By Michael Goeller
If I could redo my Urusov Gambit System website, I think I would recommend that players meet 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 with a transposition to the Giuoco Piano, 3.Nf3 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 intending the interesting Steinitz - Sveshnikov Attack with 5.d4 exd4 6.e5!
I first saw this old line discussed by Jude Acers as part of his excellent Italian Gambit System, and my experiences with the line against players rated below 2000 has been almost universally positive. As Acers predicts in his book, nearly all opponents below master fail to play one of the few correct lines and go down to speedy defeat. The recent game Ni Hua - Marin (see below) suggests that even GMs can get blown off the board with it!
These lines can be reached from various move orders, including the Scotch Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.c3 Nf6 6.e5!) or traditional Giuoco Piano (3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 etc.) and makes a good fit with the Modern Variation of the Two Knights Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.e5!) since the similar pawn positions lead to similar positional themes and tactical motifs between the two lines. Readers of my Urusov Gambit materials, Acers' book, or the recent Chess Openings for White, Explained will probably find this line very appealing (at least for an occasional weapon), and developing players will score many points with it.
What follows is a collection of games with the line that should give you its main ideas and motifs. I recommend you look at these closely with a computer and do your own analysis so that you are thoroughly prepared to play for the win. I have focused most on the lines you are most likely to see in your games.
Line A: 6...Ng4?
This move is a common blunder, since Ng4 is often playable in analogous positions of the Max Lange. Here, however, White's c3 move makes all the difference and he has his choice of two ways to gain a big edge.
Game One
Alexander Seyb - Richard Schoettler [C53]
GER-chT Clubs U12/Verden (7) 1999
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 Ng4?
|
7. Bxf7+!?
In many comparable positions, this temporary sacrifice is not usually accurate. But here Black cannot tuck his King away at g8 due to mate along the a2-g8 diagonal, which means that his King will be exposed for the rest of the game.
It's hard to say whether the flashy 7.Bxf7+ is objectively better than the simpler 7. cxd4 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 d5 (8... d6 9. h3 dxe5!? (9... Nh6 10. Bxh6 gxh6 11. Qb3 Rf8? (11... Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 
)
12. )
14. Rae1+
)
13. Nd5
1-0 Halkova,E-Zakova,J/Valtice 1991)
10. d5! (10. hxg4 exd4 11. a3 Ba5 12. b4 dxc3 (12... Nxb4? 13. axb4 Bxb4 14. Qa4+)
13. Qxd8+ Kxd8 14. bxa5)
10... e4 11. hxg4 exf3 12. dxc6 Qxd1+ 13. Kxd1 fxg2 14. Re1+! Kd8 15. cxb7)
(8... 1-0 Halkova,E-Kovarova,L/Valtice 1992 (40))
9. Bd3 (9. Bb5)
9... Be6 10. )
15... Bd7 16. Nxd7 Qxd7 17. Bxc6 Qxc6 18. Qxa5 b6 19. Qc3 Qd7 20. Be3 Rc8 21. Rac1 c6 22. Qd2 h5 23. Rfe1 Qe6 24. Bg5 c5 25. Qf4 Nh6 26. Bxh6 Rxh6 27. Ng5 Qe7 28. h4 a5 29. Re3 c4 30. Rce1 Rcc6 31. Qf5 g6 32. Qf4 Rh8 33. e6 1-0 Halkova,E-Korinkova,G/Moravia 1994.
7... Kxf7
7... Kf8 8. cxd4 Ngxe5 (8... Bb4+ 9. Nc3 d6 10. e6! This move is thematic in the position and has a long-term cramping effect. If Black wins the pawn, he may face further attack by d5. 10... Qf6 (10... h6 11. h3 (11. )
13. Ng6+ Kg7 14. Nxh8 Kxh8 15. 1-0 Kazmierczak,R-Klimaszewska,A/Augustow 1997 (32))
11. )
14. d5 Nce5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Bf4 Nd3 17. Qf3 Ke8 18. Rad1 Nc5 19. Rfe1 Kd8 20. Qg4 Qxg4 21. Bxg4 Re8 22. Bg5+ 1-0 Feodorovici,V-Hein,T/Timisoara 1995)
9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Kxf7 11. Qd5+ Ke8 12. Qxc5 Rf8 13.
