Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...Nc6/2. Nf3/2...f5
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Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
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| Moves: 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 f5 | |
| ECO code: B00 | |
| Parent: Nimzowitsch declined | |
2...f5?! · Colorado countergambit
[edit | edit source]Black strikes at White's centre with a flank pawn. At the cost of weakening their king, they hope to deflect White's e-pawn from control of d5, so that Black may play ...d5 themselves. This gambit is considered dubious, for even though Black can usually recover the material and has two centre pawns for White's one, their kingside is too weak.
3. exf5, accepting the gambit, is the main move, after after 3...d5 White is best advised to allow Black to recover the material, 4. d4 Bxf5.
Trying to hold onto it is unattractive: 4. Bd3!? blocks in the d-pawn (and after 4...Nh6 5. Nh4? e5 concedes the whole centre) though the sly 4. Nh4?! deserves special mention. After the natural move 4...e5? Qh5+! and Black must move their king, otherwise 5...g6?? 6. fxg6 Nf6 7. g7+ Nxh5 8. gxh8=Q.
History
[edit | edit source]Schiller gives 2...f5?! the names Lean variation or Colorado counter, describing it as "fierce" and for "thrill-seekers".[1]
Theory table
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References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ Schiller, Eric (1998). Unorthodox Chess Openings. Cardoza Publishing. p. 313.
See also
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With 2...g6:
With other 2nd moves for Black:
Dutch defence