Chess: Understanding the Center Counter (Scandinavian) Part I
1 e4 d5 Line
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdOT5oLAvv405bzDN6WCQTo4qwPQ961pUSkKlYcwPqiM393t1rdx6oE8QGopE83YfRLPmFX8Yr5eTHReeAGPf6WZAMckcuxkDNB6KomWiYqRCMJ-7NzfeXKSOuNnbgIxRdRYnpA/s320/CenterCounter1d5.gif)
What's the game plan for White?
* Control the center, starting with 3 Nc3
and 4 d4.
* Attain the e5 outpost by Ng1-f3-e5 and
consolidate it according to the dictates
of the position. Some common buttress-
ing maneuvers are: f2-f4, Bc1-f4, Rf1-e1,
and Qd1-e2.
* Use the outpost to seek attacking
opportunities against Black's kingside/
queenside.
* Aim for a timely d5 central break.
This advance gains space in the center
and encroaches on Black's position.
What's the game plan for Black?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdOT5oLAvv405bzDN6WCQTo4qwPQ961pUSkKlYcwPqiM393t1rdx6oE8QGopE83YfRLPmFX8Yr5eTHReeAGPf6WZAMckcuxkDNB6KomWiYqRCMJ-7NzfeXKSOuNnbgIxRdRYnpA/s320/CenterCounter1d5.gif)
* Lessen White's central preponderance by
pinning the c3 and f3 knights with the Queen
and c8 bishop respectively. Once they are
nailed down to those squares, the knights
can no longer influence central affairs.
* Utilize the c8 bishop not only to
pressurize the d1-h5 diagonal but also to
contend for the b1-h7 and h1-a8 diagonals.
* Strengthen d5 through ... c7-c6
and ... e7-e6 so as to cushion it against
White's prospective d5 break. In some lines,
Nf6-d5 is used to hold White up in the center.
* Challenge White's occupation of e5.
Usually, Nbd7 initiates pressure against the
outpost. The Queen then weighs in on the
matter from a5 or c7, aided by ... Bd6.
* Use the half open d-file to gain
central play. In some variations, Black
castles long and subsequently uses the
d8 rook to bear down on this file.
Also available:
Chess: Understanding the Center Counter
(Scandinavian) Part II
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-center-counter.html
Chess: Understanding the Center Counter
(Scandinavian) Part III
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-center-counter_05.html
Chess: Understanding the Center Counter
(Scandinavian) Part IV
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-center_115210997262388378.html
Chess: Understanding the Center Counter
(Scandinavian) Part V
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-center_115211261703678156.html
1 e4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsvAy1M5hmfJqsG9pNWBGApgXhFIvlzc3nyaWwUltHXGX_Hfe-US9VHMIHEAdC5V557PVLmLQaQOSFPZPjyc9-TWKEqCT2dRdi2wfuakJazsNvu7v3gwNAckrZraIvVSkNv020w/s320/CenterCounter1e4.gif)
1 ... d5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdOT5oLAvv405bzDN6WCQTo4qwPQ961pUSkKlYcwPqiM393t1rdx6oE8QGopE83YfRLPmFX8Yr5eTHReeAGPf6WZAMckcuxkDNB6KomWiYqRCMJ-7NzfeXKSOuNnbgIxRdRYnpA/s320/CenterCounter1d5.gif)
Black instantaneously questions White's control of d5.
2 exd5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hDrnYl8yKU8ctmieYaIdBlGxei1xR97N4fPY1gvCFw_Gxxoe1BVNARjaearFnToNg8HvdZb_UNBhS6kuUkIlwBKnon_dxrgo-FkjPvsJhuKcqRTmV1NBe6PVDwh3zylEBKl-BQ/s320/CenterCounter2exd5.gif)
Temporarily ceding the square to the Black Queen
following:
2 ... Qxd5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4CnxEVtHGvruCYU3fe8Miz36LltXTZZk9X_wadfw2AfOebqbnMAcDCDSRI2K_DdXgwC1XzM_Dfyfu_FKMBVVfTM61gLRbgp98d3uKH9zNSiMlSR_Z-2ps1unP8F3AONKXZS8IA/s320/CenterCounter2Qxd5.gif)
Now, she has to find a safer spot, and lose a tempo in
the process, after White responds with:
3 Nc3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYNSQQvRTvxzGGiaVdfuQ6Wi5EbQQtXgwG3JrOSAc-TvY5vJiid2uluk5EmOm85o0zkdzjRefMNi23Mt4BZZprKn5whk8zZD4JRbnRMBWh1_V_Yem5561VdJHU0cjVUty56Os-A/s320/CenterCounter3Nc3.gif)
3 Nf3
3 d4
3 Qf3
3 c4
3 ... Qa5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-IgFXPS_cnMtRyvKwbsAvGrsAy9Nnq5B43PwVAWWo4hxWDFZYUtTg79vblEzF4mumBgDv7R8JjKPa6PkBTojccGcEHPJ91YH2cIZVDEBXvKh7jFdofh4brViiRcnRhr7IpBO8Q/s320/CenterCounter3Qa5.gif)
From this vantage point, the Queen can pin the
c3 knight after a prospective d4 by White.
Additionally, she gets a sweeping view of the
fifth rank.
Other alternatives are:
(A) 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYNSQQvRTvxzGGiaVdfuQ6Wi5EbQQtXgwG3JrOSAc-TvY5vJiid2uluk5EmOm85o0zkdzjRefMNi23Mt4BZZprKn5whk8zZD4JRbnRMBWh1_V_Yem5561VdJHU0cjVUty56Os-A/s320/CenterCounter3Nc3.gif)
3 ... Qd8
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZOgrbJ8FbBGMqVeB-MiMhSYFucGlmJ8c8AjX13a1tPfNUYFDmn6EH3U_5eVdyb3gr4f7vVeT_VLZkMbxnJZ-_5DlULdw5Ag4iyLvm9_9-kXBEIHZj9PpXZvBpEYfZtu-bzKdrQ/s320/CenterCounter3Qd8.gif)
Back to square one. From here the Queen maintains
her influence over the half open d-file.
4 d4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVV2CW7J8-mYO3eodoCXzXFgPxMIkyqBDooUZTuXkGR4cJgOBNUBGSOOUePBWOrCpgnOuotOxKI7_Y3ZKFyo7cKOqF1rzu6Npd5YheLwAUW2bZjIkdFuV8XSWp3FTk5AVJTfEmA/s320/CenterCounter4d4.gif)
The c1-bishop gets the c1-h6 diagonal for development,
and c5 and e5 are covered.
4 Ne4
4 Bc4
4 Nf3
4 ... Nf6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYspMFkmmgxCZGJYiWWjVNuRuHJC73ZUon2vQ8L55tL2RwSWDsvzIHZQLFixg9ex9B74g9si2I8utTUu6X2MMJdbvEXad6VL9TbgWWTZ9wac2-5-EUy1484D57sQDBBhlHPh0PXQ/s320/CenterCounter4Nf6.gif)
Mobilization towards the center; Black wants in on
e4 and d5. Also, the knight enables the c8 bishop
to develop to g4.
4 ... g6
4 ... c6
5 Bc4!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5wZf3_mDzbujpbK8KP6G8awg-H5gxawJSCMUr8xgNMzTtoJuVbvEUT9aecLvUSiDy525t7W5Tsw6PE5beZD4R79kvs4wS1lf5ReNL-hhgeBZjUg46zbdVK7ENh3AfGKxSyRS5w/s320/CenterCounter5Bc4.gif)
Aiming at Black's weakest point, f7.
5 Nf3
5 Bg5
5 ... Bg4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYF0prwThdvDSv-IksRJBdh523Wz2HxmjEQWjHGrhFkwGroi-oR4xjZuw8k5pVz3URf7gM8cLeSlB7ie9ZKAchd4b0DovXEMk0CLkAl-VvZZjmzCNjyIyFKb-HjrwsPx5oMeVlg/s320/CenterCounter5Bg4.gif)
Attacking the enemy Queen.
5 ... c6
5 ... Nbd7
5 ... Bf5
5 ... a6
6 Nge2
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvQ_Uc69Qngyk8FXAdQA99ffbs7xdxKMoeHp2wTx8S7ENi8JYVDcnGsCRlJR5gssPoz7bmuGAe9L7M9efhIO0GdX1eUE5qRczH7MG8Gp_70roAkyJOatF8YYd6aQV0ckKuNxzlQ/s320/CenterCounter6Nge2.gif)
6 f3
6 ... e6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYZvt2G-KARFwiqvnct3DIsyGmTXzvA_f_9BU5EQHTBv2e0FKGGKv9ooTCcEZdFXyIa8_GvClpvqonxRRjZ7wOThfnZxD63n_dlD3QzlxJFmHTc8cDQo2Y9qVllcdwse3WZXrcg/s320/CenterCounter6e6.gif)
Keeping a tab on d5 and f5 plus letting out the
f8 bishop. Observe how this move limits the c4
bishop's scope along the a2-g8 diagonal.
7 Bg5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihuWrUt2noUewMZNTOrfZ5zrhYl9dMGDn-iBQ1bORzpjuNr5Cdj5mTyJR310Mw1IxCPXpXAWiac5uwHlMv6exjJ7mZIiwR1CC6nEYae49iG2tXKrR7X8F4-F_shS_8-HKXDU2XGQ/s320/CenterCounter7Bg5.gif)
Development with intent to pin the knight and
neutralize its e4 and d5 influence.
7 ... Be7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2D8nu3phSj0gCkAQzMPLpxI_SMd_-sfmFIB0xLb0_BaEDgg09vXb7qkkox1VcnoasuvSMaRVnXkQyjoZyEQyvx_etIEZWkyTpDLSTEExR_JLeAOleramPSW44-kkgLWJsaMhNbg/s320/CenterCounter7Be7.gif)
Black prudently breaks the pin before it burdens
his play.
8 Qd2
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOsmb-WK_rCH9tnv_kEGiVzrrr4uNwGAHAZECzFKVgdwXtBfj49frIkiBmMzGITQLDb_jRq5o71gf7CPJJ7TCOCzWrCMry0Nr93vVEahU45xdgfkL4dybphPV_YXDUgSZ3vXBiw/s320/CenterCounter8Qd2.gif)
White too breaks the pin on e2 and prepares
for queenside castling.
8 ... Nbd7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrL5P3V8rQyUxxqdscxellUAzzKMqsaaXPmCBDK4un-4KG4fA0FHmKZBnk00_9xcTgm281UnV6auAcl0S0Ddt63VYRl1TGLbJPKNlclt267cqHYsxXZAhLWe2o2GrmE2x1uIG4Q/s320/CenterCounter8Nbd7.gif)
9 f3
9 ... Bf5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRNbxK4bkBAUtdMIGAzEVlYqWpoUVcNkHWmTTX8ZxC_qTjcD3OTgKoMbzec4HrQ6OE2VujI8VLOmb6ACS94slvFZL6pzTP3Z-XQviHCHq9QZ9l9VrmTSmtGuubOooiZsv8HvCmQ/s320/CenterCounter9Bf5.gif)
10 g4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DFllMg7uVfAwhWBVROw5XGVKI0v6VEz8p23FXS5wwUA5-7iztLOymXrdIurevwRAH0cDLKnyC5IzTxTjbhyVLhFjb_e1-qcGw6RIRqyOPa2zbd0bnXCz37bs9cv4H2q5yYNauA/s320/CenterCounter10g4.gif)
10 ... Bg6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxbUNb5IV1PSR86-bRwD3yDFq_RztbXh80wxK4fjGNl6Iky0pMOBS7pXDJzlMsGCnup0zEAbehvoEqEgqwGplESVxJTeU_7KkeDdt7cUQQ3fjaKax2XyDQ8-e_s9ysv_szFuTZA/s320/CenterCounter10Bg6.gif)
11 h4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1tNt_z-mivYLLdJelIi3jcInRfTbB0kzjJ4C92k_B3h2ZZwVE2OqMHUj-6zZzREwF75Fj2yND8G6p81ciuGt4tqG5TAOQPMAPYzGWoj4KuIKQO01TZdQebxu4ZEtBo7cnTN6rA/s320/CenterCounter11h4.gif)
11 ... h6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cCvfehPGPFt0nfxWHXyalM0tIuWZtzgnUeY0KbGcqtwu10UYuw9YNG8lO3byTk41LAPpJdnOulswD9MXkct1o7oXfAx2w5Yv06J-_BPTPVL4e-crnIKmMD8SX-d6ecN25oE82A/s320/CenterCounter11h6.gif)
12 Bf4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpBTyk1PWmHao2pyu3Chg8fHdH6w2luTD3nbmik71XwNfwmFf7rhibh2ix2RdhZC1x-nxv9gv2v2YV-XlnOqRVJXrNm33WyE46LXfUlJIqSy068wSrqAmb1fL4vqPKNLYWu7yxQ/s320/CenterCounter12Bf4.gif)
And White's position looks more desirable.
(B) 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYNSQQvRTvxzGGiaVdfuQ6Wi5EbQQtXgwG3JrOSAc-TvY5vJiid2uluk5EmOm85o0zkdzjRefMNi23Mt4BZZprKn5whk8zZD4JRbnRMBWh1_V_Yem5561VdJHU0cjVUty56Os-A/s320/CenterCounter3Nc3.gif)
3 ... Qd6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6_IKVNVQK51ePSpmf6IOKpyEIMvWfzqe8gfoCtdC_4R2fs3uzNH6t7deJCQZa0UO6SLWyd2JxU-w_2BiYiyRHqRKFQ3ZEJvhnQ9xdI94ZVuBk0ruN_msWUL1fZox-loQhtuZgA/s320/CenterCounter3Qd6.gif)
Black's Queen insists on preserving a strong central
presence.
