[Event "OnlyRapidTraining's Study: Three Knights Sample Line"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/iueIVod8/ptiaEsnj"] [Result "*"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C58"] [Opening "Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Bogoljubow Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/onlyrapidtraining"] [UTCDate "2024.03.01"] [UTCTime "14:15:05"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/iueIVod8/ptiaEsnj"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 { Developing the knight to f3, attacking the e5-pawn and influencing the central squares is the most common way of handling the king's pawn opening and will be the recommendation within this repertoire. } 2... Nc6 { Developing the knight to c6 and defending the e5-pawn is the most logical and natural move in the position. The alternative2...Nf6, leading to the Petroff Defence, will be considered separately in the later part of the course. } 3. Bc4 Nf6 { As mentioned previously, apart from the developing bishop move 3...Bc5, this development of the knight, leading to the so-called Two Knights Defence, is the main way Black can handle the Italian with 3.Bc4. By keeping the bishop on f8 and attacking e4, Black tries to avoid some possibilities such as the Evans Gambit or 4.c3 which is the main recommendation of this course. But the move 3...Nf6 also allows some independent options - most notably the aggressive knight move that will be the main recommendation in this course. } 4. Ng5 { This aggressive knight jump, will be our recommendation against the 3... Nf6 variation. It is the most aggressive options at White's disposal that leads to some fascinating, sharp and mind-boggling variations where both sides need to know very well what exactly they are doing. The nomenclature of this variation seems to be a bit confusing. Apparently, this knight jump doesn't have a specific name, although recently it transpired that many people think it leads to the so-called Fried Liver Attack - which is 'only' a subvariation in this particular line. For the purposes of this course, I have - for reasons I don't fully understand myself - decided to refer to this move as the 'Three Knights Variation'. So, what is the point of this early move, violating the principle of not moving the same piece twice in the opening? Well, the reason is very concrete - attack against the f7 pawn. It turns out Black doesn't have a particularly convenient way of dealing with this and has to undergo somewhat radical measures, which immediately gives the game tactical character. And while this does look like amateur play, it turns out this variation is venomous and playable even at the very top level. It is less popular than the4.d3 move, leading to the Quiet Italian - but it is seen every now and then. Games such as Firouzja - Caruana, Sinquefield Cup 2023 or Praggnanandhaa - Ju, Tata Steel Masters, 2024 are just some of the most recent examples. } 4... d5 { If Black wants to address the threat to the f7 pawn, they don't have a particularly wide array of options to do so. The push of the pawn to d5 and blocking the bishop's diagonal is the 'obvious' way to do it and is by far the main move in this position. } 5. exd5 { Of course, we start by capturing the pawn on d5. Now you might think Black can simply recapture the pawn on d5 and be good to go, but it is not necessarily the case. It turns out that moving the knight away from the pawn to is by far the best reply in this position. While the unexpected advance of the b-pawn is also possible and objectively better then the automatic recapture on d5. } 5... Na5 { this move can be considered the main line of the entire Three Knight Variation - even if5...Nxd5 is more popular according to the lichess database. Black moves the knight away from the attack and dislodges the bishop from the a2-g8 diagonal, dealing with any issues on f7 once and for all. } 6. Bb5+ { A very logical reaction, getting the bishop out of the attack and gaining a tempo by giving a check on b5. We are either forcing Black to move the c-pawn and give up a pawn, or to play Bd7 and reduce the pressure on the d5 pawn - at least temporarily. } 6... c6 { By far the most common move in this position, gaining a tempo by attacking the bishop on b5. True, Black is sacrificing a pawn, but they are claiming that they will get a lot of compensation due to our lack of development and the fact that our pieces are temporarily lacking harmony. } 7. dxc6 { Of course, we are happy to take the pawn. Especially since otherwise, we have to retreat the bishop anyway. Allowing Black to capture on d5 with the pawn and obtain a strong central pawn duo is unthinkable. } 7... bxc6 { This pawn recapture is by far the main move in the position, played in 90+% of the games. Black needs to play sharp and energetic chess and gain a tempo on the bishop on b5.7...Nxc6 is much less common and also meek. After8.O-O it is much harder for Black to prove the compensation for the pawn. Black shouldn't be too considered with minor triffles such as 'pawn structure quality' in such a sharp position. } 8. Qf3 { This queen move will be our recommendation in this repertoire. White gets the queen out, pins the c6 pawn and adds some more control over the light-squares in the center. Just like other moves ( bishop retreats ), this move doesn't necessarily lead to an objective advantage. But it is a good practical move. We are not only inviting Black to sacrifice an exchange. But we also want to play in accordance to the 'scheme': Bd3-Nc3-Nge4-Ng3-Bf5. In many cases, it will be relevant that the queen infleunces the f5 square. Furthermore, it is important to mention that this move doesn't really involve any big risk. True, the lines are sharp and concrete, but even if Black does play all the right moves, we will not end up significantly worse. } 8... Be7 { The text move is very natural and the 2nd most popular move in the position. It was also recommended by S.P. Sethuraman in his Lifetime Repertoires: 1.e4 e5 here on Chessable. Black calmly develops and prepares to play Bg4 on the next move. It is important to note that8...Bg4 doesn't work at once due to9.Bxc6+ when Black doesn't have the possibility of tucking the king to f8 and is, therefore in bad shape. It is also important to note that8...Bd6 is worse since now9.Bxc6+Nxc610.Qxc6+ happens and Black doesn't have a good way of protecting the rook on a8 and the bishop on d6. } 9. Bd3 { An important moment and move to remember! We admit that Bg4 is a legitimate threat and take a moment to remove the bishop from the exposed b5 square. Black is trying to make an argument that including 8...Be7 was more useful than, say, going for 8...Bd7, 8...Be7 or 8...Qc7. It is important to note that 9.O-O is bad due to 9...Bg41 0.Bxc6+ Kf8! when we don't have a good way of preserving the piece due to 11.Qc3 Rc8 } 9... O-O { The most popular and logical move, castling the king and awaiting further course of events. } 10. Nc3 { Another important moment in this chapter. In this specific variation, White should start by developing the knight to c3 instead of castling. It is hard to explain it in general terms - in a very specific and ambitious variation where we play b4, it will be important to exercise some additional control over the e4 square. Most notably, after 10.O-O Bb7 11.b4 c512.Qh3 e4 is annoying, as we don't have sufficient control over the e4 square. } 10... h6 { By far the most popular and 'obvious' move, which was also Sethu's recommendation. Black kicks the knight away and avoids any potential problems on h7. } 11. Nge4 { As usual, our knight is happy to land on e4. Black now has two options - taking the piece or moving the knight to d5. } 11... Nd5 { This 'standard' move, avoiding the knight exchange and preparing f5, is the most popular move in the position - and the move provided by Sethu in the aforementioned repertoire. } 12. Ng3 { Hopefully, by now this idea has become standard. White sidesteps the f5 idea and adds some more control to the f5 square. This is an important position to consider. } 12... Nf4 { More popular, but inferior to the more precise Nb4. Yet, I feel most people who will play sensible moves on general grounds might go for this. } 13. Bf5 { The difference between placing the knight on f4 and b4. Now this thematic move is possible since we don't have any issues with our c2 pawn. Note that White scores 67% from this position. } 13... Ba6 { Less popular, but more tricky move, preventing us from castling for the moment.13...Bb7 is more common, but we shouldn't be afraid of Black playing c5, e.g.14.d3c515.Be4 and we are starting to consolidate our extra pawn. } 14. d3 g6 { This looks a bit uncomfortable - until you realize that we have managed to activate all our pieces and that the bishop doesn't need to retreat. } 15. O-O gxf5 16. Nxf5 { And this position is bad for Black. We have two pawns for the piece, are threatening to take on h6. We can play Re1 to target the e5 pawn, the knight on f4 is also somewhat loose, the other knight on a5 is out of the game and the opponent's king is exposed. The engine gives a solid advantage for White. We think it is very hard for Black to handle this position in practice and we would take White every time. } *