8... Kg8?? 9. Qb3+ d5 10. exd6+ Be6 11. Qxe6+ Kf8 12. Qf7# 1-0 Eberlein,M-Wolf,C/Verden 2000
8... Kf8!? might be playable, but Black is clearly worse due to his uncomfortable king position.
9... Nxe5
10. Qe4 Qe7 11. Bilguer / Acers . White will continue with Ne4, Nd5, or f4 with a very strong attack.
10. Nxc3 d6 11. e6! Qf6 12.
|
14. Nxc7+ Ke7 15. Nf7 h6 16. Qh4+ g5 17. Bxg5+ hxg5 18. Qxg5# 1-0
Line B: 6...Ne4?!
Players who like to meet the Modern Variation of the Two Knights with Ne4 will often fall into this trap, not recognizing that they practically lose a piece by force after 7.Bd5! However, Black does get some play for the material, so this line repays close study and analysis.
Game Two
Sunil Weeramantry - Art Marthinsen [C53]
USA-ch op 94th/Philadelphia 1993
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 Ne4?!
|
7. Bd5!
This move forces major concessions or the win of material and therefore must be theory's choice. But Tartakower says that White appears to be "looking for adventure" since he "could have enjoyed a peaceful life" by 7. cxd4 Bb4+ 8. Bd2 Nxd2 9. Nbxd2 d5 10. Bb5
transposing to lines considered below. The danger to White's King in the game line is of little consequence, however, and he cannot expect to live a "peaceful life" if he wants to win.
7... Nxf2!
Definitely Black's best try. The alternative simply hands White complete control:
7... f5 8. cxd4 (8. 
)
8... Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Nxd2 10. Nbxd2 Ne7 11. Bb3 d5 12. exd6 Bxd6 13. and Black's king is stuck in the center where plenty of action is about to take place.
"Book" but probably too risky, especially in blitz. I would recommend the alternatives:
a) 9. Ke1 cxb2 10. Bxb2 )
11... d6 (11... b6!)
12. Rf1 Re8 13. Bxf7+ Kxf7 14. Qc4+ Kg6 15. Qe4+ Kf7 16. Ng5+ 1-0 Negrini,N-Marzoli/Bologna 1987.
b) 9. Kf1! must be best, and is certainly safest 9... cxb2 10. Bxb2 )
12. Ne4
10... Ne7! 11. Be4 (11. Ng5? Nxd5 (11... Nf5+!? 12. Kf4 Be3+ 13. Kxf5 Qxg5+ 14. Ke4 
)
12. Nxf7? )
(12... Qe7! 13. Qxd5 Rf8
)
13. Nxd8 (13. Qxd5? Rxf7 14. Qxc5? Qg5+ 15. Kh3 d6+
)
13... Bf2+ 14. Kh3 d6+ 15. e6 Nf4+ 16. Kg4 Nxe6 17. g3 Nd4+ 18. Ne6 Bxe6+ 19. Kh4 Nf5+ 20. Kh3 Ne3+ 21. Kh4 Ng2+ 22. Kh5 g6+ 23. Kg5 Be3# 0-1 Hoffman,F-Petrov,A/Warsaw 1844 is a famous and beautiful game)
(11. Qc2!? d6 12. Be4 Fritz)
11... d5 12. exd6 Bxd6+ 13. Kf2 Bc5+ 14. Bd4 Bxd4+ 15. Qxd4 and I believe in the power of the piece over the pawns.
11... Kxf7 12. Qd5+ Kf8 13. Qxc5+
Line C: 6...Qe7?!
Amateurs very often play this move (either here or after 6...d5 7.Bb5 Qe7?! discussed below). I suppose they think they are gaining time by not moving the Knight. But it is usually a bad idea to put your Queen in front of your King in the open games, where the e-file might open up with deadly consequences to the two monarchs!
Game Three
Paul Morphy - James Cunningham [C53]
London sim blind/London 1859
The actual move order was 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. c3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5
2... Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 Qe7?!
Jude Acers notes: "Players of the White pieces will swiftly win gamesthroughout their careers against anything but direct center counterplay by Black [by d5]. All piece moves are bad." The Queen is exposed to attacks along the e-file, along the h4-d8 diagonal, and sometimes by Nc3-d5 etc. Another common error at this point is 6... dxc3? which seems essentially a counting mistake: Black is down a piece after 7. exf6 Qxf6 8. Qe2+ Ne7 9. Nxc3 c6 10.
7.
