Video introduction by GM Karsten Müller
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Martin Breutigam: "A simple plan"
(King's Gambit C34: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Sf3 Se7)
The German chess coach and Bundesliga player Martin Breutigam recommends the move 3...Ne7 against the King's Gambit to you.
There is much less to learn here than in the main line with 3...g5. Moreover, 3...Ne7 is not only in vogue these days but it also has the best statistics!
White usually replies with 4.d4 or 4.Bc4 - but according to Breutigam in both cases it is the white player who must struggle to equalize the game.
In contrast, the black setup is "amazingly simple"!
Click here to load an extract from CBMagazine 156 (pdf format)..,
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Opening surveys
Georgiev,V: Budapest Gambit A52 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Lf4 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bb4+ 6.Nc3 Qe7 7.Qd5
This principled variation in which White defends the pawn was up for discussion in Aronian-Ivanchuk, London 2013. Vladimir Georgiev not only gives deep insights into the main variation but at several points also comes up with improvements for both sides.
Postny: Sicilian Kan B48 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.0-0-0 Be7 9.f3
If Black wants to attack the white castled position with ...b5 und ...b4, then 8...Be7 is logical (instead of 8...Bb4). After 9...b5 10.g4 according to Evgeny Postny 10...Nxd4 "is the new boom in the whole line". So far White has not found a setup which can cast doubt on the black plan.
Kritz: French C10 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 a6
The unusual move of the rook pawn should be understood as a useful waiting move. Black is hoping that White can still be forced into e4-e5 – e.g. with ...Nf6 – since then Nc3 often turns out to be unfavourable, whereas ...a6 makes sense. Leonid Kritz has a surprising solution for White
Breutigam: King's Gambit C34 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Ne7
Martin Breutigam comes up with an elegant repertoire against the King’s Gambit. The knight is aiming for g6 or – more frequently – after a previous ...d5 it ends up on this central square and from there protects f4. If indeed he does so, White only gains the f4-pawn by surrendering the bishop pair.
Pavlovic: Ruy Lopez C78 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5
According to Milos Pavlovic this variation has become extremely popular in recent years and he calls it the Modern Spanish. The material is divided into lines with and without a4. In both cases White is still is still making serious attempts to get an advantage.
Krasenkow: Ruy Lopez C84 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d4
The variation with 5.d4 does not demand much learning on the part of the player with White, but is perfectly suited to use as a surprise weapon. There are several ways for Black to go wrong and as Michal Krasenkow shows, White has interesting play even in the main line.
Marin: Queen's Gambit D36 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7
Mihail Marin goes into the question as to whether the insertion of h6 and Bh4 can be useful for Black. Yes, is his answer, in the diagram 11...Ne4 works. The analyses prove that White has fewer prospects of an advantage than in the lines without the insertion of the moves.
Stohl: Grünfeld Defence D97 1.d4 Sf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 0-0 7.e4
White likes to meet the Grünfeld Defence with 5.Qb3 and the Prins Variation (7...Na6) is one of the most popular replies. In his article Igor Stohl gives a rough survey of the side-lines and then takes a close look at a few recent developments.
Arnaudov: Tango E10 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.a3 d6
In a three-part article Petar Arnaudov shares with us his specialised knowledge about the Tango. Since the original Tango 2...Nc6 can be strongly met with 3.Nc3!, nowadays play usually proceeds via 2...e6. In part 1 lines with 4.a3 d6 are examined.
Schipkov: King's Indian E87 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3 e5 7.d5 Nh5 8.Qd2 f5
Of course White is not obliged to castle into an attack on his castled position. The usual move is 9.0-0-0, which is also examined in detail by Boris Schipkov. But those who want to avoid the closed positions after 9...f4, should play 9.exf5 right away; that is also the author’s recommendation.
Szabo: King's Indian E97 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.b4 Ne8
9...Ne8 is the start of a very sharp variation against the Bayonet Attack – Black puts his money exclusively on an attack on the king. White quickly gets in c5 and Nd2-c4. He is better placed, but as Krisztian Szabo explains, in practice Black nevertheless has good chances.
