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

Book Seven

How to Play the e-pawn Openings

Evans Gambit

The Evans is a brilliant offshoot of the Giuoco Piano, wherein White sacrifices a pawn in order to obtain open lines and gain time to form a strong pawn center. The attack can become extremely vehement and calls for really resourceful play on the defender’s part.

(a) Evans Gambit Accepted

Evans Gambit

White - Black

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 (D)

Position after 4.b4

White offers a pawn sacrifice which may involve many pitfalls, prepared variations, and tricky analysis. Black does well to choose a simple defense.

4…Bxb4 5.c3 Be7!

The old defense 5…Bc5 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 Bb6 8.0-0 d6 leaves White with a strong lead in development after 9.Nc3.

6.d4 Na5!

Guarding against 7.Qb3.

7.Bd3

Or 7.Nxe5 Nxc4 8.Nxc4 d5 9.exd5 Qxd5 with a pleasant game for Black.

7…exd4 8.cxd4 d5 9.Nc3

If now 9.exd5 Nf6* 10.Qa4+ c6 and Black’s game is very comfortable.

9…dxe4 10.Nxe4 Nf6 11.Nxf6+ Bxf6 12.Qa4+ Nc6

Black has an easy game after 13.Ba3 Be7 14.Bb5 0-0!, returning the gambit pawn. Note Black’s emphasis on quick development - even at the cost of returning the gambit pawn.

(b) Evans Gambit Declined

Evans Gambit Declined

White - Black

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bb6! 5.a4 (D)

Position after 5.a4

By declining the gambit Black gets a perfectly safe and satisfactory position. Thus he avoids all the complications of the gambit accepted.

5…a6 6.Bb2 d6 7.b5 axb5 8.axb5 Rxa1 9.Bxa1 Nd4! 10.Nxd4 exd4 11.c3 Nf6 12.0-0 0-0

Even game, with this possibility: 13.d3 c6! 14.bxc6 bxc6 15.cxd4 d5! 16.exd5 Nxd5 and White’s extra pawn is worthless.