This may be the most forcing continuation, but better may be
7. cxd4! Bb4+ 8. Nc3! (8. Kf1!?)
8... d6 (8... Ne4 9. Qc2 Nxc3 (9... Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 f5 11. )
10. bxc3 Ba5 11. 13. Ne4 Kg7 14. Bg5 Qa3 15. Bf6+ Kg8 16. Qd2)
12. Bd2 d6 13. Rfe1 )
)
(8... Na5 9. )
(8... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 d5 10. Bd3 Ne4 11. Qb3)
9. )
13. e6 fxe6 14. Bxe6)
12. Bd5 Nc5 13. Bxc6+ bxc6 14. Ba3)
11. Nd5 Qd8 12. Bb5 Bd7 13. Bxc6 Bxc6 14. Nxb4 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Nh6 17. Bxh6 gxh6 18. Kh1 Rg8 19. Rg1 Kd7 20. Rad1+ Ke6 21. f4 Rad8 22. Rxg8 Rxd1+ 23. Kg2 Rd4 24. Nc2 Rxf4 25. Rh8 Rg4+ 26. Kf3 Rg7 27. Re8+ Kd7 28. Ra8 b6 29. Rxa7 Rg5 30. Kf4 Rg2 31. Kf3 .. 1-0 Krys,J-Reichel,T/Frymburk 2000.
7... Ng8?
a) 7... Nxe5 is necessary, when Black survives by giving up his queen for bishop and Rook after 8. Re1 (8. Nxe5!? Qxe5 9. Re1 Ne4
)
8... Nxc4 (8... Nxf3+ 9. gxf3)
9. Rxe7+ Bxe7 10. Qe2 d5 11. cxd4 with at least some advantage to White and certainly the much easier side of the battle -- though these type of positions are worth practicing against your computer, which will defend very well.
b) 7... Ng4? 8. cxd4 Bb4 9. h3 Nh6 10. a3 Ba5 11. b4 Bb6 12. Bxh6 gxh6 13. Nc3 and the threats of d5-d6 or Nd5-f6+ are deadly and unstoppable.
8. cxd4
8. Bg5!?
8... Bb6
8... Bb4 9. a3 Ba5 10. b4 Bb6 is even worse.
9. d5!
9. Re1 Qd8 10. d5 Na5 11. Bg5 f6?? (11... Ne7 12. d6)
12. exf6+ Kf7 13. fxg7 Nf6 14. gxh8=Q Qxh8 15. Bd3 d6 16. b4 Bg4 17. bxa5 Bxa5 18. Nbd2 Rg8 19. Qe2 Nxd5 20. Qe4 1-0 Neugebauer,J-Goetz,K/Weilburg 1996.
9... Qc5
a) 9... Na5 10. d6 with the plan of boxing Black in is effective(10. Bd3 with the plan of embarrassing the Knight at a5 is also good, e.g.: 10... Qc5 11. Nc3 Ne7 12. Be3 Qb4 13. Bd2)
10... Qf8 (10... Qd8? 11. Bg5)
11. Bd5
b) 9... Nd8 10. Nc3 Qb4 11. Qe2.
a) 10... Na5 11. Be3 Qb4 12. Bd2! Qxb2 (12... Qc5 13. b4)
(12... Qe7 13. Bd3 and White will win the Knight at a5)
13. Qa4 Nxc4? 14. Nxc4 and Black's Queen is trapped.
12... Qe7 13. d6! cxd6 14. Bg5! f6 (14... Qf8 15. Nb5!)
(14... Qxg5 15. Qxf7+ Kd8 16. Qf8+ Kc7 17. Nb5+ Kb8 18. Qxd6+ Bc7 19. Qxc7#)
15. exf6 gxf6 16. Rae1
|
White's super central pawns completely dominate the board and Black's forces sit in confusion upon the first rank. White has too many winning moves to count!
15. Rac1 d6 16. exd6 cxd6 17. Qe3 Ra6 18. Nc7 Qe7 19. Ne6+!! fxe6 20. Bxa6 Bd7
20... bxa6 21. Qxb6+ Ke8 22. Rxc8+ Kf7 23. Rc7
21... Bxb5 22. Qxb6+ Ke8 23. Qxb5+
22... Bc6
23. Rc8+
Black was dead in the opening and the rest of White's attack practically played itself -- though it's impressive that Morphy could conduct it so well in a blindfold simul! Those looking to be precise in the opening, however, should probably prefer 7.cxd4 to Morphy's 7.O-O.
