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Evans Gambit
SF 16 · 7MBNNUE
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1e4e52Nf3Nc63Bc4Bc54b4...This is the Evans Gambit. The idea is
simple: in contrast to the Giuoco Piano, where we play c2-c3 and d2-d4 to grab
the center, we give up the b-pawn to turbo-charge our development. Typical
ideas include (a) attacks on the f7-pawn, either with Bc4xf7+ followed by
Qd1-d5(+)xc5, or Qd1-b3 to create a battery with the c4-bishop, (b) attacks on
a loose black knight on a5 via Qd1-a4+, (c) placing our dark-squared bishop on
a3 to stop Black from castling, and (d) various attacks on an open or
semi-open e-file.
4...Bxb4Played about 70% of the time according to the lichess
database!
4...Bb6is seen about 16% of the time. The bishop is short of
squares, so we gain space with
5.a4(threatening a5-a6 and winning the
bishop)
5...a66.c36.d3allows the complicatedNxb4d66...Nf67.d3d67.d3Nf67...Bg48.O-O8.O-OBg4and we reach a pleasant position for
White.
5...Nxb46.a5!Bc57.c3Nc68.O-O!and we will play d2-d4 next, and5...a56.b5Nd47.Nxd4Bxd48.c3Bb69.d4!?with better development and more space.
4...Nxb45.c3Nc66.d4transposes to 5...Bc5 line4...Bd4?!5.c3Bb66.a4is a tempo up on the 4...Bb6 line, and now ifa5?6...a6is slightly better for White7.b5wins at least a pawn.4...d5is mentioned by some on the internet. White should play5.exd5Nxb46.O-Owith a good position.
5c3...[#]5...Bc5You will see this move most often,
about 43% of the time according to Lichess statistics. Now White plays the
thematic
5...Ba5This is the second most popular move at 36%, pinning the
c-pawn to the king. We continue with
6.d46...exd4and now7.O-O, getting out of the pin. White is better developed and ready to
put her pieces on active squares. If Black gets greedy with
6...d6is played
more at higher levels. White's best is
7.Qb3!?attacking the f7-pawn.
Black can go wrong here with
7.O-Ois also good, getting out of the pin
5...Be7is less common at the scholastic level, but it's solid, retreating
the bishop while giving Black the option of ...Nc6-a5. White follows the plan
with
6.d46...exd4[#] most often played, by far7.Qb3!7.cxd4Na57...Nh68.Bxh6gxh69.Bxf7+8.Bxf7+Kf89.Qa4Kxf79...c610.Bb3±10.Qxa56...Na5is played by top
players
6...d67.Qb3Na57...Be6?8.d58.Bxf7+Kf89.Qa46...Nf6?!7.dxe5Ng48.Qd5O-O9.h3
5...Bd6is played about 4% of the time. It blocks the
d-pawn from advancing to free the c8-bishop. White has easy play with
6.d4Nf67.O-Oand ifNxe4?8.dxe5Nxe59.Re1winning material on the
e-file.
6d4!exd4Almost universally played according to the lichess
database.
6...Bb67.Nxe5Nxe58.dxe5gums up Black's development by
guarding the d6- and f6-squares.
6...Bd6?takes the pressure off the
d4-pawn, so we have time to continue development with
7.O-O!
7O-O!...[#] White is better developed and threatens to grab back a pawn with c3xd4.
Black has many choices. Very common is the mistaken
7...dxc3when White has a
simple tactic to gain the advantage:
7...Nf6?8.cxd4Bb69.e5!7...Nge7?!8.cxd4Bb69.Ng5d59...O-O??10.Qh510.exd5Nxd5?11.Nc3!Nxc3??12.Bxf7+Kf813.Ba3++−7...d6when we play8.cxd4Bb69.Nc3and now if9...Bg410.Bb5Bxf311.gxf3!and d4-d5 is a tough threat to meet.9...Nf6?10.e5!with initiative9...Nge7?allows the winning10.Ng5O-O?11.Qh59...Na510.Bd3Ne7when one idea is11.h3to limit the c8-bishop.7...Bb68.cxd47...Na58.cxd48.Bd3Nxc4?9.dxc5±
8Bxf7+Kxf79Qd5+Ke810Qxc5±...and White has a huge attack.