The Complete Chess Course From Beginning To Winning Chess! (2016)

Book Seven

How to Play the e-pawn Openings

King’s Gambit Declined

By refusing to accept the gambit, Black hopes to avoid prepared variations and dangerous attacks. In general, therefore, the play in this opening is less critical than in the gambit accepted.

(a) 4.Bc4 Variation

King’s Gambit Declined

White - Black

1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5

The key move to the whole situation. If now 3.fxe5?? Black has the crushing reply 3…Qh4+ forcing checkmate or winning a rook.

3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.d3 (D)

Position after 6.d3

Black can try the aggressive but risky course 6…Bg4 7.Na4 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 Nd4 9.Qg3!? with highly complicated play. The following recommendation is safer and simpler by far.

6…Be6!

Even game. Black has nothing to fear after 7.Bxe6 fxe6; while if 7.Bb5 a6 8.Bxc6+ bxc6 9.f5 Bc8 he has two serviceable bishops and the freeing move …d5.

(b) 4.c3 Variation

King’s Gambit Declined

White - Black

1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.c3 (D)

Position after 4.c3

White hopes to build a strong pawn center by continuing with d2-d4. Black must counterattack precisely.

4…Nf6!

Better than 4…Bg4 5.fxe5! dxe5 6.Qa4+! Bd7 (forced) 7.Qc2 and White’s game is freer. Likewise after 4…f5 5.fxe5 dxe5 6.d4! exd4 7.Bc4! Nf6 8.e5 Ne4 9.cxd4 Bb4+ 10.Bd2 Bxd2+ 11.Nbxd2 Nc6 12.d5 Black’s game is very difficult because White’s center pawn position is so powerful.

5.fxe5 dxe5 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 Bb6! 8.e5 Nd5 9.Bc4 Be6 10.Qb3 0-0

Even game, in view of the strong position of Black’s knight at d5. Though White’s pawn center looks formidable, it may become weak later on after a well-timed …f6.