1.e4c52.Nf3Nc63.d4cxd44.Nxd4e5Black chases away the White knight and tries to establish a firm grip on the centre.5.Nb5...White wants to jump into the juicy d6-square with the knight. Normally, we don't allow this - but we have a special plan in the Lowenthal. Black is aiming for quick development and doesn't mind White's plan.5.Nf3A bit passive.Nf66.Nc3(6.Bd3Bc57.O-OO-O8.Nc3h69.Qe2d6!=(9...d510.exd5Nxd511.Nxe5(11.Qe4Nf6)Nxc312.bxc3Nxe513.Qxe5Qe714.Qg3⩲)10.Na4(10.Be3Bxe311.Qxe3Bg412.Rad1Bxf313.Qxf3Nd414.Qe3Qb6=Black is doing fine thanks to the powerful knight on d4. Note how Black is able to keep White from adding pressure to the potentially weak d6-pawn - this is key in the Lowenthal. If White is able to pile up the pressure, then Black could be in big trouble.)Be6(10...Qc7=)11.Nxc5dxc512.Be3b6=Black's position is harmonious and completely fine.)Bb47.Bc4O-O8.O-OBxc39.bxc3Nxe410.Ba3d611.Re1Ng5!White has several alternatives here, but neither will put Black to the test.12.Nxg5(12.Qxd6Nxf3+13.gxf3Qg5+14.Kh1Rd815.Qc5Qh5∓)(12.Bd5Nxf3+13.Bxf3Bf514.Qxd6Re815.Bxc6bxc616.Rxe5Qxd617.Bxd6Rxe518.Bxe5Bxc2=)Qxg513.Bxd6Rd814.Qf3Rxd6?(14...Qf615.Qxf6gxf616.Rad1Bf5=)15.Qxf7+Kh816.Qg8#5.Nb3Nf66.Nc3(6.Bg5Be77.Bxf6Bxf68.Bc4O-O9.O-Od610.Nc3Be611.Nd5(11.Bxe6fxe6=12.Qg4Qe7)(11.Bd5a612.Nd2Rc813.Nc4b514.Ne3Bg515.Bxc6Bxe3!=(15...Rxc616.Ncd5a5=White is controlling the d5-square, and at first sight this position looks good for White. However, White's knight are not really working together as both wants to occupy the d5 square. At the same time Black is enjoying a nice bishop pair while aiming for expansion with the plan g6-f5. There is not much White can do to stop this.))Bg512.c3Rc813.Qe2Kh814.Rad1Ne715.Nxe7(15.Ne3Qc716.Bxe6fxe617.Nd2Bxe318.Qxe3Ng6(18...Ng819.Nf3Nf620.Rd2Qc621.Re1h622.b3b5=)19.Nf3Nf420.Rd2b521.Rfd1Rcd8∞White has some pressure against the pawn on d6, but it is easy to defend for Black. At the same time our active knight on f4 is troublesome for White. Equal chances, plenty of play.)Bxc4)5....a66.Nd6+Bxd67.Qxd6Qf6Black develops quickly and already enjoys a lead in development, even though White has the bishop pair. We are happy with Black here though, as we are trying to establish an initiative and possibly play the liberating move d7-d5 in one go.8.Qxf6...Safe, but not very ambitious.8.Qa3Nge79.Nc3Rb8!A slightly surprising move, but the plan is to free up the b-pawn. White's queen could find herself in trouble here.