BAD WHITE OPENINGS
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nxe5 Nxe5 5.d4
We start with a silly-looking piece sacrifice; after all, White has only one other piece out! But on an amateur level White has had some successes throwing his pawns forward to attack the enemy pieces. In response, Black can simply defend calmly for a few moves, or he can return the piece at the right moment for a positional advantage.
Winiarski – Bellahcene
Prague 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6
This is called the Four Knights Game. Now White usually plays a calm move like 4.Bb5 or 4.g3. In the Halloween Gambit, he goes crazy instead:
4.Nxe5?! Nxe5 5.d4
Believe it or not, there have been hundreds of games from this position. That’s mainly because it’s a pretty good online weapon at fast time controls. Objectively, White’s position is already bad.
5…Ng6
Black is ambitious, hanging on to his extra piece. A simple way to return it and get a nice lead in development is 5…Nc6 6.d5 Bb4 7.dxc6 Nxe4. For example, 8.Qd4! (8.cxd7+ Bxd7 9.Qd4 Qe7 10.Be3 c5! 11.Qxg7 0-0-0 with overwhelming development) 8…Qe7 9.Be3 f5! 10.cxd7+ Bxd7 11.Be2 Bc5 12.Bh5+ Kd8 13.Qd3, Sigfusson-Bellin, Reykjavik 2007; and 13…Nxc3! wins a piece, because if White recaptures, …f5-f4 follows.
6.e5 Ng8
7.Bc4
7.f4 d6 8.Bc4 dxe5 9.fxe5 Be6! 10.Bxe6 fxe6 11.h4 Qd7 12.Bg5 (12.h5 N6e7 13.Ne4 0-0-0 14.c3 Nf5) 12…Be7 and White had no real compensation for his piece in Marinescu-Romcovici, Kishinev 2009.
7…d5!
Black gives up a pawn to gain time.
8.Bxd5 c6
8…N8e7 isn’t bad either. For example, 9.Bb3 Nf5 10.Be3 Be7.
9.Bb3
9…Bb4
Alternatively, 9…Be6 kills White’s attack: 10.0-0 (10.Bxe6 fxe6 11.Qg4 Qd7 12.h4 0-0-0 is C. Guzman-Kireev, IECG 2006. White has little for his piece. For example, 13.h5 N6e7 14.Be3 Nf5 15.0-0-0 Nxe3 16.fxe3 Nh6 17.Qh3 Be7 18.Rhf1 Rhf8 and Black’s piece is worth a lot more than two pawns) 10…Qd7 11.Ne4 0-0-0 12.Be3 Kb8 13.c4 f5! 14.exf6 (14.Ng5 f4) 14…Nxf6 15.Ng5 Bf5 16.d5 h6 17.Nf3, Vermaat-Tondivar, Leeuwarden 2004, and the easiest solution is 17…cxd5 18.cxd5 Be4, winning more material.
10.Qf3 Be6 11.Bxe6 fxe6 12.Qg4 N8e7 13.Bg5
13.Qxe6 Qxd4 and …Bxc3+ or …Qxe5 next.
13…Qd5 14.0-0 Bxc3 15.bxc3 h5 16.Qe2 Nf5
Even better is 16…h4! 17.h3 0-0.
17.a4 Nfh4 18.f4 Nf5 19.Rad1 b5 20.axb5 cxb5 21.Rb1 a6 22.Rb3 Kf7 23.Rfb1 Rac8 24.Ra3 Rxc3! 25.Rxa6 Qxd4+ 26.Kh1 h4
0-1
The threat of 27…Ng3+ leading to mate decides the game immediately.
Grünfeld Defense: The Gibbon (D80)
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.g4
An early two-step advance of the g-pawn is usually risky, and with this gambit White leaves a couple of pawns hanging. Compare the Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.g4 – which we analyse later in this book. This version is called the Gibbon Gambit, which should be used only when you feel like monkeying around!.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.g4 Bxg4?!
This is the most popular move, but it gives White good counterplay. We recommend capturing on c4: 4…dxc4! 5.g5 Nd5 and Black already has the better game: 6.Bg2 (6.e4 Nb6 7.Be3 h6 8.f4 hxg5 9.fxg5 Bg7 10.Qd2 Nc6 11.Nge2 Bg4 and Black had a large advantage in Moravcik-Pribyl, Sala 1995) 6…Nb6 7.Bf4 Bg7 8.Nf3 Nc6 9.d5 Nb4 10.Ne5 0-0 11.a3 Na6 12.Qd4, Murey-Napolov, Chelyabinsk 1975, and here 12…e6! destroys White’s center and remains a pawn ahead.
5.Qb3
5.Bg2 Bg7 (5…c6! is better) 6.Qb3 of Murey-Janotta, Metz 1994, should be met by 6…Nc6 7.e3 (7.cxd5 Nxd4 8.Qa4+ Nd7 gives Black good play) 7…Na5 8.Qa4+ c6 9.cxd5 b5 10.Qb4 cxd5 with unbalanced play.
5…Bc8
5…dxc4?! shouldn’t fully equalize. For example, 6.Qxb7 Nbd7 7.Bg2 Nb6 8.Nb5 Rc8, Duckworth-Burg, Los Angeles 1991. Here, White should have skipped 9.Bc6+!? in favor of 9.Nxa7! Rb8 10.Nc6.
6.cxd5 Bg7 7.Bg2
7.e4 0-0!? (7…c6) 8.e5 Nfd7, with the idea …Nb6, is complex and unclear.
7…0-0 8.Nf3 c6 9.e4 cxd5 10.e5
Plaskett vs. Fedorowicz, London 1987; and here 10…Ne4 11.Qxd5 Nxc3 12.Qxd8 Rxd8 13.bxc3 Be6 would give Black at least equality. But the real problem with the Gibbon is 4…dxc4.