4 d4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs97aKNSZcannMphY3BjK1hbW3pRabkrnD9Q-Ol9INxCQQ4bGo2uyevGkz0SWDiGrzRUoA3T2uRREgCwzmMxyuAh6rDxZvRtvvDYwGW4Lw_6fgv62KtVW13XPqQbr3f6l7IK55Iw/s320/CenterCounter4d4B.gif)
4 Nf3
4 g3
4 Bc4
4 ... Nf6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssKjL6H4ChYwD6KiDLKuG6AReEr_eY-hIQRx4FoYzp-4Z8JZs26fHJWnF6GMoHJ7NWlhW1YZE4LRfhI-F8117eAo26rVHRM6TKQhLJdFhV2SJTTfDc-oQyOv_VHtDTxIVwDjAVQ/s320/CenterCounter4Nf6B.gif)
4 ... a6
4 ... c6
5 Nf3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjic5ecTJZbcK66imZESftMXgpdTESWlAtHFHD1StN9bNW_9ApVIGVwOj331ndE4o-CKT4XgIQgG2QELqE0-zT9oPxcXXOJPdLzjVI4KIXZSQm0R_A1oMw29P2M8xK6dqwjGWMYpw/s320/CenterCounter5Nf3.gif)
5 Bc4
5 Bg5
5 Bd3
5 Bb5+
5 g3
5 Be3
5 Be2
5 ... Bg4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieClyaqAMley2gn11yp0pgiP5yCrhbzDxeVV-fZx-6c3lQvLF9PyjZ8qmL4LxSOeTrTh-9B999BcBRshSX_rv3JF3r8RJdSgiLvv_0aOg8TN2TIIL8Y1mHuQvjOhluPbZ8AmJ9LQ/s320/CenterCounter5Bg4B.gif)
5 ... a6
5 ... c6
6 Be2
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWmemYHQfpd-36_Dy-Q468fCasRsj1Cvf-p-MoAWCrIY5aiIGbXcbMcaCRjwhDof5VYDE-L9WHhDdjoEDOAFrFbaREskKSxM5ar2VQIF_7ORt1c8pvPInCbOcVP56JHkksD6DSQ/s320/CenterCounter6Be2.gif)
6 ... c6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwazYKBJS6M0TFWJxxSXZ0_02md9smaKpGRwLKGJPwTXGAOlB3lbAwocmK_W0_Yy_C64q9_v9tm43OJBbfEkccJTUdAlGTMnhmrxdYLKyW5ZyJc1yaUU0_JROxSYBfVd5o0a6bqw/s320/CenterCounter6c6B.gif)
6 ... e6
6 ... a6
6 ... Nbd7
7 h3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvK4lXy2A1FM6FZpdYcBYEbTHbHXojYVXcQob4q6rMQCFJWNYpQXx2nyDE1b3M6SPlOYHpQKcFmf90NDUIyr_AG2lW9atHUbC6WokgdPTu-9uymvkGIQnQXkJIDDiRaDJs0GVLw/s320/CenterCounter7h3B.gif)
7 O-O
7 Ne5
7 Be3
7 ... Bxf3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidG0e31GP4IAT2CAMc28PpksjhL0jsYMPSqv_7Sf8MnQXxC2mtqebtoyzcgrws2cIt6aM5pqygW8tR2il-CbUFXzOugqNNidnLai_AQkDr5x8O8yFtl-317KSZ0ZmbPNUsP7JKVg/s320/CenterCounter7Bxf3.gif)
7 ... Bf5
7 ... Bh5
8 Bxf3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwk_7OngH6WnI2booJfWtX_NRWF0pEVqmsUOax2NtMjGBujem7-VcGQpOrvdP6Dqfm3PveJxa9Ryml7bOSGASejWfX-G29qjuyy2I84gPVVmRUzPuPdb3FxkedkKCx_Q4xNddoA/s320/CenterCounter8Bxf3.gif)
8 ... e6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1sz3H3DXD1rtpX06PXaq2RfsfzwRSmfjwfYYXoKEHLZkOOKoZpkjPAJJWfbRV6kXIm1iQIVahd51pzAcSBQU2xJ4SspgAPoljW0AMLahTKS9wri0BsPozRVnQH-w5A1eGojmfuQ/s320/CenterCounter8e6B.gif)
8 ... Nbd7
8 ... Na6
9 O-O
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgct2jt_9CpRgwoDx6Bhfm4IOlM6-C5t_omehSJ3GeubZrqM5qJ57MBix83k-ZuP5eXzs7wyFD2PqbrcCumeddCDT-ZMBjnqS8BjMF-RlSoTq_RS6pBhJBedGYGfiuewtYmbgvkDQ/s320/CenterCounter9O-O.gif)
9 Ne2
9 Be3
9 ... Nbd7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyctljMqnks7zwcICYYWEReohkApeD2ULOHREcTARhcfWTBSAZHKX9ECY1yB79Oe2gKKe2OTATLD-v7xUF5G7Z3ViN1A76JIAXvtmsISvkEI3QBkeOKBNW_3nVr4g1hHC49iy9kg/s320/CenterCounter9Nbd7B.gif)
9 ... Be7
9 ... h6
10 Re1
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmeDwqyQFzhTX9LIcRvJ8yZXwwihZ0gg1a0wjm6DjVyHQqKH8ulYJ47JBjFbV_EXPCLaUmZ8GyTM1SKWfuuAe6bvws7xfn7HM1rrnjQbJTYgzb9HKdKXfAGXPS7ahhhzvLiuFNEw/s320/CenterCounter10Re1.gif)
10 Ne2
10 Qd3
10 ... O-O-O
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGA1o7m0w96SLJDpQbh88eueyXmcgZzFXnhhLPIrrZscdtQRITfSVRdJqZe9AV-_XR1kfHre1bR4yTpawrmatm_5FHodhodvanuQFv5mMB7CXIaqDbsIyKtDQ_1h-2zwqI0a9kA/s320/CenterCounter10O-O-O.gif)
10 ... Be7
10 ... h6
11 Be3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb724YXVFBx7thEIBzvPsihsAlXv6GX5_JupWoH4Oht7cizRk5VqP7ZocVepWTZemx4cskCf74Z0xXXmEDqy0bqGcodiIqLmbINvmsvE54lgA3YlTup-h2aYtVt6HFR38iN5pKBQ/s320/CenterCounter11Be3.gif)
11 a4
11 a3
11 Qd3
11 ... Qc7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizvoi9RetjO9gWsU5d0e6NsFPjE0Cu_RKp1nqmGrhJTGDoLqNiWKMDoaoLJoSZ3BF9aIdDz_F6NFXyWSDzD2tcl2WO4AMiBJbpqgzsowLo4tP0LOM_K55ZV8BnETBg_px6q4xgg/s320/CenterCounter11Qc7.gif)
11 ... Be7
11 ... Kb8
11 ... Nb6
11 ... h6
11 ... h5
12 Qe2
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGrQSgt8CsvuDdQeHHTDsPi69ZyEOq4_cVdNfQehm1a0akafG1xVph5Vu4Hjlo0ndtYSJmZHJEIv0Ys1Ab3AIr-TJVkmJeroClft1O9KkeMHvGHaCBuIUHO1sOnM4dxh1kZN4nA/s320/CenterCounter12Qe2.gif)
12 Ne4
12 Qd2
Back to 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-IgFXPS_cnMtRyvKwbsAvGrsAy9Nnq5B43PwVAWWo4hxWDFZYUtTg79vblEzF4mumBgDv7R8JjKPa6PkBTojccGcEHPJ91YH2cIZVDEBXvKh7jFdofh4brViiRcnRhr7IpBO8Q/s320/CenterCounter3Qa5.gif)
4 d4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0YJUzUxjW7rW3iRjI3CkPjoN8cbu-1jkcMz9evXQ4yAt0pTBdj5iaJVtHohffHTu0HFTZ7saUdY8rpr9a0LBKT3gioZri29BdQJjLTM5q73W8ZRr-fSZI2dmp-7V_SOSKdMqbg/s320/CenterCounter4d4ML.gif)
c5 and e5 are covered, plus the c1 bishop can now
jump into the game along c1-h6.
4 Nf3
4 g3
4 Bc4
4 Be2
4 h3
4 Nge2
4 b4
4 f4
4 ... Nf6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wfOQg4tGnfbTcf3wiua8L_B_ZXg_eGnySaC1ZS7l756vBpU6sK2by-bk9cw-eMWnnvGW-zUSURbfrPGHIFfcczt0fXtmQBtHVRDtYarZQvgmWecRof6yJQpjR1a9urQzK6FNkw/s320/CenterCounter4Nf6ML.gif)
Challenging White for the d5 and e4 squares
and facilitating the c8 bishop's development
to g4. Not 4 ... e5 5 Nf3 [5 dxe5 Bb4 6 Bd2
Nc6 7 a3] 5 ... Bg4 6 h3 exd4 7 Qxd4!
5 ... Bb4 also works in White's favor by
affording him superior development: 5 ... Bb4
6 Bd2 Bg4 7 Be2 exd4 [7 ... Nc6 8 a3!] 8 Nxd4
8 ... Qe5 9 Ncb5! Bxe2 10 Qxe2 Bxd2+ 11 Kxd2
11 ... Qxe2+ Kxe2.
4 ... c6
4 ... g6
4 ... Bf5
4 ... a6
4 ... Nd7
4 ... Nc6
5 Nf3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZ6Y4bapxtjJgQiaZ7N7nZnQ9yML4KZu6vPTi1p0ZmhmvndaGsa6sdM7XhOkgDBDBPU1lJTH79Qt_r8vfIS0sRtmRgSl7-CNO3xXb_QDMBsPRRh13Xqdxq7IImGbKo3GMzq7bQg/s320/CenterCounter5Nf3ML.gif)
The knight reinforces d4, but more importantly,
it gets one step closer to the e5 outpost.
5 Bc4
5 Bd2
5 g3
5 Be3
5 Bd3
5 Be2
5 ... Bg4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TdafNnax2OBBnSIff1butqVN6HP1acwmG_Ugsc2hNnvr4YQBpmpIF1T7b6Ik_8TZfo53rUOCEB9jg4D31bprVlXsuhiSi8xRn2VFNza5UHt4ChRLw0ZIltGBzd4v0sU_pFr1EA/s320/CenterCounter5Bg4ML.gif)
Thwarting the knight's central ambitions.
Black could also try:
(A) 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Nf6 5 Nf3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZ6Y4bapxtjJgQiaZ7N7nZnQ9yML4KZu6vPTi1p0ZmhmvndaGsa6sdM7XhOkgDBDBPU1lJTH79Qt_r8vfIS0sRtmRgSl7-CNO3xXb_QDMBsPRRh13Xqdxq7IImGbKo3GMzq7bQg/s320/CenterCounter5Nf3ML.gif)
5 ... Nc6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogqVr_oSYFbcRxODkq1_VZUQzZdKAo2rrf_PGSFROVLoAuYc0YbIxvWkbUrWdgBTJSMJpwyo4yt5qaBXrmwcOBtFg4cONpKwCz-nQGu275jiHBqkUJ0hdBGSAgaqQwgYrbSAoCw/s320/CenterCounter5Nc6.gif)
5 ... e6
6 Bb5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBisP8AknajSKlSR1HxnV6nJ9NDBGkRNwNZhJAy8nFsNdmQnV5ULJPiETHxsOjb9de0wz3-0SGTBJtUF52Z6Lllc03U97lptT6_tUlyIKHU7r3TRIfZOTtLktSfTDx2X-Bbneg6A/s320/CenterCounter6Bb5.gif)
6 d5
6 h3
6 Bd2
6 ... Bd7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94RR1ZfYjjiH1nMx3_JLfK2vQeprsa2ruBg9xh8iLg-BFotrbXRZpJsBLxlhneTOATJuAKr2x225pkuF3AXCpd4qdBcSDgyxPrKCiO73PxYubOOmB9xS6IzRUyztT3uGle5EhOg/s320/CenterCounter6Bd7.gif)
6 ... Ne4
6 ... Nd5
7 d5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDbOrcpBqkO1MNeE9qkmZZ_zfO1cyfi-ndTzld64dQ9_DJFHkBhmT-1Tb2h6ejbm9kufZciWRgl32OvqLE2ox3XK0m_ph2Nr01XrEEhGrgEvvlsW8T2JRfGZgHSj__zpIQX-eRA/s320/CenterCounter7d5.gif)
7 O-O
7 Bd2
7 ... Nb4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YJsvfOuGQDqhaOCJ7rTOacmWbTAxqy-EzeCapnaffvPTCqluJZmyNEqMyV0Nkj8QBf4mxxdnNBEpzht00pNRUPqevbU9deYCH9mXCChtzZv8EOYSzX4Di4SYdzDLu7LU-WTxbg/s320/CenterCounter7Nb4.gif)
7 ... Ne5
7 ... Nb8
8 Bxd7+
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKD95Ni21N4375wrfIlHac3dXZzC7OO0AcnhyphenhypheneBpWS2VzkzaR9-J9H1T8rhbmIz96PQBq0Qhc-ErNZpnAFWZTpUrspi02axtKDAhb7MeCH03ic973gcqWcWAInOA4ItOfjaqJkg/s320/CenterCounter8Bxd7.gif)
8 Bc4
8 Be2
8 ... Nxd7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWJ-B2nlIWsy4kEaVviHVAsO9guYt2cB7p0RYUufcZU4hn52k_W8oZNRsphWWETuUBXj4pNlJstIYxPJ_L8uHF_DibIpvbI2t2L_iR0FdRAkeXBLhbwKgDeFyKSY2BnG5emSLvA/s320/CenterCounter8Nxd7.gif)
9 O-O
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0rCtQ3fF8W_4DZyTaZk0f0kTPleAdcP9-ILOO2b-bqruaGHi-vxahyLewEwFahpOB8zRz12C05a5etkettQcXQEPHuYW2ltfD37eG9Of1gxNs7ZmFDCaV2pA2f8PgsSrIa_XJA/s320/CenterCounter9O-OA.gif)
9 a3
9 Be3
9 ... Nf6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTcYIIa86ESng-K3BJ-FXj_d5k0rt4AAwtcf9ATh3pwpohaqThSljybdG4OOOkT3L0gEdSuK_W5RY1CpVxPyFDwMrAvVwuj8ErFiL4BtKz_rOFjAJEkv8_j_ui7SsHxDgY27oww/s320/CenterCounter9Nf6.gif)
9 ... Rd8
9 ... Nb6
10 Qe2
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqRM_q8MQp6JbKnuVEJvA4RzvFvamkf2649ovkZtJHpfpLfds9QUOQp0KzmGqJ58OjE1Xs2A9nVVnCHvvAdvR1uinhXSCxRUDb84LB66mUpYtC69gqHFjlAKKFthGa0HnAbdfvQ/s320/CenterCounter10Qe2.gif)
10 Bg5
10 Be3
10 ... Nbxd5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3K9D3q2xVBAf2LDdI0-5qN2sskmYskDLEAlqwn7GEwLRi6zkjBEy-lpZaJi6vZeKkjHWTmyVhiWZVwRxfvpTbunZaiYGIPOE8R6mj5TJeN4qkgWMJI-Yi0hl64QPtbLB_jJx3A/s320/CenterCounter10Nbxd5.gif)
10 ... Nfxd5
10 ... Rd8
11 Nxd5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGURfkWp0EjfovjRaRkcb9aj6ntNovhGNud5ozim9jHjtZTgfT06hFy6gmbnTVC8sQntukfgVc9Vn8g840YLorpGB-XnMK96zygwrX3EY1uuIcu__ZebToaQGWQU15pYYdIbyJg/s320/CenterCounter11Nxd5.gif)
11 Ne4
11 Bd2
