Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Scribd
Upload
8 views

Chess Openings

The document provides an overview of the Italian Game in chess, detailing its objectives, main lines, and various strategies such as the Fried Liver Attack and Traxler Counterattack. It outlines specific moves and tactics for both White and Black, emphasizing the importance of center control and piece activation. Additionally, it discusses potential traps and counterplays that can arise during the opening phase of the game.

Uploaded by

manitthecuber
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
8 views

Chess Openings

The document provides an overview of the Italian Game in chess, detailing its objectives, main lines, and various strategies such as the Fried Liver Attack and Traxler Counterattack. It outlines specific moves and tactics for both White and Black, emphasizing the importance of center control and piece activation. Additionally, it discusses potential traps and counterplays that can arise during the opening phase of the game.

Uploaded by

manitthecuber
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 17

INDEX

ITALIAN GAME
The most basic opening in Chess and my favorite as White, is the Italian
Game.

Objective
- To gain control over the center.
- To activate pieces kingside.
- To castle and move king to safety quickly.

Ideas
Main Line

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 d6
4. c4 g6
5. d4 exd4
6. cxd4
Now, White has a decent center control over center.

What if 4. c4 Nf6?
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 d6
4. c4 Nf6
Now, White has advantage as he can bring his Knight towards the King
attacking the weak f7 pawn.

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 d6
4. c4 Nf6
5. Ng5
This forks the Queen at d8 and Rook at h8. This means that Black will
lose one of them. This is somewhat similar to the Fried Liver Attack.

If Black tries to block the attack by 5. Ng5 d5, then White can just
take the pawn by 6. exd5. If Black plays 6. exd5 Na5, instead of
recapturing the pawn back, then White can fork the Knight and King by
7. Qa4+ and White wins the Knight as well.
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 d6
4. c4 Nf6
5. Ng5 d5
6. exd5 Na5(?)
7. Qa4(!)
FRIED-LIVER ATTACK

1. e4 e5 4. Ng5 h6
2. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nf7(fork)
3. Bf4 Nf6

White wins either the Queen or the Rook, if Black is unaware of the
attack. However, Black can stop the attack by playing 4. Ng5 d5
(playing d5 instead of h6).
Against this, White can just play 5. exd5 and Black will just recapture
mostly by 5. exd5 Nxd5, also putting an attack on White’s Knight by
his Queen. Here, White has a Brilliant Move- 6. Kxf7(!!). On the next
move Black captures the Knight by his King, bringing his King out.

1. e4 e5 4. Ng5 d5
2. Nf3 Nc6 5. exd5 Nxd5
3. Bc4 Nf6 6. Nxf7(!!) Kxf7
Now, White will attack by bringing his Queen out. 7. Qf3+.
If Black thinks that g8 is safer for his King and plays Kg8, he is gone
because now White has Mate in 3 moves against Black.

7. Qf3(!) Kg8(??)
8. Qxd5 Qxd5
9. Bxd5 Be6
10. Bxe6#

Black can prevent this attack and play a counterattack, called the
Traxler CounterAttack. This is very aggressive and not very famous,
which makes it effective.
Traxler CounterAttack
This is probably the best way to counter the Fried-Liver Attack. With
this attack, Black has a good chance of gaining material up early in the
game, or at least equilize the game’s position after White’s early attack.

Start
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 Nf6
4. Ng5
This is the Fried-Liver Attack(beginning). According to the Traxler
CounterAttack, Black here plays Bc5, allowing White to eventually fork.
White goes Nxf7. Then Black plays Bxf2+(!!), sacrificing the Bishop,
trying to take the King out.

So, now let’s discuss the main line, i.e., if the King takes the Bishop.
Main Line(6. Kxf2)
1. e4 e5 4. Ng5 Bc5
2. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nxf7 Bxf2+(!!)
3. Bc4 Nf6 6. Kxf2 Nxe4+
Now, from here White King has 6 squares to move but only 2 keep it
safe; the other four lead to White’s immediate loss.

Line 1 (7. Kf3)


7. Kf3 Qf6+(!!)
(This is the only line in which Black plays Q to f6 and not to h4. In the
other 5 variations, Black plays Qh4+)
Knight Sacrifice to bring the King out at the center.
If Kxe4:
8. Kxe4 Qf4+
If Kd5, then Qd4 is a humiliating checkmate. So, Kd3 is almost forced.
9. Kd3 Qd4+(fork)
10. Ke2 Qxc4+(fork)
11. d3 Qxf7
Now, Black is up a pawn, with a decent position, ensuring King safety.
After this, Black can easily win after Castling, Knight attacks or Bishop
pins.
If Black doesn’t take the Knight on move 8, it leads to a forced
checkmate.

Line 2 (7. Ke1)


7. Ke1 Qh4+(Key Move in Traxler C.A.)
Here, the best move for Black is g3 because if Black moves the King, he
will be checkmated in either 1 or 3 moves.
8. g3 Nxg3(!!)
Another sacrifice! If Black takes with the pawn, his Rook is gone with a
check.
9. hxg3 Qxh1+
And obviously it is a very good position for Black here as Black is a
pawn up with safe King and a very active attack by the Queen.
Line 3 (7. Kf1)
7. Kf1 Qh4
Qh4 threatens Qf2 checkmate. So, White has to play something like
Qf3 or Qe2 but for both the cases Black plays Nd4.
If 8. Qf3:
8.
Qf3 Nd4
9. g3 Qh3+
10. Qg2 Qf5(!)
If White tries to move his Queen to block check, his Queen is gone. If
he moves his King, he will be forked between the King and Rook.
If 8. Qe1:
8. Qe1 Ng3(!!)
If 9. Qxg3
9. Qxg3 Qc4+(!)(fork)
10. d3 Qxf7+
If 9.
TRAP NO. 1 after 4. c3
The 3rd most played move by Black is h6, which is not a very good
move. Now, White can attack by 5. d4. If Black plays exd4, then White
just recaptures, attacking the Bishop on c5. Black can play Bb4+. White
can just develop his Knight on c3, also blocking the check. Now, Black
can just develop their Knight on f6. White can now attack one of their
Knights; attacking Knight on f6 being better- 8. e5

Black can play Ne4, putting pressure on White’s Knight on c3. White
can just castle, giving up one pawn, after 10. O-O Nxc3 11. bxc3
Bxc3. This launches an attack on White’s Rook. It might seem like
White is not in a good position, but after Qb3(!!), sacrificing the Rook.
If Black takes the Rook by his Bishop, it will be a checkmate soon
against Black as White plays Bxf7+. If Black goes Kf8, then White plays
Ba3+. Black blocks with pawn, white takes it. If Black recaptures, then
White just plays Bg6, threatening Mate on f7. If Black moves his Queen
to protect Mate, White sacrifices his pawn on d6, deflecting the Queen
from the 7th file, leading to Queen Mate on the next move.

Line
1. e4 e5 9. O-O(!) Nxc3
2. Nf3 Nc6 10. bxc3 Bxc3(!?)
3. Bc4 Bc5 11. Qb3(!) Bxa1
4. c3 h6 12. Bxf7+ Kf8
5. d4 exd4 13. Ba3+ d6
6. cxd4 Bb4+ 14. exd6 cxd6
7. Nc3 Nf6 15. Bg6 Qc7
8. e5 Ne4 16. Bxd6(!!) Qf7#

You might also like