1.g4
With 1.g4, White wants to fianchetto and gain space on the kingside. But the move g2-g4 is horribly weakening and it’s very doubtful whether White can equalize if Black plays well. For one thing, it will be difficult for White to castle kingside in view of his weaknesses (the move …h7-h5 is a particular problem), and if White doesn’t lose the pawn on g4, he will waste time defending it.
Bloodgood – Roberts
Correspondence 2000
1.g4
This opening is also known as the Spike.
1…d5
Black directly attacks g4. Not surprisingly, 1…e5 is also strong. One important idea is 2.Bg2 (2.d3 d5 and 2.h3?! h5! are already better for Black) 2…h5! 3.gxh5 Qg5 4.Bf3 Qh4! (4…Nf6! is also good, with the idea 5.d4 Qf5) 5.Nc3 Nf6 (Black stands better already) 6.e4? (6.d3 c6! with …d7-d5 or …Bc5 to follow) 6…Bc5 7.d4!? Bxd4 8.Qe2 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Nxh5, with a clear advantage, Skembris-Mariotti, Budva 1981.
2.Bg2
White tries a gambit, reasoning that protecting the g-pawn is just too slow to contemplate. 2.h3 e5 3.Bg2 can be met by various ideas. For example, 3…c6 has been successful, and 3…h5 puts immediate pressure on White. But a simple and easy-to-play line emphasizing development is 3…Nc6! and it’s not clear why White put his pawn on g4:
A) 4.d3 Be6 (or 4…h5! 5.g5 Be6) 5.c3 Nge7 6.Nf3 f6 7.Qa4 Qd7 (Black already has a healthy advantage) 8.c4!? (8.b4 Ng6 9.b5 Nd8, with ideas like …a7-a6 and …h7-h5) 8…dxc4 9.dxc4 Nc8!? (9…h5! was extremely strong, intending 10.g5 0-0-0 11.Nc3 Nf5!) 10.Be3 Bb4+ 11.Nfd2 0-0 12.0-0 (12.a3 Nb6!) 12…Nb6 13.Qc2? (13.Qb3 Qe7 with an edge) 13…f5! 14.Rd1 Rad8 15.a3 Be7 16.Nc3 Nd4 17.Bxd4 exd4 18.Nf3 c5 19.b4 Qc8! 20.bxc5 Qxc5 (20…Bxc5! 21.gxf5 Bxf5 22.Ne4 Na4! 23.Nfd2 Nc3) 21.Nb5 fxg4?! (21…d3! 22.Rxd3 fxg4 23.hxg4 Bxg4 with a clear advantage) 22.Nbxd4 Rxf3? (22…Bxc4) 23.Qe4?? (23.exf3! Rxd4 24.Rxd4 Qxd4 25.Re1 with counterplay) 23…Bf5 24.Qxb7 Rxd4 25.hxg4 Rxf2 0-1, Basman-Ravikumar, Torquay 1982;
B) 4.c4 dxc4 5.Qa4 Ne7 6.Nf3 (White is in trouble after 6.Qxc4 Be6 7.Qa4 Qd4! 8.Qd1 Qd7 9.Nc3 h5 10.g5 0-0-0) 6…Ng6 7.Nc3 Be6 (7…Nf4!) 8.h4? (8.d3 cxd3 9.Ng5 Qd7 10.Nxe6 fxe6! 11.exd3 Nd4 with a clear advantage), Basman-Miles, Manchester 1981, and Black kept a healthy advantage with 8…Bb4, but he already had a decisive blow (on move 8!) with 8…Nf4! 9.Bf1 (9.Kf1 Nxg2 10.Kxg2 Qd7 11.g5 f5) 9…Qf6, and not only is White a pawn down, but with poor development, weaknesses, and nowhere to castle, his position is hopeless.
2…Bxg4!
The simplest way to refute the Grob. The traditional move 2…c6 is also very good, if less forcing. Some examples:
A) 3.c4? loses a pawn to 3…dxc4;
B) After 3.e4? Kosten recommends 3…Nf6! 4.exd5 (4.e5 Nxg4 5.d4 g6 with a slight advantage) 4…Bxg4 5.dxc6 Nxc6 with the center and better development;
C) 3.g5 e5 (or 3…h6 4.h4 hxg5 5.hxg5 Rxh1 6.Bxh1 Qc7 with the ideas …Qh2 and …e7-e5) 4.h4?! (4.d4 Nd7!) 4…Bg4!? 5.c4!? dxc4 6.b3 cxb3 7.Qxb3 Qc7 8.Nc3 Be6 and White has little compensation for the pawn, E Muller-Heitland, Dortmund 1987;
D) 3.h3 e5 (or 3…h5!? 4.g5 e5) 4.d4 (4.d3 runs into 4…h5 5.g5 Bd6) 4…Nd7 (simplest; in Big Book Of Busts we recommended 4…e4, which also leads to an advantage, but lacks simplicity) 5.c4!? (White gambits a pawn, because otherwise he’s left with difficulty developing and weaknesses. For example, 5.dxe5 Nxe5 6.Nf3 Nxf3+ 7.Bxf3 Bc5) 5…dxc4 6.Nc3 (or 6.dxe5 Qa5+! 7.Nc3 Nxe5 with advantage – Kosten) 6…Bd6 (6…Qb6!) 7.Nf3 Ne7 (7…h5! 8.g5 Ne7 9.Ne4 Bc7 is better still, because the move …Nf5 will be strong) 8.Ne4 Bc7 9.Bg5 f6 10.Bd2 exd4 11.Nxd4 Ne5 with a clear advantage, Basman-Strauss, Brighton 1984.
