I've seen many times people play danish gambit, which leads to very complicated game, with many possibilites and many tricky lines that black can fall in and lose the game or huge amount of material. This opening, from the book called Winning Chess Openings by BIll Robertie shows the opening and defense available for black. Mostly, it concentrates on white's position. So here we go.
The Danish Gambit is a swashbuckling attempt to improve on the Center Game by sacrificing a pwan or two. The basic position is this.
- e4 e5
- d4 exd4
- c3 ...
Instead of recapturing as in the Center Game (I will post this opening tomorrow), White offers a genuine pawn sacrifice, to gain time and clear open lines for this Queen and Bishops. If Black defends carefully, he can equalize or even gain the advantage. If he defends carelessly, he can be overrun quickly.
The Danish Gambit is a fine choice for White players who want to wide-open lines with plenty of attacing chances, and who don't mind sacrificnt a couple of pawns on the way. White will get plenty of scope for this ideas, but he will have to outplay his opponent to crash through to victory. If Black can weather the storm, his extra pawns will win in the endgame.
3. ... dxc3
An old chess adage says, The best way to refute a gambit is to accept it. Black can also get a good game, with condierebly less risk, by playing d5.
4. Bc4 ...
White offers a second pawn to accelerate his development.
4. ... cxb2
5. Bxb2 Bb4 +
The Austrian grandmaster Schlechter, who lost a close match for the World Championship in 1920 to Emanuel Lasker, invented the defense d5 at this point, which gives back a pwan to ease Black's development. It's the main reason the Danish Gambit is rarely seen these days. Checking with the Bishop is an older variation, which will serve to illustrate the Gambit's attacking power against inaccurate defense.
6. Kf1 ...
White sacrifices his castling options to keep as many pieces on the board as possible.
6. ... Nf6
Develops a piece and guards the pawn on g7, which was thretened by the Bishop on b2.
7. e5! ...
Attacks the Knight, which has few squares available.
7. ... d5
Black responds by counterattacking the Bishop. If Black moves the Knight to e4 (the only safe square available other than g8), White has the powerful response Qd5! attacking the loose Knight and threatening mate at f7
8. Bb5+ Nfd7
9. Qg4 ...
A new attack on the pawn at g7 and the Bishop at b4. White's threats are starting to mount.
9. ... Bf8
The only way to guard both pieces.
10. e6! ...
Attacks the Knight and opens up the long diagonal for the Bishop on b2.
10. ... fxe6
11. Qh5+! Ke7
Black's other choices is g6, after which White plays Qh3, and the Black Rook at h8 is thretened by the Bishop on b2. If Black defends whith Rg8, then Qxe6 check wins the Rook.
12. Ba3+ c5
13. Bc5+ Nxc5
14. Qg5+!
Whether Black moves the King to f7 or d6, White replies with Qxd8, with a winning position. White will have a material advantage of a Queen for a Bishop, and will eventually be able to use his powerful Queen to win still, more material.
This is all for Danish Gambit, next lesson is on Center Game, leave feedbacks and don't be afraid to ask questions. I hope you enjoyed this lesson.