Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nf6/3. Nxe5/3...Nxe4/4. Qe2
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Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
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| Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nxe4 4. Qe2 | |
| Parent: Damiano variation | |
4. Qe2
[edit | edit source]White threatens the black knight and sets up discoveries along the e-file that Black opened for them. Beginners often err here, but with best play by Black this is a pawn sacrifice with partial compensation.
- The classic beginner's blunder of saving the knight, 4...Nf6??, allows 5. Nc6+ discovered check, winning Black's queen.
- 4...d6? to counter-attack White's knight allows 5. Nxf7! Kxf7 6. Qxe4± (White is up a pawn).
- 4...d5? to defend the knight does not resolve the pin. 5. d3 Qe7 6. dxe4 Qxe5 7. exd5 Qxe2+ 8. Bxe2± (White goes into an endgame up a pawn).
Black's best move is 4...Qe7, setting up a pin of their own after after 5. Qxe4. This is the Kholmov gambit: 5...d6 6. d4 dxe5 7. dxe5 Nc6⩲ and Black wins the piece back at the cost of the d-pawn. Black may not have complete compensation for the pawn, but it offers decent practical chances, especially at faster time controls.
Theory table
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1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nxe4 4. Qe2
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qe2 Qe7 |
Qxe4 d6 |
d4 dxe5 |
dxe5 Nc6 |
+/= | |
| Qe2 d5 |
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+/= | |
| Qe2 d6 |
Qxe4 dxe5 |
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=/∞ | |
| Qe2 | Nc6+
Be7 |
Nxd8
Kxd8 |
+/- |
References
[edit | edit source]See also
[edit | edit source]
With 2...g6:
With other 2nd moves for Black:
Dutch defence