when White hasn't played c3. 13Nxc3; 14.bxc3, hitting e5, and
here's a sample line: 14Bf6; 15.Qe2 Na5 (15e4; 16.Nh2!, still
hitting b5 and e4) 16.Ba2 e4; 17.Nd4! Bxd4; 18.cxd4 Qxd4;
19.Qxb5 Nc6; 20.Bb2! Qxd2; 21.Rxe4 and the two bishops are
going to break down Black's king position, for example, 21Qd1+
(21Qxc2?; 22.Bxf7+) 22.Kh2 Qd6+; 23.g3 h6; 24.Qh5! Ne7;
25.Rg4, winning.
B) 8Bb7. Black does not usually station the bishop here in the
Marshall. Usually it operates on the kingside, but with a pawn at
h3 that's not going to happen. White can of course play 9.c3 here,
which will lead to the normal Spanish lines if Black follows up with
d6, but there is another option which makes sure that the d5
break simply will not happen.
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Position after 8Bb7
9.Nc3!? A practical and risk-free move, eyeing d5 for the knight.
9.d3 is another solid idea. 9d6. 9Na5; 10.Nxe5 Nxb3; 11.axb3
b4; 12.Nd5 Nxd5; 13.exd5 Bxd5; 14.c4 Bb7; 15.d4 {+=} from
Janetschek vs. Lokasto, Warsaw Cup 1981 is just a bit better for
White (with plenty of chances) due to his space and somewhat
better pawn structure. 10.Nd5!? Marshall fans will hate the
occupation of d5!; 10Na5. 10Nxd5; 11.Bxd5 Qd7; 12.d4
favors White a bit. 11.Nxe7+ Qxe7; 12.d3 Nxb3. Or 12c5;
13.Bg5 Nxb3; 14.axb3 h6 was agreed drawn in Uitumen vs.
Spassky, Sochi 1964. Opposite colors can make for an interesting
middlegame, and Spassky was probably worried about an
eventually Nh4 with ideas of Nf5, Qf3, etc. 13.axb3 Rfe8;
14.Bg5!? Again, something like 14.Nh4 d5; 15.Nf5 Qe6; 16.Qf3
would put more pressure on Black. 14h6 Gheorghiu vs. Kavalek,
Amsterdam 1975. White has nothing special, but by Be3 with the
idea Nh4, he could keep Black thinking. The game was drawn in 22
moves.
Notice how several of these examples end with opposite-colored
bishops on the board. This is a well-known advantage for attackers
in the middlegame (not in the endings, which tend to be drawish),
because he bishops cannot be exchanged or even block each
other, whereas sensitive points attacked by one bishop cannot be
defended by its counterpart.
C) Various moves
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Position after 8.h3
a) 8d6. After 9.c3 White has safely reached the main lines of the
Closed Variations and may institute the classical Spanish
Inquisition!
b) 8Kh8; 9.c3 d5; 10.exd5 Nxd5; 11.Nxe5 Nxe5; 12.Rxe5 c6 is a
normal Marshall with the useful h3 traded for the uninspiring
Kh8, for example, 13.d4 Bd6; 14.Re1 Qh4; 15.Nd2! Bf5; 16.Nf3
Qh5; 17.a4 and Black has few ideas left.
c) 8h6; 9.c3 d6; 10.d4 is another normal Ruy Lopez line called
the Smyslov Variation.
d) 8Na5; 9.Nxe5! Nxb3; 10.axb3 Bb7; 11.d3 d5; 12.exd5 Nxd5;
13.Nc3 doesn't give Black enough for a pawn, since he has no
particular attack.
e) 8Re8?! uses up the retreat square for Black's knight on e8, a
fact that White can try to exploit by 9.d4!? (9.c3 is a normal Ruy
Lopez), and now a blunder is 9d5??; 10.dxe5 winning, as in Limp
vs. Goncalves, Sao Paulo Championship 1998, due to 10Nxe4;
11.Bxd5, while 9exd4?; 10.e5 Nh5; 11.g4 wins a piece. The best
that Black can do is 9d6; 10.a4! b4; 11.c3 but that is still a bit
better for White.
