Chess Opening: Two Knights Defense (Ulvestad Variation)

[gologram]

thanks, splendid work

[MrMizuno05]

@moviecritic6 after 5.exd5 nd4. white would play c3

[zschuah]

After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 b5 6. Bf1 h6 7. Nxf7 Kxf7 8. dxc6 Bc5 9. Bxb5, what continuation do you suggest for Black? Black seems clearly losing in this position.

[zschuah]

Hey Matt, what about 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 b5 6. Bf1 Bg4?

[25redzombie]

....now the black e pawn is turning into a monster lol

[moviecritic6]

I just prefer 1. e4 e5 2. nf3 nc6 3. bc4 nf6 4. ng5 d5 5. exd5 nd4!

[felren13]

yea, i think i will adopt this defense.

plus, your method of delivery was really well done.

not only is the opening cool, your delivery was exceptional!

very inspiring.

thank you.

[Estzenify]

but what if on 7th move white goes b3. I found it very hard line. Cause of Qg2 and after that white response is Qf3.

[Estzenify]

but what if on 7th move white goes b4. I found it very hard line. Cause of Qg2 and after that white response is Qf3.

[ajvpmr]

very instructive, thanks. I just got a book "wit begint"(dutch) dealing with this opening.

[F2L4Life]

I normally play

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nd4

With the trap line if white feels greedy. 6. d6 Qxd6 7. Nxf7 Qc6 8. Nxh8 Qxg2 9. Rf1 Qe4+ 10. Be2 Nf3#

But I think I will start playing this because it is more sound.

[storbisse]

what about if:

7. Nc3 Qxg2

8. Qf3?

[Nocturne9999]

Another common move one sees after pawn to B5 is white bishop to B3 maintaining the threat of fried liver etc.

[GreenCastleBlock]

@Nocturne9999 5...b5 6.Bb3 Nd4 is very comfortable for Black.

[FDGOD74]

@GreenCastleBlock best video about two knights defense!!!! thank you!

[mikenugo]

Wow thanks greencastleblock, you must be a decent player. It looks tricky/tactical at the start but after analysing looks quite comfortably safe for black. Thanks, great upload.

[HomicidalAxe]

my personal favorite defense

white (i usually play) owns the middle with proper handling

[Maghnoues32]

Thank you very much GreenCastleBlock....important lesson!!!

[Shoarmaboer20]

Thanks, I have a lot of succes with this in Blitz games. :D 5 stars

[joeltopgun]

great vid.

[mgoogyi]

What is not possible? Rd5? It was the 15th move of black and that is the only move. So let's play: 11. Qh3+ Kb8 12. Nxf7 Rd5 your move: 13. Nc3 my move: Rh5-> your queen is attacked

A 14 Qe3 Fc5

B 14 Qg3 Qe8

[zschuah]

OH, okok my bad. Thanks for the help! :)

[zschuah]

Hey Matt,

I think you might have made a mistake somewhere. Could you clarify?

After 10. Qb3 0-0-0, white does not have to play Knight takes f7. White can play Qh3+!, protecting the g2 square and attacking the Black King, and Black's position seems to be compromised, because e3 is not a threat anymore.

I'm still trying to figure out the best way to block/prevent Qh3+. Could you enlighten me? Thanks a lot! :)

[mgoogyi]

Hi,

Part1:

Matt is not my name..

But ok:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 b5 6. Bxb5 Qxd5 7. Bxc6+ Qxc6

8. O-O Bb7 9. Qf3 e4 10. Qb3 O-O-O

[zschuah]

lol, i was hoping GreenCastleBlock could address this issue

[mgoogyi]

Part2:

(So here white plays Qh3+ as you say and you don't have to prevent it! The white Queen must stay at rank 3 to defend the king or e3 can be a threat and there is no other white piece which could defend the king and in case of e3 there will be later an .. Fc5+ from black and here must come a d4 Fxd4! Fe3, and the bishop is defended by the queen - if it is on the 3rd rank )

[mgoogyi]

Part3:

11. Qh3+ Kb8 Now 12. Nxf7(This knight has not too many choices) Rd5! 13. Nxh8 Rh5!

A) 14 Qb3 Fc5 15. any white move , e3 or e4xanything and white must play 16. Qxb7 to prevent mate

B) 14 Qe3 Fc5 15 Qe2 Qd6! 16. Qxh5 or 16. g3 and Qd7,Qh3,Qh2#

C) 14 Qe3 Fc5 15. d4 Ng4...

