lichess.org
Donate

Top 5 of Best Chess openings

Water-Weather436 viewsEnglish (US)
ChessOpeningTacticsAnalysisOver the board
Top 5 of Best Chess openings

1.London System

The London System is an opening system in chess where White opens with 1.d4 and develops the dark-squared bishop to f4, then supports the d4-pawn with pawns on e3 and c3. The other bishop is developed to d3 (or occasionally e2) and the knights typically to f3 and d2. This set-up often results in a closed game. The London System can be used against virtually any Black defence and thus comprises a smaller body of opening theory than many other openings. Although it has a reputation as a solid opening, the London System has faced criticism for its tedious nature and lack of dynamic play.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
The rapid development of the dark-squared bishop in the London System can be contrasted with the Colle System, in which the queen's bishop typically remains on c1 during the opening phase of the game.[7]
This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

History

The British-American James Mason was the first master-level player to regularly employ the London System, including at the strong 1882 Vienna Tournament (in which he finished third) and later at tournaments at London (1883) and New York (1889). The opening did not catch on, and received limited outings in master play in subsequent decades. It did, however, appear with some regularity in the games of certain masters, including FJ Lee, Joseph Henry Blackburne and Akiba Rubinstein.
The name London System derives from the appearance of the opening on seven occasions in the very strong London tournament of 1922, including in games by José Raúl Capablanca, Alexander Alekhine and Akiba Rubinstein. After this tournament the opening remained rare in master practice, but the London set-up soon became the standard response for Black against the Réti Opening (this line being named the New York Variation, after its use in Réti–Capablanca during the New York 1924 tournament.
Although the London System remains rare in grandmaster tournaments, it has been played occasionally by players including Bent Larsen, Tony Miles, Teimour Radjabov, Vladimir Kramnik and Fabiano Caruana, and more frequently by players such as Gata Kamsky, Levon Aronian and Magnus Carlsen. During the 21st century the London System has become popular amongst club-level players due to its solid nature, clear plans and lack of aggressive responses by Black. One of the most famous games of the 21st century utilizing the London System was round 6 of the chess championship between Ding Liren and Ian Nepomniachtchi.

White set-up

The London System consists of a set-up for White employing the following moves (which can be played in a variety of move orders): d4, Nf3, Bf4, e3, Bd3, Nbd2, c3. The move h3 is often also played, enabling the bishop on f4 to drop back to h2 if attacked, thus remaining on the same diagonal and continuing to influence e5.
Following the publication of the influential 2005 work Win with the London System by Sverre Johnsen and Vlatko Kovačević, it has become common for White to prefer to develop the queen's bishop to f4 on move 2 (rather than opting for 2.Nf3 and then 3.Bf4, as had previously been common). Johnsen and Kovačević note that, in the case of 2.Nf3, if play proceeds 2...c5 3.Bf4?!, then 3...cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nd7 "may already be better for Black".[8] Meanwhile, Kiril Georgiev notes in Fighting the London System that "The idea of delaying the [Nf3] development is to avoid the famous line [1.d4 d5] 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.c3 Qb6 6.Qb3 c4 7.Qc2 Bf5, when White should retreat [the queen] ingloriously to c1."[9]

Black responses

White's future plans will depend upon Black's choice of set-up. Black has a particularly wide range of possibilities in the early stages as White's London structure exerts little influence on Black's side of the board. Black may therefore develop freely. Common options include:

  • Queen's Gambit Declined-type defence: d5, e6, Nf6, c5, Nc6 (or d7), Bd6 (or e7), 0-0. Black stakes out some space on the queenside. The position will likely resemble a Slav Defence with colours reversed. White will typically post his king's knight on e5 and aim for a kingside attack.
  • Queen's Indian-type defence: Nf6, b6, Bb7, e6, d6, Be7, Nbd7. Black adopts a flexible hypermodern defence, preventing a knight incursion on e5, and then waits to see how White will proceed before deciding on the placement of the central pawns and on which side to castle.
  • King's Indian-type defence: Nf6, g6, Bg7, d6, 0-0. Black will typically aim for either ...e5 (after suitable preparation with Nbd7 and Re8) or ...c5 (in which case the game will resemble a Réti Opening with colours reversed). White may prefer to post the king's bishop on e2 rather than d3 in this line, as Black's fianchetto structure means that a bishop on d3 would have limited scope.
  • Other options for Black include mirroring White's play by also adopting the London System (d5, Bf5, e6, etc.), or playing the Hippopotamus Defence (g6, Bg7, b6, Bb7, d6, e6, Ne7, Nd7) in which case White will probably have little option but to play e3–e4, losing a tempo, and a knight on d2 may not be optimally placed. Additional options for Black include Slav-type structures (d5/c6), Grünfeld-type structures (Nf6/g6/Bg7/d5), reversed Torre Attack (d5/Nf6/Bg4), Chigorin-type play (d5/Nc6/Bg4), etc.

A popular response to the London System at higher levels of play is an early ...c5, allowing ...Qb6 (aiming at White's weak b2-pawn, which is no longer defended by a bishop on c1). This seeks to disrupt White's comfortable development system. The line 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 c5 3.e3 Qb6 was considered by Johnsen and Kovačević to be the most critical line.[10]

Rapport–Jobava System

A sample line in the Rapport–Jobava London: 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 d5 3.e3 c5 4.Nc3 cxd4 5.exd4 Nc6 6.Qd2 Bf5 7.0-0-0
A modern development named after grandmasters Richárd Rapport and Baadur Jobava, this system still has considerable surprise value. It combines Bf4 with Nc3 (this knight would usually be developed to d2 in the standard London System) creating potential threats against Black's c7.

