1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 The critical position of this system, when White continues to develop without defending c4. 3.g3 f6
For the time being Black's attempt to hold on to the sacrificed pawn, to the detriment of his development, hardly deserves attention: 3...dxc4 4.Bg2 b5 (4...Nf6 transposes to the positions examined here, but also possible is 4...e6 5.a4 - weaker is 5.Qc2 b5 Carls vs Nimzowitsch Goldberg vs Beilin Schmid vs. Schaufelberger 4.g2 dxc4
Unlike the position with 2...dxc4, the addition of the moves 2...c6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 gives Black, apart from the methods of defense described in Chapter 1, the possibility of holding on to the sacrificed pawn. These situations are complex and interesting. A general assessment very often means less than a concrete calculation of variations, and although definite methods of play in such positions have already been elaborated, they have as yet been little researched. Let us also note that if Black does not want to accept the gambit he can decline in various ways.
3 - The Gambit System
1.
f3 d5 2.c4 c6
f6
The critical position of this system, when White continues to develop without defending c4.
3.g3
For the time being Black's attempt to hold on to the sacrificed pawn, to the detriment of his development, hardly deserves attention: 3...dxc4 4.Bg2 b5 (4...Nf6 transposes to the positions examined here, but also possible is 4...e6 5.a4 - weaker is 5.Qc2 b5
g2 dxc4
Carls vs Nimzowitsch
Goldberg vs Beilin
Schmid vs. Schaufelberger
4.
Unlike the position with 2...dxc4, the addition of the moves 2...c6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 gives Black, apart from the methods of defense described in Chapter 1, the possibility of holding on to the sacrificed pawn.
These situations are complex and interesting. A general assessment very often means less than a concrete calculation of variations, and although definite methods of play in such positions have already been elaborated, they have as yet been little researched.
Let us also note that if Black does not want to accept the gambit he can decline in various ways.
5.
a3
a) 5.a4
Gaprindashvili vs Chiburdanidze
Vukovic vs Trifunovic
Khasin vs Shestakov
Romanishin vs Dorfman
Godes vs Shestakov
Petrosian vs Dolmatov
Romanishin vs Makarichev
b) 5.Qc2
Vadasz vs Lukacs
Bagirov vs Mnatsakanian
Dzindzichashvili vs Bagirov
Nikolic vs Spassov
5.0-0
Karner vs Polugaevsky
Sherbakov vs Estrin
Romanishin vs Sveshnikov
5...b5
Dzindzichashvili vs Fedorowicz
Barczay vs Benko
Etruk vs Keres
6.Ne5
Olafsson vs Hort
Benko vs Petrosian
6...Qc7
Portisch vs Donner
Zilberstein vs Sveshnikov
7.d4 Bb7 8.O-O e6 9.b3
Pang vs Hort
9...c3 10.Qd3 Nbd7
Tseitlin vs Fershter
11.Nxd7 Qxd7 12.Nc2 b4
Tseitlin vs Sveshnikov
12 moves
return to Contents