3.c4 c6
White is a pawn down and has only a couple of plausible ways to try to recover it.
4.cxd5
A) 4.Qb3 has several good answers. One of them is 4…Nf6 (4…Qb6 5.cxd5 Qxb3 6.axb3 cxd5 7.Bxd5 Nc6; 4…e6! 5.h3 Bh5 6.Qxb7 Nd7 resembles 4…Nf6. For example, 7.Nf3 Ne7! or 7.Qxc6?! Rc8 8.Qa6 Rxc4 9.Nc3 Qc7) 5.Qxb7 (5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Qxb7 transposes to 4.cxd5) 5…Nbd7 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.h3 Bh5 8.Nc3 e6 9.Nb5 Rc8! Lambiris-Martidis, Athens 1987;
B) 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Qb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Qxb7 is just like the main line; the insertion of h2-h3 and …Bh5 doesn’t matter.
4…cxd5
4…Nf6! is also very good, maybe even better, when Kosten gives 5.Qb3 Qd7 6.Nc3 cxd5 7.Nxd5 Nc6 ‘with free development’. Then 8.Nxf6+ exf6 9.Nf3 Bc5 or 9…0-0-0 10.0-0 Bd6 with the idea …Rhe8 might follow, with a substantial advantage for Black.
5.Qb3
Or 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Qb3 Nc6! 7.Nxd5 Qd7, when 8.Nxf6+ exf6 transposes to the note to 4…Nf6!.
5…Nf6 6.Nc3
6.Qxb7 Nbd7 gives White the same bad position we saw after 4.Qb3.
6…e6!
Alternatively, 6…Nc6 has the idea 7.Qxb7? (7.Nxd5! Rc8, but Black still has an edge) 7…Rc8! and White will be unhappy indeed.
7.Qxb7 Nbd7 8.Nb5 Rc8
This position has arisen in quite a few games. Black has far superior development, and is about to gain more time:
9.Qxa7
Otherwise, 9.Nxa7? Rb8 10.Qa6 Rb6 11.Qa4 Qa8! winning; or 9.Nf3 Bc5 10.d4 Bb4+ 11.Bd2 Bxd2+ 12.Nxd2 0-0 13.Qxa7 Rc2! with more than enough compensation, in view of 14.h3 Qc8! or 14.Qa3 Qb8! 15.Qb3 Rfc8.
9…Bc5 10.Qa4 0-0 11.d4
11.b4? Irwan-Saunders, IECG Email 1995, should be met by 11…Bxf2+! 12.Kxf2 Ne4+ 13.Bxe4 Qf6+ 14.Bf3 Qxa1 15.Bxg4 Rxc1.
11…Ra8!?
11…Be7! 12.Bd2 Nb6 13.Qb3 Nc4 is even better for Black.
12.Qd1
12.Qb3 Qb6! 13.dxc5 Nxc5 is killing. For example, 14.Qb4 Ra4 15.Qc3 Rc4 16.Qe3 Qxb5, etc.
12…Qb6!? 13.dxc5 Qxb5 14.Qd4
14.a3 Nxc5 15.b4 Na4 with a clear advantage.
14…e5 15.Qd3 Qxd3 16.exd3 Nxc5 17.Bg5
Or 17.Bf1 Nb3!.
17…Nxd3+ 18.Kf1 Rfb8 19.Bxf6 Rxb2! 20.Bh4 Raxa2
0-1
1.c4 c5 2.b4
This is the English Wing Gambit. By giving up the b-pawn, White gains the right to plant an uncontested pawn on d4 and can initiate some queenside play. This shouldn’t be enough to justify giving up a whole pawn, and ultimately the Wing Gambit will probably end up as a damaged bird. But Black needs to react strongly, and shouldn’t cede too much ground.
1.c4 c5 2.b4
It’s one thing to divert the c-pawn with 2.b4 when you’re ready to develop quickly, as in the Sicilian Wing Gambit with 1.e4 c5 2.b4, but playing it after 1.c4 is rather lame.
2…cxb4
Of course, Black could decline the gambit with a perfectly good game by 2…d6, but he would be negligent not to try for more.
3.d4
A) 3.a3 is the other ‘thematic’ move, to mobilize the queenside. It’s awfully slow, however, and 3…e6 (3…bxa3 4.Bxa3, and not only will White be able to advance with d2-d4, but Black’s king will be stuck in the center should he play the otherwise desirable moves …e7-e6 or …e7-e5) 4.axb4 Bxb4 allows Black to castle naturally. For example, 5.Nf3 (5.Ba3 Bxa3 6.Nxa3 Nf6 7.Nf3 d5 and Black stands better) 5…Nf6 6.Bb2 Nc6 7.Nc3 0-0 with advantage;
B) 3.e4? e5! prevents White from winning the center: 4.Nf3 Bc5! 5.d4?! (5.Nxe5?? Bd4; 5.Bb2 d6 6.Be2 Nf6 7.d3 Nc6 with a clear advantage) 5…exd4 6.Bb2 (6.Nxd4? Qf6 7.Be3 Nc6) 6…Nc6 7.Nbd2 d6 8.h3 (8.Nb3 Nf6 9.Bd3 Bg4) 8…Nf6 9.Bd3 0-0 and White can’t even win one of his two pawns back, Wiegmann-Fries Nielsen, Germany Bundesliga B 2006/07.
3…d5!
A) 3…g6?! is passive. For example, 4.a3! (4.Bb2?! Bg7 5.e4 d6 6.Nf3 Nf6) 4…bxa3 5.e4 Bg7 6.Nf3 d6 7.Rxa3 Nf6 8.Nc3 0-0 9.Be2 with adequate compensation;
B) 3…Nf6 4.Nf3 d5 is a good alternative that keeps the center under control.
