ant wrote:
White just goes c3 if Nxb4 and the knight has to go back. It's basically just as if black played Bxb4 then c3 and Bc5 which is bad.
What is c5 such a worse square for the bishop, compared to (main line) Ba5?
Why is Nxb4 never played in the Evan's Gambit?
Sort:
Oldest
Dec 31, 2022
0
#3
Never mind I’m dumb. 4…Nxb4 5. c3 Nc6 allows 6. d4 with tempo, which isn’t possible when the bishop is on a5
Nxb4 is perfectly playable, but not as popular. It's not bad, and I am sure you can produce a novelty since it is a rarer sideline.
There is just nothing to gain from this move order. The position after Nxb4 c3 Nc6 could also be reached via Bxb4 c3 Bc5 which is just an extremely dangerous variation. The fact that e5 is hanging after Nxb4 doesn't really make the line any more appealing.
I agree with Squid
The chess.com opening explorer says that, in the following position:
Bxb4 has been played 2258 times
Nxb4 has only been played 5 times
Every resource I've found on the Evan's Gambit doesn't even mention the possibility of Nxb4. Also 5...Nc6 results in the same position as 4...Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5
So why is Nxe5 so rare compared to Bxb4?