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The Terrible Traxler Part 6

Submitted by 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 Fotoman - 5 months 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 - 5 months ago
Newbury Park, CA United States
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 379
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 - 5 months ago
NC United States
Member Since: Jun 2007
Member Points: 2878

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

by davidetal - 5 months ago
Tarragindi Australia
Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 923
What an astonishing series of articles, revealing all that is best about chess. Thank you so much
by nardi - 5 months 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 - 5 months ago
zagreb Croatia
Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 1104

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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