11 ... Nxd5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNCFMCqaqYrDkNA9MB6QhGxfs5x1m3I3TVs2x7hjtlN9dSDq60UQ-FCzWaOlBF-7izUvvrG6fu3ewtCE4d7jsgty_kipYbsfB8FA6tTyGcC7Jl4y4CErxbybaotVX377CmlytSA/s320/CenterCounter11Nxd5B.gif)
11 ... Qxd5
12 c4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYq-y8kQsqHo1hzRwI1kumnApWOr0sJK4bUWMxpau7gD4waOX_6KdEgbMt9vgYKB1vj3SdxB3yKHISQAaPMHa_1mo_IOaHolV0I3LKyxpJ-lq90rRi1digBlt2shOjXKPgXTlBw/s320/CenterCounter12c4.gif)
12 Rd1
12 Ne5
12 ... Nf6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5GzBJFWjvKL8wA8AZdYwQB7h9ryG0-U3XS213Sf7ZBc3uYSNlDiJwSpHWhmY4_EOKBgsCNf6a2Mt1HY6QMyVqj_ciy9IRpI1RqKtF1ftL-SHkFfS9cUcgV_zU9hyphenhyphen0P0vthel9Q/s320/CenterCounter12Nf6.gif)
12 ... Nb6
12 ... Nb4
13 Ne5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMR-HgPUe-S6phDfrdRn1CV8NJvqmKrLYUXNQgK1o33gkOqBtZlCtzv3zuwh568iSm_KeWNeVSdZrao2jr7-UOlCVgYoOhThcZU4BgLRqqbYzcA1Qbv_xcrDy_MzF8pqXMXP-MA/s320/CenterCounter13Ne5.gif)
13 Bf4
13 Bg5
13 ... e6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNz8IuYpZudt0BeuVd1aDYwHjgUf4FTvTQ4eiE2b7aR8cbIivuIYL-JUjX_so54vEeae-pbQJU_TGJUQ_cCoJ1aof_RrO4LBhH47c1KXvMvHzYUzhx3lfBTl5yDbgFsflCVrrjtQ/s320/CenterCounter13e6.gif)
13 ... Rd8
13 ... Qa6
14 Bg5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ss8HpaXUav4c2mQPAcqJVjnoQ7D-XX8SmD3sSZDHQ5oySv3sp-hRlAE40zAtKbaNhrHei4q562wxs5np4ZqYz848f8fvTPoI4TIdB5EHx8bcyT3j5acfHWrJC5ULSSXOpsyngw/s320/CenterCounter14Bg5.gif)
14 a3
14 Bf4
14 ... Be7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDedtigyNQ8MGtJEQ6zOUgkNJbgMc9eH4akU3KBJBakhp3qZ0HuBGr1CVP807D09BKKGRigqAU81Lr5eUWMud0WM3dBdkDtiityVMjL1n4nRwy5xPGA3MJpMccZwpRnVdfwI_2sA/s320/CenterCounter14Be7.gif)
14 ... Bd6
14 ... Bb4
(B) 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Nf6 5 Nf3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZ6Y4bapxtjJgQiaZ7N7nZnQ9yML4KZu6vPTi1p0ZmhmvndaGsa6sdM7XhOkgDBDBPU1lJTH79Qt_r8vfIS0sRtmRgSl7-CNO3xXb_QDMBsPRRh13Xqdxq7IImGbKo3GMzq7bQg/s320/CenterCounter5Nf3ML.gif)
5 ... c6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyInxbDw_UrMH65xPKwfE3VmS472De42gG2tWt4lJHAmnkSuoviSu3O8b0cNhQa6PFjSmLS8ELThCoZerxOG5rFJZL_x8I2BSYdLwgqmJn6nOABkCOwqfecD7fxem-jko8GXASQ/s320/CenterCounter5c6.gif)
6 Bc4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLNSHcktDKmjAI8vrIxgtyU6a7r4sqiToqLhu-ncVfXL2Vt_ZpLLAqyF0HguD9jWyxDAPI1m0colJ9tu9MyBLa6kCIrpcXtN0jKFHEtFOqljTfCjX_tk20aRivsD-dKLykvQVFg/s320/CenterCounter6Bc4.gif)
6 Ne5
6 Bd2
6 Bd3
6 Be2
6 h3
6 ... Bg4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ut2EjzSEHMW4zSVbvYYKiqEOdSFW_4u5I1U0Ky_g7qoB8ZMm8jOc-DjirfbWyfVdqpiRlWeZkSNYc_WSLqWrsHK3YZ-J8eQeiIl3h9Z_gBkqrVA3feJwbtKjfwazZ5cueDRvMg/s320/CenterCounter6Bg4.gif)
6 ... Bf5
7 h3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAo_mFRQ0MpRrX3pytiqME0Zl_xOx6O5dO61jLlgQ56eaMw53nVZAwneT5Vdkm4iglWF2xZgA327rz0K-ZBCO2QSlmfM6CL4NbAzWDT9oUpvxwbReU9WskCsAQXrF_6tSEELlbbQ/s320/CenterCounter7h3.gif)
7 Bd2
7 Qd3
7 O-O
7 ... Bh5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDaqVPD9v0a50GntusQc14zSbI8gJypoUARiDZnLqIn1h5G4HZr5jeqhKzEbhlZHRrW3S2xq-XYe8mdSKkn2vFhQETHloLitlNubywlmIgWteU-EBqLWWSa1IBZKiBGLl4BOyew/s320/CenterCounter7Bh5.gif)
7 ... Bxf3
8 g4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-Ts6FU9Y9io7d14kZozJ_I6YMsbxe98NgdluOVnPHM6HWxAXkS6DHvEVN-7iMq38axxk2psmh40olhps-pcoftsGdAdV5mX2xXjB5ZcQE-7bxRkX13Sbr4kyxZjHo1Qj2L8feg/s320/CenterCounter8g4.gif)
8 Qe2
8 Bd2
8 ... Bg6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTMHs60ffVMUULxseoTcsosmqliQ5nHxOfojAr2sKbQ3n8PTw8n3Pji_Blc76VqHTNZGWHkwFwmQt6vbVcGmJutu383C5syzCzU7NGqyOhPzcAG5gw7Yq4JFYb_eIAS-bC8tRcg/s320/CenterCounter8Bg6.gif)
9 Ne5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxDO4hBNzTOls5NQnl68ftMTAWMre3G2TK_6b3HAk4fupaXA-9ESr3oBA_9cq183UjYcu3SEcf5oorcE6GYTpyMH7t-42pOgXH1Ip6e0cbNFwXW8G7Hfgmg3ry1C5q80lAl6oLQ/s320/CenterCounter9Ne5.gif)
9 Bd2
9 ... e6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9At_iZMBHdFh2pq2hg8BVH1fMhtKgHaOMeb_ugHlIueZy772tOVXP_E1tzaoRh7xSQcx2E3EIF-3bZWUIH6I-cYiAL8X4B1c2SnXW4jGCfHmSzlaFxPcAZ4gfLVr0ZbJDMB_mw/s320/CenterCounter9e6.gif)
9 ... Nbd7
10 Nxg6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5FRQZjl4VsJ7VnOTDpj0K0PUU_iarJU5RFM5CYjor0ZGQtXiVflez6wL6OBpE0zThRQD81yXUn9Y4U_hAPkKYbVGRUaclpafM__lhW4mlEE1EtnzDcEF1P-8NKrenQW1_TlSuw/s320/CenterCounter10Nxg6.gif)
10 Bd2
10 Qe2
10 ... hxg6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnEjgXnqbUYjzvTYX6AADwuhhmbbL6AEJhbzsJCTSIg2-8yiusBPY7MNFpBP5xcLUk3kejT7USADLEObZp4RlUS6dJo1DtF7hvvf27M-RHz0CY7BWPxuMTgNYu2C2bjhLpm93ww/s320/CenterCounter10hxg6.gif)
11 Bd2
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtzgJbRC9HJ2Cu-G8B8Y6IGP9qootOtS_gD3kkR88_7qcxNRPhRk5iQcMKo1lE6TfzxHLBPzTFHnU1mDlaUPmSFpy6ZhBoycysjdnJ_POznjvjG_ANIgjOYqWe6GYPMTg83k6EQ/s320/CenterCounter11Bd2.gif)
11 ... Bb4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hUNPBsb4bAo-qzKcuoBMqB01l6vuv_MQp3IYyjMoItibt3jI-Ad9PawpLblB4jIhTssOvFDvIZcmYckgZlwoD1B1uYXNxphv-Rb3QoZOVXJa4RWpba5D8rRn-KxbVdleYPdjfA/s320/CenterCounter11Bb4.gif)
11 ... Qb6
11 ... Qd8
11 ... Nbd7
12 a3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQjtnZJPB2NS3oPB9PcI3ajcTds9CwkTtnW_unUSCHFw1gs7fLKncfe0bdMdckc4D4E1TK7gPlY4evltsht0KU7UYvN545lqGM3KukzcWQtId8Lj_-4sXXijbvazO8J4oBsfhLQ/s320/CenterCounter12a3.gif)
12 Qe2
12 f4
12 ... Bxc3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uyPGQUkTqUyRSMpp8ukVJVlqngT6DOWZ5XlkoMGGu3pk-w9-ceRQIXIR6iSNbppMSoBSqPz_nGkic5wI2ItcU5GclHmkEprn_BGd9-I4Lo02MhO__31FtPwMxBwJPCloczGCCg/s320/CenterCounter12Bxc3B.gif)
12 ... Bf8
12 ... Bd6
13 Bxc3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkINycDrqcREGdEByK7Qs-ljOjCZS0nUYYcTtGv3t8asWbvnkKo9P3Bic1wSFx3TMxpMCfqGLsMsXMZsfyGm3aJVXu0H23y6N-7mj2V8lEAoBaC_OULl69s5SXfk0XTDN2xP07Cg/s320/CenterCounter13Bxc3.gif)
13 bxc3
13 ... Qb6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCbtfig3hTqMTuk-IEy67FmpYxYc62oabMg5Oktkdezc30VJLrZLrFC9DQHJSfSwCKlfU8oMQDNjEbzA0QFHJdVV4cz25gTMWIG2WhINim4N5-J7uRLoGgx5f_puIYv29I3cpvw/s320/CenterCounter13Qb6.gif)
13 ... Qc7
13 ... Qg5
14 Qf3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_fKIILsGXMqBdLIniXun2qUCISw4hi6-iO7DiyC-DiTjIfEqdPoyMbLCSMNJoQy_w9eSd1SrJ0T2Owtzk1newdXG_QE3q7ZLxqrtu4E6d6m0o2brdov6ZYMN7huIItYRqUy_kw/s320/CenterCounter14Qf3.gif)
14 f4
14 h4
14 ... Nd5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuqY1I4sv7dXYuGkJ1xtq9Dy6K4QlprXoduBPur1SRlCljZyYxdMtUMZc8FKNNHSGoyxdwesu8sJclwJ6raVrrzJrLgFqx3eyOqpvFm66V3JBDmg1sk562CeXzGiF1Jk98pnErA/s320/CenterCounter14Nd5.gif)
14 ... Nbd7
14 ... g5
15 O-O-O
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Sx80nWbLInAh30nKojWsch8mMCVsYyos23FHNDHgNFpDFNQcOFXEQwRr4d1iWOlxaiwm_3yZ6rdwDpJwQkK1f9a56eio6hz6pZCwC1jJyck4HeZYa-EsbsS1SMdKs7wz2hXwYw/s320/CenterCounter15O-O-O.gif)
15 h4
15 Be2
15 ... Nxc3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sUuXGMG9khOLcniiXObl8qNeMeQhpul5kY9GseeJ_PHCNaTKMrUPhkIYoMgGnQ2t0mdrrFfEKJTQBm9ETPeYYMEhBy9JsYMlz3NdrbKNneMIcbeuScJwJi5_hEymXn2vDkgrXw/s320/CenterCounter15Nxc3.gif)
15 ... Nd7
15 ... g5
16 Qxc3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8U7OqeOhyphenhyphenuoFeaVk_RKLrCC7kVPR6w4QRwMT-rFBnx64l1VnKQD2zUORgMiDs8kHBghTNkv4fEbptj8UftMn2wcnUu0kkirNptP9m8W1AC_FO5YBcz-mQD9QxKaapwGKIgKGJ3A/s320/CenterCounter16Qxc3.gif)
16 bxc3
16 ... Nd7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIgJAZR1Ky0N5ALwnwTAe4LPweuw42NgXJ4tI5ZgMlpvC4LSbLWIy8keI22DwHSSbqrivXFwnXAnS-AY9qzfZiWBruN5nyMorVoMgh8X0VDXbMJTavuMOZ8edoF8bbBFmsrYB_w/s320/CenterCounter16Nd7.gif)
16 ... Na6
(C) 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Nf6 5 Nf3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZ6Y4bapxtjJgQiaZ7N7nZnQ9yML4KZu6vPTi1p0ZmhmvndaGsa6sdM7XhOkgDBDBPU1lJTH79Qt_r8vfIS0sRtmRgSl7-CNO3xXb_QDMBsPRRh13Xqdxq7IImGbKo3GMzq7bQg/s320/CenterCounter5Nf3ML.gif)
5 ... Bf5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9mxzfaodAVGonZUCVZUZ5hfZzQbGNJbAX-hFhL2wWixSKfuJ9G8Lh0rjF0Ou1BDqS-yaBPCUsLJpblejcfyRrNWrmj2KVSfEL-muX7UgTlV3KHdpJfJFNFTx51xroedr-Kl7DA/s320/CenterCounter5Bf5.gif)
6 Bc4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGSVc0f5nUvwCkwPK41zHSqcYyhdf125hLn0Dw3f2vLPoV5dt5JdSVUgehnbrAtMv6ovEUL_xIkgMD7W1t9qWquPi2ZeIa502Wiy0arqtQeBA0UvcFGkAdC1CeorsUQkD-UxuaQ/s320/CenterCounter6Bc4C.gif)
6 Ne5
6 Bd2
6 Bd3
6 ... c6
6 ... Nbd7
6 ... e6
7 Bd2!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1znDNBNuzQaWyoG83CXdDgUAhF_rLzETm_i9EQrbe_mk3FASDulO5C531qKURx40JcU6E_PdqsxgevLNCXdPjOIxEUSyTxeeo2lVTZYoz98DhIEQsCieZliZtVRYmjnF-r4JRjQ/s320/CenterCounter7Bd2.gif)
7 Ne5
7 Qe2
7 O-O
7 ... e6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFgIXiuCvJKc9fDizOU_OSi_-aANWOlzB-h9CnKBsOlSgN67zx6CCZzfIMSehQDKQ_Z2uFRPBDCxVPC3QzLPl9UT4xb6qhyphenhyphenIQN_UfMRFXKLlb0pwA5ZMbULC4ylOq3nd3BvhV1QA/s320/CenterCounter7e6.gif)
7 ... Nbd7
7 ... Qb6
7 ... Qc7
8 Qe2
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxJBLNVu4ZM834yzx7ilbq3PBHXRrsRD9RH9JBsz6JHIjj16f4_oniCx8YRhp8Om9AL86HNA40OOP-jGU6AfNIlfAJVnKaLDv1fsgonm-0YtckRm_5B1lYrgBVbQ997-wFl2Jgg/s320/CenterCounter8Qe2.gif)
8 Nd5
8 Ne4
8 Ne5
8 Nh4
8 d5
8 Be2
8 ... Bb4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bm20KF3rzMnFsamloGDNeQk-QnXLVN0R3eEy3AKrvJbsZoYdF2kQuZMkh-6h5NSmj8TgPydYGfks4bfrL-RhB8dPBPdhaj33LY_roRWrhZdX-ts6k8Ks9Y2DdMX3fkidSS_cvw/s320/CenterCounter8Bb4.gif)
9 ... Nbd7
9 ... Bxc2
9 ... Qb6
9 ... Qc7