1-0Line D: 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Qe7?!
The following game was played by my one-time student when he was about 8- or 9-years-old. Though White loses, I hope my notes will help you see the real story!
Game Four
Max Sherer - Patrick Thomas [C53]
G 40/5 2007
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5
In another game from the same tournament against Michael Neary, published in Atlantic Chess News, Patrick had played 6... Qe7? 7. cxd4 (7. )
7... Bb4+ 8. Bd2?! (8. Kf1!?)
(8. Nc3! d6 (8... Ne4 9. Qc2)
(8... d5?! 9. )
)
9. )
13. e6 fxe6 14. Bxe6)
12. Bd5 Nc5 13. Bxc6+ bxc6 14. Ba3)
8... Bxd2+ 9. Nbxd2 d6 10. )
14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Qh5 Dean Ippolito
|
This has to be wrong, since the Queen is needed at d8 to guard the potentially weak pawn at d5. Meanwhile, White is practically given an extra tempo for development, since Black still will need to move his Knight and Bishop anyway--while he did not have to move his Queen. As we see below, best is 7... Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb6!
8.
This is good -- avoiding Bb4+ lines with exchanges -- but I think White has even better, though I can find no theory or games on this worth anything. Practically winning is 8. cxd4! Bb4+ (8... Bb6? 9. Nc3! xd5 9... Ne4 10. Nxd5)
9. Kf1!! (9. Nc3 is also good for White: 9... Ne4 10. )
11. bxc3 and White's two Bishops and control of space guarantee him a long term edge., while not so bad is 9. Bd2?! Bxd2+?! (9... Ne4!)
10. Nbxd2 Bg4 11. Qc2 Bd7 12. f6? 20. Bxg6! f5 21. Bh5 Qe7 22. e6 Nxb4 23. axb4 Ba4 24. Qd2 Bxb3 25. Qxh6 Rf6 26. Bf7+ Kh8 27. Qh4 1-0 Stehno,P-Svoboda/Svetla nad Sazavou 1994)
9... Nd7 (9... Ne4!? 10. a3! (10. Qa4!? Qd7!? (10... Bd7? 11. a3)
11. e6! fxe6 12. Ne5 Qd6 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Bxc6+ Kf7 15. Bxa8 (15. a3!?)
15... Ba6+ 16. Kg1 Rxa8 17. Be3 and Black does not have sufficient compensation for the Exchange)
10... Ba5 11. Qa4 (11. Bxc6+ bxc6 12. Qa4 Bb6 13. Qxc6+ Qd7 14. Qxa8? )
11... Qd7 12. e6 fxe6 13. Ne5 Qd6 14. Bxc6+ bxc6 15. Qxa5)
10. a3 Ba5 11. b4 Bb6 12. Nc3! Qe6 (12... )
13. Ng5 Qg6 14. Bd3! f5 15. exf6 Qxf6 16. Nxd5 with a winning attack.
10. Bxc6+?!
This is standard in these lines, but really unnecessary here, especially when the pawn at d5 is a potential target and the exchange at c6 helps to bolster Black's center. The best idea is to attack the d5 pawn directly and work up play on the dark squares long term, exploiting the fact that Black's dark-squared Bishop is completely out of play.
a) 10. Nc3! Be6 11. Re1 and Black's compensation for the pawn is insufficient.
b) 10. Qb3 Be6 11. Nc3 Rd8 12. Qa4 Qd7 13. Be3
10... bxc6 11. Qc2 Qe6 12. Be3 Qg6 13. Nbd2
White can still fight for an edge with 13. Nh4! Qe6 14. f3 Nf6 15. a4! (15. Nf5?! 
)
15... a5 16. Nf5!? (safer is simply 16. Ra3! Nd7 17. f4)
16...
White still has equality by 14. Qxd2 Bh3 15. Nh4 Qg4 16. f4 Qxh4 17. gxh3 Qxh3 18. Rac1=
14... Nxf3+ 15. gxf3 hxg6 16. Rac1 Bd7 17. b4 a5 18. bxa5 Rxa5 19. Rc2
Line E: 6...d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb4+
If your opponent's don't fall into one of the traps above, they will most likely play this move (nine times out of ten according to Jude Acers, and that seems about right in my experience for opponents below 2000 rating). Patzer sees a check, patzer plays a check, of course. The reason the check is not as good as the retreat with 8...Bb6! is because White basically wants to trade his dark squared Bishop, while Black wants to retain his Bishop to fight for control of the key c5 square. Typically in this line, White gets his choice of playing against doubled pawns on the c-file or going for an attack on the kingside by f4-f5. His central control gives him both options.