(9...b5?10.Nxb5axb511.Qxa8)10.Be3b5(10...O-O11.O-O-Ob512.Qd6⩲A dream scenario for White. We cannot allow White such dominance of the d-file and the d6-square with no counterplay to show for it.)11.Nd5(11.Qb3O-O12.O-O-Od613.Nd5Nxd514.Qxd5Nd4!A temporary pawn sacrifice.15.Bxd4Bb716.Bxe5dxe517.Qd6(17.Qd2Bxe4∓)Qxf2⩱18.Qxe5Qe3+19.Kb1Rfe820.Qc7Bxe4⩱Materially the position is equal but Black has more active pieces and could attack the weak c2-pawn in front of White's king.)Nxd512.exd5Ne713.Bc5Nxd514.O-O-OBb7A very complicated position where we have won a pawn with Black, but not able to get the king to safety.15.Be2Nf416.Bg4Ne617.Bd6This variation is not an easy one for Black. White has sacrificed a pawn, but is enjoying pressure against our king in return. Black should look for alternatives earlier, as this is the kind of scenario we want to avoid.Rc8(17...Qf4+18.Kb1Qxg419.Bxb8f620.Rhe1Bc621.Qxa6?An inaccuracy that gives Black a chance to castle. Suddenly Black is the one enjoying the position.(21.g3Kf722.Bd6Nd423.f4(23.c3Be4+24.Kc1(24.Ka1Nc2+)Rc8∞)Nf324.Re3(24.Qb3+Qe625.Qxe6+Kxe626.Re2e427.Bc5h5=Black must create some play here and activating the rook via the h-file is a good idea.)Nxh225.Qb3+Qe626.fxe5Ng427.Ree1Qxb328.axb3f5∞The kingside majority of pawns gives Black fair chances in the endgame here. Notice how the bishop on c6 keeps the position alive - everything is protected and there are no easy entrance points for White.)O-O22.Ba7Qxg2⩱The tables have turned - Black is better thanks to perfect piece placement in the centre. At the same time, the Black queen is gobbling up the White kingside.)18.f3(18.Kb1Qg6)Qg619.Rd2f520.Bh3±Black's king is in major trouble.8.Qc7Nge79.Nc3Nb410.Bd3d5!?Typical for the Lowenthal variation. From here on out the variations get crazier and crazier.11.exd5Bf5As usual, Black is aiming for quick development and doesn't spend time recapturing the pawn yet.12.Bxf5(12.Qxb7!The greedy - and critical - move.Nxd3+13.cxd3O-O14.O-O(14.Ne4!Qg615.O-ORfe816.d6!These positions demand a high level of accuracy from White, but if your opponent finds all of these moves then the variation will turn out a bit better for White, sadly. However, you should not fear this in a practical game unless you are playing a computer.Bxe417.Qxe4Qxd618.Re1f619.Be3Rac820.Rad1Qd521.a3±(21.Qxd5+Nxd522.Rd2Kf7∞Black has some compensation for the missing pawn here with a perfectly placed knight..))Qd6∞)(12.O-OO-O13.Bxf5Nxf514.Ne4(14.Qxb7Rab815.Qd7Nxc216.Rb1Nb4(16...Na3?17.bxa3Rxb118.Nxb1)17.Rd1Qg618.Be3Rfd819.Qa4Nh4(19...Nxe320.fxe3Nc221.Qe4Qxe422.Nxe4Nxe3(22...f5)23.Rd3Nc2∓(23...Nxd524.Rbd1))20.g3Nf3+21.Kg2Qg422.h3Nh4+23.Kh2Nf3+24.Kg2Nh4+=)Qg615.c3(15.Qc4Nd416.Qxb4Qxe417.f3(17.c3a518.Qc5Rfc8(18...Nc219.f3(19.Rb1Ne1)Qd320.Rb1Rfd821.Bg5Rxd522.Qf2h623.Rfc1hxg524.Qxc2Qe3+25.Qf2Qxf2+26.Kxf2Rd2+27.Kg3f5⩱...with a superior endgame thanks to the active rook on the second rank.))Ne2+)Nxd5)Nxf513.Qxb7Nxc2+14.Kd2O-O!15.Kxc2Rab8(15...Qg6)16.Qd7Rfd817.Qa4Nd4+18.Kd3Qg6+19.Ke3Rb4!!20.Qxb4(20.Qa5Rdb821.Re1Qxg2-+White is completely busted here.)Nc2+8.Qd1The most common - and safest - move.Qg6Attacking the e4-pawn while keeping an eye out for the g2-pawn.9.Nc3d5!?Offerspill (sacrificial play)! In this variation it is essential to have an attacking mind-set. Hence, sacrificing some pawns to get developed is not a real worry for us here. The following positions are often very messy and could be a good practical weapon in rapid and blitz.