Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e6/2. d4/2...d5/3. Nc3/3...Nf6/4. Bg5/4...Be7
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Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
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| Moves: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 | |
| ECO code: C14 | |
| Parent: Classical variation | |
4...Be7
[edit | edit source]Because Nf6 is no longer pinned, Black threatens to win the e4-pawn.
Any attempt to defend the e4-pawn, e.g. by 5. f3?! or 5. Bd3?!, fails to actually protect the pawn because White's bishop on g5 isn't defended, so Black can simply play 5...Nxe4! and win a pawn (6. Bxe7 Nxc3 7. Bxd8 Nxd1 8. Bxc7 Nxb2 ⩱).
That's why White either moves the e4-pawn to a safe square with 5. e5, or eliminates an attacker of e4 by playing 5. Bxf6. A safe alternative is a transposition to the Exchange Variation with 5. exd5.
Theory table
[edit | edit source]1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7
| 5 | 6 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
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e5 Nfd7 |
Bxe7 Qxe7 |
= | |
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Bxf6 Bxf6 |
Nf3 O-O |
= | |
|
exd5 exd5 |
= |
References
[edit | edit source]- Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.
2. Nf3
2. Other
1. e4 ...other:
2. other
With 2...e6:
With 2...g6:
With other 2nd moves for Black:
With 2...g6:
With other 2nd moves for Black:
2. other:
1. d4 f5
Dutch defence
Dutch defence
1. d4 ...other:
Flank
Unorthodox