Sharp Black lines in the Italian Game (2.Nf3 Nc6;
3.Bc4)
Whites direct attack on f7 greatly limits Black options. Three
defenses (3Nf6, 3Bc5 and 3Be7/d6) represent almost all the
games played. There are only three sharp alternatives, none of
which are sound.
Against the Rousseau Gambit
1.e4 e5; 2.Nf3 Nc6; 3.Bc4 f5?!. A related alternative, which can
transpose to 3.Bc4 f5, is 2.Bc4 f5. See notes on move order in the
next section.
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Position after 3f5
4.d3!
4.d4 can be played, but there's no reason to complicate things
after 4..fxe4 5.Nxe5 d5!, for example, 6.Qh5+?! g6; 7.Nxg6 Nf6;
8.Qh4 dxc4!; 9.Nxh8 Nxd4 with more than enough counterplay.
But after 4.d3, White has a Reversed King's Gambit Declined in
which the tempo makes a huge difference, because Black won't be
able to get the standard Bc5 and d6 in without conceding
something in the center.
4Nf6; 5.O-O. and now Black has a major choice between 5Bc5
(A) and 5fxe4 (B)
A) 5Bc5; 6.exf5!? 6.Nc3 also gives White the advantage. Black
is going to have a hard time getting castled, and has to watch out
for Ng5.
6d5.One of several answers to 6d6 is 7.Be3! Bxf5 (7Bxe3;
8.fxe3 opens the file for lines like 8Bxf5; 9.Nc3 d5; 10.Nxe5!
Nxe5; 11.Rxf5 and White is winning) 8.Bxc5 dxc5; 9.Nc3!? (or
9.Bb5!? ) 9Qe7; 10.Re1 000 (10a6; 11.Nd5!) 11.Bb5! and
White picks up the e-pawn at little cost.
7.Bb5
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Position after 7.BB%>
7Qd6. Instead, 7e4; 8.dxe4 Nxe4 allows the trick 9.b4! (9.Ne5
O-O! 10.Nxc6 Qd6; 11.Nd4 Qb6 isn't as clear) 9Bb6 (9Bxb4;
10.Ne5) 10.Ne5 and White is winning. 8.Bxc6+ bxc6; 9.Nxe5
Qxe5; 10.Re1 Ne4; 11.dxe4 dxe4; 12.Nc3 Bxf5; 13.Qh5+ g6;
14.Qh4 00 15.Bf4 and Black's pawns are too weak.
B) 5fxe4; 6.dxe4 Bc5. This sequence was suggested by Tim
McGrew. 7.Nc3. A good solution that must leave White better.
White can develop by moves like Bg5 and Nd5 and/or Nh4. This
position is no fun for Black. 7d6.
A ChessCafe website article quoted only one game that went
7Rf8; 8.Bg5 (8.a3 d6; 9.Qd3 is a comfortable option) 8h6, but
this loses to 9.Bxf6! for example 9Qxf6. ( 9Rxf6; 10.Nxe5! with
the idea 10Nxe5; 11.Qh5+.) 10.Nd5 Qd8? (But 10Qd6;
11.Nh4! and Black stands very poorly in the face of moves like
Qh5+ and Nf5, e.g., 11g6; 12.Qg4 Na5; 13.Bd3 c6; 14.b4! cxd5;
15.bxc5 Qxc5; 16.Qxg6+.) 11.Nd4!, winning. The cutest of several
strong moves, threatening Qh5+, and if necessary moves like Nb5
and Nf5. Black cannot accept the knight. A pretty line is
11Nxd4?; 12.Qh5+ Rf7; 13.Nxc7+ Qxc7; 14.Qxf7+ Kd8;
15.Qg8+ Ke7; 16.Qxg7+ Ke8 (16Kd6; 17.b4! Bxb4; 18.Qf8+)
17.Qf7+ Kd8; 18.Qf6+ Ke8 (18Be7; 19.Qh8+) 19.Bf7+ Kf8;
20.Bg6+ Kg8; 21.Qf7+ Kh8; 22.Qh7#.