(9...Nf6!?10.Qd6Ng411.Qxg6hxg612.h3Nb413.Bd3d614.O-ONxd315.cxd3Nf616.Be3Be617.d4O-O18.f3Rfc819.d5Bd7∞)10.Nxd5(10.exd5Nd411.Bd3Qxg212.Be4(12.Rf1?Nf3+13.Ke2Bg4-+Hvit har blitt tatt med buksene nede.)Qh313.Be3Bg414.Qd2Nf6(14...Nf3+15.Bxf3Bxf316.Rg1Qxh217.Ne2Nf618.Rxg7Nxd5∓)15.Bxd4exd416.Qxd4O-O∓White's king is out and about and now Black can activate both rooks. The attack looks powerful.)Qxe4+11.Be3(11.Qe2?Qxd5)(11.Be2Nd412.Nc7+Ke713.Be3(13.Kf1Nxe214.Qxe2(14.Nxa8Bh3(14...Nxc115.Rxc1Bh316.f3Qf417.gxh3Nf618.Nb6Rd819.Qe1(19.Qe2?Qxc1+)Qxf3+20.Kg1Qf421.Rd1Qg5+22.Kf1Qf5+23.Kg1Qg5+=A crazy repetition of moves.)15.gxh3Nxc116.f3!)Qxe2+15.Kxe2Bg4+(15...Rb8=)16.f3Rc817.Nd5+Ke618.c4!(18.fxg4Kxd5⩱19.c3Ke6)Bf5(18...Rxc419.Ne3)19.Nb6Rd8=)(13.Nxa8?Too greedy!Qxg214.Rf1Bf515.Bd3(15.Qd2Nxc2+16.Kd1Nf6)Nf3+16.Ke2Bg4-+)Nxc2+14.Kf1Nxe3+15.fxe3Bh316.Nd5+Kf817.Bf3Qc4+18.Be2Qe419.Bf3Qc4+=)Nd412.Nc7+Ke713.Nxa8(13.Rc1Bg414.Qd3(14.Qd2Rd815.f3Bxf316.Bd3Qg417.Bxd4Qxd418.gxf3Nf619.Kf1Rd720.Nxa6bxa6∞)Qxd315.Bxd3Rd816.O-O(16.h3Bh517.f4exf418.Bxf4Bg619.Bxg6hxg620.Kf2Nf621.Rhe1+Kf822.c3Nc6∞23.Rcd1Rxd124.Rxd1Ke725.Bd6+Kd726.Bf4+Ke7=)Kd617.c3Ne2+18.Bxe2Bxe219.Rfe1Bd320.Bb6Nf621.Nxa6(21.Ba5Rc822.Rcd1e423.f3Kc624.fxe4Bxe4)bxa622.Bxd8Rxd8⩱)Nxc2+14.Kd2(14.Ke2?Bg4+15.f3(15.Kd2Bxd1)Qxe3#)Nxe3!Don't get too greedy here. Remember that if we are sloppy White could turn the tables with a counterattack against our own king.(14...Nxa115.Bc5+)15.fxe3Nf616.Ke1Qxe3+?(16...Qh4+!17.g3Qe418.Qc1(18.Rg1Qxe3+The difference is that now the rook on g1 hangs.)Qxh119.Qc7+Bd720.Qxe5+Kf821.Rd1Qc622.Rd6Qc1+23.Rd1Qc6∞The game goes on, but the evaluation is quite equal here. However, there is a lot of unbalance in the position so there are plenty of chances for both sides here. Black should try to get the king to safety here, perhaps on g7.)17.Qe2Suddenly Whiet has gotten his house in order. The pawn on e5 is a bit weak and the knight on a8 is getting out of jail.8....Nxf69.Nc3Nb410.Bd3...10.Kd1Ng411.Be3Nxe3+12.fxe3d613.a3Nc614.Nd5O-O15.Nb6Rb816.Bc4⩲White is pretty happy here, even with a slightly crippled pawn structure. The control over the d5-square and pressure against the d6-pawn (not yet, but soon when the rooks are activate) gives White a small but stable advantage.Be6(16...Bg4+17.Kd2Rbd818.Bd5(18.Rhf1Be619.Bd5(19.Bxe6fxe6=This doubled pawn is almost always good for Black as it controls so many important squares.)Ne720.c4Nc821.Nxc8Rxc822.b3Bxd523.exd5f524.a4(24.Kd3Rc725.b4Rfc826.Rac1g627.g4!fxg428.Rf6Rd729.Ke4Kg730.Re6b631.c5bxc532.bxc5Rxc533.Rxc5dxc534.Rxa6(34.Rc6A