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Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. a3/2...Nc6/3. b4
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Mengarini Variation rd bd qd kd bd nd rd pd pd pd pd pd pd pd nd pd pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl rl nl bl ql kl bl nl rl Sicilian Defense Van Duijn’s Variation
Mengarini Variation
Black can accept the gambit with 3...cxb4 but the best move is the drawish 3...Nf6, to which the best response is 4. b5.
3...cxb4 used to be the main line and is still often seen at amateur levels. The most common continuation is
4. axb4 Nxb4
5. d4 d5
6. c3 Nc6
7. exd5 Qxd5
8. Na3!
Now, Black needs to be precise: The natural moves 8...Nf6, 8...e5, and 8...e6 blunder 9. Nb5.
Theory table
.
1. e4 c5 2. a3 Nc6 3. b4
3
4
5
6
7
8
Declined
...Nf6
b5Nd4
c3Ne6
e5Nd5
=
Accepted
...cxb4
axb4Nxb4
d4d5
c3Nc6
exd5Qxd5
Na3
=/∞