4. c3
The Two Knights Defense continues after 3...Nf6 with 4 Ng5 as you said, but 4 ...d5 blocks the attack.
I can now:
0-0: safe but causes no tension
c3: supports a later d4 b4,
d4: offers pawn sacrifice for a lead in development.
c3 is more my style, and I don't understand the pawn sacrifices well. Following in my book is: Nf6, Bb6, or d6.
The position after the move is:
Game 632841
4. ... d6
I'll play d6, because:
1. It prepares for developing my bisshop (a little plan arises for after this move: 5. ... Nf6 6. ... Bg4 (pinning your knight) 7. ... Nxe4 (in the hope of winning a pawn))
2. It gives extra defence to my e-pawn in case you play d4. (altough dxe4 would than be a better solution since my bisshop is under threat as well)
5 d4
Game 632841
Regarding: 5. ... Nf6 6. ... Bg4 (pinning your knight) 7. ... Nxe4 (in the hope of winning a pawn) Yes, this works, if you can carry it out. I will still play in the center to open up space and to complete my development. White is ready to castle, and is safe from threats.
5. ... Bb6
If I'd take your pawn, there's a chance that a whole list of exchanges will take place on that square, with the result of an almost open d-file and a loss of material. Not a good idea, also this seems a bit too early for me since I am not yet ready to castle. So, I won't capture, and as a result I have to retreat my bisshop, but I keep him aimed at f2 which currently still is a weak spot. Playing d5 in your next move might bring a bit of trouble to my position... The plan I had in mind earlier is put in the freezer for now...
6 Bg5
Game 632841
[Note: these comments are from before the move.]
I want to continue development, with threats if possible.
d5: doesn't look good to me immediately, as it blocks my b3-f7 diagonal, and would force you to move your knight so it attacks that same bishop.
dxe5: doesn't work for either, as it leads to a possibility for a Q-trade without preventing Black's ability to castle.
Ng5: looks good, as it threatens either a Q-R fork or wins a pawn. But this is easily prevented with ...Nh6.
0-0: nice for the usual reasons, but too slow now
Bg5: develops a piece, met with a blocking knight move. I must develop this piece before developing the b2-knight.
6. ... Nf6
I indeed counter the attack on my queen with the developing move Nf6. Other moves (Qd7, Nce7, f6) get me nowhere and slow down my development in which I am already behind. Altough your e-pawn is currently unprotected, I can't attack it, because my knight is pinned. One of my next goals will be now a kingside castle or to bring out my queen's bisshop, pinning your knight.
7 Nd2
Game 632841
I still want to finish development as there are no apparent threats. This leaves Nd2 and Qc2/Qb3/Qe2. d4 is attacked 3x by black and defended 3x.
b4: followed by d5 forces your knight to retreat.
0-0: still good, but I think premature
Nd2: completes piece development, prepares for castling
Bb5: a waste of a move after ...a6
Originally posted by zucchiniNot the best move in my humble opinion. As you see, by removing the queen's defense of the d pawn, it loses a pawn. Also, the e pawn isn't really threatened at the moment, because his f6 knight is pinned.
7 Nd2
Other options for that move would have been:
Bxf6 Qxf6 d5 (not dxe5, Nxe5 and the threat on f7 prevents you from capturing the knight) where your bishop isn't too good, but his knight is truly lousy
dxe5 on the spot, allowing you to prevent him castling after Nxe5 Nxe5 dxe5 Qxd8 Kxd8 or undevelop his knight and win a pawn after exd5 Qxd8 Nxd8 Nxe5
(I haven't really checked those lines over... just off-the-cuff thoughts)
Originally posted by paultopiaYou nailed it, and so did my opponent.
7
Not the best move in my humble opinion. ...
Notice that I counted the attackers and defenders, but only before my move. This is a common mistake for me, and I hope I will start remembering to review the position after the move.
I still find it hard to see the board a few moves ahead without making a mistake. I'm usually good for two moves, sometimes up to five, but at three or more I often make mistakes. But I find that as I play more I am able to see later positions more accurately. For example, for the lines you suggested I had to get out my board and move through them.
Thanks for your advice.
<edit addendum>
I also find it intimidating and somewhat annoying when my annotated games books have one board position every 5-10 move pairs and expect me to be able to follow everything without a board (the jackets often say so). Who can do that? Maybe after I have played thousands of games! In the meantime, I use a board or a program to follow games.
Originally posted by paultopiaI am usually quick to trade Queens if it results in my opponents loss of right to castle (and I am able to castle). I don't think that doing this has ever caused me trouble.
7
dxe5 on the spot, allowing you to prevent him castling after Nxe5 Nxe5 dxe5 Qxd8 Kxd8
Any contrary advice?
Originally posted by zucchiniYou and me both, my friend. You and me both. I break out boards (or the electronic equivalent) very frequently when posting these lines of analysis. Now if only I did so more often in the actual games... 🙂
I still find it hard to see the board a few moves ahead without making a mistake. I'm usually good for two moves, sometimes up to five, but at three or more I often make mistakes. But I find that as I play more I am able to see later positions more accurately. For example, for the lines you suggested I had to get out my board and move through them.
7. ... exd4
d4 is attacked 3x by black, but only defended 2x by white since you moved your knight to d2. So I should be able to gain some material here by capturing the pawn. Otherwise if you played d5 my knight might end up in trouble and my e-pawns defence would weaken. So far, I don't see any other significant threats.
Originally posted by jgvaccaroHope I am not messing the thread up by replying to an earlier post, but wanted to mention that 6.Nxf7, the Fried Liver, is a blunder that allows Black something like equality. Instead 6.d4! (the Lolli) is close to winning by force according to theory.
You would not necessarily have to lose a pawn after 4...d5, 5. exd5-- you can retake on d5 with the knight.
However, doing so allows white to sacrifice his knight for a pawn on f7 and create a dangerous attack called the "Fried Liver" or "fegatello": after Nxf7 and Kxf7, white moves Qf3+ and black's king is flushed out of hiding and is very vulne ...[text shortened]... , I think this situation is far from a death sentence for black-- it just requires careful play.
Originally posted by PetC7What happens after 6. ... f6!?
6. ... Nf6
7. Bh4 Bg4 8. d5 (Forced, I think. After 8. h4 Bxf3, White loses a pawn. Ditto for 8. Qd3. If 8. dxe5 Nxe5! keeps the pressure on the KN and gets the Black knight into a nice central position from which he won't be dislodged easily now that the d-pawn is gone. At the very least, Black can force a series of exchanges to diminish White's first-move advantage) 8. ... Nd7 and Black has a secure (if slightly cramped) position.