1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nf3 Nc6

All players rated 2000 or over play the Two Knights Defense with 4...Nc6; and most players below 2000 grab the pawn with 4... Nxe4 5. Qxd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. Qh4 Be7 8. Bg5 d6 9. O-O-O with compensation.

5. e5 The Modern Variation is White's best hope for an edge against the Two Knights once d4 has been played.

5... d5

5... Ng4 6. O-O! d6 (6... Ngxe5?? 7. Nxe5 Nxe5 8. Re1+-) 7. exd6 Bxd6 (7... Qxd6 8. Na3!~/=) 8. Re1+ Kf8 9. Bb5!? (9. Na3) 9... Nce5 10. Bf4 Nxf3+ 11. Qxf3 Bxf4 12. Qxf4 c6 13. Bc4 Qf6 14. Qg3~/=

5... Ne4!? 6. Bd5 Nc5 (6... Bb4+ 7. c3 dxc3 8. O-O!) 7. c3?! dxc3 8. Nxc3 Nb4!

6. Bb5 Ne4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. O-O Bc5 9... Qh4!? 10. Be3~~

10. Be3

Another game of mine with this line went 10. f3 Ng5 11. Be3 O-O (11... Ne6 12. c3) 12. Nc3 Rb8 13. f4 Bxd4 14. Bxd4 Ne6 15. f5 (15. Bxa7!?) 15... Nxd4 16. Qxd4 Qg5 17. f6 Bh3 18. Rf2 gxf6 19. exf6 Rbe8 20. Kh1 Bc8 21. Rf3 Kh8 22. Qxa7! Rg8 23. Qf2 d4 24. Rg3! Qh6? 25. Rxg8+ Kxg8 26. Qxd4 c5 27. Qf2 Bb7 28. Qg3+ Kh8 29. Qg7+!? Qxg7 30. fxg7+ Kxg7 31. Kg1 Re6 32. Rd1 Rg6 33. g3 h5 34. Kf2 h4 35. Rd7 hxg3+ 36. hxg3 Rf6+ 37. Ke2 Rb6 38. b3 c4 39. Rxc7 cxb3 40. cxb3! Ba6+ 41. Ke3 Rg6 42. Ne4 Re6 43. Kd4 Be2 44. Ng5 Rf6 45. Rxf7+!? Rxf7 46. Nxf7 Kxf7 47. Kc5 Ke7 48. b4 Kd7 49. a4 Bd1 50. a5 Kc7 51. b5 Bf3 52. a6! Kb8 53. b6! Be2 54. a7+! Kb7 55. Kd6! Bf3 56. a8=Q+ Kxa8 57. Kc7!+- 1-0, Goeller-Napoli, Hillside at West Orange 1986

10... O-O?!

10... Qe7! 11. Re1~~ 10... Bb6!? 11. Nd2+/=

11. f3 Ng5 12. f4 Ne4 13. Nd2 Qe7?

13... Nxd2 14. Qxd2 Qe7 15. Qc3+/= xc5

14. Nxe4! dxe4

Black's bad pawns give him grief.

15. Qe1!

Dominating the dark squares and threatening Nb3 and Qc3 with complete control of c5.

15... Kh8?! 15... Bb6!? 16. Nb3 Bxe3+ 17. Qxe3 f5

The only way to defend the pawn at e4.

18. Qc5! Qf7

18... Qxc5+ 19. Nxc5 Bc8 20. Kf2+/- hands White what should be a winning ending since the powerful Knight at c5 completely dominates the Bishop at c8 and Black's pawns are permanently compromised.

19. Rad1 g5?

Desperate measures. Black strives for some kingside counterplay before White's position is overwhelming. 19... Rfb8 20. Rf2 Be6 21. Qxc6+/-

20. fxg5 Rg8 21. e6!

A thematic counter-sacrifice to open up lines.

21... Bxe6

Not 21... Qxe6?? 22. Qc3+ Rg7 23. Nc5

22. Nd4 Rae8 23. Nxf5 Bxf5 24. Rxf5 Qg7 25. Qxc6 25. b3 25... Qxb2 26. Qf6+! Qxf6 27. gxf6 Rgf8 28. Rd7 White's goal is now to invade the 7th. 28... Re6 29. Rh5 Rfxf6 30. Rhxh7+ Kg8 31. Rdg7+ Kf8 32. Rxc7+- 1-0 [Michael Goeller]