[Event "Stafford Gambit Refutation: Black plays 5...Ne4"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/xPtyfpg1/ksmDqb9j"] [Result "*"] [UTCDate "2022.09.14"] [UTCTime "15:19:24"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C42"] [Opening "Russian Game: Stafford Gambit"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Juggernaunt"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/xPtyfpg1/ksmDqb9j"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 { Here, after White captures the pawn on e5, instead of trying to recapture the pawn back, Black decides to opt for quick development. } 3... Nc6 { Black sacrifices his central pawn, so that, after this exchange on c6, he is having a free game with his pieces ready to be brought into the game very quickly and to develop a rapid attack. } 4. Nxc6 dxc6 { In many other YouTube videos that are supposedly refuting the Stafford Gambit, they're suggesting to you the move pawn to d3, which can hardly be called a refutation. It is a very defensive move and it's more of a way to just keep up the position and not to lose the game. } 5. e5 { It's the most aggressive move White can play in this position. You don't want to defend, you want to attack Black. 5. e5! is the refutation as in most common responses of the main line's of Black, you are getting a decisive winning advantage. } { [%csl Rf6][%cal Yf6g4,Yf6e4,Re5f6] } 5... Ne4 { This is a tricky line. Now you have to avoid d3. } { [%csl Yf2][%cal Ye4f2,Yf8c5] } 6. d4! { Shutting down the g1-a7 diagonal, so that the black bishop can't come out on c5 and create any threats. Now you can continue with Be3 or c3, with a rock-solid position in the center. Also d4 isolate the knight on e4 since the knight has only the g5-square to escape now. } { [%csl Ge5,Gd4,Ye4][%cal Yc2c3,Yc1e3] } (6. d3?? { It looks like you can easily chase this knight away by playing pawn to d3, and this is exactly what Black is hoping for. } 6... Bc5! { Attacking your pawn on f2 with the joint force of their knight and bishop; and, if you accept the knight's sacrifice, then Black is happily taking the pawn on f2, deflecting your king, so that on the next move, Black can win your queen on d1, and its game over. Black is winning. } { [%csl Rf2][%cal Yc5f2,Ye4f2] } 7. dxe4?? Bxf2+! $19 { [%csl Re1,Rd1][%cal Rf2e1,Rd8d1,Ye1e2,Yc8g4,Yg4d1] }) 6... Qh4 { This is the move that Black usually plays hoping for another trick. Now you have to be careful to not fall in the trick by playing g3?? } { [%csl Rf2][%cal Rh4f2] } 7. Be3 { This is the best move, developing a piece and supporting the d4 and f2-pawns. Now Black has two main choices that are: to play Be6 or Bg4. } { [%csl Gf2,Gd4,Yg4,Ye6][%cal Yc8e6,Ye6g4] } (7. g3?? { This is a terrible blunder. Black wins immediately. } 7... Nxg3! { Taking advantage of the pin. } { [%csl Rh1][%cal Rh4h1,Rg3h1] } 8. fxg3 Qe4+ $19 { [%csl Re1,Rh1][%cal Re4h1,Re4e1] }) 7... Bg4 { [%csl Rd1][%cal Rg4d1] } (7... Be6 { Preparing 0-0-0 and trying to justify the pawn sacrifice. } { [%cal Ye8c8] } 8. Nd2 { This is the move that I recommend. The idea is simple, we want to exchange the knight on e4 and then continue with the development. This line is a safe option because avoids any kind of traps. } { [%csl Ye4][%cal Yd2e4] } 8... Nxd2 (8... O-O-O?? { This is one of the most common moves, but in fact, is a blunder that losses immediately. } 9. g3! { [%csl Rh4,Re4][%cal Rg3h4,Rd2e4,Yh4e4] } 9... Qg4 10. f3 $18 { [%csl Re4,Rg4][%cal Rf3g4,Rf3e4] }) 9. Qxd2 O-O-O 10. O-O-O! (10. Bg5?? Qxd4! 11. Bxd8 Qxb2!! $17 { [%csl Re1,Rd2,Ra1,Rd8][%cal Rf8b4,Rb4e1,Rb2a1,Rh8d8] }) 10... Bxa2?? (10... Kb8?? 11. Bg5 $18 { [%csl Rh4,Rd8][%cal Rg5d8,Rg5h4] }) 11. Qa5 { [%csl Ra2,Ra7][%cal Ra5a2,Ra5a7] } (11. Bg5 $18 { [%csl Rh4,Rd8][%cal Rg5d8,Rg5h4] }) 11... Bd5 12. c4 Be4 13. Qxa7 $18 { [%csl Rb7,Rc8][%cal Ya7a8,Ya8c8,Ya8b7,Yd4d5,Yd1d8] } 13... Be7 14. d5! { [%cal Ya7a8,Yd5c6] } 14... cxd5 15. cxd5 Bxd5 16. Qa8+ { [%csl Rc8,Rd5][%cal Ra8c8,Rd1d5] } 16... Kd7 17. Rxd5+ $18) 8. Be2 Bxe2 9. Qxe2 O-O-O 10. O-O { This is a very good position for you. You still have the extra pawn, which is the pawn on e5, and that is a strong pawn. The queen on h4 is doing nothing and, overall, there is nothing to worry about. } { [%csl Ge5][%cal Yf2f3,Yb1c3,Yf3f4] } 10... f5 (10... f6 11. f3 { Wins a tempo. } { [%csl Re4][%cal Rf3e4] } 11... Ng5 12. f4 { You can see that White's position is rock-solid and there is no compensation for Black. White is winning here. } { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gd4e5,Gf4e5] } 12... Ne4 13. Nc3 Nxc3 14. bxc3 $18 { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gc3e5,Gf4e5] }) 11. Nc3 { Simply developing a piece. } { [%cal Yc3e4] } 11... Nxc3 12. bxc3 { Now your pawn chain is stronger and you have a semi-open file for your rook. } { [%csl Ge5][%cal Gc3e5,Ga1b1,Gb1b7] } 12... f4 { Attacking the bishop, but.... } { [%csl Re3][%cal Rf4e3] } 13. g3! { [%csl Rh4,Rf4][%cal Rg3h4,Rg3f4] } 13... fxg3 14. fxg3 $18 { With a winning advantage. } { [%csl Rh4][%cal Gf1f7,Rg3h4] } *