Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...Nc6/2. Nf3/2...f5

Colorado countergambit B00 Nimzowitsch declined 2...f5?! · Colorado countergambit Black strikes at White's centre with a flank pawn. At the cost of weakening their king, they hope to deflect White's e-pawn from control of d5, so that Black may play ...d5 themselves. This gambit is considered dubious, for even though Black can usually recover the material and has two centre pawns for White's one, their kingside is too weak. 3. exf5, accepting the gambit, is the main move, after 3...d5 White is best advised to allow Black to recover the material, 4. d4 Bxf5. Trying to hold onto it is unattractive: 4. Bd3!? blocks in the d-pawn (and after 4...Nh6 5. Nh4? e5 concedes the whole centre) though the sly 4. Nh4?! deserves special mention. After the natural move 4...e5? Qh5+! and Black must move their king, otherwise 5...g6?? 6. fxg6 Nf6 7. g7+ Nxh5 8. gxh8=Q. History Schiller gives 2...f5?! the names Lean variation or Colorado counter, describing it as "fierce" and for "thrill-seekers".Unorthodox Chess Openings Schiller Eric Cardoza Publishing 1998 313 Theory table References See also Nimzowitsch Defence