[Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2021.01.12"] [Round "?"] [White "Refutation 3 - 5.d3 6.Be2 7.c3"] [Black "?"] [Result "*"] [ECO "C42"] [Annotator "Martin"] [PlyCount "32"] [EventDate "2020.12.27"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6 4. Nxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bc5 6. Be2 h5 $5 {This is now the well known common idea for Black but} 7. c3 {appears to stop Black's plan. The logical idea is to block the bishop's attack on the vulnerable f2 square with d4 and by doing so, limit Black's attacking possibilities. Although it is not sound and Black's play should come with a public health warning, Black can have lots of fun by giving up a piece. Feel free to explore some of these sample crazy lines.} (7. Bg5 {looks tempting but} Qd4 {allows Black to recover the pawn. If} 8. O-O Ng4 {and once again Black has good attacking chances. e.g.} 9. Bh4 Bd6 10. Bg3 Bxg3 11. hxg3 Qxb2 12. Nd2 Qc3 { with good chances.}) 7... Ng4 ({The other move for Black here as often played by IM Eric Rosen is the safer} 7... Bb6 {so play this if you do not like the craziness that follows! Chess engines suggest +2 for White but Eric does well in his blitz games ... please look on Youtube!}) 8. d4 ({If} 8. Bxg4 hxg4 9. d4 Bd6 10. e5 Be7 {and although a pawn down, Black has 2 bishops and pressure against White's h-pawn.}) (8. O-O {plays into Black's hands with} Qd6 {e.g.} 9. g3 h4 10. Bxg4 (10. Bf4 hxg3 $5 11. Bxd6 $2 Bxf2+ $1 12. Rxf2 gxf2+ 13. Kh1 cxd6 {and Black is winning!}) 10... hxg3 11. d4 (11. hxg3 $2 Qxg3#) 11... g2 $1 12. e5 gxf1=Q+ 13. Kxf1 Qd5 14. Bxc8 Rxh2 {and there is no defence.}) 8... Qh4 $5 {Here we go, there is no turning back!} 9. g3 {nearly always played.} Qf6 { The key starting point of this line. Black's play is not for the fainthearted as pieces are abandoned at will. Here are a few sample lines to show how Black's compensation can soon become too strongl.} 10. f3 {This is the chess engines' favourite. almost +3 for White but what do they know!} (10. dxc5 $2 { loses to} Qxf2+ 11. Kd2 Bf5 $1) (10. O-O {The chess engines' 2nd preferred move (but only +2!).} Be6 {Amazingly Black can give up the Stafford bishop on c5!} 11. dxc5 {(+4 to White according to the chess engines)} Qg6 {The queen is heading for h7.} 12. f3 {Once again the chess engines' favourite move (now +5!) .} h4 13. fxg4 {That's the second piece Black has given up and now +6 per the chess engines!} Rd8 14. Qc2 hxg3 15. hxg3 $6 Qh7 16. Kf2 (16. Bf3 Bxg4 17. Qg2 Bxf3 18. Rxf3 (18. Qxf3 $2 Qh2#) 18... Rd1+ 19. Rf1 Qh1+ $1 20. Qxh1 Rxh1+ 21. Kxh1 Rxf1+ 22. Kg2 Rxc1 {and despite the material imbalance Black still has chances!}) 16... Qh2+ 17. Kf3 {This is the only move} f5 $3 {And this is a truly crazy move!} 18. Bf4 g5 $1 {Another crazy move!} 19. Bxg5 fxg4+ 20. Ke3 ( 20. Kf4 {loses to} O-O+ $1) 20... Qxg3+ 21. Bf3 gxf3 {and Black's attack continues.}) (10. f4 h4 $6 {Not sound but in the spirit!} (10... Bb6 {is theoretically stronger but Black''s pieces will be pushed back after} 11. h3) 11. e5 $2 {This shows how trappy the line is as the tide turns in Black's favour but} (11. Bxg4 $1 {seems to give White a winning advantage so play this line at your peril! e.g.} hxg3 12. Bxc8 Qh4 {looks dangerous but after} 13. Kf1 Rxc8 14. Qf3 {Black's attack is running out of steam.}) 11... Qg6 12. Bd3 Qh5 $1 {and amazingly Black is better!}) 10... h4 $1 {Black now has 2 pieces hanging and is playing like a total patzer or maybe not?} 11. fxg4 ({Many White players will opt for the safer} 11. Rg1 hxg3 12. hxg3 Rh2 13. dxc5 (13. fxg4 {loses to} Qf2+ 14. Kd2 Bxd4 15. cxd4 Bxg4 16. Nc3 Bxe2 17. Nxe2 Qxd4+ 18. Kc2 Qc4+ 19. Kb1 Rxe2) 13... Be6 14. Qd4 {This is Stockfish's preferred move but now} Bc4 $3 {Found by Jonathan Schrantz, this is brilliant. Black is a piece down with a piece attacked and then gives up another 3rd piece!} 15. Bxc4 ({If} 15. Qxc4 Ne5 16. Qd4 Rxe2+ 17. Kxe2 Qxf3+ 18. Ke1 Nd3+ 19. Qxd3 ({If} 19. Kd2 {then} Rd8 20. Qxd8+ Kxd8 21. Kc2 Qf2+ 22. Kxd3 Qxg1 {and Black is not worse.}) 19... Qxd3 {and Black is for preference due to better piece coordination despite the material deficit.}) 15... Ne5 16. Nd2 (16. Be2 Rxe2+ { see line above}) 16... Rxd2 $1 17. Qxe5+ Qxe5 18. Bxd2 Qxc5 19. Rh1 {(forced)} O-O-O {Chess engines prefer White, after all a rook and 2 bishops is worth more than the queen but Black has great practical chances particularly in Blitz. If} 20. Bxf7 Rxd2 21. Kxd2 Qf2+ {and White's best course of action is to allow a perpetual check} 22. Kd3 Qxf3+ 23. Kc2 {Black can try and play on with} Qxf7 {but the position looks about equal.}) 11... hxg3 12. Be3 (12. dxc5 {Too greedy!} Qf2+ 13. Kd2 Bxg4 {and there is no defence.}) 12... Rxh2 { There is chaos over the chess board} 13. Rf1 $6 (13. Rg1 {is stronger but less obvious. Black can sac a 2nd piece!} Qh4 14. dxc5 Be6 (14... g2+ 15. Kd2 Bxg4 16. Bxg4 Rd8+ 17. Bd4 Qf2+ 18. Kc1 Rxd4 19. cxd4 Qxg1 20. Qxg1 Rh1 21. Qxh1 gxh1=Q+ 22. Bd1 Qxe4 23. Nc3 Qxd4 24. Be2 Qg1+ 25. Bd1 Qxc5) 15. Nd2 (15. Na3 Rd8 16. Bd4 {Only move. Any queen move off the d-file allows Bxg4.} b6 17. b4 a5 {White is b etter but Black has some comp for his 2 piece deficit and in Blitz the Black side is easier to play (less pieces to move!).}) 15... O-O-O { In a blitz game played by an IM v Eric Rosen White now played} 16. Qa4 $2 Rxe2+ 17. Kxe2 Bxg4+ 18. Ke1 Qh2 19. Qc4 Rxd2 20. Bxd2 Qf2#) 13... Qh4 14. Bg1 $6 Rxe2+ $5 {(the fun move to play!)} 15. Qxe2 g2+ 16. Rf2 Bxg4 {Think we will stop here! Despite being a rook down Black's raging attack continues and White can go easily wrong. The chess engines now recognise Black's compensation.} *