Example games

  • Gata Kamsky vs. Samuel Shankland; Sturbridge, Massachusetts 2014:

    1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 d5 3.e3 e6 4.Nd2 c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.Ngf3 Bd6 7.Bg3 0-0 8.Bd3 Qe7 9.Ne5 Nd7 10.Nxd7! Bxd7 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.dxc5 Qxc5? 13.Bxh7+!! Kxh7 14.Qh5+ Kg8 15.Ne4 Qc4 16.Ng5 Rfd8 17.Qxf7+ Kh8 18.Qh5+ Kg8 19.Rd1! e5 20.Qf7+ Kh8 21.e4 Ne7 22.Qxe7 Bb5 23.Rd2 Qxa2 24.Qf7 Qa1+ 25.Rd1 Qxb2 26.Qh5+ Kg8 27.Qh7+ Kf8 28.Qh8+ Ke7 29.Qxg7+ Kd6 30.Rxd5+ Kc6 31.Qf6+ 1–0[11]

  • Magnus Carlsen vs. Evgeny Tomashevsky, Wijk aan Zee NED 2016:

    1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 b6 4.e3 Bb7 5.h3 Be7 6.Bd3 0-0 7.0-0 c5 8.c3 Nc6 9.Nbd2 d5 10.Qe2 Bd6 11.Rfe1!? Ne7?! 12.Rad1 Ng6?! 13.Bxg6! hxg6 14.Bxd6! Qxd6 15.Ne5 g5 16.f4!! gxf4 17.Rf1! Nd7! 18.Qh5! Nf6?! 19.Qh4! Qd8 20.Rxf4 Ne4? 21.Nxe4 Qxh4 22.Rxh4 dxe4 23.dxc5 bxc5 24.Rd7! Rab8 25.b3! a5 26.Rc7 a4 27.bxa4 Ba8 28.a5 Rb7 29.Rxc5 Ra7 30.Nc4 1–0 (Black resigns)[12]

  • Ding Liren vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi, Astana KAZ, World Championship 2023:

    1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nbd2 cxd4 6.exd4 Bf5 7.c3 e6 8.Bb5 Bd6 9.Bxd6 Qxd6 10.0-0 0-0 11.Re1 h6 12.Ne5 Ne7 13.a4 a6 14.Bf1 Nd7 15.Nxd7 Qxd7 16.a5 Qc7 17.Qf3 Rfc8 18.Ra3 Bg6 19.Nb3 Nc6 20.Qg3 Qe7 21.h4 Re8 22.Nc5 e5 23.Rb3 Nxa5 24.Rxe5 Qf6 25.Ra3 Nc4 26.Bxc4 dxc4 27.h5 Bc2 28.Nxb7 Qb6 29.Nd6 Rxe5 30.Qxe5 Qxb2 31.Ra5 Kh7 32.Rc5 Qc1+ 33.Kh2 f6 34.Qg3 a5 35.Nxc4 a4 36.Ne3 Bb1 37.Rc7 Rg8 38.Nd5 Kh8 39.Ra7 a3 40.Ne7 Rf8 41.d5 a2 42.Qc7 Kh7 43.Ng6 Rg8 44.Qf7 1–0 (Black resigns)[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ Gallagher, Joe (1996). Beating the Anti-King's Indians. Batsford. pp. back cover, 149. ISBN 978-0713480122. Some want to bore the pants off you with [...] the London System", "[...] a favourite amongst those who disregard opening theory or those who want to bore you out of your mind.
  2. ^ Cox, John (2005). Dealing with d4 Deviations. Everyman Chess. p. 8. ISBN 978-1857443998. If someone wants to play the London System, you have to recognise that the game's going to be pretty quiet for a long time.
  3. ^ Dembo, Yelena (2008). Fighting the Anti-King's Indians. Everyman Chess. p. 84. ISBN 978-1857445756. White's play rather resembles some kind of solid and fairly unthreatening Slav!
  4. ^ Avrukh, Boris (2013). Beating 1.d4 Sidelines. Quality Chess. p. 86. ISBN 978-1907982125. a reputation for tedium [...] Black should not have much trouble equalizing.
  5. ^ Radic, Antonio (2021). Agadmator's Anti-London System. Chessable.com. [...] the typical, slow maneuvering London System games.
  6. ^ Sielecki, Christof (2021). Sielecki's Queen's Gambit Declined. Chessable.com. Due to [its] rather schematic approach, the London 'enjoys' the reputation of being a dull and unambitious opening: 'It's always the same, how boring!'
  7. ^ "Queen's Pawn Opening: Accelerated London System". Chess.com.
  8. ^ Johnsen & Kovačević (2005), p. 10
  9. ^ Georgiev (2017), p. 145
  10. ^ Johnsen & Kovačević (2005), p. 160
  11. ^ "Gata Kamsky vs. Samuel Shankland (2014)". Chessgames.com.
  12. ^ "Magnus Carlsen vs. Evgeny Tomashevsky, Wijk aan Zee 2016". Chessgames.com.
  13. ^ "Ding Liren vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi, WC Match 2023, rd. 6". Chessgames.com.