9 Ne5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMA81PxPWdsE0C37nQ5te_AS303o9umjQMmHZ9yaXMq9skDGlpi6c-kEyY-7A3kGDMU2m-bGzGq4tslDIWRucB4wUTsuhuHMTl6432G6wv9wq9Uvz-HQQ6MLosc3VNrw0-jIP70Q/s320/CenterCounter9Ne5C.gif)
9 O-O-O
9 a3
9 O-O
9 Bb3
9 ... Nbd7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbsFarXzjfApsfVLnwr2E1X_DPFF8FtcjQ0CDV5E9JAgQiRU-UmMuNFzRqPuvJCn6AdtamCAqQiEXhegfHh5-5Hwl7uQAkpCDOkS607S4t2o14g65IPQr80-_Z21XMjroHHSm1w/s320/CenterCounter9Nbd7.gif)
10 Nxd7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGG5fix4xUsSsIxsG2fBfFrxAUxqNmklIVABjcxf0jdoL_eC5kbKVBf8lH-HGXUroCXUZlQBocT17HKKG37astP-CCtEToxxUWaf8EQGBhdzDS-gkD-0zx_3l34N3HEjLiD5qxQ/s320/CenterCounter10Nxd7.gif)
10 a3
10 O-O-O
10 O-O
10 ... Nxd7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcu5Nf0XkpNglthXHMK3ggBLaWNLhixI8uO9x1s3EfwPXR-5qCVheH7GaHZGrXlx5l7psN_MydK48YpXCA_FBY7vYmScR6UE0MqSZw8S0KKnmzfgjQHOALaC9UGqrC-o63IRfmA/s320/CenterCounter10Nxd7B.gif)
10 ... Kxd7
11 a3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtghO9169fYWxLn-00gVbprA3HfO4NpeCxV8nnyoZREyXG2dE8VYpdeMWXMqv-W6XwL6KNs7UB5Tp-GdLKTsZeJs0RlzLCXxfdUMYxywT5-q2Bt4GH3zKEHh8wVXhofNkWw0OZwA/s320/CenterCounter11a3.gif)
11 ... Bxc3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMf_6-jG3nFg3U-5EPxxf9hTpAUHXW0m3RbNrElbLIFQ_u1UaZDzHyrs4m77oNyDCj4CSLIQEtQwjhiXTct4xFLyzsY8fxNtpyDrLckLDJf-E7mNMXNBMumpAIYBlF2FyN1Sw4w/s320/CenterCounter11Bxc3.gif)
12 Bxc3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJ2ZBERbH3V8GMI2IthExoORmMBfFE7EH82tItk6a4uq4iAf25URE7547ufSJKIHgCMAt5upw-UR0qjUhtdJpRUfxLqs1DmEPrGylJF51dZ4h4jrymZtQ2JTL_sFIqybFDGVeTQ/s320/CenterCounter12Bxc3.gif)
12 ... Qc7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhZMsiK1xUpRU-T7TRICs8rAN3oaIA17q9RtFfSyLMk4zo-AwGDuywdr_MbZj9jCJinfzxQ5eogMF8iG2VYhV_lacyVshWPD_7sY3SuXsg621KKEVTSEYjbKtetrkcbGNNm7BfQ/s320/CenterCounter12Qc7.gif)
13 d5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMZlTgia4xbZvywdF47bxzgbVTaLIRUEsjLpcEWTmccTt077ckR1nTgqowWgaQz31yVGVbMAXilm5Ef6zrvBPvnyXb1wxG0A2qIy15EVc098hyphenhyphenrrDU3uhH5zYke_4hhVYJUm-zQ/s320/CenterCounter13d5.gif)
13 ... cxd5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9M-X3z-oW7LEm6JzpSUWy3fRbQvTc3RC6Ruys3RKMS9uJjVqndk_G_IOgHNWI5hTY6w7zOYl0QronSeRlqsXrueEuA-OyR9gxDt9K9ed1jMUytn2lLRJ0C-zE_B0rgqvssPyrTg/s320/CenterCounter13cxd5.gif)
14 Bxd5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaIjEsQIxhAQEubkXbUhY3L6gkKCjuH5PqFF5p7zSDdFm6WGP5MbSeRlQoKuVb1WU5qdiKM7bFLwCxVpJVM6HicOXog9WeC7iGMGyK_tGyWHGpBjNZ_mrTRcUMJ2nyAHupa8oFw/s320/CenterCounter14Bxd5.gif)
14 ... O-O
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsvdHVi6W-6MJ7voGPmhS-ArHQJb-bjoC3RTOsTjUilRn_yxyTk5lxpMuVTrz0Nr5qu8ZqxUJt4r7CsEslrB5WjErPKNNnB2f14deps6mf7-slzlb018Oay3GUnHvC2BcVrtI7A/s320/CenterCounter14O-O.gif)
15 Bf3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIwoOQ9ef8PQj8WxdyZecCYQqftwNICvM4i-sd_Y3V6UUrL5kOfcf5urBa0y-V0ayDyEWZso0czQIE7b23PWMTgULK4moOrfHkH3VLC0nnE8lEX3tqprU6M_D_SBeQFb-Ocy9EQ/s320/CenterCounter15Bf3.gif)
Back to 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Nf6
5 Nf3 Bg4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TdafNnax2OBBnSIff1butqVN6HP1acwmG_Ugsc2hNnvr4YQBpmpIF1T7b6Ik_8TZfo53rUOCEB9jg4D31bprVlXsuhiSi8xRn2VFNza5UHt4ChRLw0ZIltGBzd4v0sU_pFr1EA/s320/CenterCounter5Bg4ML.gif)
6 h3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjk9U4Z8xOqrTC0swYUxsKNtIaq62RAv8X8ZrXZWYxJ1xmjWRZArgJnIBLLqBSHFKQ9y52rn-dBADfAz82UcNVYpZlSaTNRSgFHttqDwtl2Tbe0fV7qnxkl11hh5z03Wtlv6Rr1w/s320/CenterCounter6h3.gif)
White decides to break the pin before it gets too
cumbersome.
6 Bd2
6 Bb5+
6 Be2
6 ... Bh5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuG6LyJS3FYGoALEpEqCSpP8R2FBVts-uBI3UFIarX-2IK52vH9fsRiWfWDiamRhp3kYBRYMjG3xIzQSLn5H9rPiQcfTlhft1vvaFLvQi5jTcSyKSU77O5GMMxdKFXOhnpYQolZA/s320/CenterCounter6Bh5.gif)
Not commendable is 6 ... Bxf3 due to 7 Qxf3 c6
8 Bd2 Nbd7 9 0-0-0 e6 10 Bc4.
6 ... Bf5
7 g4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7sg2O3sjCkhOm-51p9aYMEOR07kmDRKC7tBKUQDYVh3m-M9UB0SkoxfP3WS660p-26LQ4R6raNOHGwuDk0l491e6kgFKA3orh9lkW-OMKX4giNQM1S2Be0gK5SRzprlsS59feA/s320/CenterCounter7g4.gif)
7 Bd2
7 ... Bg6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTi9jfmGNhFZ4cq6HC9OmM5kAhe6Nj8kqhPfDjWo8puMy0S5kT7LsNptq4ha1ajMfsXrMzJkePXL-mhzhPqAmd20pULe2XTOl_VVIfIUc7SRZ4fkv76Ptc1oGAtL6WCAGxrjlCA/s320/CenterCounter7Bg6.gif)
8 Ne5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5VXlHTq5cSlbPzIgAmGmGKfVcK5ub9vji9b3_BxF5xt0WBmekTCuggnpMs-L17l0JGX46DBz746RLc7wDUmFu0Tk9eQ9eSMtv9bTwHqmXV-8VYpnFgTonGPdTG91nMj8HAzzig/s320/CenterCounter8Ne5.gif)
And it's in the bag!
8 b4
8 ... e6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVUTADR8XI6TcyTH4WnMLOm9AkmkTi2Mwe1VeZ3AtgSVPeZCYtDtYtUPBsNuy3cBI_t1iS97LxM1frKqMRFkD6-Gfqh3NOGS4y0oGp4rSCtXSFLhuKadfkI-2cj2ivCFmbFFD7g/s320/CenterCounter8e6.gif)
Giving Black a say in the d5 and f5 squares and
opening up a pathway for the f8 bishop.
8 ... c6
8 ... Nbd7
8 ... Ne4
8 ... Nfd7
9 Bg2
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5loMwfsi0DQyK5ePEXU9-9AqefPp1diFjMXeOEaXDbwZKHvGGM0u3tLPgyXYcBJAqcGsxzZ78lxK4Y6OqXL4JVdNAmomHKPLfmN1qcgpvlzcC__3yCJWd9vPlAHNbYDS947UoQ/s320/CenterCounter9Bg2.gif)
The b7 pawn is under fire.
9 h4
9 Nc4
9 Bd2
9 ... c6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ax75VrgPd9dAa3V1eFjqGIZwd_4lhyphenhyphenGC-ZWVagj1NVVfv2ARyQlF2wnkMABOxOEODzYH6Mw1xShdW8pvzAb0kqi6_XZs44OKE7trf6M1kqYImkGEWY64i62BRdUdc-EqbMjNuA/s320/CenterCounter9c6.gif)
9 ... Be4
9 ... Qb6
9 ... Qa6
10 h4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOosWbQbmteRPoLW2_yiEmAYBomduU9FHEYGK9RcRkIYZWEY4BGibECkIBNVmPbb3ToUxsX1R9DWIbmkqNNBNKJ5UiN9I-hu0VVaXuUxYSEq4YkxhdxZiz-YgNh2cZovWE6wK-w/s320/CenterCounter10h4.gif)
10 O-O
10 Qe2
10 Qd2
10 Nxg6
10 ... Be4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwgzupm70NUNE_VQ9YflDcqv6PjCFU-5yXlbCXq_trnox_k_SDYsBXUNNl-3ogg_TiWgfUS0VYPGf-5nJwyy1zdVn27U_pM_Ki4_tkIMI1avvReYr4rOh0fQnOhj0cnbmGHnhzg/s320/CenterCounter10Be4.gif)
10 ... Nbd7
10 ... Bb4
11 Bxe4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbK2wTWbbTtrZOJB1GPtD4V6xdpkWnJdxGT8Nu1E6URtZOFgufSOvOO46J4tB-NRXK7i4HOTPXhZb_SZyA673lmzTyaeCo1tW9uvw6BIXdR08y57jfFp4-WW38FHPxSKB2y-B-Q/s320/CenterCounter11Bxe4.gif)
11 f3
11 Nc4
11 ... Nxe4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQ_iIDqFnYW_pFGNlSQIH3Q_GJncEk8ryPnI42Dv3ZJVy4KW67Q6UsLBTyjF2Zce8aXkxXZteSIdFoatlzKgmzwZqSzGUrWhAXlj3hejX5CpugMi5fymMHC6SW7cEzZyYGi3EOA/s320/CenterCounter11Nxe4.gif)
12 Qf3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidY0MlOTmJ0UVmlkPwN6Ko3Bu8dHTEAHMv4uRJ1mBStR4wlChG3ff37agOKkPeOtSg-4Ds4mRTYljNBHuhzxhb7PVZt36z-MqzcApQgK1EiGrw5u39lNhuloYG13PNUD4c_Dav_Q/s320/CenterCounter12Qf3.gif)
12 Bd2
12 Nc4
12 ... Nd6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4dtNREn5ph6YLYNQWevTC0DdB6sRF8s7zMtXe9p7xFr3dfXfI3afaz-kr3wC4AKwMe_zkcZNVzRlWAKhEmahVpyT8p8ds6wauSkMbcPRMQnMVymphIFWpZKGfDldivlGI9eACA/s320/CenterCounter12Nd6.gif)
13 Bd2
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzYurwDWdPUmEzDFbXO-2kO7JIk2npj893zNK9CS-Iz9tu5xIvGlpIUkbexcGFdH3Zqb6TzwJr0Z1fd-I2U1-7ewSNiHoZB5opvuTfLywwIsInpF2ONedT-2N6bBwPsWA6l_0eA/s320/CenterCounter13Bd2.gif)
13 Bf4
13 Bg5
13 O-O
13 ... f6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7SLK66DuIONmgi-vetFRkcJXk6LdQRnKwQR6v224flWXjuM-3wG6ZFy-RYoqF3vMx0hlA96BVtCWKA6WAMksvrfmC1pGDsoM6N1czIQ69MVNyGo8Te5rtKbDJ202IQo3wIMrIQ/s320/CenterCounter13f6.gif)
13 ... Qb6
13 ... Nd7
14 Nd3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sr_wblVE3Yig2L8Q7osEbGSKwNpEQNZJq1vw-pWAPoGNVfxtfBJDhCtVNJ8P-pdQyZyxb_Q_wgGlCB0jNTeYCi_EZgsjC9KFa5NaN0qaWnsm8_g3CZ2F_hDcewkdzZpqi9SZqg/s320/CenterCounter14Nd3.gif)
14 Ne2
14 Ne4
14 ... Nd7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwT1e72vNNSJie1ssMTFwSxTgVYKcot_oqJecREQiBC2jDXx04kDmY5pNu-1Bn3g26LouZikfcoDgyqT9pVuwqnUyant8BQxA0eI5TeNG1FI3XRrX679uar9BXbeGbUjM4rqdK1g/s320/CenterCounter14Nd7.gif)
14 ... Na6
15 Qe2
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8WpCaViRk4o_8VtmyG4o639ilo-zBnuU6Nf6YMEAhQbMOc-zBedyoh-OTUBcdI3YDCe55NPZNTFbP0XEMibn5OQA-foZSzNfIrQjYRMH3A59bJXBPew1eWEGQbU6OuE84OC19Q/s320/CenterCounter15Qe2.gif)
15 h5
15 O-O-O
15 b4
15 Ne4
15 ... O-O-O
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHj03dcbQzbFcjKXt-pgrszSY6GFM2zsBdpYxkt-Y5hxVa_Q6_NHKsEu2qEwwjF4OOy46nsohXZrlokYh87IBKedy_re3yrRRPDQz66A4JIMnWYBU3p3g6SyG2DCxYPj4I7Sukg/s320/CenterCounter15O-O-O.gif)
15 ... e5
16 f4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYu3w_2tSJw-thl9rw3d7rmn9gUuo16aO6VEUxdH4GTV0WVRWzM5IMVWuvos_85xYeaGAPRhRTuexfGCOFTB5DhnPBtdFHDwsa_-4t3k1QSxND32HWadQwkApLL8EZphVepnfGgg/s320/CenterCounter16f4.gif)
16 O-O-O
16 h5
16 f3
16 ... h5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEB_g8DoZiRKCj_ytYpRAkYUaJJUrDAG8Rc571jYdz0IWGLM-Fw-7WnYlQ83fyGKJN8W4TD4mc0FS9BBiHN-LtmIPll9gFs-0KXN94tZTqXawm8QT_HplIT3cikMTY2DadfDnzw/s320/CenterCounter16h5.gif)
16 ... Re8
16 ... f5
17 O-O-O
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqTFzeWn8CIGZ9KheEbIHTW4n2v3uIlPoT_luJFkceQ_oWNLCaRVI6e-3ggI1HoIVjv66yi954W0ht77fYAopZd2h2MKuFZMpt9RxRmGXZwnem_srnRiqxVTP85VSkgsQB1veIA/s320/CenterCounter17O-O-O.gif)
17 Rg1
17 a3
By ChessCoach@care2.com
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdOT5oLAvv405bzDN6WCQTo4qwPQ961pUSkKlYcwPqiM393t1rdx6oE8QGopE83YfRLPmFX8Yr5eTHReeAGPf6WZAMckcuxkDNB6KomWiYqRCMJ-7NzfeXKSOuNnbgIxRdRYnpA/s320/CenterCounter1d5.gif)
What's the game plan for White?
