Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...f5/2. h3

Korchnoi attack A80 Dutch Defence 2. h3 · Korchnoi attack The Korchnoi attack is sideline against the Dutch defence. Although it looks irregular for White to play a pawn move in the opening that doesn't help their development, White's intention is to support 3. g4, attacking the f5-pawn to regain control of the centre. This is a similar idea to 2. g4?!, the Krejcik gambit, but with an improved execution. The two most common continuations are 2...Nf6 and 2...d5. 2...Nf6 is the typical second move for Black in the Dutch defence. Here it adds another attacker to g4, so 3. g4 is a gambit called the Janzen-Korchnoi gambit. 3...fxg4?! 4. hxg4 Nxg4 and White can now play 5. e4 with a discovered attack on the knight and compensation for the pawn. 5. Qd3 instead sets up a trap: White attacks h7 twice, and after 5...Nf6?? 6. Rxh7! Rxh7?? 7. Qg6#. 2...d5 simultaneously adds a defender to f5 (the bishop) and adds control over e4 (the pawn). After 3. g4?! fxg4 4. hxg4 Bxg4, Black has won a pawn and e4 is still out of reach for White, as the e4 square is controlled and the e-pawn pinned to the queen. History thumb|right|Korchnoi at the European Chess Cup in 1979. Carl Mayet (1810―1861) played 2. h3 in his 1839 match series against Baron von der Lasa.Mayet vs. von der Lasa, 1839. Chessgames.com Viktor Korchnoi (1931―2016) uncorked this gambit at the Swiss Championship in Biel, 1979.Korchnoi vs Kaenel, 1979. Chessgames.com Korchnoi, known as one of the strongest players never to become world champion, dominated the competition but was not crowned Swiss champion as he was not yet a Swiss citizen. He received political asylum in Switzerland in the same year.Korchnoi a obtenu l'asile politique 1979-09-25 27 FAN L'Express https://www.e-newspaperarchives.ch/?a=d&d=EXR19790925-01.2.171 2026-10-08 French Theory table 2...d5 3. g4 fxg4 4. hxg4 Bxg4 2...Nf6 3. g4 d5 Janzen-Korchnoi gambit 2. ... ... 3. g4 fxg4?! 4. hxg4 Nxg4 5. e4 d6 Janzen-Korchnoi gambit accepted ++ 2. ... ... 3. ... ... 4. ... ... 5. Qd3 Nf6?? 6. Rxh7 Rxh7? 7. Qg6# (trap) 1-0 References See also Dutch Defence fi:Shakkiaapinen/Peli/1. d4/1...f5/2. h3