Bibliography

Further reading

2. Danish Gambit (for White)

The Danish Gambit, known as the Nordisches Gambit in German and the Noords Gambiet in Dutch (both meaning Nordic Gambit), is a chess opening that begins with the moves:[1]

  1. e4 e5
  2. d4 exd4
  3. c3
    White will sacrifice one or two pawns for the sake of rapid development and the attack. However, with care, Black can accept one or both pawns safely, or simply decline the gambit altogether with good chances.
    Although it may have been known earlier, Danish player Martin Severin From essayed the gambit in the Paris 1867 tournament and he is usually given credit for the opening. The Danish Gambit was popular with masters of the attack including Alekhine, Marshall, Blackburne, and Mieses, but as more defensive lines for Black were discovered and improved, it lost favor in the 1920s. Today it is rarely played in top-level chess.
    This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

History

From the very beginning the nomenclature of the Danish Gambit was very confusing. The idea stems from a famous correspondence game London–Edinburgh, 1824: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.c3 Qe7 6.0-0 dxc3 7.Nxc3. The Swede Hans Lindehn played 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 on a regular basis from 1857 at the latest. He defeated the later World Champion Wilhelm Steinitz with his gambit in London, 1864. It is possible that Martin Severin From met Lindehn in Paris in this period and learned about the gambit there. According to Graham Burgess, in Denmark itself, the opening is called the Nordic Gambit.[2]
Many games transposed to the Göring Gambit, as Nf3 for White and ...Nc6 for Black are logical moves. As Carl Theodor Göring also used to play the double gambit, there was hardly any difference.
Remarkably enough, the idea to sacrifice just one pawn (Nxc3) is older in the Göring Gambit than in the Danish. Paul Morphy encountered it at the first USA-Congress of 1857 against Alexander Meek. In the Danish, especially Alexander Alekhine applied 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3, but on unimportant occasions.

Main lines

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

The Danish Gambit is a variation of the Center Game that is important enough to be treated on its own. It is C21 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings classification.
After 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3, Black can safely decline the gambit with 3...d6, 3...Qe7, or 3...d5 (Sörensen Defense or Capablanca Defence). If Black enters the Danish Gambit Accepted with 3...dxc3, the main possibilities are 4.Nxc3 and 4.Bc4.

Alekhine Variation: 4.Nxc3 [edit]

  • 4...d6 5.Bc4 Nc6 6.Nf3 (Göring Gambit, by transposition)
  • 4...Bc5 5.Bc4 Nc6 6.Nf3 (Göring Gambit, by transposition)
  • 4...Nc6 5.Bc4 and 6.Nf3 (Göring Gambit, by transposition)
  • 4...Bb4 5.Bc4 (5.Qd4 is an independent option) Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 d6 7.Qb3 Qe7 8.Ne2 Alekhine–Pomar, clock simul Madrid 1943

Alekhine recommended that White play 4.Nxc3. This line often transposes into the Göring Gambit of the Scotch Game. There are only few lines with Black omitting ...Nc6 and/or White omitting Nf3. This move order enables White to avoid the critical main line of the Göring Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.Nxc3 Bb4) by keeping open the option of meeting an early ...Bb4 by developing the king's knight to e2 rather than f3 and thus preventing Black from disrupting White's queenside pawn structure, as Alekhine did in his game against Pomar above.

Lindehn's continuation: 4.Bc4 [edit]
  • 4...d6 5.Nxc3 (also Göring Gambit, by transposition)
  • 4...cxb2 5.Bxb2 (Danish Gambit Accepted, see diagram)
    • 5...Bb4+ 6.Kf1 or 6.Nc3
    • 5...d6 6.Qb3
    • 5...d5 (Schlechter Defense)

White can instead offer a second pawn with 4.Bc4. The second pawn can be safely declined by transposing into the Göring Gambit. Accepting the pawn allows White's two bishops to rake the Black kingside after 4...cxb2 5.Bxb2. White will often follow up with Qb3 if possible, applying pressure on Black's b7- and f7-squares. Combined with White's long diagonal pressure on g7, this can make it difficult for Black to develop his bishops. A similar position arises except for Black in the Ross Gambit,[3] a variation of the Scandinavian Defence.
Carl Schlechter recommended one of the most reliable defenses for Black: by returning one of the pawns with 5...d5, Black gains time to complete development. After 6.Bxd5 Nf6 (6...Bb4+ is also possible) 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qxd8 Bb4+ 9.Qd2 Bxd2+ 10.Nxd2 Re8 (Nyholm–Tartakower, Baden 1914),[4] Black regains the queen. Most theorists evaluate this position as equal, but some believe that the queenside majority gives Black the advantage in the endgame (Schlechter suggested 10...c5!?[5]).[6]
The popularity of the Danish plummeted after Schlechter's defense was introduced as the resulting positions are not what White generally desires from a gambit opening. There have been attempts, especially by German correspondence player Ingo Firnhaber, to revive the gambit idea with 7.Nc3, but according to Karsten Müller and Martin Voigt in Danish Dynamite, this line gives insufficient compensation after 7...Nxd5 8.Nxd5 Nbd7 (8...c6?? 9.Nf6+) 9.Nf3 c6, since the piece sacrifice 10.0-0 is dubious on account of 10...cxd5 11.exd5 Be7! If White instead plays 6.exd5, his light-square bishop is blocked and after 6...Nf6 7.Nc3 Bd6 Black can complete development relatively easily.
The big advantage of Göring's move order (Nf3 before c3) is avoiding Schlechter's Defence, since after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.Bc4 cxb2 6.Bxb2 Black cannot safely play 6...d5 with the queen's knight committed to c6. The big advantage of 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 is the option to meet 3...d5 with 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Be3 instead of 6.Nf3 transposing to the Göring Gambit Declined (the main objection being the Capablanca Variation, 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Be2 Bb4+ 8.Nc3 Bxf3 9.Bxf3 Qc4, when White must exchange queens or give up castling). It also has the advantage of avoiding Black's other options after 2.Nf3, mainly 2...Nf6 (the Petrov Defence).

