Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. a3/2...Nc6/3. b4
| Mengarini Variation | |
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Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
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| Moves: 1. e4 c5 2. a3 Nc6 3. b4 | |
| Parent: Sicilian Defense | |
| Synonym(s): Van Duijn’s Variation | |
Mengarini Variation
[edit | edit source]Black can accept the gambit with 3...cxb4 but the best move is the drawish 3...Nf6, to which the best response is 4. b5.
3...cxb4 used to be the main line and is still often seen at amateur levels. The most common continuation is
- 4. axb4 Nxb4
- 5. d4 d5
- 6. c3 Nc6
- 7. exd5 Qxd5
- 8. Na3!
Now, Black needs to be precise: The natural moves 8...Nf6, 8...e5, and 8...e6 blunder 9. Nb5.
Theory table
[edit | edit source].
1. e4 c5 2. a3 Nc6 3. b4
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Declined | ... Nf6 |
b5 Nd4 |
c3 Ne6 |
e5 Nd5 |
= | ||
| Accepted | ... cxb4 |
axb4 Nxb4 |
d4 d5 |
c3 Nc6 |
exd5 Qxd5 |
Na3 | =/∞ |
2. f4
King's gambit
King's gambit
2...exf4
Accepted
Accepted
Other
Declined
Declined
2. Nc3
Vienna
Vienna
Other
1. e4 other
- Barnes ?
- Borg ?
- Corn stalk ??
- Duras ??
- 1...b5 ??
2. c4
Queen's gambit
Queen's gambit
2. other
- Accelerated London
- Colle
- Levitsky !?
- Amazon ?!
- Blackmar-Diemer ?
- Mason ?
- Zurich ??
2. c4 other
2. other:
1. d4 ...other:
Flank
Unorthodox