* Control the center, starting with 3 Nc3
and 4 d4.
* Attain the e5 outpost by Ng1-f3-e5 and
consolidate it according to the dictates
of the position. Some common buttress-
ing maneuvers are: f2-f4, Bc1-f4, Rf1-e1,
and Qd1-e2.
* Use the outpost to seek attacking
opportunities against Black's kingside/
queenside.
* Aim for a timely d5 central break.
This advance gains space in the center
and encroaches on Black's position.
What's the game plan for Black?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdOT5oLAvv405bzDN6WCQTo4qwPQ961pUSkKlYcwPqiM393t1rdx6oE8QGopE83YfRLPmFX8Yr5eTHReeAGPf6WZAMckcuxkDNB6KomWiYqRCMJ-7NzfeXKSOuNnbgIxRdRYnpA/s320/CenterCounter1d5.gif)
* Lessen White's central preponderance by
pinning the c3 and f3 knights with the Queen
and c8 bishop respectively. Once they are
nailed down to those squares, the knights
can no longer influence central affairs.
* Utilize the c8 bishop not only to
pressurize the d1-h5 diagonal but also to
contend for the b1-h7 and h1-a8 diagonals.
* Strengthen d5 through ... c7-c6
and ... e7-e6 so as to cushion it against
White's prospective d5 break. In some lines,
Nf6-d5 is used to hold White up in the center.
* Challenge White's occupation of e5.
Usually, Nbd7 initiates pressure against the
outpost. The Queen then weighs in on the
matter from a5 or c7, aided by ... Bd6.
* Use the half open d-file to gain
central play. In some variations, Black
castles long and subsequently uses the
d8 rook to bear down on this file.
Also available:
Chess: Understanding the Center Counter
(Scandinavian) Part II
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-center-counter.html
Chess: Understanding the Center Counter
(Scandinavian) Part III
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-center-counter_05.html
Chess: Understanding the Center Counter
(Scandinavian) Part IV
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-center_115210997262388378.html
Chess: Understanding the Center Counter
(Scandinavian) Part V
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-center_115211261703678156.html
1 e4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsvAy1M5hmfJqsG9pNWBGApgXhFIvlzc3nyaWwUltHXGX_Hfe-US9VHMIHEAdC5V557PVLmLQaQOSFPZPjyc9-TWKEqCT2dRdi2wfuakJazsNvu7v3gwNAckrZraIvVSkNv020w/s320/CenterCounter1e4.gif)
1 ... d5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdOT5oLAvv405bzDN6WCQTo4qwPQ961pUSkKlYcwPqiM393t1rdx6oE8QGopE83YfRLPmFX8Yr5eTHReeAGPf6WZAMckcuxkDNB6KomWiYqRCMJ-7NzfeXKSOuNnbgIxRdRYnpA/s320/CenterCounter1d5.gif)
Black instantaneously questions White's control of d5.
2 exd5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hDrnYl8yKU8ctmieYaIdBlGxei1xR97N4fPY1gvCFw_Gxxoe1BVNARjaearFnToNg8HvdZb_UNBhS6kuUkIlwBKnon_dxrgo-FkjPvsJhuKcqRTmV1NBe6PVDwh3zylEBKl-BQ/s320/CenterCounter2exd5.gif)
Temporarily ceding the square to the Black Queen
following:
2 ... Qxd5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4CnxEVtHGvruCYU3fe8Miz36LltXTZZk9X_wadfw2AfOebqbnMAcDCDSRI2K_DdXgwC1XzM_Dfyfu_FKMBVVfTM61gLRbgp98d3uKH9zNSiMlSR_Z-2ps1unP8F3AONKXZS8IA/s320/CenterCounter2Qxd5.gif)
Now, she has to find a safer spot, and lose a tempo in
the process, after White responds with:
3 Nc3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYNSQQvRTvxzGGiaVdfuQ6Wi5EbQQtXgwG3JrOSAc-TvY5vJiid2uluk5EmOm85o0zkdzjRefMNi23Mt4BZZprKn5whk8zZD4JRbnRMBWh1_V_Yem5561VdJHU0cjVUty56Os-A/s320/CenterCounter3Nc3.gif)
3 Nf3
3 d4
3 Qf3
3 c4
3 ... Qa5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-IgFXPS_cnMtRyvKwbsAvGrsAy9Nnq5B43PwVAWWo4hxWDFZYUtTg79vblEzF4mumBgDv7R8JjKPa6PkBTojccGcEHPJ91YH2cIZVDEBXvKh7jFdofh4brViiRcnRhr7IpBO8Q/s320/CenterCounter3Qa5.gif)
From this vantage point, the Queen can pin the
c3 knight after a prospective d4 by White.
Additionally, she gets a sweeping view of the
fifth rank.
Other alternatives are:
(A) 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYNSQQvRTvxzGGiaVdfuQ6Wi5EbQQtXgwG3JrOSAc-TvY5vJiid2uluk5EmOm85o0zkdzjRefMNi23Mt4BZZprKn5whk8zZD4JRbnRMBWh1_V_Yem5561VdJHU0cjVUty56Os-A/s320/CenterCounter3Nc3.gif)
3 ... Qd8
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZOgrbJ8FbBGMqVeB-MiMhSYFucGlmJ8c8AjX13a1tPfNUYFDmn6EH3U_5eVdyb3gr4f7vVeT_VLZkMbxnJZ-_5DlULdw5Ag4iyLvm9_9-kXBEIHZj9PpXZvBpEYfZtu-bzKdrQ/s320/CenterCounter3Qd8.gif)
Back to square one. From here the Queen maintains
her influence over the half open d-file.
4 d4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVV2CW7J8-mYO3eodoCXzXFgPxMIkyqBDooUZTuXkGR4cJgOBNUBGSOOUePBWOrCpgnOuotOxKI7_Y3ZKFyo7cKOqF1rzu6Npd5YheLwAUW2bZjIkdFuV8XSWp3FTk5AVJTfEmA/s320/CenterCounter4d4.gif)
The c1-bishop gets the c1-h6 diagonal for development,
and c5 and e5 are covered.
4 Ne4
4 Bc4
4 Nf3
4 ... Nf6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYspMFkmmgxCZGJYiWWjVNuRuHJC73ZUon2vQ8L55tL2RwSWDsvzIHZQLFixg9ex9B74g9si2I8utTUu6X2MMJdbvEXad6VL9TbgWWTZ9wac2-5-EUy1484D57sQDBBhlHPh0PXQ/s320/CenterCounter4Nf6.gif)
Mobilization towards the center; Black wants in on
e4 and d5. Also, the knight enables the c8 bishop
to develop to g4.
4 ... g6
4 ... c6
5 Bc4!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5wZf3_mDzbujpbK8KP6G8awg-H5gxawJSCMUr8xgNMzTtoJuVbvEUT9aecLvUSiDy525t7W5Tsw6PE5beZD4R79kvs4wS1lf5ReNL-hhgeBZjUg46zbdVK7ENh3AfGKxSyRS5w/s320/CenterCounter5Bc4.gif)
Aiming at Black's weakest point, f7.
5 Nf3
5 Bg5
5 ... Bg4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYF0prwThdvDSv-IksRJBdh523Wz2HxmjEQWjHGrhFkwGroi-oR4xjZuw8k5pVz3URf7gM8cLeSlB7ie9ZKAchd4b0DovXEMk0CLkAl-VvZZjmzCNjyIyFKb-HjrwsPx5oMeVlg/s320/CenterCounter5Bg4.gif)
Attacking the enemy Queen.
5 ... c6
5 ... Nbd7
5 ... Bf5
5 ... a6
6 Nge2
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvQ_Uc69Qngyk8FXAdQA99ffbs7xdxKMoeHp2wTx8S7ENi8JYVDcnGsCRlJR5gssPoz7bmuGAe9L7M9efhIO0GdX1eUE5qRczH7MG8Gp_70roAkyJOatF8YYd6aQV0ckKuNxzlQ/s320/CenterCounter6Nge2.gif)
6 f3
6 ... e6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYZvt2G-KARFwiqvnct3DIsyGmTXzvA_f_9BU5EQHTBv2e0FKGGKv9ooTCcEZdFXyIa8_GvClpvqonxRRjZ7wOThfnZxD63n_dlD3QzlxJFmHTc8cDQo2Y9qVllcdwse3WZXrcg/s320/CenterCounter6e6.gif)
Keeping a tab on d5 and f5 plus letting out the
f8 bishop. Observe how this move limits the c4
bishop's scope along the a2-g8 diagonal.
7 Bg5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihuWrUt2noUewMZNTOrfZ5zrhYl9dMGDn-iBQ1bORzpjuNr5Cdj5mTyJR310Mw1IxCPXpXAWiac5uwHlMv6exjJ7mZIiwR1CC6nEYae49iG2tXKrR7X8F4-F_shS_8-HKXDU2XGQ/s320/CenterCounter7Bg5.gif)
Development with intent to pin the knight and
neutralize its e4 and d5 influence.
7 ... Be7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2D8nu3phSj0gCkAQzMPLpxI_SMd_-sfmFIB0xLb0_BaEDgg09vXb7qkkox1VcnoasuvSMaRVnXkQyjoZyEQyvx_etIEZWkyTpDLSTEExR_JLeAOleramPSW44-kkgLWJsaMhNbg/s320/CenterCounter7Be7.gif)
Black prudently breaks the pin before it burdens
his play.
8 Qd2
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOsmb-WK_rCH9tnv_kEGiVzrrr4uNwGAHAZECzFKVgdwXtBfj49frIkiBmMzGITQLDb_jRq5o71gf7CPJJ7TCOCzWrCMry0Nr93vVEahU45xdgfkL4dybphPV_YXDUgSZ3vXBiw/s320/CenterCounter8Qd2.gif)
White too breaks the pin on e2 and prepares
for queenside castling.
8 ... Nbd7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrL5P3V8rQyUxxqdscxellUAzzKMqsaaXPmCBDK4un-4KG4fA0FHmKZBnk00_9xcTgm281UnV6auAcl0S0Ddt63VYRl1TGLbJPKNlclt267cqHYsxXZAhLWe2o2GrmE2x1uIG4Q/s320/CenterCounter8Nbd7.gif)
9 f3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeM-10Wg9K187ovxX0wRVvLNWiS0MYhCe1-hNtAF8n60_I5cAc3KAAENi7qPNoHBKJrxCr9kNTTxZPxIFV1tBR4frVvWlvDBXauKCgXnEBmLELgRjOnkAMSdQt07mA2_QywihnGQ/s320/CenterCounter9f3.gif)
9 ... Bf5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRNbxK4bkBAUtdMIGAzEVlYqWpoUVcNkHWmTTX8ZxC_qTjcD3OTgKoMbzec4HrQ6OE2VujI8VLOmb6ACS94slvFZL6pzTP3Z-XQviHCHq9QZ9l9VrmTSmtGuubOooiZsv8HvCmQ/s320/CenterCounter9Bf5.gif)
10 g4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DFllMg7uVfAwhWBVROw5XGVKI0v6VEz8p23FXS5wwUA5-7iztLOymXrdIurevwRAH0cDLKnyC5IzTxTjbhyVLhFjb_e1-qcGw6RIRqyOPa2zbd0bnXCz37bs9cv4H2q5yYNauA/s320/CenterCounter10g4.gif)
10 ... Bg6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxbUNb5IV1PSR86-bRwD3yDFq_RztbXh80wxK4fjGNl6Iky0pMOBS7pXDJzlMsGCnup0zEAbehvoEqEgqwGplESVxJTeU_7KkeDdt7cUQQ3fjaKax2XyDQ8-e_s9ysv_szFuTZA/s320/CenterCounter10Bg6.gif)
11 h4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1tNt_z-mivYLLdJelIi3jcInRfTbB0kzjJ4C92k_B3h2ZZwVE2OqMHUj-6zZzREwF75Fj2yND8G6p81ciuGt4tqG5TAOQPMAPYzGWoj4KuIKQO01TZdQebxu4ZEtBo7cnTN6rA/s320/CenterCounter11h4.gif)
11 ... h6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cCvfehPGPFt0nfxWHXyalM0tIuWZtzgnUeY0KbGcqtwu10UYuw9YNG8lO3byTk41LAPpJdnOulswD9MXkct1o7oXfAx2w5Yv06J-_BPTPVL4e-crnIKmMD8SX-d6ecN25oE82A/s320/CenterCounter11h6.gif)
12 Bf4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpBTyk1PWmHao2pyu3Chg8fHdH6w2luTD3nbmik71XwNfwmFf7rhibh2ix2RdhZC1x-nxv9gv2v2YV-XlnOqRVJXrNm33WyE46LXfUlJIqSy068wSrqAmb1fL4vqPKNLYWu7yxQ/s320/CenterCounter12Bf4.gif)
And White's position looks more desirable.
(B) 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYNSQQvRTvxzGGiaVdfuQ6Wi5EbQQtXgwG3JrOSAc-TvY5vJiid2uluk5EmOm85o0zkdzjRefMNi23Mt4BZZprKn5whk8zZD4JRbnRMBWh1_V_Yem5561VdJHU0cjVUty56Os-A/s320/CenterCounter3Nc3.gif)
3 ... Qd6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6_IKVNVQK51ePSpmf6IOKpyEIMvWfzqe8gfoCtdC_4R2fs3uzNH6t7deJCQZa0UO6SLWyd2JxU-w_2BiYiyRHqRKFQ3ZEJvhnQ9xdI94ZVuBk0ruN_msWUL1fZox-loQhtuZgA/s320/CenterCounter3Qd6.gif)
Black's Queen insists on preserving a strong central
presence.