See also

References


The Wikibook Chess Opening Theory has a page on the topic of: Danish Gambit

  1. ^ Edward G. Winter (1999). Kings, Commoners and Knaves: Further Chess Explorations. Russell Enterprises. p. 158. ISBN 978-1-888690-04-0.
  2. ^ Graham Burgess, The Mammoth Book of Chess, Carroll & Graf, 1997, p. 114. ISBN 0-7867-0725-9.
  3. ^ "Scandinavian Defense, Marshall / Ross Gambit: Black Attack!". 21 July 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  4. ^ "Gustaf Nyholm vs. Savielly Tartakower, Baden-bei-Wien (1914)". Chessgames.com.
  5. ^ Matanović, Aleksandar, ed. (1997). Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings. Vol. C (3rd ed.). Yugoslavia: Chess Informant. p. 175, n. 16. ISBN 86-7297-035-7.
  6. ^ Korn, Walter (1982). Modern Chess Openings (12th ed.). David McKay Company, Inc. p. 110. ISBN 0-679-13500-6. 10...c5! =/+ With mobilization of the queen-side pawns.

Bibliography

3. Italian Game (Giuoco Piano) (for White)

The Giuoco Piano (Italian for 'Quiet Game'; pronounced [ˈdwːko ˈpjaːno])[1] is a chess opening beginning with the moves:

  1. e4 e5
  2. Nf3 Nc6
  3. Bc4 Bc5
    "White aims to develop quickly – but so does Black. White can construct a pawn centre but in unfavourable conditions a centre which cannot provide a basis for further active play."[3]
    The name "Italian Game" is also commonly used;[4] however, that name is sometimes used instead to describe all openings starting 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4, including 3...Nf6 (the Two Knights Defence) and other less common replies.
    The Giuoco Piano is assigned codes C50 to C54 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings.
    This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

History

The Giuoco Piano is one of the oldest recorded openings. The Portuguese writer Pedro Damiano played it at the beginning of the 16th century and the Italian Greco played it at the beginning of the 17th century. The Giuoco Piano was popular through the 19th century, but modern refinements in defensive play have led most chess masters towards openings like the Ruy Lopez that offer White greater chances for long-term initiative.
In modern play, grandmasters have shown distinct preference for the slower and more strategic Giuoco Pianissimo (4.d3, or 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3). Anatoly Karpov used the Giuoco Pianissimo against Viktor Korchnoi twice in the 1981 World Championship match, with both games ending in a draw;[5][6] Garry Kasparov used it against Joël Lautier at Linares 1994, resigning after 29 moves;[7] Vladimir Kramnik chose it against Teimour Radjabov at Linares (2004);[8] Viswanathan Anand used it to defeat Jon Hammer in 2010;[9] Magnus Carlsen used it against Hikaru Nakamura at London 2011, winning in 41 moves[10] and Ian Nepomniachtchi used it against Magnus Carlsen in the 2021 World Championship match, losing in 49 moves.[11]

Variations

The main continuations on White's fourth move are:

  • 4.c3, the Main line.
  • 4.b4, the Evans Gambit, in which White offers a pawn in return for rapid development. This opening was popular in the 19th century, more than the standard Giuoco Piano.
  • 4.d3, the Giuoco Pianissimo.
  • 4.0-0, often with the intention of meeting 4...Nf6 with 5.d4, the Max Lange Gambit, with similar ideas to the Italian Gambit but with some transpositional differences.

Other continuations are:

Main line: 4.c3

White plays 4.c3 in preparation for the central advance d2–d4. The main reply 4...Nf6 was first analysed by Greco in the 17th century. Alternatives include 4...Qe7, with the intention of holding on to the centre.

4...Nf6

5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4
White can also try 6.e5, a line favoured by Evgeny Sveshnikov,[12] when play usually continues 6...d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6, with approximate equality. Additionally, White has a gambit alternative in 6.0-0, which Graham Burgess revived in the book 101 Chess Opening Surprises; the critical line runs 6...Nxe4 7.cxd4 d5 8.dxc5 dxc4 9.Qe2 Qd3. A very rare option is 6.b4 as was played in the brilliant game Dubov–Karjakin, Moscow 2020,[13] the game continued 6...Bb6 7.e5 Ne4 (7...d5 is a critical alternative) 8.Bd5 Nxc3 9.Nxc3 dxc3 10.Bg5 Ne7 11.0-0 h6 12.Bh4 0-0 13.Re1 Qe8 14.Bb3 a5 15.Bf6 a4 16.Bc4 Ng6 17.Qd3 d5 18.exd6 Be6 19.Qxg6! and White went on to win.[14]
6...Bb4+
White now has a choice between 7.Nc3 and 7.Bd2. 7.Nc3 usually leads to the Møller Attack, an aggressive line involving the sacrifice of a pawn, but it has been largely abandoned in high-level games, as Black gains the advantage with accurate defence. 7.Bd2 offers about equal chances.