D)14 Qg3 Fd6 ...

Qc3 usually met by Fc5

etc. I cannot provide you all the variations..:)

[Wismer1987]

7:19 lol

[mgoogyi]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 b5 6. Bxb5 Qxd5 7. Bxc6+ Qxc6

8. O-O Bb7

I think here the only move is 9. Nf3!

(9. .. g5 will not help, because the knight will move to h4 and will defend g2. And also 10. h3 seems to be bad after g5. I think you should never move the pawns in the front of your king until you must do it. )

Then I think 9.. Bc5!

[zschuah]

Ridiculous! After 10. Nh4?, g5 will take the Knight on h4.

[mgoogyi]

Nh4 is after g5-g4 of course.

[eugeneFred21]

nyc

[chipdouglas42]

sweet analysis, thanks

[illidan333]

what about

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 b5 6. Bxb5 Qxd5 7. Nc3 ????

[GreenCastleBlock]

Nc3 does not deserve that many question marks, although it does allow ...Qxg2.

[brocksampson913]

But after 7. Nc3 Qxg2 8. Qf3 Qxf3 9. Nxf3 Bd7 it seems like white is pretty solid. Material is even again but at least you don't have any of those dangerous threats to deal with anymore. So wouldn't this be one of the more favorable variations for white to play? Or does Black have some advantage I just don't see? I suppose though that it is this very equalness that discourages white, because he is looking to have the advantage. I would probably still play this though, but what is your opinion?

[ramtamsen]

After 5... b5, will not dxc6 occur more often? Could you do a video on it maybe?

[GreenCastleBlock]

No, it does not occur very often. I seem to recall playing a game that went 6...dxc4 7.Qe2 Qd5 8.f4 e4 9.Nc3 Qxc6 and an interesting ending arose.

An alternative would be 7...Bd6 8.Qxc4 O-O simply developing and rounding up the c6 pawn later.

[rolfch1p]

Nice video!

[dareyfairy]

GreenCastleBlock you helped me so much!! thank you and 5/5 stars :D

[MarksmansTarget]

I agree with dashwood. Its the Lolli that we have to worry about, not the fried liver. However this video (and the 4 Knights one) are brilliant. You really do know your openings and explain them very well.

[Richardeanderson]

thanx for this clip but in 7:22 isn't better with Bb7? You make then a pin on the knight on e4 and on the pawn on g2?

P.S sorry if someone already have pointed this out, I haven't yet read your posts.

[pgbollig]

i've noticed too that the computer engine prefers Bb7, but Bf5 is roughly equal so either one is completely playable, just play the one that seems more intuitive to you. anyway this opening cannot be played to perfection b/c it is inherently risky and pugnacious rather than surgical or technical. :)

[Burnokkk]

Nice. really helps

[dashwood123]

Very good video, thanks.

I like the look of the Ulvestad variation and will certainly give it a whirl. For some reason I prefer to play against the FLA, I find it easy to cope with. OTOH I think the Lolli is very difficult to survive.

[waparker4]

Nice video! I just tried the Ulvestad variation for the first time online and play went on 7. Bxc6+ Qxc6 8. O-O Bb7, and got a really strong attack. Unfortunately I missed the mate in 10 at move 16 and drew the endgame :) I will definitely want to play it again

[dgrakovsky]

Very nice! I will be using this opening soon once I get it engraved in my head.

[bboyxchristian]

disregard my last comment. what if after Qxc6, o-o-o, then b7, then Qf3, then pawn e4, then rook e1???

[bboyxchristian]

after white pushes his pawn to e4, what if rook e1?

[Masked011a]

Very nice tutorial...

[ploucroux]

You show a game where white castled to defend the g2 pawn and black castled queen side. This queen side castling is actually bad for black, as after Qh3+ ! the g2 pawn is safe and the knight can take on f7, according to rybka.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 b5 6. Bxb5 Qxd5 7. Bxc6+ Qxc6

8. O-O Bb7 9. Qf3 e4 10. Qb3 O-O-O 11. Qh3+ Kb8 12. Nxf7 . Rybka gives 1.51 advantage to white ...

[GreenCastleBlock]

Yeah... that has been pointed out, Qh3+ was missed in the game I cited. Actually 9...e4 isn't good for Black, he should allow the Queen trade instead. 9...h6 10.Qxc6+ Bxc6 11.Nh3 Bc5 and 9...Bd6 are alternatives. In either case Black has the bishop pair and more space to compensate for the pawn minus.

