the position i will be analyzing in the damiano defence occurs after: 1. Nf3 e5 2. e4 Qe7 3. Nxe5 f6*
you might ask why black didn't just take the queen with his pony, well the answer is the game i showed just has a funny move order. the most common move order (and by far the most likely) is 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6!! (of course, this is not really a good move, it actually deserves a question mark) 3. Nxe5 Qe7* now whites best move is nc4 (a terrible blunder wood be 4. Nf3??, which changes the result from win to draw. (i am not absolutely positive that the game is drawn with perfect play after 4. Nf3, but in time i will find out. i do know that black has to defend very carefully tho.) the way i see it, it is ekwel to a move that allows perpetual check rather than forcing checkmate, or of course, resigning an easily drawn postition).(postion after 4. Nc4)**now, ironically, blacks best try may be to play for a good position (who would have thought black would be looking for a superior position by playing the damiano defence!) two pawns down (losing a pawn on this move instead of winning one) with 4. ...d5 5. Qh5 g6 6. Qd5 noticce that d5 doesn't lose a pawn after 4. Nf3 cuz the pony is now blocking the queens access to h5
it may very well be that after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6? black is lost with perfect play, but in databases with master games i believe black actually wins some games! (when even a draw shood be considered a good result for black) although the fact that black wins some games is meaningless to theory, it just means white blundered the game away(imperfect play, something ironman31 isnt very familiar with)
so anyways, heres the two positions black has to chose from:
***this one is horrible, as black will have absolutely nothing for his horrible position. i am pretty sure black is lost here
****black is downo two center pawns, but will have a much better position after a probable nc6, be6, rd8, and bg7. whites queen wont find a good square until way later in the game. just looking at the position i might guess black can get away with a draw with accurate play and by keeping white cramped and his options down. i haven't analyzed this very much tho, so dont take a meaning out of my 10 second evaluation. *
**
***
****
for some reason it wouldn't let me post everything togetther, so im putting the positions separate. one thing that is humerous is that black has moved his pony 4 times in a row to get to this position (a violation of the rule: never move the same piece twice in the opening, one might say don't move the same piece three times in the first 5 moves, and Never ever move the same piece 4 times in the first 5 moves, but here white best moves are to move the same piece 4 times in a row!), but he's probably winning.
i believe this position results from best play after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6
p.s. i have a contact who owns shredder classic v1.2 (probably the strongest chess engine) and im having him host a tournament. its a 24 hour game between the computer, and the computer must play this opening. it will be interesting to see the game and result. im going on a missions trip to mexico today (in a few hours, i better get some sleep) so i wont be on rhp till tomorrow (why did i tell u that? hmm i wonder if anyone cares. yes i am drunk.) ill post the game tomorrow and more to come!
--update i have been informed that the computer chose the weaker variation- 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6 3. Ne5 Qe7 4.Nc4 (see? of course the computers gonna play this move 😉) 5. Qe4? Ne3