4.e3
Sadly, this seems necessary to keep any long-term chances at all.
A) 4.cxd5 Qxd5 brings Black’s queen out, but it can’t be attacked and exerts good pressure;
B) 4.Nf3?! dxc4 5.e4 b5! forces White to try 6.a4, but then 6…Bb7! 7.axb5 c3 throttles White’s queenside.
4…Nf6 5.a3 e6 6.Nf3
6.Qb3 Nc6 doesn’t achieve anything.
6…Nc6
Or 6…bxc4 7.Bxc4 Nc6 with a clear advantage.
7.Bb2 Be7 8.axb4 Bxb4+ 9.Nbd2 0-0 10.Bd3 dxc4 11.Bxc4 b6 12.0-0 Bb7 13.Qe2 a5
And White has little compensation for the pawn.
French Defense: Orthoschnapp Gambit (C00)
1.e4 e6 2.c4 d5 3.cxd5 exd5 4.Qb3
This is another of Stefan Bücker’s proposals. The queen attacks d5, but it doesn’t contribute enough once White’s e-pawn disappears.
1.e4 e6 2.c4 d5 3.cxd5 exd5 4.Qb3 dxe4
5.Nc3
Or 5.Bc4 Qe7 6.Ne2 Nf6 7.0-0 Nbd7 8.d4 exd3 9.Bxd3 (9.Qxd3 Ne5 is definitely no good for White) 9…Nc5 10.Qc2 Nxd3 11.Qxd3 Qd7 12.Qc2 Bd6 and Black gets castled with a clear extra pawn.
5…Nf6 6.d3
White’s idea, but it doesn’t achieve much.
6…exd3
6…Nc6 7.dxe4 Bc5 isn’t bad, giving back the pawn for a small advantage, but Black wants more.
7.Be3
7…g6!?
Proposed by Schiller in Unorthodox Chess Openings. Alternatively, 7…Nc6! 8.0-0-0 Nb4! leads to a strong Black attack following, for example, 9.a3 Be6 10.Qa4+ Bd7 11.Qb3 a5! 12.axb4 axb4 13.Nb1 Ba4 14.Qxd3 Bxd1 15.Kxd1 Bd6.
8.0-0-0 Bg7 9.Bxd3 Qe7 10.Nf3 0-0
White still has to prove that he has something concrete for the pawn.
Benko Gambit: The Mutkin (A57)
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g4
This radical attempt to handle the Benko Gambit is not without some foundation. If Black accepts the gambit, the knight might find itself losing time. Nevertheless, a pawn is a heavy price to pay.
D. Paulsen – Heinemann
Germany Bundesliga B 1993/94
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g4 Nxg4
A) 4…bxc4?! 5.g5 Ne4 6.Bg2 Qa5+ 7.Nd2 Nd6 8.e4 c3 9.bxc3 Qxc3 10.Rb1 gives White too much activity, Deneuville-Wundahl, ICCF Correspondence 1999;
B) 4…d6 5.g5 Nfd7 keeps the game in Benko territory. Black can get equality by following a game played against the Hawaiian gambiteer known as ‘The Evil One’: 6.cxb5 a6 7.bxa6 Bxa6 8.Nc3 g6 9.Bg2 Bg7 10.Nh3 Nb6 11.0-0, C. Nakamura-Dorsch, Hawaii 1994.
5.Nc3
5.e4 seems reasonable, but White had insufficient compensation after 5…d6 6.cxb5 g6 7.h3 Nf6 8.Nc3 Bg7 9.a4 a6 10.Bd2 0-0 in Garrido-Lostuzzi, Imperia 1996.
5…b4 6.Ne4 d6 7.Bg2 a5 8.Nf3 g6 9.Bg5 Bg7
Even without the extra pawn, Black would stand better.
10.Qd2 h6 11.h3 f5 12.hxg4 fxe4 13.Bxh6 Bxh6 14.Rxh6 Rxh6 15.Qxh6 exf3 16.Qxg6+ Kd7
The King has found a safe haven on the queenside and Black’s advantage is clear.
17.exf3 Qf8 18.Qe4 Qg7 19.0-0-0 a4 20.Re1 a3 21.Re2 b3 22.bxa3 Rxa3 23.Kb1 Na6 24.Rb2 bxa2+ 25.Rxa2 Rb3+ 26.Kc1 Qc3+ 27.Kd1 Qb4 28.Ke2 Rb1 29.Rd2 Rc1 30.g5 Kd8 31.g6 Qc3 32.Qf4 Nc7 33.Qe4 Ne8
0-1
Zilbermints – Benoni Gambit (B20)
1.d4 c5 2.b4
This crazy move doesn’t really do anything positive; White would apparently like to play a kind of wing gambit, distracting Black’s pawn from the center.
But Black can’t go wrong by accepting the offer or declining it, in either case leaving White with serious weaknesses. Of course, in chess it’s always possible to mess things up, as in this miniature.
1.d4 c5 2.b4
2.Nf3 cxd4 3.b4 is a similar line that Zilbermints claims to have invented, when 3…d5 or 3…e6 followed by …Nf6 are both good for Black.
2…cxb4!?
Not bad, although 2…cxd4! is even better, giving Black a central majority while White has weaknesses on the queen’s wing. This is already an effective refutation of White’s second move.
