Evans Gambit

Hello all. I have just been introduced to the Evans Gambit, but I don't understand the idea behind 4.b4. Any help would be appreciated, and thanks!

Yeah. Some explanation would help me not lose so badly to you. Heehee.

LOL.

Here's a very thorough analysis with video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAUjAuv1L7E

It's a good resource you can over a few times to let it all sink in.

It's the alternative to the "normal" Italian Game that starts with 4. c3, where now Black can play the developmental Nf6, attacking the e-pawn and preparing to castle. So now after 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ White's momentum is about shot and getting a + out of the position is going to prove very difficult. This may be why White often follows with 5. d3, keeping the center closed and stopping all the mayhem.

Compare that to the position in #5 above. (Also note that in #5 above, that if Black plays 7...Bb4+, 8. Kf1 is not bad at all.) So you can see why the Evans is seen as worth a shot by White.

Thank you! This has all helped alot!

I was taught that a key advantage the Evans gambit confers to white is that it gets the second player's king bishop off the g1-a7 digonal (which includes the "soft spot" at f2).

It just deflects the B for a few moves at most. From b6, the Bishop still hits f2. The problem is play in the center and White's attack of Black's Kingside not the zing aimed at f2.

At the cost of a pawn, White gets more initiative, better development and  strong central control.  For well over a half century it was almost unstoppable. Lasker found a way to neutralize White's attack by returning the pawn and swapping the queens.  The opening went out of fashion for nearly a century until when Kasparov took it out of mothballs and helped revive it.

This short "modern" game (relative to Tschigorin or Morphy) between two exceptionally strong masters shows its potential -

That's a beautiful game by Fischer.

I don't get it. Qxg3 fxg3 Bxe1 Rxe1 Rxg7 and what?

Qxg3, then #Bf6.

Doh!