4 d4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs97aKNSZcannMphY3BjK1hbW3pRabkrnD9Q-Ol9INxCQQ4bGo2uyevGkz0SWDiGrzRUoA3T2uRREgCwzmMxyuAh6rDxZvRtvvDYwGW4Lw_6fgv62KtVW13XPqQbr3f6l7IK55Iw/s320/CenterCounter4d4B.gif)
4 Nf3
4 g3
4 Bc4
4 ... Nf6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssKjL6H4ChYwD6KiDLKuG6AReEr_eY-hIQRx4FoYzp-4Z8JZs26fHJWnF6GMoHJ7NWlhW1YZE4LRfhI-F8117eAo26rVHRM6TKQhLJdFhV2SJTTfDc-oQyOv_VHtDTxIVwDjAVQ/s320/CenterCounter4Nf6B.gif)
4 ... a6
4 ... c6
5 Nf3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjic5ecTJZbcK66imZESftMXgpdTESWlAtHFHD1StN9bNW_9ApVIGVwOj331ndE4o-CKT4XgIQgG2QELqE0-zT9oPxcXXOJPdLzjVI4KIXZSQm0R_A1oMw29P2M8xK6dqwjGWMYpw/s320/CenterCounter5Nf3.gif)
5 Bc4
5 Bg5
5 Bd3
5 Bb5+
5 g3
5 Be3
5 Be2
5 ... Bg4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieClyaqAMley2gn11yp0pgiP5yCrhbzDxeVV-fZx-6c3lQvLF9PyjZ8qmL4LxSOeTrTh-9B999BcBRshSX_rv3JF3r8RJdSgiLvv_0aOg8TN2TIIL8Y1mHuQvjOhluPbZ8AmJ9LQ/s320/CenterCounter5Bg4B.gif)
5 ... a6
5 ... c6
6 Be2
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWmemYHQfpd-36_Dy-Q468fCasRsj1Cvf-p-MoAWCrIY5aiIGbXcbMcaCRjwhDof5VYDE-L9WHhDdjoEDOAFrFbaREskKSxM5ar2VQIF_7ORt1c8pvPInCbOcVP56JHkksD6DSQ/s320/CenterCounter6Be2.gif)
6 ... c6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwazYKBJS6M0TFWJxxSXZ0_02md9smaKpGRwLKGJPwTXGAOlB3lbAwocmK_W0_Yy_C64q9_v9tm43OJBbfEkccJTUdAlGTMnhmrxdYLKyW5ZyJc1yaUU0_JROxSYBfVd5o0a6bqw/s320/CenterCounter6c6B.gif)
6 ... e6
6 ... a6
6 ... Nbd7
7 h3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvK4lXy2A1FM6FZpdYcBYEbTHbHXojYVXcQob4q6rMQCFJWNYpQXx2nyDE1b3M6SPlOYHpQKcFmf90NDUIyr_AG2lW9atHUbC6WokgdPTu-9uymvkGIQnQXkJIDDiRaDJs0GVLw/s320/CenterCounter7h3B.gif)
7 O-O
7 Ne5
7 Be3
7 ... Bxf3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidG0e31GP4IAT2CAMc28PpksjhL0jsYMPSqv_7Sf8MnQXxC2mtqebtoyzcgrws2cIt6aM5pqygW8tR2il-CbUFXzOugqNNidnLai_AQkDr5x8O8yFtl-317KSZ0ZmbPNUsP7JKVg/s320/CenterCounter7Bxf3.gif)
7 ... Bf5
7 ... Bh5
8 Bxf3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwk_7OngH6WnI2booJfWtX_NRWF0pEVqmsUOax2NtMjGBujem7-VcGQpOrvdP6Dqfm3PveJxa9Ryml7bOSGASejWfX-G29qjuyy2I84gPVVmRUzPuPdb3FxkedkKCx_Q4xNddoA/s320/CenterCounter8Bxf3.gif)
8 ... e6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1sz3H3DXD1rtpX06PXaq2RfsfzwRSmfjwfYYXoKEHLZkOOKoZpkjPAJJWfbRV6kXIm1iQIVahd51pzAcSBQU2xJ4SspgAPoljW0AMLahTKS9wri0BsPozRVnQH-w5A1eGojmfuQ/s320/CenterCounter8e6B.gif)
8 ... Nbd7
8 ... Na6
9 O-O
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgct2jt_9CpRgwoDx6Bhfm4IOlM6-C5t_omehSJ3GeubZrqM5qJ57MBix83k-ZuP5eXzs7wyFD2PqbrcCumeddCDT-ZMBjnqS8BjMF-RlSoTq_RS6pBhJBedGYGfiuewtYmbgvkDQ/s320/CenterCounter9O-O.gif)
9 Ne2
9 Be3
9 ... Nbd7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyctljMqnks7zwcICYYWEReohkApeD2ULOHREcTARhcfWTBSAZHKX9ECY1yB79Oe2gKKe2OTATLD-v7xUF5G7Z3ViN1A76JIAXvtmsISvkEI3QBkeOKBNW_3nVr4g1hHC49iy9kg/s320/CenterCounter9Nbd7B.gif)
9 ... Be7
9 ... h6
10 Re1
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmeDwqyQFzhTX9LIcRvJ8yZXwwihZ0gg1a0wjm6DjVyHQqKH8ulYJ47JBjFbV_EXPCLaUmZ8GyTM1SKWfuuAe6bvws7xfn7HM1rrnjQbJTYgzb9HKdKXfAGXPS7ahhhzvLiuFNEw/s320/CenterCounter10Re1.gif)
10 Ne2
10 Qd3
10 ... O-O-O
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGA1o7m0w96SLJDpQbh88eueyXmcgZzFXnhhLPIrrZscdtQRITfSVRdJqZe9AV-_XR1kfHre1bR4yTpawrmatm_5FHodhodvanuQFv5mMB7CXIaqDbsIyKtDQ_1h-2zwqI0a9kA/s320/CenterCounter10O-O-O.gif)
10 ... Be7
10 ... h6
11 Be3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb724YXVFBx7thEIBzvPsihsAlXv6GX5_JupWoH4Oht7cizRk5VqP7ZocVepWTZemx4cskCf74Z0xXXmEDqy0bqGcodiIqLmbINvmsvE54lgA3YlTup-h2aYtVt6HFR38iN5pKBQ/s320/CenterCounter11Be3.gif)
11 a4
11 a3
11 Qd3
11 ... Qc7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizvoi9RetjO9gWsU5d0e6NsFPjE0Cu_RKp1nqmGrhJTGDoLqNiWKMDoaoLJoSZ3BF9aIdDz_F6NFXyWSDzD2tcl2WO4AMiBJbpqgzsowLo4tP0LOM_K55ZV8BnETBg_px6q4xgg/s320/CenterCounter11Qc7.gif)
11 ... Be7
11 ... Kb8
11 ... Nb6
11 ... h6
11 ... h5
12 Qe2
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGrQSgt8CsvuDdQeHHTDsPi69ZyEOq4_cVdNfQehm1a0akafG1xVph5Vu4Hjlo0ndtYSJmZHJEIv0Ys1Ab3AIr-TJVkmJeroClft1O9KkeMHvGHaCBuIUHO1sOnM4dxh1kZN4nA/s320/CenterCounter12Qe2.gif)
12 Ne4
12 Qd2
Back to 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-IgFXPS_cnMtRyvKwbsAvGrsAy9Nnq5B43PwVAWWo4hxWDFZYUtTg79vblEzF4mumBgDv7R8JjKPa6PkBTojccGcEHPJ91YH2cIZVDEBXvKh7jFdofh4brViiRcnRhr7IpBO8Q/s320/CenterCounter3Qa5.gif)
4 d4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0YJUzUxjW7rW3iRjI3CkPjoN8cbu-1jkcMz9evXQ4yAt0pTBdj5iaJVtHohffHTu0HFTZ7saUdY8rpr9a0LBKT3gioZri29BdQJjLTM5q73W8ZRr-fSZI2dmp-7V_SOSKdMqbg/s320/CenterCounter4d4ML.gif)
c5 and e5 are covered, plus the c1 bishop can now
jump into the game along c1-h6.
4 Nf3
4 g3
4 Bc4
4 Be2
4 h3
4 Nge2
4 b4
4 f4
4 ... Nf6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wfOQg4tGnfbTcf3wiua8L_B_ZXg_eGnySaC1ZS7l756vBpU6sK2by-bk9cw-eMWnnvGW-zUSURbfrPGHIFfcczt0fXtmQBtHVRDtYarZQvgmWecRof6yJQpjR1a9urQzK6FNkw/s320/CenterCounter4Nf6ML.gif)
Challenging White for the d5 and e4 squares
and facilitating the c8 bishop's development
to g4. Not 4 ... e5 5 Nf3 [5 dxe5 Bb4 6 Bd2
Nc6 7 a3] 5 ... Bg4 6 h3 exd4 7 Qxd4!
5 ... Bb4 also works in White's favor by
affording him superior development: 5 ... Bb4
6 Bd2 Bg4 7 Be2 exd4 [7 ... Nc6 8 a3!] 8 Nxd4
8 ... Qe5 9 Ncb5! Bxe2 10 Qxe2 Bxd2+ 11 Kxd2
11 ... Qxe2+ Kxe2.
4 ... c6
4 ... g6
4 ... Bf5
4 ... a6
4 ... Nd7
4 ... Nc6
5 Nf3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZ6Y4bapxtjJgQiaZ7N7nZnQ9yML4KZu6vPTi1p0ZmhmvndaGsa6sdM7XhOkgDBDBPU1lJTH79Qt_r8vfIS0sRtmRgSl7-CNO3xXb_QDMBsPRRh13Xqdxq7IImGbKo3GMzq7bQg/s320/CenterCounter5Nf3ML.gif)
The knight reinforces d4, but more importantly,
it gets one step closer to the e5 outpost.
5 Bc4
5 Bd2
5 g3
5 Be3
5 Bd3
5 Be2
5 ... Bg4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TdafNnax2OBBnSIff1butqVN6HP1acwmG_Ugsc2hNnvr4YQBpmpIF1T7b6Ik_8TZfo53rUOCEB9jg4D31bprVlXsuhiSi8xRn2VFNza5UHt4ChRLw0ZIltGBzd4v0sU_pFr1EA/s320/CenterCounter5Bg4ML.gif)
Thwarting the knight's central ambitions.
Black could also try:
(A) 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Nf6 5 Nf3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZ6Y4bapxtjJgQiaZ7N7nZnQ9yML4KZu6vPTi1p0ZmhmvndaGsa6sdM7XhOkgDBDBPU1lJTH79Qt_r8vfIS0sRtmRgSl7-CNO3xXb_QDMBsPRRh13Xqdxq7IImGbKo3GMzq7bQg/s320/CenterCounter5Nf3ML.gif)
5 ... Nc6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogqVr_oSYFbcRxODkq1_VZUQzZdKAo2rrf_PGSFROVLoAuYc0YbIxvWkbUrWdgBTJSMJpwyo4yt5qaBXrmwcOBtFg4cONpKwCz-nQGu275jiHBqkUJ0hdBGSAgaqQwgYrbSAoCw/s320/CenterCounter5Nc6.gif)
5 ... e6
6 Bb5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBisP8AknajSKlSR1HxnV6nJ9NDBGkRNwNZhJAy8nFsNdmQnV5ULJPiETHxsOjb9de0wz3-0SGTBJtUF52Z6Lllc03U97lptT6_tUlyIKHU7r3TRIfZOTtLktSfTDx2X-Bbneg6A/s320/CenterCounter6Bb5.gif)
6 d5
6 h3
6 Bd2
6 ... Bd7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94RR1ZfYjjiH1nMx3_JLfK2vQeprsa2ruBg9xh8iLg-BFotrbXRZpJsBLxlhneTOATJuAKr2x225pkuF3AXCpd4qdBcSDgyxPrKCiO73PxYubOOmB9xS6IzRUyztT3uGle5EhOg/s320/CenterCounter6Bd7.gif)
6 ... Ne4
6 ... Nd5
7 d5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDbOrcpBqkO1MNeE9qkmZZ_zfO1cyfi-ndTzld64dQ9_DJFHkBhmT-1Tb2h6ejbm9kufZciWRgl32OvqLE2ox3XK0m_ph2Nr01XrEEhGrgEvvlsW8T2JRfGZgHSj__zpIQX-eRA/s320/CenterCounter7d5.gif)
7 O-O
7 Bd2
7 ... Nb4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YJsvfOuGQDqhaOCJ7rTOacmWbTAxqy-EzeCapnaffvPTCqluJZmyNEqMyV0Nkj8QBf4mxxdnNBEpzht00pNRUPqevbU9deYCH9mXCChtzZv8EOYSzX4Di4SYdzDLu7LU-WTxbg/s320/CenterCounter7Nb4.gif)
7 ... Ne5
7 ... Nb8
8 Bxd7+
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKD95Ni21N4375wrfIlHac3dXZzC7OO0AcnhyphenhypheneBpWS2VzkzaR9-J9H1T8rhbmIz96PQBq0Qhc-ErNZpnAFWZTpUrspi02axtKDAhb7MeCH03ic973gcqWcWAInOA4ItOfjaqJkg/s320/CenterCounter8Bxd7.gif)
8 Bc4
8 Be2
8 ... Nxd7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWJ-B2nlIWsy4kEaVviHVAsO9guYt2cB7p0RYUufcZU4hn52k_W8oZNRsphWWETuUBXj4pNlJstIYxPJ_L8uHF_DibIpvbI2t2L_iR0FdRAkeXBLhbwKgDeFyKSY2BnG5emSLvA/s320/CenterCounter8Nxd7.gif)
9 O-O
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0rCtQ3fF8W_4DZyTaZk0f0kTPleAdcP9-ILOO2b-bqruaGHi-vxahyLewEwFahpOB8zRz12C05a5etkettQcXQEPHuYW2ltfD37eG9Of1gxNs7ZmFDCaV2pA2f8PgsSrIa_XJA/s320/CenterCounter9O-OA.gif)
9 a3
9 Be3
9 ... Nf6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTcYIIa86ESng-K3BJ-FXj_d5k0rt4AAwtcf9ATh3pwpohaqThSljybdG4OOOkT3L0gEdSuK_W5RY1CpVxPyFDwMrAvVwuj8ErFiL4BtKz_rOFjAJEkv8_j_ui7SsHxDgY27oww/s320/CenterCounter9Nf6.gif)
9 ... Rd8
9 ... Nb6
10 Qe2
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqRM_q8MQp6JbKnuVEJvA4RzvFvamkf2649ovkZtJHpfpLfds9QUOQp0KzmGqJ58OjE1Xs2A9nVVnCHvvAdvR1uinhXSCxRUDb84LB66mUpYtC69gqHFjlAKKFthGa0HnAbdfvQ/s320/CenterCounter10Qe2.gif)
10 Bg5
10 Be3
10 ... Nbxd5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3K9D3q2xVBAf2LDdI0-5qN2sskmYskDLEAlqwn7GEwLRi6zkjBEy-lpZaJi6vZeKkjHWTmyVhiWZVwRxfvpTbunZaiYGIPOE8R6mj5TJeN4qkgWMJI-Yi0hl64QPtbLB_jJx3A/s320/CenterCounter10Nbxd5.gif)
10 ... Nfxd5
10 ... Rd8
11 Nxd5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGURfkWp0EjfovjRaRkcb9aj6ntNovhGNud5ozim9jHjtZTgfT06hFy6gmbnTVC8sQntukfgVc9Vn8g840YLorpGB-XnMK96zygwrX3EY1uuIcu__ZebToaQGWQU15pYYdIbyJg/s320/CenterCounter11Nxd5.gif)
11 Ne4
11 Bd2