The only way for black to try to salvage 7Rf8 is by 8d6 instead
of 8h6, but that still falls short after 9.Nd5 Na5; 10.Be2 Be6
(10c6; 11.Nxf6+ gxf6; 12.Bd2 Qb6; 13.b4 Bxb4; 14.Rb1+-)
11.c3 Bb6 (11Bxd5; 12.exd5; 11Nc6; 12.Qb3 Bb6; 13.Bxf6
gxf6; 14.Nxc7+) 12.b4 (12.Nh4 c6; 13.Bh5+ Kd7; 14.Nxf6+ gxf6;
15.Bh6) 12Nc6; 13.a4.
So, we conclude that 7Rf8 really isnt promising for Black, but
you should be familiar with our analysis since the line is
recommended online.
8.Bg5. The most ambitious. Interesting is just 8.Be3!?, for
example, 8Bg4; 9.h3 Bxe3; 10.fxe3 Bh5; 11.Be6. 8Bg4.
A sample line after 8Na5 is 9.Bd3 00 10.Nd5 Be6 (10c6??;
11.Nxf6+ gxf6; 12.Bd2+-) 11.Qd2 (11.Qe1 Nc6; 12.Nxf6+ gxf6;
13.Bh6 Rf7; 14.Nh4 is surely better for White.) 11Nc6; 12.Bxf6
(or 12.c3 ) 12gxf6; 13.c3 (13.Nh4 Qd7; 14.Qh6) 13Qd7; 14.b4
Bb6; 15.a4 etc.
9.h3 Bh5. Exchanging is not advisable. 9Bxf3; 10.Qxf3 Nd4;
11.Qd3 Qd7; 12.Bxf6 gxf6; 13.Nd5 Qg7; 14.c3 Nc6; 15.b4 Bb6;
16.a4 etc.
10.g4 Bg6; 11.Nh4 Qd7; 12.Bxf6 gxf6; 13.Nd5 Rf8; 14.Qf3
000 15.c3 Qg7.
Or 15Na5; 16.Bd3 c6; 17.Nxf6 Qe6; 18.g5 Bb6; 19.Qg4 Qxg4+;
20.hxg4 with a large advantage.
16.b4 Bb6; 17.a4 and White is much better, since not only can
he destroy Black's queenside structure after Nxb6, but he will
dominate the light squares following Be6+ and Nf5.
Italian Move Order commentary
As White, you can greatly reduce the amount of material you have
to be familiar with by playing 2.Bc4 instead of 3.Bc4. In this case,
2Nf6 will push you into the lines with d3, but that is a good solid
strategy which avoids most of the tricky sharp variations that
follow 2.Nf3, such as 2f5 (the Latvian Gambit) and 2d5 (the
Elephant Gambit). These are very popular, although we give very
good solutions below. If Black insists on playing f5 (Calabrese
Countergambit) or d5 (Khan Gambit) anyway, they will find
themselves in a bit of trouble early on.
Against the Calabrese Countergambit
1.e4 e5; 2.Bc4 f5
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Although we are adopting 2,Nf3 as our move order, 2.Bc4 is often
used to reach the Italian, while avoiding many of Blacks options,
including the Russian Game (Petroff). In that case, there is only
one confrontational line you are likely to run into, the Calabrese
Countergambit. The extremely rare Khan Gambit 2d5 can be
accepted safely by capturing with the pawn.
Grabbing a pawn by 3.Bxg8 Rxg8; 4.Qh5+ g6; 5.Qxh7 isn't so
easy after 5Rg7, for example 6.Qh8 Qg5 or even 6fxe4. So
easiest is the calm 3.d3 Nf6 and now White develops a knight to f3
(A) or c3 (B).
A) 4.Nf3 Nc6; 5.O-O, transposes to 2.Nf3 Nc6; 3.Bc4 f5 of our
main line.