complicated rook endgame. We are far away from the opening theory here, of course, but the following moves are an illustration of how you can save such endgames with active play.Rb735.Kxe5Re7+36.Kf4g5+37.Kxg5Re5+38.Kxg4Rxd539.Rxa6Re540.Kf4Rh541.Rc6Rxh242.Rxc5Rf2+43.Kg3Ra244.Ra5Kf6=)h535.Rc6Ra736.Rxc5Rxa337.Rc7+Kf638.Rc6+=)a5!An important move that stops White in his tracks on the queenside.25.Kd3Rf726.b4!axb427.Rab1Ra828.Rxb4Ra629.Rfb1g530.R1b2(30.Rxb7Rxa4=)g4=It is not clear how White can make progress on the queenside. At the same time, Black is expanding on the kingside with the pawn majority.))17.Bxe6fxe618.Nd710....h611.Be3Nxd3+12.cxd3d612...d5!?A thematic move that gives Black reasonable opportunities, but it could be an uphill battle if White is accurate here.13.exd5b514.O-O(14.a3Bb715.d6Bxg2(15...Rd816.Bc5)(15...Kd716.Bc5Nh5!(16...Rhc817.b4Nh518.Kd2Nf419.Rhe1f620.a4Ne621.axb5axb522.Nxb5Nxc523.bxc5Rxa124.Rxa1Rxc525.Nc3Kxd6=...with an equal endgame.)17.O-O(17.Kd2Nf418.a4Nxg219.axb5axb520.Nxb5(20.Rhc1Nf4⩱)Kc6)Nf418.g3?Nh3#)16.Rg1Bf317.Rxg7Nh518.Rg1Kd719.Kd2Kxd620.b4Ke621.a4Bc622.Rgc1Rhc823.Bxh6Nf624.Be3Ng4(24...Nd5!Black is aiming for an endgame with opposite colored bishops.25.Ne4(25.Nxd5Bxd526.Rxc8Rxc827.axb5axb528.Ra5Bc629.h4Rh830.Ra6Kd531.Bg5f532.Ra1Ra833.Re1(33.Rxa8Bxa8The bishops are blocking each other, the endgame is likely to be drawn.34.h5Ke635.h6Kf736.h7Kg737.Bf6+Kxh738.Bxe5Kg639.Ke3Kf740.Kd4Ke641.Bf4Bf342.Kc5Be243.d4Bc4=)Ra2+=)bxa4=)25.h4⩲)Bb715.d6Kd716.f4e417.dxe4Nxe418.Nxe4Bxe419.Bb6Rac820.Bc7Rhe821.Rad1Bc6=Black has a perfect blockade.22.Rfe1Re423.Rxe4Bxe424.Re1Re825.h4g626.Kf2h527.g3Bc628.Rxe8Kxe829.Ke3Kd730.Kd4Bf331.Kc5Be232.Kb6b433.Kc5b334.axb3(34.a3Bf335.Kc4Bd136.Kc5Bg437.Kb6Be2=)Bd135.b4Be2=White is unable to break the blockade.13.f3O-O14.d4b5Black is trying to get the bishop active on the a6-f1 diagonal.14...Be615.dxe5Not testing at all.(15.d5Bd716.Kf2Rfc817.Rac1a518.g4Ne819.h4b520.Ne2b421.Rxc8Rxc822.Rc1Rb8Black should keep the rooks on the board to safeguard the queenside.(22...Rxc123.Nxc1)23.b3h524.g5f525.gxf6gxf626.Ng3±)dxe516.Kf2Rfc8=15.Kf2Be616.Rhc1b416...Rfc817.d5Bd718.Bd2Ne819.g4a520.Nd1a421.Ne3Kf822.Ke2⩲Ke723.Kd3g624.Nd1Nc725.Bxh6b426.Be3Nb527.h4f528.g5?a329.b3Rh830.Bf2Raf8∓17.Ne2...17.Nd1exd418.Bxd4Nd719.Ne3Ne520.a3(20.Ke2Rfc821.a3(21.Bxe5dxe5=)Nc622.Rd1a523.axb4Nxb4Even though Black has a weakness on d6 there is plenty of active play here - as so often is the case in the Lowenthal.24.Bc3Na225.Be1(25.Bd4Bb326.Rd2Nc1+27.Kf1Be6=)Rab826.Bxa5Rxb2+27.Rd2Rcb828.Rxb2Rxb2+29.Kf1Nb430.Rd1Nc2!The transition to the endgame with opposite colored bishops should give Black good drawing chances.31.Nxc2Rxc232.Rxd6Bc4+33.Kg1f6=34.h4h5!=)Nd3+17....Rfb818.d5...18.dxe5dxe519.Rc5Nd7=18....Bd719.Rc7Bb520.Rac1Ne821.Ra7Rxa722.Bxa7Rb723.Be3f5=24.exf5Bd725.g4Rb5=