[mgoogyi]

Black has a forced win after 12 .. Rd5 13. Nxh8 Rh5 14. Qe3 Bc5 etc. Try to run your rybka more and you will see that black wins anyway.

[mgoogyi]

So again:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 b5 6. Bxb5 Qxd5 7. Bxc6+ Qxc6

8. O-O Bb7 9. Qf3 e4 10. Qb3 O-O-O 11. Qh3+ Kb8 12. Nxf7 . Rybka gives 1.51 advantage to white ... but after 12 .. Rd5 13. Nxh8 Rh5 14. Qe3, Ng4 black will win anyway.

[clevelandbarons97]

Hey good video I have a question tho after black plays b5 the Ulvestad variation what

... b5

Bxb5 Qxdg

Bxc6 Qxc6 and g2 is still hanging what if white just plays his knight on g5 back to f3, that way it protects the g2 square and he can safely castle? what would be a good move for black or a good series of moves?

[GreenCastleBlock]

Okay so if at 3:38 White plays 8.Nf3, Black should play ..Bd6..Bb7..O-O-O and advance his pawns to attack the White kingside, try to prove that Black's center and development are worth a 'b' pawn. Never push ...e4 unless you're sure it's good, as the pawn on e4 blocks three of Black's pieces (N,Q,B)!

Trap alert: If 8.Nf3 Bd6 9.Qe2 Bb7, taking on e5 leads White to big trouble after 10.Nxe5 Bxe5 11.Qxe5+ Kf8!

Moral is: White needs to get the queenside pieces out.

[clevelandbarons97]

ahh i see, thank you very much i like that little trap!

[Quickfitfitter]

a stronger move for white would be knight on c3, developing pieces, guarding bishop and attacking Queen at the same time:

4. Ng5 d5

5. exd5 b5

6. Bxb5 Qxd5

7. Nc3

and if 7. ... Qxg2

then 8. Qf3 Qxg5

9. Qxc6+

[GreenCastleBlock]

7.Nc3 Qxg2

8.Qf3 Qxf3

9.Nxf3 Bd7 is equal, as White cannot win a pawn.

[StrokaviMozak]

Just awsome...

[Carabin33fr]

Nah i get it it's to protect G2. Sorry i'm a bit tired.

[Carabin33fr]

Hi, i understand why you should move the bishop back but why all the way to F1?

[dinosaureu]

Great video!

[billbrock1958]

Very nice work, Matt! I've played the Ulvestad (on & off) for many years and picked up a couple things.

For coverage of the ..Nxd4 main line, see the opening notes to the famous game Estrin-Berliner in the popular paperback The World's Greatest Chess Games by Nunn, Emms, & Burgess.

[MAfr3ak]

as black against e4 i play the sicillian or the french. after i saw this video, i hoped to get a few games where they play Bc4, but i didnt, and i would play this, but i dont respond 1. e4 e5 to avoid the Ruy lopez and other king pawn games. but this is certainly a very good opening

[madcapslaugh]

of all the chess videos i have seen on youtube, this one is single handedly responsible for most of my wins with black, great job!

[charms2]

I went into the Fried Liver attack with the Black pieces sometimes, and had good success as White needs to play very energically in order to maintain the dynamic advantage. However, Nb4? is already a mistake, and Ne7 is the only move.

For Black, it is by far more inconvenient if White avoids the FLA and plays the calm, yet inconvenient Qf3! (instead of Nxf7), which leaves Black with a lack in development and a miserable pawn structure after Be6 Nxe6 fxe6.

[GreenCastleBlock]

On 6.Qf3, I prefer the defense 6...Qxg5 7.Bxd5 Nd8, holding b7 and f7. You are right, 6..Be6? is hideous, but it's not forced.

In the mainline Fried Liver (which I haven't studied recently because I don't play either side of it) 8...Ne7 and 8...Nb4 have about the same results in my database, so I assumed they were equally good. If you have to analysis to show that ...Ne7 is better, more power to you!

[charms2]

GreenCastle: thanks for Nd8!, which is a clear improvement on that line so far. It is true that you need good nerves if you play the Black side of the Fried Liver, but the advantage is a psychological one: the opponent, even if prepared, assumes to haul in the win effortlessly, whereas things are not so simple. I must ask for a little patience, but I'll provide my findings on this provocative line within the next weeks.