Black can play 4c6; 5.Nc3. 5.O-O is also good, for example,
5d5!?; 6.exd5 cxd5; 7.Bb5+ Bd7; 8.Bxd7+ Nbxd7; 9.Qe2 Bd6
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Position after 9Bd6
10.Nxe5! Nxe5; 11.d4 Ne4; 12.dxe5 Bxe5; 13.f3 O-O (13Qb6+;
14.Kh1 Bxb2; 15.Bxb2 Qxb2; 16.fxe4 with the idea 16Qxa1;
17.Qb5+ and White wins.) 14.fxe4 Qb6+; 15.Be3 Qxb2; 16.Nd2
fxe4; 17.Nb3 trips up Blacks plans.
5d5!?
Another idea is 5Bb4; 6.O-O Bxc3; 7.bxc3 d5, when simply
8.exd5 cxd5; 9.Bb3 Nc6 (9e4; 10.Nd4 O-O; 11.f3! exd3; 12.cxd3
with a big positional advantage for White.) 10.Nxe5 Nxe5; 11.Re1
favors White.
6.exd5 cxd5; 7.Bb5+ Nbd7; 8.Nxe5! d4; 9.Nxd7 Bxd7;
10.Bxd7+ Qxd7; 11.Ne2 . Black has very little if any real
compensation for his pawn.
B) 4.Nc3 leads to another typical reversed position. Perhaps Black
could limit White's options by 4Bb4, although just 5.Nge2 may
favor White, who has ideas of a3, O-O and f4, or in some cases
d4, e.g., 5c6; 6.f4!? is very interesting, since Black's
development is slow: 6exf4!?; 6d5; 7.exd5 cxd5; 8.Bb5+
Bd7; 9.fxe5 Bxb5; 10.exf6 Qxf6; 11.O-O Bc6; 12.Be3! with the
dark squares, e.g., 12O-O; 13.Bd4 Qe7; 14.Nf4.
7.e5 Ng4; 8.Bxf4 g5. 8b5; 9.Bb3 d6; 10.exd6 Bxd6; 11.h3!
Bxf4; 12.Nxf4 Qh4+; 13.Kd2 and Black again has a development
deficit: 13Nf2; 14.Qe2+!? Ne4+; 15.dxe4 Qxf4+; 16.Kd1 Qd6+;
17.Kc1 Qh6+; 18.Kb1 f4; 19.e5 intending Ne4. 9.h3! gxf4.
(9Nh6; 10.Nd4!) 10.hxg4 fxg4. 10f3; 11.gxf3 d5; 12.exd6
fxg4; 13.Qd2 and 000. 11.Nxf4 d5; 12.exd6 Qxd6; 13.g3 b5;
14.Bb3 Kd8; 15.Kd2! with moves like Re1 and Ne6+ or even Rh5
and Qh1
Sharp Black lines in the Philidor Defense
Blacks sharp options in the Philidor primarily involve f5, but
there is one gambit line with Bg4 that has a following. Black
might want to head for the fighting Larsen Variation on 3.d4 dxe4;
4.Nxd4 g6, but we recommend 4.Qxd4, since 4Nc6?! allows
White to gain an advantage with 5.Bb5. The play after capturing
with the queen is positional, with no tactical pitfalls.
Against the Philidor Countergambit, Line #1
1.e4 e5; 2.Nf3 d6; 3.d4 f5
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Position after 3f5
4.Nc3.
This first solution is straightforward, strong, and consistent with
our emphasis on rapid development. 4.dxe5 fxe4; 5.Ng5 d5; 6.e6
was our solution in our 1995 Big Book of Busts, and we still believe
that gains an advantage. Unfortunately, it is also rather
complicated. So we have offered yet another good move, 4.exf5!,
as our second solution below.
Black can capture at e4 with the f-pawn (A), at d4 with the e-pawn
(B), or develop the knight to f6 (C).
A) 4fxe4; 5.Nxe4 d5; 6.Neg5. Nunn gives 6.Ng3 e4; 7.Ne5
Nf6; 8.f3 {+/-} Nunns Chess Openings, but this isn't quite as
convincing as 6.Nge5 due to 8exf3 (8Be6!?) 9.Qxf3 Be7 and
00. 6h6.
a) 6e4 should be met by 7.Ne5, when Motwani gives the fun line
7Nh6; 8.Nxe4! dxe4; 9.Bxh6 gxh6; 10.Qh5+ Ke7; 11.Qh4+ Ke8
(11Ke6; 12.Bc4+) 12.Bb5+! c6; 13.Qh5+ Ke7; 14.Qf7+ Kd6;
15.Nc4#
b) 6exd4 may be best, but 7.Qxd4! is strong (7.Nxd4 Bd6!?;
8.Qe2+ Qe7; 9.Nb5 favors White, but is less fun), for example:
7Nc6; 8.Bb5 Nf6; 9.Ne5 Qe7; 10.00 and White wins.
