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Train this openingAbout this opening
White opens the center immediately, before developing a single piece. exd4 is the most played reply here and it is right, because leaving the pawn on d4 gives White the center for free. After exd4 Qxd4 the queen comes out early, and Nc6 hits it with tempo, which is the whole reason this opening is not more popular. Note the scores carefully: Black does clearly better when the capture is taken, and clearly worse when it is declined with a passive move. So take the pawn and then develop with gain of time against the queen.
Plans
- Take on d4 immediately and open the position.
- Develop the knight to c6 with tempo against the queen.
- Follow with Nf6 and Bb4 to develop fast.
- Castle long or short depending on where White puts the queen.
Where the pieces belong
- Knight: c6, gaining time on the queen
- Knight: f6, hitting e4 and developing
- Bishop: b4, pinning and preparing to castle
- Rook: e8, on the file the trade opened
- King: castled by move seven
You develop with tempo against the early queen. If White retreats it sensibly the game levels out, so use the free moves to seize the open files before that happens.
Variations
King's Pawn Game: Philidor Gambit
d6 3. dxe5 Bd7