3.a3
3.e4 is White’s best try, transposing to the Sicilian Wing Gambit variation 1.e4 c5 2.b4 cxb4 3.d4, which, however, is not highly regarded. For example, 3…d5 4.e5 Nc6 5.a3 Qb6 6.Be3 (6.Nf3 Bg4 is clearly better for Black) 6…Nh6 7.axb4 Qxb4+ 8.c3 Qb2 9.Ra3 Bf5 10.Rb3 Qa2 11.Rxb7 White has recovered his pawn, but his pieces are in trouble. Migliorini-Balza, SEMI email 2002, continued 11…Na5 12.Rb4 Bc2 13.Qe2 Nc4 14.Bxh6 (14.Nd2 Qa1+) 14…e6 15.Rxc4 Qxb1+ 16.Kd2 dxc4 17.Qxc4 Rb8 18.Bf4 (18.Qc6+ Kd8 19.Bg5+ f6 20.exf6 Qd1+ 21.Ke3 Qc1+) 18…Ba3 19.Ke3 0-0 20.Kf3 Rfc8 0-1.
3…Qa5?!
This is an ambitious but completely unnecessary reply. 3…d5 4.axb4 Bf5 5.e3 e6 is an easy way to play for Black.
4.Qd2
4.Nd2 d5 (or 4…e6! 5.Nb3 Qc7) 5.Nb3 Qb6 6.axb4 Qxb4+ 7.Bd2 Qd6 8.e3 Nf6 and White hasn’t enough play for a pawn, Blankenberg-Balza, SEMI email 2002.
4…Nc6
4…e6 5.Bb2 Nf6 favors Black, and so does 4…Nf6!? 5.Qxb4 Qc7.
5.Bb2 e6
5…Nf6 6.axb4 Qxb4 7.c3 Qb6 is more direct, with the idea …Ne4. Black’s pieces are better placed and he still holds an extra pawn.
6.axb4 Bxb4??
Awful. After 6…Qxb4, White still doesn’t have adequate play for the pawn.
7.c3
And White won a piece and the game in Zilbermints-Neplokh, US Amateur Team 1995. But such a fluke event can’t justify White’s silly opening.
Boden-Kieseritzky Gambit (C55)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nxe4 5.0-0
This opening is similar to the Morphy Gambit, except that White has already castled and Black has already developed the queenside knight. These additions make the opening favorable for Black since he has more central support. With simple moves, Black will be able to achieve an advantage.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3
2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nf3 transposes.
2…Nc6 3.Bc4
The Four Knights Opening with 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bc4 also leads to the same position.
3…Nf6
This is called the Two Knights Defense.
4.Nc3!?
White allows Black to capture on e4. He could prevent this by 4.d3, or play the aggressive 4.d4!?.
4…Nxe4!
4…Bc5 is a sound symmetrical variation, but this is more ambitious.
5.0-0!?
Introducing the gambit, which might just be a mistake. 5.Nxe4 d5 is considered equal, since Black wins the piece back, and 5.Bxf7+?! Kxf7 6.Nxe4 d5 favors Black’s powerful center.
5…Nxc3
The ambitious try to refute the gambit. If you want a simple solution, 5…Nd6 is boring but equal. For example, 6.Bb3 Nf5 7.Re1 Be7 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.Rxe5 d6 10.Re1 c6 11.d4 d5=.
6.dxc3
The starting position for the Boden-Kieseritzky Gambit. White has development and active pieces for the pawn. But Black’s central pawn structure is solid and hard to break down. In fact, 5.0-0 apparently just allows Black to remain a pawn up, which would mean that the gambit is unsound.
6…f6!
Also not bad is 6…Qe7 7.Re1 (7.Ng5 Nd8) 7…d6 8.Ng5 Nd8 9.f4 f6 10.Ne4 Be6 and Black is defending successfully.
7.Nh4 g6
Black’s position is solid and White hasn’t enough for his pawn. For example:
8.f4 f5
Or 8…Qe7 with the idea …Qc5+, and if 9.Kh1, 9…d6 10.f5 Qg7!.
9.Nf3
Not 9.Nxf5?? when 9…d5! wins a piece.
9…Bc5+
Alternatively, Black can get the advantage with 9…e4 10.Qd5 (10.Ng5 Bc5+ 11.Kh1 Qf6 transposes to the main line) 10…Qf6.
10.Kh1 e4 11.Ng5 Qf6
All of these lines favor Black because White can’t open lines.
1.a3 e5 2.b3 d5 3.c3 c5 4.d3 Nc6 5.e3 Ne7 6.f3 g6 7.g3 Bg7 8.Bg2 Be6 9.Ne2 Qd7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Nd2
The formation involving the advance of that many pawns just to the third rank (or, in Black’s case, the sixth rank) is generally called the Hippopotamus Formation, used in blitz to confuse the opponent and make him overcommit. In fact, we have another section called the Hippopotamus, using a Modern Defense move order starting with the moves 1.a3 g6. At least in that case, White won’t immediately lose too much space. But in this section we look at the ultra-direct advance of Black’s center pawns against White’s position, accompanied by aggressive piece development. White really should change plans against such play and get some pieces out. When he doesn’t, and continues to push his pawns to the third rank, we’ll deem him somewhat deranged and use the alternate name ‘Drunken Hippo’. This sort of thing should never be played by anyone who is seriously attempting to win a game, because the weaknesses created cannot be repaired. As you might guess, there aren’t many well-played games with the Drunken Hippo, so we’ll just give a representative bit of analysis showing one possible direction of the play.
1.a3 e5 2.b3 d5 3.c3 c5
Grabbing space and increasing central control. Of course, Black can almost set up however he pleases. For example, 3…Nc6 or 3…Nf6.
4.d3 Nc6 5.e3 Nf6 6.f3
You’re kidding, right?
6…Bd6 7.g3
The Drunken Hippo formation! A broad, slow-moving, and tipsy beast.
7…Be6
7…h5! is another good move, with the idea …h5-h4.