11 ... Nxd5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNCFMCqaqYrDkNA9MB6QhGxfs5x1m3I3TVs2x7hjtlN9dSDq60UQ-FCzWaOlBF-7izUvvrG6fu3ewtCE4d7jsgty_kipYbsfB8FA6tTyGcC7Jl4y4CErxbybaotVX377CmlytSA/s320/CenterCounter11Nxd5B.gif)
11 ... Qxd5
12 c4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYq-y8kQsqHo1hzRwI1kumnApWOr0sJK4bUWMxpau7gD4waOX_6KdEgbMt9vgYKB1vj3SdxB3yKHISQAaPMHa_1mo_IOaHolV0I3LKyxpJ-lq90rRi1digBlt2shOjXKPgXTlBw/s320/CenterCounter12c4.gif)
12 Rd1
12 Ne5
12 ... Nf6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5GzBJFWjvKL8wA8AZdYwQB7h9ryG0-U3XS213Sf7ZBc3uYSNlDiJwSpHWhmY4_EOKBgsCNf6a2Mt1HY6QMyVqj_ciy9IRpI1RqKtF1ftL-SHkFfS9cUcgV_zU9hyphenhyphen0P0vthel9Q/s320/CenterCounter12Nf6.gif)
12 ... Nb6
12 ... Nb4
13 Ne5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMR-HgPUe-S6phDfrdRn1CV8NJvqmKrLYUXNQgK1o33gkOqBtZlCtzv3zuwh568iSm_KeWNeVSdZrao2jr7-UOlCVgYoOhThcZU4BgLRqqbYzcA1Qbv_xcrDy_MzF8pqXMXP-MA/s320/CenterCounter13Ne5.gif)
13 Bf4
13 Bg5
13 ... e6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNz8IuYpZudt0BeuVd1aDYwHjgUf4FTvTQ4eiE2b7aR8cbIivuIYL-JUjX_so54vEeae-pbQJU_TGJUQ_cCoJ1aof_RrO4LBhH47c1KXvMvHzYUzhx3lfBTl5yDbgFsflCVrrjtQ/s320/CenterCounter13e6.gif)
13 ... Rd8
13 ... Qa6
14 Bg5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ss8HpaXUav4c2mQPAcqJVjnoQ7D-XX8SmD3sSZDHQ5oySv3sp-hRlAE40zAtKbaNhrHei4q562wxs5np4ZqYz848f8fvTPoI4TIdB5EHx8bcyT3j5acfHWrJC5ULSSXOpsyngw/s320/CenterCounter14Bg5.gif)
14 a3
14 Bf4
14 ... Be7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDedtigyNQ8MGtJEQ6zOUgkNJbgMc9eH4akU3KBJBakhp3qZ0HuBGr1CVP807D09BKKGRigqAU81Lr5eUWMud0WM3dBdkDtiityVMjL1n4nRwy5xPGA3MJpMccZwpRnVdfwI_2sA/s320/CenterCounter14Be7.gif)
14 ... Bd6
14 ... Bb4
(B) 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Nf6 5 Nf3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZ6Y4bapxtjJgQiaZ7N7nZnQ9yML4KZu6vPTi1p0ZmhmvndaGsa6sdM7XhOkgDBDBPU1lJTH79Qt_r8vfIS0sRtmRgSl7-CNO3xXb_QDMBsPRRh13Xqdxq7IImGbKo3GMzq7bQg/s320/CenterCounter5Nf3ML.gif)
5 ... c6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyInxbDw_UrMH65xPKwfE3VmS472De42gG2tWt4lJHAmnkSuoviSu3O8b0cNhQa6PFjSmLS8ELThCoZerxOG5rFJZL_x8I2BSYdLwgqmJn6nOABkCOwqfecD7fxem-jko8GXASQ/s320/CenterCounter5c6.gif)
6 Bc4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLNSHcktDKmjAI8vrIxgtyU6a7r4sqiToqLhu-ncVfXL2Vt_ZpLLAqyF0HguD9jWyxDAPI1m0colJ9tu9MyBLa6kCIrpcXtN0jKFHEtFOqljTfCjX_tk20aRivsD-dKLykvQVFg/s320/CenterCounter6Bc4.gif)
6 Ne5
6 Bd2
6 Bd3
6 Be2
6 h3
6 ... Bg4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ut2EjzSEHMW4zSVbvYYKiqEOdSFW_4u5I1U0Ky_g7qoB8ZMm8jOc-DjirfbWyfVdqpiRlWeZkSNYc_WSLqWrsHK3YZ-J8eQeiIl3h9Z_gBkqrVA3feJwbtKjfwazZ5cueDRvMg/s320/CenterCounter6Bg4.gif)
6 ... Bf5
7 h3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAo_mFRQ0MpRrX3pytiqME0Zl_xOx6O5dO61jLlgQ56eaMw53nVZAwneT5Vdkm4iglWF2xZgA327rz0K-ZBCO2QSlmfM6CL4NbAzWDT9oUpvxwbReU9WskCsAQXrF_6tSEELlbbQ/s320/CenterCounter7h3.gif)
7 Bd2
7 Qd3
7 O-O
7 ... Bh5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDaqVPD9v0a50GntusQc14zSbI8gJypoUARiDZnLqIn1h5G4HZr5jeqhKzEbhlZHRrW3S2xq-XYe8mdSKkn2vFhQETHloLitlNubywlmIgWteU-EBqLWWSa1IBZKiBGLl4BOyew/s320/CenterCounter7Bh5.gif)
7 ... Bxf3
8 g4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-Ts6FU9Y9io7d14kZozJ_I6YMsbxe98NgdluOVnPHM6HWxAXkS6DHvEVN-7iMq38axxk2psmh40olhps-pcoftsGdAdV5mX2xXjB5ZcQE-7bxRkX13Sbr4kyxZjHo1Qj2L8feg/s320/CenterCounter8g4.gif)
8 Qe2
8 Bd2
8 ... Bg6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTMHs60ffVMUULxseoTcsosmqliQ5nHxOfojAr2sKbQ3n8PTw8n3Pji_Blc76VqHTNZGWHkwFwmQt6vbVcGmJutu383C5syzCzU7NGqyOhPzcAG5gw7Yq4JFYb_eIAS-bC8tRcg/s320/CenterCounter8Bg6.gif)
9 Ne5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxDO4hBNzTOls5NQnl68ftMTAWMre3G2TK_6b3HAk4fupaXA-9ESr3oBA_9cq183UjYcu3SEcf5oorcE6GYTpyMH7t-42pOgXH1Ip6e0cbNFwXW8G7Hfgmg3ry1C5q80lAl6oLQ/s320/CenterCounter9Ne5.gif)
9 Bd2
9 ... e6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9At_iZMBHdFh2pq2hg8BVH1fMhtKgHaOMeb_ugHlIueZy772tOVXP_E1tzaoRh7xSQcx2E3EIF-3bZWUIH6I-cYiAL8X4B1c2SnXW4jGCfHmSzlaFxPcAZ4gfLVr0ZbJDMB_mw/s320/CenterCounter9e6.gif)
9 ... Nbd7
10 Nxg6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5FRQZjl4VsJ7VnOTDpj0K0PUU_iarJU5RFM5CYjor0ZGQtXiVflez6wL6OBpE0zThRQD81yXUn9Y4U_hAPkKYbVGRUaclpafM__lhW4mlEE1EtnzDcEF1P-8NKrenQW1_TlSuw/s320/CenterCounter10Nxg6.gif)
10 Bd2
10 Qe2
10 ... hxg6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnEjgXnqbUYjzvTYX6AADwuhhmbbL6AEJhbzsJCTSIg2-8yiusBPY7MNFpBP5xcLUk3kejT7USADLEObZp4RlUS6dJo1DtF7hvvf27M-RHz0CY7BWPxuMTgNYu2C2bjhLpm93ww/s320/CenterCounter10hxg6.gif)
11 Bd2
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtzgJbRC9HJ2Cu-G8B8Y6IGP9qootOtS_gD3kkR88_7qcxNRPhRk5iQcMKo1lE6TfzxHLBPzTFHnU1mDlaUPmSFpy6ZhBoycysjdnJ_POznjvjG_ANIgjOYqWe6GYPMTg83k6EQ/s320/CenterCounter11Bd2.gif)
11 ... Bb4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hUNPBsb4bAo-qzKcuoBMqB01l6vuv_MQp3IYyjMoItibt3jI-Ad9PawpLblB4jIhTssOvFDvIZcmYckgZlwoD1B1uYXNxphv-Rb3QoZOVXJa4RWpba5D8rRn-KxbVdleYPdjfA/s320/CenterCounter11Bb4.gif)
11 ... Qb6
11 ... Qd8
11 ... Nbd7
12 a3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQjtnZJPB2NS3oPB9PcI3ajcTds9CwkTtnW_unUSCHFw1gs7fLKncfe0bdMdckc4D4E1TK7gPlY4evltsht0KU7UYvN545lqGM3KukzcWQtId8Lj_-4sXXijbvazO8J4oBsfhLQ/s320/CenterCounter12a3.gif)
12 Qe2
12 f4
12 ... Bxc3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uyPGQUkTqUyRSMpp8ukVJVlqngT6DOWZ5XlkoMGGu3pk-w9-ceRQIXIR6iSNbppMSoBSqPz_nGkic5wI2ItcU5GclHmkEprn_BGd9-I4Lo02MhO__31FtPwMxBwJPCloczGCCg/s320/CenterCounter12Bxc3B.gif)
12 ... Bf8
12 ... Bd6
13 Bxc3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkINycDrqcREGdEByK7Qs-ljOjCZS0nUYYcTtGv3t8asWbvnkKo9P3Bic1wSFx3TMxpMCfqGLsMsXMZsfyGm3aJVXu0H23y6N-7mj2V8lEAoBaC_OULl69s5SXfk0XTDN2xP07Cg/s320/CenterCounter13Bxc3.gif)
13 bxc3
13 ... Qb6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCbtfig3hTqMTuk-IEy67FmpYxYc62oabMg5Oktkdezc30VJLrZLrFC9DQHJSfSwCKlfU8oMQDNjEbzA0QFHJdVV4cz25gTMWIG2WhINim4N5-J7uRLoGgx5f_puIYv29I3cpvw/s320/CenterCounter13Qb6.gif)
13 ... Qc7
13 ... Qg5
14 Qf3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_fKIILsGXMqBdLIniXun2qUCISw4hi6-iO7DiyC-DiTjIfEqdPoyMbLCSMNJoQy_w9eSd1SrJ0T2Owtzk1newdXG_QE3q7ZLxqrtu4E6d6m0o2brdov6ZYMN7huIItYRqUy_kw/s320/CenterCounter14Qf3.gif)
14 f4
14 h4
14 ... Nd5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuqY1I4sv7dXYuGkJ1xtq9Dy6K4QlprXoduBPur1SRlCljZyYxdMtUMZc8FKNNHSGoyxdwesu8sJclwJ6raVrrzJrLgFqx3eyOqpvFm66V3JBDmg1sk562CeXzGiF1Jk98pnErA/s320/CenterCounter14Nd5.gif)
14 ... Nbd7
14 ... g5
15 O-O-O
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Sx80nWbLInAh30nKojWsch8mMCVsYyos23FHNDHgNFpDFNQcOFXEQwRr4d1iWOlxaiwm_3yZ6rdwDpJwQkK1f9a56eio6hz6pZCwC1jJyck4HeZYa-EsbsS1SMdKs7wz2hXwYw/s320/CenterCounter15O-O-O.gif)
15 h4
15 Be2
15 ... Nxc3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sUuXGMG9khOLcniiXObl8qNeMeQhpul5kY9GseeJ_PHCNaTKMrUPhkIYoMgGnQ2t0mdrrFfEKJTQBm9ETPeYYMEhBy9JsYMlz3NdrbKNneMIcbeuScJwJi5_hEymXn2vDkgrXw/s320/CenterCounter15Nxc3.gif)
15 ... Nd7
15 ... g5
16 Qxc3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8U7OqeOhyphenhyphenuoFeaVk_RKLrCC7kVPR6w4QRwMT-rFBnx64l1VnKQD2zUORgMiDs8kHBghTNkv4fEbptj8UftMn2wcnUu0kkirNptP9m8W1AC_FO5YBcz-mQD9QxKaapwGKIgKGJ3A/s320/CenterCounter16Qxc3.gif)
16 bxc3
16 ... Nd7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIgJAZR1Ky0N5ALwnwTAe4LPweuw42NgXJ4tI5ZgMlpvC4LSbLWIy8keI22DwHSSbqrivXFwnXAnS-AY9qzfZiWBruN5nyMorVoMgh8X0VDXbMJTavuMOZ8edoF8bbBFmsrYB_w/s320/CenterCounter16Nd7.gif)
16 ... Na6
(C) 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Nf6 5 Nf3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZ6Y4bapxtjJgQiaZ7N7nZnQ9yML4KZu6vPTi1p0ZmhmvndaGsa6sdM7XhOkgDBDBPU1lJTH79Qt_r8vfIS0sRtmRgSl7-CNO3xXb_QDMBsPRRh13Xqdxq7IImGbKo3GMzq7bQg/s320/CenterCounter5Nf3ML.gif)
5 ... Bf5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9mxzfaodAVGonZUCVZUZ5hfZzQbGNJbAX-hFhL2wWixSKfuJ9G8Lh0rjF0Ou1BDqS-yaBPCUsLJpblejcfyRrNWrmj2KVSfEL-muX7UgTlV3KHdpJfJFNFTx51xroedr-Kl7DA/s320/CenterCounter5Bf5.gif)
6 Bc4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGSVc0f5nUvwCkwPK41zHSqcYyhdf125hLn0Dw3f2vLPoV5dt5JdSVUgehnbrAtMv6ovEUL_xIkgMD7W1t9qWquPi2ZeIa502Wiy0arqtQeBA0UvcFGkAdC1CeorsUQkD-UxuaQ/s320/CenterCounter6Bc4C.gif)
6 Ne5
6 Bd2
6 Bd3
6 ... c6
6 ... Nbd7
6 ... e6
7 Bd2!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1znDNBNuzQaWyoG83CXdDgUAhF_rLzETm_i9EQrbe_mk3FASDulO5C531qKURx40JcU6E_PdqsxgevLNCXdPjOIxEUSyTxeeo2lVTZYoz98DhIEQsCieZliZtVRYmjnF-r4JRjQ/s320/CenterCounter7Bd2.gif)
7 Ne5
7 Qe2
7 O-O
7 ... e6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFgIXiuCvJKc9fDizOU_OSi_-aANWOlzB-h9CnKBsOlSgN67zx6CCZzfIMSehQDKQ_Z2uFRPBDCxVPC3QzLPl9UT4xb6qhyphenhyphenIQN_UfMRFXKLlb0pwA5ZMbULC4ylOq3nd3BvhV1QA/s320/CenterCounter7e6.gif)
7 ... Nbd7
7 ... Qb6
7 ... Qc7
8 Qe2
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxJBLNVu4ZM834yzx7ilbq3PBHXRrsRD9RH9JBsz6JHIjj16f4_oniCx8YRhp8Om9AL86HNA40OOP-jGU6AfNIlfAJVnKaLDv1fsgonm-0YtckRm_5B1lYrgBVbQ997-wFl2Jgg/s320/CenterCounter8Qe2.gif)
8 Nd5
8 Ne4
8 Ne5
8 Nh4
8 d5
8 Be2
8 ... Bb4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bm20KF3rzMnFsamloGDNeQk-QnXLVN0R3eEy3AKrvJbsZoYdF2kQuZMkh-6h5NSmj8TgPydYGfks4bfrL-RhB8dPBPdhaj33LY_roRWrhZdX-ts6k8Ks9Y2DdMX3fkidSS_cvw/s320/CenterCounter8Bb4.gif)
9 ... Nbd7
