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The Terrible Traxler Part 6

Submitted by NM cldng on Wed, 01/30/2008 at 8:52am.

The Terrible Traxler Part 6

7.Ke2 Qh4 moves other than 8.Rf1

by NM Steve Colding

      The 7.Ke2 variation is not a difficult one but it does have several branches.Until now the variations which we have studied have been pretty straight forward. To use Kotov's metaphor he used in his book Think Like a Grandmaster, rather than a single branch of variations, we will now move to variations with a few branches. Later on we will move to the bushes (Gee, I can hardly wait).

     Below are 3 diagrams which represent three branches of the 7.Ke2 variation ( there are actually 4 branches, we dealt with the most important branch, 8.Rf1, in the previous article. These diagrams show you the branches and then we will give you three games which will explore each branch.

     Black's best reply to 7. Ke2 is 7...Qh4. Below are the diagrams of White's choices.

      
 
Position after 8.Qe1
 
         Position after 8.Qf1
 
Positon after 8.g3
      

 Now we move onto the analysis:

    Dan Heisman's book on the Traxler is a very good effort and contains many insights. I heartily recommend it for a good solid understanding in this opening. He could not have listed every variation though, and one he missed was the 8.g3 variation. Have no fear dear readers I have stayed up late at night torturing GMs for the answers. After much screaming and crying I bring to you the brand new analysis. Promise you will use it only for good!

      
 
Position after 8.Qe1
 
Position after 8.Qf1
 
Position after 8.g3
      

Previous Artilcles:

The Terrible Traxler Part 1

The Terrible Traxler Part 2

The Terrible Traxler Part 3

The Terrible Traxler Part 4

The Terrible Traxler Part 5

Next article: 7.Ke3

» posted in Opening Theory
 

Comments:

by GoBoSox - 3 months ago
RI United States
Member Since: Jun 2009
Member Points: 3

8.g3? Is bad since Black is winning quickly by 8... Nd4+! 9. Ke3 Nxg3 10.hxg3 Qxg3 11. Ke4 d5+ sets up mating nets that are virtually impossible for White to sidestep... 12. Kxd5 (Bxd5 Bf5++) 12... b6 13. Bb5+ Kxf7 14. Nc3 (14. Na3 Be6+ 15. Ke4 Bxc4 16. Nxc4 Qg6+ and Black's attack is unstoppable) 14... Bb7+ (Bg5 is also very good) 15. Kc4 c6 and White is losing material & the King Hunt is still on...

by figrock - 3 years ago
United States
Member Since: Jul 2008
Member Points: 1438

Wow..! A smorgasbord of information! NICE..! Smile

by Fotoman - 4 years ago
Philippines
Member Since: Nov 2007
Member Points: 583

First thing I see after hxg3 is Q takes the bishop with check and then takes the knight. Black looks won to me after that. There might be a sharper line...

by Am3692 - 4 years ago
Los Angeles, CA United States
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 789
I love these games! Its interesting since in bughouse, this opening is really, really common, and I play it everyday =P. Just never seen it in such a high level of play, especially without the ability to drop pieces =P.  These are great.

by batgirl - 4 years ago
United States
Member Since: Jun 2007
Member Points: 6207

Thanks.  I've been examining different possibilities, but so far haven't found anything better.

by davidetal - 4 years ago
Tarragindi Australia
Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 1757
What an astonishing series of articles, revealing all that is best about chess. Thank you so much
by nardi - 4 years ago
San Jose, CA United States
Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 127
Pardon my newbishness, but in the g3 variation, after Nxg3+, why does white not take the knight with hxg3?
by Kingfisher - 4 years ago
Johannesburg South Africa
Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 1929

In case anyone else wonders,in the g3 variation Na3 is the best possible move, defending c2 from a grand fork on move 10. ...

Excusite atricle, best one yet!


 

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