Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...d5/2. c4/2...e5

Albin Countergambit rd nd bd qd kd bd nd rd pd pd pd pd pd pd pd pd pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl rl nl bl ql kl bl nl rl Delayed Albin Countergambit rd nd bd qd kd bd rd pd pd pd pd pd pd nd pd pd pl pl nl pl pl pl pl pl pl rl bl ql kl bl rl 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 Albin Countergambit 2...e5 The Albin Countergambit is an uncommon defense to the Queen's Gambit. Although it is rarely played by masters, it seems to be better than its reputation. The usual continuation is 3.dxe5 d4, where in exchange for the gambit pawn Black has a central wedge at d4 and gets some chances for an attack. Often White will try to return the pawn at an appropriate moment in order to gain a positional advantage. The Black pawn at d4 is stronger than it may appear. The careless move 4.e3? can lead to the Lasker Trap (see diagram below). After 4...Bb4+ 5.Bd2 dxe3!! 6.Bxb4?? is a blunder — 6...exf2+! 7.Ke2 fxg1=N+!! and Black's position is superior. The Lasker Trap is notable because it is rare to see an underpromotion as early as move 7. Instead the game usually continues 4.Nf3 Nc6 (4...c5 allows 5.e3 because Black no longer has the bishop check) and now White's primary options are 5.a3, 5.Nbd2, and 5.g3. Perhaps White's surest try for an advantage is to fianchetto his king bishop with 5.g3 followed by Bg2 and Nbd2. Black will often castle queenside. A typical continuation is 5.g3 Be6 6.Nbd2 Qd7 7.Bg2 0-0-0 8.0-0 Bh3. In the Spassky Variation, White plays 4.e4 to take advantage of the fact that an en passant capture must be made immediately after the enemy pawn moves. Now after 4...Bb4+ 5.Bd2 the en passant capture ...dxe3 is no longer available for Black because of the intervening moves. Lasker Trap rd nd bd qd kd nd rd pd pd pd pd pd pd pl bl pl pl pl kl pl pl rl nl ql bl nd rl 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. e3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 dxe3 6. Bxb4 exf2+ 7. Ke2 fxg1=N+ Theory table . 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Main line dxe5d4 Nf3Nc6 g3Bg4 Bg2Qd7 O-OO-O-O += ...... ...... ...Nge7 Bg2Ng6 O-ONgxe5 Nxe5Nxe5 b3Bc5 += Lasker Trap ...... e3?!Bb4+ Bd2dxe3!! Bxb4??exf2+! Ke2fxg1(N)+!! -+ ...dxc4 Qa4+Nc6 Nf3 += cxd5Qxd5 Nc3Qxd4 Qxd4exd4 = cxd5Qxd5 Nc3Qxd4 Qxd4exd4 Nb5Na6 Nxd4Bb4+ Bd2Bxd2 Kxd2c5 Nb5Nf6 = cxd5Qxd5 Nc3Qxd4 Qxd4exd4 Nb5Na6 Nxd4Bb4+ Bd2Bxd2 Kxd2c5 Nb3?Nf6 e3b6 =+ e3?!exd4 exd4Nf6 =+ References Albin Countergambit