[zajacfronda]

Ulvestadt is a very tricky line, as 6.Bf1! is very hard to find, when white in unprepared. Of course, white can maintain even game. But that's what makes black happy!

[DamnControl2]

In the variation Nxf7 .I prefer C Knight on e7 than c4 because it protect the knight on e5, then if the dark bishop try to remove it, you can just protect the knight with c pawn.

Black can hold the attack. I think, because i've done it once.

[mikko522]

Hey Matt! Keep up the good work! Try creating some endgame material as well. The chess community appreciates your efforts and your videos are very instructive for beginner to intermediate players.

[GreenCastleBlock]

Thanks. I have made some endgame videos, look here: view_play_list?p=BB413FB7AD398­B10

[chessisthegame]

good video

[aaronmcc23]

The second line was in a tournament..

6. Bxb5 Qxd5

7. Nc3 Qxg7

8. Qf3

Any ideas on how to counter this? Taking the knights allowed Qxc6 which looks very dangerous for me and by taking the Queens I feel as though I lost my initiative, any ideas?

[GreenCastleBlock]

6.Bxb5 Qxd5 7.Nc3 Qxg2 8.Qf3 Qxf3 9.Nxf3 Bd7 (with ...Bd6 and castling either way) should be solid. I can't think of anything better off the top of my head. That might be a good defensive variation for White.

[aaronmcc23]

I have an interesting couple of lines which were played against me. The first was on a blitz game on ICC which went..

1. e4 e5

2. Nf3 Nc6

3. Bc4 Nf6

4. Ng5 d5

5. exd5 b5

6. Nxf7!

I got into a really bad position here, any ideas on what to play?

[GreenCastleBlock]

6.Nxf7? Kxf7 just wins a piece. I see no followup for White.

[aaronmcc23]

Yes you're right about the first line. I'm mixing it up somehow, I think he might have moved the bishop back. I'll check up on that one when I log onto ICC next!

[gologram]

THANKS

[tacoma203]

computer never does any of these moves so i cant use them

[noraklagrangian]

On some computer programs--like Chessmaster 8000--you can set up pieces.

[kushtyman]

Thanks for this video Matt, I'm a fan of these little videos ever since ive used the Ulvestad several times against opponents and won, definitely my favourite of your videos. I think people just dont expect you to play b5. Many opponents have played Bb3 after b5 against me (just one played Bxb5 and i hammered him!). What do you recommend then? Ive always played Nd4 with good results.

[GreenCastleBlock]

Black should have no problems after ...Nd4.

[kushtyman]

Theres another video running around on youtube with these two russian sounded players who seem to say that after exd5 then instead of the Ulvestad (which itself i agree with you is a fantastic option) it goes ....Nd4, d6 Qxd6, Nx d7 Qc6 attacking white bishop and pawn on g2. This can then lead to smothered mate for black or winning material.

I believe the Ulvestad to be more subtle but this more direct approach does not seem to have any flaws either.

I feel the U

[GreenCastleBlock]

5...Nd4 is called the Fritz Variation, also a good defense.

[hailzooter]

Nice video...i understood a lot; but my question is more strategic..In many of the variations, you recommend Black castling queenside, but it looks dangerous to me with the b-pawn missing and only the queen and bishop around to provide cover

I do know that its attacking etc. and may win for black with good play, but what exactly are the chances of surviving an attack on the black queenside in such positions against good play?

[GreenCastleBlock]

Black must attack in this variation because he's down a pawn. The missing pawn on b7 isn't usually dangerous because White doesn't have a lot of space to organize an assault.

[minnarky]

Great video, but I have a question.

After:

4... d5

5.exd5 b5

6.Bxb5 Qxd5

7.Bxc6 Qxc6

8.Qf3 e4

9.Qb3

You recommend Bc5 allowing 10.Qxf7 Kd8. The rest of your line depends on white bringing out the queen knight, but what if he castles instead? Seems all bad for black from there, maybe I am missing something?

[GreenCastleBlock]

11.O-O Rf8

12.Qxg7 Rg8

13.Qh6 Bb7 threatening e3 looks like a dangerous attack.

14. Kh1 e3 15. f3 e2 16. Re1 Ng4 gives Black at least perpetual check. Maybe you can find an improvement?

[annelidpathogen]

I am just wondering, the video said that 6. Bf1 was the best move. I played a game as white in which the sequence was

1. e4 e5

2. Nf3 Nc6

3. Bc4 Nf6

4. Ng5 d4

5. exd4 b4

6. Bxb5 Qxd5

and I retreated the bishop to e2. Isn't that line ok as well? After that, my opponent blundered with 7. Be2 Qxg2? and I moved my bishop to f3. Here, my opponent resigned because after queen takes knight, my bishop would take his knight and fork his king and rook. I am just wondering if that was fine for white.

