Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nc3/2...Bb4

Zhuravlev countergambit C25 Vienna game 2...Bb4 · Zhuravlev countergambit Black develops their bishop and pressures White's knight. Black's foray might be a little early: as White hasn't move their d-pawn their knight is not pinned, and they can respond with 3. Nd5 with an attack on the bishop. As the bishop makes no immediate threat, there is no reason why White can't continue with the usual Vienna game plans. 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 and Black's loss of tempo playing ...Bb4 means they can't get in the usual move ...d5; 3. Bc4 Nf6 transposes into the "reversed Spanish" line of the Stanley variation. 3. d4 strikes in the centre. Black would like to play ...exd4 to increase pressure on the knight, which is now pinned, but can't because Qxd4 Nc6 Qxg7!. Black may try 3...Qh4!?, intending ...Qxe4+ where the queen would support ...exd4. 4. Be3 Qxe4 5. Nf3 exd4 6. Bd3 +. 3. Qg4 is slightly better in this line than after 2...Bc4 (where it is known as the giraffe attack) because Black does not have the resource of ...Bxf2+. History Valerij Zhuravlev (Журавлёв, also romanised as Zhuravliov) played this line in 1969.Klavins v Zhuravliov, 1969. Chessgames.com His opponent played 3. Qg4, where Zhuravlev played 3...Nf6 and left his g7-pawn undefended. This might be the actual "gambit" part of the "Zhuravlev countergambit". References See also Vienna Game