7.Nc3 (including Greco Variation and Møller Attack)[edit]

7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.0-0 (diagram)
Main line after 8.0-0
Greco encouraged an attack on White's queen rook with 8.0-0, allowing 8...Nxc3?!, the Greco Variation. If 9.bxc3 Bxc3?! 10.Qb3 Bxa1?, White wins with 11.Bxf7+ Kf8 12.Bg5. Greco's game (probably analysis) continues 12...Ne7 13.Ne5 (13.Re1 and 13.Rxa1 also win) 13...d5 14.Qf3 Bf5 15.Be6 g6 16.Bh6+ Ke8 17.Bf7#.[15][16] This trap is well-known, and Black can avoid it by playing 10...d5. For this reason, the Scottish master James Aitken proposed 10.Ba3!, which gives White the advantage. After 9.bxc3, best for Black is 9...d5! 10.cxb4 dxc4 11.Re1+ Ne7 12.Qa4+! Bd7 13.b5 0-0 14.Qxc4 Ng6!
In 1898 Danish player Jørgen Møller published analysis of the line in Tidsskrift for Skak. In what is now known as the Møller Attack, White sacrifices a pawn for development and the initiative:
8...Bxc3! 9.d5
9.bxc3 is met with 9...d5!
9...Bf6
On 9...Ne5, a possible continuation is 10.bxc3 Nxc4 11.Qd4 f5 12.Qxc4 d6.
10.Re1 Ne7 11.Rxe4 d6 12.Bg5 Bxg5 13.Nxg5 h6!
13...0-0 14.Nxh7! has been analysed to a draw with best play, although Black has many opportunities to go wrong.
14.Bb5+
After 14.Qe2 hxg5 15.Re1 Be6! 16.dxe6 (White also can try 16.Qd2 c6! 17.dxe6 f6 18.Bd3 d5 19.Rg4 Qc7 20.h3 0-0-0 21.b4, attacking) 16...f6 17.Re3 c6 18.Rh3 Rxh3 19.gxh3 g6 it is doubtful that White has compensation for the sacrificed pawn, according to Grandmaster Larry Kaufman; 14.Qh5 0-0 15.Rae1 Ng6! (or 15...Nf5!) also favours Black.
14...Bd7 15.Qe2 Bxb5 16.Qxb5+ Qd7 17.Qxb7
17.Qe2 Kf8! wins a second pawn, as in Barczay–Portisch, Budapest 1969.[17]
17...0-0 18.Rae1 Rab8 19.Qxa7 Nxd5 20.Qd4 Qf5 21.Nf3 Rb4
and Black is clearly better.

7.Bd2

If White does not want to gambit material, 7.Bd2 is a good alternative. The game could continue 7...Bxd2+ (Kaufman recommends 7...Nxe4!? 8.Bxb4 Nxb4 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.Qb3+ d5!? [10...Kf8 11.Qxb4+ Qe7 12.Qxe7+ Kxe7 is safer, reaching an equal endgame] 11.Ne5+ Ke6! 12.Qxb4 c5!?) 8.Nbxd2 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Qb3 Nce7 (10...Na5 is an alternative, inviting a repetition of moves after 11.Qa4+ Nc6 [threatening 12...Nb6] 12.Qb3 Na5) 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rfe1 c6. In this position White has more freedom, but the isolated d-pawn can be a weakness. 7.Nbd2 is also a viable move for White, although this still only offers approximate equality. It has not been a popular choice among human players, but it seems to be recommended by computer engines.[18] 7.Kf1?! has been largely abandoned.[19]

4...Qe7 and alternatives[edit]

Black can try to hold a strongpoint in the centre at e5 with 4...Qe7, a move which first appeared in the Göttingen manuscript around 1500.[20] After 5.d4 (5.0-0 usually transposes) Bb6, White's options include 6.0-0, 6.d5, 6.a4 and 6.Bg5.[21] A typical continuation is 6.0-0 d6 7.a4 a6 8.h3 Nf6 9.Re1 0-0 (Leonhardt–Spielmann, Ostend 1907).[22]
4...Bb6 usually transposes after 5.d4 Qe7.
Other 4th moves for Black are considered inferior.

Giuoco Pianissimo: 4.d3

Giuoco Pianissimo: 4.d3
With 4.d3, White plays the Giuoco Pianissimo (Italian: "Very Quiet Game", a name given by Adolf Anderssen).[23] White aims for a slow buildup, deferring the push to d4 until it can be prepared. By avoiding an immediate confrontation in the centre, White prevents the early release of tension through exchanges and enters a positional maneuvering game. 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.d3 is the Giuoco Pianissimo Deferred.[24] 4.d3 f5 is the not-so-quiet Lucchini Gambit; there can follow 5.Ng5 f4, the Dubois Variation.[25]
If White plays c2–c3, the position can take some characteristics of the Ruy Lopez if the bishop retreats to c2 via b3. This idea has been taken up by some grandmasters, such as Anish Giri, to avoid the drawish Berlin Defence in the Ruy Lopez. White can also play b4 and a4, chasing the Black bishop and staking out space on the queenside. Despite its slow, drawish reputation, this variation became more popular after being taken up by John Nunn in the 1980s. The common move orders are 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 (ECO C54), and transposition from the Bishop's Opening: 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.c3 or 5.0-0 d6 6.c3.

