The Italian game III

Giuoco Piano and Evans' Gambit (continued)
File Contents
Evans' Gambit with 5... Ba5
t+lDj+sT
XxXx+xXx
-+s+-+-+
L-+-X-+-
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p+-P-PpP
RnBqK-+r
File in PGN Format

This is the best line.

6. d4 d6

Lasker's Defence, which led to some disillusionment with the Gambit.

7. Qb3

t+lDj+sT
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Black has three tries here, but only the last is trustworthy:

Lasker's Defence with 7... Qe7

7... Qe7

t+l+j+sT
XxX-DxXx
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L-+-X-+-
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p+-+-PpP
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The trouble with this move is that the Nc6 has no good retreat, and must advance. This leads to trouble. The game might go:

8. d5 Nd4 9. Nxd4 exd4 10. Qa4+ Kd8 11. Qxa5 Qxe4+ 12. Kd2 Qxg2 13. Re1 Nf6 14. Bd3 Qxf2+ 15. Re2 Qg1

16. Na3 Bg4 17. Bb2 dxc3+ 18. Bxc3 Qb6 19. Bxf6+ gxf6 20. Qc3 Kd7 21. Bb5+ c6 22. dxc6+ bxc6 23. Bxc6+ Kd8 24. Qxf6+ Kc7 25. Re7+ Kxc6 26. Rc1+ Qc5 27. Rxc5+ Kxc5 28. Qc3+ Kb6 29. Qb4+ Kc6 30. Qb5#

t+-+-+-T
X-+-Rx+x
-DjX-Q-+
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N-+-+-+-
p+-K-+-P
+-R-+-+-


t+lDj+sT
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p+-+-PpP
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Lasker's Defence with 7... Nxd4

7... Nxd4

t+lDj+sT
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8. Nxd4 exd4 9. Bxf7+ Kf8 10. O-O dxc3 11. e5 Qe7

t+l+-JsT
XxX-DbXx
-+-X-+-+
L-+-P-+-
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+qX-+-+-
p+-+-PpP
RnB-+rK-
If White consolidates, Black's lost King will die.

12. Bxg8 Rxg8 13. exd6 Qe5 14. Na3 Be6 15. Qxb7 Bd5 16. Qb5 Bb6 17. Nc4 Qe4 18. Ne3

t+-+-Jt+
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This move holds the game for White.

18... Bc6

[18... Bxe3 19. fxe3+ Bf7 20. dxc7]

19. Qb3 cxd6 20. Ba3 g6 21. Rad1 Kg7 22. Qxc3+ Kh6 23. Bc1 Kh5

t+-+-+t+
X-+-+-+x
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p+-+-PpP
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24. Nd5

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Lasker's Defence with 7... Qd7

This is the only satisfactory line.

7... Qd7

covers f7
t+l+j+sT
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Now as far as I can find out the best try for White here is:

8. dxe5!

t+l+j+sT
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Now Black has:

    CI: 8...dxe5

    CII: 8...Bb6

Variation CI: 8... dxe5

t+l+j+sT
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9. O-O Bb6 10. Rd1 Qe7 11. a4 a6

    [11... a5 is less safe:

    12. Bd5 Bg4 13. Rd3 Be6 14. Ba3


t+-+j+sT
+xX-DxXx
-Ls+l+-+
X-+bX-+-
p+-+p+-+
BqPr+n+-
-+-+-PpP
Rn+-+-K-

    +- Shaposhnikov-Veltmander 1958]


12. Ba3 Qf6
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13. a5 Bxa5 14. Bd5 Bb6 15. Nbd2 Nge7 16. Nc4 Ba7 17. Rd2 8/=

With enough compensation for the material, according to Estrin.

t+l+j+sT
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p+-+-PpP
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Variation CII: 8... Bb6

t+l+j+sT
XxXd+xXx
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p+-+-PpP
RnB-K-+r
This may be the best line for Black.

9. Bb5 a6 10. Ba4 Qe6 11. Bxc6+ bxc6 12. O-O Rb8 13. Qxe6+ fxe6 14. exd6 cxd6 15. Ba3

-Tl+j+sT
+-+-+-Xx
xLxXx+-+
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-+-+p+-+
B-P-+n+-
p+-+-PpP
Rn+-+rK-
+=

In this endgame, White has a slight advantage, according to Estrin.

