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Openings dissected part 1: Qf3 two knights

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super12345
super12345
Jul 31, 2009
0
#1

The two knights defense is a very popular defence for black. Although it is a gambit it allows black to take the iniative and play exciting chess. White's main goal is to get black out of "book," thus black's attack won't be as strong.

For those who don't know the possition above is the two knights defence. White has two options the possitional aproaches d3 and d4 or Ng5. I will talk about Ng5. The variation below is then the main line, I will mention when their are alternatives


After this White has three main options. The most common is Be2. however after h6 black has an easy iniative. The other option is Bd3. This is covered in one of videos on chess.com. Look it up it's called Trend Breaking Novelties: Italian game or something like that. The third option is Qf3. As the title suggests I will cover this option and give you the only possible continuation.




I'm going to assume you tried to find the problem but had to click on the solution or help buttons. The line I gave was suggested by Rybka. The lines I am going to give you now are also from Rybka.
Black looks to have many options. I'll give them from worst to best.


Any beginner will tell you not develop your queen early. They also know  to develop with threats. So it would like the following move would work.


The next move is the one recommended by my chess teacher, 2100 FIDE.

The next option pushes the knight off of g5 however this is premature.

The next move on our list of canidate moves has been reccomended by at least one book. However the author must have been trying to trick his readers. Although it looks solid white gets an advantage just like the other moves we've gone through.


A new approach is needed for Black. If your willing to sacrafice one pawn for the iniative why not two?



And finally we have reached the right move.



And here is one more move I forgot about. This is good for white.

So there it is. The Qf3 two knights defence explained with Rybka. I'll have more of these. Make sure to click the move list to see the variations

super12345
super12345
Aug 1, 2009
0
#2

No comments?

Alphastar18
Alphastar18
Aug 1, 2009
0
#3

I think this is better off in the articles section instead of the forums.

Conquistador
Conquistador
Aug 1, 2009
0
#4

8.Qf3 is a weak move for white.

After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Qf3 h6! and black has a strong attack.

Simply 9.Ne4 Nd5 10.Nbc3 cxb5 11.Nxd5 Bb7 12.Ne3 Qd7 13.0-0 Nc6 14.d3 0-0-0 and black is better.

Conquistador
Conquistador
Aug 1, 2009
0
#5

White cannot generate enough counterplay.

SoYouWannaBeAGM
SoYouWannaBeAGM
Aug 1, 2009
0
#6

Why not Bg4 against Qf3?

Conquistador
Conquistador
Aug 2, 2009
0
#7

That is the theory as I remember.

8.Qf3 Bg4 9.Bxc6+

benedictus
benedictus
Aug 2, 2009
0
#8

That's interesting. 8... Bg4 has no games in the Shredder Opening Database. The most common move is Rb8 and the most frequently winning move is Be7.

Steelerrebel
Steelerrebel
Nov 12, 2013
0
#9

f you would like to see the thoughts of a correspondence master on this subject, see http://www.ebay.com/itm/Two-Knights-A-Chess-Killing-Machine-with-an-Emphasis-on-4-Ng5-/271319251507?ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:1123

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