Game Five
Adolf Anderssen - Daniel Harrwitz [C53]
Breslau m/Breslau (1) 1848
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. c3 Nf6 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb4+
|
9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Nbxd2
This is practically the standard position in the Steinitz-Sveshnikov Attack, reached in most of my games. White has the long term advantage of the doubled pawns on an open file, the better Knight to Black's bad light-squared Bishop, and potential play on the kingside via f4-f5 etc. I like White, even if Black is not without resources.
12.
Eliminating the last defender of the dark squares, especially c5, and leaving a Good Knight vs. Bad Bishop ending.
17... Ng5 18. Nc5 Ne6 19. Ndb3 f4 20. Nxe6 Bxe6 21. Nc5 Re8 22. Qd2 Qh4 23. b4
18. Qxd2 f4 19. Nc5 Qg6 20. Rfe1 Be6 21. Rc3! Qe8 22. Ra3 Bf5 23. b3!
23... a6 24. Rxa6 Rxa6 25. Nxa6 Qc8 26. Nc5 Be6 27. a4 g5 28. a5 Re8 29. a6 Qb8 30. Ra1 Qa7 31. Qb4 Kf7 32. Qb7 Qb6 33. a7 Qxb7 34. Nxb7 Ra8 35. Nd8+!? Ke7 36. Nxe6 Kxe6 37. b4
|
Black will eventually succumb to zugzwang or a kingside invasion by White's King. White plays Ra6 followed by either g3 or h4!? A great illustration of White's control of the dark squares and queenside ideas.
1-0Game Six
Anyone who studies this line would do well to focus on the games of Evgeny Sveshnikov.
Evgeny Sveshnikov - Sergei Azarov [C53]
RUS-Cup/Minsk (7) 2000
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Nbd2
1-0
Game Seven
goeller - Moby-Dick [C53]
ICC 5 0 u/Internet Chess Club 2007
The following 5-minute game, while imperfect, illustrates several very interesting themes in the Giuoco Piano: transpositions to superior endings of Bad Bishop versus Knight; the "protect-take" trick that you have to watch out for; play on both the kingside and queenside due to White's control of the center; and how to build up a powerful kingside attack with the spearhead at e5.
1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Nxd2 10. Nbxd2 Bd7!?
This stops the doubled pawns, but the Bishop is passive here. White has to watch out, however, for the "protect-take" combo ...Nxe5!
12... Ba5
12... Bxd2 13. Bxc6 (13. Qxd2? Nxe5! is the protect-take)
13... Bxc6 14. Qxd2 The Knight is much better than the Bishop and White has prospects of a kingside attack via f4-f5 (the Knight can get out of the way via Ne1-d3 perhaps) or pressure on the c-file and the queenside pawns (Nc5 invites ...b6 weakening the c7 pawn).
14. Bxc6 Bxc6 yields Black the two Bishops versus two Knights and therefore gives him some long-term chances, though the position is about balanced due to White's spatial superiority.
14... Bxc5
I had not sufficiently considered the protect-take again here, though White seems to emerge from the complications with a slight edge: 14... Nxe5! 15. Nxb7 Qb8! (15... Qc8 16. Bxd7 Nxd7 17. Nc5 Nxc5 18. dxc5 Bxc5 19. Qxd5)
16. Bxd7 (16. Ba6!?)
16... Nxd7 17. Nc5 Bxc5 (17... Nxc5 18. dxc5 Bxc5 19. Qxd5)
18. dxc5 Qxb2 19. Qxd5 Nf6 20. Qc6
15. dxc5?
15. Bxc6 Bxc6 16. dxc5 is a typical Good Knight versus Bad Bishop, where White's Knight goes to d4 and supports play on both the kingside and queenside.
15... Ne7?
Black misses his best chance for the protect-take combo: 15... Nxe5! 16. Bxd7 Nxf3+ (16... Nxd7? 17. Qxd5)
17. Qxf3 Qxd7 18. Rad1 c6
16... c6 17. Nd4! (17. Bxh7+?? Kxh7 18. Ng5+ Kg8 19. Qh5 Bf5)
17... Ng6 18. Qh5
17. h3?
