[Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Refutation 2 - 5.f3"] [Black "?"] [Result "*"] [ECO "C42"] [Annotator "Martin"] [PlyCount "22"] [EventDate "2020.12.27"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6 4. Nxc6 dxc6 5. f3 {This strange unlikely looking move is often regarded as one of the main refutations to the Stafford as it stops any Ng4 nonsense and also prevents any Bc5 threats as White can simply play c3 and d4. However, the move looks a bit artificial and Black can react in 2 different ways.} Be6 $5 {This is Jonathan Schrantz' recommendation, it sets a trap.} ({Equally interesting and worth exploring is} 5... Nh5 $5 { Black is threatening Qh4+. This move has been pioneered and played by IM Eric Rosen so you can explore this move as an alternative to 5...Be6!?} 6. Qe2 (6. g3 f5 7. Qe2 (7. exf5 Bxf5 8. c3 {seems logical but after} Bd6 {Black may already be better e.g.} 9. d4 Nxg3 $1 10. Rg1 (10. hxg3 {is no better} Bxg3+ 11. Kd2 Qg5+ 12. Ke2 Qg6 {and Black has ferocious attack.}) 10... Qe7+ 11. Kf2 Ne4+ $1 12. fxe4 Bxe4 {and there is no defence.}) 7... f4 8. g4 (8. Qf2 Be7 9. d4 O-O 10. Bc4+ Kh8 11. c3 c5 {and Black has interesting compensation.}) 8... Qh4+ 9. Qf2 Ng3 10. Rg1 Bc5 {This is Eric's analysis but unfortunately he misses} 11. d4 $1 Bxd4 12. Qxd4 Nxe4+ 13. Ke2 Qxh2+ 14. Rg2 Ng3+ 15. Ke1 Qh4 16. Bxf4 Nf5+ 17. Qf2 {and White should win but the line is scary for White. Given this does not seem to work for Black subject to any improvement, I suggest 6...Be6!?}) 6... Be7 ({or} 6... Bc5 7. c3 Qh4+ 8. Kd1 Nf4 {when Black has good compensation.}) 7. g3 f5 {offers Back some chances e.g.} 8. exf5 Bxf5 9. g4 $2 Nf4 10. Qe3 Bxc2 {winning but White can play better.}) (5... Bc5 $6 { is probably not recommended due to} 6. c3 Be6 7. d4 {and White has succeeded in building the (Berlin) wall!}) 6. d4 $2 (6. Nc3 Bc5 7. d3 {just looks too passive}) (6. d3 {might be White's strongest to build a formidable wall.} Bc5 7. c3 Qe7 8. d4 O-O-O 9. Be2 (9. Be3 $1 {looks better which should give White a clear edge.}) 9... Nh5 {threatening Qh4+ so} (9... Bb6 {maybe even stronger and if} 10. b4 {then} Rxd4 $1 {and Black is better e.g.} 11. cxd4 Qxb4+ 12. Qd2 Qxd4 13. Nc3 Qf2+ 14. Kd1 Rd8 15. Bd3 Qxd2+ 16. Kxd2 Bc4) 10. O-O f5 11. Nd2 Rxd4 $5 12. cxd4 Bxd4+ {setting a cunning trap} 13. Kh1 $2 (13. Rf2 {is stronger but Black still has some initiative for the sacrificed piece.}) 13... Ng3+ $1 14. hxg3 f4 $1 {and White cannot stop the queen mating on the h-file!}) 6... Nxe4 $1 7. fxe4 Qh4+ 8. Kd2 {Other moves simply lose! e.g} (8. Ke2 Bg4+ $19) (8. g3 Qxe4+ 9. Qe2 Qxh1 $19) 8... Qxe4 9. c3 Be7 {and Stafford Gambiteers would love this position. If e.g.} 10. Be2 Bg5+ 11. Ke1 Qxg2 { and only Black is having the fun!} *