White's 7. hxg4 is supposed to be some sort of epic hideous blunder since after his knight moves (for example) 8. Nxe5, then black goes 8. ... Qh4 and white is toast.
But white can simply play 8. g3 and after 8. ...gxf3 9. Qxf3 material is equal and no attack!!
White's 7. hxg4 is supposed to be some sort of epic hideous blunder since after his knight moves (for example) 8. Nxe5, then black goes 8. ... Qh4 and white is toast.
But white can simply play 8. g3 and after 8. ...gxf3 9. Qxf3 material is equal and no attack!!
I just took a quick superficial look, but in your variation, black has gained a lot. White has not played d4 and created the favorable endgame. His kingside is weakened. Black has a nice open h file, attacking chances (Qd7/Qh3 or such) and no worries at all. Black has not only equalized, he may have a slight advantage, as white's plan is not at all clear. hxg4 is a blunder of sorts, for misplaying white's prospects, but it may not lose by force. * There may be even better moves for black, I just took a quick glance.
Hope this helps.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. h3 h5 7. hxg4 hxg4 8. g3 Qf6 {Threat = gxf3 and Qh6.} 9. Nh4 Rxh4 10. gxh4 Qxh4 {Interesting. The threat of g3 is forcing a perp. Black has Bc5 up his sleeve and Knight out and 0-0-0 or Ke7 with ideas of getting that a8 Rook to h8. Any good?}
Originally posted by greenpawn34 Just one possible line.
[pgn]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. h3 h5 7. hxg4 hxg4 8. g3 Qf6 {Threat = gxf3 and Qh6.} 9. Nh4 Rxh4 10. gxh4 Qxh4 {Interesting. The threat of g3 is forcing a perp. Black has Bc5 up his sleeve and Knight out and 0-0-0 or Ke7 with ideas of getting that a8 Rook to h8. Any good?}[/pgn]
I would try 11. d4, stopping Bc5 and planning 12. Qd3 to defend the third rank. It's not a comfortable position, but I think white can hold that.
When the GM sisters Nadezhda and Tatiana Kosintseva have been paired with
each other in a tournament they will play this game. I think they have re-produced
it 5 times now. (it may be more. I don't know, I have lost count).
But as they are both nice looking no complaints from me.
Originally posted by danilop I would try 11. d4, stopping Bc5 and planning 12. Qd3 to defend the third rank. It's not a comfortable position, but I think white can hold that.
I agree.
But the "holding" over a period of many moves might not be very pleasant for white. So looks like taking and returning the knight inflicts some degree of structural damage to white's position...but at least there will be no 25 move miniature where white gets mated "brilliantly" along the h-file. I can see white moving his king up and shifting his own rook to the h-file in some lines.
Knight sac in Ruy Lopez Exchange variation
04 Jul '12 16:22
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