Appendix
1. Why is it called "Italian"?

The play most characteristic of the late 1700s and later was dominated by the style of the Italian MODENESE SCHOOL - Italian players and writers like DEL RIO, LOLLI and PONZIANI, through whom the Italian Game (Guioco Piano and related openings) came into prominence. Fast development followed by attack was the name of the game, and beyond this it is difficult to see much theory at all; players were concerned with direct attack - to mate, or lose gloriously in the attempt. From this period we inherit all the older tactical variations of the King's Gambit and Guioco Piano, where sacrifices were common and their acceptance almost routine. This period should not be though of as artless - it produced legions of fine analysts and several games of genius, and much was learned about the art of attack.

Sadly, when players learned to decline or return sacrificed material, a lot of the steam went out of these openings. e.g. an old line of the Danish Gambit goes 1 e4, e5; 2 d4, exd4; 3 c3, exc3; 4 Bc4, cxb2; 5 Bxb2. If Black clings to the material White will have a good time, but MIESES showed 5...d5; 6 Bxd5, Nf6 secures open lines and probably the two Bishops. The best line for White here is probably 7 Bxf7+ Kxf7; 8 Qxd8, Bb4+ 9 Ke2, Rxd8 when Black has no extra material but can play to win the ending with the Queen's-side majority. Technique was replacing romance in chess.

The play of the American Paul MORPHY brought some additional science to all this, not that everyone recognised it at the time. Through his games he showed that a successful attack must be based on a lead in development. Similarly, he showed that a player who is behind in development must not open lines to 'free their position', since these lines will provide avenues along which the better-developed side will attack - instead, they should keep things closed until they have caught up a bit. Morphy's play was the Italian game perfected, and I have used many of his games in this booklet.

Appendix

2. Oh, if you must...
Some ideas for playing
the Giuoco Pianissimo

If you must play the Giuoco Pianissimo, here are some quick hot tips for this line.

t+lDj+-T
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pPp+-PpP
R-BqK-+r
Don't be in a hurry to castle: your opponent may play ...Bg4 (or Bg5) and pin your knight against the Queen. If you have castled you probably won't be able to play h3 (or ...h6) without dangerously weakening your king. Steinitz discovered that the sacrificial idea 6. O-O, Bg4; 7. h3, h5! 8.hxg4, hxg4 was playable for Black in many positions (see below) because of the attack on the King down the open h-file: once the Queen gets to h5 White is finished. Even playing 1.e4, e5; 2. Nf3, Nc6; 3. Bc4, Bc5; 4. Nc3, Nc6; 5. d3, d6; 6.h3 is not advisable as Black may play the standard sacrifice ...Bxh3 at some point, or lever open your king's side with ...g7-g5-g4.

The key question in this line is: how are you going to develop your queen's bishop? White on move six can go 6. Be3 hoping for 6...Bxe3; 7. fxe3 when there is a juicy half-open f-file to attack along. Black is better off calmly retreating with 6...Bb6 or even leaving the Bishop at c5.

The analysts gradually agreed that 6.Bg5, the Canal Variation, is the best move. One line of this goes 6...h6; (this is OK for Black before castling) when the main line goes 7.Bxf6, Qxf6; 8.Nd5, Qd8. White has given up the Bishop pair to achieve a bit of initiative. [There is a hairy line with 6.Bg5, h6; 7.Bxf6, Qxf6; 8.Nd5, Qg6!? 9.Nxc7+ which is supposed to be poor for Black if White plays 9.Rg1 instead, but White has to prove it!] Other ways to play for Black are to hit the other bishop with 6...Na5 (as in the final game) or to play himself 6...Be6.

in the Canal Variation: to emphasise the pin on the Nf6, if you're allowed, with moves like Nd5, and otherwise threaten to give Black doubled, and therefore weak, f-pawns. I played a miniature with this theme at the British Universities' Congress some years ago:


Regis (Exeter) - Orpwood
(Salford), 1987

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d3 Bb4 5. Nge2 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Bg5 Na5 8. Bxf6! gxf6 9. Nd5 Bc5 10. b4 Nxc4 11. dxc4 c6 12. bxc5 cxd5 13. cxd5 dxc5

t+lD-Tj+
Xx+-+x+x
-+-+-X-+
+-XpX-+-
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p+p+nPp+
R-+q+rK-
14. Ng3 Kh8 15. Qh5 Qd7? 16. Qh6 Qd6 17. Nh5 Rg8 18. Nxf6 Rg7 19. Qxg7+ 1-0

(Ne8+ will leave White a rook ahead)

Again in the Canal Variation: move the Nc3 to e.g. d5 and play for c3 and d4 with a central space advantage. The knight on c3 can relocate to e3...

