12 Oct 05
I'm new here, but hopefully that's not that important.
I see this sequence a lot regardless of opening transpositions, but it usually spawns from one of the various Knight openings and/or Italian Game. The most obvious reply is simply 5. O-O, but that of course opens 5...Nxf2 6. Rxf2 Bxf2. If the reply isn't 5...Nxf2 then I stand to gain time with 6. h3 attacking the knight and achieving a king luft at the same time, but in the middlegame I feel it leaves my kingside position slightly compromised.
I know this is a common pattern, and no doubt I can find various resources online that discuss this (not to mention books on Guico Piano, etc.), but I'd like to see what everyone here thinks. Thoughts?
Kind regards!
12 Oct 05
Originally posted by ChesswickCan you post the line again? I think it got cut off in the thread title.
I'm new here, but hopefully that's not that important.
I see this sequence a lot regardless of opening transpositions, but it usually spawns from one of the various Knight openings and/or Italian Game. The most obvious reply is simply 5. O-O, but that of course opens 5...Nxf2 6. Rxf2 Bxf2. If the reply isn't 5...Nxf2 then I stand to gain time with ...[text shortened]... uico Piano, etc.), but I'd like to see what everyone here thinks. Thoughts?
Kind regards!
12 Oct 05
Originally posted by ChesswickWell 5. Bxf7+ works as a nice tactic in this case. 5... Kxf7 6.Ng5+ wins a pawn and stops the threat. If 5... Ke7 then 6. Bg5 Nf6 is forced, and the threat is ended and you've won a pawn. If 5... Kf8 then 6. Bg5 Bxf2+ (every other reasonable move is a retreat that leaves you a pawn up) 7. Ke2 Nf6 8. Kxf2 Kxf7 8. Nxe5 and you're up two pawns.
You're right, my apologies, I should have noticed...
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nf6
3. Bc4 Bc5
4. d3 Ng4
Thanks!
But you can't rely on the above defense. There's a lot of similar situations where it doesn't work. Most of the time you should just castle. Your opponent makes a mistake by playing Bxf7+ Rxf7 Nxf7 Kxf7. Sure, it's 6 points to 6 points, but two pieces, especially in the middlegame, is better than a rook and a pawn. And also think about this. When he gives up his bishop and knight, the bishop had already made 1 move, and the knight 2. He's wasted a lot of time to make an inferior exchange.