Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. c3/3...d5

Ponziani Opening 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d5 C44 Ponziani Opening 4. Qa4 3...d5 With 3...d5 Black threatens ...dxe4, taking advantage of the fact that, if 4. exd5 Qxd5, Nc3 is not an option to chase the queen away because White has played c3. 3...d5 is most chess engines' preferred move and the second most common response to the Ponziani by masters, behind the Jaenisch Counterattack with 3...Nf6. Here 4. d4? would be a mistake, as White's e pawn is hanging. After 4...dxe4 5. Nxe5 Nxe5 6. dxe5 Qxd1+ 7. Kxd1 ∓, White's king is stranded in the centre and Black has the initiative. Therefore 4. Qa4 is White's best option. By pinning Black's knight on c6 to their king, they have undefended Black's e pawn and threaten Nxe5. After 4. Qa5, Black has choices for how to protect the e5 pawn. White's alternative 4th move to pin the c6 knight, 4. Bb5? the so-called Spanish variation, loses to 4...dxe4 5. Nxe5 Qg5! ∓ forking the knight and g2 pawn and x-raying the bishop. Theory table 1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d5 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Caro gambit Qa4Bd7 exd5Nd4 Qd1Nxf3+ Qxf3f5 (Nf6) d4e4 Qd1Bd6 c4b6 Nc3Nf6=/∞Kasparov Gary Keene Raymond 1986 First published 1982 Batsford Chess Openings London B.T.Batsford Ltd. 0 7134 2114 2 4th 299-300 Steinitz variation ...f6 Bb5 (d3)Nge7 exd5Qxd5 d4e4 c4Qd7 d5exf3 gxf3Qh3 dxc4b6∞ Leonhardt variation ...Nf6 Nxe5Bd6 Nxc6bxc6 d4Nxe4 Qxc6+Bd7 Qxd5O-O = References See also Ponziani Opening Play the Ponziani Taylor Dave Hayward Keith 2010 Everyman Chess London 1 8574 4620 8