9 ... Bxc2
9 ... Qb6
9 ... Qc7
9 Ne5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMA81PxPWdsE0C37nQ5te_AS303o9umjQMmHZ9yaXMq9skDGlpi6c-kEyY-7A3kGDMU2m-bGzGq4tslDIWRucB4wUTsuhuHMTl6432G6wv9wq9Uvz-HQQ6MLosc3VNrw0-jIP70Q/s320/CenterCounter9Ne5C.gif)
9 O-O-O
9 a3
9 O-O
9 Bb3
9 ... Nbd7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbsFarXzjfApsfVLnwr2E1X_DPFF8FtcjQ0CDV5E9JAgQiRU-UmMuNFzRqPuvJCn6AdtamCAqQiEXhegfHh5-5Hwl7uQAkpCDOkS607S4t2o14g65IPQr80-_Z21XMjroHHSm1w/s320/CenterCounter9Nbd7.gif)
10 Nxd7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGG5fix4xUsSsIxsG2fBfFrxAUxqNmklIVABjcxf0jdoL_eC5kbKVBf8lH-HGXUroCXUZlQBocT17HKKG37astP-CCtEToxxUWaf8EQGBhdzDS-gkD-0zx_3l34N3HEjLiD5qxQ/s320/CenterCounter10Nxd7.gif)
10 a3
10 O-O-O
10 O-O
10 ... Nxd7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcu5Nf0XkpNglthXHMK3ggBLaWNLhixI8uO9x1s3EfwPXR-5qCVheH7GaHZGrXlx5l7psN_MydK48YpXCA_FBY7vYmScR6UE0MqSZw8S0KKnmzfgjQHOALaC9UGqrC-o63IRfmA/s320/CenterCounter10Nxd7B.gif)
10 ... Kxd7
11 a3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtghO9169fYWxLn-00gVbprA3HfO4NpeCxV8nnyoZREyXG2dE8VYpdeMWXMqv-W6XwL6KNs7UB5Tp-GdLKTsZeJs0RlzLCXxfdUMYxywT5-q2Bt4GH3zKEHh8wVXhofNkWw0OZwA/s320/CenterCounter11a3.gif)
11 ... Bxc3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMf_6-jG3nFg3U-5EPxxf9hTpAUHXW0m3RbNrElbLIFQ_u1UaZDzHyrs4m77oNyDCj4CSLIQEtQwjhiXTct4xFLyzsY8fxNtpyDrLckLDJf-E7mNMXNBMumpAIYBlF2FyN1Sw4w/s320/CenterCounter11Bxc3.gif)
12 Bxc3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJ2ZBERbH3V8GMI2IthExoORmMBfFE7EH82tItk6a4uq4iAf25URE7547ufSJKIHgCMAt5upw-UR0qjUhtdJpRUfxLqs1DmEPrGylJF51dZ4h4jrymZtQ2JTL_sFIqybFDGVeTQ/s320/CenterCounter12Bxc3.gif)
12 ... Qc7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhZMsiK1xUpRU-T7TRICs8rAN3oaIA17q9RtFfSyLMk4zo-AwGDuywdr_MbZj9jCJinfzxQ5eogMF8iG2VYhV_lacyVshWPD_7sY3SuXsg621KKEVTSEYjbKtetrkcbGNNm7BfQ/s320/CenterCounter12Qc7.gif)
13 d5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMZlTgia4xbZvywdF47bxzgbVTaLIRUEsjLpcEWTmccTt077ckR1nTgqowWgaQz31yVGVbMAXilm5Ef6zrvBPvnyXb1wxG0A2qIy15EVc098hyphenhyphenrrDU3uhH5zYke_4hhVYJUm-zQ/s320/CenterCounter13d5.gif)
13 ... cxd5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9M-X3z-oW7LEm6JzpSUWy3fRbQvTc3RC6Ruys3RKMS9uJjVqndk_G_IOgHNWI5hTY6w7zOYl0QronSeRlqsXrueEuA-OyR9gxDt9K9ed1jMUytn2lLRJ0C-zE_B0rgqvssPyrTg/s320/CenterCounter13cxd5.gif)
14 Bxd5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaIjEsQIxhAQEubkXbUhY3L6gkKCjuH5PqFF5p7zSDdFm6WGP5MbSeRlQoKuVb1WU5qdiKM7bFLwCxVpJVM6HicOXog9WeC7iGMGyK_tGyWHGpBjNZ_mrTRcUMJ2nyAHupa8oFw/s320/CenterCounter14Bxd5.gif)
14 ... O-O
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsvdHVi6W-6MJ7voGPmhS-ArHQJb-bjoC3RTOsTjUilRn_yxyTk5lxpMuVTrz0Nr5qu8ZqxUJt4r7CsEslrB5WjErPKNNnB2f14deps6mf7-slzlb018Oay3GUnHvC2BcVrtI7A/s320/CenterCounter14O-O.gif)
15 Bf3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIwoOQ9ef8PQj8WxdyZecCYQqftwNICvM4i-sd_Y3V6UUrL5kOfcf5urBa0y-V0ayDyEWZso0czQIE7b23PWMTgULK4moOrfHkH3VLC0nnE8lEX3tqprU6M_D_SBeQFb-Ocy9EQ/s320/CenterCounter15Bf3.gif)
Back to 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Nf6
5 Nf3 Bg4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TdafNnax2OBBnSIff1butqVN6HP1acwmG_Ugsc2hNnvr4YQBpmpIF1T7b6Ik_8TZfo53rUOCEB9jg4D31bprVlXsuhiSi8xRn2VFNza5UHt4ChRLw0ZIltGBzd4v0sU_pFr1EA/s320/CenterCounter5Bg4ML.gif)
6 h3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjk9U4Z8xOqrTC0swYUxsKNtIaq62RAv8X8ZrXZWYxJ1xmjWRZArgJnIBLLqBSHFKQ9y52rn-dBADfAz82UcNVYpZlSaTNRSgFHttqDwtl2Tbe0fV7qnxkl11hh5z03Wtlv6Rr1w/s320/CenterCounter6h3.gif)
White decides to break the pin before it gets too
cumbersome.
6 Bd2
6 Bb5+
6 Be2
6 ... Bh5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuG6LyJS3FYGoALEpEqCSpP8R2FBVts-uBI3UFIarX-2IK52vH9fsRiWfWDiamRhp3kYBRYMjG3xIzQSLn5H9rPiQcfTlhft1vvaFLvQi5jTcSyKSU77O5GMMxdKFXOhnpYQolZA/s320/CenterCounter6Bh5.gif)
Not commendable is 6 ... Bxf3 due to 7 Qxf3 c6
8 Bd2 Nbd7 9 0-0-0 e6 10 Bc4.
6 ... Bf5
7 g4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7sg2O3sjCkhOm-51p9aYMEOR07kmDRKC7tBKUQDYVh3m-M9UB0SkoxfP3WS660p-26LQ4R6raNOHGwuDk0l491e6kgFKA3orh9lkW-OMKX4giNQM1S2Be0gK5SRzprlsS59feA/s320/CenterCounter7g4.gif)
7 Bd2
7 ... Bg6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTi9jfmGNhFZ4cq6HC9OmM5kAhe6Nj8kqhPfDjWo8puMy0S5kT7LsNptq4ha1ajMfsXrMzJkePXL-mhzhPqAmd20pULe2XTOl_VVIfIUc7SRZ4fkv76Ptc1oGAtL6WCAGxrjlCA/s320/CenterCounter7Bg6.gif)
8 Ne5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5VXlHTq5cSlbPzIgAmGmGKfVcK5ub9vji9b3_BxF5xt0WBmekTCuggnpMs-L17l0JGX46DBz746RLc7wDUmFu0Tk9eQ9eSMtv9bTwHqmXV-8VYpnFgTonGPdTG91nMj8HAzzig/s320/CenterCounter8Ne5.gif)
And it's in the bag!
8 b4
8 ... e6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVUTADR8XI6TcyTH4WnMLOm9AkmkTi2Mwe1VeZ3AtgSVPeZCYtDtYtUPBsNuy3cBI_t1iS97LxM1frKqMRFkD6-Gfqh3NOGS4y0oGp4rSCtXSFLhuKadfkI-2cj2ivCFmbFFD7g/s320/CenterCounter8e6.gif)
Giving Black a say in the d5 and f5 squares and
opening up a pathway for the f8 bishop.
8 ... c6
8 ... Nbd7
8 ... Ne4
8 ... Nfd7
9 Bg2
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5loMwfsi0DQyK5ePEXU9-9AqefPp1diFjMXeOEaXDbwZKHvGGM0u3tLPgyXYcBJAqcGsxzZ78lxK4Y6OqXL4JVdNAmomHKPLfmN1qcgpvlzcC__3yCJWd9vPlAHNbYDS947UoQ/s320/CenterCounter9Bg2.gif)
The b7 pawn is under fire.
9 h4
9 Nc4
9 Bd2
9 ... c6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ax75VrgPd9dAa3V1eFjqGIZwd_4lhyphenhyphenGC-ZWVagj1NVVfv2ARyQlF2wnkMABOxOEODzYH6Mw1xShdW8pvzAb0kqi6_XZs44OKE7trf6M1kqYImkGEWY64i62BRdUdc-EqbMjNuA/s320/CenterCounter9c6.gif)
9 ... Be4
9 ... Qb6
9 ... Qa6
10 h4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOosWbQbmteRPoLW2_yiEmAYBomduU9FHEYGK9RcRkIYZWEY4BGibECkIBNVmPbb3ToUxsX1R9DWIbmkqNNBNKJ5UiN9I-hu0VVaXuUxYSEq4YkxhdxZiz-YgNh2cZovWE6wK-w/s320/CenterCounter10h4.gif)
10 O-O
10 Qe2
10 Qd2
10 Nxg6
10 ... Be4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwgzupm70NUNE_VQ9YflDcqv6PjCFU-5yXlbCXq_trnox_k_SDYsBXUNNl-3ogg_TiWgfUS0VYPGf-5nJwyy1zdVn27U_pM_Ki4_tkIMI1avvReYr4rOh0fQnOhj0cnbmGHnhzg/s320/CenterCounter10Be4.gif)
10 ... Nbd7
10 ... Bb4
11 Bxe4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbK2wTWbbTtrZOJB1GPtD4V6xdpkWnJdxGT8Nu1E6URtZOFgufSOvOO46J4tB-NRXK7i4HOTPXhZb_SZyA673lmzTyaeCo1tW9uvw6BIXdR08y57jfFp4-WW38FHPxSKB2y-B-Q/s320/CenterCounter11Bxe4.gif)
11 f3
11 Nc4
11 ... Nxe4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQ_iIDqFnYW_pFGNlSQIH3Q_GJncEk8ryPnI42Dv3ZJVy4KW67Q6UsLBTyjF2Zce8aXkxXZteSIdFoatlzKgmzwZqSzGUrWhAXlj3hejX5CpugMi5fymMHC6SW7cEzZyYGi3EOA/s320/CenterCounter11Nxe4.gif)
12 Qf3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidY0MlOTmJ0UVmlkPwN6Ko3Bu8dHTEAHMv4uRJ1mBStR4wlChG3ff37agOKkPeOtSg-4Ds4mRTYljNBHuhzxhb7PVZt36z-MqzcApQgK1EiGrw5u39lNhuloYG13PNUD4c_Dav_Q/s320/CenterCounter12Qf3.gif)
12 Bd2
12 Nc4
12 ... Nd6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4dtNREn5ph6YLYNQWevTC0DdB6sRF8s7zMtXe9p7xFr3dfXfI3afaz-kr3wC4AKwMe_zkcZNVzRlWAKhEmahVpyT8p8ds6wauSkMbcPRMQnMVymphIFWpZKGfDldivlGI9eACA/s320/CenterCounter12Nd6.gif)
13 Bd2
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzYurwDWdPUmEzDFbXO-2kO7JIk2npj893zNK9CS-Iz9tu5xIvGlpIUkbexcGFdH3Zqb6TzwJr0Z1fd-I2U1-7ewSNiHoZB5opvuTfLywwIsInpF2ONedT-2N6bBwPsWA6l_0eA/s320/CenterCounter13Bd2.gif)
13 Bf4
13 Bg5
13 O-O
13 ... f6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7SLK66DuIONmgi-vetFRkcJXk6LdQRnKwQR6v224flWXjuM-3wG6ZFy-RYoqF3vMx0hlA96BVtCWKA6WAMksvrfmC1pGDsoM6N1czIQ69MVNyGo8Te5rtKbDJ202IQo3wIMrIQ/s320/CenterCounter13f6.gif)
13 ... Qb6
13 ... Nd7
14 Nd3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sr_wblVE3Yig2L8Q7osEbGSKwNpEQNZJq1vw-pWAPoGNVfxtfBJDhCtVNJ8P-pdQyZyxb_Q_wgGlCB0jNTeYCi_EZgsjC9KFa5NaN0qaWnsm8_g3CZ2F_hDcewkdzZpqi9SZqg/s320/CenterCounter14Nd3.gif)
14 Ne2
14 Ne4
14 ... Nd7
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwT1e72vNNSJie1ssMTFwSxTgVYKcot_oqJecREQiBC2jDXx04kDmY5pNu-1Bn3g26LouZikfcoDgyqT9pVuwqnUyant8BQxA0eI5TeNG1FI3XRrX679uar9BXbeGbUjM4rqdK1g/s320/CenterCounter14Nd7.gif)
14 ... Na6
15 Qe2
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8WpCaViRk4o_8VtmyG4o639ilo-zBnuU6Nf6YMEAhQbMOc-zBedyoh-OTUBcdI3YDCe55NPZNTFbP0XEMibn5OQA-foZSzNfIrQjYRMH3A59bJXBPew1eWEGQbU6OuE84OC19Q/s320/CenterCounter15Qe2.gif)
15 h5
15 O-O-O
15 b4
15 Ne4
15 ... O-O-O
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHj03dcbQzbFcjKXt-pgrszSY6GFM2zsBdpYxkt-Y5hxVa_Q6_NHKsEu2qEwwjF4OOy46nsohXZrlokYh87IBKedy_re3yrRRPDQz66A4JIMnWYBU3p3g6SyG2DCxYPj4I7Sukg/s320/CenterCounter15O-O-O.gif)
15 ... e5
16 f4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYu3w_2tSJw-thl9rw3d7rmn9gUuo16aO6VEUxdH4GTV0WVRWzM5IMVWuvos_85xYeaGAPRhRTuexfGCOFTB5DhnPBtdFHDwsa_-4t3k1QSxND32HWadQwkApLL8EZphVepnfGgg/s320/CenterCounter16f4.gif)
16 O-O-O
16 h5
16 f3
16 ... h5
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEB_g8DoZiRKCj_ytYpRAkYUaJJUrDAG8Rc571jYdz0IWGLM-Fw-7WnYlQ83fyGKJN8W4TD4mc0FS9BBiHN-LtmIPll9gFs-0KXN94tZTqXawm8QT_HplIT3cikMTY2DadfDnzw/s320/CenterCounter16h5.gif)
16 ... Re8
16 ... f5
17 O-O-O
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqTFzeWn8CIGZ9KheEbIHTW4n2v3uIlPoT_luJFkceQ_oWNLCaRVI6e-3ggI1HoIVjv66yi954W0ht77fYAopZd2h2MKuFZMpt9RxRmGXZwnem_srnRiqxVTP85VSkgsQB1veIA/s320/CenterCounter17O-O-O.gif)
17 Rg1
17 a3
By ChessCoach@care2.com
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