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Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nf6/3. Nxe5/3...Nxe4/4. Qe2

Damiano variation
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Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nxe4 4. Qe2
Parent: Damiano variation

4. Qe2

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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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For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

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






+/=
Qe2
d6
Qxe4
dxe5




=/∞
Qe2

4...Nf6??

Nc6+

Be7

Nxd8

Kxd8

+/-

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References

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See also

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v · t · e
Chess Opening Theory
1. e4 e5
Open game
2. Nf3
With 2...Nc6:
  • Four knights ( )
  • Italian game ( )
  • Spanish game ( )

With other 2nd moves:

2. Other
1. e4 c5
Sicilian defence
1. e4 ...other: