I'm currently writing a Lichess study on the Scotch Gambit/Two Knights Defence position that arises after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 (or 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6).
I think this is especially worth revisiting because there have been quite a few new developments since I last examined the line in some depth, mainly in the 5.0-0 lines:
(a) 5.0-0 Nxe4 6.Nc3?!, the Nahkmanson Gambit.
Until recently I had rejected this out of hand, but I was first introduced to one of the key points behind this a couple of years ago at my local chess club (6...dxc3 7.Bxf7+, with the idea of Qd5+, and then usually Re1 followed by recapturing on e4). It's not very sound, largely because Black can settle for a one-pawn advantage after 6...Nxc3 or 6...Nd6, so I can't recommend it as a serious tournament weapon. But it has been gaining some popularity at online blitz in particular, where it offers White plenty of hacking chances, especially if Black accepts the piece sacrifice. Thus, in the study that is currently work in progress I have devoted a chapter to this line.
(b) 5.0-0 Nxe4 6.Re1 d5 7.Bxd5 Qxd5 8.Nc3 Qd7!?.
I don't think I have previously covered that line in much detail, but it has emerged as a serious alternative to the main lines (8...Qa5, 8...Qh5). It aims to improve over the 8...Qd8 line (Black probably isn't fully equalising after 8...Qd8 9.Rxe4+). Graham Burgess gave it a good look in his updated version of Chris Baker's A Startling Chess Opening Repertoire. After 8...Qd7 9.Nxe4 White should be no worse, as White can put the knights onto active posts so that they aren't inferior to Black's knight and bishop, but it is trickier to generate winning chances.
The Max Lange line with 5.0-0 Bc5 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.fxg7 is now looking roughly equal with best play, although I'd still rather have White in that line, and it's still looking better than the old main line 8.Re1+ Be6 9.Ng5 Qd5.
Via a search of the ChessBase database, I have also found a new try for White in the main line of the Canal Variation (5.0-0 Nxe4 6.Re1 d5 7.Nc3 dxc3 8.Bxd5 Be6 9.Bxe4 Qxd1 10.Rxd1 cxb2 11.Bxb2 f6 12.h4) which complicates matters and so could be a good practical try for rapid games and especially online blitz, though I still think Black's better with best play in that variation and that 7.Nc3 is therefore not as reliable as 7.Bxd5.
My fresh investigations into the 5.e5 lines are only just starting, so I'll have to see if anything new turns up in those.
I'm curious how you'll improve for White (not necessarily in terms of advantage) on the game Weeramantry-Curdo, David Lees Mem. 2002. And of course how it compares with my own ideas. This variation keeps on giving me headaches due to all the transpositions.
ReplyDeleteDo you know where I could get access to that game? I'm guessing (judging by a couple of your Chesspublishing posts) that you're referring to the line where Black plays ...d6 and ...Be7, an important variation of which can also arise via the Two Knights with d4 (5.0-0 d6 6.Nxd4 Be7). I haven't been able to find that game anywhere. In the ChessBase database the nearest I can find is Weeramantry-Volovich, Somerset 1986. Alternatively, if I look at the ...g6 lines the nearest I can find is Weeramantry-Bisguier, East Parisppany 2008.
ReplyDeleteCoincidentally 5.0-0 d6/Be7 is the subject of the chapter that I'm covering next (before I move on to 5.e5) so your reply may be very well-timed.
I'm afraid you're mixing a few things up. This is the game:
ReplyDeleteWeeramantry,S (2207) - Curdo,J (2238) [C56]
David Lees Memorial Chicopee (4), 13.10.2002
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 Bc5 10.f3 Ng5 11.f4 Ne4 12.Be3 0-0 13.Nd2 Nxd2 14.Qxd2 Bb6 15.Nb3 f6 16.Qc3 fxe5 17.fxe5 Qg5 18.Nc5 Bxc5 19.Bxc5 Rf5 20.Rae1 a6 21.Qe3 Rxf1+ 22.Kxf1 Qxe3 23.Rxe3 Kf7 24.Ke2 Bf5 25.Kd2 Ke6 26.Kc3 Rb8 27.b4 a5 28.a3 axb4+ 29.Bxb4 Rb5 30.Kd4 Bxc2 31.Rc3 Be4 32.Rxc6+ Kd7 33.Ra6 Rb6 ½-½
Thanks for the moves - it is in the ChessBase online database but I have to go forward to around move 13 before it shows up (the database prioritises high level games). I'll be taking a closer look at that variation shortly, but a quick preliminary glance suggests that White's results in this variation have been quite good (it's a line that I've always found quite attractive from White's point of view), and in this game 21.Rxf5 (instead of 21.Qe3) is a possible improvement. Yes there are a lot of transpositions. 7...Bc5 8.Be3 quite often leads to the same position but there are quite a few nuances along the way.
ReplyDeleteAn advantage with the Lichess studies approach is that it's possible to structure it more like an interactive online book, so I'll be interested to see if I can present it in a way that makes it easier to get one's head around the various transpositions and move-orders.
ReplyDeleteI like 15.a4. My database has four wins for White and five draws; no losses.
ReplyDeleteThe precise timing of f2-f3 is quite a problem; White wants to make sure that ...Ng5 is forced, so that the move f2-f4 is for free. This means f2-f4 in one go is inaccurate. Unless White decides to leave the pawn on f2, eg 7...Bc5 8.Be3 Bd7 9.Bxc6 bxc6 10.O-O Bb6 11.f3 Nc5 or 11.Nd2 Nxd2.
Hi, I just stumbled upon your blog. It is great! Is your Lichess study open to everyone? I am very interested. If so, could you share the url?
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ReplyDelete