8.Bg2
8.h3? is consistent, but goes a bit too far. Then 8…e4 is strong, hitting g3, or 8…Nh5 9.Ne2 f5 with the idea 10.Bg2 Nxg3! 11.Nxg3 Qh4.
8…Qd7 9.Ne2 0-0-0 10.0-0
Some Hippo players like to put their king on f2, but 10.Kf2 doesn’t improve matters after 10…h5 11.Bb2 h4.
10…h5
Already a decisive attack. There’s no reason to play slowly when your opponent refuses to contest any part of the board, and the king is always a nice target.
11.Bb2 h4 12.Nd2
White makes his typical ‘hippo’ moves, but already faces a deadly attack:
12…Bh3 13.Rf2 hxg3 14.hxg3 Bxg2 15.Rxg2 e4!
With a killing attack. For example:
16.Qc2 Ne5 17.dxe4 dxe4 18.Rf1 Qh3 19.Nxe4 Nxf3+ 20.Rxf3 Qh1+ 21.Kf2 Ng4#
A silly example, perhaps, but White’s whole strategy is silly indeed.
1.h4
The Hungarian player Gabor Kadas has the dubious distinction of being perhaps the greatest living exponent of 1.h4, a move even Hugh Myers, the great proponent of bizarre openings, considered poor. Still, the opening (also known as the Desprez Opening), has been played by masters and even a couple of 2500 players. Why they would do so is a mystery: White has irreparably weakened his kingside. From Black’s point of view, almost any move makes 1.h4 look irrelevant, except 1…g6?, which justifies White’s opening by inviting an attack along the h-file after 2.h5!. We’ll show some straightforward replies:
Kadas – Vigh
Tapolca 1986
1.h4 c5
Black can play almost any logical move and gain an advantage. Here are some ideas and examples:
A) 1…d5 2.d4 (2.a4 is a truly bizarre way to play. An example of what might be called the Kononenko Attack is 2…e5 3.a5 c6 4.h5 Bd6 5.e3 f5 6.b3 Nf6 7.h6 g6 8.Bb2 Qe7 9.Nf3 0-0 with a clear advantage, Kononenko-Riel, ICC 2009; center and development!) 2…c5 3.e4 dxe4 4.d5 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6! 6.Be3 (6.a4 e6 7.Bc4 exd5 8.Nxd5 Be6 and White can’t drum up any compensation) 6…e6 (or 6…Nbd7!) 7.dxe6 Qxd1+ 8.Rxd1 Bxe6. This is an Albin Countergambit reversed, but one which is better for Black, because of his rapid development and the inappropriate placement of White’s h-pawn. For example, Black may well be able to make use of the g4-square for a minor piece;
B) After 1…e5, it’s hard to find any White setup where the pawn on h4 doesn’t stand out like a sore thumb. One possible setup is 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4, when 3…Nc6 4.dxe5 d4 5.Ne4 Qd5 6.Ng3 Qxe5 7.Nf3 Qa5+ 8.Bd2 is a reversed Nimzowitsch Gambit where either 8…Qb6 or 8…Bb4 favours Black.
2.b4!?
Crazy, but so was 1.h4.
2…cxb4
Although in the 21st century it is not obligatory to accept gambits, it would be silly to decline this one, as the advance of the h-pawn has no relevance. So after his next move, White is effectively playing a Sicilian Wing Gambit a tempo down.
3.e4
3…d5
Another good solution is 3…e6 (or 3…Nf6), when Kadas-Stojanovics, Hungary 1987, continued 4.d4 d5 5.e5 Nc6 6.a3 Qa5 7.Nf3 Bd7 8.Bd3 bxa3+ 9.Bd2 Qb6 10.c3, and instead of 10…f6? Black would have the better of things after 10…Na5 11.Nxa3 Bxa3 12.Rxa3 Bb5.
4.e5
4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Nf3 e5!.
4…Nc6 5.d4 Qb6 6.Be3 h5!?
6…Nh6! has ideas of …Ng4 and …Nf5, but 7.Bxh6? gxh6 8.Ne2 Bf5 leaves White with no good way to develop.
7.a3 Bf5 8.Nf3 e6
9.axb4 Bxb4+
Better still 9…Qxb4+! 10.Nbd2 Qc3 with a clear advantage.
10.c3 Ba5 11.Bd3 Nge7 12.0-0 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Nf5 14.Nbd2 Qd8!? 15.Bg5 Qd7 16.Nb3 Bb6 17.Nc1 Bd8 18.g3 Bxg5 19.hxg5 g6
White has little compensation for Black’s extra queenside pawn.
Cochrane Gambit 1: 5.Bc4 and 5.Nc3 (C42)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7 Kxf7
The Cochrane Gambit is a remarkable attempt by White to overwhelm the normally staid Russian (Petroff) Defense. White sacrifices a knight, and in return gets two pawns for it and exposes Black’s king. While there is no easy answer (especially as White has three serious approaches at this juncture), a piece is a piece, and we deem the Cochrane ‘bad’. Accordingly, we’ll present what appears to be a refutation, even if it takes a bit of memorization by the reader. In this first part, we look at two attempts by White to justify the sacrifice, and in the next section, a third move which is most frequently recommended by advocates of the gambit.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6
This position is the main line of the Russian Defense. Here White normally (and almost automatically) plays 4.Nf3 – I have over 30,000 games with that move in my database. But periodically, in about 800 games, White has uncorked the crazy piece sacrifice:
4.Nxf7 Kxf7 5.Nc3
This rare move was employed by Topalov versus Kramnik in Linares 1999 – the only modern Cochrane Gambit appearance at a world-class level!
In the next game we look at 5.d4. 5.Bc4+ has been White’s most frequent alternative to 5.d4, but it isn’t as effective as that move or 5.Nc3.
The best reply is 5…d5! (5…Ke8 and 5…Be6 are fine, but less clear), which can lead to these variations:
A) 6.exd5? Bd6 leaves Black better developed and White’s d-pawn weak. For example, 7.0-0 Rf8 8.d4 Kg8 9.Bg5 (…Ng4 was becoming a problem) 9…Nbd7 (or 9…Bf5 10.Nc3 Nbd7) 10.Nc3 h6 11.Bh4 Nb6 12.Bb3 Bf5 13.Bg3 Kh8 and the d-pawn will soon fall, even after 14.Be5 a5 15.a4 Bb4;
B) 6.Bb3! and Black has two good moves:
B1) 6…Bg4 7.f3 Be6 8.e5 Nfd7 9.f4 (9.d4 c5 10.c3 Nc6) 9…g6 10.0-0 c5 (the most ambitious move. 10…Kg7 and 10…Nc5 are safer but not as forcing) 11.f5 gxf5 12.Qh5+ Kg8 13.Rxf5!? (else the attack is petering out) 13…Bg7! with the idea 14.Rg5 h6 15.Rg3 c4;
B2) 6…c5 7.exd5 (7.d3 can be met by 7…c4! 8.dxc4 Qe8! intending 9.0-0 dxe4 or 9.Nc3 Bb4 10.cxd5 Qxe4+ 11.Kf1 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Rd8) 7…Qe8+ 8.Qe2 Qxe2+ 9.Kxe2 Bd6, and Black’s piece is obviously worth more than White’s pawns.
5…Be6!?
This is a logical answer. It exploits the main drawback of 5.Nc3, that White will achieve neither Bc4+ nor d4-d5. Nevertheless, the resulting play is complicated, and Black has good alternatives:
A) 5…c5 was played by Kramnik, to prevent White from taking over the center with d2-d4, and it apparently secures a minor advantage after 6.Bc4+ Be6 7.Bxe6+ Kxe6 8.d4 Kf7! 9.dxc5 Nc6;
B) 5…Qe8! is a move we suggested in Big Book of Busts a few decades ago, and it looks like an easy route to some advantage for Black: 6.d4 (6.Bc4+ Be6 7.Bxe6+ Qxe6 8.0-0 c5 9.d3 Be7 10.f4 Nc6 with a plus for Black) 6…g6 7.Qf3 (7.Bc4+ Kg7 8.0-0 Be6 9.d5 Bf7) 7…Kg7 8.Bc4 Be6 9.Bd3 (Black has a big advantage following 9.Bh6+? Kxh6 10.Qxf6 Bxc4 11.Qxh8 Nd7 with the idea …Qf7 and …Re8. For example, 12.d5 Bg7 13.Qxe8 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 Rxe8) 9…h6 10.0-0 Nc6 11.Be3 Nb4 and Black stands better.
6.d4
The other challenging move is 6.f4, when 6…g6 sets up a solid defense. White’s pawns are mobile, but he lacks the piece development necessary to support them:
A) 7.d4 d5 8.e5 Ne4 (8…Nh5!?) 9.Nxe4 dxe4. For example, 10.f5 Bxf5 11.Bc4+ Kg7 12.0-0 Nc6 13.Be3 h5 with a clear advantage;
B) 7.f5!? tries to open up lines, but Black is well on top after 7…gxf5 8.exf5 Bxf5 9.Bc4+ Kg7 10.0-0 Bg6 11.d4 Be7;
C) 7.Qf3 Nc6 (7…d5 8.e5 Ng8) 8.f5 Bd7 9.Bc4+ Ke8 10.0-0 Bg7 11.fxg6 Qe7! with a fine game.
6…Kg8
Hanging on to his pawns.
7.f4
7.Bd3 c5 8.d5 Bf7 9.0-0 Nbd7 with a clear advantage.
7…Nbd7 8.Qf3 c5
8…c6 is also good, simply retaining the piece and defending for a while.
9.Be3
9.d5 Bf7 10.Bc4 Qe7 11.0-0 a6 12.a4 Nb6 13.Be2 Re8 14.Re1 Qc7 15.a5 Nbd7 favors Black.
9…Qa5
Discouraging White from castling queenside.
10.Be2 h5
10…Re8 11.0-0-0 h5 12.h3 Bf7 is a solid option.
11.h3 b5! 12.dxc5
12.0-0 b4 13.Nd1 Re8.
12…b4 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 Bf5 15.c6 Nf6
And the d-pawn falls. For example,
16.Bc4 Be4 17.Qe2 Bxd5
This is only sample of the play after 5.Nc3, but a piece is a lot to give up for a limited advantage in space. Apart from 5…Be6, 5…Qe8! is also a very difficult move for White to meet.
Cochrane Gambit 2: 5.d4 Main Line (C42)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7 Kxf7 5.d4
The move around which much of the theory and practice of the Cochrane Gambit has been based. In some ways, it is less flexible than 5.Nc3, since it gives White less influence on d5. But 5.d4 does challenge Black immediately with the ideas of f2-f4 and e4-e5. Also, …Be6 can often be answered by d4-d5.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7 Kxf7 5.d4
Now Black has numerous playable moves, most leading to complex play. We’ll give just two which lead to advantage and don’t require laborious defense.
5…Nbd7
This simply acts to prevent e4-e5 and prepares …c7-c5, since dxc5 will then have the active answer …Nxc5. It is a frustrating variation for White, who will have a hard time working up play.