7Nf6; 8.Bb5+! c6; 9.Bd3 Bd6; 10.Qh4! with ideas like Bg6+ or
just bringing a rook to the e-file.
7h6; 8.Qh4 Bf5 (8Nf6 is countered simply by 9.Bd3.) 9.Bd3!
Bxd3; 10.cxd3 Nf6; 11.O-O and the e6 and e5 squares are too
weakWhite is winning.]
7.Nf7! A beautiful idea that Paul Motwani found, and an
improvement on a previous game. It is an amazing discovery at so
late a stage in the theoretical development of this defense.
7Kxf7; 8.Nxe5+. Winning. The rest of the analysis is based on
Motwanis. 8Ke6. 8Ke7; 9.Bd3! is devastating, although of
course something like 9.Ng6+!? Kf6; 10.Qf3+! Bf5; 11.g4 Qe8+;
12.Ne5 will also ultimately win. 9.Qg4+ Ke7.
9Kd6; 10.Nf7+ Ke7; 11.Qh4+ g5; 12.Bxg5+ hxg5; 13.Qxg5+ is
a simple win.
9Kf6; 10.Qg6+ Ke7; 11.Qf7+ Kd6; 12.c4!? leaves Black with few
prospects for survival, for example 12dxc4; 13.Nxc4+ Kc6;
14.Na5+ Kb6; 15.Qb3+.
10.Ng6+ Ke8; 11.Qe2+ Be7; 12.Nxh8, winning.
B) 4exd4 is also seen, and either capture at d4 is good enough
for a pleasant game.
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Position after 4exd4
a) 5.Qxd4! is the most direct mode of attack, for example:
5Nc6; 6.Bb5 Bd7; 7.Bxc6 bxc6 (7Bxc6; 8.Bg5 (8.O-O Nf6;
9.exf5!) 8Nf6; 9.exf5! Bxf3; 10.gxf3 Be7; 11.000 is very
strong for White.) 8.Bg5 Nf6; 9.exf5 (or 9.e5 {+/-} ) 9Bxf5;
10.O-O-O Be7; 11.Rhe1 O-O; 12.Qc4+ Kh8; 13.Nd4 and Black
may feel like just resigning.
5Nf6; 6.e5!? ( 6.Bg5!) 6Qe7 ( 6dxe5; 7.Qxd8+ Kxd8; 8.Nxe5
Be6) 7.Bg5 dxe5; 8.Nxe5 Nc6; 9.Bb5 Bd7; 10.Bxc6 Bxc6;
11.000+-
5fxe4; 6.Bg5 Nf6; 7.Nxe4 Be7; 8.O-O-O O-O; 9.Nxf6+ Bxf6;
10.Bc4+ Kh8; 11.Bxf6 Qxf6; 12.Qxf6 gxf6 (12Rxf6; 13.Rhe1)
13.Nd4! {+/-} Tseshkovsky-Inkiov, Minsk 1982.
b) 5.Nxd4 is advantageous as well. Just for example: 5fxe4;
6.Nxe4 Nf6; 7.Nxf6+ (or 7.Bd3! Be7?! (7Nxe4; 8.Bxe4 Qf6;
9.00 {+/-}) 8.Ng5! hitting e6 with a huge advantage: 8c6; 9.O-
O Bg4; 10.Qe1 g6; 11.Bd2!? Rg8; 12.h3 Bd7; 13.Qe2 c5; 14.Nde6
Qb6; 15.Rfe1 and Black can resign, Rytshagov-Pyhala, Tampere
1992) 7Qxf6; 8.Bc4 Qe5+ (8c6; 9.O-O d5; 10.Qh5+ Qf7;
11.Re1+ Be7; 12.Qh4) 9.Be3 d5; 10.Nf3! with a powerful attack,
since 10Qxb2; 11.Bxd5 Qc3+; 12.Kf1 Nc6; 13.Rb1! develops
pressure against Black's stranded king.