ECO codes

Codes from the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings are:

  • C50 Italian Game, includes Giuoco Piano lines other than 4.c3 and 4.b4
  • C51 Evans Gambit
  • C52 Evans Gambit, with 4...Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5
  • C53 Giuoco Piano, 4.c3, without 4...Nf6
  • C54 Giuoco Piano, 4.c3 Nf6
    • includes other than 5.d4 and 5.d3
    • 5.d4 exd4, without 6.cxd4
    • 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4
    • 5.d3

References

  1. ^ Jump up to:***a*** b Hooper & Whyld (1996), p. 153. Giuoco Piano. "The name means 'quiet game' and until the 19th century was often applied to any opening that was not a gambit."
  2. ^ Hooper & Whyld (1996), p. 183. Italian Opening. "Italian Opening, often called the Giuoco Piano (Quiet Game)."
  3. ^ Marović & Sušić 1975, p. 53
  4. ^ Pinski 2005, p. 5
  5. ^ "Karpov vs. Korchnoi, World Ch. Rematch (1981), rd. 8". Chessgames.com.
  6. ^ "Karpov vs. Korchnoi, World Ch. Rematch (1981), rd. 10". Chessgames.com.
  7. ^ "Kasparov vs. Lautier, Linares (1994)". Chessgames.com.
  8. ^ "Kramnik vs. Radjabov, Linares (2004)". Chessgames.com.
  9. ^ "Anand vs. Hammer, Arctic Securities Chess Stars (2010)". Chessgames.com.
  10. ^ "Carlsen vs. Nakamura, London (2011)". Chessgames.com.
  11. ^ "Nepomniachtchi vs. Carlsen, Carlsen–Nepomniachtchi World Championship Match (2021)". Chessgames.com.
  12. ^ "Steinitz - Sveshnikov Attack in the Italian / Giuoco Piano". www.kenilworthchessclub.org. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  13. ^ "Daniil Dubov vs. Sergey Karjakin (2020)". Chessgames.com. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  14. ^ "Nepomniachtchi, Goryachkina Winners Russian Championships". Chess.com. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Greco vs. NN, 1620". Chessgames.com.
  16. ^ Harding, p. 4
  17. ^ "Laszlo Barczay vs. Lajos Portisch (1969)". Chessgames.com. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  18. ^ "The Baron vs. Pandix, World Computer Chess Championship (2011)". Chessgames.com.
  19. ^ Chessgames.com position search after 7.Kf1
  20. ^ Harding, p. 24
  21. ^ Harding, p. 25
  22. ^ "Leonhardt vs. Spielmann, Ostend-B 1907". Chessgames.com.
  23. ^ Hooper & Whyld (1996), p. 153. Giuoco Pianissimo.
  24. ^ Hooper & Whyld (1996), p. 153. Giuoco Pianissimo Deferred.
  25. ^ Hooper & Whyld (1996), p. 116.

Bibliography

4. Smith-Morra Gambit (for White)

In chess, the Smith–Morra Gambit (or simply Morra Gambit) is an opening gambit against the Sicilian Defence distinguished by the moves:

  1. e4 c5
  2. d4 cxd4
  3. c3
    White sacrifices a pawn to develop quickly and create attacking chances. In exchange for the gambit pawn, White has a piece developed after 4.Nxc3 and a pawn in the center, while Black has an extra pawn and a central pawn majority. The plan for White is straightforward and consists of placing his bishop on c4 to attack the f7-square, and controlling both the c- and d-files with rooks, taking advantage of the fact that Black can hardly find a suitable place to post his queen.
    The Smith–Morra is uncommon in grandmaster games, but is popular at club level.[4] It does not have a definitive refutation.
    This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

History

The Smith–Morra is named after Pierre Morra [fr] (1900–1969) from France,[5] and Ken Smith (1930–1999) of the Dallas Chess Club.[6] In Europe the name Morra Gambit is preferred; other names for it, including Tartakower Gambit and Matulovic Gambit, have disappeared.
Around 1950, Morra published a booklet and several articles about the Smith–Morra. Smith wrote a total of nine books and forty-nine articles about the gambit. When Smith participated in an international tournament against several top grandmasters in San Antonio in 1972, he essayed the opening three times, against Donald Byrne, Larry Evans, and Henrique Mecking, but lost all three games.
Many players consider the opening amateurish[citation needed]. International Master Marc Esserman is one of its leading advocates today. Recently in April 2023, Hikaru Nakamura defeated Fabiano Caruana with it to win the Chessable Masters.[7]

Continuations overview

Black has a wide choice of reasonable defences after 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3. White sometimes plays 2.Nf3 and 3.c3, which depending on Black's response may rule out certain lines. 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 is the Sicilian Center Game, similar to the Center Game, 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3.

