One move a day (4)

1.e4.......e5
2.Nc3.....Nf6
3.Bc4.....Bb4

4. d3

I've not seen this, but I'd quite like to see what happens with 4. Qf3

I prefer Nc6 and only if Nf3 then play Nxe4, im pretty sure its still a matter of taste though. Black doesnt need to fear the frankenstein-dracula variant. ( Even if it sounds scary😛)

White seems content to "gambit" the e-pawn (king on e8 so it's probably recoverable and the tempi are nice) so I say play f4. THe one move I don't like is Nf3 as the continuation Nxe4, Nxe4, d5 which I am always happy to play as black (usually w/o Bb4!?).

Originally posted by zebano
White seems content to "gambit" the e-pawn (king on e8 so it's probably recoverable and the tempi are nice) so I say play f4. THe one move I don't like is Nf3 as the continuation Nxe4, Nxe4, d5 which I am always happy to play as black (usually w/o Bb4!?).

1.e4......e5
2.Nc3...Nf6
3.Bc4...Bb4
4.f4

Black could win the e-pawn with 4. ... Bxc3 5. dxc3 Nxe4 but I think that leaves black too far behind in development. I guess there's also 4. ... exf4 but for some reason I don't like it. I think I'd play 4. ... d6 and get ready to let the light squared bishop out.

I still have reservations about Nf3 due to Nxe, Nxe, d5, Bd3, dxe, Bxe although this leaves the bishop on b4 doing nothing. Nf3, Bxc3, dxc, Nxe, Qd5, Nd6, Qxe5+, Qe7, is probably good for white. However I see no good candidates because in order to realize his advantage I think white must castle. I guess he could also try Nd5!?, Nxd5, Bxd5 but that leaves his bishop open to c6, Bmoves, d5. I guess I like Nf3 best.

Originally posted by zebano
I still have reservations about Nf3 due to Nxe, Nxe, d5, Bd3, dxe, Bxe although this leaves the bishop on b4 doing nothing. Nf3, Bxc3, dxc, Nxe, Qd5, Nd6, Qxe5+, Qe7, is probably good for white. However I see no good candidates because in order to realize his advantage I think white must castle. I guess he could also try Nd5!?, Nxd5, Bxd5 but that leaves his bishop open to c6, Bmoves, d5. I guess I like Nf3 best.

Originally posted by jockmcgee
It's black to move?

Originally posted by jockmcgee
Black could win the e-pawn with 4. ... Bxc3 5. dxc3 Nxe4 but I think that leaves black too far behind in development. I guess there's also 4. ... exf4 but for some reason I don't like it. I think I'd play 4. ... d6 and get ready to let the light squared bishop out.

1.e4.........e5
2.Nc3.......Nf6
3.Bc4.......Bb5
4.f4.........Bxc3

5. dxc3 for the reasons Bifrost outlined. Even if black doesn't go for the pawn on their next move I still think white has a favourable position...

Originally posted by jockmcgee
5. dxc3 for the reasons Bifrost outlined. Even if black doesn't go for the pawn on their next move I still think white has a favourable position...