Damiano´s Defence

Damiano´s : 1_ e4 - e5 2_ Cf3 - f6....

I feel it´s horrible. I know it. I win almost every game when this defence is played.
In databases the white victory rate is aproximately 82% (with a #% od draws).

But I know Fischer did play it...

Does anyone has something about it? Thanks

Originally posted by hipercandombe
Damiano´s : 1_ e4 - e5 2_ Cf3 - f6....

I feel it´s horrible. I know it. I win almost every game when this defence is played.
In databases the white victory rate is aproximately 82% (with a #% od draws).

But I know Fischer did play it...

Does anyone has something about it? Thanks

Damiano in fact pointed out that after 2.... f6 3. nxe5, White has a near certain win. An unusual case of a defence being named after the person who showed it was not satisfactory.

Fischer played maybe he was five or six years old. It is well known that after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6?! black unforcefully weakens the crucial h5-e8 diagonal where the king would be vulnereable if great care is not taken. I think white can continue normally or better is to take the pawn on e5 immediately.

For if; 3.Nxe5 Qe7 is a good answer to remain at material equilibruim with a slightly worse position for black. But if the knight is naively taken game is over for black by force.

For if 3...fxe5 4.Qh5+ Ke7 (if 4...g6 then 4.Qxe5+ Qe7 5.Qxh8 Qxe4+ 6.Kd1 white wins a rook and two pawns for a knight and a pawn . Or after 5...Nf6!? black doesn't take the pawn but tries to trap?? the queen by Kf7 followed by Bg7 white can stop it by Bh6 at any point so after the exchange of bishops the queen will be freed and white should win even easier in that case)
5.Bc4+ d5 (other alternative Kg6 leads to mate after Qf5+ followed by d4+ and h4) 6.Bxd5+ Kg6(there is no Qf5+ because of d5) but after 7.Bxb7! Bxb7 8.Qf5+ Kh6 9.h4! g6 is the only chance. 10.Qf7 and now white should mate easily 🙂