Try to open up the f-file with f4: this will require you to play Be3 to stop a check from the Bc5 and to move the other Knight e.g. Nh4. From h4 the Knight can threaten to go to f5 when Black may be reluctant to remove it by ...g6 which will create weaknesses. A Queen's Knight that has travelled from c3-d5-e3 also puts pressure on this square, and if Black does play g6 then Ne3-g4 hits all the soft spots.

And here are some traps:


A trap in the Giuoco Pianissimo

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 d6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. Nd5 Qd8 9. c3
t+lDj+-T
XxX-+xX-
-+sX-+-X
+-LnX-+-
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+-Pp+n+-
pP-+-PpP
R-+qK-+r
9... Be6 ?
    [better is 9... Ne7]

10. d4 +/- 10... exd4 11. cxd4 Bb4+ 12. Nxb4 Bxc4 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Qc2


Another trap in the Giuoco Pianissimo

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Nc3 O-O?!

too early

    [better is 5... d6]

t+lD-Tj+
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6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Bb4 8. O-O Bxc3 9. bxc3 g5

Normally you cannot afford to do this in front of your castled King.

10. Nxg5 hxg5 11. Bxg5 Kg7 12. f4+-

with a strong attack.


One more trap in the Giuoco Pianissimo

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O?!
    [better is 4. c3]

4... Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bg5?

    [better is 6. Be3]

6... h6 7. Bh4 g5 8. Bg3 h5! 9. Nxg5 h4
t+lDj+-T
XxX-+x+-
-+sX-S-+
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10. Nxf7 Bg4 11. Qd2 Nd4 12. Nc3

    [12. Nxd8 hxg3 13. fxg3
      [13. hxg3 Nf3+ 14. gxf3 Bxf3-+ ]

    13... Nf3+ 14. Kh1 Rxh2#]

12... Nf3+ 13. gxf3 Bxf3-+

t+-Dj+-T
XxX-+n+-
-+-X-S-+
+-L-X-+-
-+b+p+-X
+-Np+lB-
pPpQ-P-P
R-+-+rK-
...and Black wins.

Even armed with all these ideas it's really not that good a line to play. I include one last game which is intended to put you off it for life!


Example Game in the Giuoco Pianissimo:
Chambers-Vorhees
(Dayton, Ohio) 1972

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 d6 5. O-O

Too early: invites ...Bg4.

5...Nf6
t+lDj+-T
XxX-+xXx
-+sX-S-+
+-L-X-+-
-+b+p+-+
+-+p+n+-
pPp+-PpP
RnBq+rK-
This is a prime example of how not to play for this position for White.

6. Ng5

Premature.

6...O-O 7. Bxf7+ Rxf7 8. Nxf7 Kxf7

White has snatched what he can.

9. h3

t+lD-+-+
XxX-+jXx
-+sX-S-+
+-L-X-+-
-+-+p+-+
+-+p+-+p
pPp+-Pp+
RnBq+rK-
Well, this does stop ...Bg4, but invites a worse fate.

9... Be6 10. Nc3 Qd7 11. Qf3

Not good enough, I'm afraid.

11...Nd4 12. Qd1

t+-+-+-+
XxXd+jXx
-+-XlS-+
+-L-X-+-
-+-Sp+-+
+-Np+-+p
pPp+-Pp+
R-Bq+rK-
12... Bxh3 13. gxh3 Qxh3 14. Be3 Nf3+ 0-1


File Contents

Evans' Gambit with 5... Ba5

Appendix

A trap in the
Giuoco Pianissimo

Example Game
in the Giuoco Pianissimo:

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