A) Note that 5…Nxe4? can be answered by 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qd5+ and 8.Qxe4;
B) The excellent alternative 5…c5 immediately attacks White’s center and forces a resolution of the pawn structure. Here are the main ideas:
B1) 6.Bc4+ d5! 7.exd5 Bd6!? (this has been the move so far, but a very easy solution is 7…b5! with the idea 8.Bxb5?! Qxd5 9.0-0 Bb7 10.f3 Qxd4+. Here 8.Be2 is better, but Black still has the advantage after 8…Bb7 9.dxc5 Bxc5) 8.0-0 (8.dxc5 Qa5+ 9.Nc3 Qxc5 10.Bb3 Re8+ 11.Be3 Kg8 with advantage) 8…Re8 (or 8…cxd4 9.Qxd4 Nbd7) 9.dxc5 (9.h3?! cxd4 10.Qxd4 Nbd7 11.Nc3 Kg8) 9…Bxc5 10.Nc3 Kg8 and Black stands better;
B2) 6.dxc5 is normal, but Black gains a definite advantage after 6…d5! (6…Nc6!? yields a small edge. For example, 7.Bc4+ Be6 8.Bxe6+ Kxe6 9.cxd6 Qxd6 10.Nd2 Rd8 11.0-0 Kf7) 7.e5 Ng4 8.Bc4 (8.b4 Nc6) 8…Bxc5! 9.Qxd5+ (9.Bxd5+? Ke8 10.Rf1 Rf8) 9…Qxd5 10.Bxd5+ Ke8.
6.e5!?
This is the theoretical move (best, according to Chris Baker, author of A Startling Chess Opening Repertoire), exploiting the fact that the knight on d7 will be pinned after 6…dxe5 7.dxe5. Other moves are slower:
A) 6.Bd3 c5!? 7.0-0 cxd4 (7…Be7 and 7…g6 are more solid, and perhaps easier) 8.Bc4+ Ke8 9.Qxd4 Qb6 10.Qd1 (Black stands well after 10.Be3 Qxd4 11.Bxd4 a6 12.a4 Ne5 13.Bb3 Ke7 14.Nc3 Be6) 10…Ne5 11.Bb3 Nxe4!? (or 11…Bd7 12.Be3 Qc6) 12.Be3 Qa5 13.f3 Nf6 with advantage;
B) 6.Bc4+ is straightforward, but allows an immediate simplifying option if Black chooses: 6…d5 7.Bxd5+! (7.exd5? Nb6 8.Bb3 Bb4+ 9.c3 Re8+ 10.Be3 Bd6) 7…Nxd5 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qxd5+ Kg7 and Black can be satisfied with his piece play and two bishops. For example:
B1) 10.Bf4 c6 11.Qb3 (11.Be5+?? Nxe5 with the idea 12.Qxe5+ Kg8 or 12.Qxd8 Bb4+) 11…Nf6 (or 11…Qb6) 12.Be5 Bd6 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.e5 Qe7 15.0-0 Nd5 aiming for …Be6 or …Nf4;
B2) 10.0-0 c6 11.Qb3 (11.Qg5 Qxg5 12.Bxg5 Nf6) 11…Be7 (11…Nf6!? 12.e5 Nd5 13.c4 Nb6 intending …Be6) 12.Nc3 Qb6 13.Qc4 Rf8 with advantage.
6…dxe5 7.dxe5 Qe7
Another good line is 7…Bb4+!? 8.c3 Nxe5, giving the piece back for terrific activity: 9.Qxd8 (9.Qb3+ Be6 10.Qxb4 Nd3+ 11.Bxd3 Qxd3 12.Qd4 Qa6! with a clear advantage) 9…Rxd8 10.cxb4 Nd5 (or 10…Re8 11.Be3 Neg4) 11.a3 Re8! 12.Be3 Bf5 13.Nc3 Nf4!.
8.Bc4+ Ke8 9.f4
9.0-0 Nxe5 10.Re1 Bg4 followed by …Rd8 is very strong, since 11.f3? Bxf3! wins.
9…Nb6 10.Be2
10.Bb3? Bg4 and …Rd8.
10…Ne4!
We gave 10…Nfd5 in Big Book of Busts. It gives Black an advantage, but not as big as the text: 11.c4 (Black also has the better game after 11.0-0 Bf5 or 11.a3 Qc5) 11…Nb4 (also good is 11…Qb4+!? 12.Kf1 Ne7) 12.a3 Nc6 with an excellent game. White’s d4-square is weak, whereas Black is bringing a rook to d8 and retains his material advantage.
11.Bf3
11…Bg4!
A killer move, spotted instantly by the computer. 11…Bf5 12.Qe2 Nc5 13.Nc3, a line recommended by Chris Baker for White, should also favor Black after 13…Ne6! but that’s complex and unnecessary.
12.0-0
12.Bxg4 Qh4+ 13.g3 Nxg3 14.hxg3 Qxh1+ 15.Ke2 Qg2+ 16.Ke1 Qxg3+ 17.Kf1 Bc5 and wins.
12…Rd8 13.Qe2 Bxf3 14.gxf3
14.Rxf3 Qb4 wins for Black.
14…Nc5
Or 14…Nd6 with a clear advantage.
15.Nc3 g6 16.Be3 Ne6
With the idea …Bh6 and/or …Nd5. Even …Qb4 and …Bc5 is in the air. Black has a very large advantage and should win.
Nimzowitsch Defense: Wheeler Gambit (B00)
1.e4 Nc6 2.b4
The Wheeler Gambit puts White’s game into a tailspin pretty quickly. White gets only a strong center for the pawn, and he even remains behind in development.
1.e4 Nc6 2.b4 Nxb4
I’ll take it!
3.c3 Nc6 4.d4 d5 5.e5 Bf5
Already White’s opening is a failure, because Black is developing smoothly.
6.Nf3 e6 7.Be2 Be7 8.0-0 Qd7
and White has little to show for the pawn he has lost.