C) 4Nf6; 5.dxe5. The move almost always played, but actually,
5.exf5 also looks good, since 5e4; 6.Ng5! is analyzed in our
other Philidor Countergambit game and favors White, although
perhaps not quite as clearly as in what follows. 5Nxe4 This is an
instructive position for attackers.
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Position after 5Nxe4
White has two powerful moves, moving the bishop into attacking
position or simply capturing at e4.
a) 6.Bc4!? when Black has to decide whether or not to exchange
at c3, either immediately or a bit later.
a1)6Nxc3; 7.bxc3 c6 and White has two good ideas.
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Position after 6.Bc4
8.exd6 Qxd6 (8Bxd6; 9.00 {+/-}) 9.Bg5! is already
approaching a winning position. One direct line is 9Qxd1+;
10.Rxd1 Nd7; 11.O-O Nf6; 12.Rfe1+ Be7; 13.Re5! Kf8; 14.Rde1
Bd6; 15.Bxf6 gxf6; 16.Re8+ Kg7; 17.Rxh8 Kxh8; 18.Re8+ Kg7;
19.Nd4 Rb8; 20.Rxc8 Bxh2+; 21.Kxh2 Rxc8; 22.Nxf5+ Kf8;
23.Kg3 and Black can resign.
8.Bg5! also looks good, for example, 8Qa5; 9.O-O d5; 10.Bb3
Qxc3 (10Be6; 11.Nd4 Kf7; 12.Nxe6 Kxe6; 13.c4.) 11.e6! Bd6;
12.Re1 h6; 13.Be3 O-O (13Qf6; 14.Bd4 Qe7; 15.Ne5!) 14.Bd4
Qa5; 15.Bxg7! Kxg7; 16.Qd4+ Kg8; 17.e7 Re8; 18.Qf6, winning.
a2) 6c6; 7.exd6 with three captures to consider:
7Nxc3; 8.bxc3 Qxd6; 9.O-O and Black is too exposed, e.g.,
9Qxd1; 10.Rxd1 Be7; 11.Re1 Kf8; 12.Bg5 Bxg5; 13.Nxg5 and
Black might as well resign, e.g., 13h6; 14.Rad1 etc.
7Qxd6; 8.Qe2! Qe7; 9.Nxe4 Qxe4; 10.Bf7+! Ke7; 11.Be3, etc.)
7Nxd6; 8.Qe2+ (8.Bd3 Qe7+; 9.Be2 or 8Be7; 9.O-O O-O;
10.Bf4 also look good.) 8Qe7 (8Be7; 9.Bb3 and Black can't
castle out of White's attack down the central files.) 9.Bg5 Qxe2+;
10.Bxe2 and White pounds away with 000, Rhe1 etc. Apart from
all the holes on Black's central position, his king is still very
exposed.
b) 6.Nxe4 fxe4; 7.Ng5 is also known to deliver a nice advantage,
for example, 7d5; 8.e6 Bc5!?
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Position after 8Bc5
9.Nxe4! What can Black do now? 9dxe4 loses to 10.Qh5+,
9Be7; 10.Qh5+ g6; 11.Qe5 O-O; 12.Bh6 is hopeless, and
9Bb4+10.c3 dxe4 also fails to 11.Qh5+ g6; 12.Qe5 00? (but
12Rf8; 13.cxb4 Qf6; 14.Qxf6 Rxf6; 15.e7! is very difficult for
Black) 13.Bc4 Qe7 (13Be7; 14.Bh6 Rf6; 15.Qxf6!) 14.Bg5! (or
14.cxb4 Nc6; 15.Qxe4) 14Nc6; 15.Qg3!+-.
Against the Philidor Counter Gambit: Line #2
1.e4 e5; 2.Nf3 d6; 3.d4 f5; 4.exf5