[GreenCastleBlock]

6.Bf1 has the best reputation. Your way of playing seems reasonable, however.

6.Bxb5 Qxd5

7.Be2 Bb7

8.d3 (forced, now that the Nc6 is guarded Black threatens Qxg2, so White guards the Ng5) Nd4

9.Nf3 (f3 is passive but also an option) Nxe2 10.Qxe2 Bd6

Black is down a pawn but has compensation typical of the whole variation.

[cheeseischocolate4]

Anyone realize that after Ncb4 black is threatening Nxc2+ winning a rook?

[cheeseischocolate4]

I forgot the beginning.

1.e4,e5;

2.Nf3,Nc6;

3.Bc4,Nf6;

4.Ng5,d5;

5.exd5,Nxd5;

6.Nxf7,Kxf7;

7.Qf3+,Ke6

8.Nc3,Nce7

[cheeseischocolate4]

9. d4, c6;

10 .Bg5, Kd7;

11. dxe5, Ke8;

12. 0-0-0, Be6;

13. Nxd5, Bxd5;

14. Rxd5!!, cxd5;

15. Bb5+,

Blacks only response are 15. ...,Nc6 blocking the check but leaving the queen uncoverd or 15. ...,Qd7 blocking the check but allowing the queen to be captured. either way the queen will be captured and white will have made a huge material advantage. Thus making the exchange sacrifice was right.

[chipdouglas42]

Nice video, thankyou.

[sausage4mash]

great video i play the Ulvestad Variation

a lot of people study the fried liver for cheap wins ,you find they are not so clever when they have to think up their own ideas ,the Ulvestad for me is very playable the best guy will win

[sausage4mash]

wow that game you showed i played move for move, i must be a grand master :-)

[sausage4mash]

i see bishop f1 online a lot ,but thats when they are cheating looking up opening on a data base ,thats what i reckon alway a pause before the move ,then i go out of book and they play rubbish

[Masky]

ive seen this video about 5 times already, and i keep liking it more and more. keep up the good work!

[taipan342]

awsome video man, im definately gonna try this variation I haven't had a great deal of sucess with the standard knight goes to a5 threatening bishop. Thanks and welldone.

[Funacca]

hello

first nice video

but i analysed it on my own and at 04:37 i think the white queen can go to h3 with check and also protecting the mate on g7 so black has not engough time for a counterattack has he? what you think?

[Tiwaking]

Um. Whaa? Qh3 isnt check, the KBP protects the king. Also: Qh3 = NxQ, an absolutely terrible move

[GreenCastleBlock]

No, Funacca is right, Qb3 O-O-O is weak because of Qh3. Something the players in the game I was following missed, and I also missed.

Since O-O-O is bad, 9...e4 must be bad. 9...Bd6 seems reasonable - Black will have some compensation even in the queenless ending, but White's a bit better.

[MaskedAssailant08]

2 KNIGHTS DEFENSE (ULVESTAD VERSION)

On 5:58 bishop goes to f2 resulting in a queen fork with knight f6. If king goes to d1 then bishop g4 checkmate. If king goes f1.. bishop a6 and pawn exchang will lead to a forced queen fork. Just something ive noticed... nice videos

[liebstandarteadolf]

hahahahahahahaha, I never reply e5 to e4.

[cafox24]

With the fried liver what whould you do if one moved the knight to E7 instead of B4 to defend his knight

[maquesphakdor]

Fritz says d4 to attack the e5 pawn and enable development of black-square bishop (Q's B). However, this permits c6, the fried liver bust (IMHO).

[manuelperr]

There was a very interesting video lesson about this variation on Chess fm where Larry Christiansen talked so deeply about it but i can't find it anymore (maybe we have to be inscripted now to see it)and I don't remember at all the very complicated lines and alternatives where black could respond to c3 kicking the knight on d4, there was a match that showed very well what to do with black in all situacions, I don't remember which one! So if my memory is so bad why to play chess? Who can help me?