Themes for White

In return for the sacrificed pawn, White acquires a number of benefits that can be used to create active plans:

  • Active development and quick castling. White's development scheme usually (but not always, as the Siberian trap demonstrates) consists Nf3, Bc4, 0-0, Qe2, Rfd1, and Rac1 in some order.
    • Additionally, the Bc1 will often develop to g5 when Black plays ...Nge7 to make it difficult for Black to continue developing without weakening the kingside slightly by ...h6 or ...f6.
  • Prevention or delay of Black's castling. This can open the door for powerful sacrificial ideas which, when correctly timed, can devastate the Black king:
    • When Black's king is uncastled, the sacrifice Nd5! is especially powerful with a Black pawn on e6 when Black's king is uncastled, as the recapture ...exd5 would allow White to open the e-file for the White rook or queen. In two notable games, Esserman defeated GM Loek van Wely[8] and GM Dommaraju Gukesh[9] using this sacrifice.
    • Another idea is Nxb5! with Black pawns on a6 and b5. Although not as common as Nd5!, it is possible in some lines like the Chicago Defence when Black is slow to castle. Occasionally, it is even possible when Black is castled if White's tactics on the queenside justify it.
    • The sacrifice Bxe6! is typical for Sicilian positions and can sometimes occur here as well.
  • Pressure down the c- and d- files, usually achieved with rooks on c1 and d1.
  • A long-lasting initiative that can be used to create a kingside attack.

The mix of short- and long-term ideas means that the character of positions arising from this gambit can be described as a mix of the Stafford Gambit and the Benko Gambit: to survive against a well-prepared White player, Black must first navigate the minefield of traps in the opening, then contend with White's long-term pressure and initiative. If Black manages to do this while holding on to the extra pawn, he/she will have good chances to win the ensuing endgame. This is not easy, however, and many Sicilian players opt to decline the gambit altogether.

Morra Gambit Accepted: 3...dxc3

4.Nxc3

  • Classical Main line: 4...Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Qe2 Be7 9.Rd1 e5 10.h3 or 10.Be3
  • Scheveningen setup: 4...Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 7.0-0 Nf6 (or Be7) 8.Qe2 a6 9.Rd1 Qc7 (probably inferior Qa5) 10.Bf4 (10.Bg5) Be7
  • Siberian Variation: 4...Nc6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bc4 Nf6 and 7...Qc7, with the idea being after 7.0-0 Qc7 8.Qe2 Ng4!, 9.h3?? loses to the famous "Siberian Trap" 9...Nd4!, winning the queen. If instead White plays 9.Rd1, preventing 9...Nd4, Black can continue with 9...Bc5 with a clearly better game.
  • Nge7 variations: 4...Nc6 (or 4...e6) 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bc4 a6 (Nge7) 7.0-0 Nge7 (d6 8.Qe2 Nge7 9.Bg5 h6) 8.Bg5 f6 9.Be3
  • 6...a6 Defence: 4...Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bc4 a6 eventually 7...Bg4
  • Fianchetto: 4...g6 (4...Nc6 5.Nf3 g6 allows 6.h4!?) 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Bc4 Nc6
  • Chicago Defence: 4...e6 5.Bc4 a6 6.Nf3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.0-0 and Black plays ...Ra7 at some stage
  • Early queenside fianchetto: 4...e6 5.Bc4 a6 6.Nf3 b5 7.Bb3 Bb7
  • Finegold Defence 4..d6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4 Nf6 7. 0-0 Be7 8. Qe2 a6

4.Bc4

This line is similar to the Danish Gambit: 4...cxb2 5.Bxb2

Morra Gambit Declined[edit]

  • Advance Variation: 3...d3
  • First transposition to the Alapin: 3...Nf6 4.e5 Nd5
  • Second transposition to the Alapin: 3...d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 (Nf6) 5.cxd4

The latter has a bad reputation, as square c3 is free for the knight. Still 5...Nf6 (5...e5; 5...Nc6 6.Nf3 e5) 6.Nf3 e6 7.Nc3 Qd6 is likely to transpose to a main line of the Alapin: 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 e6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 cxd4 8.cxd4 Be7 9.Nc3 Qd6.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The latest (2002) edition of the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, volume B, classifies all lines beginning 1.e4 c5 2.d4, including the Smith–Morra Gambit, under B20.[1] Chess Informant, however, gives B21 as the code for 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 in its guide to the ECO opening codes provided on its website[2] and has classified games featuring the Smith–Morra Gambit under B21 in its more recent publications.[3]

References

  1. ^ Krnic, Zdenko; Matanovic, Aleksandar (2002). Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, volume B (4th ed.). Belgrade: Chess Informant. ISBN 978-8672970500.
  2. ^ "Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings Classification Code Index" (PDF). Chess Informant. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  3. ^ Matanovic, Aleksandar, ed. (2013). Chess Informant 118. Belgrade: Chess Informant. p. 195. ISBN 978-8672970685.
  4. ^ Written by. "Common Lines in the Sicilian Defense Chess Opening". Chess.about.com. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  5. ^ Chess Notes by Edward Winter, entry 3953 ("Morra")
  6. ^ Kenneth Ray Smith (1930–1999) Obituary at the US Chess Federation
  7. ^ https://en.chessbase.com/post/chessable-masters-2023-d5
  8. ^ Esserman vs. van Wely, 112th US Open (2011) Chessgames.com. Retrieved on 2023-06-18.
  9. ^ Esserman vs. Gukesh, Cannes Chess Festival 2017 Chessgames.com. Retrieved on 2023-06-12.

Further reading

5. Queen’s Gambit (for White)

This article is about the chess opening. For the Netflix miniseries, see The Queen's Gambit (miniseries). For other uses, see Queen's Gambit (disambiguation).

