Chess Opening: English Four Knights' 4.g3 Nd4!? 5.Nxe5

In this video I explore a gambit line for Black in the Four Knight's English: 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Nd4!?

I found this idea in the book Starting Out: The English, by Neil McDonald. He spends one sentence dismissing White's acceptance of the gambit with 5.Nxe5. Being curious, I launch an exploration into this line... Black gets good attacking chances in all lines, but it's by no means a forced win. Especially after the best defense 8.Kf2, Black has some work to do.

I ran short of time so this video doesn't really have a conclusion. Basically, White can survive, but Black has enough long-term compensation for his pawn.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• chess
• pullin
• opening
• analysis
• english
• four
• knights
• gambit

[StrokaviMozak]

5:54 Why not take pawn at E3 and attack the queen ? He cant protect rook with his queen. Wins a pawn..

[GreenCastleBlock]

You have a good point there, I had thought that 12..Nxe3 allowed 13.Qa4+, and that on 12..Nd4+ the doubled pawns would impede White's development. But I wasn't sure, so I ran it through Rybka..

Turns out 12..Nxe3+ 13.Qa4 c6 14.d3 Nxf1 is slightly better for Black (-0.10), and 12..Nd4+ 13.exd4 Qxb1 14.Qb3! is better for White (+0.66)!

But 12..Qh5+ is stronger than both knight moves (-0.45).

[vladanbabic]

Hi I think you haven't seen that when white moves knight from e5 black can mate him with knight f3 because white pawn is pined from the queen. Bishop f5 is no good move.

Thank you if I'm not right let me know

[GreenCastleBlock]

Kf2

[carpenterboy31]

thanks for posting this...question? is it better to learn white before playing as black...and should I learn the square num and letters...it gets confusing sometimes..

[GreenCastleBlock]

Only when you study openings does color matter. You should learn chess first.

Yes, you should learn algebraic notation. It's not hard and you can't read chess or follow people talking about chess without it. Hope this helps.

[bacon8787]

This was a complete eye opener. Wow. I take my hat off to you, sir. Please keep this up - I learn from you like you are pollen feeding the bee nest. Don't let the honey get too sticky!

[saguarojet]

nice research

[dragonheadofthewest]

cant tell you how often i lost with the e3 line

[marstuber96]

oh cool



[bekosus123]

great video

[ongyj]

Just became an English opening player myself recently, didn't realise this old gem of yours. GREAT

[idlenessss]

I wouldnt expect anyone to take this pawn because usually when people play the english, I find its because they are afraid of lines where black is active..they are trying to accent their strengths which is long manouvering play rather than tactical calculation. Unfortuntely, im not sure how much it helps black positionally to trade these knights...its structurally similar to an alapin im familiar with, colors reversed but in that structure, black's kingside knight is rather awkwardly placed.

[F2L4Life]

I would like to say that I enjoy your videos. I am primarily a white player and by watching your videos of black's various defenses I am able to strengthen my play.