17. Bxg6! hxg6 18. Qxd5 simply wins a pawn.
17... c6
17... Nf4 18. Qc2 Nxd3 19. Qxd3
18. Re1 Re8 19. Qc2 Qc7 20. Qc3 Re7 21. Re3 Rae8 22. Rae1 Nf8?!
Lets the pressure off of e5.
23... Ng6? 24. Qd4 and Bxg6, Qh4
24. Nf3 Ne6 25. b4 Bc8 26. Bb1 Qd7 27. Qd3 g6
28. Nd4 Nxd4 29. Qxd4 Kh7 30. f4 Qe6 31. g4 Qd7 32. f5 Rg8?
This makes the thematic break even stronger.
33... Qc7 34. exf7 Rxf7 35. fxg6+
34. fxg6+ Rxg6 35. Qf6 Reg7 36. Rxe6 Qxe6 37. Rxe6 Bxe6 38. Qxe6
Black resigns. The conclusion might go 38...h5 (the only way to stop Kh1! followed by h4-h5 winning a whole Rook) 39.g5! followed by h4, Bd3, and then King moves until Black is in total zugzwang.
1-0Game Eight
goeller - Moby-Dick [C53]
ICC 5 0 u/Internet Chess Club 2007
1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2!
9. Nbd2 )
10... Bxd2 11. Bxd2 Bg4 12. Be3=
9... Nxd2
9... Bxd2+ 10. Nbxd2 (10. Nfxd2!?)
10...
10... fxe5? 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. Nxe5
12... Rb8! 13. Qxc6+ (13. and Black has some compensation for the pawn due to the two Bishops.
13... Bd7 14.
15... f6
16... Qf7 17. Qxc6 fxe5 18. dxe5 Rae8 19. Rae1
17. f4?!
17. e6! f5 18. f3 Bh5 19. Rae1 is even stronger.
18... Qg6! gives Black more counterplay than he would have without the exchange of center pawns.
21. Nd7! Rxb2 22. Rf8+ (22. Qxc6!)
22. e7! Qxe7? (22... Rb8 23. Rf8+) 23. Qa8+
22... Rxa2 23. e7 Re2 24. Rf8+ Qxf8 25. exf8=Q+ Kxf8 26. Qf4+
Black resigns
1-0Game Nine
William Steinitz - Emanuel Lasker [C53]
World Championship 05th/USA/CAN (4) 1894
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4 Be7 9. Nc3
Line F: 6...d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6!
This is the best line and equal with best play. But the first game by Ni Hua shows that White is not without chances of getting an interesting attack going!
Game Ten
Ni Hua (2641) - Mihail Marin (2551) [C53]
50th It/Reggio Emilia ITA (9) 2008
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb6
|
9. Nc3
11. Bxc6?! bxc6 12. Qa4 Bd7 Marin(12... f6!? 13. Qxc6 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Bxf3 15. gxf3 fxe5 16. dxe5 Bxe3 17. fxe3 Rxf3 18. )
11... Bxf3?!
This move seems a little dangerous, opening up lines on Black's king. But this is exactly what Marin had recommended in Beating the Open Games.
12. gxf3 Ng5 13. Bxc6! bxc6 14.
This is the way to play against 8...Bb6: develop, castle queenside, and throw everything into the attack on the Black king!
14. Qf5 Ne6 15. )
16. f4 f6
Marin.
Sveshnikov had analyzed 15. Qf5 Nh4 16. Qg4 Ng6 17. h4 f5 18. exf6 Qxf6 19. h5 Nf4 20. Rh4
15... Nh4 16. Rhg1 f6 17. Qh5 Ng6 18. Rg3 fxe5?!
18... Re8! 19. f4 fxe5 20. fxe5 (20. Rh3 exf4 21. Qxh7+ Kf7) 20... Qh4 21. Qf5 Qe7 (21... Qxh2? 22. Rh3 Qg2 23. Rd2) (21... Rf8 22. Qe6+) 22. h4
19... Kf7 20. dxe5! (20. Qxh7 Rh8 21. Rf3+ Nf4 22. Qc2)
20. Rg1! exd4 21. Qxh7+ Kf7 22. Rxg6 Qxg6 23. Rf3+ Qf6 24. Rxf6+ Kxf6 25. Qh4+<
