WARNING...WARNING...THIS GAMBIT REQUIRES WHITE TO PLAY VERY ACCURATELY! AGGRESSIVE ATTACKING & SHARP PLAY GUARANTEED. In Part 2 we'll continue reviewing White's responses to The Elephant Gambit 1.e4e5 2. Nf3 d5.
After white's third move 3.Nxe5, The Mainline
Variation, black has various ways to take advantage and confuse white. In this article and others to come we'll look at how white can defend and turn the game around against black in all the common lines. We've already examined how white can take the sting out of the "The Wasp Variation". Today we'll continue with the other 3 variations focusing on The Bishop Attack.
reply to 3.Nxe5 according to Open Explorer but it only has a 31.6% chance of leading black to a win and a 50% chance for white. Watch this game demonstating how black takes advantage of The Mainline Variation using "The Bishop Attack". Mikkel Antonsen (2353) vs. Jan Eberle (2221) Breda, Netherlands | 1996 | ECO: C40 | 0-1 1. e4e52. Nf3d5[[3. Nxe5Bd6The 4. d4Defends
Bishop the
Attack. knight.
4... dxe4Takes
back
the
pawn.
5. Bf4Double defends the knight. Better move would be Nc3 to attack e4. 5... Nf6Defends
the
6. Bc4Doubles
up
white's
6... O-OThe
king
7. Bg3Why??
Perhaps
7... Bxe5Takes 8. Bxe5Takes
e4 attack
on
8... Nc6Attacks
with
f7
square.
to
castling
safety. or
Nc3.
central
the
the
the
scoots the
back
pawn.
bishop
d4
to
avoid
pawn
knight. exchanging
queens.
the
bishop.
and
9. Bxf6Better move was castling so the pawn can take back the knight and the rook can
capture
the
queen
exchange.
9... Qxf6Look at the board. Black has more space advantage and development. 10. c3Tightens up the center with 2 attackers eyeing the d4 pawn. 10... Qg5The queen assumes the square for the "Wasp Variation" attacking the g2 pawn. 11. g3Oh the complications we create when the king's not castled...g3 protects the pawn
but
it
weakens
the
white
squares
around
the
king.
11... Bh3BAM! The bishop takes advantage of the opening and prevents the king from
castling
kingside.
12. Qe2The queen attacks the e4 pawn. A better move would have been Nd2 attacking
16. Qh5There's fire & brimstone falling all around her camp and the queen feels the
need
16... e3That
to
abandon
quiet
but
her
troops
PESKY
and
e-pawn
attack creates
the
bishop??
counter
attack.
17. fxe3Looks like the pawn is feeding itself into the mouth of a queen on steroids! 17... Qxe3+CHOMP! 18. Kd1Retreats. 18... Rad8Pins
the
knight
and
prepares
to
mate
on
19. Rc2Defends 19... Bg2Retreats 20. Re1A
d2. d2.
from dismal
the
queen's attack
clutches that
and
attacks leads
the
rook.
nowhere.
20... Bf3+CAPOW!! The nail in the coffin. Forking the king and the queen. White resigned here.
Did you notice how a few poor choices broke down
white's defenses. Demonstrating again that The Elephant Gambit requires Accurate, Sharp Moves from both sides. Watch this game demonstating how White takes advantage of The Mainline Variation using "The Bishop Attack". Gonzalez Guillermo Ruiz (2320) vs. Vasik Rajlich (2340) Dallas | 1996 | ECO: C40 | 1-0
1. e4e52. Nf3d5[[3. Nxe5Bd6The Bishop Attack.
4. d4Defends the knight. 4... dxe4Takes back the pawn. 5. Qe2Attacks the e4 pawn. 5... Nf6Defends the e4 pawn. 6. Nc3Another attacker on e4. 6... O-OScoots to safety. 7. Bg5Pins the knight - taking away the only defender of the pawn. 7... Re8Attacks the knight and defends the file. 8. O-O-ODoesn't waste a move with anything else other than king safety! 8... Qe7Creates a battery on the diagonal - preparing to attack the kings safety. 9. Nxe4Takes a free pawn and now has 2 centralized knights. 9... Qe6Breaks the pin on the knight. 10. Bxf6The POWER of centralized knights....Can only retake with a pawn defending the king. 10... gxf6That hole looks inviting for an attack!! 11. Ng4Prepares for a check on the king. 11... Bf4+A check that has NO BITE. 12. Kb1Retreats 12... f5FORKS the knights! 13. Nef6+POW! That's a check with BITE!! 13... Kf814. Nxe8Takes the back rank defender. 14... fxg4Picks up the knight. 15. Qxe6Now the queens exchange. 15... Bxe616. Nf6Gets to safety. 16... Nc6He didn't just do that?? 17. d5BAM! Accurate moves are needed for this Gambit.
17... Rd8Attacks the rook if the pawn takes.
18. Be2Prepares to recapture the black rook after the pawn captures one of the forked pieces. Black resigned here.
So what did we learn here after comparing
the two games: 1. Similar ideas and moves were played in both games; however, White's move order in the winning game was more precise in its attacking effectiveness. 2. White's winning game attacked black's e4 pawn immediately with the queen and knight. Then pinned its only defender. That e-pawn can cause NASTY problems later in the game if not handled early, as we saw. 3. Beautiful examples of knight centralization in white's winning game. Then a demonstration of unleashing their power by supporting eachother. 4. Prepare to castle queenside to avoid the queen's attack on the g2 pawn. (Not to say there won't be attacks on the queenside to watch out for.) Mobilize the queenside pieces quickly and with purpose as we saw... but CASTLE! DON'T DAWDLE IN THIS GAMBIT!
5. Look for forcing moves....especially when playing
against The Elephant.
I hope this sheds some light on another variation
of Playing Against The Elephant Gambit In part 3 we'll review other Mainline Variations YOU SHOULD KNOW. Until then Happy Elephant Hunting...Cheers.