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "Queen's Gambit" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Queen's Gambit

The Queen's Gambit is the chess opening that starts with the moves:[1]

  1. d4 d5
  2. c4
    It is one of the oldest openings and is still commonly played today. It is traditionally described as a gambit because White appears to sacrifice the c-pawn; however, this could be considered a misnomer as Black cannot retain the pawn without incurring a disadvantage.[2][3]
    This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

History

The Queen's Gambit is one of the oldest known openings in chess. It was mentioned in the Göttingen manuscript of 1490 and was later analyzed by Gioachino Greco in the 17th century.[3] In the 18th century, it was recommended by Philipp Stamma and is sometimes known as the Aleppo Gambit in his honor.[4] During the early period of modern chess, queen pawn openings were not in fashion, and the Queen's Gambit did not become commonplace until the 1873 tournament in Vienna.[5]
As Wilhelm Steinitz and Siegbert Tarrasch developed chess theory and increased the appreciation of positional play, the Queen's Gambit grew more popular,[5] reaching its zenith in the 1920s and 1930s, and it was played in all but 2 of 34 games in the 1927 World Championship match between José Raúl Capablanca and Alexander Alekhine.
After the resumption of international chess activity following World War II, it was less frequently seen as many players moved away from symmetrical openings, tending to use an Indian Defence to combat queen pawn openings; however, it is still frequently played.

Overview

With 2.c4, White threatens to exchange a wing pawn (the c-pawn) for a center pawn (Black's d-pawn) in order to dominate the center with e2–e4. Note that Black cannot hold the pawn, for example: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 b5? (Black tries to guard their pawn but should pursue development with 3...Nf6 or 3...e5) 4.a4 c6? 5.axb5 cxb5?? 6.Qf3! winning a piece.
The Queen's Gambit is divided into two major categories based on Black's response: the Queen's Gambit Accepted (QGA) and the Queen's Gambit Declined (QGD). In the QGA, Black plays 2...dxc4, temporarily giving up the center to obtain freer development. In the QGD, Black usually plays to hold d5. Frequently Black will be cramped, but Black aims to exchange pieces and use pawn breaks at c5 and e5 to free Black's game.

Variations

Technically, any Black response other than 2...dxc4 (or another line with an early ...dxc4 that transposes into the QGA) is a Queen's Gambit Declined, but the Slav, Albin Countergambit, and Chigorin Defense are generally treated separately. There are so many QGD lines after 2...e6 that many of them are distinctive enough to warrant separate treatment. The Orthodox Defense and the Tarrasch Defense are two important examples. (See Queen's Gambit Declined for more.)
After 1.d4 d5 2.c4:

  • 2...e6 – Queen's Gambit Declined or QGD (ECO D30–D69). This is the main line, with many variations.
  • 2...dxc4 – Queen's Gambit Accepted or QGA (D20–D29). Less popular than the Queen's Gambit Declined, it nevertheless has a solid reputation.
  • 2...c6 – Slav Defense (D10–D19). This is a solid response, although many variations are very tactical. If Black plays both ...c6 and ...e6 (in either order), the opening takes characteristics of both the Slav and the Orthodox Defense and is classified as a Semi-Slav Defense.
  • 2...e5 – Albin Countergambit (D08–D09), a sharp attempt by Black to gain the initiative. It is uncommon in top-level chess but can be a dangerous weapon in club play.
  • 2...Nc6 – Chigorin Defense (D07) The Chigorin Defense takes the game away from the normal positional channels of the QGD and has been favored by Alexander Morozevich at the top level; it appears to be playable for Black.
  • 2...Bf5!? – Baltic Defense (D06), an offbeat but playable line.
  • 2...c5 – Symmetrical Defense (D06). This is rarely played; although it has not been definitely refuted, the play seems to favor White.
  • 2...Nf6?! – Marshall Defense (D06), named after Frank Marshall, who first devised the move, he briefly played it in the 1920s before abandoning it.
  • 2...g6?! – Alekhine idea[6] (D06). White can gain the advantage by 3.cxd5 Qxd5 (3...Nf6 4.Qa4 +/−) 4.Nc3 Qa5 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Bd2 c6 7.e4 Qb6 8.Bc4! Bxd4 9.Nxd4 Qxd4 10.Qb3 Qg7 11.0-0 +/− (Minev).[7]

If White chooses to fianchetto the king's bishop, the game transposes into the Catalan Opening.

References

  1. ^ "Queens Gambit - The Chess Website". Retrieved 2021-01-30.
  2. ^ "Queen's Gambit". Chess Pathways. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
  3. ^ Jump up to:***a*** b De Firmian, Nick (1999), Modern Chess Openings (14th ed.), David McKay, p. 387
  4. ^ Sarratt, J. H. (27 Jan 2006). The Works of Damiano, Ruy-Lopez, and Salvio on the Game of Chess. T. Boosey, (the New York Public Library) (Digitized). ISBN 9781145601765.
  5. ^ Jump up to:***a*** b Korn, Walter (1982), Modern Chess Openings (12th ed.), David McKay, p. 263
  6. ^ Benjamin, Joel; Schiller, Eric (1987). Unorthodox Openings. Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 97. ISBN 0-02-016590-0. Queen's Gambit Declined: Alekhine Idea 1 d4 d5 2 c4 g6
  7. ^ Matanović, Aleksandar, ed. (1987). Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings. Vol. D (2nd ed.). Yugoslavia: Chess Informant. p. 44. ISBN 86-7297-008-X.

Further reading

External links


The Wikibook Chess Opening Theory has a page on the topic of: Queen's Gambit

Thanks For Reading !

Discuss this blog post in the forum

You may also like

Water-Weather

The 10 Best Chess Players Of All Time

The 10 Best Chess Players Of All Time