[Event "Chicken Gambit!: Refutation"]
[Date "2024.06.19"]
[Result "*"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[ECO "C40"]
[Opening "Elephant Gambit: Paulsen Countergambit"]
[StudyName "Chicken Gambit!"]
[ChapterName "Refutation"]
[ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/cj8t331U/kvgmSE4X"]
[Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/TotalNoob69"]
[UTCDate "2024.06.19"]
[UTCTime "10:43:54"]
[Orientation "black"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. Qe2 Nf6 5. d3 Bb4+ 6. c3 O-O 7. dxe4 Be7 8. Qc2 { Qc2 pretty much refutes the gambit, as it takes the queen from the dangerous semi open e-file or g4-d1 diagonal, defends e4, maintains the strong center and the two pawn advantage, plus the threat of Bg5.
Meanwhile Black has a ridiculous bishop on e7, a knight that can't go anywhere and blocked pieces. The best option for Black is c6 to try to undermine the center and make space for pieces. } { [%cal Yc7c6,Ge2c2] } 8... c6 (8... Bg4 9. Be2 Re8 10. O-O) (8... Bc5 9. Bd3 Ng4 10. O-O { [%cal Gf7f5,Gf7f6] }) 9. c4 (9. dxc6 Nxc6 10. Be2 Re8 11. O-O) 9... Re8 10. Bd3 Bb4+ *