[manuelperr]

Ok the main line go on with Nd4 and after c3 kicking the knight black simply responds with Nxd5. the best for white seems to be 8)Ne4, better than Nxf7, and black in the spirit of the two Knights defense attacks with Qh4 activating another piece. After 9)Ng3 asking black what he wants to do with his knight defending his b5 pawn black plays Bg4 and with f3 it seems to have two peaces under attack but the point is that after 10)...e4 the bishop is untakeble for Ad6.

[manuelperr]

the analyzed game continues with 11 cxd4...bd6;12 Bxb5...kd8 13) 00, ...exf3 14)Qb3 NB4 15Rxf3...Rb8 16) Na3...c6. I found that video I was looking for and I think we need the two videos to understand all subvariations without fear.

[acetamin0phen]

this is very good as long as the bishop takes the bait, but i've played many players online and usually they just drop their bishop back to b3...once this happens their next move is usually Nxf7...followed by dxc6 winning a knight...i've played around w/ this couple of times and still is trying to figure out how to defend these two successive moves.

[GreenCastleBlock]

5...b5 6.Bb3 Nd4 equalizes. See my response to cafox24's comment.

[lachessleague]

Great Video. This is better than a lot of the Chess Videos I bought. Very clearly stated, and very well organized. I definately going to use this in my blitz games. Thanks!

[ongyj]

Dear GreenCastleBlock

I'm actually very interested in the opening play of chess. I enjoyed this clip very much, but would just like to offer a suggestion or rather something that you didn't seem to cover in this clip. In the gist of this presentation 1)e4 e5 2)Nf3 Nc6 3)Bc4 Nf6 4)Ng5 d5 5)exd5 b5 6)Bxb5 Qxd5, 7)Be2!? looks like a good, interesting alternative to be reckoned with. I seek further clarifications and criticisms from everyone else. Thanks in advance.

[GreenCastleBlock]

That is a solid choice for White, comparable to the main lines with 6.Bf1. Sorry for not covering it, the vid is 9:55 already :-)

[ongyj]

There's really no need for apologies. I'm glad if any of my suggestions may make this wonderful clip of yours more 'perfect'. And, while you seem to be a practicioner of Black in the 2 knights, I happen to be one of White:) I guess 6.Bxb5 Qxd5 7.Be2 might be more acceptable for (new) players who don't like to make the 'retreat move' 6.Bf1

[ongyj]

My last contribution here for now. In the 'popular variation' 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.Qf3!? is also interesting, for players themselves to consider about ^Ô^

[ongyj]

oops its 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Qf3

[cafox24]

Yeah your about right , but it was worth a look

[cafox24]

well....after Nd4 where u said black is comfortable i think c3 kicking the knight and also protecting the bishop with the queen would be a good answer thoughts???

[GreenCastleBlock]

Just Nxb3; Qxb3 Qxd5. Black gets the pawn back, and is left with more space after either Qxd5 Nxd5 or O-O Bb7. It's probably equal, but I would take Black.

[cafox24]

In the Ulvestad When you play B5 why cant the Bishop just slide back to B3...am i being stupid did i miss something????? Thoughts??

[GreenCastleBlock]

6...b5 7.Bb3 Nd4 is very comfortable for Black. White will have to lose time retreating his knight... if Ng5-f3 then ...Bg4 can be quite annoying in some lines with the White bishop stuck out on b3. Plus, Black can play Nxb3 whenever he wants; this is never any real pressure on f7.

Your move is not stupid, it's just not the best way of challenging what Black is doing :-)

[leatherlung1984]

what is black's answer to Nc3,protecting the bishop and attacking the black queen after the black queen takes the pawn on d5?

[GreenCastleBlock]

That would be ...Qxg2. This is why White should play his Bishop back to f1, to defend this pawn so that ...Qxd5 does not attack the g pawn.

In the future please give either a time or a full move order... I was able to figure out what position you were talking about this time, but next time... :-)

[x33mmm]

very good explanation but why don't u develop more deep this variations for advanced player this information is not enough

[GreenCastleBlock]

Hi. This is meant to be an introduction to the variation. It's hard to go into detail when you only have 10:00 to work with.

It's nice to know that advanced chess players watch my videos, but my main audience is middle-strength players who need broad ideas explained more than they need discussions of specific variations. Hope that made sense. Thanks for writing

[piecemaker3180]

another great video, More please!

[Nagare89]

I really love your videos. Absolutely informative.

[candidatemaster]

Wow that's really good work. Thank u

[cadabraa]

Sweet, thanks!

[nhat8121]

i like all your videos, very informative